If you're afraid of snakes, spiders, toads, murky water or tight spaces, you could find this story unsettling. Heather was called out to the site for a snake rescue, and soon realised the reptile was not alone. What some have described as their worst possible nightmare is all in a days work for one Aussie snake catcher. Heather, from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, is used to attending jobs where she tends to creatures with no legs so imagine her surprise when she discovered 56 legs awaiting rescue inside a water-filled pit at Image Flat. Inside a UnityWater maintenance hole was a yellow-faced whip snake, eight toads and three large spiders. There was quite a bit going on in there! Heather told Yahoo News. Workers told Heather the pit is only accessed one a year if that so its unknown how long the animals were trapped treading water in the dark. ADVERTISEMENT Some of those animals couldve been in there for a year, its impossible to say, she said, though she noted she was impressed with the snakes condition. The snake was in a surprisingly good condition, alongside at least eight toads and three spiders. Source: Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 There is absolutely no way he couldve got out. But he wouldve also had a food source in there, he couldve fed on little lizards, skinks, even the spiders if he had to. Theyre not known as a water snake but youve got to do what youve got to do to survive in the wild. While she rescued the 40cm juvenile whip snake and released it a few streets away, she left it up to the UnityWater crew to tackle the rest of the victims. Its just one of those freaks of nature that he ended up in that pit, she said. Drains and manholes aren't the only places where snakes get stuck. This week, a snake received devastating injuries after becoming trapped in netting. Last month, a snake was rescued after becoming stuck inside a pipe at a target range. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. If a person drinks water contaminated with benzene at high levels, even for a short time, they may experience drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, confusion, rapid heart rate, vomiting and stomach irritation, tremors or convulsions read more Authorities in the Czech Republic have declared a state of emergency in the Olomouc region after what officials are calling the worlds largest benzene contamination of its kind, following a freight train derailment last month. The emergency declaration, announced by Olomouc Governor Ladislav Oklestek, covers the area surrounding Hustopece nad Becvou in the Prerov district, where a toxic chemical spill has contaminated local soil and water sources, including a nearby lake. We have unanimously agreed to declare a state of emergency as of 12:00 today in the Olomouc Region, Oklestek said. The order will allow for a faster and more coordinated response to the environmental crisis, giving local authorities the power to impose work obligations, commandeer resources, and restrict movement in affected areas, Euronews reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The derailment occurred on February 28, when a freight train travelling at high speed crashed at the entrance to Hustopece station. Most of its 17 carriages caught fire, releasing around 350 tonnes of benzene from tankers carrying a total of 1,020 tonnes. Much of the leaked chemical seeped into the groundwater. The harms of benzene-contaminated water Benzene-contaminated water can have serious and potentially life-threatening health effects, both short-term and long-term. Benzene is a highly toxic chemical and is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). If a person drinks water contaminated with benzene at high levels, even for a short time, they may experience drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, confusion, rapid heart rate, vomiting and stomach irritation, tremors or convulsions. In extreme cases, it can lead to loss of consciousness or even death. Environment Minister Petr Hladik said the situation at the crash site was worsening rapidly and required immediate intervention to protect local drinking water. The first benzene-affected water well appeared in the area within hours, he said. We had to act quickly. Specialist teams have begun extracting benzene from the contaminated groundwater, digging dozens of remediation pits between the rail tracks and the nearby lake. To prevent further spread, construction crews are installing Larsen walls underground barriers driven as deep as seven metres to contain the toxic plume. The financial damage from the disaster is expected to reach CZK 1 billion (40.1 million), according to Oklestek. The state of emergency will remain in effect until 27 April. During a visit to a US military base in northern Greenland on Friday, US Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark, which has controlled the island since 1721, of not doing a good job of keeping it safe and suggested that the US would better protect the strategically located island read more Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will visit Greenland on April 2-4 to meet with the semi-autonomous territorys new administration, she said on Saturday, amid US interest in gaining control of the Arctic island. I look forward to continuing the close and trusting cooperation between Greenland and Denmark, Frederiksen said in a statement. During a visit to a US military base in northern Greenland on Friday, US Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark, which has controlled the island since 1721, of not doing a good job of keeping it safe and suggested that the US would better protect the strategically located island. Advertisement He made his statements hours after Greenland established a new wide government coalition led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who described Denmark as its closest friend. Frederiksen, who has stated that it is up to the people of Greenland to determine their own destiny, said on Friday that Vances portrayal of Denmark was unfair. I have the deepest respect for how the Greenlandic people and Greenlandic politicians are handling the great pressure on Greenland, she said in the statement on Saturday. It is a situation that calls for unity across political parties and across the countries in the Realm. The Spectrum rocket, developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, started smoking from its sides, then crashed back to Earth with a powerful explosion just after launching from Norways Andoya Spaceport in the Arctic, in live video broadcast on YouTube. read more In a photo provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace Launch Vehicle "Spectrum" stands on a launchpad at Andoya Spaceport in Nordmela, on Andya island, Norway, on March 12, 2025. Image- AP A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later. Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said that it successfully completed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle by launching its Spectrum rocket from the island of Andya in northern Norway. The 28-meter-long (92-foot-long) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle specifically designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the pad at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) Sunday and flew for about a half-minute before the flight was terminated, Isar said. Advertisement This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions, Isar said in a statement. After the flight was terminated at T+30 seconds, the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner. Video from the launch shows the rocket taking off from the pad, flying into the air and then coming back down to crash into the sea in a fiery explosion. The launch was subject to various factors, including weather and safety, and Sundays liftoff followed a week of poor conditions, including a scrubbed launch on March 24 because of unfavorable winds, and on Saturday for weather restrictions. Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success, Daniel Metzler, Isars chief executive and co-founder, said in the statement. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System. The company had largely ruled out the possibility of the rocket reaching orbit on its first complete flight, saying that it would consider a 30-second flight a success. Isar Aerospace aims to collect as much data and experience as possible on the first integrated test of all the systems on its in-house-developed launch vehicle. Advertisement Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 member states. Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure @isaraerospace will learn a lot," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher posted on X. Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy! ESA has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana an overseas department of France in South America and from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Police believe the fire may have been triggered on 22 March by a 56-year-old man tending to his grandparents gravesites. Local media reports say the man had been trying to burn overhanging tree branches using a cigarette lighter read more A wildfire is seen next to a family tomb in Andong. AFP South Korean police have opened an investigation into a man suspected of unintentionally starting the countrys worst wildfires on record while clearing gravesites, authorities said on Sunday. More than a dozen wildfires have ripped through the countrys eastern regions in recent days, driven by strong winds and prolonged dry weather. At least 30 people have died and more than 48,000 hectares (118,610 acres) of forest have been destroyed, according to the interior ministry. Officials say it is the most extensive wildfire event ever recorded in South Korea. Advertisement One of the largest blazes engulfed Uiseong in North Gyeongsang province, where 12,800 hectares of woodland have been scorched. Police believe the fire may have been triggered on 22 March by a 56-year-old man tending to his grandparents gravesites. We booked him without detention for investigation on Saturday on suspicions of inadvertently starting the wildfires, a provincial police official said. The man will be summoned for formal questioning once an on-site inspection concludes, a process that could take over a month. Local media reports say the man had been trying to burn overhanging tree branches using a cigarette lighter. According to his daughter, the flames were caught by the wind and spread rapidly through the surrounding area. Yonhap news agency quoted her as telling authorities that the fire ended up sparking a wildfire. Police declined to confirm the details of her account. The fires have been fuelled by months of below-average rainfall and intensified by strong winds, following what was South Koreas hottest year on record in 2024. Among the victims was a helicopter pilot who died when his aircraft crashed while battling the flames in a mountainous area. The destruction has also affected cultural landmarks, including the Gounsa temple complex in Uiseong, a historic Buddhist site believed to date back to the 7th century. The crisis has highlighted South Koreas growing regional and demographic imbalances. Many of the hardest-hit rural areas are sparsely populated and disproportionately inhabited by elderly residents, complicating evacuation efforts and firefighting operations. Advertisement With inputs from AFP As part of the operation, the Indian Army will establish a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to provide immediate care to those injured in the calamity read more People stand next to a destroyed building as rescuers look through the rubble to find survivors in Mandalay on March 29, 2025, a day after an earthquake struck central Myanmar. AFP Intensifying its efforts for aiding relief and rescue work in earthquake-hit Myanmar under Operation Brahma, India on Saturday despatched two naval ships to the neighbouring country while an 118-member army field hospital is being deployed to provide immediate medical medical assistance to the injured. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a briefing here also said that two more Indian naval ships would follow under this humanitarian assistance operation. The first ship carrying 10 tonnes of relief material left in the early hours, while the second one on Saturday afternoon, and they are expected to reach off Yangon on March 31, a senior officer of the Indian Navy said. Advertisement The other two ships which will follow them, are stationed at Sri Vijaya Puram under the Andaman and Nicobar Command, he said. Indian launched Operation Brahma in the early hours of Saturday to offer humanitarian aid and assistance to quake-hit Myanmar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in multiple posts on X shared updates about the operation. @indiannavy ships INS Satpura & INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon, he wrote on X in the afternoon. Jaiswal, in response to a query on the number of aircraft deployed under the operation, said, one aircraft left early morning with two more sorties after that, and two aircraft are part of the field hospital unit that is expected to leave from Agra later on Saturday, he said in the special briefing held in the evening. The Ministry of Defence in a statement in the evening said the 118-member team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, is set take off to Myanmar shortly along with essential medical equipment and supplies. The Airborne Angels Task Force is trained and equipped to deliver advanced medical and surgical care in disaster-affected zones, it said. As part of the operation, the Indian Army will establish a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to provide immediate care to those injured in the calamity. The facility will be capable of handling trauma cases, emergency surgeries, and essential medical services to support the local healthcare system, which has been severely strained by the disaster, the defence ministry said. Advertisement The external affairs minister later in another post on X in the evening, shared an update on the field hospital being deployed. #OperationBrahma A 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital unit is en route to Mandalay from Agra. The team will assist in providing first aid and emergency medical services to the people of Myanmar, the EAM wrote and also shared some photos. Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand were rocked by a high-intensity earthquake on Friday, destroying buildings, bridges and other structures. At least 1,002 people were killed in Myanmar, according to reports. India shares a 1,643-kilometre-long border with Myanmar on the eastern side. Jaiswal said Indias ambassador in Myanmar is currently in the capital Nay Pyi Taw to coordinate the relief efforts, adding that no casualty has been reported so far among the Indian community in Myanmar. The MEA spokesperson said India has actively been playing the role of first responder in such situations during national disasters and natural calamities. He recalled the relief and assistance provided by India last year in the wake of Cyclone Yagi hitting Myanmar, and also underlined that the scale of damage due to the earthquake in that country is quite extensive. Advertisement Brahma is the God of creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the Government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning, the MEA spokesperson said. The first aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material took off at around 3 am this morning from Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad. It reached Yangon at around 8 AM India time, the Indian ambassador was there to receive the relief material, and thereafter, he handed it over to the chief minister of Yangon, he said. These material include tents, blankets, essential medicines, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, gensets, solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets. Two aircraft with search and rescue personnel and equipment along with canines, one of them have left I understand, and the other is in process of leaving for Nay Pyi Taw In short, there are 80 NDRF search and rescue team personnel, specialists, along with equipment and a canine squad, is also part of this team, he added. Advertisement They are expected to reach Nay Pyi Taw later on Saturday evening, the MEA said. The field hospital team will be landing in Nay Pyi Taw, and from there they will be taken to Mandalay area with the support and coordination of the Government of Myanmar, he said. Soon after the tragedy struck Myanmar, our PM conveyed his concerns and expressed that India was ready to provide all support, all possible support to Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar and the Government of Myanmar in this hour of crisis, Jaiswal said. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India for the loss of lives. He also conveyed that we stand in solidarity with the government and the people of Myanmar and that we would do our best to provide relief, rescue and whatever assistance required to deal with this calamity. Advertisement On the movement of the four naval ships, Jaiswal said the Indian Navy is in touch with their Myanmarese counterpart for smooth operation. Our embassy is very active. They are in touch with Indian community organisationsSo far, no casualty has been reported among the Indian nationals, and we are in touch with Indian community organisations for their welfare and safety, he said, adding there is a large Indian diaspora in Myanmar. Asked about Indias message with New Delhi responding swiftly in the wake of the calamity in Myanmar, Jaiswal said India has been the first responder to such disasters and calamities in the past and recalled Operation Dost it had launched in 2023 after the devastating quake in Turkiye and Syria. It is part of our policy to be the first responder. When we say Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we also mean it, and we want to prove it by action. And, we are humbledto extend support to Myanmar in this situation, he said. Advertisement NDRF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Mohsen Shahedi told reporters during the press conference organised by the external affairs ministry that the next 24-48 hours were very crucial for the force to get gainfully engaged and for their active involvement on the ground. A senior official of the Army said, the field hospital being deployed had also taken part in Operation Dost, and other field hospital units are also on standby for deployment, if required. US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) states that just 1,628 Indians were apprehended in February 2025, while 3,132 were apprehended in January and more over 5,600 in December read more A US military aircraft carrying illegal Indian immigrants upon its landing at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, in Amritsar. PTI For Indian migrants trying to enter the US illegally, the trip has never been more dangerous. Border arrests have fallen to their lowest level in four years as a result of US President Donald Trumps increased focus on immigration enforcement. US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) states that just 1,628 Indians were apprehended in February 2025, while 3,132 were apprehended in January and more over 5,600 in December. Once a lifeline for hopeful migrants, smugglers are retreating as the number of deportations rises. Advertisement Those who are already in the US illegally are on edge, restricting their travels and evading immigration raids to stay under the radar. Trumps strict immigration laws and vigorous crackdown on illegal crossings, which have increased the possibility of incarceration and deportation, are blamed by experts for this declining trend. In February 2025, the United States used military planes to deport 344 Indian immigrants, including 74 Gujaratis, for repatriation. In a rare move that highlighted the administrations tough stance against illegal immigration, immigrants in the first three flights were handcuffed and chained. So, it comes as no surprise that the Feb numbers indicate the lowest number of Indian border arrests in the preceding four financial years, from 2022 to 2025. Of those seized, 238 were taken at the northern US border, 145 along the southern border with Mexico, and the other people were nabbed within the nation. The composition of detainees comprises four unaccompanied juveniles, three accompanying children, 52 persons in family groupings, and 1,572 single adults. Trumps tough immigration policies have all but shut down illegal activities, particularly those that help transfer Indians, mostly from Gujarat, to the United States, according to a source within human smuggling networks. In the meantime, Indian immigrants who are already living in the US illegally are terrified. Advertisement According to USCBP data, between 90,000 and 1 lakh Indians attempt to enter the US illegally each year. But with Trumps administrations increased enforcement, those figures are predicted to fall much lower. Having Pezeshkian announced the decision shows just how much has changed in Iran since his election half a year ago after he campaigned on a promise to re-engage with the West. read more Iran has rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday in the first official response to a letter from President Donald Trump to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian said Irans reply, delivered through Oman, opened the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. However, such talks have remained stalled since Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Since then, regional tensions have escalated with maritime and land attacks, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israeli strikes on leaders of Irans so-called Axis of Resistance. Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have further fueled concerns about potential military action against Irans nuclear facilities. Advertisement We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said in a televised Cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. Iran sent a response Thursday through Oman to U.S. President Donald Trumps letter in which he urged Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was cited as saying by the official IRNA news agency on Thursday. Our policy is still to not engage in direct negotiations while under maximum pressure and military threats; however, as it was the case in the past, indirect negotiations can continue, IRNA cited Araqchi as saying. Trumps letter comes amid warnings from both the U.S. and Israel that they will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, raising fears of a possible military confrontation as Tehran continues enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levelsa capability typically possessed only by nuclear-armed states. Iran has consistently claimed its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though its officials have increasingly hinted at the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons. Since Trumps return to the White House, his administration has reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear arms is a priority. A February report by the U.N.s nuclear watchdog indicated that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium, adding to global concerns. Advertisement Trump also previously ordered the 2020 drone strike in Baghdad that killed Irans top general, further escalating tensions between the two nations. With inputs from agencies Yemens Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and have repeatedly targeted Israel with long-range missiles and drones since the war in Gaza began on 7 October last year read more Protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, hold up posters of assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike, as they attend a rally to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters Israel intercepts missile launched from Yemen as Houthi attacks resume The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday (March 29), triggering air raid sirens across several regions of the country. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF [Israeli Air Force] prior to crossing into Israeli territory. Advertisement The projectile was launched by Yemens Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and have repeatedly targeted Israel with long-range missiles and drones since the war in Gaza began on 7 October last year. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have also disrupted global trade by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They claim their campaign is an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has waged a months-long military assault following Hamass surprise attack last October. The latest missile launch comes after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed on March 18, with Israeli bombardments resuming in Gaza. The Houthis had paused their strikes during the ceasefire but have since renewed their attacks. US attacks on Houthis On March 15, the United States launched a significant air and naval offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting over 40 sites, including locations in the capital, Sanaa, as well as al-Jawf and Saada governorates. These strikes resulted in at least one civilian death and four injuries. The campaign aims to dismantle the Houthis capacity to disrupt international shipping and to deter their missile attacks on regional allies. Advertisement In a related development, the US deployed radar-evading B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on March 26, 2025. These aircraft, capable of carrying bunker-buster GBU-57 bombs, enhance the US militarys ability to target fortified Houthi positions and underground facilities. With inputs from AFP Netanyahu said the fact that Israel was negotiating under fire made talks much more effective. Since Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza on March 18, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate areas in northern Gaza where they had returned after the January ceasefire agreement read more Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly told his cabinet that military pressure is working against Hamas, a day after Israel filed a counter-proposal to Egyptian mediators to resume the ceasefire in Gaza. It works because it acts simultaneously, Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting. On the one hand, it crushes Hamass military and governmental capabilities, and on the other hand, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages, he added. Advertisement Netanyahu promises Hamas leaders safe exit if Netanyahu said the fact that Israel was negotiating under fire made talks much more effective. We see that there are suddenly cracks, he said. He further stated that once a ceasefire is implemented, Hamas leaders will be allowed to leave Gaza if they agree to lay down their weapons. We are ready, Netanyahu says. Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave. We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary immigration plan. Earlier on Saturday, Hamas agreed to a proposal which included releasing five Israeli hostages each week in exchange of the ceasefire with phase 1 conditions. However, the militant group ruled out giving up arms as Israel demanded. Attacks continue in Gaza Hamas health authorities on Sunday reported that at least 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. Since Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza on March 18, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate areas in northern Gaza where they had returned after the January ceasefire agreement. Israel has not provided details on how long its troops will remain in the enclave but has reaffirmed its goal of crushing Hamas military and government capacities. We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary emigration plan, Netanyahu said. That is the plan, we do not hide it, we are ready to discuss it at any time. Advertisement US President Donald Trump had proposed to shift the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza to countries including Egypt and Jordan, and develop the Gaza Strip as a US-owned resort. While the Israeli military and intelligence initially cast doubt over the feasibility of the plan, the Netanyahu government has expressed its full support and interest. The images, captured by Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, show some of the most striking damage to key infrastructure across central Myanmar read more (COMBO) This combination of satellite images released by Planet Labs on March 29, 2025, shows the collapsed control tower at Nay Pyi Taw International Airport (L) in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, after the March 27, 2025, earthquake and the same area on January 13, 2025 . The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,600 on March 29, 2025, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors. The quake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar early in the afternoon of March 27, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. (Photo by Handout / 2025 PLANET LABS PBC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / 2025 PLANET LABS PBC" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - EXISTING WATERMARKS MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED Satellite images released in the aftermath of Myanmars deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake have revealed the full scale of destruction in a country already grappling with the devastating toll of civil war. The images, captured by Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, show some of the most striking damage to key infrastructure across central Myanmar. In Naypyidaw, the control tower at the citys international airport lies in ruins. In Mandalay, satellite comparisons show entire blocks of tightly packed homes turned to ash and rubble, with only the grid-like roadways offering a clue to what once stood there. Advertisement (COMBO) This combination of handout satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on March 29, 2025, show collapsed and destroyed shacks and buildings (top) in Mandalay, Myanmar, after the March 27, 2025, earthquake and the same area on March 23 (bottom). The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,600 on March 29, 2025, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors. The quake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar early in the afternoon of March 27, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. AFP photo/Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies Further north, the Inwa Bridge over the Irrawaddy River, a vital artery near Mandalay, is visibly broken in multiple sections, its trusses now slumped into the muddy water below. (COMBO) This combination of handout satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on March 29, 2025, show the collapsed Inwa Bridge (top) over the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay, Myanmar after the March 27, 2025, earthquake, and the same bridge on March 23 (bottom). The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,600 on March 29, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors. The quake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar early in the afternoon of March 27, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. AFP photo/Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies The earthquake, which struck near the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar, was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. It has left more than 1,600 people dead in Myanmar, according to figures released by the countrys military junta, and at least 17 more in neighbouring Thailand. With communications patchy and access to rural areas severely restricted, the true toll is feared to be significantly higher. In Mandalay, a city of over 1.7 million people, residents have been sifting through the wreckage with their bare hands. Rescue efforts have been complicated by the regions ongoing conflict. Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war since a military coup in 2021 triggered mass protests and armed resistance. Many of the areas hardest hit by the quake are also contested by anti-junta forces, and aid workers have reported difficulties reaching affected communities. The opposition National Unity Government a parallel administration aligned with the countrys resistance forces has announced a two-week ceasefire in earthquake-hit zones, allowing aid and rescue operations to continue. But there are reports that the military has not halted its operations in all areas, fuelling concern that humanitarian relief could be disrupted. Advertisement The juntas request for international assistance a rare move from a regime that has historically rejected foreign aid points to the magnitude of the crisis. Shipments of medical supplies, food, and rescue equipment have begun arriving from countries including India, China, and Thailand, which has dispatched military personnel and search dogs to assist in rescue missions. Still, the needs on the ground far outweigh current relief efforts. The United Nations has warned of severe shortages in medical equipment, clean water, and shelter. Aid groups say the country is ill-equipped to handle a disaster of this scale, particularly with more than 3.5 million people already displaced by the war even before the quake hit. As aftershocks continue to shake buildings and rattle nerves, those still trapped beneath the rubble are running out of time. 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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The junta has increasingly relied on air power as its ground forces suffer a string of defeats in the ongoing civil war read more People stand next to a destroyed building as rescuers look through the rubble to find survivors in Mandalay on March 29, 2025, a day after an earthquake struck central Myanmar. AFP Myanmars military has pressed ahead with air strikes against rebel forces despite the country reeling from a powerful earthquake that has killed more than 1,700 people and left thousands homeless. The Danu Peoples Liberation Army (DPLA), an ethnic minority armed group operating in northern Shan state, said seven of its fighters were killed when the junta launched an aerial attack on their base shortly after Fridays (March 28) 7.7-magnitude quake. Five military aircraft targeted the DPLAs position in Naungcho township, one of the groups officers said. Advertisement Our soldiers tried to get into bunkers when they heard the sound of aircraft, he said. But one big bomb hit one bunker where five female soldiers were killed on the spot. The strike came despite some armed groups halting hostilities in the wake of the disaster, which caused widespread devastation in northern and central Myanmar. Other air strikes have been reported in recent days, though they have not been independently verified. Growing use of air power The junta has increasingly relied on air power as its ground forces suffer a string of defeats in the ongoing civil war. Myanmar has descended into chaos since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, triggering nationwide resistance and a complex conflict involving anti-coup forces and long-established ethnic armed groups. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), the number of military air strikes on civilian areas has surged, with nearly 800 recorded so far in 2024 more than three times the total from last year. The rise in air attacks has been enabled in part by Russia, a key ally and arms supplier, which has provided Myanmar with fighter jets and military equipment. Rights groups and international observers have condemned the juntas continued use of air strikes even as the country grapples with a humanitarian emergency. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, wrote on social media platform X: Reports that Myanmars military has continued with airstrikes after the earthquake tells you everything you need to know about the junta obsessed with its brutal repression of civilians and desperately trying to win the war whatever the human cost. Advertisement Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur for Myanmar, called for an immediate ceasefire and suspension of military operations, telling the BBC it was nothing short of incredible that the military was bombing areas affected by the quake. Earlier this month, an air strike hit a village held by anti-junta forces around 60 kilometres north of Mandalay Myanmars second-largest city and one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake. A local official said the attack targeted civilian areas and killed at least 12 people. With inputs from AFP A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar on Friday, killing atleast 1,644 people read more This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on March 29, 2025, shows collapsed and destroyed shacks and buildings in Mandalay, Myanmar, after the March 27, 2025, earthquake. The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,600 on March 29, 2025, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors. The quake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar early in the afternoon of March 27, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. (Photo by Handout / Satellite image 2025 Maxar Technologies / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SATELLITE IMAGE 2025 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - THE WATERMARK MAY NOT BE REMOVED/CROPPED After a huge earthquake struck the war-torn nation on Sunday, anti-coup fighters in Myanmar announced a two-week temporary truce, which the military started on Sunday to aid rescue efforts and other relief efforts. The Peoples Defence Force (PDF) would implement a two-week pause in offensive military operations, except for defensive actions, in earthquake-affected areas starting March 30, 2025, according to a statement from the shadow National Unity Government. According to a statement posted on social media, the government in exile plans to collaborate with the UN and NGOs to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps in regions under its control. Advertisement A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar on Friday, and also affected Thailand. At least 1,644 people were killed in Myanmar, the junta said, while around 10 others were killed in Bangkok. Myanmars military has been fighting a civil war on multiple fronts since it ousted Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government in February 2021. It is opposed by both the PDFs and ethnic armed organisations, many of which have been fighting for decades. The National Unity Government consists mostly of lawmakers ousted in the coup who are working to topple the junta. Pakistan has given all undocumented Afghans until March 31 to leave voluntarily or face arrest. The women are seeking more time to secure asylum in a third country. Some are awaiting possible relocation to Brazil, while others continue to search for safe haven read more Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have enforced extensive restrictions, particularly targeting women. Reuters/File Photo More than 50 prominent Afghan womens rights activists sheltering in Pakistan face imminent deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where they say they risk imprisonment or death. The Pakistani government has pledged to expel millions of undocumented Afghan nationals amid worsening relations with Kabul and a spike in cross-border militant attacks. Officials have described Afghan refugees as a threat to national security, labelling them terrorists and traitors. Since the deportations began in September 2023, at least 844,499 Afghans have been forcibly returned, according to Amnesty International. The rights group said returnees face a real risk of persecution under Taliban rule, The Guardian reported. Advertisement Among those under threat are 60 Afghan women who fled persecution for their activism in support of womens rights and education. Many have been forced into hiding in Islamabad and Rawalpindi as police reportedly conduct door-to-door raids, arresting Afghans and allegedly extorting bribes. Humaira Alim, a former education activist, fled Afghanistan in December 2022 while pregnant with her first child after receiving death threats from the Taliban. She now lives in Islamabad with her two young children on a month-to-month visa. If they send me back to Afghanistan, it only means death, Alim said. The Taliban have records on me and my activism. There is no place for women like me. They only arrest and torture us. Alim said she knows dozens of Afghan womenlawyers, human rights defenders and protest organiserswho are also in hiding and fear deportation. Pakistan has given all undocumented Afghans until March 31 to leave voluntarily or face arrest. The women are seeking more time to secure asylum in a third country. Some are awaiting possible relocation to Brazil, while others continue to search for safe haven. Deporting these people to the Taliban is a death sentence, said Liliana Harrington, senior campaigner for Avaaz, a global advocacy group. Pakistan would not only abandon these brave people to their oppressors but also abandon its proud legacy of protecting vulnerable Afghans. Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director for South Asia, condemned the expulsions. Advertisement The Pakistani authorities are violating the rights of Afghan refugees with impunity, Lassee said. These decisions are being made arbitrarily, without transparency or accountability. The joint letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested the prime minister to take action on the matter and release Dr Mahrang Baloch and other BYC leaders before Eid read more Over 100 civil society members wrote a letter to Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, demanding the immediate release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch. The joint letter requested the prime minister to take action on the matter and release them before Eid, Geo News reported. The signatories of the joint letter condemned the arrests, calling them an attempt to suppress voices demanding an end to enforced disappearances and fundamental rights for the people of Balochistan. The letter came against the backdrop of shutter-down strikes in various cities of Balochistan and a protest in Karachi over the recent arrests of the BYC leaders. Advertisement Earlier this month, BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and 16 other activists were arrested from their protest camps at Quettas Sariab Road. The arrests took place the day after they claimed that three protesters taking part in the demonstration died due to police actions. Meanwhile, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch was apprehended during a protest against the arrest of the movements leadership in Karachi. The letter raises alarm over police brutality Mahrang was among the 150 individuals, including prominent BYC leaders, charged with serious offences, including terrorism, incitement to rebellion, and murder. An FIR has been registered at the Saryab Police Station on Saturday, citing violations of Sections 7 and 11W of the Anti-Terrorism Act, along with 16 sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to the Geo News, the letter by the Pakistani dignitaries expressed alarm over the alleged police brutality against BYC women activists, stating that the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters exposes the culture of impunity. The signatories are Pakistans prominent educationists, politicians and journalists, including senior journalist Hamid Mir, former senator Afrasiab Khattak, Human Rights Watch Senior Counsel Asia Division Saroop Ijaz and PPP leader Farhatullah Babar. We condemn the unconstitutional rearrest of BYC leaders, including women activists, the minute they were granted bail. This blatant disregard for the rule of law and judicial process is a stark reminder of the systemic injustices faced by the people of Balochistan, the letter obtained by Geo News reads. It included key demands, they are, immediate release of detained BYC leaders, an end to enforced disappearances, the initiation of political dialogue with Baloch representatives, and an independent probe into police brutality against women activists. The joint letter to the PM emphasised that suppressing peaceful protests and denying political dialogue would only deepen the crisis in Balochistan. They also asked the government to align its actions with international human rights law that are also enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan and demanded the authorities to avoid further alienation of Baloch people. Advertisement Its imperative that the Pakistani government respects the rights of the Baloch people, including their right to protest and freedom of expression and release all those detained, the letter stated, adding that the government must also produce all those forcibly disappeared in a court of law and ensure a fair trial for those accused. The ongoing repression in Balochistan is a stain on Pakistans reputation, and it is time for your government to take decisive action to address these concerns, the letter concluded. Pope Francis, a spiritual and not political leader, has never been shy about showing his weakness. For many, his willingness to be seen in all his infirmity serves as an example to young and old alike that fragility is part of the human condition and should be embraced read more Pope Francis waves from a window of the Gemelli hospital before being discharged, in Rome on March 23, 2025. AFP Pope Francis frailty was on full view as he left Romes Gemelli hospital last Sunday after five weeks battling pneumonia that nearly killed him. He could barely lift his arms to bless the crowd. His eyes were sunken, face bloated. And he visibly gasped for breath as he was wheeled back inside from the balcony. Throughout history, the powerful have concealed their weaknesses. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, the most photographed figure of his era, took pains to hide his lame arm. Franklin Delano Roosevelt concealed the use of a wheelchair. More recently, former President Biden shook off concerns about his cognitive abilities. Advertisement By contrast, Francis, a spiritual and not political leader, has never been shy about showing his weakness. For many, his willingness to be seen in all his infirmity serves as an example to young and old alike that fragility is part of the human condition and should be embraced. Who cares if he had sunken eyes, who cares if he looks bloated. It is part of his life story. He knows it is going to end. I saw him as living his life. He wants to keep doing what he does best, said S. Jay Olshansky, a gerontologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Francis frailty is integral to his ministry of inclusion, which preaches against treating people on the margins as disposable, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for Life. Fragility for us believers is not to be avoided or excluded. On the contrary it is a great teaching, Paglia said in an interview. It is in sharp contrast with an efficiency-oriented culture, with a performance culture.'' This is not a state, or a company, it is a community of the faithful, a family. And in a family it is possible to give an authoratative leadership, also if not up to full physical strength, Paglia said. He added that it was an important lesson also for young people who should understand that they too are fragile, otherwise they close themselves off.'' Advertisement Paglia this week opened a longevity summit at the Vatican, during which he underlined that as the population of elderly grows, there must be an attitude shift so that the longer life span is to be lived to its fullest. We need to rethink the idea of retirement. These 20, 30 years more must have also a cultural, human and spiritual weight for all the other ages. They are not disposable, he said. Dr. Francesco Vaia, an advocate of rights for the disabled, also said the popes message is especially crucial in an aging world. The theme is not only to get older, but to be active, that is to give more quality to our longer lives, he said. We are moving towards an inclusive society, which is in contrast with a throw-away world in which the weak, the disabled, the elderly are pushed aside.'' Lets overcome the superman and superwoman theory. We are men and women with our fragility, and disabilities, Vaia said. This pope can continue being pope. Advertisement Even the fact of seeing Francis with the nasal breathing tubes as he was driven to the Vatican normalizes a fact of life for many elderly who live with oxygen tanks. We should not be ashamed of this, Vaia said. Pope John Paul II, too, was often praised for showing his suffering during his long bout with Parkinsons disease. But the Vatican also went to great lengths to conceal his frailty. He was never seen in a wheelchair, for example, instead he was pushed on a rolling wooden chair or upon a moving platform. Francis by contrast arrives at events in wheelchairs, and is seen lifted into a more formal seat for Masses or to address the faithful. He did not shy away from showing his weakened state from the hospital. An audio recording of his barely audible, labored voice was played in St. Peters Square three weeks into his hospitalization as a first sign of life. It was followed by a photograph of him co-celebrating Mass, taken from behind in his personal hospital chapel. Advertisement While Francis appearance on the hospital balcony did not necessarily project vitality, the doctor who coordinated his hospital treatment saw it as a sign of his strength. You saw when he looked out, he is fragile. But his strength is that he could give, even with some difficulty, the blessing, Dr. Sergio Alfieri said. He looked at the square, and he welcomed the lady with the yellow flowers, as if to say, I am maintaining a good mood. He is strong in this sense, a strong spirit. The conflict between the army and the RSF has unleashed waves of ethnic violence, created what the United Nations calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and plunged several areas into famine read more Soldiers of the Sudanese army or affiliated forces pose for a picture while pumping their fists at the damaged presidential palace after recapturing the complex from RSF paramilitaries in Khartoum. AFP Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ruled out any reconciliation with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in a video statement on Saturday in which he vowed to crush the group. We will neither forgive, nor compromise, nor negotiate, he said, reaffirming the militarys commitment to restoring national unity and stability. Burhan also said fighters who repent to the truth could still be amnestied if they lay down their arms, particularly those who are in rebel-held areas. Advertisement Earlier on Saturday, the army said it had taken control of a major market in Khartoums twin city of Omdurman, which had previously been used by the RSF to launch attacks during a devastating two-year-old war. The Sudanese army has also declared victory over the RSF in Khartoum, claiming control of most parts of the capital. The conflict between the army and the RSF has unleashed waves of ethnic violence, created what the United Nations calls the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and plunged several areas into famine. The army said in a statement that its forces were now in control of the market in western Omdurman, Souq Libya, having seized weapons and equipment left behind by the RSF when they fled. Souq Libya is one of the largest and most important commercial hubs in Sudan. The army already controlled most of Omdurman, home to two big military bases. It appears intent on securing control of the entire capital area, which is made up of the three cities of Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, divided by branches of the River Nile. The RSF has not commented on the armys advance in Omdurman, where the paramilitary forces still hold some territory. The war erupted amid a power struggle between the army and RSF ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule. It ruined much of Khartoum, uprooted more than 12 million Sudanese from their homes, and left about half of the 50 million population suffering acute hunger. Advertisement Overall deaths are hard to estimate, but a study published last year said the toll may have reached 61,000 in Khartoum state alone in the first 14 months of the conflict. The war has added to instability in the region, with Sudans neighbours Libya, Chad, Central African Republic and South Sudan each weathering internal bouts of conflict over recent years. Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, has been arrested on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organisation and insulting the president, the presidency said read more This handout photograph taken and released by the Republican People's Party (CHP) press office on March 29, 2025, shows an aerial view of a large crowd gathering during a rally called by the CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor Ekrem Imanoglu in Maltepe, on the outskirts of Istanbul. AFP A Swedish journalist who was detained on his arrival in Turkey to cover protests over the jailing of Istanbuls mayor has been arrested on terror-related charges and for insulting the president, the Turkish presidency said Sunday. Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, has been arrested on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organisation and insulting the president, the presidency said. Medin was detained on Thursday when his plane landed in Turkey, and sent to prison the next day. Advertisement In a bulletin published by its Disinformation Combat Centre, the presidency said Medin was known for anti-Turkey news and his closeness to the terrorist organisation PKK, the banned Kurdish militant group. This arrest decision has no connection whatsoever to journalistic activities, it added. The jailing of Medin came just hours after the authorities released the last of 11 journalists arrested in dawn raids on Monday for covering the protests, among them AFP photographer Yasin Akgul. Turkish authorities have also deported BBC journalist Mark Lowen, who had been covering the protests, after holding him for 17 hours on Wednesday, saying he posed a threat to public order, the broadcaster said. Turkeys communications directorate said Lowen had been deported due to a lack of accreditation. Turkish prosecutors had already opened an investigation into Medin in 2023 over a demonstration he joined in Stockholm in which a puppet of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was hung from its feet, according to the presidencys statement Sunday. It said the Swedish journalist was among 15 suspects believed to have carried out, organised or publicised the demonstration. The protest infuriated Turkish authorities, who alleged it was orchestrated by PKK members and summoned Swedens ambassador to Ankara. During a telephonic conversation with NBC News, Trump said the US and Iranian officials have held talks but didnt provide more details read more US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of bombing if Tehran refuses to sign an agreement with Washington DC over its nuclear programme. During a telephonic conversation with NBC News, Trump said the US and Iranian officials have held talks but didnt provide more details. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, Trump warned. But theres a chance that if they dont make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago, he added. Advertisement Iran rejects direct talks with the US Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out direct negotiations with the US in the first official response to a letter from President Trump to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, Pezeshkian added Irans response opened the window of indirect talks with the US. We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said in a televised Cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. In his letter, Trump had urged Iran to come to the negotiating table and sign a new nuclear deal that would discourage the Shiite nation from pursuing the development of a nuclear bomb. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, but officials have hinted at pursuing nuclear weapons. Since Trumps return, his administration has prioritised preventing Iran from acquiring nukes. In February, a UN report confirmed that Iran has accelerated near weapons-grade uranium production, fuelling global concerns. During his 2017-2021 term, Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had limited Tehrans nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. He later reinstated broad American sanctions, prompting Iran to increase uranium enrichment beyond agreed levels. Trumps warning on Sunday came after the US president on Saturday warned Iran of severe consequences if it didnt sign the deal. I sent them a letter just recently, and I said: you have to make a decision, one way or the other, and we either have to talk and talk it out or very bad things are going to happen to Iran, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. I dont want that to happen. My big preference and I dont say this through strength or weakness my big preference is, we work it out with Iran. But if we dont work it out, bad bad things are going to happen to Iran. (With inputs from agencies) The arrest on March 19 of Istanbuls opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges his supporters say are false, sparked the most significant anti-government protests in Turkey in over a decade in a major test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan read more People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People's Party or (CHP) against the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Image- AP The Turkish opposition on Sunday worked to keep up the momentum of the protest movement triggered by the Istanbul mayors arrest by pushing for early elections as well as his release, with a Swedish reporter the latest detained in a government crackdown. The arrest on March 19 of Istanbuls opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges his supporters say are false, sparked the most significant anti-government protests in Turkey in over a decade in a major test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Advertisement After over a week of nighttime street protests, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) on Saturday mobilised hundreds of thousands of people for a giant rally in Istanbul calling for the release of Imamoglu. He was seen as the candidate with the best chance of defeating Erdogan at the ballot box after almost a quarter of a century in power with the president showing no sign of wishing to step aside ahead of elections due by 2028. With Turkey entering several days of public holiday marking the end of the Ramadan Muslim fasting month, the opposition has vowed to keep up the protest movement while switching tactics to more focused events. CHP party leader Ozgur Ozel, a former pharmacist who has stepped in as the partys main public flagbearer as Imamoglu languishes in Silivri prison in Istanbul, launched a campaign to gather signatures for a petition calling for Imamoglus release and early elections. God is my witness that Ekrem Imamoglus crime is to be Tayyip Erdogans rival, Ozel said as he began the drive in the now suspended mayors home Black Sea region in eastern Turkey. On Saturday, Ozel announced that protests would be held in a different one of Turkeys 81 provinces every weekend and a different district of Istanbul every Wednesday. Advertisement Those who think that we will not be able to celebrate the holiday are very wrong! Because we will definitely find a way to be together! Imamoglu said in a message from prison transmitted through his lawyers on X. Strength to defeat him The government has responded to the protests with a crackdown that has troubled the NATO members allies and rights groups, with dozens of young people spending the holiday behind bars, journalists detained and foreign reporters held or deported. On Sunday, Ozel later returned to Istanbul to visit Imamoglu and dozens of other younger people detained in Silivri prison, vowing to bring to account those responsible. This country will be as democratic as Germany, he vowed. Imamoglus adviser Mahir Polat, who has been arrested in the same case, has meanwhile been hospitalised with a heart condition, his lawyer Erkam Erdem was quoted as saying by the Cumhuriyet newspaper. Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, was arrested on his arrival in Turkey to cover the protests Thursday. He is being held on terror-related charges and for insulting the president, the Turkish presidency said. His newspapers editor in chief, Andreas Gustavsson, described the accusations as absurd, telling AFP that practicing journalism should not be a crime. Advertisement Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenegard told public radio his case was an absolute priority and vowed to raise it with her Turkish counterpart. Turkish authorities accuse Medin of taking part in a demonstration by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Stockholm in January 2023 during which a puppet representing Erdogan was mocked. But his wife Sofie Axelsson said: The accusations are false, he is a journalist, nothing else. They are rising up Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Thursday 1,879 people had been detained in connection with the protests since March 19, with 260 of them remanded in custody pending trial. Father Sinan Karahan said he would for the first time be spending the holiday without his 22-year-old son Sinan Can, a university student, who was sent to Silivri prison after being arrested in an Istanbul protest. These children were born when this party was in power, grew up under this government. They are not happy with its practices and they are rising up, he told AFP, saying he had visited his son in prison on Friday and he was in good health. Erdogan has previously branded the demonstrations street terror. Authorities have used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Advertisement Marta Kos, enlargement commissioner of the EU, which Turkey still officially wants to join, said the arrests and deportations of journalists go against Turkeys commitments and democratic tradition. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right the Turkish authorities have committed to in their quest to join the bloc, she added. Several senior UK and EU diplomats are suggesting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer take a strong stance against US President Donald Trumps tariffs threats as Washington gears up to impose blanket reciprocal tariffs against European nations. read more British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shakes hands with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC, US (Photo: Reuters) Senior UK and European Union diplomats are suggesting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to fight back strongly against US President Donald Trump if he imposes tariffs on British exports. According to The Guardian, there have been fears in No 10 that the American president could trigger a global trade war, which would have a devastating impact on the British economy. As per the report, British government officials in London and Washington worked frantically this weekend convincing Trump to not slap tariffs on key British industries. The US president has already announced plans for 25 per cent blanket tariffs on imports of cars, steel and aluminium to the United States. Advertisement British officials are concerned about Washingtons plan to impose a reciprocal 25 per cent tariffs on all countries that impose any sort of VAT on US exports. The nations on Trumps hit list are the United Kingdom and EU member states. It is pertinent to note that the United States does not impose VAT on its imports. Starmer gets multiple warnings The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned last week that a 20 per cent increase in tariffs between the US and the rest of the world has the potential to cut UKs growth by 1 per cent. In the midst of all this, Starmer is reportedly waiting to judge how to react, based on the level of tariffs that might get imposed on the UK. According to The Guardian, government officials told the British premier to be ready to act in the national interest if Trump hits the UK hard. However, his team also argued that Starmer will be pragmatic if need be suggesting he may not retaliate immediately, in the hope of talking Trump around over time. The officials also believe Starrmer will be looking at a wider US-UK trade deal. Several politicians from the Liberal Democrats have already warned the UK PM to stop appeasing Trump by reducing a tax for US tech firms at the same time as imposing savage welfare cuts, including on disabled people. While speaking to The Observer, former UK ambassador to Washington Kim Darroch said Starmer should learn from the experience over recent days of the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who appears to have softened Trumps tariff threat by warning of strong Canadian retaliation. Earlier this week, Carney said: It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner. Its understandable that faced with deeply damaging US tariffs on British cars, steel and aluminium, the government should think about concessions like reducing digital tax. But they need to be wary of giving Trump wins; tariffs are his all-purpose forcing mechanism and hell use them again and again if he sees them working, Darroch told the British news outlet. Advertisement And they should note the dramatic turnaround in Canadian politics, where on the back of a robust and defiant response to US tariff threats, Mark Carneys Liberals have gone from 14 points behind the Canadian Conservative party at the end of January to eight points ahead last week, he added. Meanwhile, Joao Vale de Almeida, former EU ambassador to the US and the UK, said he did not expect the UK to retaliate in the way the EU was bound to. However, he emphasised that it was important for Starmer to hit back in some way and take a strong stance over the matter. He [Starmer] should at least condemn the tariffs, as they are bad for everyone, Vale de Almeida told The Observer. Polls conducted by the same British outlet following Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reevess spring statement, 11 per cent of UK voters expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months, with 23 per cent saying it will stay the same and 61 per cent that it will get worse. Advertisement Apart from this, British voters rated the British economy relatively poorly compared with other large economic nations, particularly China. The UK economy is rated better than Chinas by just 9 per cent of UK voters, with 10 per cent saying it is about the same and 43 per cent saying it is worse. Emmy and Tony-nominated comedian Amber Ruffin was dropped from performing at the White House correspondents dinner after the Trump administration complained about the comedians past of mocking the US President read more Comedian, writer and actress Amber Ruffin was scheduled to perform at the upcoming White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 26 in Washington, D.C., but the group that runs the event has canceled her appearance. AP As the Trump administration continues to get hit by one scandal after another, the association hosting the White House correspondents dinner has cancelled its headline comedian Amber Ruffins performance at this years event. Ruffin was scheduled to perform at the annual dinner next month, but the White House Correspondents Association announced on Saturday that it has scrapped her appearance. According to BBC, the association sent out a memo to its member and said that the events focus is not on the politics of division, rather it is to honour the work of White House journalists. Interestingly, the move came shortly after the White House attacked the association of choosing Ruffin to perform at the event as a headliner. Advertisement Why was Ruffin dropped? The comedian is known to be a critic of US President Donald Trump. Shortly after the news broke out, Taylor Budowich, the White House deputy chief of staff, reacted to the associations decision to scrap Ruffins performance, calling it a cop-out. No accountability at the WHCA, just a cop-out statement pathetic! wrote Budowich on Saturday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He went on to slam Ruffin, calling the Emmy and Tony-nominated comedian and writer hate-filled comedian. Last month, WHCA President Eugene Daniels announced Ruffin as the headliner, saying she was chosen because her unique talents are the ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate. Ruffin is currently working as a writer for NBCs Late Night with Seth Meyers and has mocked the Trump administration in recent weeks during her segments on the show. She often made jokes about Trumps order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. There have been brewing animosities between the Trump administration and WHCA. Another issue both sides were having was the decision to bar the Associated Press from covering certain events, and the White Houses decision to directly control the press pool, which is the group of journalists who cover the White House event and travel with the American leader. It is still unclear whether Trump will be attending this years correspondents dinner. Some of the Guest entertainers who have headlined the event in the past include Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Conan OBrien, Jay Leno and others. Corporates wary of antagonising billionaire owner amid legal threats and ties to Trump administration read more A growing number of major brands are quietly allocating small portions of their advertising budgets to Elon Musks social media platform X, in an effort to sidestep accusations of boycotting the site while avoiding direct confrontation with its controversial billionaire owner. Financial Times cited marketing executives as saying that companies have faced mounting pressure to maintain a nominal presence on X (formerly Twitter), especially since Musks public support for Donald Trumps administration and his increasingly aggressive legal strategy against former advertisers. Advertisement Last month, X expanded a lawsuit against several groups it claims unlawfully coordinated to stop advertising on the platform. New names added to the legal action include Shell, Nestle, Pinterest and Lego. The lawsuit follows Musks $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and forms part of a broader campaign to hold advertisers accountable for what Musk describes as politically motivated boycotts. Its whatever amount is enough to stay off the naughty list, said Lou Paskalis, CEO of marketing consultancy AJL Advisory. The brand safety risk hasnt gone away but the bigger concern is a Musk tweet that sends your stock tumbling. Thats a billion-dollar risk. The latest developments come as Musks artificial intelligence firm xAi completed its acquisition of X this week in a deal valuing the social media platform at $45 billion including debt. Musk said the merger would consolidate data, talent and technology across both companies. Despite ongoing turbulence, investors remain cautiously optimistic. Musks cost-cutting approach has helped stabilise operations and improve revenue, and his proximity to Trump has energised some right-leaning segments of the market. Internally, Musk and X chief executive Linda Yaccarino are aiming to bring advertising revenue back to 2022 levels before the post-acquisition advertiser exodus. According to research firm Emarketer, Xs global revenue is expected to rise to $2.3bn in 2025, up from $1.9 billion last year, but still far short of the $4.1 billion reported in 2022. Advertisement In the US, ad spending on X declined by 2 per cent in the first two months of 2025 compared with the previous year, even as firms like Hulu and Unilever cautiously returned to the platform. American Express has also resumed advertising, though its spending remains 80 per cent lower than in early 2022. In a sign of shifting dynamics, four of the worlds largest advertising agencies WPP, Omnicom, Interpublic Group and Publicis have either struck deals or are in advanced discussions with X to set annual ad spending targets via upfront commitments. However, the uneasy detente is shadowed by ongoing legal tensions. Musks federal antitrust lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media a coalition of brands and agencies that includes Unilever has unnerved many in the industry. The group is accused of coordinating an illegal boycott under the guise of brand safety. Unilever was dropped from the lawsuit after it resumed advertising on X last October. Still, fears persist. Staff at GroupM, part of WPP, have reportedly been warned to watch what they say about X in internal communications, including on video calls. Advertisement Concerns over regulatory scrutiny have also cast a shadow over the sector. A proposed $13 billion merger between Omnicom and Interpublic has been delayed due to further information requests from US authorities, stalling what would be one of the biggest deals in the advertising world. Even as legacy advertisers hold back, X is courting new clients. Sensor Tower data shows that 35 of the platforms top advertisers this year did not spend on it in 2023. New entrants include pro-Trump merchandise outlet Rock Paper Sizzle, energy drink brand Celsius, and telehealth company Hims & Hers. X insiders point to an uptick in small brands using self-serve ad tools, including features powered by its Grok AI chatbot to help generate campaigns. Theyll get back [to previous ad revenue levels], but it wont be the same mix of advertisers, said one person close to the company. Mark Penn, chief executive of New York-based ad agency Stagwell, claimed X was a revived and increasingly vibrant platform. Advertisement A small plane crashed into a suburban home in Minnesota, killing all the passengers onboard. The cause of the crash remains unknown read more A small plane flying from Iowa to Minnesota crashed into a suburban home and caught fire on Saturday. According to the officials investigating the matter, the plane took off around 12:20 am (local time) before crashing into a residential area of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, BBC reported. While it was unclear exactly how many people were onboard, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said there were no survivors among the passengers. The officials also noted that no one inside the house was killed following the incident. Shortly after the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate the cause of the crash, which remains unknown. Advertisement Plane crashed in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday afternoon near the intersection of 109th Avenue North and Noble Parkway. The cause of the crash has not yet been released. Officials say no one inside the house was injured. pic.twitter.com/LgG8xompio Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) March 29, 2025 The agency is en route to the scene in Minnesota and is expected to be on the ground on Sunday. Once on site, the investigators will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation, the agency said in a statement. Tim Walz releases a statement Several videos of social media posts showed the damage caused to the home where the plane crashed. Chief Conway noted that the house had developed into a fully involved structure fire by the time the fire department arrived at the scene. Brooklyn Park, the town where the plane crashed, is a suburb of Minneapolis. The city houses 82,000 people. Following the incident, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a statement in which he said that his team was in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park and are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call, he added. My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park and we are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call. https://t.co/D4mGfPIaD6 Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) March 29, 2025 Advertisement The incident follows several plane crashes and near misses, the United States has seen since the start of 2025. However, these crashes started to garner the attention of the US public after US President Donald Trump had encouraged his cabinet to make cuts to federal agencies. Hundreds of employees responsible for aiding air safety were fired after Trump assumed the White House. With inputs from agencies. Hegseths praise of Japan contrasts with the criticism he levelled at European allies in February, telling them they should not assume the U.S. presence there would last forever read more Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, and Gen Nakatani, Japan's defense minister, shake hands while posing for photographs prior to their meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Japan on Sunday as indispensable for tackling Chinese aggression and said implementing of a plan to upgrade the U.S military command in the country would get under way. We share a warrior ethos that defines our forces, Hegseth told Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani at a meeting in Tokyo. Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression, including across the Taiwan Strait, he said. Advertisement Calling Japan a cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, he said President Donald Trumps government would continue to work closely with its key Asian ally. In July, then-President Joe Bidens White House announced a major revamp of the U.S. military command in Japan to deepen coordination with Tokyos forces, as the two countries labelled China their greatest strategic challenge. That change will place a combined operational commander in Japan, who would be a counterpart to the head of a joint operation command established by the Japans Self-Defense Forces last week. Troops in Japan Hegseths praise of Japan contrasts with the criticism he levelled at European allies in February, telling them they should not assume the U.S. presence there would last forever. Trump has complained that the bilateral defence treaty, in which Washington pledges to defend Tokyo, is not reciprocal. In his first term, he said Japan should pay more to host U.S. troops. Japan hosts 50,000 U.S. military personnel, squadrons of fighter jets and Washingtons only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group along a 3,000-km (1,900-mile) East Asian archipelago that hems in Chinese military power. It comes as Japan doubles military spending, including money to purchase longer-range missiles. The operational scope of its forces, however, is constrained by its U.S.-authored constitution, adopted after its World War Two defeat, which renounces the right to make war. Advertisement Hegseth and Nakatani agreed to accelerate a plan to jointly produce beyond-visual-range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles and to consider collaborating on production of SM-6 surface-to-air defence missiles to help ease a shortage of munitions, Nakatani said. Hegseth said he asked his counterpart for greater access to Japans strategic southwest islands, along the edge of the contested East China Sea close to Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Signal chat Hegseth, on his first official visit to Asia, travelled to Japan from the Philippines. On Saturday he attended a memorial service on Iwo Jima, the site 80 years ago of fierce fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces. His trip has been overshadowed by revelations he texted the details of imminent U.S. strikes on Yemen on a Signal messaging app group that included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, along with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Advertisement Hegseth on Sunday did not respond to a shouted question about whether he had posted classified information to the group. Gabbard told Congress on Tuesday that the defence secretary would be the one to determine what defence information is classified. 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. 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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Turbine Delivering 'Bumblebee' 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' & 'Sing 2' to 3D Blu-ray on December 19th Sudan army chief says war will not end until RSF lays down its arms Virginia Guard, Finnish Counterparts Train at Arctic Forge 25 By 1st Lt. Nathan DeGallery, Virginia National Guard March 28, 2025 KOUVOLA, Finland -- A platoon of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, participated in cold-weather training with the Finnish Defense Force's Karelia Brigade, marking a milestone in Virginia's growing defense relationship with Finland. The exercise, held from Feb. 15 to March 1 in southern Finland, the first such training since Virginia and Finland formalized their partnership through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program last May. The exercise was part of Arctic Forge 25, a biennial U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led multinational exercise with Finland, Norway and Canada to strengthen the U.S. Army's ability to operate in extreme Arctic conditions and reinforce allied cooperation, integration and security in the Arctic region. The Karelia Brigade and its Kymi Engineer Battalion hosted Virginia's 237th Engineer Company in southern Finland. The Kymi Engineer Battalion, within the Karelia Brigade (which also includes mechanized infantry, artillery, air defense, signal and logistics), is a national center of excellence for combat engineer training for the Finnish Army. Its specialties include explosive ordnance disposal and counter mobility tactics such as deploying anti-tank mines and ditches, which can be strategically employed to enable or counter the flow of military forces and sustainment. "I wanted our troops to be able to have direct cooperation with the Finnish Soldiers, but also to understand the complexities that this environment presents in a combat situation," said Master Sgt. Brett Albertson, operations noncommissioned officer in charge for the 276th Engineer Battalion. The training focused on honing Soldier and combat engineer skills in the cold while fostering military and cultural exchange to strengthen interoperability. It blended tactical combat engineering, winter survival and soldiering with hands-on exercises in RK-95 weapons handling, anti-tank mine placement and clearing, wire obstacle construction, road clearing demolitions and multi-day field training exercises. "I thought it was a fantastic and unique opportunity," said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Teta, platoon sergeant with the 237th. "It was really great to see what we could learn from the Finns and what they could learn from us, especially when it came to being fast, ugly and robust." A recurring theme of the exercise, the motto "Fast, Ugly, and Robust" also serves as a concise ideal for the work of combat engineers. Over the two weeks, Finnish and Virginian service members exchanged combat engineer techniques and procedures, demonstrated equipment, and discussed overall approaches to military education, training, decision making, operations and culture. The mutual understanding forged in the exchange strengthens both forces and deepens their ability to operate as a team. Capt. Pauli Viljakainen, the Karelia Brigade Headquarters lead for the planning and coordination of international exercises, emphasized the importance of building relationships. "When junior leaders now become senior leaders later, and they know each other already, there is already a shared understanding and things can be agreed upon more easily," he said. During the exercise, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the adjutant general of Virginia, and Lt. Gen. Pasi Valimaki, commander of the Finnish Army, visited the Karelia Brigade and 237th Engineer Company. Finland has a deep commitment to national defense. A recent study by the Finnish Ministry of Defense found that 83% of Finns would be willing to participate in defense duties if Finland were attacked. That sense of participation is reflected in Finland's distinctive military structure, its whole-of-society approach to security and a shared emphasis on internal strength and resilience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vance says Denmark must change approach as the U.S. pushes to own Greenland IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 29, 2025 U.S. Vice President JD Vance has accused Denmark of doing a poor job ensuring the security of Greenland, demanding that the Scandinavian country change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to annex the self-governing Arctic island. "Denmark has not kept pace and devoted the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of very aggressive incursions from Russia, from China and other nations," Vance said on Friday during a visit to the U.S. military base at Pituffik in northern Greenland. He suggested that the United States could provide better protection, echoing President Trump's longstanding interest in acquiring the island. "Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland," Vance said. "You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change." Vance said that while the United States has no immediate plans to expand its military presence in Greenland, it intends to invest in resources such as naval ships and military icebreakers. "I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States," he said. "We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they'd fare a lot better economically as well." He emphasized the strategic importance of the Arctic region, citing increased interest from Russia and China in its passageways, naval routes, and mineral resources. Vance's remarks were dismissed as unfair by the prime minister of Denmark, which has controlled Greenland since 1721. Since taking office in January, President Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, pointing to the existing American military bases on the island. Trump's push to acquire the territory has faced strong opposition from Greenlandic lawmakers and citizens. Early this month, protests were held in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, with demonstrators waving the national flag and holding signs that read, "Respect Greenland's sovereignty," "We are not for sale," and "Make America Go Away," a twist on Trump's campaign slogan. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran strongly condemns Israeli military aggression against Lebanon IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 29, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Tehran has strongly condemned Israel's latest military assaults on residential areas in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, calling them a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement between the Zionist regime and the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah. In a statement late on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the assaults, which coincided with International Quds Day and global protests against Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine, flagrantly violated Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Baqaei stressed that the United Nations and the guarantors of the ceasefire bear direct responsibility for addressing Israel's repeated violations and urged the international community to take immediate and effective action to halt such aggressions. Rejecting Israel's justifications for the attacks as baseless, he emphasized that the global community must adopt decisive measures against Israel's continued violations across the region, from Gaza to Lebanon and Syria. The Israeli regime's escalating threats pose serious risks to international peace and security, the spokesperson warned. The Israeli military launched an attack on Beirut on Friday, marking the first of its kind since the regime agreed to a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in November. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President extends congratulations on the 21st anniversary of Lithuania's NATO membership President of the Republic of Lithuania March 29, 2025 On Saturday morning, President Gitanas Nauseda extended his congratulations to the people of Lithuania on the 21st anniversary of the county's NATO membership. According to the President, as we commemorate this milestone today, we have many reasons to be proud. NATO is our security guarantor and the bedrock of transatlantic unity and strength. He emphasized that, as a country on NATO's eastern flank, Lithuania clearly understands the significance of the Alliance for both itself and the entire region. "Lithuania has a long history of struggles for independence. We fully understand what it means to fight for freedom. The threat of Russian aggression is real today. A strong transatlantic Alliance assures us that we can respond to these threats," the President stated. Gitanas Nauseda underlined that Lithuania is and will remain a responsible NATO member, committed to further strengthening the Alliance and contributing to its deterrence capabilities. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese military warns Philippines against provoking incidents People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:28, March 29, 2025 BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese military conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Friday, said a spokesperson. The action took place amid ongoing efforts by the Philippines to enlist countries outside the region for so-called "joint patrols" and hype and spread its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, said Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command. The Philippine moves have sown destabilizing factors and undermined peace and stability in the region, Tian added. "We warn the Philippine side against provoking incidents and engaging in actions that heighten tensions in the South China Sea," said the spokesperson, adding that seeking external support would prove futile. The forces under the Southern Theater Command will remain on high alert and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Tian. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sofia conference discusses Bulgaria's role in EU rearmament People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:08, March 29, 2025 SOFIA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- The recent wave of rearmament in Europe presents new opportunities for boosting Bulgaria's defense industry, speakers of the Sofia Security Conference said Friday. Held for the first time in the Bulgarian capital, the one-day event brought together politicians, officials of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry, and representatives of the country's defense industry. Organized at Sofia Tech Park by Andrey Novakov, a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament (EP), the conference also held an exhibition of Bulgarian-made armored vehicles, drones, and anti-drone systems. "We have companies in Bulgaria that can (contribute) to Europe's defense," said Novakov, who is a member of the EP's Committee on Security and Defense. Bulgaria's defense industry employs about 100,000 people and in 2023, the country exported defense products worth over 4.2 billion Bulgarian lev (BGN) (2.32 billion U.S. dollars), according to Novakov. "Europe has finally started to emerge from the role of Sleeping Beauty ... while events are happening in the world," Novakov said. Europe has realized that it has to take care of itself and for the first time in the EU's history, funding has been earmarked for the rearmament and defense of the continent, he said. This presents a historic chance for Bulgaria to boost its defense industry and be at the forefront of these new trends, Novakov said. Bulgaria's Deputy Defense Minister Radostin Iliev said his ministry supported the full involvement of the country's defense industry in Europe's rearmament, and it made targeted efforts to raise the awareness of the sector about the opportunities in Bulgaria and at the EU level. Hristo Gadzhev, a member of the Bulgarian Parliament and chairperson of its Committee on Defense, said it was important to position Bulgarian defense products as a quality benchmark in Europe. (1 BGN = 0.55 U.S. dollar) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Greenland announces new autonomous gov't amid Trump pressure People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:02, March 29, 2025 NUUK, Greenland, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Greenland announced the formation of a new autonomous government on Friday in Nuuk, the capital, just hours ahead of a visit by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to the Arctic island. At a ceremony held at the Katuaq Cultural Center, four political parties, representing 23 of the 31 seats in Greenland's parliament, signed a coalition agreement to establish the new autonomous government. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, chairman of the Demokraatit (Democratic Party), will serve as prime minister. Following the announcement, the venue erupted in prolonged applause from local residents. "I hope the new government can speak out on behalf of the people of Greenland," said Aviaja Martinsen, a local citizen, in an interview with Xinhua. Vance is expected to arrive later in the day, amid heightened sensitivity surrounding U.S. interest in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire Greenland, a strategically located and resource-rich autonomous territory of Denmark. Vance and his wife Usha, accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other senior officials, are scheduled to tour a U.S. military base on the island, a visit viewed by officials in both Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation amid Trump's ongoing efforts to assert greater U.S. influence in the Arctic. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1979, it gained home rule, expanding its autonomy, while Denmark retained control over foreign affairs and defense policy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Analysts: PH-US defense cooperation getting on China's nerves Philippine News Agency By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos March 29, 2025, 3:05 pm MANILA -- The enhanced defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States (US) is an "effective" strategy to deter conflict in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), political analysts said on Saturday. Satellite images obtained by international news agency Reuters showed that China deployed two long-range H-6 bombers this week, near the hotly contested Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. On Friday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with military and defense officials at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, De La Salle University professor Renato de Castro said the deployment of two Chinese bombers is proof that efforts to beef up the military partnership between the Philippines and the US are effective. De Castro said it is not surprising that China deployed its bombers, in time for Hegseth's visit to the Philippines. "The fact na nagre-react 'yung China, meaning effective ito. Naapektuhan siya. Hindi lang siya natatakot. Talaqgang nagagalit siya dahil tinatakot natin sila. Kung matakot man siya o hindi (The fact that China is reacting means it is effective. It has been affected. It is not just afraid. It is really angry because we are making them afraid. Whether it is afraid or not), that's not part of our business," he said. "When it comes to national defense, this is really a sovereign act," de Castro added. Geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill agreed with his fellow La Salle professor, saying China's latest move is "quite expected." He said Hegseth's visit to the country signals the US' strong commitment to helping the Philippines in its maritime row with China. "Nakita po natin na (We saw that) there is this recognition that we need to deploy more from the US side, more advanced weapon systems to more properly address 'yung (the) emerging threat coming from either pagdating sa (in) Taiwan or sa (in the) West Philippine Sea," Gill said. "So, in that regard, it is also in the interest of the United States to ensure na nandito rin 'yung higher system nila (that their higher system is also here)," he added. In a press briefing after his meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Hegseth said the US would deploy additional capabilities or weapons in the Philippines as part of efforts to deter conflicts in the Indo-Pacific Region. Hegseth said the US would deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-missile system and highly capable unmanned surface vehicles at the military exercise "Balikatan" in April. He said the systems will allow the US and Philippine troops to train together using advanced capabilities. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Japan, US conduct another maritime cooperative activity in WPS Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno and Joyce Ann L. Rocamora March 29, 2025, 6:57 am MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), along with the naval units of Japan and the United States, conducted another "multilateral maritime cooperative activity" (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Friday. In a statement, the AFP said this latest MMCA aimed to enhance interoperability and strengthen the combined capabilities of the participating forces. The Philippine contingent to the latest MMCA consisted of the guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), an AW-109 helicopter, a C-90 aircraft, and search-and-rescue assets of the Air Force. Meanwhile, Japan deployed the multi-mission frigate JS Noshiro (FFM-3) with the maritime helicopter SH-60K. The US contributed the guided missile destroyer DDG Shoup (DDG-86), multi-mission naval helicopter MH-60R, and maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon. The activity consisted of various exercises, including communications check, rotary flight operations, maritime domain awareness/contact reporting, division tactics, personnel exchange, and photo exercises. "The MMCA continuously highlights the vital improvements in our coordination, tactics, and shared maritime awareness. Every iteration strengthens our capacity to respond to maritime security challenges while reinforcing our collective ability to safeguard our national interests," AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said. In a separate statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Tokyo's participation reaffirms its commitment to promoting the "free and open use of the seas" with like-minded partners. "Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States stand resolute in advancing the shared vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, reaffirming their shared commitment to a rules-based international order that promotes peace, security, and prosperity for all nations across the region," it said. This 8th MMCA follows the inaugural port call of JS Noshiro at the Naval Operating Base Subic. "The port visit and subsequent MMCA reflect Japan's strong commitment to maritime stability and security," the embassy said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 3,250 housing units destroyed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank's Jenin Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 7:00 PM The media committee at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank says at least 3,250 housing units have become uninhabitable as a result of the Israeli military's ongoing offensive in the area, stating that the number of displaced persons from the region now stands at 21,000. The Jenin municipality reported that the camp has become entirely unlivable as a result of ongoing hostilities, which involve the destruction and incineration of residences, in addition to the transformation of some into military barracks. The municipality added that Israeli occupation forces persist in enforcing a stringent blockade on the Jenin governorate, which houses a population of 360,000. It further highlighted that Israeli troops have demolished approximately 600 homes and have devastated the entire infrastructure within the camp. The Israeli military has deployed additional units and bulldozers to the Jenin camp, where demolition activities, road expansions, and construction of new pathways are currently ongoing. Meanwhile, the army continues to fire live rounds in the vicinity of the camp, amidst the movements of ground troops within the area and extensive drone operations overhead. The total count of displaced individuals from the camp has now reached 21,000, with these individuals spread across the city of Jenin and its neighboring villages. At the same time, the Hebrew-language news website, Walla, reported that the Israeli military is intensifying its engineering activities, which include demolition and clearing operations in the northern West Bank camps. The commander of the central region in the occupying forces was cited by the site as saying that the Tel Aviv regime has made the decision to dismantle the camps, viewing them as a "fortress" for Palestinian resistance, and to transform them into residential areas associated with the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Missing Gaza rescue team 'executed' by Israeli forces, officials say Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 1:49 PM A week after a group of aid workers disappeared in Gaza's southern town of Rafah, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) says they are believed to have been "executed" by Israeli forces. A group of 15 paramedics and rescue workers from PRCS and Gaza's Civil Defense "vanished" on March 22 in the Tal Sultan neighborhood in Rafah following an incident in which Israeli forces fired on ambulances and fire trucks. They had arrived in response to an Israeli bombing in Rafah. In a Saturday statement, PRCS said, "So far, no trace of our team members has been found." "Yesterday (March 28), we discovered the four ambulance vehicles completely destroyed and buried in the sand," PRCS said, adding that they are believed to have been executed. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said that the body of one emergency worker had been found. Basal said that when Civil Defense and Red Crescent teams were finally granted access to the area, they found "massive destruction" and widespread bulldozing. "We found our vehicles and the Red Crescent vehicles destroyed," and subsequently, the body of one worker that had been buried by bulldozers was retrieved, he added. In a report on Saturday, al-Jazeera also cited witnesses as saying that Israeli forces had killed and buried the team of paramedics and rescue workers who went to Rafah last week. Israel's military said in a statement that on that day, its forces had opened fire at "suspicious vehicles" advancing toward troops without prior coordination. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said it was "a deliberate and brutal massacre against civil defense and Palestinian Red Crescent teams in the city of Rafah." Since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, 19 PRCS members have been killed while on duty, according to the society. "We cannot bear to add more names to this tragic list," a spokesperson for the society said Thursday. In a separate incident, Israeli forces killed one member of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) and injured six others "as meals were being distributed" in Gaza on Thursday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump administration officially shutters USAID after months of cuts Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 11:24 AM The administration of US President Donald Trump has officially shuttered the US Agency for International Development (USAID), dealing a final blow to the foreign aid agency. The State Department on Friday formally notified Congress that it was "effectively dissolving" the USAID and moving some of its functions under the department. In a memo distributed to USAID employees, Jeremy Lewin, the agency's new deputy director, wrote that the State Department "intends to assume responsibility for many of USAID's functions and its ongoing programming." The State Department "will seek to retire USAID's independent operation" immediately and "assess" whether to rehire some unknown number of officials to "assume the responsible administration of USAID's remaining life-saving and strategic aid programming," the memo said. "It will also obviate the need for USAID to continue operating as an independent establishment." As part of the move, the memo stressed, "All non-statutory positions at USAID will be eliminated." The Trump administration has stated on multiple occasions that USAID is mismanaging taxpayer dollars and funding overseas programs that are not in US interests despite claims by current and former USAID employees and aid experts that the agency meets humanitarian needs around the globe. In its first weeks in office, the Trump administration moved to dismantle USAID and freeze almost all foreign assistance, pending a review of those programs. Since then, thousands of USAID employees have been fired or put on leave, and billions of dollars in aid contracts have been canceled. The decision to shut down a federal agency is expected to prompt legal scrutiny, according to experts who said such a move would typically require congressional approval. Praising the move in a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the administration was officially moving to eliminate USAID and that foreign aid would be administered by the State Department. "Thanks to President Trump, this misguided and fiscally irresponsible era is now over," Rubio said in his statement. "We are reorienting our foreign assistance programs to align directly with what is best for the United States and our citizens." Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the USAID has a long history of instigating unrest with the aim of overthrowing governments in various Latin American countries, including Cuba and Venezuela. The footprints of the agency have also been discovered in coups staged in eastern Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Full-fledged war crime': Hamas slams Israeli strike on civil defense teams in Rafah Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 6:20 AM The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has strongly condemned the Israeli military's attacks on Palestinian Civil Defense teams and paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, calling the assaults a "full-fledged war crime." The Gaza-based resistance group, in a statement on Friday, said the recent discovery of the bodies of 15 first responders, found buried in sand next to their destroyed vehicles in the Tel al-Sultan and al-Baraksat neighborhoods of Rafah days after losing contact with them, exposes the extent of the atrocity committed during the latest Israeli assault. The movement stressed that the deliberate targeting of emergency workers while performing their humanitarian duties represents one of the most egregious violations of the laws of war and forms part of the Zionist regime's ongoing attacks against civilians in the Gaza Strip. "The Israeli war machine recognizes no limits to its brutality," the statement read. Hamas denounced what it described as international silence in the face of such crimes, terming this inaction as unacceptable complicity. It held the international community historically accountable for failing to stop what it labeled a campaign of systematic extermination. The movement also called on the United Nations, its specialized agencies, and international humanitarian organizations, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross, to take urgent action to launch an international investigation into the latest Israeli atrocity. On Thursday evening, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), entered the Tel Sultan neighborhood and retrieved the remains of a Civil Defense medic from among the nine personnel who were unaccounted for. According to reports from Civil Defense, the team that arrived in Tel Sultan was taken aback upon discovering the dismembered remains of their mission leader, Anwar Abdel Hamid al-Attar. 'The reports added that they also found the Civil Defense ambulances and fire trucks, along with Palestinian Red Crescent Society vehicles, "completely destroyed by Israeli strikes," noting that "safety gear worn by the team was discovered torn apart, suggesting that Israeli forces directly targeted them before using bulldozers and heavy machinery to conceal bodies." Five Civil Defense personnel remain missing in Tel Sultan, it said. On Sunday, the Israeli military carried out an extensive ground and aerial offensive in the neighborhood, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries, while also trapping thousands of individuals, including medical personnel and rescue teams. At the time, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that it had lost communication with its staff after Israeli forces surrounded them during their efforts to evacuate individuals affected by air and artillery bombardments in Rafah. The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing 855 people, injuring nearly 1,900 others, and shattering the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian abductees. According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 50,251 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 114,025 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli military admits to firing on ambulances in Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 2:03 AM Israel's military has admitted it fired on ambulances in the Gaza Strip, with Hamas condemning it as a "war crime." The Israeli regime's military made the admission on Saturday, saying it fired on ambulances after identifying them as "suspicious vehicles." The incident took place last Sunday in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the southern city of Rafah, close to the Egyptian border. Israeli troops launched an offensive in Rafah on March 20 after the regime resumed aerial bombardments of Gaza. Israeli troops had "opened fire toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas" fighters, the military said in a statement to AFP. "A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops... The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating several Hamas and Islamic Jihad" fighters. The Israeli military did not say if there was fire coming from the vehicles. It added that "after an initial inquiry, it was determined that some of the suspicious vehicles... were ambulances and fire trucks." Hamas spokesman Basem Naim said Israel carried out "a deliberate and brutal massacre against Civil Defense and Palestinian Red Crescent teams in the city of Rafah." "The targeted killing of rescue workers- who are protected under international humanitarian law- constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime," he said. Tom Fletcher, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that since March 18, "Israeli airstrikes in densely populated areas have killed hundreds of children and other civilians". "Patients killed in their hospital beds. Ambulances shot at. First responders killed," he said in a statement. "If the basic principles of humanitarian law still count, the international community must act while it can to uphold them." Since March 18, the regime has launched strikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement that had lasted nearly two months. Since dawn on Friday, Israel has intensified its air and artillery strikes on several areas across Gaza, including Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun in the north, and Gaza City, as well as Abasan al-Kabira, Bani Suheila and Rafah City in the south. The latest casualties bring to 896 the number of people killed since Israel resumed the war on Gaza earlier this month. The renewed strikes also left 1,984 injured. The regime has massacred over 50,200 Palestinians and injured at least 114,000 others since, according to the health ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US aggression against Yemen continues Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 1:31 AM The United States presses ahead with its aggression against Yemen, launching new airstrikes on various areas across the Arab country. Yemeni media reported on Saturday morning that US airstrikes hit Sa'ada, killing one person and wounding four others. The US has reportedly carried out 14 strikes on the outskirts of Sa'ada city. The latest attack comes after the US targeted more than 40 locations across Yemen, including in the capital, Sana'a, damaging multiple residential buildings and shops. The US and its allies have escalated their aggression against Yemen after the country resumed its anti-Israel operations over the regime's renewed genocide in Gaza. Washington said it will use overwhelming force until the Ansarallah resistance movement stops its anti-Israel operations. Washington and London, the Tel Aviv regime's biggest benefactors, have been relentlessly bombing Yemen over the past several days, killing dozens, mostly women and children, in a desperate attempt to stop Sanaa's military operations against Israel. US warplanes carried out at least 15 air raids on the southern and northeastern regions of Yemen's capital late on Wednesday, including airstrikes in the vicinity of Sanaa International Airport. On Wednesday morning, the US-led Western coalition renewed its targeting of the Sahar District of the Saada governorate. This region had been targeted with two dozen airstrikes in the middle of the night. Yemen has launched several attacks on Israel since the Gaza ceasefire collapsed, which led to the Yemeni forces resuming operations in support of the besieged Palestinian strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address American Woman Freed By Taliban, Second Release Of US Hostage In 8 Days By RFE/RL March 29, 2025 An American woman has been released by the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan after being detained since February, the second freeing of a US citizen in the past eight days. In a video posted by US President Donald Trump on March 29, Faye Hall said she had been released by the Taliban after being detained in the war-torn country last month. "I've never been so proud to be an American citizen," Hall said in the video. "Thank you, Mr President...God bless you." Trump thanked Hall for the comments and added: "So honored with your words!" Former U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad first announced the release hours earlier on X, saying it had occurred on March 27. He said she was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul. "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home," said Khalilzad, who has been part of a US team seeking the release of hostages held by the Taliban. The development came a week after George Glezmann, 66, was released from detention in Kabul following the first visit by a senior US official to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in the wake of the withdrawal of international troops in August 2021. Hall had been detained in February while with a British couple in their 70s, Barbie and Peter Reynolds. British media said the Reynolds had been operating school projects in Afghanistan for 18 years and had remained in the country despite the Taliban's return to power. Reuters quoted a US official as saying Adam Boehler, Washington's special envoy for hostage affairs, had worked with Qatari officials and others to win Hall's release. There was no immediate information on the British couple. Their daughter has pleaded for their release, citing health concerns. Several Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. Upon his release, Glezmann also thanked Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others who helped free him. He told Fox News he was abducted in the streets of Kabul and thrown "into a dungeon with no windows no nothing." Two other Americans held in Afghanistan were exchanged in late January for a Taliban man imprisoned for life in California on drug and terrorism charges. Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were swapped for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 and was incarcerated in a US prison. Aid worker Corbett, 40, and Mahmood Habibi, 37 -- who led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous Afghan government -- were detained separately in August 2022. The world community has not recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, although some countries -- including Russia, China, and Turkey -- still maintain embassies in Kabul. Qatar has also maintained direct contact with the Taliban and has helped broker negotiations for the release of US hostages. Amid poverty and unrest in the country, the Taliban rulers have made moves to open ties with the rest of the world. Western nations are reluctant to engage with the extremist group amid complaints of widespread human rights violations, especially against girls and women. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, AFP, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-release-american- hostage-taliban-khalilzad-trump/33364021.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 UN chief strongly condemns killing of Kenyan peacekeeper in Central African Republic 29 March 2025 - The UN Secretary-General on Saturday strongly condemned an attack on peacekeepers serving with UN mission MINUSCA in the Central African Republic which left one Kenyan 'blue helmet' dead. A statement from the UN Spokesperson's Office on behalf of Antonio Guterres said the peacekeeper had been killed on Friday by so-far unknown assailants when his unit was on a long-range patrol near the village of Tabane in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, in the southeast of the country. "The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the Government and the people of Kenya," the statement continued. Possible war crime "The Secretary-General recalls that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Central African authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly." The Central African Republic, or CAR, has been in a state of internal conflict along sectarian lines since 2012 when predominantly Muslim militia began battling mostly Christian anti-Balaka militia, resulting in thousands of deaths and leaving many more dependent on aid. In 2013, armed groups seized the capital forcing President Francois Bozize to flee. After a brief period of reduced violence in 2015, and elections held in 2016, fighting intensified. Peace talks got underway in early 2019 under the auspices of the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR, led by the African Union (AU) with UN support. A deal was agreed in Khartoum and formally signed in CAR's capital, Bangui. 'Heinous attack' The head of the MINUSCA, Valentine Rubwabiza, said in a statement she was "extremely shocked by this heinous attack on peacekeepers whose mission is to protect civilians." A rapid intervention team has been deployed to the site of the incident to secure the area, she added. The MINUSCA chief - who also serves as UN Special Representative in the country - called on authorities in CAR "to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack so that they can be brought to justice swiftly." She said cowardly attacks would not diminish peacekeepers' determination to carry out their mandate "in service of peace and stability". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas agrees to proposal on national unity government; vows weapons are resistance's 'redline' Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 1:25 AM The Gaza Strip-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has accepted a proposal to establish a national unity government composed of independent national figures. Khalil al-Hayya, head of the movement, made the remarks on Sunday, saying the proposal had been forwarded by Qatari and Egyptian mediators concerning formation of the government, set to be named the Community Support Committee. "We dealt with [this proposal] positively and agreed to it. We hope that the [Israeli] occupation will not obstruct it or thwart the mediators' efforts," he added. The official said the group's approval of the proposal had to do with its efforts to engage in joint endeavor among "the components of our Palestinian people" to realize Palestinians' right to establishing a sovereign state with the holy occupied city of al-Quds as its capital. Hamas' affirmative response was also aimed at fulfillment of Palestinians' right to return to their homeland, he noted. 'Those thinking resistance will give up arms are delusional' According to al-Hayya, neither Hamas nor any other regional resistance movements, meanwhile, had any intention of giving up their armed struggle against the Israeli regime. "As for the weapons of resistance, it is a red line and it is linked to the existence of the occupation," the official said, indicating that the resistance would continue to bear and deploy arms as long as the regime stuck to its false claims over regional territories. The resistance's insistence on retaining its weapons, he added, was also linked to its legitimate efforts at realizing establishment of an independent Palestinian state. "And we say frankly to those who bet that Hamas and the resistance factions might abandon their responsibilities and hand over our people and families to an unknown fate controlled by the occupation according to its desires; We tell them you are delusional." Al-Hayya said Hamas had presented Egypt with names of a number of officials towards formation of the aforementioned government. He urged Cairo to advance its efforts at implementation of the prospect "with Arab and Islamic backing." The announcement followed a series of meetings in Cairo aimed at achieving national unity among various Palestinian factions. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Hamas' leader strongly denounced the Israeli regime for evading all agreements towards prolonging its deadly aggression towards Palestinians. The comments came amid Tel Aviv's October 2023-present genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and escalated deadly aggression and devastation across the occupied West Bank. The regime agreed to start implementing a ceasefire deal with Hamas in January. It, however, would regularly violate the accord before resuming the war with enhanced deadly force earlier in March. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hundreds Of Thousands Of Afghans In Pakistan Brace For Deportations By Farangis Najibullah and Rashid Khattak March 30, 2025 More than 800,000 Afghans who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover in 2021 live without papers in neighboring Pakistan. These undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants face a rapidly approaching deportation order issued by Islamabad requiring them to leave the country by March 31. Another 1.4 million Afghans who are formally registered with the Pakistani government and who hold a Proof of Residence card issued by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have until June 30 to return to their homeland. Many have lived in Pakistan for decades. The fate of an additional 40,000 Afghans who are waiting to be resettled to third countries, mostly in the West, is unclear. Pakistan initially said these at-risk Afghans, a group that includes activists, journalists, and former members of the defunct Western-backed Afghan government and its armed forces, must leave or face deportation by March 31. But a source at the Pakistani Interior Ministry told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that the deadline for them to leave the country has been extended to June 30. Among this group are some 15,000 Afghans who are waiting to be resettled in the United States, although their status remains unclear after President Donald Trump's administration announced that the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) would be suspended for at least three months starting on January 27. "We are left in a deep despair," said Hina, a 25-year-old Afghan woman who lives with her family in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Her family had been cleared for resettlement in the United States and even booked their flights from Islamabad. But now they are in limbo. "Our dreams of building a safe future [in the United States] have been shattered," added Hina. "We can't return to Afghanistan where our lives will be at risk, nor can we build a stable life in Pakistan." Growing Fears Pakistan has already forcibly deported more than 800,000 undocumented Afghans since 2023, when it launched a major crackdown, according to the UN. The deportees have returned to a country gripped by devastating humanitarian and economic crises, and many have struggled to access shelter, health care, and food and water. The deportations have coincided with tensions soaring between the unrecognized Taliban government in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of sheltering Pakistani militants, a claim rejected by the Afghan militant group. Ahead of the March 31 deadline, Pakistani police conducted night raids and arbitrarily detained and arrested hundreds of Afghan refugees in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby city of Rawalpindi, according to international rights groups. Videos shared on social media show Pakistani police using loudspeakers to order undocumented Afghans to leave Islamabad. "The problem is that our children go to school here and we have jobs here," Obaidullah, an undocumented Afghan refugee living in Peshawar, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "What will we do in Afghanistan?" Dire Situation The tens of thousands of Afghans who are awaiting resettlement abroad face a race against time. Many of them are in a dire financial situation in Pakistan, said Maiwand Alami, who leads an NGO to help Afghan refugees in Islamabad. "They have sold their homes in Afghanistan, but that money has since run out," Alami told RFE/RL. "But [their] biggest problem is uncertainty about their immigration cases. Everybody is anxious about it." "Afghans in Pakistan are now required to extend their stay every month. It costs 20,000 rupees [about $71] per person which is a lot of money here, especially if you don't have any income," Alami said. The resettlement of Afghans to the West is uncertain amid increasingly anti-migrant sentiment across Europe and the United States. Trump said the United States "lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans." He ordered the suspension of USRAP "until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-refugees- pakistan--deportation-unhcr/33363309.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 29 March 2025 - Day 1130 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively thwart the Russian nemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect, exhaustion across the frontline. Since the beginning of this day, 198 combat clashes have taken place. The Russian invaders launched one rocket and 79 aviation strikes using one rocket and 135 cab. In addition, the Russians have engaged about a thousand kamikaze drones and carried out more than four and a half thousand shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops stopped two Russian attacks in the area of vovchanska and towards kamenka, so far one combat is ongoing. The enemy launched aviation strikes on the settlement of Slatine. In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out six assaults of the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the direction of Pi any, Petropavlivka and nearby Zagrizovy. Ukrainian defenders have stopped five enemy attacks, another confrontation is still ongoing. In the Lyman direction during the day, Russian zagarbniki 23 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near Nadia, Yampolivka, Kolodyaziv, Torsky, in the direction of Novoy, Olgivka and Novomikhailivka. So far, five more clashes remain unfinished. In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces made three assaults of the positions of Ukrainian units near ivano-daryivka and pereijznogo. Two attacks have already been stopped by Ukrainian defenders, still one fight is going on. In the Kramators komu direction, 13 combat clashes have been recorded in the directions of Maysky, Alexander-Shultiny, Predteciny, White Mountain, near the Time Yar, Stupochok and Kurdyumivka. In the Toretsky direction Russians 18 times attacked the positions of defense forces. The main efforts of the attack were concentrated near Crimea, Toretsk and in the direction of Diliyivka. As of now, all attacks have been undone. In the Pokrovsky direction, Zagorbnytskyi units 73 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Novotoretske, Panteleimonivka, Oleksandropil, Vodyane Second, Elizabethtivka, Lisivka, Kotline, Udaachne, Novosergiyivka, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, Sribne, Andriyivka, and in the direction of Kotlyarivka. Four clashes have been ongoing so far. Aviation strikes were hit by the settlements Oleksiev-Druzhkivka, Oleksandropil, Suhiy Yar, Poltavka, Cossack, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, Chunyshine, Grishine, Novooleksandrivka and Novopavlivka. The Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today in this direction Ukrainian warriors zneskodili 193 occupiers, 174 of them - irrevocable. Five vehicles, three BPLA control antennas, a motorcycle, an ATV, a cannon, a mortar, a radio-electronic combat station, three satellite communication terminals, two generators, a Supercam reconnaissance unmanned aircraft and a BPLA control point were also destroyed. Also damaged a tank, a car, two blinds and a Russian jet system of salp fire. In the Novopavlivs komu direction, Russian forces attacked 15 times near Konstantinopol, Skudnogo and in the direction of Rozlivu. Ukrainian defenders have successfully stopped all enemy attacks. The enemy carried out aviation strikes on the settlements of Green Grove and Piddubne. In the direction of Gulyaipil, Russian forces carried out nine attacks near Privilny, Novosilka and in the direction of Novopol. In addition, the enemy launched aviation strikes on Gulyaipol, Novopol and Green Field. In the Orihivsky direction, Russian forces twice attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Kamianske and Lobkove. In the Pridniprovsky direction, the Russian enemy carried out two offensive actions in the direction of Sadovoy and Pridniprovsky, but was unsuccessful. In the operational zone in Kurshchini, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled 31 attacks of Russian invaders within a day. In addition, Russian forces launched 17 air strikes using 22 guided bombs and carried out 254 artillery shells to positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including eight from reactive salvage systems. In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Belgorod direction, the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an assault regiment of the AFU, a marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades close to Krasnopolye, Ugroyedy, Prokhody, and Miropolskoye (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 185 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, an Israeli-made RADA radar, and a Nota electronic warfare station. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. The Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades and two assault brigades of the AFU close to Novoye, Yampol (Donetsk People's Republic), Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic), and Krinichki (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 210 troops, a tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns including two of Western-made. Two electronic warfare stations and one ammunition depot were eliminated. The Yug Group of Forces liberated Panteleymonovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops engaged formations of two jaeger brigades, two mechanised brigades of the AFU, a territorial defence brigade, and a special forces brigade near Starayaya Nikolayevka, Novoolenovka, Ulyanovka, and Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 300 troops, a tank, a U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicle, and five motor vehicles. One ammunition depot was destroyed. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian formations damaged formations of two mechanised brigades two assault brigades and an assault regiment of the AFU close to Zelenoye, Kotlino, Yelizavetovka, Novoaleksandrovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Kotlyarovka, Petrovskoye and Novosergeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 480 troops, two tanks, six armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns including a U.S.-made 105-mm M101 howitzer. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian troops engaged manpower and hardware of a tank brigade, a mechanised brigade, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades near Yalta, Otradnoye, Voskresenka, Novopol (Donetsk People's Republic) and Gulyaypole (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 150 troops, three motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns. One ammunition depot was destroyed. The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces liberated Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region). Russian troops hit formations of a mechanised brigade, a mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade near Novoandreyevka, Kamenskoye, Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region), Dneprovskoye, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region). Over 70 troops, a motor vehicle, and an electronic warfare station 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 workshop, storage areas and control posts of unmanned aerial vehicles, ammunition depots as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 148 areas. Air defence systems have shot down a U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bomb, HIMARS MLRS projectile as well as 73 fixed-wing UAVs. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 660 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 48,952 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,569 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,532 MLRS combat vehicles, 23,064 field artillery guns and mortars, and 33,499 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region. The Sever Group of Forces liberated Veselovka (Sumy region) during the offensive. Moreover, strikes were delivered at a mechanised brigade, two air assault brigades, the president's brigade, and a territorial defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya as well as Basovka, Belovody, Varachino, Velikaya Rybitsa, Veselovka, Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Grunovka, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Kiyanitsa, Loknya, Mogritsa, Novonikolayevka, Obody, Sadki, Khrapovshchina, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region). For the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to more than 190 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, an artillery gun, three mortars as well as six UAV command posts, and an ammunition depot. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 70,890 troops, 402 tanks, 329 infantry fighting vehicles, 290 armoured personnel carriers, 2,234 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,569 motor vehicles, 590 artillery guns, 53 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and seven of MLRS made by the USA, 26 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one self-propelled anti-aircraft system, ten transport-loading vehicles, 123 EW stations, 18 counter-fire radars, ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 300 student visas revoked as the U.S. cracks down on pro-Palestinian activism IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 29, 2025 The United States has revoked the visas of over 300 foreign students for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at university campuses across the country. The wave of arrests and deportations is part of the Donald Trump administration's efforts to suppress opposition to U.S. military and diplomatic support for Israel, which has intensified during the ongoing genocide in Gaza. "We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas. At some point, I hope we've run out because we've gotten rid of them," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday. Rubio said student visas are intended for academic purposes, not activism, saying, "We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist, to tear up our university campuses." Rubio's remarks followed the recent arrest of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, who was detained outside her home by immigration officers. Ozturk had authored an article in the campus newspaper urging the university to recognize Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. Despite her detention, she has not been formally charged with any crime. Other high-profile arrests in the past month include Palestinian Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident, and Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral researcher. The Trump administration has also introduced new visa requirements, mandating ideological tests for foreign students. According to a State Department directive, consular officers must conduct social media reviews of visa applicants to identify any connections to "terrorism," with particular scrutiny on those involved in protests against the war in Gaza. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Make in India Powers Defence Growth India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Production hit 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, Exports cross 21,000 crore Posted On: 29 MAR 2025 5:43PM by PIB Delhi Summary India's defence production reached 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 174% rise since 2014-15, driven by the Make in India initiative. The Ministry of Defence signed a record 193 contracts worth over 2,09,050 crore in 2024-25, with 177 contracts (92 percent) awarded to the domestic industry. Defence exports hit a record 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, expanding 30 times in a decade, with exports to 100+ countries. 14,000+ items indigenised under SRIJAN and 3,000 under Positive Indigenisation Lists. India aims for 3 lakh crore in production, 50,000 crore in exports by 2029. Summary Introduction India's defence production has grown at an extraordinary pace since the launch of the "Make in India" initiative, reaching a record 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24. Once dependent on foreign suppliers, the country now stands as a rising force in indigenous manufacturing, shaping its military strength through homegrown capabilities. This shift reflects a strong commitment to self-reliance, ensuring that India not only meets its security needs but also builds a robust defence industry that contributes to economic growth. Strategic policies have fuelled this momentum, encouraging private participation, technological innovation, and the development of advanced military platforms. The surge in the defence budget, from 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26, underlines the nation's determination to strengthen its military infrastructure. With modern warships, fighter jets, artillery systems, and cutting-edge weaponry being built within the country, India is now a key player in the global defence manufacturing landscape. The success of "Make in India" has not only reinforced national security but also positioned India as a dependable exporter of defence equipment. This growing capability reflects India's vision of achieving self-reliance while shaping the future of advanced military technology. Key Defence Acquisitions and Approvals Procurement of Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand: The Ministry of Defence signed two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on March 28, 2025, for 156 LCH Prachand helicopters worth 62,700 crore (excluding taxes). The Indian Air Force will receive 66 helicopters, while the Indian Army will get 90. Deliveries will begin in the third year and continue over five years. Designed for high-altitude operations above 5,000 meters, LCH has over 65% indigenous content, involving 250 domestic companies, mostly MSMEs, and generating over 8,500 jobs. Wet Leasing of Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA): The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Metrea Management to lease one KC-135 Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) to provide air-to-air refuelling training for Indian Air Force and Indian Navy pilots. This is the first FRA to be wet leased by the IAF, with delivery expected within six months. Approval for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS): The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by the Prime Minister, approved the procurement of 307 ATAGS along with 327 High Mobility 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles for 15 Artillery Regiments under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured (IDDM) category at a cost of 7,000 crore. Developed by DRDO in collaboration with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems, ATAGS boasts a range of over 40 km, advanced fire control, precision targeting, automated loading, and recoil management. The Indian Army has extensively tested the system in diverse terrain and weather conditions, proving its accuracy and reliability. Record Defence Contracts in 2024-25 The Ministry of Defence has signed a record 193 contracts in 2024-25, with the total contract value surpassing 2,09,050 crore, nearly double the previous highest figure. This milestone reflects the government's commitment to strengthening national security through enhanced procurement and modernisation of the Armed Forces. Of these, 177 contracts, accounting for 92 percent, have been awarded to the domestic industry, amounting to 1,68,922 crore, which is 81 percent of the total contract value. This significant focus on indigenous manufacturing aligns with the vision of self-reliance in defence production, boosting local industries and generating employment across the sector. Surge in Indigenous Defence Production India has achieved the highest-ever growth in indigenous defence production in value terms during Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, driven by the successful implementation of government policies and initiatives led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, focusing on attaining Atmanirbharta. The value of defence production has surged to a record high of 1,27,434 crore, marking an impressive 174% increase from 46,429 crore in 2014-15, according to data from all Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), other public sector units manufacturing defence items, and private companies. This growth has been bolstered by the Make in India initiative, which has enabled the development of advanced military platforms including the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun, Light Specialist Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Akash Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar, 3D Tactical Control Radar, and Software Defined Radio (SDR), as well as naval assets like destroyers, indigenous aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, corvettes, fast patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and offshore patrol vessels. Key points: 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, a significant shift from the earlier 65-70% import dependency, showcasing India's self-reliance in defence. A robust defence industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, over 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16,000 MSMEs, strengthening indigenous production capabilities. The private sector plays a crucial role, contributing 21% to total defence production, fostering innovation and efficiency. India targets 3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, reinforcing its position as a global defence manufacturing hub. Unprecedented Growth in Defence Exports India's expanding global footprint in defence manufacturing is a direct result of its commitment to self-reliance and strategic policy interventions. Defence exports have surged from 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to an all-time high of 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, marking a 30-fold increase over the past decade. Key points: Defence exports have grown 21 times, from 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade, highlighting India's expanding role in the global defence sector. Defence exports surged by 32.5% year-on-year, rising from 15,920 crore in FY 2022-23 to 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24. India's diverse export portfolio includes bulletproof jackets, Dornier (Do-228) aircraft, Chetak helicopters, fast interceptor boats, and lightweight torpedoes. Notably, 'Made in Bihar' boots are now part of the Russian Army's gear, highlighting India's high manufacturing standards. India now exports defence equipment to over 100 countries, with the USA, France, and Armenia emerging as the top buyers in 2023-24. The government aims to achieve 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, reinforcing India's role as a global defence manufacturing hub while boosting economic growth. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Launched in April 2018, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has created a thriving ecosystem for innovation and technology development in defence and aerospace. By engaging MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia, iDEX has provided grants of up to 1.5 crore for developing innovative technologies. To further enhance self-reliance in defence technology, 449.62 crore has been allocated to iDEX, including its sub-scheme Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI), for 2025-26. As of February 2025, 549 problem statements have been opened, involving 619 startups and MSMEs, with 430 iDEX contracts signed. The scheme has three key objectives: Facilitate rapid development of new, indigenised, and innovative technologies for the Indian Defence and Aerospace sector, to meet their needs in a shorter time span. Create a culture of engagement with innovative startups, to encourage co-creation for Defence and Aerospace sectors. Empower a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation within the Defence and Aerospace sectors. The recently launched ADITI scheme aims to support critical and strategic technologies such as satellite communication, advanced cyber technology, autonomous weapons, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, nuclear technologies, and underwater surveillance. Under this scheme, grants of up to 25 crore are provided to innovators. Reinforcing its commitment to supporting startups and MSMEs, the Ministry of Defence has also cleared procurement of 43 items worth over 2,400 crore from iDEX startups and MSMEs for the Armed Forces as of February 2025. Additionally, projects worth over 1,500 crore have been approved for development. SAMARTHYA: Showcasing India's Defence Indigenisation The success story of indigenisation and innovation in the defence sector was highlighted at the Aero India 2025 event 'SAMARTHYA', which showcased India's progress in defence manufacturing. The event featured 33 major indigenised items, including 24 developed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Indian Navy, along with nine successful innovation projects from iDEX. Among the key indigenised items displayed were: Electro Block of the Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Electric Mobile Part for Submarines Torsion Bar Suspension for HMV 6x6 Extruded Aluminium Alloy for LCA MK-I/II and LCH Components Indian High-Temperature Alloy (IHTA) VPX-135 Single Board Computer Naval Anti-Ship Missile (Short Range) RudraM II Missile C4ISR System DIFM R118 Electronic Warfare Systems The event further highlighted breakthroughs in AI-driven analytical platforms, next-generation surveillance systems, quantum-secure communication technologies, and counter-drone measures. Innovations like the 4G/LTE TAC-LAN, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system, Smart Compressed Breathing Apparatus, and Advanced Autonomous Systems for the Armed Forces reflect India's evolving defence landscape. Efforts are ongoing to bridge the gap between the Indian Army's operational challenges and the innovative solutions developed by academia, industry startups, and research institutions. Additionally, the focus remains on conducting multi-domain operations in a data-centric environment, especially in light of emerging transformative technologies. SAMARTHYA stands as a testament to India's commitment to self-reliance in defence technology, reinforcing its ability to develop advanced, home-grown solutions for national security. Advancing Self-Reliance India's pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing has significantly reduced its dependence on foreign suppliers. Through strategic policies and indigenous innovation, the country is developing cutting-edge military platforms, strengthening both national security and economic growth. Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action (SRIJAN) Launched by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) in August 2020 to promote indigenisation under Atmanirbhar Bharat. Serves as a common platform for Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and the Armed Forces (SHQs) to list imported items for domestic manufacturing. As of February 2025, over 38,000 items are available, with more than 14,000 successfully indigenised. Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) The Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) have issued five Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) for LRUs, assemblies, sub-assemblies, sub-systems, spares, components, and high-end materials. These lists set fixed timelines beyond which procurement will be restricted to domestic manufacturers. Out of over 5,500 items listed, more than 3,000 have been indigenised as of February 2025. Key indigenised technologies include artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters (LCHs), radars, wheeled armoured platforms, rockets, bombs, armoured command post vehicles, and armoured dozers. Defence Industrial Corridors Two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) have been set up in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to boost defence manufacturing. These corridors provide incentives to companies investing in the sector. Investments worth more than Rs 8,658 crore have already been made in the 6 nodes of UP viz. Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow and 5 nodes of Tamil Nadu viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem and Tiruchirappalli. As of February 2025, 253 MoUs have been signed, with a potential investment of 53,439 crore. Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) The government has introduced several measures to improve ease of doing business in the defence manufacturing sector. The validity of export authorisation for parts and components has been extended from two years to the completion of the order or component, whichever is later. In 2019, the Defence Product List was streamlined to reduce the number of items requiring a manufacturing licence. Parts and components of defence items were de-licensed in September 2019 to encourage investment. The validity of defence licences under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, has been extended from three years to 15 years, with a further extension option of up to 18 years. Over 700 industrial licences have been issued to 436 companies in the defence sector. The introduction of an end-to-end digital export authorisation system has improved efficiency, with more than 1,500 authorisations issued in the last financial year. MAKE Projects: Driving Indigenous Defence Innovation The MAKE procedure was first introduced in the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2006) to promote indigenous design and development in the defence sector. Over the years, it has been simplified and streamlined through revisions in 2016, 2018, and 2020, ensuring faster development of defence equipment, systems, and components by both public and private industries. MAKE projects have been divided into three categories: MAKE-I (Government Funded) Up to 70% government funding for prototype development (capped at 250 crore per Development Agency). Minimum 50% Indigenous Content (IC) required. MAKE-II (Industry Funded) Focuses on import substitution, encouraging domestic industries to develop critical defence systems. No government funding, with a minimum 50% Indigenous Content (IC) requirement. MAKE-III (Manufactured in India through Transfer of Technology - ToT) Involves manufacturing in India under Technology Transfer (ToT) from Foreign OEMs. No design and development but require a minimum of 60% Indigenous Content (IC). Key points: As of March 24, 2025, a total of 145 projects have been undertaken under the MAKE initiative, with the participation of 171 industries, driving indigenous defence production. The initiative includes 40 MAKE-I projects (Government Funded), 101 MAKE-II projects (Industry Funded), and 4 MAKE-III projects (Manufacturing through ToT), strengthening self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Other Key Initiatives In recent years, the Indian government has implemented a series of transformative initiatives aimed at bolstering the country's defence production capabilities and achieving self-reliance. These measures are designed to attract investment, enhance domestic manufacturing, and streamline procurement processes. From liberalizing foreign direct investment (FDI) limits to prioritizing indigenous production, these initiatives reflect a robust commitment to strengthening India's defence industrial base. The following points outline the key government initiatives that have been pivotal in driving growth and innovation in the defence sector. Liberalized FDI Policy: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector was liberalised in September 2020 to attract foreign investment, allowing up to 74% FDI through the automatic route and above 74% through the government route. Since April 2000, the total FDI in defence industries stands at Rs 5,516.16 crore. TATA Aircraft Complex: Tata Aircraft Complex was inaugurated in Vadodara in October 2024 to manufacture C-295 aircraft, boosting Atmanirbharta in defence with 40 made-in-India aircraft out of 56 under the programme. Manthan: The annual defence innovation event, Manthan, held during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, brought together leading innovators, startups, MSMEs, academia, investors, and industry leaders from the defence and aerospace sectors, reaffirming confidence in the government's commitment to technological advancements and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS): DTIS aims to boost indigenisation by providing financial assistance for setting up eight Greenfield testing and certification facilities in the aerospace and defence sector, with seven test facilities already approved in areas like unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, electro-optics, and communications. Priority for Domestic Procurement: Emphasis is placed on procuring capital items from domestic sources under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020. Domestic Procurement Allocation: MoD has earmarked 75% of modernisation budget amounting to Rs 1,11,544 crore for procurement through domestic industries during the current Financial Year. Conclusion India's remarkable strides in defence production and exports underscore its transformation into a self-reliant and globally competitive military manufacturing hub. The combination of strategic policy interventions, increased domestic participation, and a focus on indigenous innovation has significantly strengthened the country's defence capabilities. The surge in production, the exponential rise in exports, and the success of initiatives like the Make in India reflect India's commitment to achieving Atmanirbharta in defence. With ambitious targets set for 2029, the nation is poised to further expand its global footprint, reinforcing its position as a dependable partner in the international defence market while enhancing national security and economic growth. Make in India (Defence)/ Explainer/ 01 References: https://pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=149099=3&lang=1 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2069090 https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/defence-manufacturing https://makeinindiadefence.gov.in/# https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098485 https://idex.gov.in/idex https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/offerings/schemes-and-services/idex https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098485 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2116411 Ministry of Defence Click here to download PDF ******** Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia (Release ID: 2116612) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC Navy cmdr.: Any attack on Iran's interests will be met with firm response Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 9:50 AM The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has warned that any threats of military aggression against the Islamic Republic will be met with a resolute response. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks during an interview with Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news channel on Friday evening, as President Donald Trump threatened Iran with "very bad" repercussions if it does not reach a deal with the US on its nuclear program. "We do not seek war and do not wish for it. However, if the enemy tries to harm our interests or attack our people, they must know we will respond," Tangsiri stressed. He added that Iran possesses the military capability to strike enemy bases anywhere, noting that any geographical location from which an attack is launched on the country will be targeted in return. "If our vessels are attacked, we will undoubtedly respond in kind. If they confiscate our ships, we will seize theirs. No one can hit us and run away. Even if we have to chase them to the Gulf of Mexico, we will do so," the IRGC Navy commander said. Tangsiri highlighted that Iran will not bow to pressure or threats and will not allow Trump or anyone else to impose their will on the Islamic Republic. On the possibility of blocking the strategic Strait of Hormuz, he stated that the decision on the matter rests with high-ranking officials, and that his forces would be responsible for carrying out such an order if given. The senior Iranian military commander also dismissed the significance of Trump's message and threats, saying, "I have no knowledge of Trump's message, nor do I care to analyze it. I hear his threats, I observe his actions, and I prepare myself to counter them." Tangsiri categorically rejected any possibility of Iran engaging in negotiations over its missile program and support for resistance groups across the region. He added that Iran supports resistance movements because it defends the oppressed; however, it does not impose its will on the groups. The IRGC Navy commander emphasized that Yemen is not under Iran's tutelage, as it has its own independent army and leader. Elsewhere in his remarks, Tangsiri underlined that Iran seeks peaceful relations with its neighbors, assuring that Tehran does not pose a threat to other regional nations. "We always extend a hand of friendship to the countries in the region. As Muslims, we do not pose any threat to our neighboring countries," he said. Tangsiri noted that Iran invited Arab countries to participate in military exercises, pointing to the presence of representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, and Kuwait in the drills. The IRGC Navy chief also expressed Tehran's readiness to stage joint exercises with Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain. He pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman is a brotherly and friendly state, and Iran holds military exercises with it regularly. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China 'stands ready to do its best' to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, no deaths reported of Chinese nationals: Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 29, 2025 09:03 AM A 37-member emergency medical rescue team from Southwest China's Yunnan Province arrived in Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday morning. They brought with them a total of 112 sets of emergency rescue equipment, including full-function life detection devices, an earthquake early warning system, portable satellites and drones. The Global Times reporter saw on Saturday morning that Cao Jing, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, and Myanmar officials welcomed the rescue team at the Yangon International Airport. According to the Chinese Embassy, the rescue team will travel directly by vehicle to Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar to take part in the rescue efforts after arriving in Yangon. This rescue team is the officially organized Chinese rescue team and the first international rescue team to arrive in Myanmar, the Global Times learned. At around 6 am on Saturday, a team of 37 members from the Yunnan emergency medical rescue team departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport in Southwest China's Yunnan Province for Myanmar. They carried a total of 112 sets of emergency rescue equipment, including full-function life detection devices, an earthquake early warning system, portable satellites, and drones. According to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the rescue team will travel by road to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, to participate in rescue operations after arriving in Yangon. This rescue team is the officially organized Chinese rescue team and the first international rescue team to arrive in Myanmar, the Global Times learned. China is closely following the situation after the earthquake and extends our sincere sympathies to Myanmar. We hope and believe that the government and people of Myanmar will overcome difficulties and rebuild their home at an early date, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on early Saturday in response to a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar a day ago. After the earthquake, the Chinese Embassy and Consulate-General in Myanmar immediately activated the emergency response mechanism and released relevant consular notices. They fully gathered and verified information to find out if any Chinese institutions, companies or nationals have been affected. So far, no deaths have been reported among Chinese nationals there, the ministry said in a statement published on its website. The people of China and Myanmar enjoy a profound "pauk-phaw" friendship. We feel for the people of Myanmar over the disaster, the ministry said. China stands ready to do its best to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and support to the affected area in Myanmar in light of their needs so as to help people there carry out disaster relief and rescue and pull through this trying time, according to the ministry. The Myanmar earthquake had caused 144 deaths and 732 injuries, China Media Group reported on Fridaye. The earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday afternoon, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Tremors were felt in Thailand and Laos as well as some places in Southwest China's Yunnan Province bordering Myanmar, according to media reports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement on the Situation in Myanmar Government of Norway News story | Date: 29/03/2025 I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The earthquake that struck on Friday is a crisis on top of an already critical humanitarian situation says Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust. - I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. The earthquake that struck on Friday is a crisis on top of an already critical humanitarian situation. Before the earthquake, 20 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. Some of the areas around the earthquake's epicenter are among the hardest hit by armed conflict, with nearly 1.5 million internally displaced persons. - It is absolutely crucial that humanitarian aid reaches the areas with the greatest needs as quickly as possible. Prior to the earthquake, Norway had decided to contribute 120 million NOK to various humanitarian organizations in Myanmar. These are flexible funds that allow organizations to rapidly channel resources toward emergency response. Their local partners are on the front lines. - I am pleased that the UN's emergency relief fund, CERF, has already allocated 5 million dollars for the immediate response to the earthquake. Norway contributes approximately 10 percent of this fund. Having such funds is essential for rapid response, and Norway has invested in several such mechanisms. - Myanmar is a country in conflict, and I am concerned about humanitarian access to areas not controlled by the military regime. A state of emergency has been declared in six states, and the military regime has asked the international community for assistance. I urge the leaders of the military regime to adhere to humanitarian principles and to ensure full and unhindered access to the affected areas. In areas controlled by opposition groups, I urge them to do the same. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Special briefing by MEA on Operation Brahma (March 29, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs March 29, 2025 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, friends. Namaste to all of you and I welcome you to this special briefing on Operation Brahma. Before I give you a snapshot of what all that has happened as part of Operation Brahma, and what we expect to happen subsequently, I would like to introduce the team here. I have with me ... we have members from NDRF, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. We have on my left, as you can see, Brigadier T. Shiva from Integrated Defense Staff; Brigadier H.S. Mavi, Directorate of Military Operations; Air Commodore A.P. Singh, Air Headquarters; Commodore Raghu Nair from Naval Operations; and Shri Mohsen Shahedi, DIG, National Disaster Response Force on my left. Friends, as you are well aware that a massive earthquake struck Myanmar yesterday around afternoon time. We all are aware of the kind of destruction that it has left. Massive loss of life and property has been reported. Soon after the tragedy struck Myanmar, our Prime Minister conveyed his concerns and expressed that India was ready to provide all possible support to Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar and the Government of Myanmar in this hour of crisis. India, as you are aware, we have been actively playing the role of first responder in such situations during natural disasters, natural calamities. You would also recall that last year when Cyclone Yagi had struck Myanmar, we had responded with assistance to the Government and people of Myanmar. Today, Prime Minister spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. He conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India for the loss of precious lives. He also conveyed that we stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Myanmar, and we would do our best to provide relief, rescue and whatever assistance required to deal with this calamity. Today, early hours of today that is, we launched Operation Brahma. Brahma, as you know, is a God of Creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning. The first aircraft carrying 15 tons of relief material took off at around 3 AM this morning from Hindon Air Force Base. It reached Yangon at around 8 AM India time. Our Ambassador was there to receive the relief material, and thereafter he handed it over to the Chief Minister of Yangon. From there, these 15 tons of relief material have been sent out to those parts of the country which need help. These 15 tons of material comprise tents, blankets, essential medicines, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, gensets, solar lamps, food packets, kitchen sets etc., also essential medicines. Thereafter, two Aircraft with search and rescue personnel and equipment along with canines have left. One of them have left, I understand, and the other one is in the process of leaving for Naypyidaw. I will subsequently request our colleague to give you little more details of what these two aircraft ... what essential commodities they are taking for the people of Myanmar. But in short, there are 80 NDRF search and rescue team personnel specialists along with equipment, relief material, and a canine squad is also part of this team. Obviously, there are gensets, hygiene kits, food packets, essential medicines, kitchen sets which form part of this second tranche of relief material that is being sent to Naypyidaw. They are expected to reach Naypyidaw later this evening and thereafter they will be taken from there with the help of the local government. They will be taken to Mandalay, that area which has seen the maximum devastation. The third tranche of support that we are providing comprises a field hospital. This field hospital has around 118 specialists including doctors and medics. This team is getting ready and will be leaving from Agra later this evening will be landing in Naypyidaw. And from Naypyidaw they will also be taken to Mandalay area in coordination with the support of the government of Myanmar. Our Ambassador is presently in Naypyidaw and our team from the Embassy in Yangon is in Naypyidaw to coordinate all that is required for forward movement of personnel who are travelling from India. I also want to let you know that four Naval Ships with HADR assistance, two from Port Blair, and two from Visakhapatnam are getting ready. I will leave the exact details for my colleague to answer but I understand that two of them already have moved, and the other two will be moving either today in the evening or tomorrow shortly. The Indian Navy is in touch with their Myanmar counterpart from the Myanmar Navy for smooth landing and smooth carry out of this operation. As I told you our Ambassador is presently in Naypyidaw, he is in touch with the Myanmar authorities as to what exactly are the requirements, do they need any food support, any food grain support etc. As also he will be discussing what sort of long-term support would be required because we understand that in the Mandalay area where the devastation caused by the earthquake is maximum, lot of bridges ... there has been lot of damage to physical infrastructure. So, there I am sure lot of support would be required. I would also like to convey I told you that Prime Minister spoke to Senior General this morning and he extended all support to the Government of Myanmar. With that I will turn it over to my colleagues. But, before that let me tell you that our Embassy is very active, they are in touch with Indian community organizations. We have around 15,000 families, roughly around 50,000 to 60,000 Indian Nationals in Myanmar. So far no casualty has been reported among the Indian nationals, and we are in touch with all community organizations for their welfare, for their safety. We also have a large Indian diaspora in Myanmar, almost 2 million. We are also in touch with those organizations as well. With that I would request our colleagues to pitch in. First, I will request if you could tell our media friends about the first tranche that went today in the morning. Shri Mohsen Shahedi, DIG: So, as has been already elaborated by Additional Secretary Sir, NDRF team with a strength of 80 rescuers, this is the urban search and rescue team ... this has been sent in two sorties, one sortie has already taken off and the second is about to take off from Indian air base. This has been dispatched with 80 rescuers, special equipments that includes all devices required for carrying out search and rescue operations and we have also got canines which will be good to use ... and we feel that the next, as soon as they land ... it will be very crucial next 24-48 hours finding lives in the golden period ... would be gainfully engaged and we look forward to a very active involvement on ground. We have also the reserve team, which is placed at Kolkata, so as and when the confirmation comes for a second team to be dispatched there, they are ready for takeoff as and when it is confirmed. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you. Can I ask my colleague to brief our media friends on what comprises the field hospital. Brigadier H S Mavi: Good evening friends. So, as far as the field hospital is concerned, as has been briefed, it is leaving from Agra. And as we talk, it is in the process of getting loaded, two aircrafts will be leaving with the field hospital. Incidentally, it is the same field hospital which participated in Operation Dost in Turkey. So, therefore, it carries institutional knowledge, and we have made sure that we have included officers who participated in that, so that they become active respondents and proactive in their response to this. As far as the composition is concerned ... it is 118 just to clear the air, that is the total strength that is going. They will be able to ... they have the ability to split into two or three smaller teams as and when required, based on the situation on ground. They will provide a fully functional Operational Theater over there, facilities such as x-ray. We have also incorporated dental facilities in it. It includes doctors. We have six medical officers including two specifically lady medical officers to look at the gender aspects of looking after the patients. In terms of specialists, we have surgical capability, medical, anesthesiologist, ortho, all have been grouped along with this team to give it a comprehensive kind of a cover. They are carrying advanced equipment, they are carrying vehicles, ambulances and essential medicines which we perceive would be required on ground based on experience in Op Dost. Lastly, Indian Army is ready to scale up as and when required and to do that, other field hospitals have been nominated and should the need be felt, Indian Army is ready to scale up the operation. Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Next, I request my colleague from Indian Navy to brief you on the naval ships that are headed towards Myanmar. Captain Raghu Nair: Good afternoon. So, we have got four ships that have been prepared for this HADR operation. The first of these ships sailed this morning at 2 o'clock at 2 AM carrying about 10 tons of relief material. The second ship is sailed at about 1400, that's 2 PM this afternoon. Those are INS ships Savitri and Satpura. These ships will reach off Yangon on the morning of the 31st. They will be able to enter only with the tide, given the conditions in Yangon port. And once they enter, we've got two ships under the Andaman and Nicobar command that are also loaded with HADR material. A total of about 50 tons of relief material is being transported to Yangon. This includes Clothing Brigs, which is daris, blankets, clothes for children, disposable clothes, etc. Medical Brigs, which contain essential medicines, rations, which include MREs, biscuits, noodles, milk powder and stuff like that. And lastly, it's also got things like soap, laundry detergent, and stuff that is used for sanitization. And apart from this, in case there is any other further requirement of relief material, there are additional ships that are available at Visakhapatnam as well as Sri Vijaya Puram and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, with that, let me open the floor for questions. Smita Sharma: Smita Sharma, I work independently. Just two quick questions. One is, if one of you could give us a sense of what's the assessment so far of the kind of scale of damage and destruction, we are looking at Mandalay. The assessment being shared with the local authorities, other than of course the roads being cut off, the challenges that the forces will face even in reaching and operating there? And B, has there been ... because I don't think Myanmar is allowing international journalists to come in at this stage, which is normally a norm during most natural calamities, has that been raised at all? Has Myanmar said that they would not be welcoming or allowing press to come in and report? Siddhant: Two quick questions. First is, what's the big message India is sending by its quick deployment? The first of the military aircrafts reached earlier this morning, within 24 hours. And the second is, there are other teams as well, the Chinese, the Russians are also reaching. Will the Indian teams also work with their international counterparts? Keshav Padmanabhan, ThePrint: Thank you Sir, Keshav Padmanabhan from ThePrint. I just wanted to understand two things. The first is, are we coordinating with any of our partners such as the QUAD because the U.S. has said that they will be sending relief? Other close partners like Singapore has also sent 80 rescue personnel. So, I just wanted to understand, are we looking at that kind of international cooperation here? And the second question, knowing the situation in Myanmar, are we solely working with the government of Myanmar or how are we reaching areas that may be outside of government control that requires this? So, I just wanted to understand that complexity, if possible. Thank you. Niraj Kumar, News18 India: Sir Niraj hu, News18 India se. Sir aapne kaha ki Bharatiya samudaye ke logo me ab tak kisi casualty ki khabar nahi aai hain ab tak. To unse sampark sadhne ke liye kis tarah ki koshish ki ja rahi hain? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sir, I am Niraj from News18 India. Sir, you said that there has been no news of any casualties among the Indian community so far. So, what kind of efforts are being made to establish contact with them? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay, first let me come to Smita, your question. Regarding the damage and assessment, we all understand that the scale of damage has been quite extensive. Prime Minister, as I told you, he spoke this morning to Senior General of Myanmar. They discussed the situation. The Government there will come out with the latest updates. Also, they are assessing as to what is required and how much is the damage. But it has been extensive. This is what we understand. And Prime Minister expressed his readiness to extend all possible support from our side. As far as participation of international journalists, I think this is something that you'll have to speak to the Myanmar Embassy here and get an answer, as to what sort of support they are providing. Siddhant, the big message, in all situations you would have seen over the last several years, India has been the first responder. We talked about Operation Dost. When Cyclone Yagi struck Myanmar that time again, India had launched an operation. We provided relief material, humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar. Not just to people in Myanmar but several other countries that were impacted. It is part of our policy to be the first responder. We want, when we say, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, The World is One Family, we also want to mean it, we want to prove that by action. And therefore, we are very humbled when we have this opportunity to respond to crisis such as what has happened in Myanmar and extend our support to people. Keshav, are we coordinating with other partners? Right now, it's too early, we are speaking to Government of Myanmar because in such situations, you have to go by what the Government asks for and you will have to coordinate closely with them. Because they are there, we are there to provide support to them and in international operations what happens was that when you are doing search and rescue operations obviously there are occasions there you have to combine, because you have to save lives, you have to provide the best to people in whatever manner possible. So, for the present we are coordinating with Government of Myanmar and if there is request from the Government of Myanmar for further collaboration and cooperation we will take into account. Neraj, aapka sawal bhartiya samuday ko lekar hain, kis prakar se hum log unse sampark banaye hue hain. Toh main aapko bata du ki digital madhyam se bhi hum log unse jude hue hain, hum logon ne apne mission ke handle se dekha hoga ki ek emergency helpline number ka hum logon ne jikar kiya hain ki kisi bhi bhartiya samuday ya koi aur bhartiya diaspora ke koi sadasya jinko is prakar ki koi madad chahiye uske liye hum taiyar hain. Aur wahan par embassy mei jo hamare log hain woh jo bhartiya samuday ki jitne sansthayain hain unse judi hui hain lagatar ye janne ke liye ki samuday main sab log surakshit hain aur unki jo bhi kuch emergency hoti hain unko kis prakar se attend kiya jaye. Aur jaise ki maine bataya ki kisi prakar ki casuality ki khabar nahi aayi hain abhi tak bhartiya samuday mei, bhartiya nagrik ke sandarbh mei. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] Niraj, your question is regarding the Indian community and how we stay connected with them. I would like to inform you that we are also connected with them through digital means. You may have seen through our mission's official handle that we have mentioned an emergency helpline number, which is available for any Indian community member or any Indian diaspora member who may need assistance. Additionally, our embassy personnel remain in constant touch with various organizations within the Indian community to ensure that everyone is safe and to address any emergencies that may arise. As I mentioned earlier, so far, there have been no reports of any casualties among the Indian community ... in case of Indian citizens. Ajay Banerjee, The Tribune: Sir, good evening, I am Ajay Banarjee from The Tribune. I have two questions, one for Commodore Nair. Sir those ships, navy ships which go to Myanmar how long we expect them to stay there? Will they be at the Jetty or will they send some forces inside to do some HADR? And second question to you sir, is the BIMSTEC on track, I know FS said yesterday, it's on the track. Is it on track? [Inaudible] Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Bloomberg: Sir, Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg. I just wanted an understanding, if there is a request from areas which are rebel held for HADR, for relief and assistance, what will be the Government of India's stand? And also, I just wanted a clarification on the ships. Four ships have already left or are on the way. If we could get a clarification. The military hospitals, are they already up or likely to be up? Two is the correct number ? A clarification on that. Tripti Lahiri, Wall Street Journal: Tripti Lahiri with the Wall Street Journal. Two questions. Based on the discussions you have had with the Myanmar Government, can you say whether the situation is worse than that of the 2015 Nepal earthquake? Are you able to the toll is already, or will exceed that? And secondly, are you having discussions or early-stage discussions on the possibility of, in later sorties or relief sorties, taking small contingents of journalists to document the situation? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, first let me answer questions pertaining to me and thereafter I will hand it over to you. On BIMSTEC, yes, we had a briefing by Foreign Secretary yesterday on the visit of Prime Minister to both Thailand and Sri Lanka. As we have conveyed to you, the visit stands. Sudhi your question regarding ... at this point in time, as I told you, we are talking with the Government of Myanmar. We are coordinating our rescue efforts, relief efforts through the Government of Myanmar. That is where it is, and we will coordinate through them. In regard to Tripti, your question on the assessment part, this is something that the Government of Myanmar has to make a decision on. Obviously, the intensity of the earthquake was upwards of 7 Richter. It has caused lot of damage. It will take some time for them to assess, but we understand that the damage has been extensive. So, we will have to wait for the figures that come out of Myanmar or which is put out by the Myanmar Government. In regard to journalists, again this is a question that we will have to take to the Myanmar side for them to answer. With that, I request my colleague here to answer some of the questions. Commodore Raghu Nair: Ajay, to your question first, the ships will go alongside the jetty there and our Embassy and the Naval Attache there are making arrangements for the ships to go alongside. Our stay will be just long enough to disembark, so that we can vacate the berth and leave it vacant for other ships that need to go alongside with relief material. As you know, we ourselves are sending four ships, so we will need to keep vacating the berths so that the other ones can berth. As regards the number of ships, the second question, there are four ships, two of them are already underway. One sailed at 2 o'clock this morning and the other one at 2 in the afternoon. Both ships are expected to reach Yangon, as I mentioned earlier, on the 31st. Then there are two ships which are on standby at Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andamans and they will sail tomorrow. They will reach at about the same time when the first two ships are leaving that place. Brigadier H S Mavi: Your question about the status of the field hospital. Initially, there is one field hospital which is going today. It is in the process of getting loaded right now. Later in the evening it shall fly, and we expect it to reach late at night so that it can be effective tomorrow onwards. Second part, if there is a requirement for committing others, we have kept people on standby, but they will be committed only if required. Sidhant, WION: Sir, we know that there are four Indian Warships. How many Indian Air Force transport planes will be going or have left? If we can get a ball point figure. And also in terms of the relief, 50 tons on the Indian Navy warships, and how much has been sent from the transport aircrafts? Sachin Budholiya: Main Sachin Budholiya hoon UNI se. Sir, Mera sawal wahi Sidhant ka tha ki, Indian Air Force ne kitni sorties plan ki hain, kitna gaya hain aur total material kitna tha? Dusra Mandalay mei bhi airport hain kya? Hum Naypyidaw land kar rahe hain toh Mandalay mei landing ki facility nahi hain kya? [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] I am Sachin Budholiya from UNI. Sir, my question is the same as Siddhant's. How many sorties have been planned by the Indian Air Force, how much has been dispatched, and what is the total amount of material? Secondly, are there airports in Mandalay as well? Since we are landing in Naypyidaw, doesn't Mandalay have a landing facility? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, on the aircraft part I understand that one aircraft took off this morning and thereafter two more will be taking the SAR (Search and Rescue) team along with other essential commodities. And then in the evening when the field hospital is airlifted ... two more aircrafts, so that makes it five for the time being. On the relief material, exactly what we will do is that we will share those details with you so that all of you have exact quantity of relief material that is being shipped from India, both by the Indian Navy and on the aircraft of Indian Air Force. We will do that. Sachin, toh aapko bhi ye kitna saman, samgri hum rescue opration ke liye bhej rahe hain uske bare mei aur uske alawa maine jaisa bataya ki panch jahaj hamare yahan se ja rahe hain, sham tak ye paanch jahaj jayenge. Toh in sabke baare mei jo factual detail hain woh aapko hum abhi sanjha karenge thodi der baad, thick hain. [Approximate Translation: Question in Hindi] Sachin, so you also want to know about the amount of supplies and materials we are sending for the rescue operation, and in addition to that, as I mentioned, five aircraft are departing from here. These five aircraft will depart by evening. So, we will share the factual details about all of this with you shortly. Smita Sharma: Is there a sense of how much of the affected area ... is there a large part of the affected area which is under rebel control at the moment? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, as I told you Smita, that we are closely coordinating with the Government of Myanmar. And we are there, our Ambassador is there in Naypyidaw. He is in talks with the Government there. And we are ready to extend all possible assistance that would be required from their side, from us. One question, Sachin, aapne kahan tha, Myanmar mei kya us prakar ka ... wahan se jo hain hamare jahaj ke log jo hain, wahan se Mandalay le jaye jayenge. Wahan ki jo unke Myanmar sarkar ke sarkari log hain unke sath aur wahan ki military hain unke sath coordination karke phir aage operation hoga. Mandalay mei bhi airport hain. [Approximate Translation: Answer in Hindi] One question, Sachin, you asked if our aircraft personnel from Myanmar will be taken to Mandalay. The coordination will be done with the Myanmar government officials and the military there, and then the operation will proceed further. Yes, there is airport in Mandalay as well. There would be some issues, but the information I have is that they will be coordinating with the local Government and then our people will be going forward to Mandalay to carry out rescue operations and other assistance. Kallol Bhattacherjee, The Hindu: Kallol from The Hindu. Sir, Sagaing is very close to Manipur. So, did you during your brainstorming at any point also consider providing overland assistance to the victims in Sagaing region? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So at this point in time, I have told you all that we have done so far. The five aircraft that will be taking off has already taken off. And in addition, we have the ships that will be sailing to Myanmar. In so far as other support that will be provided subsequently, we will keep you updated as to our efforts. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming at a short notice, we will keep you updated on Operation Brahma. Thank you very much. New Delhi March 29, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON President Trump keeps musing about making Canada the 51st state, but Western New Yorks Republican members of Congress arent exactly hopping on what so far looks like a one-man bandwagon. Asked whether they agree with Trumps argument that Canada only works as a state, Rep. Nick Langworthy who represents much of suburban Buffalo and the Southern Tier said: I take the Canadians at their word that they will not be joining the United States and are going to remain a strong patriotic and independent nation. Meanwhile, Rep. Claudia Tenney, whose district stretches from Niagara County to Watertown, essentially dodged the question. Of course, Democrats decry both Trumps ambitions for Canada and his proposed tariffs on products imported from north of the border. Canada is a sovereign nation and will always remain one, and to say anything to the contrary is a slap in the face to our greatest ally and trade partner, Rep. Tim Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat, said in an interview. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said on CNN earlier this month: Look, the No. 1 issue that the American people want us to work on is costs: rising costs of food and of housing and of gas and of cars and of everything else. The kind of tariffs the president proposed on Canada, Mexico, China, will raise the cost for the average American family by $2,000, so that is exactly the wrong prescription for what we need. With 25% tariffs on imported products from Canada and Mexico now set to go into effect on Wednesday and with Trump continuing to eye Canada longingly The Buffalo News asked Langworthy and Tenney detailed questions about both issues via email. Below are those questions and the lawmakers answers, which have been edited or annotated in some cases for brevity and accuracy. Earlier this month, Trump said: To be honest with you, Canada only works as a state. Do you agree with what the president said here? Why or why not? Langworthy: President Trump has always been a bold, visionary leader who puts Americas interests first. His suggestion that Canada should join the United States is not about conquest its about prosperity, security and unity with our ally and neighbor. As President Trump said, he has great affinity for Canada and the Canadian people with whom we share deep cultural, economic and historical ties. The president has never allowed his ideas to be constricted by the status quo and its not surprising he sees the benefits of creating the strongest economic powerhouse in the world, eliminating trade barriers, and ensuring North American energy independence for generations to come. ... That being said, I take the Canadians at their word that they will not be joining the United States and are going to remain a strong patriotic and independent nation. Tenney: I view Canada as a friend and a strategic partner in this hemisphere. However, for the last decade, (former Prime Minister Justin) Trudeaus failed leadership has led to devastating consequences for the American people, particularly those living near the northern border. Drugs like fentanyl have poured across our borders, and 85% of people on the terror watch list that have crossed our borders illegally to enter the United States have come through Canada. Canadas policymaking decisions have a direct impact on American national security. (In fact, only 43 pounds of fentanyl entered the U.S. through Canada in fiscal 2024. However, federal figures do show that far more people on the terror watch list have entered the U.S. from Canada rather than Mexico.) Trump has also repeatedly said that he wants to use economic force to bring Canada into the union. Do you agree with this strategy? Why or why not? Langworthy: America has the largest economy in the world, and we are the most generous nation in the world, but when illegal immigrants and drugs flow across our borders or our massive trade deficits, it feels we are being taken advantage of. President Trumps tariff plans are putting a stop to that. Tenney: As President Trump has repeatedly noted, Canada has failed to meet its NATO defense spending requirements, forcing the U.S. to subsidize Canadas defense. Canada has also treated our dairy farmers unfairly and continues to unnecessarily block our dairy farmers from accessing Canadian markets. We must do more to coerce Canada to uphold its international agreements and treat the U.S. fairly. Under President Trump, we are using our economic power to improve our relationship with Canada. Trump calls April 2 Liberation Day and promises to announce a new round of tariffs on that day. Do you support increased tariffs on Canadian goods? Why or why not? Langworthy: Because of our economic strength, tariffs are one of the strongest tools we have to exert leverage, but for so long they have been an empty threat. In our ongoing fight against fentanyl, Mexico, Canada and China must now come to the table to help solve this crisis, otherwise they will pay an economic price. Tenney: President Trumps upcoming reciprocal tariffs are intended to stabilize the trade imbalances between the U.S. and other nations, including Canada. ... Through President Trumps retaliatory tariffs, we will incentivize countries like Canada to ultimately lower their tariffs, which will, in the end, benefit both countries. Are there any specific Canadian products that you think should be subject to those tariffs? And are there any products that should be excluded from those tariffs? Langworthy: I believe that we should enter a new, strong bilateral trade agreement with Canada following their parliamentary election in April. When we know who the next Canadian prime minister will be, that will be the time when we can strike a free, and hopefully fair, trade deal that eliminates the strong tariffs Canada has on U.S. imports. I believe that future deal should be between the United States and Canada and not include Mexico. Mexico has a different and far lesser standard of living, far lower wages and far greater problems than we have with Canada. Tenney: I have concerns regarding certain tariffs on industries that cannot quickly shift their reliance on Canadian production to the United States, such as copper and aluminum smelting, but I believe these tariffs can be resolved quickly if Canada comes to the negotiating table and actually begins to treat U.S. companies and farmers fairly. Do you have any concerns about how Trumps comments about Canada, and his proposed tariffs, will impact Western New York and its economy? If so, what are those concerns? Langworthy: My No. 1 priority is representing the interests of the constituents in NY-23 and, as a border district, I am closely monitoring this. However, President Trumps use of tariffs as an economic tool is already yielding positive results, with record investments and jobs being announced. Some examples include Apples $500 billion investment, Stellantis moving manufacturing plants here, a $500 billion investment in an AI infrastructure project, and the list goes on. President Trump is a master negotiator with a proven track record of creating a booming economy. ... We are already well underway getting our economy back on track with inflation cooling, gas prices dropping and these historic investments. Tenney: These tariffs demonstrate President Trumps commitment to fight for American farmers and businesses, which will lead to increased access to Canadian markets and a level playing field. Currently, our farmers and small businesses often struggle to export their products to Canadian markets due to discriminatory policies, high tariffs and other nontariff barriers. By removing these impediments, we can ultimately have greater trade with Canada and greater prosperity throughout NY-24. 1,600 killed in Myanmar quake, UN reports severe damage to critical infrastructure As death toll rises, international rescue teams are arriving in the earthquake zone. By Saw Wunna, Khin Khin Ei and Mike Firn for RFA 2025.03.29 BANGKOK -- The death toll from Myanmar's massive earthquake soared past 1,600 on Saturday, state media said, as rescuers pulled survivors from rubble and the United Nations warned of severe damage to critical infrastructure and thousands left sleeping in the streets. In the capital of neighboring Thailand, hundreds of kilometers away from the quake epicenter, national police said the toll from the collapse of a high rise under construction nudged upward, with 13 dead and 118 still missing. The 7.7 magnitude quake struck just after noon on Friday near Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay. By Saturday evening, state-run MRTV was reporting 1,644 deaths -- up more than 600 in the course of the day. And additional 3,408 were reported injured and 139 missing. The United Nations in Myanmar on Saturday reported widespread destruction of homes and "severe damage" to critical infrastructure, with flights cancelled until further notice at the international airport at Mandalay. It added that "major bridges, roads, universities, hotels, historical and religious sites and public service buildings in urban and rural areas have been heavily damaged or destroyed." "Thousands of people are spending the nights on the streets or open spaces due to the damage and destruction to home or fearing further quakes," the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. It said the United Nations and humanitarian partners were mobilizing an emergency response, and the U.N. has allocated an initial US$5 million for life-saving assistance in Myanmar. The United States and Russia also offered assistance, with Moscow sending 120 rescuers and doctors, according to the TASS news agency. Malaysia said it would send 50 people on Sunday to provide aid to the worst-hit areas. A Chinese rescue team arrived on Saturday, Xinhua news reported. A 50-strong Thai military team was set to go to Myanmar on Sunday, the Bangkok Post reported. India said it had dispatched its first tranche of 15 metric tons of relief aid in a military C-130 transport plane along with a search and rescue team, and was preparing to deploy a 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital in Mandalay. Another 40 tons of humanitarian aid was heading by ship to Yangon port, it said. On Friday, Myanmar's ruling junta declared a state of emergency in Mandalay, Shan state, Sagaing, Bago, Magway and Naypyidaw. Disruptions in power, internet and mobile services complicated efforts in confirming the full measure of the disaster. The U.N. said communication towers were severely impacted, and electricity and water services were disrupted, including in the region of commercial center, Yangon. The expressway linking Yangon, the capital Naypyidaw and Mandalay has "cracks and surface distortions, forcing highway buses to halt operations." Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. Its ability to respond to the disaster is compounded by a four-year civil war that has engulfed many regions -- including parts of central Myanmar hit hard by the quake. The conflict was triggered by a 2021 military coup that toppled an elected civilian government, and it has driven more than 3 million people from their homes. Air strikes continue On Friday, the junta's chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun appealed for humanitarian aid, but there were reports Saturday that fighting was continuing. The BBC, citing a rebel People's Defense Force unit, said the Myanmar military has carried out air strikes in areas declared states of emergency, including in Chang-U township in Sagaing near the epicenter of the quake. It also quoted David Eubank from the humanitarian resistance group the Free Burma Rangers as saying that "since the earthquake there's been three air strikes in southern Shan state and Karenni last night. So, they are not stopping." He was referencing two border regions of eastern Myanmar. But there was some uplifting news on Saturday, as rescuers searched for survivors. AFP footage showed a 30-year-old woman, Phyu Lay Khaing, being pulled from a collapsed apartment building by rescue workers in Mandalay, 30 hours after the quake struck. She was stretchered out, to rounds of applause from onlookers. She hugged her husband Ye Aung and was then whisked away in an ambulance. 'See how many survivors we can find' In Bangkok on Saturday, 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the quake's epicenter, soldiers and government disaster response workers continued to hunt for construction workers trapped when a 33-story government building collapsed. Backhoes picked at the giant mound of grey building debris next to the famous Chatuchak market as police shooed away reporters and bystanders from the entrance to the site. "We Thais are working our hardest to try to rescue them. Today, we are waiting for good news," said Suchatvee Suwansawat, part of a team of engineers involved in the rescue operation. "We will see how many survivors we can find, but it is very hard. This is something we have never faced before." Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ordered an investigation into the collapse, with the results due next week. "Essential services as well as businesses and tourist providers are operating as normal," the government said Saturday as most rail lines in the capital reopened and airports across Thailand resumed regular operations after safety checks. Small tremors were still taking place Saturday according to Thailand's meteorological department, which recorded 77 aftershocks as of 6 a.m., although no significant damage was reported. The earthquake was felt in China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and caused damage and injuries in the city of Ruili on the border with Myanmar, according to Chinese media reports. The shaking in Mangshi, a Chinese city about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Ruili, was so strong that people couldn't stand, one resident told The Paper, an online media outlet. Updated with death toll rising in Myanmar and Thailand, UN providing details of the impact of the quake, India and Thailand sending relief. Apichart Sopapong, Phetsiam Promngoy and Pimuk Rakkanam contributed to this story. Edited by Taejun Kang, Stephen Wright and Mat Pennington. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Myanmar (29 March 2025) UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Amid alarming humanitarian crises, devastating earthquake hits Myanmar The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025 has caused widespread destruction and left a profound impact on the people in the region. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. Mr. Marcoluigi Corsi expresses his deep sadness and unwavering solidarity with the people of Myanmar during this tragic time. Figures continue to be updated as new information comes in, but according to initial reports more than 700 people have been killed and more than 1,600 injured, with the toll expected to rise. The UN and its partners are urgently mobilizing to support emergency response efforts and stand ready to assist all affected communities wherever they are. The earthquake struck at a time in which Myanmar is already reeling from an alarming humanitarian crisis, largely driven by persistent conflict and recurrent disasters. At this critical time, the people of Myanmar urgently need the steadfast support of the international community. ###### Christina Powell OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer powell4@un.org Ye Htet Aung UNIC National Information Officer ye.aung@un.org 29 March 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Civilians Killed In Pakistani Drone Strikes Targeting Militants By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal March 29, 2025 Multiple civilians, including women and children, were killed in a Pakistani military operation targeting militants in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a provincial official said. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, said in a March 29 statement that nine members of a family were killed unintentionally in the operation the previous day in the mountainous Katlang area of the province's Mardan district. "Several wanted terrorists were successfully targeted during the operation," Saif said, adding that civilians living nearby, including women and children, were also killed. Local residents told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that the victims, originally from Swat Valley, had been living in isolation in the Katlang area. They claimed the victims were killed as a result of military drone strikes on the family's makeshift tent. The incident sparked public outrage, with relatives and local residents staging a protest and temporarily blocking the Swat Motorway -- a major route leading to the Swat Valley -- to condemn the killing of civilians. Mardan district police spokesperson Fahim Khan told Radio Mashaal that the bodies had been transferred to the district headquarters hospital for post-mortem examination, and that investigations into the incident are ongoing. An unidentified police source was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying earlier on March 29 that the Pakistani military carried out three drone strikes targeting "Pakistani Taliban hideouts" in the region. Violence On The Rise The operation comes amid a rise in violent attacks in Pakistan's strategic region bordering Afghanistan and Iran. The extremist Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan groups are behind an escalating insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Earlier on March 29, a Pakistani intelligence official told Radio Mashaal that at least seven soldiers and six suspected militants were killed during a separate military operation in the province. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the media, said five soldiers were also injured in the clash in the province's Lakki Marut district and had been taken to a military hospital in the city of Bannu for treatment. The official did not identify which militant group was involved in the clash, but AFP cited an unidentified police source as saying the operation targeted "armed Taliban" fighters. Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal in 2021, violence by both TTP militants and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group pursuing Balochistan's secession from Pakistan, has been on the rise. BLA militants claimed responsibility for an unprecedented attack earlier this month with the hijacking of a passenger train with more than 400 people on board. The Pakistani military previously claimed to have killed 11 suspected militants in four separate operations and clashes in North Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan on March 26-27. Radio Mashaal was unable to independently verify that claim. Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province said in a report released on March 19 that, in the first 10 weeks of this year, there were a total of 68 attacks on police, in which a total of 26 soldiers were killed. The Pakistani government says it is committed to fighting terrorism. In a March 23 speech, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said the nation and its security agencies are "united" against terrorism and will not allow militant groups to achieve their "unspeakable" goals. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chairs Pakistan's National Security Committee, said on March 18 that the government should respond to terrorism with "full force." With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-soldiers-militants- killed-operation-khyber-pakhtunkhwa/33363807.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 Port of Chennai hosts solemn opening ceremony of INDRA NAVY 2025 Russian-Indian joint exercise 29.03.2025 (08:00) The port of Chennai hosted a solemn opening ceremony of the INDRA NAVY 2025 Russian-Indian joint exercise. The event took place on board of the destroyer Rana (Republic of India Navy). The ceremony was attended by members of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India, representatives of the hosting Navy, and ship crews of the countries involved. Senior officer of the Russian ship detachment, Capt.first rank Aleksey Antsiferov stressed that the drills enable to check if the ships of two countries are ready to accomplish missions together in the sea. He said, that the INDRA NAVY-2025 contribute to the experience exchange and increase the strategic partnership between Russia and India in the struggle against military threats. The drills comprise coastal and naval phases. On the shore, during a planning conference, captains of the ships will discuss the order of cooperation and joint operations in the sea. Sailors of both countries will have mutual visits to the ships and sport competitions. On 31 March, the naval part of the exercise in the Bay of Bengal begins. On 26 March, a ship detachment of the Pacific Fleet comprising Rezky and Aldar Tsydenzhapov of the Russian Federation as well as medium sea tanker Pechenga arrived in Port of Chennai. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria reinstates Grand Mufti post, forms new Supreme Fatwa Council People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:06, March 29, 2025 DAMASCUS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday reinstated the post of Grand Mufti and established a new Supreme Fatwa Council, according to a decree released by the Syrian presidency. Under Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2025, prominent cleric Sheikh Osama al-Rifa'i was appointed as Grand Mufti of Syria and named head of the newly-created council, which includes 15 senior scholars mostly from Damascus. The council will be tasked with issuing religious edicts, advising on Islamic law, appointing provincial muftis, and guiding religious institutions nationwide. In a statement published by the presidency, al-Sharaa said the reform is part of broader efforts to rebuild Syria's religious and civic institutions, noting that the role of religious leadership should be rooted in collective scholarship. The new council, he said, will promote a balanced and unified religious discourse that preserves Syria's Islamic heritage while addressing contemporary challenges. It is also expected to play a role in resolving sectarian tensions and ensuring national cohesion. The Grand Mufti position, long considered a symbol of religious authority in Syria, had been dissolved under the previous government in 2021. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US embassy in Syria tells Americans to leave, warns of 'potential imminent attacks' Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 2:52 PM The US embassy in Damascus has issued an urgent advisory, calling on all American citizens to leave Syria immediately due to an increased risk of attacks during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In a statement posted on its official website late on Friday, the diplomatic mission warned that the US State Department had raised the travel advisory for Syria to Level 4 - its highest alert, meaning Americans are advised not to travel to the Arab nation for any reason. The embassy cautioned citizens of potential attacks targeting "embassies, international organizations and Syrian public institutions" in Damascus. "Methods of attack could include, but are not limited to, individual attackers, armed gunmen, or the use of explosive devices," the notice said. "Leave Syria now," it added. "This advisory remains in effect due to the significant risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage-taking, armed conflict and unjust detention," the embassy said in the notice. The embassy wrote that American diplomatic services in Syria have been suspended since 2012, meaning it cannot provide routine consular assistance to US nationals currently in the country. The mission also urged American citizens requiring urgent assistance to contact the US Interests Section at the Czech Embassy in Damascus, which serves as the primary liaison for US affairs in Syria. The security situation in Syria remains tenuous after militant factions, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, toppled president Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8, 2024. Since the collapse of Assad's government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria's now-defunct army. Israel has been widely condemned for the termination of the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria and for exploiting the chaos in the Arab nation in the wake of Assad's downfall to make a land grab. The United Nations has condemned ongoing Israeli attacks inside Syrian territory and continuing violations in and around the buffer zone created as part of a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Damascus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vice defense minister attends delivery ceremony of Taiwan's 1st F-16 blk70 in U.S. ROC Central News Agency 03/29/2025 03:29 PM Taipei, March 29 (CNA) Taiwan's Vice Defense Minister Po Horng-huei () on Friday attended the delivery ceremony of the first F-16 C/D block 70 fighter jet that the country has purchased from the United States. His presence was revealed in two photographs published that day by Congressman William Timmons on the social media platform X. Taiwan's representative to the United States Alexander Yui () was also seen in one of the photos attending the event held at Lockheed Martin's production site in Greenville, South Carolina. "We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan's air defense capabilities," Timmons wrote in his post. Earlier this month, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo () revealed at a legislative hearing that one of Taiwan's vice defense ministers will visit the United States to observe the ceremony, but did not provide further details. Based on one of Timmons' released pictures, Taiwan's first F-16 C/D block 70 jet that rolled off the production line is a two-seater with the tail number 6831. It is one of the 66 F-16Vs that Taiwan has purchased from the United States in an arms sale package approved in 2019 during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term in office. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan expects to receive all 66 of the latest F-16 fighter jets from the United States by the end of 2026. (By Wu Shu-wei and Ko Lin) Enditem/cs 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 2025/03/29 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Mar. 28 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 29 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie entered Taiwan's eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140329_PLA activities 1140329_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mass protests sweep Istanbul over mayor's imprisonment IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 29, 2025 Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to Istanbul's streets in the largest anti-government protests Turkey has witnessed in over a decade, rallying against the imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition mayor and a key political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The protests erupted after Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, was detained last week and subsequently jailed pending trial on corruption charges that opposition leaders and Western officials have labeled as politically motivated. A letter from Imamoglu was read to the massive crowd, eliciting roaring cheers. "I have no fear; you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor." "They can imprison me and put me on trial as much as they want, but the nation has shown it will overcome all traps and plots." The demonstrations, organized by the Republican People's Party (CHP) and allied opposition groups, have spread nationwide, with nearly 2,000 detentions reported despite the largely peaceful rallies. Critics accuse Erdogan's government of weaponizing the judiciary to sideline a formidable challenger ahead of crucial elections. However, the government denies any interference in the case, maintaining that the judiciary operates independently. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hundreds of thousands rally in Istanbul to call for release of jailed mayor Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 March 2025 7:03 PM Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in the Turkish city of Istanbul to call for the jailed mayor of the city to be released. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's detention on March 19 sparked an unprecedented wave of protests across Turkey despite assembly bans, police crackdowns, and legal prosecution by authorities. He was later formally arrested over the corruption charges on March 23. On Saturday, protesters gathered in a spot far from the Istanbul city center, waving Turkish flags and banners calling for "Freedom for Imamoglu." The head of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel, who organized the rally, claimed 2.2 million people participated. Ozel said he planned to make Saturday rallies a weekly feature in cities across the country, with others to be held in Istanbul every Wednesday. He told the crowd that the authorities have "detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths ... arrested hundreds of them." "They only had one goal in mind: to intimidate them, terrify them, make sure they never go out again." Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Thursday that nearly 1,900 people had been detained since March 19. Reports said Friday that public prosecutors had requested up to three years imprisonment for 74 of the detainees. No new arrests have been reported at Saturday's rally. The mayor was elected as the CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential race on the day he was jailed. Many consider his arrest politically motivated, but Ankara insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference. Ozel called for the immediate release of Imamoglu, as well as for other political prisoners, saying, "In the Turkey we envision presidential candidates will not be imprisoned." He told French newspaper Le Monde, "If we don't stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Army Seizes Ukrainian Strongpoint Near Kursk Border Sputnik News 20250329 Fighters of the Guards Airborne Assault Don Cossack Regiment from Feodosia have captured a key Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold in the Kursk border region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. "Assault units of the Guards Airborne Assault Don Cossack Regiment from Feodosia seized an important Ukrainian stronghold in the Kursk border region. Artillery provided support to the assault troops by suppressing enemy fire before the paratroopers launched their attack on the Ukrainian position," the ministry stated. "Several Ukrainian servicemen were taken prisoner, while two foreign-made infantry fighting vehicles, along with a large stockpile of small arms and ammunition, were captured as trophies," the Defense Ministry added. A soldier with the call sign "Stitch" recounted that four Ukrainian troops surrendered. "As we advanced on the position, we were under heavy enemy fire. Mortars were hitting us. We overcame our fear and moved in. Four Ukrainians survived and surrendered we took them as prisoners. They were mobilized Ukrainians. They told us they were picked up off the streets and sent to fight," the fighter said. The capture of the stronghold allowed Russian units to advance further, pushing enemy forces out of the Kursk border area . In early March, Russian forces launched a large-scale offensive in the Kursk region, liberating 30 settlements within a week, including the district's center the city of Sudzha. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Partners Should Understand: These Russian Strikes Are Not Just on Civilians, but on International Efforts - Address by the President President of Ukraine 29 March 2025 - 20:39 Dear Ukrainians! First of all, today I would like to thank the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, all our municipal services involved after the Russian shelling. Thank you to the National Police of Ukraine, and medical workers - thousands of people are on duty every day and night to protect lives. Today, in Dnipro alone, nearly 250 of our people were involved in responding to the aftermath of the Russian drone strike - all the necessary services. The same goes for Kryvyi Rih and other cities and communities of ours that come under attack. Everywhere, the State Emergency Service, all emergency and special services are working to provide assistance. I am grateful to everyone who saves lives and supports our people - it is extremely important. Last night alone, Russia launched 172 strike drones - over 100 of them were Shaheds. These massive drone attacks have now become a near-daily reality. On top of that, there are continued missile threats, including ballistic ones. Our partners should clearly understand: these strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts - on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war. Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night. We expect a response - a serious one. We are working toward a response. A strong response is urgently needed - above all from the U.S., from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy. Russia must be forced into peace - only pressure will work. For far too long, the U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table - without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot. There could already have been a ceasefire - if there had been real pressure on Russia. I would like to thank those partners who understand this and are pushing the necessary decisions forward - including new sanctions. Today I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the situation on the front lines, including areas where our forces are operating on Russian territory. We are maintaining active operations that prevent the occupier from advancing into the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. I am grateful to all our units for their resilience - from the Kursk region to the southern directions. I want to give special recognition today for their frontline effectiveness to our 225th Separate Assault Regiment, as well as the warriors of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Also, to the Special Operations Forces for their highly effective actions in eliminating the enemy. And to the 35th Separate Marine Brigade for their efficiency in battles in the Pokrovsk sector. Thank you all, warriors! You are the real deal! I am grateful to everyone who helps our army, works at all our defense enterprises, and provides for the army. I am grateful to everyone who tells the world the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. Ukraine's strong positions in everything, effective work for our country is what helps bring peace closer the most. Thank you all! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Pleads For 'Strong Response' From West As Russian Attacks Mount By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 30, 2025 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 29 pleaded for a "strong response" from Ukraine's Western partners as deadly Russian attacks mounted, including air strikes on a Kharkiv military hospital and on the cities of Dnipro and Kryviy Rih. "Our partners should clearly understand: These strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts -- on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night," he added, referring to Iranian-made drones. "We expect a response -- a serious one. We are working toward a response. A strong response is urgently needed -- above all from the US, from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy. Russia must be forced into peace -- only pressure will work." Zelenskyy added that "for too long," a US proposal for an unconditional cease-fire has been on the table "without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot." Zelenskyy's remarks came after a 24-period of intensifying deadly strikes by Russian forces. Late on March 29, Ukraine's General Staff said that "Russian terrorists struck a military hospital in the city of Kharkiv" with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). "As a result of the Shahed-type UAV hit, the hospital building and nearby residential buildings were damaged. According to preliminary data, there are casualties among the servicemen who were treated at the medical center," the command said. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said at least two people were dead, but it was not immediately clear in what part of the city those deaths had occurred. Earlier, a regional governor said a Russian drone attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late on March 28 killed four people and sparked a large fire in a hotel and restaurant complex as well as at multiple private homes. Russian forces used more than 20 drones in the strike on Dnipro, which also injured 25. Zelenskyy said a pregnant woman was among the injured. Pictures and videos posted on social media showed flames and large plumes of smoke in the air. Others showed shattered buildings, the badly damaged upper floors of a high-rise apartment block, and streets strewn with smashed glass and pieces of buildings. Elsewhere on March 29, at least seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryviy Rih, Ukraine's state emergency service said. Meanwhile, Russia claimed it had captured two more villages in eastern and southern Ukraine as it pressed forward with its ground attacks. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said its forces had taken villages in the southern Zaporizhzhya region and in the eastern Donetsk region. The reports could not immediately be confirmed. Ukraine's military said a strike it carried out on March 27 in the Bryansk region of Russia had destroyed the military infrastructure of a checkpoint. The Ukrainian Air Force struck the Pogar border checkpoint in the locality of Sluchovsk in the Bryansk region, the General Staff said. Meanwhile, amid a series of US-led talks aimed at establishing a lasting truce between Kyiv and Moscow, US Vice President JD Vance said on March 28 that he sees "an incredible amount of progress" being made toward a peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine. "We make sure that what we're seeing from one party is met by the other party and vice versa [...] For the first time in four years, thanks to President Trump's leadership we have an opportunity to really achieve a peaceful settlement," Vance told reporters while visiting the US military base at Pituffik in Greenland. Separately, The Washington Post and other media reported that the Trump administration has reversed its decision to terminate a US initiative that documented alleged Russian war crimes. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said the Conflict Observatory initiative tracked the mass deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia-controlled territory using satellite imagery, biometric data, and other digital forensic tools, leading to multiple criminal cases -- including the indictment of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the International Criminal Court. The Post reported that the temporary policy reversal will give the observatory authorization and funding for six weeks to complete the transfer of its data to EUROPOL, the European Union's law-enforcement agency, for further investigations. With reporting by Reuters and The Washington Post Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-zelenskyy- kharkiv-dnipro-donetsk/33364023.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 Location Marks a Milestone in Commitment to Continued Growth LINDON, Utah, March 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ambia Solar, a leading residential solar company known for its commitment to personalized energy solutions and customer-first service, is proud to announce the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Lindon, Utah. The official move took place on Friday, March 28, 2025. The new headquarters will serve as a central hub for Ambias operations, providing expanded space for its growing teams in sales, operations, finance, and customer service. This move reflects Ambias continued growth and commitment to creating a collaborative, forward-thinking workplace to support its mission of making clean, dependable energy accessible for homeowners across the country. Conner Ruggio, CEO of Ambia, shared that from the first time he walked through the buildingformerly home to the successful HR company BambooHRhe had a gut feeling it was the right fit for Ambia. I genuinely believe this is going to be a place where we do some incredible things, Ruggio said. I hope this is a place you love to work every day. I know that I will. Located in the heart of Utah County, the new facility offers greater accessibility, enhanced amenities, and plenty of space for future growth as Ambia continues scaling its efficient energy solutions throughout the U.S. This move underscores the companys ongoing investment in its employees and communities, creating opportunities for job growth, collaboration, and impact across the solar industry. About Ambia Solar Ambia is a residential solar company dedicated to helping homeowners achieve greater energy independence through smart, reliable solar solutions. With a focus on transparency, education, and world-class service, Ambia manages each project in-housefrom consultation and system design to professional installation and support. Ambia currently operates in nine states with plans for continued expansion. Contact: Anne Heath Marketing & Communications anne.heath@ambiasolar.com www.ambiasolar.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/596c2ea7-46a0-49da-bc36-2b3e62b5f99e Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In Venture To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you purchased or otherwise acquired stock of Venture pursuant and/or traceable to Ventures registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Venture Global, Inc. (Venture or the Company) (NYSE: VG) and reminds investors of the April 18, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Ventures five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Ventures registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering. Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer because of what they are doing. In response to the news, Ventures stock price declined from $19.68 per share on February 5, 2025 to $17.48 per share on February 6, 2025. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Ventures conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Venture Global, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/VG or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8cccb513-acce-46c7-a85f-f8dd598c2689 Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In e.l.f. Beauty To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in e.l.f. Beauty between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (e.l.f. Beauty or the Company) (NYSE: ELF) and reminds investors of the May 5, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) contrary to its representations to investors, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (2) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (3) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (4) accordingly. the Companys business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (5) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (6) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant time On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research (Muddy Waters) published a report entitled e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery (the Muddy Waters Report), alleging that Elf had materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters, and that in Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in. Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true causeinsufficient sales. After the Class Period ended, on February 6, 2025, Elf released its fiscal Q3 2024 results and provided its fiscal 2025 outlook. Specifically, Elf revealed that it expected full-year fiscal 2025 net sales growth to be 27%-28%, down from the previous guidance of 28-30%, and also revised its adjusted EBITDA guidance to $289-293 million, down from $304-308 million, resulting in part from the updated sales outlook and a $7 million foreign currency loss. Further, the Company stated that it anticipated net sales growth was lowered to -1% to +2%, with management explaining that this reflected prudence amid softer consumption trends, challenging category conditions, and slower-than-expected new product performance The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding e.l.f. Beautys conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the e.l.f. Beauty class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ELF or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a84a685f-75cf-4fa0-96fb-36d460e70e1a CORK, Ireland, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XRP ($XRP) continues to battle investor uncertainty as its price hovers around $2.16, down significantly from its recent peak at $2.50 just last week. Amid ongoing volatility, XRP investors are growing cautious, driven by lingering doubts over regulatory clarity despite the SEC recently dropping its lawsuit against Ripple. However, while XRP struggles to find its footing, one project within the XRP ecosystem is thriving: ExoraPad ($EXP), the innovative AI-powered IDO launchpad designed specifically for the XRP Ledger. Join ExoraPad Presale ExoraPad Presale Rockets Past 100% Softcap Milestone In stark contrast to XRPs declining momentum, ExoraPad's $EXP token presale is booming, having already surpassed 100% of its Presale Softcap, raising Almost 50,000 XRP in record time. This significant milestone underscores strong investor enthusiasm, signaling confidence that ExoraPad might deliver substantial returns post-launch as analysts speculate it could be a potential 100X XRP project. Why Investors are Choosing ExoraPad Over XRP ExoraPad is tapping into a critical niche on the XRP Ledger, serving as the first AI-driven launchpad ExoraPad is designed and dedicated exclusively to projects involving Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), and premium tier Web3 ventures only. Advanced AI Integration Fuels Investor FOMO A core aspect driving investor excitement is ExoraPads advanced artificial intelligence analytics. Its proprietary AI model carefully evaluates projects for sustainability, growth potential, and risk mitigation, ensuring only premium-tier opportunities reach the platform. Buy $EXP Token Attractive Staking Rewards and Passive Income Drive $EXP Token Demand ExoraPad enhances investor appeal with powerful incentives designed for long-term holding: High-Yield Staking Rewards : Earn substantial passive income by staking your $EXP tokens, which reduces circulating supply and supports sustained price appreciation. : Earn substantial passive income by staking your $EXP tokens, which reduces circulating supply and supports sustained price appreciation. Generous Fee-Sharing: 70% of all platform-generated fees are distributed directly back to $EXP holders and utilized for token buybacks, providing ongoing passive income and strengthening token value. These compelling rewards strongly incentivize holding $EXP, ensuring continuous demand and growth potential. How to Join the EXP Token Presale Joining the ExoraPad presale is straightforward: Acquire XRP tokens through trusted exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit. Transfer XRP to a compatible non-custodial wallet like Xaman or Trust Wallet. Visit ExoraPad's presale page at exorapad.com/presale and deposit your XRP. and deposit your XRP. Your EXP tokens will be seamlessly airdropped after the presale concludes. Countdown to Exchange ListingDont Miss Out With the presale now rapidly approaching its target raise and tokens selling fast, investor FOMO continues to escalate. The urgency for crypto investors to secure $EXP tokens at presale prices is palpable, particularly given the tokens anticipated listing on prominent decentralized exchanges at a guaranteed premium of 25% above presale price. Official Channels: Website: https://exorapad.com Presale: https://exorapad.com/presale Telegram: https://t.me/exorapad Twitter/X: https://x.com/Exorapad Documentation: https://docs.exorapad.com Contact: Noah Walsh hello@exorapad.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the ExoraPad. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/16ed0a22-3940-447f-a72e-b5a87f47ef5d NEW YORK, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FortiCard, a trailblazer in global financial services, is rapidly advancing its strategic vision through a series of high-profile initiatives and partnership developments that underscore its commitment to shaping the future of finance. The company has recently engaged in fruitful discussions with several banking enterprises that recognize FortiCard's unique capabilities, resulting in strategic alignments poised to transform industry standards. Engagement with Leading Banking Enterprises Recognized for its innovative approach and robust technological infrastructure, FortiCard has attracted the attention of numerous banking enterprises, initiating dialogues aimed at exploring collaborative opportunities. These discussions are focused on leveraging FortiCard's advanced financial platforms and analytical tools to enhance transactional efficiencies and expand service capabilities across the banking sector. Strategic Initiatives to Address Investment Order Shortages at FortiCard FortiCard is actively deploying a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the persistent shortage of lend-out investment orders that has troubled its users for several months. These initiatives are expected to significantly enhance FortiCard's capacity to manage a larger volume of transactions, thereby meeting the increasing demands of its global customer base and reducing barriers to market participation. This strategic shift is designed to optimize operational efficiency and improve service delivery, ensuring that FortiCard remains competitive in the dynamic financial services sector. Cementing Relationships: From Short-Term Engagements to Long-Term Commitments A key highlight of FortiCards strategic agenda is the transformation of several short-term engagements into long-term partnerships. This transition will be formally recognized and celebrated on April 6, symbolizing a major commitment on the part of FortiCard and its partners to a sustained and mutually beneficial collaboration. Milestone Signing Ceremony in Singapore To mark these expanded partnerships, FortiCard will host a ceremonial signing event on May 1 at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This venue, renowned for its architectural brilliance and business significance, will serve as the perfect backdrop for celebrating these enduring alliances. The event will not only signify the formalization of these agreements but also showcase FortiCard's strategic commitment to fostering long-term relationships within the financial industry. Future Outlook and Continued Innovation As FortiCard continues to navigate the complexities of the global financial landscape, these strategic developments are integral to its mission of driving innovation and advancing the financial services industry. By enhancing its partnerships and expanding operational capabilities, FortiCard is setting new benchmarks for excellence and service delivery in finance. About FortiCard With a global presence and a reputation for excellence, FortiCard remains at the forefront of the financial services industry, known for its innovative solutions and commitment to client success. FortiCard continues to leverage its expertise to provide secure, profitable, and reliable financial products and services, ensuring it remains a leader in the financial sector. Media Contact: Company Name: FortiCard Limited Contact Person: Alexander Jonathan Williams Website: https://forti-card.com Email: admin@forti-card.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the FortiCard Limited. 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 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. 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. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a48230a2-4302-43fc-a4dd-c5d49c613ec2 BARRIE, Ontario, March 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alectra Utilities powerline crews will continue restoration efforts overnight on Sunday to return service to approximately 18,000 customers still without power in Barrie, Penetanguishene and Richmond Hill. This is down from the more than 44,000 customers who were without power at the height of the storm early Sunday morning. Alectra crews are working 24/7 in very challenging and hazardous conditions, prioritizing public safety and critical infrastructure while restoring service as efficiently as possible. The utility has also brought in additional forestry crews to clear downed tree limbs from around the damaged powerlines in advance of the emergency crews that are repairing the grid. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the damage from ice accretion across Alectras service territory, and significant tree damage in downtown Barrie that is complicating restoration, some customers will be without power overnight and into Monday morning. Customers can continue to get outage updates by following the Alectra X account, @AlectraNews, or by viewing the outage map at alectrautilities.com. As power is restored, if residents notice that their neighbours have power again, but they are still out, it may be because their homes service mast was damaged during the storm. Here is what theyll need to know before we can re-energize: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ8AWvfN_oo. Refrigerated food should be checked if power has been out for a lengthy period. We recommend avoiding opening your refrigerator or freezer doors unless necessary. Keep them closed as much as possible to prevent cold air from escaping. Learn more about 'food safety in an emergency' here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-drinking-water-safe-emergency.html#a3. Additional safety information can be found at alectrautilities.com/what-do-during-outage. We know this is an extremely difficult time for those still without power, especially given the weather. We want to express our sincere appreciation to our customers for their patience, resilience and understanding as we work to restore service safely. About Alectra Utilities Serving more than one million homes and businesses and approximately three million people in Ontarios Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions. Our mission is to be an energy ally, helping our customers and the communities we serve to discover the possibilities of tomorrows energy future. Twitter: https://twitter.com/alectranews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alectranews/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alectranews/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/16178435/admin/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alectranews.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alectranews Media Contact Email: media@alectra.com | 24/7 Media Line: 1-833-MEDIA-LN A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0ceacb1-6c95-492e-afb5-7e93a8d63238 Laman Ismayilova Spectacular concert dedicated to the 340th anniversary of the great German composer, organist, conductor, and music educator Johann Sebastian Bach has taken place at Chamber and Organ Music Hall, Azernews reports. Bach is the author of over 1000 musical works in all significant genres of his time (except opera). His creative legacy is interpreted as a culmination of Baroque musical art. A devout Protestant, Bach composed a great deal of sacred music. His "St. Matthew Passion," "Mass in B minor," cantatas, and instrumental arrangements of Protestant chorales are recognized masterpieces of world musical classics. Bach is known as a great master of polyphony, and in his work, Baroque polyphony reached its zenith. The musical program featured performer Leonard Shik from Germany, who is renowned for his performances in Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Venice, Portugal, Belgium, Slovenia, Finland, and other countries. The program included works by J.S. Bach, F. Tunder, M. Weckmann, and improvisations by Leonard Shik. Photo Credits: Kamran Baghirov Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az. Alice Rivlin's death on May 14 may have gone unnoticed in some circles amid news of Trump tariffs, the banning of facial-recognition technology in San Francisco, and reports of financial irregularities at the National Rifle Association. Even the next day'sobituary page did not carry her death as its lead story, as comedian Tim Conway had died on the same day.But for those of us who knew and admired Rivlin, her 60-year career as an economist, careful analyst, governmental institution builder and public leader is something to pause and reflect on, and give tribute to. In fact, many people who may not know her name or may not have noted her passing have benefited and will continue to benefit from her lifetime of serving the public.Rivlin had already had a distinguished career as a think-tank and government analyst when she was selected in 1975 as the first head of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). While this was a decision that Congress did not come to easily -- some members were vehemently opposed to selecting a woman for the job -- it turned out to be an inspired choice. Today CBO has as good a reputation as any analytical organization in the world, and it has become the model for similar institutions in state and local governments in the United States as well as in the governments of other countries.It was decisions that Rivlin made that created the culture and practices that resulted in the ascendance of CBO as an institution. In the first year, for example, she decided that CBO would not make policy recommendations so as to protect the institution from charges of partisanship. That culture has been reinforced by subsequent directors and generations of CBO staff. On his first day on the job, the current director, Phillip Swagel, cited a Rivlin memo (still circulated to staff) in which she wrote: "CBO must be, and must be perceived to be, an objective, non-partisan, professional organization in the service of the Congress. ... Our work and our publications must always be balanced, thorough and free of any partisan tinge."After leaving CBO in 1983, she moved in and out of the Brookings Institution for the next three and a half decades, and occupied two other high-level government positions: director of the White House Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton and vice chair of the Federal Reserve. In those jobs, as in her previous one at CBO, she had vast influence over many programs and policies that had major impacts on state and local governments. But in at least one instance, her impact at that level of government was much more direct: More than any other individual, she was responsible for saving the District of Columbia.For those unfamiliar with the story, the D.C. government, as a result of economic and political factors and bad management, was running consistent deficits and had lost access to the markets when its bonds fell to junk bond status in the early 1990s. It came dangerously close to being placed in federal receivership, which might have ended its already brief era of congressionally granted limited home rule.Instead, Congress and the Clinton administration created the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, more commonly known as the "financial control board." The board restored D.C.'s access to the financial markets, the most significant government departments were placed under its control, and the city was given a timetable for becoming fiscally solvent.Rivlin was already an expert on the D.C. budget, having headed a commission that issued a 1990 report that diagnosed the District's financial problems and suggested some solutions. This, coupled with the fact that she had been OMB director when the financial control board was created, led to her being appointed its second chair in September of 1998. After Anthony Williams, who had been highly regarded as D.C.'s chief financial officer, was elected mayor in November of that year, Rivlin voluntarily relinquished (three years early) control of the agencies that the board had been running, but continued to advise Williams for the remainder of her term as chair. By 2001, the city had attained five consecutive balanced budgets, had regained its own access to the capital markets, and the financial control board was dissolved.Rivlin had no obligation to serve on the board or champion the cause of D.C. But she was a resident of the city and cared deeply about its prospects. Williams put it best, telling a reporter after her death: "I can't think of another person who combined at a top level both the national interest and local D.C. Can you? ... She deeply, deeply believed that everything she was doing was to make government work better for the people. She was a great lady."At her memorial service last month, her long-time friend Donna Shalala, currently a member of Congress from Florida and secretary of health and human services in the Clinton administration, reminded attendees that Alice Rivlin was, first and foremost, a patriot. In this era when partisan bickering is the norm, objective analysis is under attack and public service is being systematically devalued, it seems fitting that we give tribute to someone whose entire life embodied hard-headed thinking and a commitment to good government. We may not see her like again. Next article: Year 2 of Tullow AgriVentures Programme to scale impact in agribusiness sector These are the top 20 major shareholders of MTN Ghana in 2025 (LIST) Kweku Zurek Business News Mar - 30 - 2025 , 05:51 MTN Ghana's ownership structure has seen notable changes in the past year, with its majority shareholder reducing its stake while several institutional investors increased their holdings. The latest shareholder information, revealed in Scancom PLC's 2024 financial statements, shows how investment patterns in Ghana's leading telecom operator are evolving. Changing face of MTN Ghana's ownership At the top remains Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A., though its dominance has decreased slightly. The majority shareholder now holds 72.04 per cent of shares (9,535,213,597 shares), down from 77.23 per cent in 2023. This 5.19 percentage point reduction achieved as part of MTN's Significant Market Power (SMP) classification marks one of the most significant shifts in MTN Ghana's ownership structure in recent years. Moving into second place is JPNG Firstrand Bank Ltd CIT-73863, with 2.26 per cent ownership (298,706,619 shares). This represents a slight decline from the 2.87 per cent held by its predecessor entity in 2023. Ghana's Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) maintains its position as the third-largest shareholder, slightly increasing its stake to 1.54 per cent (203,825,694 shares) from 1.50 per cent the previous year. The Kimberlite Frontier Africa Master Fund holds steady in fourth position with 1.32 per cent (174,769,869 shares), showing minimal change from its 1.35 per cent holding in 2023. New entrants have shaken up the rankings, with BNYMSANVFFT RE ODD, O NLAFR making a notable debut at fifth position with 0.98 percent (130,098,080 shares). Several long-term institutional investors maintain their positions, including: - AFCAP Ghana Ltd, A.G (0.93 per cent) - Daden Holdings Ltd (0.93 per cent) - Yeotech Company Ltd (0.93 per cent) - Scannison Investments Limited (0.93 per cent) Hunter Bofour Ltd slipped from fifth to tenth position despite maintaining nearly the same percentage holding (0.92 per cent). New players enter the scene The 2024 shareholder register introduces several new institutional investors: - PHJ, HSQPS, FRONT enters at thirteenth position with 0.76 per cent ownership - Jingbrak RE FEB AC The Africa Partners Fund takes fifteenth place with 0.65 per cent - Centrust Sankofa Master Trust Scheme appears at sixteenth with 0.52 per cent - CBN/HSOPS/Delta Capital Limited joins at nineteenth with 0.42 per cent These new entries replace former shareholders including Duet Africa Opportunities Fund, which dropped out of the top twenty. Small shareholders grow in number The top 20 shareholders of MTN Ghana While institutional investors dominate the shareholding structure, small retail investors continue to show interest in MTN Ghana. The number of shareholders holding between 1-1,000 shares grew to 94,385 individuals, though their collective stake remains minimal at just 0.10% of total shares. The changes in MTN Ghana's shareholder structure come as the company reports strong financial performance, with revenue growing to GH17.9 billion in 2024. As MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett noted during the recent AGM, MTN Ghana remains focused on maintaining its leadership through infrastructure investment and service innovation, even as new competitors like Starlink enter the market. These ownership changes reflect the dynamic nature of Ghana's telecom sector and investor responses to both challenges and opportunities. Here is the list of MTN Ghana's top 20 shareholders as at December 31, 2024, with their respective shareholdings: 1. Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A. Shares: 9,535,213,597 Percentage: 72.04% 2. JPNG Firstrand Bank Ltd CIT-73863 Shares: 298,706,619 Percentage: 2.26% 3. Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Shares: 203,825,694 Percentage: 1.54% 4. Kimberlite Frontier Africa Master Fund, LP RCNN Shares: 174,769,869 Percentage: 1.32% 5. BNYMSANVFFT RE ODD, O NLAFR Shares: 130,098,080 Percentage: 0.98% 6. AFCAP Ghana Ltd, A.G Shares: 122,904,743 Percentage: 0.93% 7. Daden Holdings Ltd Shares: 122,904,743 Percentage: 0.93% 8. Yeotech Company Ltd Shares: 122,904,743 Percentage: 0.93% 9. Scannison Investments Limited Company Shares: 122,904,743 Percentage: 0.93% 10. Hunter Bofour Ltd Shares: 122,926,673 Percentage: 0.92% 11. BNYMSANVLUX RE Eastspring Investments SICAV IFS Shares: 107,155,980 Percentage: 0.81% 12. Enterprise Tier 2 Occupational Pension Scheme Shares: 104,057,396 Percentage: 0.79% 13. PHJ, HSQPS, FRONT Shares: 100,006,424 Percentage: 0.76% 14. Northern Trust Co. AVFC 63148 Shares: 99,015,882 Percentage: 0.75% 15. Jingbrak RE FEB AC The Africa Partners Fund SPC SP1 FRG16 G58B6800447 Shares: 86,033,604 Percentage: 0.65% 16. Centrust Sankofa Master Trust Scheme Shares: 69,453,621 Percentage: 0.52% 17. JPNGE OLD RE Coronation FD MCERS IRE on behalf of the Africa Fund Shares: 61,154,104 Percentage: 0.46% 18. Databank Financial Services, GES Occ Pension Shares: 57,611,097 Percentage: 0.44% 19. CBN/HSOPS/Delta Capital Limited Shares: 54,960,317 Percentage: 0.42% 20. STD NOINS/BYWN RE Vanderbilt University Shares: 53,912,277 Percentage: 0.41% Note: The total number of issued shares was 13,236,175,050 as of December 31, 2024. Next article: Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibias first female President Expelled South African envoy accuses Trump administration of racism bbc.com International News Mar - 30 - 2025 , 15:39 3 minutes read South Africa's former ambassador to the US has told the BBC it was "self-evident" that there was racism within the Trump administration. Ebrahim Rasool, 62, was ordered to leave the US last week after Secretary of State Marco Rubio called him a "race-baiting politician who hates America". This came after Rasool accused US President Donald Trump of trying to "project white victimhood as a dog whistle". Asked by the BBC's Newshour whether he believed the Trump administration was racist, Rasool said: "I think it is self-evident rather than anyone needing to be called out." Related Article: South African ambassador to Washington 'no longer welcome' in US The BBC has approached the White House for comment. In one of his first interviews since being expelled from the US, Rasool added: "I'm saying when a piece of wood has a hinge, you begin to suspect it's a door." The diplomat cited the administration's emphasis on deporting migrants as well as the targeting of foreign students who had supported pro-Palestinian protests. He also accused Trump's team of mobilising "certain far-right communities". The Trump administration has denied accusations of racism. The president says he has a mandate to deport thousands of migrants who entered the US illegally after it formed a central part of his election campaign last year. Rubio has defended revoking visas for students who "cause chaos" on college campuses. US-South Africa relations have deteriorated sharply since Trump returned to power in mid-January. Since taking office, Trump and his ally, South-Africa born Elon Musk, have singled out South Africa, in particular criticising it over its land reform policies. Trump has cut all aid to the country and, despite his hard-line stance on most refugees and asylum seekers, says that members of South Africa's white, Afrikaner community would be granted refugee status in the US because of the persecution he says they face at home. South Africa's government says it is trying to correct the country's racial and economic imbalances following decades of white-minority rule by passing measures to help the country's black majority. Rasool denied that the Afrikaner population was facing discrimination. "It is an unadulterated lie because it tries to besmirch the very DNA of a new South Africa that was born under the leadership of someone like Nelson Mandela," he told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme. When questioned whether his language was undiplomatic, Rasool said: "It's not as if being a good boy warded off any punishment. It was that at some point South Africa's dignity is also at stake - you can't smile through too many untruths being told about your country." After returning home to a hero's welcome on Sunday, Rasool said that he had no regrets about his remarks. Next article: Ashaiman: Police arrest two suspects in robbery of businessman Previous article: Water supply in Central Region under serious threat: GWL crushing under GH69 million debt DCOP Boadu-Ekumah: Volta Regional Police bids farewell to Volta Regional Commander Alberto Mario Noretti Mar - 30 - 2025 , 19:21 2 minutes read An emotional send-off party was held for the former Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Andrews Boadu-Ekumah, at the Regional Police Headquarters in Ho last Friday, March 28, 2025. The Deputy Commissioner of Police served in that capacity for two years, after previously working for a year as the Deputy Regional Commander. The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, commended DCOP Boadu-Ekumah for his dedication to duty, highlighting his neutrality in the discharge of his responsibilities. DCOP Boadu-Ekumah distinguished himself in bringing policing to great heights in the region as he performed his duties diligently in a spirit of patriotism, he added. The regional minister assured that the Regional Coordinating Council would continue collaborating with the police and other security agencies to ensure safety in the region at all times. In his farewell address, DCOP Boadu-Ekumah expressed gratitude to the Police Administration, the chiefs and people of the Volta Region, and the clergy for their immense support during his tenure. The former regional police commander also commended members of the Election Security Task Force for their vital role in maintaining peace and order during last years general elections. He urged personnel of the Ghana Police Service to rededicate themselves to their duties with zeal and enthusiasm, working to uphold the image of the service. DCOP Boadu-Ekumah also called on both police officers and residents of the region to extend the same support and cooperation to the new Regional Commander as he had enjoyed. The newly appointed Regional Police Commander, ACP Wisdom Akorli, described DCOP Boadu-Ekumah as a source of inspiration and an icon of discipline, public safety, crime prevention, and community engagement, worthy of emulation. Presiding over the event, the Dufia of Ho-Ahoe, Togbe Kasa III, reaffirmed the commitment of traditional authorities to working closely with the police in maintaining law and order in the region. A citation presented to DCOP Boadu-Ekumah by the Ghana Police Service read in part: Your innovative approaches and commitment to justice have not only shaped the future of law enforcement in the region but also set a high standard for those who will follow in your footsteps. In addition to your remarkable achievements in policing, you were also an advocate for the well-being of officers and the communities they served. Your efforts to foster trust, collaboration, and accountability between law enforcement and the public have left an indelible mark on the service and the region. Next article: Ghanas Carbon Market set to generate over $1 billion by 2030 Report Previous article: Gold discovered in seven districts of Upper East Region - Minister Ghana Navy investigates suspected pirate attack, 3 crew members feared kidnapped Beatrice Laryea Mar - 30 - 2025 , 10:31 2 minutes read The Ghana Navy has initiated an investigation into a suspected pirate attack on the Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, Mengxin 1, which occurred in Ghanaian waters on the evening of Thursday, March 27. A press release from the Ghana Armed Forces, issued on Saturday, March 29, detailed that the attack took place around 5:53 PM when seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots. The sudden assault forced several crew members to seek shelter in a secure area on the ship. The pirates remained on board for nearly three hours, during which they gathered the crew on deck and confiscated their mobile phones. Once the assailants left, it was discovered that the Captain, Chief Mate, and Chief Engineerall Chinese nationalswere missing, sparking concerns of a kidnapping. Unable to report the incident due to lack of mobile network coverage at sea, the remaining unharmed crew sailed closer to shore to inform authorities. The vessel has since arrived safely at Tema Fishing Harbour, where initial investigations by Marine Police and Naval Intelligence from the Eastern Naval Command have confirmed the attack and the likely abduction. In response, intelligence has been shared with neighboring countries through the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F in Accra, as part of the Yaounde Architecture for maritime security. This coordinated effort aims to enhance regional cooperation in locating the suspected kidnappers. Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, reassured the public that security agencies are intensifying efforts to locate and rescue the kidnapped crew members. The Ghana Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with regional and international partners to tackle maritime security threats and safeguard vessels operating in Ghanaian waters. Read the statement below. 63 Nsawam prisoners graduate from UCC - Inmate serving 20 years named valedictorian Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Mar - 30 - 2025 , 05:57 4 minutes read Sixty-three inmates from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison have graduated from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) after successfully completing studies in various disciplines under the Prison Inmates Tertiary Education Programme (PITEP). The graduates received degrees, including a Bachelors degree in Commerce (Accounting and Management options) and a Bachelors degree in Education (Junior High School Education) and were awarded certificates through UCCs College of Distance Education (CoDE). The ceremony, held at the Nsawam Prison precinct, marked the ninth session of the universitys 57th congregation, but the maiden graduation under PITEP. PITEP, an initiative of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Plan Volta Foundation, provides incarcerated individuals with free access to higher education, enabling them to pursue university degrees while serving their sentences. Implemented in partnership with the Ghana Prisons Service, the programme aims to rehabilitate inmates by equipping them with academic and professional skills, increasing their chances of reintegration into society upon release. Best student The Best Student of the graduating class, Matthew Milluzieh, stated that their successful completion of a degree programme was not merely about acquiring knowledge and skills but also a positive experience that enabled them to critically examine their past actions and understand the consequences of their choices. A section of the inmates during the graduation We entered these walls not as students but as individuals to be reformed. Today, we are not just degree graduates but renewed and ambitious individuals that will prove wrong societys perception that once an inmate, always a criminal, he said. Mr Milluzieh is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence since 2018. Two other inmates were also awarded special scholarships to further their education in recognition of their exemplary academic performance during their studies. The ceremony also saw the presentation of plaques of honour and citations to various stakeholders for their outstanding contributions to the success of the programme. Additionally, individuals and organisations that have consistently supported the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates were recognised for their efforts. Testament The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, described their graduation as a testament to what strength, character and commitment to personal growth and desire for rehabilitation could achieve. He further urged them not to view their accomplishments as the end of their journey because they were now change markers, leaders and role models who would inspire others to pursue personal development and academic excellence. Mr Terlabi commended the Ghana Prison Service for its forward-thinking approach to rehabilitation and reformation, stressing that education was a tool for transformation and a platform to enable inmates to contribute their quota to society. Government remains committed to the continuous rehabilitation of all inmates because we recognise it as an essential component of our justice system. So we are ready to partner all stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs) to achieve this goal, he added. Mindset change The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, urged the inmate graduates to adopt a complete change in mindset, emphasising that their education should go beyond academic excellence to truly transform their lives. She gave an assurance that the service would seize every opportunity to improve the well-being of inmates, reinforcing its commitment to rehabilitation and called for a dedicated budget to support inmate education, stressing the need for sustained investment in their future. Funding In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof. John Nyarko Boampong, reaffirmed the universitys commitment to sustaining the programme. He disclosed that UCC had so far spent over GH2.5 million on the initiative through its fee-waiver policy, which covered face-to-face tutorials, printing of modules, examinations and other academic services. Prof. Boampong emphasised that student inmates are not required to pay any fees to access the programme. However, he lamented that the high cost of running the initiative had made it challenging to extend the training to other prisons across the country. He, therefore, called for greater support from stakeholders to ensure its continuity and expansion. We still have a lot to learn from Efua Sutherland Prof. Anyidoho Beatrice Laryea Mar - 29 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read Ghanaian poet and academic, Professor Kofi Anyidoho, has urged creative arts to delve deeper into the works of cultural activist Efua Sutherland to expand their knowledge and translate it into meaningful social action. He emphasised that the late Efua Sutherland was a repository of artistic wisdom, and there remains much to be learned from her legacy to preserve Ghanas culture and traditions. He made the remarks during a two-day conference celebrating Efua Sutherlands intellectual and humanistic contributions at the Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Ghana, Legon, last Thursday. In his keynote address titled "The Ancestors' Path Must Never Be Lost", Prof. Anyidoho offered a thought-provoking reflection on Sutherlands lasting influence, weaving in poetry and songs throughout his speech. "With the kind of work to which she dedicated her life, there's still a lot that we have to learn from her. Given where we are now, in some ways, it's like we are going backwards. Today, I describe myself as a bilingual poet, writing in both my own language (Ewe) and in English. Some people think that this is a new thing and I say oh, how could it be new? That was what defined Auntie Efuah's work. "She will write first in Akan (Fante) and she will take the trouble to write the same thing in English. When I took the first play I wrote in English to her, in her editorial notes and comments, she said, "Go and write it in Ewe". That is why my play "Akporkplor or Aportro is in English and Ewe. We must have the courage to thrive. The beginning may be difficult, but the end is something that all of us will be happy about," Prof. Anyidoho said. Event The event, dubbed "International Conference Celebrating The Centenary of Efua Sutherland", was organised by the Institute of African Studies, in collaboration with the Centre for African Studies, Mason Gross Theatre at Rutgers University, the School of Performing Arts-Legon, the Estate of Efua Sutherland and the Busia Foundation. It was on the theme: "Efua Sutherland and The Creation of African Scholarly Paradigms Since 1960: Continuity or Rupture?" An exhibition and creative workshops were held, showcasing the works and practices of Efua Sutherland. In attendance were former Ghana Ambassador to Brazil, Prof. Abena Busia; Associate Dean for Equity, Mason Gross School of Theatre Arts, Prof. Marshal Jones III; Prof. Ouseina Alidu from Rutgers University, Deputy Ambassador of Algeria to Ghana, Atmane Boudjemia, and former Director of IAS, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo. Significance The Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, who represented Vice- Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, emphasised the importance of the conference in recognising the intellectual contributions of an African woman scholar, activist and artist. "I must reiterate that the centenary of Efua Sutherland provides an opportunity to project African excellence and innovation and to reassure ourselves of the relevance of making ideas work for the betterment of humanities," he said. "The University of Ghana recognised Efua Sutherland for her outstanding contributions to the university, Ghana, Africa and the world in the areas of innovative teaching, research and knowledge tracing, and conferred on her the award of an honorary doctorate in 1991." "We have come a long way. But surely, we will all be stronger if the creative, intellectual and strategic acumen of the pioneers are kept in constant view," he stressed. He also mentioned that the conference's objective aligns with the University of Ghana's plan to promote international partnerships among institutions and scholars. Memorable experience Associate Professor of Linguistics at the IAS Prof. Mercy Akrofi Ansah, who chaired the event, expressed her excitement about the memorable experiences the conference will create. She stated that Efua Sutherland deserved to be celebrated as the pioneer of African arts in Ghana and globally. "I'm glad to be part of this programme which seeks to celebrate Dr Efua Wildora Sutherland. Undoubtedly, Efua Sutherland deserves to be celebrated, being the pioneer of African arts in Ghana and beyond, Prof. Ansah stated. Ghanas Carbon Market set to generate over $1 billion by 2030 Report Graphic.com.gh Mar - 30 - 2025 , 09:46 2 minutes read Ghanas Carbon Market is projected to attract over $1 billion in investments by 2030, creating jobs and driving the adoption of clean energy solutions, according to a new report from the Carbon Market Office (CMO). The investments will stem from projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as from revenue generated through fees. Carbon trading enables companies and countries to buy and sell carbon credits, which represent the reduction or removal of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO). One carbon credit equates to one tonne of CO that has been reduced, removed, or avoided. This system provides countries like Ghana with an opportunity to fund climate-friendly projects while cutting emissions. Ghanas Progress in Carbon Trading Ghana has introduced policies and regulations to maximize the benefits of carbon trading. So far, 24 million metric tonnes of its 64 million metric tonnes of carbon credits have been made available for sale under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. As of December 2024, 70 projects have been submitted to the CMO for approval, with the aim of reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development in the country. Among these projects, the clean cookstove initiative, which plans to distribute 9.1 million stoves by 2030, has been the most prominent, accounting for 26 of the proposals. Additionally, three projects focused on electric mobility aim to distribute 120,160 e-bikes and e-vehicles. The report also highlighted that 15 of the proposed projects are centered on nature-based solutions, with others focusing on biochar, solar energy generation, wastewater treatment, and electric vehicles. Ghanas International Carbon Trading Agreements Ghana has already signed agreements to sell carbon credits with Switzerland, Sweden, and Singapore. The Swiss agreement is currently being implemented, while talks with South Korea and Liechtenstein are ongoing. According to the report, the carbon market is expected to bring in more investments, create job opportunities, and aid in Ghanas fight against climate change. It will also encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies, such as improved cookstoves and electric vehicles. With the right policies and investor support, Ghana is positioned to become a significant player in Africas carbon trading market. In the latest Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Status Report, Ghana is recognized for its successful engagement with five acquiring parties, alongside other countries such as Guyana, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vanuatu. Next article: Vice President Opoku-Agyemang to seek medical treatment abroad after sudden illness Previous article: Ghanas Carbon Market set to generate over $1 billion by 2030 Report Ghana's Parliament approves GH 2.8 billion for road maintenance GNA Mar - 30 - 2025 , 09:34 1 minute read The Ghanaian Parliament has approved a GH 2.8 billion budget for road maintenance this year to improve the transportation of goods and services. In 2024, 43 percent of the countrys total road network was maintained through reshaping, gravelling, and pothole patching. Chairman of Parliaments Roads and Transport Committee, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah spoke to the media at Parliament House in Accra, explaining that road maintenance is a key part of the governments reset agenda. He highlighted that the government inherited a road sector debt of GH 105 billion, along with a GH 109 billion commitment to road contractors. These arrears relate to both ongoing and stalled road projects, as well as signed contracts. Mr Adjei Mensah added that efforts are underway to reintroduce road tolls using innovative technology to help boost the government's revenue mobilization efforts. As the Member of Parliament for Wassa East in the Western Region, he expressed confidence that the government's US$10 billion strategic infrastructure plan, known as the Big Push, would significantly improve the nation's roads. In other news, Parliament passed the Appropriation Bill on the early morning of Saturday, March 29, granting authorization for Ghanas Finance Minister to allocate public funds for various programs and projects outlined in the budget. This means the government can now access funds from the Consolidated Fund and other related sources. Government cancels 2 deals by previous administration to sell diplomatic properties in Nigeria, Zambia Beatrice Laryea Mar - 30 - 2025 , 14:09 2 minutes read The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that his ministry, with the full support of President John Dramani Mahama, has canceled two transactions initiated by the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to sell Ghanaian diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia. In a post on his X account on Saturday, March 29, Mr. Ablakwa revealed that efforts are underway to recover an illegal partial payment made in one of the transactions. He also stated that the individuals behind these deals, who are currently evading authorities, will be tracked down and held accountable. "Yesterday I informed Parliament that with the full backing of President Mahama, we have cancelled two transactions initiated by the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to sell Ghanaian diplomatic properties in Nigeria and Zambia," he said. "Determined efforts are underway to retrieve an illegal part payment in one of the transactions. The masterminds, who are currently on the run will surely be found and sanctioned. We mean it when we say no diplomatic property belonging to the people of Ghana would be sold under our watch," he stressed. Mr Ablakwa further warned that none of Ghanas diplomatic properties, whether in the country or in any of its 71 diplomatic missions abroad, are for sale, urging any interested parties to desist from pursuing such transactions. "Notice is hereby served that none of our diplomatic properties either in Ghana or any of our 71 diplomatic missions abroad are available for sale hands off!" "The principles of ORAL, strict abhorrence for State Capture and the national interest shall continue to guide our decisions. For God and Country," he added. The Republic of Ghana operates several diplomatic missions with properties dotted globally. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ghanaian diplomatic missions in the capitals of other Commonwealth countries are referred to as High Commissions. Vice President Opoku-Agyemang to seek medical treatment abroad after sudden illness Kweku Zurek Mar - 30 - 2025 , 08:46 3 minutes read Ghanas Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, was admitted to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) on Saturday after experiencing a sudden illness following her official duties on Friday, March 28, 2025. A statement signed by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed that the Vice President had received initial treatment but would seek further medical care abroad based on expert recommendations. "We wish the Vice President a speedy recovery," the statement concluded. While details regarding the nature of her illness remain undisclosed, the announcement has sparked widespread concern and well-wishes from citizens and political figures alike. More updates are expected as the Vice President prepares for further treatment overseas. About Prof. Opoku Agyemang Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, 73, is Ghana's first female Vice President. Her historic achievement as first female Vice President follows the election of John Dramani Mahama as President in the 2024 presidential election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Taking the oath of office on January 7, 2025, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang vowed to uphold the Constitution and work diligently to advance the nations development agenda. Born on November 22, 1951, in Komenda in the Central Region of Ghana, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is a distinguished academic and public servant whose career spans decades. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and pursued advanced studies at York University in Canada, where she obtained her Masters and Ph.D. in English Literature. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang began her academic journey as a lecturer at UCC, where she rose through the ranks to become the universitys first female Vice-Chancellor in 2008. Her leadership at UCC was marked by a commitment to academic excellence, institutional growth, and gender equality. In 2013, she was appointed Minister of Education by President Mahama. During her tenure, she spearheaded significant reforms, including initiatives to improve teacher training, expand access to education, and enhance infrastructure in schools nationwide. Her contributions to education and leadership have earned her numerous accolades, including honorary doctorates, national awards, and international recognition. A passionate advocate for womens empowerment, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang is a role model for many aspiring leaders in Ghana and beyond. She is married to Mr. Badu Opoku-Agyemang, and they have three children. Known for her humility and intellect, she combines her professional achievements with a deep commitment to societal transformation. Previous article: We can't keep driving luxury cars while widows continue to suffer - McDan Water supply in Central Region under serious threat: GWL crushing under GH69 million debt Shirley Asiedu-Addo & Joana Kumi Mar - 30 - 2025 , 22:25 6 minutes read The Central Regional Manager of the Ghana Water Limited (GWL), John Eric Kwofie, has disclosed that outstanding arrears owed the company in the region have reached a staggering GH69,517,644.05. He expressed grave concern that the accumulation of these debts was significantly hampering the companys ability to operate efficiently, affecting service delivery and the overall sustainability of water supply in the region. Speaking at a media engagement to commemorate World Water Day on the theme "Water Conservation: Let's Make It Our Way of Life," last Friday, Mr Kwofie emphasised the urgent need for customers to honour their financial obligations to the company. He said that the failure to clear the arrears had placed enormous pressure on the GWL, making it increasingly difficult to pay workers, purchase essential water treatment chemicals, maintain infrastructure and undertake new projects aimed at improving service delivery. Illegal mining activities affecting water bodies in the Central Region He stated that the defaulters included private institutions, companies and entire communities, urging all those in debt to settle their bills promptly. Paperless billing, E-payment system To enhance efficiency and ease the burden of bill payments, Mr Kwofie announced that the GWL had fully transitioned to a paperless billing system. As part of this initiative, he said the company had introduced an electronic billing platform, allowing customers to conveniently pay their bills by dialing *1010# on all networks. This new e-payment system eliminates the need for customers to spend time and money travelling to the GWL offices just to settle their bills. Now, payments can be made from anywhere, at any time, he stated, adding that the digital transition would greatly improve revenue collection and service efficiency. He gave the assurance that the GWL was committed to improving service delivery and appealed for public cooperation and responsible water usage. Illegal connections The Regional Water Quality Assurance Manager, Nicholas Okyere, highlighted the growing problem of illegal water connections, which, he revealed, resulted in the company losing approximately 20 per cent of its revenue. Mr Okyere also raised concerns over meter tampering, where individuals manipulate meters to avoid accurate billing. Additionally, he revealed that some customers had resorted to stealing the company's water meters, making it difficult for the company to track consumption and enforce payments. He warned that such activities were putting immense pressure on the companys ability to maintain a stable and reliable water supply. The young and old sometimes have to go in search of water To curb this menace, he disclosed that the GWL had introduced a reward system to encourage public participation in exposing water and meter theft. Under this scheme, individuals who report cases of meter tampering or illegal connections, leading to the arrest of culprits, would be rewarded. Water theft is a major challenge that affects not just the company but also law-abiding customers who rely on us for uninterrupted supply. We urge the public to assist us in fighting this issue by reporting any illegal activities they come across, he appealed. Water supply and climate change Providing an update on water supply, Mr Okyere acknowledged that while there had been slight improvements compared to last year, the company continued to face significant challenges due to climate change. He revealed that the previous year and the early months of this year had been particularly difficult, as prolonged dry seasons and erratic rainfall patterns had affected water sources, making it hard to meet demand. The Sekyere Hemang intake plant is heavily silted He further explained that farming activities near water bodies were exacerbating the problem. He pointed out that farmers increased use of agrochemicals, fertilisers and pesticides was contaminating water sources, while deforestation and soil erosion were causing increased sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs. We are seeing more cases of algal blooms in water sources due to nutrient pollution. Farming is now taking place dangerously close to water bodies and this is accelerating the degradation of our water quality, he warned. Declining water resources A former Central Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Dr Ato Quansah, provided an analysis of water availability in the Central Region, pointing out that the area predominantly relied on surface water, while some parts depended on groundwater. He stated that over the past 50 years, the availability of fresh water had declined by half, whereas the human population had doubled. If you are 60-years-old today, when you were 10, the amount of fresh water available was twice what it is now. Meanwhile, he said water resources had declined and the demand had surged due to rapid population growth, making it increasingly difficult to serve everyone. Even at night residents are forced to go in search of water He further warned that water quality had deteriorated across all major benchmarks, including chemically and physically, placing the country in what he described as a very dire situation. Urgent conservation measures Given the alarming trends, Dr Quansah stressed that water conservation was no longer an option but a necessity. He urged individuals, businesses and institutions to adopt sustainable water usage habits, emphasising that failure to act now would lead to severe water shortages in the near future. We are in a very critical situation and the only solution left is to conserve water. If we fail to do so now, we risk facing an even more severe water crisis in the years ahead, he cautioned. He called on the public to play an active role in protecting water resources by avoiding wasteful usage, reporting illegal connections and advocating policies that promote water sustainability. His remarks underscored the urgency of collective action to safeguard water resources for future generations. Residents Some residents the Daily Graphic spoke to expressed varying opinions on the services of the GWL. While some said they received bills that did not reflect the water supplied to them, others said they were satisfied with the bills received and called for a regular supply of water. A resident of Greenhill in Cape Coast, Maame Adwoa, said water had not flowed through her tap for months but the GWL had billed her recently to the tune of GH1,000. "If we are billed for water we have not used, how do we pay such bills?" she queried. She said she had for months resorted to well water but now had a huge bill to pay, adding that she would seek explanation from the office of the GWL. However, another resident of Greenhill in Cape Coast, Daniel Tetteh, said he paid his bills regularly and was satisfied with the bills and services of the GWL so far, adding that all he needed was for the taps to flow regularly. A resident of Yamoransa, Eva Adjei, said water supply had been erratic over the past months. "It goes off for a week and comes for two days, yet we are billed regularly, and its difficult to pay for what you have not used," she said. Ms Adjei said that while the water supply was irregular GWL sent consumers regular bills for water supposedly consumed. "For fear of our lines being disconnected, we pay the bills even though we know we have not consumed that much," she said. Another resident of Mempeasem in Cape Coast, Evelyn Wilson, said she was happy with the GWL services and bills and that her water flow had been regular. She however, expressed worry over quality, calling for efforts to further improve quality. Ghana must champion democracy in the Sahel Samuel Jinapor GraphicOnline Politics Mar - 30 - 2025 , 10:08 2 minutes read The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel A. Jinapor, has emphasized the need for Ghana to take a leading role in advocating democratic governance in the Sahel region. He asserts that as a nation built on democratic principles, Ghana must actively promote these values, particularly in its engagements with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which are currently under military rule. Speaking in Parliament while seconding the motion for the approval of the budget estimate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Jinapor referenced Article 40 of Ghanas Constitution, which mandates the government to promote democratic governance in its dealings with other nations. While we urge the Foreign Ministry to pursue the objective of regional integration, it is vital that we do not overlook the principles of democratic governance. We must work towards restoring democracy in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all of West Africa and Africa at large is governed based on democratic practices, he stated. Jinapor cautioned that regional integration must not come at the expense of Ghanas core democratic values. He underscored that democracy should remain the foundation of governance across the region, just as it is in Ghana. Calling for proactive leadership, he urged the government to spearhead efforts to restore constitutional rule in the Sahel, ensuring that governance structures reflect the will of the people. With these few words, I lend my support to the motion and ask that this House adopts this report, supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that ultimately, Ghanas flag will fly high in the community of nations, he concluded. Amazon is having a spring shopping event around the world and we picked out the best smartphone offers for Germany. The Poco F7 series launched just in time for the Spring Deal Days, but they have plenty of competition. The Poco F7 Ultra starts at 700 and brings flagship performance with a Snapdragon 8 Elite and a 5,300mAh battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging. It is rated IP68 and it has a 6.67 display with Poco Shield Glass its a good quality 120Hz panel with 1440p+ resolution, 12-bit colors with Dolby Vision and 3,200 nits peak brightness. Poco even put effort into the camera system with a 50MP main (1/1.55, OIS), 50MP 2.5x (60mm) telephoto (capable of tele-macro shots) and a 32MP ultra-wide, plus a 32MP selfie camera. The Realme GT 7 Pro was one of the first Snapdragon 8 Elite phones in Europe and now it has plenty of company. Its 50 more than the Poco, but stands out with an LTPO display panel (6.78, 1264p+, 120Hz, 10-bit, GG 7i) and a massive 6,500mAh battery with 120W wired-only charging. The main camera is comparable with a 50MP 1/1.56 sensor and OIS, while the 50MP 3x telephoto module has longer reach (73mm vs. 60mm). However, the 8MP ultra-wide and 16MP selfie cams are downgrades (vs. 32MP UW and 32MP selfie on the Poco). The OnePlus 13 is pricier than these two it also has the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a fairly large 6,000mAh battery with both 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. Its 6.82 LTPO display has 1440p+ resolution. The camera setup starts with a 50MP main (1/1.43, OIS), has the 50MP 3x periscope (73mm) and even the ultra-wide is solid at 50MP, plus a 32MP selfie camera. The Poco F7 Pro is 230 cheaper than the F7 Ultra for the same storage and gets the same screen (different glass, GG 7i, but the panel is the same). It has last years Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is still plenty fast, especially at this price point. You do lose the telephoto camera and the 32MP ultra-wide (theres an 8MP module instead), but the battery is bigger at 6,000mAh (charging is 90W wired-only). The F7 Pro may have a mid-range price, but the aluminum frame, IP68 rating and the flagship chipset make for an elevated experience. Poco didnt release a vanilla F7, so if you are craving a cheaper model, the Poco F6 is still around. With its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, its not far behind the 8 Gen 3 of the newer model. The display is quite similar at 6.67, 120Hz refresh rate and 12-bit colors with Dolby Vision, though its resolution is lower (1220p+ vs. 1440p+). The battery is 1,000mAh smaller at 5,000mAh. The F6 is still a great phone and it costs 170 less than the F7 Pro. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the premier Android phones, but it has plenty of competition from other big brands. Check out our Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL and Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13 articles for detailed comparisons. Speaking of, here is the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is some 220 cheaper if you are looking at 512GB phones. If you are spending big bucks on a phone to get the best camera possible, then the vivo X200 Pro should definitely be part of the conversation with its 50MP main, 200MP 3.7x periscope (85mm) and 50MP ultra-wide. This one is even cheaper than the Pixel. For smaller flagships, we have the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 9 Pro. The Galaxy is the more compact device and it has better performance (SD 8 Elite vs. Tensor G4), though with less RAM (12GB vs. 16GB). The Google Pixel 9 Pro has the more capable camera setup, though, with a 50MP main (1/1.31), 48MP 5x telephoto (vs. 12MP 3x) and 48MP ultra-wide (vs. 12MP). The selfie camera is better too with a higher resolution 42MP sensor and a wider 17mm lens (vs. 12MP 26mm). The Google Pixel 9 is also an option you can save some money, if youre willing to give up the Pros LTPO display and especially the telephoto camera. While its noticeably larger, the vivo X200 is around the same price, so we thought we should include it here. It has a 6.67 display and a Dimensity 9400 chipset. The camera system has three 50MP modules: 1/1.56 main, 3x (70mm) telephoto and 15mm ultra-wide. The battery is a large 5,800mAh cell with 90W wired-only charging. Not as capable but also costing half as much is the Realme 14 Pro+. It has two 50MP modules 1/1.56 main and 3x (73mm) telephoto but the ultra-wide has only an 8MP sensor. And the chipset is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, so not a flagship and not even a match for the Poco F7 Pro. It does have better cameras than the F7 Pro, though. And the 6,000mAh battery with 80W charging plus an IP69 rating look quite good at 70 less than the Poco. The 6.83 display has lower resolution (1272p+ vs. 1440p+) and can handle fewer colors (10-bit vs. 12-bit with Dolby Vision), but both use Gorilla Glass 7i. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. More than $2 billion worth of military projects on Yap will move forward after Federated States of Micronesia President Wesley Simina met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to the FSM National Government, the meeting between the two leaders on March 27 at Andersen Air Force Base was the first high-level bilateral engagement between the FSM and the United States under the new U.S. administration. The meeting reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the two nations under the Compact of Free Association and set the tone for continued strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. In a joint statement by the U.S. Department of Defense and the FSM, the meeting resulted in a mutual understanding enabling the U.S. Department of Defense to begin planning and construction on key infrastructure projects in the State of Yap. This milestone follows several years of close coordination and reflects both nations shared commitment to strengthening regional security and local development. These Yap-based projectsexpected to exceed $2 billion in future U.S. investmentswill provide strategic operational and exercise capabilities for U.S. forces and serve as a cornerstone of renewed defense cooperation. The principals committed to continuing to work closely together as projects advance," the two governments affirmed in the joint statement. President Simina emphasized that the Yap Four Pillars environment, safety, maintenance and social aspectsremain priority in the implementation of all DoD activities in Yap. The leadership and values of Yap State are guiding this process, said President Simina. The Four Pillars ensure that this cooperation is not only strategic, but also deeply rooted in local values and long-term benefit for our communities. President Simina also reaffirmed the FSMs strong support for continued U.S. military cooperation, including the impactful work of the U.S. Navy Seabees, and upcoming Pacific Partnership 2025 and Koa Moana 2025 deployments. President Simina also addressed several other national priorities with Secretary Hegseth, including: The continuation and extension of the 333 Program to strengthen FSM law enforcement and maritime security. Reinstatement of Civil Action Team Camps to support community infrastructure. Support for FSM veterans, including efforts to establish a framework agreement to improve access to health services and benefits. Environmental concerns related to WWII-era shipwreck oil removal in Chuuk Lagoon. Infrastructure priorities highlighted at the Joint Committee Meeting, including maritime safety projects in Pohnpei and Kosrae. The meeting, held early in the new U.S. Administration, signals strong continuity and momentum in the U.S.-FSM relationship. President Simina reaffirmed the FSMs commitment to the Compact and to its enduring partnership with the United States. As we enter this new chapter, we remain steadfast in our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacificand to a partnership with the United States grounded in mutual trust, shared values, and a vision of peace and progress for our Blue Pacific Continent, Simina said. Hiring practices at the Office of the Attorney General are proper, according to an internal investigation, though the governors office has alleged theyre illegal. Attorney General Douglas Moylan asked an investigative committee composed of members of his office to look into allegations made by Adelup. The committee consisted of Deputy Attorney General Lee Miller, John Salas and Wilfred Aflague, who are both special projects coordinators. Salas and Aflague are also both former Department of Administration directors. The committees findings were released in a report shared on March 27. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero asked the Superior Court for authorization to appoint attorneys who would investigate and potentially prosecute Moylan and his chief deputy, Joseph Guthrie. The governor filed a complaint for declaratory judgment last week. She wants to hire a special assistant attorney general and a special prosecutor to examine Moylans hiring of 70 unclassified employees, including his brother and fiancee. The complaint states that while the attorney general is allowed to hire four unclassified employees, as well as victim advocates, Moylans office has more than 80 unclassified employees. Moylan has denied wrongdoing in connection with the employees. He has said he disqualified himself from hiring and personnel matters involving his brother and fiancee. Moylans brother, Scott K. Moylan, is an unclassified special assistant in violation of the prohibition against Department of Administration Regulations prohibiting nepotism, according to the governors complaint. The attorney generals fiancee, Sheenalyn Hawkins, was initially unlawfully hired as an unclassified special projects coordinator, and subsequently unlawfully promoted to an unclassified chief of staff, the complaint stated. She is unlawfully paid a salary of over $127,000 in violation of Department of Administration Regulations governing salaries following promotions, the complaint added. According to the AGs office investigation report, the Guam Legislature granted the AGs office autonomy in managing its personnel in 2011. Every Legislature, governor and attorney general since has recognized this autonomy. Personnel autonomy is a necessary requirement so that the elected attorneys general may fully execute the responsibilities assigned to them by the Organic Act and Guam law, the report stated. The legal issue of hiring was researched by office personnel specialists, attorneys and the AG to employ unclassified prosecutors and attorneys, the report said. The AG reviewed the plan, reviewed and researched Guam law, and then issued his verbal opinion to proceed to hire unclassified employees, to include prosecutors, attorneys, paralegals and other support staff. The unclassified employees were hired under the AGs offices autonomy passed by the Guam Legislature through Public Law 31-153, the report said. The Legislature recognized the AGs office experienced difficulties with government bureaucracy, specifically concerning personnel recruitment and restrictions regarding the release of funds appropriated to the office, the report added. Under Guam law, the selection of unclassified hires does not require any formal recruitment notice nor selection process. Unclassified employees are allowed and permit elected leaders to select persons who will effectively fulfill the elected officials policy agenda, the report stated. The use of unclassified employees has been a practice for the last three AGs, the report added. It said it ranged from 15 to 25 unclassified employees working at the office during the fiscal year. The committee also found the special assistant title given to Scott Moylan is recognized in Guam law and he was correctly employed. And because he is an unclassified employee, the rule on nepotism doesnt apply to the position, the report said. But even if it did apply, AG Moylan is not a direct supervisor over his brother, the report stated. The rule as written first applies to classified employees, then prohibits a direct supervisor-subordinate relationship, according to the report. The committee also found Guthrie, being the next in command at the AGs office, had the authority to hire after Moylan recused himself. As to the change of salary for Hawkins, the committee found that because they are both unclassified positions, the personnel rules do not apply. The hiring and personnel practices of Attorney General Moylan are well known to the Department of Administration and the Guam Legislature, the report stated. Neither has ever objected to these long-standing practices. The government of Guam will pay the vendor of the computer system used to manage the local disaster response about $70,000, Department of Administration Director Ed Birn told lawmakers on Friday. He said GovGuam would regain access to the computer system once the vendor was paid. Three years of non-payment to the vendor for the computer system called the Disaster Local Area Network, DLAN, led to GovGuam being locked out, the Pacific Daily News reported this week. Guam Homeland Security and Office of Civil Defense, in a Friday night release, said the DLAN was restored as of March 28 and is now accessible by emergency managers. The loss of service from March 17 to March 28 had no impact on operations, GHS/OCD said. Its unclear if GovGuam made the $70,000 payment to get access back to the system and GHS/OCD didnt provide any further details about how the system was restored. The DLAN is the central platform that GHS and OCD use to coordinate GovGuam information and resources during a disaster or emergency. It was a key tool during the COVID-19 pandemic and after Typhoon Mawar. DLAN is a secure web-based, mobile-friendly emergency management system that provides tools for shared situational awareness, workflow-based information management, and real-time communication to help prepare for, respond to, and report on issues, the agencies said. As of Friday morning, GovGuam still did not have access to the system, Birn told Sen. Therese Terlaje during a session of the Guam Legislature. "They promised that it would be restored when we paid, and they also promised to forgive one years worth of billings, which was, I think, very generous of them, Birn told Terlaje. GovGuam will have to dip into the general fund to cover the outstanding cost, which is about $70,000, according to Birn. As of Friday, it remained unclear how exactly the vendor went unpaid for three years, though GHS/OCD spokesperson Jenna Blas has said that details will be forthcoming once the issue is clarified. Birn on Monday told the PDN that the administration department had only just learned about the non-payment and was working with GHS/OCD to establish the facts of the matter. The director on Friday also told Speaker Frank Blas Jr. that DOA is also working to resolve issues with another $42 million worth of federal funding that was flagged at GHS/OCD. Both Homeland and Civil Defense are federally funded, but auditors have flagged about $34 million worth of money at the agency. Another $8.4 million sum was frozen by federal officials. GovGuam's general fund has had to pick up the tab for the $8.4 million that was frozen. Blas on Friday asked whether any other funding would have to be returned. Obviously, were doing whatever we can to prevent that situation occurring, Birn responded. I have to say that the federal staff that we deal with have been very, very helpful in allowing us to try and achieve that objective, Birn said. To date, no one has actually issued a demand for that amount. Besides the issue with the DLAN being frozen, and the $42 million that was flagged, Homeland and Civil Defense were also flagged in a January OPA audit for about $2.8 million worth of overtime payments. Payments between fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2023 were not authorized in advance by the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, were unreasonable, and in most cases missing timesheets, or even signatures, the audit stated. Prince Harry accused of bullying and harassment at scale by head of Sentebale charity he founded Prince Harry accused of bullying and harassment at scale by head of Sentebale charity he founded The head of a charity co-founded by Prince Harry has accused the British royal of bullying and harassment at scale, after he quit the organisation earlier this week. Dr Sophie Chandauka said Harrys unleashing of the Sussex machine has broken the relationship between the prince and the 540 people who work for the Sentebale charity, the youth-focused organisation founded by the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. The only reason Im here... is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director, Dr Chandauka said on Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family? ADVERTISEMENT That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale. Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned as patrons of Sentebale earlier this week in support of the charitys trustees, who left the organisation following a dispute with Dr Chandauka. In a statement, they said they left because the relationship between the trustees and Dr Chandauka had broke down beyond repair. But Dr Chandauka blamed the unleashing of the Sussex machine for damaging the relationship and claimed the Duke wanted to oust her. She also accused the duke of being "involved" in a "cover-up" of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation. Dr Chandauka speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips (Tim Anderson) Really, what Prince Harry wanted to do was to eject me from the organisation and this went on for months. It went on for months through bullying, harassment. I have documentation, she told Sky News. ADVERTISEMENT There were board meetings where members of the executive team and external strategic advisors were sending me messages saying, Should I interrupt? Should I stop this? Oh my gosh, this is so bad. Dr Chandauka claimed the Duke briefed the press about stepping back from the charity before letting her or the charitys executive director know first. A source familiar with events countered Chandauka's claims, saying both Harry and Seeiso had sent a resignation letter to the chair as well as trustees on 10 March. Expanding on the Sussex machine allegation, Dr Chandauka claimed the Duke asked her to release a statement in support of Meghan after the Duchess attended the charitys fundraising event in Miami, Florida. Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE, chair of Sentebale, Nacho Figueras, Sentebale ambassador and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, co-founding Patron of Sentebale, pose for a photo during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in August 2023 (Getty) The duchess decided to attend, but she told us she wasnt attending, and she brought a friend, a very famous friend, so you can imagine all of the activity that goes with these additional amazing people, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Chandauka said the choreography of the event went badly because she had not been told about Meghans arrival ahead of time, and it was reported by the international press. After this, she claimed Prince Harry urged her to release a statement in support of Meghan, but she refused because I knew what would happen if I did so and because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes. She also claimed a fundraising event fell through because the Duke decided last minute to film part of it for a Netflix documentary, which the venue did not originally consent to. In an interview with the Financial Times, Dr Chandauka also criticised Harry for having a toxic brand, describing it as the number one risk the charity faced. Harry announced he was stepping down as patron for Sentebale this week (Matt Dunham/PA) (PA Archive) Harry and Seeiso co-founded Sentebale in memory of their mothers. Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 and Seeisos mother, former queen of Lesotho, died in 2003. ADVERTISEMENT Sentebale works in the southern African nations of Lesotho and Botswana and was started to help young people affected by Aids. Dr Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born and London-trained lawyer who served on the charitys board of trustees between 2008 and 2014, was appointed chair in 2023. Over the past year, she said, her relationship with Sentebales trustees and patrons has deteriorated as she moved to shift decision-making within the charity towards its leaders in southern Africa. The organisations form was no longer appropriate in 2023 in a post-Black Lives Matter world, she said, because funders were asking for locally-led initiatives. The UK-based board began to feel a loss of power and control and influence ... oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over, Dr Chandauka added. Guam Memorial Hospital continues to face severe financial strain and officials during a board meeting Wednesday shared frustration over the lack of support to fully fund the hospital. Some senators criticized GMH over the handling of its finances during an oversight hearing held last week and at other previous public hearings. Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane, health committee chair, condemned the hospitals mishandling of its finances. Let me be clear. I am not saying I do not want to work together, but I am saying yall need to get it together, she told GMH officials. The senator pointed out that she had been in office for two months and GMH lost $10 million out of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. GMH is a chronically underfunded hospital, and the Legislature seems to think either were incompetent or what was the other phrase, were incompetent and we need to get our act together, said Dr. Theresa Borja, a GMH board member. Borja shared that the Compacts of Free Association which allows people from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau to travel and live in the U.S. have impacted GMH because they seek treatment at the hospital. The doctor added that Naval Hospital was supposed to also care for patients from the outer islands, but that didnt happen. Everyone comes to Guam Memorial Hospital because we take everyone and were proud of the work that we do for everyone, but we serve Guam and the outer islands. So when they tell us were incompetent, that means they want us to make chicken soup out of chicken crap, Borja said. We start out at a deficit every year, and they have the nerve to tell us how incompetent we are. The hospitals financial situation has also been worsened by the recent loss of ARPA funding. GMH initially expected a $20 million allocation, but the amount was reduced to $10 million. The funding was intended for critical infrastructure projects, and the shortfall has raised concerns about the hospitals ability to fulfill these needs. The $10 million received was primarily used to pay outstanding vendor bills, with some directed toward capital improvement plans. GMH legal counsel Robert Marc Weinberg expressed concerns about the growing pressure from lawmakers. This is the big fallacy in the minds of the Legislature, because it says autonomous agency, instrumentality of the government of Guam. Youre autonomous. That means youre supposed to be self-sustaining, Weinberg said. He said other autonomous agencies like Guam Power Authority and the Port Authority of Guam can do it, but not the public hospital. Well never do it. Well never be able to break even anywhere close to that, but they dont want to hear it, Weinberg said. Jesse Quenga, HR/personnel services administrator, also weighed in on the issue. I will note to the trustees that if we examine across the government of Guam, every agency that receives a form of general fund revenue is covering 100% of the cost of personnel, he said. GMH is the only one that cost shares its operating revenue and the general fund appropriation, he said. So maybe we need to ask the Legislature why GMH exists outside of what is practiced everywhere else where, if they could at least cover the personnel costs for the hospital, then we can see an earnest effort. Collecting our revenues and putting that towards operations, Quenga said. Efforts to collect more GMH chief financial officer Yuka Hechanova said the hospital is trying to reduce the financial strain by transitioning self-pay patients to Medicaid. However, the application process takes time. Since 2019, GMH has categorized patients into three groups: the three Ms, which are Medicaid, Medicare and the Medically Indigent Program, third-party insurers, and self-pay patients. At least well get something, although were not paid top dollar for the three Ms, but its better than leaving them on the self-pay side, Hechanova said. For patients who remain self-pay, GMH resorts to garnishing wages or taxes when bills go unpaid or payment arrangements are defaulted. We garnish their taxes, which is really the last thing that we want to do, but thats just how it is, Hechanova said. We can collect, but thats what were trying to do. In an effort to address the self-pay issue, GMH introduced a three-month amnesty program that allowed patients with outstanding accounts to pay in full, generating over $600,000 in cash. We had a little over $600,000 cash come in from that, so it was, I would call it a success, because we did have people come in. We take advantage of it, Hechanova said. The hospital is also implementing a sliding fee scale to offer discounts based on income and the federal poverty scale. We have actually five applicants who have applied, and weve approved their application, Hechanova said. So that way theyre able to pay their bills as well. GMH is also considering a collection agency to manage older self-pay accounts. We want to start putting together an IFB to get the services of a collection agency so all these old self-pay accounts can at least go to this collection agency for us to see if we can move on collecting that way, Hechanova said. Despite these efforts, reimbursement rates remain a major challenge. Self-pay patients are charged 100% of the rates, while third-party insurance patients pay about 80%. However, the most significant issue is the three Ms, which reimburse GMH only 30 to 35%. Per day, each patient pays us $1,600, yet it costs us close to $3,000 to $4,000 per day to take care of them, leaving a deficit of about $2,500 just for the patient walking into your hospital, said Dr. Kwasi Nyame, GMHs associate administrator of medical services. Frustration has mounted among GMH staff regarding what they perceive as unrealistic expectations from legislators. That thought process needs to leave their mind, Dr. Nyame said. They cant expect us to make our own money. Thats not possible for this hospital. GMHs challenges are compounded by the lengthy process of improving Medicare reimbursement rates. Luckily, (the Department of Administration) has been giving us some support in that area, but it just takes so long, Hechanova said. Even when we file adjustments with Medicare after our cost report is done, it takes up to sometimes three years to get any payment from that, so the process is there. It takes years to get anything to move. Plans to bring industrial-scale 3D printing of ship and submarine parts to Guam are taking a leap forward, with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announcing the Navy has cinched a $40 million contract for the project. The governor publicly shared details about the development for the first time during a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Andersen Air Force Base on Thursday. In 2024, the Applied Science & Technology Research Organization, ASTRO, of America announced plans to develop a ship and submarine manufacturing industry on Guam using 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing. Both the Leon Guerrero administration and the Navy have discussed the prospect with the firm. Leon Guerrero on Thursday revealed ASTRO has secured a $40 million deal with the Navy. Its going to set up its shop here, manufacture parts, 3D, and be able to just quickly have the parts thats needed to repair the ships, the governor said. According to its website, ASTRO America is a think tank focused on industrial-scale 3D printing technology, with a number of major defense projects in the pipeline. The governor, talking with Hegseth, underscored that the quick availability of parts on the island would reduce downtime for ship repair. They dont have downtime of two weeks having to get the supplies, or even just going over to Hawaii or Oregon or Washington, Leon Guerrero said. She told Hegseth it was a very crucial project for the island, adding, We may need some more funding to stand up our University of Guam Training Center. After the sit down with the defense secretary, the governor told members of the media that she has not received a timeline from ASTRO America. All I know is that a contract has been signed, and that is the biggest hurdle. And so its going to move forward, and were going to have 3D printing and additive manufacturing as one of our industries for economic improvement, for more jobs for our people, more training for our people, Leon Guerrero said. ASTRO had secured a warehouse on Guam, and would be issuing a release with more information, according to the governor. The company previously announced plans to build an advanced manufacturing education and technology center on the island through public-private partnership with GovGuam and the Navy. The organization in October said the center will be fully running in three years, with a satellite campus of a leading mainland U.S. engineering university on Guam. According to a breakdown of the project, dubbed GAMMA on the ASTRO website, phase 1 will take place while the government builds a permanent training facility. As that happens, ASTRO will begin procuring equipment and position technology appropriately within shipping container modules to establish initial capability. The campus will be operational, enrolling students with appropriate support staff and technology integration, according to the organization. By phase 2, modules with 3D production and advanced inspection equipment will be positioned and transitioned for implementation on Guam, according to ASTRO. Prototyping, testing, and evaluation of naval ship production parts will begin to support the submarine supply chain. Besides the Guam project, ASTROs webpage touts a number of projects that would use 3D printing tech to support the Department of Defense. ASTROs website talks about commission for plans to accelerate manufacturing of hypersonic weapons for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, and a $95 million project to develop 3D printing tech for full-scale tanks and vehicle chassis for the Army. Also on the organizations roster is a program backed by major defense contracting giants Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, among others, to help small companies get into 3D printing to support U.S. supply chains. Del. James Moylan, also present at the meeting with Hegseth last week, did not specifically share ship repair talking points with the media. But he did raise the possibility of Guam supporting ship repair during a House Armed Services Committee meeting about U.S. shipbuilding capacity in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. The Republican majority Congress and Trump White House are now focusing on the U.S. fleet construction lagging versus China. Moylan at the March 11 hearing stressed Guam was an important logistical hub to support the U.S. in the region, and pointed to Guams shuttered ship repair facility, closed since 1997. He said the U.S could not overlook Guams ability to help with ship maintenance repair. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths promises to defend Guam in the event of an attack drew a confident response from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Del. James Moylan this past week, but his visit also drew probing questions and even picket signs from others. Protestors from activist group Prutehi Guahan, formerly Prutehi LItekyan: Save Ritidian, parked outside of Andersen Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz as Hegseths transport plane touched down on Thursday. Among the slogans hoisted was Stop Funding Genocide + Ecocide. Guam is a pitstop on Hegseths tour and we had one message today that was shared with other communities on his route: Hegseth is not welcome, Prutehi Guahans Monaeka Flores told the Pacific Daily News. From Hawaii, the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea, our homelands continue to be the stomping grounds for imperialist war games and war preparations directly tied to contamination, destruction, genocide, the climate crisis, Flores said. The violent suppression of peoples rights, all which only make the world more insecure. Meanwhile, questions about how Guam fits into the bigger strategic picture of the Trump White House were on the mind of former delegate Robert Underwood, chairman of defense watchdog Pacific Center for Island Security. After landing at Andersen, Hegseth said President Donald Trump made it clear that he was not looking to start new wars, but was aiming for peace through strength. We are not seeking war with Communist China, but it is our job to ensure that we are ready, Hegseth said during a sit-down with the governor and delegate. But Underwood, speaking about an hour before Hegseths arrival, said there was a wide open conversation about what the U.S. interest in the Indo-Pacific actually is under the new Trump White House. Wagering Guams existence? What is the United States willing to fight over in this part of the world? Because if youre willing to fight over something, youre wagering our existence, Underwood said. The new Trump foreign policy left behind old commitments, like the idea of an international rules based order and broad treaty alliances like NATO, were being left behind, according to Underwood. Instead, he said, the Trump attitude leaned towards areas of influence. For example, the administration conceded that Ukraine was in Russias area of influence, and of minimal interest to the U.S. Policy on Taiwan, a hot-button issue in the U.S.-China matter, was different, Underwood noted. Joe Biden clearly said that that administration implied that they would go to war over Taiwan. In this instance, is the Trump administration making that same commitment? he said. And if its not making that same commitment clearly, then how will the Chinese interpret it? Likewise, in place of broad treaty arrangements, they want to do one-on-one relationships, Underwood said. We have a relationship with the Philippines for this. We have a relationship with Japan for this, he told the PDN. Is Japan going to go along with that over the long run? The Philippines going to go with that over the long run? Whether the U.S. was looking to fight for a generic concept of peace and freedom in the Indo-Pacific, or looking to draw the lines and elect to defend specific allies were the points to pay attention to, according to Underwood. Somebody has to explain what the thinking is behind that. Because not just those countries are at risk. Guam is at risk because Guam plays a role in whatever the United States decides to do, he said. You need to let us know, and then we can say, Well, we agree with that or We dont agree with that. A soldier originally from Guam, Dante Gogo Taitano, is among four U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division troops based out of Fort Stewart in Georgia who were reported missing in Lithuania since March 25, according to Taitanos uncle, Willy Flores. We still hold out hope and prayers but are putting it all in the Lords hands, Flores told the Pacific Daily News Saturday night. Taitano and the three other soldiers were reported missing after their M88 Hercules armored vehicle was found on Tuesday submerged in a swamp during a training exercise at a NATO facility near Lithuanias border with Belarus. Multinational efforts to find the four Americans are ongoing, with operations focused on recovering the armored vehicle submerged in a swamp but it is not known whether the soldiers are inside. The soldiers went missing during tactical training at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade. According to international reports, quoting information from the U.S. Army, members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division had been carrying out a mission to recover another U.S. vehicle during a training session. At the time of the incident, Taitano was deployed to Lithuania for a joint training mission while stationed in Georgia, the uncle said. Flores said his nephew, who attended Okkodo High School, enlisted in the Army just a few years ago. He was a respectful young man, excited to join the Army to forge a new life for himself. We were so proud of him, Flores said. While Taitanos mother, Helen Gogo, declined to comment, she requested the public to continue praying for her son. The four soldiers disappearance occurred amid rising tensions in the region due to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, all NATO members, have long had strained relations with Russia, especially since the countries gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been a vocal supporter of Ukraines fight against Russia. NATO initially issued a clarification after Secretary-General Mark Rutte suggested the soldiers had died. Ruttes remarks were based on emerging news reports, but NATO corrected the information, confirming the soldiers fate was still uncertain. NATO expressed regret over any confusion caused by Ruttes comments. Haiti - FLASH : A few hours before a nationalist march in Pequeno Haiti, the atmosphere remains tense A few hours before the patriotic and peaceful march announced for this Sunday, March 30, by the Old Dominican Order, a nationalist organization known in recent years for its marches and demonstrations against Haitian migration, the atmosphere remains tense in Hoyo de Friusa (Bavaro region, Veron-Punta Cana district, La Altagracia province), known throughout the Dominican Republic for its large Haitian population. However, for the moment, businesses continue to operate as usual. Hoyo de Friusa, better known in the country as "Pequeno Haiti" home to thousands of Haitians, most of whom are irregular migrants, includes the neighborhoods of Los Altos de Friusa, Villa Bendicion, Dona Dulce, and Los Chivos, among others. It has a prosecutor's office, schools, a high school, a community center, and a police station. Until last night, Dominican National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira confirmed that operations were proceeding normally in Hoyo de Friusa, with increased police and military surveillance, riot squads deployed, and special equipment to prevent any eventuality. The Ministry of the Interior and Police authorized the demonstration, which will take place from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on March 30. Faride Raful, Minister of the Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic, firmly reiterated that "Friusa is Dominican territory and Dominican laws apply." This statement sends an unequivocal message to the protesters and the international community regarding sovereignty and the rule of law in the Dominican Republic. She explained that peace must be preserved above all else, so the march must be peaceful, even though she understands that the crisis involving Haitian nationals is increasingly tense. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Cooperation : Tour of the Southern region of projects financed by France From March 24 to 26, 2025, the French Ambassador to Haiti, Antoine Michon, toured the southern region of the country, where he visited the main projects funded by France as part of bilateral cooperation with Haiti and sustainable development projects that contribute to the economic development of this region. During this tour, Ambassador Michon visited : - The Irrigation Support Project (PAIS) in the municipalities of Les Cayes and Aquin. Funded by France through the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 13 million, this project is rehabilitating and building more than 15 km of irrigation canals across 1,500 hectares. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44575-haiti-news-zapping.html - The work carried out as part of the Timama 2 project supporting maternal and child health. As part of this project, France financed the rehabilitation and reconstruction of four health facilities damaged by the August 14, 2021 earthquake. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34479-haiti-flash-magnitude-72-earthquake-in-the-nippes-updated-10am.html . With funding from the AFD in partnership with the Departmental Directorate of the Ministry of Public Health and the NGO Entraide Medicale Internationale, the Carrefour Charles and Cavaillon Health Centers will soon be able to once again offer quality care to the population of these communities. - A primary school located in Chambellan, where the World Food Programme (WFP) provides daily meals prepared with local products, including nutrient-rich breadfruit flour. - The PROFIT project, implemented by the International Labor Organization (ILO), allows for the structuring of production chains, particularly around breadfruit and cocoa, enabling thousands of small producers to sell their produce, but also to process and even export it. - The Alliances Francaises in Jeremie and Les Cayes are much more than language centers : they are spaces for culture, dialogue, and openness. Through French language classes, film debates, concerts, exhibitions, and educational projects, the Alliances support young people, support artists, and foster intercultural exchanges. They embody France's concrete commitment to local communities in support of education, culture, and the Francophonie. He also visited the recently inaugurated Port of Saint-Louis du Sud https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44086-haiti-economy-official-inauguration-of-the-port-of-saint-louis-du-sud-video.html , a Haitian private sector initiative, and the Frager factory in Les Cayes, which produces vetiver essential oil, placing Haiti at the forefront of the world https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30173-icihaiti-economy-haiti-the-world-s-leading-exporter-of-vetiver-essential-oil.html . The French luxury industry (Chanel, Hermes, etc...) is the main importer ($16 million in 2024). At the end of his tour, Ambassador Michon stated, "The Grand'Anse and South departments offer investment and development opportunities in many sectors agriculture, livestock farming, tourism, etc. This will contribute to the development of the Southern Peninsula and the necessary decentralization of Haiti's economic activities. France will continue to support civil society in the South region by financing sustainable development projects, such as the rehabilitation and construction of irrigation canals to enable farmers to increase their production and the construction of health infrastructure that can provide quality care to local communities. With the Alliance Francaise organizations present in these two departments, France demonstrates its commitment to supporting young people and local artists." HL/ HaitiLibre The results indicate that 84 percent of respondents back the use of pre-procurement market dialogue, while 62 percent support increased outsourcing of support services. A majority of Finnish municipal decision-makers support greater involvement of businesses and organisations in public service delivery, according to a new survey commissioned by Suomen Yrittajat. A multi-provider model, where services are offered by both public and private actors, received support from 58 percent of municipal leaders. The survey was carried out in March 2025 by Verian, with responses from 720 municipal officials. The study shows that local leaders are ready to develop municipal services in cooperation with businesses and NGOs, said Harri Jaskari, Director at Suomen Yrittajat. This creates opportunities for local small enterprises and improves the services available to residents. Jaskari argued that municipalities and regional wellbeing services should focus on their core statutory duties and withdraw from commercial activity where private businesses already operate. Municipalities are still running businesses from laundries to accounting, pushing out legitimate private operators, he said. Municipalities and wellbeing regions in Finland have increasingly become involved in providing support services directly, raising concerns about competition and efficiency from business groups. Suomen Yrittajat is also calling for the rapid implementation of a government commitment to make municipal purchasing data public. Jaskari criticised the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (Kuntaliitto) for proposing that the obligation be dropped. It is essential that the purchasing data transparency obligation written into the government programme is implemented quickly. It's incomprehensible that Kuntaliitto is now opposing transparency, Jaskari said. Open purchasing data would help businesses, particularly SMEs, understand procurement opportunities and participate more effectively in tenders. According to the survey, 84 percent of respondents support structured dialogue with potential suppliers before public tenders, and the support cuts across party lines. A majority, 51 percent, also favoured dividing procurements into smaller lots so that small and medium-sized enterprises can participate more easily. Support for avoiding competitive tendering was weaker. Only 38 percent were in favour, while 46 percent opposed avoiding tenders. The findings suggest growing openness among Finnish municipal leaders to market-based solutions, particularly in improving service availability and boosting the role of local businesses. While larger municipalities showed higher support overall, smaller towns also expressed interest in procurement models that enable SME participation. Suomen Yrittajat has called for continued reforms to public procurement and service production to ensure better access for local businesses and more efficient delivery of municipal responsibilities. HT The alert follows multiple avalanches in recent weeks, including incidents at Salmivaara and Kesankitunturi fells. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) has issued a high avalanche warning for four areas in Finnish Lapland this weekend. The warning applies to Kilpisjarvi, Ounas-Pallas, Yllas-Levi, and Saariselka, where the risk level has been assessed as three out of five. Cold nights forecast for next week are expected to reduce the risk, according to FMI meteorologist Henri Nyman. In addition to the high-risk zones, moderate avalanche danger (level two) has been reported for parts of the Luosto-Pyha and Ruka areas in Northern Ostrobothnia. The FMI said that snow levels in Lapland are typical for this time of year, except in Kilpisjarvi, where snow depth has reached 1.5 metres. More snow is forecast for the region. The elevated danger comes just nine days after a fatal avalanche occurred in Swedens Abisko Mountains, roughly 300 kilometres south of Kilpisjarvi. Two Italian skiers died in that incident. On the Finnish side of the border, rescue teams have recently been dispatched to multiple locations following reports of avalanches. In both Kilpisjarvi and Yllas, helicopters, search dogs, and trained avalanche technicians were deployed. Joonas Kortelainen, chief firefighter for the Lapland Rescue Service, said that dispatch decisions are often made with limited information. If we get a report, and were unsure whether someone is buried, we respond with full capacity, Kortelainen said. Its safer to scale down than to realise too late that more help was needed. Kortelainen also serves as an avalanche trainer. He noted that preparedness has increased since a fatal avalanche at Pallastunturi in early 2024, in which a mother and child were killed. The deaths led to a renewed focus on training. More joint exercises have been conducted across agencies, involving mountain rescue teams, search dogs, and local police units. Antte Lauhamaa, a senior officer and avalanche instructor who led the Pallastunturi operation, said the tragedy prompted a reassessment of how quickly and comprehensively authorities respond. The Finnish mountain rescue system now routinely includes search dogs in avalanche deployments. Dogs are trained to locate buried clothing and identify excavation sites in snow-covered terrain. The risks are not always obvious to visitors or even experienced hikers, Kortelainen said. Avalanches can occur on relatively gentle slopes, especially in conditions like the ones we are seeing now. The FMI advises caution in backcountry areas and encourages those travelling in avalanche-prone zones to check daily forecasts and avoid risky terrain. Snow depth, temperature variations, and wind patterns can all influence avalanche conditions. HT Five years after Charlottesville removed police officers from schools across the city amid a nationwide reckoning regarding the role of law enforcement in American life, school resource officers are returning. Since the officers were removed, students, parents and staff have reported an uptick in violence and general disobedience. Things got so bad in 2023 that Charlottesville High School had to close its doors briefly for a reset after a student brawl prompted administrators to call the police and teachers to fear for their own safety. In a 4-2 vote Thursday evening, after nearly an hour of deliberation, the Charlottesville School Board decided to restore school resource officers. But not immediately. The vote only authorizes school division staff to create a plan for bringing specially trained police officers back into schools. Next steps include the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Charlottesville Police Department, as well as robust community engagement around the MOU and its implementation plan, the school division said in a statement issued after the vote. A timeline for implementation will be determined in consultation with the City. Lisa Larson-Torres, one of the two no votes on the board, is also the only sitting board member who was present for the vote in 2020 to remove officers from Charlottesville schools. At the time, there was a lack of clear evidence of efficacy of SROs as related to enhancing school climate or safety outcomes, Larson-Torres said at Thursdays meeting. Research on the effectiveness of school resource officers is mixed. A State University of New York at Albany study shows that officers dont prevent school shootings but can prevent other kinds of violence, such as hallway fights. The same study found that the presence of officers intensifies the use of disciplinary actions such as suspensions, expulsions, police referrals and arrests. Black students are twice as likely to face those repercussions than White students, the study found. An Oxford University study from 2022 found that officers in schools with more White students tend to think of threats as external. For example, they worry about an armed intruder coming to the school. In schools with more Black students, officers viewed students themselves as threats. After the school board agreed to remove officers, it adopted a new school safety model in 2021 implementing care and safety assistants, or CSAs, who serve as certified school security officers. Since then, there has been continued investment and an increase in our mental health supports within the school division, Larson-Torres said. There also has been invested and continued support for restorative justice work within the school division. She acknowledged that there are gaps in the CSA model, but she said those gaps should be seen as opportunities to improve the current model, not abandon it after less than five years. There was a question around just duties and responsibilities and maybe some of our mental health professionals feeling like theyre being asked to do or expected to do I dont know that expected is the right word but feeling like they have to do something that might be out of the scope of what they should be doing, Larson-Torres said. Same thing with some of our CSAs, right? Theres some clarity and work around what that job description looks like and whether that training is adequate. Larson-Torres cited a January 2021 school division survey in which 100% of respondents expressed interest in the CSA model. We went the right direction. We followed where there was an interest. Things have changed since then, she said. Larson-Torres noted that in 2020 the school division was dealing with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout from the deadly Unite the Right rally-turned-riot in 2017. What she did not note was that since 2020, there have been multiple brawls at Charlottesville High School and reports of a band of students who roam the halls refusing to attend class. Since officers were removed, students, parents and even the new CSAs have expressed interest in bringing back school resource officers. Harper Ullrich, the student representative on the School Board, emphasized the decision affects students more than anyone else but, ironically, students she surveyed werent particularly passionate about the subject. A lot of students dont feel super strongly either way. As I talked to students today, they said they would feel safe especially having officers that were especially trained to be working with students, she said. Ullrich said that under the current model, it is still sometimes necessary to have a trained police officer on campus and she can see the benefits of having that officer be a trained school resource officer rather than an officer called in from the street while on patrol. If police are called it could be anyone in the vicinity, versus this person would be not only interested in working with students but trained to work with students, she said. Charlottesville City Schools Superintendent Royal Gurley pushed back on those who have suggested that he or the school division would knowingly endanger children by bringing officers back into schools or that the school division should require administrators, teachers, CSAs or other staff to perform duties expected of trained police officers. I assure you, what Ive been tasked with doing is keeping all students safe, and Im going to continue to do that, he said. If it were as easy as people insinuate in email, that we should be training principals to shake down students, thats absurd. Its absolutely absurd to ask CSAs to do things that are required of the police. Gurley himself is a Black man who has worked in schools for more than two decades. Ive worked in school divisions with police officers with Brown children. I know thats the talking point every week when we get an email about what happens to Brown faces when there are police officers in the building, and its absurd. Gurley was emphatic that the School Board should make a decision and stick to it. The School Board has been discussing bringing back officers for some time now for so long that Gurley said the division has been accused of kicking the can down the road. The discussion at Thursdays meeting was the result of a May 2024 School Board decision to have school division administrators pull together a working group to review reimplementing school resource officers and present findings and recommendations to the board. The board on Thursday was presented with three options: postpone a decision, restore school resource officers or discontinue the process. The hang-up for board members Thursday was not a debate over the efficacy of officers, but rather when the board should make its decision. There were two motions to delay a decision to May and October, but both failed. School Board Member Chris Meyer, who proposed delaying a decision until October, said he was disappointed in the lack of involvement from the Charlottesville Police Department. Im not really happy with this process, he said. Im not laying blame on the administration and staff for any reason. I think my concern is, in my mind, we have two problems to solve, and its the lacking of an MOU or understanding with the city around how CPD provides services to our schools, and the second is do we want SROs to be part of that process. Gurley told the board that Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis had been in contact but did not want to weigh in on a new memorandum of understanding before the School Board had actually made a decision on a new memorandum of understanding. Chief Kochis did reach out to us; he provided some resources. But in terms of the working group, he said they would refrain from participating in the working group until we were further along in the process, Gurley said. At this moment, they just dont want to engage in the process until we are at a place where the board has made a decision. Gurley delivered an impassioned plea to the School Board to make a decision. Either this work continues with a measurable outcome or we stop it, he said. It is a waste of taxpayers money. Meyer joined Amanda Burns, Emily Dooley and Dom Morse voting in favor of restoring school resource officers. Larson-Torres voted with Nicole Richardson against it. The remaining board member, Shymora Cooper, was absent Thursday. The Board is confident that Dr. Gurley and the working group will develop an MOU that meets the needs of our community. This agreement will address deficiencies in our current practice while establishing a shared understanding of accountability, guardrails, expectations, and transparency, board members said in a joint statement issued after Thursdays meeting. The agreement must ensure that SROs operate within a framework that supports a positive and inclusive school climate, incorporates restorative justice practices and trauma-informed approaches, prevents criminalization of student behavior, and respects the dignity and developmental needs of all students. School division staff has promised that resources and a Frequently Asked Questions page will be posted on the school division website after spring break, which begins Monday and ends next Friday. The working group tasked with developing the new memorandum of understanding is slated to meet sometime in May, the school division said. Should a new memorandum of understanding be signed, Charlottesville will join neighboring Albemarle County, which also removed school resource officers in 2020 only to reinstate a single officer in 2023 and request two additional officers in its budget request this year. At the time of the Albemarle County School Boards 2023 vote, the school division was reporting a variety of misconduct on campuses, including vaping in bathrooms, public brawls and even sexual assault. There are three Charlottesville School Board seats up for election this November: those held by Dooley, Morse and Larson-Torres. Dooley and Larson-Torres have both announced reelection campaigns. Two others, Zyahna Bryant and Dashad Cooper, have announced they are also running. Daily Progress reporters Emily Hemphill, Jason Armesto and Alice Berry contributed to this story. According to Johanna Sinivuori , a commissioner at the Helsinki Police Department, most cases involved suicidal individuals or the apprehension of dangerous persons. She said in a televised interview that societal distress and mental health problems are increasingly reflected in police operations. Police in Finland deployed tactical negotiators to more than 300 situations in 2024, the highest number on record. Tactical negotiation is a specialised method used by police to resolve critical incidents peacefully. Though often associated with hostage situations, such scenarios are rare in Finland. The vast majority of cases involve self-harm threats. All police departments now have their own tactical negotiators, Sinivuori said. Nationwide, there are slightly fewer than 200 trained officers. The number of trained negotiators has increased steadily in recent years. Negotiators are trained to establish verbal contact as soon as possible, ideally from close proximity. In suicide threats, such as someone attempting to jump from a high-rise, negotiators may be lifted into position using fire department equipment, such as aerial baskets or safety mats. There's no rush, Sinivuori said. The goal is always a peaceful and safe outcomefor both the subject and the police. In cases involving dangerous individuals, close contact is not always pursued. Safety remains a priority. Tactical negotiation is a complement to regular police operations and functions as part of a wider team response. According to Sinivuori, in 90 percent of cases where verbal contact is established, the outcome is resolved without the use of force. The work is demanding and requires a calm and composed mindset. Negotiators must be skilled in communication and listening, and must avoid escalation. Training is provided through the Police University College in Tampere, which offers a dedicated tactical negotiation course. Officers also participate in follow-up and maintenance training. The assignments themselves are a form of continuous training, Sinivuori said. Finland's negotiation model is based on the FBI system. Several European countries also use the same framework. While hostage incidents are rare, suicide threats are becoming increasingly complex and emotionally taxing. Sinivuori said these calls can be some of the most difficult for police. Its mentally demanding work, she said. Both types of situations challenge us in different ways. HT We find no correlation between an increasing share of foreigners in a district and the local crime rate. The same applies in particular to refugees, Jean-Victor Alipour of the ifo Institute said. The ifo Institute in Munich published a study in February 2025 concluding that migration to Germany does not lead to an increase in crime rates. Researchers analysed police crime data from 2018 to 2023 across German districts and found no correlation between a higher share of foreigners and increased local crime. The study addressed concerns over the apparent overrepresentation of foreigners in crime statistics. The researchers stated this is due to demographic and geographic factors. Foreigners often live in urban areas where crime levels are generally higher, and foreign populations tend to include more young men a demographic statistically more likely to commit crimes, irrespective of origin. If you take these factors into account, there is no statistical correlation between the regional share of foreigners and the crime rate, Joop Adema, another ifo researcher, said. Even in categories such as homicide and sexual assault, the analysis found no systematic connection between the presence of foreigners and rising crime. The findings echo previous international studies. The ifo Institute also concluded that economic integration is key to reducing crime risks. It recommended policies to improve access to legal employment and faster recognition of foreign qualifications. These would reduce economic marginalisation and support local labour markets. Finland, in contrast, reports an overrepresentation of foreigners in crime statistics. According to Statistics Finland, during 20172018, foreigners were suspected of crimes at a rate 1.2 times higher than Finnish citizens, even after adjusting for age and gender. While this figure appears small, its interpretation has drawn criticism due to structural and demographic mismatches in the comparisons used. Unlike Germany, where foreign crime rates are evaluated against demographically similar natives, Finland compares asylum seekers and migrants largely young, male, and socioeconomically marginalised against the general Finnish population. Finland has one of the oldest populations in Europe, with nearly 23 percent aged 65 or older in 2024. This group commits fewer crimes on average due to age-related statistical trends. Meanwhile, the majority of asylum seekers arriving in Finland are young men. In 2024, the Finnish Immigration Service reported that over 70 percent of asylum applicants were male and under 35. Most originated from Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Nigeria. These demographic patterns introduce bias when assessing crime tendencies by comparing them to an ageing, mixed-gender national population. The comparison also overlooks regional disparities in crime. Migrants often settle in urban areas where both unemployment and crime rates are higher. These environments affect both native and foreign residents. The socio-economic conditions, not migrant status alone, contribute to increased exposure to criminal activity, according to several Finnish criminology studies. Certain nationalities in Finland have been disproportionately represented in specific crime categories. Iraqi and Somali men, for example, appear more frequently as suspects in sexual and drug-related offences. By contrast, migrants from countries such as China, India, and Western European states tend to have crime rates lower than or similar to the Finnish average. The Finnish government introduced several changes in response to migration pressures. In 2024, asylum applications fell by 45 percent compared to 2023. Officials attributed the decline to tighter asylum procedures, increased border controls, and restrictions against what the government calls instrumentalised migration. At the same time, Finland has restructured integration services. From January 2025, municipalities took on more responsibility, although state reimbursements for such services were shortened from four years to two. Critics argue that the reduced support timeframe may limit effective integration outcomes, especially for new arrivals facing language barriers and employment challenges. Proposed legislation now under review includes extending the residency requirement for citizenship from five to eight years and limiting the ability of rejected asylum seekers to switch to employment or study-based residence permits. The Finnish Ministry of the Interior said the changes would help ensure that legal pathways are used as intended. Research across Nordic countries finds that differences in crime rates among migrant groups persist even after adjusting for age and gender. But these disparities diminish significantly when economic and social variables are included. Labour market participation and language acquisition show the strongest links to reduced crime risk. Germanys ifo study supports the view that migration alone does not predict crime. In Finland, the statistical framing of the issue may skew public perception. By comparing a small, young, male migrant population to an ageing, full-gender national base, the data can appear to suggest elevated criminality without appropriate context. Policy analysts have pointed out that statistical interpretation affects both public discourse and policymaking. Misleading comparisons can reinforce stereotypes and drive restrictive legislation. More accurate demographic controls, such as comparing migrants to Finnish-born residents of the same age and gender in similar regions, would yield more balanced assessments. The German approach has focused on structural variables rather than nationality-based assumptions. By isolating socioeconomic and regional factors, researchers in Germany found no consistent evidence that refugees or other foreign-born residents have a higher tendency toward criminal behaviour than comparable natives. In both countries, labour market access remains central. A 2023 study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare found that migrants who found employment within 18 months of arrival were 40 percent less likely to be suspected of a crime. This mirrors findings in Germany and elsewhere. Read Also: Police: Arrival of asylum seekers had no significant effect on crime statistics for 2015 Unprecedented influx of young asylum seekers challenges EU HT Two of the men briefly crossed onto Russian territory in Kuusamo, a municipality in Northern Ostrobothnia. The third remained within the Finnish side of the border zone, which is typically three kilometres wide and marked with warning signs in several languages. Three Dutch tourists have been fined by the Oulu District Court after illegally entering the restricted border zone between Finland and Russia in January. According to Border Guard Captain Mauri Nygard, the men entered the area out of curiosity while visiting Finland. The Finnish Border Guard was alerted by a member of the public, leading to the men's detention shortly after the incident. The men confessed to the events during police questioning. One of the two who crossed the border claimed it happened by accident. The third, who did not cross into Russia, gave a similar explanation. All three were tried in absentia. None appeared at the hearing. The court found the explanations unconvincing. Investigators presented police photographs of shoe prints leading to and from a Russian border post, matching the suspects' footwear. The court concluded that the border signs made it clear the area was restricted and that the men had knowingly entered it. Two men, born in 1983 and 1968, were convicted of committing a state border offence and sentenced to 35 day fines. The third, born in 1962, was convicted of a minor border offence and given 15 day fines. The verdict is not yet legally binding and can be appealed to the Court of Appeal. Finnish and Russian border officials from the Kainuu and Uhtua regions have been in contact over the incident. The land border between Finland and Russia has been effectively closed since late 2023 due to national security concerns. HT The U.S. administrations politically charged questionnaires to some researchers in Finland, Netherlands and other EU countries receiving U.S. funding, questioning gender ideology were covered in an article by EUobserver on March 26. Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: The article highlights how such a survey appears to be part of a broader effort aligned with the U.S. President Donald Trumps ideological stance on education and research. These surveys, sent by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB), contain 36 questions that probe into various aspects of research institutions. They enquire whether researchers engage in diversity initiatives, climate or environmental justice programmes, or activities perceived as counter to U.S. government interests. One question specifically asks whether the institution collaborates with entities linked to communist, socialist, or totalitarian parties. European academic institutions have expressed concern over the nature of these questions. In the Netherlands, Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) have issued warnings about the questionnaire, though the only confirmed case so far is at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Finland has also been directly affected. Last month, the University of Helsinki received similar enquiries through the U.S. Fulbright programme. These enquiries pressured the university to remove specific words from scholarship advertisements, including climate change, equal society, inclusive society and women in society. This move was widely seen as an attempt to influence academic discourse and align research themes with the Trump administrations ideological stance. The Finnish academic community responded strongly to these developments, with approximately 700 researchers protesting in defence of academic freedom and demanding institutional protection against external political pressures. Original story was published by EUobserver on 26.03.2025 and can be found here. Finnish satellite operator ICEYE to provide data to NATO headquarters Finnish satellite operator ICEYEs announcement on providing imaging data to NATO's Situation Centre at its headquarters in Brussels was covered in an article by Reuters on March 28. The article describes the partnership between ICEYE and NATO as Europe seeks to enhance its space-based monitoring and communication capabilities, and underscores Finlands increasing integration with NATO. ICEYE, a privately owned company, operates a fleet of 48 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites that offer near real-time Earth observation, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The company already serves military clients, including Ukraine. The European Commission is advancing a 10.6 billion secure satellite constellation project to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty. The rapid expansion of Elon Musks Starlink satellite network has further motivated European efforts to develop independent space infrastructure. While Starlink focuses on connectivity, ICEYEs satellites specialise in Earth observation and intelligence gathering. We are proud of the opportunity to cooperate and support NATO users and decision-makers with data from the worlds largest SAR satellite constellation, owned and operated by ICEYE, Pekka Laurila, ICEYEs Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder said in a statement. Original story was published by Reuters on 28.03.2025 and can be found here. The happiest country in the world is seeking innovators Finlands 90 Day Finn Program, inviting 10-15 foreign innovators to explore Finlands deep tech ecosystem, was covered in an article by Forbes on March 28. The article gives details of the initiative by Helsinki Partners, which offers participants a three-week or optional 90-day immersive experience in Helsinki, providing access to networking events, business consultancy, and visits to leading Nordic tech companies. It also provides the opportunity for the participants to experience Finnish culture, including attending saunas and foraging mushrooms and berries in the forests. The aim of the programme is to help decision-makers in deep tech, startups, and scale-ups explore market opportunities and potential business expansion in Europe. Helsinki has emerged as a global innovation hub, home to over 2,200 startups valued at more than $31 billion. The city is known for its strengths in AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and sustainable technologies, supported by strong public-private partnerships and leading universities like the University of Helsinki and Aalto University. The 90 Day Finn Program has already led to successful outcomes, such as Singapore-based Leo Capital establishing its European headquarters in Helsinki and launching a 25 million Nordic-focused fund. Many participants praise Finlands egalitarian business culture and collaborative environment, which foster long-term partnerships and accelerate innovation. Applications for the 2025 edition are open until March 31, 2025, with remote onboarding before an intensive three-week immersion starting August 18. Original story was published by Forbes on 28.03.2025 and can be found here. Finland breaks records with an energy giant that can power 30,000 homes and transform electricity production The worlds largest heat pump in Helsinki, a groundbreaking sustainable energy project capable of heating 30,000 homes, was covered in an article by Glass Almanac on March 24. The article highlights how the innovation represents a major shift in how cities can transition to greener energy solutions by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and significantly lowering emissions. The system works by extracting heat from a cooler environment and transferring it to a warmer one, using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant to reach temperatures of up to 90C. It also features an oil-free compressor, enhancing efficiency while minimising environmental impact. Producing 200 GWh of heat annually, the heat pump helps cut 26,000 tonnes of CO emissions each year, supporting Helsinkis goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Engineers overcame challenges related to Finlands extreme winters, ensuring that the system remains operational even at temperatures below -20C. Beyond its environmental benefits, the project also stabilizes energy prices, making heating costs more predictable and affordable for residents. It has generated local jobs and strengthened Finlands position as a leader in renewable energy technology. By proving the viability of such projects, Finland is setting an example for how urban areas worldwide can embrace sustainable energy solutions. Original story was published by Glass Almanac on 24.03.2025 and can be found here. 6 MONTHS LATER: Rebecca's miracles A volunteer carries canned goods to a family at the Blue Ridge Commerce Center warehouse the county used for weeks to store and give away donated provisions. [LIGHTNING FILE PHOTO] As overwhelming as they were, the first few days of Hurricane Helene did bring a series of lucky breaks that boosted the countys recovery effort. Rebecca McCall calls them miracles. One of the miracles was the internet reception at King Street that we had for a while and then the weather, McCall, who was chair of the Board of Commissioners when Helene struck, said of the makeshift headquarters of county government and string of sunny days that followed the storm. I think having the warm weather was a miracle because if it had been cold, just think how much more devastating that would have been. Brand new, empty warehouse A string of coincidences enabled the county to commandeer a giant warehouse that would receive thousands of donations and hand out food, water and supplies to hurricane victims. The sheriff comes in, McCall recalled, and he had been through that experience with the wildfire in Edneyville, and he said, Im just telling you right now theres going to be donations. We remembered when we got all the donations and we had more Beanie Weenies and Vienna sausages than you can even imagine. Then someone thought of the brand-new industrial warehouse complex off Upward Road. Although no one knew the owner, it was known that Cooper construction had been involved in the project. Miraculously enough, Zach Cooper had Starlink at his house, so he was able to get a call another miracle and he had the number for the guy with the company that owns the building, McCall said. He called him and told him the situation, and they said, Yeah, thats great, fine. Once they got there, the commissioner and her companions could not open the real estate lockbox that contained a key. McCall drafted her neighbor, Candy Guffey, a real estate agent. If anybody knows how to work this box, its Candy. So I got her, and we went over there, and we got in there and we looked at this building, she said. The only thing in there was a puddle of water. It was like 157,000 square feet of empty space. Next miracle: Marcus Jones, the county engineer, went into the other building first, not realizing which building it was, and he saw a bunch of brand-new fork trucks sitting there, McCall said. Fork trucks and hand trucks, with power. We just brought em on up to the other building. You ask for forgiveness later. They had space to fill. Monday comes around, were ready to open for business and I walk in and theres five DSS employees sitting there, all ready to work, and (tax collector) Harry Rising was out there, she said. I panicked. We had one pallet of water sitting there in that big old building. My son works for Coca Cola. I called him and said, How can I get a truckload of water? And he got me in touch with a guy, and they sent us a truckload of water. After that, it was car after car after car and trailer after trailer and tractor-trailer after tractor-trailer companies and individuals and churches it was just coming from everywhere. The warehouse on McAbee Court became an anthill of relief activity. Volunteers logged in donations and gave out supplies. On day 2 or 3, a U.S. Army National Guard logistics team arrived to help organize and run the place. When the National Guard showed up, I was responsible for feeding them three meals a day, she said. I used every food truck I could use in town. We had a freezer trailer and a refrigerated trailer out there. These restaurants that didnt have backup generators didnt want to lose the food. They didnt want it back, they just wanted it to be used. McCall herself spent about two weeks at the warehouse fulltime, until County Manager John Mitchell told one of his employees to send her home for rest. I need $20,000 The p-card episode was another of McCalls miracles. The county needed generators for shelters, churches and businesses that had set up relief efforts and for essential retail like supermarkets and gas stations. Trouble was, no home supply stores were open. Who knows how to get in touch with the manager of Lowes? Tommy Laughter goes, Well, Steve Wilkie is friends with the manager. Does anybody have Steve Wilkies phone number? McCall did. I was able to get in touch with him, miraculously, and told him what we needed, she said. Do you have generators? No, but Ive got a truckload coming. They should be here tomorrow. McCall arranged for her son and other people with pickup trucks to pick up the generators. But someone had to pay for them; Lowes would not invoice. McCall planned to use her county-issued purchase card. I was at King Street (in the county building) and I told John, I need a credit card for at least $20,000 and mines only up to five, she said. Standing behind John was a guy that works for the finance department (Randy Cox). And he said, Go ahead. By the time you get there, Ill have your card up to $40,000. What were the odds that he was gonna be standing there? she asked. Things fell into place. Every time we needed something, it appeared. Every single time. The special wheelchair Which segues into what McCall describes as her favorite miracle all. Were getting in all these donations of just random stuff, just things that you wouldnt even imagine, she said. Somebody sent a small wheelchair. It wasnt child size, but it was smaller than a normal adult would use. What are we going to do with this? Soon enough, a woman pulled into the donation pickup line. Distraught, she said: Youre like the third, fourth, fifth place Ive been. My daughter is handicapped. Shes 21 but shes small framed and when we were trying to get out of our house to avoid the storm, her wheelchair was damaged. Im looking for a wheelchair. And we pulled the wheelchair up to her car, McCall said, and she started crying, and she said, Its the perfect size. The handles on the arms were painted pink. She said, Pink is her favorite color. Roger Snyder, a Mills River founder and its first mayor, dies unexpectedly Roger Snyder is shown in a Lightning file photo. Roger Dale Snyder, a founder of the town of Mills River and its first mayor, serving for 10 years, died unexpectedly Thursday, March 27, after his wife found him unresponsive and he was transported to the hospital. He was 65. Related Stories His wife, Gayle, found him on the couch when she came downstairs around 7:30 a.m. Mills River Fire & Rescue reached the home first after Gayle's 911 call and "did everything they could do," said Ashley Ward, Snyder's daughter. County EMS transported him to AdventHealth, where he was pronounced dead. Wearing farmer shirts, jeans and boots, Snyder was a go-getter who never confronted an obstacle too forbidding to overcome. He didnt care if you were gonna call the governor, no matter who it was. It never fazed him, Bill Lapsley, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners chairman who had known Snyder for 40 years, said Friday in an interview. Hed say, 'Who do we need to call to get so-and-so approved? Whats the number? Do we need to go visit? He wouldnt hesitate. Nothing fazed him. Snyder was interim mayor when the town incorporated in June 2003, then was elected mayor by the council that December. He led the town as mayor until 2013, when the council elected Larry Freeman to the top post, and continued his service on the council for nine more years. Roger always made sure that if someone was having a stressful day, he would say Slow and Easy, reminding them to take a deep breath and not stress. His wisdom and warmth will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. I was in the fire department for 25 years, then got involved in the town stuff, Snyder told the Lightning in January 2022 when he retired from the council. The incorporation lasted about two years, so Ive been on the town council in some form or fashion for 19 years. I figured its just time for me to go. Whenever you figure out its time to go youre already late. Born May 31, 1959, to Phyllis Jean Tolley Snyder and James Richard Snyder in Brevard, Snyder spent his life dedicated to his family, Mills River community and career. A 1977 graduate of West Henderson High School, he spent 20 years of his professional life to Xerox, where he was known for his dedication and strong work ethic. He was a lifetime member of Mills River Fire Department, and he engaged in farming and the raising of Holstein calves. His parents and a sister, Susan Snyder Sherman, preceded him in death. In addition to Gayle y Kearney Snyder, his devoted wife of 40 years, and Ashley, and her husband, Nick Ward, of Greenwood, South Carolina, Roger is survived by Taylor Snyder, and his wife, Anna Snyder, of Mills River, and grandchildren Easton Ward and Theo Snyder, who brought immense joy to his life. His passing was also mourned by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and friends who loved him dearly. Like Lapsley, Shanon Gonce, the towns current mayor, was shocked to hear of Snyders death. He was always good and fair to me, Gonce said. Like I said in the meeting last night, we were about like an old married couple we were in there together for so long. We didnt always agree but however it came out wed leave the meeting giggling and talking and patting each other on the back. We didnt let the politics get in the way of our personal friendship. Gonce, a building contractor, had seen Snyder regularly in recent weeks. I put a new roof on his house after the storm because he had a tree come down and punch holes in it, he said. Although Gonce was acquainted with Snyder before, their relationship as town council members began in 2005 when the mayor invited Gonce to meet at 4 oclock one afternoon at the library next to the barbershop to recruit him for a vacant council seat. Lets talk about you running for council. Let me ask you a couple of questions, Snyder told him. He asked em and I answered. I dont remember what they were but he said, I think youd be the right guy. When the mayor asked Gonce if he knew where the elections board was, Gonce responded that he had no idea. Snyder offered to take him. But not before a warning: It dont pay nothing. Its a nonpaying job. Lapsley and Snyder first met when Lapsley was a young civil engineer and Snyder was a young volunteer firefighter probably 40 years ago, Lapsley said. I was doing a water support certification for all the fire departments, he said. We surveyed ponds and things like that to get water support approved. They needed a licensed engineer to do that. Wed ride around and look at them. Then after that, in the90s, I got involved because he was one of the leaders in Mills River that formed the town, that put that all together. They came to me and said, How do we do this? I helped them prepare a map of the town and lobbied on their behalf with then-Sen. Apodaca,. We got the town approved and he became the first mayor and we were friends all the time he was on the town council. Then, in 2011, Snyder and Lapsley worked side by side again, along with a core group of economic development officials and elected leaders, on the recruiting effort to land Sierra Nevada, which was scouting to build an East Coast. The craft brew giant chose a site on the French Broad River on land owned by the heirs of the Westfeldts of Rugby Grange. Roger was a key player, Lapsley said. He became extremely close with Vaughan Fitzpatrick, who owned the Ferncliff property land that had been developed as an industrial park. I kept up with him. He called me every couple of months. As far as I knew, he was doing fine. In the Lightning interview three years ago, Snyder said he was satisfied that he had done his best for his hometown. I can look back and say, Roger, you served the citizens well. Now its time to go home, he said. Probably the biggest accomplishment was Apodaca and (Rep.) Carolyn Justus streamlining our incorporation through the state when Asheville was against us, the League of Municipalities was against us, Fletcher was against us." A funeral service is scheduled for noon Friday, April 4, at Mills River United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Thomas Glenn officiating. The family will receive friends from 110 a.m.-noon to celebrate Roger's life and legacy. His family invites those who knew him to attend and share in the memories of a life well-lived. Church Street Funeral & Cremation is in charge of arrangements and an online registry is available at www.churchstreetfuneral.com. A school custodian in Washington County begins each day by driving a bus. The day ends that way, too. In between, custodians do their regular job in a public school division deep in Southwest Virginia to save money. Thats part of the price that the county school division pays to stay within a state funding cap that Virginia placed on support services 15 years ago in the teeth of the Great Recession. The cap means that school divisions have less state money to support a wide range of jobs that play vital roles in public schools, including counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists who provide specialized student support to those who need it. The cap also applies to state funding for school employees in operations and maintenance, technology services, health and administration, clerical duties and custodial work. After years of trying, public school divisions thought this year that they would finally see the end of the support cap that then-Gov. Tim Kaine proposed in late 2009 as a temporary measure to prevent deep cuts in public services in the two-year state budget that the General Assembly approved the next year. But Gov. Glenn Youngkin upset those expectations by proposing to cut $138.2 million in additional funding that the General Assembly had added to the budget in February to fully lift the cap. That is almost two-thirds of the $222.9 million the legislature had approved to help local school divisions pay for those support positions. If Youngkins proposed amendment prevails when the assembly reconvenes in Richmond on Wednesday to take up his amendments and vetoes, Washington County Superintendent Keith Perrigan estimates it will cost the division between $700,000 and $1 million. That is a huge amount of money for Washington County, Perrigan said. It has a direct impact on the services we provide students. Democrats hold a 21-19 edge in the state Senate and a 51-49 edge in the House of Delegates. The legislature could override the governors budget amendments by a simple majority vote. It takes a vote of two-thirds of the legislature to override a governors veto of legislation, which could mean the governors 157 vetoes of bills are likely to stand. Additional money Youngkins legislative supporters say the governor is not proposing to cut state funding for K-12 public education. They say he just wants to reduce the amount of additional money that state would spend in the fiscal year that will begin on July 1. The question is what is the right amount of additional money for K-12? said Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, a member of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee who strongly supported the revised budget that the assembly adopted on Feb. 22. Were all talking about more money for K-12. McDougle also thinks its fair for Youngkin to ask for $300 million in spending cuts to bolster the states revenue reserve. It comes as General Assembly Democrats warn that President Donald Trump is posing threats to the Virginia economy by slashing the federal workforce and spending on which the state depends. If you really think the sky is falling, put your money where your mouth is, he said. The biggest part of those proposed spending cuts would come from money earmarked to eliminate the support cap the top priority for local governments and school divisions that share the cost of public education with the state. The cap on state funding for support positions has shortchanged local school divisions for years and is one of the remaining relics of a time when the commonwealth was sweeping the corner for funds to balance the budget, said Joe Flores, director of fiscal policy at the Virginia Municipal League and former secretary of finance under Gov. Ralph Northam. Those days are over and have been for some time. At a time when local governments are finalizing their budget, including for schools, it is our hope that the governors proposal will be rejected and funding restored, Flores said on behalf of the municipal league, which represents 38 cities, nine counties and more than 170 incorporated towns. The municipal league and Virginia Association of Counties, which represents 95 counties, also worry about the governors proposed line-item veto of $40 million in stormwater local assistance funds and an additional $31 million in the water quality improvement fund, with multiple projects already planned to remove nutrient pollution from wastewater discharges. Those are big issues for us because the work has already been scheduled to be done and is being done, said Dean Lynch, executive director of the association of counties. Those vetoes will be harder for the General Assembly to overcome when it meets Wednesday because the state constitution requires a two-thirds vote to overturn a gubernatorial veto and Democrats cant do it without help from Republicans. Perrigan, the Washington County superintendent, said Youngkins proposed reduction of money for school support services hurts local school divisions of all sizes in all parts of the state. He has a birds-eye view as president of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, a statewide organization, and president of the Coalition for Small and Rural Schools of Virginia. The large school districts get hurt the most because they lose the most money, he said. The small districts lose the most because the money that they lose, they cant replace. Former Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton, who was Virginias first lady when Kaine first proposed the support cap, said federal stimulus grants under then-President Barack Obama helped the state with the deficit initially, but then she said state funding for K-12 education dropped dramatically. Some localities picked up the difference, and some didnt feel like they could, Holton said. And so that both means weve got wide disparities still and that the states just not doing its share. Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, chairman of the House Education Committee, called the governors proposal disappointing. There is such broad support for lifting the support cap, it is perplexing that its such a target, Rasoul said. Vouchers, lab schools Democratic legislators also are indignant that Youngkin, while claiming to use the proposed spending cuts to bolster the states revenue reserves, also wants to spend money on priorities they already have rejected. That includes $25 million in vouchers to pay for private school tuition or other extracurricular expenses and $15 million to expand the use of lab schools as alternatives to traditional public education. Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, carried legislation this session to establish the opportunity scholarships for low-income families. Theres so many things that the opportunity scholarships are available for use. Unfortunately, people in misunderstanding what we were trying to accomplish kind of made it a public versus private school binary choice, but thats really not what the opportunity scholarship is all about, Cherry said. It could be used for tuition, but thats not the only thing it could go for. It could go for transportation to tutoring programs, whether thats public or private. You could use it for resources, in terms of material and curriculums. Cherry noted the scholarships have been effective in other places like Maryland, Minnesota and Washington D.C., where they predominantly hit low-income and minority communities. This is for our most vulnerable students, Cherry said. This is for the students who otherwise arent going to have a choice and arent going to have a chance to get these resources. Hes back to the same playbook: He has been trying to divert public school dollars into private schools, said state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee. It is just bizarre that he is reintroducing these items, knowing that the General Assembly is not going to support the privatization of public school dollars, said Hashmi, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Lynch, at the association of counties, said the governors proposal of opportunity scholarships to pay private school costs creates problems for public education. The only way to raise money for public education is through taxes, he said. When you have money ... going to private schools and other entities, its pulling money away from public education. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, denounced both the governors cuts in money to lift the support cap and his revival of proposals for funding alternatives to public education. Its disappointing the governor keeps trying to bring up lab schools and vouchers, Surovell told reporters last week. I continue to believe that vouchers are unconstitutional under the constitution of Virginia. McDougle, the Senate Republican leader, said Youngkin simply included some of his priorities that we had reduced in the budget. He noted that the governor didnt spend all of that money that he proposed to cut but instead recommended depositing an additional $300 million in the revenue reserve fund to guard against the economic downturn that Democrats say they fear. I think its a fiscally responsible move, he said. Hashmi said its a move in the wrong direction. Its just a step backward, when we thought we were in a position this year to address what is almost two decades of underfunding in our school divisions, she said. In Southwest Virginia, Perrigan said school divisions such as his have been making do with less for years because they havent had the money to pay employees to do all of the jobs essential to operating a public school. We finally saw a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel, he said. By Azernews Elnur Enveroglu In recent years, the scars left by colonialism have continued to shape political, cultural, and social landscapes around the world. On March 29, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) hosted an international conference on the theme of "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity," bringing together leaders of independence movements, political prisoners families, and decolonization experts from territories long under French and Dutch colonial rule. Held in Azerbaijans capital, this gathering was more than just an academic discussionit represented a poignant reflection on the consequences of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination, and the preservation of cultural identity. The conference addressed the destructive legacies of colonialism, focusing on the systematic erasure of national and religious identities. This was a process by which colonizers imposed their languages, customs, and beliefs while suppressing those of the indigenous populations. In colonies like Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia, colonial powers enacted policies that included forced name changes, bans on native languages, and the deliberate destruction of cultural practices. The conference participantsmany of whom are descendants of colonized peoplesshared stories of how their identities had been altered or erased in the name of imperial control. Their histories have been largely neglected in the broader global discourse, and this conference aimed to bring those narratives to the forefront. Perhaps most striking were the personal testimonies of the families of political prisoners from New Caledonia and other territories. For many of these families, the arrest and imprisonment of their loved ones were not the result of criminal activity but were politically motivated acts of repression. The French government, they argued, sought to suppress their movements for self-determination and independence. This ongoing cycle of imprisonment is not isolated but part of a broader pattern in which colonial powers continue to use legal and extrajudicial methods to quash opposition to their rule. The very notion of sovereignty and freedom is still being fought for in these territories, with the French government continuing to silence those who challenge the status quo. One particularly poignant aspect of the conference was the emphasis on the treatment of political prisoners. These individuals, who are often viewed as martyrs in their struggle for national liberation, serve as symbols of resistance. However, their imprisonmentoften under inhumane conditionsraises crucial questions about human rights violations in the post-colonial era. As Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, pointed out, international pressure must be brought to bear on the French government to ensure the fair treatment and immediate release of these prisoners. The question is not merely one of individual freedom but of justice for entire populations who continue to face discrimination, oppression, and violence in their struggle for self-determination. The conference also highlighted the importance of reparations and the need to address the long-lasting effects of colonialism. These discussions were not just about historical grievances but about real, concrete actions to correct the injustices of the past. For too long, the voices of those impacted by colonialismwhether through economic exploitation, cultural erasure, or political oppressionhave been ignored or silenced. Reparations, both material and symbolic, are essential in acknowledging the harms done and beginning the process of healing. One significant takeaway from the conference was Azerbaijan's growing role in the global decolonization movement. Despite being a relatively young nation, Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a strong advocate for global self-determination and decolonization. Through events like this conference, the country is not only raising awareness of the ongoing struggles faced by colonized peoples but is also actively engaging in efforts to mediate between colonial powers and their former colonies, offering a platform for dialogue and negotiation. The Baku Initiative Groups commitment to supporting political prisoners and facilitating discussions around decolonization is a commendable step in the right direction. As the conference concluded, the message was clear: colonialism may have ended on paper, but its effects continue to reverberate through the lives of many around the world. The fight for recognition, reparations, and the preservation of national and religious identity is ongoing. The voices heard in Baku on March 29 were a powerful reminder that colonialisms legacy is not a thing of the pastit is a present and living reality for millions of people still fighting for their freedom. In this context, Azerbaijans leadership in advocating for decolonization should be seen as a vital step towards rectifying historical wrongs and ensuring that the fight for justice remains a global priority. Follow your dream, build resilience, and keep doing the small things every day. Dont be discouraged by others and their doubts. Feed off small and big victories alike. In this weeks edition of Founders Playbook, we sat down with David Altamura to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. David Altamura is no stranger to the wellness industry. Over the years, he has introduced several unique concepts, carving out a space that blends movement, recovery, and community. His journey began with Spirit Health Club, Byron Bays first health and wellness centre, which attracted members like Baz Luhrmann, Martin Sacks, Michelle Bridges, and Linda Kozlowski. Now, hes expanding on that foundation with Wildsoul Wellness, a new Pilates and recovery concept. With the second location opening in April and several more in the pipeline, Wildsoul is on a fast track to success. The inspiration behind Wildsoul Wellness Ive always been passionate about movement and performance, but my journey into fitness wasnt a straight path, David shares. He wasnt a professional athlete, but he understood firsthand how training could enhance both physical and mental strength. Ultimately, it came down to claritymovement and recovery optimized my performance as a leader, partner, father, and friend. With Spirit Health Club, David saw an opportunity to create something that truly reflected Byron Bays energy. Byron has a unique energyits a place that naturally encourages balance, well-being, and connection to both nature and self. I wanted to create a space that wasnt just about training hard, but about training smart. That meant integrating movement, recovery, and community into one holistic experience. Wildsoul Wellness builds on this philosophy. Pilates is massive and continues to grow, and more people are taking an interest in their recovery, David explains. I wanted to put both modalities under one roof so members could enjoy the benefits of both under one membership. He also envisioned Wildsoul as more than just a gym: I wanted to create a resort-style environment where members can stay a while, connect as a community, and have a comforting space away from home. What makes Wildsoul Wellness unique? Its a one-stop shop for people who want to train, recover, and be part of a communityall in a beautiful space. A big part of Wildsoul was seeing the need for recovery to be as much of a priority as training itself, David says. While athletes have long recognized the importance of recovery, he believes its essential for everyone. We already know its a key part of an athletes routine, but I think we can agree that parents, healthcare workers, receptionists, and tradies all run this same race. Recovery helps anyone perform at their bestno matter their role. By combining recovery with Pilates, naturopathy, and bespoke health powders and teas, Wildsoul creates a premium wellness experience. Its a one-stop shop, David notes, for people who want to train, recover, and be part of a communityall in a beautiful space. From a business perspective, this model offers multiple revenue streams and franchise potential. The numbers behind the concept While innovation is key, David backs his ideas with solid research. I always keep an eye on the stats, both nationally and internationally, to make sure my concepts have legs. The data supports his vision: according to ClassPass, Pilates has been the fastest-growing exercise genre in Australia and New Zealand, with a 250% increase in popularity within 12 months of September 2022. In Australia, Pilates is 2.8 times more popular than yoga. Meanwhile, the Mindbody report highlights shifting consumer priorities. Nearly 40% of people say they use physical activity to support their mental well-being, David says. Three out of four consumers believe wellness is more important than ever, and nearly 65% prioritize wellness over other leisure expenses. With the global wellness industry valued at $8.2 trillion and set to grow further, he knew Wildsoul had strong market potential. Overcoming challenges Launching a group-focused wellness business in Victoria post-COVID wasnt easy. Starting straight out of the COVID era came with a lot of uncertaintyhealth protocols, financial concerns for consumers, and the fact that recovery as an industry was still relatively new. Wildsoul began on a shoestring budget and grew through bootstrapping. It was a daily challenge, but we believed in the vision. Fortunately, things have shifted. People are really embracing getting out and about again, David observes. Stats show that while our populations lifespan is increasing, our healthspan isnt. Many people are living the last 20-30 years of their lives in poor health. Once this became clear, more people started looking for ways to reduce inflammation, manage cortisol, and take care of their bodies and minds. Davids advice is straightforward: Follow your dream, build resilience, and keep doing the small things every day. He encourages founders to stay focused. Dont be discouraged by others and their doubts. Feed off small and big victories alike. Most importantly, he believes in the power of purpose. Find joy in building a business that truly helps others, and become a pillar of positivity in your community. His final words? In short: go for it. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. A 37-member China Yunnan Rescue Medical Team arrives at Yangon International Airport with emergency supplies including full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite communication devices, and drones, on March 29, 2025. The team had departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport around 6:00 a.m. Beijing time to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.Xinhua Photo A 37-member China Yunnan Rescue Medical Team arrives at Yangon International Airport with emergency supplies including full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite communication devices, and drones, on March 29, 2025. The team had departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport around 6:00 a.m. Beijing time to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.Xinhua Photo A 37-member China Yunnan Rescue Medical Team arrives at Yangon International Airport with emergency supplies including full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite communication devices, and drones, on March 29, 2025. The team had departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport around 6:00 a.m. Beijing time to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.Xinhua Photo A 37-member China Yunnan Rescue Medical Team arrives at Yangon International Airport with emergency supplies including full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite communication devices, and drones, on March 29, 2025. The team had departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport around 6:00 a.m. Beijing time to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.Xinhua Photo A 37-member China Yunnan Rescue Medical Team arrives at Yangon International Airport with emergency supplies including full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite communication devices, and drones, on March 29, 2025. The team had departed from Kunming Changshui International Airport around 6:00 a.m. Beijing time to assist in earthquake relief efforts in Myanmar.Xinhua Photo The aircraft carrying the Chinese rescue team arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo Chinese rescue team arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo Chinese rescue team arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo Chinese rescue team arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo Chinese rescue team arrives at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo 16 members of China's Blue Sky Rescue Yunnan Team enter Myanmar through the "green channel" established by Ruili Border Inspection Station, carrying rescue equipment and medical supplies, on March 29, 2025. They were scheduled to conduct rescue operations after arriving in Muse City, Myanmar. Xinhua Photo The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government dispatches a 51-member rescue team to Myanmar to assist in search and rescue operations in the earthquake-affected areas on March 29, 2025.Xinhua Photo Editor: Zhang Zhou An aerial drone photo shows a view of Yangpu International Container Port in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) Today, the appeal of the Chinese market remains stronger than ever, with its growing and increasingly sophisticated consumer base offering unparalleled opportunities. BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- As protectionism surges across the globe, bringing in economic headwinds, China is doubling down on opening its doors and positioning itself as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fractured global economy. This message was front and center during Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with representatives of the international business community on Friday, where he said that China has been and will remain an ideal, secure and promising destination for foreign investors. For more than four decades, China's reform and opening-up has fundamentally transformed the country and impacted the wider world. Today, China remains the locomotive of the world economy, contributing about 30 percent to global growth. International businesses have thrived in China's vast and dynamic market, with numerous success stories of win-win cooperation. Today, the appeal of the Chinese market remains stronger than ever, with its growing and increasingly sophisticated consumer base offering unparalleled opportunities. China's ongoing transition toward a greener and smarter economy is unlocking new frontiers for innovation and industrial cooperation. Despite external pressures, the country's business environment continues to evolve toward greater transparency and predictability, ensuring a stable foundation for long-term investment. Staff workers assemble an offshore wind turbine in the waters of Laizhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 15, 2022. (Photo by Lin Songfei/Xinhua) Stability has become a defining trait of China amid geopolitical turbulence, providing a socio-economic environment that investors find reassuring. As global markets grapple with rising uncertainty, China serves as a stabilizing force, promoting shared growth over zero-sum competition. The message of cooperation was also echoed at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, held this week on the tropical island of Hainan. Rather than focusing solely on trade figures and policy targets, discussions at the forum underscored China's efforts to foster a more open, inclusive global economy, one that embraces innovation, strengthens supply chains, and deepens cooperation in areas such as green development and digital trade. As noted by scholars like Ian Goldin, professor of globalization and development at the University of Oxford, China recognizes the necessity of global cooperation, not just for its own future but for the broader world as well. History has shown that openness leads to progress, and cooperation -- not fragmentation -- drives prosperity. In the turbulent times, China's unwavering commitment to opening-up is not only crucial for its own growth but for the future of the global economy. Editor: Zhang Zhou BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Tragedies and genocides have been inscribed in the history of Azerbaijan, along with numerous glorious pages, over the past 200 years. One of these terrible events occurred from March through April 1918. Dozens of thousands of peaceful Azerbaijanis were brutally killed only on the basis of their nationality during these events, which went down in the history of Azerbaijan as the genocide of March 31. One hundred and seven years ago, Armenian Dashnaks and Bolsheviks committed unprecedented atrocities against the Azerbaijani population in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Ganja and other regions, killing over 70,000 people with extreme violence, including women, old people and children, burned the villages, expelled the inhabitants from their homes. Armenian armed formations wiped out 229 villages in Baku province, 272 in Ganja province, 115 in Zangazur province, and 157 villages in Karabakh. Most of the population in the territory of present-day Armenia, that is, living in the lands of Western Azerbaijan, about 565,000 people, were brutally killed or expelled from the lands of their ancestors as a result of the genocide committed from 1918 through 1920 by Armenian Andranik's bandit detachments against Azerbaijanis. Numerous masterpieces of national architecture, schools, hospitals, mosques and other monuments were destroyed. An extraordinary Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate this tragedy by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic dated July 15, 1918. The commission the first stage investigated grave crimes committed by Armenians in Shamakhi and on the territory of the Irevan province. Special structure was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to bring this truth to the international community. March 31 was declared a day of national mourning by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. An attempt was made for the first time in history, to give a political assessment of the aggressive processes of genocide against Azerbaijanis, which have been going on for more than a century. However, activities in this area were interrupted after the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Turning the pages of history, face new facts testifying to the atrocities of the Armenians. Searches have been expanding to clarify information, recently. Numerous undeniable archival documents, evidence of the genocide are revealed. For example, with regard to the number of those killed in Shamakhi from March through April 1918, in some sources, this figure is 7,000, in others from 8,000 to 12,000 and even 40,000. The documents of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission, created by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, note that in March-April 1918, 3632 men, 1771 women, 956 children were brutally killed in 58 Azerbaijani villages in the Shamakhi province. However, according to experts, based on archival documents, 8,027 Azerbaijanis were killed in 53 villages of the Shamakhi province, 4,190 of them were men, 2,560 were women, and 1,277 were children. According to other sources, 7,000 people were killed in 72 villages of Shamakhi, including 1,653 women and 965 children. The Extraordinary Investigative Commission testifies that 86 out of 120 villages were subjected to Armenian aggression in the Shamakhi province. Due to the fact that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic commission interrupted its work, it is impossible to find information about the other 34 villages. Local researchers have been carrying out a number of works in connection with the calculation of the number of people killed in the city of Shamakhi from March through April 1918, since the 90s of the last century. As a result of their research (memoirs and information collected from about a hundred witnesses), It was established that under the leadership of Armenian criminals S. Shaumyan, S. Lalayev, Z. Arestisyan, brothers T. Amirov and A. Amiryan, about 14,000 16,000 people were killed in the city of Shamakhi, in its 40 villages and settlements 6,000 8,000 people. The number of persons expelled from the Shamakhi district amounted to more than 18,000 people. More than 16,000 people were killed with extreme cruelty in the Guba district, 167 villages were destroyed as a result of the Armenian armed attack during the first five months of 1918. A number of new facts about the massacres of Azerbaijanis by Armenian-Dashnak detachments in the Guba district have been discovered. Mass graves discovered in 2007 in the city of Guba is one of these facts. Armenian military formations committed massacres in Guba not only to the Turkish-Muslim population, but also to Jews. It was found that, about 3,000 Jews were killed by Armenians in Guba from 1918 through 1919, as a result of the research. Through the policy of military aggression against Azerbaijan, which lasted for almost 30 years, Armenia continued to commit crimes against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds. On the night of February 25-26, 1992, another terrible genocide was committed in the Azerbaijani city of Khojaly. A total of 613 people were killed with particular cruelty, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 old people, 487 people were seriously injured, including 76 children, 1275 people were taken hostage as a result of a treacherous attack on the city at night. The Azerbaijani state has taken all the necessary steps to bring the truth about the March genocide to the world. After 80 years on March 26, 1998, an adequate political assessment was given of these horrific events by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis", signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and 31 March was declared the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. The Decree of Heydar Aliyev "On the mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from their historical and ethnic lands in the Armenian SSR from 1948 through 1953" dated December 18, 1997 is of great importance in terms of a comprehensive study of the deportation of Azerbaijanis from the territory of the Armenian SSR, giving a political and legal assessment these crimes bringing it to the attention of the international community. These decrees are important not only for research and perpetuating the bloody pages of our history but also for exposing Armenian chauvinism and terrorism. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an Order in 2018, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the genocide in order to more fully bring the truth about this crime against Azerbaijanis to the public of the country and the whole world. The special action plan was developed and implemented for this purpose. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. We are pleased to convey our most heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. We wish you the best of health and happiness. On this blessed holiday, we pray to Allah to grant Your Excellency and your brotherly people more progress and prosperity, and to make our Muslim Ummah strong and stable. We extend our greetings and deep respect to Your Excellency," the letters says. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. I am pleased to convey my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. I wish you robust health and happiness. I pray to Allah the Almighty that this blessed holiday brings goodness and blessings to all of you. He is indeed the Hearer and Accepter of prayers. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem," the letter says. Ukraine accused Russia of committing a "war crime" during its weekend attack on the city of Kharkiv, as the US-backed ceasefire efforts continue to prove elusive. Six strikes hit the northeastern border city overnight Saturday into Sunday, wounding personnel undergoing treatment at a military hospital and killing at least two people in a residential building, according to Ukrainian officials. A spokesperson for the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office, Dmytro Chubenko, confirmed two deaths and said another 30 people were wounded, including children. According to the emergency medical services, the "massive attack" reduced one home to a fiery ruin and damaged other houses, office buildings, cars and garages. The Ukrainian army said that a military hospital building and nearby residential buildings "were damaged by a Shahed drone". "According to preliminary reports, there are casualties among the military personnel who were undergoing treatment at the medical centre," it added. Kyiv does not typically reveal information on military casualties and did not say how many soldiers were wounded. It accused Russia of having carried out a "war crime" and "violating the norms of international humanitarian law". The latest deadly strikes come as US President Donald Trump's administration pushes for a speedy end to the more than three-year war, holding talks with both Russia and Ukraine. Moscow has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire, while Ukraine has accused Russia of dragging out talks with no intention of halting its offensive. "For too long now, America's proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia," Zelensky said in his evening address on Saturday. "There could already be a ceasefire if there was real pressure on Russia," he added, thanking those countries "who understand this" and have stepped up sanctions pressure on the Kremlin. Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to the concept of a Black Sea truce following talks with US officials earlier this week, but Russia said the deal would not enter into force until the West lifted certain sanctions. Rapprochement between Washington and Moscow since Trump's return to office and his threats to stop supporting Kyiv have bolstered Russian President Vladimir Putin's confidence. On the battlefield, his defence ministry claimed Saturday to have captured two Ukrainian villages: Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Putin has meanwhile called for a "transitional administration" as part of the peace process, reiterating his long-standing desire to oust Zelensky and install a more Moscow-friendly government in Kyiv. Putin, in power for 25 years and repeatedly elected in votes with no competition, has repeatedly questioned Zelensky's "legitimacy" as Ukrainian president, after his initial five-year mandate ended in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during times of major military conflict, and Zelensky's domestic opponents have all said no ballots should be held until after the conflict. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. Vice President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz has sent a letter to Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Trend reports with reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. "Dear Prime Minister, my dear brother, I would like to thank you for your sincere letter of congratulations on my birthday. Our intensive mutual visits and high-level contacts reflect the spirit of our exceptional fraternal relations and the ever-growing cooperation between our countries. The recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to our country and the opening of the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline during the visit are one of the most obvious examples of this. We are pleased to continue our cooperation and solidarity with Azerbaijan in all areas, both bilaterally and within the framework of multilateral platforms and regional mechanisms. The Shusha Declaration, which raised our relations from a strategic partnership to an alliance, became a new symbol of our brotherhood, which we developed according to the principle of "One nation, two states". I would like to emphasize once again that we are ready to provide every possible support for the restoration and revival of the territories liberated from occupation. Taking this opportunity, I sincerely congratulate you and your family on the blessed holiday of Ramadan, I wish you and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan good health, peace and prosperity," the letter says. Among the top 25 markets, Anaheim reported the most substantial growth in occupancy, with a 15.5% increase to 83.8%. - Image Credit Unsplash The U.S. hotel industry reports an increase in occupancy, average daily rate, and revenue per available room for the week ending March 22, 2025. Anaheim and Chicago show the most significant increases in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR), while Washington, D.C., and Denver experience declines. The U.S. hotel industry experienced positive growth in the week ending March 22, 2025, according to data from CoStar, a leading online real estate marketplace. Compared to the same period in 2024, the industry saw a 1.0% increase in occupancy to 66.0%, a 1.8% increase in the average daily rate (ADR) to US$165.48, and a 2.8% increase in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) to US$109.22. Among the top 25 markets, Anaheim reported the most substantial growth in occupancy, with a 15.5% increase to 83.8%. Chicago also performed well, showing the most significant increases in ADR and RevPAR, rising 17.8% to US$164.41 and 21.8% to US$107.71, respectively. However, not all markets performed as well. Washington, D.C. and Denver experienced the most significant declines in RevPAR, falling 17.8% to US$133.35 and 14.5% to US$80.00, respectively. Despite these decreases, the overall performance of the U.S. hotel industry reflects a positive trend. Vice President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz has sent a letter to Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Azernews reports with reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. "Dear Prime Minister, my dear brother, I would like to thank you for your sincere letter of congratulations on my birthday. Our intensive mutual visits and high-level contacts reflect the spirit of our exceptional fraternal relations and the ever-growing cooperation between our countries. The recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to our country and the opening of the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline during the visit are one of the most obvious examples of this. We are pleased to continue our cooperation and solidarity with Azerbaijan in all areas, both bilaterally and within the framework of multilateral platforms and regional mechanisms. The Shusha Declaration, which raised our relations from a strategic partnership to an alliance, became a new symbol of our brotherhood, which we developed according to the principle of "One nation, two states". I would like to emphasize once again that we are ready to provide every possible support for the restoration and revival of the territories liberated from occupation. Taking this opportunity, I sincerely congratulate you and your family on the blessed holiday of Ramadan, I wish you and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan good health, peace and prosperity," the letter says. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Turchin has sent a letter to Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Trend reports with reference to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. "Dear Ali Asadov, please accept my sincere gratitude for your congratulations on my appointment to the post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus. I am confident that the multifaceted cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan will continue to develop in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trusting dialogue for the benefit of our friendly peoples. Dear Ali Asadov, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you good health and creative energy in solving important state tasks," the letter says. 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 first time many of us saw Harry Lawtey, he was naked, glassy-eyed, fresh from vomiting on a sheet of newspaper, and rubbing a near-empty bag of drugs across his gums. Then we watched him head to the office. That was five years ago, in early scenes from the hit drama series Industry, in which he played an investment banker. And now, as the star of a new biopic of the Welsh film star Richard Burton, Lawtey slurs, stumbles and punches his way through a booze addiction. Im not a big drinker, really, the 28-year-old muses over Zoom, smiling sweetly. I was a late bloomer with alcohol so I had a few years of feeling detached from it. You learn a lot about the nature of what being drunk does to people and the kind of things it amplifies. I just think its something to be mindful of. Thoughtful, softly spoken, and possibly even a little shy, Lawtey couldnt be further removed from the characters he tends to play. Speaking to me from his London home, he sits in front of a backdrop that offers various clues about his personality. Theres a Beatles poster, several plants, and what looks like Nivea hand cream. Were it not for the gold-lettered GQ award behind him he was one of their Men of the Year 2024 youd think he was just another well-groomed Gen-Zer. Albeit one with an erudite vocabulary, a dash of imposter syndrome (I still get a bit queasy referring to myself as an artist), and a self-diagnosed penchant for rambling, for which he apologises after we spend 10 minutes discussing barriers for working-class kids in the arts. Along with Back to Blacks Marisa Abela and Bodies Bodies Bodies star Myhala, Lawtey is part of a crop of Industry cast members whove been propelled to movie stardom since the shows launch. (Last year, Lawtey was one of the stars of the panned musical sequel Joker: Folie a Deux.) But while Abela and Myhala are set to return for the shows fourth season next year, Lawtey has departed. Fans were bereft. As Rob, a cocaine-fuelled cad turned lovestruck soft boy, Lawtey exuded an endearing fragility that transformed him into one of the shows most popular characters. He tells me that his decision to leave wasnt taken lightly. It was something I thought about for a long time, he says. Ultimately, I reached a place with Robert where I felt like Id said everything I had to say with him. It was like wed completed his arc. And I was just ready for a new chapter. That new chapter is why were speaking today. In the moving biopic Mr Burton, in cinemas next week, Lawtey plays a young Richard Burton, then just a humble miners son, before the stage and Hollywood came calling. For Lawtey, the part is a bold, risky swing. People have to have different ideas, otherwise things dont get made with the right intentions. Joker 2 was made with ambition, creativity, and the desire to do something unique and brave The burden is definitely not lost on me the gumption of some English lad turned up to play the quintessential Welsh hero, he laughs. It is, he acknowledges, a massive responsibility, one that came about serendipitously after Lawtey had seen The Motive and the Cue, Jack Thornes play about Burtons relationship with Sir John Gielgud during a 1964 Broadway production of Hamlet. I became briefly obsessed with Richard Burton for a week or two afterwards, he recalls. Then a month later this opportunity drops into my inbox. After sending in a self-taped audition, Lawtey went for lunch with the films director, Marc Evans. It was very, very nerve-racking, he recalls. Of course, I was overjoyed to get the job. But I was also scared. Mr Burton tells the story of one Richard Jenkins, the 12th of 13 children born to a barmaid who died when he was just two and an alcoholic coal miner. It was a schoolteacher named Philip Burton (and played with superb warmth in the film by Toby Jones) who spotted Jenkinss raw acting talent and eventually adopted him hence why Jenkins took Burtons surname once he began acting professionally. It was with Philips guidance, and that of his landlady, Ma Smith (Lesley Manville), that Richard secured his first acting gig. open image in gallery Lawtey as Richard Burton in the new biopic Mr Burton ( Icon Film Distribution ) Of course, a major part of Burtons story was his alcoholism the actor died in 1984 at the age of 58 after suffering a brain haemorrhage and the self-destruction that often accompanied it. Mr Burton ends too early in the actors life for us to see him go on to meet Elizabeth Taylor and embark on one of the most volatile celebrity relationships of all time, but that feeling of impending doom lingers. Theres a very confused kind of trauma in Richard that led to his drinking, partially because of his dad and also his muddled nomadic childhood, Lawtey says. 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 confusion, he speculates, spawned from an identity crisis; as part of Burtons rags-to-riches story, he famously changed his voice, training to replace a thick Welsh accent with the deep, sonorous and more socially accepted RP hed become known for. This film is about how a voice speaks for us, and how we project who we are before we even get the chance to show people who we are, Lawtey says. With Richard, I think his drinking relates to that dichotomy he clearly loved performance, but he also felt embarrassed by being an actor. It wasnt a particularly manly thing to do. I ask Lawtey if he thinks that the class barriers that affected Burton still persist today. After some back and forth, he suggests that its a necessary conversation to have, but that its important when having this conversation for it not to become some kind of witch hunt against fantastic actors who happen to be middle class. He continues: We shouldnt gatekeep art in either direction. Its a flexible medium. You just have to make sure that everyone has their right to it and ultimately create structures at a grassroots level. As a young person, you have to feel like something is possible and within reach, or even feel as though youre coming up in a world where that kind of material can belong to you. Lawtey had a peripatetic upbringing. His fathers role as an aircraft engineer in the RAF saw the family debunk from Oxford to Cyprus when Lawtey was five. It was while there that he watched Oliver! and immediately caught the acting bug, later enrolling at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and, later, Londons Drama Centre. He rose through the ranks quickly, landing his role in Industry shortly after his graduation. Hollywood came calling after that, starring opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in the musical sequel Joker: Folie a Deux as the dogged district attorney Harvey Dent (later the supervillain Two-Face). Despite its promising premise and cast, the film flopped, becoming a punchline for most of the recent awards season. During a tribute to victims of the LA fires, the citys fire department captain, Erik Scott, delivered one hell of a zinger: Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes. And Im talking about the producers of Joker 2. open image in gallery Lawtey in the most recent season of the HBO/BBC drama Industry ( BBC/HBO ) For me, its very much okay, says Lawtey. I had the most wild, joyful experience of my life making that film. People might not love it; thats entirely up to them. He laments that much of the film industry is dictated by predictability in a bid to boost commercial success. But there comes a line where people have to have different ideas, otherwise things dont get made with the right intentions. [Joker 2] was made with ambition, creativity, and the desire to do something unique and brave. Ultimately, I would rather work in a structure that supports that. Its a solid plan, particularly for someone like Lawtey who, for all intents and purposes, doesnt seem fazed by fame. Instead, he leans towards the avant garde, he tells me projects that come with a somewhat smaller dose of notoriety. Im in a really nice place with it wherein I think its largely quite funny and silly, he says of the attention he receives. People do come up to him on the street a little more than they used to but, aside from that, its not too noticeable. Its present in my daily life and is something that I kind of have to participate in. But it doesnt affect anywhere I go or what I do, you know? At the moment, its not something I think about a great deal. That might soon change, I suggest, referencing how fan encounters with celebrities can become more invasive as a persons profile grows. Yeah, it can be jarring, he acknowledges. But you just have to be normal, I guess. Theres no reason not to be normal. He takes a pause. Im grateful for it but fame is certainly not the goal, he says. I dont dream of becoming more famous. Mr Burton is in cinemas from 4 April 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 Richard Chamberlain, the actor who starred in Dr Kildare and Shogun, has died, aged 90. The screen and stage star died in Waimanalo, Hawaii on Saturday, March 29 of complications following a stroke, his publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to Variety. Chamberlains long term partner, Martin Rabbett, said in a statement: Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us. How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure. Chamberlain starred in several notable films , including Richard Lesters 1968 drama Petulia as well as his 1973 action film The Three Musketeers. The actor also appared in Ken Russells The Music Lovers, as well as Peter Weirs The Last Wave. However, Chamberlain found his greatest success on the small screen, where he played notable figures, including Edward VIII in The Woman I Love, F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Last of the Belles and World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg in Wallenberg: A Hero's Story. During his time starring in Dr. Kildare, Chamberlain also achieved musical success singing love songs, including Love Me Tender and All I Have to Do is Dream. open image in gallery The actors film and TV career stretched from 1959 to 2018 ( Getty ) He further displayed his musical talents in onstage roles, such as the 1993 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady, in which he starred as Henry Higgins and later featured in productions of The Sound of Music, Scrooge: The Musical, as well as Monty Pythons Spamalot. The star won a Golden Globe for best actor in the 1980 series Shogun, which was one of the highest-rated programmes in NBCs history. This success led to other weightier roles, including Cook and Peary: The Race to the Pole, Night of the Hunter, Casanova, and Wallenberg: A Heros Story, which earned him an Emmy nomination. However, Chamberlain is best known for starring as the Australian priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart, in the TV series adaptation of Colleen McCulloughs novel The Thorn Birds and its sequel The Missing Years. 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. Chamberlain moved to Hawaii in the late Eighties, returning to the mainland U.S. for work. Throughout the 2000s he guest-starred in a variety of shows, including Will and Grace, Desperate Housewives and David Lynchs Twin Peaks. He also featured in the horror film Nightmare Cinema in 2018, Finding Julia in 2019 and Echoes of the Past in 2021. Born George Richard Chamberlain in Los Angeles on March 31, 1934, the actor attended Beverly Hills High before Pomona College, where he graduated with a degree in art. open image in gallery He said coming out in 2003 was a huge relief and a wonderful experience, and that he had no fear left ( AP ) After two years in the army, stationed in Korea in the Fifties, Chamberlain returned to Los Angeles where he guest starred in a host of TV series before landing his MGM contract for Dr. Kildare in 1961. The actor was in a relationship with Rabbett for decades, who Boll described as Chamberlains lifelong partner and best friend. Chamberlain wrote in his 2003 autobiography Shattered Love: A Memoir that it had been a huge relief after he acknowledged his sexuality. I had no fear left," he said in an interview in 2019. It was a wonderful experience. People were open, friendly and sweet." Fans were quick to share tributes to the actor online, with one person writing on X: RIP Richard Chamberlain. Had the hugest crush on you after Thorn Birds (no, not into priests) may you soar up in heaven with all the other greats we have lost." Meanwhile, another person added: Mr Chamberlain had many great roles, and is probably best remembered for The Thorn Birds or Shogun... but he'll always be Dr Kildare to me. 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 There will be no comedy monologue at this years White House Correspondents Dinner after the organizers announced they have cancelled an appearance by Amber Ruffin, saying they dont want to focus on the politics of division. The comedic section of the annual event often makes headlines. Michelle Wolfs jokes about Trump, abortion and gun control went viral in 2018, while Stephen Colbert famously skewered George W Bush back in 2006. In 2011, host Seth Meyers and President Barack Obama told a series of jokes mocking Donald Trump who was sitting expressionless in the audience which some have credited with cementing his determination to run for the presidency. Ruffin, a 46-year-old stand-up comic and writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers, had been scheduled to perform at this years event. However, on Friday White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich shared a clip on X of Ruffin being interviewed about her appearance. Budowich criticized the decision to book her, calling her a 2nd rate comedian who is previewing the event by calling this administration murderers who want to feel like human beings, but they shouldnt get to feel that way, because youre not. The following day, Eugene Daniels, the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, which organizes the dinner, sent out a message to colleagues announcing that Ruffin would no longer be performing. "The WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year, wrote Daniels. Amber Ruffin speaking at the 16th Annual African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards in Beverly Hills in February 2025 ( Kevin Winter/Getty Images ) He continued: At this consequential moment for journalism. I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists. This years White House Correspondents Dinner is set to take place on April 26 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. Even after the announcement that Ruffin will no longer appear at the event, Budowich continued to criticize organizers. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. In a follow-up tweet he wrote: No accountability at [the White House Correspondents' Association], just a cop out statementpathetic! Obama mocks Trump at 2011 White House correspondent's dinner Many WHCA members are privately pointing the finger at Eugene for making the unilateral decision to recruit and sign this garbage, hate-filled comedian. Yet, they are all turning a blind eye to it publicly. Its an indictment on how broken and useless this organization has become so sad that such a storied and consequential group has been so quickly driven into irrelevancy. Oh well. Good riddance! The Independent has approached Ruffin for comment. 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 This article first appeared in our partner site, Independent Persian The sound of coughing constantly echoes from the corner of a womens wool-spinning workshop in the Khush neighbourhood of central Herat a dimly-lit, dust-filled space where 10 women work 10 hours a day, earning less than $1.50 (1.16) a day. Masouma, 45, had a different life before the Taliban came to power. Her daughter worked at a private organisation and earned $250 (193) a month. But after the fall of the previous government, the organisation shut down and her daughter lost her job. Now, Masouma has no choice but to come to this wool-spinning workshop to provide for her family. Suffering from chest pain, she tells Independent Persian : I come here out of necessity. I cough a lot while working because of the wool dust. My back and eyes hurt too. I went to the doctor and got some medicine but it didnt help. Dim lighting, polluted air, and the lack of safety equipment have made working in this workshop unbearable. Masouma has no choice but to endure it because if she doesnt work, her family will go hungry. She says with sorrow: If the Taliban hadnt returned, my daughter who is a university graduate would still have her job, and I wouldnt have to work in such harsh conditions. Masoumas main concern is her health. She fears that she wont be able to find another job, that her respiratory illness will worsen, her joint and eye pain will intensify, and that eventually she will lose the ability to work altogether. She fears the loss of not only her job but also her health. Masouma is not the only woman who has turned to this workshop to make ends meet. Due to the Talibans restrictions on female employment in foreign and private organisations, hundreds of other women and girls are also forced to take on difficult, low-paying jobs. Shukria, 50, another woman working in the workshop, spins wool for more than 12 hours every day, but earns only 100 Afghanis (around 1.10). The heavy workload and polluted air in the workshop have put her health at risk. She tells Independent Persian: I have to take some wool home and work there too, just to make more money. Life has become extremely difficult, the increasing prices are unbearable. I also suffer from joint pain and cant sleep at night. Bibi Gul, another worker, complains about her health while struggling to separate strands of wool with her hands. She says her eyesight has deteriorated and she can no longer clearly see the wool fibres. My wage is 100 Afghanis its not much, she says, but I have no choice but to work. Im sick, I cough, my back hurts but I have no choice. Despite their pain and illness, the women return to this suffocating, polluted space every day because they have no other option. In Herat, the largest city in western Afghanistan, dozens of wool-spinning workshops are operating, but most of them lack proper health and safety standards. The women working in these polluted environments are exposed to wool dust for days and months, leading to respiratory illnesses, joint problems, and deteriorating eyesight. Doctors warn that the poor conditions in these workshops pose a serious threat to the women's health. They emphasise that prolonged exposure to wool dust can cause not only lung disease, but also skin conditions and even physical disabilities. Yet, there are no systems in place to support these women. On the other hand, poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan have reached their highest levels, forcing many women and men to take on hard, low-paying jobs just to make ends meet. In such circumstances, the Taliban government has not only failed to take any steps towards improving the economic situation, but has also deepened the crisis by restricting womens employment, limiting educational opportunities, and suppressing individual freedoms. Today, as a result of international isolation and the Talibans repressive policies, Afghanistan is moving down a dark path, and women, who are often the breadwinners for their families, are bearing the brunt more than ever. Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar and Celine Assaf 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 Myanmars military junta has continued bombing parts of the war-torn country even after the most powerful earthquake in over a century left hundreds dead and millions displaced. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday and sent powerful jolts into neighbouring China and Thailand. At least 1,700 people have been confirmed dead in Myanmar alone, 3,400 were injured and over 300 remained missing, the military-run government said on Sunday, as it continued to assess the full extent of the disaster. The earthquake was the biggest to hit Myanmar since 1912, according to the United States Geological Survey, and has devastated civilian infrastructure including the main highway running up the spine of the country. Many of the worst-hit areas have still not been reached by official agencies, with most rescue efforts being conducted by local residents removing rubble by hand. Across the border in Bangkok, rescuers raced to find survivors trapped under the rubble of a 33-storey skyscraper. At least 17 people have been killed in the Thai capital with 32 injured and 83 still missing as of Sunday evening. The UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said at least three government airstrikes were carried out on the largely rebel-controlled Sagaing region, the epicentre of the earthquake, hours after it struck on Friday. Im calling upon the junta to just stop, stop any of its military operations. This is completely outrageous and unacceptable, he told BBC Burmese. The Irrawaddy News also reported that the military conducted airstrikes on civilians in Chaung-U Township in Sagaing on Friday evening, just two hours after the earthquake struck. open image in gallery A man waits near a damaged temple in Mandalay during search and rescue operations ( AFP via Getty ) The National Unity Government (NUG), the government in exile which represents the Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian administration ousted in a 2021 coup, denounced the military as inhumane for launching strikes during an unprecedented natural disaster. NUG spokesperson Zaw Kyaw told The Independent it was beyond words that the junta was taking advantage of the earthquake to strike targets in rebel-controlled areas of Myanmar. Myanmar has been hit hard by the strongest earthquake in modern Myanmars history, with loss of lives, many missing, and millions impacted, he said. Unfortunately, weve been hearing and seeing reports that our military junta, even just hours after the devastating earthquakes hit, is still carrying out airstrikes against civilian targets in resistance-controlled liberated areas, he said. It is unbelievable. It is inhumane inhumane from that military and its leaders. And its not surprising that they dont care about peoples lives. The NUG on Saturday evening announced a unilateral pause on all offensive military operations, except for defensive actions in areas affected by the earthquake, beginning from Sunday. open image in gallery Rubble lies near a pagoda damaged during a strong earthquake, in Mandalay ( Reuters ) The announcement said its armed wing, the Peoples Defence Force, would collaborate with the UN and non-governmental organisations to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps in the areas it controls. We call on all ethnic groups and citizens to actively cooperate with the NUG and revolutionary forces in providing comprehensive emergency rescue and relief assistance to the earthquake victims, the statement said. The earthquake on Friday forced the junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing to issue a rare appeal for international aid and the military has allowed foreign governments to send their own aid workers into the country for the first time since the 2021 coup. Julie Bishop, the UN secretary-generals special envoy on Myanmar, urged both sides to cease hostilities so that aid could reach those impacted by the earthquake. Speaking to The Australian on Saturday, the former Australian government minister warned that the disaster would further worsen an already critical situation for the people of Myanmar. The situation has now become even more urgent and disastrous and I call upon all the parties to the conflict to cease all violence now so we can focus our attention and resources and effort on assisting those people in desperate need. The Independent has reached out to Myanmars foreign ministry for comment. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three-quarters of U.S. scientists say theyre considering leaving the country following moves to slash scientific programs by the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency, a poll has found. In recent days, the administration has laid off researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to lay off 10,000 workers. The agency oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. There have also been major cuts to funding. NASA is terminating $420 million in contracts not aligned with the White Houses priorities. The National Institutes of Health are cutting grants for Covid research and the Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly targeting environmental grants, according to The Los Angeles Times. Last week, the government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions, totaling nearly $40 million, according to a government website. These actions, and more, have left people in scientific fields feeling uncertain, and sparked protests across the country. open image in gallery A recent survey of scientists found that three-quarters are considering leaving the U.S. Their dilemma comes amid the Trump administrations continuous cuts and layoffs across scientific fields ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ) The survey conducted by the journal Nature said worry among scientists was particularly pronounced among early-career researchers. More than 1,200 scientists responded to the poll. Of the 690 postgraduate researchers who replied, 548 said they were considering leaving. More than 250 of the 340 Ph.D. students surveyed said the same. Dont want to leave, but whats the alternative? one postgraduate researcher in a biomedical field responded. This is my home I really love my country, a graduate student at a top U.S. university who works in plant genomics and agriculture told Nature. But a lot of my mentors have been telling me to get out, right now. She lost her research support and her stipend following the Trump administrations decision to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her adviser was able to secure emergency funds to support her in the short term. open image in gallery Scientists included in the poll told Nature that they did not see an alternative. One said people had told them to leave ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Trump administration has made it very clear that her area of interest, global food systems, is not going to be a priority or a focus, she said. If I want to work in that space, Im going to have to find somewhere else that prioritizes that. Some international respondents who had moved to the U.S. to work planned to return home. One researcher noted that international universities were seeing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recruit. For others, the future is not as clear, but anywhere that supports science is the goal. Many felt like they didnt have a choice in the matter. I am faculty and want to stay as long as I can [to] support my lab and students, but if the NIH is dramatically cut we may not have a choice to stay in the U.S., one person wrote. I am transgender, and the one-two punch makes it improbable that the life I want to live is a viable option in this country, another person said. But, there are some holdouts. U.S. academia has the best research facilities, wrote one person. I wont go anywhere, this is ridiculous, wrote another. With reporting from The Associated Press 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 Quakers in Britain group has condemned the arrests of six Youth Demand supporters by more than 30 police officers. The arrests were the first in living memory to occur in a Quaker meeting house, recording clerk for the group Paul Parker said, after the officers detained the Youth Demand supporters at 7.30pm in Westminster on Thursday. This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest, he said. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy. The detainees were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said. Youth Demand said the meeting was held to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions planned for April. Met Police said the group had intended to shut down London over the month of April using tactics including swarming and roadblocks. Police said they had a responsibility to intervene because the protests threatened to cause serious disruption and other criminality. Houses were also raided during the operation on Thursday and Friday, Youth Demand added. In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. Many have taken nonviolent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to womens suffrage and prison reform. An elder at the Westminster meeting house, Mal Woolford, described the actions of the police as ridiculously heavy-handed. There were six very young women of about 20 years old, talking in a circle around a packet of breadsticks and a pot of houmous, he said. Youth Demand, the self-described youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide, began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year. It calls on the government to halt all trade with Israel and raise money from the super rich and fossil fuel elite to pay damages for the impacts of fossil fuel burning. In April last year, the group hung a banner and laid rows of childrens shoes outside Sir Keir Starmers home, after which three people in their 20s were issued with suspended prison sentences. Further arrests were made last July after the group announced plans to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament. Met Police said: While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality. On Thursday, 29 March officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting at an address in Westminster where those in attendance were plotting their April action. Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Five of those arrested on Thursday have been released on bail and one will face no further action. A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter. All five of those arrested on Friday have been released on bail. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. During a telephone conversation on March 30, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan exchanged warm congratulations on the occasion of the holy holiday of Ramadan for the entire Muslim Ummah, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan says, Trend reports. It is reported that the heads of the two states expressed sincere wishes for peace, well-being and prosperity to the fraternal peoples of Uzbekistan and Turkiye. "The current issues of further development and strengthening of Uzbek-Turkish relations of comprehensive strategic partnership were discussed. The ongoing intensive contacts at all levels were noted with deep satisfaction. The volumes of trade and investment, the number of joint projects and enterprises, and the frequency of direct flights are growing. Particular attention was paid to the preparation of the upcoming regular meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the planned summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The importance of productively holding the upcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and the joint business forum in Uzbekistan, as well as the visit of the delegation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye to participate in the 150th session of the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union was emphasized. The heads of state also exchanged views on current issues on the international agenda," the press service says. 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 It is never easy caring for an elderly parent with dementia, especially when you live a three-hour drive away. But Rhona DArcy is able to keep an eye on her mother Heather White, 86, despite the distance, thanks to a system of AI monitors in her home. Heather has vascular dementia but can only afford to have private carers visit briefly twice a day. To receive more support, shed need to sell her home and move into care something the fiercely independent former counsellor is adamant she does not want to do. Instead, a remote-monitoring system checks how often Heather moves between rooms, when she uses the bathroom, whether shes been using the fridge and kettle, the temperature of the house and when people go in and out of the front door. And because the system uses AI to learn Heathers normal behaviour, it alerts her daughter if anything is concerning like if shes unusually still, goes to the bathroom more than normal or unexpectedly leaves the house. When she gets an alert, Rhona calls Heather, or asks local carers or relatives to check on her. I have so much information as to whats going on, which really helps me to communicate with her, said Rhona. I know if shes had a bad night or she hasnt moved all morning and might be feeling a bit low, so I can call her for a chat. And because I can see how many visitors she has had or how much she was up in the night, I can ask her relevant questions which can help prompt her to talk about things she wouldnt remember otherwise. The family were one of the first to test an AI at-home care monitoring system called Lilli, which is now used by 12 councils in England and Wales, including Nottingham City, Medway and Reading. Another 51 local authorities use another AI-powered system called MiiCare, which uses a combination of monitors and an interactive AI speaker. Across the country, at least two in five adult social care providers are now using these systems to enable care staff to monitor elderly and vulnerable people remotely. The aim is to ensure people in need get help faster, while those with lower needs do not have unnecessary visits and are not moved into residential care too early. open image in gallery Councils say it has saved money because patients discharged from hospitals can go straight home instead of into respite care ( PA ) The Labour government is pushing for more areas to take up similar technology via its Better Care Fund, a 9bn pot for the NHS and local authorities to spend on helping people live independently at home. Earlier this year, Health and Social Care secretary Wes Streeting told NHS services and councils to invest in prioritising keeping people out of hospital and care homes for as long as possible. Economists say remote-monitoring technology could save the NHS 1.2bn by 2035, by enabling earlier discharges from hospital and spotting health problems before they require hospital treatment. Councils have already said they have saved thousands using such systems. In Nottingham, for example, installing Lilli systems in 48 homes meant patients discharged from hospital were able to go straight home instead of into respite care, saving the council nearly 54,000. Medway Council estimated it saved 30,000 a week using the technology, while Reading Borough Council said it had saved 25 per cent for every person receiving care. By cutting 2,400 hours of routine care visits, an additional 12 people were able to receive care without increasing staff numbers. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: AI-powered monitoring may be able to help older people stay independent and in their own homes for longer. This is especially valuable if it frees up care workers to be able to spend more time with older people. But she stressed it was vital to find the right balance between intrusion and safety. Critics warn that overstretched councils could use the technology to cut face-to-face care visits. Simon Lord, head of innovation at Alzheimers Society, said: Tools like this can be a useful element of a package of care, if suitable for the individual person and their situation, but they shouldnt replace all face-to-face contact. Even if a person is being monitored and is seen to be safe, they may still be lonely, feeling socially isolated or losing social skills. Dr Henry Collingham, an innovation fellow in design at Northumbria University, who specialises in dementia, said rising wage bills meant it was likely undervalued face-to-face care could be cut, putting elderly people at risk. The cornerstone of good care is human connection. The work of carers is often just having a chat and gauging how someone is doing, he said. If a carer is being partially replaced by a system which is only looking for one set of flags, there is a risk that completely different warning signs might be missed. Someone may be getting up and opening the fridge as usual, but if their voice has changed or they seem out of spirits, the monitors might not pick up on that. But for Rhona, who lives in Farnborough, Hampshire, the AI system gives her reassurance between the monthly trips she makes to see her mother in Grantham, Lincolnshire. It doesnt replace the care, it augments it, she said. It is helping me and the carers to support her, but it wouldnt be enough on its own. But because I can check how shes doing any time of the day or night, its really reassuring. As I cant just rush up to see her, it gives me peace of mind knowing shes OK. 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 Ellen Roome has said more than once that if her son had been hit by a car, his death would have at least made some kind of sense. But after finding 14-year-old Julian Jools Sweeney dead in his room on a night in April 2022, she is still searching for answers. Not one person in Joolss life thought there was a problem. Not one teacher, not one adult, not one child, Ms Roome says nearly three years later. Her crusade is now squarely aimed at social media, and after finding out about the deaths of other British teenagers in similar circumstances, the Cheltenham mother has joined a group of parents suing TikTok over a dangerous online blackout challenge they believe their children took part in. Ms Roome has tried to access her sons social media accounts to see the content he was looking at before his death, but says shes been blocked by the platforms. open image in gallery Julian Jools Sweeney with his mother, Ellen Roome, who is campaigning for social media reform ( PA Media ) I thought, well, were responsible for a minor. Why on earth cant we see what hes looking at? In the past week, the grief of another family involved in the action against TikTok was made plain before a coroner, who is investigating the death of Maia Walsh, a 13-year-old girl found dead in her Hertford bedroom in October 2022 after seeing concerning content on the platform. Months before, she had commented: I dont think Ill live past 14. Harrowing tales like these have sparked a debate over the best ways to protect children from social media harm. The government is already facing criticism that new laws in force ordering tech companies to remove dangerous content are not robust enough, while prime minister Sir Keir Starmer batted away a Conservative push for a blanket phone ban in schools as wasting time and completely unnecessary. Labour backbencher Josh MacAlisters fight to place age restrictions on Facebook, TikTok and similar platforms was shot down by technology minister Peter Kyle. But in Australia, parents anxiety over their childrens exposure to an unsupervised online world has shaped concrete government action: a ban on teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing social media. The new laws, which have been given a year to take effect, are a litmus test for a society growing increasingly fearful of the harms faced by children on their smartphones, including violent radicalisation, misogyny, eating disorders and bullying. We know social media is doing social harm, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said upon introducing the legislation in November. We want Australian children to have a childhood, and we want parents to know the government is in their corner. open image in gallery Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese says children should have a childhood ( AP ) But alongside the question of whether the government should bar children from the platforms is the question of whether it actually can, as doubts are raised over the effectiveness of systems designed to restrict the ages of their users. Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) founder Tony Allen believes a ban is absolutely possible. The UK-based company has been tasked by the Australian government with undertaking a trial of age assurance technology so far involving 55 participants and 62 different systems that will underpin the success of the scheme. Mr Allen says age assurance is split into three categories: age verification, linked to proving someones date of birth; age estimation which analyses a persons biometric data such as their pulse and facial features; and age inference, which assumes someones age based on a particular qualifier like owning a credit card. open image in gallery ACCS founder Tony Allen says its possible to effectively ban under-16s from social media ( Getty ) You have to be over 18 to be able to be issued with a credit card so the reasonableness of the inference is the law requires you to be over 18. Youre therefore likely to be over 18, he says. However, he qualifies that whatever the system chosen by the government would involve a never-ending catch-up game to fend off those finding new ways to get around it. Theres a lot of work going on, on how you detect deepfakes and injection attacks, he says, explaining the latter injects code right behind the camera and then tricks the system into thinking its looking at you, and its not. Another pitfall is the tendency of some artificial intelligence to discriminate against people of colour by assuming theyre younger than they actually are, according to Professor Toby Walsh, chief scientist at the University of New South Waless AI Institute. open image in gallery Professor Walsh likens the social media ban to the effectiveness of smoking restrictions ( Prudkov/iStock ) But Prof Walsh, who is independently overseeing the trial, is broadly optimistic. He has likened the ban to age restrictions on smoking and drinking in that, while it is unlikely to be flawless, it could be a major driver in forcing cultural change. You go behind the bicycle sheds, maybe at school, you will find people smoking cigarettes. Young people will find ways to access alcohol. But we have made it difficult, and we have made it illegal to provide tobacco and alcohol to people underage, and that has changed the conversation around those things, he says. Despite the legislation passing in November with opposition support, the approach has been sharply criticised by independent MPs and the Greens, as well as human rights organisations, who have warned it will leave marginalised teenagers, such as those in the LGBT+ community without a place to interact. Contributing to the criticism is Andy Burrows, CEO of Molly Rose Foundation, a suicide prevention charity set up following the death of British teenager Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing toxic content online. open image in gallery Molly Russell took her own life in November 2017 after she had been viewing material on social media ( PA Media ) Banning under-16s from social media is a backwards step that would push risks and bad actors onto gaming and messaging services and leave young people at a cliff edge of harm when they turn 16, Mr Burrows says. Children should not be punished for the failures of tech platforms nor the delayed response from successive governments. Our young peoples safety deserves strong, effective solutions to complex problems. Unsurprisingly, the social media giants targeted by the law are also opposed to what they claim is a rushed bill that will fail to achieve its goals. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, argued before an Australian parliamentary inquiry into the legislation that the evidence didnt support a blanket ban and it was unclear what reasonable steps companies needed to take to bar children from their platforms to avoid nearly AU$50m (24.4m) penalties. open image in gallery Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, says the legislation is ambiguous and unworkable ( AP ) This ambiguity is problematic as understanding a persons real age on the internet is a complex challenge, the companys submission reads. However, Australias eSafety commissioner and former industry insider, Julie Inman-Grant, says she has already spent years calling on tech companies to be more proactive in addressing the harms on their platforms. Its not as though they havent been given the chance, she says. But age assurance in isolation is not enough. We also need to keep the pressure on the tech industry to ensure their services are safer and our systemic transparency powers and codes and standards are already having an effect in this area. The outspoken Ms Inman-Grant, who last month described Elon Musk as an unelected bureaucrat, was involved in a high-profile court dispute last year with X over the proliferation of a video on the platform that showed the stabbing of a controversial Sydney preacher. It later surfaced that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana had viewed the video before carrying out his notorious attack. Prof Walsh concedes he is concerned about the willingness of American tech giants to comply with the new laws amid the shifting political climate in the US. open image in gallery Axel Rudakubana viewed a video of a Sydney preacher being stabbed in the lead-up to the Southport attack ( PA Media ) The US-centric policies coming out of North America these days are certainly troubling, he says, before turning to a precautionary principle enshrined in European law to support Australias trajectory. We have been running a very interesting, but somewhat concerning, experiment on human society, especially the young people in human society... we are obliged to take a precautionary approach to the potential harmful effects. Despite the unknowns, Ellen Roome is supportive of what Australia is trying to pull off in fact, she says it doesnt go far enough. Just get rid of it. Its not fit for children. It should be 18, in my opinion, she says. Earlier this month the UKs own online safety legislation came into force. Its primary goal is to make social media companies prevent and remove harmful content such as extremist and child-abuse material from being published on their platforms. The Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology says the bill will make the UK the safest place in the world to be a child online. However, during that same time, provisions in a Labour backbenchers private members bill to force social media companies to exclude teenagers under 16 from their algorithms were watered down to a commitment to researching the issue. But Ms Roome says that in that time, children will continue to access harmful material: How much more research do you need? If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to befrienders.org to find a helpline near you 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 Beauty salons, car washes, building sites and restaurants are going to be targeted in a new crackdown on illegal working in Labours latest measures to tackle abuses of the immigration system. The moves will see business bosses face fines of 60,000 per illegal worker, company directors being disqualified, and potential prison sentences of up to five years. Home secretary Yvette Cooper is to unveil plans to tackle problems in the so called gig economy to prevent undocumented workers doing cash in hand jobs to get round the migration system. Ms Cooper said: "Turning a blind eye to illegal working plays into the hands of callous people smugglers trying to sell spaces on flimsy, overcrowded boats with the promise of work and a life in the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (Jacob King/PA) ( PA Wire ) These exploitative practices are often an attempt to undercut competitors who are doing the right thing. But we are clear that the rules need to be respected and enforced. "These new laws build on significant efforts to stop organised immigration crime and protect the integrity of our borders, including increasing raids and arrests for illegal working and getting returns of people who have no right to be here to their highest rate in half a decade. It comes after Labour has taken a harder than expected approach in its first nine months to try to tackle the so-called migrant crisis. While still cancelling Tory hardline measures such as the deportation flights to Rwanda and some elements of child detention, Ms Cooper has focussed on increasing migrant returns, stopping illegal working and tackling the smuggling gangs. In the latest move to restore order to the asylum and immigration system, the government will introduce tough new laws to clamp down on illegal working. Companies hiring people in the gig economy will now be legally required to carry out checks confirming that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK, bringing them in line with other employers. This means that for the very first time, employment checks will be extended to cover businesses hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services. Currently, thousands of companies using these flexible arrangements are not legally required to check the status of these workers, however this will now change. Where businesses fail to carry out these checks, they will face hefty penalties already in place for those hiring illegal workers in traditional roles, including fines of up to 60,000 per worker, business closures, director disqualifications Expanding illegal working checks will help level the playing field for the majority of honest companies who do the right thing. Currently companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats already voluntarily carry out checks to ensure their delivery riders are eligible to work. The new laws further build on measures announced in November to equip Immigration Enforcement teams with new technology. From May, body worn cameras will be rolled out to officers on the front-line tackling illegal working and organised immigration crime. Backed by 5m, this will help officers collect evidence to support prosecutions and make sure exploitative businesses undermining our immigration system are held to account. The new measures go alongside a ramp-up of operational action by Immigration Enforcement teams, who since July have carried out 6,784 illegal working visits to premises and made 4,779 arrests an increase of 40 per cent and 42 per cent compared to the same period 12 months prior. In that time, 1,508 civil penalty notices have been issued. 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 Starmers first nine months in office have been far from easy. From the backlash against cuts to benefits, to mounting global instability and an impending trade war with the US, the prime minister has faced a number of challenges since he won the keys to 10 Downing Street. But 200 miles from Westminster, Runcorn and Helsby is where the prime minister faces his next major test. A safe Labour seat in an area that has been held by the party for more than 40 years, the optics of a loss in the forthcoming by-election would be disastrous for the government, not least because Reform UK is most likely to snatch the seat. By-elections are typically characterised by low voter turnout and an increase in tactical voting, and are notoriously difficult to predict. But current local polling puts Nigel Farages party neck and neck with Labour. open image in gallery Labour candidate Karen Shore meets a constituent in Runcorn I dont agree with everything Reform says, but its all about having a third option really. The Tories dont know what theyre doing. Labour have now proven they dont, one voter in his twenties told The Independent. But the majority secured by Labour in July shouldnt be underestimated. Mike Amesbury, who resigned after he was convicted of assault for punching a constituent, won by 15,000 votes after securing the backing of 52 per cent of the electorate. In second place, with 7,662 votes and just 18 per cent of the vote, was Reform UK. By-elections are traditionally fought on local issues such as roads, bins and leisure centres. But Labours more controversial economic policies have brought the impact of national politics to the forefront of peoples minds in Runcorn. From the decision to means-test winter fuel payments and hike national insurance, to last weeks benefits cuts, people feel let down by a government that promised change and they are fearful for their ability to pay bills and put food on the table. Andrew Gaskell, who voted Labour at the last election, is one of many Runcorn voters unsure if he will do the same again. Im disappointed, he told The Independent. Im disappointed really with the chancellor. The way shes tried to raise money, I dont think shes done it in the right way. I just think Labour has lost the plot, said a second voter, who is considering voting for the Tories. open image in gallery Frodsham town centre in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency ( Independent ) Simultaneously, there is also a strong sense of frustration with national politics with many feeling that Runcorn has been left behind. Alan Bennion, who has lived in the area since 1977, was unimpressed with Labours campaign in the area, urging the partys candidate Karen Shore to tell voters who she is and what she stands for, rather repeat this bulls*** about blackholes referencing Labours repeated claim that they were left with a 22bn void in the public finances. Most people The Independent spoke to were uninterested in voting, while others said they planned to vote Labour out of loyalty and habit and because they view the party as the least bad option. Perhaps it is this frustration that has encouraged the major candidates all to focus on the local, rather than dwelling on national problems. While Labours campaign team were keen to avoid talking the area down, stressing that there is an immense sense of local pride, Shore has put an emphasis on local regeneration in her campaign. open image in gallery The constituency office of former Runcorn and Helsby MP Mike Amesbury ( Getty ) Like many towns, Runcorn feels like its a bit forgotten, she told The Independent, adding: Its not a small thing for people who feel that their town has been left behind. To know that they are cared for and they are thought about and there is money being invested in their community. Meanwhile, Reforms candidate Sarah Pochin decried the lack of a local leisure centre and cinema complex leaving the partys migration rhetoric as more of an afterthought. Theres absolutely nothing here, and people are really fed up. The town centre is in desperate need of investment and regeneration, and nothings happening, she said. While some voters said they were concerned about public services as a result of migration, the cost of living, housing and benefits appeared to be far more pressing concerns. Pochin who has set up a conspicuous open-fronted campaign office in a local shopping centre has put a clear vote for change message at the centre of her pitch to voters. Labour have done absolutely nothing for the constituency, she claimed. Theyve been in power here for 40 years, both in terms of the Labour MP and a Labour-controlled council. open image in gallery Sarah Pochin at Reforms campaign headquarters in a shopping centre in Runcorn ( Independent ) Voters have just had enough, because they can see their quality of life going down. Forty years is a hell of a long time for nothing to happen, Pochin said. While Shore admitted the by-election would be a challenge, her campaign team appeared to be quietly confident. Were working really, really hard to take the electorate with us, she told The Independent. Labour is in the phase of fixing the foundations and if change is going to continue to be delivered, then you need to elect a Labour MP. But the party has also been burned in Runcorn by its decision to extend inheritance tax to agricultural properties, an issue which has sparked months of anger and frustration from rural communities. While Runcorn itself is an industrial town and cargo port, the Runcorn and Helsby constituency includes a significant rural area, making up 60 per cent of the seat. Tory candidate Sean Houlston is attempting to pick up some votes as a result of rural discontent. I think the farming tax is unfair. Youre changing the environment for a specific group of people. I really think fairness is important, he told The Independent. Ive spoken to lots of farmers in the area who are worried what the future means for them... its really affecting them. Im trying to make the rural vote feel more listened to because I dont think they do really. open image in gallery Tory candidate Sean Houlston is trying to appeal to rural voters ( Independent ) But while there is certainly anger about Labours first nine months in office, this sentiment is counterbalanced by a lingering distrust of the Tories, and concern about Reforms toxic reputation. While some constituents see Farages party as an exciting new option, its polarising politics have left others vowing to vote for whoever necessary in order to keep them out. A female voter in her mid-40s, who plans to vote Labour in May, said: I just dont trust Reform at all. I wouldnt vote for them in a million years and the Conservatives have just ruined our country over the last 14 years. Another said they wouldnt touch Reform with a bargepole. As one of the safest Labour seats in the UK, there is no doubt that it will be a tough fight to overturn Amesburys majority. But having spent the first nine months in power struggling to get a grip on the narrative, a by-election loss in such a safe seat would be a disaster for Labour. Even with the best expectation management in the world, the message such a loss would send would be hard to ignore. 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 and Donald Trump have discussed productive negotiations towards a UK-US economic prosperity deal in a phone call, Downing Street said, as fears grow the UK may be landed with damaging US tariffs. The pair agreed that negotiations will continue at pace in the Sunday night call, which came after home secretary Yvette Cooper warned that no option is off the table in terms of a British response to any US tariffs. Downing Street is trying to negotiate an exemption from tariffs on all imports into the US, in talks which Ms Cooper described as intense. open image in gallery Mr Starmer and Mr Trump held a phone call on Sunday night to discuss trade and US tariffs ( Reuters ) Mr Trump earlier this week announced a 25 per cent import tax on all cars arriving in the US, a measure which will hit British luxury carmakers including Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. A reciprocal set of tariffs is already set to come into effect on 2 April, which may involve a general 20 per cent tax on UK products in response to the rate of VAT. Sir Keir has left the door open to retaliatory tariffs, promising to act in the national interest and leaving everything on the table. Trump opened Sunday nights phone call by wishing King Charles good health, a Downing Street spokesperson said, after the royal was recently hospitalised due to the side effects from his cancer treatment. They then discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week. But the UK government has publicly criticised the Trump administrations widespread tariffs on countries around the world. Speaking on Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Ms Cooper said: In the end, if you increase barriers to trade right across the world, thats not good for the world economy, let alone any individual country as part of that. So thats why our approach to this has been to try and seek new trade agreements across the world, including improving our trading relationship with the EU, as well as with the US. open image in gallery Home secretary Yvette Cooper leaving BBC Broadcasting House in London (Ben Whitley/PA) ( PA Wire ) Discussions with the US over exemptions from the levy are intense, Ms Cooper said, adding: We obviously cant keep a running commentary on different discussions that are taking place, but we have to always make sure that were acting in the national interest. After Mr Trump confirmed 25 per cent tariffs on imported vehicles, a highly placed source told The Independents political editor David Maddox that negotiations became much harder for the UK. Another source said that tariffs look inevitable now following the controversial move by Washington. Sir Keir is being urged by the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) to adopt a trade plan which could unlock 250bn in economic growth and savings, even if the UK is hit with direct US tariffs. The ICC says the plan would free up billions in investment by scrapping outdated paper-based systems. In Sundays phone call between Downing Street and Washington, the two leaders also discussed the Ukraine war. Since Keir Starmer visited Washington in late February, the pair have kept in contact regarding a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated the President on the productive discussions at the meeting of the Coalition of Willing in Paris this week. The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin, Downing Street said. They agreed to stay in touch in the coming days. 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 Keir Starmer is considering retaliatory measures against the US after abandoning hopes the UK can avoid direct tariffs set to be unleashed by Donald Trump this week. The prime minister has suggested he could follow the EU and Canadas lead on retaliatory tariffs, vowing to act in the national interest and leaving everything on the table. At the beginning of last week, there had been optimism that the UK would avoid direct levies planned for the EU, China and Canada among others. And there was even a hope that the UK/US trade deal might still be completed in time for 2 April. But a highly placed source admitted that once President Trump confirmed 25 per cent tariffs on imported vehicles last Wednesday, negotiations became much harder for the UK government. Another source told The Independent: After the business with cars, tariffs look inevitable now. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump and prime minister Keir Starmer agreed to consider a deal at the White House ( PA Wire ) It comes after Sir Keirs attempts to woo the US president with a state visit and public praise of his attempts to bring peace in Ukraine appear to have failed to persuade Mr Trump to exclude Britain from a trade war. However, sources have told The Independent that the UK is still dangling the prospect of ditching the planned digital services tax if the Trump administration is ready to sign a new trade deal that could avoid tariffs. The 2 per cent levy on tech companies would have raised 1bn but had provoked the ire of X owner and Trump ally Elon Musk, as well as the vice-president, JD Vance, who clashed with Sir Keir on the issue in the Oval Office last month. The US/UK deal is based largely around future technologies such as artificial intelligence and bioscience. While it is not a traditional trade deal avoiding complicated agriculture issues, such as US chlorinated chicken, and manufacturing including car production business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been crisscrossing the Atlantic in a bid to get a deal done and attempting to talk the Americans out of imposing tariffs. With 2 April being dubbed World Tariff Day because it is when President Trump is set to unleash tariffs around the globe, UK ministers are now prepared for any eventuality. The US president is describing it as Liberation Day, claiming it will rebalance Americas trading relations, but a source close to the prime minister insisted that he was sticking to his line that the UK and US have a fair and balanced relationship in which the US has a slight surplus. The Downing Street source noted: We will continue to talk after 2 April but we are now actively preparing for all eventualities. The prime minister will act in the national interests and reserves the right to retaliation. open image in gallery Starmer had a successful meeting with Trump in the White House ( AFP/Getty ) The Treasury and Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have been wargaming different outcomes but one senior minister admitted that the problem is [Trump] is completely unpredictable. The conversations we are having are good and productive but you never know until you know, the minister added. Direct tariffs or not, the UK will still be harmed because trade barriers imposed against the EU, Canada and other trading partners will have a significant impact on supply chains. Talks started last week on the main strands of a UK/US trade deal with Mr Reynolds meeting his American counterpart Howard Lutnick. The meeting went very well, Lutnick seems to be enthusiastic about getting a deal done, a source said. You have to remember it is a fairly specialised trade deal and quite unusual. While Trump has said he believes a deal can be done quickly, there is still no timeline for completion. However, there are concerns that the tech side of it will be led by Mr Vance, who has already made an issue of wanting to impose tariffs on the UK over alleged attempts to close down free speech with online protection laws. A source noted that the offer of scrapping the planned digital services tax could appease Vances issues with the UK and tech industry. And there are hopes foreign secretary David Lammys close relationship with the vice-president will help ensure problems are kept to a minimum. The governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey has already warned that the threatened extra charges of up to 25 per cent on imports to the US pose a major threat to the UKs already faltering economic growth. Last weekend, chancellor Rachel Reeves told Sky News she had confidence in our negotiators working to try to secure a carve-out for the UK. 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 In 2013, Laura Khalil logged in to 23andMe to submit a sample to the DNA testing service to learn more about her Middle Eastern heritage unaware it would eventually change her life forever. 23andMe was a really great way to discover a part of myself, a part of my family, Khalil told The Independent. Khalil, who lives in Detroit, said the data initially was not very good and at first she didnt get much relevant information. But five years later, she got a shocking notification: A woman messaged her through the service claiming to be her half-sibling. Thats when Khalils parents admitted for the first time that theyd used a sperm donor to conceive her. That message snowballed into several others, and Khalil discovered through 23andMe that she had nine half-siblings: eight sisters and one brother. Their parents had visited the same doctor in the late 1970s and 1980s, and ended up using the same donor. But on Tuesday, Khalil found herself logging onto the site for a very different reason: To permanently delete her genetic information from their database. open image in gallery Laura Khalil pictured with five of her step-siblings. Khalil wants to delete her 23andMe data after finding out the company is up for sale after the DNA testing service helped her find nine step-siblings ( Laura Khalil ) I just deleted my data this morning, Khalil said. Thats because 23andMe announced it is filing for bankruptcy and looking for a buyer to purchase the company which means anyone could soon have access to their trove of genetic data. I don't know what's going to happen here, and I don't know who could get their hands on what, Khalil added. She isnt alone, either. The 23andMe login website crashed on Monday night as users rushed to delete their data, The Wall Street Journal reports. open image in gallery Some users want to delete their 23andMe data now that the company has filed for bankruptcy and announced it is up for sale ( EPA ) Others are waiting to see what happens with the sale, including Jackie Vadurro, whose own DNA in the 23andMe system helped police crack open a decades-old cold case. Two years ago, a San Diego detective called Vadurro. She and another family member who used 23andMe matched with an unidentified 43-year-old woman who was killed and abandoned on the side of the road in 1986. Thanks in part to Vadurros DNA, police finally identified the woman last year as Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo. While police still dont know who might have killed her, Vadurro told The Independent shes grateful her genetic data was able to help give her family some answers. They were able to give her her name back, and they were able to exhume her ashes, and her family was able to bury her, Vadurro said of her distant relative. I feel like that's something just so incredible that happened through, you know, just having my DNA up there. open image in gallery Police identified Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo, pictured, in part thanks to Vadurro's 23andMe DNA sample ( San Diego County Sheriff's Office ) Vadurro said shes impartial to the issue of her data potentially being sold and plans to wait and see who buys 23andMe before making a final decision on deleting her information. Meanwhile, Linda Ketchum of Glendale, California, has used several DNA testing services, including AncestryDNA and 23andMe. The service helped her discover her biological fathers ancestry after he died when she was 17. Ketchum told The Independent shes not concerned about another company having access to her genetic data if 23andMe finds a buyer. I know there are potential privacy issues with DNA, but there are privacy issues with most everything we submit to in this modern society, from cell phones right down to online medical record keeping in the health care system, Ketchum said. Im hopeful it will work itself out in the future. AI and other future technologies give me much more pause than DNA technology. Experts across the U.S. are warning 23andMe users to delete their data as soon as possible. I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said last week. Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University, told ABC News users need to get their data out of there. When this company declared bankruptcy, the buyer who comes in doesnt have to honor any promises that the company made to you or anyone else who mightve used the site that theyre going to keep your information private, Caplan said. open image in gallery A 23andMe saliva collection kit. Attorneys general across the country are warning users to delete their genetic data ( AP ) 23andMe said in a statement there have been no changes to their data storage or protection. The company also said any buyer of its assets would have to observe applicable privacy laws for customer data. Our users privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, the company said in an open letter to customers. Khalil told The Independent she also uses other online DNA services, so shes not worried that deleting her data could prevent her from finding even more half-siblings. So even if there was another long lost sibling that showed up, we figure theyll find us on Ancestry, she said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The chairperson of an African charity co-founded by Prince Harry accused the royal on Sunday of orchestrating a bullying and harassment campaign to try to force her out as she pushed back following his abrupt resignation from the organization. Sophie Chandauka, the Sentebale chair, took several shots at Harry on Sky News in which she described how the princes Netflix deal interfered with a scheduled fundraiser and how an incident with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, became a source of friction. The Duke of Sussex cited a breakdown in the relationship between board members and Chandauka when he resigned Tuesday as a patron of the charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho said in a joint statement that they quit with heavy hearts as patrons in support of the trustees in their dispute with Chandauka. It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation, the princes said. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship. Chandauka said she reported Sentebales trustees to the Charity Commission in the U.K. and filed papers in a British court to prevent her removal. She alleged there was misconduct at the charity without naming anyone or offering any details in a statement Tuesday. It said she had tried to blow the whistle on abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir, the latter word referring to a combination of racism and misogyny directed toward Black women. Chandauka told Sky that Harrys resignation had caught her blindsided and was an example of harassment and bullying at scale. She said he also had interfered with her whistleblower complaint. So its a cover-up, and the prince is involved," she said. Chandauka said there was a significant drop in donors after Harry and Meghan left official royal duties in January 2020, and eventually settled in California. The charity, whose name means dont forget me in the Sesotho language of Lesotho and South Africa, was founded to help youths affected by AIDS in the small mountainous nation and in Botswana. But it is now moving to address youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa. The biggest risk to the charity was the toxicity of its lead patrons brand," Chandauka told the Financial Times. In the Sky interview, she said that a polo fundraiser scheduled in Miami last year almost fell apart when Harry asked to bring a camera crew along that was filming him for a Netflix series on the sport. The cost of the venue skyrocketed when it became a commercial venture and they scrambled to find another host, which Harry arranged through his connections, she said. Meghan's surprise appearance at the event led to an awkward moment during the trophy presentation after the match, Chandauka said. In a video clip circulated on social media, Chandauka tried to pose next to the duke as he held the trophy in one hand and had his other wrapped around Meghan. But the duchess appeared to gesture that Chandauka move farther from Harry, forcing her to duck under the silver cup to get into the photo. The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me," Chandauka said. She said she rejected Harry's request that she issue a statement in support of Meghan, because "we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes. Sky News said it contacted Harry and Meghan and they declined to offer a formal response. An emailed request by The Associated Press seeking comment from their spokespeople was not immediately returned. 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 When Edye Raines heard the explosion from her office in downtown Oklahoma, she took off running. Then she realized the noise was coming from a nearby building where her two young children spent their days in child care, and true panic set in. Harrowing footage of the chaos in the seconds following the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago captured a frantic mother with fiery red hair pushing through the crowds of people who had spilled out of their offices in the downtown area. As she raced toward the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the devastation confirmed her worst fear. She knew her two babies, 3-year-old Chase and 2-year-old Colton, were gone. My heart just sank, she recalls in a new National Geographic docuseries, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America. God wasnt going to take one and leave the other without his brother. I knew that. Both Chase and Colton were among the 168 lives including 19 children lost on the morning of April 19, 1995, in the Oklahoma City bombing, which remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. open image in gallery The north side of the Albert P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City shows the devastation caused by a fuel-and fertilizer truck bomb that was detonated on April 19, 1995 ( AFP via Getty Images ) 30 years later, its most haunting images, still etched in our minds, are brought back with a new three-part docuseries, as told by those who lived through the tragic day. The series premiered on April 2 at 8 p.m. ET on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The Independent took a look back at the tragedy ahead of the docuseries release. The building quickly resembled a war zone The morning of April 19, 1995, began like any other day in Oklahoma City. Until 9:02 a.m., when a bomb exploded outside a federal building, sending the city into chaos as first responders raced to save those trapped inside. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building housed offices of such federal agencies as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Housing and Urban Development, and a federal employee credit union and military recruiting offices. A third of the building had been reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars were incinerated and more than 300 nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed. open image in gallery Rescue teams search for bodies in the rubble of the federal building in Oklahoma City on April 24, 1995 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Haunting images of the Oklahoma City bombing that encapsulated the horror of the attack have remained embedded in the American psyche for decades. One of the most iconic is the photo captured by Charles Porter IV, of firefighter Chris Fields carrying the limp, bloodied body of one-year-old Baylee Almon from the wreckage of the building. Footage of rescue workers carrying out children, covered in blood and debris, were eerily similar to images from a war zone. I laid there, basically buried alive, waiting to die Amy Downs was working as a teller for the Federal Employees Credit Union in the federal building when her office exploded. Footage from the docuseries shows a vibrant office atmosphere as the tight-knit group of employees, mostly female, swapped stories over their morning coffee and joked about the cute ATF agents who came in to take out money for lunch. It was my friend group, it was my emotional support, Downs said. It was more than just a job. On the day of the bombing, Downs had just sat down at her desk, which was about 20 feet away from the buildings glass windows. Then everything changed. open image in gallery National Geographic's new docuseries, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America, premieres on April 2 at 8/7c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu ( National Geographic ) Downs fell three floors before becoming buried under ten feet of rubble. There was silence all around her, she recalled. I was still in my chair, she said. I was upside down buried in the rubble. But my right hand was sticking out of the rubble, it was free. Nearly an hour later, rescuers located her after seeing her hand and hearing her calling out for help. They promised to get her out, but there was hesitation in their voices, she recalled. I was thinking please don't leave me. Please. Believing another bomb was imminent, rescuers were forced to retreat leaving Downs alone and terrified. It was completely silent, she said. I remember trying to make myself fall asleep, she said. Maybe if I fall asleep, Ill die in my sleep. But I couldn't make myself fall asleep. There was nothing I could do. I lay there, basically buried alive, upside down in my chair in this rubble just waiting waiting to die. Downs was one of the last survivors to be pulled from the rubble. The blast killed 18 of Downs 33 co-workers that day. She later helped identify them by their clothing. Downs now serves as the president and CEO of the same credit union and uses her second chance to help others as a motivational speaker who shares about living with survivors guilt and overcoming trauma. She also underwent her own health journey, going from 355-pounds as a teller to completing a full Ironman at age 50 as CEO, according to her LinkedIn page. Finding out her babies were gone Outside the collapsed building on that horrifying day, Edye Raines clutched onto a co-worker as they stared up at the smoke billowing out of the wreckage of the building, knowing her children were inside. open image in gallery Edye Raines sons Chase and Colton were in the daycare that was located inside the Murrah building when the bomb went off ( Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum ) It was Raines brother, who worked for Yukon Police Department at the time, who found her boys. He came back and had this look on his face of just complete horror, she said. I knew right then that Chase and Colton were soaring with the angels. I just already knew. I lived for those boys, Raines continued as she wiped away her tears. Every ounce of my being went into making sure that they were being cared for and loved and happy. But most importantly they loved each other so much. Im just glad theyre together. The docuseries, produced by 72 Films, features countless other stories of survival and heroic rescue efforts, powerful first-hand testimony from witnesses some sharing their stories for the first time as it gives a moment-by-moment account of the unthinkable tragedy. The Oklahoma City bombing was a tragedy that deeply impacted America, but in its wake, we saw extraordinary strength, compassion, and resilience, said Tom McDonald, EVP of Global Factual and Unscripted Content at National Geographic. By sharing these firsthand accounts, we honor the survivors, families and heroes who respondedensuring this pivotal moment in history is never forgotten. Timothy McVeighs arrested and execution On April 19, 1995, a former U.S. Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck loaded with explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Inside the vehicle was a powerful bomb made out of a deadly cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals, according to the FBI. McVeigh got out, locked the door, and headed towards his getaway car. He ignited one timed fuse, then another. It became the worst act of homegrown terrorism in the nations history. open image in gallery Timothy McVeigh was executed for his lead role in the bombing ( Getty Images ) The bombing happened just two years after the first attack on the World Trade Center, leading some to immediately speculate that Middle Eastern extremists were the culprits before the FBI later discovered that two white Americans were responsible for the attack. Former U.S. soldier Timothy McVeigh was convicted in 1997 on 11 counts of murder, conspiracy and using a weapon of mass destruction in the explosion. He was executed in 2001. Another ex-soldier, Terry Nichols, was convicted on similar charges for his role in the bombing and sentenced to life without parole after the jury deadlocked on the death penalty. Both men were motivated by contempt for government, the hatred sharpened by the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, the Associated Press reported. I was relieved because I thought Im not going to have to read a quote from him in the paper every day, Amy Downs said after McVeigh was sentenced to death. It was a very good part in my healing journey, but no, it didnt wrap it up in a bow, and its closed and its finished. I dont know if that ever happened. In the place where the Murrah Building once stood, is now the Oklahoma City National Memorial with168 chairs on display, each chair representing a victim, ensuring that the images of that day, and the stories behind them, are never forgotten. The human spirit is amazing. When I look back, thats what I see, Downs added. When I see all the stories, all the people who have overcome all the difficulties that resulted from this, I choose to focus on how we overcame instead of the evil that caused it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Permanent residents in the U.S. have faced detention and deportation, while even tourists have been turned away under the new immigration regime taking shape under the Trump administration. The White House has been accused of targeting activists with opposing views, especially on the Israel-Hamas war, and rushing to deport people before they can fully access legal counsel. When asked last month about the administrations record of controversial and mistaken deportations, which has included deporting people protected by court rulings, President Trump brushed off any criticisms. Let me tell you that nothing will ever be perfect in this world, he told The Atlantic. Here are some of the most notable cases. A popular left-wing Twitch streamer questioned about his Trump views at a Chicago airport open image in gallery Piker claims he was targeted for scrutiny because of his views on Trump and Gaza ( AP ) On May 11, Hasan Piker, the most popular progressive online video streamer, was stopped for additional questioning as he traveled through a Chicago airport. There, Piker, a U.S. citizen who has nearly 3 million followers on Twitch, said agents subjected him to lengthy questioning about his views on Trump and the war in Gaza. The reason for why theyre doing that is I think to try to create an environment of fear, to try to get people like myself, or at least others that would be in my shoes that don't have that same level of security, to shut the f*** up, Piker, an outspoken critic of the Israeli war effort, later said on a stream. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told The Independent that Piker was stopped for routine additional inspection, and said, Claims that his political belief triggered the inspection are baseless. Civil rights groups criticized the questioning. No U.S. citizen should be detained by law enforcement, at the border or anywhere, because of their protected speech, Ari Cohn, of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression free speech watchdog group, wrote on X. Australian wife locked up and kicked out on way to visit her husband in U.S. Army open image in gallery Couple says Australian woman has completed trips in past without incident ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Also this month, Nicolle Sourokos of Sydney, Australia, had alarming issues of her own at a U.S. airport. She and her mother had arrived at the airport in Honolulu, Hawaii, on their way to visit Sourokoss husband, a U.S. Army lieutenant stationed in Oahu. Sourokos, 25, had made the visit three times already since she married her husband Matt last December, so she wasnt expecting any issues, she said. Soon, however, security agents allegedly began yelling at her and the pair were selected for additional screening. Officers then allegedly searched their bags and phones while questioning Sourokos about whether her tattoos were gang-related and allegedly subjecting her to a cavity search. Sourokos said she was held in detention overnight, then sent out of the country with her mother. Its not only myself, its my mother and my husband that also had to endure that pain, my husband being a current serving member, to serve his country and to be treated in that way I find very disgusting, she told Hawaii News Now. Potential deportation looms for mixed-status Ohio family open image in gallery Family argues deportation would amount to cruel and unusual punishment of U.S. citizen children ( AFP via Getty Images ) Last week, a pregnant Mexican mother in Ohio sued the Trump administration, arguing a likely deportation order would separate her from her U.S. citizen child, a 9-year-old who receives special needs care for autism, and amount to illegal treatment of her unborn child. Carmen G. Guerrero Sandoval, who was reportedly denied asylum five years ago, was recently ordered to present herself to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June, raising fears she would join the many arrested at routine check-ins. Under Ohio law, unborn children are legally considered people, and people in the state can sue if the government interferes with their family relations against the best interest of the child. The lawsuit argues that removing Sandoval would violate her sons due process rights and amount to unconstitutional cruel punishment, as well as differential treatment of the child based on his ethnicity. It also raises the question about what rights Sandovals unborn child, due in October, has in the situation. This week, a federal judge denied a request to temporarily pause the immigration appearance request, and Sandoval has appealed before an immigration panel. A pregnant Guatemalan asylum-seeker separated from her newborn open image in gallery Pregnant Guatemalan migrant had been wandering in desert alone for two days when she was apprehended ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In late April, immigration agents apprehended a pregnant Guatemalan migrant, identified by her attorney only by her first name, Erika, who had been wandering alone for two days in the Arizona desert. Erika was taken to a hospital where she gave birth on April 30, as federal authorities waited outside. The new mother was then immediately separated from her child and put into immigration detention, where she was fast-tracked for removal. Her attorney told The Independent he scrambled to reach the woman and ensure the child, a U.S. citizen, was protected, but said he was denied entry to the hospital and had calls to officials ignored. Soon, calls began to flood the Tucson Medical Center and federal offices, a development attorney, Luis Campos, thinks was pivotal to securing Erika a temporary reprieve. In the end, it was a grassroots effort that turned the tide, he told The Independent. Erika has since been discharged and is living in Tennessee as she prepares to appear before an immigration judge, where she will likely seek asylum. A two-year-old U.S. citizen deported after no meaningful process Others are raising alarms about deportations that have already taken place. Last month, a two-year-old U.S. citizen was deported alongside her mother, a Honduran citizen, after the family was arrested at an immigration check-in in New Orleans. Federal officials say the mother requested her children be deported alongside her, but a Trump-appointed federal judge, Terry Doughty, wrote with concern that the government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process. The government contends that this is all OK because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her, he wrote. But the court doesnt know that. The childs father is seeking to return the girl to the U.S. U.S.-born citizen detained despite evidence On April 17, Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a 20-year-old citizen of the U.S., was held in a Florida jail at the request of federal immigration authorities, despite his mother presenting his birth certificate and Social Security information to a judge. Lopez-Gomez was taken to Leon County Jail after a traffic stop, accused of being undocumented. open image in gallery Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was released from jail after being detained by ICE. He is a U.S.-born citizen, but was still arrested during a traffic stop. ( Thomas Kennedy/X ) The charge was dropped, but the Leon County judge said that she did not have jurisdiction to release him after Immigration and Customs Enforcement requested that he remain in detention, according to court records. He was released hours later, though it is not clear what led to the change. Tufts University doctoral student who co-authored op-ed supporting Palestine detained Activists have also been targeted, though the Trump administration has suffered repeat setbacks in court. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student, was detained by ICE on March 25 near her home in Massachusetts. Surveillance footage captured plainclothes federal agents approaching Ozturk, 30, from the street outside her off-campus apartment before putting her in handcuffs, even though there were no criminal charges against her. Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk is grabbed by ICE officers on the streeted off street by. masked ICE agents Ozturk is a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the university and is legally in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 visa. On May 9, Ozturk was released from detention, and she continues to challenge her immigration proceedings and the constitutionality of what her attorneys argue is a retaliatory arrest. A judge wrote in releasing Ozturk that the government had no evidence justifying putting the scholar in detention, beyond an op-ed she wrote that was critical of Israel. Mahmoud Khalil, former Columbia student and pro-Palestinian activist, detained Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia University, was detained by federal agents on March 8 despite being a lawful permanent resident due to his involvement in last years protests and encampments in support of Palestine. His wife, a U.S. citizen who was eight months pregnant at the time, said that he was seized by agents in front of her at their university-owned apartment. Federal officials said they collected evidence that Khalil, 30, was actively, but not materially, supporting Hamas a designated terrorist organization. A DHS spokesperson said that Khalil was detained "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism." open image in gallery People demonstrate outside Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York, on the day of a hearing on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil ( REUTERS ) Officials concede that Khalil has not committed any crimes but are relying on a rarely used Cold War-era statute to justify his deportation. It gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to deport those who pose potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Last week, Khalil briefly met his newborn son, but he remains in immigration detention. He is challenging his arrest and deportations in court, arguing they are retaliatory and will put him at risk of assassination, kidnapping, [and] torture. Georgetown University professor detained at home in Virginia Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar and Professor Badar Khan Suri, originally from India, was detained on March 17 at his home in Arlington, Virginia. Masked agents said his J-1 visa had been revoked. A spokesperson for DHS accused Suri of "spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media" as well as having close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. Suri is in the country on a J-1 visa issued for people who take part in approved programs of teaching, studying, training and research. By May 15, Suri was released from detention, and he continues to challenge his detention as a violation of the First Amendment. Justice delayed is justice denied," Suri told reporters after his release from a detention facility near Dallas. Unnamed French scientist detained because of texts A French researcher, whose name has not been made public, was reportedly stopped from entering the U.S. earlier in March because of text messages criticizing the Trump administrations academic research policies. The scientist was on his way to a conference close to Houston at the time, according to Le Monde. A spokesperson for DHS denied the text messages were responsible for blocking the researcher, saying instead that the man was found to have confidential data from a U.S. lab. He did not elaborate. The French minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, said in a statement that "freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold. I will defend the right of all French researchers to be faithful to them while respecting the law. Baptiste took to X to say that he had asked for an emergency meeting with other European ministers to establish a plan to defend academic freedom. "Europe must rise to the occasion to protect research and welcome the talents who can contribute to its success," he said. Milwaukee mother deported to a country she has never been to Ma Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong American, was detained and then deported in March to Laos, a country she had never been to, nor a country where she speaks the language. Yang was stripped of her green card by the Trump administration in February, some two-plus years after being released from federal prison, where she served 30 months on marijuana-related charges. Although she was born in Thailand, Yang had been living in the U.S. since she was a baby and was a legal resident with a green card. open image in gallery Ma Yang was deported in February to Laos, a country she has never set foot in ( Facebook ) ICE told Yang to report to the agencys Milwaukee facility. When she showed up, agents detained Yang, sent her to Indiana, then Chicago, and finally she was shipped off to Laos. She says she doesnt know anyone in the Southeast Asian country and cant speak the language. In a previous interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Yang said her attorney in the case never told her deportation was a possibility. Defense attorney Matt Ricci, who represented Ma Yang in the 2020 marijuana case, disputed this, saying his files and notes showed otherwise. He said he told Yang at the time that deportation could happen, but that he didnt think it would happen. Welsh tourist detained after problem with visa Rebecca Burke, 28, a Welsh artist, was detained on February 26 after she set off on the trip of a lifetime across North America, according to a GoFundMe page. She was reunited with her family in March after spending 19 days in a processing center after being denied entry at the border between the U.S. and Canada. open image in gallery Rebecca Burke was detained on February 26 at the U.S.-Canada border ( Instagram/r.e.burke ) Burke had been residing with host families, with whom she helped out with chores in exchange for her stay. As she attempted to enter Canada, authorities informed her she needed a work visa, and she was told that she had to go back to the U.S. "She was refused re-entry and classified as an 'illegal alien,'" her father wrote. "Despite being a tourist with no criminal record, she was handcuffed and taken to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington." Her father complained she had been led onto the plane in chains like Hannibal Lecter. With reporting from Rhian Lubin, Kelly Rissman, Ariana Baio, Alex Woodward, Justin Rohrlich and Joe Sommerlad TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 30. During a telephone conversation on March 30, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif exchanged sincere congratulations on the occasion of the holy holiday of Ramadan for the entire Muslim Ummah, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan reports, Trend reports. According to the information, warm wishes of peace, well-being and prosperity were expressed to the friendly peoples of Uzbekistan and Pakistan. "The issues of practical implementation of the agreements reached during the historic visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Uzbekistan in February of this year were discussed in accordance with the adopted "road map". The intensification of contacts and the fruitful nature of exchanges at the level of ministries, departments and industry organizations were noted with particular satisfaction. The importance of holding the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission this year to review the progress of joint projects and take measures to accelerate them was emphasized. The leaders of Uzbekistan and Pakistan also exchanged views on current issues on the regional agenda," the report says. 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 town hall meeting hosted by controversial Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz descended into chaos after the congresswoman gave apparently unsatisfactory answers to several questions from constituents. The room erupted with boos and chants on Friday after Spartz said she would not be calling for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other members of the so-called Signalgate group chat. Would you demand the immediate resignation of Pete Hegseth, Michael Waltz and the rest of the group chat? one woman asked, prompting cheers and chants of lock him up from others in the room. open image in gallery Ukrainian-born Republican U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz was interrupted multiple times and booed by constituents at a town hall meeting in Muncie, Indiana, on Saturday ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery The room erupted with boos and chants on Saturday after Spartz said she would not be calling for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other members of the so-called Signalgate group chat which was revealed on Monday ( REUTERS ) No I will not demand their resignations, Spartz replied, sparking an angry response. And actually all of the resignations go through the Senate anyway so you should talk to the Senators, maybe theyll have town halls. Spartz, who was born in Ukraine but emigrated to the United States in 2000 at the age of 22, later referred to the incident, in which classified information about U.S. military operations in Yemen was discussed on Signal, a commercial messaging service, and also inadvertently shared with a journalist from The Atlantic, as an innocent mistake prompting more vocal responses. Elsewhere at the town hall, attendees confronted Spartz about the Trump administrations actions and her past vote against aid for Ukraine. I just wonder why that you dont want to support your own people? one attendee said, per CNN. open image in gallery Angry constituents express themselves during a townhall hosted by Victoria Spartz. Throughout the evening the congresswoman was interrupted by loud shouting, as well as some constituents who walked out of the event encouraging others to follow suit ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery Spartz attempted to win back the crowd but was drowned out multiple times by boos and other loud vocal protests ( REUTERS ) My number one job as an American congresswoman is to protect interests, American interests, and make sure that your money, when we give it to any foreign power is Spartz began to reply before being cut off by the crowd. The congresswoman has been an advocate for U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, but has been critical of the Kyiv government as well as prime minister Volodymyr Zelensky. Last year she also voted against $61 billion in aid for Ukraine. Throughout the rest of the event Spartz was interrupted by loud shouting, as well as some constituents who walked out of the event encouraging others to follow suit. Saturdays town hall followed an equally raucous event on Friday. That crowd became enraged after Spartz told them: "If you violated the law, you are not entitled to due process." open image in gallery Attendees confronted Spartz about the Trump administrations actions and her past vote against aid for Ukraine ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery Demonstraters protest outside the venue of a townhall hosted by Victoria Spartz. The congresswoman has been a controversial figure for some time having last year faced an investigation by the House ethics committee over alleged abuse of staffers ( REUTERS ) open image in gallery The congresswoman later hit back on social media, lashing out at what she called the radical left ( REUTERS ) Writing on X following the event, the congresswoman wrote: I dont think radical left has learned yet that shouting and screaming is not going to work - no one is going to be intimidated. I still appreciate everyone who came to my town halls this week & hope at least some on the left were able to hear common sense policies we are trying to implement benefiting all Americans. Spartz has been a controversial figure for some time. Last year she faced an investigation by the House ethics committee over alleged abuse of staffers. The allegations were first reported by Politico, which cited multiple complaints over the congresswomans general toxicity and rage. Staffers claimed Spartz asked one to die for her and said she would constantly berate her staff calling them r****** and children resulting in multiple resignations from her 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 Taxpayers in South Dakota stumped up a massive $150,000 to help finance then-Governor Kristi Noems cross-country flights last year, new analysis has show. The bills, accrued during her time as governor and during President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, include almost $8,000 for plane tickets to a right-wing conference in Paris, a book tour through New York and a bear-hunting trip to Canada, according to the Associated Press, which collated the data. Noem also went on numerous trips to Trumps then-home in Palm Beach, Florida as she continued to rise up the MAGA movements ranks. The news agency also reported Noem spent roughly $2,200 on a visit to a Texas dental clinic. She refused to say what the trips were costing taxpayers but, in the weeks since Noem became Trump's Homeland Security secretary, that mystery has been solved. An Associated Press analysis of recently released travel records found more than $150,000 in expenses tied to Noem's political and personal activity and not South Dakota business. Most of those costs covered the state-provided security that accompanied Noem, irrespective of the reason for her travel. Over her six years as governor, the AP's analysis shows, South Dakota covered more than $640,000 in travel-related costs incurred by the governor's office. open image in gallery Taxpayers footed the bill for one of Noems several visits to Palm Beach during Trumps campaign ( AP ) The expenses, released last month following a lawsuit by The Dakota Scout, have incensed Republicans in the deep-red state, with several GOP lawmakers accusing Noem of tapping state funds to fuel her own political ascendancy. The revelations come at a time when federal spending is under the spotlight, with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency making mass cuts. The spending "offends a lot of people," said Dennis Daugaard, a former Republican South Dakota governor, who added that costs generated by Noem's ambition for higher office could've been paid with campaign funds. Taffy Howard, a GOP state senator who clashed with Noem over her refusal to disclose her travel expenses, expressed shock at the price tag. "It seems like an incredible amount of money," Howard said. A spokesman for Noem, Tim Murtaugh, declined to answer detailed questions about the expenses but did not dispute that some of the travel lacked an apparent connection to state business. There's no indication the former governor broke any laws having the state foot the bill for security expenses even on trips that critics said benefited her more than South Dakota taxpayers. "Unfortunately, bad guys tend to make threats against high-profile public officials," Murtaugh said. "When it was a political or personal trip, she paid for her own travel out of her political or personal funds." Murtaugh then questioned why Democratic governors were not being scrutinized for their travel on behalf of former Vice President Kamala Harris. "They maintained aggressive political schedules on behalf of Kamala Harris but somehow escape media attention for costs associated with that, while Kristi Noem is being held to a different standard?" Murtaugh wrote in an email. Josie Harms, a spokesperson for Noem's gubernatorial successor, said security requirements were "a matter of state business no matter where the governor may be." open image in gallery Noem visited a notorious prison in El Salvador last week, where her choice to where a Rolex drew sharp criticism ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) "The scope of that security is not up to the governor," Harms added. During her years in office, Noem frequently said that releasing the travel expenses would jeopardize her safety. This is not the first time Noem's travel and finances have come under the microscope. A state government accountability board in 2022 had requested an investigation into her use of the state plane to attend political events, but a prosecutor found no grounds for charges. Back in 2021, she came under fire for allegedly using underpaid prison labor to create a hand-carved wooden desk worth $9,000, according to The Daily Beast. Additional reporting by the Associated Press 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 Saturday Night Live's cold open saw another blunder by top Trump administration figures as Pete Hegseth, JD Vance and Marco Rubio mistakenly added themselves to a high school girls' text chain. Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison appeared in the skit, messaging her friends about boys and other teenage concerns before being abruptly interrupted by Hegseth played by Andrew Dismukes who derailed the conversation. FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Tomahawks airborne 15 minutes ago. Who's ready to blast some Houthi rebels? he said, adding multiple flag emojis and an eggplant emoji to the message. It comes a week after it first emerged that senior Trump officials had inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to a private chat on messaging app Signal, in which classified information was later shared. open image in gallery Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison starred in the SNL cold open, with Trump officials accidentally adding themselves to a group chat with a high school girls. The sketch went on to lampoon other government mishaps this week ( Saturday Night Live/ NBC ) Hegseth later denied that any war plans were shared on the group chat, resulting in the outlet publishing the full message exchanges. The SNL sketch also poked fun at a number of other recent government mishaps and controversial moments, including Vances awkward trip to Greenland, the botched release of the JFK assassination files, and the deportation of citizens by ICE. Vance, played by Bowen Yang, entered to the teenagers group chat dialing in from Greenland, in a nod to the vice presidents recent trip to the autonomous territory, with the Second Lady, Usha Vance. open image in gallery Hegseth played by Andrew Dismukes derailed the teenagers conversation before adding other senior officials including JD Vance (Bowen Yang) and Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernandez) ( Saturday Night Live/ NBC ) Hows Greenland? I bet youre killing it, Dismukes said. I'm not. Nobody knows why I'm here, especially me, replied Yang, adding But praise Trump, our work here is mysterious and important, in a nod to hit show Severance. A car horn then interrupted the conversation, with Madison saying, Got to go, Matts here to pick me up. Were going to a movie. Who? Gaetz? Dismukes questioned, in reference to former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz who was investigated by the House ethics panel over allegations of sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing. Actually, yeah! Madison replied.. Rubio, played by Marcello Hernandez, later joined the SNL group chat offering to share the real JFK files, and not those fake ones we released. Do not share! he said. After learning that the teenagers were in the group chat, he added: We were totally pranking you guys, LOL. But would you mind emailing your names and home addresses to deportations@ice.gov? Close Fox Business mocks Peter Navarros reciprocal trade-girl math, urges Trump to sideline him Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Stock markets in Asia fell at the opening on Wednesday, continuing the drop seen earlier on Wall Street, amid fears over Donald Trumps 104% tariff on imports from China. In Tokyo, the Nikkei fell 3.5% on the opening, and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was down 4%. Speaking in Washington on Tuesday night, the president claimed the massive import taxes he is imposing on Americans will help usher in victory for his Republican Party in next years midterm elections. During 90 minutes of meandering remarks before GOP lawmakers and deep-pocketed donors at the National Republican Congressional Committees annual fundraising gala, Trump said the stage is now set for a monumental victory for the Republicans in the midterms, which most mainstream economists and business experts say will supercharge inflation and threaten Americas status as the worlds leading economy with a grievous self-inflicted wound. I know what the hell I'm doing. I know what I'm doing, and you know what I'm doing too, he said. The president also warned of impending tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals in an effort to bully companies into moving production to the U.S. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump escalated his criticism towards Russia on Sunday after weeks of being accused of taking Vladimir Putins side in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The US president called up NBCs Kristen Welker prior to her Sunday appearance as host of Meet the Press, according to Welker. He told her that he was p***ed off after the Russian president called for elections in Ukraine and once again questioned the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskys government comments the U.S. president said were unhelpful. Even though U.S. negotiators are currently engaged in moderating peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, Donald Trump put the blame squarely on Putins shoulders, adding that he was very angry at the Russian president. Putins recent comments about Zelensky, he said, were not going in the right location. The president further threatened to raise tariffs on Russian energy exports if a deal was not reached due to interference or delays at Moscows end. The U.S. has recently levied tariffs on a number of countries including Canada and Mexico as the Trump administration seeks to force international policy concessions through trade action. open image in gallery Donald Trump speaks at a press conference in the White House. On Sunday, he shifted the blame to Moscow for delays in the Ukraine peace process. ( AP ) If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump told NBC News. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, he continued. There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine come three years after the Putins full-scale invasion began in earnest, and with hundreds of thousands now dead in the conflict, including more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians. open image in gallery Trump has shifted the blame for the protracted nature of the ceasefire deal onto Putin. ( Ap ) State Department officials told reporters this past week that funding had resumed for a program operated by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab aimed at documenting and tracking nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children believed to have been abducted by Russian forces during the invasion. The program had initially lost funding due to Elon Musk-led DOGE spending cuts, but was restarted after a bipartisan outcry. Plans for a broader peace agreement ending the three-year period of open warfare are still far on the horizon, and U.S. officials have cautioned that both Ukraine and Russia will need to make concessions for a deal to be inked. It still remains unclear if the Trump administration plans to force Ukrainian recognition of Russias control of Crimea, though it seems likely that Ukraine will be forced to drop its bid to join NATO a goal which had been supported by the last U.S. president. Trump touted his relationship with Putin and his dealmaking abilities as reasons why he could end the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 24 hours were he to be elected president throughout the 2024 campaign. The reality of the slow pace of peace talks seems to have frustrated the Republican president, whose ire was previously apparent when he and Vice President JD Vance angrily berated Zelensky in the White House in an ambush-style showdown in front of news cameras. He would also refer to Zelensky as a dictator on Truth Social. That blowup of U.S.-Ukraine relations led to the termination of talks around Kyiv granting access to rare earth mineral deposits to American buyers, which the Trump administration has portrayed as its own kind of security guarantee for Ukraines future on the assumption that Russian officials would think twice about threatening US economic assets. It was reported this past week that a new push by Trump aims at securing a deal to repay Ukrainian war debt through royalties on Ukrainian energy sales, including oil and gas. 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 In a rare interview, Donald Trumps chief of staff appeared to reveal that she once told the president the 2020 election was not stolen from him. Speaking to Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Fox News, Susie Wiles was asked what was the toughest thing you ever had to tell him. Wiles said: The 2020 election. Coming to him after the 2020 election, in 21, and telling him what he thought was the circumstance wasn't which is how I got into all this. He said, well can you fix it? open image in gallery Susie Wiles was Trumps 2024 campaign manager before being appointed White House chief of staff ( Fox News / X ) But hes such a resilient person and hes seen so much, its very hard to surprise him. Ahead of the 2020 election, Trump repeatedly suggested that if he lost his re-election bid that coming November, he would claim that hed been cheated. Speaking in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in August 2020 he said: We have to win the election. We cant play games. Go out and vote. Do those beautiful absentee ballots, or just make sure your vote gets counted. Make sure because the only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. After his defeat in November, he did indeed claim the election had been stolen from him. Along with his most loyal supporters, he pushed dozens of courts cases aimed at overturning his loss, as well trying to force officials in Georgia to find him enough votes to change the result there, and eventually telling a crowd of MAGA supporters in Washington, D.C. to go up to the Capitol and fight like hell on the day his rival Joe Bidens victory was being formalised prompting the January 6 riot. open image in gallery Trump riles up his crowd before sending them to the Capitol to fight like hell on January 6, 2021. His Big Lie about the 2020 election has become something of a loyalty test for followers ( AFP/Getty ) Despite a lack of evidence to confirm any serious or widespread fraud, Trump has continued to say he was cheated in 2020. The claim, nicknamed the Big Lie, has become almost a loyalty test for those in his circle, with high-profile Republicans still refusing to acknowledge that Biden won the election making it unusual that Wiles would appear to publicly admit she told Trump that he wasnt cheated. Trump has a long record of claiming he can only lose through fraud. Ahead of the 2016 election he told a crowd in Altoona, Pennsylvania that he could only lose the state in that years election if the Democrats cheated. He said: Were gonna watch Pennsylvania. Go down to certain areas and watch and study and make sure other people dont come in and vote five times. The only way we can lose, in my opinion and I really mean this, Pennsylvania is if cheating goes on. I really believe it. In fact, he won the state by just over 44,000 votes. Earlier that year, he lost the Iowa caucuses during the Republican primary to Ted Cruz. A furious Trump accused the Florida senator of stealing the win and demanded a do-over. Cruz responded by telling reporters: Donalds insults get more and more hysterical the more upset he gets ... I wake up every day and laugh at the latest thing Donald has tweeted. Mitch McConnell scolds Donald Trump for January 6 insurrection Ironically, Trumps own criminal conviction in May 2024 related to his efforts to hush up a pay-off to an adult actress he had allegedly had an affair with, in a bid to corruptly influence the 2016 election. He was also criminally charged over his efforts to get Georgia officials to change the 2020 result in the state, and over his part in the January 6 riot. The first case is pending, while charges in the second were dismissed when Trump was re-elected in November last year. He has denied any wrongdoing in all the cases against him. Wiles, who had built a reputation for masterminding Republican victories in Florida, was taken on as campaign manager by Trump for the 2024 election and is largely credited with securing his victory. She was named as White House chief of staff in one of his first major appointments. The 67-year-old was expected to provide a steady hand behind the scenes for a president known for his unpredictability. open image in gallery Wiles was expected to provide a steady hand behind the scenes for a famously unpredictable president ( Getty Images ) Elsewhere in the Fox News interview, Wiles says the administration is focused on the trade conversation, trying to settle a war these are heady big things that are important, not for now but for the future rebuilding the American economy, getting all these criminals out of our country, peace in the world. "I see my job as just sort of keeping the trains on the tracks and running on time here so that the subject matter experts and particularly the president and vice president can do what they need to do to fix the country. Asked what she wants Trump to have achieved by the end of his second term, she said: I want him to have I want a world of peace, I want an America thats strong, I want a border thats secure, I want an education system something we don't talk about as much, but I'm passionate about that we will position our kids to meet the future, whatever that may be. The Independent has reached out to 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 President Donald Trump said the 25 percent tariffs he imposed on imported cars are permanent and he couldnt care less if auto company CEOs raise prices on vehicles to account for them. The new import tax on vehicles will be felt the most at the lower-price end of the market and could disproportionately hit Trumps working class and rural base, according to Reuters. In a phone interview with Kristen Welker of NBC News, the Meet the Press moderator asked if the tariffs were truly permanent, to which the president replied: Absolutely, theyre permanent, sure. The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all we're doing is being fair, and frankly, I'm being very generous Very generous. Asked about what his message is to auto CEOs, Trump said: The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you're going to make a lot of money. If you don't, you're going to have to probably come to the United States, because if you make your car in the United States, there is no tariff. Welker noted there had been reporting that Trump warned auto CEOs not to raise prices. The president said: No, I never said that. I couldn't care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars. He added: I couldn't care less. I hope they raise their prices because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty. Welker asked Trump to confirm the point, to which he replied: No, I couldn't care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they're going to buy American cars. US flags fly outside a Toyota dealership in Alhambra, California ( AFP via Getty Images ) However, Reuters reports that nearly all low-cost new cars and trucks sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, meaning that the greatest impact of the presidents new tariffs will be on lower-income working-class car buyers, many of whom voted for him. They will face an additional setback from anticipated increases in used-car prices due to rising demand and dwindling supply as people turn away from higher-priced new vehicles. New cars priced under $30,000 are becoming increasingly rare as the average new vehicle price nears $50,000. The only way automakers can make a profit on economy cars is by manufacturing them in countries with lower production costs so they will be hit harder by any new import tax. Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis have phased out most entry-level models in recent years to concentrate on highly profitable, higher-end trucks and SUVs. This shift has nearly left the economy vehicle market entirely to Asian manufacturers. A Reuters review of data from two auto research firms found only 16 models with an average sticker price below $30,000, and just one, Toyota's Corolla, is assembled in the United States. All others are manufactured in Mexico, South Korea, or Japan. The under-$30,000 models built by Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Subaru, and Volkswagen are almost all built in Mexico or South Korea, while Honda builds the Civic in Canada and the U.S. Ford makes its least expensive models, the compact Maverick truck and mid-sized Bronco Sport, in Mexico. The same is true for Jeep's most affordable model, the Compass. Three vehicles from GM priced under $30,000 the Buick Envista, Chevrolet Trax, and Trailblazer are produced in South Korea. GM also manufactures hundreds of thousands of its best-selling full-sized trucks in Mexico. Imposing a 25 percent tariff on these lower-cost cars may lead to price increases that render them unaffordable for their target market or prompt some automakers to abandon them altogether, industry analysts predict. The rising cost of new vehicles will then push buyers into the used-car market, driving up prices there. Given that many parts are also manufactured overseas, even repairing, maintaining, or insuring an existing vehicle will get more expensive. As a large proportion of the MAGA political base is tilted toward lower-income, rural supporters predicated toward more affordable cars and trucks, they may feel a disproportionate impact. Approximately half of voters with household incomes below $50,000 annually supported Trump's 2024 election, along with 56% of voters who do not have college degrees, according to an Edison Research exit poll. Trumps argument is that he is looking at the longer term and that the tariffs will spark a boom in the U.S. auto industry despite the profitability of many lower-end vehicles being predicated on being manufactured in places where labor is cheaper. Further, some experts contend that high import taxes may lead to the opposite effect on the auto industry, as people delay large purchases or reduce unnecessary spending in the face of higher prices of both new and used vehicles. Muslims attended prayers in London's West Ham Park on Sunday morning, as they celebrated Eid al-Fitr and marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan began at the end of February, and sees devout Muslims fast daily for 29 or 30 days, from dawn to sunset. Eid al-Fitr refers to the feast - or festival - of breaking the fast, with the occasion typically involving festive gathering to mark the event. In addition to congregational prayers, other Eid festivities include family visits, gatherings, outings and new clothes. This is the moment a test rocket crashed back to Earth just moments after launching in Norway on Sunday (March 30). Footage shows the unmanned Spectrum rocket lifting off from a Norwegian spaceport before losing control 18 seconds into flight and crashing into the sea. The launch aimed to build Europe's satellite-launch capabilities and was the first attempt at an orbital flight from mainland Europe. Despite the failure, Isar Aerospace, the German start-up that developed the rocket, said 30 seconds of flight provided valuable data. Now its time to analyse all data, learn, iterate and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible, said CEO Daniel Metzler. Tri Ri, a Canadian assets management firm, has refuted allegations made in the High Court against it after a judge granted a short-term order freezing up to 50m worth of its assets. San Leon PLC, the Dublin-based oil and gas firm, alleges that Tri Ri Asset Management Corp failed to honour an investment agreement, in which Tri Ri purportedly agreed to swap shares in US technology firm Palantir worth almost 50m for shares in San Leon. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 30. Iranian authorities has rejected direct talks in letter to US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said. Trend reports. According to him, it was stated that the possibility of continuing the dialogue through intermediaries still remains. "While the response denied direct talks between the parties, it stated that the path to indirect talks remained open," the President of Iran noted. Brexit multiplied as tariffs threaten 950 Irish exporters to US Potential impact on domestically owned Irish business across a range of sectors as well as multinationals Ireland could be in for a rough ride if tariffs come into effect Sean Pollock Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 14:35 US tariffs to be announced on Wednesday will be like Brexit multiplied, businesses here are being warned, with bruising immediate and long-term consequences. Ukrainian-owned chain launching latest venues A Ukrainian-founded chain of coffee shops is set to open its latest Dublin offering as it brews up further opportunities across the capital. The Art of Coffee, which Ukrainian entrepreneur Ruslan Mocharskyy founded in 2009 in Dublin, is opening up a 15th branded outlet at the citys Spencer Place in the coming weeks. It is also looking into opening another outlet in a large shopping centre in south Dublin. How to buy out an exs share of the mortgage: Seven steps to a fresh start, plus the mistakes to avoid A guide for cohabiting couples to smoothly break up financial bonds Know your rights if the relationship breaks down. Stock image: Getty Gabrielle Monaghan Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 03:30 On the face of it, going halves on a mortgage with a newish partner instead of paying extortionate rent to a landlord makes financial sense. After all, with median asking prices in Dublin now at 461,000, youd need a salary resembling a phone number to stand a chance of buying alone. How a Pulitzer-nominated journalist who was subjected to an FBI investigation ended up married to an Irishman and living in Galway The New York Times reporter has written a book on Irish-American gunrunners Ali Watkins started young as a roving and award-winning reporter. Photo: Gerry Mooney Donal Lynch Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 03:30 There have, all along, been echoes of fiction and pop culture in Ali Watkinss extraordinary life and work. Shes been compared to Zoe Barnes, the ill-fated journalist in House of Cards, who paid for an entanglement with a politician with her life. I have very dark periods, he says Ive had a slew of bad luck, says singer Ralph McTell, now 80. I try to measure it against all the good luck Ive had in my life. The toll of recent events has made the weighing of the good with the bad in his life less easy. Last October, his wife Nanna Solveig May a Norwegian student he met in Paris in 1966 and married later that year died after a long struggle with illness. Ten years ago, on a crisp spring morning in Dublins Agriculture House, Irelands top agriculture officials gathered to mark a historic moment. Aidan ODriscoll, then secretary general of the Department, spoke of a new era as dairy farmers woke up to life without quotas for the first time in three decades. This was not football, it was a riot. I might have had a reputation as a hard man but I was frightened to death that night The Muslim period of Ramadan has delayed the proposed extradition of senior Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern from Dubai to Ireland over a gangland feud murder. The Sunday Independent can reveal that Dubliner McGoverns extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which should have taken place about a week ago, has been delayed because everything has stopped in Dubai. Female founders leading the way as homegrown firms capitalise on major boost in the industry Fast-growing Irish businesses, many with female founders, are making the most of the global surge in the beauty and personal care industry, which has experienced double-digit growth at home and internationally in recent years. Irelands increasing presence at the annual industry trade show Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna the most important beauty trade show in Europe which took place from March 20 to 22 is evidence of the impact homegrown Irish-owned brands are having in this busy global market. Cosmoprof is the one of the most important international trade shows in the beauty industry. It provides a wonderful opportunity for brands to source new buyers and partners and to gather key market insights, particularly in relation to raw ingredients and packaging. This years exhibition welcomed over 255,000 executives and for the third time Enterprise Ireland was proud to host an Irish pavilion at this landmark event. It showcased eight of the countrys exciting and innovative brands in skincare, fragrance and cosmetic manufacturing. There was strong Irish representation, including Banor Skincare, Cosmetic Creations, Elave Sensitive Skincare, Formulae Prescott, Green Angel, Kinvara Skincare, Regency Fragrances and SOSU Cosmetics. Launched in 2006, Green Angel is one of Irelands most well-recognised luxury skincare brands, using unique Irish ingredients like seaweed. Elave Sensitive Skincare, a global leader in body, face, sun, junior and baby skincare categories, also has a long history as part of the Gardiner Family Apothecary the countrys first family apothecary founded 90 years ago. One of the newer brands at the event, Banor, is making waves as Irelands first skincare line made from sheeps milk, representing an exciting new generation of brands using novel ingredients to develop innovative products. Formulae Prescott is also blazing trails with their skinimalism approach, developing multi-functional products that are natural, waterless and gender-neutral. As the sector continues to expand, Irish brands are leading the way in clean, green beauty. This resonates strongly with both buyers and consumers with the quality of their products, their authenticity and their connection to the natural landscape, as well as their science driven approach and results proven efficacy. Unique stories are also important to buyers seeking originality a genuine story that will connect a brand to a consumer and gives purpose to their purchase. Irelands pharmaceutical talent and expertise is perhaps the key element underlying the beauty sector success, as many brands and start-ups have access to state-of-the-art manufacturing and research facilities. Irish brands are also adopting science-led innovation and efficacy by seeking international standards and accreditation. Companies like The Handmade Soap Company, The Kind Brand Company (TanOrganic/Vegan Tan), Gardiner Family Apothecary, Easydry and We Are Riley have all attained B Corp certification. This signifies that a company meets high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, demonstrating a commitment to using business as a force for good all of which are increasingly important to todays consumers and buyers. Another important factor which has contributed to the success and growth that this sector has enjoyed is recent years is the positive response from Irish consumers and retailers, who are increasingly supportive of Irish-owned companies. Enterprise Ireland recently launched our new five-year strategy, Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally (2025-2029), and our purpose is to Accelerate Sustainable Irish Business. Our long-term ambition is that exporting Irish companies become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and this includes the innovative consumer focused companies we work with. If youre a brand in the beauty and personal care sector looking to establish a presence in the Irish market or overseas, talk to Enterprise Ireland. Visit Enterprise-Ireland.com today to learn more. Rachael James is a senior development adviser, Retail, Consumer & Online with Enterprise Ireland. Stephanie Vaz Vieira with baby Theo at their home in Killorglin. Photo: Domnick Walsh A majority of people have supported the urgent implementation of early screening for a genetic disease that causes severe muscle degeneration. The last government promised to add the test for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to the list of conditions for which newborns are screened in the infant heel-prick test, but this has yet to materialise. Some 51pc of people surveyed believe SMA screening should be prioritised, with support increasing to 56pc among those planning to have children. The research was conducted by iReach Insights on behalf of SMA Ireland and Novartis Ireland. SMA is a rare genetic disease that causes severe muscle degeneration, making early detection crucial because symptoms typically appear at three to four months when irreversible neurological damage has already occurred. Without early intervention, SMA can be fatal by the age of two but there are several treatments available in Ireland that can significantly alter the prognosis if there is early diagnosis. There is also a 99pc support among those surveyed for more screening for rare diseases in general among newborns, with 96pc saying the benefits of the heel-prick test were significant. Around six babies a year are born with SMA in Ireland. Every day counts with SMA. We urge the new Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to act now, SMA Ireland director Jonathan OGrady said. Stephanie Vaz Vieira, from Killorglin, Co Kerry, whose child, four-year-old Theo, has SMA, said: These findings send a clear message SMA must be added to the heel-prick test now. Weve been waiting far too long. The decision has been made, the funding is there. No other family should have to wait for a diagnosis like we had to with Theo. The Department of Health previously said that 1.4m of new development funding was provided in 2024 to support the expansion of the newborn screening programme. Before a screening for a condition is added, there is a need for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training of staff. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP) is a priority for the Minister for Health. Currently, all newborn babies are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the heel prick) for nine rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life. Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the programme. Recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee on the addition of spinal muscular atrophy and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NNBSP have been approved. The Department of Health continues to support the HSE as they work to add SMA and SCID to the NNBSP as soon as possible. * This article was updated on March 30 to correct the spelling of Stephanie Vaz Vieiras name. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Iran increased non-oil exports through the customs of Golestan Province, located in the countrys northeast, by 42 percent in value and 32 percent in weight during the last Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025) compared to the previous year (from March 21, 2023, through March 19, 2024), Director-General of Golestan Province Customs Department Shahriyar Shahriyari told reporters, Trend reports. He said that the value of exports through the province's customs amounted to $463 million and the volume719,000 tons in the reporting year. Shahriyari pointed out that during this period the non-oil products were exported to 29 countries, including Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, Turkiye, Italy, India, and the UAE. The customs official mentioned that products worth $161 million were mainly exported to Turkmenistan and $149 million to Kazakhstan. Shahryari added that the export through the provinces customs mainly included pistachios, iodine, iron pipes and profiles, cheese, and others. To note, Golestan Province borders Turkmenistan and plays a key role in Iran's product exports to Central Asian countries. --- Follow the author on X: @BaghishovElnur Irish troops are set to be equipped with over 6,000 state-of-the-art body armour suits which will significantly enhance the safety of Defence Force personnel. The Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has announced that his Department has placed a 16.5 million contract for the supply of the new body armour which will be delivered by the end of this year. The modern equipment has been designed in-house by military personnel and will offer protection from the neck to the groin area, with the system adaptable depending on the particular operation troops are deployed for. Announcing the contract, the Fine Gael leader said: The safety of our Defence Forces personnel is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence and this supply of body armour will mean that our troops have access to state-of-the-art protection during their missions. The body armour that we are purchasing is both modern and fit-for-purpose and I look forward to its delivery later this year. Mr Harris also said he had the opportunity to visit the Defence Force personnel deployed with the United Nations in Lebanon. Irish Troops on Patrol during Tanaiste Simon Harriss visit to Camp Shamrock (PA) While there, I saw first hand the challenging and volatile environment that our peacekeepers operate in further illustrating the need to ensure we properly invest in force protection. I want to thank our Defence Force personnel operating both at home and overseas for their continued service and dedication to the State. The new body armour system, which was designed in-house by the Defence Forces Ordnance Corps, will be known as IMBAS (Individual Modular Body Armour System) and will enhance both the level of protection afforded and the essential equipment attached to the system. The modern system will also provide enhanced levels of ballistic and fragmentation protection for Defence Forces personnel and has been designed for use across a spectrum of military operations with protective coverage from the neck, upper arms, torso front and rear to the groin. The armour can easily be reduced to protect the torso only, depending on the degree of mobility associated with a particular military operation. This new system will to be complemented by a new combat clothing system and combat helmet, both of which are the subject of ongoing tender competitions. A Belgian company is set to supply more than 6,000 body armour system to the Defence Forces by the end of 2025, with a further 2,000 in the pipeline. Meet the loggerhead turtle Columbus after being rescued on Mayo beach Ten-year-old Jonathan Padden was out with his family on An Fal Mor beach near Blacksod in north Mayo when he spotted what looked like a rock but was actually a tiny loggerhead turtle. Washed in by any one of the recent storms, the marine reptile was lifeless and way off course so far across the Atlantic. Loggerheads, which get their name from the shape of their heads, are the largest, hard-shelled turtle species in the world and are usually swept over here from the warmer waters of the Caribbean by the Gulf Stream. Once hunted for their meat and eggs, they are a protected and endangered species, with ocean plastic and climate change among the main threats to their survival. The Paddens wrapped their find carefully in a towel and took it to Gemma OConnor, live stranding co-ordinator with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, who contacted Matthew Hawkins of Galway Atlantaquaria. Time being of the essence, the Paddens agreed to travel from north Mayo to Castlebar, meeting Mr Hawkins and his daughter, Megan, halfway. The drive up to Castlebar was pretty cold, because we had to keep the turtle cold, Jonathan explains, having decided that he would call the reptile Columbus. Jonathan Padden with Columbus Mr Hawkins took it straight to the Galway Atlantaquaria in Salthill, where, with the assistance of volunteer veterinary adviser Rita Gately, it was placed in a rehabilitation tank with a heat lamp. For the first few critical days, Mr Hawkins took it home at night and was up out of bed checking it every couple of hours to ensure there were no setbacks. Slowly, the turtle emerged from its cold, stunned state, and began to move its head and to take a breath of air. It progressed from intravenous feeding to using its flippers to polish off prawns, squid and other offerings from the aquarium staff. Remarkably, Columbus has made such a good recovery in the short space of a month that it may soon be ready to be returned to the wild, Mr Hawkins says. The turtle needed special care Rita Gately says that the progress in a month has been incredible. They dont reach sexual maturity before they are around 20, so we dont know her sex, but reckon she is female and about 1.5 years old, she says. Much of this great recovery was thanks to the quick response by Jonathan and his parents, Mr Hawkins says. Staff at the Galway aquarium, along with colleagues at Mara Beo in Dingle, Co Kerry, have built up an expertise in caring for washed-up turtles but only a percentage survive. This is our third survivor our first was Leona found on the Clare coast in 2014, who was then returned to the wild from Gran Canaria, he says. We had a second turtle, Eva, in 2016, named after the storm, which washed it up on the Wexford coast, he says. Eva was returned to warmer waters off the Portuguese coast by the Naval Service. For Columbus, the Galway Atlantaquaria had to secure a licence from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to retain and rehabilitate it. Young Jonathan Padden said he was relieved to see Columbus gliding about at the bottom of its rehab tank, and looking really happy. A survey of over 130 TDs and senators has found that not one of them would back MMA fighter Conor McGregor in a presidential bid. Presidential candidates must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities in order to get on the ballot, with 134 TDs and senators telling Sky News this weekend that they would not support McGregor. Asked whether they would nominate Mr McGregor, one unnamed senator described him as a tacky, moronic vulgarian while another called him a cheerleader for misogyny in Ireland and a populist buffoon. "He's a misogynist and a thug. On behalf of the women of Ireland he can f*** off, said one TD. Other comments ranged from "not a hope in hell" to "I could not think of anyone more unfit" and "I would genuinely rather we didn't have a president at all. "I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position, said Fine Gael senator Garret Ahearn. Fine Gaels Maeve OConnell said the fighters divisive behaviour and rhetoric would be completely unsuitable for such a role, while Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan said: "As a mother of four young boys I have far more ambition for them than to have someone like that in a position of respectability." Labour TD Duncan Smith said he could not think of anyone more unfit for public office, while Fianna Fail TD Malcolm Byrne said there is no evidence that McGregor has the necessary skillset for the role. All 234 members of the Oireachtas were surveyed by Sky News, with a total of 134 TDs and 30 senators responding to the Sky News poll. It was noted that is is still possible for McGregor to pick up a few nominations in the Oireachtas, with several strong-willed independent politicians declining to respond to the survey despite repeated emails, calls and WhatsApps. Another survey conducted by the Irish Times this weekend found that just one of 188 councillors surveyed about the MMA fighters presidential aspirations would support him in a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case in which a Dublin jury found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay her damages. It comes following his visit to the White House on St Patricks Day, where he met US President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials, and told reporters that he was in Washington to raise the issues that Irish people face, which he said have "never" been spoken about "on the main stage". He accused the Irish Government of having zero accountability and said Irish money was being spent on overseas issues that has nothing to do with the Irish people, adding that the illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country. He said rural towns have been overrun and Irish-Americans need to hear this because if not there will be no place to come home and visit. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his remarks were wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patricks Day, or the views of the people of Ireland, while Tanaiste Simon Harris said the professional fighter had no mandate and was in Washington DC in a personal capacity. Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke with Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday evening, highlighting the important of Irish food, drink and pharma industries as the threat of Trumps tariffs looms large over the EU. Mr Martin said that there had been a useful and constructive call with the European Commission President, who outlined her expectations for developments on tariffs this week. Several Irish ministers have expressed deep concern over how exposed Ireland is to possible double-digit tariffs on our exports. US President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have both suggested US pharmaceutical multinationals located in Ireland will be targeted in what is expected to be a major tariff announcement on Wednesday. Posting on X, the Taoiseach said that he raised Irelands particular focus on the food, drinks and pharma industries in the conversation with Ms von der Leyen. "We both agreed that the EU should be measured and considered in any response, and focused on our own competitiveness, and an ambitious trade agenda, he added. Ms von der Leyen has described the US tariffs as bad for business, worse for consumers. Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Photo: PA Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking on the potential exodus of pharmaceutical companies from Ireland following tariffs She vowed that the EU would continue to protect its workers and its own interests but it was braced for further announcements this week. In a statement on the US announcement of car import tariffs, she said: As I have said before, tariffs are taxes bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union. "We will now assess this announcement, together with other measures the US is envisaging in the next days. The EU will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said that if tariffs were imposed, it could mean 50,000 to 80,000 jobs would not be created or kept in Ireland in the next four to five years. He also warned that a global trade dispute could put jobs at risk, affect living standards and economic growth. But earlier today, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke insisted the potential threat of US tariffs was "not as stark" as that of the 2008 financial crash. Mr Burke said it was hard to predict what the US administration was planning, but said that tariffs on pharma products could be "a double-edged sword". Speaking on RTE Radio, Mr Burke said the Irish economy was in "a position of strength", growing at a rate of 3pc, with two sovereign wealth funds of more than 16bn and 2.8 million people employed. "Obviously, there's a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding April 2. We don't know, as of this point in time, what the shape or form of the package will be." Asked whether welfare rises, promised in the Programme for Government, would not happen if there is an economic shock in response to tariffs, Mr Burke said: "There isn't an economic shock and we will cross that bridge when we come to it." Mr Burke said he didn't expect pharmaceutical companies to move out of Ireland as a result of tariffs. "They're not telling me they will (relocate). So I want to put that firmly on the record. "Secondly, in relation to the market, if you look in terms of the pharma footprint that we have here, about 96bn euros worth of exports. "A lot of those exports are going to Europe and the rest of the world - over 60pc of them. Of the 40pc to go over to the US, about 84pc of those drugs are incomplete. "So that poses a very significant challenge for the US administration because what will happen is that if tariffs are imposed, critically, the medicines will become more expensive for the US citizen. "And secondly - and this is the important part - when we talk about our services sector - you will reduce the value of those companies. So innovation payments going back into the US economy, of which we have a 150bn deficit with the US, will be challenged, and it will be a double-edged sword for the US administration. "But critically, those US-based pharma companies are using Ireland to be regulated to a key marketplace outside of the US as well. "What I would be worried about is more the medium- to longer-term effect. My worry is if this uncertainty continues, there will be a concern that decisions that will be taken that will impact five, six, seven, eight years down the road will not be taken, and that's where we need to be very strong." RTE expects stampede for around 100 voluntary redundancies this year The broadcaster wants more than that number to leave the organisation this year if funds allowGovernment refuses to sign off on all 400 job cuts sought at onceThe ball is now in RTEs court - Arts Minister tells director general Kevin Bakhurst to move fast Government rejected RTE's rolling redundancy scheme across several years Niamh Horan and Gabija Gataveckaite Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 03:30 RTE is expecting a stampede for around 100 voluntary redundancies this year and the broadcaster wants more than that to leave the organisation in the coming months, if funds allow. Taoiseach issues warning as Ireland braces for global trade war; Michael O'Leary claims Trump's tariff policy doomed to fail' We have to stay calm and firm, says Micheal Martin as Donald Trumps Liberation Day nearsRyanair CEO Michael OLeary claims US presidents tariff policy is doomed to fail Michael O'Leary: Tariffs are a temporary phenomenon, Trump will be gone in four years Niamh Horan and Margaret Donnelly Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Taoiseach Micheal Martin has warned that Ireland is entering into uncharted territory from Wednesday in a trade war that has the potential to fundamentally change our economic model. TWO women have died and two children were injured after a horrific crash in Cork. Separately a woman in her 60s died following a collision on the N25, at Moonameen, Co Waterford. The collision in Cork occurred shortly before 4pm on the N72 Mallow-Killarney road a short distance from Cork Racecourse. It involved a head-on collision between two vehicles as roads were busy with people out for Sunday drives to mark Mother's Day. Initial indications are that both drivers, a woman aged in her 60s and a woman aged in her 40s, died in the collision which occurred near a busy junction. The younger woman was accompanied by two children, aged eight and ten years. Both children were conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Gardai, Cork Fire Brigade units and paramedics were at the scene within minutes. A number of passing motorists also stopped to offer assistance at the scene. The road was immediately closed to facilitate the work of the emergency services. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area for the remainder of the evening as diversions are in place. The road will remain closed for some time as Garda collision scene investigators examine the section of roadway involved to try to determine the precise circumstances of the tragedy. Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st March 2025 Gardai are also appealing for witnesses following a separate three-vehicle road traffic collision in Co Waterford this afternoon. Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, involving cars, which occurred at approximately 2.10pm. A passenger of one of the cars, a woman aged in her 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. The driver and passenger of the second car, a man and woman aged in their 50s, were taken to University Hospital Waterford for treatment of serious injuries, believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. The female driver of the third car aged in her 60s was taken by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, also believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. The road is currently closed for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions in place. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 1.20pm and 2.20pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Dungarvan Garda Station on (058) 48600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Ireland's road traffic fatalities now stand at 39 for the year. Swiss Alps surprises: Silence is encouraged and my husband and I felt like wed stumbled into a European art-house film From emotive architecture to luxury spas and quaint towns, Perfect Moments cant help but creep up on you Spectacular view of Swiss mountains near Vals Gemma Fullam Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Back in my analogue teen years, books were a North Star for me and many of my friends. The BOVET Recital 30 is the Everyday Evolution of the Recital 28 Inspired by the Heavens and the Earth Since he acquired the House in 2001, owner Pascal Raffy has been fascinated by the heavens and its relationship with the Earth. To spur his creativity, Mr. Raffy spends time in the courtyard of the BOVET castle, studying the stars, and walking through the forest blanketing the Jura Mountains, exploring the natural world. His source of inspiration, then, is everything around him, which is just about the same as it was back in 1822, when the House was founded by Edouard Bovet and his brothers. Mr. Raffy often imagines what travel was like back then, when Edouard was going from Fleurier, Switzerland to London, England, and then on to Guangzhou, China. Traveling on foot, on horseback, by carriage, and on boats, Edouard was extraordinarily brave to venture so far from what he knew, and Mr. Raffy often considers what Edouard encountered on his travels, using the stars to navigate and thinking about how time differs from country to country not only time zones and timekeeping, but even the very nature of time. That is why, since Mr. Raffy took over the House of BOVET, he has honored the legacy of the Bovet family by developing timepieces with innovative solutions to world timekeeping along with key celestial indications. The House has a number of timepieces with three time zones (to honor the three cities where BOVET was founded: Fleurier, London, and Guangzhou), and several dual time timepieces, as well as world timers like the Recital 18 Shooting Star, the Recital 26 Chapter Two, the Orbis Mundi, and of course the Recital 28 Prowess 1. Recital 30 BOVET 1822 The Genesis Since he started designing BOVET timepieces, Mr. Raffy has always had his thoughts on the heavens and how to best interpret the various ways of telling time. In the past, he has including celestial sky charts, Equation of Time displays, precision moon phases, reproductions of the night sky, Sidereal Time, Solstices, and Summer and Winter Equinoxes, just to name a few. The ground-breaking timepieces that have led to this moment include: The Recital 18 Rising Star The Recital 20 Asterium (winner of the 2023 GPHG Astronomy and Calendar prize) The Recital 22 Grand Recital (winner of the highest GPHG honor in 2018) The Recital 26 Chapter One (first ever sapphire crystal case) The Recital 26 Chapter Two (winner of the GPHG Mechanical Exception prize in 2020) The Recital 28 Prowess 1 (winner of the GPHG Mechanical Exception prize in 2024) Now, the Recital 30 joins this illustrious group, revolutionizing terrestrial time and making the innovative, ground-breaking, and award-winning world time roller system available in a smaller, daily wear timepiece. Recital 30 components BOVET 1822 The Daylight Saving Time Problem: Ever since Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced, world time watches have not been able to adapt to the vagaries of when DST starts and ends in different countries and which countries do not change (only about 70 countries use some form of DST). In reality, all world time watches were wrong during the Daylight Saving Time periods, either set for DST so the rest of the world was wrong by one hour, or set for the majority of the world and the DST countries were off by an hour. Until the Recital 28 and now the Recital 30. The New Solution: The Recital 30, thanks to its ingenious roller system borrowed from the Recital 28, can be adjusted to any of the four time periods of the year... UTC Coordinated Universal Time AST - American Summer Time EAS - Europe and America Summer Time EWT - European Winter Time ...and all 24 world time zones, and New Delhi, will be accurate all year round. The Recital 30 emphasizes the essentials needed for keeping track of world time. The world time rollers cover nearly the entire dial, making it the clear focus of this timepiece. In the center is a day/night indicator linked to the local time. As a result, the Recital 30 is the perfect companion for the world traveler. The Recital 30 World Time System The 26 rollers each have four positions, all controlled by the pushers on the right side of the case UTC, AST (American Summer Time), EAS (Europe and America Summer Time), and EWT (European Winter Time). Recital 30 rollers BOVET 1822 Pushing the top pusher rotates each roller 90 degrees, so all 24 time zones are set to each of the four time periods of the year. The bottom pusher advances the 24-hour world dial at the center by one hour per push, making setting the entire worlds time extraordinarily simple. Two Distinct Versions, Both Highlighting New Delhi The Recital 30 comes in two versions, both with New Delhi featured prominently on the dial. India has a very unique 30 minute off-set, and Mr. Raffy came up with an idea to include this challenging time zone on the dial of both versions. In the Universal Time version, New Delhi is in a separate color on the dial (yellow in titanium, red in 18K red gold), and the second matching-color minute hand is linked to New Delhi time (with its 30 minute off-set). The second version, designed for collectors living in India, links the main hour and minute hands to New Delhi time (again matching the color of the New Delhi highlight on the dial), while the second minute hand (silver for titanium, gold for 18K red gold) is linked to the minutes for the rest of the world. India is a country growing fast on the global stage, and I wanted to honor this exciting region in the Recital 30, explains Mr. Raffy. The collectors in India are very knowledgeable and demanding of true excellence, and I was proud to include this unique 30-minute offset, something that has rarely been done before. Customization Thanks to BOVETs emphasis on verticalized manufacture and on the human touch, the House is uniquely open to customization and bespoke. With no assembly lines and with every component passing through the hands of BOVETs artisans, bespoke is welcome and encouraged at BOVET, and the Recital 30 presents an invitation to make it unique, as it is the perfect canvas. Collectors can change the city names, and can choose from a number of different colors of the 24-hour dial and the minute track. A New Chapter In-House Cases For the first time ever, BOVET is making its own cases in its facility in Tramelan. All titanium Recital 30 cases will be made in-house from the start, while the 18K red gold Recital 30 cases will be produced in the Tramelan manufacture starting in 2026. Both cases use a sapphire crystal exhibition back, a feature BOVET pioneered back in the 1800s as its movements were engraved and highly decorated. Recital 30 BOVET 1822 For high watchmaking timepieces, it is important to craft as many components in-house to have control over the very demanding quality of the cases and other components. Handcrafting the Recital 30 cases in-house means enhanced interaction between the technical office, the engineers, the production team, and the watchmakers. I need to offer to my artisans new challenges, says Mr. Raffy. At BOVET, we combine art and innovation, and we perform the exceptional every day. The case is an exercise in design, integrating a domed sapphire crystal and shaped hands, recalling a window to the universe, while the timepiece itself has an undeniable vintage look and feel. I knew from the start that the case and overall design of the Recital 30 had to be exceptional, unexpected, and have real meaning. The Recital 30 was always in the plan, from the very beginning of the research to solve the Daylight Saving Time problem, which started six years ago, continues Mr. Raffy. When I sit in the courtyard of the castle, I always think about useful and meaningful timepieces. On the wrist, we have to have the indication of time and its more important than ever to have it linked to the world, which has become so small and accessible today. I wanted to offer our collectors a wearable, very intuitive timepiece to guide them and for them to never forget where they are from and where they are going. Complicated yet simple to use, this timepiece is the result of the innovation, the outstanding attention to detail, the exceptional knowledge and the human touch of all our artisans, showcasing BOVET's unique qualities. With the Recital 30, BOVET continues to revolutionize world time timepieces. Witness the Recital 30 for yourself at www.bovet.com/Recital-30. To revisit the award-winning Recital 28 Prowess 1 and to learn more about Daylight Saving Time, download the complete press kit for the Recital 28 here. Planning really means preparing for a future that works for everyone. Photo: Getty Is the governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Makhlouf, correct when he claims: The number one issue in housing is planning, its absolutely planning. This is not a unique situation in Ireland, but planning is a problem. Transport Minister Darragh OBrien trusts this weeks vote of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle will finally bring an end to the row over Dail speaking rights. One is reminded of the adage about a second marriage being a triumph of hope over experience. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael renewed their vows after Novembers election, but their second honeymoon has been dogged by difficulties. This is principally as a result of the decision not to build bridges by seeking the support of a party from the centre left whose concerns are shared by countless voters, among them supporters of the two main parties but instead to burn those bridges by cutting a deal with Michael Lowrys rural mercenaries. Ministers cannot say they were not warned. The opposition has played merry hell with Dail business at every available opportunity, last week included. Neither side in the chamber has come out with its reputation enhanced. However, there is no getting away from the fact this mess was created by that ill-judged Faustian bargain with Lowry. That is certainly how the electorate sees it. In the most recent Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll earlier this month, 59pc of respondents blamed the Government for the stand-off. Michael Lowry outside Leinster house. Photo: Gerry Mooney The number was down slightly on the previous month, perhaps due to weariness with the disruption that, while superficially mesmerising in the same way as watching someone elses dysfunctional family squabble, is a lamentable distraction from the work that needs to be done. Figures released last week confirm the number of people who are homeless or in emergency accommodation reached another record high in February. The Dail has more urgent things to be doing with its time than arguing about who gets to speak, when and for how long. That does not mean the opposition is wrong to feel disrespected. It is patently absurd to treat TDs who have pledged loyally to keep the Coalition in power for the next five years as if they were non-aligned free-thinkers. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck... Ill-feeling has only been further inflamed by the appointment of Verona Murphy as Ceann Comhairle, despite having few obvious qualifications for the role. Her lack of authority and experience has been cruelly exposed. Murphy is having a torrid time. Some sympathy is merited but only some. The job of Ceann Comhairle comes with considerable privileges. It should not be handed out as if it was a sinecure. The disrespect now being shown to her can at least in part be explained by understandable anger over the grubby circumstances of her appointment and a lingering suspicion as to whether her subsequent decisions on speaking rights have been fatally compromised by the same arrangement. Irish democracy is robust enough to withstand a little rough and tumble. How it squares this circle is the real mystery. This weeks confidence vote will be won. That is simply about numbers. The standing of the Ceann Comhairle has been damaged all the same, perhaps grievously. The opposition simply does not believe her capable of discharging her functions impartially. Convincing them she can will be far harder than outvoting them in a one-off show of strength. Good Friday is a bank holiday and normally a slow news day, certainly in terms of politics. But one year ago, on the morning of March 29, journalists in newsrooms across Northern Ireland began to realise that a massive political story was breaking. When DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson deleted his website and social media accounts after cancelling an event, it was clear that something seismic was unfolding. Then at 1pm, a statement emerged from the DUP its leader had resigned and had been suspended from the party after being charged with historical sexual offences. Jeffrey Donaldsons wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was also facing criminal charges all of which they both strenuously denied. Before that news broke, things were going well for the DUP. Just months before, Donaldson had led the party back to Stormont. But that was all about to change. Todays Indo Daily comes from our sister podcast The BelTel. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by the Belfast Telegraphs political editor Suzanne Breen to look at how that day played out and ask what impact the scandal has had on Northern Ireland. The owner of the house in which James Joyce set his story The Dead has said he is willing to sell the property to the State, amid an occupation of the house by a group which includes anti-immigration campaigners. Former Monaghan GAA manager Seamus McEnaney purchased 15 Usher's Island more than a year ago but, in a statement to RTE today, he said: If the Government or the Arts Council are willing to buy it, I'm a willing seller." Mr Monaghan had applied for planning permission to convert the house into 10 apartments It followed a campaign from leading figures in the arts, including Colm Toibin, against plans by the previous owners to convert it into a hostel several years ago. The Georgian house, which dates back to around 1775 and was the home of one of James Joyces aunts, has been occupied by a group called Independent Minds, which includes anti-immigration campaigners, in recent weeks. The group claims the building has been under civil occupation by an independently minded group of people from all walks of life" since 2024, RTE reports. It said it wants to see other persons and groups come forward with regards to all types of corruption and the homeless issue from all over the country and would like to see the building restored and handed over to the Dublin people as a museum to Joyce and The Dead, the final short story in his famous work Dubliners. Built between 1780 and 1790, the house at 15 Ushers Island was home to Joyces grand-aunts, but it fell into disrepair in the time since. More than thirty years ago, there were plans to demolish it to make way for a new bridge over the River Liffey. But the house was saved and restored by Dublin barrister and Joycean scholar Brendan Kilty SC. Brendan Kilty turned the house into a visitor centre dedicated to James Joyce and his literary legacy, preserving its cultural significance. However, he eventually went bankrupt and sold the property in 2017. It was sold for 650,000 to private investors Fergus McCabe and Brian Stynes, who sought planning permission to convert the house into a hostel. Last year, Mr McEnaneys company, Brimwood Unlimited, applied for planning permission to convert the house into 10 apartments. Olga Rai, Tiffy Allen, Paula Quinn, Principal Aileen Kennedy and TD Brian Brennan with students from the School of Sanctuary Group in the Bunscoil Loreto Multicultural Event. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Diversity and inclusion were at the centre of Bunscoil Loretos multicultural day recently as parents, students, teachers all gathered to celebrate the wide range of cultures at the school. 26 different nationalities were represented on the day by students who shared their native food and dress as well as their culture and traditions with fellow students, teachers and parents. The School of Sanctuary Committee which comprises of students from the school, coordinated this event alongside teacher Paula Quinn. Speaking afterwards, Paula said: There was a great atmosphere on the day and everyone really enjoyed it. The children connected to those nationalities worked on the projects on display so every child was represented in the school. Its so diverse and were a school of sanctuary so were all about making sure that everyone is included and feels like they belong. The Schools of Sanctuary programme fosters a culture of welcome and inclusion within schools and communities. Many parents in attendance enjoyed the day as well as Fine Gael TD for Wicklow Wexford, Brian Brennan who commended the staff and students of Bunscoil Loreto for their work. Deputy Brennan said: It was incredible to attend such a wonderful, positive event and see 27 different countries represented from the student body, with detailed information on each country, including traditional food, history, culture, languages and sport. Some of the students were wearing their traditional dress on the day. Deputy Brennan also encouraged other schools to look into the Schools of Sanctuary programme, saying schools work to strengthen their identity as a place of welcome and inclusion in their community, becoming a beacon of sanctuary for those who are vulnerable to marginalisation or isolation through a framework called Learn/Action/Share. Kiran Achari who attends Gorey Community School competed in the National Final of 18th All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO), hosted by the ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University (DCU) last week. Speaking after the event, Director of ADAPT, Professor John D. Kelleher, praised the finalists, saying: The analytical skills displayed by these students are truly inspiring. We are very proud of this competition which exemplifies the passion we have for fostering the next generation of thinkers and innovators. This national finale brings together 104 students from 47 schools spanning 18 counties, all vying for a chance to compete on the international stage this summer. Four winners from the ADAPT All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) will go on to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in July. The 104 national finalists came through preliminary rounds held in schools all over the island in January. More than 3,500 students registered for this years contest. Competing in individual and team rounds, today the finalists battle it out for the honour of being one of the four winners who will represent Ireland on the global stage this July in Taipei, Taiwan. The results of the National Final of AILO will be released next week. Run by ADAPT, the world-leading Research Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, the contest challenges secondary school students to apply logic and reasoning skills to solve complex puzzles that range from Norse scripts to the complexities of the Bukiyip counting systems. The competition is not just about languages, it is a challenge that tests their ability to think differently, analyse data, and decipher rules from the unknown. The teenagers are challenged to solve puzzles that require lateral thinking skills and the ability to think outside the box. Students must analyse the language data they are given to work out the rules of the new language. These transferable skills are critical in preparing young people for a wide range of careers in computing, linguistics and language. Wicklow photographers are encouraged to enter pictures of their favourite river, lake, beach or estuary into the Local Authority Waters Programmes second annual My Favourite Waterbody photo competition. Launched by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), a national shared service working on behalf of 31 local authorities to achieve good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal areas, the competition aims to highlight the publics connection with local water bodies by sharing a picture of their favourite place. The competition is open to anyone across Ireland. Entries by those under 18 years of age must be submitted by a parent/ guardian, and if your photo includes anyone under 16 years of age, only a parent/guardian may submit the content. The overall winner will receive a 500 voucher for Powerscourt Hotel Resort and Spa along with an A3 framed print of their winning photo and there will also be three runners-up prizes of framed prints. The top photos will be featured in LAWPROs 2026 calendar and winners will receive a calendar along with their prize. All photographs must be taken within the last six months on the island of Ireland (including Irelands islands and marine territory) and submitted to LAWPRO via consult.watersandcommunities.ie by 5 pm on Friday, May 2. Speaking about the competition, director of services at LAWPRO Anthony Coleman, said: Tomorrow is World Water Day, a day that marks the importance of freshwater and the sustainable management of it as a resource. It is a perfect day to launch our national photo competition. We had excellent engagement last year in the competition and we want people to take the opportunity to get out into nature and appreciate their local natural waters, whether it be a stream on their land, a local river or their nearest beach. Nature and our natural waters can be places of tranquillity and nostalgia for people. We know this through our wide engagement with the public. LATEST | Myanmar quake death toll rises to almost 1,700 as resistance movement announces partial ceasefire Teams from India, China, Singapore, Thailand on the groundMyanmar opposition vows to halt offensive military operations for two weeksHospitals in hard-hit parts struggling to cope, says UN agencySome residents say government assistance scare, lack machinery for rescue work Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed in Mandalay, Myanmar. Photo: Reuters Grant Peck and Jintamas Sakornchai Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 19:44 A unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts was announced on Saturday by Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military. The country's death toll from the disaster soared to 1,644. Vladimir Putins delay tactic for major push along front line to bolster negotiating position Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise the pressure on Ukraine and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks, Ukrainian government and military analysts said. The move could give Russian president Vladimir Putin every reason to delay discussions about pausing the fighting in favour of seeking more land, the Ukrainian officials said, renewing their countrys repeated arguments that Russia has no intention of engaging in meaningful dialogue to end the war. The Danish foreign minister yesterday scolded the Trump administration for its tone in criticising Denmark and Greenland, saying his country is already investing more into Arctic security and remains open to more co-operation with the US. The garage storing Waymos driverless taxis which are used in Austin exclusively by Uber stands in front of one of Teslas buildings in the metropolitan area of the Texan capital. This is the city where Elon Musk took Tesla during the pandemic, feeling fed up, he said, with Californias woke vibe. It is as if the front line of the war for the future of autonomous driving has been moved to this spot with little to separate the two industrial buildings. On one side of the street are Uber and Waymo, which in early March launched a collaboration in a city known as the Silicon Valley of Texas. Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google), was already supplying Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix with driverless taxis; Now, not only will Waymo expand into Atlanta, they will provide their service only through the Uber app, which makes dozens of cars available to users, operating in an area of 36 square miles as part of a service that continues to include vehicles with drivers. On the other side of the street is Musk, who has just been awarded the first permit to operate in California. The billionaire has promised that Tesla will introduce its own service here in June, although hardly anyone in a sector that is experiencing a slow-motion boom is convinced this will actually happen. This is not so much because the richest man in the world is busy being Donald Trumps best buddy and DOGE chief turning Tesla into a target for vandalism and protest and causing the company to lose 40% of its value on the stock market but because Musk has been breaking promises about Teslas imminent leap into self-driving for a decade. Last October for example, when Tesla presented its Cybercab prototype with its futuristic look, and no steering wheel or pedals, the markets showed their dissatisfaction with a punishing 8.7% drop in value. A group of senior Uber executives were recently in Austin to tell the press the details of the new pact between Waymo and Uber. The idea is to sing the praises of Austin as the ideal laboratory to test the future of transportation: electric, shared and autonomous in a world with fewer and fewer cars. The fact that the chosen setting is in Texas a state proud of its oil wells speaks of how much has changed in a city whose population is growing steadily, thanks in large part to the employees of tech companies attracted by a favorable tax system. A market with so many people excited about new technology is a great starting point, says Noah Zych, Ubers global manager of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery. The loose regulations, a climate suited to a type of car that prefers the heat to the cold, and the clean, wide layout of the downtown area explain why Austin is prized: besides Waymo, ADMT (Volkswagen) and Zoox (Amazon) are undertaking testing here, as well as a local company, AVRide, which has already teamed up with Uber to deliver food to homes with friendly robots in the shape of a beach cooler. An operator cleans a Waymo self-driving car in a garage owned and managed by Uber and the Spanish company Avomo in Austin, with Tesla behind. iker seisdedos (EL PAIS) In its agreement with Waymo, Uber is in charge of putting cars full of sensors, cameras, radars and lights at the service of its users, who might not feel the urge to try them out if they had to download yet another app. To opt for a driverless vehicle, users have to indicate as much on the apps preferences, and the algorithm will decide whether to assign them a car with or without a driver. Uber is also responsible for maintaining the fleet, a task that has been contracted out to a Spanish company called Avomo, which also organizes prices and flows. The workers at Avomo are the ones who manage when the robotaxis should be in which part of the city and when its best for them to be picked up at night to save them from cruising along Sixth Street, popularly known as Dirty Six, when it is teeming with drunk people. A warning to those tempted to vandalize self-driving vehicles or sit in the drivers seat: robotaxis have multiple cameras inside and outside the vehicle. They are also fitted with microphones, although an audio message assures the user that their conversations will not be recorded. Waymo, for its part, is responsible for equipping the Jaguar cars with fifth-generation technology which its managers are extremely secretive about. Waymo is also in charge of repairs, providing roadside assistance and carrying out safety checks. The Alphabet-owned company, which has grown in a few months from 10,000 to 200,000 weekly trips, has become more of an industry leader after General Motors decision in December to stop funding Cruise, its venture into the autonomous driving business. This pullout happened months after Cruise lost its license in California following a hit-and-run involving a female pedestrian in San Francisco. Ghost driver Sachin Kansal, chief product officer and head of mobility and delivery at Uber, demonstrated how to order a Waymo on his companys app mid-March. The robotaxi arrived shortly, with his initials, SK, flashing on the roof. Once inside, Kansal explained from the back seat that the two companies that were embroiled in a court battle over industrial espionage in 2018, have joined forces because Uber sold its self-drive business in 2020, two years after a woman died in Arizona after being hit by one of its cars. That led to Uber switching to a platform approach, which has led it to develop agreements with 14 autonomous driving tech partners. The Zoox, Amazons self-driving taxi. The price of Sachin Kansals taxi was the same as if the Uber had arrived with someone behind the wheel. Before the demo ride, Andrew MacDonald, Ubers senior vice president for Mobility and Business Operations, pointed out that the cars are easier to organize than taxis with drivers who log on and off when it suits them, at least in the U.S. With machines everything is much more predictable, he said. And besides, you dont have to tip. And that, in a country like the U.S, is no small deal. Despite this, self-driving taxis are much more expensive, warns lawyer and engineer Bryant Walker Smith. An expert in autonomous driving at the University of South Carolina, he flags up this question: now that robotaxis are a common presence in some cities, how long will tech companies be prepared to wait for the profits to start rolling in? These are companies with high development costs, with extensive digital and also human infrastructure. Its not possible for one of those robotaxis to compete with a single Uber driver who has a crappy car and, reportedly, makes less than minimum wage, he says. When asked if that means that drivers can rest easy about the future of their jobs, Walker Smith replied: I think we should all be concerned about our job prospects. It seems to me that the explosion of artificial intelligence has overturned the elitist assumption that those who do intellectual work will be better protected than the rest. Walker Smith also points out that there is always a degree of human involvement in self-driving vehicles. There are two models, he explains. The remote driving, with someone sitting hundreds of miles away in front of a monitor, controlling the car, is one of them. Waymo says it employs remote assistance, in which the person only intervenes when there is a situation that the car does not know how to solve alone; for example, if it is in the way of a fire truck. In a post last year, the company likened that help to the friend you call in a bind. These companies dont like to give much away, Walker Smith adds. On a visit to the Austin garage where the robotaxis are kept, Samarth Kerjiwall explains that the cars are really expensive assets. He wouldnt reveal how much they were worth but in a podcast, a Waymo executive last year talked about a figure close to $100,000 per unit. Thats why they are determined to get the maximum use out of them while waiting for the technology to get cheaper. Our algorithm returns them when the battery is low and they cant make any more trips, Kerjiwall said. Once back in the garage, the car parks itself near the charger. Then, an operator does what, to date, only a person can do: plug it in. Kerjwall also insists that being constantly checked, self-driving vehicles are more reliable than traditional cars considering the number of daily trips Waymos take. In his presentation, MacDonald, Ubers senior vice president for Mobility and Business Operations, said that the advancement of technology will not help in an industry that will always be prone to being undermined by news of an accident if it is not accompanied by a superhuman safety record. A user uses a Waymo autonomous vehicle in downtown San Francisco in the summer of 2023. Carlos Rosillo According to Peter Kurdock, general counsel for the Washington-based Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Were still a long way from being able to have complete peace of mind. Some of these vehicles have been involved in very serious crashes, a few fatal ones, and their systems are currently under investigation by the National Traffic Safety Administration. Kurdock would like to see more in the way of federal regulations to mandate industry traffic, and is also concerned that companies always choose places like Austin, where there is virtually no winter, to test their cars. Its not clear how they will perform in other climates, he adds. Nor is it clear how they will cope in more hostile environments, such as the busy streets of New York or in concrete jungles like Mexico City or Calcutta. And if youre wondering how long it will be before the technology arrives in Europe, dont hold your breath. While the U.K. and Germany seem closer to making it happen, there are strict regulations in place and Uber can no longer launch operations before asking for permission, meaning place such as Spain will have to be patient. In Spain, for example, a draft regulation governing self-driving vehicles has yet to be approved. While Isabel Diaz Ayusos Madrid region aspires to take the lead, the traditional taxi industry is still on the warpath in Barcelona against Uber and other ride-hailing companies. In Austin, the law will never be an issue, which means the city has become a testing ground and a front line in the battle over the future of self-drives. The robotaxi has become a familiar sight on its streets. After using Waymo for a couple of days, the conclusion is that they drive and brake smoothly, although some curves, especially roundabouts, can be slightly hair-raising. Also, if you are left 100 meters from your destination, you have no choice but to walk. Obviously, there is no one to tell to take you all the way. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Ransom Canyon OTT release date Netflix: A brand-new romance-drama web series called Ransom Canyon is all set to premiere on OTT. Starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, the show promises a perfect blend of thrill and romance, sure to keep you hooked. Set against the untamed backdrop of the Texas Hill Country, Ransom Canyon, created, written, and executive produced by Blair, follows the interconnected lives of three rancher families. Ransom Canyon will be released on Netflix on 17th April 2025. Plot Fundamentally, Ransom Canyon is an idea rather than merely a place. It represents the lives of cowboys and lovers, robbers, the agonising yearning for first love, and the fierce desire to defend family. It offers a deep and engrossing experience by fusing themes of desire, treachery, heartbreak, and home. According to Blair's interview with Tudum, it's a world full of romance and drama, and is confident that viewers will fall in love with this small piece of Texas and the stories that are being told there. As per Netflix, Staten and Quinn's years-long, will-they-wont-they romance is at the center of Ransom Canyon, which is set against the backdrop of a generational conflict over family land. The owner and only resident of the expansive Double K Ranch, Josh Duhamel, is a stern and unwavering Staten Kirkland who is still in shock over the death of his wife. Staten takes the lead in the fight against the external forces endangering his way of life and the place he cherishes. Cast and crew The show stars Marianly Tejada as Ellie Estevez, Jack Schumacher as Yancy Grey, Eoin Macken as Davis Collins, Lizzy Greene as Lauren Brigman, Garrett Wareing as Lucas Russell, Andrew Liner as Reid Collins, Jaren K. Robledo as Jack Yellowbird, Casey W. Johnson as Kit Russell, Jennifer Ens as Ashley, Brett Cullen as Senator Samuel Sam Kirkland, and Kate Burton as Katherine Bullock. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Ranveer Allahbadia is back on Instagram and YouTube after many days following the Indias Got Talent controversy. The podcaster took to his YouTube channel to share a video in which he sought another chance from the people of India. He expressed his regret, acknowledging that many people consider him their son or brother and that he may have let them down, but he understands their feelings. He also explained that the podcast will return and assured viewers that they will see a new version of him this time. Ranveer Allahbadias first video after Indias Got Talent controversy The video opened with the words written on a black screen, There's more to say but right now thank you for your patience. Ranveer then started saying that he wants to thank all those who wished him and his family well because this phase was hard since there were threats and more coming through. He also apologised to the country for letting people down and said that the podcast will be back. Reacting to this, one wrote, Stay Strong Ranveer Bhai, We're with you.. Please just don't give up. Another added, Go International, if you don't get Indian guests. But make sure to Bounce Back harder than anyone. Ranveer Allahbadia makes Instagram comeback Taking to his Instagram page, Ranveer shared multiple photos with his crew, his dog, and other people. He captioned the post, Thank you to my loved ones. Thank you universe. A new blessed chapter begins - Rebirth. What was the Indias Got Latent controversy? During an episode of Samay Rainas Indias Got Latent, Ranveer asked a contestant a question that did not sit well with viewers. Many called him out, and complaints were filed. The obscene joke triggered a massive social media uproar, and the podcaster was even summoned by the police. The Supreme Court allowed Ranveer to resume his podcast but imposed stringent rules to ensure that all future content complies with moral and decency standards. This marks Ranveer's comeback to his much-loved podcast series. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. After 'L2: Empuraan' received criticism for making analogies to the Gujarat riots, actor Mohanlal has now issued an apology Mohanlal promised his supporters on Facebook that "such subjects" would not be included in the movie. He also expressed regret to his admirers "for the distress caused" in his note. Mohanlal breaks his silence on L2: Empuraan controversy He wrote in his note, I know that some of the political and social themes in the film Empuraan, the second part of the Lucifer franchise, have caused great distress to many of my loved ones." He went on to explain his responsibility as an artist, As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films is hostile to any political movement, ideology or religious group." "The Empuraan team deeply regrets the distress caused," Mohanlal said, confirming the decision to alter the film. He stated that all of those involved in the movie share responsibility for the controversy and that they have all agreed to exclude such themes.Mohanlal confirmed the close connection with his fans, stating that he had spent the last forty years of his film career living as one of them. There is no better version of Mohanlal than their love and trust, he said, adding that it continues to be his greatest strength. L2: Empuraan cuts After receiving input from viewers and religious organisations, the Empuraan team decided to make 17 voluntary cuts, according to a report by News18 Malayalam. Sensitive conversation is muted, and the antagonist Baba Bajrangiwhose name was criticised for allegedly having political connotationsis renamed. Additionally, some sequences showing communal violence and those alluding to the Gujarat riots of 2002 have been changed or eliminated. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Happy Eid Mubarak wishes & messages 2025: Fasting during Ramadan is not just about avoiding food. It is a time for Muslims to practise self-control, strengthen their faith, and feel closer to God. The night before Eid-ul-Fitr, known as "Chaand Raat" or "Night of the Moon," is celebrated with great joy and excitement. During Ramadan, and before Eid day, Muslims also give Zakat al-Fitr, a required act of charity. As we prepare to spot the crescent moon, Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 is getting closer, bringing happiness and togetherness. A key part of the celebration is Eid Salah, a special prayer held on the morning of Eid. Muslims wear their best clothes and go to mosques or open prayer areas to offer these prayers. The greeting "Eid Mubarak" or "Happy Eid" is commonly exchanged, and people also give money or gifts, called "Eidi," especially to children. Eid-ul-Fitr also encourages kindness, forgiveness, and unity. It is a time for Muslims to reconnect with family and friends, let go of past grudges, and spread positivity in their communities. The history of Eid-ul-Fitr goes back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad and has become a significant cultural and religious event in Islam. Eid-ul-Fitr, also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. This tradition started in the early days of Islam when Prophet Muhammad taught about the importance of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik Ramadan is an important month for Muslims as it is believed to be when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan to mark the successful completion of fasting. It takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, and begins when the new moon is sighted. When is Eid-ul-Fitr 2025? As Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr 2025. Many people start searching for "When is Eid 2025?" or "How many days are left until Eid?" Eid-ul-Fitr, also called Meethi Eid, marks the end of Roza (fasting), which is observed throughout Ramadan. According to the Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal. This year, Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on March 30 in Saudi Arabia, while in India, it is likely to be celebrated on March 31, depending on the moon sighting. Eid is a time to reflect on our blessings and be grateful for what we have. Sending messages of peace, love, and happiness helps spread positivity, especially in difficult times. Sharing Eid Mubarak wishes, greetings, and quotes is a way to show love, strengthen relationships, and bring joy to others. As we get ready to celebrate this special festival, here are some of the best Eid Mubarak wishes, messages, quotes, WhatsApp statuses, and images you can share with your loved ones to wish them Eid Mubarak 2025! Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 wishes, images, quotes, messages, and WhatsApp status to share Happy Eid Mubarak wishes Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik I hope this Eid fills your life with joy, peace, and success. May all your dreams come true! Dil ki gehraiyon se Eid Mubarak ho, khushiyaan aapke kadam choomein. Wishing you a joyful day filled with love, laughter, and special moments. May all your prayers be answered. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak, Khushiyaan hazaar laayein aapke ghar ki taraf! Har raah aasan ho, har raah pe khushiyaan ho, Eid Mubarak ho aapko! Dil ki gehraiyon se Eid Mubarak ho, khushiyaan aapke kadam choomein. As we celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, lets be thankful for all we have and spread kindness to everyone around us. Eid Mubarak to all! Aapki zindagi me khushiyan ho, dilon mein pyaar ho, Eid Mubarak ho! Eid ka chand aapki zindagi mein roshan ho, aapko khushiyan dene wala ho! Har raah aasan ho, har raah pe khushiyaan ho, Eid Mubarak ho aapko! Eid ka din aapke liye khushiyaan aur hansi laayein, Eid Mubarak ho! Wishing you love, laughter, and wonderful moments with your dear ones. Happy Eid! Zindagi ki har khushiyan aapke paas aayein, Eid Mubarak ho! As the moon shines bright, may your life be filled with happiness and blessings. Sending you warm Eid wishes! Eid ka chand aapki zindagi mein roshan ho, aapko khushiyan dene wala ho! Aapke ghar mein barkat ho, aapki zindagi khushiyon se bhari ho, Eid Mubarak ho! Chand ki pehli dastak pe Eid Mubarak ho, aapke ghar khushiyon ki barkat ho. Sending you my warmest wishes and love! Eid Mubarak! Aapke ghar mein barkat ho, aapki zindagi khushiyon se bhari ho, Eid Mubarak ho! Happy Eid! Wishing you a lovely time with your family and friends. Lets celebrate this special day together. Dilon mein pyaar aur khushiyan ho, Eid Mubarak ho! Heartfelt Eid Mubarak messages Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik Eid ka din aapke liye khushiyaan aur hansi laayein, Eid Mubarak ho! Eid-ul-Fitr is a time for rejoicing and gratitude. I am grateful for your friendship and wish you and your friends a delightful Eid filled with love and prosperity. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a wonderful Eid with your family, friends, and lots of love. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring you closer to your family and friends, and fill your heart with love, gratitude, and happiness. As we bid farewell to Ramadan, let us welcome Eid-al-Fitr with open arms and joyful hearts. May your friendships be blessed with joy, peace, and prosperity. Eid Mubarak to you and your friends! Eid Mubarak! May this joyous occasion bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to your life and fill your heart with gratitude. Wishing you a blessed Eid filled with love, laughter, and countless blessings. May Allah's grace be with you always. Eid Mubarak! On this special day, may your prayers be accepted, your sins forgiven, and your life filled with endless joy. Celebrate this Eid with a heart full of love and compassion. May Allah's blessings light up your path and lead you to success. As the crescent moon shines bright, may it guide you to happiness, harmony, and prosperity. Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring love into your life, with every moment filled with smiles and every day full of blessings. Eid-ul-Fitr Mubarak! May Allah bless you and your loved ones with joy, peace, and gratitude on this special occasion. Happy Eid! On this joyous occasion, I extend my heartfelt wishes to you and your friends for a blissful Eid-al-Fitr. May Allah's blessings be with you always. Eid Mubarak! May the spirit of Eid bring you endless joy and countless blessings. Eid Mubarak! On this special day, may Allah grant your wishes and make your dreams come true. Eid Mubarak! Lets be kind, caring, and generous to those around us, just as Eid teaches us. Wishing you a happy and blessed Eid! On this special day, may Allahs light guide you towards success and happiness. Eid Mubarak! "Eid is a time to forgive, spread kindness, and share smiles. May this Eid be full of love and joy." Hope you have a beautiful Eid filled with joy, blessings, and precious time with loved ones. Happy Eid! Unique Happy Eid WhatsApp status Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik May your journey ahead be as sweet as sheer khurma and as colourful as the mehndi on your hands. Eid Mubarak 2025! Eid-al-Fitr is a time to celebrate the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. May the warmth of your friendships illuminate your life on this special day. Eid Mubarak to you and your friends! As the crescent moon glows, may it bring endless blessings, peace, and happiness to you and your family. Eid Mubarak! May the spirit of Eid bring love, peace, and thankfulness into your heart. Eid Mubarak! As the crescent moon appears, marking the end of Ramadan, I wish you and your friends a wonderful Eid-ul-Fitr. May this day bring you countless blessings and moments to cherish. Eid Mubarak! May the spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr fill your heart with happiness and your home with laughter. Wishing you and your friends a blessed Eid surrounded by love and joy. Eid Mubarak! Enjoy Eid-ul-Fitr with your loved ones and create beautiful memories. Eid Mubarak! Lets hope this Eid brings peace, success, and happiness to all. Eid Mubarak! Hope this Eid is full of happiness, wisdom, and guidance. Eid Mubarak! May your home be warm, your heart be happy, and your life be full of goodness. Eid Mubarak! As we celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, may the spirit of togetherness and harmony fill your heart with joy. Sending warm wishes to you and your friends for a memorable celebration. Eid Mubarak! As we gather with friends to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, let us cherish the moments of togetherness and gratitude. May this day bring us closer and strengthen our bond of friendship. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! May this special time bring you joy, comfort, and good fortune. May Allah make your dreams come true. Eid Mubarak! May the joy of Eid bring peace, happiness, and success into your heart and home. May this special day bring you closer to Allah and fill your heart with faith, hope, and peace. Wishing you a blessed Eid! Wishing you a joyful Eid-ul-Fitr filled with love, laughter, and blessings. May this special day bring you closer to your friends and family. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! May happiness and blessings fill your home. May Allahs guidance and blessings be with you now and always. Eid Mubarak! I pray that Allah showers you with love, happiness, and success today and always. Happy Eid to you and your family! On this special occasion, may your faith grow stronger, your relationships become deeper, and your happiness know no limits. Eid Mubarak! On this auspicious occasion, I pray that Allah showers His mercy upon you and your loved ones. May your friendships grow stronger and your hearts be filled with peace and happiness. Eid Mubarak, dear friend! May Allahs blessings shine upon you like the stars in the night sky. Wishing you a joyful and blessed Eid! Happy Eid 2025! Eid is a time for prayers, gratitude, and kindness. Lets share love and happiness with everyone. Eid Mubarak! May Allah bless you with joy, peace, and success today and always. May Allah bless your life and make your dreams come true. May He always guide you. Eid Mubarak! As we celebrate Eid, lets cherish time with our loved ones and create beautiful memories. Lets be thankful for what we have and help those in need. Wishing you an Eid filled with love, laughter, and delicious food. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a happy Eid-ul-Fitr filled with warmth, closeness, and love from family and friends. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak quotes Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik "Eid is not just a day of celebration, but a time to reflect, seek forgiveness, and be thankful to Allah for His endless blessings." "Eid is a time to come together, cherish moments with loved ones, and make beautiful memories." On this special occasion, may Allah bless you and make all your wishes come true. Eid Mubarak! The end of Ramadan brings joy and blessings. Wishing you a happy and peaceful Eid with your family! On this joyful day, I pray that Allahs kindness and guidance lead you through life with wisdom and grace. Eid Mubarak! Eid brings joy and goodness to all. Its a time to come together, spread kindness, and enjoy the celebrations. Warm wishes for Eid-ul-Fitr! May Allah bless you and your loved ones always. Have a great day! Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a wonderful day full of smiles, laughter, and blessings with your family. Eid Mubarak greetings for friends and family Eid Mubarak image | Credit: Freepik May the bright crescent of Eid bring peace, joy, and success into your life. Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring you new beginnings and wonderful opportunities. Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid! Wishing you a lovely time with family and friends. Stay grateful and full of love. Sending you warm wishes on this special occasion. May your heart be filled with happiness and your home with laughter. Eid Mubarak! May Allah bless everyone on this special day and guide us towards goodness. Eid is a time to strengthen relationships, show gratitude, and pray for a bright future. May Eid bring you blessings, happiness, and good fortune. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a happy Eid-ul-Fitr with love, peace, and joy. May Allah bless you and your loved ones today and forever. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you days filled with happiness and blessings. Eid Mubarak! Goodbye Ramadan, hello Eid! May your heart be filled with joy and your home with love. Enjoy Eid-ul-Fitr! I pray that Allahs blessings stay with you and your family always. Happy Eid! As we see the crescent moon, lets wish for peace, good fortune, and joy for all. Happy Eid Mubarak! May Allah bless us today and always. Happy Eid-ul-Fitr! May Allah bless you with happiness, peace, and success. Have a wonderful day! Wishing you a blessed Eid filled with happiness and harmony. Eid Mubarak! Wishes for Eid 2025 Eid Mubarak! May this blessed day bring you peace, happiness, and prosperity. Eid Mubarak! May Allah fulfil all your duas and always guide you towards the path of Jannat. May your home be filled with laughter, your heart with love, and your life with success on this Eid and beyond. May Allahs mercy and blessings be with you today and always. Eid Mubarak! May your good deeds be accepted and your sins forgiven May this Eid bring you endless moments of joy and happiness. Eid Mubarak! May the magic of Eid bring you and your family health, wealth, and happiness. Eid Mubarak! May Allah cleanse our hearts and deepen our faith as we honour this holy day. Eid Mubarak. Eid Mubarak! May your home be filled with laughter and love. I hope this beautiful festival of Eid is all you could ever hope for with love and joy! Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! May this special day bring peace to your heart and happiness to your home. May Allah accept our good deeds, forgive our sins, and ease the suffering of those in need this Eid. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Ghibli wishes images: Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most important Islamic festivals, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In India, Ramadan 2025 began on Sunday, 2nd March, following the sighting of the crescent moon on 1st March. However, in Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf countries, Ramadan started a day earlier, on 1st March. The exact date for Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 depends on the sighting of the crescent moon in India. If the moon is seen on 30th March 2025, then Muslims across the country will celebrate Eid on Monday, 31st March 2025. However, if the moon is not sighted, the festival will be observed on Tuesday, 1st April 2025. Since the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, the final confirmation of Eid-ul-Fitr will only be made once the crescent moon is spotted. The Importance of Eid-ul-Fitr Celebrations Eid-ul-Fitr, also referred to as Eid-al-Fitr, is a joyous festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It is a day of gratitude, prayers, charity, and gathering with loved ones. Families come together to enjoy traditional meals, wear new clothes, and exchange heartfelt wishes. With the growing popularity of digital greetings, people are now sharing beautiful Eid-ul-Fitr Ghibli images and Eid celebration Ghibli images on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/@ad-gq Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/@Dubaiculture Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/@life_akram Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/@DubaiCulture Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/DubaiCulture Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/TrueHeadlines Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: Livemint Eid Mubarak Ghibli art style images | Credit: X/@Dubaiculture Eid Mubarak Instagram posts ideas What is the Ghibli Art Style Trend? A new artistic trend has taken over the internet, and it involves transforming ordinary images into Ghibli art style images. Inspired by Studio Ghibli, a world-famous Japanese animation studio known for its dreamy and magical visuals, this trend allows users to turn their Eid Mubarak images into stunning Ghibli-style artworks. Many social media users are using AI tools like ChatGPTs Text-to-Image feature to create Eid-ul-Fitr Ghibli images. These AI-generated visuals capture the enchanting and nostalgic style of Studio Ghibli, making them perfect for sharing festive greetings online. How to Create Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Ghibli Art Style Images? If you want to join this trend and create your own Eid celebration Ghibli images, follow these simple steps: Use AI Image Generation Tools Many AI tools, including ChatGPTs Text-to-Image feature, allow users to generate Ghibli-style artwork from text prompts. Many AI tools, including ChatGPTs Text-to-Image feature, allow users to generate Ghibli-style artwork from text prompts. Describe Your Vision Enter details like A beautiful Eid celebration under the moonlight in a Studio Ghibli art style or A cosy family Eid gathering with lanterns and traditional dishes in Ghibli style. Enter details like A beautiful Eid celebration under the moonlight in a Studio Ghibli art style or A cosy family Eid gathering with lanterns and traditional dishes in Ghibli style. Generate & Download Let the AI process your request and create a visually stunning Eid-ul-Fitr Ghibli image. Let the AI process your request and create a visually stunning Eid-ul-Fitr Ghibli image. Share on Social Media Post your artistic Eid greeting on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp to wish your loved ones in a unique way. Why are Ghibli-Style Eid Images So Popular? The Eid-ul-Fitr Ghibli image trend has gained immense popularity because it combines tradition with digital creativity. People love sharing these aesthetically pleasing, hand-drawn-like images to give their Eid greetings a more personal touch. Additionally, social media platforms are buzzing with hashtags like #EidMubarakGhibli, #EidUlFitr2025, and #GhibliArtStyleEid, making these AI-generated images a viral sensation. As Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 approaches, make your festive greetings stand out with stunning Eid celebration Ghibli images. Whether you create your own or download ready-made artworks, these magical Ghibli-style visuals are perfect for spreading joy and love on this special occasion. Stay tuned for more updates on Eid-ul-Fitr 2025, moon sighting details, and creative ways to celebrate the festival with your loved ones! For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Hindu New Year 2025 Calendar: The Hindu New Year 2025, also called Nav Varsh or Nav Samvatsar, will begin on March 30, 2025. It marks the first day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu lunar calendar. People across India celebrate this day with joy under different names, such as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Cheti Chand for Sindhis, and Sajibu Nongma Panba in Manipur. This day also marks the start of Chaitra Navratri, a nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. The Hindu New Year represents new beginnings, prosperity, and spiritual growth. People celebrate by offering prayers, decorating their homes with rangoli, and preparing festive dishes. In 2025, the new year begins with Vikram Samvat 2082, a traditional calendar that holds great cultural importance in India. Also Read: ISKCON Ekadashi Calendar 2025 When Is The Hindu New Year 2025? Hindu New Year, also referred to as Nav Varsh or Nav Samvatsar, is celebrated according to the Hindu lunar calendar, specifically during the month of Chaitra. According to Hindu tradition, the New Year is not celebrated on January 1st, as it follows a lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. Hence, the upcoming Hindu New Year 2025 will be on March 30. The importance of this festival extends beyond mere celebration. It symbolises new beginnings, spiritual growth, and the triumph of good over evil. Families engage in various rituals such as decorating their homes with colorful rangolis, performing puja, and preparing special dishes to share with family and friends. Hindu Nav Varsh 2025 Date The Hindu New Year, known as Nav Varsh, will begin on March 30, 2025. This date marks the Pratipada Tithi of Chaitra Shukla Paksha and is significant as it coincides with the start of the Chaitra Navratri festival. In 2025, this day will also be recognised as Vikram Samvat 2082. The Hindu New Year has different names and traditions across India. For instance, in Maharashtra, it is celebrated as Gudi Padwa, while in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, it is known as Ugadi. In Punjab, the festival coincides with Baisakhi, a harvest celebration. Other regional variations include Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Maha Vishubha Sankranti in Odisha. Also Read: Islamic New Year 2025 date Difference Between Hindu New Year Calendar And Gregorian Calendar The Hindu New Year calendar and the Gregorian calendar are different. The Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, relying on the Earth's revolution around the Sun. Whereas the Hindu calendar is lunar, based on the Moon's cycles, and typically consists of 12 months of 28 days each. The Gregorian calendar begins on January 1, while the Hindu New Year will fall on 30th March 2025 itself. Chaitra Navratri 2025 will start on March 30 and conclude on April 7. The festival begins with the Pratipada tithi on March 29, starting at 4:27 PM, and the main celebrations begin the following day. The final day of Navratri, known as Navami, will be observed on April 7. This nine-night festival is dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga and marks the start of the Hindu New Year in many regions. (Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available.) For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Since its introduction, the 'Ghibli' image generator feature has taken the internet by storm. The launch of this feature has led to a surge in user engagement, with people on social media experimenting by transforming photos into various artistic styles. Well, the unprecedented demand has finally led OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to be open about the same on his X (formerly called Twitter) account. On Sunday, March 29, 2025, Sam Altman took to his X and requested the ChatGPT users to 'chill out a bit', citing 'insane' demand for its new image generator. Altman continued to mention in the post, "Can yall please chill on generating images? This is insane; our team needs sleep." can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 As social media is flooded with pictures and the users just can't keep calm over the new feature, the ChatGPT owner himself had to step in; however, many users were not convinced by Sam's appeal. Some also suggested firing his team. ChatGPT's AI-powered image generator leaves social media users fanatic It all started on March 25, when Altman announced the launch of ChatGPT's latest artificial intelligence (AI) powered image generator, integrated with OpenAI's flagship model GPT-4o. The new image-generator feature enables iterative refinement and ensures consistency across multiple interactions. However, no doubt it is a feature that users online are enjoying to experiment with, but the surge in demand is causing a strain on OpenAI's infrastructure. Credit: X Sam Altman on ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli feature Earlier to this, Altman expressed his happiness over people experimenting with the newly launched feature. He said, It's super fun noticing people love images in ChatGPT, but their GPUs are melting. On the other hand, OpenAI also implemented restrictions on generating images in the styles of certain living artists and specific studios due to copyright issues. However, users are still not convinced by the CEO's request. we just havent been able to catch up since launch so people are still working to keep the service up biblical demand, i have never seen anything like it Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 Social media users react to Sam Altman's appeal As soon as Sam Altman posted about users having some chill on generating images through Ghibli, the post quickly went viral on the internet. With Paul Graham suggesting Altman, "Lots of people need to be awake when load is high?" To which Sam replied, saying that they haven't been able to catch up since launch, so people are still working to keep the service up. Lots of people need to be awake when load is high? Paul Graham (@paulg) March 30, 2025 "Biblical demand, i have never seen anything like it" On the same thread, one user said, "Video is next" Video is next Chad Hurley (@Chad_Hurley) March 30, 2025 While another said, "If you keep netfing the model, people will stop using it. Otherwise, no." If you keep netfing the model, people will stop using it. Otherwise, no. pic.twitter.com/NXUo1prihV Dwayne (@CtrlAltDwayne) March 30, 2025 To which Altman reacted, saying, "we are gonna do the opposite of nerfing it BUT still please chill out a bit" fire your team and generate a new team LaDoger (@LaDoger21) March 30, 2025 One even suggested he fire his team. "no thanks, in addition to building agi this team is on trajectory to build the biggest website in the world from a cold start 2.33 years ago, best team in the world, it's just hard," Altman replied. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has revealed that Nyesom Wikes character deficiency led him to choose Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate. Although Atiku didnt elaborate on the specific character issues, he stood by his decision, stating he doesnt regret choosing Okowa over Wike. In a statement signed by Atikus Media Office, in Abuja, on Saturday, titled: Learning Without Character Is Equal To Zero, Advertisement While we understand that bitterness often finds expression in misplaced aggression, we must remind Mr. Wike and his team that a bitter heart isnt capable of charity, nor does it inspire unity, healing, or truth. Once again, facts have been twisted in a desperate attempt to rewrite history. Mr. Wike, through his spokesperson, claims that he had 13 votes from a committee set up to recommend a vice presidential running mate, while Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa had only two. Let us be clear there are no laid down rules or laws on the selection process of a running mate. Committees, consultations, and recommendations are advisory in nature. The final decision rests solely and exclusively with the presidential candidate, in this case, Atiku Abubakar. It is a constitutional and strategic choice, not a popularity contest. Assuming, but not conceding that Wike had 13 votes and Okowa had 2 just like universities confer degrees in learning and in character one must ask: what is the worth of votes if character scores a zero? Leadership is not only about numbers; it is about temperament, dignity, and the ability to unify. A man may boast of numbers, but if his conduct lacks grace and humility, those numbers are empty. We make no apologies for choosing Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate in 2023. That decision was based on a combination of intellect, composure, and statesmanship. We urge Mr. Wike and his social media spokesperson to resist the temptation to sermonize about religious piety during Ramadan and Lent, too, while simultaneously fanning the flames of discord. Let us not reduce sacred periods to a tool for petty political jabs. The task of rebuilding our party and our nation is a serious one. It is time to move beyond bruised egos and focus on what truly matters: the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its people!. Otunba Emmanuel Ajisafe Fayose, a PDP chieftain, has thrown his hat into the ring, vowing to unseat Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji in 2026. Fayose criticized Oyebanjis administration, citing poor performance. He made the declaration at Ansar-u-deen Central Mosque in Ado Ekiti, where he distributed foodstuffs and cash gifts to show solidarity with Muslims. Speaking to news men on Saturday, Fayose disclosed: I have something better than what you are currently getting, Ekiti residents deserve more than what they are getting. This APC government in Ekiti and Nigeria has not done well, they fail to provide basic needs of the masses; No job opportunities, majority of our youths are riding okada to make ends meet, no social amenities and people are hungry; an hungry man is an angry man, there is no food. To feed once a day is hard, everything is expensive. Advertisement APC government is not doing well at all, if they cant govern well, they should handover the government.:The masses are suffering, there are no social amenities such as electricity, road network, no job, no adequate security. A responsible government has to put food on the table of the masses and provide them with the basic needs of life. These are what we are coming to give our people, I want Ekiti people to support me. In our time, we will do more than this government; I have many programmes that would better the lives of Ekiti residents. We will create massive employment and empowerment. We will establish factories, mechanized farming and several life changing programmes. While calling on Ekiti residents to support his aspiration, Fayose opined that he understands what Ekiti people are facing, urging them to exercise patience and persevere. He said, I know what you are going through at this moment, there is hunger in the land, everything is expensive. APC governments are not doing well at all, the masses are suffering, we shall put smiles on your faces and joy in your heart. Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-governor of Anambra State, has denied rumors of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC). He clarified that his name was incorrectly linked to an APC gathering, emphasising that he doesnt engage in toxic politics, blackmail, or any form of political manipulation, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to integrity, fairness and issue-based politics and refuting claims of wanting to join the APC. In a statement issued on X on Saturday Peter Obi disclosed: I have come across a report circulating on social media regarding an APC gathering where my name was mentioned. Advertisement Let me make it unequivocally clear: I do not engage in toxic politics, blackmail, or any form of political manipulation. My name should not be associated with such narratives. For the avoidance of doubt, both now and in the future, I am not a member of the APC, nor am I an intending member. My stance on politics has always been rooted in integrity, fairness, and issue-based engagement. I firmly believe that all political parties should assess aspirants solely on their competence, capacity, and compassion qualities essential for building a better Anambra and a better Nigeria. As for Valentine Ozigbo, I maintain that he, like every other aspirant, should be evaluated based on these key leadership qualities in his new political party. I wish all political parties the very best in conducting free and fair primaries, and I call on all stakeholders to uphold justice throughout the process. We must reject toxic politics, for that is the only path to achieving the democratic nation we currently lack. By doing so, we will move closer to the new Nigeria we seek. https://x.com/PeterObi/status/1905752354429018395?t=jZXMyaa20pwwP3e34d62xg&s=19 Hanumant Chimate, 49, prepares to get back on his way and deliver the lunchboxes on time. When Mininath Jadhav picks up the first lunchbox at a tenement building in Andheri, one of Mumbais most densely populated suburbs, just minutes before 9 a.m., he has already been awake for five hours, and finished his morning job as a milkman, which he does for two hours every morning in his neighborhood. There are still 23 more lunchboxes to collect in Andheri before 10 a.m., followed by another 37 to deliver around 1 p.m. to various offices in Lower Parel, a suburb 12 miles further south, reached by Mumbais local trains. At 37, Mininath has been part of the small army of men responsible for feeding over 100,000 people daily in the city for 24 years. These workers are known as dabbawalas and are easily recognized by their traditional white Gandhi caps, or topis. In India, a dabba is a round metal box used to carry hot food, and wallah means someone who takes charge of something, explains Ramdas Karwande, 47, who has been president of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association cooperative since 2023. We dabbawalas are in charge of delivering lunchboxes of homemade food to the offices of hundreds of thousands of workers, picking them up from their homes a few hours earlier. Weve been providing this service in Mumbai since 1890, using a system that has earned us several international accolades, including the Six Sigma certification for our high accuracy rate, as we make only one error for every six million transactions, he adds proudly. Kaluram Parithe carries about 20 kilos of lunchboxes on his shoulder. Oscar Espinosa A pleasant scent of spices wafts from the kitchen of 44-year-old Pooja Sanghvi, who tastes the sauce simmering in one of the pots on the stove and adds a pinch of salt. She lives very close to the Dadar train station, so her lunchbox, also called a dabba or tiffin, will be the last one Mahadev Pangare will pick up shortly before 10 a.m. Ive been using this service for seven years, and in all that time, theyve never failed to deliver or arrived late, says Pooja, looking at the clock on the wall and hurrying to fill the various compartments of the metal lunchbox, which will travel to an office in Churchgate. She knows that she has to finish the mean on time, since meeting deadlines is one of the unwavering principles of the dabbawalas, who work in a synchronized and disciplined manner to maintain their high level of efficiency. A delay on her part could disrupt the entire delivery chain. Therefore, if a customer delivers their lunchbox late three times in a month, their service is suspended. Five minutes before 10 a.m., Mahadev, 46, who has been working as a dabbawala since he was 16, parks his bicycle loaded with about 20 tiffins and walks briskly up the two flights to Poojas house, where shes already waiting for him at the door with a big smile and a lunchbox in hand. In less than two minutes, they exchange greetings, wish each other a good day, and Mahadev runs off again to his bicycle to make it to the station on time. The meeting point is under the small, graffiti-covered bridge rising over the road in front of Dadar stations main entrance. Amid the morning bustle commuters rushing to catch trains, flower and vegetable vendors setting up their stalls dabbawalas arrive with their bicycles stacked high with lunchboxes. Mahadev moves between the various stacks of tiffins waiting in a corner of the bridge, leaves Poojas lunchbox next to those that will go to Churchgate station, distributes the rest, and heads to the stack of tiffins that will go to Bandra station, where he delivers to, to begin sorting them. His train leaves at 10:38, enough time for the other dabbawalas to finish arriving with the lunchboxes to be delivered to Bandra. Pooja Sanghvi, 44, prepares the food to be delivered. Oscar Espinosa Unlike other food delivery platforms, dabbawalas dont use any technology. They operate using a system of codes with symbols and colors, devised over a century ago, that specifies the origin, destination, and the delivery people involved in the process. Each tiffin passes through three hands: the collector who picks it up from the customers home with freshly prepared food, the transporter who carries it by train to the station nearest the recipients office, and the final courier who delivers it. Everything is marked on each tiffin to make handling quick and efficient. In turn, each tiffin goes through two sorting processes that take place near the train stations: first at the origin station where it was picked up, where it will be placed in different piles depending on the destination station; and the second sorting takes place at the destination station, where tiffins will arrive from different parts of Mumbai and will be sorted again according to the delivery routes. This process will be repeated in reverse, as dabbawalas also collect the empty lunchboxes and return them to their homes. In addition, there are one or two dabbawalas in each area responsible for covering any delays or incidents to ensure deliveries are always on time. Ramdas Karwande, president of the cooperative. Oscar Espinosa Dressed in a white shirt, trousers, and cap, Kaluram Parithe, 60, checks that all his tiffins have arrived, ties them together for easy transport, and carries about 20 of them over his right shoulder with the help of a companion. He carries the rest in his left arm and heads toward platform 2 at Dadar station, where he will catch the train to Churchgate, a neighborhood in south Mumbai that is home to a large number of offices, where dabbawalas arrive from all over the city. Like every day, the train arrives on time, and Kaluram has just 40 seconds to board the luggage car, where he meets other delivery workers from other stations further north. He stands by the door of the small car packed with lunchboxes. With almost no room to move, he joins in the lively conversation of his colleagues, who are taking advantage of the journey to rest and recover their strength. Twenty minutes later, they arrive at the end of the line, and everyone rushes to grab their lunchboxes to take them to the next sorting point. In front of Churchgate station, hundreds of tiffins are piled up along a 400-meter stretch of sidewalk, where around 30 dabbawalas organize them and load them onto their bicycles under the watchful eyes of tourists and onlookers. Hanumant Chimate, 49, will be delivering by cart. I have more than 30 dabbas to deliver, too many to carry on the bike. An hour and a half later, he has delivered all the tiffins on time and parks the cart at the entrance to a pedestrian street. Taking out his own tiffin, packed with the meal his wife prepared that morning, he heads to a nearby building to eat with three fellow dabbawalas who cover the same area. Mininath Jadhav (right) waits for the train with her colleagues. Oscar Espinosa We meet every day to eat together, explains Hanumat, who has been delivering meals for 25 years. Dabbawalas are more than just coworkers and equal partners in a cooperative they share the same origins, culture, ethical values, and religious beliefs. Like the first dabbawala, Mahadeo Havaji Bachche, who started the service in 1890 after a Parsi banker asked him to deliver food from his home to the bank, almost all of them come from rural areas in the Pune district and belong to the Hindu Vakari community. Vakaris worship the god Vithala, who teaches that giving food is a great virtue; offering food to others is equivalent to offering it to God. Therefore, for many dabbawalas, their work has an important spiritual meaning. Six train stops further north, in Lower Parel, Mininath Jadhav retraces his morning route to collect empty lunchboxes at One World Center, a brand-new business complex spread across two office towers. Its home to EverSource Capital, a leading Asian climate impact investor whose CFO is one of the dabbawalas satisfied customers. Viral Rathod, 48, has been using this service for 15 years. He has worked at various companies and says theyve never failed him in all that time. Theyre very efficient and affordable. I pay 1,200 rupees a month (about $13) for the delivery service from Monday to Friday. But above all, theyre very convenient because they save me from having to carry food on the train, which during rush hour is almost an impossible task. And my wife has time to prepare homemade meals, which take time, Viral explains in front of the imposing building. Meanwhile, in a more modest office in the same suburb of Lower Parel, 35-year-old Sandip Jadhav collects the empty lunchbox from 54-year-old real estate agent Chetan Vira, a client of four years. The dabbawalas are an institution in Mumbai; they are humble, serious people who have earned everyones respect, says Chetan. I have complete trust in them, so much so that when I forgot my wallet at home, I asked my wife to put it next to the food, since I knew it would arrive and no one would open it. Shantaram Gira, 55, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 39 years. Oscar Espinosa Devaram Gopale, 63, is from Pune and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 22 years. Oscar Espinosa Cahadu Pangare, 42, is from Inglore Mawal (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 23 years. Oscar Espinosa Andre Dilip, 28, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for seven years. Oscar Espinosa Bhav Govind Shinde, 54, is from Mushi Bandare (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 42 years. Oscar Espinosa Mohan Dyandev Dattu, 46, is from Amboli (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 25 years. He is the supervisor of Andheri. Oscar Espinosa Natau Gule, 75, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 50 years. Oscar Espinosa Devram Kaltkar, de 62 anos, es de Kalhat (Pune) y lleva 35 anos trabajando como dabbawala. Oscar Espinosa Gorkh Roundhal, 65, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 20 years. Oscar Espinosa Hirman Dabhade, 55, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 35 years. Oscar Espinosa Vishbhanar Vavre, 42, is from Lonavla (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 15 years. Oscar Espinosa Balu Rabhji Walunj, 52, is from Bhamashakr (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 38 years. He is the supervisor of Lower Parel. Oscar Espinosa Kaluram Parithe, 60, is from Pune and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 25 years. Oscar Espinosa Anil Rokabe, 27, is from Pune and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 15 years. Oscar Espinosa Manik Bhau Bhalsing, 52, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 29 years. Oscar Espinosa Chantarim Kedari, 75, is from Pune and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for more than 50 years. Oscar Espinosa Sandip Bacche, 41, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 22 years. Oscar Espinosa Ramdas Karwande, president of the cooperative. Oscar Espinosa Ganesh Dhondiva Kaude, 18, is from Kolve (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for three years. Oscar Espinosa Kailash Baban Vatane, 40, is from Telegar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 25 years. Oscar Espinosa Vithal Roundhal, 53, is from Rachguru Nagar (Pune) and has been working as a 'dabbawala' for 25 years. Oscar Espinosa Around 7 p.m., Mininath returns home to Sagar Khutir, a humble settlement in the Andheri district just a few meters from the sea, where other dabbawalas also live with their families. Mininath lives with his wife and 10-year-old daughter in a small room with no bathroom, measuring about 10 square meters, for which he pays 9,000 rupees a month (about $100). His dabbawala salary of 15,000 rupees ($170) and an additional 5,000 rupees ($55) from his milk delivery job help him cover expenses and send money back to his family in Pune. I started working as a dabbawala when I was 13, and Ill probably continue until I retire, he says. Like many of his peers, he came to Bombay as a child to help his family and was welcomed by the dabbawala community. The discipline, organization, and dedication of these men have made their remarkably efficient system a subject of study and praise in international business schools and logistics companies. Their model demonstrates that, with minimal resources but exceptional coordination, teamwork, and a non-hierarchical structure, it is possible to create a last-mile distribution network referring to the final stage of product delivery so efficient, affordable, and sustainable that no one has been able to surpass it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has claimed that it will take Nigerians many decades to understand the efforts of President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria. In a statement on Saturday to celebrate Tinubus birthday, Keyamo paid tribute to the former governor of Lagos State. He said that the piece wasnt just to be read for now alone as it was meant to stand as a testament for generations unborn. Advertisement Keyamo, described Tinubu as a master at fostering progressive coalitions for democratic advancement. He added that the President has brought value to Nigerian democratic space. Keyamo said: From an insider perspective, I dare say it will take decades before Nigerians truly and fully understand and appreciate the value President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has brought into our democratic space in all ramifications and the audacity with which he has taken on some of our key systemic challenges as a nation, root and branch. READ MORE: Fish Out Killers Of Travellers In Edo, Tinubu Orders Security Agencies Doubtless, in post-colonial Nigeria, he has been a master at fostering progressive coalitions for the ultimate advancement of democracy. Firstly, he played a very pivotal role in the formation and sustenance of NADECO to oust the Military and restore democratic governance in Nigeria. Secondly, he was at it again in 2015 when he inspired and rallied the biggest coalition of political parties in history to form the APC and oust the overly dominant PDP from power, thus re-balancing our democratic system. The Nigerian Navy has rescued 15 passengers from a cargo boat after a suspected kidnapping attempt. Sirajo Almustapha, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Bases (NNFOB) base operations officer, stated in a statement on Saturday that the incident occurred Friday afternoon along the Bonny River in Port Harcourt. Almustapha revealed that the NNFOB Bonnys anti-kidnapping team intervened after suspected armed kidnappers seized the boat and diverted it into Opuadakiri Creek along the Bonny-Port Harcourt Sea route, successfully rescuing the crew. Advertisement READ MORE: Security Guard Loses Life After Alleged Attack By Customer At Rivers Eatery During the patrol, security checks were carried out on passenger boats plying through the area, the statement reads. At about 02:20 pm, the team received a report that 15 passengers in a market boat were forced into a creek by unknown armed men suspected to be kidnappers around the Opuadakiri community. On receipt of the report, FOB BONNY patrol team swiftly moved into the creek in pursuit. However, on sighting the naval gunboats, the criminals abandoned the boat and escaped. The FOB BONNY patrol team rescued the victims unhurt. Almustapha stated that the boat was heading to Port Harcourt from Bonny Island. He added that, according to the crew, four suspected kidnappers were involved, with one of them carrying a rifle. He stated that the navy has implemented measures to capture the suspects and ensure the security of the waterways. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a Lekki-based businessman and proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, over his alleged involvement in trafficking illicit drugs. According to NDLEA, the suspect was linked to the shipment of 60 parcels of loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from the United States to Nigeria. The agency confirmed that its operatives apprehended Ebenezer following intelligence-led investigations. The illicit consignment was intercepted, preventing its distribution. Advertisement Speaking to newsmen on Sunday, the Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, stated: The 43-year-old businessman was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki area of Lagos where he does his illicit drug business on Monday, March 24, 2025, while he was expecting to take the delivery of his latest drug consignment. His arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived in Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on March 12 by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation. After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search during which 94 grams of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered. This brings the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilograms. In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017. Babafemi said, Attempt by another businessman, Omoruyi Terry, to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grams to Italy was also been thwarted by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. Omoruyi was intercepted at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight. Investigation reveals the suspect is an Italy-based frequent traveler and logistics agent. Saudi Arabia has declared that the Shawwal crescent has been sighted, marking Sunday, March 30, 2025, as the date for Eid al-Fitr celebrations. The announcement was shared on Saturday via Haramains official X page, a widely recognised platform for the global Muslim community. The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Advertisement READ MORE: Christians Who Pray Holy Ghost Fire Against Enemies Are Antichrists Catholic Priest May Allah accept our siyam, qiyam & amal & may He allow us to witness many more Ramadans in good health. Amin, the statement read. Eid al-Fitr signifies the conclusion of Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting in Islam, and is observed globally by Muslims through prayers, festive meals, and charitable deeds. SEE POST: The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is not open to merging with any other political party, according to National Secretary Olu Agunloye. The party is also resisting any potential hostile takeover by new members. Agunloye emphasized that the SDP will maintain its independence and resist any attempts to compromise its values. This stance comes after reports of former Governor Nasir El-Rufais alleged defection to the SDP, which the partys Kaduna State chapter has denied. The SDP is committed to upholding its constitution and ensuring a transparent, democratic process for new members. Advertisement Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, SDP National Secretary Olu Agunloye disclosed: APC and PDP, which have ruled Nigeria since 1999, have not done well. It is common knowledge that Nigeria is not where Nigerians expect it to be. Injustice, corruption, money for vote elections, and high insecurity have led to economic crisis, massive youth unemployment, and pervasive poverty. People are suffering, and many more are getting trapped in poverty by the day. In the face of these challenges, the emergence of SDP as an alternative platform for progress has become compelling. This is why all SDP leaders and state chairmen are required to reach out to all people desirous of good governance to join the crusade for sustainable development and not leave this task only to our dynamic and charismatic National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, he said. Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanemere, widely known as Odumeje and the lead pastor of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, has denounced President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration, describing it as the worst in Nigerias history. Speaking to his congregation in the church auditorium, Odumeje, in a video shared on X on Saturday, criticised Nigerians for staying silent despite the severe hardship brought on by Tinubus economic policies. He accused Tinubus family and close allies of enjoying the nations wealth at the expense of Nigerians. Advertisement READ MORE: Real Estate In Nigeria Is Haven For Money Laundering Patrick Doyle He declared that President Tinubu has nothing to offer Nigerians and vowed to run for the presidency in 2027 if he receives Gods approval. Odumeje said, The government is bragging when there is nothing they have offered to this nation. The current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the worst government that Nigeria has ever had. Im disappointed with all of us, Nigerians, for allowing this person to be suffering us and increasing economic hardship. He and his family are enjoying the money that belongs to everybody, and we are keeping quiet on social media. He [Tinubu] is my fellow man, but he has nothing to offer. We only live once. Thats why I tell you, this presidential seat, 2027, I will use power, and Im coming out for it. When Im done consulting God and I come out for the presidency, nobody can occupy the seat. Popular social media activist, VeryDarkMan, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, warning that the escalating violence could spark a religious war in Nigeria. In a video posted on his Instagram page on Saturday, the activist expressed frustration over the governments failure to address the ongoing crisis, particularly in states like Benue and Edo. He accused authorities of deliberately avoiding the issue while innocent Nigerians continued to suffer. Alright, so dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, today is your birthday but I cannot wish you a happy birthday because you yourself dont wish your people well, if you wish your people well, you will understand that this whole herdsmen issue is slowly gaining strength, and very soon, it might result in a religious war in Nigeria. Advertisement READ MORE: Stop Being Sheep! VeryDarkMan Drags Eniola Badmus Over Support For Tinubu VeryDarkMan lamented that despite his repeated efforts to raise awareness about the herdsmen attacks, the issue had been largely ignored by both the government and the media. He referenced the recent attack in Uromi, Edo State, expressing regret that he was unable to visit the community before the tragedy struck. It feels like the government is afraid of this herdsmen issue, he continued. They dont want to talk about it. Now, look at where it is heading. Next thing, it will turn into a religious war because Northerners are now claiming that Muslims are being killed. And for some reason, the media doesnt want this matter to get attention. The activist further criticised the government for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State while allegedly ignoring the worsening insecurity caused by herdsmen. He warned that if urgent action was not taken, the crisis could spiral out of control. Despite his harsh criticism of the government, VeryDarkMan condemned jungle justice, recalling a personal experience where he was nearly lynched. He urged Nigerians to avoid taking the law into their own hands, no matter how frustrating the situation becomes. Jungle justice is never the way. No matter what, I will always condemn it. I will never support jungle justice. Never! he declared. Concluding his message, he cautioned those in power, particularly President Tinubu, to address the crisis before it leads to full-blown religious conflict. Be careful, this thing will give birth to a religious war very soon. We are slowly approaching it. Watch him speak below https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHyXZGRMCfw/?igsh=MWZpNXRkdmcycDg4Zw== Northern Elders Forum has kicked against recent killings of some northern travellers in Edo State. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that hunters, suspected to be terrorists were killed and set ablaze by angry mob in Uromi area of the state. Following the unfortunate incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered for immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals responsible for the act. Advertisement READ MORE: Fish Out Killers Of Travellers In Edo, Tinubu Orders Security Agencies Reacting to the killings on Saturday, in a statement by NEFs Spokesman, Professor Abubakar Jika, said that the North has tolerated enough and will no longer condone such treatment. He said: NEF received the shocking, sad, and deeply disturbing news of the barbaric, extra-judicial, and cowardly killing of innocent Northern hunters who were returning home to celebrate the end of Ramadan and Eid Kabir Sallah festival with their families in Uromi, Edo State. This heinous act is totally unacceptable, and we condemn it in the strongest terms. The North has tolerated numerous acts of recklessness from some Southern part of Nigeria in the past. This must come to an end. NEW YORK During the first Trump administration, the biggest concern for many journalists was labels. Would they, or their news outlet, be called fake news or an enemy of the people by a president and his supporters? They now face a more assertive President Donald Trump. In two months, a blitz of action by the nations new administration Trump, chapter two has journalists on their heels. Advertisement Lawsuits. A newly aggressive Federal Communications Commission. An effort to control the press corps that covers the president, prompting legal action by the Associated Press. A gutted Voice of America. Public data stripped from websites. And attacks, amplified anew. Its very clear whats happening. The Trump administration is on a campaign to do everything it can to diminish and obstruct journalism in the United States," said Bill Grueskin, a journalism professor at Columbia University. Its really nothing like we saw in 2017," he said. Not that there werent efforts to discredit the press, and not that there werent things that the press did to discredit themselves. Trump supporters say an overdue course correction is in order Supporters of the president suggest that an overdue correction is in order to reflect new ways that Americans get information and to counter overreach by reporters. Polls have revealed continued public dissatisfaction with journalists something that has been bedeviling the industry for years. Tension between presidents and the Fourth Estate is nothing new an unsurprising clash between desires to control a message and to ask probing, sometimes impertinent questions. Despite the atmosphere, the Republican president talks to reporters much more often than many predecessors, including Democrat Joe Biden, who rarely gave interviews. An early signal that times had changed came when the White House invited newcomers to press briefings, including podcasters and friendly media outlets. The AP was blocked from covering pool events in a dispute over Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, setting off a flurry of First Amendment concerns among press advocates and leading the administration to assert that the White House, not the press, should determine who questions him. Two months before the administration took office, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, who served under Republican President George W. Bush, had urged that changes be made. Its time to bring that [briefing] room in line with how readers and viewers consume the news in 2025, Fleischer said in an interview. They dont get their news from the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the three networks anymore. They get their news from a myriad of sources. In practice, some newcomers have refreshingly tried to shed light on issues important to conservatives, instead of hostile attempts to play gotcha by the mainstream media, Fleischer said. There were also softballs, like when the Ruthless podcast asked press secretary Karoline Leavitt if reporters who questioned border policy were out of touch. The conservative Real Americas Voice network tried to knock Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky off stride by asking why he wasnt wearing a suit in the Oval Office. While the White House Correspondents' Association has protested the APs treatment and efforts to upend tradition, it has been largely toothless. For more extensive discussions, the president and his team generally favor interviews with outlets that speak to his supporters, like Fox News. The Trump team's rapid response efforts to fight the 'fake media' The White House has also established a "Rapid Response 47" account on X to disseminate its views and attack journalists or stories it objects to. The feed's stated goals are supporting the president and "holding the Fake Media accountable." Leavitt, 27, hasnt hesitated to go toe to toe with reporters, often with a smile, and TikTok collects some of those moments. "We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, and we will not accept that," she said at her first press briefing. It stood in contrast to Trump's 2017 press secretary, Sean Spicer, who got into an angry confrontation with the press about the size of the president's inauguration crowd on his first day in the White House, and never truly recovered from it. Showing the spread of the administration's disciplined approach, the Defense Department also has a rapid response account that says it "fights fake news." The Pentagon has evicted several news organizations from long-held office space, leading some reporters to worry about access to fast, reliable information during a military crisis. Strategically, he likes to use the press as a pawn it is one of the institutions that he can demonize to make himself look good, said Ron Fournier, a former Washington bureau chief for the AP. Trump has active lawsuits going against news outlets that displease him, such as CBS News for the way 60 Minutes edited an interview with 2024 election opponent Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, or the Des Moines Register, for what turned out to be an inaccurate preelection poll of Iowa voters. The new FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, has signaled an activist stance, with investigations open against CBS for the 60 Minutes case, ABC News for how it fact-checked the Trump-Harris debate; and NBC on whether it violated federal equal time provisions by bringing Harris onto Saturday Night Live. Even with all the change, many newsrooms are confronting the challenge Fleischer welcomes a newly aggressive attitude toward the press. He believes many journalists were more activists than reporters during Trump's first term. He wondered why journalists were not more aggressive in determining whether Biden's advancing age made him fit for the presidency. I think that the press is either in denial, or they acknowledge that they have lost the trust of the people but they won't change or do anything about it, he said. They just don't know how to do their jobs any differently. Press advocates worry about the intimidation factor of lawsuits and investigations, particularly on smaller newsrooms. What stories will go unreported simply because its not worth the potential hassle? It has a very corrosive effect over time, Grueskin said. Worth watching, too, is a disconnect between newsrooms and the people who own them. Both the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post backed off endorsements of Harris last fall at the behest of their owners, and Post owner Jeff Bezos attended Trumps inauguration. When the Post announced a reorganization earlier this month, Leavitt took a shot: It appears that the mainstream media, including the Post, is finally learning that having disdain for more than half the country who supports this president does not help you sell newspapers. Many newsrooms are notably not backing down from the challenge of covering the administration. 60 Minutes has done several hard-hitting reports, the Atlantic has added staff, and Wired is digging in to cover Elon Musks cost-cutting. For their own industry, much of the news is grim. The future of Voice of America is in doubt, eliminating jobs and, its supporters fear, reducing the nation's influence overseas. Cost-cutters are eyeing government subscriptions for news outlets, eliminating an income source. On a broader scale, there are worries about attacks on journalists' legal protections against libel lawsuits. They're pulling at every thread they can find, no matter how tenuous, to try and undermine credible news organizations, Grueskin said. It is well organized. It is coming from multiple directions. And it has been only two months. The Oglala Sioux, and the historic Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where many tribal members still live, have often witnessed the American government on its worst behavior. Pine Ridge is home to Wounded Knee, where in 1890 U.S. Army troops, fueled by settlers racist fears of a Sioux resurgence, massacred roughly 300 of the Lakota, and where in 1973 the modern-day American Indian Movement faced its own blood-soaked climax. It probably wont shock you to learn President Donald Trump has not been a friend to the Oglala Sioux or the other Indigenous Americans living in the Dakotas. One of the first acts of his first term in 2017 was to ram through approval for the Dakota Access Pipeline despite months of contentious protests by Native American residents that the government had no right to risk polluting their hallowed lands. Advertisement Now, Trumps latest act is adding insult to centuries of injury for the Oglala Sioux. The story of this newest outrage starts in 2015, when a group of slick investors arrived at Pine Ridge to pitch leaders of the Oglala Nation on an economic development plan for what stubbornly remains one of the poorest counties in the United States. The backers of a planned bond sale to benefit the reservation included Devon Archer, who, at the same time, was a partner on other deals with Hunter Biden, son of the then-vice president. The beleaguered Oglala Sioux never reaped a dime from what federal prosecutors soon charged was a swindle from the start. A 2016 indictment alleged the group defrauded its investors, as some partners used the proceeds for fancy cars and jewelry, while Archer was accused of using some of the cash for propping up his other ventures. His 2018 conviction on securities fraud charges led to a one-year prison sentence and an order to pay $43 million in restitution, triggering a seven-year legal battle to avoid the penalties and some major changes for Archer. When, according to reporting by the New York Times, the Biden family ignored pleas for a pardon and froze Archer out upon Joe Bidens ascension to the White House in 2021, he became a whistleblower against Hunter Biden. He eagerly worked with Trump allies, Republicans on Capitol Hill, and right-wing journalists by offering dirt on Hunter Biden. The now-47th president was clearly impressed by Archers flip-flop. On Tuesday, Trump signed a full and unconditional pardon for Archer, bypassing the once-traditional U.S. Justice Department review process that judges such quaint notions as contrition or good works. Neither the Oglala Sioux nor their duped investors will see any justice in the case. Said Archer: Im full MAGA now. Theyre more my people. This case of presidential mercy for an alleged swindler turned political ally may not even have been the worst travesty of injustice in a week when Trump while the Beltway media was almost solely focused on a different scandal, around the accidental leak of Yemen attack plans over the Signal app went off on a little-noticed pardon spree for his friends and a big-time donor: Perhaps the most egregious abuse was the full pardon granted to Trevor Milton, the wealthy founder of electric truck maker Nikola, who was convicted of securities and wire fraud by a federal jury in 2022 after pumping up his companys stock price with outrageous lies about its future products. After his conviction, Milton dramatically accelerated his political donations to Trump-related causes, including $930,000 to the Trump campaign and its political action committees, $285,000 to the Republican National Committee, and another $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance that fused the movements of Trump with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. His legal team was led by Brad Bondi, the brother of Trumps attorney general, Pam Bondi. They say the thing that he did wrong was he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for a president, the president told reporters in justifying the pardon. He supported Trump. He liked Trump. Milton posted a video to his X social media account: I am free. The prosecutors can no longer hurt me. With even less fanfare, Trump also slapped down his endless supply of get-out-of-jail-free cards for Carlos Watson, the convicted fraudster and founder of the disgraced venture Ozy Media, who was literally en route to begin a 10-year prison sentence when granted clemency. The president also pardoned the three founders of a cryptocurrency venture convicted of violating money-laundering laws. On Friday, the Trump White House reportedly fired a Los Angeles-based assistant U.S. attorney who had criticized Trump prior to joining the Justice Department but was also leading the prosecution of stop me if youve heard this one before a major Trump and GOP donor, the former CEO of the fast-food chain Fatburger. A former prosecutor told the Los Angeles Times that the firing of Adam Schleifer is going to have an incredible chilling effect on any line federal prosecutor who is thinking about criminally investigating or prosecuting an executive of any company of any significance. He added: The message from Adams case is that if youre going to indict some run-of-the-mill CEO of a company, you need to check if hes a Trump supporter first. Lets take a step back from this white-collar crime spree and look at the big picture, which is a little shocking. Trumps first major act as 47th president of pardoning roughly 1,500 insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, even those who violently attacked police officers on top of Trumps success in evading any real accountability for his own four felony indictments has clearly anesthetized the public to a catastrophic failure of the U.S. justice system. The unrestricted power of the presidency to grant full mercy for federal crimes has always posed the potential for abuse, and on a much smaller scale, it has arguably been misused by both Republican and Democratic past presidents. But this was before the U.S. Supreme Court last year barred prosecuting presidents for their official acts, which includes any grants of clemency. Under that ruling, a convicted white-collar criminal could hand Trump a briefcase with $1 billion in cash in return for a pardon, and the president remains immune from prosecution. This is the power of a king, and Trump is wielding this authority, tyrannically. In Trumps America, the con artist behind his own scams from Trump University to the presidential meme coin has also decided to create a perpetual The Purge of no punishment for any kind of white-collar fraud even, or especially, against people like the long-oppressed Oglala Sioux. All that matters is the perps pledge their fealty, and hopefully wads of cash, to His Highness, our strongman president. Lets be honest: American justice was already on life support before Trump returned on Jan. 20 with wrist slaps or less for the high-powered crooks of Wall Street, and the worlds highest rate of mass incarceration for, well, the masses. But Trump has obliterated any lingering hope for fairness. So I guess we can just disband or at least downsize the Justice Department, the FBI, and related law enforcement agencies, since so many laws are no longer even being enforced. Except instead the power of the state is being radically repurposed, and not for good. Its difficult to say which of these is worse: Is it the vows by MAGA loyalists like the Jan. 6 rally speaker Ed Martin somehow planted as the mega-powerful interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. to prosecute politicians or activists for no crime other than criticizing Trump or his apparent copresident, Elon Musk? This seems just the leading edge of Trumps promise of retribution against any and all perceived political enemies. Or is it the crude justice that Trump World is already meting out to more politically unpopular and legally vulnerable critics, including international university students whove protested for Palestinians since the war in Gaza started in 2023? At virtually the same moment convicted EV fraudster Milton was driving on the open road bragging that Im free, masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were grabbing Tufts University grad student Rumeysa Ozturk off a Massachusetts street and flying her to a notorious prison in Louisiana. This despite a lack of evidence that shes committed any crime, but instead came under scrutiny for coauthoring an innocuous pro-Palestinian op-ed. Once upon a time, the dream of equal justice under the law was a main ingredient in the beaker of a glorious American Experiment in democracy. Today, we are an autocracy, where white-collar thugs and their monarchical sponsor are untouchable, while secret police are nabbing legal residents for the thought crime of an op-ed in a college newspaper. And the Trump regime is just getting started. When were already numb to this latest assault on the Oglala Sioux, imagine what future injustices await those who dare to fight a dictatorship on U.S. soil. Some say that the 2024 U.S. elections were not a transfer of power as much as a true regime change for the Europeans, says Wang Yiwei. Its not easy to decipher what China thinks of Donald Trumps geopolitical whirlwind, but there are ways to gain insight. One can turn, for example, to the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Wang Yiwei is its vice-president, in addition to being the director of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China. Hes also familiar with Europe, having spent several years there as a diplomat. Wang welcomes EL PAIS in the academys entryway, where there is a shelf full of books about Xi, crowned with a plate emblazoned with the officials face. Books like Chronicle of the Eradication of Poverty in Villages Inspected and Guided by Xi Jinping are visible, and in the back, a corkboard displays articles written by the academys scholars. In September 2022, on another visit, it displayed a note about the war in Ukraine: NATO exports turmoil and instability to the world. A month ago, Wang was at the Munich Security Conference when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a harsh ideological attack on Europe. His words served as confirmation of the abyss that has formed between Washington and Brussels. The events chairperson Christoph Heusgen spoke at its closing event through tears, Wang says. That has never happened, he adds. A regular attendee of the conference, Wang interpreted Vances diatribe as a direct message from Trump to the Europeans: Take care of yourselves, Im busy. Secondly, we no longer share common values. Security and values, the two pillars that have sustained the bond between the United States and the EU, have changed fundamentally, Wang says. This causes transatlantic relations to be historically undermined. The alliances rupture is perhaps the most relevant of the interpretations provided by Chinese academics who were consulted for this article. But there are others. Globalization, they say, is dead the Washington consensus has collapsed, says Wang we are entering a new world, and there is a historic opportunity for rapprochement between China and the E.U. According to these academics, the E.U. must sit down at the negotiating table and the idea that Chinese peacekeeping troops must be sent to Ukraine is gaining strength. They also believe that Ukraine will have to cede territory to Russia. After all, China never returned the territories it annexed during the Qing dynasty to Moscow. Not even now that China has become powerful, says Wang. The expert believes that achieving peace in Ukraine would be an opportunity to negotiate an architecture of Euro-Asian security, from Lisbon to Vladivostok. He adds: It is the moment in which the E.U. must think in a new way about China. Considering that Russia is an enemy, and now the United States seems like an enemy if China is also an enemy, everyone on the planet is an enemy. Trumps plan, he continues, is to withdraw from Europe, pulling back to focus on internal challenges and to combat interests once aligned with Joe Bidens administration, which he blames, among other things, for the war in Ukraine. According to Wang, Trump plans to stop the conflict in the short term and prepare for war or competition with China in the long term. In coming years, Wang believes hell project Washington as a regional power on the American continents, hence his insistence on emerging victorious over the United States neighbors, from Canada to Greenland. In Wangs opinion, the slogan Make American Great Again harkens a desired return to a 19th century United States. It seeks to institute a new system of globalization with America at the center, he says. The tariff war must be seen in this context: Trump firing shots at all parties, including China, the country that most benefited from the previous globalization system. Beijing has responded with countermeasures, accusing Washington of maintaining a two-faced policy towards China, and presenting itself to the world as a haven of stability amid global turmoil. Trump and Xi have yet to meet, even via a conciliatory phone call, since the declaration of the new tariffs. Waiting for the 100-day mark We are waiting out the first 100 days since Trumps investiture to be clear on his true plans, says Professor Li Lifan, sub-director of the department of Russian and Central Asian studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, one of the countrys most reputable think tanks, which receives municipal government funds. Li is struck by the change in Washingtons treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Suddenly, he was being called a dictator, a title once reserved for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and [Belarusian] Alexander Lukashenko. Biden called Xi a dictator, a charge that sparked a diplomatic situation. On Zelenskiys tense meeting in the White House, Li adds, In the end, J.D. Vance was very provocative. He brought up a lot of negative issues. His takeaway is that its very strange how U.S. policy has changed so quickly. In the next four years, there is going to be a big shift. In his view, the planet is moving towards a multipolar order in which Washington no longer wants to exercise hegemonic power. Multipolar order is an expression that China and Russia use as a synonym for one in which Washington no longer dominates. Its the central idea behind a February 2022 joint statement signed by Xi and Putin that was emitted three weeks before Russian tanks invaded Ukraine. The same document established a no-limits friendship between the two powers. Three years later, Li believes that China could wind up sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, if the United Nations backs the move. Wang says those soldiers would be a security guarantee in a ceasefire agreement that otherwise fails to inspire confidence on the part of Ukraine and the E.U. They need China, he says. Russia doesnt trust NATO troops, and the United States is not going to send soldiers. Who can send them? China. The proposal on which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not comment when asked at a press conference last week raises another issue, according to the specialist: Psychologically, Europeans cannot accept the presence of Chinese soldiers on European territory. But the world has changed, Wang continues. The new geopolitical theater will be unforgiving, as indicated by Trumps negotiations with Putin, which the academic characterizes as You take Ukraine, Ill take Panama and Greenland. In this context, Wang sees a possible alignment forming between China and the E.U., to which he counsels leaving behind the view of his country as a systemic rival. We can cooperate on security matters, says Wang. Although, when asked about the huge differences between the two when it comes to values like human rights, freedom of expression and liberal democracy, he replies, We can talk about that in the future. Im very optimistic about E.U.-China relations, says Li. He believes that Brussels will maintain its policy of harm reduction, but does see signs of it thawing, such as the lifting by the European Parliament of restrictions that block its legislators from meeting with certain Chinese officials. He says thats a very positive sign and thinks that Beijing will respond in kind. With Trump withdrawing from international treaties like the climate change-focused Paris Agreement, Li adds, the environment could be one area of cooperation. Navigating the new world will be complicated, with some allies turning their backs and systemic rivals offering to lend a hand. China also finds itself in complex times, and there are weak spots in the countrys positioning. On one hand, it has denounced Washingtons intensification of commercial and technological war. On the other, it maintains values associated with what Wang calls the populist revolution. Beijing and Moscows main ally in Europe is Hungarys Viktor Orban, who considers Trump his comrade in arms. At the same time, in Beijing diplomatic circles, much is being said about the Chinese fear that the rehabilitation of Russia is a Washington plot to counteract Chinas rise. Perhaps these doubts will be resolved in upcoming high-level meetings. Xi and Trump could see each other in April, some media sources have reported. In May, Xi will visit Putin in Moscow for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the end of the Second World War. Will Trump also attend? Wang believes that the commemoration of the end of the war in China, which will take place in September, could be the setting for a meeting between Xi, Putin and Trump: the very image of the new world order. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition City Council President Kenyatta Johnson looks on as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker unveils her plan to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing during a special session of City Council on Monday. Read more The need for more housing is a problem nationwide, and Philadelphia is not exempt. The shortage has driven up costs for both renters and first-time homeowners in a market traditionally known for its affordability when compared with other large East Coast cities. In addressing the problem, Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers $2 billion Housing Opportunities Made Easy initiative could be the transformative change Philadelphia needs that is, if she can muster crucial support from her former colleagues on City Council. Advertisement Last month, Parker declared her intent to build, preserve, and restore roughly 30,000 homes. In a speech to Council on Monday, she detailed how she plans to reach her goal through a mix of affordable and market-rate housing, additional resources for home repair programs she pioneered as a member of City Council, and a renewed push for the Turn The Key workforce housing program designed by former Council President Darrell L. Clarke. The mayors proposal is appropriately ambitious, but it also has some daunting obstacles to overcome. One major complication is the ongoing antics of the Trump administration, which has already slashed staffing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Housing Choice Voucher Program, recently expanded to serve 30,000 Philadelphia households, is also under threat from the Department of Government Efficiencys chaotic destruction of congressionally approved federal programs. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which funds affordable housing proposals, has also been threatened by Elon Musks DOGE minions. These federal cuts will make it harder to serve households with the most needs. Another complicating factor is what Parker referred to as the elephant in the room: councilmanic prerogative the tradition of deferring land-use decisions to district Council members. Prerogative functions as one of the citys biggest constraints on housing, hampering the development of market-rate, affordable, and workforce housing alike. Zoning restrictions rubber-stamped through prerogative limit the height and density of housing proposals including those along key transit corridors over neighbors misguided fears of growth. Some members of Council, like the 5th Districts Jeffery Young, have proven unwilling to sell city-owned vacant lots, even after the Land Bank has approved plans. Council members also routinely intervene to shrink the size of proposals, even ones with a significant number of affordable units. While the Parker administration has wisely avoided a direct challenge to recalcitrant Council members so far, it is impossible for the mayors plan to succeed at the needed citywide scale as long as some districts insist on opting out. Another wrench is local groups who oppose using city money, city land, or other taxpayer-funded incentives for any proposal that serves households they deem too wealthy. These groups often cite the wage disparity between city and suburban households, arguing the federal income guidelines are skewed as a result. Parker, for her part, has repeatedly said she does not intend to exclude households who are a nickel over the limit from accessing housing assistance their city tax dollars are paying for. Thats almost certainly the right move. A growing consensus among housing policy experts is that more housing supply, including market-rate development, is good for all households, even those that cannot afford new construction. Every household that rents a new luxury apartment in Northern Liberties or a new townhouse in Graduate Hospital is one less bidder for the more affordable housing options that already exist. Additionally, the natural highs and lows of the housing market have allowed the Philadelphia Housing Authority to acquire properties built for luxury rentals at lower costs than building in-house, and higher apartment vacancy rates have led many landlords to market to voucher holders. An easier political lift for Parker is the additional support for housing preservation and maintenance programs, like Basic Systems Repair and Restore Repair Renew, which have a proven track record of fighting blight, reducing gun violence, and allowing longtime homeowners to stay in the neighborhoods even as costs rise. Still, preserving housing is only half the plan. If the mayor is to succeed in accomplishing all her housing goals, shell need to find a way to overcome the local and federal roadblocks to bring her plan home. I pulled into a parking space directly in front of the Cecil B. Moore Library in North Philly. I stepped out of my car and into a dimly lit lobby where I spotted a rack of books with the word free on them. Only take one, I told myself, before selecting a title and a couple of packets of flower seeds, also on the giveaway shelf. Since it was my first time inside, I paused a bit to take it all in. The peaceful, welcoming energy in the library is a stark contrast to the street noise and dilapidated, shuttered buildings outside. A childrens section with low tables and a rock climbing wall is on one side of the room, and the other is dedicated to adults and teenagers. As I walked around, a little boy beamed as he glanced up from his video game and announced, I come here every day. I smiled back at that. Libraries are my happy place, too. My mother was a school librarian who introduced me early to the joys of wandering through the stacks. The public library was one of the few places my siblings and I were allowed to walk to on our own as kids. Ive never been to a library where I didnt feel at home. Advertisement The Cecil B. Moore Library is no exception. It may be small and desperately in need of renovations, but its an oasis in a neighborhood that desperately needs it. Originally known as the Columbia Avenue Branch, its a community hub. Residents meet there. Kids learn to cook in the basement. Students flock there after school. I get why many Sharswood and Brewerytown, North Central, and other residents are so fiercely protective of it. They were forced to go without it for a few months after it closed Jan. 21 because of a defunct HVAC system. It reopened earlier this month after the Free Library installed temporary commercial heaters. A few days before it reopened, community residents met with Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. at a raucous town hall at Wayland Baptist Church, where Young presented three different improvement options including a controversial proposal to develop the library into a multi-use building that includes affordable housing. Colocating libraries with housing is a relatively new concept that has been happening in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. The prospect of doing something similar with the Cecil B. Moore branch alarmed some residents. Neighbors by and large during the town hall said: Hey, we want a renovation and thats it. Just give us that, recalled Cierra Freeman, director of the Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition. With the gentrification taking place in the neighborhood, some residents are concerned about potentially losing an important physical space. Nobody in this neighborhood wants housing on top, said Kate Goodman, a member of AFSCME District Council 47 Local 2187. We havent heard anybody say thats what they want. I am happy to report that, according to Young, the proposal to build housing on top of the library is now off the table. I never wanted to take away the communitys voice in the process, and I never wanted to force something on a community that a community doesnt want, he told me Wednesday. I believe that my job as an elected official is to present the community with options. The remaining two development options for the library include renovating the existing structure, which opened in 1962, or building an entirely new building, with space for more programming thats also befitting the technological needs of the 21st century. Young, who grew up in James W. Johnson Homes, said he is committed to keeping the library open as things get sorted out. Meanwhile, he said his office is looking for spaces that could serve as a temporary satellite location once work begins. Whatever happens needs to get underway sooner rather than later. The city wont soon forget how, two years ago, some youngsters beat an elderly man with a traffic cone in the wee hours one morning, not too far away from the library. James Lambert Jr., 73, died from his injuries. Libraries can and should be considered part of Phillys anti-violence initiatives. But they need to be open to do so. The Cecil B. Moore Library is too important to the neighborhood and to the city for its doors to be closed any longer than absolutely necessary. Hackers broke into Oracle Corp.s computer systems and stole patient data in an attempt to extort multiple medical providers in the US, according to a person familiar with the matter and a notification the software company sent to clients. Earlier this month, Oracle alerted some health-care customers that sometime after Jan. 22, hackers accessed company servers and copied patient data to an outside location, according to the notification, which was seen by Bloomberg News. Oracle sells software for patient records management to hospitals, doctors groups and other medical companies. The FBI is investigating the breach and the attempts by cyberattackers to force medical companies to pay ransoms, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation. Its unknown how many patients records were taken. The total number of health-care providers that the hackers have sought to extort is also uncertain. Oracle, based in Austin, Texas, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment. In 2022, Oracle acquired the electronic health records business Cerner Corp. for $28 billion and touted goals to modernize the legacy software company, including by moving customers to the cloud. Customers include large hospitals chains, small clinics and government-run facilities. The purchase came with a flagship $16 billion contract with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which has seen highly-publicized outages and lawmaker scrutiny. Oracle told customers that the hackers accessed older Cerner servers, taking data that had not yet been shifted to Oracles cloud storage service, according to the notice. Available evidence suggests the threat actor illegally accessed the environment by using stolen customer credentials, the company said in the notice. Oracle said it became aware of the breach around Feb. 20. The notice to customers states that the stolen data may have included patient information from electronic medial records. The person familiar with the breach said the material taken included recent patient records. Oracle will support your organization in its review of information to identity impacted patients the company told clients. A spokesperson for Veterans Affairs said the department wasnt affected by the incident. The publication Bleeping Computer reported earlier on some of the details of the cyberattack. Photo: Oracle offices in Redwood City, California./Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber Kilkenny Designs has won the Cork Business of the Year award, while Dino Cregan was recognised as Business Champion of Cork for his impact on the city's economy. The Cork Business Association (CBA) President's Dinner was held in the Vienna Woods on Saturday evening, where 12 businesses were recognised, celebrating the contribution of businesses and organisations that drive Corks commercial, cultural and community spirit. Virginia Foley of Up She Rises, Orla McAndrew and Aoife Quinn of Orla McAndrew Catering, and Andrea Ambrose of Orla McAndrew Catering pictured at the CBA Presidents Dinner and Cork Business of the Year Awards at Corks Vienna Woods. For more, see CorkBusiness.ie Photo: Joleen Cronin Taoiseach Micheal Martin and European Commissioner Michael McGrath made keynote speeches. The event was MCd by Matt Cooper with charity partner Parentline. Kilkenny Design was recognised as Business of the Year, positioning itself at the cornerstone of Irish design and gifting and a champion of innovation. The business has been at the heart of promoting and supporting Irish makers for more than 60 years. It has flourished into a thriving national and international brand under the leadership of Marian OGorman, her family and CEO Evelyn Moynihan. A former Lord Mayor of Cork and Senator, Dino Cregan, was recognised at the awards for his decades in the Cork business community through his chain of chip shops. He established the business from humble beginnings in his back garden to a cherished local business with multiple locations across Cork. Dave OBrien, President of Cork Business Association (CBA), Dino and Mary Creegan of Dinos Fish and Chips, and Micheal Martin, Taoiseach, pictured at the CBA Presidents Dinner and Cork Business of the Year Awards at Corks Vienna Woods. For more, see CorkBusiness.ie Photo: Joleen Cronin Under his leadership, the multi-generational family business not only expanded to seven locations, with an eighth soon opening in Midleton, but also innovated with Irelands first traditional chip shop drive-thru, biodegradable packaging, and a central food production facility. Accepting the award, he acknowledged the work of his family and said the motto he lived by was: "You're only as good as your last bag of chips." The winners were: Cork Business of the Year: Kilkenny Design Business Champion of Cork: Dino Cregan Best VFI Pub: Costigans Pub Best Cork Hotel: Hayfield Manor Best Professional Services: Healy Communications Best Festival or Event: Cork on a Fork Fest, a Cork City Council Festival Best in Culture, Arts & Tourism: Cork Opera House Best in Retail: K OConnell Fishmongers Best Cafe: Ruairis Kitchen Best Restaurant: Farmgate Cafe Best Family Business: Neville Jewellers Best New Business: RHEA Funeral Care Sustainable Business Innovation: Old Oak The CBA incoming President Dave OBrien said the winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process. "From long-established businesses to emerging enterprises, each winner represents the very best of what our city has to offer. We are proud to celebrate their contributions to Corks economy and culture Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: These awards showcase the passion and dedication of Cork Citys business community. They recognise businesses that demonstrate outstanding leadership, customer service, and innovation. I would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees for their achievements. If you add a 57-year-old woman to 37-degree heat, 74% humidity, 12m people, 18,000 steps a day, the worlds fourth-worst levels of air pollution, and two bouncy Gen Z travel companions, what do you get? Knackered. Knackered is what you get. Wiped out. Needing nana naps by three in the afternoon, laughed at by your youthful companions who suggest hiring you a mobility scooter. Horizontal by 9pm, while the Gen Zs, fully reloaded after a shower and an ice-cold Chang, head out into the suffocating night for more adventure, leaving you watching Muay Thai on the telly with the aircon turned up to 11. But even with air pollution bathing the citys sky-scraper skyline in a thick yellow smog you could squeeze into bricks with your bare hands, Bangkok is banging. You can be a millionaire here, accessing fabulous five-star luxe from the citys 3,487 hotels listed on Tripadvisor for quite literally less than the price of a Travelodge in Rathmines. Its fun pretending to be rich without the headfuckery of actually being rich. Rooftop pools and 30th-floor suites cost less than B&Bs back home. Which is just as well youll need your comfort after a hard days Bangkoking. Also, travelling with young people involves compromise. They like malls, you like temples. You can see why. Malls are air-conditioned, temples arent. Yes, they acknowledge, the Reclining Buddha is impressive, the sleepy golden statue the size of a plane, chanting orange-robed monks in attendance, and, yes, Wat Arun is very nice with all its mosaics and glittery bits but they want to go to the giant MBK mall eight floors, 2,000 outlets, freezing aircon to get fake trainers. A suggestion of carrying on to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha is met with a hard no, despite Mr Emerald being 500m away on Google Maps; trainers, here we come. Forget Istanbul fakes the best fakes in the world are in Bangkok. Adidas Yeezys for the price of a pair of Irish flip-flops, all profits going not to the anti-Semitic Mr West but to some random fake trainer maker; from Prada to Ray-Ban to Nike, everything is perfectly copied and going for a song. Next day, we head to Chatuchak Market, which the Gen Zs tell me is the biggest weekend market in the world, with 15,000 stalls spread in glorious higgle-piggle over 35 acres, shaded only by corrugated roofing and bits of tarpaulin. Its the hottest time of year. Our phones overheat and stop working; we turn them off, and press on. Shop till you drop becomes a literal possibility but I refuse to be age-shamed. I will not insist on calling it a day, collapsing into a Grab taxi, being ferried through the insane gridlock back to the icy peace of my posh hotel. Instead, I down another bucket of full-fat Coke and carry on. You can hydrate all day long but youll sweat it out before it ever reaches your kidneys. Like being at a rave. My body remembers, even as my brain melts. When the earthquake hits the next day, a towerblock collapses close to Chatuchak. By then the Gen Zs are north in Chiangmai, arriving bleary-eyed off a sleeper train, just 450km from the quakes epicentre. They take it all in their stride. Our taxi wobbled, texts my child, adding with considerable sangfroid, my first earthquake!. 1,330km south in Bangkok, waterfalls 30 floors from rooftop infinity pools the ones in which we had dreamily been floating all week. Read More Secret Diary of a Gen Z Student: New rules for dating keep us all apart What's your parenting style helicopter, drone, snowplough, free-range, tiger? Theyre all terrible. Drone parenting is like helicopter parenting, but worse, because youre hovering even closer overhead, hyper-focused on your children, micro-managing every aspect of their lives. Suffocating their ability to risk-assess for themselves, and creating chronic co-dependence. Snowplough parenting where you seek to clear all obstacles from your childs path so that they experience zero disappointment or setback kills their ability to develop resilience and gumption, and has led to jokes like how many Gen Z / Gen Alpha does it take to change a lightbulb? None their parents will do it for them. Then we unfairly label them snowflakes. Free-range parenting is when you let younger kids do whatever they like so as not to oppress them or stifle their spirit, which means they will never be invited back, because they are a rampaging nightmare with no concept of boundaries. And tiger parenting where you relentlessly push your children to overachieve, regarding anything less than total excellence as failure will crush their self-confidence, rob them of childhood joy, and make them hate you. When we say parenting, we really mean mothering. Mothering is still the one we focus on, gimlet-eyed, ever ready to criticise and judge. From yummy to slummy to crummy, we create made-up categories in which to pigeonhole female parents; on screen, we laugh at mummying via Motherland, Amandaland, Catastrophe, Bridget Jones, Outnumbered, Pramface. We pitch mummy stereotypes against each other. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney in Catastrophe Despite feminism helping to dismantle some of the rigid gender constructs around parenting, its still far worse to call a woman a bad mother than it is to call a man a bad father. Even when its toxic fathering, not mothering, which has unleashed upon the world entities like Musk and Trump. Fred [Trump, Donalds father] perverted his sons perception of the world and damaged his ability to live in it, wrote psychologist Mary Trump, niece of Donald, in her book Too Much And Never Enough, while Elon Musk and his father who has two children with Elons step-sister, 42 years his junior publicly loathe each other. Try to imagine a world in which a mother having 13 kids with four men, like Musk, or a mother serially cheating on a succession of husbands, like Trump, and people still revering them, adoring them, giving them all the power. Cant envision it? Me neither. Mothers, from the Virgin Mary to Madonna, have always been held to very different standards from fathers. We deify, fetishise, elevate mothering to impossible levels of perfection, and when actual flesh-and-blood mothers fail to meet these made-up expectations by showing themselves to be ordinary, fallible, flawed we trash them. We pit women against each other in manufactured culture wars: Stay-at-home mothers versus working mother (because unless you have a fleet of staff, every mother is a working mother), and then further divide women into those who are parents and those who are not. Ruby Warrington, in her book Women Without Kids, writes about what she calls The Mommy Binary the false divide that exists between moms and non-moms, the latter subject to pity, envy, disappointment and judgement. Bridget Jones with her children in Mad About The Boy Yet, for a myriad of glaringly obvious reasons, more and more women are electing to remain child-free. Counteracting the increasing number of women choosing to not reproduce, the conservative pronatalist movement has imported a new category of motherhood from Gilead sorry, the US known as Trad Wives. Think Ma from Little House On The Prairie with an Instagram account. Trad Wives are a social media phenomenon where wealthy women cosplay at traditional housewifery, complete with a brace of kids, and lots of baking, pickling, flower-arranging and other domestic pursuits; a kind of inverted Kardashianism. Which, in itself, is fine. If you can afford to stay home to have babies and make jam, and it fulfils you, good on you. Knock yourself out. However, the so-called Trad Wife becomes problematic within the context of the misogynist mega-backlash currently engulfing the US Trad Wives are being presented as aspirational, ideal, politically correct. You know, like the Wives in a certain Margaret Atwood novel. Its like performance art, says cultural commentator Sophie Gilbert, author of the forthcoming Girl on Girl. There are plenty of women who have productive and lucrative careers playing stay-at-home wives and mothers online. Theyre doing work! They photograph themselves, present themselves a certain way they have branding deals, agents. They are performing wifehood online. If they were really trad wives none of it would be photographed. Its political, its performance a fetishisation of traditional motherhood. Hannah Neeleman online as Ballerina Farm is a 34-year-old mother of eight from Utah. She shares snippets of curated domesticity to her 20m Instagram and TikTok followers from her farmhouse kitchen she is currently attending the Ballymaloe cookery school in Co Cork in posts about homemaking, farming, and parenting. She likes to wear gingham. She is fascinating, says Sophie Gilbert. So many followers, so many children. Really unapologetic about presenting her life as an ideal and it does look beautiful, it looks easy. She doesnt post pictures of the crazy messy reality that is parenting. Neelemans husband is heir to the JetBlue aviation billions. Imagine our reaction to her if she were raising her eight kids on a council estate? Back on earth, the nearest most mothers get to being a Trad Wife whether they are married, partnered, or lone parents might be spending an evening wearily batch prepping school lunches. In an era where monthly childcare can and frequently does cost more than monthly mortgage repayments, being a stay-at-home mummy has become an option only for the affluent. Back on earth, the nearest most mothers get to being a Trad Wife might be spending an evening wearily batch prepping school lunches. What we term the free market has made it impossible to live on one income when the other parent stays home, should they wish to, unless the earning parent is earning a packet. In his podcast, economist Jaron Lanier says: The economy only works now if you are young, healthy, and childless. Id add, and rich. Ironically, post-feminist culture has shifted massively to include dads more in parenting a lot of dads want to spend a lot more time with their kids, as the parenting gender divide continues to (slowly) dissolve within the home. Active dadding is more culturally supported than ever, normalising dads being hands-on in a way their own dads never were. Yet economically, it requires two parents to keep things financially afloat. And women are still losing out while, according to the CSO, women account for 49% of the Irish workforce, only one quarter of the top 1% of Irish earners are women. They make up 29% of the part-time workforce, compared with 13% of men, while the gender pay gap remains at over 9%. We never talk about dads juggling work and home. Juggling is what mummies do not just the paid labour of our actual jobs, but the unpaid domestic and emotional labour too. As a lone mother living away from traditional family networks, I spun plates. Working from home saved my kids and me I could work when they were asleep. Unable and unwilling to put my small children into daycare, I relied on a mummy network of friends and other single parents, where we would look after each others kids for reciprocal blocks of time, and a local child minder, unofficial, unregistered, and unflappable, with four kids and a menagerie of animals of her own, who would step in when I needed a break. Also, my kids born in 2000 and 2003 predated social media. The whole performative online parenting phenomenon was another decade away, the word sharenting when parents share images of their kids on social media not yet invented. There was no pressure to upload images of pretend perfection rather than the odd-socked, jam-smeared frazzled reality. Instead, we celebrated muddling along. While Mumsnet was born the same year as my eldest, the go-to resources apart from other parents who had been at it a bit longer were still parenting books, each generation with its own selection of gurus. From Dr Spock (who told 1960s mummies to trust their instincts) to natural birth advocate Sheila Kitzinger (who told women that giving birth is like orgasm) to Penelope Leach (who advocated child-centred parenting) to Gina Ford (who didnt, instead encouraging controlled crying the babys, not yours) to Supernanny (who advised placing them on a step), the advice was endless and conflicting, depending on what was currently fashionable. Jo Frost, star of Channel 4's Supernanny series. Perhaps the go-to parenting guru who never goes out of fashion is British paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott (1896-1971) who, in the 1950s, gave us the good enough mother and encouraged the sound instincts of parents. The good enough mother is the antidote to the perfect mummy. She has the sense to put her own oxygen mask on first. Mothers dont need to be perfect, and cant be, writes Jasmin Lee Cori in The Emotionally Absent Mother. Winnicott sees the primary job of the good enough mother as adapting to the baby how the good enough mother starts off with almost complete adaption to her infants needs and subsequently adapts less and less as the infant can tolerate more frustration. A mother who continued to satisfy all the infants needs perfectly and immediately would rob the baby of the need to learn new behaviours, develop new skills, and be able to handle delay and frustration. The desire to be a perfect mother tends not to stem from something as fatuous as wanting to look gook on your socials unless youre monetising it, of course. Helicopter parents are not trying to ruin their childrens lives theyre doing their best to navigate what behavioural scientist Thomas Curran, in his book The Perfectionist Trap, calls a toxically competitive meritocracy. Subsequently, Curran reports how a study during covid of 10,000 US students found that, more than grades, workload, time management, or lack of sleep, the biggest source of stress, according to young people, was their parents achievement expectations. Helicopters are becoming tigers, and while it may be based in wanting the best for our kids, its not doing them any favours. Diane Morgan, Anna Maxwell-Martin, and Paul Ready in Motherland. Picture: Colin Hutton Nor is the wall-to-wall structured activities for younger kids which now counts as normal good parenting, with little time to do nothing, to develop that most old-fashioned of childhood sensation boredom. We have forgotten that boredom is the mother of creativity. We fill gaps with screens. Why do we regard child boredom with such horror? Why do we think we have to create structure, meaning, and magical moments for every second of our childrens lives? To document everything? To constantly entertain, interact, enrich, educate, evaluate, examine and upload? Whatever happened to benign neglect, to letting them play unsupervised, go a bit feral? Why are kids playgrounds always full of hovering adults these days? Its not stranger danger, its perfectionist over-parenting. Attempting to be a perfect mother is not only terrible for kids, but terrible for women too. The job is hard enough without layering unrealistic filters of expectation on top. No wonder births in Ireland have dropped 20% in the past decade its not all about the cost of housing and childcare. Mothers need two things structural economic support that extends beyond the home, and the ability to resist the false culture of perfectionism. Your kids will be grand. Stop hovering. Over three months after it was supposed to be in place, the new health minister can only commit that funded HRT for menopause care will start as soon as possible. The measure was announced in October 2024 as part of a budget package targeted at improving womens health. The pledge was for a January start. Funding of 20m per year was allocated to cover the cost of the products but, unlike the contraception scheme, the HRT scheme would not cover fees for GPs and pharmacists. A spokeswoman for Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the minister is committed to the implementation of the HRT measure as announced in Budget 2025. She added: The Department of Health and Health Service Executive has engaged extensively with the Irish Pharmacy Union [IPU] in relation to the practical rollout of this measure. "The Minister remains actively engaged on the matter, with the goal to introduce this measure as soon as possible." The IPU said it is discussing a proposal that addresses our concerns and prioritises womens needs while ensuring a practical solution for both the State and pharmacy". However, it said a number of unresolved issues remain. Pharmacists have still not been given a full list of medications to be covered under the scheme. This is needed due to ongoing shortages of some types of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) products. It can mean women frequently need alternatives to what is on their prescriptions. The IPU also said a tested IT system is not yet developed that would allow pharmacists to record who has used the scheme and individual pharmacies to be paid by the State. It also said secondary legislation is still not in place, which it understands refers to regulations to specify implementation measures. This is required in addition to the Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 passed in November. The delay means any women requiring HRT, and not on a medical card, must continue to pay for these products. Pharmacists in the Irish Community of Pharmacists estimated annual HRT bills can reach 1,224 per woman. It varies depending on the type of products needed. Social Democrats health spokesman Padraig Rice said the continued delay is unacceptable. When my colleague Jennifer Whitmore TD raised this issue in the Dail, the Minister for Health indicated that she would have an update in a matter of weeks, he said. However, more than a month later, there appears to have been no movement on the provision of free HRT, which was hailed by the last government as an important step forward for womens healthcare in Ireland. Mr Rice called on the health minister to outline urgently how they intend to end the impasse with pharmacists and deliver on the budget commitment. In addition, [Ms MacNeill] must also give assurances that women will be reimbursed for any HRT costs they have incurred since the start of January this year, when the scheme was supposed to be in place, he said. Cork County Council has sought 32m from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to repair crumbling sections of three national secondary routes, some of which still have the structural integrity of when they were routes that donkeys and carts travelled on 100 years ago". The councils director of roads Padraig Barrett is hopeful the money will be forthcoming but acknowledges that it will be dependent on the budget the government provides TII. The situation has got so bad that on some of these major routes, speed restrictions have been put in place by the county council because the road surface is so poor. Mr Barrett told the Irish Examiner that three national secondary roads in particular need urgent attention. The local authority has sought 12m to upgrade the N72 west of Ballymaquirke Cross, near Kanturk, to the Kerry county bounds at Rathmore. Mr Barrett described this as the worst of the three national secondary routes in the county. He said that while a lot of the surface is gone, there are also parts of it where the underlying structure is gone too". The council is also seeking funding of 10m to upgrade the N72 from Fermoy to Co Waterford border town of Tallow. A further 10m is also being sought to upgrade the N71 from Ballydehob to Glengarriffe in West Cork. Mr Barrett said many of the countrys national secondary roads have been seriously neglected as investment hasnt been forthcoming to bring them up to a proper standard. These routes are basically the same (core structure) as they were when donkeys and carts travelled on them more than 100 years ago. They need to be brought up to the standard needed for todays traffic, including the large number of HGVs, Mr Barrett said. He said TII has accepted the need for money requested, but if it is not given the necessary budget by central government to meet national demands then some badly-needed projects will fall by the wayside. He said if the council is met with the worst case scenario we will be filling potholes for the rest of year". Independent councillor Patrick ODonoghue raised the issue of the N71 between Fermoy and Tallow maintaining it was one of the worst sections of national secondary roads in the country. Independent councillor William OLeary was critical of the fact that huge money is being spent on a greenway running adjacent to that main road. This is being done at the same time as the road is crumbling away. We have to remember we are still a car dependent country. The road should be prioritised before anything else, he said. Mr ODonoghue said that while the council is hopeful of getting funding for it and the other two sections of roads, there are no guarantees. Fianna Fail councillor Neilus Cotter said there are also issues with the state of the narrow section of the N72 west of Castletownroche. His party colleague councillor Pat Hayes said the council should lobby its local TDs to put pressure on the government to provide the necessary money to TII for road maintenance and upgrades and it was agreed to write to it. The Mayor of County Cork Joe Carroll recently said council officials maintain it would cost nearly 1bn to bring all the roads in the region up to an acceptable standard. The Hamas militant group said it has accepted a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar, but Israel said it has made a counter-proposal in full co-ordination with the third mediator, the United States. Egypt, early in the week, made a proposal to get the troubled ceasefire back on track, following Israels surprise resumption of fighting. It was not immediately clear whether the proposal changed before Khalil al-Hayyah, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, announced it had been accepted. Early in the week, an Egyptian official described the proposal to the Associated Press, saying Hamas would release five living hostages, including an American-Israeli, from Gaza in return for Israel allowing aid into the territory and a weeks-long pause in fighting. People take part in a protest in Tel Aviv demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief media on the closed-door talks. On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave no details about Israels counter-proposal, which it said was offered after Mr Netanyahu held consultations on Friday. Israel a week and a half ago ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. The White House blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting. Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds 24 of them believed to be alive. Israel also wants Hamas to give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. On Saturday, Israel widened its ground operations in Gazas southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Frustrated by the threat to remaining hostages in Gaza, families and others rallied again Saturday evening to call for a deal that would bring everyone home. The price of your war is the life of the hostages, some protesters chanted in Tel Aviv. Minor scuffles broke out with police. War will not bring our hostages home, it will kill them, Naama Weinberg, cousin of deceased hostage Itay Svirsky, told a weekly gathering of families in Tel Aviv. The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas October 7 2023 attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 people, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. Israels bombardment and ground operations have caused vast destruction and at their height displaced some 90% of Gazas population of more than two million people. Early this month, Israel again cut off all supplies to Gaza to pressure Hamas to accept new terms to the ceasefire that started in mid-January. Israel had balked at entering negotiations over the truces second phase, which were meant to begin in early February. Under the agreement, phase two was meant to bring the release of the remaining 24 living hostages, an end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. US President Donald Trump has made his clearest commitment not to fire anyone over the embarrassing leak of his administrations plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen. I dont fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts, Mr Trump said in an interview with NBC News Kristen Welker on Saturday. He also expressed confidence in Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, and secretary of defence Pete Hegseth. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland as Vice President JD Vance tours the base (Jim Watson/Pool via AP) Mr Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic magazine, to a group text using the Signal encrypted messaging service, where top officials were discussing plans to attack the Houthis. During the chat, Mr Hegseth included details on how the strike would unfold before it took place. Afterwards, The Atlantic published an article on the internal exchange, shocking the national security establishment. Mr Trump is eager to avoid repeating some of the turnover that characterised his first term. Mike Flynn, his first national security adviser, was pushed out after only a few weeks during the early phase of the Russia investigation. He has also shown resistance to bowing to outside pressure, especially if it comes from the news media. Asked if there were conversations about firing Mr Waltz, Mr Trump insisted: Ive never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and Ive never heard it. Any idiot can face a crisis. This phrase by Anton Chekhov, the Russian playwright, is all the rage these days in Brussels. This is understandable, given the mix of new technologies and old instincts that characterizes Trumpism and which has dealt a formidable blow to global geopolitics. Indeed, any idiot can face a crisis and any idiot can cause one. However, dealing with crises, day after day, is very tiring, Jean-Claude Juncker sighs. The 70-year-old politician who was born in Redange, Luxembourg receives EL PAIS at the door of his office. He has a space of his own in the glass-enclosed headquarters of the European Commission, and the television set at full volume. On the news channel, Germany is voting to end an era of austerity, a policy that caused colossal damage across the continent, by reforming its balanced budget amendment. Juncker only agrees to lower the decibels of the set when the vote is finalized. Seeing the Germans approve this is live history; its part of the famous zeitenwende, the new era, he declares. During his conversation with this newspaper, he will switch between English, French and German. The former prime minister of Luxembourg who held that office for 15 years is a veteran of many European battles. Juncker has an undeniable talent for politics (for old-fashioned politics, his critics say). Coming from a country of just over half-a-million inhabitants, he rose behind the scenes to chair the Eurogroup and become head of the EUs executive branch between 2014 and 2019. He took office during the final throes of the European debt crisis. And then there was the refugee crisis, the first phase of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Brexit, the first Trump term Even back then, it seemed like the world was about to end. But it didnt. This interview begins and ends like two-thirds of all news stories over the past couple of months with the inevitable Donald Trump. Question. Has Trump put Europe back into whatever-it-takes mode, in the same way that well-do-whatever-it-takes defined the European debt crisis? Answer: The short answer is yes. Trump is forcing us Europeans to put our destiny in our own hands. Under the umbrella of the United States, Europe built a [supranational union] based on trade, on the strength of [the regions] economy, on laws, on rules and on shared values with the Americans. The United States is turning its back on all of that. The Trump era which is also the era of Putin and Xi [Jinping] is forcing Europe to defend itself, to make every effort to strengthen its security. The umbrella of American defense has disappeared, just as we were forced to disconnect from cheap Russian energy when the war broke out, because we could no longer trust Putin. The combined shock of Trumpism and Ukraine is leading Europe into a forced geopolitical awakening. Trumps goal was and is to divide us. But he failed to achieve that in his first term. And hes about to discover that hes going to fail again. Juncker is brilliant, witty and chaotic. On his desk are all kinds of papers, drafts of a memoir he says hes about to finish. Close up, hes irreverent, charismatic and extraordinary. At 30, he was already a minister. And, by the age of 50 all of 20 years ago he had become a political veteran in Brussels. Before reaching high European statecraft, he cut his teeth in grassroots Luxembourg politics, via the Christian Social Peoples Party (conservative on economic issues and leaning leftist on social issues: a Central European rarity). Juncker passionately recounts how he became a diehard pro-European and federalist. He opens the interview with a story to explain why he lived European politics so intensely from such a young age. My father, who had never left his village, was enlisted by the Germans, by the Wehrmacht, in the middle of World War II. A few days later, along with four of his best friends, they took him to the Russian front; he always said he started shooting without understanding why. He was taken prisoner in Russia. Later, he worked in the steel industry. That story left a mark on me, Juncker notes. I remember him a lot, [especially] now that theres a Russian front again. Its not the same, obviously but I always remember that story, since we talk so much about armies these days. Q. The European debt crisis brought about bailouts and the European Stability Mechanism: a revolution. The Covid pandemic brought the Next Generation stimulus funds, Eurobonds all unprecedented. And Russias invasion of Ukraine, along with the return of Trump, threatens to put an end to one of Europes last taboos: common defense. Why does the EU only seem to make progress during crises? Why does Monets famous phrase, Europe will be forged in crises, seem like a curse? A. Some of us have been talking about the need for a common army since the invasion of Crimea [by Russia] in 2014. Many of the governments that didnt see it clearly at the time, including Hungary, are now in favor of this. The [current] treaties dont include defense, but after Russias aggression, this has gained unstoppable momentum. Q. Weve gone through almost 20 years of historical acceleration, leaving us in a sort of permanent state of emergency. A. The EU has emerged from all these crises [in a stronger position]. Europe has shown that, when the storm rages, its capable of changing its rules and having a political vision. It happened when the British decided, unfortunately, to leave the Union. It happened with the [sovereign debt crisis]. It happened with the pandemic. And now, its happening again: the EU has a keen survival instinct. It would be better to end this reactive way of acting, to leave behind this feeling that were not playing to win, but only to minimize losses. But this is how it is. And, at least in emergency situations, the [EU] wakes up and responds. Q. The European Unions historic ally, the United States, has become an enemy, or something of the sort. The Germans are voting against austerity. Theres a war going on just 900 miles from here. And the region is shattering the taboo of common defense. What kind of political animal is the EU going to be from now on? A. It should become a more solid, more consistent entity: more political, in the best sense of the word. It was a mistake to [place] all security [arrangements] under the U.S. umbrella. And it was a mistake to rely on cheap energy from Russia. The Germans have woken up from that strategic error, partly attributable to [former Chancellor Angela] Merkel, with a serious crisis. The Europeans are seeing that they need to put these things in order, to equip themselves with their own defense capacity, using their own resources. This is fundamental. Q. Why didnt Europe do this before? A. In the first decade [of the 21st century], it was naive to try to convince public opinion that we needed to build [up European defenses], that we had to be wary of our historic ally the United States, or that Russia could become an existential risk. But the context has changed dramatically. And its time to get to work: the first step is to improve the coordination of European militaries [and] pool security [obligations]: satellites, artificial intelligence in defense, [countering] cyber threats. We have 174 different weapons systems; the United States has 34. We have more than a dozen infantry combat vehicles; the United States has three. We have who knows how many different [types of] tanks; the United States has one. Q. We also have F-35 fighter jets that the U.S. could disable with the push of a button A. Thats why we have to put an end to this [dependency]. We have to Europeanize defense and take advantage of the Unions immense industrial capacity. Q. Why is national defense so difficult? A. Because the EU is a [rejection] of the nation state. And what remains of the nation state are, basically, taxes and defense. We thought we would benefit forever from the peace dividend. We thought the U.S. would always be on our side. But, from one day to the next, we saw a European country attacked, something that wasnt part of our plans. And the old certainties have been shattered. Its time to defend ourselves. Defense is one of the last bastions of national interest. Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured in his office in Brussels, on March 18, 2025. massimiliano minocri Q. It took the rise of Trumpism to see things more clearly. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, your successor, speaks of an emergency mentality. Do voters share that sense of urgency? A. In the 1990s, Clinton told us the same thing that Trump [is telling us today]: Spend more. Bush, Obama and Biden more recently [said the same thing]. EU politics has understood this practically by force. The voters? You tell me. Its clear that, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, we Europeans have been naive in our relationship with Russia. But two decades ago, not a single citizen would have supported spending more on weapons. Public opinion in the countries near the Ukrainian border understood it suddenly; further south, we need persuasive leaders. In [Southern Europe], I dont see any politician with a chance of governing who doesnt share that sense of urgency. This time, I dont think a north-south divide will open up like the one that occurred during the European debt crisis. And, even then, during the euro crisis, some of us pitched in to help [Southern European countries], by the way. Juncker played a prominent role in the financial crisis. He also played a prominent role in the Spanish bailout: a photo of him grabbing the neck of Spanish Minister of Economy Luis de Guindos became famous. The Spaniard resisted asking for a bailout and, even when he requested it, spoke of a loan on advantageous terms, despite his government implementing massive cuts dictated by Brussels, the European Central Bank and the IMF. At the time, Spain asked for help under a conservative Peoples Party administration. Then, amidst the Covid pandemic, the country requested help again, this time under a Socialist administration. However, during the European debt crisis, solidarity in some Northern European countries was conspicuous by its absence: Finland even asked for paintings from the Prado Museum as collateral for the bailout. Q. Is it understandable that now, in countries such as Spain, which is so far from the frontlines, its difficult to raise the meager figures required for a boost in military spending? Is it legitimate to suspect that this kind of warlike Keynesianism benefits Germany above all? And do you agree with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs warning that increased defense spending cannot come at the expense of social spending? A. Yes, social policies cannot be the scapegoat. But the situation requires us to spend more on defense. Its not normal that Denmark alone spends more than Spain and Italy combined. The Spanish economy is strong. Without the European solidarity of 10 years ago, the situation wouldnt be as good. Now, its [Spains] turn to show solidarity. Q. EU plus is one of the buzzwords in Brussels. Along with a coalition of European partners who want to take steps forward in defense, theres also the idea of allying with the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and Turkey: countries that would complete the European shield, without being part of the EU. Does this imply changing the institutional architecture and avoiding vetocracy, even more so given Trojan horses like Hungary? A. Weve already shown that there are ways to circumvent Hungarys vetoes. The British case is interesting: the United Kingdom left the EU, but not Europe. It may now be closer than ever, because we have common interests. Turkey is a peculiar case, because it can play a central role in defense, [but only] if it demonstrates that it will not fall into Russian temptations. And yes, all of this will entail changes in decision-making: unanimity cannot paralyze us. Qualified majorities are making their way. Q. You negotiated with Trump almost 10 years ago. Whats he like? A. Trump has the transactional spirit of a businessperson. And he has a fondness for American narratives. So, I started by telling him a story: that of General Patton and his relationship with Luxembourg, [as well as] the connections between my country and the U.S., which include a treaty signed by Kennedy. I told him that Europeans and Americans have a long shared history. We talked for six hours. We needed soybeans, because Chinese exports had been suspended. And we needed gas. Hes interested in those kinds of transactional agreements: thats how we avoided a tariff war. I convinced him that, in trade matters, power lies with the [European] Commission. I told him not to try to negotiate with the [individual] member states. Im convinced that one of the keys with him is to find personal chemistry. He must have liked or disliked something [I did] a lot, because he called me a brutal killer. I dont know if thats a disqualification in a negotiation, or the opposite. Q. And Putin? Youre a friend of former German Chancellor Schroder, who has worked for various Russian state-owned energy companies since leaving office, and youve spoken frequently with Putin. A. We have to be clear with Russia: it hasnt respected the agreements on Ukraine. Putin invaded the country and he had a plan to reach Kyiv in 10 days. We have to stand by Ukraine and reach a decent peace agreement. And the EU has to be part of that agreement: we should be at that negotiating table if we dont want to be on the menu. Q. The EU isnt at Israels negotiating table, either. A. Weve never had a real voice in the Middle East thats a devilishly complex conflict. Q. Ten years ago, you told me that nationalism is poison. Today, we have exacerbated nationalism in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, the Nordic countries, Italy everywhere. How do you reconcile the desire for more Europe with this far-right surge? A. What our traditional parties are doing is disconcerting. The center-right tends to imitate far-right populism, while the center-left allows itself to be swept away by far-left populists. The far-right risk is very serious. The EU has become vulnerable to the far-right, which appeals to the poison of nationalism, seeks to destroy the welfare state and opposes immigration. We must also wage a war of words: terms like security, protection, sovereignty and pride should return to our dictionary. Populists cannot hijack them and exploit fear. We must wage this battle. Q. Various extremist parties are entering into alliances with centrist and center-right parties across Europe. A. I dont like the agreements that the center-right, my party, makes with the far right. I also dont like the center-left making pacts with left-wing populists. These alliances are extremely dangerous. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has called Japan an indispensable partner in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region. Mr Hegseth announced upgrading the US military command in Japan to a new war-fighting headquarters. On his first Asia trip with Japan as his second stop, Mr Hegseth also stressed the need for both countries to do more to accelerate the strengthening of their military capability as the region faces Chinas assertive military actions and a possible Taiwan emergency. Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression, Mr Hegseth said at the beginning of his talks with Japans defence minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo. The US is moving fast, as you know, to re-establish deterrence in this region and around the world. Japans defence minister Gen Nakatani (right) and US defence secretary Pete Hegseth shake hands while posing for photographs (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP/PA) His comments come as an assurance at a time when Japan has been worried about how US engagement in the region may change under President Donald Trumps America First policy, Japanese defence officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump has also threatened to impose trade tariffs on Japan, a key US ally, sparking more concern. The two sides agreed to accelerate plans to jointly develop and produce missiles such as advanced medium-range air to air missiles (MRAAM) and consider producing SM-6 surface-to-air missiles, to help ease a shortage of munitions, Mr Nakatani said. The ministers also agreed to speed up the process involving the maintenance of US warships and warplanes in Japan to strengthen and complement Japanese and US defence industries. Japan and the US decided in July to upgrade the command and control of the Japanese military as well as US forces in the east Asian country, under the Biden administration, a major structural change aimed at bolstering joint operational and response capabilities. Japan is home to more than 50,000 US troops. Tokyo last week launched the Japan joint operations command (JJOC), whose mission is to co-ordinate Japanese ground, maritime and air self-defence forces, in a significant action to further strengthen capabilities to respond to contingencies and better co-operate with the US. Mr Hegseth announced on Sunday the upgrading of its current command, US Forces Japan, by placing a unified operational commander to function as a joint force headquarters to liaise with its Japanese counterpart to serve as war-fighting headquarters to bolster speed and capability of their troops joint operations. Gen Nakatani (left) and Pete Hegseth review an honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the ministry of defence in Tokyo (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP/PA) The Pentagon chief said the reorganisation of US troops is a step to better prepare for a possible conflict. America and Japan both work for peace, but we must be prepared, he said. Japanese defence officials say they are not expecting a significant change in their responsibilities or an increase in US troops in Japan. Mr Hegseth and Mr Nakatani told a joint news conference they have also agreed on the need to beef up Japans defence posture on the Southwestern islands, which are in critical locations along the disputed areas in the East China Sea and near Taiwan to further step up deterrence against China. He stressed the need to have sustaining, robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, as Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the western Pacific. China claims Taiwan as its own territory. The US is obligated under a 1979 law to provide Taiwan with sufficient military hardware and technology to deter invasion, and its arm sales to Taiwan have always drawn strong opposition from Beijing. On Saturday, he joined the US-Japan joint memorial to honour the war dead in the Battle of Iwo Jima as they marked the 80th anniversary of the end of one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War, praising the strong alliance between the former enemies. Before landing in Japan, Mr Hegseth stopped in the Philippines, where he also ensured Mr Trumps commitment to step up ties with the south-east Asian country that faces maritime disputes with Beijing. CCTV footage shows U.S. immigration authorities detaining Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk in Somerville, Massachusetts. The Turkish national had a valid F-1 visa to study in the U.S. Authorities have revoked her visa, saying she 'engaged in activities in support of Hamas'. It comes one year after she co-authored an opinion piece that criticized Tuft's stance on the war in Gaza. Donald Trump has hit out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. The US president was speaking after Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre and apartment blocks in Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens. In an interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Mr Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) Mr Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Mr Putin reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraines constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it is under martial law. If a deal isnt made, and if I think it was Russias fault, Im going to put secondary sanctions on Russia, Mr Trump said, adding that there would be a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil. Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States. Nonetheless, he reiterated that he and Mr Putin have a very good relationship. Ukraines General Staff had earlier denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital late on Saturday. Among the casualties were service members who were undergoing treatment, it said. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said those killed were a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. Volodymyr Zelensky (AP) Ukraines air force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 were intercepted and another 35 were lost, having probably been electronically jammed. Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. He repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing comments he made on Thursday that Russia is prolonging ceasefire talks just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Russias Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems had shot down six Ukrainian drones, and that its troops had taken control of a village in Ukraines partly occupied Donetsk region. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise pressure on Kyiv and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. 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 The European project, founded in the second half of a turbulent 20th century to guarantee peace on the continent, is preparing for war in the explosive first quarter of the 21st. Security and defense, concepts that seemed devoid of content in European Union policy in recent decades, now permeate the entire agenda, policies, budget plans, and debates in Brussels. The transformation of the world order is driving the effort to make Europe more flexible, streamlined and simplified. Preparations for the urgent geostrategic challenges facing Europe are frantic. The era of the peace dividend is long gone, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on March 19 in a white paper on European defense and rearmament. The budget used to build hundreds of thousands of kilometers of roads in Europe will be used to pay for infrastructure that can withstand the weight of tanks and other military vehicles. This is a sign of the times. We will look at all of our policies through a security lens. We will plan for scenarios that we hope will never come to pass, but we cannot take the risk of being underprepared or over-reliant, warned the head of the European Commission when she outlined her political guidelines for this term before the European Parliament. The risks are real, the responsibilities are serious, she emphasized. Since then, everything has accelerated even further. The sense of emergency has been pervasive for months. Donald Trumps return to the White House, with impulsive decisions and a serious disengagement from transatlantic relations, has further fueled uncertainty. The European Union is seeking to secure its place and ensure its autonomy in a new world order that is being redefined. Unless we shape this order in both our region and beyond we will be passive recipients of the outcome of this period of interstate competition with all the negative consequences that could flow from this, including the real prospect of full-scale war. History will not forgive us for inaction, warns the White Paper for European Defence, presented last week in Brussels. In Brussels, some say it seems the Commission has been transformed into a Ministry of Defense. Geopolitics and security permeate everything, as a group of journalists from Spanish newspapers, including EL PAIS, invited by the Commission on a recent study trip, discovered. It is reminiscent of crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, but defense and security are meant to endure, not just in the face of military dangers. The EU also wants economic, climate, and energy security. The white paper defining the threats facing the EU complements ReARM Europe, the most ambitious plan to date to strengthen European militaries and the defense industry, presented two weeks ago. It is also a call to urgent action: The rest of the world is engaged in a race towards military modernisation and technological and economic advantage. This race is intensifying, and Europe has yet to carve out a fully coherent response. Russia is the greatest threat to the Union, and the war in Ukraine will determine Europes future, the document states. China, the worlds second-largest defense investor and the EUs trading partner, is a source of concern due to its destabilization potential and its ambitions toward Taiwan. Tensions in the Middle East are not only a security concern, but also an economic one. The catalog of dangers facing the EU also includes hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, acts of sabotage, and disinformation campaigns. Europe must also take into account that its competitors are investing heavily in technologies critical to economic and military growth, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum mechanics, biotechnology, and hypersonics. European militaries need more air defense systems, artillery, ammunition, missiles, and drones. This also applies to the cyber and electronic fields, as well as to space. Military mobility, stockpiling, and the reinforcement of external borders are priorities to prepare for the worst-case scenarios. Brussels sees security and prosperity as two sides of the same coin. In a speech marking the first 100 days of the 2024-2029 Commission, Von der Leyen said on March 9 that Europes economic and innovative potential is an asset for its security. Vice versa, Europes defense efforts can give a massive boost to a more competitive Single Market in the mid and long term. Programs to promote research, development, and innovation seek to reduce the technological gap that hinders the Unions geostrategic capabilities. Innovation has come to the forefront of European policy after years of declining productivity compared to the United States. With the Draghi report as a guide that garners sympathy in the European political center, the European executive sets itself the goal of reducing Europes excessive dependence on technology and raw materials and moving toward strategic autonomy. Flexibility and simplification The European Union, aware of its vulnerability and disadvantage, is breaking taboos and seeking formulas to build a security architecture that can withstand any scenario, even those hitherto unimaginable, "such as armed aggression," according to the white paper. The rigid European budget is seeking space to respond more flexibly to crises. Simplification has also become a mantra. The idea is that in the next multiannual financial framework, which begins in 2028, spending will be more efficient and simple, focusing on strategic sectors and technologies. Brussels, trained with the Next Generation recovery funds, which were used to address the pandemic and the energy crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine, is now considering bypassing the EUs new fiscal rules in their first year of implementation. This is one of the pillars of the ReArm plan: the possibility of activating the escape clause to spend up to 1.5% more of GDP on defense outside the 3% deficit ceiling without being penalized. The EU executive hopes to boost member state spending by 800 billion ($865 billion) beyond the 2% commitment to NATO, a threshold that will be obsolete at the June summit. The EU-27 can spend 650 billion through this flexibility in spending rules, and 150 billion through loans on advantageous terms, with accelerated and simplified procurement processes and VAT exemptions. In return, the Commission sets certain conditions to ensure more and better purchasing, but also more European purchasing, such as requiring at least 65% of the simplest military products ammunition, drones, cybersecurity be European. In the case of more complex systems, such as air defenses, it requires that the design authority be European, so as not to lose control over their use. The plan seeks to reduce dependence on the United States, which must authorize the use of the weapons it sells. It seeks to aggregate demand and thus ensure that member states obtain better prices and delivery times. In the race against time to urgently rearm, other factors that hamper the EUs deterrent capacity, such as fragmentation and duplication, are, however, being left aside. The Commission is aware that many more measures are needed and is already working on an omnibus legislative package, in addition to an EU Preparedness Strategy, which it will present in the coming months. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo Residents desperately searched through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors as aftershocks continued to shake the devastated city of Mandalay, two days following a catastrophic earthquake that claimed the lives of over 1,600 individuals in Myanmar and at least 17 in neighboring Thailand. The initial quake, registering a magnitude of 7.7, struck close to the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early Friday afternoon, soon followed by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock just minutes later. The tremors caused buildings to collapse, bridges to fall, and roads to buckle, resulting in widespread destruction in a city housing more than 1.7 million residents. The initial 7.7 magnitude quake struck near Mandalay on Friday. As dawn broke, tea shop owner Win Lwin carefully navigated through the remains of a collapsed restaurant along a main road in his neighborhood, clearing away bricks one by one. We cannot ascertain how many bodies there might be, but we are searching, he remarked. Approximately an hour later, another small aftershock occurred, causing guests to rush out of a hotel for safety, echoing a similar tremor felt late the previous evening. Truckloads of firefighters were stationed at one of Mandalays primary fire stations, ready to be dispatched to various locations across the city. The night before, rescuers successfully pulled a woman from the wreckage of a fallen apartment building, eliciting applause as she was carried on a stretcher to an ambulance. Myanmars ruling junta reported that at least 1,644 people had died and over 3,400 were injured, with at least 139 individuals still missing. Read more: Anti-coup fighters call partial truce after Myanmar quake However, due to unreliable communication, the true extent of the disaster remains elusive in the isolated military-ruled nation, and the death toll is anticipated to rise significantly. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing made an unusually rare appeal for international assistance on Friday, highlighting the severity of the disaster. Past military governments have typically shunned outside aid, even following major natural calamities. Myanmar has been ravaged by four years of civil unrest ignited by a military coup in 2021. Anti-junta fighters in the country announced a two-week partial ceasefire in quake-affected areas starting today, as stated by the shadow National Unity Government. Rescuers search for missing individuals at the site of a collapsed building in Bangkok. The government in exile declared that it would collaborate with the UN and NGOs to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps in regions under its control, according to a statement released on social media. Aid organizations have warned that Myanmar is ill-equipped to manage a disaster of this magnitude. Approximately 3.5 million people had been displaced by the ongoing civil war, many facing hunger risks even before the earthquake struck. Bangkok building collapse Across the border in Thailand, rescuers in Bangkok were engaged in the difficult task of rescuing survivors trapped under the debris of a 30-story skyscraper that collapsed during the earthquake. At least 17 people have been confirmed dead in the Thai capital, with dozens more believed to be trapped beneath the massive pile of rubble where the skyscraper once stood. Bangkok authorities are expected to issue another statement at 9am (3am Irish time), with concerns regarding a potential increase in the casualty toll. Workers at the site are using large mechanical diggers in an effort to locate victims still trapped this morning. Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones have also been deployed to detect signs of life within the fallen structure, located near the Chatuchak weekend market, a popular spot for tourists. Authorities announced plans to deploy engineers today to assess and repair 165 buildings in the city that were damaged during the earthquake. Vance Criticizes Denmark for Failing to Protect Greenland from Russia and China The US Vice President, JD Vance, criticized Denmark during his trip to Greenland, claiming that it has failed to adequately protect the semi-autonomous Danish territory and its citizens from incursions by China and Russia. Mr. Vance mentioned that the United States does not currently plan to increase its military presence in Greenland but intends to invest in resources, including additional naval vessels. Denmark has not kept pace or allocated the necessary resources to maintain this base, support our troops, and, in my opinion, ensure the safety of the people of Greenland against aggressive incursions from Russia, China, and other countries, Mr. Vance stated. The US Vice President did not provide any specifics regarding the alleged incursions. During his visit to the US military base at Pituffik in the northern part of the Arctic island, Mr. Vances remarks came just hours after a new broad government coalition was introduced in the capital, Nuuk, aimed at maintaining relations with Denmark for the time being. Upon his arrival, the US Vice President met with members of the US armed forces, expressing gratitude for their service at the remote base located 1,200 km north of the Arctic Circle. The temperature at Pituffik was a chilly -19 C. While Mr. Vances visit was ongoing, US President Donald Trump informed reporters at the White House that the United States needs Greenland to guarantee peace in the entire world. We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security. We have to have Greenland. Its not a question of whether we can do without it; we cant, Mr. Trump asserted. He added that Greenlands waterways are filled with Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, emphasizing that the United States will not depend on Denmark or anyone else to manage the situation. Mr. Trump stated that Denmark and the European Union comprehend the significance of Greenland for global peace, and if they do not, were going to have to explain it to them, he stated. Greenlands new Prime Minister commented that the US visit represented a lack of respect and called for solidarity in facing pressure from outside. Statement of support was also issued by Denmarks king on social media, affirming, We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connection to the people of Greenland are intact, remarked King Frederik. The US delegation includes Mr. Vances wife, Usha, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Initially, the plan for the trip involved Vances wife attending a dog-sled race on the island with Mr. Waltz, despite not being invited by authorities in either Greenland or Denmark. Public protests and discontent from officials in both Greenland and Denmark led to the US delegations decision to fly exclusively to the military base without engaging with the public. The US-operated Pituffik base in northwest Greenland According to a 1951 agreement, the US has the right to visit its base at any time, provided it notifies Greenland and Copenhagen. Pituffik is strategically located along the shortest route from Europe to North America and plays a crucial role in the US ballistic missile warning system. The island, whose capital is closer to New York than the Danish capital of Copenhagen, is rich in minerals, oil, and natural gas, but development has been slow, and the mining sector has seen limited US investment. The mining companies operating in Greenland are predominantly Australian, Canadian, or British. A White House official noted that Greenland possesses an abundant supply of rare earth minerals necessary for the next generation of the US economy. New government Greenlands newly appointed Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, emphasized the need for political unity. In a time when we as a people are under pressure, we must stand together, Mr. Nielsen stated at a press conference. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party, emerged as the largest party in the 11 March elections, advocating for a gradual independence from Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who previously deemed the initial plans for the US visit unacceptable, congratulated Greenland on its new government in an Instagram post: I look forward to close cooperation during these unnecessarily conflict-ridden times. Not for sale Some residents of Nuuk expressed their anger towards the Trump administration ahead of Mr. Vances visit. I am a human being. Humans are not for sale. We are not for sale, protested Tungutaq Larsen, a filmmaker, in a statement to Reuters. Surveys indicate that almost all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States. Protests against American influence, with demonstrators donning Make America Go Away caps and holding Yankees Go Home banners, have led to some of the largest demonstrations witnessed in Greenland. On the previous day, residents of Nuuk placed Greenlandic flags in the snow alongside a cardboard sign stating Our Land. Our Future. Denial of Care, Deadly Forced Evacuations, Destruction of Medical Facilities Israeli military forces caused deaths and unnecessary suffering of Palestinian patients while occupying hospitals in the Gaza Strip during the current hostilities, amounting to war crimes . The Israeli militarys denial of water and electricity left sick and wounded people to die, while soldiers mistreated and forcibly displaced patients and health workers, and damaged and destroyed hospitals. Israeli authorities have not investigated Israeli forces horrific abuses. Those responsible, including senior Israeli officials, should be held to account. Human Rights Watch (New York) Israeli military forces caused deaths and unnecessary suffering of Palestinian patients while occupying hospitals in the Gaza Strip during the current hostilities, amounting to war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. Witnesses at three hospitals told Human Rights Watch that Israeli forces denied electricity, water, food, and medicines to patients; shot civilians; mistreated health workers; and deliberately destroyed medical facilities and equipment. Unlawful forced evacuations put patients at grave risk and left desperately needed hospitals nonfunctional. Israeli forces repeatedly demonstrated deadly cruelty against Palestinian patients in hospitals that they seized, said Bill Van Esveld, associate childrens rights director at Human Rights Watch. The Israeli militarys denial of water and electricity left sick and wounded people to die, while soldiers mistreated and forcibly displaced patients and health workers, and damaged and destroyed hospitals. Israeli authorities have not announced any investigations into alleged serious violations of international humanitarian law, including apparent war crimes, by Israeli ground forces while in control of these or other hospitals. Unlawful forced evacuations of hospitals knowingly carried out as part of the Israeli governments policy of forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza would amount to crimes against humanity. Human Rights Watch interviewed nine patients and two healthcare workers present when Israeli forces raided and occupied al-Shifa medical complex in Gaza City in November 2023 and again in March 2024; Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia in January 2024; and Nasser medical complex in Khan Younis in February 2024. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 84 patients, and possibly many more, died from lack of care in the three hospitals at these times, excluding people killed by shelling or gunfire. Israeli forces occupying hospitals severely interfered with the treatment of wounded and sick patients. Medical workers said Israeli forces denied doctors pleas to bring medicine and supplies to patients and blocked access to hospitals and ambulances, leading to the deaths of wounded and chronically ill patients, including children on dialysis. Ansam al-Sharif, who had been hospitalized after losing her leg in an Israeli airstrike and needed crutches to walk, said Israeli soldiers told patients at Nasser hospital to sleep upstairs but to go downstairs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. We stayed there for four days with no food, water, or medicines, she said. Al-Sharif witnessed the deaths of four older patients during this time. Israeli forces forcibly evacuated hospitals and put patients, healthcare workers, and displaced people at grave risk. They ordered patients to leave hospitals without assistance, including those on stretchers and in wheelchairs. They only rarely facilitated transfers to other health facilities, which sometimes could not provide care. After Israeli forces evacuated some hospital buildings, they unlawfully burned or destroyed them. Israeli soldiers committed abuses against patients, healthcare workers, and displaced people at the hospitals. They shot and killed civilians, fired on healthcare workers, and mistreated people in their custody. Human Rights Watch previously reported on unlawful Israeli attacks on hospitals and ambulances, as well as the arbitrary detention and torture of healthcare workers. By September 2024, only 4 of Gazas 36 hospitals had not been damaged or destroyed by Israeli forces, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported, posing a critical threat to the short- and long-term health of the population. Since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, Israeli authorities have deliberately inflicted damaging and fatal conditions on the Palestinian population in Gaza, including deliberately depriving them of food, water, and other objects necessary for their survival like medicine, amounting to the crime against humanity of extermination and acts of genocide. Since March 2, 2025, the Israeli government has again blocked all aid entering Gaza, including fuel, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. On March 18, the Israeli military launched a new wave of airstrikes and artillery fire across Gaza, killing more than 400 people, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The Israeli militarys occupation of Gazas hospitals has transformed sites for healing and recovery into centers of death and mistreatment, Van Esveld said. Those responsible for these horrific abuses, including senior officials, should be held to account. Legal Standards and Israeli Forces Occupation of Hospitals International humanitarian law provides that hospitals and their staff may not be deliberately attacked. Parties to the conflict must at all times respect and protect hospitals and take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to patients, staff, and facilities during the hostilities. Hospitals remain protected from attack unless they are used to commit acts harmful to the enemy and only after due warning that has gone unheeded. Acts harmful to the enemy would include housing able-bodied combatants, arms and ammunition stores, or a military command post. However, the presence of wounded or sick combatants and their small arms does not make hospitals subject to attack. A military force may temporarily enter a hospital for reasons of military necessity, including interrogating and detaining wounded or sick combatants, or verifying that a facility is not being used for military purposes. Such an inspection may not interfere with patients medical treatment and needs to take into account the potential humanitarian impact. Military personnel must not remain in the facility longer than necessary. A force that has seized a hospital must actively facilitate the delivery of medical supplies and equipment and not deprive the hospital of other vital resources such as electricity or water. Occupying a hospital may impede the functioning of the facility and care for the wounded and sick, as well as make the hospital a military objective, endangering patients and staff. Parties are prohibited from interfering in the hospitals work. Ordering patients and staff to evacuate a hospital may only be done as a last resort. Intentionally destroying facilities or medical equipment is prohibited and, if unlawful or wanton, is a war crime. While Israeli forces exercised effective control over hospitals, they were also obligated under international human rights law to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to the highest attainable standard of health. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has stated that violating the right to health during armed conflict can include: decimating the healthcare system; directly attacking patients, medical personnel, facilities, and transports; obstructing access to health care; limiting access to health services as a punitive measure; and threatening or restricting access to the underlying determinants of health. Al-Shifa Medical Complex November 2023 Israels general evacuation order for northern Gaza, issued on October 13, 2023, included the al-Shifa medical complex. But as of early November 2023, about 50,000 displaced people were sheltering at al-Shifa, according to the UN human rights office. Photographs and videos from inside the compound, verified by Human Rights Watch, showed scores of tents and hundreds of people in the courtyard, including families, medics tending patients, and emergency workers. Civilians and emergency workers brought hundreds of injured and dead to the hospital day and night. As a result of Israel cutting all electricity and blocking fuel to Gaza after the October 7 attacks, al-Shifa had run out of fuel for its main generators on October 21. A small generator for the intensive care unit (ICU) ran out of fuel on November 11 and could not be replenished. Dr. Khalid Abu Samra, 30, told Human Rights Watch he was presentwhen staff had to remove a patient from a ventilator because of a lack of electricity. There was no water or food, he said. Israels general evacuation order for northern Gaza, issued on October 13, 2023, included the al-Shifa medical complex. But as of early November 2023, about 50,000 displaced people were sheltering at al-Shifa, according to the UN human rights office. Photographs and videos from inside the compound, verified by Human Rights Watch, showed scores of tents and hundreds of people in the courtyard, including families, medics tending patients, and emergency workers. Civilians and emergency workers brought hundreds of injured and dead to the hospital day and night. The Israeli military issued a statement on November 8 that time is running out for civilians to evacuate Gazas north via one route along Salah al-Din Road. The military said it kept the road open for a few hours at a time but there was no reliably safe route to flee the hospital. Five days earlier, an Israeli airstrike had hit an ambulance a few meters from the hospitals busy entrance, leaving at least 21 people dead or wounded, including 5 children. It was one of several attacks striking ambulances with patients evacuating from al-Shifa. Data from NASAs Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) from between November 6 and 9, based on satellite observation, showed several fires along Omar al-Mukhtar Road, the connecting road from al-Shifa to the Salah al-Din Road main evacuation route. Satellite imagery from November 7 showed Israeli armored vehicles on the connecting road. Ridana Zukhra, 25, said she left al-Shifa with her children, brother, and cousin when Israeli forces ordered people to evacuate. Despite holding white flags, a tank fired at the group, badly wounding her daughter, Ghazal, 5, whose leg had to be amputated. By November 12, Israeli forces had surrounded and cut off access to al-Shifa medical complex. About 600 patients were at the hospital at that time, including premature babies and dialysis patients. Hospital administrators said that from November 11 to 17, 40 patients at al-Shifa died, largely due to power cuts, withfurtherdeaths reported from November 17 to 24. Israeli forces raided and occupied the hospital on November 15. Shahad al-Qutaiti, 23, had been transferred to al-Shifa after a munition hit her apartment building in Gaza City on October 11, killing her husband, mother-in-law, and another relative. Al-Qutaiti was severely wounded and her left leg had to be amputated. She was seven months pregnant and delivered a stillborn baby girl on November 13. On November 15, al-Qutaiti was recovering from her injuries on the fourth floor of the maternity building, which was full of patients. She said Israeli soldiers launched a sound [flash-bang] grenade and a smoke grenade through the windows to force people to go downstairs. Her father and brothers carried her in her wheelchair. The Israeli militaryinterrogated patients and staff and ordered them to leave al-Shifa on November 17. About 150 patients who could not move remained, including comatose patients, double amputees, and premature babies, along with 10 nurses and 7 doctors, said Dr. Abu Samra. On November 18, Israeli forces ordered the 2,500 displaced people still sheltering at the medical complex to leave, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The forces facilitated a one-hour UN assessment mission, which reported that hallways were filled with medical and solid waste. A military commander gave hospital staff permission to bury patients who had died since November 11, Dr. Abu Samra said. After staff buried about 50 bodies, Israeli forces took another 70 bodies away. The media and UN agencies reported that from November 11 to 19, five premature babies died at the hospital and 31 were evacuated, all seriously ill. Israeli forces allowed more patients and staff to evacuate on November 22, but 250 remained. The staff asked for 50 ambulances to evacuate, but on November 23, Israeli forces allowed 14 ambulances and 2 minibuses, Dr. Abu Samra said. At least 10 patients on dialysis machines refused to leave, he said. I have no idea what happened to them. A doctor told the media that a maternity patient died after being evacuated to another hospital that lacked ICU care. March 2024 Al-Shifa hospital resumed limited services in January 2024. By mid-March, an estimated 7,000 patients, caregivers, staff, and displaced people were at the medical complex when Israeli forces began shelling intensively nearby. Theyraided the compound by surprise on March 18, an Israeli military spokesman said, because senior Hamas terrorists were using the hospital to command attacks. While Israeli forces said on March 17 that there is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate, on March 18 they ordered all those in al-Shifa hospital to immediately evacuate. CNN reported that witnesses and Palestinian officials had said that when Israeli forces withdrew on April 1, buildings were destroyed and bodies were strewn on hospital grounds. WHO said that at least 21 patients had died and the hospital was largely destroyed. Dr. Badr B., 28, who asked not to use his real name for his protection, said that electricity at the hospital was cut off at about 2 a.m. on March 18. Israeli forces broadcast a message that no one could leave, he said, and they shot and wounded four healthcare workers near the entrance. A doctor told the BBC that two patients on life support died because of the electricity cut. Israeli forces seized the complex with military vehicles, snipers, quadcopters [drones], soldiers, everything, Dr. B. said. Israeli forces ordered the 72 healthcare workers left at the hospital to transfer about 180 patients from the third and fourth floors of the ICU in the specialized surgeries building to the ground floor and warned they would start shooting at these floors within two hours. Dr. B. said that they began shooting as we were evacuating the last group, three [patients] on crutches and the rest in wheelchairs. Staff then transferred patients to the hospitals reception building. One patient, Abdullah al-Hajj, 33, an employee with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) whose legs had been traumatically amputated in an Israeli airstrike, said that after nurses carried him from the ICU to the reception building, Israeli forces including tanks fired at the ICU nonstop. Patients were held without food, water, and medicine, with critically wounded patients lying on the floor, WHO reported on March 22. Dr. B said nine patients died in the reception building within a few days, predominantly older people and one patient with Alzheimers who had been shot in the head. Another doctor told the media that about 16 patients had died in the reception building. Al-Hajj said that in the reception building, an Israeli soldier forced a man with a post-operative fractured leg to stand up and strip, despite his pain, and threatened to shoot him. He said that after a soldier ordered another man to go outside, we heard shots fired, and they brought him back as a dead body. Soldiers refused requests to bury them, al-Hajj said. Dr. Khaleel Skaik posted on social media that when he returned from being interrogated with his hands tied and arms raised, a soldier shot him, severing his right thumb. Dr. B. said Israeli soldiers screened him, made him kneel in the cold for hours, made him put on white PPE coveralls, and cuffed, blindfolded, and interrogated him. Two soldiers repeatedly told him, Youre gay, and he heard a man nearby screaming in pain as a soldier was kicking him. Dr. B. said that when he was called for questioning, an officer pulled down his blindfold and the first thing he did, he slapped me in the face. An Israeli commander told news media the army had established a very systematic control over the separation between the hospital and the terrorists at al-Shifa, with announcements, cordons, and other measures. Israeli forces required staff and patients to wear color-coded bracelets. Both Dr. Abu Samra and Dr. B. said Israeli forces used them as human shields, to open or break open doors and enter and check whether rooms were empty. Aftermath of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion. Tasnim. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.. H/t Wikimedia. Around March 24, Israeli forces ordered healthcare workers to transfer patients to the Amir Nayef oncology building, al-Hajj said. About 20 patients were able to walk, but about 150 could not, he said, yet Israeli forces fired tear gas and smoke grenades into the building. He said that when the reception building was emptied, Israeli tanks shelled it. Smoke is visible billowing from the hospital compound in satellite imagery taken on March 25. Three or four patients would die every day in the Nayef building, al-Hajj said. These included an older married couple. Dr. B. said that 11 patients died during the first two days there, including a woman who went into shock, heart disease patients, older people, and a 14-year-old girl with diabetes, who was alone. Israeli soldiers didnt allow any food, water, [or] aid, al-Hajj said. His own wounds were infested with worms. Dr. B. said Israeli forces prevented him from bringing supplies to patients from elsewhere in the hospital, and denied permission to WHO missions to visit the hospital. Dr. B. said that around March 26, Israeli forces set up a clinic in the human resources building with water and food, and electricity two days later, but no painkillers, no antibiotics, no [IV] fluids, or even diapers. Six healthcare workers and 25 patients were sent initially. By March 31, there were over 100 patients facing extremely unsanitary conditions, and a lack of water and food, according to WHOs director-general. Israeli forces then set the Nayef building on fire, al-Hajj and Dr. B said. The media reported that Palestinians later exhumedmass graves on hospital grounds, some dug in 2023, that included patients with catheters. Israeli Allegations of Military Use by Palestinian Armed Groups The Israeli military in November 2023 said that Palestinian armed groups had used al-Shifa facilities as a headquarters, publishingphotos of weapons, security camera footage of armed men and two hostages entering the hospital on October 7, and video of a tunnelcomplex below the hospital. The military later said it believed fighters had not used the tunnels, but used the hospital buildings. In March 2024, the Israeli military released images it said were of hidden weapons, as well as footage of Palestinian fighters inside the hospital that Sky News reported was from fighting outside the compound. The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad deniedfightinginside the hospital, but stated that they attacked withdrawing Israeli forces outside the hospital on March 31. Israeli military officials variously stated they killed from about 40 or a few dozen Palestinian fighters, up to 170 in or around the hospital, and detained 600 terrorists, including alleged senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials. Media reported a witness saying Hamas and Islamic Jihad maintained two offices for their civilian agencies in the hospital, and that scores of non-military employees including police and civil defense workers were present to collect paychecks when the raid began. None of the patients or medical staff who spoke to Human Rights Watch said that they saw Palestinian fighters inside the hospital compound during Israeli military operations. This is consistent with similar interviews published by the international media. Kamal Adwan Hospital December 2023 Israeli forces surrounded Kamal Adwan hospital on December 11 and raided it on December 12, leaving 65 patients, including 18 children, and 3,000 displaced people trapped with extreme shortages of water, food and power, OCHA reported. By December 17, at least eight patients had died, including a 9-year-old child, according to WHOs director-general. The military ordered the last patients to leave the hospital on December 27. Ansam al-Sharif, 20, was sheltering at her home in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on November 19, 2023, when multiple munitions hit her building. Al-Sharif said the attack injured and burned her, causing the amputation of her leg, wounded 10 relatives sheltering with her, and killed 4 people in her building and 39 others in three neighboring buildings. She went to al-Awda hospital, but after a strike there on November 21 killed three doctors and wounded several patients, she was transferred to Kamal Adwan hospital. CNN and OCHA reported that on December 11, tank fire hit Kamal Adwans maternity department, killing two women and injuring others. During Israeli forces occupation of the hospital, they screened all males ages 16 and older, arrested scores of healthcare workers, and ordered patients and staff to move to another building, CNN reported. Gazas Health Ministry reported on December 14 that Israeli forces had evacuated 2,500 displaced people and that two emergency room patients had died. CNN quoted the hospitals head of pediatric services, who said that on December 15, Israeli military bulldozers dug up and crushed bodies buried on hospital grounds. Satellite imagery from December 15 shows the hospital grounds razed and bulldozer marks visible, destruction and marks not visible in an image from December 14. CNN also reported that two doctors and a doctors son were shot and wounded, and that another doctor said soldiers fired at him as he tried to reach a wounded man, who later died. The Israeli military said it ended operations in the area on December 16. On December 27, Israeli forces again raided Kamal Adwan hospital and burned and severely damaged the laboratory, surgical unit, and various departments, WHO reported. Israeli forces ordered staff to transfer all remaining patients, sending some to the Indonesian Hospital, which was not functional at the time. The Israeli military said the Kamal Adwan hospital was being used for military purposes, including detaining an Israeli soldier, and that it had found weapons, technological equipment, and Hamas intelligence documents. The UN human rights office reported that the military detained hundreds of people while raiding the hospital. The Israeli military released photographs of men without shirts, in a line, carrying guns over their heads, whom it alleged were terror operatives. Hospital staff said the weapons had belonged to hospital security guardspermissible under international humanitarian lawand were being handed over to Israeli forces under orders. There were no armed men at all in the hospital, al-Sharif said, and while she was in the hospital no fighting occurred inside. Nasser Medical Complex February 2024 Israeli forces surrounded Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on January 21, 2024, when 850 patients and up to 10,000 displaced people were sheltering there, and raided it on February 15. By the time they withdrew on February 22, the hospital was severely damaged, and medical teams buried 13 patients who had died, some due to lack of electricity and oxygen, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders or MSF) reported that on January 21, Israeli forces ordered people to leave the hospital, but many soon returned, saying people were being wounded and killed on the street. On January 23, the Israeli military issued displacement orders for areas that included Nasser and two other hospitals, but they denied ambulances access and people could not leave without risking their lives, MSF said. On January 26, the Israeli military said that there is no obligation to evacuate the hospital but that people could do so. MSF and BBC reported that there was shooting at the hospital, killing a nurse inside the operating room on February 8 and killing and wounding others. BBC verified videos of shooting and of three bodies in the hospital courtyard. The Israeli military rejected a request from WHO to visit the hospital on February 10. Duaa D., who asked that her real name not be used for her protection, said her son Mohammed, 20, was a kidney patient in Nasser hospital at the time, where there was no fresh food, clean water, or medicine for Mohammeds hypertension. Her two younger children, sheltering in a tent in the hospital courtyard, went sleepless with fear. Mohammed said he could barely walk and had lost almost half his body weight due to vomiting and diarrhea, that the water was contaminated, and that he could not digest the canned food due to his chronic illnesses. On February 13, Duaa saw Jamal Abu al-Ola, 25, who had been sheltering in the hospital, in a white hazmat suit with his hands bound. NBC and other media reported that Israeli forces had detained and beaten him and ordered him to warn the hospital to evacuate, threatening to kill him and others if he did not return. Duaa said al-Ola shared the warning and left the hospital, but soon after was carried back in and shot, with a fountain of blood pouring. Witnesses told news media that Israeli forces shot and killed him near the hospital entrance. Early on February 15, Israeli forces raided the hospital, ordering everyone to leave because they will demolish the whole building, Duaa said. Israeli forces used a bulldozer to demolish part of the complex and an artillery shell hit the hospital, Mohammed said. MSF reported that the attack killed one person and wounded eight in the orthopedic ward. The military acknowledged that a stray shell had hit the hospital. Satellite imagery from February 16 shows parts of the hospital complex had been razed, with bulldozer tracks visible. Duaa said she saw a large number of bodies on the ground behind the renal unit and recalled an unbearable smell. We saw cats and dogs eating bodies, she said. Once a dog brought a human hand and gave it to its puppies. By February 18, Nasser hospital had ceased to function. On February 19 and 20, ambulances evacuated 53 patients, but 100 patients and 15 doctors remained, along with the decomposing bodies of eight ICU patients who died for lack of oxygen, OCHA reported. The Israeli evacuation orders separated Mohammed from his family. Israeli forces screened him and ordered him to leave the hospital on foot. SevenIsraelihostages whom Palestinian armed groups released during the November 2023 ceasefire said they had been held in Nasser hospital, in most cases for several days. The Israeli military said before the raid that bodies of Israeli hostages might be in Nasser hospital, though none were recovered. It later said forces searching for hostages bodies had exhumed mass graves dug by Palestinians in the hospital. The UN human rights office reported in April 2024 that Palestinians had recovered 283 bodies buried and covered with waste at Nasser hospital, apparently by Israeli forces, allegedly including bodies with their hands tied and stripped of their clothes. International and local healthcare workers who had been in the hospital said they were unaware of any fighters there. Duaas husband, Zaid, said that Palestinian armed groups were fighting in Khan Younis at the time but not in Nasser [hospital]. [W]e didnt see resistance [fighters]. On February 22, the Israeli army withdrew, leaving Nasser hospital severely damaged and non-functioning until limited activities resumed in May 2024. Via Human Rights Watch ( RFE/ RL) Iran says it has numerous underground missile bases across Iran, and sporadically unveils some with a lot of hype. The newly unveiled base dubbed a missile metropolis by some outlets is a massive facility filled with high-powered weaponry, but experts say no new hardware could be spotted in footage shared by state media. Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute, noted that an unusual feature of the base is its wide and quite spacious tunnels and galleries. He concluded that the facility, which he speculated was in western Iran, was designed to house intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The base is home to missiles that travel well beyond 1,000 kilometers, including the Kheibarshekan and Sejjil ballistic missile and Paveh cruise missile, all of which can reach Israel and US bases in the Middle East if launched from western Iran. Why It Matters: Iran is showing no interest in holding direct talks over its nuclear program with the United States, and has outright rejected negotiations to rein in its missile program and regional activities. Trump has said he prefers a deal with Tehran, warning that it beats the alternative approach, which would be to bomb Irans nuclear facilities something that US ally and Iranian foe Israel appears ready and willing to do. For decades Iran relied on its sprawling network of regional allies and proxies, known as the axis of resistance, as deterrence against Israel and the United States. But key members of the group, including the US-designated Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, have been militarily degraded by Israel over the past year. Last month, The New York Times reported that Iran was considering developing a crude nuclear weapon as a deterrent against potential attacks. However, experts believe Western intelligence would likely detect such efforts in time to respond militarily. Despite Irans show of missile prowess, an Israeli attack in November degraded the Islamic republics missile production capabilities. Whats Being Said: Gregory Brew, an Iran analyst at Eurasia Group, said Iran was clearly sending a message with the unveiling. Missile, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / ChatGPT, 2025 Iran is clearly signaling it regards its ability to bring overwhelming force via [medium-range ballistic missiles] as its chief source of deterrence, with Hezbollah out of action, he wrote on X. Abdolrasool Divsallar, a senior researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), said Iran relies on the size of its missile arsenal to make up for deficits in their accuracy and destructive power. The New York-based Soufan Group argued that Irans unwillingness to restrict its missile and drone programs or its support for regional armed factions, in addition to its demands for extensive sanctions relief, will further complicate US-Iran negotiations. Expert Opinion: These developments reveal Iranian thinking about restructuring of its deterrence, highlighting a continued reliance on conventional forces & unwillingness to switch to nuclear deterrence, Divsallar wrote on X. Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of striking a military hospital in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, damaging the building and wounding military personnel undergoing treatment, which it condemned as a war crime. Kyiv does not typically reveal data on military casualties and did not say how many soldiers were wounded. "The hospital building and nearby residential buildings were damaged by a Shahed drone," the Ukrainian army said in a statement. "According to preliminary reports, there are casualties among the military personnel who were undergoing treatment at the medical centre," it added. It accused Russia of having carried out a "war crime" and "violating the norms of international humanitarian law". The accusation comes as US President Donald Trump's administration pushes for a speedy end to the more than three-year war, holding talks with both Russian and Ukrainian officials. The talks have not yet yielded a breakthrough, despite the two sides agreeing to the concept of a Black Sea truce earlier this week. The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday it had recovered the bodies of 15 rescuers killed a week ago when Israeli forces targeted ambulances in the Gaza Strip. Bodies of eight medics from the Red Crescent, six members of Gaza's civil defence agency and one employee of a UN agency were retrieved, the Red Crescent said in a statement. It said one medic from the Red Crescent remained missing. The group said those killed "were targeted by the Israeli occupation forces while performing their humanitarian duties as they were heading to the Hashashin area of Rafah to provide first aid to a number of people injured by Israeli shelling in the area". "The occupation's targeting of Red Crescent medics ... can only be considered a war crime punishable under international humanitarian law, which the occupation continues to violate before the eyes of the entire world." In an earlier statement the Red Crescent said the bodies "were recovered with difficulty as they were buried in the sand, with some showing signs of decomposition". Gaza's civil defence agency also confirmed that 15 bodies had been recovered, adding that the deceased UN employee was from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, also known as UNRWA. The incident occurred on March 23 in Rafah city's Tal al-Sultan neighbourhood, close to the Egyptian border, just days after the military resumed its bombardments of Gaza following an almost two-month-long truce. - 'Outrage' - In a separate statement issued in Geneva, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it was "outraged at the deaths of the eight medics". "They were humanitarians. They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. They should have returned their families; they did not," IFRC secretary general Jagan Chapagain said. "International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer -- civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected." IFRC said the incident represents the single most deadly attack on Red Cross and Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017. Meanwhile the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was "appalled" that the medics "were killed while carrying out their work" alongside others. "Their bodies were identified today and have been recovered for dignified burial," the ICRC said. "The high number of medical personnel killed during this conflict is devastating. The ICRC strongly condemns attacks on health care workers," it added. On Saturday, the Red Crescent had accused Israeli authorities of refusing to allow search operations to locate its crew. The Israeli military acknowledged its troops had opened fire on ambulances. It told AFP in a statement this week that its forces had "opened fire toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas terrorists". "A few minutes afterwards, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops" who "responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles", it said, adding that several "terrorists" were killed. "Some of the suspicious vehicles... were ambulances and fire trucks," the military statement said, citing "an initial inquiry" into the incident. It condemned "the repeated use" by "terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip of ambulances for terrorist purposes". Tom Fletcher, head of the United Nations' humanitarian agency, said that since resumption of hostilities on March 18, Israeli air strikes have hit "densely populated areas", with "patients killed in their hospital beds. Ambulances shot at. First responders killed." The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Saturday that at least 921 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel resumed its large-scale strikes. Image by LEANDRO AGUILAR from Pixabay Wage discrimination remains a persistent issue in workplaces worldwide, despite numerous legal frameworks designed to prevent it. The principle of equal pay for equal work asserts that employees performing the same job under similar conditions should receive the same compensation, regardless of gender, race, or other personal characteristics. However, the reality is often different, with wage gaps persisting across industries and demographics. This article explores the legal battle against wage discrimination, shedding light on key legislations, landmark cases, and ongoing efforts to achieve pay equity. The Legal Foundation of Equal Pay The Equal Pay Act of 1963 The fight for wage equality in the United States gained legal momentum with the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This federal law requires that men and women receive equal pay for substantially similar work in the same establishment. It prohibits employers from paying different wages based on gender alone, emphasizing that differences in pay should be based on factors such as experience, education, or job performance. Before this act, women were often paid significantly less than men for the same work. The legislation was an essential step forward, though enforcement challenges persist. Many employers found ways to bypass the law by slightly altering job descriptions or responsibilities to justify wage differences. As a result, additional legislative measures have been required to strengthen pay equity. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 further strengthened the fight against wage discrimination by prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This law gave employees legal grounds to challenge pay disparities and seek justice through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Employers found guilty of violating Title VII may face legal consequences, including compensatory and punitive damages. However, the burden of proof often falls on employees, making it difficult for many to successfully claim wage discrimination. Additionally, Title VII covers a broader range of discriminatory workplace practices, including hiring, promotions, and benefits, making it a powerful tool for combatting workplace inequality. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Signed into law in 2009, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act addressed loopholes that previously limited the timeframe for filing pay discrimination claims. It ensured that each discriminatory paycheck resets the 180-day statute of limitations, allowing workers to challenge pay disparities even if they were unaware of them for years. Lilly Ledbetter, for whom the law was named, was a factory worker who discovered she had been paid significantly less than her male counterparts for decades. Her legal battle highlighted the difficulties employees face in uncovering and proving wage discrimination, leading to increased public awareness and policy changes. Recognizing Wage Discrimination Pay Gaps Across Demographics While gender pay disparities are widely recognized, wage discrimination affects various demographics, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and older workers. Studies consistently show that women and people of color earn less than their white male counterparts, even when controlling for education and experience. For instance, African American and Hispanic women earn significantly less than white men, even in the same roles. Additionally, disabled workers often face pay disparities, particularly in industries where workplace accommodations are required. These discrepancies highlight the complex nature of wage discrimination, necessitating a multi-faceted legal approach. How to Identify Wage Discrimination Employees may suspect wage discrimination if they notice: Significant pay differences between colleagues with similar roles and qualifications Lack of transparency in salary structures Employer resistance to discussing pay equity Unequal access to promotions and raises Legal professionals can assist in evaluating potential claims and determining whether a violation has occurred. Employees who believe they are victims of wage discrimination should document salary information, performance evaluations, and any relevant workplace communications to build a strong case. Legal Recourse for Wage Discrimination Victims Filing a Claim with the EEOC Employees who believe they are victims of wage discrimination can file a claim with the EEOC. The EEOC investigates complaints and may facilitate mediation between employees and employers. If necessary, it can file lawsuits on behalf of workers to enforce equal pay laws. Filing a claim involves: Submitting a formal complaint with the EEOC Providing supporting evidence, such as pay stubs and employment contracts Participating in investigations and possible mediation efforts Class-Action Lawsuits and High-Profile Cases Class-action lawsuits have played a crucial role in exposing systemic pay discrimination. Cases against major corporations have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements, prompting employers to reevaluate their compensation policies. Notable cases, such as those against technology and financial firms, highlight the persistent challenges in achieving pay equity. One of the most well-known cases involved a large retail chain accused of systematically underpaying female employees. The lawsuit led to increased public scrutiny and corporate policy changes, demonstrating the power of legal action in shaping fair workplace practices. State-Level Protections In addition to federal laws, many states have enacted stricter pay equity legislation. States such as California and Massachusetts have implemented laws that require greater pay transparency and place the burden on employers to justify wage differences. State laws often include provisions that: Prohibit employers from asking about salary history Require employers to provide salary ranges in job postings Impose harsher penalties for wage discrimination violations The Role of Advocacy and Awareness The Importance of Pay Transparency One of the most effective strategies for combating wage discrimination is promoting pay transparency. Many organizations now publish salary ranges for job postings, conduct internal pay audits, and establish fair compensation policies to ensure compliance with equal pay laws. The Impact of Unions and Advocacy Groups Labor unions and advocacy groups continue to push for stronger legal protections and workplace policies that promote wage equality. Organizations advocating for fair labor rights Labor Rights provide essential resources for employees seeking guidance on wage discrimination issues. Unionized workplaces tend to have narrower pay gaps due to collective bargaining agreements that ensure standardized wages. Additionally, advocacy groups play a crucial role in shaping public policy and holding corporations accountable for discriminatory pay practices. Employer Best Practices for Ensuring Pay Equity Conducting Regular Pay Audits Employers committed to eliminating wage disparities should conduct regular pay audits to identify and address any inconsistencies. These audits help ensure that compensation structures are fair and align with anti-discrimination laws. Establishing Clear Compensation Policies Transparent compensation policies outlining how salaries are determined, including factors such as experience, performance, and market rates, reduce the likelihood of unintentional pay disparities. Providing Diversity and Inclusion Training Workplace training on diversity, inclusion, and pay equity helps raise awareness about unconscious biases and educates managers on equitable compensation practices. Conclusion The legal battle against wage discrimination continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to close pay gaps and strengthen protections for workers. Employees who suspect wage disparities should seek legal counsel and leverage available legal avenues to challenge unfair pay practices. Legal professionals, such as Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, provide invaluable guidance in navigating the complexities of wage discrimination claims. As awareness grows and legal frameworks strengthen, the goal of achieving true pay equity moves closer to reality. By supporting policies that promote equal pay, advocating for greater transparency, and holding employers accountable, society can work toward a future where every worker receives fair compensation for their labor. Car accidents can be life-altering, often leading to injuries, property damage, and emotional distress. Knowing your legal rights after a car crash is essential for protecting yourself and ensuring you receive fair compensation. This article outlines the key aspects of post-accident legal procedures, from dealing with insurance companies to filing a lawsuit if necessary. Immediate Steps to Take After a Car Crash The moments following an accident are crucial. Taking the right steps can significantly impact your ability to claim compensation later. Ensure Safety and Seek Medical Attention Your health is the top priority. Check yourself and others for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, seeking medical attention is essential, as some symptoms may appear later. Additionally, medical records serve as vital evidence when pursuing compensation claims. Contact Law Enforcement A police report provides an official account of the accident, which can be valuable for insurance claims and legal disputes. When officers arrive, provide an accurate description of the events without admitting fault. The report will include details such as the time, location, and circumstances of the accident, as well as statements from witnesses and involved parties. Gather Evidence Documenting the accident scene is critical for supporting your case. Collect the following: Photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and traffic signs Contact information of witnesses Insurance details of other drivers involved Weather and lighting conditions at the time of the crash Understanding Insurance Claims Filing an insurance claim is a key step in recovering damages. Knowing how to navigate this process ensures that you receive a fair settlement. Types of Car Insurance Coverage Car insurance policies differ, but common types include: Liability Insurance: Covers damages and injuries you cause to others. Collision Insurance: Pays for damage to your car. Comprehensive Insurance: Covers non-collision-related damages, such as theft or natural disasters. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Protects you if the at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance. For a comprehensive list of insurance companies in the United States, visit this resource. Dealing With Insurance Adjusters Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts, so its important to handle interactions carefully. When speaking to an adjuster: Stick to the facts and avoid speculation. Do not admit fault. Avoid accepting the first settlement offer without legal advice. Keep records of all communication, including emails and phone calls. Determining Fault and Liability Establishing who is at fault is crucial for compensation. Different states follow various fault laws: Comparative Negligence vs. Contributory Negligence Comparative Negligence: You may receive compensation even if you are partially at fault, though your percentage of fault reduces the payout. Contributory Negligence: In some states, if you are even slightly at fault, you may be barred from recovering damages. Proving Negligence To prove negligence, you must demonstrate: The other driver had a duty of care. They breached this duty (e.g., reckless driving, speeding). The breach directly caused the accident. You suffered damages as a result. Evidence such as traffic camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and expert accident reconstruction reports can help establish liability. Legal Options for Car Accident Victims If insurance does not provide fair compensation, legal action may be necessary. When to Hire a Lawyer Consider hiring a lawyer if: The insurance company denies your claim. You suffer serious injuries or long-term disabilities. Liability is disputed. You face difficulties obtaining medical treatment due to insurance complications. A skilled attorney can negotiate settlements, gather evidence, and represent you in court. For experienced legal guidance, you may consult Welcome Law Firm. Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit To file a lawsuit, you must prove the other partys negligence. The process involves: Filing a Complaint: The lawsuit officially begins when you file legal documents detailing your claims. Discovery Phase: Both sides exchange evidence and witness testimonies. Settlement Negotiations: Most cases settle before trial. Trial: If no settlement is reached, the case proceeds to court. Your attorney will help you navigate deadlines, court procedures, and settlement negotiations to maximize your compensation. Compensation You May Be Entitled To The compensation you receive depends on the severity of the damages and liability. Types of Compensation Medical Expenses: This covers hospital bills, rehabilitation, and future medical costs. Lost Wages: If injuries prevent you from working, you may be compensated for lost income. Pain and Suffering: Includes physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Property Damage: This covers the repair or replacement of your vehicle. Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence or reckless behavior, courts may award additional compensation to punish the at-fault party. Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims Each state has a time limit for filing claims, known as the statute of limitations. Generally: Personal injury claims: 1 to 6 years, depending on the state. Property damage claims: Varies by state but often ranges from 2 to 5 years. Failing to file within this timeframe may forfeit your right to compensation. Exceptions may apply in cases involving minors, government entities, or delayed injury diagnoses. Preventing Future Car Accidents While accidents are sometimes unavoidable, practicing safe driving habits can reduce risk. Safe Driving Tips Avoid distractions such as texting or eating while driving. Obey speed limits and traffic signals. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Maintain your vehicle to prevent mechanical failures. Be cautious in adverse weather conditions, such as rain or snow. Use defensive driving techniques, such as anticipating the actions of other drivers. Conclusion Understanding your legal rights after a car crash empowers you to take appropriate action. Whether filing an insurance claim, negotiating with adjusters, or seeking legal representation, being informed ensures you receive the compensation you deserve. If faced with legal complexities, consulting an experienced attorney can make all the difference in protecting your interests. Being proactive after an accident by gathering evidence, understanding your insurance coverage, and knowing your legal rights will place you in the best possible position to recover the compensation you need. Whether settling through insurance or pursuing legal action, informed decision-making is key to achieving a fair outcome. SYDNEY - Australia's future nuclear-powered submarines could operate near Taiwan and a group of Japan-controlled islands and act as a deterrent to China in the region, said former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who negotiated the technology acquisition deal with the United States and Britain. While acknowledging that sending the submarines to those specific locations was not necessarily the reason behind Australia's push for nuclear-powered submarines, Morrison said in an interview in Sydney on Thursday that the Taiwan Strait and the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea "present potential flashpoints and conflicts which could very much draw Australia in," given its own interests. "The point about nuclear-powered submarines is they can go anywhere, and they can go anywhere you need them to go, and to do so stealthily," said the former Australian prime minister, who, along with U.S. and British leaders, announced the launch of the AUKUS security partnership in 2021. "We sought a capability that enabled us to go anywhere, which would include those places if needed," he added. Under the three-way partnership, Australia plans to purchase nuclear-powered submarines from the United States starting in the early 2030s and deliver its first domestically built vessels in the early 2040s. The acquisition is part of the three countries' efforts to counter China's naval expansion and territorial ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. The move comes amid growing pressure from China on Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing considers its own territory. Taiwan is viewed as a potential military flashpoint that could draw the United States into conflict with China, an eventuality that would pose serious security challenges for Japan given the proximity of its far-flung islands, including the uninhabited Senkakus, which Beijing claims and calls Diaoyu. Japan, a key U.S. security ally, will also benefit from the AUKUS partnership, Morrison said, noting that there will be "more nuclear-powered submarines available for deployment, particularly in the Indo-Pacific theater." "It helps to ensure a deterrent that provides stability in the region, which allows everybody to get on, trade, have normal relations, and that includes with China, by the way," he said. Japan has deepened its defense cooperation with Australia in recent years, signing a renewed joint security declaration in 2022 that committed both countries to "consult each other on contingencies that may affect our sovereignty and regional security interests, and consider measures in response." Under Morrison's tenure between 2018 and 2022, ties between Australia and China increasingly soured, including over human rights concerns and Morrison's call for an independent review into the coronavirus pandemic, leading to several trade disputes. Touching on the Quad, a four-nation framework that also includes the United States, Japan and India, Morrison expressed concern that the grouping has "drifted," suggesting a lack of momentum among the leaders to meet and hold substantive discussions to deepen cooperation. The 56-year-old, who retired from politics in February last year, said he was encouraged by the Quad foreign ministers' meeting following U.S. President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January this year, but emphasized that the group's power lies in a leaders' gathering. The Quad's origins date back to when the four countries coordinated their emergency responses and humanitarian aid following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, elevated the Quad to the leader level in 2021, and its areas of cooperation have expanded, ranging from maritime safety and infrastructure to health security and emerging technologies. Morrison highlighted space cooperation, including launch platforms and satellite usage, as well as security, as areas for further collaboration. On the economic front, he said he was "totally opposed" to China joining a trans-Pacific free trade pact, which Australia and Japan are part of, and that he would be "particularly anxious" about the admission of China before the United States. "As long as the United States is not in that agreement, then there's no way you could contemplate China being in that agreement," Morrison said, adding that it would be "very much against our economic and security interests in the region." China applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2021, but doubts remain over whether the Asian economy, often accused of market-distorting practices such as extensive subsidies, can meet the pact's high trade standards. Related coverage: Japan sets up new SDF command to unify defense force operations Japan says no shift in U.S. alliance despite Trump budget cut plans Japan MSDF frigate makes port call in Australia amid contract bid Image by succo from Pixabay Commercial truck accidents can be devastating, leading to severe injuries, fatalities, and significant financial losses. Due to the size and weight of these vehicles, collisions involving trucks often result in more serious consequences than regular car accidents. Victims may face prolonged medical treatment, lost wages, and emotional distress, making legal representation crucial for obtaining fair compensation. Beyond the immediate aftermath, truck accident victims often face long-term consequences, including disabilities, emotional trauma, and financial instability. The legal landscape surrounding truck accidents is complex, as multiple parties can be held accountable. This makes it critical for victims to seek experienced legal representation to ensure their rights are protected and their claims are handled effectively. Common Causes of Truck Accidents Truck accidents occur for a variety of reasons, many of which involve negligence or human error. Some of the most common causes include: Driver Fatigue Truck drivers often work long hours under strict deadlines. Federal regulations limit their driving hours, but some drivers or employers ignore these rules to meet delivery demands. Fatigued driving impairs reaction time and decision-making, increasing the risk of accidents. Studies have shown that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence, as it significantly reduces awareness and reaction times. Mechanical Failures Improper maintenance of truck components, such as brakes, tires, and steering systems, can lead to catastrophic failures. Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their fleet is well-maintained, but negligence in this area can result in deadly crashes. Regular inspections are mandated by law, but when these regulations are ignored, mechanical failures can cause life-threatening accidents. Distracted Driving Just like any other driver, truck operators may be distracted by mobile phones, GPS devices, or eating while driving. Given the size of a truck, a momentary lapse in attention can have fatal consequences. Distractions are especially dangerous on highways, where high speeds amplify the risks of sudden maneuvers or collisions. Speeding and Reckless Driving Trucks require longer stopping distances, and speeding can make it impossible for a driver to stop in time to avoid a collision. Reckless driving behaviors such as aggressive lane changes, tailgating, and failure to yield can also contribute to accidents. Given the massive weight of commercial trucks, high-speed collisions often result in severe or fatal injuries. Improper Loading Overloaded or improperly balanced cargo can cause trucks to tip over or make them difficult to control. Federal regulations dictate weight limits and proper loading techniques, but violations still occur. Cargo shifts during transit can also lead to rollovers, making proper loading a crucial safety factor. The Role of a Truck Accident Lawyer Victims of truck accidents often face a complicated legal process. Truck accident lawyers specialize in handling these complex cases, ensuring that victims receive the compensation they deserve. Their role involves several key functions: Investigating the Accident A thorough investigation is crucial in truck accident cases. Lawyers gather evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and surveillance footage. They may also work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine liability. This evidence is crucial in proving negligence and strengthening a victims claim. Identifying Liable Parties Unlike typical car accidents, truck accidents often involve multiple liable parties, including: The truck driver The trucking company The vehicle manufacturer Maintenance providers Cargo loaders Determining liability is crucial for ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable. Trucking companies and their insurers often try to shift blame, making legal representation essential for protecting victims rights. Negotiating with Insurance Companies Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts to accident victims. A skilled lawyer negotiates with insurers to ensure clients receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For a list of insurance companies operating in the U.S., visit this resource. Filing Lawsuits and Representing Clients in Court If settlement negotiations fail, truck accident lawyers are prepared to take the case to court. They present evidence, call expert witnesses, and argue on behalf of their clients to secure the best possible outcome. A well-prepared legal team increases the chances of obtaining maximum compensation for victims. Types of Compensation Available for Truck Accident Victims Victims of truck accidents may be entitled to various types of compensation, depending on the severity of their injuries and the circumstances of the crash. Economic Damages These are tangible losses that can be quantified, such as: Medical expenses (hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation) Lost wages and future earnings Property damage Non-Economic Damages These damages compensate for intangible losses, including: Pain and suffering Emotional distress Loss of enjoyment of life Punitive Damages In cases involving extreme negligence or reckless behavior, courts may award punitive damages to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future. These damages serve as a warning to trucking companies and drivers to prioritize safety. Steps to Take After a Truck Accident Taking the right steps immediately after a truck accident can significantly impact the outcome of a legal claim. Seek Medical Attention Even if injuries seem minor, its essential to get a medical evaluation. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding or concussions, may not be immediately apparent. Medical records also serve as crucial evidence in legal proceedings. Document the Scene If possible, take photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses and obtain a copy of the police report. Documentation strengthens a victims claim and provides tangible proof of the accidents impact. Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Hiring an experienced attorney early in the process ensures that evidence is preserved, deadlines are met, and negotiations with insurance companies are handled effectively. A legal expert can guide victims through the complexities of their case and improve their chances of securing fair compensation. For those seeking legal assistance, consulting a Duluth truck accident lawyer can help navigate the complexities of a truck accident case. Why Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer is Essential Navigating the legal system alone can be overwhelming for truck accident victims. Insurance companies often attempt to reduce payouts, and trucking companies have legal teams dedicated to protecting their interests. A lawyer ensures that victims are not taken advantage of and fights for the compensation they deserve. Expertise in Trucking Regulations Federal and state trucking regulations are complex. An experienced lawyer understands these laws and can identify violations that may have contributed to an accident. Maximizing Compensation Without legal representation, victims may accept low settlement offers that do not fully cover their medical expenses, lost wages, and suffering. A lawyer fights to ensure that all damages, including future expenses, are accounted for. Reducing Stress for Victims Truck accident victims often deal with physical pain, emotional distress, and financial uncertainty. A lawyer handles legal proceedings so that victims can focus on their recovery. Conclusion Truck accidents can have life-altering consequences for victims and their families. Navigating the legal process alone can be overwhelming, but experienced truck accident lawyers fight tirelessly to secure fair compensation for their clients. From investigating the accident to negotiating with insurance companies and representing victims in court, these legal professionals play a critical role in ensuring justice is served. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, seeking legal representation as soon as possible is crucial for achieving the best possible outcome. Image by ADArt00090 from Pixabay Negligence can have life-altering consequences. Whether its a business failing to ensure the safety of its premises or an individual acting carelessly, the effects can be devastating. Understanding how to hold responsible parties accountable is essential for victims seeking justice and compensation. This article explores the impact of negligence, the legal frameworks surrounding liability, and the steps victims can take to pursue claims. Understanding Negligence and Its Consequences Negligence occurs when an individual or business fails to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to others. The legal concept of negligence encompasses four key elements: Duty of Care A legal obligation to act in a manner that prevents harm. Breach of Duty Failure to uphold that duty. Causation The breach directly caused harm. Damages Actual losses suffered by the victim. Negligence cases arise in various contexts, including workplace accidents, medical malpractice, and defective products. For more insight into the legal definition, refer to this article. Common Scenarios Where Negligence Leads to Harm Workplace Negligence Employers have a responsibility to maintain a safe working environment. Failing to adhere to safety protocols can result in severe injuries. Common examples include: Inadequate training for employees handling hazardous equipment Failure to repair faulty machinery Ignoring workplace harassment complaints Victims of workplace negligence may seek compensation through workers compensation claims or personal injury lawsuits. In cases where an employer fails to provide necessary protective equipment or enforces unrealistic work conditions, the consequences can be catastrophic. Workplace injuries range from minor slips and falls to life-threatening accidents, highlighting the importance of employer accountability. Medical Malpractice Medical professionals must meet a high standard of care. When they fail, patients suffer. Examples of medical negligence include: Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis Surgical errors Medication mistakes Legal recourse for medical negligence often involves malpractice claims where victims must prove that a healthcare providers error directly caused their injury or worsened their condition. The repercussions of medical negligence extend beyond physical harm; victims may suffer emotional distress, loss of income, and long-term health complications. Premises Liability and Business Negligence Businesses must ensure their premises are safe for customers, employees, and visitors. Failure to do so can lead to slip-and-fall accidents, structural collapses, and exposure to hazardous materials. Liability extends to: Poorly maintained walkways Inadequate security leading to assaults Failure to address known hazards When a business ignores maintenance issues or fails to implement proper safety measures, customers and employees are placed at risk. For example, grocery stores that fail to clean up spills in a timely manner can cause serious slip-and-fall injuries, leading to legal claims. Victims of premises negligence can file lawsuits to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Product Liability Manufacturers and distributors must ensure that their products are safe for consumer use. Defective or dangerous products can cause serious injuries, leading to legal claims against the responsible parties. Examples include: Faulty vehicle components leading to accidents Defective medical devices causing complications Contaminated food products resulting in illness Holding manufacturers accountable can prevent future incidents and improve industry standards. Recalls are sometimes issued for defective products, but in many cases, these actions come too late. Victims of product-related negligence may suffer lifelong injuries and disabilities, making legal action necessary to cover ongoing medical costs and suffering. Legal Pathways for Holding Negligent Parties Accountable Victims of negligence have legal avenues to pursue justice. Understanding these pathways is crucial for a successful claim. Personal Injury Lawsuits A personal injury lawsuit allows victims to seek compensation for damages caused by negligence. These claims require proving that the defendants actions directly caused harm. Compensation may include: Medical bills Lost wages Pain and suffering Legal representation plays a critical role in these cases. If you need assistance, consider professionals such as Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers. Personal injury lawsuits often involve negotiations with insurance companies, which can be complex and overwhelming for victims. Having experienced legal counsel can significantly improve the chances of securing a fair settlement. Class Action Lawsuits When negligence affects multiple individuals, victims can band together in a class action lawsuit. These cases are common in: Defective product claims Data breaches exposing personal information Corporate misconduct affecting consumers Class actions provide a powerful means for holding corporations accountable on a larger scale. They also allow victims to share legal costs, making it more feasible for individuals with limited resources to pursue justice. A successful class action can lead to large settlements that compensate victims while forcing negligent companies to implement better safety practices. Wrongful Death Claims If negligence leads to the loss of a loved one, family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims help survivors recover: Funeral expenses Loss of income and support Emotional distress damages Such cases emphasize the devastating impact of negligence and the need for accountability. Wrongful death lawsuits can arise from medical malpractice, workplace accidents, or car crashes caused by reckless drivers. Pursuing these claims not only helps families financially recover but also holds negligent parties responsible, potentially preventing similar tragedies in the future. Steps to Take After Experiencing Negligence If you or a loved one has been affected by negligence, taking the right steps can strengthen your case. Seek Medical Attention Your health is the top priority. Obtain medical care immediately to document injuries. Gather Evidence Collect photos, witness statements, and reports related to the incident. Report the Incident Notify the appropriate authorities, such as workplace safety boards or consumer protection agencies. Consult a Legal Professional An experienced attorney can help assess your case and guide you through the legal process. Keep Records Maintain a file with medical bills, correspondence, and any documentation related to your case. Taking these steps can significantly impact the outcome of your claim. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be when negotiating a settlement or presenting your argument in court. Conclusion Negligence can cause irreversible harm, but victims have legal options to seek justice. By holding businesses and individuals accountable, affected parties not only secure compensation but also promote safety and responsibility within society. According to 800perkins.com, taking legal action against negligent parties is crucial in preventing future harm and ensuring accountability. If you or someone you know has been impacted by negligence, dont hesitate to explore your legal rights. Seeking professional assistance can make all the difference in securing the justice and compensation you deserve. Legal action serves as a deterrent, encouraging businesses and individuals to adopt safer practices and uphold their responsibilities, ultimately protecting others from similar harm in the future. When you suffer an injury due to someone elses negligence, dealing with insurance companies can be one of the most challenging aspects of seeking compensation. Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and cooperative, but their primary goal is to protect the companys bottom line not to ensure you receive fair compensation. Understanding how to navigate insurance claims and why you shouldnt settle for less can make a significant difference in your financial and personal recovery. Understanding Insurance Company Tactics Insurance companies are businesses focused on minimizing payouts to maximize their profits. To achieve this, they use several strategies that can leave injured claimants with unfair settlements. Delaying Claims Processing One common tactic used by insurance companies is delaying the processing of claims. They might request unnecessary documentation, repeatedly ask for clarifications, or take an extended time to respond to inquiries. This strategy pressures claimants into accepting lower settlements out of frustration and financial need. Downplaying Injuries Another approach insurers use is questioning the severity of injuries. They may argue that your injuries are pre-existing or that they are not as serious as claimed. In some cases, they hire medical professionals to provide opinions that favor the insurance companys position. Offering Quick, Lowball Settlements Insurance adjusters often offer quick settlements, hoping claimants will accept before understanding the full extent of their injuries and expenses. These initial offers rarely cover long-term medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Disputing Liability Insurance companies may argue that their policyholder was not entirely at fault or that you share a significant portion of the blame. This reduces the amount they are required to pay based on comparative negligence laws. Why You Shouldnt Accept the First Offer Accepting the first settlement offer is rarely in your best interest. Heres why: Your Future Expenses Might Not Be Covered If you settle too quickly, you may not have a complete understanding of your medical needs. Some injuries require ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, or even surgery in the future. A settlement should include these potential costs. You Lose the Right to Seek Further Compensation Once you accept a settlement, you typically sign a waiver releasing the insurance company from any further liability. If you later discover additional medical expenses or complications, you wont be able to seek more compensation. Non-Economic Damages May Be Overlooked Insurance companies often focus on reimbursing medical bills and lost wages while minimizing compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. These non-economic damages can be substantial and should be factored into your claim. Steps to Take to Maximize Your Settlement To ensure you receive fair compensation, its important to follow specific steps when dealing with insurance companies. Document Everything Keep thorough records of medical bills, doctors notes, prescriptions, lost wages, and any correspondence with the insurance company. Take photos of your injuries and any property damage, and collect witness statements if possible. Seek Medical Attention Immediately Even if you feel fine after an accident, its crucial to seek medical evaluation. Some injuries, such as whiplash or internal damage, may not be immediately apparent. A medical professional can document your injuries, which will support your claim. Do Not Provide a Recorded Statement Insurance adjusters may ask you to provide a recorded statement regarding the accident. It is best to decline until you have consulted with a legal professional, as they can use your words against you to undermine your claim. Consult a Personal Injury Attorney A personal injury attorney can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve. They understand legal complexities, assess the value of your claim, and handle negotiations effectively. The Importance of Legal Representation Insurance companies have legal teams working to minimize your payout. Having a skilled attorney levels the playing field. Negotiation Expertise Experienced lawyers know how to counteract insurance company tactics and negotiate for a fair settlement. They can present evidence effectively and push back against lowball offers. Litigation as a Leverage Tool Sometimes, filing a lawsuit is necessary to get a fair settlement. Insurers are more likely to offer a reasonable payout if they know your attorney is prepared to take the case to court. Contingency Fees Mean No Upfront Costs Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. This allows injury victims to access legal representation without financial risk. Understanding Insurance Industry Practices Its helpful to be aware of the broader insurance landscape when pursuing a claim. For a comprehensive list of insurance companies operating in the United States, visit this resource. Conclusion: Fight for Fair Compensation Insurance companies prioritize their profits over your well-being, which is why its essential to fight for fair compensation after an injury. By understanding their tactics, avoiding quick settlements, and seeking professional legal assistance, you can maximize your claim and secure the compensation you deserve. If you need experienced legal representation, turn to Zade Law to ensure your rights are protected and your case is handled with the diligence it deserves. A new class-action lawsuit against several major U.S. hospital systems and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) is drawing national attention to longstanding issues of unfair labor practices within the healthcare industryspecifically within pharmacy residency programs. Filed by former pharmacy residents, the suit alleges collusion among hospital systems to suppress wages and enforce rigid employment terms, a practice critics argue reflects deeper structural flaws in how the healthcare system treats its workforce. Sarah M. Worthy, CEO of DoorSpace, a healthcare technology company focused on improving workplace culture and operations in medical organizations, voiced strong support for the plaintiffs and used the case as a rallying cry for systemic change. For far too long, medical employees have been handed the short end of the stick when it comes to fair compensation and benefits, despite being the backbone of the healthcare system, Worthy said. While hospitals and healthcare corporations rake in billions, the very workers keeping patients alive are forced to accept stagnant wages, grueling hours, and minimal support. The lawsuit claims that the participating hospitals and ASHP, which accredits residency programs, coordinated to set standardized wages for pharmacy residents, effectively preventing any form of salary negotiation. This, the plaintiffs argue, constitutes wage fixing and violates federal antitrust laws. If proven true, the implications could extend far beyond the pharmacy sector, calling into question similar practices in other healthcare training programs. Worthy emphasized that the legal action is not an isolated event, but part of a broader reckoning with the way frontline healthcare workers are treated. The recent lawsuit filed against major U.S. hospital systems and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is a stark example of how this neglect isnt just an oversightits the result of a profit-driven system that prioritizes executives and shareholders over frontline workers, she stated. Residency programs are a required step for pharmacists pursuing specialized or clinical roles, yet many report working long hours for pay that barely covers basic living expenses. Unlike medical residencies for physicians, which are federally funded in part through Medicare, pharmacy residencies often rely on institutional support and private fundingcreating a power imbalance that critics say leaves residents vulnerable to exploitation. This legal action underscores the pressing need to reevaluate and reform residency programs, ensuring that aspiring pharmacists receive fair compensation and opportunities without being subjected to exploitative practices, Worthy added. The timing of the lawsuit also aligns with increasing scrutiny over the role of private equity and corporate consolidation in healthcare. In recent years, a growing number of hospitals have merged into larger systems or been acquired by investment firms, resulting in cost-cutting measures that frequently impact staff wages, benefits, and working conditions. Industry observers argue that this corporate mindset has led to a decline in patient care quality, as employee burnout and turnover reach record levels. Until the healthcare industry values people over profit, we will continue to see declining patient care as the norm rather than the exception, said Worthy. The class-action suit could set a precedent if the plaintiffs are successful, potentially opening the door to similar legal challenges across the healthcare landscape. More immediately, it has amplified calls from labor advocates, professional organizations, and healthcare workers themselves for increased oversight and regulation of residency programs. Whether through legislative reform, unionization efforts, or further legal action, the issue is unlikely to fade anytime soon. As the healthcare system continues to grapple with staffing shortages, rising costs, and ongoing public health challenges, the question of how to fairly compensate and support the professionals on the frontlines remains more urgent than ever. Image by Michael Mike from Pixabay The legal industry operates at the intersection of commerce and morality, presenting law firms with the challenge of balancing financial success with ethical responsibilities. This complex dynamic requires a careful approach to ensure profitability while upholding justice and ethical standards. To understand the nuances of running a successful legal practice, it is essential to explore the fundamental aspects of profitability, ethical considerations, innovations, and regulatory compliance in the industry. By doing so, law firms can develop strategies that not only enhance their financial performance but also maintain their integrity and commitment to justice. Understanding Profitability in the Legal Sector Law firms, like any business, must generate revenue to sustain operations, compensate employees, and invest in growth. However, achieving profitability in the legal field comes with unique challenges and responsibilities. The nature of legal work, coupled with regulatory oversight and the ethical considerations tied to the profession, makes financial management a crucial component of success. Revenue Streams in Law Firms Law firms generate revenue through various models, including: Billable Hours: The traditional approach where attorneys charge clients for time spent on legal matters. This model, while widely used, has faced criticism for incentivizing inefficiency and discouraging cost-effective legal services. Contingency Fees: Payment is contingent on winning a case, commonly used in personal injury law. This model allows clients to access legal services without upfront costs but poses financial risks for firms handling complex cases. Flat Fees: A fixed cost for specific legal services, providing transparency to clients. This pricing structure is increasingly popular among clients seeking predictable legal expenses. Subscription-Based Models: Emerging trends include offering ongoing legal support for a recurring fee, which can ensure steady income for firms while offering affordable legal guidance for businesses and individuals. Challenges in Profit Maximization While profitability is crucial, law firms must navigate challenges such as: Client Acquisition Costs: Attracting clients involves marketing, networking, and maintaining a strong reputation. Firms must balance the cost of acquiring new clients with the revenue generated from their cases. Operational Expenses: Salaries, office leases, and technology investments contribute to high overhead costs. Effective financial planning is necessary to maintain a sustainable profit margin. Regulatory Compliance: Legal and ethical obligations may limit aggressive revenue strategies. Unlike other industries, law firms must adhere to professional guidelines that may restrict certain business practices. Ethical Considerations in Legal Practice The legal profession is governed by strict ethical guidelines that ensure fairness, justice, and integrity. Lawyers must balance their duty to clients with obligations to the legal system and society. The Role of Business Ethics in Law Legal professionals must adhere to ethical principles, including: Confidentiality: Maintaining client privacy is a fundamental responsibility. Lawyers are required to protect sensitive information and uphold attorney-client privilege. Conflict of Interest Avoidance: Lawyers must ensure that they do not represent conflicting interests. Failing to do so can result in disciplinary actions and damage to a firms reputation. Honesty and Integrity: Misrepresentation or misleading clients can lead to severe consequences, including disbarment and legal liability. For a deeper understanding of business ethics in the legal field, refer to this resource. Justice vs. Profit: The Ethical Dilemma Balancing profit and justice can be challenging, especially when high legal fees create barriers for lower-income clients. Many law firms engage in pro bono work and legal aid initiatives to bridge this gap, ensuring access to justice for all. Ethical considerations also come into play when determining case acceptancelawyers must weigh financial incentives against the broader implications of their legal representation. Innovations in Legal Business Models The legal industry is evolving, with firms adopting innovative strategies to remain competitive and ethical. Technology and Automation Legal technology, including AI-driven research tools and case management software, enhances efficiency while reducing costs. This innovation allows firms to offer more affordable legal services without compromising profitability. By automating routine tasks such as document review and contract analysis, attorneys can focus on more complex legal matters, ultimately improving client service. Alternative Business Structures (ABS) Some jurisdictions permit non-lawyers to have ownership stakes in law firms, allowing for external investments and diversified business models. This approach can increase financial sustainability while maintaining ethical oversight. The integration of business professionals into legal practices has introduced new management strategies that improve operational efficiency. Legal Marketplaces and Directories Online legal directories provide visibility to law firms, helping clients connect with reputable attorneys. Law firms can benefit from listing services such as [this legal directory](Legal Directory/Citation Link URL) to enhance their market presence. These directories also enable clients to compare legal services and pricing, promoting transparency in the industry. Regulatory Framework and Compliance Law firms must comply with industry regulations to maintain their credibility and ethical standing. Failure to adhere to legal and professional standards can result in severe penalties, including fines, suspension, or disbarment. Licensing and Professional Oversight Legal professionals are subject to oversight by bar associations and regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to ethical and professional standards. These organizations monitor compliance with legal codes of conduct and provide guidance on ethical dilemmas. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Compliance Measures Law firms must implement strict compliance measures to prevent financial crimes such as money laundering. Regulatory frameworks require firms to conduct due diligence and maintain transparent financial practices. Failure to comply with AML regulations can result in reputational damage and legal consequences. Data Security and Privacy Concerns With the increasing reliance on digital platforms, law firms must prioritize data security to protect client information. Cybersecurity measures, such as encryption and multi-factor authentication, are essential in preventing data breaches and maintaining client trust. Striking the Right Balance To achieve sustainable success, law firms must integrate ethical considerations into their business strategies. By prioritizing justice while maintaining financial stability, legal professionals can contribute to a fair and accessible legal system. The key to long-term success lies in adapting to industry trends while upholding core values that define the legal profession. Firms that embrace innovation, ethical leadership, and efficient business practices can position themselves for growth while maintaining their commitment to justice. Developing strong relationships with clients, fostering a culture of integrity, and investing in legal technology are all essential steps toward achieving this balance. For those interested in learning more about legal business strategies, check out this Anchor for further insights into maintaining ethical and profitable law firms. Conclusion The business of law requires a delicate balance between financial success and ethical responsibility. While profitability is essential for sustainability, law firms must uphold justice and integrity in their practice. By embracing innovation, adhering to ethical guidelines, and leveraging legal directories for visibility, firms can navigate the complex legal landscape while remaining committed to serving their clients and society effectively. Ultimately, the legal profession must continue to evolve, addressing the challenges of modern business while preserving the principles that uphold justice. By fostering ethical leadership, maintaining transparency, and prioritizing client trust, law firms can achieve long-term success while contributing to a fair and equitable legal system. Sunday, March 30, 2025 - A video has emerged showing the moment members of the public were caught on camera stealing fertilizer from a lorry that had overturned. The driver watched helplessly as the fertilizer was being looted. He was heard calling for police help as locals were busy looting. Askari saidia, he cried out, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The video has gone viral and sparked reactions among netizens, with many condemning the locals and comparing them to corrupt politicians who seize any opportunity available to steal. Just like their leaders, Kenyans are thieves. Any opportunity they get, they want to steal, an X user wrote. Kenyans are always waiting for an opportunity to loot, whether it's in a position of leadership or someone's misfortunes, another user added. Watch the video. Kenyans captured stealing fertilizer after a vehicle overturned pic.twitter.com/kjXo8Fiodw Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) March 30, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - A team of detectives drawn from the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Operations Action Team have arrested three notorious traffickers and seized a substantial cache of cannabis sativa. Acting on intelligence, the team descended on a rented house in Maji Mazuri, Mwiki, where they apprehended the primary suspect, 38-year-old Serah Wambui Nyaguthi. A search of the premises led to the discovery of 67 bales and five sacks of cannabis sativa meticulously concealed within the house. Further interrogation of Nyaguthi yielded crucial information, leading to the arrest of two additional suspects, 43-year-old Miriam Omwoso Aywa and 32-year-old Moses Karanja. The trio was escorted to Muthaiga Police Station, while the confiscated drugs were taken to DCI headquarters for safe custody as exhibits. In a separate operation, police officers in Embakasi apprehended three suspects, Sam Muthoka Musembi, Peter David Mumo, and Dorris Rashma Mutil, in possession of 181 rolls of bhang and 10 kilograms of unprocessed bhang. The suspects are currently being held at Embakasi Police Station, where they are undergoing processing before their upcoming court appearance. The Kenyan DAILY POST The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan, U.S. agree to urgently boost deterrence amid assertive China TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, agreed Sunday to accelerate efforts to strengthen the alliance's deterrence amid China's growing assertiveness in the region while affirming progress in upgrading command frameworks for smoother coordination between the two countries' forces. The agreement, reached during Hegseth's first visit to Japan as Pentagon chief, underscored the strength of bilateral ties even under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which has raised concerns about straining the longstanding alliance with demands for increased defense spending. ---------- Australia nuclear subs could sail near Taiwan, Senkakus: ex-PM Morrison SYDNEY - Australia's future nuclear-powered submarines could operate near Taiwan and a group of Japan-controlled islands and act as a deterrent to China in the region, said former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who negotiated the technology acquisition deal with the United States and Britain. While acknowledging that sending the submarines to those specific locations was not necessarily the reason behind Australia's push for nuclear-powered submarines, Morrison said in an interview in Sydney on Thursday that the Taiwan Strait and the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea "present potential flashpoints and conflicts which could very much draw Australia in," given its own interests. ---------- Myanmar quake death toll rises to 1,700 as rescuers race against time YANGON - The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar has risen to around 1,700, with more than 3,400 others injured, the junta said Sunday, as rescuers race against time with many feared trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams from both inside and outside the country have continued search efforts as the first 72 hours since the powerful quake -- considered a crucial window for finding survivors -- nears an end. But progress has been slow amid shortages of heavy machinery. ---------- Japan, China, S. Korea trade chiefs vow free, fair trade environment SEOUL - The trade ministers of Japan, China and South Korea agreed on Sunday to promote a free and fair trade and investment environment at their meeting in Seoul amid escalating global economic tensions sparked by U.S. tariffs. Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk Geun met as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policy raises concerns over protectionism. ---------- Osaka Expo to boost consumption by 1 trillion yen: think tank OSAKA - The World Exposition opening next month in Osaka could boost Japan's consumption by 1 trillion yen ($6.7 billion), with spending by foreign tourists outside the event venue accounting for about 30 percent, according to an estimate by a private think tank. Of 28.2 million visitors expected by the organizers during the event from April 13 to Oct. 13, 3.5 million visitors from abroad will likely spend some 293 billion yen outside the expo site on transportation, hotels and other expenses, the Resona Research Institute said. ---------- Baseball: Cubs' Imanaga earns win with 7 solid frames PHOENIX, Arizona - Shota Imanaga picked up his first win of the season by throwing seven innings of one-run ball as the Chicago Cubs edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Saturday. The Japanese left-hander, who pitched on Opening Day in Tokyo on March 18, allowed just three hits while striking out four and walked two at Chase Field in Phoenix. ---------- Football: Bayern's Ito suffers another right metatarsal fracture MUNICH - Japan and Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito has suffered another metatarsal fracture in his right foot, the German Bundesliga club announced Sunday. The 25-year-old joined Bayern from Stuttgart over the summer but suffered the injury during the preseason in July and only made his debut for the club on Feb. 12 in a Champions League knockout phase playoff tie away to Celtic. ---------- Figure skating: Kagiyama 3rd as Malinin wins back-to-back at worlds BOSTON - Japan's Yuma Kagiyama finished third as Ilia Malinin of the United States eased to his second straight men's title at the figure skating world championships on Saturday. After three straight runner-up finishes, Kagiyama settled for bronze in his fourth appearance at the tournament as he failed to build on his second-place finish in Thursday's short program, coming 10th in the free skate at TD Garden in Boston. Video: Drone illumination promoting Osaka Expo lights up Tokyo skies Sunday, March 29, 2025 - Kisauni Sub-County detectives have arrested Emmanuel Mugodo Sabwa, 42, and Erick Maingi Muimi, 34 and recovered a stolen motor vehicle. The silver Toyota Axio, registration number KDP 289B, was reported stolen at Buruburu Police Station, Nairobi. Acting on forensic leads, detectives trailed the vehicle to Utange area, where they discovered its tracking device abandoned roughly 20 meters from a perimeter wall compound where the said motor vehicle was recovered. At the scene, detectives found the vehicle fitted with a different registration plate KDA 348V and its front dashboard partially dismantled, likely in preparation for a quick resale or parts trade. Also recovered were assorted car keys, dismantled car trackers, a key programming machine, number plates KDJ 885G, KDP 289B, SSD 763A, and KCT 278Y, two log books for motor vehicles KCU 527H and KDA 348V, and one laptop make hp. The suspects are now cooling their heels at Mjambere Police Station, undergoing processing pending arraignment. Meanwhile, the recovered items are being detained as exhibits. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Dagoreti North Member of Parliament, Beatrice Elachi, reunited with her ex-husband, Brian Tendwa, on Saturday, during the burial of their so,n Elvis, who died in a road accident. The ex-couple was overwhelmed with emotions as they paid their last respects to their son. Brian and Elachi met in 2007 and fell in love. Their marriage crumbled after a DNA test revealed that he was not the biological father to their second-born child. Elachi sired a kid with an Arab guy when she relocated to Mombasa for work. When she returned to Nairobi, Brian demanded a DNA test for their second-born daughter. His worst fears were confirmed when the results confirmed he was not the biological father, prompting him to seek a divorce. They coparent after parting ways. Watch the video of Elachi and her ex-husband. Dagoretti North MP, Beatrice Elachi and Brian Tendwa, parents of Elvis Murakana Namenya encouraged by a song during their son's burial service in Nalepo Kajiado. pic.twitter.com/jrdfrw6O5l Sauti TV (@SautiTVKE) March 30, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Mt. Kenya residents to turn out in large numbers for President William Rutos upcoming development tour, set to begin on April 1st. The visit comes amid political tensions between the two leaders, with Ruto looking to solidify his support in the region. Speaking in Naivasha on Saturday, Gachagua urged locals to attend Rutos meetings, emphasizing that they should gladly accept any financial incentives offered. The President is coming with gifts, and I encourage you to receive them with joy, he said. If they give you money, ask for more. Don't settle for a small amount. He further reminded Ruto that Mt. Kenya supported his election without demanding anything in return. President Ruto, be financially prepared because we elected you without asking for anything, he added. Gachagua made these remarks at the consecration of Pastor Harrison Munyua at Redeemed Church in Naivasha. The former DP also responded to recent remarks by Chief of Defense Forces General Charles Kahariri, who warned Kenyans against political slogans that could incite unconstitutional leadership changes. Gachagua dismissed these concerns, defending such slogans as part of democratic preparations for the 2027 elections. He also cautioned the police against interfering with political gatherings, asserting that the era of using law enforcement to suppress opposition was over. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Kenyan officers deployed to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support mission have raised grave concerns over their working conditions, citing poor leadership, mismanagement, financial hardships, and operational risks that have left them struggling to execute their mandate effectively. The grievances now being raised come in the wake of the latest fatality reported on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, when Police Corporal Benedict Kabiru Kuria was killed in an ambush by gangs in the Lower Artibonite region, approximately 92 kilometres north of Port-au-Prince. The incident happened when three armoured vehicles got stuck in a ditch, which is believed to have been intentionally created by gangs as a trap for security forces. Kabiru, who had served in the Border Patrol Unit for nine years before joining the Haiti mission, was part of a team attempting to rescue Haitian counterparts whose vehicle had also been trapped. The gangs took his body, and efforts to recover it are still ongoing with specialized teams deployed for the operation. This marks the second death of a Kenyan officer in Haiti following the killing of Police Constable Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai on February 23, 2025. He was fatally shot during an anti-gang operation in the same region. The deaths have heightened concerns over the safety of Kenyan personnel, particularly as reports emerge about logistical failures and inadequate resources that may be putting them at greater risk. These grievances paint a picture of a mission that is being undermined by internal failures, with officers increasingly questioning whether their role in stabilizing the country is being taken seriously by those in command. Since their arrival in Haiti, officers say they have experienced frustrations that have progressively worsened due to what they describe as negligence from senior commanders. They claim that their welfare has not been prioritized, and instead of receiving support, they have been subjected to unnecessary challenges that have made their work more difficult. There are growing concerns that some officers are being favoured over others when it comes to duty assignments, with allegations that personal connections rather than standard operational procedures determine who is deployed for missions. This has led to a situation where some officers remain underutilized while others take on difficult tasks under harsh conditions without proper support. A particularly distressing issue is the treatment of officers stationed at a base in Pont-Sonde, where they have been subjected to extreme hardships. Reports from those deployed in the area indicate that they have been forced to survive on a single meal per day and lack proper bedding, making their stay uncomfortable and physically draining. Some have questioned why such conditions exist, given that resources were allocated for their deployment. The officers argue that such neglect directly affects their ability to carry out security operations effectively, as they are often too exhausted to function optimally. Financial hardships have further worsened the situation, with officers decrying delays in their monthly salaries and allowances. Reports indicate that they have not received their allowances since January, leaving many in a precarious financial situation. Some officers have lamented that they have families back home who depend on them, yet they have been unable to send money due to these delays. The absence of clear communication from authorities on when the payments will be processed has deepened frustrations, with officers expressing fears that they might be stranded in Haiti with no financial support if the issue persists. Transport challenges have also emerged, with officers alleging that they have been provided with armoured vehicles that do not offer adequate protection. They claim that these vehicles have been compromised to the extent that bullets can penetrate them, yet despite raising the issue, they have been forced to continue using them. This has created anxiety among officers who feel that their safety is not being taken seriously. Given that they are operating in a high-risk environment, they believe that their concerns should have been addressed immediately, but their complaints have reportedly been dismissed by their superiors. Beyond the operational challenges, officers have also raised concerns about the unprofessional conduct of some of their commanders, whom they accuse of using mission resources for personal errands. Reports indicate that while rank-and-file officers are enduring harsh conditions, some senior officials have been engaging in non-essential activities that do not contribute to the missions objectives. This has had a demoralizing effect, as officers who expected to be part of a serious security intervention are now witnessing behaviours that suggest a lack of commitment from those in charge. One of the incidents that has triggered outrage among the officers is the use of mission personnel and resources for personal grooming activities. Reports have emerged of senior officers having their hair done within the mission camp, with enlisted personnel being assigned such tasks instead of engaging in security operations. Some officers have expressed disbelief that such activities are happening in the middle of a critical deployment, arguing that it reflects misplaced priorities and a lack of seriousness in executing the mission. Via Cyprian Nyakundi Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Locals in Kinungi almost caused a stampede after they rushed to an accident scene and stole beer from a truck that had overturned. In a video taken by a motorist, the locals are seen carrying crates of beer looted from the lorry. Some of the locals arrived at the scene with motorbikes and carted away several crates of beer. Reports indicate that the driver lost control of the truck after his brakes failed, leading to the accident. Luckily, he escaped unhurt together with the turn boy. Police officers were later deployed to the scene to disperse the looters. Watch the videos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Serial gold fraudster Chris Obure, who is known for his flamboyance, was spotted driving his high-end 2024 Lexus LX 600 in one of the city suburbs. The car is estimated to cost over Ksh 25 million. The LX600 boasts a bold exterior with Lexus' signature spindle grille and sharp LED headlights, complemented by an elegant interior with high-quality materials, leather upholstery, and wood accent. It's powered by a robust engine, offering smooth performance across all terrains and an impressive towing capacity of 8,000 pounds. The LX600 is equipped with a large infotainment system and a suite of safety features, ensuring a seamless driving experience. Obure has several fraud cases in court, including a recent case where he was charged with forging an agreement for the sale of Senteu Plaza, a building in Nairobi County. He wanted to sell the building to foreign investors using forged documents. If the fraud deal had been successful, he would have pocketed Ksh 1.2 billion. Obure lives large using proceeds of crime and owns a fleet of guzzlers with customized number plates. Watch the video. Notorious gold fraudster, CHRIS OBURE, spotted cruising around the city in his multi-million 2024 Lexus LX 600 - He masterminded KELVIN OMWENGAs murder pic.twitter.com/N96BR92POT DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) March 30, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Nandi Hills Member of Parliament, Bernard Kitur, was hosted by Deputy Inspector of Police Eliud Lagat at his lavish home in Mosop constituency. The police boss lives in a multi-million home, a landmark in the village. Taking to his Facebook page, Kitur said they discussed development projects in the constituency, including the upgrade of local police stations. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Former Citizen TV host, Kimani Mbuguas woes begun after he was given cocaine at a party, shattering his life. At the time, Mbugua was at the top of his career and he was dating a lady identified as Mutanu Mutisya alias Mollage, a social media influencer. Kimanis father revealed in a past interview that his sons mental health deteriorated after the party. He had a bash. Ilikuwa birthday yake na ilikuwa kubwa (It was his birthday and it was a big one). The sister took his phone akapitia akaona picha alikuwa anaanguka akitapika na kuna wasichana wanampiga (and went through it and saw pictures of him falling and vomiting and girls were hitting him), Kimanis father said. My daughter said aliona kwa glass yake kuna white substances zinaekwa (she saw white substances being put in his glass). Na anaambiwa kunywa na anatapika na anaanguka (And he was being told to drink and he was vomiting and falling down). So I told my daughter if we could consolidate the phone but how it got lost we don't know because we wanted evidence that was there, he added. When Kimani was taken to the hospital, a toxicology test confirmed the presence of hard drugs in his system, leading his father to believe his son was given drugs at the party. Kimani is still struggling with mental health even after he was taken to rehab. He has been loitering around in Thika collecting dirt and consuming cheap liquor. Below are photos of his ex-girlfriend, who shattered his life. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Nelson Havi, has announced that he will challenge the criminalization of marijuana in Kenya. In a bold social media post on Sunday, Havi announced his plans to file a constitutional petition next week, seeking to revoke all laws prohibiting the cultivation, processing, sale, and use of cannabis. "I will in the next coming week file a constitutional petition to declare as unconstitutional all sections of the law criminalizing the growing, processing, sale, and use of marijuana. We must level the vibes," he declared. His stance comes amid ongoing crackdowns on drug-related offenses, where users, dealers, and traffickers face severe legal consequences. According to the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Act, 2020, possession of 50mg or less of marijuana carries a fine of at least Ksh10 million or a minimum jail term of 10 years, or both. Havi has questioned the rationale behind banning a plant that grows naturally. "I have never understood the criminalization of marijuana. It is a naturally growing plant that Jah gave to man," he argued. His push echoes sentiments previously expressed by former Presidential candidate George Wajackoyah, who campaigned on legalizing marijuana to clear Kenyas debt. "If we grew bhang in Nyeri alone in one year, we can pay Kenyas entire debt portfolio or build two expressways in each county," Wajackoyah once stated. Havis announcement has sparked mixed reaction from netizens with some supporting him and others urging caution. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Meru-based politician and activist, Mike Makarina, slammed his ex-lover, Carol Kinyua, after she mocked him on Facebook over disability. Makarina responded to Carols mean post, accusing her of being jilted after he refused to marry her. His post has since gone viral. The Kenyan DAILY POST YANGON - The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck central Myanmar has risen to around 1,700, with more than 3,400 others injured, the junta said Sunday, as rescuers race against time with many feared trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams from both inside and outside the country have continued search efforts as the first 72 hours since the powerful quake -- considered a crucial window for finding survivors -- nears an end. But progress has been slow amid shortages of heavy machinery. A Japanese government source said the whereabouts of one national who had been living in a building that collapsed in Mandalay, a city near the quake's epicenter, is unknown. The Japanese government said it will send a five-member group, including medical experts, to Myanmar to assess aid needs prior to considering whether to send an emergency relief squad. It has also decided to deliver daily supplies to Myanmar through the government-backed Japan International Cooperation Agency. The quake hit in the early afternoon on Friday with strong shaking near Myanmar's second-largest city of Mandalay. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Thailand and China. Countries such as Russia and China, known for their friendly ties with Myanmar, have sent rescue teams, and some supplies have begun to arrive. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened an emergency meeting of their foreign ministers in a virtual format on Sunday, showing solidarity with Myanmar and Thailand, which were primarily affected. Recognizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, the ASEAN foreign ministers agreed to strengthen relief and recovery efforts, according to a statement issued by the 10-member group. Related coverage: Myanmar quake death toll tops 1,000 as many countries offer aid James Cox The EU's decision to delay counter-tariffs on US bourbon is important amid the threat of a 200 per cent tariff on European alcohol imports, according to an Irish MEP. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Fianna Fail MEP Barry Cowen discussed the "severe threat" to Ireland's whiskey industry. "The US administration's proposed 200 per cent tariff on EU alcohol imports poses a severe threat to European business, particularly Ireland's whiskey industry. "And the proposed 50 per cent counter-tariff on US bourbon does not help our case for the US to never implement it. The EU has agreed to delay any counter-tariffs until mid-April. In the meantime, it'll consult with member states and MEPs on what form they should take in relation to the counter proposal. "I've written to the trade commissioner and our own commissioner Michael McGrath, calling on them and the Commission to remove bourbon from the EU countermeasures. "Maintaining a a zero for zero tariff status between the EU and US on alcohol is essential I think for industry stability, especially when you consider Irish whiskey exports." Mr Cowen said it made more sense to look for an agreement before escalating the situation with counter-tariffs, which the EU have delayed until mid-April. The mantra of Trump doesn't have to be matched by the impact. "Exports to the US have seen significant growth with a value of 420 million annually. Whereas we contrast that to bourbon, imports to Ireland are worth just 8 million. That underscores the disproportionate impact of retaliatory tariffs. The EU exports three times more spirits to the US than it imports. "This means escalation is a direct threat to European producers. So we must make it clear that there's no strategic benefit in targeting bourbon whiskey, and any failure to act would harm Ireland's economy, its brands and jobs, and that's my prerogative and responsibility, which my colleagues and I are taking very seriously. "The comparison is plain to see, and the impact on us is far greater than it would be on them. We have a lot more to lose than they have. "We've been highlighting this fact at EU level, as government representatives and others have been to the US administration, and we continue to do so. These tariffs can negatively impact us both. "There are options and opportunities and an openness, on the part of ourselves at least, to get into serious dialogue and reach an agreement whereby the mantra of Trump doesn't have to be matched by the impact.... not only here, but obviously to his own country, which is coming down the track too." Barry Cowen said he has been busy advocating for Ireland's interests at EU and US level As a member of the European Parliament International Trade Committee, Mr Cowen said he has been busy advocating for Ireland's interests at EU and US level. "The EU exports 150 billion more in goods to the US than it imports. "However, the services this money supports are mutually beneficial. Irish companies support 120,000 jobs in the US. These jobs are particularly vulnerable to sudden shifts in American trade policy, and anti-escalation tariffs would disrupt established economic ties and negatively impact Irish businesses. "It means fostering diplomatic engagement where possible with Washington, ensuring all decision makers, whether it be in the Senate or in the Congress, that they understand the importance of stable trade policies that reinforce our role as a key economic partner for the US. "If you look at where we do trade, we do a third of our trade within the EU, a third of our trade with the UK, and the final third is international, rest of the world countries, including the US. "It's pivotal that we have transactional trade policies and trade agreements with those blocks in order to ensure that we have avenues open for our markets, to create jobs and build on the success we've had in relation to our trade. "We've seen our beef exports increase by 6 per cent year on year to target countries, prices up and that accrues to the State in relation to revenue, but also offers opportunities to win trade win allegiances and alliances with countries that can only help them benefit us in the event of us being in a situation whereby we lose trade at US level." Trump tariffs There are fears about US companies based in Ireland being forced to uproot due to tariffs, which were only exacerbated when US president Donald Trump name-checked pharmaceutical companies in Ireland while speaking in the White House this week. Mr Cowen said he is confident Ireland will maintain its role as a key location for US businesses, particularly due to our highly-skilled workforce and the fact that Ireland provides a gateway to Europe. "I see it with my own constituents. I see the investment by the likes of Dexcom in Athenry where 1,000 jobs are being created, where 300 to 400 million is being invested by a US company. It's a base to trade their goods into the EU. "That's an indication of the strength of our base, of our location, of our language, of our workforce, and our capacity to penetrate at the European market. "The US recognise and appreciate that, and we have to build on that. "There's some solace and something to be taken from the process that has evolved only in the last week or so in relation to the whiskey tariffs whereby the EU has said it will pause tariffs until April. "It may well be in a position to revive its commitment in relation to the bourbon tariff. However, this would impact positives in relation to the trade that exists with the whiskey sector not only in Europe, but specifically from our case, a burgeoning trade that exists presently in from Ireland." Many of those American companies are based in Ireland because of its proximity to Europe, because of its springboard nature to meet that market. Mr Cowen added: "I've heard the pharmaceutical industry and its representatives respond to those threats by saying it has the ability to withstand them and to emerge from them. And as I said, many of those American companies are based in Ireland because of its proximity to Europe, because of its springboard nature to meet that market." However, he said it is important to strengthen "domestic competitiveness" and trading relationships with other countries amid the risk of a US-EU trade war. "We can't assume that negotiations and consultation will result in positive outcomes. Trade policy is essential, but we have to strengthen our own domestic competitiveness amid such external economic pressures. As a country, we have successfully attracted foreign direct investment and will continue to do so due to our skilled workforce, our status and our strong regulatory framework. "The challenge remains in infrastructure and energy security. That could impact our ability to sustain that economic success. So it's imperative that we stick to the programme for government commitments to improve our energy capacity, improve our security, and win European support for pan-European projects. "It can develop the potential we have off the west coast, not only to power ourselves and the regions that need it most, but obviously to make an impact into the European market, which unfortunately continues to have a dependency on Russian gas. And anytime when we move, as we move away from that, costs remain very high and we have the potential to impact on that for ourselves and for Europe. "The doomsayers never thought we would emerge from Brexit and find alternative markets in the way in which we did. That was down to the hard work and the competitive nature of Irish business and its ability to adapt and to win new business. "We can do that again, but government and business and the industries all have to work in tandem and I'm glad to see that the Government has a taskforce in place that has met already." Martina OBrien has been chosen as the Artist-in-Residence (A-i-R) for the Co-Creative Lab in Maynooth following a selection process that began in January. This was announced this week by Kildare County Council Climate Action Team, in collaboration with Kildare Arts Service and the University. A hugely experienced visual artist, Martina has exhibited both in Ireland and internationally, her work involves engagement with communities, citizen scientists, academics and members of the scientific community. She has collaborated with experts in climate science and marine ecology on projects such as Arctic Deep, Extreme 24 Marine Expedition in the Arctic Ocean, University of Oslos Marine Expedition, Oslofjord and ATUs Marine Expedition, North-East Atlantic Ocean. With an interest in earth sciences, she responds to the threats of climate change through a research-led practice that explores links between people, nature and technology, As part of her nine-month residency, Martina will work closely with the project partners, responding to data and processes that emerge from a community-focused collaborative project that will design and test local solutions to climate change in Maynooth. Through this residency, I aim to develop artistic work that reflects the shared experiences and ambitions of the community while exploring new methodologies of co-creation, said Martina. Tania Banotti, Director of Creative Ireland, stated Were looking forward to seeing the outputs of Martina's residency. It's part of a wider network of artists working with local communities all over Ireland this year on climate action. The approach has proven to be a powerful way to engage and mobilise communities to take practical steps to address the climate and nature crisis. The broader aim of the Co-Creative Lab is to model and assess innovative solutions to climate change that encourage positive behaviour change in a creative, practical and human-centred way. As the countys Decarbonising Zone, Maynooth was chosen as the place to base the project, and the Co-Creative Lab will be based in Maynooths Community House Maynooth is a test bed for change in the community, and the Co-Creative Lab provides an inclusive space to the community of and students of to design solutions to challenges using fun to explore the different perspectives, said Paula ORourke, Climate Action Co-ordinator, Kildare County Council. I think most people are big kids at heart, I know I am! Lets have fun. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA More than 46 million in funding has been awarded to seven rural regeneration projects in the North and the border counties. The Peaceplus funding will help to create family support hubs, social enterprise, green infrastructure and social farming, resulting in 25,000 participants accessing new rural facilities and services. Peaceplus is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the British and Irish governments and the Northern Executive. A total of 46,190,355 has been made in awards. The projects receiving the funding will be: The Healthy Active Rural Communities (HARC) project (7,601,993) will focus on strengthening rural communities across Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. The Rebuilding Together Building Healthy Communities project (5,722,677) aims to provide facilities and services currently lacking in the rural area of Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. The Rural Economic and Social Transformation And Resilience Together (RESTART) project (8,412,327). Led by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, its aim is to improve the quality of life of people living and working in the cross-border areas of Newtownbutler in Co Fermanagh, Clones in Co Monaghan and Belturbet in Co Cavan. The Unlocking the Potential of Rural Innovation and Social Enterprise (RiSE) project (3,971,440). Led by Rural Action, RiSE aims to support, develop and raise awareness of social enterprise (SE) activities within rural areas in Northern Ireland and the border counties. The Growing Together: Social Farming for Peace and Inclusion (SoPI) project (6,223,914.72). It aims to enhance and increase the use of social farms to deliver a peace dividend through social farming placements, community events and education and training. The Three Villages One Community project (6,721,047). Led by Ederney Community Development Trust, the project has been designed to deliver health, wellbeing, and social enterprise focused infrastructure in Ederney and Kesh in Co Fermanagh, and Pettigo in Co Donegal. Dara Calleary welcomed the funding boost for rural projects (Brian Lawless/PA) The Walking for All (WFA) project (7,536,957.08). Led by Outscape, the project highlights the benefits of led walking in improving health and fostering community connections. Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary said: These projects will be supported under the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area, and will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas. The actions supported under this investment area are far-reaching, from health and well-being projects, to agricultural diversification and social enterprise support. These initiatives will facilitate the development of centralised facilities that provide essential family support services and promote green infrastructure, thereby encouraging active lifestyles and bolstering enterprise and tourism in rural areas, including those that span across borders. Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said: The breadth of projects funded shows the commitment of local voluntary, community and social enterprise groups, local authorities and academics to work collaboratively to address a range of pressing issues, whilst building the capacity of rural communities. SEUPB chief executive Gina McIntyre said: Among the many welcome initiatives will be the deployment of resources to support agricultural diversification programmes and development of social farms for social and economic benefit, alongside the development and delivery of rural-specific programmes to support 65 social enterprises including those focused on increasing health and wellbeing. TOKYO - Japan will bar foreigners from acquiring farmland if their visas are set to expire soon, in a bid to prevent misuse of such land amid high prices for rice and other food items, the farm ministry said. The system will be introduced Tuesday through a revision to the enforcement regulation of the Cropland Act, requiring foreigners to report the remaining duration of their visas when acquiring farmland. The move comes as ruling party lawmakers have voiced their concerns that farmland could be used for unintended purposes amid an increase in foreign-linked entities becoming owners. Farmland acquirers are basically required to engage in farming for at least 150 days a year, with municipal agricultural committees responsible for deciding whether to approve the acquisitions. In September 2023, the ministry began requiring foreign individuals and companies to report their nationalities when applying to acquire land. Individuals were also required to report their visa status but not the number of days remaining until expiration. Under the new system, foreigners will not be allowed to acquire farmland if their visas are set to expire soon and there are no prospects for renewal. Regardless of nationality, those set to move far away from the farmland will also be barred from acquiring it. The ministry, however, has not defined the minimum visa period required for land acquisition, with an official saying that local agricultural committees will make decisions on a case-by-case basis. According to the ministry, farmland acquired in Japan by foreign individuals residing in the country and by companies with foreign shareholders holding voting rights totaled 154 hectares in 2022 and 90 hectares in 2023. Meanwhile, a total of about 73 hectares of farmland in six prefectures were acquired by foreign entities headquartered outside Japan between 2017 and 2023. A company linked to France acquired the largest area of land, while firms with ties to China and Hong Kong were also among the owners. Related coverage: Tokyo's rice prices surge 90% in March on year: CPI data Japan aims to increase rice exports 8-fold to 350,000 tons in 2030 LAST week, Monday 24 March, South Kildare Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary launched a national awareness campaign to remind dog owners of their responsibilities. The campaign which originally launched in April 2024 entitled Its not your dogs fault, its yours is aimed at highlighting the responsibility of dog owners and addressing the harm that uncontrolled dogs can do to people and to livestock. The campaign will run from 24 March 2025 until 20 April 2025. Minister Heydon said: I want this campaign to make people think twice about letting their dog loose and uncontrolled. We have to remember that dog owners have serious responsibilities in every setting, but a particular focus is needed in rural areas where we are currently in lambing season. The harm that out-of-control dogs can do to sheep and lambs is financially and emotionally devastating for farm families. There can be zero tolerance for people who do not keep their dogs under proper control. This campaign follows closely from a series of related initiatives including increases in on-the-spot fines up to 300 including trebling of fines for serious offences, an additional 2 million to support dog pounds in 2023 and a further 2 million in 2024, the establishment of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group in 2024, the introduction of regulations to ban XL Bully type dogs in 2024, and the recruitment of up to 40 additional dog wardens this year. An Athy man's acclaimed band has released its latest single. The Roving Crows are a multi-award winning Irish Folk Rock band fronted by Athy man Paul ONeill, he of the Lower St Josephs Terrace musical dynasty of ONeills. The band were formed in 2007 when Paul met fiddle player Caitlin Barrett at a music festival. Now based in Herefordshire; the four-piece band have toured extensively in the UK, France, Australia and the Netherlands. Lauded as Genuinely the next big thing on the folk scene by BBC music journalist Andy O Hare and as The next folk super group in waiting by Nancy Dunham of folking.com, the band have gone from strength to strength, receiving top billing at folk festivals all over England. The band featured in the Tesco Ireland Christmas Commercial on television last year, one of the most popular TV ads which aired through December. Paul has been in touch to tell me about their new single which was launched on St Patricks Day, Wild Atlantic Woman Paul describes it as An upbeat song about following your heart, living your dreams, giving up the rat race for a slower pace and some Donegal Zen. It is available on all music platforms. The band are currently on a British tour but play the Doolin Folk Festival on 15 June this year, well worth the journey south to see them. Lots of info on tour dates and music videos available on their website; rovingcrows.com. 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. More than 6,000 modern body armour units are being acquired for Irish soldiers, the Tanaiste has said. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Harris said that a 16.5 million euro contract has been placed to invest in the protection of Defence Forces personnel. The first deliveries will be made at the end of this year and the overall consignment will be delivered by the second quarter of 2026. The new body armour system, designed in-house by a Defence Forces team, is expected to provide greater protection against ballistics and fragmentation. It has been designed so it can be modified to enhance both its level of protection and the essential equipment attached to the system. As well as the body armour, a set of new combat clothing system and combat helmets are also being sought through the tendering process. Mr Harris said: The safety of our Defence Forces personnel is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence and this supply of body armour will mean that our troops have access to state-of-the-art protection during their missions. The body armour that we are purchasing is both modern and fit-for-purpose and I look forward to its delivery later this year. This week I had the opportunity to visit Defence Forces personnel deployed to the Unifil mission in Lebanon. While there, I saw first hand the challenging and volatile environment that our peacekeepers operate in further illustrating the need to ensure we properly invest in force protection. I want to thank our Defence Force personnel operating both at home and overseas for their continued service and dedication to the State. The Department of Defence has awarded a contract to Seyntex NV of Belgium for the supply of 6,105 body armour systems. Speaking at a cadet commissioning ceremony at the Curragh on Friday, Mr Harris said that investment in Irelands security and defensive capabilities needed to take place with a degree of urgency. He said that in particular more investment was needed in the men and women of the Defence Forces, as well as monitoring capabilities like radar and sonar. Were part of the European Union. There is a war on the continent in Europe, the type of threats that countries face has changed significantly hybrid and cyber and we need to make sure that were prepared to protect and defend ourselves. The significant Leaving Certificate achievements of two former Kilkenny school students have been acknowledged and celebrated by Maynooth University at a recent awards ceremony. The now first year MU students are among over 70 Maynooth University Entrance Scholars, each having achieved 575 points or more in their Leaving Certificate examination. Former CBS Secondary School, Kilkenny student Sam Deegan is studying the Bachelor of Education Froebel Primary Teaching degree, while former St Kierans College, Kilkenny student Sean Young is a taking the BSc Psychology degree. The 1,000 Entrance Scholarship is awarded to incoming first year students, via the CAO, who have obtained 575 points or more in their Leaving Certificate. Former St Kierans College student Sean Young with Maynooth University President Professor Eeva Leinonen President of Maynooth University, Professor Eeva Leinonen, presented each scholar with a bespoke piece of crystal, in recognition of their achievement, during the awards ceremony recently held on the campus. School representatives were presented with a plaque. Family members and guests were treated to an evening of music and refreshments. Speaking about the event, Assistant Registrar and Director of Admissions, Ita McGuigan said: We are delighted to celebrate with the Scholarship recipients, their family and schools, their outstanding achievement in the Leaving Certificate. Tonight, we had over 70 scholars from more than 60 schools from all over Ireland in attendance, who chose to study at Maynooth University. Maynooth University Open Days take place on Saturday, April 12 and June 28 2025. Free buses are running to the Open Day on Saturday April 12. More information is available at www.mu.ie/opendays. READ NEXT: OVER 1,000 ATTEND KILKENNY APPRENTICESHIP EXPO TOKYO - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, agreed Sunday to accelerate efforts to strengthen the alliance's deterrence amid China's growing assertiveness in the region while affirming progress in upgrading command frameworks for smoother coordination between the two countries' forces. The agreement, reached during Hegseth's first visit to Japan as Pentagon chief, underscored the strength of bilateral ties even under U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which has raised concerns about straining the longstanding alliance with demands for increased defense spending. Citing the increasingly severe and complex security environment, Nakatani told a joint press conference with Hegseth after their meeting in Tokyo that the two "confirmed a resolution to move forward with a sense of urgency" on initiatives to reinforce the alliance capabilities to deter and respond. Hegseth said the United States stands together with Japan "in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese" and emphasized that his nation is committed to sustaining "robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait." The two defense chiefs agreed that they oppose "any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion" by Beijing, including in the East and South China seas, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. China has been stepping up its assertiveness over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, with Coast Guard ships repeatedly entering nearby waters. China also claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, home to one of the world's busiest maritime sea lanes. On Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, Nakatani and Hegseth agreed that the two countries should "pay attention to Chinese military moves" over the island and highlighted the importance of the "peace and stability" across the Taiwan Strait. While noting that "everybody needs to do more" in terms of investing in defense, Hegseth said he did not talk "specific numbers" about Japanese defense spending with Nakatani. "We are confident that Japan will make the correct determination" of what capabilities are needed, he said. The Japanese government decided in 2022 to increase related defense outlays to 2 percent of its gross domestic product by fiscal 2027 in a significant shift in its postwar security policy under its war-renouncing Constitution. Japan has long kept its defense spending to around 1 percent of GDP. Trump, who took office in January, has repeatedly said that U.S. allies can and should do more in terms of defense spending, but he did not make any such complaints publicly when Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited Washington in February. Shrugging off concerns that a plan to enhance the U.S. military in Japan may be affected by cost-cutting efforts, Hegseth said at the press conference that the Defense Department has started "phase one" of upgrading U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters. "This upgrade will improve our ability to coordinate operations with Japan's own Joint Operations Command, or JJOC," the defense secretary said, referring to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' newly launched command that takes centralized control of its ground, maritime and air services from peacetime to contingencies. USFJ will be reorganized to a "warfighting headquarters" with increased staff and authorities needed to accomplish new missions, Hegseth said. Some U.S. media have recently reported that the United States could stop a planned expansion of USFJ as part of efforts to slash Defense Department spending. Reconstituting USFJ with greater operational responsibilities was agreed to during the tenure of Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, with the U.S. side at the time calling it "the most significant change to U.S. Forces Japan since its creation." According to a Japanese Defense Ministry official, the U.S. military has established a team at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo to coordinate with the new Japanese command, marking the first step in the USFJ upgrade. In the face of China's rapid military buildup and North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development, Nakatani and Hegseth agreed on an early start of coproduction of medium-range air-to-air missiles, known as AMRAAM, and affirmed enhancing joint presence in remote southwestern Japanese islands is one of their top priorities. Nakatani said he conveyed to Hegseth Japan's interest in exploring the possibility of jointly producing the Standard Missile-6 designed to intercept hypersonic weapons. The two also agreed to expand security cooperation in outer space and cyberspace. Later in the day, Hegseth met with Ishiba, and they shared a goal of realizing a "free and open Indo-Pacific" through bilateral cooperation, according to the Japanese government, referring to the vision widely viewed as a veiled counter to China. Hegseth's first official trip to the Indo-Pacific region began Monday and has included stopovers in Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines, another key U.S. ally in Asia. On Saturday, Hegseth visited the remote Pacific island of Iwoto, also known as Iwojima, and joined Ishiba and Nakatani at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of a monthlong, fierce World War II battle fought there between Japanese and U.S. forces. Related coverage: Pentagon chief Hegseth shows unity with Japan at WWII site Iwoto China eyes teaming up with Japan, South Korea to denuclearize North Korea Auckland Council Commissioners turned down consent for an 11 storey building on K-road a decision labelled by Chris Bishop as insane. Hayden Donnell covers it well: The Da Vincis of denial werent done. They said the new building would compromise the heritage of the local area. When confronted with the reality of the site currently being an empty lot whose immediate neighbours are a carpark and a Mobil station, the councils urban design expert Chris Butler argued the real world context of the development extends down Karangahape Road and through the southern end of Ponsonby Road. Why only that far? Surely the real world setting of this building is all of New Zealand itself, which broke off from the supercontinent Pangaea, which in turn was formed out of the dust flung across the galaxy by the Big Bang, and if you think about it that way, nothing should ever be built anywhere ever. Great stuff, and further: Faced with the prospect of people building apartments near a train station and other amenities in Sylvia Park, its planning team searched the recesses of their collective brains and came up to the ingenious conclusion that tall buildings would ruin motorway drivers spiritual connection to the vision of a small hill. Nice try developers, but itll take more than an overwhelming weight of evidence to force this team to consent to housing. The RMA replacement needs to be very permissive, so even the most dedicated nae sayer has to say yes. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially in the morning. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. By Xinhua writer Wang Qiang MUSCAT, March 30 (Xinhua) -- It is always a pleasure to walk along Muscat's beach on a sunny morning. The golden light pours over the city's corniche, illuminating the rugged mountains and the strikingly blue Arabian Sea. Having traveled extensively across the Middle East, I find that Oman always stands out as something extraordinary -- an understated gem I'm eager to share. The sultanate has cultivated a quiet resilience, striking a delicate balance between deeply rooted traditions and a forward-looking vision. My first encounter with Oman came during my time stationed in Qatar, marking the beginning of a journey of discovery. With each visit, I've come to appreciate how this country defies simple categorization and reveals new facets of its identity. Muscat, the capital, seamlessly blends the old with the new. Here sea turtles glide through crystalline waters just meters from the bustling Mutrah Souq, one of the region's oldest markets. The air, rich with the scent of frankincense and spices, serves as a sensory bridge connecting modern Oman to its past as a maritime trading powerhouse. The city's charm lies not in grand monuments but in its unique contradictions: sleek highways weaving through honey-hued fortresses, and fishermen hauling their catch alongside luxury yachts in marinas that blend effortlessly into the natural harbor. This delicate equilibrium -- between progress and preservation -- reflects Oman's broader philosophy, a deliberate approach to development that prioritizes cultural heritage over rapid urbanization. To fully grasp Oman's narrative, one must venture beyond the capital. A 1,000-km journey south to Salalah unveils a landscape that undergoes almost mythical transformations. During the Khareef monsoon season, arid plains burst into valleys of emerald green, a sight so surreal that Chinese expatriates have dubbed the region the "Middle Eastern Jiuzhaigou," after China's famed valley known for its breathtaking waterfalls. Yet Salalah's significance goes beyond its seasonal spectacle. It is the historic heart of Dhofar, a land once renowned for its frankincense, a resin so precious that it shaped ancient trade networks stretching to China. Centuries ago, Arab and Chinese merchants braved treacherous seas, exchanging silk, spices and ideas, laying the groundwork for a cultural dialogue that persists today. A testament to this enduring connection emerged in 2023 with a monument in Salalah honoring Zheng He, the Ming Dynasty Chinese explorer whose voyages epitomized peaceful exchange. The sculpture's fluid lines, evoking both ocean waves and ship prows, symbolize a shared history built on curiosity rather than conquest. This nod to the past is very much forward-looking. As Oman accelerates its Vision 2040 strategy -- an ambitious plan to transition from oil dependency toward sustainable industries like renewable energy and eco-tourism -- such partnerships take on new relevance. China, now Oman's largest oil importer, has expanded its role through Belt and Road Initiative collaborations in solar energy and port infrastructure, demonstrating that ancient trade routes can adapt to modern ambitions. This synergy between heritage and innovation is also evident in Oman's northernmost region. The Musandam Peninsula, often called the "Norway of Arabia," is a labyrinth of inlets where dolphins leap alongside traditional dhows, a scene that shatters the desert stereotype of the Gulf. Local governor Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed al Busaidi spoke passionately about positioning Musandam as an eco-tourism haven, targeting travelers weary of overcrowded destinations. "We're not chasing mass tourism," he said, "but meaningful experiences rooted in nature and authenticity." This vision resonates throughout the country, from the coral-filled waters of the Daymaniyat Islands in the Gulf of Oman to the vast sand dunes of the Empty Quarter, where Bedouin guides share their deep knowledge of the desert's natural rhythms. Oman's approach to progress is neither timid nor flashy. Investments in ports, logistics hubs and green hydrogen projects unfold alongside meticulous heritage conservation. As the sun sets below Muscat's skyline, painting the Al Hajar Mountains in gradients of rose and copper, Oman's landscapes mirror its national ethos. Its story is not proclaimed loudly, but whispered in the rustling of date palms, the laughter of children in souq alleyways, and the rhythmic creak of dhows sailing toward horizons. At least 1 dead after small plane crashes into home near Minneapolis and ignites fire, officials say Over 200 Tesla Takedown protests take place throughout US on Global Day of Action against Elon Musks role with DOGE BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer's new research and development (R&D) center officially opened at BioPark in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) on Saturday. As the company's third R&D center in China, the new facility aims to enhance its existing drug development network in the country, integrating China into Pfizer's global early-stage clinical trials and all pivotal phase III studies. With China's population aging, the demand for innovative drugs and vaccines is expected to grow, said Michael Corbo, senior vice president of the company. He added that the R&D center in Beijing aims to accelerate the global simultaneous development of innovative drugs, benefiting patients worldwide, including those in China. Multinational pharmaceutical firms are increasingly recognizing China's burgeoning innovative drug sector as a strategic goldmine to bolster their global competitiveness. British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark agreement earlier this month to invest 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in Beijing over the next five years, demonstrating confidence in the capital's world-class life sciences innovation ecosystem. Likewise, medical tech firm Medtronic also launched a digital healthcare innovation base at BioPark, its first in China. To date, nearly 5,000 medical and healthcare companies have gathered in the BDA, including multinational pharmaceutical giants such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Bayer, AstraZeneca and Medtronic. BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's democracy and rule of law are backsliding while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities led by Lai Ching-te are suppressing political opponents and dissenting voices and restricting freedom of expression. As the DPP's campaign color is green, people in Taiwan are labelling its recent authoritarian tactics "green authoritarianism." The main target of these authoritarian actions are people who oppose "Taiwan independence" and call for improving cross-Strait relations. One high-profile case was a woman from the mainland who married a man in Taiwan and expressed her support for China's reunification online under the nickname Yaya. The island's authorities revoked her residence permit in Taiwan and forced her to leave the island, separating her from her husband and three children. Similar treatments were imposed on two other mainland spouses. In addition, a police officer in Taoyuan faced investigation simply for introducing himself on his social media account as "Chinese." Disturbingly, Lai even proposed reinstating the military tribunal system, which reminded the public of the island's martial law era. Such incidents reflect a broader climate of fear intentionally fostered by Lai and the DPP authorities. While aggressively demonizing the mainland, the DPP authorities and their online wings are stepping up harassment of individuals and organizations that engage in cross-Strait exchanges and support peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. A chilling effect has emerged on the island where only one political stance, which is for "Taiwan independence," is deemed acceptable and free from suppression and intimidation. The DPP, which has long portrayed itself as a "guardian of democracy", has now become quite the opposite, turning Taiwan into a place where speaking out against the authorities carries real risks. Lai assumed office under a weak electoral legitimacy, winning with a minority of both votes and seats in the legislature. Rather than acknowledging this reality and focusing on improving administrative performance, he has doubled down on his separatist stance and pursued aggressive political crackdowns. The so-called security threats or infiltration risks from the mainland have been frequently used by Lai to distract the public from the failures of the DPP authorities in promoting economic and social development in Taiwan. Lai's political manipulation is becoming increasingly blatant and radical because deep down he knows his separatist movement is losing ground. More and more people from Taiwan are engaging with the mainland for work, study, and business, challenging the ideological narratives upheld by Lai and his party. Public backlash against Lai's repressive policies is growing and "green authoritarianism" is doomed. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Caddo voters went to the polls Saturday to fill some seats and with money on their minds BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China's four major state-owned commercial banks on Sunday announced plans to raise a combined 520 billion yuan (about 72.5 billion U.S. dollars) through the issuance of A-shares targeting specific investors. The four commercial banks -- Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Postal Savings Bank of China -- published their plans through the Shanghai Stock Exchange. According to their plans, Bank of China aims to raise no more than 165 billion yuan, China Construction Bank no more than 105 billion yuan, Bank of Communications no more than 120 billion yuan, and Postal Savings Bank of China no more than 130 billion yuan. All four banks have said that the raised funds, after deducting issuance-related costs, will be used to replenish their respective core tier-1 capital. ADEN, Yemen, March 30 (Xinhua) -- As Muslims worldwide marked Eid al-Fitr this week with feasts and family gatherings, celebrations in Yemen were tinged with the grim realities of war, economic collapse, and renewed U.S. airstrikes targeting the Houthi group, underscoring the deep fractures in a nation enduring more than a decade of conflict. In the early hours of Sunday, as Yemenis prepared for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, American warplanes struck Houthi military sites in the northern province of Saada and in the capital, Sanaa. The Iran-aligned group, which controls much of northern Yemen, claimed its forces had engaged in clashes with U.S. vessels in the Red Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Truman, in the preceding 24 hours. "Our operations will continue and expand in defense of our people and in solidarity with Palestine until the aggression ends," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised address, framing the group's maritime attacks as part of a broader campaign against Israel's war in Gaza. Yet for many Yemenis, the escalating violence and deepening poverty eclipsed any sense of festivity. In interviews across Houthi-held territories, residents described an Eid defined by exhaustion and deprivation, with families struggling to afford necessities, let alone holiday traditions like new clothes or sweets. "Eid used to be pure joy. Now, it's airstrikes and hunger," said Khalid Nasser, 42, a teacher in Sanaa. "We're trapped between bombs from the sky and collapse on the ground." In Saada, a Houthi stronghold that has been the focus of intensive U.S. airstrikes, an elderly resident described a holiday stripped of its rituals. "Parents can't buy gifts or host gatherings. Many hide at home, ashamed they can't provide," he said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. Even in the southern city of Aden, where Saudi-backed forces hold sway, Eid was subdued. "People are grieving for Gaza, yes, but also for themselves," said Samir al-Jabri, a shopkeeper. "After years of war, how much more can we endure?" The United States has been stepping up strikes on Houthi targets since mid-March. It cited the need to protect Red Sea shipping routes disrupted by the group's attacks. But critics argue that the campaign is worsening civilian suffering in a country where more than 18 million people depend on humanitarian aid. Still, glimmers of resilience persist. Families shared stories of clinging to simple traditions -- cooking meager meals, visiting neighbors, and praying for peace. "Eid's spirit isn't in fancy clothes or feasts," said Omar Hassan, a community elder in Sanaa. "It's in our hearts, even now." In Hodeidah, a port city battered by coalition airstrikes, 24-year-old Amal Saleh swept her home and dressed in her least-frayed clothes. "We keep our customs alive," she said. "It's how we resist despair." The Houthis, who seized Sanaa in 2014, have faced near-daily U.S.-led bombings in recent weeks. Yet their grip on northern Yemen remains firm, and peace talks have stalled. United Nations officials warn that the country's humanitarian crisis -- already the world's worst -- could deepen without urgent intervention. Tomas Doherty Healthcare unions are to suspend work-to-rule action that was planned to begin on Monday. The move follows 22 hours of intense negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission across the weekend. HSE services will operate normally throughout the country on Monday after agreement on processes for reviewing staff vacancies and for accelerating recruitment to vacant posts. Nurses and midwives will now be balloted on proposals to develop and improve recruitment policies and workforce planning. Phil Ni Sheaghdha, general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), said challenges around safe staffing had intensified over the last 18 months. She said the proposals should ensure that vacant posts will be filled and the approval process for recrutiment will be streamlined. "Nurses and midwives will now be balloted on the proposals. They will want to be assured by their employer that the delivery of safe staffing is an immediate priority," she said. Ashley Connolly, head of Forsas health and welfare division, said the decision was made to stand down industrial action to allow time to consider the proposals. Eoin Drummey of Unite said the proposals would be subject to a ballot of members. Brian Mc Avinue, of Connect Trade Union, added there was "still a body of work to be done on the commitments made on delivering direct employment." HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said he was very pleased the threat of disruption was lifted. "Our commitment to all of our workforce and all representative bodies is reflected in the agreement," he said. The dispute was focused on staffing levels across the health service and the setting last year of a ceiling on total pay and staff numbers. The unions said the limits set out were not adequate given the services overall needs, and argued many existing posts vacant at the end of 2023 were in effect "suppressed" due to the arbitrary manner of the process. The HSE said its staff numbers had never been higher, that the equivalent of 28,500 full-time staff had been added to its workforce since the start of 2020, an increase of almost a quarter, while more than 6,000 additional staff will be recruited this year despite the limits set. A MOTORIST who pleaded guilty to travelling at 160kph on the M7 in Portlaoise was disqualified from driving at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. Garda Stephen OHanlon told the court that, on 17 September last, he pursued a car for over three kilometres that was being driven at 160kph in the fast lane of the M7 at Ballymacken, Portlaoise. He said that when the vehicle eventually stopped, driver Frankie Barr with an address at 58 Finn Eber Fort, Finglas, Dublin 11 seemed oblivious to the speed that he was doing, because he was listening to music at the time. Gda O'Hanlon told the hearing on 20 March that Mr Barr had no previous convictions. Judge Andrew Cody convicted the defendant, fined him 500 and disqualified him from driving for six months. ADULT learning initiatives from Laois and others counties across Ireland were celebrated at an awards event in Croke Park recently. The Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition awards (STAR) were organised by AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation of Ireland and highlighted the education initiatives that showcase the transformative power of adult education. The Laois and Offaly winners were Beyond Barriers and Transformative Journeys for Traveler Women which are both run by the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). They brought home the European Social Fund (ESF) Special Recognition Award and the Open University Ireland Shooting Star award. The Beyond Barriers project captured and shared voices of adult learners in LOETBs literacy service, highlighting their personal journeys and achievements, especially those who have faced unique challenges in returning to education. Transformative Journeys for Traveler Women is a programme designed to empower parents or carers who have experienced cumulative trauma and have been denied access to education and societal opportunities. The programme nurtures self-compassion, both for the child they once were, for their own parents, and for the young people they are parenting. Representatives from the Transformative Journeys for Traveler Women programme which was organised by the LOETB who were the winners of the Open University's Shooting Star Award at the AONTAS STAR Awards ceremony. Speaking at the awards ceremony AONTAS CEO Dearbhail Lawless said: The Laois STAR Award winners highlight the incredible initiatives and programmes that are running in Laois and across the island of Ireland that promote adult learning and community education. The value and benefit of adult education is truly reflected in the individuals here this morning and I highly commend all the winners and nominees for their fantastic achievement. Find out more about the AONTAS STAR Awards and Adult Learners Festival at www.aontas.com. Gardai are investigating a serious assault in south Dublin. A woman in her 30s was stabbed in the leg and back in the early hours of the morning in Ballyogan, Dublin 18. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital to be treated for "serious but non-life threatening injuries". Gardai at Cabinteely said investigations were ongoing. TOKYO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has raised the volcanic alert level for Shinmoedake, a volcano in Japan's southwestern Kyushu region, from Level 2 to Level 3, restricting entry to the mountain as volcanic activity has intensified. The warning came amid an increase in volcanic earthquakes since Friday and signs of ground deformation indicating mountain expansion. Authorities have warned that large volcanic rocks could be ejected within a 4-km radius of the crater. In addition, ashfall and small volcanic rocks may be carried far downwind, and powerful explosions could cause air blasts strong enough to shatter windows. Due to the alert level upgrade, hiking trails previously restricted within a 2-km radius are now closed within 4 km. Several trails, including those leading to nearby peaks, are now off-limits. Residents are advised to avoid the area, follow local government instructions, and take precautions, such as keeping curtains closed to prevent injury from shattered glass. A man admitted stealing tools worth over 8,000 and 1,400 in cash from vehicles in Laois. Stefan Scurtu (44) 21 Rockboro Avenue, Ballintemple, Cork pleaded guilty to theft and interfering with vehicle charges at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. He stole tools worth over 8,000 from a vehicle at Balladine Heights, Abbeyleix between September 29 and 30, 2023. He also interfered with a vehicle at Sli Na Noir Abbeyleix on September 30, 2023. Between September 29 and 31 he took 1,400 cash, a Dewalt grinder, five batteries, a mini grinder, cordless drive and tools worth 1,480. The man also stole a bank card and he stole a chainsaw valued at 250 from a property at Fairways, Abbeyleix on a date between September 29 and October 1, 2023. Garda Diarmuid Ryan of Abbeyleix Garda Station said the defendant made no reply to the charges. Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was pleading guilty to all of the offences. Garda Ryan said the accused entered five vehicles and removed items from all but one of them. He said one victim had tools valued at 8,000 taken, another lost 1,400 in cash. A debit card was taken from one which was later used in Circle K, Ballacolla. Mr Fitzgerald said his client was serving a one year and nine month prison sentence which he was given in Tralee. He said the man made full admissions when arrested. Judge Susan Fay said she wanted victim impact statements in relation to the matter. She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court for victim impact statements and finalisation. Judge Fay said the defendant can appear via videolink from the Midlands Prison on the next occasion. She granted legal aid to Mr Fitzgerald. A court sitting was told a car owners insurance wouldnt pay out because a house was unlocked when keys were stolen. Michael McDonagh (21) of 76 Castleland Park Avenue, Balbriggan, Co Dublin appeared before Portlaoise District Court in connection with a number of thefts in Laois. Detective Garda Paul Kelly said the defendant had stolen a white 12 D registered VW Passat CC from outside a house at The Showgrounds, Rathdowney on April 29 last. The keys had been taken after the defendant entered a house through an unlocked front door and the car was discovered crashed and written off in Cork. The Volkswagen wasnt covered by insurance because the household was left unlocked, he said. The man was also accused of interfering with a vehicle at Hunters Lodge, Emo between April 28 and 29 last. He was accused of stealing a white 181D registered Mini Cooper from an address in Dublin which was recovered undamaged. He was further accused of stealing a bank card and Revolut card from a vehicle in Slieve Bloom Heights on April 29 and stealing a bank card and fuel card from a vehicle at ODaly Terrace, Rathdowney on the same date. The man was further charged with stealing a wallet containing 300 and a coin purse from a car at ODaly Terrace on April 29 and with stealing a black wallet and two electric fobs valued at 100 from a vehicle in ODaly Terrace on the same date. The man was also accused of stealing a bank card from an unlocked vehicle in Kilminchy, Portlaoise on April 29 and stealing diesel valued at 90.70 from Circle K, Manor Stone, Ballacolla on the same date. Andrew Dunne BL said his client was pleading guilty to the offences. Det Kelly said the defendant had six previous convictions. Judge Susan Fay asked Det Kelly if he had canvassed the victims of the crimes. These are serious charges and they had significant consequences for the victims, said Judge Fay. Garda Kelly agreed and said there were two vehicles stolen and a burglary. He requested two weeks to get victim impact statements. Mr Dunne said this gentleman is very anxious to have his mum present when being sentenced. Judge Fay asked if the man had any compensation for the victims. Mr Dunne said he hadnt as he wasnt working. Judge Fay adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on April 14 for victim impact statements and finalisation. Waterways Ireland has secured planning permission to carry out dredging and maintenance on the River Barrow in Laois over the next five years. The dredging work along a three hectare stretch of the Barrow Navigation in the townlands of Clogrenan, Crossneen and Ballyhide was approved subject to 17 conditions. In its application to Laois County Council, Waterways Ireland requested permission for (i)Maintenance and repair works to the Barrow Navigation comprising post-flood spot dredging and maintenance dredging, (ii) A new temporary access road providing access to the Barrow trackway from Leighlin Road to facilitate the proposed works, (iii) Temporary mobile welfare units and , (iv) All works ancillary and incidental to the maintenance and repair works referred to above. Waterways Ireland provided a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) as part of the planning application. Documents supporting the application explained that planned post-flood spot dredging involves the removal of silt and gravel, which has been carried downstream in the winter floods and is typically deposited at the heads and tails of canals, locks and the confluences of rivers and streams, to restore navigation to design levels. The dredging can be carried out through the use of a Watermaster, a water based machine or a long-reach excavator on the river bank. All extraneous material will be reused, transferred by licensed haulier to a licensed landfill or the Applicants own disposal site, the documents stated. A report on behalf of Waterways Ireland said: The proposed Scheduled Maintenance Works encompass a range of site-specific works which will be undertaken on a phased basis and in line with established best practice concerning seasonality. Waterways Ireland is responsible for managing the site area of c. 3.0 ha comprising the Barrow Navigation within Co. Laois, it states. The proposed Scheduled Maintenance Works are to be undertaken over a period of five years. The Barrow River is a waterway corridor of National and International importance, with spectacular recreation and leisure amenities. Both the river and canal support a myriad of activities and sustain a rich and diverse built and natural heritage. The picturesque nature of the waterway combined with both canal and river navigation make it a unique experience, a planning report from Waterways Ireland stated. "The existence of a trackway along the route of the navigation makes it an experience to be enjoyed by a wide diversity of recreational users. Given the importance of these waterways, maintenance works are required to ensure the integrity of the Barrow Navigation system and associated infrastructure. It is important to mention that the proposed works are for maintenance purposes only for boating and trackway use. As such these works are essential to ensure the continued safe operation, enjoyment and navigation of the Barrow Navigation system, it stated. The planning application attracted a number of submissions including one from Philip Crean of Barrowline Cruisers which are based on the Grand Canal at Vicarstown. We are the longest operating business on the Barrow/Grand/Royal systems. Our customers come from all over the world to navigate the beautiful scenic canals and River Barrow, contributing to the tourism economy by eating and drinking in the pubs and restaurants along the way, and purchasing groceries and souvenirs," he explained. In recent years our boats have had a lot of difficulties getting further than Clashganny due to silting and lack of maintenance along the navigation. If the navigation is not maintained, we will have no choice but to advise our customers to stay on the canal and head north from our base, he stated. Barrowline Cruisers support the works outlined by Waterways Ireland within this planning application. The works are essential in order to allow its hire boats to travel on the Barrow Navigation, he continued. Over the last number of years WI has fallen back on navigation maintenance on the Barrow River and Grand Canal which has caused a lot of boating tourists to choose other waterways. It is very important for boat tourism that this maintenance goes ahead while taking account of the heritage, flora and fauna, said Mr Crean. In conclusion, he said: Barrowline Cruisers fully support the proposed maintenance works by Waterways Ireland on the Barrow River navigation and the preservation of its navigation route for barges, boats/river tourism now and in the future. Peter Sweetment made a 93 page submission highlighting the legal obligations on Waterways Ireland to protect the environment and it highlighted the importance of endangered freshwater Pearl Mussel. Dublin resident Shane Sheehy asked the council to refuse the application. Over many many years however I have witnessed Waterways Ireland treat the River Barrow in the most careless and cavalier manner. Waterways Ireland through its actions show absolutely zero regard for the flora and fauna present and have little regard to the area's designation as a Special Area of Conservation designation, he said. Another Dublin resident, Markie Becker, Secretary of the Heritage Boat Association(HBA) endorsed the planning application. The HBA therefore fully support and endorse this application and the completion of these works as quickly as is feasible, he wrote. Niall ODowda from the Kildare branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland(IWAI) saidIWAI have been highlighting the need for these maintenance works to be undertaken for some time now and believe some of these works are overdue and are now critical in nature. The maintenance of the Barrow Navigation, which commenced in the 1750s,should be supported and encouraged. Rosalind Murray and Art Mooney of the CBUG, Carlow Barrow Users Group Besfield, Athy Road, Carlow made a 56 page submission on the plan. We ask the Councils and Planning Authorities to demand that Waterways Ireland develop a sustainable plan for works on the River Barrow Navigation, which meet the Qualifying Interests of the Special Area of Conservation and Natura 2000 and to protect and sustain the river habitats and historic structures of the navigation for generations to come, they stated. We are hugely concerned that if Waterways Ireland implements its plans, in part or in full, the damage to our waterway system and the SAC will be significant and beyond repair, they stated. READ ALSO: Pedestrian crossing needed on 'lethal road' in Laois village The Planning Authority must refuse this application as by not doing so will permit the continuing destruction of the Barrow towpath beyond repair resulting in a grave and unacceptable loss of our heritage for future generations: human generations, and generations of It is important to remember that fair and sustainable decisions for future generations of Orange Tip, Common Blue, Otter, Salmon, Kingfisher, Bat and Bee to name a few, the group stated. Laois County Council approved the plan subject to 17 conditions on Tuesday, March 25. Lighting was sought for Creevelea Church during a meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District. Cllr Padraig Fallon proposed a motion calling for much needed lighting at the church, highlighting its high level of activity due to the number of Saturday evening masses held there. Even one light would make a significant difference at this stage, Cllr Fallon said. He noted that a pole about three metres from the road could potentially support a light if installation were possible. He also suggested that limited funding could be used to address the issue. Cllr Bohan seconded the motion. In response, the Roads department stated, There is currently no funding stream for new public lighting. The area at Creevelea Church will be assessed for public lighting requirements and if feasible a source of funding will be sought for same. Cllr Fallon also put forward a motion requesting repair works on a bridge along road number L2127, between the townlands of Rassaun West and Leckanarainey. He noted that the rural road experiences significant traffic and expressed concern about the bridges condition. While he was hesitant to say it was at risk of collapse, he warned that further deterioration would require more extensive repairs. Area engineer Eric Gilroy acknowledged the issue and confirmed the bridge would be inspected. READ MORE: Leitrim town to benefit from water supply upgrades DUP ministers intend to put a marker down in the Executive in opposition to a decision to install Irish language signs at Belfasts Grand Central Station, party leader Gavin Robinson has warned. Mr Robinson questioned whether the estimated 145,000 cost of the signage represented good use of public money. The DUP leader said the partys ministers in the Stormont Executive have written to Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins questioning how last weeks decision was made. The move comes as the Department for Infrastructure confirmed that the decision to install the signage was taken directly by Ms Kimmins, and not by Translink, the publicly funded transport operator that owns the 340 million station. Under Stormont rules, ministerial decisions that are deemed significant or controversial should be considered collectively by the powersharing coalition, rather than by just an individual minister. In a weekend email to party supporters, Mr Robinson said the installation of the signage was clearly a controversial matter. However, within the Executive it is ultimately the responsibility of Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle ONeill and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to jointly decide what issues are significant or controversial and should be subject to a wider vote. Ms Kimmins announcement on the signage has drawn criticism from several unionists. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston is seeking support from other Assembly members for a petition calling for a cross-community vote at the Executive on the decision. Meanwhile, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS) group is attempting to secure a judicial review in the High Court in Belfast against the Department for Infrastructure, stating the decision was taken without Executive approval. In his email to party supporters, seen by the PA news agency, Mr Robinson did not specify how DUP ministers would seek to challenge the decision at the Executive. This money could have been used to support struggling businesses in Sandy Row (adjacent to the station), which have been devastated by the stations impact, or to fix the potholes that plague our roads, wrote Mr Robinson. Our team on the Executive have written to the DfI Minister expressing their opposition to this decision and questioning the process for this decision being made. Once again, we see Sinn Feins approach to equality laid bare, and that their partisan pet projects take priority over the wider public good. This is clearly a controversial matter and our ministers will use their position at the Executive table to not only get to the bottom of how the decision was made but put a marker down that public money cannot be used to further Sinn Feins pet projects. I believe we need to put taxpayers first. Ensuring public services are delivered fairly and with efficiency. That means cutting waste and prioritising essential services. In a mandatory coalition, we rely on other parties to adopt the same approach. Yet this week, Sinn Fein demonstrated its focused on narrow politics rather than acting fairly and wisely. Grand Central Station has been billed as the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin. When the station opened last year disappointment was expressed by the Irish language community that the signage did not incorporate Irish. Speaking during the week, Ms Kimmins said the addition of Irish on signs in the station would be a hugely positive development. Responding to claims that the decision was not subject to sufficient equality assessments, Ms Kimmins insisted an equality screening exercise was conducted. This is something that reflects the thriving Irish language community in Belfast and right across our island, she added. I think that is really important that we have taken that step forward. In response to a weekend query on the decision-making process, a Department for Infrastructure spokesperson confirmed that the decision was taken by Ms Kimmins, and not Translink. InterGlobe Aviation, parent company of the country's largest airline, IndiGo, on Saturday, received a 944.20 crore penalty order from the Income Tax Department, which the airline said was erroneous. The Assessment Unit of the Income Tax Department (Income Tax Authority) passed an order imposing 944.20 crore penalty for the assessment year 2021-22, according to IndiGo. Meanwhile, the Chennai Joint Commissioner slapped a fine of 2.84 crore on the company. The department denied input tax credit due to the discrepancy for fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2020. IndiGo Says, Will Contest Penalty, Take Legal Remedies In a press statement issued by an IndiGo spokesperson, airline claimed that the order for the penalty has been passed on erroneous understanding and that the company will seek legal remedies to correct it. The order for said Penalty under Income Tax has been passed on the basis of an erroneous understanding that appeal filed by the Company before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) against the Assessment order under Section 143(3) has been dismissed, whereas the same is still alive and pending adjudication. The Company strongly believes that the order passed by Income Tax Authority is not in accordance with law and is erroneous. The Company will contest the same and shall take appropriate legal remedies against the order, the spokesperson said. What did IndiGo's regulatory filing say? "The order has been passed on the basis of an erroneous understanding that appeal filed by the company before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)) against the assessment order under Section 143(3) has been dismissed, whereas the same is still alive and pending adjudication," it said. Also Read | Airbus Chief Says Goal of Clean Aviation by 2050 Is at Risk The airline further said that the order passed by the Income Tax Authority doesn't comply with law and is erroneous and frivolous. The company will contest the same and will take appropriate legal remedies against the order, the statement added. Further, IndiGo stated the order does not have any significant impact on financials, operations or other activities of the company. GST demand order of 116 crore InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, on February 5, had said it got GST demand orders worth 116 crore, which comprised penalties from the additional commissioner of the Central Goods and Service Tax in Delhis South Commissionerate, including the joint commissioner of GST and Central Excise, Chennai South. Also Read | IndiGo targets 200 mn fliers by 2030, but faces plane shortage The Delhi additional commissioner had imposed a penalty of 113 crore. According to the department, it imposed GST on services provided to offshore recipient and was not an export of services, with refusal of input tax credit on certain services for financial year 2017-18. Fine of 25 lakh and 2.17 crore in January On January 15, the customs department on imposed a fine of little over 25 lakh on IndiGo in connection to duty on jet fuel. Joint Commissioner (Customs), Office of the Commissioner of Customs, Ludhiana had slapped it. InterGlobe Aviation had said there was demand for additional duty of customs on remnant Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). (Bloomberg) -- A rocket made by German startup Isar Aerospace failed to reach orbit on its first test flight, veering seconds after liftoff before crashing into the icy surrounds of its launch base in Norway on Sunday. Andoya Space, which developed the launchpad, said crisis management has been activated following the incident, in a statement on its website. We are collaborating with the emergency services, and Isar Aerospace to gain an overview of the situation, it said. A successful launch, a key step in developing Europes first spaceport for orbital missions, would have made Isar the first company to reach orbit from a European spaceport. European countries are seeking to reduce their dependence on the US for launch systems that send satellites into orbit. Fraying defense ties with Washington and a backlog at Elon Musks SpaceX have added to Europes sense of urgency to develop its own capacity. Sovereignty is a big topic because, in this case, people across the globe realize that you cant fully rely on partner nations anymore, Isar Chief Executive Officer Daniel Metzler said in an interview before the launch. We wanted to have a launch site, ideally in continental Europe to actually be able to serve the European market. The first launch attempt, on March 24, was scrubbed due to wind. Isar later moved its targeted launch window again due to weather restrictions. Munich-based Isar is among a handful of commercial European rocket startups attempting to replicate SpaceXs success. Germanys Rocket Factory Augsburg AG has received all the necessary licensing to take off this year from SaxaVord, a spaceport in Scotlands Shetland Islands. That would be the first vertical orbital rocket launch attempt in the UK since Richard Bransons Virgin Orbit was shut down in 2023 after a launch from Spaceport Cornwall in England failed to reach space. Another German company, HyImpulse Technologies, conducted a suborbital launch from an Australian spaceport last May. Metzler managed expectations before the launch, which did not carry a payload. I dont expect that well get to orbit, he said. The goal is to not blow up the pad and that also means flying for roughly 30 seconds. Isars rockets have about a 1,000 kilogram (2,200 pound) payload and are designed to fly small and medium satellites into low-earth orbit. Most earth observation satellites, which can be used for spying, environmental monitoring and mapping, can use orbits accessible from the Norway launch site, according to Metzler. Isar has raised more than 400 million ($433 million) in total funding since it was founded in 2018, including a 220 million Series C round announced in June that was backed by the NATO Innovation Fund. The company is building a factory near Munich that will be able to produce 40 of its Spectrum rockets a year. Capacity on its rockets is sold out until the beginning of 2027, with more than ten missions planned by then, Metzler said. Andoya has been hosting suborbital launches since it opened in 1962, with more than 300 missions for NASA alone. Isar is the first of several partners Andoya Space is targeting for orbital missions from the spaceport. --With assistance from Valentine Baldassari. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Vietnam could experience a wave of bankruptcies of solar and wind producers if the state utility proceeds with its planned change in pricing for renewable energy, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a letter to parliament. The application of a new power purchasing price which would be implemented retroactively for several years by Vietnam Electricity, or EVN, puts 173 solar and wind projects at risk of insolvency, according to the March 24 letter the chamber made public Friday. The chamber accused the state-owned monopoly of a serious violation of contractual principles. The utility did not immediately respond to a request for comment. If EVN proceeds with the adjustment, which will cut by 25%-46% revenue of these projects, most of them will become insolvent, potentially triggering mass bankruptcies, it said. The wind and solar power companies would struggle to generate enough cash for debt repayments, potentially creating 200 trillion dong ($7.8 billion) in bad debt in the nations financial system, according to the letter. The power companies, which collectively have invested as much as $15 billion in Vietnam, received loans based on projected revenue from its previously agreed-upon power price, it said. This would cause significant instability in both the banking sector and the financial markets in Vietnam, the chamber latter said. The chamber backed complaints made by the renewable power companies in a March 5 letter addressed to the nations top leaders, including Communist Party chief To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. About 30% of the affected projects have received an estimated $4 billion in foreign investment, according to the letter from the companies. Attracting future investments in renewable energy is crucial for Vietnams economic growth and its continued ability to be a high-tech manufacturing hub, the chamber letter said. EVNs change in pricing policies would put attracting future renewable energy investments at risk, it said. --With assistance from Linh Vu Nguyen. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Monlam Sangmo (2nd R) talks with her daughter and neighbors in her yard at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Ninety-one-year-old Monlam Sangmo lives in a village in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa. She is a vibrant talker with a passion for singing and a beloved person in the village. Yet in old Xizang, her life was not happy because of the hardship. Monlam Sangmo's father worked as a horse keeper for a local serf owner. If the horses would not eat the grass at night and the bells on the horses would not ring, the serf owner would accuse her father of neglecting to feed the horses and beat him brutally as punishment. Young Monlam Sangmo wept while trying to comfort her father, bewildered by why this was happening. In resource-scarce old Xizang, the serf owners had priorities for irrigating their fields. "We could only water our fields at night, and this couldn't save our crops," Monlam Sangmo recalled. After harvests, serf owners bought grains at exploitative prices, leaving her family without enough food to survive, forcing them into deeper debt bondage. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Monlam Sangmo witnessed a tremendous change of her life. "In old Xizang, I never saw such abundance of food. I never tasted good tsampa (roasted barley flour)," she said, "In recent years, I have eaten things I had never seen before." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Monlam Sangmo (C) laughs with her daughter and neighbor in her yard at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Ninety-one-year-old Monlam Sangmo lives in a village in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa. She is a vibrant talker with a passion for singing and a beloved person in the village. Yet in old Xizang, her life was not happy because of the hardship. Monlam Sangmo's father worked as a horse keeper for a local serf owner. If the horses would not eat the grass at night and the bells on the horses would not ring, the serf owner would accuse her father of neglecting to feed the horses and beat him brutally as punishment. Young Monlam Sangmo wept while trying to comfort her father, bewildered by why this was happening. In resource-scarce old Xizang, the serf owners had priorities for irrigating their fields. "We could only water our fields at night, and this couldn't save our crops," Monlam Sangmo recalled. After harvests, serf owners bought grains at exploitative prices, leaving her family without enough food to survive, forcing them into deeper debt bondage. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Monlam Sangmo witnessed a tremendous change of her life. "In old Xizang, I never saw such abundance of food. I never tasted good tsampa (roasted barley flour)," she said, "In recent years, I have eaten things I had never seen before." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Monlam Sangmo is seen in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Ninety-one-year-old Monlam Sangmo lives in a village in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa. She is a vibrant talker with a passion for singing and a beloved person in the village. Yet in old Xizang, her life was not happy because of the hardship. Monlam Sangmo's father worked as a horse keeper for a local serf owner. If the horses would not eat the grass at night and the bells on the horses would not ring, the serf owner would accuse her father of neglecting to feed the horses and beat him brutally as punishment. Young Monlam Sangmo wept while trying to comfort her father, bewildered by why this was happening. In resource-scarce old Xizang, the serf owners had priorities for irrigating their fields. "We could only water our fields at night, and this couldn't save our crops," Monlam Sangmo recalled. After harvests, serf owners bought grains at exploitative prices, leaving her family without enough food to survive, forcing them into deeper debt bondage. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Monlam Sangmo witnessed a tremendous change of her life. "In old Xizang, I never saw such abundance of food. I never tasted good tsampa (roasted barley flour)," she said, "In recent years, I have eaten things I had never seen before." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Monlam Sangmo (R) talks with her daughter and neighbor in her yard at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Ninety-one-year-old Monlam Sangmo lives in a village in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa. She is a vibrant talker with a passion for singing and a beloved person in the village. Yet in old Xizang, her life was not happy because of the hardship. Monlam Sangmo's father worked as a horse keeper for a local serf owner. If the horses would not eat the grass at night and the bells on the horses would not ring, the serf owner would accuse her father of neglecting to feed the horses and beat him brutally as punishment. Young Monlam Sangmo wept while trying to comfort her father, bewildered by why this was happening. In resource-scarce old Xizang, the serf owners had priorities for irrigating their fields. "We could only water our fields at night, and this couldn't save our crops," Monlam Sangmo recalled. After harvests, serf owners bought grains at exploitative prices, leaving her family without enough food to survive, forcing them into deeper debt bondage. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Monlam Sangmo witnessed a tremendous change of her life. "In old Xizang, I never saw such abundance of food. I never tasted good tsampa (roasted barley flour)," she said, "In recent years, I have eaten things I had never seen before." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Monlam Sangmo (2nd R) talks with others in her yard at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Ninety-one-year-old Monlam Sangmo lives in a village in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa. She is a vibrant talker with a passion for singing and a beloved person in the village. Yet in old Xizang, her life was not happy because of the hardship. Monlam Sangmo's father worked as a horse keeper for a local serf owner. If the horses would not eat the grass at night and the bells on the horses would not ring, the serf owner would accuse her father of neglecting to feed the horses and beat him brutally as punishment. Young Monlam Sangmo wept while trying to comfort her father, bewildered by why this was happening. In resource-scarce old Xizang, the serf owners had priorities for irrigating their fields. "We could only water our fields at night, and this couldn't save our crops," Monlam Sangmo recalled. After harvests, serf owners bought grains at exploitative prices, leaving her family without enough food to survive, forcing them into deeper debt bondage. In March 1959, people in Xizang launched the democratic reform that ended the region's feudal serfdom. Monlam Sangmo witnessed a tremendous change of her life. "In old Xizang, I never saw such abundance of food. I never tasted good tsampa (roasted barley flour)," she said, "In recent years, I have eaten things I had never seen before." (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) New Delhi: Business families should engage the next generation in entrepreneurship early, while also allowing them to pursue interests such as working with startups, facilitating unlisted deals, and philanthropy, said Harsh Mariwala, chairman of Marico Ltd. Its very important for the family elders to create the right culture among youngsters to inculcate values about business it means taking youngsters to factories, to marketplacesI do that with my grandchildren, Mariwala said, speaking at the Mint India Investment Summit in Mumbai on Saturday. I think the second thing is to ensure that just because you are born in a business family you dont have an entitlement mindset where you assume that you will automatically go into a leadership role I believe that simplicity is required for youngsters to grow up; you can't give them everything on a platter. They have to put in the hard work to succeed, he said. Mariwalas comments come as banker Uday Kotak recently expressed concerns about the trend of young business heirs focusing on managing family offices and investments rather than pursuing entrepreneurship and building new businesses. Mariwala established Marico, a listed consumer products company operating in the health, beauty, and wellness sectors, in 1990. But prior to that, he had begun his career with Bombay Oil Industries, his familys business. On Mariwalas family office The Mariwala family set up a family office called Sharrp Ventures in 2015 for diversifying investments. The firm manages the proprietary capital of the Harsh Mariwala family, the founding family of Marico. This includes investments in public market funds, private market funds, and direct investments in unlisted enterprises. Rishabh Mariwala, Harsh Mariwalas son, is founder and managing partner at the fund. For me, a family office extends beyond stock market investments. It encompasses a wider range of activities, including investing in and scaling unlisted companies, managing taxes, and engaging in philanthropy, Harsh Mariwala explained at the Mint event. We were very clear that we will only invest in consumer-facing businesses. Those are the kind of companies we will support and mentor. We are very clear that about 50% of investments go into unlisted companiesmost of them are consumer-facing, Mariwala added. Mariwala said that defensive sectors, particularly fast-moving consumer goods, are currently witnessing considerable upheavals, driven by competition from emerging brands and changes in distribution channels. Each and every business is getting disruptedbe it geopolitical developments or emergence of technologies and changing consumer trends. The key thing for any business to do is to evaluate how sound their business is and what is disrupting them and whether it is an opportunity or a threat, he added. Digital threats and opportunities The emergence and popularity of direct-to-consumer or D2C brands also poses a threat to the traditional FMCG sector, Mariwala said. Prior to that all of us thought that we (FMCG) were the most defensive sector. It is very difficult for any new player to build an all India distribution network, you need big advertising budgets to launch a new product. D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands now require a fraction (of budgets) in terms of marketing costs. They dont have to go to all retail outlets; they can rely on e-commerce. All of a sudden, those entry barriers have vanished, he said. Despite these challenges, Marico has responded by acquiring a series of digital-first, new-age brands and launching its own in recent years. We said we have to look at it from an opportunity perspective. The way we are goingwe would be one of the largest D2C players in the country, he added. In 2021, Marico acquired a majority stake in Apcos Naturals, the parent company of Just Herbs, a premium skincare brand. In 2022, Marico acquired a majority stake in HW Wellness Solutions, which sells packaged foods under the True Elements brand. It followed that with a majority acquisition of Plix, a plant-based nutrition company, for Rs369 crore in 2023, and has fully acquired Beardo, a male grooming brand. Marico anticipates that, over time, its D2C brands will yield returns similar to those of its established FMCG brands, Mariwala said. Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath, who suffered from a stroke last year, has shared an update about his health post the incident. Sharing a picture of himself working out with full vigour, Nithin Kamath shared that his body was almost back to normal. However, the Zerodha co-founder noted that his mind was still catching up. So, yeah, fourteen months after the stroke, my body is almost back to normal, and my mind is at about 85%, he wrote in a post on X. Nithin Kamath further revealed that his speech has not normalised yet. My writing hasnt improved at all. Maybe because I dont practice enough. My speech is, well about 85%, he said. Check out Nithin Kamath's X post: Netizens hail Nithin Kamath's recovery The post on X by Nithin Kamath quickly stole attention from followers who were surprised and delighted at his incredible recovery after the health hazard. Crazy comeback, Nithin! Best wishes for your complete recovery, a follower said. You are an inspiration. Wish you well, another added. A third follower, who said he was helping his friend recover from a stroke for two years, recalled how difficult the process is. Well done, Nithin. I'm helping a friend who had a stroke 2 years ago and it's really a long tough uphill road. You've done really well. Congrats, he said. Cant imagine the grit it takes to come back from that kind of health scare. Keep moving forward, another user added. The comment box was flooded with congratulatory messages from netizens, who were surprised at the determination that Nikhil Kamath displayed during his recovery. Nithin Kamath suffers from stroke Last year in February, Nithin Kamath took to X and shared that he had suffered from a stroke in January that year. Around 6 weeks ago, I had a mild stroke out of the blue. Dad passing away, poor sleep, exhaustion, dehydration, and overworking out any of these could be possible reasons, the Zerodha boss shared. Kamath in his X post mentioned that he noticed a droop in his face and faced issues with reading and writing. He also expressed that he anticipates a full recovery within three to six months. I've gone from having a big droop in the face and not being able to read or write to having a slight droop but being able to read and write more. From being absent-minded to more present-minded. So, 3 to 6 months for full recovery, he said. Nithin Kamath also shared an advice from his doctor to know when to shift the gears down a bit. I wondered why a person who's fit and takes care of himself could be affected. The doctor said you need to know when you need to shift the gears down a bit. Slightly broken, but still getting my treadmill count, he wrote. How much time does stroke recovery take? According to the National Health Services, UK, recovering from stroke can days or weeks for some people, but can go up to months or years for others. The recovery depends on how much the stroke has affected the person, or how severe it has been. Apart from physical consequences, recovering from stroke needs mental strength and a rehabilitation plan. Startups need to focus on building a strong foundation even if it means they grow slowly, said Amit Jain, co-founder and chief executive of the CarDekho Group, an online marketplace for buying vehicles. It took us 8 years to reach the first 100 crore. And it was a bootstrapped company, so we never raised funds till 2014. Thats when we were actually funded. So, as a bootstrapped company we had kind of hit the 100 crore scale without actually utilizing any cash, and it was profitable everywhere, he said, speaking at the Mint India Investment Summit in Mumbai. Since we did not have money we had to build a strategy to get traffic free of cost, and I think because of that a lot of innovation happened, Jain said. Infra.markets trajectory was similar. The building materials platform was started in 2016, and it wasn't until 2020 that the company got to its first 100 crore sales landmark. That said, the company founders knew their market. What was unique to India at the time was that a majority of building material companies were single-product companies. We started with the vision to create a one-stop platform around building materials, where people were primarily catering to construction companies, Infra.markets co-founder and CEO Souvik Sengupta said. The company has since expanded to include retailers alongside a business-to-consumer focus. But the journey to get there wasnt easy for Infra.market, which Sengupta and his co-founder Aaditya Sharda had bootstrapped. We built how every entrepreneur in India who is not a startup builds. We mortgaged everything. We mortgaged our parents house. I think Aaditya mortgaged his in-laws house, Sengupta said. Beyond the first 100 crore After CarDekho reached the 100 crore sales target, Jain realised the company had only penetrated only a certain percentage of the market. That led to him seeking problems adjacent to the existing business at the time, which eventually led CarDekho to add a financial marketplace. We entered the insurance marketplace. Thats how InsuranceDekho was formed. We helped dealers sell insurance to customers who are buying used cars. In that segment, 50% of cars are not insured, Jain said. InsuranceDekho now has 20,000 insurance agents on its platform. The thought process was very simple: how can we capture adjacency. Every time we went into adjacency there was a new TAM (total addressable market) that opened up. That new TAM was what was helping us grow, Jain said. As for Infra.market, the company made a series of acquisitions to expand its business. Its not a one-thumb rule decision, Sengupta said referring to the companys growth strategy, adding that it was about knowing which capabilities a company can build for itself versus which capabilities it wants to acquire and bolt on. With Infra.market on its way to going public, the company is now focusing on improving its profitability and enhancing its cashflows. Growth has never been a very big concern for us considering the kind of spend India does on construction every year, the way real estate construction is going to overcome in the next few years, considering the bookings of the past few years. (But) its about profitable growth, high quality revenue that we are focused on, said Sengupta. Learning from failures CarDekho has had several successes but seen some failures as well, Jain said. We started used car retail where we would buy a car, refurbish it, put it in our own showroom, and sell it. We were a digital platform already and we were backward integrating the process of buying in an attempt to extract more margin pool. We honestly miserably failed, we couldnt find our profit pool, said Jain. He said that while the company lost money in the used-car business he has since never allowed good money to chase bad money. Its okay to live with the fact that a business didnt work out and you had learnings because every founder who fails honestly learns a lot. Mumbai: Online-focused or direct-to-consumer brands should consider venturing into offline retail as soon as they hit the 100-crore mark to prevent stagnation of revenues and open up sales channels, said Swati Kulkarni, director at early-stage venture capital firm Fireside Ventures. At the 100-crore scale, brands should consciously think of going offline. Im not suggesting bombarding the general trade channel with your products, but start small. Try it out in a city or in a small cluster and see how it is working, Kulkarni said during a panel discussion at the Mint India Investment Summit 2025. However, scaling offline retail is very different online as it requires clarity and sharpness of stock-keeping units, Kulkarni said. It is very important for brands to make note of what is really selling. In quick commerce and e-commerce, it doesnt cost much to keep listing products, but in offline retail it will cost shelf space. However, making mistakes in the initial part of the journey could help prevent similar errors when the brands revenue hits 500 crore, Kulkarni said. The quick-commerce channel Speakers at Mints investment summit also highlighted the potential of quick commerce, which has emerged as a fast-growing sales channel for many consumer brands. Deep Bajaj, co-founder of Sirona Hygiene who recently bought back the company from content-to-commerce firm The Good Glamm Group, said the quick-commerce sales channel had unlocked a new layer of general trade for many brands. Delivering something like a period pain patch in 10 minutes is really impressing the customer. Today, quick commerce has made it a possibility and consumer behaviour is also witnessing a shift, he said. However, brands selling products having higher order values and wanting to engage with consumers on a regular basis will continue to see better value from their own websites, Bajaj noted. Food and beverage as well as beauty and personal care brands are set to benefit highly from quick commerce, said Firesides Kulkarni. Quick commerce is essentially mimicking the behaviour of general trade. Companies have to evolve their supply chain to suit quick-commerce needs. The Thrasio model The Thrasio model, a so-called roll-up strategy that became popular a few years ago in which a company acquires and seeks to scale up a portfolio of online-first consumer brands, faces the challenge of keeping up with the supply chains of multiple companies at the same time, said Sironas Bajaj. This is what unfortunately happened to a lot of roll-up companies in India that acquired many brands when the parent brand needed a lot more care," he said. Mumbai: Founders of public companies must be thick-skinned to be able to overcome various hurdles that might come in the way of running a successful venture, said Aloke Bajpai, chairman and managing director of online travel booking platform ixigo. When it comes to (decisions like an) M&A, communication is very important. The company should be able to convey why a decision was taken. But there will always be some people who do not understand it. You have to be willing to be misunderstood for a very long time, Bajpai said during a panel discussion at Mints India Investment Summit on Saturday. If you are building for the long-term, some short-term decisions may not be understood by the public, he said. Nitish Mittersain, chief executive and joint managing director of gaming and esports platform Nazara Technologies Ltd, said a companys management must trust its own as well as its boards conviction on any decision with a medium to long-term approach. You cant run a public company well if youre always worried about the short-term stock price. You will make mistakes and you have to be transparent about it, Mittersain said at the event in Mumbai. He also advised founders to continue experimenting with fresh ideas. Especially in fast-moving technology businesses like ours, if you dont experiment from time to time, you will become obsolete. Technology evolves so fast that you can either lead from the front or become obsolete, Mittersain said, adding that well-contained risks are worth taking. On being IPO-ready On running public companies, Ixigos Bajpai said it was crucial for a corporate management team to set the right expectations among shareholders so as to not over-commit and under-deliver at the time of an initial public offering (IPO). Its basic hygiene to not miss (financial projections for) the first 4-6 quarters. This can be nerve-wrecking for the team as rigour is needed to meet the projections, Bajpai said. A private company is more tolerant of misses because the investors on the cap-table may be okay if you miss the plan by 10-20%. On IPOs, Bajpai said companies must control the process and not allow banks and investors to command it, and that a companys management should prioritize attracting long-term investors who will support them. You have to call the shots on whether it makes sense for the wider shareholder base youre aiming for. If theres even an iota of risk, price it even lower, he said. Mittersain highlighted the need for adequate corporate governance practices and discipline in terms of audit and other compliances well in advance of an IPO for a smoother public market listing process. Debt-ridden Vodafone Idea Ltd received another lifeline as the government decided to convert an additional 36,950 crore worth of the company's dues into equity, more than doubling its shareholding to nearly 49%. The amount includes outstanding spectrum auction dues, including deferred dues otherwise payable by the company after the expiry of the moratorium period, the telecom operator said in an exchange filing on Sunday. The government has directed Vodafone Idea to issue 3,695 crore equity shares with a face value of 10 each at an issue price of 10 each within 30 days of the issuance of necessary order from relevant authorities, including the Securities and Exchange Board of India. At 10, the conversion will take place at a 47% premium to the Friday closing share price of 6.81 apiece. Also read | You may soon be able to identify spam callers After the company issues shares, the governments shareholding in Vodafone Idea will increase to 48.99% from the existing 22.60%. The promoters will continue to have operational control of the company, Vodafone Idea said. Second lifeline This is the second lifeline the government has extended to the struggling operator. As part of the relief package for the telecom sector in September 2021, the government in February 2023 had approved the conversion of 16,133 crore of Vodafone Idea's interest dues into equity. Going by Vodafone Ideas share price of 6.81 at the end of Fridays session, the government's 16,133 crore investment is currently valued at 10,970 crore, a loss of 32%. The company has been in distress and the equity conversion has been done to take it out of distress, a government official said, adding that the conversion is only on some spectrum dues and the company will have to pay AGR dues after the moratorium expires. Also read | Vodafone Ideas 5G rollout comes with a side of satellite internet FOMO The additional conversion of dues into equity has come after Vodafone Idea chief executive officer Akshaya Moondra recently sought relief from the government. This comes ahead of the expiry of the four-year moratorium on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) and spectrum dues in September 2025. Without the relief, Vodafone Idea would have to pay around 40,000 crore as a yearly instalment after the moratorium expired. Analysts said the governments equity conversion of spectrum dues would give a leeway to Vodafone Idea, at least for the next 18 months, on the spectrum dues. The conversion will help Vodafone Idea to raise the bank debt of around 25,000 crore, which it has been looking to raise for long, a company executive said on the condition of anonymity. It can bring its cash flow back with the future bank debt and reduce its subscriber churn. Delhi collected over 5,000 crore taxes from liquor sales during the ongoing financial year, the newly-elected BJP government told the Assembly. The national capital also sold nearly 6 lakh litres of alcohol per day during 2023-24, the government informed. The government was responding to a question asked by BJP MLA Abhay Verma, according to a report by NDTV. Here is what it said. Delhi liquor sales: 5,000 crore tax collected In its reply to Verma, the Delhi government said that it had earned a revenue of 5,068.92 crore from excise duty and VAT (value added tax) from liquor sales in Delhi during the financial year 2024-25. This revenue was generated till February 2025. The new Delhi government, led by the BJP and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, reported that the erstwhile Arvind Kejriwal government earned 5,164 crore in taxes on Delhi liquor sales in FY2023-24. Meanwhile, a revenue of 5,547 crore was generated from liquor sales in FY2022-23 and 5,487 crore in FY2021-22. The revelation of the data on liquor sales in Delhi comes at a time when the BJP is repeatedly criticising the Aam Aadmi Party government over the alleged liquor policy scam. AAP supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was jailed in connection with the alleged scam, along with his deputy Manish Sisodia. Both leaders were granted bail later. However, the Delhi liquor policy scam played a pivotal role in Delhi Assembly election 2025 and was instrumental in paving the way for the BJP to win the polls. The new Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government told the House that only private shops were permitted to sell alcohol in Delhi under AAP's new liquor policy that was implemented from November 2021 to August 2022. Following the scrapping of the policy in September 2022 and the return of the old liquor policy, government liquor stores were permitted to operate. 6 lakh litre alcohol sold each day In 2023-24, Delhi sold 21.27 crore litres of alcohol. This translates to alcohol sales of 5.82 lakh litres per day. In contrast, 25.84 crore litres of alcohol was sold in the national capital in 2022-23. Delhi milk sales: 210 crore tax collected In sharp contrast, milk and milk products contributed to a revenue of just 210 in FY25 despite being a widely consumed commodity in Delhi. The government told the Assembly that it had earned a total tax of 209.9 crore from GST (goods and services tax) from the sales of milk and milk products in the current financial year till February. (Bloomberg) -- New Zealands central bank said it will review its bank capital requirements amid pressure from the government and following the unexpected resignation of its governor. The Reserve Bank will conduct an assessment of key capital settings and engage independent international experts to support this process, it said in a statement Monday in Wellington. The review will include looking at risk weights for residential mortgages, corporate and rural lending, and community housing, it said. The move comes after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she was taking advice on how to compel the RBNZ to loosen bank capital rules. Shortly before she made those comments, former governor Adrian Orr, who championed the increase in capital buffers, resigned. The review is unrelated to Adrian Orrs resignation, RBNZ Board Chairman Neil Quigley told a parliamentary inquiry into banking competition today. Asked why the bank was undertaking a review, he said the RBNZ has been watching whats been going on internationally with some softening of view about capital standards, and also listening to the commentary from people within New Zealand whove suggested that perhaps the full implementation of the capital standards is unduly conservative. Willis welcomed the review, saying submissions to the banking inquiry have raised concerns that New Zealands bank capital regime is too conservative, and that this is undermining banking competition, driving up the cost of lending and reducing growth in the New Zealand economy. I share these concerns, she said. The Reserve Banks decision to conduct a prompt review is a good opportunity to objectively assess New Zealands settings and consider whether the banks intention to keep increasing capital requirements still makes sense. In 2019, the RBNZ said it would require banks to increase capital to better withstand economic shocks, with the increases implemented in steps. Capital Requirements Minimum capital requirements for big banks are currently 13.5% and for smaller banks 11.5%. They are scheduled to rise to 18% and 16% respectively by 2028. The RBNZ said banks are well advanced in their plans to meet the new requirements. On average, banks total capital levels are currently above 16%, it said. Accordingly, it intends to proceed with the increase scheduled for July 1, taking total requirements for big banks to 14.5% and for other banks to 12.5%. The review will be conducted promptly to allow for any changes to be well signaled ahead of next years scheduled increase, the RBNZ said. Quigley said some criticisms of the capital ratios are incorrect. Weve heard the claims that our bank capital regime is unreasonably conservative and that its undermining competition and growth in the New Zealand economy, he said. We think that at least some of the claims that have been made are incorrect, but most of the claims can be tested empirically and we consider its important that we respond by undertaking this assessment. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com A blend of mountain scenery and diverse culinary options awaits your next trip to Titlis, where Alpine charm meets Swiss cuisine. Dining here is a combination of culinary experiences and ambiance. Titlis is known for its views and mountain winds that attract a varied crowd throughout the hiking season. In addition to the hiking experience offered by the Alpine mountains, Titlis also offers a variety of dining experiences and provides amenities for travelers from across the world. Titlis Panorama: Dine with a glacier view Titlis Panorama offers a unique dining experience with pizza, pasta and a range of both local and international cuisines - at a stunning 3020 meters. Titlis Panorama offers dining at 3020 meters above sea level, providing a unique dining experience. The newly renovated space opens up to the glacier view and the mountains beyond. The menu has pizza, pasta, and a range of both local and international cuisine. Titlis is equipped with all modern amenities - including free wi-fi, wheelchair accessibility, and outdoor seating. Savor authentic pizza and pasta at 3,020 meters with breathtaking glacier views at Titlis Panorama Spice Bistro: Spicy Indian food beneath the Alps Explore the flavours of Indian cuisine at the Spice Bistro Experience spicy Indian cuisines at the heart of the Swiss Alps. Spice Bistro offers spicy samosas, mango lassi and fried fish, different from other cuisines in this part of the globe. Located right at the valley station of Titlis Cableways, the place offers warmth combined with the aroma and flavors of Indian street cuisine. Spice Bistro provides a setting that contrasts the traditional alpine environment and this culinary offering may enhance the diverse dining options available to visitors in the Titlis region. Warm up with spicy Indian street food and a refreshing mango lassi beneath the Swiss Alps at Spice Bistro Restaurant Untertrubsee: Authentic Swiss food with a view A regular spot for both hikers and locals, Untertrubsee offers a relaxed seating with a Swiss experience. Untertrubsee is located in the middle of Trubsee and Engelberg Valley Station. Cheese toasties, freshly whipped meringues, homemade apple cake are some of the food items on their menu. The backdrop and the location make it a regular spot for hikers and locals alike. They also organise torchlight fondue evenings upon guest request. Diners can enjoy the mountain breeze with friends and loved ones, greet hikers along the way, and embrace a Swiss experience. The restaurant provides a relaxed setting where visitors can take a break and enjoy a simple, hearty meal amidst the mountains. Enjoy classic Swiss delights, from cheese toasties to homemade apple cake, with a scenic Alpine backdrop at Untertrubsee Bistro 1800: Culinary fusion cuisine glazed with Alpine charm With seasonal dishes that combine Alpine and maritime flavours, Bistro 1800 welcomes hikers with a menu for every palate. Dishes include Tsarskaya Oysters with lemon and shallot vinaigrette and French toast deluxe with Swedish serum and blueberries. They can be an option for business lunches as well. The Bistro comes equipped with a meeting room, which can be pre-booked on meeting days, making it a business-casual experience. Whether stopping by after a long hike or gathering for a casual meeting, guests can enjoy a well-curated selection of flavours in a relaxed yet refined setting. Indulge in a fusion of Alpine and maritime flavors, from Tsarskaya Oysters to French toast deluxe, at Bistro 1800 Swiss Alpine dining at its best From Swiss cuisine to Indian street food, and from gourmet meals to traditional fare, youll find different flavours throughout the Alpine culinary houses nestled right from the base to the top. Be it lunch with glacier sights, a mouthful of Indian variety or traditional Swiss platter, you may just be able to find anything you want in Titlis. The blends of flavours and mountain scenery define Titlis overall appeal. Embrace the Titlis experience with the comfort of good food, and alpine views. Top-tier IT services provider Wipro Ltd bagged a mega deal worth 500 million pounds from Phoenix Groupthe UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business. The 10-year strategic project is designed to deliver life and pension business administration for the ReAssure business and accelerate Phoenix Group's operational transformation. In the IT industry, mega deals are large-scale, high-value contracts, typically with a total contract value (TCV) of $500 million or more. Such deals are a significant driver for a technology companys revenue growth trajectory. This is Wipros second mega-deal over the past four quarters and is notable since it marks its entry into an account that has been a stronghold for peer Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), said a Kotak Institutional Equities report dated 27 March. In June, Wipro had announced a $500-million mega deal with a US-based communications service provider for a period of five years. The (Phoenix Group) deal would ramp up gradually from the December 2025 quarter (Q3FY26) and fully ramp up by end-FY2026E," added the Kotak report. Of course, execution challenges and the impact on operating margin as the deal ramps up would be key to track here. Still, this is positive given that Wipro is experiencing a turnaround under the leadership of CEO Srinivas Pallia, who took over the role in April last year. Wipro has had multiple false starts under past CEOs. It needs to continue to deliver similar surprises to lend credibility to the current turnaround effort," said the Kotak report. In mid-March, Wipro announced the realignment of its global business lines into four key areas technology services, business process services, consulting services, and engineering effective April 2025. The aim is to better align with client needs and capitalize on opportunities in AI, cloud, and digital transformation. Renewed uncertainty But now, the sector faces renewed macroeconomic uncertainty in key markets of the US and Europe due to trade tariff tensions. This is feared to put the sectors FY26 revenue growth visibility in limbo and, consequently, could hinder Wipros turnaround efforts on slower deal conversions into revenue. There is already some disappointment on this parameter. For Q4FY25, Wipros sequential constant currency (CC) revenue growth guidance of -1% to +1% was below analysts expectations, reflecting the pain in Europe and Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) regions. According to Motilal Oswal Financial Services, Wipro will likely report flat revenue in Q4FY25 (midpoint of its Q4 guidance) as softness may persist in energy, manufacturing and resources, along with Europe and APMEA regions. BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) may perform better sequentially due to uptick in budgets and Capco business. Healthcare will also grow, but slower than in the past," it said in its latest report, adding that Wipro margins should remain around 17-17.5%, with no major headwinds. Also read | Is the cement sector consolidation at its fag end? Wipros IT services sequential CC revenue grew 0.1% in Q3FY25, beating consensus estimate of -0.5%. In the upcoming earnings season, Q1FY26 CC revenue guidance and recovery in Europe will be crucial. Deal wins of $3.5 billion in Q3FY25 were steady sequentially, but fell 7% year-on-year. The TCV of large deals at $961 million, a four-quarter low, was down 35% sequentially. Meanwhile, the Wipro stock is up 9%, ahead of the Nifty IT index, aided by a gradual earnings recovery, but the weakness in select verticals and geographies could keep revenue growth volatile. Bloomberg data showed that the stock is trading at FY26 price-to-earnings of 21x, a discount to TCS, Infosys Ltd, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra Ltd. For now, the gap in valuations is expected to sustain. JUBA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- In a classroom-turned-hygiene lab at Supiri Secondary School in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, Ruan Shuqin, a nurse from the 12th Chinese medical team, guided students through the World Health Organization's seven-step handwashing technique. As political turmoil escalates in South Sudan, the Chinese medical team delivered a life-saving health education session at the school on Friday to help students combat heatstroke and cholera, twin crises that are severely disrupting education and health in the country. "Many youths don't grasp the importance of hygiene. This could halt cholera in its tracks," said Ben Tombe Columbano, head teacher of Supiri Secondary School, as he watched students chant "between fingers, around thumbs" while scrubbing their hands. The session, attended by over 40 senior students, unfolded against a backdrop of extreme adversity. Schools nationwide were closed for three weeks in February due to a record-breaking heatwave. As weather conditions gradually improved, the government reopened schools on March 23, just ahead of the rainy season. Meanwhile, the country has been struggling to contain a cholera outbreak since October 2024. The cholera outbreak, the country's most severe in 20 years, has resulted in 694 deaths and 40,000 cumulative cases, with children under 15 years of age comprising 50 percent of cases, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. To make matters worse, the ongoing political standoff in South Sudan has raised concerns that the country could slide back into conflict, more than six years after emerging from a civil war that left thousands dead and displaced millions. Undeterred by security warnings, the Chinese medical team arrived at the secondary school with hand sanitizers, instructional posters, and portable projectors. "Wrap ice or cool cloths under the neck and armpits -- this can be the difference between life and death," Tai Haifu, a pediatrician from the Chinese medical team, detailed heatstroke emergencies as students practiced the procedure on classmates. James Pitia Modi, 17, recalled the recent challenges he and other students had encountered. "Many of us experienced headaches and cramps during the heatwave. Now I know emergency steps," he said. "We resumed school in March, a month later than Ugandan students. Completing our syllabus by 2026 seems difficult." The session resonated deeply with 22-year-old Stella Kafuki Wani, whose studies had been derailed twice by COVID-19 and the extreme heat, respectively. "This knowledge won't just help me; I'll share it with my entire community," she said. "It is good that our students have known some preventive measures to protect themselves in the future in regard to the problem of the heatwave," said Tombe, the head teacher. Du Changyong, leader of the Chinese medical team, described the outreach as both urgent and strategic. "Washing hands properly is an important way to reduce infectious diseases like cholera. Equipping the students with knowledge about heatstroke prevention is also significantly important for students," Du said. "This is our first school health campaign here. We plan to expand to communities to build lasting habits," he added. Indian stock market investors will likely remember the financial year 2024-2025 as a tale of two halves. Why? Because of the stark contrast in market performance between April-September and October-March. In the first half of the year (H1FY25), the Nifty 50 index surged 16 per cent, reaching a fresh peak of 26,277.35. However, the second half told a different storythe index plunged 9 per cent. Despite the downturn in the latter half, the strong gains earlier in the year helped the Nifty 50 end FY25 with a modest gain of 5.34 per cent. Meanwhile, the index is still 10.5 per cent down from its peak level. How did Nifty 50 perform in FY25? After a solid 25 per cent gain in FY24, hopes were high that the Indian stock market's bullish run would extend to FY25 also because of healthy economic growth, foreign capital inflows and the robust influx of domestic retail investors. This hope was fuelled further by the market's strong performance in the first half of the year, which led many experts to believe that the index could end the year somewhere near 28,000. This hope, clearly, was dashed. The index ended with low single-digit gains, with 21 stocks in the red. 11 stocks falling more than 10 per cent. Shares of IndusInd Bank (down 58 per cent), Jio Financial (down 36 per cent), Tata Motors (down 32 per cent), Adani Enterprises (down 28 per cent) and Hero MotoCorp (down 21 per cent) ended as the top losers in the index. On the other hand, 17 stocks exhibited remarkable resilience and rose more than 10 per cent, while 13 jumped more than 20 per cent in the index in FY25. Six stocks - Bharat Electronics (up 50 per cent), Bharti Airtel (up 41 per cent), Shriram Finance (up 39 per cent), Mahindra and Mahindra (up 39 per cent), Trent (up 35 per cent) and Eicher Motors (up 33 per cent) - surged over 30 per cent in the index. While the first half of the year was driven by economic growth momentum and retail money, the second half saw sharp corrections due to weak earnings, a slowdown in economic growth, stretched valuations, and massive foreign capital outflow. In the later part of the year, heightened global uncertainty due to US President Donald Trump's tariff policies also weighed on the domestic market sentiment. The Nifty 50 remained in the red for five consecutive months- from October 2024 to February 2025- marking its longest monthly losing streak since its inception in 1996. Will FY26 be better than FY25 for the Indian stock market? While the index rose in March amid signs of economic growth picking pace and the resumption of buying by foreign institutional investors, sentiment is still cautious because there is no certainty about how Trump's tariffs will hit the global economy. Experts say the global tariff war and uncertainty related to it could also be a key trigger for global and Indian markets next year. There is also caution about earnings revival in India when valuations of several pockets in the mid and small-cap segments remain stretched. "Indian equities remain volatile amid global uncertainties and slowing corporate earnings. While valuations have cooled off from recent highs, mid and small-cap stocks still appear expensive," Mittul Kalawadia, Senior Fund Manager at ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, observed. Kalawadia underscored that structural tailwinds like strong balance sheets and policy reforms support long-term growth. However, near-term risks such as trade tensions, liquidity concerns, and moderating capex could weigh on sentiment. As volatility may continue in the short term, experts advise investors should diversify their portfolios. "Volatility may continue. Such a phase can be optimally navigated through hybrid funds or dynamic asset allocation strategies," Kalawadia said. Devarsh Vakil, the head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities, suggests investors focus on India's long-term growth story, which remains solid. He said investors should see the recent correction as an opportunity to accumulate quality stocks at the current juncture. "Indias long-term structural growth narrative remains compelling, and the recent sharp market correction gave an excellent opportunity to long-term investors to add quality stocks at an attractive price to their portfolio," said Vakil. Vakil believes the Indian stock market may consolidate in early FY26 before targeting higher levels. He said the market's recovery hinges on two critical factors- uncertainty from the geopolitical environment and the trajectory of earnings recovery in upcoming quarters. Vakil said the pace of monetary easing, stabilisation in commodity prices, and revival in urban consumption patterns are the three key factors influencing earnings performance. "The street expects Nifty earnings to grow between 12-15 per cent each in FY26 and FY27. On that basis, Indices as well as mid- and small-cap stocks post recent sharp corrections have become extremely attractive," said Vakil. Vakil pointed out that while midcap indices have declined 20-22 per cent from their highs, individual stocks have weathered much deeper corrections of 25-40 per cent, creating genuinely attractive valuation opportunities across the market landscape. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Mallika Sarabhai was around 10 years old when she was introduced to the idea of art for social change by her mother, noted dancer and choreographer Mrinalini. Amma, who had been born and brought up in the south, moved to Gujarat after her wedding. It was while she was trying to learn Gujarati from newspapers that she read about young girls in Saurashtra jumping into wellssome times with their newborns," she says. When Mrinalini discussed the news report with other writers and poets who were her friends, including Jayanti Dalal and Umashankar Joshi, they explained the distressing reason behind itthat girls were being harassed for dowry by their in-laws, and unwilling to distress their parents further, they were driven to suicide. The term dowry death did not exist back then. Amma was horrified. So she took Bharatanatyamher primary form and shifted from the inherent shringara bhava to talk about dowry-related violence. I grew up watching her use per forming arts to raise voice for such issues," says Sarabhai, 71. It was in 1949 that Mrinalini and her husband, renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai, set up the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad along the Sabarmati river not just to create a space for diverse dance and music forms but also for such pertinent issues. Today, as the cultural centre celebrates 75 years, the vision remains the same. Sadly, the issues from back then have remained the sameviolence, hatred and destruction. And hence the work that my parents started at Darpana has become even more relevant now," says Sarabhai. Over the years, the centre has tried to make performing arts accessible to professional and aspiring artists from across the globenearly 35,000 practitioners have graduated over the yearsand has worked to document and revive dying art forms such as the bhavai and Andhra shadow puppets. For Sarabhai, her mothers efforts left a deep impact in the way she thought of dance and choreography. While growing up, she had assumed that every single art ist thought along the same lines. However, Sarabhai was in for a rude shock many years later when she became a professional dancer and learnt that her mother had been an exception. I had seen the impact of such constructive effortsthe piece on dowry deaths was watched by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who ordered a white paper and the term dowry death came about. When I joined Darpana in early 1977, I was very sure that with the kind of issues facing society, we had a very powerful tool in the arts," she says. Also read: A Bengali adaptation of Hamlet takes the stage in Kolkata Sarabhai started Darpana for Development in 1980 and worked across artistic disciplines and with national, international and government institutions to create awareness on matters ranging from maternal and infant mortality, inoculation, smokeless chulhas and HIV/AIDS. In 2001, Sarabhai found a like-minded young collaborator in the form of film graduate Yadavan Chandran, who is now the creative director at the academy and also runs Darpana Communications, a production house that has created over 3,000 hours of issue-based programming, for television. The idea for the latter stemmed from her father Vikram Sarabhais vision to bring instructional television programmes to rural India through the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in collaboration with US space agency NASA in 1975-76. I was brought up on this dream of using television effectively to create content that is insightful while also being engaging. We worked on issues ranging from communal harmony to menopause in collaboration with nearly 100 not-for profit organisations between 2002 and 2005. We got instant feedback from the viewers on what worked and what didnt," she explains. View Full Image Mrinalini Sarabhai performing at the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts The presence of Mrinalini still lingers in most ongoing projects at Darpana. Take, for instance, the documentation and research around performing arts that are fast going extinct. This endeavour to instil pride in the younger generation of com munities of indigenous artists started in the 1980s when Mrinalini was chair person of the Gujarat State Handi crafts Corporation. She would travel to remote parts of the state to meet folk artists and craftsper sons and would often take Sarabhai along. During one such visit to a far flung village, the mother-daughter duo were welcomed with a Hindi film song. They looked at one another, wondering why a village so rich in cultural heritage was not proud of it. Thats how the Janavak project began to give a platform to the folk legacy from across the country. Darpana started bringing in different generations of families from various communities. An elder, for instance, would talk about why a particular embroidery meant something to their community. The third generation would be unaware of this. They would state that they had a tradition of wearing red in the village, but would not know the reason why. Gulabo, who is now the most famous kalbeliya dancer in India, came in with her family, who recounted how the elders in her community would go out to protect snakes. So, Janavak would celebrate dance and music traditions while also shedding light on the sociological and anthropological aspects of these practices," says Sarabhai, who taught a course, also titled Janavak, at Ahmedabad University for two years. The idea was the sameto reintroduce the plurality of India to the youth. Also read: Weekly planner: 5 events to make a song and dance about This focus on the younger generation continues with ongoing projects. Today, as part of Darpana, she runs a project called Nritya Parichay in 10 municipal corporation schools to improve mental health and self-esteem of youth from marginalised communities through dance. One village is home to migrants from Odisha. We are trying, through folk dance, to lift their self-confidence and to not be ashamed of their bodies. Girls would earlier feign headaches to stay away from class during their menstrual cycle. Today, the transformation is immense. Not only girls but boys too are talking about menstruation and that there is nothing to be ashamed about," says Sarabhai. To celebrate the platinum anniversary of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Sarabhai and Chandran have come up with a new production, Meanwhile Elsewhere, which was shown in Ahmedabad at the centres Natarani theatre, until last week. The production focuses on human longing and ambition through the metaphor of invisible cities. Are we chasing dreams that are external instead of looking inwards? Meanwhile Elsewhere stems from our mandate to create a mandate that reaches a part of your soul that you might have forgotten. Our performances need to reach people, who might even disagree with us," says Sarabhai. She gives the example of My Sitas Daughters (1990), which has had over 600 performances. It is a retelling of myths from a feminist perspective and a social critique on injustices faced by women. A lot of men might disagree with it, but the next time they read a report about sexual assault, they will remember the perform ance," she says. To mark this milestone, she has also launched a project called Sulah to create conversations among the youth about generosity, compassion and cooperation. Is there a different way of living, which is not aggressive? The project explores that through discussions with people, who work with arts, climate change, and more," she adds. One cant help but wonder if it has been difficult to not just change the outlook within groups of society but also within the community of artists, who might frown upon deviations in the more formal style of dance. To my great relief, there are now a growing number of younger dancers and choreographersmostly women, who are looking at intersectionality and at subjects that are relevant to society today. Until five years ago, this was not happening to a large extent. But I am very hopeful now with the work that is coming in," she says. And they can be assured that they will always have a space with us." Also read: Arpita Akhanda's play on memories wins her the Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2025 Theres an uncanny resemblance between a work of art shown at Bengalurus Museum of Art & Photography last year and one at its current Ticket Tika Chaap: The Art of the Trademark in Indo-British Textile Trade . In the folio (part of last years Book of Gold show) from the luminous 17th century Kanchana Ramayana, fine miniatures with gold leaf, Garuda listens to Kaka Bhushundi. In the current show, the same scene with all details of trees and birds is replicated but in a bright, printed chromolithograph at about a quarter of the size. While the one-of-its-kind folio was commissioned by the Benaras royal family, the copied, mass-produced version served as a textile trademark label for a British mill, slapped on to a bale of cloth exported to India. Tens of thousands of textile trademarks were registered in Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, each requiring a unique visual. Much like todays election symbols, objects like ship", radiator" and aeroplane" were quickly snapped up as British factories turned out millions of yards of cloth for export around the world. Label artists in England had to look far and wide to create elaborate trademark stickers. Their inspiration came from Indian miniature art, contemporary American painting, Indian and Greek mythology, augmented by generous imagination. On one label, in a bazaar setting, two elephants try unsuccessfully to rip apart a bale of cloth from Pudma Poplin even as regular business carries on. A Tata Sons label features an Athena-like figure on a chariot drawn by four tigers. These labels were stuck on the topmost layer of the bolt of cloth, usually 60-100 yards per bale, and were known as shippers tickets, textile marks or tika, or just chaap, from the Hindi for to stick" or imprint". The unique images helped the importer build a brand in the Indian market, where buyers were largely illiterate. In the 19th century, Britain supplanted India as the worlds leading cotton cloth manufacturer, largely due to the Industrial Revolution. The India-focused imageryfrom the fantastical to the religious to the realisticindicates the race to win over Indian buyers. Its a wealth of global business history spanning the textile, manufacturing, printing and shipping industries, all contained within marvellously idiosyncratic little stickers. The show is largely silent on cottons role in colonial expansion, intellectual and cultural appropriation, and the effect of the East India Companys practices on Indian weavers and traders, preferring to focus on the artistic aspect. Without the historical context, the labels are reduced to mere objects of curiosity. To walk through the exhibits is to be reminded of the millions upon millions of bales exported to India from Manchester, which itself had built its machines for spinning and weaving with skills and know-how copied from Indian handloom weaving and hand-printing techniques. A combination of high tariffs, fixing of prices and use of brute force by the British from the 1700s onwards aided Manchesters dominance of the cotton trade. Some labels casually display the backbreaking labour of Indians that enriched British mill owners. One ticket shows half-a-dozen Indians weighed down by massive bales of cloth, walking from England to India along a bridge composed of the letters of the name Shaw Wallace & Co. This was before the Swadeshi movement and the boycott of British-made goods took hold. This exhibition of small but significant artefacts is a reminder of just how large a market India was for the British, even as they cynically capitalised on its natural and human resources. The exhibition is on till 2 November at Museum of Art & Photography, Bengaluru, 10am-7pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Salman Khan can barely rouse himself to act anymore. Every director since Kabir Khan in Bajrangi Bhaijaan has had to work around the actors limitations, to coax brief flickers of star quality and hope the rest isnt egregious. It cant be easy for Khans fans to see him this way, complacent, over the hill, indulged and lied to. The paragraph you just read applies to Sikandar but wasnt written with it in mind. Instead, Ive taken a line each from my reviews of his last three solo releases: Radhe, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan andTiger 3. You might say thats lazy and unprofessional, but if Salman wont make any effort, why should I? Theres only so many ways to say: its over, move on, stop embarrassing yourself. Also read: Spend a day with tea pluckers Sikandar begins with Sanjay Rajkot (Khan) thrashing a Mumbai politicians son, whom he catches harassing a woman on a flight. We then learn that Sanjay and his wife, Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna), are the Rajkot royal family, philanthropic, benevolent and much loved by their people (the film is strangely nostalgic for ruler-subject relations). Sanjayalso called Sikandar, after Alexander the Greathas a trained militia on standby but never seems to need them, singlehandedly decimating goons sent on the orders of the aggrieved minister (Sathyaraj). Khans laziness seems to affect everyone involved, down from director A.R. Murugadoss and writers Rajat Arora, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal. Early on, one of Sikandars employees comes to him and admits he sold weapons that were used in a terrorist attack in Punjab. Nothing about this weirdly specific confession is relevant; its just an unnecessarily complicated way to get Sikandar fighting in a quarry so a fatal accident can take place. A subservient presence in outrageously successful films, Mandanna has value as a good luck charm if nothing else. Even before we get a glimpse of her in Sikandar, we hear her ghostly voiceover. This is Murugadoss idea of foreshadowing, along with other subtle hints like a secret she wants to tell her husband that keeps getting delayed, or Sikandar pointedly saying, Ill never let anything happen to you. Murugadoss best-known film, Ghajini, is built around a dead fiancee. Theres no way Mandanna was getting out of this one alive. As silly as the Rajkot stretch is, the film becomes even worse once our man is in Mumbai, tracking down the recipients of his wifes donated organs, as normal people do. Khan has cultivated a cloying do-gooder image since Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which results in strange scenes involving coughing slum children and gym bros and papadam entrepreneurship. Every now and then, Khan will find himself in a fight, and then you can really see his unwillingness to put in any kind of effort. Tiger 3 showed how, even when enabled by the top talent at YRF, Indian action cinema has left Khan behind. Theres no such tension in Sikandareverything from the conception to the choreography to the execution is mediocre. Murugadoss made a handful of Hindi films after Ghajini, though none replicated its success. He was one of the forerunners of the Tamil/Telugu invasion of Bollywood, a movement that continues to strengthen with every new unsure Hindi release. Sikandar has all the drawbacks of this styleclumsy, unnatural writing, actors who dont speak Hindi awkwardly mouthing linesand none of the advantages. The Salman project is past the point of usefulness. Its been nine years since his last good film (Sultan), six since the last flawed-but-watchable one (Bharat). The saddest thing in the screening I was at was a group of young men whod evidently come to cheer their hero on. But apart from a few scattered whoops, they were quiet, defeated by a film so tacky and lacklustre that encouraging it feels like a crime against cinema. Income Tax: If you are planning to opt for old tax regime at the time of filing your income tax return (ITR) in July this year for FY 2024-25, it is important to remember that the last date to invest in tax-saving instruments is March 31 i.e., Monday. If you also intend to file your tax return under the old regime, it is vital to make note of following points. Investment options: There are multiple tax-saving investment options available for taxpayers. These include PPF (Public Provident Fund), NSC (National Savings Certificate), NPS (National Pension System), SSY (Sukanya Samridhi Yojana) and KVP (Kisan Vikas Patra). Taxpayers who want to opt for old tax regime in Financial Year 2024-25, 31st March is your last chance to optimise your tax deductions, says CA Pratibha Goyal, partner, PD Gupta & Co., a Delhi-based CA firm. Tax saving options: These are some of the schemes PPF (Public Provident Fund): One can invest anywhere between 500 to 1.5 lakh in this scheme. Interest offered on this scheme is 7.1 percent per annum. NSC (National Savings Certificate): One can invest any amount which is equal to or more than 1,000. Interest offered on this scheme is 7.7 percent per annum. SSY (Sukanya Samridhi Yojana): One can invest anywhere between 250 to 1.5 lakh in a financial year. Interest offered on this scheme is 8.2 percent per annum. KVP (Kisan Vikas Patra): One can invest a minimum of 1,000, while there is no maximum limit. Interest offered on this scheme is 7.5 percent per annum. SCSS (Senior Citizens Savings Scheme): One can invest anywhere between one thousand to 30 lakh in a financial year. Interest offered on the scheme is 8.2 percent per annum. 5-year National Savings Time Deposit: The scheme offers 7.5 percent per annum. There is no maximum limit to invest in this scheme while the maximum deduction which one can claim is 1.5 lakh in a financial year. Old tax regime Another key point worth remembering is that these deductions are allowed only under old tax regime. If you are planning to file your tax return under the new tax regime (also the default regime), then you are not entitled to claim any of these deductions. Also Read | Income Tax: You can continue to avail THESE deductions in the new tax regime There are only a few deductions that are allowed in the new tax regime. These are as follows: I. Deduction under 80CCD(2): This is given for contribution made by the employer towards the National Pension System (NPS). II. Deduction under 80CCH: This scheme is given for the income earned via Agnipath scheme. III. Deduction under section 80JJAA: This is meant for employers (and not individuals) to claim a 30 per cent deduction on additional employee recruitment costs for three consecutive assessment years. Meanwhile, experts believe that taxpayers should plan their investment during the year and not wait for the end of the year to proceed. Tax savings should be planned during the entire year. One should not do it on the last day of March, says CA Chirag Chauhan, who runs a CA firm in Mumbai. Money rule changes from April 1 2025: March 2025 is coming to an end, ushering the beginning of a new financial year from April 1. The financial year 2025-26 will start from April 1, affecting citizens and taxpayers across India. New income tax rule changes, credit card rule change, UPI rule change and a host of other personal finance rule changes will come into effect from April 1, 2025, which will mark the beginning of FY26. Here is a list of important April 1 money rule changes that taxpayers and other Indian citizens should know: New income tax rule change Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her Budget 2025 speech announced new income tax rule changes with new tax slabs and rates. The revised income tax rules will come into effect from April 1. Under the new income tax rules, individuals earning up to 12 lakh a year will not need to pay income tax. For salaried individuals, a standard deduction of 75,000 will apply, effectively making 12.75 lakh salary tax-free under the new tax regime. Additionally, tax slabs have been changed under the new tax regime. UPI rule change The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced a slew of guidelines to enhance the security of Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Starting April 1, UPI payments from inactive numbers will not be possible. The NPCI has issued guidelines to banks and third-party UPI providers (PhonePe, GooglePay) to implement guidelines to phase out inactive numbers linked to UPI as they pose security risk. If your mobile number linked to UPI has not been used for a long time, update it with your bank before April 1 to avoid losing access to your UPI account. Credit card rule change Credit card rules will also change for some cardholders in terms of reward points structure. Those using the SBI Card with SimplyCLICK and Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card will see changes in reward points structures. Axis Bank will revise its Vistara Credit Card benefits after the airline merged with Air India. Also Read | THESE 5 credit cards levy zero annual fees. Check the list here Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) launched by the government in August 2024 will replace the old pension scheme and will come into effect from April 1. New pension scheme rule change will affect around 23 lakh central government employees. Under this, employees with at least 25 years of service will receive a pension equivalent to 50 per cent of their last 12 months' average basic salary. GST rule change Under the new income tax rules, individuals earning up to 12 lakh a year will not need to pay income tax. Starting April 1, there will be GST rule changes. The Goods and Service Tax (GST) portal will now see a multi-factor authentication (MFA) that has been made mantatory for taxpayers to ensure better security. E-Way Bills (EWBs) can only be generated for base documents that are not older than 180 days. Also Read | New bank rules to digital payments to FASTags: 10 things changing from today A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga on Sunday, prompting an initial tsunami warning that was later lifted. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Tongas main island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert, cautioning that hazardous waves could affect coastlines within a 300-kilometer (185-mile) radius from the quakes epicenter. As of now, there are no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Initially, the US tsunami warning system cautioned that hazardous waves could impact coastal areas within 300 kilometers (185 miles) of the epicenter. In response, Tongas National Disaster Risk Management Office advised residents in low-lying coastal areas to move to higher ground and avoid shorelines. Tectonic activity in the region Tonga, home to around 100,000 people, sits within the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic activity stretching through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. It is located more than 3,500 kilometers (2,000 miles) off Australia's east coast. Earthquakes are frequent in the region, with the latest tremor once again highlighting the vulnerability of the island nation to natural disasters. As the crescent moon was sighted on Sunday evening, Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long Ramadan, will be celebrated in the country on Monday. Jama Masjid announced that the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr will take place on Monday. "It has been verified that the moon has been sighted publicly at various places in the country, including Delhi. Thus it is declared that Eid al-Fitr 1446 H falls on Monday, 31th of March," said Secretary, Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee. Lucknow's Markazi chand committee also said that Eid will be celebrated on March 31. As Monday is the last day of the financial year in India, several people may get confused about what will remain open or closed. Let's take a look at what's open and closed. Banks to remain open The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked all agency bank locations that handle government business to stay open on Monday, making it easier for taxpayers. The taxpayers have been requested to complete their tax-related transactions well in advance to avoid last-minute issues. Stock market holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr For Eid-ul-Fitr, the Indian stock market will be closed on Monday, March 31, 2025. According to the BSE and the NSE holiday calendar, these two stock exchanges will be closed on March 31, 2025 for Eid-ul-Fitr. Not only the stock market but even the currency derivatives segment will be closed on March 31. Insurance firms to remain open Like banks, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has directed the insurance firms to keep their offices open on 31 March, despite it colliding with Eid-ul-Fitr. Income Tax offices to remain open All the Income Tax offices will remain open on Monday after the Income Tax department confirmed all its offices to complete pending work. Schools, colleges closed in Telangana, Bengaluru Both March 31 and April 1 are marked as public holidays for Eid in Telangana, while in Bengaluru, they will be closed on March 31 only. Public transport to remain fully functional The public transport will remain operative as usual on Eid in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Essential services to remain functional: According to Jagran, the essential services like hospitals and ration shops will remain functional on Monday in major cities of India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and others. Liquor shops may be closed: With liquor shops are generally closed on major religious holidays, it is most probable that the will close on Monday. Eid 2025 Moon Sighting LIVE: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan wished his fans Eid Mubarak on Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday, March 31. With duas for one and all, King Khan, in a post on X, said, Eid Mubarak With gratitude in my heart and duas for one and all!! Hope your day is full of hugs, biryani, warmth and endless love. Stay happy, stay safe and may God bless you all!! he added. India is celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr with great fervour on Monday, March 31, marking the end of the holy Ramadan 2025 period. The moon was sighted on Sunday, following which Delhi's Jama Masjid announced that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday. It has been verified that the moon has been sighted publicly at various places of the country, including Delhi, according to the official announcement from Imarat-e-shariyah-Hind in Delhi. The Crescent Moon was also spotted at Srinagar on Sunday, among many other locations across the nation. The Eid celebrations started in Saudi Arabia on Sunday after the crescent moon was sighted for the first time in the Gulf nation. Saudi Arabia observes the crescent moon a day ahead of India, Pakistan and other neighbouring nations. In Australia, the moon was not sighted on Sunday, March 30; hence, now the country will celebrate Eid on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Eid-ul-Fitr, or (Eid-al-Fitr) comes after the holiest period for Muslims, i.e., Ramadan 2025, which started on Sunday, March 2, after the crescent moon was spotted on March 1, 2025. The date of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 in India will depend on whether or not the Moon is visible from Indian skies. If the moon is sighted on Sunday, March 30, then India, along with other neighbouring nations like Pakistan and Afghanistan, will celebrate this as the commencement of Ramadan and as Eid on Monday, March 31. If the crescent moon is not visible due to rare circumstances, then according to the Islamic lunar calendar or Hijri customs, one cannot celebrate Eid. The official confirmation about Eid-ul-Fitr will only come after the crescent moon is spotted. In India, the Imams of Delhi's Jama Masjid and the Lucknow Mosque will announce the official news about Eid on Sunday after the moon is spotted around multiple cities nationwide. So far, nations such as Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, Iran, Malaysia, Brunei, Iraq, and Syria have confirmed that they are set to celebrate Eid on March 31. Eid-ul-Fitr moon sighting in Saudi Arabia The Cresent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening, March 29, marking the end of the holy Ramadan 2025 period for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the moon citing on Saturday evening, the gulf nation witnessed 29 days in the month of March. Some other Gulf Arab states will celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday on Sunday, but other Middle Eastern countries will not until Monday. Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Wishes (In Photos) Eid Mubarak 2025: May Allah bless you with happiness, health and prosperity. On this holy day, lets spread kindness and joy. Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak 2025: May Allah bestow wisdom and knowledge upon us. On this special day, may Allah shower you with love and success. Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak 2025: May Allah accept all your duas and forgive your sins. Eid Mubarak 2025: May Allah shower his blessings upon you and your family. Salman Khan wishes fans Eid Mubarak! | Watch Eid Mubarak 2025 Wishes 1. On this special day, may Allah shower you with love and success. Eid Mubarak! 2. May this Eid bring new opportunities and endless blessings into your life. 3. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and success. Eid Mubarak! 4. Let this Eid be a new beginning for love and harmony. Eid Mubarak! 5. May the magic of Eid fill your life with peace and happiness. 6. May your home be filled with warmth and your heart with joy this Eid. 7. Wishing you prosperity, joy, and all the success in the world. Eid Mubarak! 8. Sending you warm wishes and hoping you have a blessed Eid. 9. Eid is a day to spread love and kindness. May your day be filled with both! 10. May Allah bless you abundantly and fulfil all your wishes. Eid Mubarak! 11. I pray that Allah blesses our home with peace and endless happiness. Eid Mubarak! 12. This Eid, I feel grateful for having such a loving and caring family. 13. Wishing my parents, siblings, and all our loved ones a prosperous and joyous Eid! 14. May our family always be wrapped in Allahs mercy and love. Eid Mubarak! 15. Let this Eid be the start of fresh opportunities and new beginnings in your life. 16. Sending you and your family loads of duas, tons of hugs, and all the love in this world. Eid Mubarak 2025! 17. Enjoy a lovely Eid with the ones who are close to your heart. Eid Mubarak 2025! 18. Sending you the beautiful blessings of Allah wrapped with lots of love and affection. Best wishes for Eid Mubarak 2025! 19. May Allah bless you with good health and happiness, Happy Eid Mubarak to you and your family! 20. We hope and pray that this Eid will bring bundles of happiness, joy, and blessings to you and your family. Eid Mubarak 2025! 21. Wishing you love, laughter, and a joyous celebration this Eid! 22. May Allah accept your prayers and fasting. Eid Mubarak! 23. Sending warm wishes for a prosperous and joyful Eid. 24. Wishing you a day filled with love, joy, and togetherness. Eid Mubarak! 25. May your heart be filled with gratitude and your life with endless blessings. Eid Mubarak! Eid Namaz Timings Eid-ul-fitr Namaz timings are expected to happen in the following timings: 1. Delhi - 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2. Mumbai - 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. 3. Jaipur - 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. 4. Lucknow - 6:07 a.m. to 12 p.m. 5. Bengaluru - 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 6. Agra - 6:18 a.m. to 12 p.m. 7. Hyderabad - 6:24 a.m. to 12 p.m. 8. Kolkata - 5:41 a.m. to 12 p.m. 9. Kanpur - 6:09 a.m. to 12 p.m. 10. Allahabad - 6:05 a.m. to 12 p.m. 11. Patna - 5:51 a.m. to 12 p.m. 12. Ahmedabad - 6:43 a.m. to 12 p.m. 13. Chandigarh - 6:21 a.m. to 12 p.m. 14. Kochi - 6:37 a.m. to 12 p.m. 15. Noida - 6:19 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in India In Delhi, thousands gathered at the iconic Jama Masjid to offer Namaz early this morning. The grand mosque, one of the largest and most historic in the country, witnessed worshippers dressed in their finest attire, united in prayer to mark the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims gather to offer prayers during Eid al-Fitr, that marks the end of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of New Delhi on March 31, 2025. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) Celebrate Eid the Ghibli way ! Here are some Studio Ghibli style images that you can use for wishing Eid Mubarak to your loved ones Ghibli-styled Eid wishes Ghibli-styled Eid wishes Clash between two groups in Nuh after Eid prayers, 5 injured A clash between two groups from the same community after Eid prayers in a village in Nuh left more than five injured on Monday. According to police, the incident, which occurred at 9 am, was a fallout of an old rivalry between groups led by individuals Rashid and Sajid in Tirwada village. New Delhi: The union heavy industries ministry has consulted the ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways to determine locations across ports for installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, according to two officials aware of the development. These EV charging stations will be installed on ports as a part of the ongoing 10,900-crore PM E-drive scheme, the officials said. Email queries to the ministry of heavy industries and the ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways were unanswered till press time. The government has allocated a massive corpus of 2,000 crore towards installation of EV charging stations across the country to ensure charging connectivity for India's rapidly growing electric vehicle market. Also read | Budget gives a Make-in-India push for electric vehicle batteries Two kinds of vehicles are likely to need EV charging stations on ports as electrification of mobility takes its course in the countryground operations in ports, and cargo and commercial vehicles such as trucks. The government, under the PM E-drive scheme, has allocated 500 crore towards subsidizing electric trucks for operators, identifying it as a sunrise sector when the scheme was announced in October 2024. Trucks are used in every part of the port ecosystem, and once electrified, will need charging infrastructure readily available in ports. They bring in cargo to the port premises, which is then offloaded using forklifts, and moved around inside the port using tugs. After adequate charging infra These port operations can be electrified once adequate charging infrastructure is present. The expansion of EV charging infrastructure across the country is also happening at a time when the government has decided to focus on rapid expansion of its port infrastructure. For instance, the Centre has started work on developing the Vadhawan port in Maharashtra, which is slated to become the country's largest by cargo handling capacity. The cost of developing the port is expected to be about 76,220 crore, and it will have a cargo handling capacity of nearly 300 million metric tonnes. Economic activity in Indian ports is also set to rise manifold as the government is focusing on decongesting roadways that connect trade hubs to ports. For instance, union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the cabinet's approval for a new six-lane highway in Maharashtra connecting the hinterlands to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) near Mumbai. Electrification of port vehicles is also a crucial factor to reduce carbon emissions of ports, and contribute to the goal of India becoming a net-zero emission economy by 2070. Also read | Can M&Ms new electric vehicles help it overcome industry hurdles? The development follows the MHI's consultation with the ministry of road transport and highways, as well as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for similar installation of charging stations on highways and in airports, respectively. Mint reported on 27 December that the government's plans to electrify intra-airport mobility were beginning to take shape. The consideration to adopt electric mobility at ports is in line with the shipping ministry's plans to reduce carbon emission at these ports as India eyes to become maritime hub. The shipping ministry in May 2023 launched the 'Harit Sagar' green port guidelines with an aim to reduce carbon intensity and to develop an environment friendly ecosystem at major ports through optimization of port procedures, inducting green technologies, reducing wastages, taking steps for reducing the carbon intensity per unit of cargo handled. As a part of its commitment in COP 26 towards climate action, India has pledged to reduce the emission intensity per unit GDP by 45% by 2030. With the maritime sector handling 95% of India's foreign trade volume and accounting for 65% of trade value, greening the operations at ports becomes a major component of the overall net zero goals. BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China's four major state-owned commercial banks on Sunday announced plans to raise a combined 520 billion yuan (about 72.5 billion U.S. dollars) through the issuance of A-shares targeting specific investors. The four commercial banks -- Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Postal Savings Bank of China -- published their plans through the Shanghai Stock Exchange. According to their plans, Bank of China aims to raise no more than 165 billion yuan, China Construction Bank no more than 105 billion yuan, Bank of Communications no more than 120 billion yuan, and Postal Savings Bank of China no more than 130 billion yuan. All four banks have said that the raised funds, after deducting issuance-related costs, will be used to replenish their respective core tier-1 capital. China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) will participate in the fundraising efforts of all four banks, with a combined intended subscription of up to 500 billion yuan. According to this year's government work report, China will issue 500 billion yuan of special treasury bonds to support the capital replenishment of major state-owned commercial banks. The four banks said that capital replenishment from the MOF is a crucial move from the government to support their stable operations and development. Industry analysts said that the capital replenishment is a proactive measure that will strengthen the banks' capital foundations and optimize their capital structures. This move will enhance their operational resilience and risk management capabilities, enabling them to better serve the real economy and stabilize the financial system, according to analysts. A blast took place at a mosque in Maharashtra's Beed on Sunday which damaged the internal portion of the structure, reported PTI quoting the police as saying. According to the police, no person was injured in the explosion which occurred at around 2.30 am at Ardha Masla village in Georai tehsil. The police stated that the gelatin sticks kept allegedly by a man. In this matter, police have arrested Vijay Rama Gavhane (22) and Sriram Ashok Sagde (24), both residents of Georai taluka in Beed. Following the explosion, a situation of tension evolved in the village and the police deployed heavy security in the village to prevent law and order-related issues. As per the officials, a man entered the mosque from the back and allegedly kept some gelatin sticks there that triggered a blast and at 4 pm the village head alerted the Talawada police. Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat and other senior officials rushed to the spot. A bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS), along with a forensic science team, also reached the spot, the official said. Later SP Kanwat informed that the Beed Police have apprehended two persons in connection with the blast inside the mosque and assured stern action will be taken against them as per the law. He also appealed to people not to spread rumours and help the police maintain law and order. CM Devendra Fadvanis reacts: Speaking on the Beed explosion, CM Devendra Fadnavis said, as quoted by ANI, "The information has been received; the information about who did it has also been received. The concerned SP will give the rest of the information." A tradition of celebrating festivals together: Amid the explosion took place at a mosque, a local from the village stated that they have followed the tradition of celebrating festivals together. He added, as quoted by PTI, during the Gudi Padwa festival, Hindus visit Hazrat Sayyad Badshah Dargah near the mosque. He also added that the accused persons tried to blow up the mosque using gelatin sticks as the village was preparing to celebrate Gudi Padwa and Ramzan Eid on Sunday. After the explosion, locals who have lived in harmony for decades decided to repair the structure. Also a peace committee meeting also took place in the village in the morning. In top news this week, we have a massive earthquake in Myanmar, a chilling murder case from Meerut, BJP MP Narayan Rane's shocking revelation into Disha Salian's death case, Kunal Kamra kicking up a storm, and much more. Here is the top news from 23 March to 29 March. Narayan Ranes shocking claims in Disha Salian death case Around five years after Disha Salian, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, was found dead under mysterious circumstances, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Narayan Rane made a shocking claim targeting former CM and Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray. Narayan Rane claimed that the then Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had called him twice and "requested" not to drag his son Aaditya Thackeray in the Disha Salian death case. Read more Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi living in Belgiums Antwerp, India requests extradition: Report Reports emerged on Sunday claiming that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is living in Belgium's Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi. According to a media report, Choksi obtained a 'residency card' in the country. Indian authorities have requested the Belgian authorities to initiate his extradition to India, Associated Times, a media outlet that focuses on the Caribbean region, reported. Read more Canada PM Mark Carney calls snap election: We are facing significant crisis Asking for mandate to tackle US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called a snap election for April 28. Carney said that he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat that Trump's tariffs pose to the economy. Read more Kunal Kamra sparks massive row with gaddar jibe at Eknath Shinde Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has sparked controversy after referring to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a "traitor" (Gaddar) during a recent performance. His remarks have drawn strong backlash from the Shiv Sena, which has demanded his arrest. Read more Rhea Chakraborty lawyer thanks CBI for closing Sushant Singh Rajput case, says Satish Maneshinde, the lawyer of Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty, has reiterated that his client had no involvement in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in 2020, ANI reported. Thanking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for filing a closure report in Sushant Singh Rajput's death, lawyer Maneshinde told reporters that the actor's was a pure case of suicide and claimed that his family dragged Rhea Chakraborty into the investigation. Read more Judicial work withdrawn from Justice Yashwant Varma, says Delhi High Court The Delhi High Court said on Monday that Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose official residence a large sum of cash was allegedly discovered following a fire, has been relieved of his judicial duties with "immediate effect" until further orders, PTI reported. Read more Chilling details surface in Meerut murder case: Muskan slit Saurabh Rajputs throat, Sahil beheaded him Days after the shocking murder of former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput, new chilling details have surfaced as investigators delve deeper into the case. Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla, the couple accused of the gruesome crime who are at the center of the Meerut murder case, rehearsed multiple times how to carry out the killing. Read more Earthquake with magnitude of 4.7 hits country again, death toll at 1600 A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on March 28, Friday. The death toll from a massive earthquake in Myanmar has passed 1,600, the ruling junta said on Saturday. Read more Elon Musk, DOGE and Tesla Takedown protests across US | Explained in 5 points Elon Musk-owned Tesla facilities witnessed protests at several locations in the United States and beyond on March 29, Saturday over the billionaire's influential role in the Donald Trump administration. Read more ChatGPT finally allows free users to create Ghibli-style AI images: Check our step-by-step guide After a brief delay, OpenAI finally seems to be rolling out ChatGPT's native image generation feature to free users. While OpenAI or its CEO Sam Altman have yet to officially announce whether the feature has been rolled out to free users, we have tried to 'Ghiblify' a few images using several free ChatGPT accounts where the feature worked without a glitch. Read more Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025: India is going to celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid al-Fitr on Monday following the conclusion of Ramadan a holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk by Muslims community. Eid is commemorated after the holy month of Ramadan ends and it is marked as a celebration of unity, gratitude, and generosity. Traditionally, Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the 29, or 30-day-long Ramadan, during which practising Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The date of Eid-ul-Fitr depends on the sighting of the moon. With the Crescent Moon sighted in Lucknow on Sunday, March 30, marking an end to the month-long Ramadan 2025 period, Delhi's Jama Masjid announced that the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr will be hosted on Monday. As part of the celebrations, people hug their near and dear ones, and greet them with Eid Mubarak or send messages to the people far way as Eid Mubarak 2025, Happy Eid Mubarak 2025 or Happy Eid. Meaning of Eid Mubarak? To wish the near and dear ones, the people of the Muslim community wish 'Eid Mubarak'. It is a an Arabic greeting which means "blessed festival" or "blessed feast". What is Eid 2025? Eid al-Fitr is the first of the two main festivals in Islam which falls on the first day of Shawwal and the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Eid marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. Eid 2025: History, religious and cultural significance The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr holds deep historical and religious significance. According to the beliefs, Prophet Muhammad was revealed to Holy Quran for the first time during Ramadan, which marked this month a time of spiritual devotion and self-discipline. Eid-ul-Fitr is a joyous culmination of this sacred period, symbolising gratitude, renewal and unity within the Muslim community. Eid 2025: Celebrations The day of Meethi Eid begins with a special congregational prayer, known as the Eid Salah, performed in mosques, Eidgahs and open grounds. During this time, Muslim worshippers express their gratitude to Allah for granting them strength during Ramadan. As part of celebrations, Zakat-al-Fitr, a form of charity given to the less fortunate before the Eid prayer, is done. This practice is done to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial status, can partake in the celebrations and enjoy a festive meal. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr in various ways, but food is among the central theme of the festival. Families prepare traditional delicacies such as Biryani, Haleem, Nihari, kebabs and the ever-popular sweet dish, Seviyan (sheer khurma). They also exchange warm wishes and sweets, while children eagerly await the tradition of Eidi. Here are top 100+ Happy Eid-ul-Fitr wishes that you can share with friends and family: Best Eid Mubarak Wishes for 2025 Eid Mubarak! May this blessed day bring you peace, happiness, and prosperity. 2. Wishing you and your family a joyous and blessed Eid! Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025! 3. May Allahs blessings be with you today and always. Eid Mubarak! 4.May this Eid bring you endless moments of joy and happiness. Eid Mubarak! 5.Wishing you love, laughter, and a joyous celebration this Eid! 6.May Allah accept your prayers and fasting. Eid Mubarak! 7.Sending warm wishes for a prosperous and joyful Eid. 8. May the spirit of Eid bring happiness and peace to your home. 9. Wishing you a day filled with love, joy, and togetherness. Eid Mubarak! 10. May your heart be filled with gratitude and your life with endless blessings. Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025! Eid Wishes for Family & Relatives: 11. Eid Mubarak! May your heart be filled with joy, your home with laughter, and your life with endless blessings. 12. Wishing you and your family a joyful and blessed Eid-ul-Fitr! 13. May Allahs divine blessings bring you peace, happiness, and success. Eid Mubarak! 14. On this special day, may all your prayers be answered. Eid Mubarak! 15. Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring you closer to your loved ones and fill your life with happiness. 16. Wishing you a peaceful and prosperous Eid filled with love and joy. 17. May the magic of Eid bring you and your family health, wealth, and happiness. Eid Mubarak! 18. Eid Mubarak! May your life be as sweet as the Eid desserts you enjoy today. 19. May Allahs mercy be with you today and always. Wishing you a blessed Eid! 20. May this Eid bring new hope, love, and a fresh start. Eid Mubarak! Eid Messages for Friends: 21. Eid Mubarak, my dear friend! May this Eid bring you joy, success, and prosperity. 22. To my wonderful friend, I wish you endless happiness and laughter this Eid. 23. Eid Mubarak! Lets celebrate this joyous occasion with love and gratitude. 24. May our bond of friendship continue to grow stronger with each Eid. 25. Wishing you an Eid filled with beautiful moments, delicious food, and cherished memories! 27. Sending you warm wishes and virtual hugs this Eid! 28. May your Eid be as fantastic and fun as you are, my friend! 29. Eid Mubarak! Heres to another year of wonderful memories together. 30. I feel blessed to have a friend like you in my life. Eid Mubarak! Formal & professional Eid greetings: 31. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you success, prosperity, and happiness in all you do. 32. May this Eid bring positive energy and new opportunities your way. 33. Wishing you and your family a blessed and peaceful Eid-ul-Fitr. 34. Eid Mubarak! May your hard work be rewarded with success and joy. 35. May this Eid inspire you to achieve all your goals with determination and faith. 36. Wishing you good health, happiness, and fulfilment this Eid. 37. Eid Mubarak! May your days be filled with laughter and productivity. 38. May Allah bless you with wisdom and endless opportunities. Eid Mubarak! 39. Enjoy the festivities and take time to recharge. Wishing you a wonderful Eid! 40. May this Eid bring peace and prosperity to your professional and personal life. Eid Mubarak 2025: Images & quotes to share on WhatsApp & Social Media: Here are some Eid Mubarak quotes to share with family, friends and colleagues: 41. "Eid is not about the feast, its about the faith." 42. "Allahs love is infinite, and Eid reminds us to share that love with all." 43. On this holy day, lets spread kindness and joy. 44. "Eid is a day of sharing and caring for those in need." 45. "Let us thank Allah for the countless blessings He bestows upon us." 46. Eid teaches us love, sacrifice, and unity. May you always walk on the path of righteousness and kindness. Eid Mubarak! 47. This Eid, may your good deeds multiply and bring you peace and prosperity. Stay blessed always! 48. May Allahs guidance be with you in every decision, and may your prayers be answered. Wishing you a blessed Eid! 49. On this holy day, may your heart be free from worries and filled with faith and gratitude. Eid Mubarak! 50. Just as the crescent moon glows in the sky, may your life shine with endless joy and peace. Happy Eid! 51. To my wonderful family, may this Eid bring us closer and fill our hearts with love and laughter. Eid Mubarak! Also Read | Mumbai Police beefs up security after X message about riots during Eid 52. Eid is special because of loved ones like you! May our bond always be strong and filled with joy. Happy Eid! 53. My dear friend, may this Eid bless you with success, happiness, and all your hearts desires. Eid Mubarak! 54. No matter where life takes us, my prayers and good wishes are always with you. Eid Mubarak, my dear! 55. A joyous Eid to the people who make my life beautiful. May we always celebrate together! Eid Mubarak! Eid Gift Ideas & Digital Greeting Cards Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Eid Mubarak Status & SMS for WhatsApp & Instagram: Here are some Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 captions for posting on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp: 56. Blessed and grateful! Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025! 57. May your Eid be as sweet as the desserts on your table! Eid Mubarak! 58. Dressed up for the festival of joy! #Eid Mubarak 59. Family, food, and faith the essence of Eid! #Happy Eid-ul-Fitr 2025! 60. Eid is not just a day; it's a feeling of togetherness. 61. Wishing you good health, happiness, and fulfilment this Eid. 62. Eid Mubarak! May your days be filled with laughter and productivity. 63 May Allah bless you with wisdom and endless opportunities. Eid Mubarak! 64. Enjoy the festivities and take time to recharge. Wishing you a wonderful Eid! 65. May this Eid bring peace and prosperity to your professional and personal life. 66. May this Eid bring you closer to your dreams and fill your life with happiness and success. Eid Mubarak! 67. Eid Mubarak! May Allahs blessings shine upon you and your family today and always! 68. May your prayers be answered, your sacrifices be rewarded, and your heart be filled with peace. Eid Mubarak! 69. Lets celebrate this beautiful occasion with gratitude, kindness, and love. Eid Mubarak to you and your family! 70. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a joyous celebration and a year ahead filled with prosperity and happiness! Trending Eid Mubarak Status: 71. Eid Mubarak! May your home be filled with joy, your heart with love, and your life with endless blessings! 72. Wishing you a day filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of family and friends. Eid Mubarak! 73. May this Eid bring you closer to your dreams and fill your life with happiness and success. Eid Mubarak! 74. Eid Mubarak! May Allahs blessings shine upon you and your family today and always! 75. May your prayers be answered, your sacrifices be rewarded, and your heart be filled with peace. Eid Mubarak! 76. Lets celebrate this beautiful occasion with gratitude, kindness, and love. Eid Mubarak to you and your family! 77. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you a joyous celebration and a year ahead filled with prosperity and happiness! 78. May the spirit of Eid bring you peace, happiness, and boundless joy. Eid Mubarak! 79. Sending you warm wishes on this special day. May your Eid be as wonderful as you are! Eid Mubarak! 80. May your home be filled with the delicious aroma of Eid feasts and your heart with the sweetness of love. Eid Mubarak! 81. As we celebrate this holy day, may we remember to spread love, kindness, and generosity. Eid Mubarak! 82. May your faith and devotion be rewarded, and may you be surrounded by endless blessings. Eid Mubarak! 83. Eid Mubarak! Wishing you peace, love, and the happiest moments with your loved ones. 84. This Eid, may your life be filled with happiness, your heart with love, and your soul with faith. Eid Mubarak! 85. May this Eid be a fresh start, bringing you prosperity, success, and everything you wish for. Eid Mubarak! 86. Eid Mubarak! Lets rejoice in the blessings we have and pray for a world filled with love and peace. 87. Wishing you a day of pure joy and a year full of blessings. Eid Mubarak to you and your family! 88. May this Eid remind us of the beauty of giving, the power of love, and the importance of faith. Eid Mubarak! 89. Eid Mubarak! Lets cherish the moments that matter and celebrate this blessed day with grateful hearts. 90. From my heart to yours, wishing you love, laughter, and all the happiness in the world. Eid Mubarak! 91. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones! Eid Wishes Quotes to Inspire and Uplift Here are some Eid Mubarak quotes to share with family, friends and colleagues: 91. "Eid is not about the feast, its about the faith." 92. "Allahs love is infinite, and Eid reminds us to share that love with all." 93. On this holy day, lets spread kindness and joy. 94. "Eid is a day of sharing and caring for those in need." 95. "Let us thank Allah for the countless blessings He bestows upon us." 96. Eid teaches us love, sacrifice, and unity. May you always walk on the path of righteousness and kindness. Eid Mubarak! 97. This Eid, may your good deeds multiply and bring you peace and prosperity. Stay blessed always! 98. May Allahs guidance be with you in every decision, and may your prayers be answered. Wishing you a blessed Eid! 99. On this holy day, may your heart be free from worries and filled with faith and gratitude. Eid Mubarak! 100. Just as the crescent moon glows in the sky, may your life shine with endless joy and peace. Happy Eid! 101. To my wonderful family, may this Eid bring us closer and fill our hearts with love and laughter. Eid Mubarak! 102. Eid is special because of loved ones like you! May our bond always be strong and filled with joy. Happy Eid! 103. My dear friend, may this Eid bless you with success, happiness, and all your hearts desires. Eid Mubarak! 104. No matter where life takes us, my prayers and good wishes are always with you. Eid Mubarak, my dear! 105. A joyous Eid to the people who make my life beautiful. May we always celebrate together! Eid Mubarak! Frequently asked questions What is the best way to wish someone on Eid? To wish someone a Happy Eid, one can simply say "Eid Mubarak," which translates to "blessed Eid" and is the most common and widely understood greeting. 2. When is Eid ul Fitr 2025? Eid ul Fitr 2025 will be celebrated in India on Monday, i.e. 31 March 2025. Ugadi, also known as the Telugu New Year, is an important festival celebrated by Hindus with great zeal, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. It marks the beginning of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, occurring on the first day of the month of Chaitra, which typically falls in late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar. Gudi Padwa is a major Hindu festival celebrated primarily in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa and some parts of Karnataka. It marks the beginning of the new year according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month, usually in late March or early April. In 2025, the festival will be observed on March 30th. Ugadi 2025: Here are the top wishes, quotes, and messages Wishing you a joyful and prosperous Ugadi filled with happiness, health, and success! May this Ugadi bring new hopes, new beginnings, and endless opportunities your way! "On this auspicious occasion of Ugadi, may your life be as colorful as the festive decorations and as sweet as the traditional Ugadi Pachadi." "Happy Ugadi! May the new year bless you with peace, prosperity, and countless memorable moments." Lets welcome the new year with open hearts and joyful spirits. Wishing you a very Happy Ugadi! "Ugadi is not just a new year; its a celebration of life, hope, and new beginnings." "As the Gudi rises high, may your aspirations soar even higher with success and joy." "The essence of Ugadi lies in the sweetness of togetherness and the flavor of new adventures." "Let the festive spirit of Ugadi light up your life with positivity and warmth." "Just like Ugadi Pachadi, may your life be a perfect blend of sweet, sour, and spicy moments." "May the colors of Ugadi brighten your path and fill your heart with happiness." "Ugadi teaches us to embrace change with courage and welcome new opportunities with open arms." "On Ugadi, lets celebrate the beauty of new beginnings and the joy of life." "May the blessings of Ugadi fill your heart with gratitude and your life with prosperity." "Heres to a fresh start, new dreams, and a year full of hope. Happy Ugadi! "Lets welcome the new year with open hearts and joyful spirits. Happy Ugadi!" "May the divine blessings of Ugadi fill your life with positivity, prosperity, and peace." "Wishing you and your family a bright, beautiful, and blessed Ugadi!" "May this Ugadi bring you closer to your dreams and fill your days with happiness." On Ugadi, may the new year be as refreshing as the spring breeze and as vibrant as the colors of nature. Gudi Padwa 2025: Check wishes, quotes, and messages "Wishing you a bright and joyful Gudi Padwa filled with prosperity, happiness, and new beginnings!" May this Ugadi bring new hopes, new beginnings, and endless opportunities your way! "May the Gudi flutter with success, and may your life be filled with sweet moments and endless blessings." On this auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, may you be blessed with health, wealth, and boundless joy! "Wishing you a bright and joyful Gudi Padwa filled with prosperity, happiness, and new beginnings!" "May the Gudi flutter high and bring success, positivity, and good fortune into your life." "Happy Gudi Padwa! May this new year bring peace, prosperity, and endless joy to you and your family." "Lets welcome the new year with open hearts and festive spirits. Wishing you a joyful Gudi Padwa!" "On this auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, may your life be filled with love, laughter, and success." "Wishing you a Gudi Padwa as vibrant and beautiful as the festive decorations!" "May this Gudi Padwa bring new dreams, fresh hopes, and abundant blessings into your life." "Happy Gudi Padwa! May the spirit of the festival fill your heart with joy and your home with warmth." "As the Gudi rises, may your aspirations soar high with success and happiness." "Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of a new year filled with fresh opportunities and endless possibilities." "On this Gudi Padwa, may your life be as sweet as the traditional festive treats and as bright as the Gudi!" "Lets celebrate the festival of Gudi Padwa with hopes for a prosperous and blissful new year." "May the Gudis vibrant colors inspire you to embrace life with positivity and enthusiasm." "Wishing you a Gudi Padwa filled with laughter, love, and cherished moments with your loved ones." "This Gudi Padwa, may your heart be light, your dreams big, and your blessings abundant." "May the spirit of Gudi Padwa fill your life with warmth, joy, and new achievements." "On this auspicious day, may you find success in every step you take and happiness in every moment you live." "May the rising Gudi symbolise the rise of new hopes and dreams in your life." A new California healthcare initiative is controversially named after accused murderer Luigi Mangione. The "Luigi Mangione Access to Health Care Act" aims to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying medical treatments recommended by doctors if serious health consequences are possible. The measure was introduced by retired Los Angeles attorney Paul Eisner, who admitted to deliberately naming it after Mangione to draw attention. "For a very simple reason: it is getting the attention it needs, because sometimes things require publicity," Eisner told CBS 8. Background of the case Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, is currently facing murder charges in both New York and federal courts for allegedly killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last December. Police recovered bullet casings at the crime scene with the words "delay" and "deny" inscribed on them, seemingly referencing the book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Dont Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. Eisner defends naming decision Eisner, who is advocating for the proposed law, insists that he does not approve Mangiones actions but agrees with his stance on insurance company practices. "I agree with what he was arguing, but I dont support his method. What I am doing is the right way to do it," he said. The measure aims to make it illegal for insurers to "delay, deny, or modify any medical procedure or medication" recommended by a doctor when serious consequences such as disability, death, or permanent disfigurement are at stake. The California Attorney Generals Office is currently reviewing the initiative. The public comment period will remain open until April 25, after which the office will craft an official title for the measure. Columbia Universitys newly-appointed president once called Congressional hearings on campus antisemitism Capitol Hill nonsense. Claire Shipman recently replaced Katrina A. Armstrong as Columbia University's acting president. In a December 28, 2023, text message, Claire Shipman reportedly wrote to then university president Minouche Shafik, saying that she thought Columbia would be spared from the capital hill nonsense," New York Post reported. Campus protests against Gaza war She had referred to December 2023 Congressional hearings in which the presidents of Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and MIT testify about campus protests against the war in Gaza. Following the tense hearings, Harvards Claudine Gay and Penns Liz Magill resigned. They were grilled on whether calling for the killing of Jews would violate their schools bullying and harassment policies and answered that it depended on the context, the report added. Capital hill nonsense Shipmans text messages about the hearings were revealed in a 325-page October report from the Republican House Committee on Education and the Workforce that included leaked messages between university officials. The 325-page House Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee report stated that Columbias leaders expressed contempt for "Congressional oversight of campus antisemitism". According to the report, "Shipman celebrated a complimentary New York Times story that suggested that Columbia and thenPresident Minouche Shafik had navigated tensions over the Israel-Hamas war more deftly than other Universities. In a text message to Shafik, Shipman wrote of the article, most critically I think it heavily inoculates us for a while from the capital hill nonsense and threat. In the same text message, Shipman also suggested reinstating student groups that had participated in the protests. I do think we should think about unsuspending the groups before semester starts to take the wind out of that, she reportedly told Shafik in the message. New Columbia President Shipman took over as the president after Armstrong resigned. Her resignation was the second in less than a year over the universitys handling of campus protests. "Armstrong is returning to lead the University's Irving Medical Center," Columbia University said in a statement on Friday. It did not give a reason for the change. "Board of Trustees Co-Chair Claire Shipman has been appointed Acting President, effective immediately, and will serve until the Board completes its presidential search," it added. US President Donald Trump did not dismiss the idea of pursuing a third term in the White House, despite the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution prohibiting it. Trump claimed there were "methods" for making it happen and emphasised that he was "not joking." "A lot of people want me to do it," Trump said in an interview with NBC News. "But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. Im focused on the current," he added, referring to his current term. Possible strategy: JD Vance as a successor To a question about a potential scenario in which his Vice President JD Vance could run for office and later transfer power to him, Trump acknowledged this as a possibility. "Thats one," Trump said when questioned about the strategy. "There are methods which you could do it," he added, leaving the door open for speculation. Third-term hint not new This is not the first time Trump has hinted at the possibility of a third presidency. He has previously suggested that he should receive additional terms due to what he considers unfair treatment during his first presidency. When asked about seeking another term, the president replied, I like working. "Im not joking," Trump reiterated during the interview. However, he also attempted to downplay the discussion, stating, "It is far too early to think about it." Constitutional hurdles The 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, explicitly limits presidents to two terms in office. Ratified in 1951 following Franklin D. Roosevelts four consecutive election victories, the 22nd Amendment states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Abolishing the two-term limit would be extremely challenging, as it would require either a two-thirds majority in Congress or approval from two-thirds of the states to convene a constitutional convention. Any proposed amendment would then need ratification by three-quarters of the states. US President Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to annexing Greenland, stating that he has absolutely had real discussions about acquiring the semiautonomous Danish territory. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100%, Trump said, in a phone interview with NBC News. Military option not off the table While Trump emphasised that diplomatic means could achieve annexation, he did not rule out a more forceful approach. Theres a good possibility that we could do it without military force, he said, but added, I dont take anything off the table. Geopolitical implications When asked about the broader strategic significance of acquiring Greenland, Trump dismissed concerns about global perceptions. I dont really think about that. I dont really care. Greenlands a very separate subject, very different. Its international peace. Its international security and strength, he stated. Trump also pointed to foreign naval activity near Greenland as a concern. You have ships sailing outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places. And were not going to allow things to happen that are going to hurt the world or the United States, he said. As of now, Denmark has not responded to Trumps latest remarks. Vice President Vances Greenland visit Trumps comments came a day after Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited Pituffik Space Base, a US Space Force installation on Greenlands northwestern coast. While there, Vance criticised Denmarks governance of the region. Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland, you have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass, filled with incredible people, Vance said. Denmark criticises US over Greenland comments Denmarks Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has condemned the "tone" of US Vice President JD Vances remarks about Greenland, calling them inappropriate for allies. We do not appreciate the tone... this is not how you speak to your close allies, Rasmussen said in a video message on Friday. During his visit to Pituffik Space Base, Vance accused Denmark of neglecting Greenlands security and suggested the territory would be better off under US partnership. He also implied that Greenland should seek independence from Denmark. Rasmussen acknowledged US strategic interest in Greenland but reminded Washington that the territory is already under NATOs security umbrella. We are very much open to discussions, he said. Putin: US' Greenland push is no surprise Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 28 that Donald Trumps bid for Greenland aligns with longstanding U.S. interests in the Arctic. Speaking in Murmansk, Putin noted that the US has sought control over Greenland since the 19th century and even attempted to buy it after World War II. F-1 Visa revoke: The Donald Trump administration, on Saturday, March 30, revoked the F-1 visas of over 300 international students, citing their alleged involvement in "campus activism" and engagement with "anti-national content" on social media. Several students were shocked to receive emails from the US Department of State (DOS) notifying them of their visa revocations and instructing them to self-deport using the CBP Home App. But why is the Trump administration after these 300+ international students? Why was their F1 Visa revoked? Should international and Indian students be worried? LiveMint explains. What is the F-1 Visa revoke On behalf of the United States Department of State, the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office hereby informs you that additional information became available after your visa was issued. As a result, your F-1 visa with expiration date XXXXX was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, reads the F1 visa revoke email, that over 300 students received. What is a F-1 Visa? F-1 visa, or the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status is a non-immigrant visa for students who want to study in the United States at an accredited college, or academic institution. F-1 Visa requirements F-1 students are required to maintain a full course of study and adhere to the rules and regulations outlined by the US government. To obtain an F-1 student visa, students need a valid passport, Form I-20 from the SEVP-approved school, proof of financial resources, and a completely filled DS-160 form. Also Read | What US green card and visa holders need to know about recent deportations Revoking of the F1 visa means that it's no longer valid for entry or re-entry into the US, and students would need to apply for a new visa. Given Donald Trump's recent crackdown on the Education department, and illegal immigrants, gaining visas and work permits for US is likely to get tougher. Why were the students' F-1 Visas revoked Students who have physically participated in campus activism, and those who shared or liked anti-national posts on social media, now have their F-1 visa revoked, reported TOI. If theyre taking activities that are counter to our foreign, to our national interest, to our foreign policy, well revoke the visa, New York Times quoted Rubio as saying. Many Indian students may also be among hundreds who received the F-1 visa revoke mail, reported TOI. What can get your F-1 Visa revoked? Rubio declared that the crackdown will continue till each and every individual is identified," stated multiple reports. Social media accounts of all new student applications be it for an F (academic study visa), M (vocational study visa) or J (exchange visa) will be closely monitored, and applicants will be barred from studying in the US if found to be engaging in any form of anti national activities, reported TOI. Rubio's office has also recently launched an AI-powered app, "Catch and Revoke", to detect and cancel the visas of students found supporting Hamas or other designated terrorist organisations. F-1 visa revoke- national interest or restrictions on free speech? The White House maintains that these actionsaffecting many immigrants holding visas and green cardsare essential for national security. Officials have stated that those taken into custody, also pose national threats. According to the New York Times, some US based legal experts, however argue that the administration is infringing on free speech rights, using lower-level laws to suppress activism under the guise of security measures. Also Read | Rasha Alawieh deported from Boston despite arriving from Lebanon with H-1B visa Previously, the Trump administration deported several students from Columbia University including Mahmoud Khalil, a Tuft University graduate, Rumeysa Ozturk, and students from other institutions across the country, including individuals with green cards. Here's a video of how Rumeysa Ozturk was detained: The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg has dismissed National Security Adviser Mike Waltzs explanation for how he was included in a Trump administration group chat discussing an imminent military strike in Yemen. Waltz claimed that Goldbergs contact was "sucked in" to his phone via "somebody elses contact," a theory Goldberg called "implausible." "This isnt The Matrix," Goldberg told NBC on Sunday. "Phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones. I dont know what hes talking about there." Goldberg: Most obvious explanation is the explanation Goldberg maintained that his number was in Waltzs phone, making the accidental inclusion straightforward. "Very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation," he said. "My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone." The Atlantic published details over two days beginning March 24, revealing a Signal chat involving top Trump officials who were discussing the then-imminent US strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chats disclosure raised concerns in Washington about whether administration officials were taking proper national security precautions. Dispute over prior communication Goldberg also refuted Waltzs claim that the two had never met or spoken. "Hes telling everyone that hes never met me or spoken to methats simply not true," Goldberg told the news outlet. Waltz, speaking during a White House meeting with Trump and ambassadors, had said, "Ive never met him, dont know him, never communicated with him, and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room." Waltz also accused some journalists of making up stories about the president, telling, "Theres a lot of journalists who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president." Goldberg releases screenshots to refute Cover-up claims Goldberg was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat titled "Houthi PC Small Group," where top Trump administration officials discussed targeting Houthi sites in Yemen. Initially, The Atlantic withheld some details for security reasons. However, after the administration reportedly denied that classified information was shared, Goldberg released screenshots showing discussions on drone targets, strike times, and weaponry. Also Read | Donald Trump to sack NSA Mike Waltz over Signal chat leak? "If thats not the most sensitive information, the most secret information in the world, I simply dont know what the meaning of classified or secret or top secret is," Goldberg said. A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) WENCHANG, Hainan, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan early on Sunday. The satellite was launched by a Long March-7A rocket at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. This launch was the 566th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Photo by Sun Yucheng/Xinhua) A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) A Long March-7A rocket carrying a new communication technology test satellite blasts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of China's southern island province of Hainan on March 30, 2025. China sent a new communication technology test satellite into the planned orbit early on Sunday. The satellite was launched at 12:05 a.m. (Beijing Time). It will be used mainly for multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation. (Photo by Sun Yucheng/Xinhua) Hundreds of Tesla protestors hit the streets on Saturday protesting over Elon Musk's policies and his key role in Donald Trump's administration. While standing outside showrooms, they urged to boycott his cars as part, calling it a day as Global Day of Action. Videos surfaced on internet showcasing the protest and outrage among protestors. They could be seen with American flags, Swastika stickers among others. Some chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go! outside a showroom in Dublin, California, nearly 35 miles (60 miles) east of San Francisco. Musk-owned X saw #TeslaTakedown" trending on the social media platform. One of the users remarked, Tesla Takedown protesters using a new tactic to scare away customers. Another said, "NOW: "Burn a Tesla, Save Democracy" reads banner outside Manhattan Tesla Showroom during 'Takedown Tesla' protest in NYC." One of them even commented, Musk's attempt didn't go down well. Seize their social security and pensions and immediately deport them to a Salvadoran prison" were among comments made. Where did Tesla Takedown protests take place? According to AP, anti-musk protests were seen in Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis and Seattle, including towns in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Colorado. The movement aimed for 500 protests worldwide, including 200 in the United States itself. Nearly two dozen people took to the streets with signs against Musk, especially outside a dealership as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support. Besides US, the demonstration places included Canada, Europe against Musk's efforts to slash federal government staffing and budgets. Its organisers included a group of supporters comprising disillusioned owners of the automaker's vehicles, personalities like John Cusack, and at least one Democratic Party lawmaker, Jasmine Crockett, the US Congress Representative from Dallas. Tesla Takedown: Elon Musk-owned Tesla facilities witnessed protests at several locations in the United States and beyond on March 29, Saturday over the billionaire's influential role in the Donald Trump administration. The anti-Musk protesters are building the 'Tesla Takedown' movement, targeting the EV maker's dealerships and vehicles in opposition to his role as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. as part of President Donald Trump administration's efforts to reduce federal government spending. After earlier sporadic demonstrations, protests were reported on Saturday (US time) outside 277 of the automaker's showrooms and service centres in the US in hopes of deepening a recent decline in the company's sales, according to news agency AP. Tesla Takedown: The Tesla Takedown rallied protesters at more than 230 locations in other parts of the world. The turnouts in Europe were not as large, yet the anti-Musk sentiment was similar. Protesters gathered at Tesla locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas the automaker's home state. The protestors brandished posters reading Honk if you hate Elon and Fight the billionaire broligarchy. Tesla locations in other cities such as Washington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Seattle, as well as towns in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Colorado, also witnessed similar protests, according to AP. Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go! several dozen people chanted outside a showroom in Dublin, California, about 35 miles (60 miles) east of San Francisco, while a smaller cluster of Trump supporters waved American flags across the street. Anti-Musk sentiment extends beyond the US The Tesla Takedown rallied protesters at more than 230 locations in other parts of the world. The turnouts in Europe were not as large, yet the anti-Musk sentiment was similar. In London, about two dozen people held signs lambasting the billionaire outside a dealership as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support. Tesla Takedown: People participate in a Tesla Takedown protest against Elon Musk One sign displayed depicted Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump's January 20 inauguration. How did Tesla Takedown begin? Tesla Takedown is organised by a group of supporters that included disillusioned owners of the automaker's vehicles, celebrities such as actor John Cusack, and at least one Democratic Party lawmaker, Jasmine Crockett, the US Congress Representative from Dallas. I'm going to keep screaming in the halls of Congress. I just need you all to make sure you all keep screaming in the streets, Crockett said during an organising call this month. Why Target Tesla? Organisers say the 'Tesla Takedown' movement is fueled by anger over Musk's slashing of the federal government, and that it aims to hit the billionaire by targeting his electric vehicle company Tesla, the main source of his wealth. The Hurun Global Rich List for 2025 ranks Tesla-SpaceX owner Elon Musk as the richest man with a $420 billion net worth. The biggest portion of Musk's estimated USD 340 billion fortune consists of his stock in the electric vehicle company, which continues to run while he works with President Trump. According to 'Tesla Takedown', thousands of grassroots groups and individuals worldwide are driving the decentralised effort. Another Democratic lawmaker, Representative Pramila Jaypal, showed up at a protest in Seattle, which she represents in Congress. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk, reads the website of Tesla Takedown. Boycott Tesla Call Crockett and other Tesla Takedown supporters have been stressing the importance of Saturday's protests remaining peaceful. This is because there have been reported incidents of Tesla vehicles being set on fire or vandalism as part of the protests. US Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried these acts as domestic terrorism. At a company meeting earlier this month, Musk indicated that he was dumbfounded by the attacks and said the vandals should stop acting psycho. Police are investigating a fire that destroyed seven Teslas in northwestern Germany in the early morning. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Many consumers who bought Tesla vehicles before Musk took over DOGE have been looking to sell or trade them in, while others have slapped on bumper stickers seeking to distance themselves from him, as a mark of protest. For weeks, the movement's organisers have encouraged people to boycott Tesla, the EV maker, by selling their cars and stocks. Tesla Takedown Protesters demonstrate against Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives during a nationwide Tesla Takedown rally at a dealership on March 29, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP However, in the March meeting, Musk did not appear concerned about an extended slump in new sales, during which he reassured the workers that the company's Model Y would remain the best-selling car on Earth again this year. He also predicted that Tesla would sell more than 10 million cars worldwide by next year, which is up from about 7 million currently. Tesla sales slumping Tesla sales have slumped, and investors have grown uneasy, more so Musk's political turn, according to NPR. However, there is no evidence to prove that the dip in Tesla sales and shares is linked to Musk's involvement with the Trump administration. Tesla has been losing market share to EV competitors for years. Many say that the stock price of his company has fallen in anticipation of auto tariffs. Shortly after her release by the Taliban in Afghanistan, American woman Faye Hall celebreated her new found freedom and thanked US President Donald Trump for bringing her home. Hall, along with a British couple and their Afghan translator, was detained on February 1 while traveling to central Bamiyan province. In a video that was shared on Trump's Truth Social account shows Faye Hall in apparently good health. She was seen smiling and as she said: Thank you for bringing me home. The video was later posted on X. Hall said she was proud to be a US citizen and urged support for Afghan women held in Taliban jails. "Thank you, Mr President," she said. "And I just want you to know, all the women in the Afghan jail, they always ask me, 'When is Trump coming?' You, truly, they just treat you like their savior. They're waiting for you to come and set them free." In the post accompanying the video, Trump said: Thank you Faye - So honored with your words! Also Read | Trump Revokes Permits to US, Foreign Oil Firms in Venezuela Who was Faye Hall and why was she arrested? Hall, identified by the Taliban's interior ministry as Chinese-American, was detained along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, as they travelled to the British couple's home in central Bamiyan province. Their Afghan translator was also arrested. Taliban officials have refused to detail the reasons for their arrest, but one report said Hall had been detained on charges of using a drone without authorization. Washington's former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad has innformed that Hall is now under the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul. "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home," Khalilzad, who has been part of a US delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X. While at the Qatari embassy, Hall "has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks," according to a source with knowledge of the release. She was released on Thursday following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, the source added. The British couple detained with Hall remain in Taliban custody. Taliban to release several Americans this year - all about the negotiation talks Earlier this month, Khalilzad visited the Afghan capital on a rare trip by U.S. officials to meet with Taliban authorities, accompanying U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following their visit, the Taliban government announced the release of US citizen George Glezmann after more than two years of detention, in a deal brokered by Qatar. He and Hall are among several Americans to be released from Taliban custody this year. In January, two Americans detained in Afghanistan -- Ryan Corbett and William McKenty -- were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who was convicted of narco-terrorism in the United States. At least one other US citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is still held in Afghanistan. A top Hamas official said on Saturday that the group accepted a new Gaza ceasefire proposal it received two days ago from mediators Egypt and Qatar, urging Israel to back it. "Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and accepted it," Khalil al-Hayya was quoted by Reuters as saying in a televised speech. Also Read | Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot pleading for freedom "We hope that the [Israeli] occupation will not undermine [it]," said Hayya, who leads the Hamas negotiating team in indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza that erupted in October 2023. Khalil al-Haya added, "The weapons of the resistance are a red line." He said Hamas would not disarm as long as the "Israeli" occupation exists. Also Read | Father of last living US held hostage by Hamas hopes for Trump's intervention Israel submits counter-proposal Israel said it made a counter-proposal in full coordination with the third mediator, the US. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed it had also received a proposal from the mediators and had submitted a counter-proposal in response. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday, held a series of consultations pursuant to the proposal that was received from the mediators," his office said in a statement. "A few hours ago, Israel conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the US," it said without elaborating. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave no details about Israels counter-proposal, which it said was offered after Netanyahu held consultations on Friday. What the new Gaza ceasefire proposal says? The proposal suggests Hamas release five of the Israeli hostages it is holding each week, sources told Reuters. Israel and the US say Hamas must not have a role in post-war Gaza arrangements. Meanwhile, security sources told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase. A day earlier, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim had said talks between the Palestinian Islamist movement and mediators over a ceasefire deal were gaining momentum as Israel continues intensive operations in Gaza. Palestinian sources close to Hamas had told AFP that talks began Thursday evening between the militant group and mediators from Egypt and Qatar to revive a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The fragile truce that had brought weeks of relative calm to the Gaza Strip ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombing campaign across the territory. The talks in Doha started a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release hostages, and Hamas warned the captives would return "in coffins" if Israel did not stop bombing the Palestinian territory. Protesters across the United States and Europe have gathered outside Tesla dealerships to express their opposition to billionaire Elon Musk's involvement in the US government, Al Jazeera reported. Musk is the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has faced criticism for his efforts to cut government spending and access sensitive data. The protests, organised by a group including disgruntled Tesla owners, celebrities, and a Democratic lawmaker, aim to pressure Musk to resign from his government position. Saturday's demonstrations marked the first coordinated effort to target all 277 Tesla locations in the US, as per Al Jazeera. Waving signs with messages like "Musk is stealing our money" and "Reclaim our country," the protests largely took place peacefully following fiery episodes of vandalism on Teslas in recent weeks that US officials have denounced as "terrorism." Protests in New York In New York City, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Manhattan Tesla store, demanding Elon Musk's resignation. These demonstrations coincide with a decline in Tesla sales, which the organisers hope to exacerbate further. The protesters were gathered at the call of environmentalists from Planet Over Profit, who believe that "stopping Musk will save lives and protect our democracy." According to Al Jazeera, for Amy Neifeld, a 70-year-old American psychologist who had not taken to the streets since the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1970s, Elon Musk is leading the United States towards fascism. "I'm Jewish, and I grew up with a deep awareness of what fascism is. And it's only gotten worse since the election" of Donald Trump," she told the AFP news agency. "We have to do something very quickly because he's moving very quickly," Neifeld added. Dozens protest in London In London, about two dozen protesters held signs lambasting Musk outside a Tesla dealership as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support. One of the signs displayed at the London protest showed a photo of Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump's January 20 inauguration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said the Hamas leaders can leave the Gaza Strip only if the group abandons its arms as Israel kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory. He vowed pressure on Hamas in Gaza and said military pressure is working on them, while Israel works to put US President Donald Trump's "voluntary emigration" plan in effect. On Sunday morning, an Israeli air strike that hit a house and a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians killed at least eight people, including five children, the Gaza civil defence agency said. Israel resumed large-scale bombing in the Palestinian territory on March 18 and then carried out a new ground offensive, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire in the war with Hamas. Netanyahu rejected claims Israel was not engaging in negotiations focussed at releasing hostages held in Gaza and insisted military pressure on Hamas was proving effective. PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Hamas We are negotiating under fire... We can see cracks beginning to appear. Hamas must lay down its arms. Its leaders will be allowed to leave. The military pressure is working," Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting, pointing out Israel's strategy was weakening Hamas and increasing pressure for hostage releases. Hamas expressed a willingness to hand over Gaza's administration, but has warned its weapons are a "red line". Egypt, Qatar and the United States are attempting to again broker a ceasefire and secure the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group had approved a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators and urged Israel to support it. Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the proposal and stated that Israel had submitted a counterproposal in response. However, the details of the latest mediation efforts remain undisclosed. Gaza medics and witnesses reported that Israeli air strikes continued in Khan Yunis and some other parts of Gaza throughout the day. An air strike in the southern city of Rafah wounded two children, according to medics. Netanyahu said Israeli forces were working towards a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to displace all of Gaza's 2.4 million people to other countries. Trump proposed that Gazans be removed from the territory that would then be owned by the United States and redeveloped, with no right of return for the Palestinians. He later said he was "not forcing" the widely condemned plan but would "sit back and recommend it". How many people have been killed since the start of Israel-Hamas war? Hundreds have been killed since the fighting restarted, with the Hamas-run health ministry saying on Saturday that at least 921 people had been killed. Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023 on Israel led war in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 1,218 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against has killed at least 50,277 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. The resumption of the war in Gaza has also prompted the Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen to resume launching missiles and drones at Israel. On Sunday morning, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile fired from the impoverished country "prior to crossing into Israeli territory". The Huthis say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people and have also attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on the same basis. Myanmar earthquake: The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar has suffered a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The Friday's quake, one of the strongest to hit Myanmar in a century, has damaged infrastructure including bridges, highways, airports and railways - hampering rescue efforts. Several families have lost members as toll continues to increase amid ongoing search and rescue operations. India has also joined locals to help victims by sending relief materials, rescue teams and medical equipment in five military aircraft. What Happened? The initial 7.7 magnitude quake struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock minutes later. The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with mass destruction seen in the city of more than 1.7 million people. At least 14 aftershocks have hit Myanmar since the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, an interactive map on the USGS website shows. The majority of the tremors that happened over several hours following the major earthquake occurred shortly after midday local time - had a magnitude of between 3 and 5. Death Toll The country is facing a humanitarian crisis following the quake that has killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 17 in neighbouring Thailand. But with unreliable communications, the true scale of the disaster remains unclear in the isolated military-ruled state, and the toll is expected to rise significantly. The United States Geological Survey said the highest probability is that more than 10,000 people may have died and warned that estimated economic losses may exceed the Southeast Asian nations gross domestic product. Search underway for survivors The search for survivors has been primarily conducted by the local residents without the aid of heavy equipment, moving rubble by hand and with shovels in 41-degree Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) heat, with only the occasional tracked excavator to be seen. A 5.1 magnitude aftershock Sunday afternoon prompted screams from those in the streets, and then the work continued. A team sent from neighboring China rescued an older man who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours beneath the rubble of a Naypitaw hospital, and many others are believed to still be buried under, the official Xinhua news agency reported. According to news agency AFP report, tea shop owner Win Lwin picked his way through the remains of a collapsed restaurant on a main road in his neighbourhood early on Sunday. "About seven people died here" when the quake struck, he told AFP. "I'm looking for more bodies but I know there cannot be any survivors." On Saturday, rescuers had pulled a woman out alive from the wreckage of a collapsed apartment building. San Nwe Aye, sister of a 46-year-old missing monk, appeared in deep distress, and told AFP she has heard no news about his status. Aftershocks in Mandalay Two days after a massive earthquake, residents scrambled desperately through collapsed buildings on Sunday searching for survivors as aftershocks rattled the devastated city of Mandalay. Many of Mandalay's 1.5 million people spent the night sleeping on the streets, either left homeless by the quake. On Sunday, a small aftershock struck, sending people scurrying out of a hotel for safety, following a similar tremor felt late Saturday evening. Truckloads of firemen gathered at one of Mandalay's main fire stations to be dispatched to sites around the city. Helps Pour In The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that aid operations were being hindered by damaged roads and that hospitals in central and northwestern Myanmar were struggling to cope with the influx of people injured in the earthquake. The UN humanitarian affairs office said it has mobilised with other groups and $5 million has been allocated from a Central Emergency Response Fund for life-saving assistance. Rescue teams and aid have been arriving from donor countries around the world, with Thailand on Sunday dispatching 55 military personnel and six rescue dogs, along with equipment including cranes and diggers. The Red Cross of Myanmar said volunteers were administering first aid and distributing items such as blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene kits. Russia's Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, Myanmar's second-largest city, and Russia's Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team that includes specialists in infectious diseases, resuscitation, traumatology and psychology, as well as search and rescue teams with canine units and devices that can search in rubble with depths as much as 4.5 metres (14.7 feet). On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay. The European Commission said on Friday it would release 2.5 million euros (USD 2.7 million) in initial emergency assistance to assist with earthquake relief, bringing the European Union's total humanitarian aid for Myanmar to more than 35 million euros (USD 37.8 million) this year. India Stands by Myanmar India has sent relief materials, rescue teams and medical equipment in five military aircraft to Myanmar to help victims of the earthquake. Under its relief mission named 'Operation Brahma', India dispatched relief materials, medicines, an 80-member search and rescue team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and military field hospitals to Myanmar in three C-130J and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft. A specialised rescue team comprising 118 personnel, from Indian Army's 50 (I) Para Brigade has also been swiftly deployed to Myanmar, officials said. In a reflection of New Delhi's strong commitment to extend help, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday and conveyed that India stands in solidarity with the people of that country. Monks Trapped In Rubble At U Hla Thein monastery, more than 180 monks were taking the third session of a six-day exam for a senior level of monkhood when the tremors hit around 12:50 pm (0620 GMT) on Friday. A picture shows them sitting on pink plastic chairs at individual desks in the cavernous hall, heads diligently bent over their papers as they worked. On Friday and Saturday a total of 21 people were rescued alive, and 13 bodies had been recovered by Sunday morning, a co-ordinator said. Novices, monks and relatives of the missing, many of them wearing surgical masks, peered through the hall as rescue workers used jackhammers to break up the pancaked mass of concrete. Appeal for help Myanmar's ruling Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing issued an exceptionally rare appeal for international aid on Friday, indicating the severity of the calamity. The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal for 100 million CHF ($113.60 million) to assist 100,000 people with life-saving relief and early recovery support. With temperatures rising and the monsoon season approaching within weeks, affected communities need stabilising urgently "before secondary crises emerge", it said. "This is not just a disaster; it is a complex humanitarian crisis layered over existing vulnerabilities," said Alexander Matheou, the IFRC's Asia Pacific regional director. Also Read | Thailand fears 10-15% drop in foreign tourist arrival after Myanmar earthquake Myanmar Rebels Call for Ceasefire Myanmars rebels declared a ceasefire in quake-hit areas to allow for aid to reach victims of the disaster as the death toll from the massive temblor rose to about 1,700. The guerrilla Peoples Defence Force will pause offensive military operations for two weeks except for defensive actions, effective Sunday, the shadow National Unity Government said in a statement. Photos A Buddhist monastery building that has collapsed is seen following an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday. A local man drives a motorbike past damaged buildings in the aftermath of an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday. Vehicles make their way near a road damaged after earthquake Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. AP/PTI(AP03_30_2025_000327B) Dr. Sophie Chandauka, chair of Sentebale, has accused Prince Harry of mismanagement and misconduct, claiming he attempted to remove her from the organisation and failed to properly oversee its operations. In an interview with Sky News, Chandauka alleged that the charity lost key sponsors and donors following the Sussexes' exit from the UK but was prohibited from discussing the issue. Prince Harry Number one risk to Sentebale When asked whether the Duke of Sussex posed the biggest risk to the charity, Chandauka responded, "Yes," attributing donor departures to the princes reputation. "It's an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room," she claimed, referring to internal discussions about financial struggles within the charity. Sentebale, which was co-founded by Prince Harry in 2006 in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, supports young people with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana. On Tuesday, Prince Harry resigned as the charitys patron, along with several other senior members, following disagreements with Chandauka. Polo fundraiser went badly Chandauka detailed an incident in which a planned fundraiser was disrupted due to Prince Harrys Netflix filming, which resulted in the charity losing its original venue. According to Sky News, venue owners increased the rental price upon learning of the Netflix involvement, turning the event into a commercial venture. As a result, Sentebale had to relocate to another venue through the princes connections. On the day of the event, additional complications arose when Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance. "The duchess decided to attend, but she told us she wasn't attending, and she brought a friend, a very famous friend," Chandauka stated. She claimed the unexpected attendance led to a "choreography" mishap on stage, drawing media attention. Prince Harry requested public support for Meghan Following the event, Chandauka alleged that Prince Harry asked her to issue a public statement in support of Meghan Markle due to media scrutiny over the incident. "I said I wouldn't. Not because I didn't care about the duchess, but because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes," she told the news outlet. A source close to the former trustees of Sentebale denied her account of the polo match, calling it "highly misleading," according to the news report. Allegations of Boardroom misconduct Chandauka also accused Prince Harry of attempting to "eject" her from the organisation, alleging that he briefed donors and sponsors against her to undermine her fundraising efforts. "There were board meetings where members of the executive team and external strategic advisors were sending me messages saying, 'Should I interrupt?', 'Should I stop this?' 'Oh my gosh, this is so bad,'" she claimed. She further stated that Prince Harry unilaterally appointed board members without consulting her. "Prince Harry decides, on this specific occasion, that he wants to appoint an individual to the board, with immediate effect, without having talked to me," she said. "Everybodys shocked and quiet, but this is what happens when the prince is in the room and no one has the courage to speak." Charitys trustees deny allegations The report said that a source close to Sentebales former trustees dismissed Chandaukas claims as "categorically false." The source rejected allegations that Prince Harry contributed to the charitys financial struggles, engaged in harassment, or forced Chandauka out of her role. The source also refuted her claim that Dr. Kelello Lerotholi, a former trustee, had poor attendance and minimal contributions to board meetings. "The claim that the press was informed about the royal patrons departure before the charity was categorically untrue," the source told the news outlet. Prince Harry and co-founder respond In response to Chandaukas allegations, Prince Harry and Sentebales co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, issued a statement: It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation. 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. Also Read | Prince Harry's charity shuts down after 20 years over ego fights Prepare for an everything, everywhere onslaught of trade developments this week as the Trump administration unveils its much talked about tariffs. Investors and companies hoping for clarity are likely to be disappointed: There may just be another spate of trade war scenarios to game out. President Donald Trump views tariffs as a powerful tool to reorder global trade and bring back manufacturing jobs to narrow the $918 billion U.S. trade deficit. The levies are also a conduit for raising revenue and a cudgel in wide-ranging negotiations that tackle fentanyl flows, military spending, and a potential TikTok sale. In the 10 weeks since his inauguration, Trump has levied two rounds of 10% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on imported cars and certain auto parts starting April 3. He has also imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, hitting Americas closest trading partners and throwing into question the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement he crafted in his first term.These countries have prepped their retaliation, with Europe readying duties on bourbon, motorcycles, and other U.S. goods for April. China is imposing up to 15% tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and warning of more countermeasures to any reciprocal tariffs. Canadian consumers are already boycotting U.S. products. And the trade war hasnt even started yet. The tariffs are going to be massively disruptive," says Henrietta Treyz, director of economic research at Veda Partners. Theres no off-ramp. I dont think there is a leash on the presidents trade ambition until a general election cycle a year from now." Treyz and other geopolitical consultants stress trade policy is a core priority for the administration, pushing back on investors earlier view that a stock market pullback would create a U-turn in policy. Though dealmaking will ensue, analysts caution many tariffs could be especially stickyespecially those on China, and on areas such as steel and shipbuilding that fall under a national security rationale. Strategists caution clients that tariff escalation isnt fully priced into stocks. BCA Research Chief Global Strategist Matt Gertken sees a bear market and recession unlikely to be avoided. David Lefkowitz, head of U.S. equities at UBS Global Wealth Management, pared expectations for S&P 500 earnings per share estimates to 6% growth for year-end because tariffs could be on the higher end of his base case. Economists warn tariffs are headed toward levels not seen since the 1930s, when levies steepened the Great Depression. Capital Economics forecasts the average U.S. tariff rate rising in the second quarter by 10 percentage points on average for imports for most of the worldand 60% for those from China. With so much in the mix, one framework for investors is to put the tariff announcements into bucketsfrom those that have more room for negotiations to those that are stickier. This week the Trump administration is likely to unveil reciprocal tariffs," which it describes as charging others what they charge the U.S. That factors in not just levies but also VAT taxes, currency levels, and possibly even military spending. The administration is focusing on 20 to 25 countries with the largest trade deficits with the U.S., including China, the European Union, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Analysts expect these levies to start at 10% to 20%, opening the door for bilateral trade talks that could carve out exclusions, lower the rate, or roll them back entirely. While Europe has higher VAT rates, Asian countries tend to have higher tariff rates and more restrictive rules on foreign investment, as well as weaker currencies, which could make them bigger targets. Officials from other countries have already tried to get ahead of tariffs. India, for example, removed its digital tax on online services and indicated it would cut tariffs on some U.S. imports. Though that could help in the near-term, Treyz says the U.S. is likely to launch a Section 301 investigation into the country for unfair trade practices. The probe could hit U.S. financial firms with call centers in the country and pharmaceutical companies that outsource the production of generic drugs to India. The administration is also expected to announce 301 investigations and possible tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and shipbuilding. While these probes are allotted 270 days, analysts think tariffs could hit well before then. There is still confusion about what will happen to tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but most analysts see these salvos aimed at speeding up the renegotiation of the USMCA treatyor its dissolution. The pact is up for review in 2026. The steel and aluminum tariffs the administration imposed are likely to stick, with analysts noting that they can fall under the national security umbrella as some types of steel are needed for the energy buildout and military. That could have far-reaching costs, as every one job in the steel industry is supported by 80 elsewhere in industries that use the steel, says Philip Luck, director of the CSIS Economics Program and former deputy chief economist at the State Department in the Biden administration. Perhaps the stickiest tariffs are those on China, as they are part of a strategy to reshape the U.S.-China relationship amid a growing rivalry. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer this week is expected to declare China in violation of the Phase One trade deal he helped strike during Trumps first term, as part of the report due on China. Analysts are watching to see if he sticks with the enforcement mechanism in the deal to bring China to the tableor skips the process and ratchets tariffs up further on billions of dollars of inputs. That would be on top of the 20% tariffs the administration implemented more recently on $489 billions of Chinese imports. The administration could also push forward on proposals to raise duties on Chinese-made ships coming to the U.S. ports as the administration builds on prior efforts to revitalize the countrys shipbuilding industry at a time China has taken the lead. Trump continues to talk about a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, leaving hopes for a deal that could include Beijing approving a sale of TikTok, an agreement on currency, Beijing limiting some of its exports flooding abroad, or offers to build manufacturing in the U.S. But Beijing wants the U.S. to relax the spate of export restrictions that have curbed Chinas access to critical technology. And analysts caution any deal is unlikely in the near-term, especially as Beijing hasnt been willing to set a date for a meeting between Xi and Trump. With so much fluidity in policy and potential scenarios, bargain hunters like Kimball Brooker, co-head of First Eagles Global Value Team, are focusing on quality companies with in-demand products that are more likely to succeed in passing the costs of tariffs to customers and more resilient in an economic downturn. Write to Reshma Kapadia at reshma.kapadia@barrons.com A few years ago, someone got in touch with me asking if I would agree to be part of an interview series where authors are interviewed in front of a live audience by a person who has never read a book . I immediately agreed because I knew that this interviewer had to be interesting just for admitting that he doesnt read books. That is how I first met Kunal Kamra, who has since emerged as one of the most endearing and consequential comedians in the world. In tribute to his most recent show, a Shiv Sena squad destroyed the venue. All these years, I was certain that Kamra was yet to read a book. So I was amused when, during his show, he held a book in his hand. It was the Constitution of India. He said he could say what he did, including lampooning the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, because of the book. And I sensed he had not read this one either. Because freedom of expression is not an absolute right in the Indian Constitution. It is abridged. It can be denied in the interest of public order," for example. The thing is, freedom of expression does not make sense if it has subjective caveats that can be widely interpreted. To say that you can say whatever you want as long as public order is not disturbed is the same as saying you do not have the freedom to express many things that are worth expressing. Since the Kamra controversy, there has been a lot of talk around the fact that India does not have freedom of expression in practice, anymore. People presume there was a time when we had such a freedom. There is some truth to that. But where did the right to free speech come from if not from the Constitution? And where did it go? This is actually an esoteric freedom. Even though people in some countries take it for granted, it is not something innately natural to human beings. For instance, why would a powerful person tolerate a joke or an insult? One of the most natural things that happen to people is taking offence. Once you take offence, what you do after you get offended is decided by how much power you have. If you are a petty writer, you will harm the person who insulted you from behind the scenes. And if you are the leader of a political party with street clout, you may want to send some menacing guys over. In 2015, after Islamist terrorists opened fire in the Paris office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people, the Catholic Pope said, If my good friend Dr. Gasparri," referring to a person standing near him on the papal aircraft, says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch. Its normal. Its normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others." His view is what most people have on the matter. The most interesting and important thing about free speech is that it actually has no vast public support. Yet, India seemed to have some kind of freedom of expression earlier. Also Read: Both Musk and his MAGA critics are wrong about free speech on microblog platform X It came not from any great ideals of the Constitution. It originated from a very practical placeelectoral democracy, where there needed to be political campaigns and politicians said nasty stuff about other politicians and the media reported it. From this rowdiness, a system of satire and comedy came about that was largely self-regulated. Thus, our freedom of expression came in a roundabout way from politicians. A public moral generally rises not from the goodness of human beings, but when powerful people collide. Democracy rose from the aristocracys need to rein in the crown. Independent institutions rose from the need of social elites to balance the tyranny of elections. Privacy rights originated in an assault on free media, when a wealthy segment of America went to war against its gossip press. After Kamra aroused the Shiv Senas ire, the strongest support for his freedom to speak came from Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray (who once pushed for a Rohinton Mistry novel to be dropped from a university syllabus), who had lost control of their party to the very man Kamra had insulted. This gives us a hint at how free speech was created by politicians. In that way, an esoteric idea like freedom of expression has the potential to be a mass right almost on par with more natural freedoms, like the freedom to live, the freedom to own property and the freedom to practise a religion. But it takes very smart politicians to use it against all odds. If I were with the Thackerays political splinter of what was once a united Shiv Sena, or with the Congress party, I would organize an open-mic comedy festival on the streets where people are invited to roast all politicians. The trade-off of making fun of politicians in power is that you have to take some hits yourself. That India is effectively losing its freedom of expression means that a wide spectrum of opposition parties are forgetting how to use it, or losing the will to use it. It may also mean that they do not believe in their electoral prospects enough to take on powerful adversaries. Also, it could mean that they are unwilling to grant people the freedom because they are too thin-skinned themselves to tolerate it, even if it is a useful way to take on their opponents in power. So, without wide political support, it appears that freedom of expression is a niche nuisance, something only comedians and artists want. Actually, even most artists dont seem to want it; they are just like others who do not wish to offend. Only some endearing delinquents, it appears, want that freedom. This reveals a complete lack of political imagination. The author is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, Decoupled. Rescuers and volunteers carry out disaster relief and rescue efforts after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. About 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing in the massive earthquake in Myanmar, according to the country's State Administration Council on Sunday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Sunday that the kingdom would provide 100,000 U.S. dollars in initial emergency assistance to earthquake-devastated Myanmar. Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, made the remarks during the Special Emergency Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in the Aftermath of the Earthquake in Myanmar held via videoconference. About 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing in the massive earthquake in Myanmar, according to the country's State Administration Council on Sunday. "We are working on the possibility to further contribute to the regional relief efforts, including through the provision of medical and other essential supplies where appropriate," Sokhonn said. He added that Cambodia stood in full solidarity with other ASEAN member states to assist Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of Friday's earthquake. "What we will do to help them are testimony of our unity and solidarity and a powerful message that Myanmar and Thailand are not facing this crisis alone," he said. "Given that many people are still trapped under collapsed buildings and are in need of medical assistance, we must continue to work swiftly to save as many lives as possible. Every minute counts," he said. The online meeting was initiated by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to discuss the assistance that ASEAN member states could provide to help Myanmar and Thailand in the aftermath of Friday's earthquake. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Malaysia assumed the annually rotating ASEAN chairmanship in January. Rescuers and volunteers carry out disaster relief and rescue efforts after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. About 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing in the massive earthquake in Myanmar, according to the country's State Administration Council on Sunday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Its March 29, which the organizers of Tesla Takedown called a global day of action to protest and stop" CEO Elon Musk peacefully. As it relates to Musk, what protestors want to stop are, or likely are, DOGE cuts. Musk is the de facto leader of President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, which has been rankling political partisans since Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. Musk has been far more aggressive than politicians are used to, pointing out in interviews that actions are far more effective than reports. The speed of cuts has surprised many, and some of the cuts have been challenged successfully in court. Practically speaking, the protestors are unhappy with the early days of the second Trump administration, and the close relationship between Trump and Musk has made Tesla a political symbol. The last thing you want, whether you are red, blue, [or] purple is for Tesla to become a political symbol," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Thats his wish, but for now investors need to judge the short- and long-term impact of protest on Tesla sales. Politics seems to be turning off some of Teslas core customerspolitically left-leaning people looking to go green. Weak sales data in the U.S. and Europe to start the year left Wall Street no choice but to cut first-quarter sales estimates that are due to be released April 2. According to the most recent analyst numbers, Tesla is expected to deliver 360,000 to 370,00 cars. Thats down from estimates of about 420,000 to start the year. Tesla delivered about 387,000 cars in the first quarter of 2024, so the expectation has gone from growth to contraction. Investors should always remember that the stock market is forward-looking. Through Friday, Tesla stock has declined about 38% since the Jan. 20 inauguration, wiping out more than $500 billion of its value. Tesla has faced protests for weeks. Some havent been peaceful. A lot of that already is reflected in the stock. Future Fund Active ETF co-founder and Tesla shareholder Gary Black believes anything around 360,000 vehicles sold in the first quarter should be good enough to support the stock at current levels. As for the protests Saturday, none were really close enough for this Barrons reporter to attend. I called several dealerships and responses ranged from an abrupt hang-up to polite conversations acknowledging some recent protest activity. I live in a coastal town in a state that went 56% to 42% for Kamala Harris, and where Tesla vehicles are ubiquitous. (I own a rear-wheel-drive long-range Model Y). All the dealerships I called were in states that went to Harris. I found one local protestabout five people with signs ranging from clever to profane. Trump and Musk both were targeted. The person-on-the-street approach didnt yield much insight. One good resource for a real-time sense of protest activity is X, which ironically, Musk owns and just sold to his artificial-intelligence company xAI. X shows some reasonably well-attended protests in Michigan and London. It also demonstrates that protest activity has been happening for weeks. Most Wall Street analysts currently believe that Musks political turn has done damage to Teslas brand. Now, investors need to determine whether the damage is permanent or if Musk will change behavior to lessen any negative associations. It comes down to Musk. He is Tesla and Tesla is Musk" said Ives, who would prefer if Musk spent a little more time in Austin, Texasat Tesla headquartersthan in Washington, D.C. Many investors probably feel that way. Whether Musk will adapt or dig in is anyones guess. Through Friday, Tesla stock has fallen about 46% from all-time highs reached in mid-December. Shares remain up about 50% over the past 12 months, about 44 percentage points better than the S&P 500. In a recent finding that could reshape public health policy globally, a new research study demonstrates that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), Indias flagship healthcare programme, is achieving far more than its primary objective. It is fundamentally transforming the financial resilience of Indias poor, creating a silent yet powerful ripple effect throughout the economy. The impact of the worlds largest government-funded health insurance scheme reveals a remarkable 35% reduction in loan delinquency rates among beneficiaries in districts implementing PM-JAY, particularly for microfinance loans. This finding in a study by Indian School of Business (ISB) highlights a crucial yet previously unexplored connection between healthcare access and economic stability. It addresses the out-of-pocket-expense burden: Access to quality healthcare, a basic right in developed economies, has often remained an elusive privilege for millions in India. In developing economies, health emergencies can trigger financial crises. Dependence on informal credit and the substantial financial burden imposed by out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) can lead to a vicious debt cycle. PM-JAY represents a paradigm shift in addressing these systemic inequities. Prior to PM-JAY, the average OOPE was 10-12% of household income. This was disproportionately higher for rural and economically weaker households. Such expenses often forced families to use funds that could have been spent on education, housing and nutrition. The burden was especially severe for families dealing with chronic illnesses and those requiring tertiary care. Beyond financial hardship, the psychological toll was immense, as they navigated the dual challenges of a medical crisis and financial instability. Over the last seven years, PM-JAY has led to an almost 17.9% decrease in OOPE and achieved a 152% increase in health insurance coverage in districts covered by the scheme. A study by researchers from Kings College London, UK, and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health in Germany indicated a 21% decrease in catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs) among beneficiaries. Its medical and social impact: PM-JAY covers 500 million beneficiaries from economically vulnerable households identified through the Socioeconomic and Caste Census of 2011 with a 5 lakh annual coverage per family. It offers comprehensive coverage without caps on family size or age. Its cashless and paperless model covers 1,350 medical procedures, implemented through an extensive network of 30,529 empanelled hospitals, and ensures that beneficiaries have access to quality healthcare across urban and rural areas. In the last seven years, it has authorized over 83.9 million hospital admissions worth 1.16 trillion. Its integration with Ayushman Arogya Mandirs ensures a dual focus on preventive and curative healthcare. The schemes recent extension to all citizens aged above 70 years, regardless of economic status, will benefit an additional 60 million individuals and address a critical gap in healthcare coverage. Also Read: India must adopt a policy framework for early cancer detection Its effect on financial well-being: Globally, economies that have invested in health insurance have witnessed a ripple effect on socio-economic parameters. Increased health coverage leads to improved health-seeking behaviour, better health outcomes and a reduction in poverty induced by CHEs, even as it fosters a healthier workforce. The ISB study throws light on this unexplored aspect of PM-JAYs microeconomic impact. The scheme has decreased health-related borrowing by 4.2%, reduced precautionary savings by 1.5 times, improved liquidity and enhanced peoples loan repayment capacity. Lower default rates have been observed in PM-JAY-implemented regions. By mitigating immediate financial risks associated with healthcare, it serves as an economic and social buffer, bolstering systemic resilience, reducing reliance on informal credit markets and enhancing individual economic security. The study emphasizes how the programme has transformed healthcare-seeking behaviour, with beneficiaries no longer delaying necessary medical interventions on account of financial constraints. It has also stimulated private-sector participation in healthcare delivery, particularly in tier-2/3 cities, leading to improved healthcare infrastructure across regions. Its a model for the Global South: For countries with similar developmental trajectories, PM-JAY offers a valuable blueprint for health sector reform. The World Health Organization and World Bank have recognized it as a model for universal health coverage in developing nations. Global health experts have praised its innovative use of technology for implementation and monitoring, its robust fraud detection mechanisms and its successful integration of public and private healthcare providers. It takes political will, community engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration. PM-JAY offers other countries valuable insights in four major areas, from comprehensive coverage, leveraging private-public partnerships and scalability through IT infrastructure to data-driven governance and policy integration that aligns healthcare with broader socioeconomic goals. Emerging economies in Asia, Africa and South America can contextualise the PM-JAY framework to address disparities in healthcare access. Way forward: Despite its potential, awareness of PM-JAY remains low among eligible populations. Educational campaigns leveraging local networks and digital platforms can address these gaps. Alignment of delivery mechanisms with specific needs of target populations will also enhance utilization rates and programme outcomes. The use of advanced data analytics to monitor usage patterns and predictive modelling to anticipate healthcare needs and effective resource allocation can be next steps for the scheme. The case study of PM-JAY provides a compelling argument for further investment in comprehensive health coverage. It demonstrates that well-designed government-funded health coverage can serve as a powerful tool for social protection and economic empowerment. By addressing historical inequities in healthcare access, it paves the way for achieving universal health coverage, in line with Indias broader development goals. Enhanced collaboration between Central and state governments in the spirit of cooperative federalism can further expand its impact across India. The authors are, respectively, CEO and senior specialist, NITI Aayog. The US Trade Representative teams talks in Delhi last week with Indian officials can be seen as part of an effort to find a way to avoid President Donald Trump s tariffs on Indian exports that mirror the burden faced by US goods entering India. The US and India, once tethered to market debates in a transactional context, now navigate a relationship redefined by supply-chain wars, tech supremacy and containment of China. Their collaborationand competitionreveals how commerce is being weaponized in the 21st century, with tariffs, sanctions and industrial policy being deployed for strategic ends. In this milieu, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs are not a zero-sum game; they cause injury all around. In 2019, almond farmers in Californias Central Valley watched helplessly as their largest market evaporated overnight. India had just slapped retaliatory tariffs on American almonds and walnuts in response to the US revoking Indias preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme and imposing additional tariffs on its steel and aluminium. This wasnt just about nuts; it was a calculated geopolitical gambit. The Indian move ended up reducing Californias exports by 20%. Such skirmishes reveal how localized industries become casualties in broader geopolitical gambits. While tariff narratives dominate headlines, the real friction lies deeper. US firms face labyrinthine compliance rules, shifting tax regimes and policies they perceive as discriminatory. Alleviating these will offer the US economy gains. Tariffs are a blunt transactional tool. Investment engagements, on the other hand, demand trust. The Indian government could consider creating a mechanism to resolve structural inequities. This could address issues that deter long-term bets on the Indian markettax arbitration proceedings, retrospective tax claims and uneven treatment vis-a- vis Indian companies. This can unlock far more value than tariff haggling. While friend-shoring presents India investment opportunities, these often come with tough conditionsstrict labour and environmental standards. A US-India bilateral investment treaty, shelved since 2016, could help stabilize arrangements and put these ties on an even keel. As both governments will face issues that reflect competing interests, an overarching platform for their effective resolution would be mutually beneficial. Despite the prevailing trade skirmishes, US-India collaboration has witnessed a significant step-up in defence technology (jet engine co-production) and critical sectors (rare earths, AI, et al). Treading this path is fraught with challenges. The Transforming the Relationship utilising Strategic Technology initiative (Trust) exemplifies this uneasy synergy: the US shares sensitive technology with its allies to counterbalance China, while India navigates partnerships without alienating Moscow or its other partners. Another example is the sentiment of US defence firms vis-a-vis the Indian market. While they heap praises on its potential, they bristle at local sourcing mandatesa reminder that even allies must look after their own interest. Indias flagship production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for domestic manufacturing has ambitions to lure global technology and pharma giants. It is paired with measures to curb imports from China. While the scheme has attracted US firms like Micron and Apple, Indias overall policy framework seems to frustrate American businesses facing barriers. Indias self-reliance drive is seen to clash with their interests, as they would prefer open access to the India market for their shipments. On the other side, the US under the Biden administration had a $52 billion subsidy plan for domestic semiconductor production aimed at weakening Chinas grip on critical industries. This has an America First orientation. The US also has export controls on advanced chips that aim to cripple Chinas tech rise but put India in a precarious position. While Microns $2.75 billion Gujarat plant is a good sign, Indias chip dreams hinge on accessing cutting-edge technology. Going forward, Indias engagement with the US needs to be underscored by a meaningful decoupling from China. This should include joint ventures in semiconductors and pharma to build parallel supply chains, thereby reducing the dependence of both on third countries. We also need to fast-track a tech-trade pact that addresses digital governance, tariffs and intellectual property under a single framework. This will help pre-empt disputes. At a geo-strategic level, India must leverage the four-nation Quad arrangement. Giving primacy to the Quad could eventually help turn this Indo-Pacific partnership into an economic bulwark. The US and India are now in a new global environment where success hinges on transforming tactical alliances into mechanisms for structural resilience, or risk becoming collateral in a fragmented global order. In this new era of weaponized commerce, economic power is not just about growth; its about survival. These are the authors personal views. The author is director, public policy, Uber (India and South Asia) and former additional secretary, ministry of commerce. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is among the politicians who hopped on the Ghibli trend wagon and shared animated pictures on social media. What Hyderabad MP, however, did differently was, unlike others, he chose a more serious issue to be part of the trend. Owaisi used a Ghibli-style animation of his picture holding a banner reading Palestine Zindabad Long Live Palestine. Owaisi is leading a group of people with flags of India and Palestine in the background in the animation, accompanied by the 'Al Qudsu Lana' song by Pakistan-based Abdullah Mehboob. Owaisi has been a vocal supporter of Palestine in the ongoing conflict with Israel. In June last year, he sparked a row while being sworn in as an Member of Parliament of the Lok Sabha by ending his oath with the words, Jai Bhim, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine. Owaisi's post comes on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of Ramadan the month of fasting. Israel-Palestine Conflict The Israel - Palestine conflict is one of the longest-running and most violent disputes in the world and its origins go back more than a century with Israel and Arab nations having fought many wars. The tensions escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, which followed aerial campaigns and ground operations within the Gaza Strip by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). India has been in favour of a two-state solution to end the Palestinian dispute with Israel. It has, in fact, increased the financial support for Palestinian refugee welfare agencies in recent times. The two-state solution is an internationally backed formula for peace between Israel and Palestine. What is the Ghibli trend? ChatGPT's new native image generator has gained popularity on the internet for its ability to generate Studio Ghibli-style images, among other effects. OpenAI recently released this advanced image generator through an update on Chat GPT-4o, which allows users to generate images in legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's hand-drawn animation style. Users can go to ChatGPT, and enter their prompts for Ghibli-style photos and it will either generate or transform their existing image into anime. It allows a maximum of three photos for free users. Owaisi used a Ghibli-style animation of his picture holding a banner reading Palestine Zindabad Long Live Palestine. In another post on Instagram, Owaisi shared his Studio Ghibli-style animation rejecting the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief has been slamming thee Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for the Bill and alleged that Bill is intended to snatch away graveyards, khanqahs, dargahs from Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on Sunday morning. During his visit, he will visit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr K B Hedgewars memorial and pay homage to Dr B R Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi. PM Modi's visit coincides with the RSS function to mark the Gudi Padwa festival. Headquartered in Nagpur, the RSS is the ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What is PM Modi's itinerary? A government release said PM Modi will land in Nagpur and visit Smruti Mandir at around 9 AM to pay homage to the RSS's founding fathers. The memorials of Hedgewar and M S Golwalkar, the RSS's second Sarsanghchalak, are at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in the Reshimbagh area of Nagpur. Modi will also pay homage to Dr B R Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the late leader embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers in 1956. At around 10 AM, Modi lay the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute and Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility. The institute was founded in memory of Golwalkar. The facility will feature a 250-bed hospital, 14 outpatient departments (OPDs), and 14 modular operation theatres to provide affordable and world-class eye care services to the people. Modi will also address a public meeting. At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly built 1,250 m long and 25 m wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions in Nagpur. Modi in Chhattisgarh too Modi is also visiting Chhattisgarh today. Around 3.30 pm, the will travel to Bilaspur and lay the foundation stone for development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over 33,700 crore. Modi will also lay the foundation stone of NTPCs Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1x800MW), located in Bilaspur district, worth over 9,790 crore in the state He will also dedicate to the nation three Power Transmission projects of POWERGRID under the Western Region Expansion Scheme (WRES) worth over 560 crore. Educational initiatives Modi will dedicate two flagship educational initiatives at 1.30 pm: SHRI Schools across 29 districts in the state and Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) at Raipur. Under the PM Schools for Rising India scheme, 130 schools will be upgraded. Also Read | PM Modi writes to Muhammad Yunus on Bangladesh Independence Day What he said These schools will help provide high-quality education through well-structured infrastructure, smart boards, modern laboratories, and libraries. VSK in Raipur will enable online monitoring and data analysis of various education-related government schemes. During PM Modi's visit, the Griha Pravesh of three lakh beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G) will be held, and the prime minister will hand over the keys to some beneficiaries under this scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday honoured RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar by paying floral tributes at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh, Nagpur. He was joined by key leaders, including RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and other prominent figures, ANI reported. Watch the video here: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid his respects to the founder, marking a solemn tribute to Hedgewar's legacy. PM Modi arrived in Nagpur at around 9 am and was received by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other ministers of Maharashtra cabinet at Nagpur airport. Ahead of Prime Minister Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived at Smruti Mandir. PM Modi will also pay respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the architect of the Indian constitution converted to Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956. PM Modi's will undertake darshan at Smruti Mandir and thereafter visit Deekshabhoomi. At around 10 am, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre at Nagpur and address a public meeting. At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. "Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur," the PMO said. RSS ideologue Ashutosh Adoni described Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nagpur on March 30 as "very important and historic." He expressed that the PM's visit to the Smruti Mandir and his stay in Nagpur would mark a historic moment. Speaking to ANI, Adoni said, "This is a very important and historic visit. It is historic because a volunteer, who is today in the post of Prime Minister of India, is coming to Smriti Mandir on such a special day, which is considered an important day in the entire journey of the Sangh." RSS member Seshadri Chari said this would be the first time PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir after becoming the Prime Minister. "This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM, and this is a very important and historic visit. This is a celebration of 100 years of RSS. There will be a lot of programs on it. Sangh also has a lot of opinions on the issues of the country, and on those, the PM will take those issues forward, as he has been doing before too. The government's job is to make India a strong country, make it a Viksit Bharat," RSS' Chari said. Prime Minister Modi will visit the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited's ammunition facility in Nagpur. He will inaugurate the newly built 1250m long and 25m wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions. The Prime Minister will also visit Chhattisgarh today to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects. This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM. "In Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone, initiate commencement of work and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over 33,700 crore in Bilaspur," the release read. OpenAI's new image-generating update for ChatGPT has led to a frenzy of Ghibli-style images being posted all over the internet. However, the AI startup's CEO Sam Altman has now asked users to 'chill out' as the demand for ChatGPT's new update is putting a strain on his team. Can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep Altman wrote in a post on X. In reply to another post, Altman delved into the toll the new ChatGPT update has taken on his company. He wrote, We just havent been able to catch up since launch so people are still working to keep the service up. biblical demand, i have never seen anything like it However, this is not the first time Altman has complained that ChatGPT's native image generation feature is putting a strain on the company's resources. Just a few days ago, the entrepreneur announced limits on image generation even for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, citing that OpenAI's "GPUs are melting". What is the new ChatGPT image update? ChatGPT has had the ability to generate images using text prompts for some time, but the new native image generation capability unlocked by OpenAI for the GPT-4o model allows the chatbot to generate more nuanced and accurate images. While ChatGPT used to depend on external models such as DALL-E 3 for image generation, it is now done through the same large language model (LLM) that answers all other text queries. This allows the chatbot to use its textual knowledge base to better understand the user's query and generate the images accordingly. OpenAI started the native image generation update with ChatGPT Plus, Pro and Team users, but free users also have the option to "Ghiblize" their images now. While the Studio Ghibli-style image trend has taken off, the chatbot is also capable of creating a host of other images, including comics, posters, presentations and infographics. ChatGPT image generator used to add effect to an image. Popular meme transformed in Studio Ghibli style Recipe image created using ChatGPT's new image generator Lego styled version of President Donald Trump What is Studio Ghibli? Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio founded in 1985 by Miyazaki Hayao, Takahata Isao and Suzuki Toshio. The company is known for its high-quality filmmaking with hand-drawn animation and rich storytelling. Also Read | Bored of Ghibli? Try 5 unique AI portrait styles Some of the company's most notable animated films include Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke. SARAJEVO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Rising river levels have caused widespread flooding across northern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the worst-hit areas including Prijedor, Sanski Most, and several smaller towns. In Prijedor, a state of emergency was declared overnight from Friday to Saturday due to escalating flood threats. As of Sunday morning, more than 140 people had been evacuated, and around 800 buildings were reported flooded, according to Miroslav Krneta, head of the local civil protection department. Krneta said that the 142-kilometer-long Sana river has begun to recede, dropping from 515 centimeters to 456 centimeters, while a full damage assessment is underway. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops. Evacuated residents without alternative accommodations have been temporarily housed in a local hotel. According to the local civil protection department, public institutions, including an elementary school, a church, and a parish hall, were also affected by the flooding. In Sanski Most, the Sana river reached nearly 430 centimeters on Saturday morning, with floodwaters inundating the municipal administration building overnight. Flooding has also disrupted transportation, with several regional roads in northern BiH remaining submerged. Local authorities have urged citizens to rely on official information sources and to boil drinking water before use. A man accidentally shot himself in the leg Sunday while putting away his firearm after working as security for a church event. Around 11:00am, East Ridge police say they responded to a call concerning a person shot at the Camp Jordan Arena. When they arrived, they found a man in his 60s on the ground behind his SUV. He said he had accidentally shot himself in the upper leg while putting away his gun. U.S. DOJ releases two model bills for gun safety The U.S. Department of Justice released model legislation to help states reduce gun violence and improve safety Wednesday morning. Officers say they began life-saving treatment on the man until Hamilton County EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital. The status of the gunshot victim is still unknown. Stay with Local 3 for updates. There was a huge uptake for the ACRES scheme nationally with almost 55,000 farmers participating making it a popular choice for many Drystock and Beef farmers. The Department of Agriculture normally completes a 5% Inspection rate each year in ACRES so one would expect at least a quarter of all ACRES participants to be inspected over the five year period of the scheme. Its very disappointing when penalties arise following an inspection resulting in reduced payment for that year but even more serious is that an action can be lost out for the whole duration of the plan resulting in a much larger financial hit. READ NEXT: Busted: 235,286 in cash and 3,640 cigarettes seized following searches in Longford and Leitrim Following an inspection, you will be requested to provide the most recent ACRES records showing what work you did in relation to actions chosen. The new fertiliser Database will provide the inspector with details of your most recent fertiliser purchases for the relevant year and you will also be asked to provide meal / concentrate records for the previous year as well. Virtually all ACRES farmers have taken soil samples recently and your fertiliser purchases must be in accordance with the Soil Sample requirements so it is very important that you know what the soil samples require when it comes to ordering fertiliser for this calendar year as there are penalties for exceeding fertiliser limits. READ NEXT: RIP: Funeral arrangements for Longford man who died in tragic N55 crash announced You will be asked for your herd number when you order your fertiliser. You may also be asked to provide receipts for any actions undertaken such as winter bird food, new hedgerow planting and new tree planting, etc. Having consulted with colleagues recently, the biggest problem area are as follows - Buffer Zones not fenced off and or being grazed as well. Extensively Grazed Pasture has led to issues due to parts being reseeded, being topped or mown during the prohibited period of 15th of March to the 1st of July, the use of cattle ring feeders and the non-fencing of watercourses. Winter Bird Food crop failure. The replacement of trees that have died especially within Riparian Buffer Zones. Remember that the tree should be staked and have a Tree guard as well and have a Plant Passport Number. Satellite Imagery is now being made available to Department Inspectors and this can clearly show up problems on the ground which can lead to inspections and penalties. The Quality of this imagery has improved significantly recently and is now being widely used by inspectors. Nobody wants penalties on their farm but if it is in the ACRES plan, it must be done and completed. If you are unsure of your obligations under ACRES, consult your planner. Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. They have offices based in Roscommon Town (Tel: 090 6626166), Castlerea (Tel: 094 9620160) and Longford Town (Tel: 043 3341021), You can find us on Facebook @Teagascroscommonlongford, Instagram @teagasc.rnld and X @teagascRNLD. Email; RoscommonLongford Advisory@teagasc.ie Having worked with international directors such as Michael Radford, Julien Temple, Jim Sheridan and Sylvie Testud as well as films by Luxembourg talents like Laura Schroeder and Loic Tanson, it is fair to say that Christina Schaffer has found her place in the film industry. The production designers latest project is Die Blutgrafin (The Blood Countess), a horror and thriller movie about a vampire set in Vienna, is realised by Amour Fou. Schaffer met with the director, Ulrike Ottinger, 20 years ago, to design, but the funding of the movie was only approved in 2023. Whats lovely is that Amour Fou and Ulrike always decided to have me participate even when the circumstances changed, she told Luxembourg Times. The project is now going through editing and should be finalised soon. Design became a calling Having a background in general design, Schaffer studied interior architecture in Germany before moving to London and the United States. How she got into film is a different story. In my time, there wasnt really the possibility to say, oh Im going to go and do films, she explained. Although she was always interested in theatre and making short films with her friends, at the age of 12, she wasnt aware of the prospect of actually working in film. Then, inspired by her English teachers forays into theatre, she realised that a career in cinema was a possibility and applied to film schools. Unfortunately it didnt work out for her. But after her studies in design, she managed to land some internships with local production companies and she is now recognised as the go-to production designer in the Grand Duchy. Its very important after I read the script that I have somehow build a connection with the director Christina Schaffer Production designer Schafffer worked on Radfords 2007 thriller Flawless, starring Demi Moore and Michael Caine and set in 1960s London, much of which was filmed in the Grand Theatre in Limpertsberg. For Temple she was Marvin Gaye biopic Sexual Healing. Her work with Sheridan is for upcoming docudrama Re-Creation. She has also designed Schroeders feature films Barrage and Maret, as well as Beryls Kolts Hot Hot Hot and Tansons Luxembourg western Laif a Seil (The Last Ashes) and his recent historical TV true crime series Marginal. Forging a relationship with the director is of the utmost importance, according to Schaffer, because once filming starts, the production designer and director dont get to see each other that often. Its very important after I read the script that I have somehow build a connection with the director, she explained. Its a feeling that transforms into a vision. Schaffer said that understanding the directors vision touches her sensitivity because she gets triggered by the stories and ideas they have presented. Every detail of the set design is relevant to the story. Is the bed soft? Is the bed rigid? Is it colourful? Is it seductive? What she enjoys most about her profession is meeting new people and discovering new subjects. She truly appreciates the freshness and originality of each project she works on. There is a point where you have to decide because nobody was ever there. The design producer explained her process when working with different eras of time and revealed that it starts with research. But historians have different opinions about different times so she turns towards the moods of the period. She explains that language also plays an important role since people used to speak very differently in the past. People also had fewer objects, she explained, which is one of the many factors that defines her designs. Schaffer goes back to the idea that she loves exploring different eras since you explore new things and often come across funny trivia. Luxembourg work circumstances are very friendly and very equal, really Christina Schaffer Production designer As a woman, the production designer said she has not felt that she was treated differently in the industry. She has worked all over the world and has had good experiences collaborating with men. Christina also likes working with men as they bring a different energy into the department, into the process. Luxembourg work circumstances are very friendly and very equal, really, she added What can be challenging, however, is meeting expectations within the framework of a productions budget constraints. She described some situations as a financial corset which can then become complicated for the whole crew. The Balearic Government has paid 3.4 million euros to buy the Son Jaumell, Cala Torta, and Es Pins Campaners estates in Mallorca's Llevant region from a company whose sole administrator is Fawziah Al Hassawi, a relative of the Emir of Kuwait. Fawziah Al Hassawi is the daughter of Mubarak Abdul Azif Al Hassawi, who first came to Mallorca in the 1960s. The family owns one of the largest residential and commercial complexes in Kuwait and has buildings and hotels in Bahrain, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. Their investments include Spain, but the sale of the estates to the government indicates a desire to sell off holdings in Mallorca. It is the second sale of a large unspoiled area year, following the sale of the Capocorb estate in Llucmajor, where there was once a project to establish a project that would have created, from scratch, a new town with 12,000 people. A Supreme Court ruling of 1999 finally blocked this and also saved the Balearic Government from having to pay 70 million euros compensation. Mubarak Abdul Azif Al Hassawi began investing in Mallorca in the 1960s at the height of the tourism boom and the development that came to be referred to as the 'Balearization' process. Rural properties of great environmental and heritage value were acquired. The company remains the owner of one of Calvia's large estates, Ses Planes. None of the estates have ever been developed because of legislation that designated them Natural Areas of Special Interest, the highest possible level of protection. ADDIS ABABA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Experts and policymakers attending a meeting on Africa's priorities under South Africa's Group of 20 (G20) presidency emphasized the need to push for key reforms that support Africa's development. Organized by the African Union (AU) Commission's Department for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Minerals, the virtual meeting was held on Friday under the theme "African Union and South Africa in the G20: Effective Advocacy for Africa's Priorities." Experts and policymakers at the meeting provided actionable recommendations on how the AU and the continent can leverage South Africa's G20 presidency in 2025 to advance Africa's priorities. The meeting also reviewed the AU's positioning in the G20 following its first year as a full member of the G20. South Africa assumed the G20 presidency on Dec. 1, 2024, and will host the G20 Leaders' Summit in November this year. Addressing the meeting, Patrick Ndzana Olomo, head of economic policy and sustainable development at the AU Commission's department, outlined some of the current challenges facing African economies, including the adverse effects of climate change, global economic turbulence, geopolitical tensions and insecurity, and the spillover effects of global market trends. Olomo emphasized Africa's common position in support of the reform of the global financial architecture toward a more effective system. He also stressed the urgent need to reform the climate finance architecture to ensure transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness. Noting the vital need to enhance continental coordination between the AU and its members, Olomo highlighted key actions during South Africa's G20 presidency, including stronger advocacy for Africa's key priorities to drive the continent's structural transformation across various development sectors. Hanan Morsy, deputy executive secretary and chief economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said the African continent needs to take full advantage of the "generational opportunity" presented through South Africa's G20 presidency to advance the continent's common position on the global stage. She said South Africa's G20 presidency is "a critical and unique opportunity" for Africa to set the agenda going forward on key priorities, including the reform of multilateral development banks and the global financial architecture. The meeting also addressed key issues such as climate adaptation strategies, digital public infrastructure, health financing, and sustainable development. The AU, following its inclusion in the G20 in 2023, has outlined key priorities to guide the AU's engagement over the next three years. These include fast-tracking the continental bloc's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063, advocating for reform of international financial institutions, enhancing agricultural output, achieving a just energy transition, promoting trade and investment for the African Continental Free Trade Area, improving Africa's credit rating, and boosting investment in vaccine manufacturing and pandemic response. Could King Charles III's recent health scare prompt Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to abandon their no-contact policy towards the British Royal Family be allowing their two children to visit their sick grandfather? The 76-year-old monarch had to visit hospital on March 27 for checks after appearing to struggle with his chemotherapy treatment, thus leading to his engagements for the next 48 hours to be abandoned. Whilst he's now perfectly fine and has been released, returning to Highgrove in Gloucestershire away from London, it's a stark reminder that his battle against an undiagnosed form of cancer is real. The Brit has been fighting the condition for a very large portion of his reign since receiving his diagnosis in January 2024 and whilst he generally seems to be holding up well, it still rears its head from time to time. It's a reminder that he won't be around forever, and this is something that clearly concerns his youngest son as Prince Harry sharply returned to the United Kingdom when the news of the cancer broke. However, in their feud, the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace still remain firmly estranged with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet being the pair missing out on spending time with their grandfather and cousins. So could the latest health scare prompt the 43-year-old Markle and 40-year-old Harry to review their policy towards the other side of the Atlantic Ocean? After all, the ex-Suits actress spoke of the importance of family in her recent Netflix show. What happened to King Charles? King Charles received the shocking news he's fighting cancer when he went for surgery at The London Clinic in 2024 for an enlarged prostate, although it's reported the cancer isn't related to his prostate. Since then, he's been in chemo and continues to battle the condition with his prognosis not known to the public. He's had to cancel various duties over the past 14 months and whilst he now finds himself well enough to return to the public eye, moments such as March 27 still occur and he finds them bitterly disappointing. "He was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on March 27. "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." The Bruins made a pair of roster moves a day after their eighth straight loss. Boston placed forwards Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri on waivers on Sunday afternoon. If they clear, the duo will report to Providence. Brown has played in 11 games in March for the Bruins and amassed one point during that span. Lettieri also has one point in March. Lettieri was a point-per-game player in Providence before he was summoned to Boston with 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in as many games. Before Lettieri and Brown were placed on waivers, both Fabian Lysell and Michael Callahan were returned to Providence from the Bruins, according to the AHL transaction wire. Theres a pretty good chance theyre paper transactions. The Bruins are in the midst of their worst losing streak since 1997 when they went 0-7-1 during an eight-game stretch. Boston just wrapped up a winless five-game, 12-day road trip. A lucky Massachusetts State Lottery player bought a winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 at a Cape Cod convenience store on Saturday. The ticket was sold at Route 6A Convenience Store in Sandwich. Saturday nights winning numbers were 7, 11, 21, 53 and 61, and the Powerball number was 2. In Powerball, players select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. They then choose how many drawings they want to use those numbers for. Players that match all five numbers and the Powerball number win the jackpot. They have 1 in 292,201,338 chances of winning this way. Players that match four numbers and the Powerball number win $50,000. They have 1 in 913,129.18 chances of winning this way. Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. The jackpot stands at $20 million as of Sunday. Overall, at least 358 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including four in Springfield and 13 in Worcester. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600. The largest lottery prize won so far in 2025 was worth $15 million. It was from a Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke. The $15 million winner claimed their prize through a trust on Jan. 30, and opted to receive their prize in the form of a one-time payment of $9.75 million. The winner said they wanted to help out their family and invest with the prize. The Tesla logo on the side of the Tesla dealership in Watertown, Massachusetts. Google Maps Two people were injured Saturday while protesting at a Watertown Tesla dealership when a pick-up truck clipped them, according to police. A black pick-up trucks side mirror struck the two protesters at the Pleasant Street dealership, but neither was seriously injured, Watertown police said in a press release. Officers at the scene rushed to help the protesters, but they declined medical aid. Creation de parcours educatifs plus inclusifs vers les TIC. Le Ministre des Technologies de lInformation, de la Communication et de lInnovation, Dr Avinash Ramtohul, a reaffirme son engagement, le 27 mars 2025, a maintenir lequite en matiere de participation et dopportunites dans le secteur des TIC. Il sexprimait lors de la ceremonie douverture dune table ronde organisee conjointement par son ministere, lUniversite de Maurice et lequipe de pays des Nations Unies pour Maurice, a Reduit. Cette table ronde, qui sinscrivait dans le cadre de la Journee internationale des femmes 2025, avait pour theme Lavenir de legalite des genres pour les femmes dans le secteur du numerique/TIC a Maurice . Dans son discours, le Dr Avinash Ramtohul a souligne le nombre relativement faible de femmes travaillant dans le secteur des TIC, precisant quelles ne representent que 25 % de la main-duvre mondiale dans ce domaine. Selon les resultats dune enquete menee par le Conseil mauricien de la recherche et de linnovation, on compte 7 838 femmes dans la main-duvre des TIC contre 8 324 hommes. Le ministre des Technologies de lInformationa observe que la parite et les desequilibres entre les genres varient selon les organisations, assurant que son ministere se laisse guider par le Ministere de lEgalite des Genres et du Bien-etre Familial en ce qui concerne lintroduction de politiques favorisant lequilibre des genres dans le secteur local des TIC. Legalite des genres doit etre au cur de la transformation numerique, et les TIC doivent etre adoptees de maniere equitable. En autonomisant les femmes dans la gouvernance des politiques numeriques et technologiques, nous pouvons assurer une societe plus equitable. A cet egard, le Ministre a enumere les actions cles a entreprendre, a savoir la creation de parcours educatifs plus inclusifs vers les TIC et lacceleration des politiques, la mise en place de programmes de financement pour les femmes entrepreneurs dans les TIC et la creation de davantage dincubateurs et de structures de mentorat. Egalement presente a cette occasion, la Ministre adjointe de lEgalite des Genres et du Bien-etre Familial, Mme Anishta Babooram, a souligne limportance de la Journee internationale des femmes 2025, qui symbolise les efforts coordonnes pour celebrer non seulement les femmes qui ont joue un role extraordinaire dans lhistoire des droits des femmes, mais aussi lengagement soutenu, la volonte de changement, la justice sociale et legalite des genres. Elle a evoque les responsabilites de son ministere en matiere dintegration de la dimension de genre dans tous les secteurs, et a precise que des conseils et un soutien sont fournis au Ministere des Technologies de lInformation pour quil se dote de sa propre cellule genre, de sa politique sectorielle genre et de son plan daction fondes sur la politique nationale en matiere de genre. Nous assurons egalement un suivi etroit des actions sensibles au genre grace a un mecanisme national de suivi du genre, dans lequel le point focal genre du Ministere des TIC est represente, et nous veillons a ce que la dimension de genre soit integree dans tous ses projets et programmes de maniere equitable, afin datteindre toutes les filles et les femmes. Pour sa part, la Coordinatrice residente des Nations Unies pour Maurice et les Seychelles, Mme Lisa Simrique Singh, a souligne que dans le monde complexe actuel ou la technologie est omnipresente, lacquisition de competences et de connaissances en informatique est cruciale. Saluant les initiatives telles que la table ronde, elle a fait remarquer que ces evenements contribuent a placer les femmes au centre, ouvrant la voie a une plus grande integration, autonomisation et resilience. Notre plan quinquennal place la numerisation comme un moteur cle de la transformation socio-economique, et linnovation, la science et la technologie comme des accelerateurs pour atteindre nos objectifs. Elle a exprime lespoir que la table ronde facilitera la mise en uvre dactions concretes conformes a la vision du gouvernement. The clocks will go forward by an hour marking the official start of summer time in Ireland. At 1am on Sunday March 30 the clocks will jump forward to 2am, and this may cause disruptions to public transport and other services. Most computers, phones and tablets will automatically update, but those reliant on clocks and watches should remember to update theirs accordingly. READ NEXT: ALERT: Irish citizens told to stock up on these six items and prepare for disaster Irish public transport service, Citylink, said that there are several services that will be affected as a result of the clocks going forward. "Changes have been made in the schedule to ensure that our services arrive at Dublin Airport to meet flights. All details, including updated schedules are available on our website," Citylink said. "If youre travelling with Irish Citylink during Saturday night/Sunday morning March 30th, 2025, please note all services departing Castlebar, Cork City, Galway City and Limerick after midnight will depart on the NEW Springtime to ensure you reach your destination at the correct time," Citylink added. Its one thing wishing you could protect and improve the biodiversity in your area, its quite another to have the money and the expertise to do it. However, one beautiful corner of Mayo has just been given a major boost, with new funds and new minds coming together to make a plan to protect the areas unique local ecology long into the future. Coiste Cultur Teanga agus Forbartha Thuar Mhic Eadaigh (Tourmakeady Language Culture and Development Committee) has just been awarded a new grant to support a local Biodiversity Action Plan designed 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 any steps to protect local biodiversity will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists. Welcoming the support, Yvonne Finn, the chairperson of Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Tuar Mhic Eadaigh, spoke about the importance the local community attaches to the biodiversity that surrounds it. Located in an attractive rural setting on the shores of Lough Mask and situated beside the Partry mountains, Tuar Mhic Eadaigh includes important designated protected areas, including SAC, NHA, SPA, she explained. Protected species include fens, grasslands, tufted duck, gulls, terns, lesser horseshoe bat, pine marten and otter. Our unique landscape includes hills and mountains, rivers that flow into Lough Mask, woodland, bogs, semi-natural grassland and farmlands. Unsurprisingly, the area is hugely popular as a tourist destination, with visitors from local surrounding towns and further afield looking for outdoor and nature-based activities to enjoy. READ MORE: West Mayo all-weather beach facilities to be completed in 2026 Network of support The established SEC committee has been operating under the SEAI support programme since 2018. Last year, they supported the delivery of a biodiversity workshop for the TY class in Colaiste Muire, Tuar Mhic Eadaigh, by Biodiversity in Schools. Our community Futures Action Plan 2023-2028 developed with support from Mayo County Council, prioritised a Biodiversity Plan as a key area of action, Yvonne said. This community biodiversity grant will help us learn and understand more about the habitats and biodiversity in our area and advise us on how we can best protect, support and enhance these habitats and biodiversity for our children, their children and generations to come. The committee has also been receiving support from Coiste Pobail Thuar Mhic Eadaigh and they are looking forward to working with them, as well as ecologist Karina Dingerkus and local organisations and individuals in the community, on developing of the biodiversity plan over the next year. Nationally, more 94 projects are receiving support, with more than 250 communities implementing local action plans since the partnership between the Community Foundation and the National Parks and Wildlife Service started in 2019. The support being provided comes from philanthropists and donors to the foundation matched with public funding. Empowering partnerships Making the announcement, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD spoke about the need for targeted plans for different areas. 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, he said. Im really impressed with the range of projects involved and excited to see the outcomes of their work. 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. Congratulating Coiste Cultur Teanga agus Forbartha Thuar Mhic Eadaigh CFTR, 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 fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan. Students from Mayo school Sancta Maria College Louisburgh have done the 'Famine Walk' in memory of those who died in Doolough Tragedy. Over 100 students from the school braved the harsh conditions of the Doolough Valley to honour the memory of the 1849 Famine Walk. This the 3rd annual event serves as a solemn tribute to those who perished during the Doolough Tragedy on Friday March 30 1849 during The Irish Great Famine. Teacher Tom O'Flynn from the College explains, why it is still important, to remmeber the tragedy: "During the famine, people from Clare Island and Louisburgh were starving and they were told to walk and they'd either be given a ticket to get into a workhouse or they'd be given food. But from their wives out there they were told no to both and they were forced to walk all the way back to Louisburgh starving. Bad enough that they were actually starving because of a failure of the crop, it was the actual weather that killed them in the end. They were actually blown into the lake." "Three years ago I asked the principal and a few more teachers that it would be lovely to do it with a group of students in school. So 30 students signed up the first year and we raised 1,000 euros for Trocaire and we gave it to the parish Trocaire fund. Last year we got 70 students to do it and we raised 1,400 euros and this year 130 students have decided, you know, got on board and we have come close to 2,000 euros. So it's gone from strength to strength." In the lead-up to the event, the students demonstrated their dedication by raising over an impressive 2,000 in sponsorship and counting for Kilgeever Parish Trocaire, a charity that continues to support vulnerable communities today. Their commitment and resilience not only honoured the memory of the famine victims but also contributed to a meaningful cause. SYDNEY, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Two teenagers died after crashing a stolen car into a tree in Melbourne's southeast, police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Sunday. Police said that a passing motorist located the crash scene in Rowville, 28 km southeast of central Melbourne, shortly after 2:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and alerted authorities. Emergency services attended the scene where the two teenage male occupants of the vehicle, who have not yet been formally identified, were declared deceased. A police statement said that investigations revealed the car involved in the crash was one of two vehicles stolen from a neighboring suburb earlier at night. Detectives from the major collision unit began an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Police asked anyone who witnessed the crash or with dash cam or CCTV footage to contact detectives. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, March 30, 2025 "The future could not be brighter," X CEO Linda Yaccarino posted 21 minutes after xAI CEO Elon Musk posted late Friday that it has acquired X for $45 billion. "So are you CEO of the merged company," one of her followers posted minutes later. To some, that question may seem rhetorical, because some believe while Yaccarino has held the CEO title for nearly two years, Musk never really relinquished the role. Yaccarino's appointment in May 2023, which Musk also announced on X, followed months of speculation after Musk lost his own X poll in which a majority of followers (57.5%) voted that he step down as head of X. "I will abide by the results of this poll," he posted. Months later, after being interviewed by Yaccarino onstage at the 2023 Possible conference in Miami, Musk announced that the former NBCUniversal ad sales exec was X's new CEO, noting that Yaccarino "will focus primarily on business operations, while I focus on product design & new technology. Looking forward to working with Linda to transform this platform into X, the everything app." advertisement advertisement While X has had a variety of fits and false starts toward fulfilling the "everything app" vision since then, AI has increasingly become a major area of Musk's focus -- particularly the engineering and re-engineering of xAI's chatbot agent Grok, which recently released version 3 (see today's "The Uprising" column Media 3.0). At presstime, xAI has not posted any news about its acquisition of X, or whether it will lead to a brighter future for Yaccarino in its new organizational structure, but MediaPost did ask Grok 3 what it thought. And at least at this point, Grok seems to be her fan. "Given the recency of the deal and the lack of announcements about leadership changes, it is reasonable to assume she is likely still the CEO of X Corp at this moment," Grok said, adding: "However, her long-term role could evolve depending on how xAI integrates X into its operations, especially since Elon Musk, who leads xAI, has a history of reshaping management structures in his companies. For now, continuity appears to be the case, but this could shift as the merger progresses." Asked whether Musk might conduct another poll on X to determine that, Grok said: "It's certainly possible." Asked what the results of such a poll might be, Grok said: "Predicting the outcome of a hypothetical Elon Musk X poll on who should be the next CEO of X Corp is tricky, but we can make some educated guesses based on Musks follower base, Xs user dynamics, and past polling trends. "If Musk ran a poll asking users to vote on the next CEO, hed likely offer a shortlist of names say, Linda Yaccarino (current CEO), a Musk loyalist like a Tesla/SpaceX exec (e.g., Gwynne Shotwell) himself, or even a wildcard like a prominent X influencer or tech figure (e.g., someone like Vitalik Buterin for chaos). The results would hinge on whos voting, their biases, and how Musk frames it." Grok goes on to note that "Yaccarino's got a mixed rep -- some see her as a steady hand from her ad world days, but others call her a 'legacy media suit' unfit for Musk's vision. She might pull 30-40% support from pragmatists who like her stabilizing X's revenue." Grok adds that "turnout would be huge" for such a poll, noting that it would be in the "millions." Lastly, we asked Grok to assess Yaccarino's performance as X Corp. CEO to date. "She stepped into a chaotic situation post-Musks Twitter acquisition: advertisers fleeing, revenue tanking, and a platform wrestling with free speech versus moderation," Grok said, noting: "Her job was clear: stabilize the ship, bring back ad dollars, and align X with Musks everything app vision. How well she has done depends on the metrics you prioritize, but heres a breakdown based on whats observable." On the plus side, Grok said Yaccarino has "clawed back some financial ground" -- reportedly boosting X's ad revenue to around $2.5 billion, which is up from a low of $1.9 billion at X's bottom, but nonetheless still is down from Twitter's $4 billion in annual ad revenue prior to Musk's acquisition. "But its not all rosy," Grok concluded, noting that "critics argue shes been more caretaker than visionary" and that last week's acquisition deal values X at $11 billion less than the $44 billion Musk paid for it in 2022. by Ray Schultz , March 30, 2025 The Hollywood Reporter has beefed up its awards coverage with three strategic hires. Beatrice Verhoeven, formerly serving as deputy awards editor, has been named awards editor. Joining The Hollywood Reporter full-time as deputy awards editor is contributor Brande Victorian. In addition, Steven Zeitchik has been named senior editor, technology and politics. Beatrices sharp insight and Brandes authoritative voice have long strengthened our awards coverage, and were thrilled to see them take on these elevated roles, further bolstering our already stellar reporting, Maer Roshan and Shirley Halperin, co-editors in chief, comment. At the same time, we remain deeply committed to tackling the transformative issues impacting our industry, particularly in the technology space. Scott Feinberg will continue to serve as executive editor, awards and to deliver the Feinberg Forecast awards-chatter podcast. by Ray Schultz , March 30, 2025 Idaho now has a media shield law that protects journalists and their anonymous sources. Unanimously passed by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year, House Bill 158 was signed into law by Gov. Brad Little late last week, according to The Idaho Capital Sun. The state bill -- the 41st enacted in the U.S. -- takes effect on July 1. Too many Gem State newsrooms have had to spend time and resources fighting subpoenas that would force them to betray their sources trust under threat of fines or jail time, says Melissa Davlin, president of the Idaho Press Club, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. The bill states: No person engaged in journalistic activities shall be compelled to disclose in any legal proceeding, trial before any court, or before any jury the source of any information procured or obtained and published in a newspaper, print publication, digital news outlet, or by a radio or television broadcasting station with which the person is engaged or employed or with which the person is connected. advertisement advertisement The bill continues: No such person shall be compelled to disclose unpublished information, notes, or communications obtained or created through the course of newsgathering activities, except as required by law in cases involving national security or imminent physical harm. More water isnt always better! Overhydration can lead to fatal consequences. Find out how much is too much. Highlights: Water intoxication occurs when excessive water intake dilutes sodium levels, leading to brain swelling, seizures, and even death Drinking more than 1 liter of water per hour over several hours can overwhelm the kidneys and cause life-threatening hyponatremia Hydration should be balanced- listen to your body, monitor urine color, and replenish electrolytes when sweating heavily Did you know? The human kidneys can only process about 0.8 to 1 liter of water per hour- drinking more can lead to water poisoning! hydrationtips #drinksmart #medindia The human kidneys can only process about 0.8 to 1 liter of water per hour- drinking more can lead to water poisoning! hydrationtips #drinksmart #medindia Advertisement Case of Sean O'Donnell: A Cautionary Tale Advertisement What is Water Intoxication? Trusted Source Hyponatremia and the Brain Go to source Trusted Source How Much Water is Safe to Drink? Trusted Source How much water do we really need to drink? Go to source Trusted Source Men: About 3 liters per day from all fluids. Women: About 2.2 liters per day from all fluids. Who Is at Risk of Water Intoxication? Athletes- Endurance athletes who drink excessive water without replenishing electrolytes can develop hyponatremia. Endurance athletes who drink excessive water without replenishing electrolytes can develop hyponatremia. People with Kidney Disorders- The kidneys help regulate water balance; impaired kidney function can lead to water retention. The kidneys help regulate water balance; impaired kidney function can lead to water retention. Individuals on Certain Medications- Some drugs, including certain antidepressants and diuretics, can affect sodium levels. Some drugs, including certain antidepressants and diuretics, can affect sodium levels. People Following "Water Challenges"- Drinking contests or social media trends that encourage excessive water intake can be deadly. Symptoms of Water Intoxication Trusted Source The water-intoxicated patient Go to source Trusted Source Nausea and vomiting Headache Confusion or disorientation Swelling in hands, feet, or lips Severe cases: seizures, loss of consciousness, or coma How to Stay Hydrated Safely Listen to your body- Thirst is a natural signal; dont force yourself to drink excessive amounts of water. Thirst is a natural signal; dont force yourself to drink excessive amounts of water. Monitor urine color- Pale yellow urine indicates good hydration, while dark yellow suggests dehydration. Clear urine may mean overhydration. Pale yellow urine indicates good hydration, while dark yellow suggests dehydration. Clear urine may mean overhydration. Balance electrolytes- If sweating heavily, replace lost sodium and potassium with electrolyte-rich foods or drinks. If sweating heavily, replace lost sodium and potassium with electrolyte-rich foods or drinks. Avoid extreme water challenges- Drinking large amounts of water in a short time is dangerous. Hyponatremia and the Brain - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29340311/) How much water do we really need to drink? - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20356431/) The water-intoxicated patient - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2260889/) The Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan became the first Malyalam film to hit Rs 50+ crore at the worldwide box office on day one. But the movie received a massive online backlash from right-wing supporters over what appears to be references to the 2002 Gujarat pogrom. Addressing the controversy, the actor and producer Mohonlal took to his social media account to apologise and express regret for the distress caused by the film. He wrote, I have learned that some of the political-social themes that have emerged in the expression of the movie Emburaan, the second part of the 'Lucifer' franchise, have caused a lot of depression for many of my lovers. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my movies harbor hatred towards any political movement, idea or religion. Therefore, myself and the Empuraan team and I sincerely regret the mental pain caused to my loved ones, and with the realization that the responsibility lies with all of us who worked behind the film. We have decided together to compulsorily remove such topics from the cinema. I have lived my cinema life as one of you for the last four decades. Your love and faith is my only strength. I believe there is no Mohanlal greater than that... With love Mohanlal #L2E #Empuraan BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, an innovation pillar empowering China's smart manufacturing, green transition and even breakthroughs in space sciences, is proving to be a key driver of the nation's high-quality growth, noted international industry experts at a key forum. Under the wave of the explosion of AI technology, 2025 will be the first year of large-scale AI application implementation," said Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of 01.AI and chairman of Sinovation Ventures at the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing. Large models have brought about a revolution in productivity, he said, adding that their intelligence continues to improve with the constant emergence of new technologies, marking the advent of an era characterized by large model applications. A defining application trend showcased at the event is the convergence of AI and new energy vehicles (NEVs), which represents a strategic priority in China's carbon neutrality roadmap. This synergy was epitomized by Li Auto's intelligent driving demonstration, which has captured considerable attention within the industry. All-scenario navigation assist driving feature developed by the company enables vehicles to autonomously change lanes and overtake, enter or exit ramps, pass intersections in response to traffic lights, and avoid or detour around roadwork obstacles. It has made it easier to drive safely on highways and drive proficiently on urban roads, the company said. The automotive industry has entered a transformative era of intelligence, marking an evolution from mere transportation tools to AI terminals, said Li Xiang, the CEO of the company. At the exhibition venue, nearly 100 robots from 15 companies are actively engaged throughout the event to enhance the experience of the attendees. More importantly, they showcase how humanoid robots are rapidly advancing to boost productivity and expand their real-world applications. A humanoid robot named "Adam" amazed visitors with an elegant dance during the conference, showcasing its advanced full-body motion control. Through the fusion of unique hardware design and reinforcement learning, the development team has enabled Adam to coordinate joint movements precisely, achieving human-like agility and flexibility, explained Anna Leung, brand director of Adam's developer, PNDbotics AI Co., Ltd. "The most exciting era for humanoid robots, the era of productivity, is about to begin," said Wang He, founder and CTO of Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd. The ability of humanoid robots to integrate vision-driven guidance, limb control, and generalized autonomous operation truly makes them valuable assistants to humans, said Wang. In the 2025 government work report, China vowed to effectively combine digital technologies with its manufacturing and market strengths. It will support the extensive application of large-scale AI models and develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, including intelligent connected NEVs and intelligent robots. As China steadily advances toward its dual carbon goals, fast-developing AI technologies also contribute significantly with their applications in sectors such as new energy integration, energy production and smart energy consumption, according to industry experts. For instance, AI plays an important role in the construction of a new type of power system. By enhancing smart grid regulation and source-grid-load-storage coordination, it addresses grid stability and security challenges as the renewable energy penetration rate continues to rise, according to Ren Jingdong, deputy director of the National Energy Administration. Wang Chi, director of National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua that AI will play a critical role in future interplanetary exploration, as spacecraft control systems need to be more intelligent for more distant solar exploration, particularly Mars and Jupiter. Sending humans to the destinations entails unacceptable hazards, but deploying intelligent agents and robotic systems for preliminary exploration would be able to reduce risks in extreme exploration scenarios, said Liu Hangxin, co-executive director at the frontier research center at the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence. It was 150 years ago on 12 April 1861, that the guns opened fire at Fort Sumter, marking the start of Americas bloodiest war. We have asked several notable writers to give their viewpoints on the American Civil War, starting with Peter Tsouras and his belief that it was British arms that sustained the Confederacy during the American Civil War: When the South seceded in early 1861, it possessed at most 10% of the industrial base of the former Union. The young Confederacy would go on to make heroic efforts to create an industrial base, but even at its best could produce only a small fraction of the needs of a nation at war. How, then, did the Confederacy fight on so long and bitterly? The output of British factories, mills, shipyards, and arsenals flooded through the Union blockade of Southern ports to provide the bulk of Confederate needs. Without that massive support, the Confederacy would surely have collapsed within 12 to 18 months. Given that the bloodiest years of the war were 1863-1865, it was British material support that allowed the vast majority of the blood-letting to occur. A few cases in point illustrate the level of this support. British-built Confederate commerce-raiders unleashed ruin upon the American merchant marine. Almost 700 ships were destroyed or put under bond, and thousands more sold to foreign shippers (mostly British) or reflagged (mostly to Britain). The fear of even greater depredations by new commerce-raiders building at Birkenhead caused Lincoln to threaten war in September 1863. At Vicksburg, Grant found that the 30,000 surrendered Confederates had been armed with new, excellent British Enfield Rifles. His own men were armed with European cast-offs or refashioned old US models, both far inferior to the British weapon. Grant had his regiments trade in their old weapons for the Enfields. At the Siege of Petersburg, Grant forwarded to Secretary of War Stanton a captured artillery ammunition box stamped Royal Arsenal Woolwich. In the last year of the war, Lees army was surviving on British bacon shipped in through Wilmington. British material support for the Confederacy was not lost on the Union,and engendered deep animosity which lasted for much of the rest of the century. Fortunately, farsighted men such as Theodore Roosevelt and the Prince of Wales sparked the great partnership that would be the bulwark of freedom in the 20th century. They made a reality of Bismarcks observation that the greatest strategic fact of that century would be that the Americans spoke English. Peter Tsouras, author of Gettysburg: an alternative history American Civil War Viewpoints: The American Civil War made us what we are by Ken Burns It was Southerners themselves who brought down the Confederacy by David Williams It was British arms that sustained the Confederacy during the American Civil War by Peter Tsouras WASHINGTON (AP) The defense secretary's decision to review military standards on combat and physical fitness and appearance opens a Pandoras box of widely differing rules among the services. And it will raise a crucial question: Should there be a cookie-cutter approach, or should service differences, evolving social norms and recruiting realities play a role in policy decisions? Pete Hegseth has been very public about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women, and he warned there would be reviews to address the issues. He is a staunch proponent of making all standards the same, regardless of gender, and military officials are braced for changes as reviews continue. In a March 12 memo, Hegseth said the undersecretary for personnel must gather information on military standards pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards. We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the worlds most lethal and effective fighting force, he wrote. The effort is seen as a broadside against women serving on the front lines which they have been doing successfully for years. Hegseth's memo calls for a review of how standards have changed and the impact of those shifts since Jan. 1, 2015 the year the Defense Department opened all combat jobs to women. And it raises questions about whether he wants to make all fitness tests the same for the services and make them all gender- and age-neutral or whether he will set minimum standards and allow the services to require more stringent requirements as desired. Eliminating the current policy of scoring annual fitness tests based on age and gender could hurt retention and recruitment if troops are suddenly told to meet a new, dramatically harder requirement. Such changes are generally phased in over time. Here's a look at the current standards. Physical fitness tests The military has long had what is largely a two-part system for physical fitness standards: ___Routine annual fitness tests with different requirements based on gender and age. ___More grueling standards for specific combat, special operations, infantry, armor, pararescue jumpers and other jobs that are the same for everyone in that occupation, and are not adjusted for age or gender. Right now, the fitness tests are a hodgepodge. Each service has basic tests that all service members must pass once or twice a year. For every service, the tests vary. Scoring is adjusted for gender and age. For example: A 20-year-old man must complete a run in a faster time than a woman or a 30-year-old man in order to receive the maximum score. Fitness tests used to be simpler: a run, push-ups and sit-ups. They evolved over time and now can include options. For example, Air Force service members can do either a 1 1/2-mile run or a sprint. Other services will, at times, allow biking or rowing as a cardio substitute for the run; planks are now more widely used than sit-ups. The Army and Marines have more extensive fitness tests. The Army, in a major overhaul several years ago, expanded its fitness test to six events, including a dead lift, run, planks, push-ups, standing power throw and a combination sprint/drag/carry. The events were meant to mimic real-world military circumstances. An early plan to make that test gender and age neutral was scrapped after studies showed problems. The Marine Corps has two tests a year. In the first half, Marines take a physical fitness test that includes a three-mile run, pull-ups and planks. In the second half of the year, they take a combat fitness test that includes an 880-meter run in combat boots, an ammo-can lift and an exercise that mimics troops maneuvers under fire. The maneuver portion includes an obstacle course with a low crawl, high crawl and sprint, as well as dragging a person and using the firemans carry. Job-specific courses and standards Specific military jobs like special operations, infantry, armor and pararescue jumping require different, higher-level physical and often mental and psychological tests, requirements and qualification courses. Those standards require everyone to meet the same gender- and age-neutral requirements. For example, an Army soldier who wants to be a Green Beret or a sailor who wants to be a SEAL must pass those grueling months-long qualification courses. Also, after the Pentagon allowed women to be in all combat jobs, the Army set specific fitness standards for each military occupation that are the same regardless of sex or age. Recruits who want to serve in an infantry or armor job must pass a specific physical assessment that has higher, more significant demands, in order to sign a contract for that specialty. Other standards Over the years, a wide array of standards and requirements have been adjusted for reasons ranging from religious tolerance to recruiting and evolving societal trends. In large part, they are driven by recruiting struggles and the need to woo those from a changing universe of American young people, including those with less academic schooling or people from states where marijuana is legal. The Navy, for example, began in 2022 to enlist more recruits who score very low on the Armed Services Qualification Test. That was to help meet recruiting goals. A year later, it began to bring in people who didnt graduate from high school or get a GED. Both were shifts that the other services have largely avoided. The Navy argued that it needed those lower-scoring recruits to fill jobs that involve intense manual labor. Hegseth has said little about that type of standard and has focused on physical rather than mental fitness. In addition, several services have changed policies on hair and beards. They now allow different buns and ponytails for women, and beards in certain circumstances for either medical or religious reasons. And most of the services have relaxed policies on marijuana in recent years. Similarly, they have all loosened restrictions on the size and placement of tattoos, opening the door to full-sleeve tattoos. Most now allow small ones on the neck or finger. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded Yemen overnight into Saturday, reportedly killing at least one person as the American military acknowledged earlier bombing a major military site in the heart of Sanaa controlled by the Houthi rebels. The full extent of the damage and possible casualties wasnt immediately clear. The attacks followed a night of airstrikes early Friday that appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Meanwhile, satellite photos analyzed by the AP show a mysterious airstrip just off Yemen in a key maritime chokepoint now appears ready to accept flights and B-2 bombers within striking distance of the country Saturday. New strikes come as US releases video of one bombing The strikes into Saturday targeted multiple areas in Yemen under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthis, including the capital, Sanaa, and in the governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, rebel-controlled media reported. The strikes in Saada killed one person and wounded four others, the Houthi-run SABA news agency said. SABA identified the person killed as a civilian. Houthi fighters and their allies often arent in uniform. However, analysts believe the rebels may be undercounting the fatalities given the strikes have been targeting military and intelligence sites run by the rebels. Many of the strikes haven't been fully acknowledged by the Houthis or the U.S. military while the rebels also tightly control access on the ground. One strike early Friday, however, has been confirmed by the U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees its Mideast operations. It posted a black-and-white video early Saturday showing an airstrike targeting a site in Yemen. While it didn't identify the location, an AP analysis of the footage's details corresponds to a known strike Friday in Sanaa. The footage shows the bomb striking the military's general command headquarters held by the Houthis, something the rebels have not reported. The Houthi-controlled Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry in Sanaa separately said U.S. strikes Friday destroyed broadcasting stations, communication towers and the messaging network in Amran and Saada governorates. The strikes in Amran around the Jebel Aswad, or Black Mountain, had appeared particularly intense. US campaign follows Houthi shipping threats The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis now say have killed at least 58 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far. The attacks greatly raised the Houthis profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemens decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab worlds poorest nation. The Houthis have begun threatening both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two American allies in the region, over the U.S. strikes. That's even as the nations, which have sought a separate peace with the Houthis, have stayed out of the new U.S. airstrike campaign. An AP analysis of satellite photos from Saturday shows the American military has moved at least four long-range stealth B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean a base far outside of the range of the rebels that avoids using allies Mideast bases. Three had been earlier seen there this week. That means a fourth of all the nuclear-capable B-2s that America has in its arsenal are now deployed to the base. The Biden administration used the B-2 with conventional bombs against Houthi targets last year. The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has launched attacks from the Red Sea and the American military plans to bring the carrier USS Carl Vinson from Asia as well. Meanwhile, France said its sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, was in Djibouti, an East African nation on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The French have shot down Houthi drones in the past, but they are not part of the American campaign there. Mysterious airstrip in Bab el-Mandeb appears ready Satellite images Friday from Planet Labs PBC show an airstrip now appears ready on Mayun Island, a volcanic outcropping in the center of the Bab el-Mandeb. The images showed the airstrip had been painted with the designation markings 09 and 27 to the airstrips east and west respectively. A Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis had acknowledged having equipment on Mayun, also known as Perim. However, air and sea traffic to Mayun has linked the construction to the UAE, which backs a secessionist force in Yemen known as the Southern Transitional Council. World powers have recognized the islands strategic location for hundreds of years, especially with the opening of the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The work on Mayun follows the completion of a similar airstrip likely constructed by the UAE on Abd al-Kuri Island, which rises out of the Indian Ocean near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. Catcher Rene Pinto has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Triple-A Reno by the Diamondbacks, according to Alex Weiner of AZ Sports. Pinto does not have the requisite service time or previous outright necessary to reject the assignment, so hell remain in the organization as non-roster depth going forward. Pinto entered camp with Arizona in the mix to back up Gabriel Moreno alongside Adrian Del Castillo and Jose Herrera. The job ultimately went to Herrera, which necessitated the club designating Pinto for assignment as he had no minor league options remaining. The 28-year-old signed with the Rays out of Venezuela as an amateur and made his pro debut back in 2014. Hes spent his entire pro career in a Rays uniform prior to this winter, when the Rays DFAd him in November and he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles. He stuck with Baltimore throughout much of the offseason but was DFAd once again to make room for Charlie Morton on the clubs 40-man roster, at which point he was claimed by Arizona. Pinto made his big league debut with the Rays back in 2022. The cup of coffee lasted only 25 games, and he hit just .213/.241/.325 during that time. Despite that meager performance in the majors, however, Pinto turned in a strong season at Triple-A as he slashed a strong .266/.320/.521 across 73 games at the level. That was enough to earn Pinto additional opportunities in Tampa, and he generally performed much better in them. 2023 saw Pinto appear in 38 games in the majors, hitting a respectable .252/.267/.456 with six homers in just 103 trips to the plate. That intriguing combination of power and strong defense behind the plate was enough to make the Rays comfortable making Pinto their starting catcher to open the 2024 season. Unfortunately, Pinto didnt last very long in the role. While he hit a respectable .214/.292/.429 that clocked in above league average over 19 games, those would be the only 19 games Pinto would play in the majors last year as he ceded playing time to a tandem of Ben Rortvedt and Alex Jackson. The catcher didnt exactly go on to make a case for himself to get another shot in the majors upon being optioned to Triple-A, either, hitting just .191/.257/.373 in 53 games for the clubs Durham affiliate. Now that Pinto has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the minors, he likely stands as the next man up to help out behind the plate in the event of an injury to either Moreno or Herrera. Normally, that role would appear more likely to go to Del Castillo given that he remains on the 40-man roster while Pinto does not, Weiner notes that Del Castillo has been placed on the minor leagues 7-day injured list. Its unclear what ailment is bothering Del Castillo or how long hell be out of action at this point, but until he returns he wont be able to serve as a fill-in catcher in the majors fro the Diamondbacks. MLive journalist Fuad Shalhout performs Asr prayer during Ramadan on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at Dyewood Islamic Center in Flint Township. (MLive file photo). Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com GENESEE COUNTY, MI A Linden resident was shocked to find a wildcat wandering outside her property this month. Meanwhile, as Ramadan ends, MLive journalist Fuad Shalhout is sharing some of his experiences from the sacred Muslim period of reflection. These are just a couple of the stories that made the headlines in the Flint area this past week. A roundup of some of the weeks top headlines can be found below: MLive journalist shares personal reflections on Ramadans spiritual significance As Muslims throughout the world observed Ramadan this year, MLive journalist Fuad Shalhout provided an inside look at his own personal experience as a Muslim during this time of fasting and spiritual reflection. From praying to balancing his work and spiritual life during Ramadan, Shalhout offers a unique perspective on the sacred Islamic tradition. He also reflects on the significance of fasting and charity during this time. Ramadan allows me to slow down, take a deep breath, and thank Allah each day to have a good job Im happy with, Shalhout said. Even in the busiest moments, I find pockets of stillnesswhether its stepping away for a quick prayer or simply taking a deep breath to recenter. Read the full story here. State orders Flint council candidate to remove misleading and improper campaign billboard The state of Michigan issued a cease-and-desist letter to a Flint City Council candidate this past week ordering them to remove language from a billboard that falsely suggests that they were previously elected to the council seat they are running for in the citys May 6 special election. The letter was issued by the Michigan Department of Attorney General after it received a complaint about the campaign advertisement on the billboard, located on Carpenter Road in Flint. The advertisement asks voters to reelect 3rd Ward candidate Beverly Biggs Leavy, even though she has never been elected to the council. You are ... instructed to forthwith remove the term re-elect from the campaign billboard and to refrain from the use of this term in any and all campaign ads or materials of any nature, the letter to Biggs-Leavy says. Read the full story here. Guiding force of more than 50 years at Michigan school district has library named in her honor A librarian who has been working for Flint Community Schools for about 53 years was honored during a surprise ceremony at Doyle-Ryder Elementary School in Flint this past week. During the emotional ceremony, librarian Sharon Burdt learned that the schools library, which was renovated about two years ago, now bears her name. She was also praised for her longtime dedication to the district by several speakers, including district staff, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, and the students shes worked with across multiple generations. Through her passion for education and steadfast commitment to student success, Sharon has inspired generations by instilling a love of reading, exploration, and lifelong learning, Doyle-Ryder Principal Natoya Coleman said during the ceremony. Read the full story here. Elusive bobcat spotted on security camera at Michigan home A bobcat sighting was reported by a Linden resident after footage of one of the animals was captured on their doorbell camera as it passed by her property before bolting away. The footage was captured early on the morning of March 23, and discovered by the resident, Alana Stamper, soon after. I thought I have seen them before but Ive never gotten them on camera, Stamper said. Stamper was surprised to see the bobcat, but sightings like this arent entirely unheard of in communities like Linden. Read the full story here. Nessel says Flint water crisis prosecution costs can be accounted for in 8 weeks The Michigan Department of Attorney General should soon be able to provide information regarding the offices spending on criminal prosecutions that stemmed from the Flint Water Crisis. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that these costs would be accounted for in about eight weeks in an email to state Rep. Angela Rigas, the chair of the state House Oversight Committees Weaponization of State Government Subcommittee, this past week. House Oversight and the Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government are finally pulling back the curtain on a critical issue thats been years in the making, Rigas said in a statement. Many of our residents care deeply about the money spent on these prosecutions and want the details to come to light. Read the full story here. Teenager accused of double homicide in Flint to face trial A pretrial hearing has been set for the 19-year-old Flint man, Ryan Davis, who allegedly shot and killed two teenage boys, 13-year-old Dontavis Moore and 15-year-old Dominique Ward, this past summer. Davis is scheduled to appear before a Genesee County Circuit Court judge on April 21 and faces about 15 total charges stemming from the shooting, including two counts of first-degree murder. Read the full story here. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. DETROIT, MI Police are investigating a possible shooting stemming from a road rage incident in the late hours of Saturday, March 29, officials said. Troopers responded to a call on I-94, near Conner, in Detroit at 11:40 p.m. Saturday, according to a state police report shared on X, formerly Twitter. The caller reported a motorist in a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed on the brakes after pulling in front of his vehicle, then sped away. The caller stated he saw the Jeep parked on the shoulder near Conner when he heard three gunshots and saw the muzzle flashes as he drove by at freeway speeds, the state police report read. A (canvass) of the area did not recover any evidence. Troopers reported the callers vehicle featured one bullet hole. The caller was not injured. It is only driving. First Lt. Mike Shaw, of the state police, said in a statement. There is no reason to get involved in arguments with other drivers, let alone use a gun in that argument. He said witnesses of the road rage incident can provide information to investigators by calling the state police tip line at (855) 642-4847 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 773-2587. YPSILANTI A beloved downtown Ypsilanti restaurant has reopened with a new look and some classic menu items. Jason Mitchell opened Haabs Barrel House in February after a remodel of the former Haabs Restaurant that preserved most of the buildings historic interior, including the belt-driven fans that first drew Mitchell, a former HVAC mechanic, to the space. Mitchell had been walking past the shuttered restaurant after it closed in 2022, when the paddle-shaped fans caught his eye through the window. More than a year later, hes writing a new chapter in Haabs history. READ MORE: Our customers were family. Haabs Restaurant closing after 87 years in Ypsilanti Mitchell and his business partners, Katie Nelson and Mike Nelson, owned Distillery Livonia in 2020. When the team decided to relocate in late 2023, the chance to revive a downtown Ypsi storefront offered a change of pace. Renovations to Haabs included a new hand-built bar made from live-edge maple, reclaimed wood paneling, updated seating and a full-house karaoke and lighting system. The 1932 restaurants original hand-hewn beams, tin ceiling and wall tiles and the famous fan system were preserved. Mitchell worked with Haabs Mike Kabat to source some of the ingredients that Haabs Restaurant customers loved, including the breading for the restaurants famous fried chicken and the recipe for Haabs meatloaf, which has proven to be a best-seller. To add their own flair, Barrel House owners are bringing in a smoker that they plan to use for chicken, corned beef and pizza. Also new to the menu are house-made chips, truffle fries and new entrees like lamb chops and chicken Parmesean. Mitchell and the Nelsons have also added nightly karaoke and a stage for live music, and plans are in the works to build an outdoor patio over the summer. So far the restaurant has been a hit Mitchell says theyve already hosted Haabs faithful and groups like the Washtenaw County Bar Association and local business groups. Mitchell says Haabs Barrel House will also carry on several of its 87-year predecessors traditions, including offering a menu with 1930s pricing one night each year and hosting customers for a Thanksgiving meal. Haabs Barrel House, 18 W. Michigan Ave., is open every day for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and serves dinner each day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Customers can place orders online on the restaurants website or call (734) 596-7500 to place reservations for large parties. HOLLAND, MI Firefighters knocked down an early morning fire at a Holland-based automotive parts manufacturer. Holland Department of Public Safety officials in a statement said there were no injuries reported at ATC Drivetrain, 926 Waverly, following a fire crews engaged beginning about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, March 30. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke inside with a fire located in palletized materials in the building, the statement read. Crews extinguished the fire and then removed crates containing lithium-ion battery packs for vehicles, placing them outdoors to allow them to continue to burn in a controlled manner, the departments statement read. Fire crews cleared the scene by 8 a.m. Department officials said, despite the fire damage, ATC Drivetrain will be able to reoccupy the building and resume operations soon. Firefighters will continue to investigate the cause of the fire, Holland officials said. Fresh off releasing her latest album, "What It Takes," on March 21, 2025, May Erlewine is embarking on a short tour with multiple dates in her home state of Michigan, along with shows in Wisconsin and Illinois. Provided by May Erlewine TRAVERSE CITY, MI For lovers of Michigan roots music, May Erlewine has likely become a household name in the past 20-plus years. In that time, the Traverse City-based songstress has released numerous albums, appeared at countless festivals and continued to gain musical momentum. That momentum lately has taken her to listening rooms across Europe, Americas Northeast and the Rocky Mountains. It also took her back into the Cinnamon Ranch studio in Manistee National Forest, where she recorded her latest album, What It Takes, which was released March 21. As she prepares to embark on an album-release tour with multiple Michigan dates, Erlewine referred to the release as a freeing collection of songs. It feels very honest, as I try to be in all of them, she said. But I think as we grow up, we sort of can be more honest with ourselves and I think that shows in the songs, as well. It feels like an album Ive always wanted to make. Traverse City, Michigan songwriter May Erlewine recently released "What It Takes." Provided by May Erlewine Like Erlewines last album, The Real Thing, What It Takes was produced by Theo Katzman with Packy Lundholm on guitar, Joel Gottschalk on bass, Phil Cook on keys and Katzman on drums. It mattered a lot to me the people that were in that room, Erlewine said. They are just really tender people, all really willing to go all in on the emotional content. While What It Takes has its tender moments, as do all her albums, Erlewines latest offering digs deeper and gets louder than much of what shes done in the past. All of the songs, even the ballads, have a little more of that energy in them, she said. Erlewine said she felt she had to earn that courage to rock out and share her voice in what feels like a new space for her. In some ways, shes honoring the early stages of her musical life, while in others she feels shes evolved into this space. I think theres a lot of rage in this record and I think a lot of that comes from feeling comfortable to express some of that as a woman, she said. Its taken a long time for me to feel safe enough in myself to share that in a way that felt productive and not just angry or angsty. The album opens with the gentle, yet defiant, If You Want to Talk About Me, before segueing into the more upbeat Creature. The heart of the album is Animal, a constant crescendo song that Erlewine describes as a cry and a reminder for everyone to reconnect with themselves in what has become a distracting, consumer- and political-driven society. Its a really hard thing to have something consuming your mind that isnt good for you, she said. And I think right now were all experiencing that on a lot of levels, just by trying to understand whats happening in our country. Thats why the rock and roll aspect of the album kind of helped because it feels good and cathartic to rock out. I think thats why so many rock and roll songs share heavier sentiments because in the context of that music, its a little bit easier medicine to take. Erlewines album release tour kicks off Wednesday, April 2, for the first of two nights at Midtown GR in Grand Rapids. Shell follow that with shows at Bells Eccentric Cafe April 4 and 5 in Kalamazoo, a night at the Ark in Arbor, and with dates in Traverse City and Marquette. Joining Erlewine on stage will be Lundholm and Gottschalk, along with drummer Ben Rose and Charlie Millard on keys. Katzman will perform special opening sets for the first week of shows, while R.O. Shapiro will open the final four shows. For more information and tickets, visit mayerlewine.com. A complete tour schedule is as follows: A photo of a large classroom in Kalamazoo Central High School taken sometime between 1881 and 1898. The school replaced the "Old Union" school at the same site. This structure burned down in 1898 and was replaced by the current building which is now called the Community Education Center. A new Kalamazoo Central High School opened on Drake Road in 1972. (Gazette File Photo. Kalamazoo Gazette) Kalamazoo Gazette KALAMAZOO, MI -- Today, high school is a rite of passage for students in Michigan and beyond. Thanks to a landmark lawsuit settled in the mid-1800s, all students are guaranteed admission to free high school in Michigan. The lawsuit, known as the Kalamazoo School Case may have set the precedent for free high school across the rest of the country as well, scholars say. The case is one of multiple reasons why Kalamazoo is known as an education city. Kalamazoo Public Schools is known for The Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship offering KPS students free admission to any university in the state. The scholarship was the first of its kind and spurred similar scholarships in other cities across the nation. But more than 100 years before Kalamazoo fought for free college, it had to fight for free high school. The Kalamazoo School Case case is one of 44 legal milestones in Michigan, according to the Michigan Bar Association. The Kalamazoo Case changed the landscape of public education in Michigan and served as a landmark for educational reform across the United States, reads a plaque at 714 S. Westnedge Ave. The historic marker at Old Central High School. A landmark Michigan Supreme Court decision in an 1874 Kalamazoo case determined that school boards could use tax dollars to fund high schools. Kalamazoo Gazette The plot of land is home to the old Kalamazoo Central High School, now the Kalamazoo Public Schools Community Education Center. This year, the city celebrated 100 years of Chenery Auditorium inside the old Kalamazoo Central High School. Centuries before, the land was home to The Union School, surrounded by apple trees and pear trees. This is where Kalamazoo students took the first free high school classes in the area. 1800s education In the 1850s, the future for 14- and 15-year-old Michiganders was no guarantee. Some children went to work on farms and fields when they completed their primary education, which ended with what we now consider middle school. At the time, Michigan was primarily an agricultural state, said Lynn Houghton, regional history curator at the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. You could do anything you wanted to, you wouldnt need a high school diploma to do (things) at that point in time, Houghton said. Students who wanted to continue studying enrolled in expensive, private secondary programs, a version of what we now know as high school. After a Michigan law allowed four smaller districts to combine into one union district, the Trustees of Kalamazoo purchased a plot of land at 714 S. Westnedge Ave. to build the school. Kalamazoos first free high school program, housed in The Union School, opened in 1858. The Union School was divided into primary, intermediate and high school sections with 975 students studying there, according to the Kalamazoo Public Library. In 1859, shortly after the school opened, an act in the Michigan Legislature allowed for the creation of Kalamazoos school board, according to The Michigan Search for Educational Standards, a book published in 1969. The act also allowed the community to vote on taxes to fund the school. That was a very big piece of legislation, Houghton said. Roughly 146 of the 975 students at The Union School were there for high school. Most were women, according to KPL. High school lasted for three years. Students learned algebra, English, history, mental philosophy (now known as psychology), science and economics. The old Kalamazoo Central High School on May 28, 2010 at 714 S. Westnedge Ave. The old Kalamazoo Central High School opened in the early 1900s after The Union School was destroyed in a fire. Kalamazoo Gazette Some students were studying to become teachers themselves. It was still about 50 years before they could receive teaching certificates from nearby Western State Normal School (now Western Michigan University), which wouldnt open until 1903. Other colleges, like University of Michigan, founded in 1817, were already offering a college education. An 1873 lawsuit Not all Kalamazoo residents were happy that taxes were supporting high school classes. Some residents believed that such education should be paid for by the parents of the students who desired it, wrote Charles R. Starring and James O. Knauss in The Michigan Search for Educational Standards. Charles E. Stuart, a former U.S. senator from Michigan, along with Theodore P. Sheldon and Henry Breese sued the Kalamazoo school board in 1873, arguing the school board had no legal standing to levy taxes to fund the high school. But judges didnt agree. The local circuit court ruled in favor of Kalamazoo, saying the law gave the Kalamazoo Board of Education the power to establish a high school and tax residents to fund the school. Though Kalamazoos high school opened before the law was created, public approval of the school was evident because the high school had been operational for 15 years before the lawsuit, the judge wrote. When the plaintiffs appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court, the justices ruled unanimously in favor of the district as well, in 1874. A statue of Thomas M. Cooley at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School Center for Research and Study in downtown Lansing on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com Judge Thomas M. Cooley wrote the state of Michigan had a general policy beginning in 1817, prior to the adoption of the state constitution, in the direction of free schools, so education was within the reach of all the children. Its hard to say how the Kalamazoo School Case was applied to other school districts across the country establishing their own free high schools, Starring and Knauss wrote. But multiple historians have cited the case as a landmark in the development of public education and influenced all subsequent decisions in other states, Starring and Knauss wrote. Knauss and Starring wrote: It may be that thoughtful persons in many states had already accepted the tax-supported high school as a desirable and inevitable extension of the primary schools, so that the Kalamazoo decision, written in clear and eloquent terms by one of the nations foremost jurists, may have appeared at the right moment to formulate decisively an already prevailing opinion among those who were shaping the public school systems of the country. In Michigan, at least, the decision set a legal precedent for all students to enroll in free high school. Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive offers free email news alerts. Click here to sign up for alerts or for the daily 3@3 Kalamazoo news roundup. Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page here. NANNING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Just days ahead of "Sanyuesan," a traditional ethnic festival in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a unique musical endeavor was unfolding in a kindergarten in the heart of Nanning, the regional capital. Inside the brightly-lit auditorium, Huang Shaozheng, a retired English professor in his 60s and a Zhuang culture advocate, along with Jake Philip Tucker, a 28-year-old English teacher and trained musician from Britain, were on a musical quest to blend the timeless folk songs of Liu Sanjie, the legendary "Song Fairy" and a cultural icon of the local Zhuang culture, with a contemporary flair, bridging heritage and modernity. The "Sanyuesan" festival is the perfect platform for this cultural fusion. Held annually on the third day of the third lunar month, this beloved event, which falls on March 31 this year, is set to transform the region into a kaleidoscope of music, dance, and tradition, drawing together China's rich array of ethnic groups. The pupils, in the distinctly colored costumes of the Zhuang, Han, Yao, and Hui ethnic groups, turned the campus into a lively parade of Guangxi's rich cultural tapestry. "Throwing red embroidered balls is a 'Sanyuesan' tradition," explained Sherry Zeng, the principal of the kindergarten. "Historically thrown as tokens of affection, here they remind the children of the culture of the place they live." In the midst of this festive ambiance, Huang and Tucker collaborated to breathe new life into Liu Sanjie's songs. "Try this: 'Follow me all the way. On both banks of the river, we are singing along,'" suggested Huang with a tone that was patient yet firm. With a Ukulele slung casually over his shoulder, Tucker adjusted the rhythm and responded. "How about this? I put a little western spin onto it." Their partnership was a seamless blend of tradition and innovation as Huang's profound knowledge of Zhuang culture and Liu Sanjie's legacy guided Tucker's contemporary musical flair. The session crescendoed as the kindergarten students joined in. Clad in colorful attires, the children were joining Huang and Tucker in a joyful chorus: "By the mountains, under the stars, we sing as one," accompanied by Tucker's Ukulele and the melodies they have known since infancy. Their voices resonated with a cultural essence at the heart of the "Sanyuesan" festival. "It's about giving them a sense of pride," said Huang as he gazed with avuncular jocularity at the engaged faces of the children. "They're the future of this culture." For these young voices, each a small part of Guangxi's ethnic mosaic, the experience is both a celebration and a lesson in heritage, said Zeng. Liu Sanjie is more than just a figure of the distant past. Her legend, tracing back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), tells of a young woman who taps into the wellspring of music to face down oppression, earning her a place as an immortal symbol of freedom among Zhuang ethnic group. During "Sanyuesan," her songs, steeped in romance and reverence for Guangxi's breathtaking landscapes, echo across the festival, threading tradition through the pulsating festivities. Huang's ambitious project to translate these melodies into English is no small feat. "It's particularly demanding to preserve the thematic and poetic integrity of the originals while making them easily accessible to those who don't even speak a word of Mandarin," said Huang. Yet, his efforts are paying off, as Liu Sanjie's voice begins to echo far beyond her native mountains with the publication of "Liu Sanjie and her free mountain songs" in 2021, which renders the scripts of Liu Sanjie opera and other popular Liu Sanjie's ballads into modern English with singable lyrics and musical notation. Australian writer Mark Tredinnick wrote in the preface to a book of Liu's folk tunes that Huang translated, he wrote of allowing one to "hear the heartbeat of the earth -- how the earth loves us and how it would be loved in return." This kindergarten event was a microcosm of "Sanyuesan" and Huang's broader vision: to bridge Guangxi's ethnic heritage with international appreciation. As the session ended, the children's cheers mingled with the fading notes of Ukulele, a triumph taking root within the campus walls, according to Huang. "It brings people together," said Huang. "Through these songs, we're not just preserving our past, we're inviting others to join us. That's what culture is all about." "This kind of cross-language exchange is super fun and important," said Tucker. "It helps introduce the authentic Zhuang culture to new audiences like me and other expats, and hints at its potential to go global." A view of a memorial on Thursday, March 27, 2025 set up for Kane E. Crockett on a tree at the intersection of 18th and S. Sherman streets in Bay City, Mich. Crockett was shot and killed near that intersection on March 15, 2025. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com BAY COUNTY, MI What started as a typical Friday night in Bay City ended tragically. Meanwhile, artifacts hidden by high tides on the Saginaw River have revealed themselves in recent weeks as they usually do once or twice a year. Those stories and more are below in this weeks roundup of headlines you may have missed. How a Bay City mans night out with friends turned into a fatal shooting It started as a typical Friday night in Bay City. Three friends visited a South End bar, looking to wind down with some drinks and games of pool. Their night out ended tragically when a gunman allegedly tried robbing them, then fatally wounded one of them when he resisted the holdup. Read the full story here. Shipwrecks emerge in Bay City as Saginaw River water levels drop 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. Read the full story here. Longtime Bay City Public Schools teacher dies Michelle Bontekoe, a 30-year educator with Bay City Public Schools, died March 21, the district announced. She was 53. It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Michelle Bontekoe, a beloved educator who dedicated her career to the students of Bay City Public Schools since 1995, Bay City Public Schools Interim Superintendent Rick Seebeck said in a statement. Over nearly thirty years, Michelle touched countless lives with her kindness, passion for teaching, and unwavering commitment to students at Trombley, MacGregor, and most recently, Hampton Elementary School. District staff who had the pleasure of working with Michelle spoke of her dedication, positive impact on families, patience, and humor. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she impacted. Her presence will be deeply missed. Read the full story here. Bay County man who admitted to stabbing ex-wife 27 times in public may withdraw plea Earlier this year, a Bay County man pleaded guilty to repeatedly stabbing his ex-wife at an Auburn gas station. He may soon withdraw his plea, though, as a judge indicated he wont follow through on a sentencing agreement. Gregg I. Atwood, 42, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran for sentencing the morning of Monday, March 24. Just prior to the hearing, the judge met in chambers with Bay County Prosecutor Michael P. Kanuszewski and defense attorney Jason N. Ball to discuss Atwoods advisory sentencing guidelines. My initial feeling is theyre insufficient under the circumstances, Sheeran said on taking the bench. The guidelines had been calculated at 34 to 100 months. Read the full story here. Bay Valley Resort plans boosted as Bay County approves brownfield redevelopment plans County officials on Tuesday, March 25, took steps toward breathing new life into a once popular site for weddings, proms and other events. The Bay County Board of Commissioners in a special meeting voted 5-0 to approve a brownfield plan for the former Bay Valley Resort & Conference Center, 2470 Old Bridge Road, in Frankenlust Township. Commissioners Christopher Rupp and Jerry Crete were absent. Approving the measure will allow developers with Storie Co., an Indianapolis-based hotel investment, asset management, and development firm, to move forward with a $15 million project at the once booming location. Read the full story here. Craving fried chicken? Popeyes is now open in Bay County Bay County has a new option for chicken enthusiasts. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now open for business on Euclid Avenue in Bangor Township. The location at 1000 N. Euclid Ave. opened Saturday, March 22, on the former site of a demolished motel. Popeyes is known for Louisiana-style fried chicken and chicken sandwiches. Read the full story here. Womans body found along M-25 in Bay County Police are investigating a body found along M-25 in Bay County. About 12:55 p.m. on Friday, March 21, a Michigan Department of Transportation employee was working in the area of westbound M-25 between Gies Street and Interstate 75 in Bangor Township when they found the body of an adult woman. The employee called 911 and Michigan State Police troopers responded to the scene. Troopers preliminary findings are that the body had been there for at least a month. Troopers do not currently suspect the woman died of foul play. Read the full story here. Bay City man posted police would have to kill him during standoff. He surrendered. With police surrounding his house, a Bay City man posted on Facebook he would not come out peacefully and officers would have to kill him. Not long after, he lit fireworks inside his house, then stepped outside and surrendered. The incident began with Bay City police responding to a domestic violence complaint about 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at a residence in the 100 block of Chandler Street on the citys West Side. Read the full story here. Bay City traffic crashes double in area congested by closed, tolled bridges If youve driven through Bay City in the last four months, youve likely noticed traffic isnt moving as smoothly as it once did. Its not a surprising development, considering one of the citys four drawbridges is closed for reconstruction and two more are charging tolls. As a result, crashes in the area have markedly increased in fact, more than doubled when compared to the same span in 2024. Read the full story here. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. LANSING, MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state economic development officials concluded a week-long trip to Europe aimed at exploring trade and partnership opportunities. Michigan is ready to build on our rich legacy of innovation and manufacturing excellence and grow our leadership in agriculture, defense, and aerospace, Whitmer said in a statement. I was proud to travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland to strengthen our relationships with business and government leaders, tell our story, and make the case for Michigan as the best place to innovate, build the future, and grow. We are opening doors for new investments, competing for projects and good-paying jobs, and securing Michigans place at the forefront of innovation. The states ties to the defense and aerospace industries were a key focus of the trip, officials with Whitmers office said. Whitmer was joined by Michigan Economic Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Quentin L. Messer, Jr.; Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Tim Boring; and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Scott Bowen. Officials said the delegation planned visits with European companies with a presence in Michigan such as GlenDimplex Group as well as Perrigo, both based in Dublin; and Kilkenny, Ireland-based Glanbia. The Michigan group planned roundtables with businesses including Coventry, United Kingdom-based Midlands Aerospace Alliance, Dublin-based Enterprise Ireland, and the American Chamber of Commerce. This was a great opportunity to promote Michigan agriculture with important trade partners across the pond, and Im excited to continue our conversations, Boring said in a statement. Maintaining international partnerships not only supports fair trade opportunities these relationships can lead to new jobs and economic development." In his statement, Boring pointed to one of the delegations stops a plant operated by Glanbia as a perfect example of such an opportunity. Four years ago, the company opened one of the most technically advanced dairy processing facilities in the entire country through a joint venture with Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. and Select Milk Producers Inc., and I appreciated reiterating the importance of our dairy industry during our meeting this week, Boring said in a statement. Im also walking away feeling excited about some of the regenerative agriculture success in this region as we continue to make climate-smart practices a priority for the future of (agriculture) in Michigan. Bowen said the overseas trip was an opportunity to promote Michigan as a home for workers tied to such commercial partnerships. Michigan is a prime destination for tourism and offers world class natural resource opportunities for people who want to start a business and make a home here, Bowen said in a statement. Im proud to have had a chance to promote Michigans outdoor recreation opportunities, and to learn from our international partners about natural resource management in their countries. While the delegation was in Europe, a trade war heated up back home. President Donald Trump in recent weeks imposed a series of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, worrying economic experts about the impact on American businesses including in Michigan, which borders Canada. Whitmers trip abroad represented her second visit to Europe in less than four months. The governor visited Spain in November, seeking overseas investment in Michigans economy. Large hail, damaging winds, tornado possible with Sunday's severe weather threat in Michigan. Graphic provided by the NWS The severe weather threat has expanded across Lower Michigan today and looks to pack a punch with a forecast trifecta of damaging winds, large hail and even an isolated tornado risk. The timeframe is roughly 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. UPDATE - 3:04 P.M: Big bump up in damaging wind chances this afternoon and evening MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa detailed the severe weather threat and the storm systems expected timeline earlier today. Todays weather forecast has a multitude of issues. While a significant ice storm has made a mess in Northern Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula - downed trees, power lines, and power outages topping 90,000 - the threat for severe weather is looming for the bottom half of the Lower Peninsula, too. As the chances for instability in the atmosphere increase, the risk for severe weather rises. As the National Weather Service forecast map above shows, southern Lower Michigan is now in an orange enhanced Level 3 in the risk ladder of 1 to 5. This area includes Kalamazoo, Three Rivers, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit. There is a risk of severe weather this afternoon and evening across Lower Michigan, the NWS said. Primary concerns are damaging winds and large hail. However, a tornado or two is also possible. Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Saginaw, Flint and The Thumb are a step down, in the yellow Level 2 slight risk area, according to the NWS map. Todays threat is contingent on bringing instability into the area from the south and that is looking more likely, todays NWS forecast notes said. All hazards are in play today ... in order 1) Damaging Winds, 2) Large Hail and 3) Isolated Tornadoes. Wind very much looks to be the main threat but all 3 threats are possible today. Storms will be racing off to the north and northeast at 50 mph so while locally heavy rain is possible as the storms move through, they just will not remain in any one location for very long. Threat time frame remains in the afternoon and evening, especially from 2-10pm. More than 60K without power as Northern Michigan lashed by wind, ice storm. (Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive.com) Rodney Coleman-Robinson | MLive. An intense ice storm paired with gusty winds has left more than 60,000 homes and businesses without power in Northern Michigan - and more severe weather is on the way for Sunday into Monday for this already hard-hit area. Freezing rain and sleet have caused ice accumulations that have downed power lines and sent tree limbs and large parts of trees falling across roads and into yards. At least a couple homes have also been hit by falling trees, according to authorities and the National Weather Service. High winds up to 60 mph are forecast for parts of Michigan tomorrow, so more outages are expected. Consumers Energy is reporting more than 33,000 customers without power, most of those in Northern Michigan. Great Lakes Energy is reporting more than 28,000 customers in the dark. Gaylord, Grayling, Petoskey, Charlevoix and the Leelanau Peninsula are among the hard-hit areas. Great Lakes Energy said the ice and wind storm has damaged trees, powerlines and power poles today. GLE line crews, contract crews, tree trimming crews, and mutual aid assistance from other cooperative utilities continue efforts to restore power and repair damage to equipment, the Northern Michigan utility said. Downed power lines, broken poles, and trees across roads are impacting efforts. Continued bad weather is expected to cause more outages overnight and into tomorrow. If power is not restored by 10 p.m. tonight and is required, members should seek alternate arrangements. Authorities across Northern Michigan have asked people to stay off the roads because of the increasing danger of falling trees and downed power lines. Montmorency County issued a Shelter in Place order tonight for its residents. Early today, up to 2,000 utility line crews were to be stationed at Camp Grayling so they could be deployed where needed during the storm. We know the calendar says March, but Mother Nature is giving Michigan one more taste of winter! This morning, some of our neighbors woke up to icy conditions up north, and more is expected tonight into Sunday, Consumers Energy said tonight on social media. The forecast also shows the potential for wind gusts over 60 mph on Sunday. Were preparing by mobilizing over 600 crew members to respond to this wave of storms. A widespread ice storm that sent trees toppling and downed power lines Saturday has left a snarled mess across Northern Michigan. In this photo, an inch of ice is shown in Gaylord. Photo provided by Gaylord NWS A widespread ice storm that sent trees toppling and downed power lines Saturday has left a snarled mess across Northern Michigan, with more freezing rain, wind - and the chance for severe weather - in the forecast today. Up to an inch of ice is coating trees and roadways and power lines in some areas. And with high wind gusts expected today, more widespread power outages are expected. More than 88,000 homes and business were without power in those areas this morning, according to Consumers Energy and Great Lakes Energy. Utility crews are in the field, but extremely icy conditions and the amount of tree damage is likely to hamper the work. The most heavily impacted area stretches from Grayling and Oscoda up to Gaylord, Alpena and Rogers City, and over to Petoskey and Charlevoix, up to the Mackinac Bridge in the Lower Peninsula. Local police and sheriffs officials are warning people to stay off the roads, to stay home, and to go to local warming centers if they are without power. Temperatures are expected to drop Monday, exacerbating issues for those without power. And more damaging weather is on the way today, the National Weather Service said. Crippling impacts from the significant freezing rain event continue today, even if some places breach 32F, due to the sheer amount of ice that has built up on objects," NWS meteorologists in Gaylord said. Conditions got so bad overnight that Montmorency County pulled their Road Commission vehicles off the streets. The sheriff there issued a shelter in place warning for residents. In Emmet County - home to Petoskey and Harbor Springs - the sheriff has urged residents to stay off the roads. Due to the severe weather conditions affecting our area, the Emmet County Sheriffs Office is advising all residents to remain off the roadways unless it is an emergency. Our first responders are currently working tirelessly to clear downed trees from the roads, which are also covered in ice, Sheriff Matt Leirstein said in a statement posted on social media. Several roads have been closed due to obstructions from trees and debris, making driving conditions extremely hazardous. We are actively responding to calls for service across the county, and we urge everyone to avoid unnecessary travel to ensure your safety and the safety of others. If you must travel, please plan ahead and be prepared for emergency situations by bringing extra clothing, blankets, water, and food. Check in on family, friends, and neighbors to ensure their well-being during this time. The forecast shows the ice area shifting north to the eastern Upper Peninsula today. But the entire ice storm-affected area could see severe weather move in later today. This system is forecast to pack damaging wind gusts and large hail. Along the colder edge of this storm, an inch of snow could fall on top of the ice. What the NWS is saying about today: NEW DELHI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Up to 50 armed rebels called Naxals surrendered before security forces in India's central state of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, confirmed a senior police officer. Among those who surrendered were 14 Naxals who carried a cumulative award of 6.8 million Indian rupees (around 79,476 U.S. dollars) on their head. The federal government had vowed to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. TEHRAN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran has rejected direct talks with Washington in response to a letter from President Donald Trump. However, he emphasized that Iran has not closed the door on indirect negotiations, a pathway it has consistently kept open. Pezeshkian made the remarks during a cabinet meeting in Tehran, shedding light on Iran's official response to Trump's letter, which sought direct negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program. The letter, sent earlier this month, was conveyed through the United Arab Emirates, with Iran's response delivered to Washington via Oman. According to Pezeshkian, while Tehran declined the prospect of direct talks, it reiterated its openness to indirect negotiations, a stance it has maintained throughout the years. "We have never closed the door on indirect talks," he stated, adding that the failure to reach progress in past negotiations stemmed from unfulfilled promises by the U.S., which, he suggested, must be addressed to rebuild trust. "The U.S. behavior will determine the continuation of the negotiation path," he said, signaling that Iran's approach remains contingent on Washington's conduct. In early March, Trump said that he had sent a letter to Iran's leadership, proposing negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Thursday that Tehran had sent its official response through Oman the previous day, reiterating its refusal to direct negotiations, especially under the ongoing "maximum pressure" campaign and military threats from the U.S. However, he affirmed that indirect talks could continue, as they have in the past. The nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in May 2018, during Trump's first term, the U.S. withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to reduce its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have so far made little progress, with diplomatic initiatives stalled and tensions between Tehran and Washington remaining high. Actor Richard Chamberlain, known for 'The Thorn Birds' and 'Shogun,' dies at 90 Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept MANILA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A road rage shooting in Rizal province, east of Manila, injured three people on Sunday, local authorities said. Police said the shooting erupted on Sunday afternoon along a highway in Antipolo City. "The confrontation turned violent when the suspect allegedly opened fire, striking three individuals before fleeing the scene," police said. The victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. Video footage posted on social media showed the suspect drawing a gun and starting to shoot multiple times at helmet-clad motorcycle drivers by the roadside. The suspect then boarded an SUV and tried to flee after the shooting. Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares said police immediately arrested the suspect after the road rage. Police are investigating what triggered the road rage. Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda spotted arriving for lunch date following Sikandar release, watch here Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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 Govt to convert Vodafone Ideas Rs 36,950 crore dues into equity, stake to rise to 49% Aishwarya Dabhade 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 Aishwarya Dabhade 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 No sign of India tariff relief as US trade mission ends Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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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 NAY PYI TAW/MANDALAY/KUNMING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Since a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, several Chinese rescue teams have arrived in the Southeast Asian country and are racing against time to save lives together with local rescue teams. A 37-member rescue and medical team from China's Yunnan Province arrived at Myanmar's Yangon International Airport at around 7 a.m. local time on Saturday, carrying emergency supplies such as full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite phones and drones. The team immediately joined a Myanmar fire and rescue team and headed to the badly hit capital Nay Pyi Taw. On Saturday evening, the rescue team arrived in the capital and started rescue work at once. At 5 a.m. on Sunday, after an emergency rescue operation overnight, they rescued an elderly man trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of Ottara Thiri Private Hospital. On Sunday morning, Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited the hospital and extended his appreciation to members of the Chinese rescue team for their timely assistance. In Mandalay, another severely affected city, the first batch of members of China's Blue Sky Rescue arrived early Sunday and immediately started rescue work with local volunteers. A quake survivor in Mandalay was recovered at around 9:30 a.m. by members of the Blue Sky Rescue team from China's Hunan Province. At 6:30 a.m., more than 100 young volunteers of overseas Chinese in Myanmar started to carry out preliminary technical, information and logistical support work such as collecting information under the guidance of the rescue team. Officials from the Myanmar rescue department briefed the rescue team on Myanmar's arrangements for international rescue efforts. A local Chinese resident, surnamed Yang, told Xinhua early Sunday morning that many overseas Chinese living in Yangon drove more than 10 hours overnight to deliver supplies, such as antiseptics, gloves and N95 masks, to rescue teams in Mandalay. Many restaurants offered free meals to rescue workers. Relief supplies were rushed to the earthquake-stricken areas. On Saturday, China's Yunnan Province launched an emergency response mechanism to prepare tents, blankets, foldable beds and other relief supplies, with the first batch of supplies arriving in Myanmar on Saturday by air. On Saturday evening, more emergency relief supplies were seen going through the border check at Ruili Port on the China-Myanmar border. To ensure quick clearance of relief supplies, rescue workers and medical personnel, the China-Myanmar border has launched a post-earthquake emergency clearance coordination mechanism, operating 24 hours a day with a green channel for related personnel and supplies, officials from Kunming Customs said. About 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing in the massive earthquake in Myanmar, according to the country's State Administration Council on Sunday. 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 Energy is the next UPI: Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekanis vision for Indias future Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Heinous crimes in UP dropped 85 pc in last eight years, says Yogi government Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept JERUSALEM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel is prepared to negotiate an end to the conflict in Gaza, but only if Hamas surrenders its weapons and relinquishes control of the besieged enclave. Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel is ready to discuss a final resolution under which "Hamas leaders will be allowed to leave, we will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip, and we will enable the implementation of the Trump plan for voluntary immigration." He said military pressure on Hamas was proving effective, weakening the group's military and governance capabilities while creating conditions for the release of Israeli hostages. Netanyahu said the security cabinet had decided overnight to escalate military pressure, adding that "we are negotiating under fire, and therefore it is effective. We see that there are suddenly cracks." Denying allegations that the government is not prioritizing the hostages' return, Netanyahu said, "We are working and intend to bring them back. So far, the combination of military and political pressure has been the only factor securing the release of hostages." On Lebanon, he said the Israeli military was enforcing the ceasefire "firmly and optimally" and called on Beirut to prevent attacks from its territory. Netanyahu also expressed support for U.S. military action against Yemen's Houthis, saying, "We have an alliance with the greatest power in the world, and it stands behind us there and in other arenas without reservation." Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza on March 18, effectively ending a ceasefire with Hamas that had been in place since January 19. On Friday, Israel carried out an airstrike on Beirut, its first since signing a ceasefire with Hezbollah in November. The escalation has raised concerns of wider regional instability, prompting the international community to condemn the violence and call for restraint. Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept PM Modi praises RSS founder Hegdewar and Golwalkar on visit to RSS HQ in Nagpur 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Assam to grant child care leave for upto 2 years to single male govt employees: 'We've got you covered' Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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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 Elon Musk tells Rishi Sunak: AI friend would be 'great' for my son with a learning disability Ankita Sengupta 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 Nithin Kamath shares health update 14 months after getting a stroke: 'Body is almost...' Ankita Sengupta 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 Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept HOHHOT, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Hospitals in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are seeing an increasing number of Mongolian patients, who are drawn by the country's advanced technology, bilingual services and cost-saving policies. Enktuyaa, a 57-year-old from Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, recently underwent successful surgery for coronary heart disease at the International Mongolian Hospital of Inner Mongolia. "The doctors here are experienced and the equipment is advanced. I feel much better after the surgery," she said. Having suffered from worsening heart condition for years, Enktuyaa decided to seek treatment in China based on recommendations from friends. Due to the severity of her disease, the hospital in Inner Mongolia prioritized her case through a "green channel," streamlining admission. Her two-week treatment, costing around 4,000 yuan (about 557.5 U.S. dollars), exceeded Enktuyaa's expectations. "Communication was smooth and meals were tailored to my preferences," she noted. The hospital's international medical service department offers Mongolian patients seamless support from registration to hospitalization, coupled with a 20 percent discount on major diagnostic tests. In Erenhot, a border city in the autonomous region, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is drawing patients like Dawasurong, who sought acupuncture treatment for chronic lumbar and cervical issues."TCM is renowned in Mongolia. This second treatment has significantly eased my pain," he said. Naranmanda, who accompanied her husband, also had a pleasant treatment experience in Inner Mongolia. She said that therapies combining Western and traditional methods in China can address root causes of illness or discomfort. The Mongolian-TCM hospital in Erenhot treated nearly 30,000 Mongolian patients in 2024, while offering 20 percent discounts on tests costing over 100 yuan -- totaling 802,000 yuan in savings. Notably, this hospital provides 24/7 hotline support and bilingual staff. In addition, cross-border medical collaboration is deepening. Zhang Huujiyaa, president of the hospital, highlighted partnerships with Mongolian institutions, including staff exchanges, training and in the telemedicine field. "We send experts who provide free clinics in Mongolia and train their doctors here in China," he added. As China-Mongolia medical cooperation expands, more patients are finding renewed health thanks to medical services across the border. Fan Lijun, director of the Belt and Road Initiative Research Institute at Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences, emphasized that these efforts "strengthen professional ties and enhance public health outcomes." 'Couldn't care less' - Donald Trump shrugs off auto tariff impact in US Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept Myanmar hit by another 5.1 magnitude quake as death toll from devastating tremor mounts Aishwarya Dabhade 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 'Started own company only because Netscape didn't give me a job,' says Elon Musk Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in Beijing, capital of China, March 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, met with Ban Ki-moon, former UN secretary-general and chairman of Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, in Beijing on Saturday. Fu appreciated Ban's active support for the Global Development Initiative and efforts to promote cooperation among the international community. Noting that Ban has promoted exchanges and cooperation between UN agencies and Xinhua News Agency during his tenure as UN secretary-general, Fu said Xinhua is willing to deepen cooperation with the Ban Ki-moon foundation in areas such as news and communication, think tank exchanges, and joint publishing. Ban said that as a responsible global media organization, Xinhua's focus on global agendas such as sustainable development and climate change is very important. "It will really benefit all the people around the world." White House Chief of Staff wants to turn patio at her West Wing office into cigar bar if... Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A staff member looks at "Movement" (2020) a photograph by Maria Svarbova on display at the Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style exhibition which will begin at the Design Museum in London, Britain, March 24, 2025. REUTERS Atkins Kroll Inc. proudly recognizes the 2024 One Inchcape Award winners, honored at the prestigious One Inchcape Awards Ceremony held on March 24, 2025. This annual celebration highlights outstanding employees who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment to the core One Inchcape Values: We Deliver, Great Experiences, Fresh Thinking, and Better Together. Congratulations to all our exceptional awardees! Atkins Kroll photo YANGON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Rescue teams from numerous foreign countries have been in relief efforts in Myanmar following Friday's earthquake, according to local media on Sunday. The official media Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) reported that rescue teams and relief supplies from China, India, Singapore, Russia and Thailand arrived in Myanmar between March 29 and March 30. Nurses, doctors and other medical personnel from foreign countries have been involved in the rescue mission, MRTV reported. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Reporter Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post. Press Release March 29, 2025 Legarda underscores stronger Philippines-France cooperation for a sustainable blue economy Senator Loren Legarda, principal author and sponsor of the proposed Blue Economy Act, reaffirmed her support for stronger Philippines-France collaboration in advancing a sustainable blue economy at today's high-level dialogue, "Strengthening Philippines-France Cooperation for a Sustainable Blue Economy," held at the Glasshouse, New World Makati Hotel. "Our blue economy is more than a policy direction. It is a moral and developmental imperative," the four-term Senator expressed. "It is the lifeblood of our coastal communities, a driver of growth, and a safeguard for our planet's future," she added. The event, co-organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of France in the Philippines, comes ahead of the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France. It brought together key stakeholders from the government, diplomatic community, academe, and think tanks to discuss the challenges and actions needed to unlock the potential of the Philippine blue economy. In her speech, Legarda highlighted the Philippines' vast maritime domain of 2.2 million square kilometers and its rich ecological and economic potential, noting that the ocean economy contributed over PHP 787 billion annually from 2018 to 2022 and sustained over 2.2 million jobs. She emphasized the alignment of Philippine and French maritime priorities, including joint efforts under the Blue Nations Initiative and the 100 Days for the Ocean campaign, which exemplify both nations' commitment to marine biodiversity protection, sustainable fisheries, and blue carbon initiatives. "We welcome continued joint action on marine research, aquaculture, and climate-resilient ocean industries," Legarda said. "Together with France, we are committed to advancing the global 30x30 goal to protect 30% of the world's land and water by 2030." The senator reiterated the urgent need for cooperation amidst threats of overfishing, marine habitat degradation, and increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. She stressed that sustainable use of marine resources must go hand-in-hand with the defense of sovereign rights and ecological integrity. "As we prepare for the UN Ocean Conference in June, let us move from dialogue to innovation, and from vision to impactful implementation," she urged. "Through strong Philippines-France cooperation, we can build a truly regenerative, inclusive blue economy." Mas malakas na kooperasyon ng Pilipinas at France, binigyang-diin ni Legarda Muling nagpahayag ng suporta si Senador Loren Legarda sa mas malalim na kooperasyon ng Pilipinas at France para sa mas sustainable na blue economy. Sinabi ito ng mambabatas sa dayalogong "Strengthening Philippines-France Cooperation for a Sustainable Blue Economy," na ginanap sa New World Makati Hotel. "Our blue economy is more than a policy direction. It is a moral and developmental imperative," pahayag ng four-term senator. "It is the lifeblood of our coastal communities, a driver of growth, and a safeguard for our planet's future," dagdag niya. Ang event, na co-organized ng Stratbase Institute at ng Embassy of France in the Philippines, ay paghahanda bago ang 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference sa Nice, France. Nagsama-sama upang pag-usapan ang potensyal ng blue economy ng bansa ang mga matataas na lider mula sa pamahalaan, diplomatic community, akademiya, at mga think tank. Ipinagmalaki ni Legarda ang lawak ng karagatang hawak ng Pilipinas na 2.2 milyong kilometro kuwadrado, at ang ambag nitong 787 bilyon taon-taon mula 2018 hanggang 2022 at naghatid ng 2.2 milyong trabaho. Dapat ring magkaisa ang prayoridad ng Pilipinas at France sa ilalim ng Blue Nations Initiative at ang kampanyang 100 Days for the Ocean, na nagtitiyak ng pangakong maprotektahan ang karagatan. "We welcome continued joint action on marine research, aquaculture, and climate-resilient ocean industries," ayon kay Legarda. "Together with France, we are committed to advancing the global 30x30 goal to protect 30% of the world's land and water by 2030." Dapat ding tugunan ang banta ng overfishing, pagkasira ng karagatan, at tensyon sa West Philippine Sea, at maging sustainable ang paggamit ng yamang dagat at pagtanggol ng bansa. "As we prepare for the UN Ocean Conference in June, let us move from dialogue to innovation, and from vision to impactful implementation," giit ng mambabatas. "Through strong Philippines-France cooperation, we can build a truly regenerative, inclusive blue economy." HANOI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will deploy a 79-member military task force to assist with earthquake search and rescue operations, and post-disaster recovery efforts in Myanmar, Vietnam News Agency reported Saturday. The team, organized by the Department of Rescue and Relief under the Ministry of Defense, is scheduled to depart for Myanmar on Sunday afternoon, the report said. Earlier, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son extended condolences to Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe following the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday. Dozens of bird eggs and chicks were rescued from nests in a single wind-damaged eucalyptus tree that was dangerously close to collapsing in a California park. Now staff at the International Bird Rescues Los Angeles Wildlife Center have been working around the clock to care for the 47 eggs and 12 chicks, all double-crested Cormorants, in hopes that they will be able to be released back into the wild in a few months. The tree at a park in Marina del Rey was flagged earlier this month after one of its trunks fell and crushed a trash bin enclosure, explained Nicole Mooradian, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches & Harbors. Its other trunk was showing signs of collapsing as well, threatening not only the birds but anyone on the nearby public walkway or in the parking lot next door. It wasnt a question of if this tree is going to fail, it was more of a when, she said Monday. The cracks were growing wider by the day. It was really bad. For at least five hours on March 10, tree contractors meticulously removed each of the 20 nests and chopped off branches one at a time. Biologists on the ground put the eggs and hatchlings in egg cartons and boxes with heated blankets acting as temporary incubators. Double-crested Cormorants are common in Southern California and tend to nest in large colonies that may crowd a single tree, explained Kylie Clatterbuck, wildlife center manager for the bird rescue. For about a month, Cormorant parents incubate the eggs and then give the chicks regurgitated food for several weeks. Taking care of them can be very difficult because when they hatch they are essentially naked little balls of skin completely reliant on their parents, she said. At the rescue in San Pedro, the chicks must be fed every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. When staff interact with them, they wear a black suit and disguise their face, while using decoys and puppets to keep the birds from forming an attachment with them, which could make them too trusting of humans in the wild. Rescue staff expect the birds to stay for at least three months and then once they can hunt on their own and fly, they plan to release them into the wild. All of the chicks are healthy and happy, with some about 2 weeks old and already eating whole fish, said Clatterbuck. Its really hard raising baby birds. We do our best; we do what we know; we treat what we know, she said. And we can only hope that they do a good job and they can survive. By HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press Snow At Dodge Ridge (File Photo) View Photo The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada, from 5 PM this evening until 11 PM Tuesday. Additionally, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Yosemite National Park, above the valley floor, from 11 PM tonight until 11 PM Tuesday. Heavy snow is forecast above 4,000 feet. The heaviest snowfall is expected Monday, with snowfall rates of up to two inches an hour. Snow levels may fall to around 3,000 feet by early Tuesday. Light snowfall accumulations of one inch to half-a-foot is possible down to 3,000 feet. Up to nine inches of snow is likely between 3,000 to 4,000 feet. The total snow accumulations above the 4,000 foot elevation will range from nine inches to five feet. The higher you go, the more the snow. The winds could gust as high as sixty-five to seventy mph. Strong winds could cause extensive tree damage. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Persons should delay travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded. Items should include an extra flashlight, food, and water. Harare Zimbabwes roads continue to claim lives at an alarming rate, with at least 15 people killed in four separate road accidents last Friday alone. The tragedies occurred along the Harare-Bulawayo and Harare-Mutare highways, adding to the already grim statistics of road fatalities in the country. Police confirmed the accidents, which took place in Norton, Chegutu, and Mutare. The first accident, a particularly devastating incident, claimed the lives of seven people and injured 12 others. The accident occurred at the 30km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo highway when a Nissan Caravan, carrying 20 passengers, veered off the road and overturned. Three adults and an infant died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries upon admission to Norton Hospital. Tragedy struck again on the same highway, at the 85km peg, where three people were killed and two others injured. This accident involved a collision between a Chevrolet Trailblazer, carrying five passengers, and a Toyota Hilux, carrying seven passengers. The head-on collision resulted in multiple fatalities and serious injuries, highlighting the dangers of reckless driving and speeding. In Chegutu, two people lost their lives and nine others were injured when a Toyota Toyoace truck, carrying 11 passengers, veered off the road. The impact of the accident caused all the passengers to be thrown from the vehicle, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. The Harare-Mutare road also witnessed a fatal accident when a Volvo haulage truck, carrying three passengers, veered off the road and overturned near the Wise Owl turn-off. The truck landed on its roof, resulting in the deaths of all three occupants. These accidents underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased awareness campaigns to promote road safety. The loss of 15 lives in a single day is a stark reminder of the human cost of road accidents and the devastating impact on families and communities. The recent accidents add to the already alarming statistics of road fatalities in Zimbabwe. Officials from the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry recently revealed to a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee that road traffic accidents claimed 2,015 lives last year in 52,288 accidents, prompting calls for stern measures to halt the ongoing road carnage. The report, which analysed data from 2010 to 2024, revealed an upward trend in road fatalities, with the 2,015 deaths recorded in 2024 representing one of the highest death tolls in recent years. The number of accidents recorded in 2024 also showed an increase compared to previous years, with 51,924 accidents recorded in 2023, claiming 2,099 lives and injuring 9,955 people. In 2022, there were 51,107 accidents, resulting in 2,064 deaths and 10,401 injuries. Interestingly, the report indicated that Zimbabwe recorded fewer accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 45,791 and 35,560 accidents recorded in 2021 and 2020, respectively. However, even during the pandemic, the accidents claimed a significant number of lives, with 1,902 deaths in 2021 and 1,520 deaths in 2020. The report attributed the majority of accidents to human error, including speeding, reckless driving, and failure to adhere to traffic regulations. Road carnage has emerged as a critical public safety crisis in Zimbabwe, marked by disturbingly high statistics that reflect the growing toll of traffic-related accidents on human lives and the economy, the report stated. The report also highlighted the significant economic costs associated with road accidents, including healthcare expenditure for treating accident victims, loss of productivity due to injury or death, and the emotional and financial burden placed on victims families. In response to the escalating crisis, the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry has introduced several regulatory initiatives aimed at curbing road traffic accidents. These initiatives include Statutory Instrument (SI) 118 of 2023, which makes the installation of speed limiting and monitoring devices mandatory in all public service vehicles, effective January 1, 2023. The ministry believes that these speed limiting devices, which cap the maximum speed at 100km/hour, will significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents by ensuring that vehicles are operated within safe speed parameters. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare The simmering tensions within Zimbabwes ruling Zanu-PF party have reached boiling point, with revelations emerging of a clandestine plot by President Emmerson Mnangagwas loyalists to remove Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga from his influential position. The dramatic move, which was reportedly thwarted at last weeks central committee meeting, underscores the escalating power struggles and factionalism threatening to destabilise the party. Chiwenga, the former army general who played a pivotal role in the ousting of Robert Mugabe in 2017, has increasingly become a target of Mnangagwas inner circle. Accusations against the Vice-President centre on his alleged opposition to Zanu-PFs controversial resolution at the 2024 annual conference to extend Mnangagwas term in office until 2030. Adding fuel to the fire, Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa publicly disclosed that the 2030 plot was specifically designed to prevent Chiwenga from ascending to the presidency, further exposing the deep-seated animosity between the two factions. Sources within Zanu-PF have revealed that Mnangagwa loyalists are now pushing for Chiwenga to be replaced by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a wealthy businessman and prominent benefactor of the ruling party. Tagwireis growing influence within Zanu-PF has raised eyebrows, with many viewing him as a potential kingmaker and a key player in the succession battle. Plans were reportedly underway to co-opt Tagwirei into the central committee, the partys top decision-making body outside of congress. He was slated to make a presentation at last weeks central committee meeting in Harare, but these plans were ultimately scuttled by Chiwengas direct intervention, according to a senior Zanu-PF official. The strategy involved allowing Tagwirei to make a presentation as part of a resource mobilisation committee, which would then be followed by a carefully orchestrated campaign by Zanu-PF provincial structures to elevate him into the central committee. Once a member of the central committee, the path would be cleared for a concerted effort to install Tagwirei into the presidium, effectively replacing the increasingly isolated and out-of-favour Vice-President Chiwenga. The central committee meeting was preceded by a tense politburo gathering, where President Mnangagwa delivered a stern address railing against indiscipline within the party. While not explicitly naming Chiwenga, the tone and content of Mnangagwas remarks were widely interpreted as being targeted at the Vice-Presidents faction. Zanu-PF sources revealed that Chiwenga was taken aback during a briefing session when it was announced that Tagwirei and another Mnangagwa ally, Paul Tungwarara, would be making presentations at the central committee meeting. Both Tagwirei and Tungwarara were already present in the gallery, prompting Chiwenga to demand an explanation as to why non-members were attending such a crucial meeting. Mnangagwa reportedly deferred the question to Zanu-PF commissar, Munyaradzi Machacha, for clarification. Machacha told the VP that the two were supposed to make presentations on fund raising, a central committee member disclosed. Chiwenga, however, was not satisfied with this explanation and insisted on adhering to established protocol. Chiwenga told him that the procedure should be that they make the presentations to the commissar who will then present in the central committee, the source added. Chiwenga then demanded that Tagwirei and Tungwarara be escorted out of the meeting, effectively thwarting the plan to fast-track Tagwireis entry into the partys upper echelons. Further evidence of the push to elevate Tagwirei comes from Masvingo provincial chairman, Robson Mavhenyengwa, who confirmed in an interview with TellZim that the province was indeed seeking Tagwireis elevation to the central committee. According to sources familiar with the intricacies of the plot, the justification for removing Chiwenga would be based on the claim that he has allowed his supporters to use social media platforms to launch attacks against President Mnangagwa. At the central committee meeting, Zanu-PF chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri delivered a presentation on the state of the party, singling out social media as the most significant threat to Zanu-PFs cohesion. She raised a point on attacks against the president on social media as a major concern, another source revealed. In response, Chiwenga reportedly told the meeting that the central committee must formulate a resolution on responsible social media usage to prevent further division and potential implosion within the party. Chiwenga said if the central committee fails to solve the social media problem, it would be tantamount to inviting war, the source stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Chiwengas call for responsible social media usage was supported by a woman from Mashonaland West, who argued that it was not only Mnangagwa who deserved protection from social media abuse, but all party leaders. This suggests a growing concern within Zanu-PF about the potential for social media to exacerbate internal divisions and undermine party unity. Chiwengas camp firmly believes that Tagwirei has become an increasingly influential power broker within Zanu-PF and is being strategically positioned for higher office, potentially at the expense of the Vice-President himself. Efforts to reach Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa for comment on the latest developments were unsuccessful. However, in a recent interview with a UK-based news platform, DugUp, Mutsvangwa was highly critical of Chiwengas alleged presidential ambitions. Mutsvangwa claimed that Chiwenga had attempted to pressure Mnangagwa into anointing him as his successor, a demand that the President has steadfastly rejected. That guy wanted to be anointed to become president, to become a successor to the president, Mutsvangwa said, pulling no punches in his assessment of Chiwengas alleged aspirations. So you want to remove the president but before you do so you want him to appoint, to annoint you. How do you do that? Youre squaring a circle! Mutsvangwa exclaimed, highlighting the perceived illogicality of Chiwengas alleged strategy. Mutsvangwa further alluded to the differences in approach between Mnangagwa and his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, on the issue of succession. (Robert) Mugabe used to say I will nominate, I will give you my successor but the president (Mnangagwa) is saying no, we must go for elections. Thats normal for a democratic party, Mutsvangwa stated, suggesting that Mnangagwa is committed to a more democratic and transparent succession process. The escalating infighting within Zanu-PF raises serious questions about the stability of the party and the future direction of Zimbabwe. The power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, coupled with the emergence of Tagwirei as a potential contender, has created a volatile and unpredictable political landscape. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare Zimbabwe is bracing for potential unrest as planned demonstrations against President Emmerson Mnangagwas rule loom, prompting some schools to advise students to stay home and raising concerns about public safety. The authorities are struggling to reassure a jittery populace that they are in control of the situation, while opposition voices call for dialogue to avert potential chaos. The call for protests, slated to begin tomorrow, was spearheaded by Blessed Bombshell Geza, an expelled Zanu-PF central committee member and war veteran. Geza, part of a faction within the ruling party opposed to extending Mnangagwas stay in power beyond the constitutionally mandated 2030, is demanding that the president step down. Despite police assurances that the security situation remains under control, anxieties are running high. In Harare, leisure centres are reportedly being forced to close earlier than usual, a sign of heightened vigilance and a desire to avoid potential flashpoints. Adding to the unease, some private schools have taken the precautionary measure of telling students to stay home tomorrow, a move that police have criticised as uncalled for. The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns school authorities, especially private schools who have sent pupils home on false social media claims and indicated that they will be called back in May 2025, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said, attempting to downplay the situation. Nyathi added that the commissioner-general of police (Stephen Mutamba) has engaged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to take action on such private colleges and schools. The public should feel free to report anyone inciting violence, issuing threats or intimidating them to engage in unlawful acts, he urged, seeking to reassure the public and deter potential troublemakers. The uncertainty has led some schools to cancel major activities and events scheduled for March 31, prioritising the safety and well-being of their students. Adding to the disruption, some teachers, particularly in the capital, have notified their school heads that they would be unable to report for duty on Monday, citing fears for their personal safety. The government has made it clear that it intends to block the planned protests, raising concerns about potential clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Motorists have also voiced their frustrations over the increased presence of roadblocks, which have caused significant delays and disruptions to traffic flow. Observations by The Standard revealed traffic backed up for over a kilometre at some roadblocks, leaving commuters stranded and frustrated. Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, said teachers were not assured of protection in case the protests turn violent. We have advised learners and teachers to stay at home while we assess the security situation because we noted that things are not normal as seen from the government issuing several statements and memos about the so-called March 31 protests, Masuraure said, highlighting the prevailing sense of unease. Raymond Majongwe, secretary general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, echoed similar sentiments, urging caution and prioritising personal safety. People must not put their lives in danger, Majongwe said. If you are not comfortable going out on the day, then trust your instincts. Teachers must not put their lives at risk and get themselves on the crossfire. They must do what they are comfortable with because they have only one life. Information ministry secretary Ndabaningi Mangwana dismissed allegations that some government officials whose names were on a list of political criminals released by Geza had gone into hiding. None of the government officials is fazed by Gezas rantings and rumblings of a man whose location is undisclosed, Mangwana said. He cant threaten anyone. So government officials are working. Yesterday, most of those officials who were mentioned were in Gokwe for an inter-ministerial committee meeting ahead of the independence celebrations. Its business as usual. Meanwhile, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiCZ), a loose coalition of civic groups, has called for broad-based dialogue to avoid anarchy amid rising political tensions. The CiCZ urged Mnangagwas loyalists to abandon the 2030 agenda in an effort to calm political temperatures. The state resources, which are being abused in these power-games are a huge opportunity cost on public health, education and roads, the CiCZ said, highlighting the detrimental impact of political infighting on essential services. In line with the African Unions call for Silencing the guns in Africa, We are thus appealing to Sadc to immediately dispatch its panel of elders to engage President Mnangagwa to stop the 2030 Agenda mantra. Facilitate broad based dialogue with different stakeholders to ensure peace and constitutionalism in the country. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare The saga surrounding the late former president Robert Mugabes estate has taken another dramatic turn, as Tonderai Robert Mugabe, a man claiming to be his son, refuses to relinquish his pursuit of recognition and a rightful share of the inheritance. Despite facing legal setbacks and initial skepticism, Tonderais unwavering determination has led to a breakthrough, with key members of the Mugabe family now acknowledging his claim, opening a new chapter in this complex and deeply personal saga. Tonderais journey has been fraught with challenges. He recently lodged a fresh application at the High Court, seeking condonation for his failure to approach the courts within the stipulated timeframe to challenge the handling of Mugabes estate. In this application, he named Bona Mugabe, the late presidents daughter and the appointed executor of the estate, as well as the Master of the High Court, as respondents. At the heart of Tonderais legal battle is his quest for a declaration that would lead to the re-opening of Mugabes estate, allowing him to be recognised as a legitimate heir and receive his due inheritance. He readily admits that he was legally obligated to file his application for review within 30 days of the Masters decision, as dictated by Section 52 of the Administration of Estates Act. However, he argues that his case warrants special consideration, and that the interests of justice demand a fair hearing. Tonderai insists that members of the Mugabe family are prepared to vouch for his lineage and corroborate his claim. There is nowhere I can lawfully inherit from his estate if the estate remains closed, Tonderai submitted in his court papers. Elders from the Mugabe clan can testify that I am not a foreigner to the Mugabe family. He further contends that Bona Mugabe, being significantly younger than him, should not be allowed to obstruct his fundamental right to inherit from his fathers estate. If the estate is re-opened and evidence is led from the elders in the clan, it will be crystal clear that I am the son of the late Robert Mugabe beyond any reasonable doubt, Tonderai asserted. He expressed confidence in his prospects of success, stating, As fully appears from the draft court application for review, I have good prospects of success and the court is likely to grant the order which I am seeking thereto. Tonderai emphasised that his case should be decided on its merits, rather than being dismissed on technicalities. He passionately declared, I am not driven by the desire to benefit from the late Robert Mugabes wealth, but I should know my parentage, in particular, my paternal lineage as a man. He pleaded with the court for leniency, saying, I beg for indulgence from the court to be allowed to be heard before whatever decision is made about where l belong. This case is more important to me than anything else, which can be contemplated. Every man wants to be with his people and take pride in being identified as such. There is no wealth that can buy self-esteem associated with being with your people. Tonderais claim rests on his assertion that he was born on April 20, 1977, in Chimoio, Mozambique, to Hilda Maeka, who he says had a relationship with Robert Mugabe. According to Tonderai, his parents relationship ended abruptly after the bombing of Chimoio, with Mugabe mistakenly believing that Maeka had perished in the attack. He maintains that his parents reconnected after Zimbabwe gained independence, and that they remained in contact. However, Mugabe passed away before Tonderai could be formally introduced to the rest of the Mugabe family. Tonderai further stated that the Registrar of Births and Deaths requested DNA tests to verify his claim, insisting that he be accompanied by a member of the Mugabe family. The DNA tests, according to court records, confirmed a 99.997871% probability of a familial relationship with the Mugabe lineage. Despite this compelling evidence, Tonderai claims that his attempts to reach out to Bona Mugabe have been unsuccessful. In his legal demands, Tonderai seeks the re-opening of Mugabes estate, a move that could potentially alter the distribution of the late presidents vast wealth. The matter is currently before High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi, who will ultimately decide whether Tonderais case has merit and whether the estate should be re-opened. Robert Mugabe passed away in September 2019 in Singapore, leaving behind a complex legacy and a family embroiled in legal battles over his estate. He married Grace Mugabe in 1996, four years after the death of his first wife, Sally Hayfron. However, amidst the legal complexities and family disputes, a significant development has occurred: the Mugabe family has extended an olive branch to Tonderai Robert Mugabe, acknowledging him as a member of their clan. This acceptance follows the DNA evidence that confirmed a high probability of a familial link between Tonderai and the Mugabe family. This dramatic turn of events has shed light on a previously undisclosed chapter in the life of Zimbabwes former leader, revealing a long-held family secret that has now come to the forefront. Several prominent members of the Mugabe family have publicly affirmed Tonderais claim. Chief Johannes Karigamombe Mugabe, the late presidents younger brother, has confirmed that Tonderai visited the family homestead in Kutama after being released from State House in 2015, following an incident where he reportedly demanded to see his father. While Chief Karigamombe acknowledged Tonderais presence, he noted that no formal traditional welcoming ceremony had taken place. Nevertheless, his acknowledgment represents a significant step towards the familys acceptance of Tonderai. I know him from his visits here, but there is nothing done traditionally on welcoming him. There are many children who later come saying they are Mugabes children but some are doing it so that they know their family line and some are for material things, he stated. Further bolstering Tonderais claim, Kaitano Mutandwa Mugabe, the son of Mugabes younger brother Donato, provided an affidavit formally acknowledging Tonderai as a member of the family. The affidavit, which has been seen by The Standard, states: In my capacity as the eldest son in the family, I have accepted and (taken) my younger brother Tonderai Gabriel Mugabe aboard. The affidavit also reveals that Bridget Mugabe, the late presidents sister, played a key role in introducing Tonderai to his father at State House. Bridgets daughter, Laurencia, has also confirmed Tonderais claim in her own affidavit, stating, We separated when the mother took the child to Cde Fay Chung after the war. We thought him and his mother had died because we could not find him. Later on, he was found by my mother Bridget Mugabe. He is the son of Robert Mugabe. Tonderais account places his birth at the Chimoio base in Mozambique on April 20, 1977, during the height of the liberation war. He claims that his mother, Hilda Maeka, whose Chimurenga name was Cde Paidamoyo, had a relationship with Robert Mugabe. Maeka tragically passed away in 1995 due to complications related to hypertension and was posthumously recognised as a liberation war heroine by Mugabe. A letter dated July 18, 2016, from Ignatius Chombo, then the Zanu-PF secretary for administration, confirms this posthumous honour, stating: I, His Excellency, the president and first secretary of Zanu (PF), Cde R.G. Mugabe has conferred a liberation war heroine status to the late Cde Hilda Maeka who passed away on September 29, 1995. Tonderai explains that his mother chose to keep his fathers identity a secret out of fear of upsetting Sally Mugabe, the former presidents wife. This secrecy was further corroborated by Tonderais maternal grandfather, Thomas Maeka, who recounted numerous unsuccessful attempts to have the Mugabe family acknowledge Tonderai. Tonderais mother worked in one of the offices in Mozambique, that is when she met Robert Mugabe, Thomas Maeka explained. We did not know the father of the baby she brought from the war because she was secretive about it. We only got to know about it when Tonderai met some senior party officials in Harare. From there, I had numerous interactions with one of Mugabes close relatives, but nothing materialised. He always promised me that he was going to talk to Mugabe about the issue, but he would get evasive each time I made follow-ups. We eventually kept quiet. Despite the recent acceptance by some members of the Mugabe family, Tonderais life has been far from easy. He describes a difficult upbringing in Glen Norah, where he attended Shiriyedenga Primary School. After his mothers death, he resorted to collecting and selling scrap metal to fund his education. He recalls his mothers entrepreneurial spirit, noting, My mother was one of the first people to get into business after the war. She had a number of knitting machines which she used to generate income. The DNA evidence, which revealed a 99.997871% probability of a familial relationship with a half-sibling, provided crucial validation for his claim. However, despite this compelling evidence, the Registrar of Births and Deaths has thus far refused to issue him with a birth certificate that acknowledges Mugabe as his father. Earlier this year, Tonderai Gabriel Mugabe withdrew his High Court application seeking a share of the late leaders estate. The withdrawal, which came after intense scrutiny of his case, leaves the estate undisturbed. Tonderais application, filed against Bona Mugabe, the executor of the estate, sought to reopen the estate and include himself as a rightful heir. The application also named the Registrar of Births and Deaths and the Master of the High Court as respondents. His legal team, led by Mr T.M. Zenda of Hungwe and Partners, cited several issues needing rectification before resubmitting a revised application. These issues included a review of the Master of the High Courts decision to proceed with the estates distribution despite pending High Court cases. In his original application, Tonderai sought a court order compelling Bona Mugabe to provide him with a copy of his late fathers death certificate. This, he argued, was necessary to amend his birth certificate to reflect his fathers identity. He claimed to have been born on April 20, 1977, in Chimoio, Mozambique, during the liberation struggle. He stated that his mother, Hilda Maeka, had a relationship with the late president, and that their relationship ended after the bombing of Chimoio, with Mugabe believing Maeka to be deceased. Tonderai further alleged that his parents reconnected after Zimbabwes independence and maintained contact, although Mugabe kept their relationship secret from his family. He stated that he had occasional meetings with his father but that the relationship remained undisclosed to the Mugabe family. He also claimed to have been in contact with some members of the Mugabe family, including his aunt, Laurencia Machemedze Mugabe. He added that his fathers death prevented his formal introduction to the family. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Myanmar's State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Sunday extended his appreciation to members of China's Yunnan Rescue Medical Team for their timely assistance after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar Friday. #XinhuaNews Despite roughly a decade of stories about a split between President Recep Tayyip ErdoganErdogans Turkiye and the US, ties appear as strong as ever. Erdogan continues to make bold statements against Israeli expansionary aims, but beyond the rhetoric Turkiye has done nothing but aid in the Palestinian genocide by continuing to ship oil and other goods to Israel. Turkiye is now dealing with the aftermath of the arrest of Erdogans biggest political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges and accusations of supporting terrorism. And its notable how quiet the US and EU have been. Sure it would be hypocritical of them to lecture on the freedom of speech crackdown, but thats not stopped them before. Elon Musks X, formerly known is Twitter, is also helping Turkiye crack down on dissent as it has done in the past. President Trump did Erdogan a solid last week by endorsing him and helping calm Turkish markets. According to Bloomberg, the exodus of foreign capital following the arrest of Imamoglu probably reduced Turkiyes foreign-currency reserves by $26.6 billion over just three days from March 19-21 an expensive removal of a political rival. This left the central banks net reserves at $32.4 billion at the end of last week, economist Selva Bahar Baziki wrote. More: Trump praised President Erdogan, confirming investor expectations that Turkey was likely to face little external political pressure after Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul and the head of states main political rival, was detained and then jailed. Good place, good leader, too, Trump said during a meeting of ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday. Trumps comments came after a brief introduction by Tom Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital LLC who is Trumps longtime friend and nominee to be ambassador to Turkey. Trumps confirming investor expectations that Turkey was likely to face little external political pressure helps explain why Erdogan moved to consolidate power now. After ruling for more than two decades he is looking to change the constitution so he can run for another term in the next presidential election scheduled for no later than May 7, 2028. And theres reason to believe he and his circle want to keep rule in the family even after hes gone. The arrest of Imamoglu and ensuing crackdown help move toward that goal. And right now the West needs him. Europe is desperate for Turkish cooperation in the crazy plan to build a coalition to go into Ukraine.Ankara is a key player in Syria after helping to topple Bashar al-Assad. The US wants Turkiyes help encircling Iran. Erdogan has read the geopolitical moment rather well, Asl Aydntasbas, a visiting fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, told Agence France-Presse. It is often said that Turkiye is transactional in its ties (arent most countries?). Recently there seem to be a lot of unannounced transactions taking place. Lets take a look. Easing Defense Restrictions Back in October, not long before the offensive to overthrow Assad, the US and its European vassals suddenly ended a years-long unofficial embargo imposed by Western allies on Turkiye, which has hampered its defense sector development. According to Nordic Monitor, At the forefront of countries posing difficulties in Turkiyes procurement is Germany, which has been withholding export permits for firms supplying Turkiye with much-needed engines and power systems for its domestic projects. Now were approaching the end of official sanctions on the Turkish defense industry imposed under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). They were applied to Turkiye by the Trump administration in 2020 following Ankaras acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system in 2019. Turkiye was also suspended from the F-35 program. Ankara has been eager to get out from under the sanctions which hurt particular imports like semiconductors and microchips as they hurt the countrys defense industry ambitions, which include its own air defense project and domestically-produced fighter jets. Reuters reported on Wednesday following a meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the two countries are moving towards the lifting of CAATSA sanctions and readmission to the F-35 program. There has also been speculation that Erdogan might be visiting the US soon to seal the deal. Meanwhile, the US and Europe are both increasingly relying on Turkiye for weapons manufacturing. The US Army just signed a $435 million deal with Turkiyes Repkon to design, build, and commission a TNT production facility in the US aimed at building up the US supply of munitions. BAE Systems, too, just inked a deal with Repkon USA to collaborate on the development and manufacture of advanced munitions. Repkon is reportedly soon expected to produce about 30 percent of all US-made 155mm artillery shells. Last year the Pentagon bought 116,000 rounds of ammunition from Turkiyes Arca Defense and more purchases purchases are expected this year. And although the the Pentagon contracts General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (a US company) to build three 155mm projectile metal parts lines in Texas, but the company is relying on Turkish subcontractors to do the work, While EU-Turkiye defense cooperation is caapped by opposition from member states Greece and Cyprus, some bloc countries are increasingly inking deals with Ankara. And as the EU looks to scale up weaponry purchases due to the imaginary threats of Russia invasion and US abandonment, they could be looking to Turkiye even more. Heres the International Institute for Strategic Studies with some background on the budding relationship: While the sale of armed UAVs has been high-profile and lucrative, Turkish industry has also enjoyed success in other domains. Of the countrys four major armoured vehicle manufacturers, three BMC, Nurol Makina and Otokar have won contracts with European customers. Most significantly, in late 2024, Otokar secured a contract with Romania for 1,059 Cobra II 44 vehicles, the majority of which will be built locally. In the maritime domain, the recent success in Portugal follows a 2020 contract with Ukraine for two corvettes based on Turkiyes Ada-class (MILGEM) design. Other opportunities are also being acted on. In December, Spain signed an agreement to collaborate with Turkiye on a new jet training aircraft almost certainly TAIs Hurjet with media reports suggesting that this could form part of a wider swap deal, with Spanish Airbus A400M airlifters going in the other direction. Although Hurjet is currently in the prototype phase, TAI might also see opportunities with other countries that have a jet trainer requirement. Elsewhere, Baykars acquisition of troubled Italian aerospace company Piaggio Aerospace received approval in December, with hopes that it will provide another entry point into the Italian and wider European market. On the drone front, Turkiye and Italy entered into a mega partnership last month. Turkish UAV giant Baykar (owned by Erdogans son-in-law) is teaming up with Leonardo for its electronics and radars in a 50-50 joint venture to make new-and-improved drones in both Turkiye and Italy, which would ease certification for selling in a European market worth $100 billion in the next ten years We cant forget the Macron-Starmer suicidal idea to go into Ukraine either. Theyre desperate to get Turkiye onboard. Heres Turkish Minute: Britain and France are leading efforts to form a so-called coalition of the willing of countries willing to assist Ukraine by sending hardware and even troops, with Turkiye a key partner due to its large military, world-class drone production and rare position of cordial ties with both Kyiv and Moscow. Are they hoping Russia wont attack them if there are Turkish troops and Ankaras cordial relationship with Moscow? Project Encircle Iran Beyond the US and Europe turning to Turkiye in a desperate bid to keep up with Russian artillery production, what else could all the easing of sanctions and unofficial embargoes signify? Maybe theres a potential clash of Greater Israel and Greater Turkiye in the future but for now both countries appear united under the US umbrella with the goal of destabilizing Iran. Turkiye has long opposed the Iran-led Axis of Resistance, groups aligned with and/or backed by Iran operating across the Middle East. As we mentioned a=on a recent piece on Middle East logistics wars, the Iran-Iraq-Syria corridor was one of Tehrans major strategic goals to secure access to the Mediterranean. The destruction of Syria by the US-Israel-Turkiye destroyed that goal. And Turkiye is trying to implement new projects in its place, such as routes through Iraq. Developments are also underway in the South Caucasus that seem to be inching towards a US- and Israel-supported agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and perhaps Turkiye that would effectively block Iran to its north. Tehran is worried that Turkiye and Azerbaijan through force or negotiations with Armenia, which is now heavily influenced by Washington will open a corridor in Armenia along its border with Iran. Should Turkiye and Azerbaijan do so, Tehran would lose influence over both as Azerbaijan currently relies on transit through Iran to connect to its exclave and Turkiye is dependent on Iran for logistics to bypass Armenia. Tehran is especially worried about a NATO Turan Corridor which sees the West link up hypothetical client states throughout central Asia. From Dr. Vali Kaleji, a Tehran-based expert on Central Asia and Caucasian Studies: Iran sees the creation of the Zangezur corridor as a matter beyond the access of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan exclave and believes that this corridor will provide direct military access for Turkiye as a NATO member in the Caucasus and west of the Caspian Sea. Indeed, a significant number of Iranian elites and experts believe that the expansion of Turkiyes presence in the South Caucasus, especially through the Zangezur corridor, will strengthen pan-Turkism in the region, which is a direct threat to the Azeri regions of north-western Iran. The peace steps between Turkiye and the Kurds as another potential piece sliding into place for the encroachment eastwards of Greater Israel, Greater Turkiye and the NATO stalking horse. Back in January we wrote about a potential deal between Turkiye and US over the Kurdish question and the lifting of an unofficial military tech embargo on Turkiye. That has been steadily progressing as restrictions are eased on Ankara and as the US encouraged its Syrian Kurdish proxies to ink a deal with the Al Qaeda government in Damascus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government plays a major role in Damascus, backed the deal. Turkic peoples, including Azerbaijanis, make up roughly 20 percent of the population in Iran, and in the countrys West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan Provinces the population is mostly Azeris and Kurds. Baku makes some noise about self-determination there, but American neocons especially dream of using the Azeris and Kurds to destabilize Iran. The wiser play for Turkiye would likely be something along the lines of the following (courtesy of The Century Foundation): Turkiye, for example, has emerged as the new dominant force in Syria. Ankara could now serve as a vital conduit, facilitating Moscow and Tehrans efforts to reconnect with Damascus. Meanwhile, with Turkish allies in charge in Syria, Turkiyes dependence on both Iran and Russia has waned considerably. Yet Ankara is likely to navigate these waters with care, avoiding outright provocation of Russia and Iran. This carefulness may involve granting Irans allies limited room to maneuverso long as Turkish economic interests remain firmly protected, especially its desire to monopolize regional energy transit routes bridging the Middle East and Europe. But that take doesnt take into account how Erdogan bit off more than he can chew in Syria, as well as the expansionary fanatics in Turkiye that were empowered in recent Turkish elections are people Erdogan needs to keep happy. In elections of 2018 and 2023 the biggest winners were the Islamist nationalists who believe in Turkish superiority. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Iyi party took 21 percent of the vote and won 92 seats in parliament in 2018. Anti-refugee sentiment and economic hardships increased the vote share of Islamist ethno-nationalist parties in 2023, and they continue to have major influence on Turkish foreign policy. Its not hard to draw a line between the history of say, the MHP, and Turkish support for extremist proxies. The MHP was founded by Alparslan Turkes, an army colonel with links to Operation Gladio and it gathered strength with its tight relationship with right-wing paramilitaries like the Grey Wolves and Turkish organized crime in their CIA-backed battle against left-wingers, Communists, Kurdish, and Alevi organisations. With their belief in Turkish superiority and their goal to rule the Arab world, these forces are in many ways the flip side to the same coin of Zionism. They are now emboldened and looking for more. With their interests increasingly aligned with those of Washington which is in a transactional mood with Erdogan, it wouldnt be surprising to see Turkiye try to make more moves to expand its influence to the detriment of Iran. Swedens migrant crisis deepens as failed green energy venture leaves thousands jobless, exposes systemic collapse Northvolt, Swedens "green" EV battery company, collapses, leaving 700+ non-EU migrant workers unemployed Migrant unemployment in Sweden is double the national average, with many refusing to leave despite expiring work permits Swedens government attempts to mask the migration crisis by naturalizing migrants and offering cash incentives for "voluntary remigration" Right-wing critics accuse the government of manipulating statistics to hide the true scale of demographic displacement The bankruptcy of Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt has exposed yet another layer of the engineered migrant crisis crippling Europe. The company, once hailed as a flagship of Europes "green transition," filed for bankruptcy this month, leaving thousands of workersmany of them non-EU migrantswithout jobs. But beyond the economic failure lies a far more sinister reality: Swedens welfare state is now shackled with yet another wave of unemployed foreign nationals who, in many cases, will refuse to leave, further straining social services and accelerating the erosion of Swedish culture. The illusion of "green jobs" collapses alongside Northolt Founded in 2016, Northvolt was supposed to be Europes answer to Chinese and American dominance in EV battery production. Backed by corporate giants like Volkswagen and Volvo, the company promised innovation, sustainability, and jobs. Instead, it delivered debt, delays, and now, total collapse. The fallout is particularly devastating in Skelleftea, where Northvolts factory employed nearly 3,000 workers700 of whom held non-EU work permits. But the true scandal isnt just corporate mismanagementits the systemic exploitation of migration policies. According to Swedens Migration Board, Northvolt was listed as the employer for 1,650 work permits across the country. With the companys implosion, these workers now face a legal requirement to leave Sweden within three months if they fail to secure new jobs. Yet history shows most wont. Instead, theyll vanish into the shadows, living off taxpayer-funded welfare while contributing nothing to the society theyve invaded. Swedens migration shell game: naturalize, conceal, and bribe Facing backlash over skyrocketing migration, Swedens government has resorted to statistical trickery. Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard recently boasted that Sweden recorded net emigration for the first time in 50 years, with asylum applications plummeting to 1997 levels. "The governments work yields results," she declared. But right-wing analysts arent fooled. Critics argue that Sweden is artificially reducing migration numbers by ramping up naturalizationseffectively turning "migrants" into "citizens" on paper while doing nothing to address their failure to assimilate. Worse, the government is now offering naturalized migrants cash bribesup to 350,000 SEK (30,000)to leave under a "voluntary remigration" scheme set to launch in 2026. "For those who have not entered Swedish society, remigration can be a way to create a better life for themselves," Stenergard said, masking the policys true intent: a desperate attempt to reverse the demographic time bomb her predecessors created. The great replacement in action For decades, Sweden stood as a beacon of progressive valuessocial democracy, gender equality, and multicultural harmony. But beneath the surface, a crisis was brewing. The nations rapid embrace of mass migration, driven by political elites under the banner of humanitarianism, has led to social fragmentation, economic strain, and a surge in crime. Now, even Swedens left-leaning government is scrambling to reverse course, implementing controversial remigration policies. But critics warn: the damage may already be irreversible. Swedens migration experiment began in earnest in the 1970s, initially welcoming refugees from war-torn regions like the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. By the 2010s, however, the pace of immigration surged dramatically, with over 400,000 asylum seekers arriving between 2014 and 2016 alone. The policy was framed as an act of compassion, but the economic and social costs soon became undeniable. Today, migrant unemployment is double the national average, with some groups experiencing joblessness rates exceeding 50%. The welfare state, once Swedens pride, now groans under the weight of unsustainable dependency. A 2023 report by the Swedish Employment Agency revealed that over 60% of long-term welfare recipients are foreign-born, despite migrants comprising only about 20% of the population. Perhaps the most visible consequence of Swedens migration policies is the rise of no-go zonesneighborhoods where police and emergency services operate at great risk, and where Swedish law is increasingly supplanted by informal Sharia-based governance. Areas like Rinkeby, Rosengard, and Malmos Seved district have become synonymous with gang violence, arson attacks, and a rejection of Swedish cultural norms. In these enclaves, schools report widespread resistance to secular education, with some parents refusing to let their children participate in mixed-gender activities or music classes. Local imams, rather than Swedish authorities, often mediate disputes, enforcing their own interpretations of Islamic law. Meanwhile, violent crime has skyrocketed: grenade attacks, once unheard of in Sweden, have become disturbingly common, with over 100 explosions recorded in 2022 alone. So, will Swedens remigration scheme work? Or has the government already naturalized illegal migrants to the point of no turning back? Sources include: RMX.news X.com X.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai NIH to crack down on taxpayer-funded censorship: A victory for academic freedom STAT News initially (and incorrectly) claimed the NIH directive to compile grants related to "fighting misinformation" was issued on Jay Bhattacharyas first day as director. However, Bhattacharya had not yet been sworn in, highlighting scrutiny around his nomination. The NIH instructed staff to identify contracts tied to censorship or influencing health beliefs, including keywords like "vaccine hesitancy" and "lockdowns." This follows recent cancellations of 33 similar grants, signaling a shift away from taxpayer-funded persuasion campaigns. As a critic of COVID-19 policies and plaintiff in the Murthy v. Missouri censorship case, Bhattacharya pledged to end NIHs "culture of cover-up" and promote diverse scientific perspectives, including dissenting views on pandemic measures. Investigations revealed NIH-funded projectssuch as $340,000 for psychological tactics to boost HPV vaccine uptake in South Africaraising concerns about government overreach. Canceling such grants aligns with calls for scientific integrity. Once labeled "fringe" for opposing lockdowns, Bhattacharyas confirmation as NIH director marks a turning point for academic freedom, challenging past censorship efforts by public health institutions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) made headlines this week with a directive to compile a list of grants and contracts related to "fighting misinformation or disinformation." While the initial reporting by STAT News suggested this directive came on the first day of Jay Bhattacharyas tenure as NIH director, it's important to note that Bhattacharya hadnt yet been sworn in. This clarification is important as it reflects the ongoing scrutiny and criticism surrounding Bhattacharya's nomination and the broader implications for academic and scientific freedom. A misstep in reporting STAT News initially misreported that the directive was issued on the same day that Bhattacharya took the helm at NIH. However, Bhattacharya was only confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday and hadnt been formally sworn in. Investigative journalist Paul D. Thacker highlighted this discrepancy on X, stating, "Its ironic that STATs story on misinformation contained misinformation." STAT quickly corrected the article to reflect the accurate timeline but maintained the bulk of the content, which was largely critical of Bhattacharya. Executive editor Rick Berke told The Defender, "STAT corrected the story and stands by the corrected version." NIH's call for transparency The NIH directive asked staff to compile information about any contract that may be related to any form of censorship at all or directing people to believe one idea over another related to health outcomes. The email contained examples such as contracts promoting vaccine uptake or public health messages about the "dangers of COVID or not wearing masks." It also instructed staff to search for keywords like media literacy, social media, social distancing and lockdowns. This request is significant because similar directives by top NIH officials in recent weeks have preceded the termination of research funding. The agency has already informed researchers that it will cancel at least 33 vaccine hesitancy grants and reduce or modify nine others. This move is seen as a step towards eliminating taxpayer-funded censorship. A shift in priorities Experts interviewed by STAT expressed mixed reactions to the directive. Some, like Dr. Jonathan Howard, a psychiatrist, criticized Bhattacharya, suggesting he has portrayed himself as a victim of censorship. However, Bhattacharya, a critic of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a co-author of the "Great Barrington Declaration," is one of the lead plaintiffs in the Murthy v. Missouri censorship case. This case alleges that Biden administration officials colluded with social media companies to censor dissenting views on several issues, including prevailing COVID-19 policies, lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates. In a decision that was widely criticized, the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024 remanded the case to the lower court, ruling that the plaintiffs didnt have standing to sue because they couldnt point to direct orders the administration gave to censor individual posts. However, the court acknowledged that the plaintiffs, including Bhattacharya, were censored. Each doctor in the lawsuit "faced his first social media restriction in 2020," the decision stated. The road to reform In his nomination hearings, Bhattacharya committed to changing the culture of censorship at NIH. He said, "Over the last few years, top NIH officials oversaw a culture of cover-up, obfuscation and a lack of tolerance for ideas that differ from theirs. Dissent is the very essence of science. Ill foster a culture where NIH leadership will actively encourage different perspectives." Bhattacharya emphasized that scientific progress requires tolerance for a broad range of perspectives. "I want to make sure that all the ranges of hypotheses are supported," he said. He also noted that censorship of non-establishment perspectives, including criticism of pandemic-era measures such as lockdowns, caused significant harm. Funding the wrong priorities The Defender conducted several investigations in 2023 and 2024 that revealed the types of grants that may now be on the chopping block. These investigations uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded grants awarded by NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to decrease so-called "vaccine hesitancy" and increase vaccine uptake for COVID-19, flu and HPV vaccines. For example, a 500,000 NIH grant was awarded to create a smartphone tool to push the HPV vaccine among underserved adolescents whose parents are "vaccine?hesitant." Another 2.2 million grant tested personalized "nudges" to coax elderly people into taking more shots. The NIH also spent $340,000 on a pilot project to use psychological tactics to persuade South African fifth-graders and parents to accept the HPV vaccine. These grants, funded through a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, highlight the extent to which taxpayer money has been used to direct people's decision-making toward government-approved behaviors. The potential cancellation of such contracts is seen as a positive step toward scientific integrity and academic freedom. From "fringe" to mainstream Jay Bhattacharya's nomination to head NIH represents a significant shift in the landscape of public health and academic freedom. Four years ago, Bhattacharya was ostracized by his colleagues at Stanford and censored on social media platforms due to a campaign against him by the public health establishment. The director of the NIH at the time, Francis Collins, even urged a "quick and devastating published takedown" of Bhattacharya and his fellow "fringe epidemiologists." Today, Bhattacharya is far from the fringe. His nomination by Donald Trump and confirmation by the Senate is a major victory for science and academic freedom. As NIH director, Bhattacharya will have the power to reform American scientific institutions and restore public trust in science. A call to action "The Biden administration ran the largest censorship operation in history and they did it to enrich their donors in the pharmaceutical industry and public health insiders who held intellectual property rights to mRNA technology," said Toby Rogers, Ph.D., a scholar at the Brownstone Institute. "Cancelling contracts is a good start. We also need to fire the people responsible, prosecute any criminal actions, repeal any laws or policies that enabled this to happen, and allow the public to access all government records concerning the censorship program." As the NIH takes steps to address the culture of censorship, it is crucial that these efforts are transparent and inclusive. The future of scientific progress and public trust depends on it. Conclusion The NIH's directive to compile a list of grants and contracts related to "fighting misinformation or disinformation" is a significant step toward restoring academic freedom and scientific integrity. While the initial reporting by STAT News contained an error, the broader implications of this directive are clear: The NIH is taking a stand against taxpayer-funded censorship. This move is a victory for those who believe in the importance of open scientific debate and the protection of academic freedom. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org City-Journal.org StatNews.com North Carolina Supreme Court rules family can sue over COVID-19 force-vaccination of teen without parental consent Lawsuit Allowed Over Non-Consensual Vaccination The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that a mother, Emily Happel, and her son could sue their school board and a medical organization for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to her 14-year-old son without parental consent in 2021. PREP Act Immunity Limited The court held that the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act), which grants broad immunity to vaccine administrators, does not shield defendants from constitutional claims, only from typical tort claims (e.g., injury or death). Constitutional Rights Upheld The majority opinion emphasized that parental rights and bodily autonomy are protected under state law, rejecting arguments that the PREP Act allows violations of fundamental constitutional rights. Split Court Decision The ruling was not unanimous; dissenting justices argued that the PREP Acts immunity should apply broadly, including to constitutional claims, except in cases of "willful misconduct" causing death or serious injury. A mothers constitutional rights were violated when her 14-year-old son was force-vaccinated with the deadliest jab in the universe, the blood-clotting mRNA Covid stab, without her consent, and the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled in her favor. Its no wonder the Supreme Court Justices are NOT paid off by Big Pharma to rule in favor of the Vaccine Industrial Complex, since most cases like this one get thrown out of courts and proxied by the fake kangaroo court invented by Pharma that uses slush funds to censor vaccine horror stories. Emily Happel and her teenage son can proceed suing local school board and medical organization responsible for injecting her teen son with deadly spike prions Happels son, Tanner Smith, was illegally force-injected with a deadly Covid-19 spike prion jab, that creates millions of prions in the blood forever. The vaccine industrial complex and all the vaccine fanatic cultists often do this sort of thing on purpose out of spite and for revenge against what they call anti-vaxxers. Theyll often say it was on accident or something like that, but thats just a cover story. Now, they may be paying a hefty price for their insidious acts of medical malpractice, especially if the boy suffers long-term health damage, like most people are suffering now who got the deadly Fauci Flu stabs. The lower courts, of course, ruled in favor of the Vaccine Industrial Complex, even though administrators never got consent from Tanners parents to stab him with known carcinogens and neurotoxins, claiming the PREP Act allows them to jab any kid anytime with experimental vaccines without parental consent. Steven Walker, an attorney representing Happel and her son, told The Epoch Times in an email: We are very pleased with the Courts ruling. While we would have, of course, loved to see the battery claim reinstated as well, we believe that the Court decision was very favorable in the main on the case and have no real complaints. I believe the case is important even outside the issue of the PREP Act in that the Court gave its clearest explanation to date concerning the rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children under the North Carolina constitution, and Walker continued... The PREP Act has a purpose, and that purpose is to provide immunity protections in situations when it might be difficult to determine the safety of a countermeasure during a time of crisis. It was never intended to allow the government to trample on the clear constitutional rights of its citizens. Bookmark Infections.news to get the latest updates about the engineered "bird flu pandemic." Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com SHTFplan.com ZeroHedge.com Texas Republicans push new bill to criminalize distribution of abortion pills Texas Republicans introduced HB 5510 (Woman and Child Protection Act) to impose civil penalties on those involved in distributing abortion-inducing drugs to reinforce pro-life laws. The bill bans manufacturing, possessing or distributing abortion pills, including mailing them or providing information on obtaining them. It also allows parents to sue for wrongful death of an "unborn child" via medication abortion. Modeled after Texas' SB 8 (2021), the law would let private citizens sue violators, making it one of the most aggressive state-level abortion restrictions. Texas officials are cracking down on out-of-state organizations mailing abortion pills, exemplified by AG Ken Paxton's lawsuit against a New York doctor who allegedly sent pills to a Texas resident. Supporters argue abortion pills endanger women and evade accountability, while critics see it as an extreme measure limiting reproductive rights. A judge has already fined one out-of-state provider $100,000 for violating Texas law. Texas Republicans have introduced legislation that will impose civil liability on anyone involved in distributing abortion-inducing drugs to stop these pills from weakening their pro-life laws. House Bill 5510, dubbed the Woman and Child Protection Act, would prohibit the manufacturing, possession or distribution of abortion pills in Texas, as well as ban mailing, prescribing or providing information on how to obtain them. The bill also grants parents of an "unborn child" the right to sue for wrongful death if an abortion occurs via medication, regardless of marital status. Republican state Rep. Jeff Leach, the lead author of the proposed law, argued that abortion pills endanger women and evade accountability. "These drugs not only take the lives of innocent children but also abandon their mothers to trauma and suffering, all while their exploiters remain immune from accountability. This bill ensures that those responsible for injury and death from abortion drugs can be held liable, offering justice for women and their children. Rest assured, Texas will lead the nation in defending women and unborn children from exploitation and HB 5510 is a crucial step to doing just that," Leach said. If passed, the law would mark one of the most aggressive state-level efforts to enforce abortion restrictions through civil lawsuits, following the model of Texas' controversial SB 8 (2021), which empowered private citizens to sue abortion providers. Texas officials have been grappling with out-of-state providers and organizations mailing abortion pills to their residents The legislation comes as Texas officials grapple with out-of-state providers and organizations mailing abortion pills into the state, allowing individuals to terminate pregnancies privately despite Texas' strict abortion laws. In December, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a New York-based abortion provider for allegedly shipping abortion drugs into Texas. (Related: Louisiana grand jury indicts New York doctor and company for prescribing abortion pills to pregnant minor.) "Dr. Margaret Daley Carpenter, a New York doctor and founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, unlawfully provided a Collin County resident with abortion-inducing drugs that ended the life of an unborn child and resulted in serious complications for the mother, who then required medical intervention," Paxton's office stated in a press release. Paxton's office noted that Texas law prohibits physicians from prescribing abortion-inducing drugs via mail, courier or telehealth services unless they hold a valid Texas medical license. The office said Carpenter knowingly violated these laws by prescribing the medication despite lacking authorization to practice telemedicine in Texas. "In this case, an out-of-state doctor violated the law and caused serious harm to this patient. This doctor prescribed abortion-inducing drugs, unauthorized, over telemedicine causing [the woman] to end up in the hospital with serious complications. In Texas, we treasure the health and lives of mothers and babies and this is why out-of-state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to Texas residents," Paxton said in a separate statement. Judge Bryan Gantt of the 219th District Court ordered Carpenter to stop sending abortion pills into Texas and imposed a $100,000 fine. Learn more about abortion policies around the world at Abortions.news. Watch this clip from MSNBC reporting on the criminalization of so-called "emergency abortions" in Idaho. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: New Jersey governor announces plan to stockpile abortion pills as Trump returns to White House. Man jailed for secretly giving abortion pills to pregnant girlfriend without her consent, killing the baby. Canada passes controversial bill providing FREE contraception and abortion pills to all. Report reveals a Mexican drug cartel is using the U.S. Postal Service to ship black market abortion pills all over America. Kamala Harris blames Georgia abortion laws for death of two pregnant women who took abortion pills. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com 1 LifeSiteNews.com 2 LifeSiteNews.com 3 Brighteon.com Trump orders full declassification of FBIs Crossfire Hurricane records, reigniting scrutiny of Russia probe President Donald Trump directed the full declassification of all FBI records related to the Crossfire Hurricane probe, a 2016 counterintelligence investigation into his campaign's alleged ties to Russia. The probe was launched on unverified, third-hand intelligence, as revealed by a 2023 Special Counsel John Durham report, which criticized the FBI for lacking verified evidence. The investigation began under FBI agent Peter Strzok, relying on speculative claims of Russian operatives seeking contact with Trump's team, later expanding into Robert Mueller's special counsel probe. Trump had previously declassified a sensitive binder (January 2021) detailing alleged misconduct by intelligence officials, which resurfaced during the FBI's Mar-a-Lago raid (August 2022) over concerns about missing documents. The declassification could expose FBI methods, internal bias and political motivations, either vindicating claims of misconduct or further polarizing public opinion around the probe. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 25, ordered the immediate declassification of all Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) records tied to the Crossfire Hurricane probe. The directive, delivered via a memorandum from White House advisor William Scharf, targets the remaining classified materials from the 2016 counterintelligence operation, which scrutinized Trump's campaign over alleged ties to Russia. The decision follows years of legal battles, congressional inquiries and a damning 2023 report from Special Counsel John Durham, who concluded the FBI lacked verified intelligence when it launched the investigation. With the imminent release of these documents, the intelligence community faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of a case that has fueled deep political divisions. The Crossfire Hurricane investigation began in July 2016 under the leadership of then-FBI agent Peter Strzok. Judicial Watch later obtained the original "electronic communication" document through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, revealing that the FBI initiated the probe based on unverified, third-hand information. (Related: Unraveling the origins of Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI's Trump-Russia-collusion hoax.) The memo, authored by Strzok, claimed Russian operatives were seeking contact with "prominent members of the Donald Trump campaign" to establish post-election relations. Despite its flimsy foundation, the document became the basis for a sprawling counterintelligence operation that would later expand into Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Durham's final report in 2023 confirmed what critics had long alleged: The FBI opened the case without verified intelligence, relying instead on speculative claims. The findings intensified demands for full transparency, with Trump and his allies arguing that the documents would expose misconduct by federal officials. Previous declassifications and the Mar-a-Lago raid Trump had already taken steps toward transparency before leaving office. On Jan. 19, 2021, he declassified a binder containing hundreds of pages detailing the conduct of intelligence officials involved in Crossfire Hurricane. Described as highly sensitive, the binder allegedly included evidence of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and FBI coordination under the Obama administration to advance the Russia collusion narrative. The binder resurfaced in public discourse in August 2022 after the FBI's unprecedented raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Sources familiar with the matter claimed the search was partly motivated by efforts to locate a "missing top-secret binder" containing intercepted communications, tasking orders for key FBI sources like Christopher Steele and Stefan Halper, and the final Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant approved by a secret court. The documents also reportedly detailed the role of Fiona Hill, a former National Security Council official who facilitated Steele's introduction to federal investigators. The latest declassification order could have far-reaching consequences, potentially exposing internal deliberations, intelligence-gathering methods and the extent of political bias within the FBI. Supporters of Trump argue that full transparency is necessary to hold officials accountable, while critics warn that selective releases could be used to fuel partisan narratives. As the documents are prepared for public release, attention remains fixed on how they might reshape perceptions of the Russia investigation. "This is about restoring trust in our institutions," said a source close to the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The American people deserve to know the truth." The declassification of the remaining Crossfire Hurricane records marks a pivotal moment in the years-long saga surrounding the FBI's investigation into Trump's campaign. With the intelligence community's actions under renewed scrutiny, the release could either vindicate long-held claims of misconduct or further polarize an already divided public. As the documents become available, their contents may finally provide definitive answers or deepen the controversies surrounding one of the most politically charged probes in U.S. history. Head over to Trump.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks about James Comey's "honeypot" operation against the Trump campaign. This video is from the Sanivan channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FBI launches probe into alleged "honeypot" operation against 2016 Trump campaign. FBI launches investigation into James Comey over alleged "honeypot" operation targeting Trump in 2016. Kash Patel takes the reins at FBI: A long-overdue reckoning for a corrupt and bloated agency. Sources include: YourNews.com X.com TheGatewayPundit.com Brighteon.com AI weather model outperforms traditional forecasts, boosts accuracy by 20% ECMWFs AI Forecasting System (AIFS) is now fully operational, outperforming traditional methods by up to 20% in accuracy. AIFS uses machine learning to predict weather faster, including cyclone paths 12 hours earlier than conventional models. The system aids renewable energy planning with forecasts for solar radiation and wind speeds at 100 meters. ECMWF collaborates globally, sharing open-source tools like Anemoi to advance AI weather modeling. Experts stress AI complementsnot replaceshuman expertise, with potential to extend forecast limits beyond 15 days. In a landmark advancement for meteorology, the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has fully operationalized its Artificial Intelligence Forecasting System (AIFS), marking a pivotal shift in how weather predictions are made. The AIFS, now running alongside ECMWFs traditional physics-based model, has demonstrated superior accuracyoutperforming conventional methods of weather forecasting by up to 20% in key areas like tropical cyclone tracking. This breakthrough, which was announced in late 2024, positions Europe at the forefront of a global race to harness AI for faster, more precise forecasts, potentially saving lives and livelihoods amid escalating temperature extremes. Yet, experts caution that AI is a complement, not a replacement, for human expertise. The AI advantage: Speed, accuracy, and innovation The ECMWFs AIFS leverages machine learning trained on decades of global weather data to identify patterns that are invisible to traditional models. Unlike physics-based systems, which solve complex equations on supercomputers, AIFS rapidly processes initial conditionsincluding satellite readings, buoy data, and aircraft observationsto generate forecasts with a 28-kilometer resolution. Early tests showed it could predict cyclone paths 12 hours earlier than conventional methods, which can provide a critical edge for disaster preparedness. This milestone will transform weather science and predictions, said ECMWF Director-General Florence Rabier. The systems open availability ensures that meteorologists around the world can integrate its outputs into their analyses. Florian Pappenberger, ECMWFs forecasts director, noted its unique versatility, pointing out that it can also forecast solar radiation and wind speeds at 100 meters, which is useful for renewable energy planning. A global race with collaborative potential The ECMWF joins tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Huawei in deploying AI weather models. Googles GraphCast, NVIDIAs FourCast, and Huaweis Pangu-Weatherall trained on ECMWFs historical datahighlight the fields rapid evolution. Yet comparing these systems remains challenging, and there is not a clear standout overall. Collaboration is a key part of the development and use of these systems. The ECMWF co-developed Anemoi, an open-source AI framework named after the Greek wind god, fostering innovation across institutions. Peter Battaglia of Google DeepMind praised the initiative, saying that the latest open model would contribute to the pool of knowledge. AI as a partner, not a replacement Despite AIs recent strides, meteorologists emphasize its role as a tool, not a takeover. Many say that it is just one of a suite of tools they rely on when making their forecasts. Kirstine Dale of the UK Met Office echoed this, saying that a combination of physics-based and data-based simulations is needed for their combined strengths to provide accurate, fast, reliable and trustworthy forecasts. The ECMWF plans upgrades, including ensemble forecasting (50 simultaneous scenarios) and seasonal predictions. AIs ability to extract hidden data patterns could extend reliable forecasts beyond todays 15-day limit for temperature predictions. Pappenberger noted: "Machine learning models have a fair chance of extending that because they may be able to extract something out of the data that we may not currently represent well enough in physics-based models. The AIFS heralds a new era where technology and tradition converge to sharpen weather insights. While challenges remainlike refining spatial resolutionthe potential is undeniable: faster warnings for storms, tailored forecasts for farmers, and energy-sector optimizations. Sources for this article include: WattsUpWithThat.com FT.com TheGuardian.com Alex Epstein defends energy progress in his book The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels Alex Epstein argues in his book "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" that fossil fuels have significantly improved living standards, reduced pollution and enabled technological advancements making them essential for human prosperity. He counters claims about climate change, pollution and resource depletion, asserting that human ingenuity and cleaner technologies mitigate risks while fossil fuel reserves remain vast. Epstein highlights how past doomsday forecasts (e.g., mass starvation in the 1970s) proved wrong, as fossil fuel-driven innovation led to greater prosperity and environmental improvements. Solar and wind are unreliable without fossil fuel backups, and biomass competes with food production. Fossil fuels remain the most practical energy source for now. Cheap, abundant energy primarily from fossil fuels lifts people out of poverty and powers advancements. Epstein advocates for improving fossil fuel efficiency while investing in future energy breakthroughs. In "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels," Alex Epstein challenges the prevailing narrative that fossil fuels are inherently harmful and unsustainable. Instead, he argues that they have been and continue to be a driving force behind human progress by improving living standards, reducing pollution and enabling technological advancement. Epstein's journey into defending fossil fuels began with a surprising encounter in 2009. At a farmers' market in Irvine, California, he met a Greenpeace activist who asked if he wanted to help end humanity's "addiction" to fossil fuels. Epstein responded that the world would be better off using more fossil fuelsa statement that shocked the activist, who assumed he must be financially tied to the industry. However, Epstein's stance was based on years of research, not financial incentives. Epstein systematically dismantles the most common arguments against fossil fuels: Climate Change Concerns : Critics claim fossil fuels cause dangerous climate change, but Epstein argues that human ingenuity has historically allowed us to adapt to climate variability. Technological advancementsfrom better infrastructure to agricultural innovationshave mitigated climate-related risks. : Critics claim fossil fuels cause dangerous climate change, but Epstein argues that human ingenuity has historically allowed us to adapt to climate variability. Technological advancementsfrom better infrastructure to agricultural innovationshave mitigated climate-related risks. Pollution Reduction : While opponents highlight pollution as a major drawback, Epstein points out that pollution from fossil fuels has been declining due to cleaner technologies, such as more efficient coal plants and advanced emission controls. : While opponents highlight pollution as a major drawback, Epstein points out that pollution from fossil fuels has been declining due to cleaner technologies, such as more efficient coal plants and advanced emission controls. Nonrenewable Nature : Some argue that fossil fuels are finite, but Epstein counters that known reserves are vast. By the time they are depleted, he predicts, better alternatives like advanced nuclear power will likely be available. : Some argue that fossil fuels are finite, but Epstein counters that known reserves are vast. By the time they are depleted, he predicts, better alternatives like advanced nuclear power will likely be available. Renewable Energy Limitations: Epstein dismisses the idea that solar and wind can fully replace fossil fuels, citing their intermittency. Unlike reliable fossil fuels, renewables require backup power sources, which often come from coal or natural gas. Epstein also highlights how past environmental doomsday predictions have consistently failed. In the 1970s, experts like Paul Ehrlich warned of mass starvation and societal collapse by the year 2000. Instead, increased fossil fuel use led to unprecedented prosperity and improved environmental conditions. Similarly, despite decades of warnings about catastrophic climate change, global living standards have risen. Epstein argues that the climate has always been volatile, but fossil fuel-driven innovation has helped humanity adapt and thrive. Epstein challenges the oft-cited claim that 97 percent of scientists agree on catastrophic human-caused climate change. He argues that this statistic is misleading, often based on cherry-picked surveys rather than a true scientific consensus. He urges skepticism and independent evaluation of evidence. Contrary to popular belief, Epstein asserts that fossil fuels have improved environmental quality. As their use increased, air pollution decreased in developed nations, and access to clean water expanded globally. He attributes these improvements to the wealth and technology enabled by fossil fuel energy. While acknowledging the potential of renewables, Epstein critiques their limitations. Solar and wind energy are unreliable, requiring fossil fuel backups. Biomass is unsustainable at scale, competing with food production and driving up prices. Epstein's core thesis is that energy, not just fossil fuels, is morally essential. Cheap, abundant energy lifts people out of poverty, powers medical advancements and drives innovation. Fossil fuels remain the most practical way to provide this energy today. Rather than abandoning fossil fuels, Epstein advocates for improving their efficiency and cleanliness while investing in future energy breakthroughs. The real moral choice, he concludes, is embracing energy progress to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future. "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" presents a provocative, data-driven argument that fossil fuels have been a net benefit to humanity. Epstein urges readers to reconsider the demonization of these energy sources and recognize their role in advancing civilization. While acknowledging environmental concerns, he maintains that the benefits far outweigh the risks and that the path forward lies in innovation, not restriction. Watch this video about the book "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" by Alex Epstein. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Federal appeals court denies Trump administrations bid to block reinstatement of fired employees A federal appeals court refused to pause a lower court ruling ordering the reinstatement of thousands of probationary federal employees fired in February. The Ninth Circuit Court upheld Judge Alsup's injunction, with two judges (Clinton and Biden appointees) in the majority and a Trump-appointed judge dissenting. The court found that the firings violated federal "Reduction in Force" (RIF) procedures and that the administration failed to prove harm from reinstating workers. A separate ruling by Judge Bredar also forced the administration to reinstate over 24,000 probationary employees, rejecting claims that the dismissals were performance-based. The case is part of broader lawsuits alleging that the administrations mass firings violated federal laws, including the Civil Service Reform Act. A federal appeals court has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to pause a lower court ruling that ordered several government agencies to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were fired in February. In a 2-1 decision on March 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit refused to grant a stay of U.S. District Judge William Alsup's March 13 preliminary injunction, which required the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture and Department of the Treasury to immediately offer jobs back to employees terminated on or around Feb. 13. (Related: Trump administration targets 200,000 probationary federal workers in sweeping workforce cuts.) Judges Barry Silverman, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, and Ana de Alba, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, upheld Alsup's injunction, while Judge Bridget Bade, appointed by President Donald Trump, dissented. "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. "It is just as likely that the various agencies will reassign these employees to new positions or assign them 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." However, the majority opinion stated that the Trump administration failed to show it was likely to succeed on appeal or that complying with the injunction would cause "irreparable harm." "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," the majority of opinion read. The judges also found that the administration did not prove that the lower court erred in determining that the six agencies had been directed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to fire probationary employees in violation of federal "Reduction in Force" (RIF) procedures. Moreover, the court ruled that the plaintiffs, labor unions representing federal workers, had provided sufficient evidence of harm caused by the terminations. Court forces Trump admin to reinstate 24,000 fired federal workers Aside from failing to block the reinstatement of fired employees, the Trump administration was also left with no choice but to begin reinstating over 24,ooo federal probationary workers who were fired after a court ruled that the mass terminations were unlawful and not based on performance issues. A week ago, U.S. District Judge James Bredar, appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled that probationary employees fired across 18 federal agencies must be reinstated. Bredar rejected the governments claim that the dismissals were performance-related, declaring it 'isnt true.' This has left the administration with no choice but to adhere to the court's order. This case, including the San Francisco lawsuit, is just among several legal challenges contesting the administration's push to restructure the federal workforce by dismissing probationary employees. Democratic state attorneys general and affected workers have also filed suits, alleging that the terminations violate federal laws such as the Reduction in Force Act and the Civil Service Reform Act. Watch this video when investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson first reported in 2003 about how federal employees admitted they're paid to do nothing. This video is from the Bulgarianinsider channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Federal workers panic as DOGE audits expose culture of waste and incompetence. Government waste exposed: Hegseth supports Musk's demand for accountability from federal workers. Federal worker's resistance to Trump administration: A dangerous precedent for governance. Govt. agency closed by DOGE looked like a palace inside, with oil paintings fit for a KING Trump administration directs federal agencies to prepare for major downsizing by March 13. Sources include: NYPost.com ZeroHedge.com Brighteon.com The case for locking up the Deep States biggest hatchet man If youve been following Revolver News, you know weve had Norm Eisens number for years. But who is Norm Eisen, really? (Article republished from Revolver.news) Its a loaded question, but heres the short version of how he got started: Norms a Harvard Law grad. Back in 1991, he met his BFF Barack Obama. While he was there, he also served as Assistant Director of the Anti-Defamation League (a left-wing anti-free speech/propaganda group) and worked as a research assistant to his professor, Alan Dershowitz. But Eisens story takes a much darker turn the moment he and his Deep State buddies saw their power apparatus crumbling, thanks to a political outsider named Donald J. Trump. Long before everyone else caught on, we identified him as the Deep States legal mastermind and the architect behind the relentless lawfare weaponized against President Trump. Four years ago, we officially introduced our readers to Norm Eisenexposing him as one of the quietest, yet most lethal, players in the plot to remove and destroy President Trump. Revolver: As the man who implemented the David Brock blueprint for suing the President into paralysis and his allies into bankruptcy, who helped mainstream and amplify the Russia Hoax, who drafted 10 articles of impeachment for the Democrats a full month before President Trump ever called the Ukraine President in 2018, who personally served as special counsel litigating the Ukraine impeachment, who created a template for Internet censorship of world leaders and a handbook for mass mobilizing racial justice protesters to overturn democratic election results, there is perhaps no man alive with a more decorated resume for plots against President Trump. Indeed, the story of Norm Eisen a key architect of nearly every attempt to delegitimize, impeach, censor, sue and remove the democratically elected 45th President of the United States is a tale that winds through nearly every facet of the color revolution playbook. There is no purer embodiment of Revolvers thesis that the very same regime change professionals who run Color Revolutions on behalf of the US Government in order to undermine or overthrow alleged authoritarian governments overseas, are running the very same playbook to overturn Trumps 2016 victory and to pre-empt a repeat in 2020. To put it simply, what you see is not just the same Color Revolution playbook run against Trump, but the same people using it against Trump who have employed it in a professional capacity against targets overseassame people same playbook. In Norm Eisens case, the same people same playbook refrain takes an arrestingly literal turn when one realizes that Norm Eisen wrote a classic Color Revolution regime change manual, and conveniently titled it The Playbook. As we correctly pointed out four years ago, Norm Eisen was a key player in implementing Americas Color Revolutiona scheme designed to steamroll the will of the people and keep power in the hands of Norms unelected Deep State. Our work was groundbreaking thenand it still matters today. The Revolver piece continues: Just what exactly is President Obamas former White House Ethics Czar (yes, Norm Eisen was Obamas ethics Czar), his longtime friend since Harvard Law School, who recently partook in war games to simulate overturning a Trump electoral victory, doing writing a detailed playbook on how to use a Color Revolution to overthrow governments? The story of Norm Eisen only gets more fascinating, outrageous, and indispensable to understanding the planned chaos unfolding before our eyes, leading up to what will perhaps be the most chaotic election in our nations recent history. - Id Rather Have This Book Than The Atomic Bomb Before we can fully appreciate the significance of Norm Eisens Color Revolution manual The Playbook, we must contextualize this important book in relation to its place in Color Revolution literature. As a bit of a refresher to the reader, it is important to emphasize that when we use the term Color Revolution we do not mean any general type of revolutionindeed, one of the chief advantages of the Color Revolution framework we advance is that it offers a specific and concrete heuristic by which to understand the operations against Trump beyond the accurate but more vague term coup. Unlike the overt, blunt, method of full scale military invasion as was the case in Iraq War, a Color Revolution employs the following strategies and tactics: A Color Revolution in this context refers to a specific type of coordinated attack that the United States government has been known to deploy against foreign regimes, particularly in Eastern Europe deemed to be authoritarian and hostile to American interests. Rather than using a direct military intervention to effect regime change as in Iraq, Color Revolutions attack a foreign regime by contesting its electoral legitimacy, organizing mass protests and acts of civil disobedience, and leveraging media contacts to ensure favorable coverage to their agenda in the Western press. [Revolver] We encourage you to go back and read this piece again. Even if youve already got the full picture, itll help fill in some much-needed blanks: But Norm wouldnt stop at the first or even second impeachment of Trump. No. Norms wicked tricks went far beyond that, and the Deep States biggest hatchet man was tasked with removing President Trump from the 2024 ballot, and he began his dirty work in Colorado. This was our exclusive piece on that plot from one year ago. Revolver: The corrupt regime has violated every basic principle of decency, every premise of self-government, and every standard of justice for so long and so often that the public has become largely inured to the latest outrage. And yet the Colorado Supreme Courts recent decision to exclude Trumpthe front-runner in the 2024 presidential race, mind youfrom the ballot stands out for its stupidity, shortsightedness, and maliciousness even in this environment. The 200+ page decision is a work of such slop that it makes Roe v. Wade look like a paragon of principled and coherent legal reasoning by comparison. The theory of the case is that Trump is constitutionally prohibited from returning to the White House on the basis of the following Section 3 provision of the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. As we now know, that attempt was a total flop. The language was so absurdly vague, it never actually clarified whether the provision applied to the presidency. In fact, the district court got it rightit didnt apply. But facts and the rule of law have never stopped Norm Eisen. Our piece goes on: More interesting than the sham legal theory behind the Colorado Supreme Courts decision is the organization behind it called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). As the organization boasts on its website, CREW is responsible, along with a handful of law firms, for bringing the cases in question to the Colorado Supreme Court. CREW might be familiar to Revolver readers for the fact that notorious Democrat lawfare hatchet man Norm Eisen co-founded the organization in 2003 and ran it for most of Trumps presidency, during which time it generated nearly 200 lawsuits against the Trump administration. Norm Eisen drafted ten articles of impeachment against Trump before Trumps phone call with Zelensky even took place and went on to serve as special counsel in the first impeachment proceedings against Trump. Eisen worked with his colleague on a lawsuit claiming Trump violated the emoluments clause before he was even sworn in. Incidentally, his colleague Joseph Sellers represented Congressman Bennie Thompson in his January 6 lawsuit against Trump, which later became the basis for the second impeachment against Trump and the January 6 Committee report. Indeed, it would hardly be an exaggeration to say that Norm Eisen has been a key architect of nearly every attempt to delegitimize, impeach, censor, sue, and remove the democratically elected 45th President of the United Statesall in the name of democracy, of course. Years ago, we first brought Norm Eisens name to national attention in the context of his work on color revolutions overseas and the fact that he was deploying the same tools as a lawfare operative to undermine Trump that he would use in the State Department to undermine foreign leaders deemed to be adversaries of the United States. Norm, the Deep States Energizer Bunny, is now going after DOGE. Thanks to Revolvers reporting, the pattern is impossible to miss: Norm Eisen was the man behind the curtainthe bungling wizard, frantically pulling levers and cranking the smoke machine, trying to create the illusion that he was saving democracy from an evil tyrant. But in reality? Norm and his crew (literally, CREW) were the bad guys all along. Now, with President Trump facing yet another barrage of legal attacks, its more important than ever to revisit what we exposed years agoand why Eisen deserves to face real justice for what hes done. And speaking of justice, a recent X thread by The Researcher lays out the case for treason and sedition against Eisen, connecting the same dots weve been pointing out for years now on how he worked with the national security state to sabotage and overthrow Trump. His case reinforces what weve been saying all alongEisen wasnt just behind Trumps first sham impeachment; he was leading a full-scale coup, and in America, thats illegal. Lets not forget why Eisen orchestrated that impeachment in the first place. It wasnt about protecting democracy. It was about protecting Joe Biden. The goal was to pre-bunk Bidens corruptionto cover for his dirty dealings in Ukraine before the 2020 election and create a fake scandal to tie up Trump. And when the Mueller hoax collapsed, Eisen and his teamincluding Adam Schiff, Alexander Vindman, and Eric Ciaramellapivoted to Ukraine and launched the next manufactured crisis. But Eisen didnt stop at impeachment. As Senator Grassley exposed, he was working with the national security state on Arctic Frosta deep state lawfare operation designed to cripple Trumps presidency and ultimately remove him from power. The Researcher: Michael Schellenberger and Dan Bongino are covering the USAID aspect of the Trump impeachment but they are overlooking the outcome of that operation which was Norm Eisens first Trump impeachment which was to pre-bunk Joe Bidens corruption before the 2020 election. The USAID story was one piece of that. Norm then went on to work with the national security state on the lawfare portion to take out Trump. Senator Grassley exposed the operation. It was called Arctic Frost. The National security state has been working with Norm Eisen to take out Trump since 2016. Its called a color revolution/coup. They are continuing this effort today via lawfare (FBI case, USAID funding, all of the Trump EOs, etc). Eisens legal expertise Everyone involved should be charged with sedition and/or treason. Arctic Frost Norm told us about the impeachment in his book, granted it was the story he wanted people to hear not the whole truth. OCCRP is just a piece of the bigger story. You can read this entire thread by clicking here. Norm was the point man from the very beginningand sadly, he still is. Norm Eisen is a Marxist Obama Lawyer. Not only is he GUILTY of Treasonthis insufferable Criminal was the Point Man for setting up President Trump. Youre a fucking LIAR Norm Yes, he absolutely is. pic.twitter.com/G3ygDsrHmN Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) May 21, 2024 Every time you pull back the curtain on the latest plot to take down President Trump, there he isNorm Eisen. The real question is, how has one man been allowed to wreak this much havocand when will he finally face real justice? Watch: Norm Eisen was behind the J6 dog and pony shows. They were about the ballot box and the jury box to solve the problem of Trump. Norm created the Alvin Bragg charges. He said that a $120,000 payment was election interference. Norm should be charged with the same crimes, along pic.twitter.com/hzUZWZaOjo The Researcher (@listen_2learn) January 17, 2025 What Norm took part in wasnt just dirty U.S. politics. It was an unconstitutional coup. A plot to sabotage and overthrow a duly elected president using disinformation, fabricated scandals, and weaponized legal warfare. Many believe that Eisen and everyone involved in this operation should be charged with sedition and treason. They didnt just attack Trumpthey attacked the American people and our right to elect our own president. And now, as Eisen and his cronies are trying to run the same playbook in 2025, we need to expose them again and stop them before they finish the evil, immoral, and unconstitutional job they started. Read more at: Revolver.news ANKARA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkiye would not tolerate threats to its security or territorial integrity and urged the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disarm and dissolve without delay. "Our state has fulfilled its part by enabling the call for a ceasefire. Now, the group must comply unconditionally. We do not have unlimited patience or time for further delays," Erdogan said in an Eid al-Fitr message marking the end of Ramadan. Turkiye remains committed to its "Turkiye without terrorism" initiative, he said, vowing to continue operations against militant groups "operating from northern Iraq and seeking to establish a terror corridor in northern Syria." Erdogan said the current geopolitical landscape presented a historic opportunity to end the decades-long conflict with the PKK. "We will not tolerate instability along our southern border or threats to Syria's territorial integrity," he added. The PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire on March 1, 2025, following a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to halt armed actions. The Turkish government has responded with cautious optimism while continuing counterterrorism operations in Iraq and Syria. Ankara is awaiting a PKK congress to declare the group disbanded formally. Advisory: Ex-FBI agent exposes likely ATF honeypot operation selling illegal Glock switches Ex-FBI agent Kyle Seraphin uncovers a fake Polymer80 website selling illegal Glock switches, suggesting an ATF honeypot operation. The website appears hastily designed, mimicking the defunct Polymer80 site, with "Glock Switch" prominently listedraising entrapment concerns. Glock switches, which convert pistols into machine guns, are illegal under federal law, carrying severe penalties including 10 years in prison. Honeypot operations, while legal, walk a fine line between law enforcement and entrapment, sparking ethical debates. Potential ATF honeypot operation uncovered In what appears to be yet another brazen attempt by federal agencies to ensnare unsuspecting Americans, former FBI agent and federal whistleblower Kyle Seraphin has exposed a suspicious website allegedly selling illegal Glock switchesdevices that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic machine guns. The site, which clumsily mimics the now-defunct Polymer80 brand, has all the hallmarks of a classic ATF honeypot operation: a poorly constructed facade, an overt focus on illegal products, and a clear intent to lure in potential buyers for prosecution. "Have you ever wanted to buy an illegal MACHINE GUN DIRECTLY from @ATFHQ?" Seraphin sarcastically posted on X, highlighting the absurdity of the setup. The website, which bears little resemblance to the original Polymer80 domain, lists "Glock Switch" as its top productan obvious red flag for entrapment. What is a Glock switch and why is it illegal? A Glock switch, also known as an auto sear, is a small aftermarket device that modifies a semi-automatic Glock pistol to fire in full-auto mode, effectively turning it into a machine gun. Under U.S. federal law, these devices are strictly prohibited for civilian possession due to their classification as "machine guns" under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 and the Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986, which banned new machine gun sales to civilians. Penalties for possession include: Up to 10 years in federal prison per violation. Fines as high as $250,000. Additional state-level charges in jurisdictions with stricter laws. The only exceptions are for law enforcement, military personnel, and licensed manufacturers with ATF approval. Despite this, the ATF has ramped up enforcement, targeting online sales and underground markets in what critics argue are often overzealous stings designed to inflate arrest statistics rather than enhance public safety. How ATF honeypot operations workand why theyre ethically questionable A honeypot operation is a law enforcement tactic where agencies create fake online platformswebsites, social media pages, or dark web marketplacesto attract individuals attempting to buy or sell illegal items. In this case, the ATF (or another agency) appears to have set up a sham Polymer80 site to entice buyers of illegal firearm accessories. The playbook is simple: 1. Setup Authorities create a fake website selling prohibited items (e.g., Glock switches, unregistered suppressors). 2. Enticement The site advertises illegal products, often in ways that seem too good to be true. 3. Capture Buyers who take the bait are tracked, engaged by undercover agents, and arrested upon attempting a transaction. While such operations are legally permissible, they risk crossing into entrapmenta defense that argues law enforcement induced someone to commit a crime they otherwise wouldnt have. Given the ATFs history of aggressive tactics, including undercover gun store stings and questionable prosecutions, this latest revelation raises serious concerns about government overreach and due process. A history of ATF entrapment and why this matters now The ATF has a long and controversial track record of manufacturing crime rather than preventing it. From the disastrous Fast and Furious scandal, where the agency allowed firearms to "walk" into the hands of Mexican cartels, to undercover stings targeting legal gun owners, the bureau has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to prioritize arrests over justice. This latest alleged honeypot operation follows a disturbing pattern: create the crime, then punish the offender. Given the Biden administrations aggressive push for stricter gun controlincluding executive actions targeting pistol braces and so-called "ghost guns"many Second Amendment advocates see this as yet another federal power grab disguised as public safety. As Seraphins discovery goes viral, one question lingers: If the ATF is so concerned about illegal firearms, why does it appear to be facilitating their sale? Or, a tougher question to ask is, "When the government becomes the arms dealer, whos really the criminal?" Sources include: Zerohedge.com X.com CMS.Zerohedge.com Woman contracts WORLDS DEADLIEST VIRUS after unknowingly being given the WRONG VACCINE A healthy 30-year-old woman in Ireland was mistakenly given a tuberculosis (BCG) vaccine instead of the intended MMR shot. The BCG vaccine, typically administered to infants under the skin, was incorrectly injected into her muscle, leading to a severe TB-related infection. The intramuscular injection allowed TB-causing bacteria (Mycobacterium bovis) to spread unchecked, causing an abscess in her deltoid muscle. Such complications are becoming more common, especially in healthy adults, and in immuno-compromised children. Doctors initially misdiagnosed her symptoms as skin inflammation before tests revealed the TB infection. She underwent six months of anti-TB medication, recovering fully after treatment. The case underscores the dangers of vaccine administration errors. Similar incidents, like an infant developing a thigh abscess from a misplaced BCG shot, show the risks of improper injection techniques. In yet another careless misstep of the Vaccine Industrial Complex, a woman was jabbed with the wrong dirty vaccine and ended up with a severe case of the worlds deadliest disease. She walked into a clinic to get an MMR jab, if thats not toxic enough, but the medical practitioner shot her up with the dirty tuberculosis stab, and it took the woman SIX MONTHS to recover from the TB infection she got directly from the dirty jab. The toxic TB jab is injected into babies right after theyre born, making horrific adverse events quite popular for the little ones. Many of these babies get life-threatening lesions in the lungs, spleen or liver, plus inflamed bones and widespread infection from the dirty TB jabs. Dirty Vax recipient developed deadly abscess with oozing pus and deathly TB-causing bacteria spread throughout her body from the dirty TB jab Walking into any hospital is a roll of the dice with your health and safety, even in America. Unless you have a severe wound, deadly infection, or are having a baby, you might want to weigh your other options. The BCG vaccine for TB contains bacteria and can easily be injected incorrectly or administered to the wrong patient. Healthcare professionals often misread the label on the vaccines, because they are careless. Sometimes surgeons will cut off the wrong arm or leg or operate on the wrong organ for this same reason. The TB vaccine (BCG) contains weakened Mycobacterium bovis and is meant to be injected just below the skin to trigger a localized immune response without spreading. Unlike viral vaccines (e.g., MMR), the bacteria in BCG must be carefully controlled; injecting it into the muscle can allow uncontrolled spread, leading to severe complications. This case involved a healthy 30-year-old woman who developed an arm abscess after a misplaced BCG injection into her deltoid muscle. Other similar errors have occurred, such as an eight-month-old girl who developed a thigh abscess after an incorrect intramuscular BCG injection. The slow-growing M. bovis infection formed a mass that required drainage. While localized abscesses are rarely fatal, untreated systemic infections can be deadly in up to 80% of cases. Doctors emphasize that injection errors are the primary cause of severe reactions, which may include abscesses, lymph node inflammation, bone pain, or systemic infections. This case, published in the American Journal of Case Reports, highlights the importance of proper vaccine administration, even in healthy adults. Most complications occur in pediatric or immunocompromised patients, making this an unusual occurrence. Bookmark Infections.news to get the latest updates about the engineered "bird flu pandemic." Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com SHTFplan.com DailyMail.co.uk 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. HONG KONG/YANGON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- As Myanmar's earthquake death toll mounts, China and neighboring countries have swiftly mobilized critical aid and dispatched rescue teams to the worst-hit areas. At least 1,644 people died and 3,408 were injured in the powerful earthquake, according to Myanmar's Information Team of the State Administration Council. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the southeast Asian country on Friday, with Mandalay, Bago, Magway, the northeastern Shan state, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw among the hardest-hit regions. China's first 37-member rescue team from southwest Yunnan Province arrived at Yangon International Airport on Saturday morning, bringing life detectors, earthquake early warning systems and drones. During their rescue operation, an elderly man was pulled out alive early Sunday in the capital Nay Pyi Taw. Another 82-strong Chinese rescue team also arrived in Yangon on Saturday afternoon to assist their Myanmar counterparts in carrying out relief works. The Red Cross Society of China has sent emergency humanitarian aid to Myanmar. Emergency relief supplies, to be distributed through the Myanmar Red Cross Society, include 300 tents, 2,000 blankets, 600 folding beds and relief kits for 2,000 affected households. China has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan (approximately 13.9 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts, a spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency said. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said in a foreign ministers' statement that it further recognizes the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and stands ready to support relief and recovery efforts. "ASEAN affirms its solidarity and will work closely to coordinate humanitarian assistance, support and facilitate relief operations, and ensure timely and effective humanitarian response," the statement read. Malaysia's national disaster management agency said the country will deploy a 50-member humanitarian assistance and disaster relief team to Yangon on Sunday. "Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation and will continue to contribute meaningfully to humanitarian relief and disaster management efforts across ASEAN," the agency said. Vietnam will deploy a 79-member military task force to assist with earthquake search and rescue operations and post-disaster recovery efforts in Myanmar, Vietnam News Agency reported. The team, organized by the Department of Rescue and Relief under the Ministry of Defense, is scheduled to depart for Myanmar on Sunday. India's defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it will deploy a medical task force to earthquake-hit Myanmar. "A 118-member team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders is set to take off to Myanmar shortly along with essential medical equipment and supplies," said the statement. Singapore has deployed an 80-member contingent from its civil defense force to assist in disaster rescue efforts. The contingent, which departed on Saturday, includes specialists in rescue operations, medical support, search and rescue, and hazardous material management. It is also accompanied by four search dogs. New Zealand said it will donate 2 million New Zealand dollars (1.14 million dollars) through the International Red Cross to support emergency response in Myanmar. On Friday, the United Nations (UN) allocated 5 million dollars in aid to Myanmar, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general. "The UN is mobilizing teams and support." Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Patients with active cancer who developed a blood clot, or venous thromboembolism (VTE), and were treated with blood-thinning medication for at least six months, followed by an additional 12 months of low-dose apixaban, experienced similar VTE recurrences and less bleeding as similar patients who received a full dose of the oral blood-thinning medication over the same extended period. These findings from the API-CAT trial were presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25). VTEs are a common complication of cancer and the second leading cause of death in cancer patients after cancer itself. Cancer cells release substances that make it easier for blood clots to form. Cancer treatment can also cause inflammation in blood vessels and elevate risk for blood clots. Additionally, surgery limits patients' mobility and the use of invasive devices also helps to explain the risk of VTE. For patients with cancer who develop a VTE, international guidelines recommend treatment with anticoagulants, or blood-thinning medication, for at least six months and for as long as the cancer remains active or cancer treatment continues. Studies have shown that, although the risk of a recurrent VTE diminishes somewhat after six months of anticoagulant treatment, patients remain at considerable risk. However, studies also show that anticoagulant treatment may increase patients' risk for bleeding. The best way to prevent a VTE recurrence after six months of anticoagulant treatment has not been clear." Isabelle Mahe, MD, PhD, professor of internal medicine at the Universite Paris Cite, head of internal medicine at Public Assistance Hospitals of Paris and principal investigator for the study The aim of the API-CAT trial was to assess whether the lower dose of apixaban was comparable to the full dose in preventing VTE recurrence in patients with active cancer who had completed at least six months of treatment with a blood-thinning medication for a VTE. Study investigators also assessed whether the low dose resulted in a decreased risk of bleeding compared with a full dose. In this randomized, international, double-blinded study, a total of 1,766 patients were prospectively enrolled in 11 countries. Their average age was 67 years and 57% were women. All had active cancer (breast cancer, 22.7%; colorectal cancer, 15.3%; prostate cancer, 9.3%; other cancers, 41.4%); 65.8% had metastatic cancer (cancer that had spread from the site where it started to other parts of the body), and 81.2% were receiving concurrent cancer treatment at inclusion. The median time since the patients' VTE was eight months. At enrollment all patients had completed at least six months of anticoagulant treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to be treated with either 5 mg (2.5mg twice daily; the reduced-dose group) or 10 mg (5 mg twice daily; the full-dose group) of apixaban for an additional 12 months. Neither patients nor their doctors knew which dose patients were receiving until the end of the trial. All deaths, suspected VTE recurrences and suspected bleeding episodes during the trial were reviewed by an independent group of physicians who also were unaware of which treatment patients were receiving. The study's primary endpoint was any recurrence of VTE or death from VTE during the treatment period. The key secondary endpoint was a composite of major bleeding and any bleeding that required medical care. At 12 months, 18 patients in the reduced-dose group and 24 in the full-dose group had had a recurrent VTE (12-months cumulative incidence of 2.1% and 2.8% respectively), a difference that was statistically significant for the non-inferiority of the reduced dose compared with the full dose. Clinically relevant bleeding requiring medical care occurred in 102 patients in the reduced-dose group compared with 136 patients in the full-dose group (12-months cumulative incidence of 12.1% and 15.6% respectively), a statistically significant reduction in favor of the reduced dose. Death rates were similar in the two groups (17.7% in the reduced-dose group, 19.6% in the full-dose group). "We can say that the lower-dose apixaban is both effective and safer than the full dose," Mahe said, adding that the results should lead to a guideline update recommending extended treatment with a reduced-dose anticoagulant in this patient group. Limitations of the study include a lack of guidance on how long anticoagulant treatment should continue beyond the study's 12-month follow-up period. Secondly, Mahe said, the study provides no information about possible differences in effectiveness or safety between racial and ethnic groups because France does not permit the collection of data on patients' race and ethnicity. In addition, patients with brain tumors were excluded from the study, so the results do not apply to them. Mahe and her colleagues plan to publish a follow-up analysis of the findings according to the type of cancer patients had and investigate the determinants of bleeding. The study was funded by the BMS-Pfizer Alliance. Bristol-Myers Squibb provided the apixaban free of charge. It was an investigator- sponsored study coordinated by Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP). The funder of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report. This study was simultaneously published online in the New England Journal of Medicine at the time of presentation. A new study by researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City aims to determine the best method to screen and evaluate patients who are at risk of developing coronary heart disease and which patients would benefit from taking a statin medication to lower cholesterol. Currently, cardiologists determine a patient's need for a statin based on traditional risk factors, using the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), which calculates coronary risk by assessing the risk factors of age, sex, total and HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and whether someone has diabetes and is a smoker. However, a new approach to determining risk and selecting a statin is the use of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score which is determined by taking a low-radiation dose image of the heart using computed tomography (CT) to look for calcium deposits in plaques in the heart's coronary arteries. Which approach is more effective? The new study aims to find out. Our study is now fully enrolled with over 5,600 patients, and in this abstract for the American College of Cardiology, we wanted to look at baseline characteristics and differences in statin prescribing recommendations." Jeffrey L. Anderson MD, principal investigator of the study and distinguished clinical and cardiovascular research physician at Intermountain Health "The question is: Can we do a better job in selecting people who need a statin for primary coronary risk reduction by using the coronary artery calcium score, rather than just putting coronary risk factors into an equation that is, is it more effective to use direct imaging evidence of plaque burden or a risk probability. That's what we're aiming to find out," he said. The new study was presented on March 29 at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Sessions meeting in Chicago. The research is part of CorCal Outcomes, a large, randomized clinical trial at Intermountain Health that is comparing the Pooled Cohort Equation versus coronary artery calcium score guidance to initiate a statin prescription for primary prevention of coronary heart disease. Since 2019, Intermountain heart researchers have enrolled 5,615 patients into the study, with patients having an average age of 64.1 years old, and 51.3% of the study subjects being women. "This CorCal Outcomes study has been a system-wide, eight-year effort to complete enrollment," said Dr. Anderson. Intermountain patients at risk of coronary disease were invited to enroll in the study, and those agreeing to participate were randomized into two groups: those assessed using the Pooled Cohort Equation or by a coronary artery calcium score. The results of scoring by their assigned risk assessment tool were sent in letters to their personal physicians, including whether a statin was recommended based on a high-risk score. Patients in the two groups in the study were found to have very similar baseline characteristics. However, researchers found that the rate of statin medication recommendations were different. The study is expected to conclude in early 2026, at which time a comparison of outcomes, including deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and revascularizations during up to 7 years, and an average of over 4 years, of follow-up will be made. A recommendation to start a statin was made much more often based on the Pooled Cohort Equation. In the PCE group, 50.7% of patients were recommended a statin, with another 21.7% to be considered for one. In contrast in the CAC group, only 22.3% of patients were recommended a statin. This large difference in statin recommendations appears to be explained by the strong influence of older age in recommending a statin by the Pooled Cohort Equation and, in contrast, the frequent finding of a zero or low CAC score in many older patients, leading to a no-statin recommendation in them. Knowing which score is most effective is important, said Dr. Anderson, so that physicians can get the statin drugs to the right people, and not prescribe statins to those who don't need it. This is especially important considering that statins entail costs and can have side effects, including muscle aches and an increased risk of diabetes. "We know there's a huge difference in prescribing recommendations, and next year we are anxious to see the impact of these differences on outcomes. These findings can have a huge impact on how we practice preventive medicine in the future and how many and whom we put on a statin or other lipid-lowering drugs," said Dr. Anderson. US -1/10, China 10/10: This Viral Reel Rates Airports On Baggage Handling | Check If It's True Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 01, 2025, 11:05 IST Ever since the reel was shared on the internet, both US and UK airport have received a lot backlash from the users due to mishandling the baggage with no respect. Baggage handling at airports. (File photo) Imagine this, you came out from a long-haul flight, fully exhausted, and desperately wanted to retrieve your baggage from the belt. Instead of getting them in one piece, you get them in broken condition. Felt frustrating right? Well, a viral reel has surfaced on the internet, exposing how airports worldwide treat luggage, rating them based on their baggage-handling behaviour The post gave US, which is considered one of the busiest airports a shocking -1/10, while China and Japan received 10/10, all thanks to the gentle way of handling the baggage with pure efficiency. Scroll down to see the viral reel. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Easy Bag (@theasybag) The clip starts with an Australian airport, where the staff can be seen tossing the suitcase on the belt wildly as if someone has put them into the job forcefully. The clip gave the airport a rating of 2 out of 10 with the title They have no car and respect". US Airport Rating As the viral footage moves ahead, it shows, the US airport, where the staff was seen throwing the luggage directly from the aircraft to the cargo aggressively. The post landed this airport with a minus rating, indirectly calling them the worst for mishandling the baggage. Italy Airport The Italy airport was seen doing slightly better as compared to the above-mentioned airports as they looked like just having fun with suitcases, not harming them at least. China and Japan Airport As the clip reached to its final end, it showed Chinese and Japanese airports, which clearly showed that the staff had mastered the art of handling the baggage. Both airports have received 10/10 ratings as the staff handled the baggage with utmost care and respect. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 30, 2025, 12:57 IST IndiGo Airlines To Challenge Rs 944.20 Crore GST Notice, Calls It Erroneous Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 19:24 IST Indigo Airlines, India's largest carrier, received a GST notice of Rs 944.20 crore for 2021-22. Indigo plans to contest it legally, asserting minimal impact on operations. IndiGo (File Photo) IndiGo Airlines, Indias largest carrier, has been received a Goods and Services Tax (GST) notice of Rs 944.20 crore for the assessment year 2021-22. In the filing, Indigo said the issue stems from an assessment order under Section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, which was dismissed, yet remains pending adjudication. IndiGo, in its response, has strongly opposed the order, calling it erroneous and frivolous. The airline has stated its intent to contest the decision legally, asserting that the ruling does not align with existing tax laws. Recommended Stories The order for said Penalty under Income Tax has been passed on the basis of an erroneous understanding that appeal filed by the Company before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) against the Assessment order under Section 143(3) has been dismissed, whereas the same is still alive and pending adjudication. The Company strongly believes that the order passed by Income Tax Authority is not in accordance with law and is erroneous. The Company will contest the same and shall take appropriate legal remedies against the order," says IndiGo Spokesperson The Income Tax Authority has passed an order imposing a penalty of Rs. 944.20 Cr. for the Assessment Year 2021-22. The order has been passed on the basis of an erroneous understanding that appeal filed by the Company before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)"] against the Assessment order under Section 143(3) has been dismissed, whereas the same is still alive and pending adjudication," Indigo said in the filing. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all IndiGo maintains that the tax demand will not have a significant impact on its financial health, operations, or other business activities. While the exact monetary implications remain unclear, the airline believes that the order will not materially affect its performance. The Company strongly believes that the order passed by Income Tax Authority is not in accordance with law and is erroneous and frivolous. Accordingly, the Company will contest the same and shall take appropriate legal remedies against the aforesaid order. Therefore, the said order does not any have significant impact on financials, operations or other activities of the Company," the company said in the filing. 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 30, 2025, 16:58 IST Haryana: Class 8 Student Dies By Suicide After Failing In One Subject Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 10:50 IST Police said the Faridabad student was a resident of the Sector 31 area and had failed in his social science paper The boy was his parents only child, the police said (IMAGE: UNSPLASH) A Class 8 student from Haryana died by suicide on Saturday after failing in one subject. The student allegedly hanged himself after failing in a social science paper, reported PTI. The boy was the only child of his parents, the police said. According to them, the exam results were declared on Friday and he had become stressed after that. After returning from school, the student locked himself in his room on the first floor. When his mother went to check on him, the door was locked. After he did not come out until late in the evening, his mother looked into the room from the back and found the boy hanging, police added. The neighbours gathered when she raised the alarm and informed the police. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories No suicide note was found in the room. However, according to his relatives, he was under stress after failing one subject. We are investigating all the aspects," Sector 31 SHO Surendra Singh said. DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) 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 30, 2025, 10:17 IST ICSE, CBSE, Cambridge Or IB Which Board Is The Best? Will It Play A Role In Your Career Goal? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 07:00 IST Best Education Board In India: In this article, let's delve into the strength of each board and how students of classes 9 and 11 can choose which is best suited for them. Education boards are pivotal in shaping the curriculum and assessments in schools and in turn its students (Representative image/AI Generative) Top Education Board In India: Selecting the right school board for your child involves understanding the available options to make an informed choice. Education boards are pivotal in shaping the curriculum and assessments in schools and in turn its students. The four main boards in India are the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Cambridge Assessment of International Education (CAIE), and the International Baccalaureate (IB). In this article, lets delve into the strength of each board and how students of classes 9 and 11 can choose which is best suited for them. Recommended Stories CBSE Prepares Students For NEET, JEE, UPSC CBSEs structured curriculum aligns with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and is nationally recognised. It emphasises concept-based teaching and application-based learning to encourage higher-order thinking skills, says Rajeshwari BC, Principal, Embassy Academy in Bengaluru. From class 6 onwards, CBSE introduces skill-based courses like AI, Robotics, Coding, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy, enhancing career readiness from an early stage. CBSE is the best choice for students aspiring for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, UPSC, etc., as the NCERT syllabus prepares them effectively, making the process easier. Apart from medical and engineering careers, CBSE provides a broad range of career options, including AI, Data Science, Aerospace, Defense, Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS), Cybersecurity, Animation, Coding, and more. Its strong curriculum allows flexibility in career switching," said Rajeshwari BC. Talking about the recent curricular revisions, the principal said the focus is now on application-based and student-centric education which prepares students for real-world challenges. Curricular revisions have been introduced for classes 10 and 12 for 2024-25 as per the NEP guidelines. At the senior secondary level, the assessment pattern has been modified to include more competency-based questions and MCQs, along with 30% short and long-answer questions. Additionally, internal assessment marks will constitute 40% of the total evaluation, incorporating projects, practicals, assignments, and student enrichment activities," she told News18. CISCE Students Have Excellent Writing, Communication Skills Promini Chopra, Principal of Seth M R Jaipuria in Lucknows Gomti Nagar, emphasised that English is a core strength of ICSE students, fostering strong communication and writing skills. English is one of the many strengths of an ICSE student. By and large ICSE students have good comprehension communication and writing skills. As the chosen texts in ICSE books have a deep meaning expressed through vocabulary that is rich. The kind of questions and topics that are asked in board exams too help them not only in writing elaborate compositions but also in summarising the text in a few words," she told News18. Regarding science education, ICSE schools have dedicated teachers for physics, chemistry, and biology which helps students make informed decisions about pursuing these subjects in class 11. Coming to science, in comparison with most boards, the ICSE syllabus for physics, chemistry, and biology is more elaborate in grades 7 to 10. When one studies these subjects so extensively in lower classes, it helps them make an informed choice about whether they should take up science in class 11 or not. The application questions and high-standard question papers in ISC prepare students for competitive exams," she further added. In the last two years, the board has changed its exam pattern and has incorporated more thought-provoking questions that judge a childs ability to comprehend, reason, and apply knowledge. The council has conducted extensive workshops for teachers to prepare them according to the changing exam pattern which is making school education more aligned with NEP and further in the interest of the students. MCQs are an integral component of the pattern of testing propagated by the ICSE board. These are required in several competitive exams. Several logical reasoning questions help prepare children for their careers," the principal added. IB Aims For Independent Thinking, Career Building There is a huge skill gap in new graduates, which makes them unprepared for the job market. The emphasis on digital literacy, AI readiness, and environmental consciousness is crucial. Curriculums focusing on independent thinking, research, and technology use will lead to skill development, said Praseeja Nambiar, IB Career-related Programme Coordinator at Stonehill International School, Bengaluru. The IB Diploma and IB Career-related programme offered by the IBO are two such path-breaking curricula that have introduced research skills, critical thinking, and independent thinking at the high school level. While the IBDP pushes students to connect concepts across disciplines to present cogent arguments, IBCP solves the problem of skill building," Nambiar said adding that academic writing skills, with analytical thinking and developing personal and professional skills, are a huge focus. She further added that IBCP includes language development as well as equipping graduates with technical proficiency and essential soft skills. As the job market continues to evolve with technological advancements and changing business landscapes, equipping graduates with both technical proficiency and essential soft skills will be key to ensuring their long-term success and employability," she said. Cambridge International Helps Children Navigate Their Path Mridul Batra, Principal of Prakriti School, Noida explained that their curriculum balances skills and content, integrating critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving into core subjects like English, Maths, Science, and Social Sciences. With the rise of Generative AI, career options are evolving, adaptability and creative problem-solving are crucial for navigating changing contexts. Cambridge aims to produce lifelong learners who can succeed in traditional and emerging career roles, Batra told News18. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One of the most important skills is adaptability to changing context along with the ability to respond creatively to emerging challenges in different career fields. Having the resilience to navigate ones pathway through this uncertainty will ensure that learners define and redefine their success metrics," the principal said adding that the board hopes to produce lifelong learners, who will fit many traditional career roles including that of a teacher to emerging roles in multiple fields of Sciences, humanities, business, and commerce. Cambridge is also expected to go digital with its exams in another couple of years. One of the possible use cases from a curriculum bodys perspective is developing individualised learning pathways for learners on one hand and automatising many other manual processes like exam script marking. Cambridge is set to go digital with its exams in another 2 years time," he said. 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 30, 2025, 07:00 IST 'Jungle Raj', Maa Sita & Lalu Prasad's Scams: Amit Shah Asks Bihar BJP To Stick To 3-Point Mantra Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 21:54 IST Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a one-and-a-half hour meeting in Patna with the Bihar BJP organisation members. This was followed by a core committee meeting of state leaders Union Home Minister Amit Shah being greeted by Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal during the party's core committee meeting, in Patna on March 29. (Image: PTI) Before sounding the proverbial poll bugle on Sunday in Bihars Gopalganj, where assembly elections are due in October-November, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a three-point mantra jungle raj, Sita, and corruption to the BJPs state leadership to focus on. Shah held a one-and-a-half hour meeting late on Saturday (March 29) in Patna with the Bihar BJP organisation members. This was followed by a core committee meeting of state leaders. Recommended Stories Those present at that closed-door meeting said the home minister gave them a basic three-word formula to focus on for victory in the elections: RJDs jungle raj, the BJPs promise to build a grand temple for Sita, and the scams by former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. JUNGLE RAJ Remind people of the days of the jungle raj of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and its social impact, was the clear instruction from Amit Shah ji," said a Bihar BJP leader on condition of anonymity. Many over the years may have forgotten the days of kidnapping and murder. Theres a whole lot of new voters who have only heard about it. From now on, it will be the BJPs main job to educate the people of Bihar about those dark days," the leader said, adding that jungle raj will soon be the buzzword in the state. On Sunday, addressing a public rally at Gopalganj, Shah tore into the RJD with the jungle raj narrative. What did Lalu Yadavs government do in Bihar from 1990 to 2005? Lalu Yadavs government defamed Bihar in the country and the world by doing a fodder scam in the entire state. His government will always be known as jungle raj in the history of Bihar," he said. When they were in power (with Tejashwi as deputy chief minister), we saw the law-and-order situation. We have recently seen Subhash Yadav say the epicentre of the entire kidnapping racket of CM house (during Lalu Prasad Yadavs tenure) and when the same family members are saying we dont need to say anything. People know this. A generation had forgotten it. But they have now seen it in this year or in the two years of the RJD-JD(U). Basically, the RJD is synonymous with bad law and order," BJP national spokesperson Guruprakash, who is from Bihar, told News18. SCAMS During Saturdays meeting, Shah is believed to have told the state BJP to remind people, and remind Bihar of Lalu Prasad Yadavs scams. When it comes to Lalu Prasad, everyone knows he is a convict out on bail that seems to have been normalised. Shah wants the BJP to go to voters and list out the scams for which he was convicted. No wonder, on Sunday itself, Shah mentioned the fodder and bitumen scams at the Gopalganj rally. These scams brought a bad name to Bihar. The 15-year RJD rule in Bihar will always be known for corruption, lawlessness and mass killings," he said. The fodder scam was a scandal involving the embezzlement of about Rs 940 crore from the states funds. Lalu Prasad was convicted by a special CBI court. In the bitumen scam in Ranchi, meanwhile, the CBI court recently pronounced its verdict after 28 years. The court has sentenced five convicts, including former state minister Md Ilyas Hussain, to three years of imprisonment each. RELIGION If elections are here, can religion be far behind? While Shah had made a promise to build a grand Sita temple" in Bihar just like the one in Ayodhya, on Saturday, he is believed to have asked the BJP leadership to hammer the point. A source said they will particularly focus on the Mithila region from where Sita is believed to have belonged. In Mithilanchal, Hindu deity Rams wife is next to none. Many even consider her a victim and, hence, have a matriarchal wedding ritual. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shah has, hence, chosen to honour Mata Sita" and take her name in the same breath as Ram. On Sunday, he reiterated that the NDA government is also constructing a massive temple at the birthplace of Sita in Bihar. He even added that the Nitish Kumar-led government is developing Punaura Dham Janki Mandir, a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district, often believed to be Sitas birthplace. Shah first revealed the idea a few days ago while addressing a Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav 2025 event in Ahmedabad last week. He had said: We have already built Ram temple at Ayodhya, now it is time to construct a grand Sita temple in Bihar (in Sitamarhi)." About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More First Published: March 30, 2025, 21:54 IST SANAA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Sunday the Yemen-based group had attacked the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea three times in the past 24 hours, using cruise missiles and drones. In a statement aired by Houthi-run al Masirah TV, Sarea said the attacks were part of ongoing operations in support of Palestinians, adding that the group would not back down "until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted." He vowed the Houthis would "confront escalation with escalation," referring to U.S. airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen. The attack is the latest in a series of Houthi-claimed strikes on the U.S. aircraft carrier since the U.S. resumed airstrikes on March 15 to deter Houthi forces from targeting international shipping in the region. Earlier on Sunday, Houthi media reported 16 U.S. airstrikes on several locations in northern Yemen, including Mount Nabi Shu'ayb in Bani Matar District, west of the capital Sanaa, and sites in Saada province. No casualties were reported. The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been fighting the internationally recognized government since 2014. The U.S. airstrikes follow Houthi threats to target Israeli-linked ships unless more humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said American airstrikes against the Houthis would continue "for a long time." Ghibli-Style Images: Has OpenAIs ChatGPT Violated Copyright Laws? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 13:29 IST An intellectual property rights lawyer said style is not explicitly protected by copyright. This mean OpenAI may not have broken the copyright law by generating images that look like Studio Ghibli movies Miyazaki, who is famously anti-Artificial Intelligence, had said in 2016, after seeing an AI-generated animation, that he would 'never wish' to integrate AI into his work. (Photo Credit: X) Internet users were excited this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular internet memes or personal images into a distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. But the trend has highlighted ethical concerns regarding copyright infringement of creative works and what that means for the future livelihood of human artists. Recommended Stories Miyakazi, who used hand-drawn paintings and whimsical story-telling, leading to the success of Japanese animation Spirited Away and other beloved movies, has expressed skepticism about artificial intelligences role in animation. What Sam Altman Thinks About Ghibli? Seeing the overwhelming response of the ChatGPT users towards Ghibli-style images, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on X on Thursday that while it was super fun seeing people love" ChatGPT images, the massive amount of image generation was overloading OpenAIs servers. Our GPUs are melting," Altman wrote, who changed his profile picture on X to a Studio Ghibli-style image of himself. He said OpenAI would temporarily limit the number of images users could generate, with free users allowed a maximum of three images. An OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch that while ChatGPT refuses to replicate the style of individual living artists," OpenAI does permit it to replicate broader studio styles." It is worth noting that there are living artists who are credited with studios unique styles, such as Ghiblis co-founder Miyazaki. Is OpenAI Violating Copyright Laws? Miyazaki, who is famously anti-Artificial Intelligence, had said in 2016, after seeing an AI-generated animation, that he would never wish" to integrate AI into his work. According to the 2020 documentary 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki," Miyazaki and his team created 60,000 to 70,000 frames for a movie, each hand-drawn and painted with watercolor. A four-second clip in the 2013 movie The Wind Rises" required 15 months of effort from one animator. Evan Brown, an intellectual property lawyer at the law firm Neal & McDevitt, told TechCrunch products like GPT-4os native image generator operate in a legal gray area". Style is not explicitly protected by copyright, according to Brown, meaning OpenAI does not appear to be breaking the law simply by generating images that look like Studio Ghibli movies. However, Brown says its plausible that OpenAI achieved this likeness by training its model on millions of frames from Ghiblis films. Even if that was the case, several courts are still deciding whether training AI models on copyrighted works falls under fair use protections. Josh Weigensberg, a partner at the law firm Pryor Cashman, said the Ghibli-style AI art raises one question 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. Weigensberg stressed if a work was licensed for training, it might make sense for a company to allow getting images transformed into Ghibli-style. But if this type of use is happening without consent and compensation, he said, it could be problematic". Weigensberg said told Associated Press 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. Thats not necessarily the end of the inquiry," the Associated Press reported. The New York Times and several publishers have sued OpenAI, claiming that the company trained its AI models on copyrighted works without proper attribution or payment. There have been similar claims brought in lawsuits against other leading AI companies, including Meta and AI image-generation startup Midjourney. What Do We Know About Studio Ghibli? Studio Ghibli was founded on June 15, 1985, by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. The studios name, Ghibli", comes from the Libyan Arabic word for a hot desert wind and was also the name of an Italian aircraft, the Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli. Miyazaki was known for his imaginative storytelling and iconic films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke while Takahata and Suzuki contributed with emotionally deep films such as Grave of the Fireflies and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and producing many of Ghiblis successful films and ensuring the studios global reach, respectively. Some of the unique features of Ghibli style are a commitment to traditional techniques of hand-drawn animation that give their films a tangible and organic quality. It also employs detailed backgrounds and environments that immerse viewers in fantastical realms. The films often explore universal themes like nature, identity, and human connections. Some of the studios most celebrated films include: Spirited Away (2001), Princess Mononoke (1997), Howls Moving Castle (2004), My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Grave of the Fireflies (1988). How Does Ghibli Style Image Generator Work? The image-generation feature is available to users across various subscription tiers of ChatGPT, including Free, Plus, Pro, and Team. Users can access the feature by opening ChatGPT and clicking on the three dots in the prompt bar, which opens a drawer with options for Image and Canvas. For image-to-image transformations, users can upload a photo and provide a prompt to convert it into a Ghibli-style image. Popular prompts include Transform photos into Studio Ghibli-inspired characters", Show me in Studio Ghibli style", and What would I look like as a Ghibli character?" Users can also specify details like aspect ratio, colours, and backgrounds to customise the output. The GPT-4o model is capable of generating ultra-precise and photorealistic visuals but is particularly noted for capturing the soft, dreamlike quality of Ghiblis style. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rendering times may vary, potentially taking up to a minute due to the models complexity. Currently, free users of ChatGPT cannot access this feature, as it is only available for Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers. However, users can try alternatives like Grok or Gemini to create similar images. 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 30, 2025, 12:34 IST Has Putin Backed Trump On Greenland Expansion Plan? Why Is It Dangerous? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 11:30 IST Kremlinologists believe that Putin sees US power in Europe fading, which puts Russia at an advantage to seize its chance to establish a multipolar world where it holds its sphere of influence Putin alluded to the possibility that if the US were to take control of Greenland, it would escalate tensions with Russia. (Image: Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin has seemingly endorsed Donald Trumps potential territorial expansion in Greenland at a forum in the northern Russian city of Murmansk on Thursday, presenting a more comprehensive case than any US official by crafting a historical argument. The USs plans to take control of Greenland may surprise someone only at first glance, and it is a deep mistake to believe that this is some kind of extravagant talk by the new American administration," Putin said at the Artic policy forum. Nothing of the sort." Recommended Stories The US wanted to buy Greenland in the 1960s but Congress would not support the deal, Putin said. It protected the territory from Nazi occupation" in the 1940s and made an offer to buy the island that was rebuffed. Even going back to 1910, the US had designs on Greenland, the Russian leader noted, calling the US plans serious" with longstanding historical roots". Putin then turned to Alaska, which was sold by the Russian empire to the US in 1867. Let me remind you that by 1868, the purchase of Alaska was ridiculed in American newspapers," Putin continued. Now, he said, the purchase under president Andrew Johnson had been vindicated. Why Is Putin Supporting Trumps Annexation Plan? Kremlinologists believe that Putin sees that US power in Europe is fading. This put Russia at an advantage to seize its chance to establish a multipolar world" where it holds its sphere of influence, particularly in Ukraine and Belarus. Putins idea that a country should not meddle in other countrys business aligns with Trumps transactional view of the world, as well as their deep suspicion of transnational organisations and alliances set up after the second world war. But as US loses its grip abroad, the White House has declared ambitions throughout the western hemisphere in a turn that some commentators have compared to the Monroe doctrine of 1823, under which the US proclaimed itself the protector of the hemisphere, as per Guardian. Russias Control Over Arctic Circle Russia, which controls more territory in the Arctic Circle than any other country, sees that part of the world as critical to its own national interests for the same reasons. In his speech, Putin referenced Russias need for trade routes through the Arctic and its role as a critical hub of oil and natural gas production. Putin has grown increasingly concerned about what he considers to be the Wests encroachment on Russias influence in the Arctic over the past few years. He was particularly frustrated when Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Russia, which shares an 800-mile border with Finland, called the countrys admittance to NATO a mistake. On US seeking for more influence in the Arctic, Putin said in his speech, The United States has serious plans regarding Greenland. These plans have long historical roots and it is obvious that the United States will continue to consistently advance its geo-strategic, military-political, and economic interests in the Arctic." Putin alluded to the possibility that if the US were to take control of Greenland, it would escalate tensions with Russia. He accused NATO countries of using the Arctic as a springboard for possible conflicts." Is There A Reset In The US-Russia Ties? Trump has shifted international geopolitics by: (1) ending the war in Ukraine; (2) reset relations with Russia. The former was part of his promise to Make America Great Again and against Joe Bidens pursuit of war, and the latter was a narrative shift where Russia is not viewed as a permanent security threat. In all scheme of things, the Russian position is clear. European troops on their border, even if termed as peacekeepers, will be labelled combatants. Ukraine will not be part of NATO; there should be a demilitarised buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine. Russia will not return the provinces they have taken over during the war. There will be no ceasefire till these terms are accepted. Moreover, the sanctions will have to be lifted, and the Russians will negotiate for a security architecture with Europe in which they are included, as per the Economic and Political Weekly. It is evident that the Western strategy of destroying the Russian economy and military, isolating it globally, and delegitimising the Russian leadership has failed. Thus, Russia and the BRICS have played a major role in creating multipolarity, which proved a lifeline for Russia and gives strategic importance to BRICS countries. This redistribution of power is not changing in a hurry in spite of US expansion plans. Why Is Trump Interested In Greenland? Greenland lies in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America, and has long been a nexus of tensions among global powers. Besides being bigger than Mexico and Saudi Arabia, Greenland has a strategic location straddling the North Atlantic and the Arctic, a region whose vast stores of critical minerals and fossil fuels are coveted by the US, Russia and China. The US operates the Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) on the island, which played a key role during the Cold War and continues to be critical for defence against Russia, China, and North Korea. Greenlands positioning also makes it a key trade route between western and the eastern hemispheres. Shipping routes to Asia and Europe through the Arctic are about 40% shorter than others, such as via the Suez and Panama canals, according to the US Naval Institute, though it cautions shorter shipping routes does not necessarily mean faster or cheaper transport. Greenland has 25 of 34 critical raw materials," according to a 2023 report from the European Commission. Among those deposits are rare earths and graphite, which are critical for the production of EVs. Other rare raw materials include titanium, tungsten, and uranium, which are used in everything from medical devices to light bulb filaments to nuclear fuel. Currently, China dominates the global market for these materials, and has deep reserves of them within its borders. If the US gets to control Greenlands critical resources, it would have its own access to them, thus breaking its reliance on Chinese mining. US Previous Efforts To Buy Greenland Before buying Alaska, the US bought the territory of Louisiana from France for $15 million in 1803. Theres even a precedent involving Denmark. Under President Andrew Johnson in 1867, the US State Department noted Greenlands resources and location as ideal for acquisition but made no formal efforts. Nearly a century later, President Harry S Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland in 1946 after recognising its strategic importance post-World War II. Truman also considered trading parts of Alaska for Greenland, though the deal never materialised. How Much Would Greenland Cost? Since the 830,000 square-mile (2.1 million square-kilometer) island isnt currently on the market, there are no valuations available. Its worth noting that its gross domestic product totalled over $3.2 billion in 2021, according to the World Bank. The island receives an annual subsidy of around $600 million from Denmark. For perspective, the purchase price of Alaska in 1867, $7.2 million, would translate to just over $150 million today which most would agree would be quite a bargain, as per Bloomberg. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What Did The Greenland Govt Say? The government of Greenland, which is an autonomous region of Denmark, has adamantly rejected any notion that it would become part of the U.S. Both political leaders and citizens have said they have no intention of joining the US, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the island was not for sale," and that Trumps interest in Greenland was not a joke." 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 30, 2025, 10:17 IST What Is Vibe Coding? Will It Change Software Engineering? Trend Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 15:11 IST Vibe coding allows users to prompt large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot to produce a code for an app or service, with AI doing all the work Vibe coding can be seen as a major security risk as it replaces experienced human coders with untrained coders who give orders to AI chatbots instead of coding from scratch.(Unsplash/Representative Image) Want to generate a computer code without even a programme? Enter vibe coding" a term that describes the use of AI tools, including large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla employee Andrej Karpathy described the coding process the new kind of vibes", which embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists. Its possible because the LLMs (e.g. Cursor Composer w [sic] Sonnet) are getting too good," Karpathy posted on X. Recommended Stories Thus, the vibe coding was coined. The term has taken a life of its own after AI companies released a series of new models that help users generate a code without knowing the programme. How Does Vibe Coding Work? Vibe coding basically refers to using generative AI not just to assist with coding, but to generate the entire code for an app," Noah Giansiracusa at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, told New Scientist. Users ask, or prompt, LLM-based models such as ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot to produce the code for an app or service, and the AI system does all the work. For example, if you ask an AI tool to generate Javascript code for a pop-up that would ask users which pizza flavour they hated the most, and praise the users good taste" if their answer included the term pineapple". While the code for this request was successfully generated, the AI tool added some extra code so that the system would comment Interesting choice!" to users who provided other hated pizza flavours. This was something the original user forgot to consider. A beginner can run such codes, but they would not know whether the AI generated code could be shorter, more efficient, or tweaked to be more user-friendly, as per a report by The Hindu. In essence, we ran the AI-generated code, but neither created nor thought about its structure." Is Vibe Coding Good? Vibe coding can be seen as a major security risk as it replaces experienced human coders with amateurs or untrained coders who give orders to AI chatbots instead of coding from scratch or understanding existing codebases. Human project managers and coders precisely frame how the code needs to take shape in order to best serve a specific use case. But an AI code generator may not understand the larger context of what it is creating. In other words, a Gen AI tool may indeed produce the code that the user requested, but this generated code might be too slow to run, too expensive to maintain, and too long to scan regularly for security risks. Though a human can review his AI-generated code, spot errors, shorten it, plug security vulnerabilities, increase speeds, edit text prompts. But untrained vibe coders will not able to do so. Other critics claim that vibe coders simply copy or scrap older codes generated by other humans, raising ethical and plagiarism concerns. According to one user, vibe coding promises direction that will get a lot better in the near future. But at present its a bit limited and has some reliability issues," says Giansiracusa. The code produced can often be buggy, and because the people prompting it dont have the inherent knowledge to fix it, they are overly reliant on the same LLMs that made the errors to fix them. Is Vibe Coding Necessary At All? Vibe coding can help people with ideas for tools, apps and services to make them a reality without the challenge of learning the specifics of a programming language. The essence of vibe coding is that the coder lacks line-by-line comprehension of his own code and may not be seriously engaging with results. Such frivolous approach may work for playful apps or games. But big businesses and enterprises, which work for real issues, would need real-time coders to serve their requirements. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One of the big claims about AI is its ability to replace human jobs. But there is little evidence that vibe coding will replace software engineers despite some social media claims. Its not going to replace programmers," Matt Wood at Northumbria University, UK, told New Scientist. Thus, it would improbable for vibe coders to compete with professional human coders who leverage AI coding in a skilled manner. 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 30, 2025, 15:06 IST 50 Naxalites Surrender In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Hours Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 21:00 IST The Naxalites, 10 of whom are women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh | ANI Image Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district on Sunday, a police official said. The Naxalites, 10 of whom are women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he added. Recommended Stories "The cadres surrendered citing the hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology, exploitation of tribals by senior cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) as well as differences brewing within the movement. They are also impressed by security forces setting up camps and the Niya Nellanar (your good village) scheme under which forces and the administration are providing basic amenities in remote areas," Bijapur Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. #WATCH | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh | In a big success against naxalism, 50 naxals, with a bounty of about 68 lakhs, surrendered in front of Bijapur police.Our efforts against naxalism in naxal areas will continue. Its consequence is either surrender, arrest or neutralization: pic.twitter.com/98I55q108V ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 Of the 50 who surrendered, Ravindra Karam (19), Roni Parsik (22), Rakesh Kadti (30), Kope Lekam (24), Shanti Tati (22) and Sonu Hemla (22) were in crucial positions in different Maoist formations including PLGA (Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army) number 1 and carried cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, he said. "Three surrendered ultras have bounties of Rs 5 lakh each, while five have rewards of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads. The District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), CRPF and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) played a key role in their surrender," Yadav said. All the surrendered Naxalites were provided assistance of Rs 25,000 each, said the SP, who urged Naxalites to take advantage of the governments rehabilitation policy and join the mainstream of society. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the surrender of the 50 Naxalites and said those who lay down weapons and adopt the path of development will be rehabilitated. "It is a matter of great joy that 50 Naxalites in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) surrendered, abandoning the path of violence. I welcome those who leave violence and weapons and join the mainstream of development," he wrote on X in Hindi. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modis policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream. "After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country. This is our resolution," the Union home minister asserted. Congratulating security forces, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said positive results of the new surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state are clearly visible on the ground. "People trapped in the vicious circle of Naxalism are now laying down arms and returning to the mainstream of society. Our government is ready for the revival of every person who shuns the violence and chooses the path of peace," Sai said in a statement. This success is the result of the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by 2026, the CM added. "The construction of roads in remote areas, establishment of schools and hospitals under Niyad Nellanar scheme have ignited the flame of trust and hope towards the government in Bastar region. This is not just surrender, it is the return of trust. Those who were a symbol of fear yesterday are becoming the hope of the future today," Sai said. "Chhattisgarh is now moving forward on the path of peace, development and new consciousness. More than 2200 Naxalites have been arrested or have surrendered in the state so far under the double engine government (since December 2023). More than 350 Naxalites have been killed," Sai said. The surrender came hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state. Addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district in the afternoon, Modi said the situation is rapidly changing and a new era of peace is setting in Naxal-affected areas. "Over the decades, Naxalism got encouragement in many states including Chhattisgarh due to policies of Congress. Whichever region lagged in development, Naxalism flourished there, but what did the party that ran the government for 60 years do? It declared such districts as backward and turned away from its responsibility," the PM said. Incidentally, security forces gunned down 18 Naxalites, including 11 women, in twin encounters in Chhattisgarhs Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region on Saturday, recording a major success in the mission to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With the latest successes, 134 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in the state so far this year. Of them, 118 were eliminated in the Bastar division. In 2024, a total of 792 Naxalites had surrendered in Bastar region, comprising seven districts, as per police. Location : Chhattisgarh, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 20:59 IST 6 Killed After Fierce Storm Causes Tree To Fall On Vehicles In Himachal's Kullu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 18:56 IST A tree was brought down by a storm, which triggered a landslide, and fell on vehicles and food stalls in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu on Sunday. Several cars were trapped under the debris in Himachal's Kullu district. (IANS) In a tragic incident, at least six people have been killed after a storm uprooted a tree that fell on vehicles and food stalls in Himachal Pradeshs Kullu on Sunday evening. A relief and rescue operation is currently underway. Eyewitnesses reported that a tree near the road in front of Manikaran Gurdwara was brought down by a storm that triggered a landslide. Debris from a hill caused the tree to collapse, trapping bystanders near the gurdwara. Recommended Stories A roadside hawker, a Sumo driver, and three tourists were among those killed in the incident. Videos showed vehicles parked near food stalls adjacent to the mountain. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: An accident occurred where a large tree fell near the Gurudwara, killing six people and injuring several others. The incident took place around 5 PM when debris from a hill caused the tree to collapse, trapping bystanders. Among the deceased are a pic.twitter.com/Np9h8lVmvc IANS (@ians_india) March 30, 2025 Ashwini Kumar, ADM Kullu, said six people were killed and five were injured after trees were uprooted near the Gurudwara parking in Kullu. Police and rescue teams of the district administration have shifted five injured to the local community hospital at Jari. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In the same video, a man was seen assisting a woman with blood stains on her shirt. Notably, Manikaran is at an altitude of 1,829 meters and roughly 40 km from Kullu. Earlier this week, the weather department issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in four districts of Himachal Pradesh. The Meteorological Department had warned of thunderstorms with lightning and winds (40-50 kmph) in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi on Thursday. 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 : Kullu, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 18:31 IST Armed Forces Special Powers Act Extended To Entire Manipur, Except 13 Police Station Areas Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 16:14 IST MHA announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended across the entire state of Manipur, except for 13 police station areas. AFSPA has been extended to entire Manipur, except for the jurisdiction of 13 police stations | Representative Image/PTI The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday issued an official statement announcing that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended across the entire state of Manipur, except for 13 police station areas. In an official statement, the MHA declared the entire state of Manipur, excluding 13 police station areas in five districts, as a disturbed area" under AFSPA for six months starting from April 1, 2025, unless revoked earlier. Recommended Stories The MHA also announced that AFSPA has been extended for six months in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh, along with three police station areas in the state. Additionally, eight districts of Nagaland and 21 police station areas across five other districts have also been placed under AFSPA. Since February 2025, Manipur has been under the Presidents rule with the assembly in suspended animation. This followed the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, which triggered political uncertainty in the state. Singh, who headed the BJP-led government in Manipur since 2017, resigned from his position after nearly 21 months of ethnic violence in the state, which has claimed over 250 lives since May 2023. Notably, Manipur has witnessed AFSPA regulations since the early 1980s. The Act provides special powers to the security forces to maintain public order in disturbed areas". However, the opposition has repeatedly criticised the decision to grant extensive powers to the armed forces in the state. Security Forces Recover Cache Of Arms In a major breakthrough, the security conducted a search operation in the targeted areas of the state on Saturday, leading to the recovery of several arms and ammunition. According to the Imphal Police, the recovered items included: a Rifle, One Bolt Action Rifle, a .22 Pistol, a Mortar (Pompi-6 ft.), a locally made Hand Grenade, a Helmet, a Wireless Set, a Wireless Set Charger, a HE Bomb, Ten 5.56 mm live round, 12 7.6239 mm empty case, four 7.6245 mm empty case and 500 gm of Gun Powder. The items were seized from the Thangjing Hill forest, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Churachandpur Police Station in Churachandpur District. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Location : Manipur, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 15:46 IST Centre Slams X For Calling Sahyog Censorship Portal, Defends IT Act In Court Published By : IANS Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 21:07 IST The Centre argued that X had misinterpreted key provisions of the IT Act, particularly the distinctions between Section 69A and Section 79(3)(b). The government maintained that X is attempting to conflate two distinct legal provisions to mislead the court. Representative Image The Union government has strongly objected to Elon Musk-owned X Corps characterisation of the Sahyog portal as a censorship portal", filing an objection in the Karnataka High Court. The Centre argued that X had misinterpreted key provisions of the IT Act, particularly the distinctions between Section 69A and Section 79(3)(b). Recommended Stories X Corp contends that Section 79(3)(b) does not empower the government to issue blocking orders, as that authority lies exclusively under Section 69A. Dismissing Xs allegations, the Centre asserted that the platforms use of terms like censorship portal" and blocking order" is misleading and legally incorrect. By raising a baseless concern of censorship, X is trying to portray itself as a user, which it is not. Calling Sahyog a censorship portal is misleading and unacceptable," the Centres affidavit further said. It emphasised that takedown notices under Section 79(3)(b) read with Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021, are removal requests rather than blocking orders. The only legal protection it has under 79 of the IT Act, which does not allow it to interfere in government decisions regarding content regulation," the government affidavit said. The government further clarified that its March 31, 2023 Office Memorandum does not mention a Template Blocking Order", as alleged by X. Instead, it provides a sample template for content removal requests, in line with established procedures. The Centre submitted that the petitioner is conveniently silent about the intermediaries obligations which are enumerated in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 specifically w.r.t. Rule 3(1)(d) of the said Rules in connection with Section 79(3)(b) of IT Act, 2000, the Centre pointed out. Defending the legal framework, the Centre argued that Section 79(3)(b) balances platform liability and free speech while ensuring compliance with lawful orders. In contrast, Section 69A empowers the government to block access to online content under specific conditions related to national security, public order, and sovereignty. The government maintained that X is attempting to conflate two distinct legal provisions to mislead the court. It is submitted that by raising a groundless concern of censorship, the petitioner is attempting to conflate its position with that of a user who posts content on its platform, which it is not. It is submitted that the use of the said terminology by a worldwide portal like X is unfortunate and condemnable," the government said in its affidavit. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As of now, the court has yet to rule on the matter, and further hearings are scheduled for April 3. X had moved the Karnataka High Court, arguing that the Sahyog portal and related government actions circumvent the statutory framework established by the IT Act and the Supreme Courts landmark judgment in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India. Location : Karnataka, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 21:07 IST Chennai-Bound Domestic Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Tyre Burst Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 11:16 IST All the passengers and the crew are safe, and they deplaned safely upon landing, they said. Representative Image A Chennai-bound flight from Jaipur, before the scheduled landing, experienced a tyre burst on Sunday morning, and authorities facilitated an emergency landing for the aircraft, airport officials said. All the passengers and the crew are safe, and they deplaned safely upon landing, they said. Recommended Stories Before landing, the pilot detected the tyre-burst and alerted authorities, and they acted as per norms for landing under such circumstances. Upon visual inspection of the aircraft, wheel no 2 was found damaged with trye pieces coming out from the tyre-left interior", officials said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier, on March 29, tragedy struck on IndiGo flight 6E 2163 from Patna to Delhi when a passenger, Satish Chandra Burman, a resident of Nalbari, Assam, suffered a sudden medical emergency mid-flight, resulting in his unfortunate demise. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Lucknow in response to the crisis. Burmans health deteriorated rapidly during the flight, and the crew was promptly alerted. Upon receiving the information, the pilot was informed that a potential heart attack could have caused the passengers sudden illness. First Published: March 30, 2025, 11:16 IST Delhi Flat Owner Arrested After Woman's Body Found In Bed Box, Husband Absconding Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 09:55 IST A decomposed body of a woman was found in the bed box in a house in the national capital. The police have arrested two people in connection with the incident. Representative Image Two people, including the landlord of the woman whose decomposed body was found stuffed inside a bed box in a house in east Delhi, were arrested, the police said on Sunday. The husbands aide was among the two persons arrested a day after the discovery of the body. Recommended Stories The police said that the husband was absconding after the incident. Vivekanand Mishra, the landlord, was taken into custody on Friday and then arrested on Saturday. Later, during the interrogation, Mishra confessed to the crime and also disclosed the involvement of two other persons Abhay Kumar, the husbands aide, and the husband himself. The police said that both arrested individuals were attempting to mislead, and the motive behind the crime will only come to the fore after the detention of the husband. DDA Flat Murder Case On Friday, complaints of a foul smell from one of the DDA flats in Vivek Vihar were received by the Delhi Police. As they rushed to the site, they found the house locked from the outside and noticed blood stains near the back door. As the police broke into the flat, they discovered a decomposed body wrapped in a blanket, put inside the bed box. Later that night, the police tracked down the 65-year-old house owner near Surajmal Park in Anand Vihar and detained him. Detailing the case, the police said that the 35-year-old victim, Anjali, had caught her husband in a compromising situation with two other people in their Delhi flat. Upon discovering her husbands affair, she left the house for her parents place in Punjabs Ludhiana, officials said. On March 21, her husband, Ashish, convinced her to return to Delhi. Two days later, he, along with his friend and their landlord, allegedly killed her, hid her body inside the bed box, and escaped to Jaipur, where they stayed at Ashishs cousins house. While the landlord returned to Delhi, Ashish and his friend Abhay fled to Bihar. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the three men were figuring out how to dispose of the body, the police received a call on March 28 about the bad smell, which led to the discovery of the crime and ruined their plan. (With PTI 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 First Published: March 30, 2025, 09:35 IST Kashmir To Join India's Rail Network After Long Wait, PM Modi Set To Flag Off 1st Train On This Date Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 18:32 IST Fulfilling a long-anticipated dream of direct rail access for Kashmir, PM Modi will flag off the train from the Katra railway station of the Jammu rail division. With the launch of the train service, Kashmir will be linked with rest of the country | Image/Representative The Kashmir Valley is finally set to join Indias rail network after years of anticipation, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to flag off the first-ever train service connecting Katra, to Baramulla on April 19, according to reports. At present, the Kashmir Valley has an operational railway line that runs between Banihal and Baramulla, passing through Srinagar. However, this section is isolated from the rest of the country, as the missing link is the Banihal-Katra section, a part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. Recommended Stories Fulfilling a long-anticipated dream of direct rail access for Kashmir, PM Modi will flag off the train from the Katra railway station of the Jammu rail division. According to reports, PM Modi will address a rally in Katra, which serves as a base camp for the pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, after flagging off the historic train service. PM Modi is likely to be accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with other top political figures and officials. The trial runs on the Katra-Baramulla railway track have been completed. Following an inspection in January, the Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the launch of train services between Katra and Kashmir, reported The New Indian Express. Initially, only one Kashmir-specific train will operate on the Katra-Srinagar route. An official stated that additional trains will be introduced based on public demand and response. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sources said that due to security concerns, passengers will be required to disembark at Katra railway station and transfer to another train to continue their journey to Kashmir. Anyone travelling to Srinagar from Delhi or any other part of the country, as well as those heading in the opposite direction, will have to undergo thorough security checks before boarding, they added. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 18:32 IST Mastering the four traditional Chinese arts, qin (Guqin, representing music), qi (game of Go), shu (calligraphy), and hua (painting), typically requires years of dedicated practice. But at the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum, robot masters are offering quick artistic enlightenment. Let's discover what these mechanical mentors can teach us. #GLOBALink With Mohan Bhagwat On Stage, PM Modi Praises RSS In Nagpur: 'Where There Is Service, There Is Sangh' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 15:01 IST PM Modi visited Nagpur on Sunday and laid the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre. He lauded RSS while addressing a public meeting in presence of Mohan Bhagwat. PM Modi with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (Photo: YouTube/ Narendra Modi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday heaped praise on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for its service" across the nation and said that wherever there is service, there is Sangh". His remarks came while addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in the presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Recommended Stories The ideas that were seeded a hundred years back are before the world like a vat vriksh today. Principles and ideologies give it heights and the lakhs and crores of swayamsevak are the branches of it. It is not a simple vat vriksh, but RSS is the modern akshay vat vriksh of Indias immortal culture (RSS is the modern, everlasting Banyan tree of Indias eternal culture.) This tree is energising the Indian culture and national consciousness," PM Modi said. #WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra | PM Narendra Modi says, The ideas that were seeded a hundred years back are before the world like a vat vriksh today. Principles and ideologies give it heights and the lakhs and crores of swayamsevak are the branches of it. It is not a simple pic.twitter.com/vpJ13yrDbf ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 He also lauded the vision" of the RSS and said that internal vision" has made Sangh a synonym of service". " Vision gives us direction. RSS is working for external as well as internal vision. Internal vision has made RSS a synonym of service. Where there is service, there is RSS," he said. The Prime Minister said that cruel attempts" were made to finish the national conscience of India. Our Yoga and Ayurveda have got a new identity in the world. A nations existence depends on its cultural expansion and the expansion of national conscience. If we look at the history of our country, such cruel attempts were made to eliminate our national conscience, but no one succeeded. It all happened because even in the difficult times, many social movements took place," he said. PM Modi Visits RSS Founders Memorial After arriving in Nagpur, he visited RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewars memorial in Nagpur and paid floral tribute to him. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was also present on the occasion. PM Modi also visited Deekshabhoomi in the city and offered prayers to Mahatma Buddha. #WATCH | Maharashtra | PM Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS Smruti Mandir in NagpurRSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is also present (Source -ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/6gV2kfXyrK ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 His visit coincides with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs event to mark the Gudi Padwa festival. He visited Smruti Mandir and paid respects to the founding fathers of the RSS. The memorials of Hedgewar and M.S. Golwalkar, who was the second leader of the RSS, are located at the Dr. Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Nagpurs Reshimbagh area. PM Pens Tribute To RSS Founders PM Modi also signed the visitors book after paying tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS Smruti Mandir. In his tribute, the Prime Minister termed Hedgewar and Golwalkar as the two strong pillars of RSS the ideological parent of the BJP. PM Modi wrote that he was overwhelmed on visiting Smruti Mandir and that the site gives inspiration to work for the nation. He also said that Hedgewar and Gowalkar are a source of energy for lakhs of RSS Swayamsewakas. The Prime Minister also visited Deekshbhoomi the place where Dr BR Ambedkar and his followers embraced Buddhism in 1956. Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur stands tall as a symbol of social justice and empowering the downtrodden. Generations of Indians will remain grateful to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for giving us a Constitution that ensures our dignity and equality. Our Government has always walked on the path shown by Pujya Babasaheb and we reiterate our commitment to working even harder to realise the India he dreamt of," PM Modi posted on X. #WATCH | Nagpur | PM Narendra Modi visits Deekshbhoomi in Nagpur the place where Dr BR Ambedkar and his followers embraced Buddhism. The Prime Minister offers prayers to Mahatma BuddhaMaharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is also present (Source ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/IkwVVyUJa7 ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone For Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre He laid the foundation stone for Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute and Research Centre an institute that was founded in memory of Golwalkar in 2014. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Here are highlights from a very special Nagpur visit! Thankful to the people of Nagpur for the affection. pic.twitter.com/9rKMXi1AXk Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2025 The new facility will have a 250-bed hospital, 14 OPSs, and 14 modular operation threatres to provide affordable services to the people. 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 : Nagpur, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 08:41 IST 'Take Care': IIIT Allahabad Student's Final Words To His Family Before Killing Self In Hostel Campus Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 22:54 IST Police said that the student was likely upset for the past few days over not qualifying for an examination. The police said that a detailed investigation into the matter is underway | Image/X A student from the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Allahabad, killed himself by jumping from the fifth floor of his hostel campus, reportedly due to frustration over failing an examination, on Saturday night, said the police. The incident took place in Prayagrajs Jhalwa area, just a day before Rahul Madala Chaitanya, a specially-abled student from Telangana, was set to celebrate his 21st birthday on Sunday. Recommended Stories The preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that Rahul was upset after he failed an examination, the police said. An institute-level panel has been set up to probe the case. The police added that Rahul took the extreme step at 11.55 pm on Saturday. Upon receiving information, a police team rushed to the spot and took him to the hospital where he succumbed to injuries," Dhoomanganj Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajendra Yadav was quoted as saying by NDTV. He added that the student was likely upset for the past few days over not qualifying for an examination. A detailed investigation is underway. Rahuls Last Words To His Mother On receiving the information, Rahuls family arrived in Prayagraj on Sunday afternoon. His mother, Swarnalatha, said she last spoke with her son on Saturday night. He had sent a message, asking me to take care of his younger brother and father," she said. She added that she got scared reading his message and immediately called him but his phone was not reachable. Then I called his friend who went to check on him," she said. His friend asked another student who was passing by about Rahuls whereabouts. He then abruptly disconnected the call. He called me 10 minutes later, saying my son is being taken to the hospital," she added. Swarnalatha said she found out about the suicide when she arrived at the campus on Sunday afternoon. She mentioned that the institute told her he had been absent from classes for six months, but claimed that the administration never notified the family about it beforehand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rahul, a bright student, had secured an All India Rank of 52 in the Economically Weaker Sections category in the JEE Mains exam last year, his mother claimed, adding that he used to often talk with her on video call. The campus witnessed protests by the students on Sunday, demanding justice for Rahul. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Prayagraj, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 22:54 IST Two More Indian Navy Ships Sail For Quake-Hit Myanmar With Disaster Relief Supplies Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 20:02 IST India launched 'Operation Brahma' to help Myanmar, which was hit by a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday, leaving more than 1,700 people dead and 3,400 injured. Disaster relief supplies being loaded on Indian Navy ship LCU-52 to be dispatched to quake-hit Myanmar. (S Jaishankar/X) Solidifying its position as a first responder in natural disasters, India has dispatched two Navy ships to the earthquake-hit Myanmars Yangon carrying over 30 tonnes of disaster relief and medical supplies. Myanmar was hit by a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks on Friday, leaving more than 1,700 people dead and 3,400 injured, according to the countrys ruling junta. The earthquake hit at midday on Friday, its epicenter in the vicinity of Mandalay, tearing apart structures, smashing highways and trapping people under rubble. Recommended Stories Amid demands for international assistance, India launched Operation Brahma on Saturday to provide humanitarian aid to the quake-hit country. India has already sent two C-17 military aircraft with a field hospital and 118-member staff, along with essential items such as medicines and ready-to-eat food. Taking to X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said two Indian Navy ships INS Karmuk and LCU 52 were headed to Yangon carrying 30 tonnes of disaster relief and medical supplies. #OperationBrahma continues. @indiannavy ships INS Karmuk and LCU 52 are headed for Yangon with 30 tonnes of disaster relief and medical supplies. pic.twitter.com/mLTXPrwn5h Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 30, 2025 India also dispatched INS Satpura and INS Savitri to the Yangon port on Saturday with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid. Indias ambassador in Myanmar was in the capital Nay Pyi Taw to coordinate the relief efforts, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. ALSO READ: Myanmars Junta Carries Out Air Strikes Against Rebels Days After Deadly Disaster India Lends Helping Hand Amid Deepening Crisis Myanmar has been reeling under a prolonged civil war, which has already caused a humanitarian crisis. The situation has made it both difficult and dangerous for movement around the country, hindering relief efforts and raising fears of a rise in the death toll. After anti-coup fighters declared a partial ceasefire, international aid has started to trickle in, although it might be too late. The Indian Army first dispatched an aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material. These material include tents, blankets, essential medicines, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, gensets, solar lamps, food packets and kitchen sets. The second tranche of aid included 80 NDRF search and rescue team personnel and specialists, while the third comprised a field hospital with a team of specialists, doctors and medics. India shares a 1,643-kilometre-long border with Myanmar on the eastern side. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday and conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India for the loss of lives. He also conveyed that we stand in solidarity with the government and the people of Myanmar and that we would do our best to provide relief, rescue and whatever assistance required to deal with this calamity". Whats The Situation In Myanmar? As rescue efforts continue in Myanmar, the smell of decaying bodies permeated the streets of Myanmars second-largest city on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Bodies were seen rotting in the sun and survivors cried out for their loved ones as the impoverished nation was on the verge of collapse. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all China has also sent 135 rescuers and $13.8 million worth of emergency relief. Russia, Singapore, and Malaysia have also offered assistance, but with roads impassable and airports disabled, getting supplies in has become a logistical nightmare. The UN said that a severe lack of medical equipment is hindering Myanmars response to the quake, while aid agencies have warned that the country is unprepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Sunday launched an emergency appeal for more than $100 million to help victims. 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 30, 2025, 20:02 IST UP Student, Denied To Sit For Annual Exam Over Unpaid Fees, Dies By Suicide Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 17:27 IST In the complaint, Poonam Devi stated that her 17-year-old daughter was humiliated and denied her admit card due to unpaid fees of Rs 800. News18 A Class 9 student died by suicide by hanging herself in the room in Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh district after she was allegedly denied permission to appear for her annual exam over unpaid fees by the college administration, police said on Sunday. In the complaint, Poonam Devi stated that her 17-year-old daughter, Riya Prajapati, a student at Kamala Sharan Yadav Inter College, was humiliated and denied her admit card due to unpaid fees of Rs 800. Recommended Stories According to a police officer, Poonam Devi alleged that her daughter was humiliated by college manager Santosh Kumar Yadav, principal Rajkumar Yadav, staff member Deepak Saroj, peon Dhaniram, and a teacher, who is yet to be identified when she went to appear for the exam on Saturday. The girl was not allowed to sit for the exam and was asked to return home, Additional Superintendent of Police (East) Durgesh Kumar Singh said, citing the complaint. Hurt by the humiliation, Riya returned home and died by hanging herself in a room, police was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The complainant also alleged that the college staff threatened to ruin her daughters future, leading her to commit suicide, they added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. The body has been sent for post-mortem, police said. DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata) Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 17:26 IST What is Nagastra-3? Indias New Loitering Munition In The Making Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 14:21 IST Designed for long-range precision, high endurance, and autonomous strikes, Nagastra-3 showcases Indias growing Atmanirbhar capabilities in defence technology. The first indigenous Loitering Munition, Nagastra1, was delivered to the Indian Army in 2024. (Image: ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed key indigenous defence projects during his visit to Solar Industries facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra, including a next-generation loitering munition system being developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, a unit of Solar Industries. Dubbed Nagastra-3, the weapon is currently in the prototype stage under a Project Sanction Order (PSO) from the Ministry of Defence, and is being developed under the Make-I category of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. It has an operational range of up to 100 kilometres and an endurance of over five hours, significantly expanding on the capabilities of its predecessors. Recommended Stories PM Modi visited the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limiteds ammunition facility in Nagpur and inaugurated the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs. pic.twitter.com/yXPbi4gERS BJP (@BJP4India) March 30, 2025 BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NAGASTRA-3? The Nagastra-3 is a loitering munition also called a suicide drone or kamikaze drone designed to hover over a target area for a period of time before engaging and destroying the target with a precision strike. These systems are particularly useful for hitting high-value or mobile targets in contested environments without risking human pilots or extensive collateral damage. What sets loitering munitions apart is their hybrid nature: they combine the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with the strike capability of guided missiles, enabling real-time battlefield decision-making. The earliest loitering munitions systems were used in the 1980s in the 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. BUILT ON A PROVEN FOUNDATION The Nagastra-3 builds upon Indias evolving line of indigenous loitering munitions. Nagastra-1, inducted by the Indian Army in 2024, was Indias first indigenous loitering munition system with over 75 per cent indigenous content. Weighing around 30 kilograms, it was man-portable and could be carried in two rucksacks. It featured a 1 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead, 60 minutes of endurance, and a strike accuracy of 2 metres. The system operated in manual mode within 15 km, extendable to 30 km in autonomous mode. A key feature was its parachute recovery system, allowing it to be safely retrieved if the mission was aborted a critical cost-saving capability. Nagastra-2 introduced more lethality and sophistication. Weighing 20 kilograms, it was equipped with a 4 kg anti-tank/anti-personnel warhead, a portable pneumatic launcher, and dual day-night sensors for all-weather, real-time targeting. Like Nagastra-1, it retained the parachute-based recovery system for reuse. Nagastra-3, being developed as a prototype under the Medium Range Precision Kill System (MRPKS), represents the most ambitious leap forward not just as a weapon system, but as a symbol of Indias growing push for defence self-reliance. STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE Loitering munitions have emerged as game-changers in modern warfare particularly evident in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where both sides have used them for real-time, cost-effective tactical strikes. The United States and Israel have long dominated this domain, with systems like the Switchblade and Harop, but India is now catching up. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The development of Nagastra-3 under the Make-I framework highlights the governments commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence manufacturing. It also signals confidence in the Indian private sector, particularly Solar Industries, which already exports military-grade explosives and ammunition to over 60 countries. With Nagastra-3, India is not just developing a weapon it is shaping the future of battlefield autonomy and indigenous precision-strike capability. 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 30, 2025, 14:21 IST Eid al-Fitr 2025: Date, Moon Sighting Time in India & Sehri-Iftar Timings For Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi And More Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 00:42 IST Eid al-Fitr 2025 Moon Sighting Date And Time: In India, if the crescent moon is sighted on March 30, Eid will be celebrated on March 31. However, if it is seen on March 31, the festival will take place on April 1. Eid Ul-Fitr Moon Sighting 2025 Live: Crescent Moon Date And Time In India, Pakistan, UAE, Sauidi Arabia; Eid Mubarak Wishes Images Quotes And Greetings For WhatsApp Status. (Image: Shutterstock) Eid al-Fitr 2025 Moon Sighting Date And Time: Eid al-Fitr is a significant festival for Muslims that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Ramadan is a time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for self-discipline and spiritual growth. Eid al-Fitr, also called Meethi Eid, celebrates the conclusion of this month-long fast. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. This festival is one of two major Eid celebrations, with the other being Eid al-Adha, which happens in the last month of the Islamic year, Dhul Hijjah. ALSO READ: Happy Eid ul-Fitr 2025: Best Eid Mubarak Wishes, Images, Quotes And Messages For WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Recommended Stories Eid is being celebrated in Saudi Arabia today, March 30, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on March 29. Eid al-Fitr 2025: Date & Moon Sighting In India Eid al-Fitr in 2025 will be celebrated based on the sighting of the crescent moon. In India, if the crescent moon is sighted on March 30, Eid will be celebrated on March 31. However, if it is seen on March 31, the festival will take place on April 1. Sehri & Iftar Time For March 30 Sehri (or Suhoor) is the pre-dawn meal that Muslims eat before beginning their fast during Ramadan. It is consumed before sunrise to provide energy for the day. The fast is then broken at sunset with the Iftar meal. Sehri and Iftar timings vary across different cities in the country based on local sunrise and sunset times. Mumbai Sehri: 05:20 AM Iftar: 06:53 PM Delhi Sehri: 04:53 AM Iftar: 06:41 PM Chennai Sehri: 05:20 AM Iftar: 06:50 PM Kolkata Sehri: 04:15 AM Iftar: 05:52 PM Bengaluru Sehri: 05:06 AM Iftar: 06:35 PM Hyderabad Sehri: 05:00 AM Iftar: 06:29 PM Eid al-Fitr 2025: History Eid al-Fitr has its roots in 624 CE when Prophet Muhammad and his companions celebrated the first Eid after winning the Battle of Badr. It is also believed that the Prophet received the first revelation of the Holy Quran during the holy month of Ramadan. Eid ul Fitr 2025: Significance Eid ul-Fitr is a special celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, a month when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims focus on prayer, reflection and helping others. It is a time to strengthen their connection with Allah and purify their souls of any vices and impurities. Many also read the Quran to deepen their understanding of their faith. Eid is also a time for forgiveness and making peace. People greet each other to show unity and brotherhood. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Eid al-Fitr 2025: Celebrations and Rituals The day begins with a ritual bath followed by the morning prayer, Salat al-Fajr. Before getting dressed in new clothes and jewellery, families enjoy a sweet treat like dates, a tradition to start the day. The male members gather at the Eidgah or an open area for community prayers while women either join or pray at home. After the prayers, the air is filled with joy as everyone greets one another with Eid Mubarak" and hugs each other as a symbol of love and brotherhood. The day is spent visiting friends and family, exchanging gifts and children look forward to receiving Eidi, money gifted for the occasion. Women also decorate their hands with beautiful henna designs. A grand feast follows where sweet dishes like Seviyan, Kheer and Phirni are served. Charity is an important part of Eid and Muslims give Zakat al-Fitr, an obligatory donation, to help those in need to ensure everyone can enjoy the festival. 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 30, 2025, 07:40 IST Happy Gudi Padwa 2025: 80+ Wishes, Messages, Quotes, Images, WhatsApp And Facebook Status To Share Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 06:00 IST Gudi Padwa 2025: Known by different names across India, the festival unites the nation in a shared spirit of celebration. Happy Gudi Padwa 2025 Wishes, Quotes, Photos, Messages and WhatsApp Greetings to Share with your loved ones. (Image: Shutterstock) Gudi Padwa 2025: The Marathi New Year, is celebrated annually on the first day of Chaitra. This year, the festival falls on March 30, marking the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year according to the lunisolar calendar. It is primarily observed by Konkani and Marathi Hindus who follow this calendar, embracing the day with joy and tradition. Known by different names across India, the festival unites the nation in a shared spirit of celebration. Here are some heartfelt wishes, messages, quotes, and images to share with your loved ones on this special occasion. Recommended Stories Gudi Padwa 2025 Messages For Friends And Family I convey my best wishes to you on this Gudi Padwa. May your life be filled with laughter, positivity and success. Heres wishing that God adds more colors to your rangoli and more happiness to your upcoming year. I wish you a Happy Gudi Padwa. Raise the Gudi, fold your hands and pray to God for the well-being of your folks and mankind. Hope you have a Happy Gudi Padwa. I am sending you my best wishes on this Gudi Padwa. I hope you enjoy this new year with immense happiness and positivity. May you be showered with happy times and moments of glory in this coming year. Sending lots of love and best wishes on Gudi Padwa. Wishing you the best of happiness, health and success in life.. Wishing you a wonderful and memorable year ahead. Happy Gudi Padwa 2024. May each and every day of the coming year bring along lots of opportunities in your life and bless you with success and smiles.. Happy Gudi Padwa. Wishing you the best of celebrations on Gudi Padwa. May you create new memories this coming year and inspire everyone around you with your good deeds. Best wishes on the pious occasion of Gudi Padwa.. May there be brightness of happiness and goodness of positivity in your life. Wishing a very warm and blessed Gudi Padwa to you.. May you enjoy this festive occasion with high spirits and lots of love around. Celebrate the occasion of Gudi Padwa with great enthusiasm and lovely smiles to fill new colors in the coming year. May the sweetness of jaggery put an end to all the negativities and bitterness in your life. Wishing a very Happy Gudi Padwa to you my friend. Wishing a wonderful and beautiful Gudi Padwa to you my dear friend. May the coming year be full of countless joys and blessings, lots of opportunities and loads of smiles. May the auspious occasion of Gudi Padwa bring along bright colors of happiness, smiles, success and prosperity for you.. Best wishes on this special occasion. Gudi Padwa is the time to share good laughs and happiness with your loved ones. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead full of lovely memories. May the Gudi Padwa festival bring new hope, new dreams, and new aspirations into your life. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Gudi Padwa filled with blessings and prosperity. May the divine grace of Lord Brahma bless you with wisdom, knowledge, and success on this Gudi Padwa. May the beautiful Gudi bring you good luck, success, and happiness. Happy Gudi Padwa! May the sweetness of the jaggery and the bitterness of the neem bring balance and harmony in your life on this Gudi Padwa. May this Gudi Padwa be a new beginning of peace, love, and prosperity in your life. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a joyous occasion for you and your loved ones. May the divine blessings of Lord Vishnu be with you and your family on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with love, laughter, and lots of sweets. May this Gudi Padwa bring new opportunities, new hopes, and new dreams in your life. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time of celebration, love, and togetherness for you and your family. May the warmth of the sun and the sweetness of the jaggery fill your life with happiness on this Gudi Padwa. May the Gudi Padwa festival bring you success, prosperity, and good health. May this Gudi Padwa be a new beginning of happiness, peace, and love in your life. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with joy, laughter, and lots of blessings. May the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa bring you and your family closer and create beautiful memories. May the divine grace of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh shower upon you on this Gudi Padwa. May this Gudi Padwa bring new opportunities and new beginnings in your life. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Gudi Padwa filled with love, peace, and prosperity. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to reflect on the past and embrace the future with hope and positivity. May this Gudi Padwa be a new chapter in your life filled with success, happiness, and prosperity. May the holy occasion of Gudi Padwa bring you and your family good health, wealth, and happiness. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to celebrate the beauty of life and the joy of togetherness. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with blessings, love, and lots of happiness. May the new year bring you new opportunities, new challenges, and new successes. Happy Gudi Padwa! Gudi Padwa 2025 Quotes And Sayings May the divine blessings of Lord Ganesha bring prosperity and success into your life. Happy Gudi Padwa!" May the Gudi Padwa festival inspire you to strive for greatness and reach new heights of success." As we raise the Gudi, lets raise our spirits too. Happy Gudi Padwa!" On this auspicious day, may you be showered with blessings of prosperity and happiness. Happy Gudi Padwa!" Wishing you a Gudi Padwa filled with laughter, happiness, and cherished moments with your loved ones." On this auspicious day, may you be blessed with happiness, good health, and success. Happy Gudi Padwa!" Lets rejoice in the spirit of Gudi Padwa and embrace the joys of springtime and new beginnings." Lets cherish the traditions and values that make Gudi Padwa a beautiful celebration of life." It is time to begin a new chapter of life with the advent of new year and write an inspiring story to make this life worthy.. Best wishes on Gudi Padwa to you." Gudi Padwa ke is avsar par bas yehi hai kaamna ki nayi umangon aur naye mukamo se tumhara saamna.. Khushiyan manao aur is naye saal ka swagat sab ke saath karao!!!" Aane wala yeh saal, le kar aaye apne saath nayi khushiyan hazar aur mehka de aapka ghar aur aapka har pal is saal. Gudi Padwa ki dher saari badhai." Naye saal ke naye Mausam mein bhar do Jeevan mein kuch naye rang aur mana lo khushiyan naye dhang.. Gudi Padwa ka parv aapko bahutMubarak ho." As we celebrate Gudi Padwa, I wish that this year our bond of love is showered with more blessings and strength by the Almighty for a wonderful future." Gudi Padwa is not just the start of a new year, but the beginning of new stories, new challenges, and new triumphs. Let the journey unfold." As the Gudi adorns the sky, let it remind us that the highest peaks of success are within reach when we move forward with hope and faith." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gudi Padwa 2025 WhatsApp And Facebook Status "I wish that lord Ganesha showers his blessings and gives good fortune to your entire family. Happy Gudi padwa." Lets celebrate this Gudi padwa with a lot of hopes for our future. I wish to walk with you forever and celebrate many more such Gudi padwa with you." " Gudi Padwa brings new hopes and a new beginning of another beautiful year. I wish all our coming years will be as beautiful as we spent in the past." Let us celebrate this Gudi padwa with our love and togetherness. Happy Gudi padwa dear." This Gudi Padwa should bring new hopes and happiness in our life. I wish everyday is a celebration with you. Happy Gudi padwa." Gudi padwa is a festival to welcome the spring season. May this festival bring spring in our life too. Happy Gudi Padwa dear" May the divine blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi shower upon you and your family on this auspicious occasion. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with peace, joy, and prosperity. May the new year bring you new opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve your goals. Happy Gudi Padwa! May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to celebrate the beauty of our traditions and the richness of our culture. May this Gudi Padwa be a new beginning of positivity, optimism, and hope in your life. May the blessings of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh bring you and your family peace, happiness, and success on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Gudi Padwa filled with love, laughter, and lots of sweets. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to appreciate the small moments of joy and the blessings of life. May this Gudi Padwa bring you and your family closer to each other and to the divine power above. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to remember the teachings of our ancestors and to pass them on to the next generation. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with good health, wealth, and happiness. May the new year bring you new opportunities to create, innovate, and make a positive difference in the world. Happy Gudi Padwa! May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to renew your faith in yourself and in the universe. May this Gudi Padwa be a new chapter in your life filled with blessings, prosperity, and success. May the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi guide you towards a bright and prosperous future on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Gudi Padwa filled with love, peace, and joy.May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and the harmony of all living beings. May this Gudi Padwa be a new beginning of strength, courage, and determination in your life. May the divine grace of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh protect you and your family from all harm and evil on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with happiness, laughter, and prosperity.May the new year bring you new opportunities to learn, grow, and evolve as a person. Happy Gudi Padwa! May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to appreciate the beauty of our traditions and the diversity of our culture. May this Gudi Padwa be a new beginning of kindness, compassion, and love in your life. May the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi fill your life with abundance, success, and happiness on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Gudi Padwa filled with blessings, peace, and joy. May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to connect with your inner self and to seek guidance from the divine power above. May this Gudi Padwa be a new chapter in your life filled with love, positivity, and hope. May the divine blessings of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh bring you and your family happiness, success, and prosperity on this Gudi Padwa. Wishing you a Happy Gudi Padwa filled with good health, wealth, and abundance. May the new year bring you new opportunities to explore, discover, and experience the wonders of life. Happy Gudi Padwa! May the Gudi Padwa festival be a time to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and to be grateful for all that we have. 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 30, 2025, 06:00 IST Janhvi Kapoor Recreates Paparazzi Culture At Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI; Rocks The Bold In Bandhani Look Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 11:04 IST Janhvi Kapoor celebrated AFEWs Fall/Winter 2025 collection, The Silk Route envisioned by Rahul Mishra and Divya B Mishra on the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI runway. Janhvi Kapoor opened the NEXA x AFEW Rahul Mishras showcase at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. The life of a Bollywood star comes with its share of paparazzi drama! Recreating the frenzy on the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI runway, Janhvi arrived in the Nexa e Vitara car for AFEW Rahul Mishra showcase. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she was flanked by the paparazzi recreating the theatrics she faces on a regular basis. Recommended Stories Based on true events, and all done in good sport, the dramatized version of her real life took a glamorous turn when she untied the belt of her long black jacket featuring a trail, and unveiled the showstopper look of the evening. Keeping it Bold in Bandhani Janhvis corsetted dress reflects the parallel evolution of Indias Bandhani alongside Japans Shibori. A contemporary twist to Indian craftsmanship, Janhvi took over the runway with her dynamic runway walk. Fitting her like a glove, the strapless silhouette featured a sweetheart neckline, a thigh-high slit and intricate sequin embellishments that shimmered as Janhvi sashayed down the runway. I am thankful to Janhvi for agreeing to this crazy idea, which I had one evening and I quickly called her and said You have to play yourself. And the way she did everything I think it was mind blowing," shares Rahul. Janhvi who was present at the press conference, also thanked Rahul and Divya for what they have done not just for her but for Indian fashion. She loved how innovatively Rahul and Divya blended contemporary silhouettes with Indian textiles and she felt honoured to be part of the showcase. This is our third show together and I always feel the most confident when I walk for you. And thats because they do it with so much love and shower the same amount of love on their team as well. I feel thats so inspiring," shares Janhvi Kapoor. Further extending her gratitude to the paparazzi present at the event, Janhvi adds, Thank you to you all because without the media hype I wouldnt be able to do anything. I get my real confidence boost from you all." View this post on Instagram A post shared by News18.com (@cnnnews18) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Janhvi Kapoor who has been one of Rahul Mishras muses at Paris Haute Couture Week in the past, celebrated Rahul and Divya Mishras vision for AFEWs Fall Winter 2025 collection, The Silk Route at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. The luxury pret collection drew inspiration from the rich history of the ancient trade routes that connected the East and West. Janhvis electrifying opening may have stole the show but the real showstopper had to be the collection. About the Author Akshata Shetty Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... Read More Completing almost two decades in journalism, Akshata Shetty's journey from print to online journalism is a celebration of fashion, art and music. Akshatas fashion stories are about the people who celebrate the... 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 30, 2025, 08:39 IST Planning A Road Trip? Check This Ultimate 12-Day Motorcycle Expedition Across India Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 15:25 IST Exploring India on a bike offers unmatched freedom, ever-changing landscapes, and the thrill of the ride. From the towering Himalayas to Rajasthans golden dunes and Gujarats vast salt flats, this 12-day biking journey guarantees an unforgettable adventure. Theres nothing quite like discovering India on two wheelsthe thrill of the open road, the ever-shifting scenery, and the pure sense of freedom. From the majestic Himalayas to the golden sands of Rajasthan and the stunning salt flats of Gujarat to Mumbais coastal allure, this 12-day epic biking adventure promises the ride of a lifetime. So, gear up, rev that engine, and lets hit the road. Day 1-2: Delhi to Manali Recommended Stories Start your ride from Delhi and cruise through bustling highways towards the serene town of Manali. Passing through Chandigarh, Mandi, and Kullu, the journey treats you to winding roads, lush valleys, and breathtaking river views. Once in Old Manali, indulge in delicious trout, soak in the local music scene, and prepare for the Himalayan leg of your adventure. Day 3-4: Manali to Leh The legendary Manali-Leh Highway is every bikers dream. This route challenges your skills as you navigate Rohtang Pass, Baralacha La, and Tanglang La, with the thrilling Gata Loops adding to the excitement. After a night in Sarchu, continue your ride to Leh, where you can reward yourself with a comforting cup of hot butter tea upon arrival. Day 5-6: Leh Let your bike rest while you explore Lehs monasteries, Magnetic Hill, and the stunning Shanti Stupa. If youre up for more adventure, take a quick ride to Khardung La, one of the worlds highest motorable passes, and embrace the breathtaking views. Day 7-8: Leh to Jaisalmer Time to leave the mountains behind! Transport your bike via flight to Jaipur and ride westward to Jaisalmer, passing through the arid beauty of Rajasthan. Experience the mystical Sam Sand Dunes, where you can swap your bike for a camel and spend the night camping beneath a starlit desert sky. Day 9: Jaisalmer to Rann of Kutch Embark on a long yet scenic ride from Jaisalmer to the Rann of Kutch, where vast, shimmering salt flats stretch endlessly in every direction. A sunset ride across this surreal landscape is nothing short of magical, offering a rare, otherworldly biking experience. Day 10-11: Rann to Ahmedabad Rather than heading straight to Mumbai, pause in Ahmedabad to soak in Gujarats rich culture. Ride through Bhuj and Kutchs vibrant villages, savor a traditional Gujarati thali, and visit the historic Sabarmati Ashram before calling it a day. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Day 12: Ahmedabad to Mumbai The last leg of your journey takes you through Vadodara and Surat as you head towards Mumbai. As you cross into Maharashtra, youll soon find yourself cruising along Marine Drive, celebrating the completion of your epic journey with a steaming cup of cutting chai by the sea. fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 15:23 IST Barkha Bisht Reveals She Was Accused Of Affair With Karan Veer Mehra: People Said Thats Why My Marriage Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 19:50 IST Barkha Bisht got divorced from Indraneil Sengupta in 2022. In a recent chat, she denied rumours of dating Ashish Sharma, and said that people accused her of having an affair with Karan Veer Mehra. Barkha Bisht and Karan Veer Mehra starred in a comedy web series titled Couple of Mistakes Barkha Bisht recently shared that people assumed she was in a relationship with her Couple of Mistakes co-star Karan Veer Mehra. She mentioned that she was trolled after she publicly supported him during Bigg Boss 18, and many even suggested that he was the reason her marriage with Indraneil Sengupta ended. In the same interview, Barkha also said that she is not in a relationship, and addressed rumours about dating Ashish Sharma, clarifying that he is a very special friend who supported her during a difficult time. In a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Barkha Bisht was asked whether she is in a relationship currently, to which she replied, No." When asked about dating rumours with Ashish Sharma, she said, Log keh rahe hain, I know. But like I said, bohot special log hain meri life mein. Jaise Karan Veer Mehra. Beech mein logon ne ye bhi kaha ki mera aur Karan Veer ka kuchh chakkar chal raha hai. A lot of people trolled me over it. Especially jab main usko Bigg Boss mein support karne gayi, sabne bola ki issi wajah se iski shaadi tooti hai. Kyunki itna Karan-Karan karti rehti hai. (People are saying, I know. But like I said, there are very special people in my life. Like Karan Veer Mehra. People even said that theres something going on between Karan Veer and me. A lot of people trolled me for it, especially when I went to support him in Bigg Boss. Everyone said thats why my marriage broke, because I keep talking about Karan-Karan)." Recommended Stories She added, Earlier also, I posted many photos with Karan. Someone wrote, How does her husband allow all this?" She then said that Ashish is a very dear friend of hers, whom she has known since many years now. But we connected at a time when I needed it the most. Log bol rahe hain date kar rahe hain. Maine toh apne relationships kabhi chhupaaye nahi hain. Jab main kisiko seriously date kar rahi hu, toh I have never hidden it as such. (People are saying we are dating. I have never hidden my relationships. When Im seriously dating someone, I have never hidden it)," she added. When asked whether there is a potential for it to turn into a relationship, Barkha jokingly said, Potential toh har ladka ho sakta hai waise. Karan Veer bhi. (There can be potential with every guy, by the way. Karan Veer too)." However, she added that her focus is on her 13-year-old daughter Meira right now, and that she cannot just date casually. But of couse there are special people, who have a special place in my life. And there are people who are helping me grow. Ashish is somebody who is helping me grow as a person. Mujhe achha lagta hai ki mujhe koi back karta hai, support karta hai, somebody who gives me wings and says you can do this," she said. Barkha and Indraneil Sengupta, whose love story began on the set of Pyaar Ke Do Naam, got married in March 2008. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter named Meira. They got divorced in 2022. First Published: March 30, 2025, 19:50 IST LIBREVILLE, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The electoral campaign for the upcoming presidential election in Gabon, scheduled for April 12, officially commenced Saturday and will conclude on April 11. On the first day of the campaign, transitional president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema addressed his supporters at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in northern the country's capital of Libreville. "On April 12, 2025, you will choose your candidate, the builder, Special President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema," he told voters. Nguema, who led the Aug. 30, 2023 coup, resigned from the military to run as a candidate. Gabon's electoral code allows military personnel to run for president if they first take a leave of absence from active duty. Eight candidates, including Nguema, are contesting the presidency. If no candidate wins a majority in the April 12 vote, a runoff will be scheduled by the Constitutional Court. Gabon's constitution sets a seven-year presidential term, renewable only once. It bars an outgoing leader's spouse or descendants from running after two terms, blocking dynastic power transfers. Dalljiet Kaur Appeals For Help As Nach Baliye Choreographer Abhimanyu Singh Suffers Brain Stroke Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 29, 2025, 21:04 IST Television actress Dalljiet Kaur has issued a heartfelt plea for financial help as Nach Baliye choreographer Abhimanyu Singh battles a brain stroke. Dalljiet Kaur urges financial help for choreographer Abhimanyu Singh, who is in critical condition after a brain stroke. Television actress Dalljiet Kaur took to social media on Saturday, March 29, to share a heartfelt appeal for renowned choreographer Abhimanyu Singh, who has reportedly suffered a brain stroke and is currently in critical condition. Dalljiet, who won Nach Baliye alongside her ex-husband Shalin Bhanot under Abhimanyus choreography, is now rallying support for his medical treatment. Sharing a photo of Abhimanyu from the hospital, Dalljiet wrote on Instagram, This is a famous choreographer @abhimanyu_singh_ab who got a brain stroke. He is the one who made us win Nach Baliye. We as a family and as friends are doing our best to support them. Its a very expensive treatment. Please, please help the family with whatever you can." Recommended Stories In a follow-up post, she added, I am sooooo thankful already. I am sure we can together save Abhimanyu bhaiya. Abhimanyu Singh. We will save you." Abhimanyu Singh is a respected name in the Indian television industry, having choreographed for numerous stars over the years. His impressive body of work includes performances for actors like Kamya Punjabi, Deepshika Nagpal, Dheeraj Dhoopar, and Yesha Rughani. Dalljiet, who shares a long-standing professional bond with Abhimanyu, has been vocal about her gratitude and admiration for his contribution to her career. Her emotional plea highlights the close-knit relationships within the television industryand the urgent need for community support during times of crisis. The actress has had a turbulent personal journey. She married Shalin Bhanot in 2009 and welcomed their son Jaydon in 2014. However, the relationship ended following allegations of domestic abuse. In 2023, she married Kenya-based businessman Nikhil Patel and relocated to Nairobi, but that relationship also ended after a few months, with Dalljiet accusing him of infidelity. At present, Dalljiet is focusing her energy on helping a dear friend and mentor through a life-threatening challenge. Fans and colleagues across the industry are now being urged to step forward and support Abhimanyu Singhs recovery. 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 29, 2025, 21:01 IST Mahira Khans HILARIOUS Chand Nawab Spoof Wins The Internet On Eid | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 16:11 IST Mahira Khan had the internet in splits this Eid after she hilariously recreated the viral Chand Nawab video at a Pakistani train station. Mahira Khan recreates the viral 'Chand Nawab' video on Eid, leaving fans laughing. Mahira Khan just gave her fans the ultimate Eid giftlaughter. The Pakistani star had the internet in stitches after she recreated the iconic Chand Nawab" video, the one that refuses to get old no matter how many times youve seen it. On Eid day, Mahira took to social media to drop the clip, and its nothing short of a perfect throwback with a twist. Dressed casually, shes seen at a bustling Pakistani train station, channeling her inner reporter just like Chand Nawab famously did years ago. She even got interrupted mid-report by a passerbybecause whats a tribute without the classic disruption? Recommended Stories Eid aaney waali hai aur Train station pe shoot thi Chaand Nawab toh banta hai," Mahira captioned the post, and fans couldnt agree more. The video went viral within minutes. Comments poured infrom fans thanking her for the much-needed comic relief to others praising her spot-on delivery. We didnt know we needed this," one follower wrote. Another hilariously added, Chand Nawab ap jaisa ho to bagairat admi banne mai kaisi sharam." While shes currently lighting up timelines with her sense of humor, Mahiras got a packed lineup ahead. Shell next be seen in Pakistani films Neelofar and Love Guru. On top of that, shes reuniting with Fawad Khan for Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, a Pakistan-based Netflix series that has fans already buzzing. Of course, many still remember her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees (2017), where she made a striking impression. But Mahiras Bollywood journey was cut short due to the post-Uri ban on Pakistani artists. With the ban recently lifted, the door is technically open again. Fawad has already jumped back into the Bollywood scene, and while Mahira hasnt signed anything just yet, fans are hopeful her next big-screen outing in India is just around the corner. 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 30, 2025, 16:11 IST 'NRI Hit Saif Ali Khan, Barged In And Hurled Abuses': Amrita Arora Testifies In 2012 Hotel Assault Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 09:10 IST Actress Amrita Arora Ladak testified in court about the brawl at the Taj hotel involving Saif Ali Khan and an NRI businessman, stating the businessman misbehaved and threatened the group. Amrita Arora Ladak testified in a Mumbai court in the 2012 assault case against Saif Ali Khan. Actress Amrita Arora Ladak appeared before the metropolitan magistrate court on Saturday, March 29, to testify regarding the altercation at the Taj Hotel involving Saif Ali Khan and an NRI businessman back in 2012. According to her statement, the businessman initiated this confrontation at the five-star hotel, behaving inappropriately and even issuing threats to the group before the situation escalated. For the uninitiated, Saif Ali Khan was accused of assaulting NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma at Taj. Amrita Arora, who was with Saif Ali Khan and their friends that night, shared her side of the story in court. She recalled that they were peacefully enjoying their dinner in a private section of the restaurant when Sharma suddenly stormed in, yelling at them. Recommended Stories Amrita Arora recalled that Sharma approached them aggressively, ordering them to shut up and keep quiet." She said the group was shocked by his behavior, but Saif Ali Khan immediately stood up and apologised, trying to diffuse the situation. Sharma then walked away, and the group went back to enjoying their dinner. We saw someone barging into our enclosure and, in a very loud, aggressive voice, told us to shut up and keep quiet. We all got shocked at what was happening," she said. A little while later, Saif Ali Khan stepped away to use the washroom. Moments later, raised voices echoed through the restaurant. Before the group could react, Sharma stormed back in and allegedly hit Khan. Amrita Arora recalled that they rushed to separate them, but Sharma kept hurling abuses and making threats. The incident dates back to February 22, 2012, when Saif Ali Khan was dining at an upscale restaurant in South Mumbai with Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, and a few friends. Meanwhile, Sharma and his family were seated at a nearby table. As per the police, Sharma was irritated by the loud chatter from Saif Ali Khans group and asked them to lower their voices, which escalated into an argument. Sharma later claimed that Khan punched him in the nose, causing a fracture, and also alleged that Khan and his friends assaulted his father-in-law, Raman Patel. However, Saif Ali Khan has consistently defended himself, stating that Sharma provoked the altercation by using abusive language toward the women in their group. Following the incident, Khan, along with his friends Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi, was arrested but later released on bail. They have since been charge-sheeted under Section 325 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code. After multiple summons, Amrita Arora finally appeared in court, but not before a bailable warrant of Rs 5,000 was issued against her and her sister, Malaika Arora, for repeatedly skipping hearings. First Published: March 30, 2025, 09:10 IST Salman Khans Sikandar Takes Over Dubais Skyline As It Lights Up The Giant Ferris Wheel | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 08:17 IST Salman Khan's film Sikandar premiered on March 30, 2025, with positive reviews. Dubai celebrated by lighting up the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel with the film's visuals, creating a spectacular display. Salman Khans Sikandar lights up Dubais giant ferris wheel. Bhais massive screen presence transcends borders! As the countdown to Salman Khans Sikandar release began last night, Dubai pulled off the ultimate fan moment by lighting up the iconic Ain Dubai, the worlds largest Ferris wheel, with a grand display of the films visuals. The film finally released in theatres today, March 30, 2025, with positive reviews. Last night, Bhais face appeared on the massive 820-feet wheel in Dubai. The entire Ferris wheel flashed glimpses of Sikandar, lighting up the night sky and leaving everyone in awe. The official Instagram handle of SK films shared a video where they can be seen cheering for the film shining on Dubais AIN. Sharing the clip on social media, SK films wrote in the caption, All eyes on Sikandar, and Sikandar on the Dubai AIN! See you in cinemas!" Recommended Stories Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan Films (@skfilmsofficial) For those who dont know, Ain Dubai is a massive Ferris wheel on Bluewaters Island, Dubai, and holds the title of the worlds tallest observation wheel at a towering 250 meters. Bollywoods Bhaijaan, Salman Khan, had earlier touched down in Dubai to amp up the excitement for his big Eid release, Sikandar. He made a grand appearance at Roxy Cinemas, JBR, alongside his co-star Rashmika Mandanna and director AR Murugadoss to promote the film. Salmans Dubai visit comes hot on the heels of his viral appearance at his nephew Ayaan Agnihotris music album launch. Directed by AR Murugadoss, Sikandar marks the first-time pairing of Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna on screen. The film also features Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Anjini Dhawan, and Kajal Aggarwal in key roles. Released on March 30, Sikandar brings back Salman in full mass-action mode, making it his big Eid comeback. The film boasts stunning cinematography by S. Thirunavukarasu, with Vivek Harshan handling the sharp edits. Pritam has composed the foot-tapping soundtrack, with lyrics by Sameer, while the power-packed background score comes from South Indian music maestro Santhosh Narayanan. And heres the real kickerif reports are to be believed, Sikandar has already raked in over Rs 8 crore in advance bookings. First Published: March 30, 2025, 08:17 IST Opinion | The Lefts Influence Over Indian Institutions Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 29, 2025, 17:06 IST The permeation of colleges, bureaucracy, the judiciary and the government by the Indian Left is a narrative of ideological victory and, more and more, overreaching Most upsetting is the view that the Leftward influence has undermined the Dharmic foundations of India, hence creating a people who feel ashamed of their legacy. Representational pic/AFP By every standard, Indias institutional terrain across academics, bureaucracy, judiciary and executive clearly matches Left-wing philosophy. The result of a decades-long process in which the Indian Left, underpinned by its intellectual affinity with the Soviet Union and political alliance with the Indian National Congress, passes a socialist thread through the fabric of the nation in India. The result is a set of establishments indifferent to public opinion, Westernised in their point of view, and against the Hindu ethos that has historically shaped Indias cultural identity. To appreciate the hold the Left exerts on institutions in India, one has to go back to the middle of the 20th century when the Soviet Union became a north star for anti-colonial activity around the world. Freshly independent in 1947, India was no exception. Originally founded in 1925, the Communist Party of India (CPI) struck a chord with politicians and thinkers vexed with colonial capitalism. Although the CPI never achieved political dominance, its intellectual influence increased in part thanks to a symbiotic cooperation with the Indian National Congress, particularly under Jawaharlal Nehrus guidance. Socialist Nehru valued the Soviet scheme of central planning and state-led development, a vision that came to be seen in Indias Five-Year Plans and the establishment of a massive state sector. Recommended Stories This fit was not merely rhetorical. As noted in India After Gandhi (2007) by historian Ramachandra Guha, Nehrus administration welcomed Soviet consultants and technical knowledge, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, creating an intellectual environment in which socialism was identified with progress. Though the Congress had a wide spectrum, it relied heavily on this framework, embedding a statist, redistributionist ethic into the policy-making and administrative system. This provided the foundation for what critics refer to as a Leftist ecosystem", a network of academics, officials, and judges who considered themselves as protectors of a secular, socialist India, contrary to its conventional moorings. Though founded in 1961, the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) was charged with shaping educational curricula, but under apparently independent India, it turned into a means of ideological engineering. Under several Congress-led governments, the councils textbooks strongly relied on a Marxist historical theory that minimised Indias Dharmic heritage based on Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism in call of a story that stressed class conflict using colonial statistics meant to build atrocity literature against the colonised, and some colonial victimhood, ignoring the scores of Islamic invasions and treating indigenous Indian history as non-existent or negligible. Consider, for example, how NCERT textbooks treat ancient India. In her book Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries, and the Changing Colonial Discourse (2016), Meenakshi Jain and other academics contend that these textbooks constantly marginalised the philosophical and cultural roles of Hindu civilisation, depicting it as static and backward. The attention turned to Mughal and British epochs instead, usually seen through a lens of economic exploitation rather than cultural exploitation. Critics argue that this was not an error but a conscious effort to cut young Indians from their Dharmic foundations, thereby substituting pride with a sense of historical inferiority. Beyond school textbooks, universities like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) became strongholds of Marxist philosophy and groomed waves of scholars, public servants, and political leaders immersed in socialist ideals. Creating an intellectual elite that gazed outward rather than inward, as sociologist Andre Beteille noted in Universities at the Crossroads (2010), these institutions usually gave Western theoretical frameworksMarxism, post-colonialism, and secularismprecedence above indigenous knowledge systems. The Lefts operational arm became the bureaucracy embodied by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), while academia furnished the intellectual scaffolding. Although the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) was meant to be apolitical, its recruitment and training procedures have long reflected a bias towards urban, English-educated candidates with a progressive" bent. The UPSC syllabus, with its emphasis on modern history, political theory, and economic planning, naturally favoured those schooled in far-Left paradigms, many of whom emerged from the same university ecosystems. This has had tangible results on citizens lives. According to political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta in a 2019 article for The Indian Express, the bureaucracy frequently behaves as a self-perpetuating elite" cut off from the rural, religious, and vernacular situations prevailing in India. Suggesting state control over market forces or community customs, policies like land reforms and industrial licensing, hallmarks of the Nehruvian era, bore the imprint of socialist doctrine. Critics contend still that the IAS is a keeper of a perspective that values Western-style governance above Indias pluralistic ethos, therefore putting it out of sync with a people more and more assertive about their Hindu identity. The judiciary has not escaped this ideological tide either. Enacted in 1950, Indias Constitution is a liberal one, but its interpretation has frequently leaned to the far-Left, especially following the 42nd Amendment in 1976 expressly introducing socialist" into the Preamble. Landmark rulings such as the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case, which founded the basic structure doctrine, codified a devotion to equity and welfare that corresponded with socialist values. The Supreme Court and High Courts have relied upon this model over time to support extensive state intervention from nationalisation in the 1970s to affirmative action policies in the decades since. In The Indian Supreme Court and Politics (1980), legal authority Upendra Baxi contends that the judiciarys posture mirrors the impact of a Left-leaning legal fraternity, several of whom were influenced by the same academic streams. But critics note a contradiction: while the judiciary promotes socialism, it sometimes seems tone-deaf to public opinion, especially on subjects like temple administration or religious rights, where Hindu organisations believe their culture is disregarded. Traditionalists who saw the 2018 Sabarimala judgment as an imposition of secular values over Dharmic practice were outraged over the decision that let women of all ages" enter the shrine of the meditating deity. Hindus worship living deities, and it is the belief of male and female devotees of Ayyappa that he must only be worshipped by men, children and older women in the Sabarimala temple in particular, while others may seek him out in scores of other temples. The influence of the Left at the level of government has been both direct and indirect. Ruling for more than five decades post-independence, the Congress formalised a top-down, Westernised model of developmentthink dams, factories, and urban planningthat sometimes neglected indigenous practices which were in harmony with nature. Until dissolved in 2014, a Soviet-inspired body, the Planning Commission, best symbolised this strategy. Even coalition governments, including those headed by the Left Front in states like West Bengal and Kerala, reinforced this paradigm, blending Marxist rhetoric with electoral pragmatism. This outward-looking attitude that admires European socialism or American liberalism has distanced the government from the Hindu ethos of India. Ignoring Hinduisms role as a unifying cultural thread, the Lefts contempt for religious nationalism has transformed Hinduism into a backward force, according to political commentator Swapan Dasgupta in Awakening Bharat (2021). The outcome is a political organisation that frequently uses a language both literally and symbolically strange from the masses it purports to represent. Most upsetting is the view that the Leftward influence has undermined the Dharmic foundations of India, hence creating a people who feel ashamed of their legacy. Concerted efforts to de-Hinduise" India are seen in the NCERTs curricular decisions, the secular bias of the bureaucracy, and the judiciarys interventions. Advocates of this approach, including historian Sita Ram Goel in How I Became a Hindu (1982), claim that the Left, cooperating with Congress, presented Indias past as a series of caste discrimination and dogmatism, thereby obscuring its philosophical breadth and civilisational accomplishments. In The Past as Present (2014), Left-leaning academics such Romila Thapar insist that their criticism of Hindu orthodoxy was intended to free, not insult, and so help to construct a modern, equal nation. Still, as public opinion changes, shown by the BJPs rise since 2014, the disconnect between these institutions and the voters points to a reaction against years of Leftist dominance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The permeation of colleges, bureaucracy, the judiciary and the government by the Indian Left is a narrative of ideological victory and, more and more, overreaching. Founded in Soviet ideal and Congress patronage, its socialist leanings have shaped an institutional elite that sometimes appears aloof, Westernised, and dismissive of Indias Hindu ethos. It is evident that as India changes, its institutions have a reckoning that will challenge their capacity to reflect rather than to determine the soul of the country as is wont in a democracy. Modernisation is not a contradiction to Dharma, a civilisational existence that has constantly revised its laws and doctrines to time and society in Smritis and Sahitya. The placing of it as such by the Left is a disingenuous repetition of its action against Christianity in its many Western homes. It manages to confuse and subvert a population whose mindset has been reinforced through various institutions across ages, and thus, a call to revising the tenets it is based on is getting louder as information flow is democratised. It remains to be seen whether it is acknowledged in time because the far-Left status quo has long been left behind. Arunim Ghosh comes with a background in law. He is a contributing author covering foreign affairs and culture. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 29, 2025, 17:06 IST Opinion | Why US Entities Still Target India Despite Trump Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 11:28 IST The reports by its intelligence community and committee on religious freedom prove the Deep State in the US is down but not out. Yet It is not certain that even someone as determined as Trump will be able to dismantle it or its agendas. (Reuters Image) Three incidents highlight how much things remain the same, no matter how much people like Donald Trump try to change them. The first is the current US President praising Indias robust election process, with voter identity cards being biometrically verified. The second is the release of the annual report of the US Commission for International Religious Freedom, which, as usual, has criticised India, selectively citing instances of intimidation of minorities here. And the third, interestingly, is the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, released this Thursday. Although the main report pinpoints four countriesChina, Russia, Iran and North Koreaas the main threats to the US, there are two passing and unsubstantiated references to India as a state actor in the report. It thus appears to be cocking a snook at the current US national intelligence boss Tulsi Gabbard and FBI chief Kash Patel. Recommended Stories The foreword states, A range of cyber and intelligence actors are targeting our (US) wealth, critical infrastructure, telecom, and media. Nonstate 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." Curiously, while the report elaborates on the Chinese governments direct, overt and covert role in targeting the US, there are no further details on how India does so. And in the section titled Nonstate Transnational Criminals and Terrorists, it outlines how international drug cartels are making illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids and smuggling them into the US, naming two Mexico-based gangs and also including Colombia and Ecuador as important centres. But then it gratuitously adds, China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India"! This casual India-bashing is a characteristic of the US Deep State, so it would be facile to link the 2025 USCIRF report to the current Trump dispensation too. It is more like a defiant clenched fist from a now beleaguered Deep State that has hitherto dominated the corridors of power. It is not certain that even someone as determined as Trump will be able to dismantle it or its agendas. The report, thus, sounds in substance not too different from those issued in the past. Given that USCIRF has two Muslim members (a common occurrence going by the list of commissioners in previous years), including one of Pakistani origin, Asif Mahmood, who is known for his anti-India posts and statements, the 2025 report recommendations are not surprising. It has reiterated its demand that India be designated a country of particular concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations". Not that having nominally Hindu" or Indian-origin members will automatically ensure a balance either, judging by lawyer Anurima Bhargava, who was appointed during Trump 1.0 in 2018 for three years. And when the US denied Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, a diplomatic visa and cancelled his existing tourist/business visa on the recommendation of the USCIRF in 2005, the committees chair was another Indian-origin lawyer, Preeta D Bansal. The 2025 reports motivated demands do not end with a CPC tag. Probably at the instance of Mahmood, it has called for targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, such as Vikash Yadav and RAW for their culpability in severe violations of religious freedom by freezing their assets and/or barring their entry into the US" and encourage the US Embassy and consulates to incorporate religious freedom into public statements and speeches. Taunt India in India? The report even asks the US Congress to reintroduce, pass and enforce the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024" (introduced by the Trump-baiting Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff and cosponsored by 11 others including Ilhan Omar) to ensure the annual reporting of acts of transnational repression by the Indian government targeting religious minorities in the US". It had been put into cold storage via referral to House committees. Besides asking for a review of arms sales to India, such as MQ-9B Drones under Section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act" on the grounds that it may contribute to or exacerbate religious freedom violations", the 2025 report has demanded meetings with religious minority communities and faith-based civil society organizations during congressional delegations to India" be requested and prioritised. Imagine if Indian MPs do the same when visiting the US? The consistently anti-Indian tenor of USCIRF, a federal government agency operating with the blessings of, if not directly under the US State Department, reiterates the belief that various arms of the US government have independent agendas, set long ago and perpetuated irrespective of who sits in the Oval Office. That would explain why, say, Indian-American liberal Bhargava, an Open Society fellow to boot, made it to the USCIRF even during Trumps first term. In fact, though she was part of the Department of Justice during the Obama administration and has an avowedly liberal" track record of activism, she was still appointed to this bi-partisan body, and her nomination was even mistakenly lauded by the then chair of USCIRF, the Tibetan academic Tenzin Dorjee, who had consistently recorded his dissent on criticism of India regarding declining": religious freedom, in the committees reports issued during his tenure! The USCIRF stated in its 2019 report that since 2001, it has attempted to visit India in order to assess religious freedom conditions on the ground. However, on three different occasionsin 2001, 2009, and 2016the Government of India refused to grant visas for a USCIRF delegation despite requests being supported by the State Department." As the Congress-led UPA was in power in 2009, refusal most certainly cannot be attributed to any Hindu nationalist" bias. The era of Westerners sitting on judgment on the rest of the world is ending, but Indias rising profile does not sit well with many of those used to a very different balance of influence, if not actual power. Hence, the insidious and egregious insertion of Indias name as a state actor in the international illicit drug tradein a chapter on non-state actorswithout any corroborative evidence, and sustained calls by entities like the USCIRF to brand India as religiously intolerant. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The targeting of India in these two official reports issued by arms of the US state structure will embarrass many in Trumps administration but hopefully he himself will also realise this indicates the continuing malevolent influence of Deep State operatives. It should leave India in no doubt, too, about the difficulty of dislodging old, entrenched interests. They still lurk and machinate not only in the labyrinths of government departments in Washington DC, but also in New Delhi. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 28, 2025, 11:28 IST Write Mind | Why India Must Reconsider NJAC Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 08:01 IST The National Judicial Appointments Commission, which the Supreme Court axed in 2015, needs to come back. Dismissing it outright for being imperfect was a missed opportunity for meaningful reform The National Judicial Appointments Commission wasnt flawless, but it was envisaged to better the judicial system. The judiciary is often regarded as the guardian of democracy, but at present, some concerns over its working have come into sharper focus. The latest controversy involves Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court, who has become the face of this crisis. A video surfaced allegedly showing large sums of cash at his residence, with no clear explanation. The public outcry that followed prompted the Chief Justice of India to take action, leading to the formation of a three-judge inquiry panel. As a result, Varma has been relieved of judicial duties and repatriated to the Allahabad High Court. However, this issue extends beyond one individualit is a stark reminder of the systemic challenges that have plagued the judiciary for years. Noted commentator, author, and scientist, Dr Anand Ranganathan on X (formerly Twitter) did not hold back, and why should he? On September 21, 2023, he dropped some hard truths: only 12 per cent of high court and Supreme Court judges are women. Not one of the 25 high courts has a female chief justice, and the Supreme Court has never had one either. He went further, pointing out that only 3 per cent of these judges are Dalits, while the SC has never had a judge from the Scheduled Tribes. His concern is clearif reservations are considered a moral obligation" in other sectors, why is the judiciary exempt? He calls it hypocrisy. Recommended Stories In another post, he laid out further troubling statistics: 47 million cases pending, just 20 judges per million people, 21 per cent of judicial posts empty, 50 per cent of high court judges related to judicial members, andget thisSupreme Court judges admitting to corruption. Yet, the power to appoint judges remains solely with the judiciary. Ranganathans assessment is blunt: the judiciary is in crisis, and the collegium system lies at the heart of the problem. He considers the collegiuma system where judges pick their own replacementsto be highly problematic. He points out that India remains the only country to let unelected folks build their own clique with no one watching. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), which the Supreme Court axed in 2015, needs to come back. It wasnt flawless, but it was envisaged to better the judicial system. The NJAC had proposed six people: three judges, the law minister, and two eminent persons. Any two could veto a pick, forcing real discussion. However, the Supreme Court rejected it, citing concerns over independence." Independence from whatscrutiny? Regional balance within the judiciary is virtually non-existent. Some High Courts go years without a single judge being elevated to the Supreme Court, leaving experienced and capable judges waiting in vain for recognition by the collegium. Community representation is another concernunless the collegium takes corrective action, the Supreme Court may soon be without a Muslim judge. Supersessions remain a contentious issue. Justices Dhulia and Pardiwala were appointed to the Supreme Court ahead of numerous senior judgesDhulia was elevated over 23 Chief Justices, while Pardiwala was chosen over 25 High Court judges. The collegium defends such decisions in the name of merit," but the lack of transparency continues to raise questions. Mukul Rohatgi, former Attorney General of Bharat, on March 25, 2025, told the press, The will of the people is expressed in the Parliamentparties cutting across party lines came together for NJAC." Hes not wrong. The NJAC had support from all sides, unlike the collegium system, which operates behind closed doors. Rohatgi also referred to the Constituent Assembly Debatesspecifically from 24 May 1949where Dr BR Ambedkar stated that the president should appoint judges after consultation" with the Chief Justice of India, not with concurrence." The framers of the Constitution did not intend for the judiciary to have unchecked control over appointments. According to Rohatgi, the collegium system amounts to a power grab. He had argued in favour of the NJAC in court and maintains that the 2015 verdict striking it down was deeply flawed. The late Arun Jaitley, former law minister and a strong advocate of the NJAC, saw it as a necessary reform in a system where judicial independence" was being used as a shield against accountability. Rohatgi said Jaitley could call a spade a spade." Damn right. The collegium system is not just opaqueit is virtually untouchable. Over 50 million cases remain pending, while High Courts operate with a 40 per cent shortfall in judges due to ongoing disagreements between the collegium and the government. Justice is being delayed, caught in bureaucratic deadlock, yet the collegium remains preoccupied with its internal workings. Concerns over judicial accountability are not unfounded. Instances of judges appearing disinterested, arriving late, or even dozing off in court have been captured on camera. Nepotism remains a persistent issue, with the relatives of former judges often securing prestigious appointments. The collegium defends its authority in the name of judicial independencebut independence from whom? The very people the judiciary is meant to serve? Other democracies have adopted more transparent selection processes. The United Kingdom and South Africa, for instance, have independent judicial commissions, yet their courts function effectively under oversight. India is no exception in requiring reform. Legal experts have long criticised the collegium system. Former Attorney General KK Venugopal described it as a closed system" that breeds nepotism and kills merit. He said the NJACs mix of voicesjudges, government, civil societywouldve picked better people. The late Ram Jethmalani was an outspoken critic, calling the collegium a disaster" and advocating for the NJAC to curb judicial insularity. Even Justice Jasti Chelameswar, the sole dissenter in the 2015 NJAC ruling, trashed the collegium as opaque" and said the NJAC wasnt the enemyit was a way to stop insider deals. Its not just about appointments. Prof. Ranganathan of the JNU has adduced numbers: 47 million pending cases, 21 per cent of judicial posts vacant, only 20 judges per million people. Thats a system on its knees. And the corruption? Supreme Court judges have admitted it themselves. Yet the collegium keeps the cycle going, appointing more of the same. The NJAC couldve broken that logjam by bringing in more voicesjudges, government, regular folks. It wasnt about handing the judiciary to politicians; it was about making judges answerable for their picks. On Monday, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar met with JP Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss judicial accountability and the NJAC Act. Dhankhar also convened a meeting of all party leaders to address the fallout from the Varma case. These discussions signal the gravity of the situationthe issue can no longer be ignored. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Varma episode serves as a wake-up call. The system is under strain, and the collegium is not the solution. The NJAC, despite its flaws, offered a more balanced approachbringing in diverse perspectives, introducing checks and balances, and fostering trust in judicial appointments. It was not perfect, but rather than scrapping it entirely, improvements could have been madesuch as refining the selection of eminent persons or allowing the Chief Justice to break deadlocks. Dismissing the NJAC outright for being imperfect was a missed opportunity for meaningful reform. Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. About the Author Yuvraj Pokharna Yuvraj Pokharna is a Surat-based author and media panelist who vociferously voices his opinions on issues of Hindutva, Islamist Jihad, politics, policies, and sometimes mules over books. He can be followed on I... Read More Yuvraj Pokharna is a Surat-based author and media panelist who vociferously voices his opinions on issues of Hindutva, Islamist Jihad, politics, policies, and sometimes mules over books. He can be followed on I... Read More First Published: March 30, 2025, 08:01 IST Choice Between Jungle Raj And Development: Amit Shah Sounds Poll Bugle In Bihar Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 16:41 IST The fodder scam, in which crores of rupees were fraudulently withdrawn from treasuries such as Doranda, Deoghar, Dumka and Chaibasa was exposed in the 1990s when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. Amit Shah in Bihar (PTI Image) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad for his alleged involvement in various scams, alleging that those who had eaten up fodder cannot think about the welfare of people" in Bihar. While addressing a public gathering in Gopalganj, the union minister said, The NDA governments, both at the Centre and in Bihar, have been working for the overall development of Bihar. Those who had eaten up fodder meant for cattle cannot think about the welfare of the people of the state." Lalu Prasad was involved in the bitumen scam, flood relief material supply scam, Charwaha Vidyalaya (school for cattle grazers) scam, and he had also eaten up fodder." Recommended Stories He further accused RJD and Congress of ignoring the development of Bihar and working only for the betterment of his family. He said that RJDs Lalu Yadav and Congress Sonia Gandhi destroyed" Bihar and the state has seen development under the Narendra Modi government. Bihar witnessed jungle raj under the Lalu-Rabri regime Shah further accused the RJD supremo of doing nothing for the development and strengthening of the rural economy in Bihar. Lalu-Rabri regime will be remembered for promoting jungle-raj in Bihar. He (Lalu) did nothing for the development and strengthening of Bihars rural economy. Several sugar mills were closed during the RJDs government. During the RJD regime, Bihar witnessed murders, abduction, fodder scam, etc," Shah said. People dont want the return of jungle raj, gang war and abduction industry in Bihar. The NDA will once again form government in the state with a thumping majority in the assembly polls," he added. The fodder scam, in which crores of rupees were fraudulently withdrawn from treasuries such as Doranda, Deoghar, Dumka and Chaibasa was exposed in the 1990s when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. RJD chief and former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav is one of the high-profile politicians who was convicted in the case. Choice Between Jungle Raj and Development While addressing the public, Shah said that in the upcoming assembly elections, Bihar has to decide that if it wants a jungle raj" (term used by NDA to refer RJDs regime in the state) or a government led by PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar focusing development. In 2025, elections (Vidhan Sabha) will be conducted in Bihar. Now, Bihar has to decide whether they want to go toward the Jungle Raj of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi or go toward the path of development of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar. When NDA government came to Bihar, it started progressing. PM Modi has done many development works in the last 1 0 years which Congress was not able to do in the last 65 years" he said as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Gopalganj, Bihar | Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, In 2025, elections (Vidhan Sabha) will be conducted in Bihar. Now, Bihar has to decide whether they want to go toward the Jungle Raj of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi or go toward the path of development of PM Modi and pic.twitter.com/4rqr36shkb ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 Shah further said that the Narendra Modi government ensured the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya and plans to build a temple for Mata Janki (goddess Sita) in Bihar. Shah said the BJP government at the Centre has encouraged holidays for the Chhath festival. The Centre has allocated Rs 9 lakh crore for Bihars development. Thirteen greenfield expressways are being built. We will build seven bridges with an outlay of Rs 8,000 crore. The Centre also set up a makhana board in Bihar," he said, listing the Budget announcements for the state. The union minister also claimed that Bihar had received only Rs 2.80 lakh crore during the UPA regime at the Centre while the BJP-led NDA gave Rs 9.23 lakh crore to the state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shah unveiled schemes and laid the foundation stones for projects, worth over Rs 800 crore, in Bihar. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Location : Gopalganj, India, India First Published: March 30, 2025, 15:13 IST 66-Year-Old Woman Gives Birth To Her 10th Child Without IVF; How She Made It Happen Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 07:30 IST In March this year, 66-year-old Alexandra Hildebrandt gave birth to her tenth child in Berlin. She had a smooth birth, thanks to her healthy lifestyle and familys support. (Photo Credit: x) A 66-year-old German woman gave birth to her tenth child without using any fertility treatments. Last week, Alexandra Hildebrandt, already a mother of nine, gave birth to her newborn son, Philipp, via caesarean section. Both mother and child are in good health, and he weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Hildebrandt told TODAY that she became pregnant without the use of IVF or fertility medicines, despite the high chances against spontaneous pregnancy at her age. A big family is not only something wonderful, but above all, it is important for raising children properly," she told the publication. Recommended Stories Her youngest child is only two years old, and her oldest is 46. I feel like Im 35," she said in an interview with the German tabloid Bild, expressing her happiness. The delivery was carried out by the Clinic for Obstetric Medicines director, Professor Wolfgang Henrich. He also recognised how special her case was. Her age and number of C-sections are an absolute rarity in obstetric medicine and represented a challenge," he informed Bild. He did point out that Hildebrandts pregnancy went smoothly on the whole because of her extraordinary mental and physical fortitude. Because of her particularly good physical constitution and mental strength, Ms. Hildebrandt managed the pregnancy well," the director of the Clinic for Obstetric Medicine, Henrich, told Bild. The operation was completely uncomplicated," he further added. Hildebrandt attributes her ability to conceive at age 66 to her lifestyle. I eat very healthily, swim regularly for an hour, run for two hours, dont smoke or drink, and have never used contraception," she stated to Bild. She wants to encourage others to accept larger families by sharing her personal experience. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to studies, womens fertility starts to drastically diminish in their 30s, with the likelihood of conceiving naturally decreasing with every decade that goes by. Pregnancy without medical assistance is thought to be practically impossible by the time menopause occurs, which usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. Hildebrandt is not alone, even though her situation is unique. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,230 births among women 50 and older were reported in 2022, up from 1,041 in 2021. Since 1997, when only 144 births in this age range were recorded, the number has largely increased. About the Author Budget Blogs Blog Budget Blog Budget Blog 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 30, 2025, 07:30 IST Can Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez's $500 Million Wedding Sink Venice? Here's What The Mayor Says Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 23:15 IST Bezos and Sanchez's lavish wedding has been the topic of intense scrutiny as the couple is reportedly getting married on a mega yacht worth $500 million. Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez | Image/X Billionaire Jeff Bezos is set to tie the knot with Lauren Sanchez in a lavish wedding of the century" in Venice this summer, which will feature a gigantic yacht worth $500 million, Venices best hotels and many A-list Hollywood, business and political personalities. Engaged since June 2023, Bezos and former TV host Sanchezs wedding has been the topic of intense scrutiny and debate after earlier reports claimed that the couple would tie the knot in a $600 million ceremony, which the Amazon founder has since denied. Recommended Stories The couple made their relationship official in 2019 and got engaged in May 2023. The couple is reportedly set to marry aboard Bezos massive yacht Koru, which costs around $500 million, on June 26 by using the mega yacht as a water taxi. ALSO READ: Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchezs Venice Wedding Faces Yacht Issue Due To Citys Strict Rules Will The Wedding Sink Venice? The lavish wedding ceremony, which has grappled with environmental concerns since the beautiful city of Venice was struck by massive floods in 2019, will host an enormous number of guests, staff members and mediapersons as the couple walk down the aisle. Now the question is whether this ceremony will sink Venice? Mayor Luigi Brugnaro disagrees, saying the ancient city can handle an influx of people eager to witness the wedding of the century", according to Vanity Fair. The many speculations and fake news circulating about Jeff Bezos wedding are completely unfounded," said Brugnaro in a statement. Venice is used to being the stage for events and shows every week, without significant impacts." Koru will be anchored in the Venice lagoon, although guests may need to seek accommodations at one of the citys hotels during the event. This decision comes as a relief for Venice as a 2023 report said that over-tourism in the city has put the areas infrastructure at risk. However, Bezos and Sanchezs wedding still has a huge problem the yacht is reportedly too big to navigate the Grand Canal. Venice rules prohibit the entry of big ships near historic landmarks in the city. Whos Coming To The Wedding? Venices mayoral spokesperson said the wedding weekend is set for June 24 and 26, according to CNN. US President Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are likely to attend the wedding. Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner have also been invited. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Film producer Brian Glazer and models Brooks Nader and Camila Morrone could also be seen at the wedding. Some of the more notable names on the guest list include Leonardo DiCaprio, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Jewel. The 61-year-old billionaire entrepreneur was previously married to MacKenzie Scott in 1993. From the marriage he has four kids, three sons and an adopted daughter. The couple divorced in 2019. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 30, 2025, 23:15 IST SANAA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The Houthi movement in Yemen said on Sunday it had launched a ballistic missile targeting Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, a claim that followed Israel's earlier announcement of intercepting an incoming projectile. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated the strike was aimed at the airport and asserted that U.S. efforts to curb the group's support for Palestinians had failed. In a televised address on the Houthi-run al-Masirah channel, Sarea said recent U.S. airstrikes on northern Yemen, which resumed two weeks ago, would not deter further attacks. "Our military operations against the Israeli enemy will persist until the aggression on Gaza ceases and the siege is lifted," he said. Earlier on Sunday, Israel's military confirmed its air defenses had intercepted a missile near Tel Aviv, triggering air raid sirens across the city, Jerusalem, and nearby coastal regions. No casualties or damage were reported. The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have repeatedly launched strikes toward Israel since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October, claiming their actions as solidarity with Palestinians. Why Is A Chinese Firm Under Fire After Bangkok Skyscraper Collapses In Myanmar Earthquake? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 18:18 IST At least 17 people were killed in the Bangkok building collapse, with 32 injured and 83 still missing. No other skyscrapers collapsed in Bangkok, fuelling concerns over poor construction. Rescue efforts are underway after a skyscraper collapsed in Bangkok. (Reuters) The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that wreaked havoc in Myanmar, with at least 1,700 people killed, has also devastated Thailand as rescuers are working on Sunday to free survivors trapped after a 33-storey skyscraper collapsed following back-to-back strong tremors. At least 17 people were killed in the Bangkok building collapse, while 32 were injured and 83 others were still missing, AFP reported citing city authorities. Most of the deaths were workers killed in the tower collapse. Recommended Stories Skyscraper under construction collapses as massive earthquake hits Bangkok pic.twitter.com/vT3irzeCi5 Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 28, 2025 Workers at the site are using large mechanical diggers in an attempt to find victims who are still trapped in the rubble. Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones have also been deployed to seek signs of life in the collapsed building. China Link In Building Collapse A Chinese-backed construction firm has come under scrutiny as questions were raised over the structural integrity of the skyscraper. Thailands Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the government would launch a rapid investigation to understand the disaster. According to a report by the UKs Telegraph, the collapsed building belonged to the national audit office and had been under construction for three years at a cost of two million Thai baht ($45 million). The project was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd, as per local media. The latter companys largest backer is a Chinese company called China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company, which owns 49% of shares the maximum stake foreign entities can hold in a Thai company. The company did not respond to any comments. Concerns Over Poor Construction It is interesting to note that no other construction site or high-rise buildings received such damage. Something was wrong, definitely," said Suchatchavee Suwansawas, a civil engineer and politician from the Democrat Party. You see all other buildings, even high-rise buildings under construction, theyre safe. So either the design was wrong or the construction was wrong." Thailands Ministry of Industry said it had sent an inspection team to explore whether low-quality steel or poor engineering design contributed to the collapse, according to the Thansettakij newspaper. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all International experts also pointed to a flat slab" construction process, in which floors rest directly on columns without beams, which could have amplified the shaking on Bangkoks soft soil. Meanwhile, authorities said engineers would be assessing and repairing the 165 damaged buildings around the city on Sunday. 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 : Bangkok, Thailand First Published: March 30, 2025, 16:31 IST German Startup's Space Rocket Explodes 40 Seconds After Takeoff From Norway | Watch Published By : Reuters Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 23:40 IST Isar Aerospace's uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe amid a global space race. Isar Aerospace, a German space startup, said it was an initial test that failed. (Reuters) A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations, including Sweden and Britain, have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions. Recommended Stories Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from. Video of Isar Aerospace Spectrum hitting the ground.Video from @vgnett pic.twitter.com/lnCe90a17l VSB Space Coast West (@spacecoastwest) March 30, 2025 Blasting off from Norways Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne, although it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage. Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musks SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South Americas French Guiana. SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network spanning much of the globe. Germanys BDLI aerospace industries association said Isars first flight would lead to further progress. Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musks Starlink is not without alternatives nor should it be," BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said in a statement. Sundays mission was intended to collect data on the companys in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavarias Isar Aerospace said last week. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights. SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, plans its first satellite launch in the third quarter of 2025, and Esrange also aims to stage its inaugural launch this year. 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 : Berlin, Germany First Published: March 30, 2025, 23:40 IST Hamas Agrees To Egypt's Ceasefire Proposal, To Release Five Hostages Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 07:11 IST It remains to be seen whether the latest proposal also involves the release of more bodies of hostages who lost their lives. Hamas terrorists parade in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on the first day of the cease-fire on Sunday, January 19. (Reuters) Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to a new Egyptian proposal to release five hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire. According to the CNN report, the Egyptian proposal is similar to one US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff presented earlier. Recommended Stories However, it remains to be seen whether the latest proposal also involves the release of more bodies of hostages who lost their lives. Hamas has made its expectations clear in exchange for releasing five hostages. The group wants a return to the initial ceasefire terms, allowing humanitarian aid into the area, and an agreement to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire. According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Ministers office, Israel has also responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States," the office said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier this month, Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza and implemented a total blockade on humanitarian aid entering the area, sparking concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis. It warned that its forces would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of the remaining 24 hostages, who are believed to be still alive. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 50,277 Palestinians have been killed and 114,095 injured since Israels military offensive began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023. Location : Palestine First Published: March 30, 2025, 07:06 IST Hamas Leaders 'Will Be Allowed To Leave' Gaza If They Lay Down Arms: Netanyahu Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 16:16 IST Netanyahu's remarks came after Hamas agreed to a new Egyptian proposal to release five hostages in exchange for a renewed ceasefire after Israel resumed strikes and killed over 900 Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out new terms for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying the leaders of the group would be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip if they give up arms". Netanyahu said cracks are emerging" in the group, and the military pressure on Hamas is working. Recommended Stories We are willing to discuss the final phase. Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to go out. We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary immigration plan. This is the plan. We are not hiding it, we are ready to discuss it at any time," he said during a meeting. The development came after Hamas agreed to a new Egyptian proposal to release five hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire. The group wants a return to the initial ceasefire terms, allowing humanitarian aid into the area, and an agreement to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire. According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Ministers office, Israel has also responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States," the office said. Earlier this month, Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza and implemented a total blockade on humanitarian aid entering the area, sparking concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis. It warned that its forces would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of the remaining 24 hostages, who are believed to be still alive. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Gaza health authorities, at least 50,277 Palestinians have been killed and 114,095 injured since Israels military offensive began in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023. (with AFP 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 : Jerusalem, Israel First Published: March 30, 2025, 16:06 IST Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez's Venice Wedding Faces Yacht Issue Due To City's Strict Rules Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 11:41 IST The couple, reportedly getting married on June 26 on a $500 million superyacht, has booked nearly five luxury hotels in Venice. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are set to tie the knot this year in June (Credits: Instagram) Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to tie the knot with his fiancee Lauren Sanchez in Venice this year, according to several media reports. While Venice is one of the most beautiful wedding destinations in the world, even the worlds richest people can have a hindrance in enjoying the best views from their yacht. Venice rules prohibit the entry of big ships near historic landmarks like St. Marks Square, the Grand Canal, the Giudecca Canal, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Rialto Bridge. The rules were introduced by UNESCO, which warned that the damage caused by the big ships could add the city to the Endangered" list. Recommended Stories Jeff Bezos Ship Is Too Large For The Grand Canal While Bezoss yacht has weight of 3,493 gross tons, which is below the 25,000-ton limit set for ships entering Venices lagoon, it is still too large to navigate the Grand Canal. The couple, reportedly getting married on June 26 on a $500 million superyacht, has booked nearly five luxury hotels along the Grand Canal, including the Grand Aman Hotel, where George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin celebrated their wedding in 2014, according to a report by CNN. Among other hotels that have reportedly been booked include the Gritti Palace, Belmond Hotel Cipriani, St. Regis Venice, and Hotel Danieli. Additionally, Bezos and Sanchez have arranged for an exclusive fleet of private water taxis, including the iconic Amore" used by Clooney and Alamuddin to depart their wedding venue. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez Wedding: Guest List The wedding of the Amazon founder will witness renowned guests including US President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner,Bill Gates, Karlie Kloss and her husband Joshua Kushner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Gayle King, Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, and Kris Jenner. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 30, 2025, 11:41 IST Myanmar Earthquake Released Power Equivalent To 300 Atomic Bombs, More Aftershocks Expected: Experts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 09:46 IST The local authorities reported that the quake has claimed over 1,600 lives, while the US Geological Survey initially projected a potentially catastrophic death toll exceeding 10,000. Myanmar earthquake live updates: Rescue ops continue (AP Image) A devastating earthquake of 7.7-magnitude struck Myanmar on Friday, March 29, unleashing a massive amount of energy equivalent to over 300 atomic bombs, a geologist told CNN, warning of ongoing aftershocks in the region. The force released by such an earthquake is equal to about 334 atomic bombs," geologist Jess Phoenix said. Recommended Stories A powerful earthquake with its epicenter in Mandalay, Myanmar, struck at midday on Friday at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey. The local authorities reported that the quake has claimed over 1,600 lives, while the US Geological Survey initially projected a potentially catastrophic death toll exceeding 10,000. Phoenix also cautioned that aftershocks could persist for months as the Indian tectonic plate continues colliding with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar. Myanmars ongoing civil war and communication blackout are severely impeding the outside worlds understanding of the disasters true scale. Phoenix also warned that Myanmars catastrophe will only worsen due to the countrys ongoing civil war. The conflict, combined with a communication blackout, is hindering the international communitys ability to comprehend the earthquakes devastating consequences. Meanwhile, the Indian Government launched Operation Brahma to mobilise resources and deliver relief materials in Myanmar. An Air Force aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief supplies departed for Yangon, Myanmar, on Saturday. The consignment included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets, and essential medicines. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The supplies were handed over to Yangons Chief Minister, U Soe Thein, by Indias envoy to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur. Strong tremors were also felt in southwest Chinas Yunnan province bordering Myanmar. The powerful earthquake also rocked neighbouring Bangkok, killing 6, along with 22 people injured and 101 missing. Location : Myanmar (Burma) First Published: March 30, 2025, 09:28 IST Myanmar Earthquake: Death Toll Soars Past 1,700; Stench Of Corpses Permeates Mandalay, Naypyidaw Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 18:12 IST Relief efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, downed bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of operating in a country in the midst of a civil war. Myanmar experienced a devastating earthquake that has killed 1,700 people so far. (AFP) Myanmar Earthquake: The death toll from the Fridays powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to over 1,700, with over 3,400 people injured and many still missing, the countrys ruling junta said on Sunday, according to AFP. 18 deaths have also been confirmed in Thailands capital, Bangkok, where an under-construction high-rise building collapsed, trapping dozens of workers. Recommended Stories The earthquake hit at midday on Friday, its epicenter in the vicinity of Mandalay, tearing apart structures, smashing highways, and collapsing the control tower at Naypyidaws airportcutting lifelines for a nation already weakened by civil war. The smell of decaying bodies permeated the streets of Myanmars second-largest city on Sunday as grasping hands dug through piles of wreckage, hoping against hope for some sign of life beneath the rubble, reported AP. Two days after the devastating earthquake, the streets of Mandalay were a cemeterybodies lying rotting in the blinding sun, survivors crying out for dead loved ones, and a nation on the verge of collapse. Foreign assistance has started to trickle in, but it might be too little, too late. India sent two C-17 military aircraft with a field hospital and 118-membered staff, and China sent 135 rescuers and $13.8 million worth of emergency relief. Russia, Singapore, and Malaysia have also offered assistance, but with roads impassable and airports disabled, getting supplies in has become a logistical nightmare. Aftershocks Affecting Relief Work Relief efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, downed bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of operating in a country in the midst of a civil war. The search for survivors has been primarily conducted by the local residents without the aid of heavy equipment, moving rubble by hand and with shovels in 41-degree Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) heat, with only the occasional tracked excavator to be seen. Aftershocks, most recently a 5.1 magnitude quake late Sunday afternoon, pushed frantic masses into the streetsonly for them to relapse a short while later under the faint prospect of discovering something living. Victims Share Ordeal Tea shop owner Win Lwin picked his way through the remains of a collapsed restaurant on a main road in his neighbourhood early on Sunday, tossing bricks aside one by one. About seven people died here" when the quake struck, he told AFP. Im looking for more bodies but I know there cannot be any survivors." Its a nightmare. The city is destroyed. Dead bodies are all around. We hear screams beneath the wreckage, but we cant reach them in time," cried Kyaw Min, a resident volunteer, his hands raw and bleeding from digging for hours, reported AP. At a destroyed Buddhist examination hall in Mandalay, Myanmar and Chinese responders worked to find buried victims on Sunday. San Nwe Aye, sister of a 46-year-old monk missing in the collapsed hall, appeared in deep distress, and told AFP she has heard no news about his status. I want to hear the sound of him preaching," she said. The whole village looked up to him." Appeals For Aid The UN said that a severe lack of medical equipment is hindering Myanmars response to the quake, while aid agencies have warned that the country is unprepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Sunday launched an emergency appeal for more than $100 million to help victims. Some 3.5 million people were displaced by the raging civil war, many at risk of hunger, even before the quake struck. Myanmar has been reeling under a prolonged civil war, which has already caused a humanitarian crisis. The situation has made it both difficult and dangerous for movement around the country, hindering relief efforts and raising fears of the rise in the death toll. The military in Myanmar has been involved in a civil war on multiple fronts since it overthrew Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government in February 2021. Indian Armys Operation Brahma The Indian Army said that a specialised rescue team from 50 (I) Para Brigade has been deployed to Myanmar under Operation Brahma. India launched this operation on Saturday to provide humanitarian assistance to quake-hit country and dispatched essential items such as medicines and ready-to-eat food, besides other essential material. The Army said that 118 personnel, including medical and communication units, landed at the Naypyidaw International Airport at 11.30 pm (Myanmar time) on Saturday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mandalay, located 160 miles north of the current base, has been identified as the primary area of operations. The team will commence movement towards Mandalay by 1100 hours. While aerial insertion remains a key mode of deployment, parallel road-based induction is also being explored to establish the Operation Theater (OT) at Mandalay in the shortest possible time," the Army said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Location : Myanmar (Burma) First Published: March 30, 2025, 18:11 IST Pakistan Makes Rare Confession Of Killing 10 Civilians During Anti-Militant Operation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 14:21 IST Provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif said reports suggested that the location was being used as a hiding place and transit point for terrorists. Pakistan admits killing 10 civilians (AP Image) In a massive revelation, Pakistan has admitted that it killed 10 civilians during an anti-militant operation in the northwest. The government had promised to investigate the incident. Officials confirmed the deaths, which happened early Saturday in a remote hilly area of Katlang, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. However, according to an Associated Press report, it was unclear how the operation was conducted. Recommended Stories Pakistan is not used to revealing the civilian casualties that occur during anti-militant activities. Provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif said reports suggested that the location was being used as a hiding place and transit point for terrorists. Later, it was found that some unarmed civilians were also present near the site, Saif added. According to locals, 10 bodies, including women and children, were found in the area where the government claimed to have carried out the anti-militant operation. The victims were from the Swat region and were nomads who had livestock in the Shamozai mountains, the Associated Press reported. The victims families protested by placing the bodies on the Swat Highway. Meanwhile, Saif condemned the killing of unarmed civilians, calling it an unintended consequence." He said the loss of innocent lives was deeply regrettable and happened as a result of targeting terrorists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The safety of civilians is always a priority during such operations. However, due to difficult terrain, terrorists hiding among civilians, and the urgency of the mission, accidents can happen," Saif explained. A statement from the provincial government said the operation successfully eliminated several key terrorists" involved in ongoing militant activities. It also acknowledged that the fog of war can sometimes lead to unintended consequences." 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 : Pakistan First Published: March 30, 2025, 14:21 IST Should I Fire Him: Trump Discusses NSA Mike Waltz's Future With Top Officials After Signal Chat Leak Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 12:06 IST US NSA Mike Waltz found himself at the centre of a controversy after the Yemen war plans were leaked as he accidentally added a journalist to the Signal group made for coordination with officials. Trump consults govt officials over Mike Waltz controversy (Reuters Image) US national security advisor Mike Waltzs job may be in danger after the massive Yemen war plan leak on a Signal group chat involving a journalist. President Donald Trump is reported to have asked his staff and associates, Should I fire him?", New York Times reported. Recommended Stories This comes after the Trump administration was embroiled in a controversy as Waltz accidentally added The Atlantic journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the Signal group where top members of the government were members to discuss Yemen military operation. Trumps Position On Controversy In Public And In Private Though Trump has publicly extended support to Waltz while also slamming the media. He described his NSA as a good man" who needed no apology, after The Atlantic journalists article detailing his inclusion in the group. However, behind closed doors, Trump has reportedly sought counsel from various people within and outside his administration over taking appropriate action for this incident. He told his allies that he was unhappy with the media coverage of the scandal but did not want to it seem like he was succumbing to the press pressure. He also indicated that he was unsure about dismissing senior officials early in his second term, according to the NYT. The main concern for him appeared not to be Waltzs discussion of military plans on a social media platform but rather his possible link to the journalist, who Trump reportedly dislikes. He expressed concerns about the Washington journalists contact number being in his NSAs phone. Trump Consults His Top Members Over Controversy According to the report, Trump consulted Vice President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Sergio Gor, and United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and others to clear their views on the Waltz controversy. After a meeting with Waltz in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump indicated by the next morning that he was willing to retain the NSA, according to three people familiar with the matter. Before the Signal incident, Waltz was criticised for his aggressive approach, especially toward Iran, which clashed with Trumps preference for diplomacy. The Goldberg connection further fueled his critics arguments. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Some Trump allies doubted whether Waltz, a former official in George W. Bushs administration, fully supported the Presidents foreign policy goals. Sources said that there were tensions between Vance and Wiles over Iran policy. Despite the chat leak controversy, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly remains secure in his position as he retains Trumps support even after sharing Yemen strike details on the Signal group. 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 30, 2025, 11:26 IST 'Team Needs Sleep...Chill': Sam Altman Reacts To Flurry Of Ghibli-Style Image Requests On ChatGPT Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 15:36 IST Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation powerhouse famous for creating breathtakingly beautiful and emotionally resonant films. ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman and a Ghibli style meme created using ChatGPT After the overwhelming response to ChatGPTs Ghibli-style image generator, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to X on Sunday to express his astonishment. He said that the response to the feature of the AI chatbot is insane" and is leaving his teams with no time to rest. The ChatGPT Ghibli image generation is part of the AI chatbots latest update tools which create images inspired by the distinct animation style of Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation powerhouse founded by Hayao Miyazaki. Recommended Stories Can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep," Sam Altman wrote on X. can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 Responding to a comment about handling high loads, Altman expressed his astonishment, stating that he had never witnessed such an overwhelming response before. We just havent been able to catch up since launch, so people are still working to keep the service up biblical demand, I have never seen anything like it," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Since the feature was released, users have taken to platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok, sharing their AI-generated Ghibli-inspired art, resulting in hashtags like #Ghiblified or #GhibliArt consistently trending, with everyone from regular users to politicians, influencers, celebrities, and even brands using the tool. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation powerhouse famous for creating breathtakingly beautiful and emotionally resonant films. Their iconic movies, such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howls Moving Castle, have captivated audiences worldwide with their stunning visuals and deep storytelling. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 30, 2025, 14:32 IST XIAMEN, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China aims to standardize "comprehensive governance centers" at the provincial, city, and township levels by 2026 to improve the handling of public complaints and dispute resolution. The announcement was made by the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee during a meeting held in Xiamen of Fujian Province from Saturday to Sunday. By June 2025, all county-level governance centers will be operational, with the majority completing standardization by year-end, except those that require new construction. Standardization will extend to provincial, municipal, and township centers by 2026. According to the meeting, these centers will serve as one-stop platforms for handling public complaints, with digital tracking enabling real-time monitoring of dispute resolution progress. Building on the "Fengqiao Experience," the initiative promotes localized dispute resolution. County and township centers will focus on resolving contradictions and disputes, while provincial and municipal centers will coordinate broader efforts, authorities said. 'Tesla Takedown': Anti-Musk Protesters Gather Outside Showrooms, Use New Ways To 'Scare Away Customers' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 08:26 IST Protesters gathered outside Tesla showrooms and service centers across the US on Saturday to protest agaist Elon Musk, who plays a key role in the Trump administration. Tesla Takedown: People protest against Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk outside Tesla store in USA (Reuters Image) Hundreds of protesters took to the streets at Tesla dealerships across the United States on Saturday as part of the Tesla Takedown" event by the Action Network, which described the day as a Global Day of Action. The move hopes to deepen a recent decline in the companys sales and stock due to its owner Elon Musks key role in the Donald Trump administration. The protesters aimed at surrounding all 277 Tesla showrooms and service centers in the US. Recommended Stories They also targeted over 230 Tesla locations worldwide, however, the number of protesters in the United States was far more than those in Europe. Adopting new techniques to protest and scare away customers", the protesters took placards in their hands and danced in front of the showrooms in the US the videos of which surfaced on social media. Tesla Takedown protesters using a new tactic to scare away customers pic.twitter.com/H13Mh6J1Sk TaraBull (@TaraBull808) March 29, 2025 The same was witnessed outside the Tesla showroom in Georgetown (Washington DC), where a group of women danced and protested against Musk. HAPPENING NOWA group of liberal, elite white women are spending their Saturday dancing and blowing bubbles outside the @Tesla Showroom in Georgetown (Washington DC) to protest @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk. Today is the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action." pic.twitter.com/hVjpncO8Qx Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 29, 2025 #TeslaTakedown" trended on X, the social media platform owned by the Tesla CEO. Scenes from protests surfaced on X from various cities such as Seattle, Manhattan, and San Francisco. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In response, hundreds of Musk supporters also erupted on the streets across the country and showed their backing for the Tesla boss and DOGE. The Tesla Takedown" protests have mostly been peaceful, but some people who oppose Musk went as far as setting Tesla cars on fire. US Attorney General Pam Bondi called these acts domestic terrorism. 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 30, 2025, 08:26 IST Trump Says He Is 'Pissed Off' At Putin's Remarks On Zelenskyy, Threatens Additional Tariffs On Russian Oil Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 22:06 IST Trump responded with anger on Vladimir Putin's remarks questioning Zelenskyy's credibility and calling for fresh elections in Ukraine, as the US pushes for a speedy end to the war. Trump expressed anger over Vladimir Putin's recent remarks on Ukraine. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump said he was very angry" and pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putins recent remarks on Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid efforts to halt the three-year war and threatened additional tariffs on Russian oil. Putin on Friday called for a transitional administration" to be put in place in Ukraine and vowed his army would finish off" Ukrainian troops amid negotiations to achieve a ceasefire. He called for a temporary government in Ukraine to allow for new elections in the country. Recommended Stories In an interview with NBC News, Trump said Putins remarks were not going in the right location" as the war continued. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," he added. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States," Trump said. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25-to 50-point tariff on all oil." Trump also said he was very angry, pissed off" over Putins recent comments about Zelenskyys credibility and talking about new leadership in Ukraine. The US President has been pushing for a speedy end to the war, but his administration has failed to reach a breakthrough despite talks with both sides. Trump told NBC that Putin knows he is angry, but said that he has a very good relationship with him" and the anger dissipates quickly if he does the right thing." What Did Putin Say About Zelenskyy? Trumps latest remarks came after Trump previously criticised Zelenskyy, saying he was sick" of his handling of the war. The two leaders had an ugly spat at the White House last month, and Trump had earlier called the Ukrainian leader a dictator". Putin had earlier called for fresh elections in Ukraine, and that the new regime would be trusted by the people" and that peace negotiations could be held with the administration. He said that the current Ukrainian authorities are illegal as the elections were not held in the country after the end of Zelenskyys term last year. This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty, to sign legitimate documents that will be recognised worldwide," Putin said. If he himself (Zelenskyy) is illegitimate, then all the others are too," Putin said at a Arctic forum on Friday, while issuing a public call for Ukraines generals to topple Zelenskyy, whom Putin has repeatedly denigrated as a neo-Nazi and drug addict. Ukraine Accuses Russia Of Blocking Ceasefire Earlier, Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire, and has been accused by Ukraine of dragging out talks with Washington with no intention of halting its offensive. For too long now, Americas proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia," Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Saturday. There could already be a ceasefire if there was real pressure on Russia." Warming ties between Washington and Moscow since Trumps return to office and his threats to stop supporting Kyiv have bolstered Russia on the battlefield as it pursues its invasion of Ukraine. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to the concept of a Black Sea truce following talks with US officials earlier this week, but Russia said the deal would not enter into force until Ukraines allies lifted certain sanctions. (with inputs from agencies) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 30, 2025, 22:06 IST Trump Vows 'Bombing Like Never Before' If Iran Fails To Make Nuclear Deal, May Impose 'Secondary' Tariffs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 20:58 IST His remarks came after Iran rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from Trump, who had called for renewed nuclear negotiations. US President Donald Trump has pushed for renewed nuclear talks with Iran. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a peace deal and persists in developing nuclear weapons. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," Trump said in an interview with NBC News on late Saturday, and he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called secondary tariffs". He said US and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate. Recommended Stories His remarks came after Iran rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from Trump calling for renewed nuclear negotiations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged Trumps letter on Sunday. Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasised that the path for indirect negotiations remains open," said Pezeshkian. Tehran has maintained its stance against direct negotiations under the current US maximum pressure" campaign and the looming threat of military action as Iran-backed proxies Hamas and Hezbollah suffered heavy blows during Israels campaign in Gaza and Lebanon. Earlier this month, Trump said he had sent a letter to Iran in a bid to negotiate a nuclear deal, saying that he hoped the latter would agree to talk. I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you cant let another nuclear weapon," he said. Iran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb as tensions are high with the US over its sanctions and after the collapse of a ceasefire in Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A landmark 2015 deal negotiated under former president Barack Obama known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) imposed curbs on Irans nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. It fell apart after Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 in his first presidential term and reimposed sweeping sanctions. (with inputs from agencies) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 30, 2025, 20:43 IST Recommended Stories In a statement, the European-based command said the latest raid was conducted in coordination with the Somali government and hit multiple ISIS-Somalia targets." The IS groups Somalia operation is relatively small compared to the Al Qaeda-linked jihadists Al-Shabaab, but it has been gaining strength in semi-autonomous Puntland. The airstrike occurred southeast of Bosasso, Puntland, in Northeastern Somalia," the AFRICOM statement said. AFRICOMs initial assessment is that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed and no civilians were harmed," it said. The latest strike follows a similar operation two days earlier that AFRICOM said complemented a larger counter-terrorism initiative" under way in Somalia. And it follows US strikes in February, which Puntland authorities said had killed key figures" in IS, without giving further details. China Search and Rescue Team arrived in the hard-hit Mandalay City in Myanmar at around 17:00 local time on Sunday, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management. #XinhuaNews Some schools have advised children to stay at home tomorrow as police are battling to reassure panicking Zimbabweans that they are on top of the situation ahead of planned demonstrations over President Emmerson Mnangagwas rule. Yesterday police said some private schools have told children to stay at home tomorrow to avoid being caught up in any disturbances, but the move was uncalled for. The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns school authorities, especially private schools who have sent pupils home on false social media claims and indicated that they will be called back in May 2025, police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said. The commissioner-general of police (Stephen Mutamba) has engaged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to take action on such private colleges and schools. The public should feel free to report anyone inciting violence, issuing threats or intimidating them to engage in unlawful acts. As uncertainty hangs in the air, some schools have cancelled major activities and events scheduled for March 31, citing concerns for students' safety. Some teachers, mostly in the capital, have also notified their school heads that they would not be able to report for duty on Monday as they fear for their safety. The government has vowed to block the protests. Motorists have also complained about the frustrations they are facing due to multiple roadblocks, which have caused significant delays and disruptions to traffic flow. At some roadblocks, The Standard observed, traffic had backed up for over a kilometre, leaving commuters stranded and frustrated. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Obert Masaraure, said teachers were not assured of protection in case the protests turn violent. We have advised learners and teachers to stay at home while we assess the security situation because we noted that things are not normal as seen from the government issuing several statements and memos about the so-called March 31 protests, Masuraure said. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Raymond Majongwe echoed similar sentiments. People must not put their lives in danger, Majongwe said. If you are not comfortable going out on the day, then trust your instincts. Teachers must not put their lives at risk and get themselves on the crossfire. They must do what they are comfortable with because they have only one life." Information ministry secretary Ndabaningi Mangwana told The Standard that allegations that some government officials whose names were on a list of political criminals released by Geza last had gone into hiding were not true. None of the government officials is fazed by Geza's rantings and rumblings of a man whose location is undisclosed, Mangwana said. Standard Thousands of Saskatchewans lost their crops to drought in the '30s, among them Joshua Haldemana chiropractor and conspiracy theorist better known as Elon Musk's grandfather. Geoff Leo peers into Haldeman's life for CBC News , sussing out what led the left-leaning farmer to believe that an "invisible government" was operating in every country, controlling "the banks, the media, and the universities and ... aiming to run the world," all in the service of the "International Conspiracy." This murky entity was also supposedly trying to add fluoride to drinking water and pushing mass vaccinationsand Haldeman "dedicated his life to fighting it." That battle paved the way for Haldeman's political activism, which led him straight to Technocracy, a movement insisting government should be run by engineers and scientists, not politicians. When Technocracy was deemed a "subversive" group by the Canadian government, however, Haldeman also became less enamored, noting it had morphed into a "scientific Frankenstein" that was trying to take over Canada and Greenland. He eventually came to lead two political parties, positioning himself as "the Christian alternative to godless communists," per Leo, where he was accused of promoting antisemitism. Then, in the late '40s, Haldeman's "prophecies" spurred him to move his family, including daughter Maye, Musk's mother, to South Africawhere he embraced apartheid and started searching for the legendary city of the Kalahari, which he hoped would prove that ancient African civilizations had actually been built by whites. Haldeman died in a plane crash in 1974, at the age of 72, when grandson Elon was just 3. More here. Politico revisits the remarkable story of former Rep. Kay Granger of Texas , who went AWOL from Congress last year for months before anyone noticed. Turns out, she had entered a facility for patients with dementia back home in Fort Worth. It was a small online outlet, the Dallas Express, that finally uncovered what had happened. Which prompts Politico's Michael Schaeffer to wonder how on earth the entire DC press corps missed the story for so long. He notes that a Hollywood spin on the tale might cast the Dallas Express as the plucky underdog who scooped the elite press corps. But in reality, what unfolded speaks volumes about the modern media coverage of Congress, or lack thereof. "The basic change: Politics- or policy-centric outlets with a national focus have established major footholds," writes Schaeffer. "But there's been a hollowing out of the hometown outlets who once sent reporters to Washington with orders to watchdog their local lawmaker, whether or not that lawmaker was a big shot." The Fort Worth newspaper, for example, doesn't have a full-time DC reporter anymore. The larger Dallas Morning News probably would have noticed Granger's absence and done a story "a few years ago," but that is no longer the case, says Todd Gillman, who ran its DC bureau as its staff was decimated. Don't expect the dynamic to change anytime soon. "National outlets," for example, "are going to focus on Congress as a whole, meaning the power players who run it and the major issues before it, with a dash of coverage for the occasional high-profile backbencher," writes Shaeffer. The only hope for more thorough coverage might be via "philanthropy-funded outlets" that have begun springing up to back nonprofit newsrooms, he adds. (Read the full story, which has more details on those nonprofits.) There's something striking fear into the hearts of great white sharks off the coast of South Africa: two killer whales with an appetite for their livers. As the Washington Post reports, a pair of male orcas known as "Port" and "Starboard" are terrorizing shark populations in the region by killing them with surgical precision and eating their livers. "They can handle a white shark and just shuck it like a mussel almostjust tear it open and slide its liver out and consume it and discard the rest," says marine biologist Alison Towner from Rhodes University in South Africa. The pair were first spotted in 2012 near the Cape of Good Hope and then reappeared three years later after shark carcasses were discovered in the area. Although the sharks had massive wounds to their underbellies, only their livers were removed while their hearts, stomachs, and other major organs were left intact. During subsequent years, scientists determined that Port and Starboard were the killers based on sightings that synced with attacks on sharks. Shark livers, which can make up a third of a shark's body weight, are very high in fatty lipids that provide energy, Tamlyn Engelbrecht wrote in a 2019 research paper titled "Running Scared: When Predators Become Prey." Although killer whales eat a wide range of food, from fish to seals, it's typically rare to see them attack large sharks at the top of the food chain. Alison Kock, a marine scientist with South African National Parks, says that the discovery that orcaswhich can grow up to 32 feet and weigh in at 11 tonscan easily take down a great white goes against Hollywood's depiction of orcas, like the one in the 1993 family movie Free Willy. "Seeing their immense impact on white sharks and how they prey on them, and how Hannibal Lecter it is, I think that Free Willy really was a bit of a lie and Silence of the Lambs was a little bit more accurate," says Kock. A former mill village in North Carolina made famous by the Hunger Games movies is for sale with a price tag under $2 million. The two parcels of land that make up Henry River Mill Village, around 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, have hit the market for $800,000 and $1.15 million, Quartz reports. In the Hunger Games, it was the filming location for scenes set in District 12, the impoverished Appalachian home district of Katniss Everdeen, the series' main character. Most of the village was built in 1905. The mill that gave the village its name shut down in 1970 and burned down seven years later. "The property is amazing," Elaine Namour, one of several owners, tells the Charlotte Observer. "It's a great property." She says the last resident moved out in 2000. She says there is no running water or toilets in the 20 or so homes on 72 acres of land, apart from one that has been refurbished as an Airbnb. There's also a 6,000-square-foot former company store on the property. The Observer describes the property as "one of the lastif not the lastintact mill villages in the state." A real estate listing describes the homes on the property as "charming, albeit abandoned. It notes that it is "the only commercial retail property currently on the projected path of the state trail system, which places this property in the perfect position for a kayak outfitter, campsites, or a gift and provisions shop." The current owners offer tours and special events. Namour says fans have been visiting the site since the first Hunger Games movie came out. Before the 2012 movie, the village may have been best known as the site where Burke County Sheriff David Oaks was killed by a mill employee in 1966, WSOC reports. Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series Dr. Kildare who found a second career as an award-winning "king of the miniseries," has died. He was 90 and died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications following a stroke, his publicist said, per the AP . Tall with a romantic style, Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series that aired from 1961 to 1966. Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly what Hollywood insiders had long known, that he was gay. He made the revelation in his autobiography. The actor became known as "king of the TV miniseries" in 1978 when he landed the starring role in Centennial, a production 24 hours long and based on James Michener's sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with Shogun, another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavell's period piece about an American visitor to Japan. It drew 120 million viewers, one of the biggest audiences ever, per the Washington Post. "A miniseries has to seem special," he once told the New York Times. "We were worried about Shogun because so much of it was in Japanese. But it caught on for that very reason." Chamberlain scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, The Thorn Birds, based on Colleen McCullough's best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with Meggie Cleary, played by Rachel Ward. The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers. Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in Shogun and The Thorn Birds. Years earlier, he received one for Dr. Kildare. When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice, per the AP. He also appeared in numerous films, including The Music Lovers (as Tchaikovsky), The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Towering Inferno and The Three Musketeers. story continues below In Shattered Love, Chamberlain, who was born in Beverly Hills, recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to premieres at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters' questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now." In an NBC interview, he later said: "When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten. I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it." Revealing his sexuality in his autobiography provided great relief, Chamberlain said. "Being gay is one of the least interesting facts you can know about a person," he said. The newly elected prime minister of Greenland pushed back Sunday against assertions by President Trump that America will take control of the island territory. Greenland, a huge, resource-rich island in the Atlantic, is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a NATO ally of the US. Trump wants to annex the territory, claiming it's needed for national security purposes. "President Trump says that the United States 'will get Greenland.' Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future," Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post, per the AP . Nielsen's post comes a day after Trump told NBC News that military force wasn't off the table with regard to acquiring Greenland. In Saturday's interview, Trump allowed that, "there's a good possibility that we could do it without military force." He added: "This is world peace, this is international security. I don't take anything off the table." Residents and politicians in Greenland have reacted with anger to Trump's repeated suggestions, with Danish leaders also pushing back. In the NBC interview, Trump also was asked what message aggression toward Greenland would send to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has invaded Ukraine and annexed several of its provinces in defiance of international law. "I don't care," Trump answered. On Friday, Nielsen had urged unity in his government in the face of the aggressive talk from the US and the unwelcome visit by Vice President JD Vance, per Politico Europe. "It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside," Nielsen said. PIMENTEL LAUDS UAE FOR PARDONING 115 FILIPINOS Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III expressed his gratitude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for granting clemency to 115 Filipinos during Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, calling it a demonstration of the strong diplomatic ties and humanitarian spirit shared between the two nations. "This act of kindness reflects the UAE's goodwill toward Filipinos and its commitment to justice and compassion," Pimentel said. He also acknowledged the UAE's consistent humanitarian efforts in the Philippines, particularly its support for Typhoon Carina victims in July 2024, through the UAE Embassy in Manila led by Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Alqattam Alzaabi. "The UAE has always been a generous and reliable partner, stepping up in times of crisis to assist Filipinos. Just last year, they provided much-needed relief to typhoon victims and supported our Muslim communities through Ramadan programs," Pimentel added. Pimentel's wife, Ma. Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, is President Marcos' special envoy to the United Arab Emirates for trade and investment. Pimentel further commended the UAE for its continued support to the Filipino Muslim community, specifically through the Ramadan Iftar Program and Eid'l Fitr Rice Distribution Program in Marikina City this March 2025. The UAE Embassy in Manila, through the UAE Red Crescent, implemented the Ramadan Project (2024-1445), distributing thousands of Iftar meals to Muslim Filipinos in Maharlika, Taguig City, Marikina City, and the Golden Mosque in Manila. In October 2024, under the leadership of Emirates Red Crescent Chairman H.E. Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, the UAE also provided 32,000 food packs to families affected by a recent storm. The relief efforts were coordinated with UAE Ambassador H.E. Mohammed Obaid Alzaabi, alongside the Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc. (SSFI), led by Ms. Heart Evangelista-Escudero, and Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investment Kathryna Yu-Pimentel. "The UAE has stood by us not just in words but in concrete actions, providing food, shelter, and assistance in our times of need. Their generosity strengthens the bond between our countries and shows true humanitarian leadership," Pimentel said. NEW DELHI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- India will deploy a medical task force to earthquake-hit Myanmar, said a statement issued by the country's defense ministry on Saturday. "A 118-member team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders is set to take off to Myanmar shortly along with essential medical equipment and supplies. The Airborne Angels Task Force is trained and equipped to deliver advanced medical and surgical care in disaster-affected zones," added the statement. It said the Indian army will establish a 60-bed medical treatment center to provide immediate care to those injured in the calamity. The facility will be capable of handling trauma cases, emergency surgeries, and essential medical services to support the local healthcare system, which has been severely strained by the disaster. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com At the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrains Ambassador to the United States, attended an Iftar banquet hosted at the White House for ambassadors and diplomatic figures from Arab and Islamic nations. During the gathering, Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa expressed his deep appreciation for the invitation, conveying the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. He extended their well wishes to President Trump for continued health and happiness. The ambassador highlighted that such initiatives reflect values of compassion, unity, and peace among different cultures and religions, reinforcing dialogue and understanding between nations. He noted that Bahrain consistently upholds these principles, fostering harmony and cooperation on the global stage. TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com The Kingdom of Bahrain joyfully welcomes Eid Al Fitr today, celebrating a time of festivity, family reunions, and cherished traditions. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received a cable of congratulations from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the glorious occasion. HRH Prince Salman wished HM the King abundant health, happiness, and long life. HM King Hamad and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister wished continued prosperity and blessings for the Kingdom and its people, and for the Arab and Islamic nations. His Majesty and HRH Prince Salman received cables of congratulations from senior members of the Royal Family, heads of the Representatives and Shura Councils, ministers, senior state officials, dignitaries, and members of the Representatives Council, Shura, and municipal councils. Energizing the Future: Bahrain to spend $2bln on power and water projects by 2026 Energizing the Future: Bahrain to spend $2bln on power and water projects by 2026 TDT | Manama Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com Bahrain will spend $2 billion on electricity and water works by 2026, with two major plants planned in Sitra and Hidd and a push towards solar energy. The government outlined the plans in a technical note covering current and upcoming projects in the power sector. It said the aim is to keep pace with rising demand and improve the backbone of the national grid. The draft budget for 2025-2026 sets aside BD400 million to upgrade the electricity and water networks. This covers cabling, substations, and improvements to reach and reliability. Two large projects sit at the centre of the plan: The Sitra Independent Plant is expected to produce around 1,200 megawatts of electricity and 30 million gallons of drinking water per day. First stage: The first stage600 megawatts and the full water outputis due to come online in the second half of 2028. Full operations: Expected by the second quarter of 2029. The Hidd Plant will focus solely on water, with an expected output of 60 million imperial gallons per day. Its due to start full commercial operations in the second quarter of 2028. Chinese electronics giant Huawei is testing elements for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine at its Dongguan facility, according to two sources posting photographs on X social media. The sources say the equipment is scheduled for trial production of circuits in 2Q25 with full-scale manufacturing in 2026, without attributing the information to any sources of their own. They add that the equipment is based on a laser discharge induced plasma (LDP) to produce light of 13.5nm wavelength. These reports are not confirmed. China is spending a lot of money to develop EUV lithography. China has been denied access to the EUV lithography equipment from the monopoly commercial supplier, ASML Holding NV, for several years. This has been on the grounds that China could use advanced technology to develop AI and high-performance computing systems that would be used by the Chinese military. The export control has limited SMIC, Chinas leading domestic foundry, to the manufacture of circuits at about 7nm or 5nm using deep UV immersion lithograpy with sub-optimal yield and efficiency. At the same time the worlds leading foundry, TSMC is manufacturing 3nm circuits and aiming for 2nm but is also under export license controls imposed by the US intended to prevent high-performance chips reaching China. LDP is a lower-cost light source than the laser-produced plasma (LPP) used by ASML. The LPP is more difficult to manage but produces a higher output plasma. China is working on all of the previously researched approaches to EUV. IF China gets a less efficient version of EUV then their chips will be less competitive pricing and performance wise but they will be able to make 2nm and 3 nanometer chips. The gap will close with TSMC. Beyond mastering EUV light itself, China will need to replicate ASMLs vast supply chain. This is about 5,000 specialized suppliers. China will spend tens of billions towards this goal. China appears to be getting down to 3 nanometer chips even without EUV. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has recently developed a new technology that can emit 193nm deep ultraviolet (DUV) laser, achieving the ultra-fine level of 3nm production. pic.twitter.com/VeByRkvr1Z Olala (@olalatech1) March 28, 2025 China's EUV is not taking the LPP carbon dioxide laser route, but the LPP multi-channel fiber laser sequence target route. The most critical high pulse energy and high repetition rate fiber laser has been produced, and it is completely domestically produced. pic.twitter.com/jBRdEj8K9a Olala (@olalatech1) March 20, 2025 Immersion + SAQP actually has better resolution than low-NA EUVjust saying. Upend of the logic PDK incoming. Self-alignment is the way, not EUV. "in response to the current ban on advanced lithography systems being exported to China, SiCarrier is focusing on alternative pic.twitter.com/izCn6aMysP lithos (@lithos_graphein) March 30, 2025 China is out competing ASML. The laser-induced discharge plasma (LDP) EUV generation commercialization push is a DeepSeek moment for lithography that I was fearful of. LDP is much more efficient than laser produced plasma (LPP) which ASML uses. LDP vaporizes a small quantity pic.twitter.com/rmkmiiW9Sr Dr. Kim () (@I_loves_deep_nn) March 8, 2025 China builds its own EUV-Machines. Most people dont understand how huge this is In recent years, China has made considerable efforts to develop its own EUV lithography systems. This technology is crucial for the production of state-of-the-art semiconductor chips with structure pic.twitter.com/fKph6mNkHb Chubby (@kimmonismus) March 14, 2025 SMICs 5nm breakthrough is a direct challenge to Western narratives that claim Chinas semiconductor ambitions are doomed. Using older DUV tech with Huaweis SAQP, theyre proving innovation isnt reliant on EUVyet.https://t.co/NZXhVCciBT William Huo (@wmhuo168) March 29, 2025 CARACAS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government announced Saturday that 229 Venezuelan migrants will return from the United States on Sunday. "Tomorrow, the Return to the Homeland Plan resumes with the arrival of a flight carrying fellow Venezuelans from the United States," said Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly and chief negotiator with the United States, in a statement. The statement confirmed the "repatriation of 229 brothers and sisters." Rodriguez said the flight is scheduled to land at Simon Bolivar International Airport around midday on March 30. Since its launch in 2018, the Return to Homeland Plan has facilitated the return of nearly 1 million Venezuelans. 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. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao speaks at the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, South Korea, March 30, 2025. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Wang Wentao, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ahn Duk-geun, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) SEOUL, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China is committed to high-quality development and expanding high-level openness, vowing to share opportunities with all nations, including the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, said Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao here on Sunday. Amid the downward pressure on the global economy, China, Japan and ROK, as major regional and global economies, have to make joint efforts to safeguard free trade and multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and advance regional economic integration, said Wang at the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Seoul on Sunday. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Wang Wentao, ROK's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto. At the meeting, the economic and trade departments of the three countries agreed to discuss accelerating negotiations on the trilateral free trade agreement, strengthen supply chain cooperation and dialogue on export control, deepen collaboration in digital and green economies, enhance local cooperation, and jointly foster a favorable environment for business collaboration. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (R), Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ahn Duk-geun (C), and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto pose for a photo ahead of the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, South Korea, March 30, 2025. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Wang Wentao, Ahn Duk-geun, and Yoji Muto. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto speaks at the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, , March 30, 2025. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ahn Duk-geun, and Yoji Muto. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ahn Duk-geun (C) speaks at the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, South Korea, March 30, 2025. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Ahn Duk-geun, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 30, 2025 shows the 13th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul, South Korea. The trilateral meeting, focused on topics such as strengthening trade and investment collaboration and advancing regional and multilateral cooperation, was co-chaired by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ahn Duk-geun, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) Hundreds of people swarmed the Tesla auto dealership in Paramus on Saturday to show their love and hate for Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, the controversial initiative thats gutting the federal government in search of waste and abuse. A protest against Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO and head of DOGE, was scheduled to start at noon. But counter-demonstrators arrived first and unfurled red, white and blue pro-Trump banners in front of the dealership on busy Route 17. For the next three hours, both sides had their say, waving flags, raising signs and chanting slogans. Many motorists responded with a honk of the horn although it was impossible to tell which side they were on. Protesters frequently got in each others faces, but there were no fights or arrests, police said. At times, passing cars came dangerously close to striking protesters as people spilled onto the shoulder of the road. Paramus police kept a close eye on the crowd. After winning election in November, Trump named Musk to lead the newly created DOGE, instructing the billionaire to find savings in the federal budget. DOGE has recommended drastic cuts to several government agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the entire U.S. Department of Education. Kevin Meany of Hackensack wrapped himself in an American flag that read, God hates Trump and Jesus aint saving him. Trump supporters got in his face all afternoon. Youve got a right to protest, but you dont have a right to disrespect the flag, one Trump supporter snarled, his finger pointed in Meanys face. You are a nasty, un-American creature. As for his flag, Meany said, Im attacking the religious right for supporting Trump. Hes got no morals at all; why would they back this guy? Now he wants to eliminate judges so everybody will be a yes man and just OK anything he wants do. A few Trump supporters came to the demonstration with dogs, and one man pulled a bandana up to cover half his face. The effect was somewhat menacing, but the tension was broken when a U.S. Mail truck arrived on the shoulder. The letter carrier rolled down the window, gave the dog a treat, then drove off as the crowd cheered. Other Musk supporters were less intimidating. Leslie Ling drove up from Freehold and hoisted a sign that said, We Elon." We love you Elon so much. You did so much for the United States of America, she said. Down the line, Alfred Viggiano of Union City hoisted a sign proclaiming he was a member of the MAGA Mafia. Viggiano, 72, said hes one of many Italian Americans who love Trump. Hes retired and collecting Social Security, Viggiano says, but he isnt worried that DOGEs cuts will affect his benefits. The federal government is way too big and needs to be cut down to size, he added. What worries him is a race war, which he says is being inspired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic congresswoman from New York. Listen, you want a race war? Come and get it, Viggiano said. Because we have a lot of guns and we have beer cans. All you will see is beer cans and shotguns. The demonstration Saturday was the second time anti-Musk protesters have stood in front of the Paramus dealership. But it was the first counterprotest, and may not be the last, with Tesla stock falling as anti-Musk sentiment grows, according to national polling. I think its very telling that this is the first time that the Trump people have had a counterprotest, said Dennis Carroll, 66, a retired history teacher. I see fear in them. Carroll, who taught at Wayne Valley High School for 25 years, says he joined the protest because he believes the Constitution is at risk. I wouldnt say Im protesting the other side. Id say Im protesting for the Constitution, he said. So many of the basic principles of the Constitution are being violated. Carroll said the Founding Fathers were distrustful of government, so they created a separation of powers between the three branches of government. Those are the things we need to preserve, he said. Working the Trump-Musk side of the crowd on Saturday were several political hopefuls. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea arrived in a van with his staff. Billy Prempeh, who narrowly lost to Democrat Nellie Pou in the 9th District congressional race, also was there. Edward X. Young from Brick arrived in a green MAGA hat and wearing a vest festooned with Trump buttons. One of them read, Barron 2052, a reference to the presidents son. Young, 65, said hes met Trump numerous times and is a longtime fan. He would love a third term for the president, but concedes the 22nd Amendment, which limits the president to two terms, is in the way. I would love to see Trump as king for life in this country, but it wont happen because of the Constitution, he said, smiling. Oh yeah, Trump for life. I know its not going to happen, but one can only hope and dream. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com. A fast-moving three-alarm fire burned through a two-story apartment building early Sunday in Edison, impacting 36 units, officials said. The fire broke out at 4:30 a.m. on Vista Drive, off Woodbridge Avenue, authorities said. According to a statement posted on Edison Mayor Sam Joshis Facebook page, the fire destroyed eight units and left eight others with significant damage. Edison, Colonia, South Plainfield, New Market, Sayreville, and New Brunswick fire departments coordinated to respond to the scene. The American Red Cross is working with OEM to assist the displaced families. Two residents suffered injuries from smoke inhalation, and one suffered minor injuries, according to the mayors statement. No fatalities were reported. The deputy chief confirmed all residents were safely evacuated in a report by News12. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and is not considered suspicious at this time, official said. Related coverage: Docked dormant for decades in Philadelphia, the SS United States last year finally found its last destination, off the Florida Gulf Coast, where it would become the worlds largest artificial reef to attract scuba-diving tourism. But before the planned sinking of the ocean liner, the powerless ship had to be brought to Mobile, Alabama, to be prepared for submersion. Enter Mike Vinik and his Keyport-based tugboat service, Vinik Marine. Using a half-mile-long, 2 1/4-inch wire cable, his tug last month pulled the nearly 1,000-foot ship down the East Coast and around Florida, averaging 6 to 7 knots on his 1,855-mile odyssey. This was no old refrigerator being hauled away from the curb. Riding waves of nostalgia for a bygone era of oceangoing travel, the once-grand vessel effectively undertook a farewell tour of the Eastern Seaboard, with faded paint and signs of rust, yet still sleek and stately. In photos online, swathed in fog known as sea smoke, the ship resembled a spectral star of the sea. Given its name and postwar pedigree, the SS United States was adopted by some with almost patriotic fervor as the symbol of the country. Aboard the tug Vinik No. 6, Captain Mike directed this maritime curtain call. The ship is just so beautiful. The phrase that we used was pallbearer to Americas flagship, Vinik marveled. Its just gorgeous. Every time you look at it, its more gorgeous than the last time you looked at it. So that was extraordinary. Ive been an admirer of the vessel for decades, since I went to (SUNY) Maritime College and learned about it. When we had the opportunity to tow it, it was just absolutely amazing. Days after he returned to his Old Bridge home March 15 from his monthlong round trip, Vinik simultaneously recounted his voyage and navigated a lunchtime meal at McDonalds with his daughter, Savannah, nearly 4. (His son, Nicholas, just turned 7.) Like parenting, the tow that brought the dead ship to Alabama was a 24-7 responsibility, he said, with the crew of seven taking turns standing watch while others slept. He likened the job to any other round-the-clock operation, such as a hospital or police department. His Vinik 6 boat holds 130,000 gallons of fuel to feed a 5,700-horsepower engine, enough for the entire trip and then some. The ships departure had been initially set for November but was delayed several times by weather and Coast Guard concerns, keeping Vinik on standby. We lost a bunch of jobs because we were on the hook for the ship, he conceded. The tow out of Philadelphia finally began on Feb. 19, with an eye on the tides. Because silt had built up under the long-idle ship, the liner had to be first moved at high tide to an adjacent berth, Vinik related. Then the actual journey had to get underway at dead low tide because we had to fit under the bridges passed on the Delaware River, specifically the Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Delaware Memorial bridges. While other boats assisted the ships departure from Philadelphia and its arrival in Mobile on March 3, it was just Viniks tug and the SS United States for the long haul. A lot of the times, the phrase we used is Groundhog Day, the captain said. Its just every single day its the same thing. That is, until the weather turned against them in North Carolina. Youre going offshore for two weeks, youre going to have bad weather. We just planned for it, Vinik said. Theres not a safe port or a port of refuge that we can go to, because theres so much involved with receiving a ship like that. We just slowed down and made sure we had control of the ship, but were not making tremendous headway during that time. We did that a day off Hatteras. On our approach into Mobile, there was another significant storm front, and we actually picked up speed so that we wouldnt be offshore during the storm. We arrived a day early. An early arrival was fitting for the Big U, which still holds the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by an ocean liner. It was designed by noted naval architect William Francis Gibbs and built, in 1950-51, for speed, with a lighter, aluminum superstructure. Vinik called it a rocket ship, one that could be used in times of war for troop transport. This was before the commercial jet era, he added. Thats how people crossed (between) continents. Thats how they crossed until the 60s, when airlines shrunk travel time to Europe from days to hours. The SS United States, which once welcomed aboard celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Walt Disney and John Wayne as well as four presidents, was taken out of service by the end of the decade. It passed through a series of owners and unrealized ideas for a second act, as its interior was emptied and hazardous material removed. It was moved in 1996 to Philadelphia, where the SS United States Conservancy purchased it 15 years ago and sought to find a way to a dignified restoration rather than the scrap heap. With its distinctive funnels, the ship had become a Philadelphia landmark, in clear view of motorists passing by on I-95. That came to an end when a judge set a September deadline for its removal following a rental dispute with the docks landlord. Floridas Okaloosa County purchased it with scuba divers in mind. Even now, devotees of the SS United States are hoping for an eleventh-hour reprieve. Ten days ago, Tenafly High School was the scene of a panel discussion by the New York Coalition to Save the SS United States, where a plan to move it to Brooklyn was advocated and the ship was embraced in reverential, even emotional, terms. The ship for me was almost a mythical figure in my life, said coalition co-founder Dan McSweeney, whose father was a crew member. James Kaplan, also a coalition co-founder, touted the ship as one of Americas greatest icons and cast the recent relocation as a boost to its efforts. The ship sailing on the open sea, where thousands could see it, was a great victory for our cause, he reasoned. Because thousands of people now saw the ship, they saw what it was like, they saw its majesty and they also saw how ridiculous it would be to sink the ship. Although Vinik is a fan, too, he sees no realistic alternative to the bottom of the gulf. I dont know of any way that it will be able to come to fruition to have it continue use, he offered. As it is now, its so dangerous for people to look at it and walk the decks, because there are so many open holes. Its not meant for being occupied. ... Theres literally no other future for it. Its tragic and its very sad thats what it has come to. Still, he notes, anybody who wants to can go and get scuba certified and go get trained. ... Theres so much more opportunity now than there was previously, and I think thats beautiful. My wife, Ive been trying to get her to go scuba diving for seven years, and finally she said, Yeah, OK, Ill get certified so I can go dive on the ship. Thats tremendous. The 45-year-old Vinik has been drawn to the water all his life, starting with the accounts he heard from his father, a tugboat captain in the 1980s. I think it was actually listening to his stories that really made me interested in it, he recalled. I grew up sailing on Raritan Bay, and I knew that I really wanted to sail, or be on the water professionally, so I just had to learn how. He graduated from SUNY Maritime College in 2003, was in the Navy Merchant Marine Reserve and worked on a ferry. These days, most of his jobs with Vinik Marine are in and around New York Harbor, assisting with ships and marine construction and towing barges. The towing industry is just like a tractor-trailer truck, but for the water, he explains. Barges are like the trailers, and they dont move on their own. So, you have to tow them. But when a ship comes in, you have to assist it in and out of the berth, kind of like that tug that tows the plane when it gets to the airport. We do all of that. With Vinik 6, hes embarked on other long tows along the East Coast and into the gulf. Still, nothing put his operation in the spotlight like his stewardship of the SS United States. Thank goodness we didnt mess up, right? he said. Phil Cornell can be reached at pcornell@advancelocal.com. LODWAR, Kenya, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The elders from the Turkana community in northern Kenya have opposed a plan unveiled by President William Ruto on Friday, which aims to integrate refugees from neighboring countries into local communities. Daneil Epuyo, member of parliament for Turkana West Constituency, led local leaders in rejecting the Shirika Plan, citing inadequate consultations. Shirika means cooperation in the Swahili language. "Our community has not been consulted. How can the government push for the integration of foreigners when the host community lacks essential services?" Epuyo said on Sunday, urging the government to follow the constitution and seek public participation before fully implementing the plan. Turkana County hosts Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, located near the border with South Sudan. Local leaders have warned that the refugee integration plan could lead to conflicts with host communities already grappling with a food and water crisis. According to Ruto, the Shirika Plan is the "bold, home-grown solution which amplifies the African Union's call for African solutions to Africa's problems as well as global challenges." The program is expected to improve the lives of over 830,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and their generous hosts by transforming the country's refugee camps into integrated settlements. The East African nation, which has maintained an open-door asylum policy, is hosting more than 700,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, due to ongoing regional conflicts. "We are here as refugees and not as citizens. We want the government and other organizations to help us find a permanent solution and not to force us into integrating with the host community," said Abdi Mohammed, a Somali refugee at Kakuma camp. Members of the Turkana community said the influx of refugees has strained limited natural resources such as water, arable land and firewood, while basic amenities like schools and health centers are also overstretched. Maybe former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly who blew up her career somewhere between defending blackface, holding Donald Trump to account and then kissing his, uh, ring after she was annihilated by his misogyny is desperately trying to be relevant. Or maybe she really believes that sexual assault and/or sexual harassment has an expiration date, especially for Trump, who has been credibly accused of either by as many as 34 women. Or that Trumps alleged heinous acts can be forgiven because he is deporting fewer immigrants than Joe Biden, but bragging about it nonetheless, which makes her feel better about the world. In a recent podcast, Kelly insisted that shes willing to let bygones be bygones probably because she wasnt one of the women Trump allegedly violated. My personal opinion is most of the allegations against him are much more complicated than the mainstream media would have you believe, Kelly said. And I dont think Donald Trump is a rapist or a sexual assaulter. I do think hes taken inappropriate liberties with women and gotten handsy with them, in a way hes owned himself, OK, years ago, when he was a celebrity. And it is what it is. Lets break in here and say that a civil court made it quite uncomplicated in 2023: Trump likely sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll and then defamed her twice. Later, a judge clarified that Trump is, in fact, an adjudicated rapist, no matter what Kelly believes. And contrary to what Kelly said, Trump has not owned a single specific episode. When confronted with the Access Hollywood tape that caught him boasting that when youre a star, like him, women let you grab them by the p-ssy, Trump said it was simply locker room talk. He never admitted doing it and never has apologized to any of his accusers. According to the BBC: Multiple women have accused Mr Trump of inappropriate sexual misconduct. [Trump] has denied all of the allegations against him. Saying he has owned it is a lie. In covering for Trump, Kelly does what nearly every Republican does when asked about a possible Trump crime: Change the subject to the real crime some policy shortfall, usually of former President Joe Biden. Trumps sexual assault and harassment accusations are in the past, but its just about so much more than that, Kelly said. We are talking about how many people dying at the southern border because of the invasion that weve suffered under Joe Biden. Were talking about Laken Riley, whose killer was let in under Biden. We put him on a taxpayer flight down to Georgia, where he murdered her. I dont give a sh-t about Trump getting handsy with somebody 20 years ago. I want someone who will close the border, which he has. I want someone who will keep boys out of my daughters sports, which he has. I want someone who will stand up to the insane DEI policies, so that white kids will stop hearing in school that theyre born with some original sin from which they cannot recover, which he has. Theres a lot to unpack here. First: Kelly, of course, offers a ridiculous false choice that America must either pardon an alleged serial sexual offender or suffer through a lousy immigration policy. She neglects to mention that a bipartisan immigration bill, which would have constitutionally solved many of the issues at the southern border, was torpedoed in 2024 by the alleged sexual assaulter who wanted to campaign on the issue and now uses the failed policy as an excuse to deport immigrants who have not committed crimes. The courts have stopped many of Trumps deportation efforts while calling them illegal. (Note to MAGA: Simply entering the country without documentation is not a crime for most immigrants. Its a civil infraction.) Second: Kelly elevates culture war battles above sexual assault and safety for her gender again, as if Americans must choose between an alleged serial assaulter and an effective president. And by forgiving one man who has been credibly accused, is she forgiving all or is this special treatment just for Trump? What if, say, Bill Cosby had a border policy that Kelly liked? Ironically, she lauds Trump for supposedly keeping her daughter safe from an imagined trans athlete in a locker room by applauding the policies of a man who, most recently, was found by a civil court of having shoved Carroll against a dressing room wall and, according to her, forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway or completely, Im not certain inside me. You think that might be too handsy for Kelly? Third, theres this 2017 report from CBS News, which screams hypocrite: Former Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly says she complained to her bosses about Bill OReillys behavior after she had accused former Fox chief Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, and that the abuse and shaming of women has to stop. ... She said on NBC that the abuse of women, the shaming of them, the threatening, the retaliation, the silencing of them after the fact it has to stop. Well, it has to stop ... unless youre Donald Trump and then all is forgiven. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Dejshontaye Would was sentenced to 25 years for killing her aunt. She claims she has been sexually assaulted and denied gender-affirming medical care while in the state's prison system. New Jersey Department of Corrections A transgender woman incarcerated in New Jersey for manslaughter has filed a lawsuit alleging years of abuse, discrimination and medical neglect in prison, claiming officials repeatedly failed to protect her safety and provide adequate health care. Dejshontaye Would, who is also known as Dejshontaye Goddeszholliwould and Daryl Graves, has been in state custody since she was convicted of aggravated manslaughter for killing her aunt, Patricia Graves, in the victims Penns Grove home in 2018. A pilot died after a small plane crashed Sunday morning in a wooded area in Somerset County, federal officials said. The plane, a Cirrus SR22, crashed shortly after 10:35 a.m. in Franklin Township, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. Only the pilot was found aboard, federal officials said. The plane crashed in the vicinity of South Middlebush Lane and Hilltop Lane and the dead person was found inside, the Franklin Township Police Department said. As of 4:45 p.m., investigators were searching for any other occupants, the department added. Police did not identify the pilot who was killed. The plane departed Sunday morning from Princeton Airport and was headed to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, the FAA said. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Matron has been calling its Saturn Bar show on Thursday, April 3, the farewell show. Its a chance for the New Orleans math rock/art pop band, which hasnt played a show of original material in around five years, to release one last EP and have a proper send off. But now, the band members arent so adamant. Theyre going to close the door and lock it but maybe leave a key on the porch, under a plant, says vocalist and synth player Laura Fisher. Its kind of a farewell show, in a sense that it is a close of an era, but its also not probably the end, says vocalist and guitarist Bobby Burvant. Its just the unknown, because doing new music, we all know would take some serious work. Were not against that, but it has to be the right time. I think when we booked the show, too, Fisher adds, and decided to do it, we were like This is the last show forever. But now that weve been [practicing], I think were all just like, God, we love this music. Its nice when you take some space and then come back together with your collaborators. Still, theres no guarantees in life or live music, so April 3 is the best bet to see Matron one last time. New Orleans bands Steef and Spllit will open the show starting at 8 p.m. Matron also will release a new EP, Sunken State, during the show. The compelling, five-track EP of math rock, synthy dream pop and progressive visions will be released digitally and on limited edition vinyl, paired with the bands 2018 EP Standing Water, through Strange Daisy Records. In 2016, Burvant and drummer Jordan Bodzin were playing together in a band called Dronebaby when they met Fisher, who was then in the group Gandhi Castle. They united over a mutual love for many things, but particularly over prog-rock band King Crimson. The three brought on original bassist Phil Stafford and a few other musicians to form a King Crimson cover band for the New Orleans Community Printshops annual cover show. It felt magical, Burvant says. Soon after, the group put together a Tom Waits cover show and then a Radiohead show. The members of Matron last November reunited for a St. Vincent tribute show with Trash Magnolia. King Crimson, we had to practice a lot and really drill it because its hard music, Fisher says. Tom Waits, it was like, lets barely practice, get really drunk, and Phil played upright (bass) and had the Tom Waits voice. It was catchy, simple songs. After that is when the four of us started getting up. We liked this intersection between complicated and catchy pop. Matron had a fun, active run, opening for bands Speedy Ortiz and Tera Melos, touring and playing with friends like People Museum and Julie Odell. The band also released a self-titled EP in late 2017, followed by Standing Water the next year. I felt like we arrived at such a productive time in the scene, Burvant says. With peers like Primpce, Julie, People Museum, the (improvised music series) Instant Opus, there was this sort of letting down of the guards between the indie rock world and the jazz-hustling-went to NOCCA world. The jazz kids played more punk, and the punk kids got synths. And there still is way less snootiness than there used to be about these sorts of labels. Things suddenly ground to a halt, though, when the pandemic hit in spring 2020. With the world shut down, the members of Matron started pursuing other things, like solo music and going back to school. When venues and in-person opportunities started to get back up to speed, the musicians were just in different places in their lives. Matron was on an unplanned, indefinite hiatus. Before the pandemic, however, Matron had a set of songs they had been playing live and had started to record. A couple years ago, Fisher came back to those tracks and re-recorded her vocal tracks. It started to put the wheels in motion again, and the band which now includes bassist and audio engineer Adam Keil decided to finish the EP and play one last Matron show. Its music Im really proud to have been a part of, Bodzin says. Its kind of the standard now for what I want out of music I create in the future. Im just really excited to have been part of this band. Tickets for Matrons show are $12.47 via dice.fm. Find the music at strangedaisy.com. The Get Down Your weekly go-to show for all things happening in New Orleans. KAMPALA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Military leaders from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have called on local armed groups operating in the volatile eastern DRC to surrender and join the DRC government's disarmament program. Chris Magezi, acting spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF), said in a statement issued Sunday that commanders have urged armed militias to embrace the DRC government's disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and stabilization program. He warned that militias refusing to surrender will be targeted. The appeal followed a two-day bilateral coordination and evaluation meeting between senior military commanders from the UPDF and their DRC counterparts. The meeting, held in Bunia, capital city of Ituri Province in the DRC, from March 27 to 28, was part of the joint military operation, known as "Operation Shujaa," against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels. The Ugandan military delegation was led by Kayanja Muhanga, commander of land forces of the UPDF, while the Congolese delegation was headed by Jacques Nduru, deputy chief of general staff for operations and intelligence. Last week, the Ugandan military announced that it had killed 242 armed Lendu militants from the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), a group reportedly allied with the ADF. Uganda deployed troops to Ituri Province several weeks ago 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. Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Abandoned cats. Abused dogs. Rescued birds. Neglected pets. Wounded wildlife. And animal advocates accused of harming the very creatures theyre supposed to be protecting. I hear it all from Region residents on a routine basis, just about weekly. Animal lovers can be the most compassionate people on the planet, but some of them are overzealous and territorial for their preferred cause. For more than a year, Ive received complaints about a woman who operates a shelter in our area and is accused of rescuing animals before they mysteriously disappear for good. She is well known everywhere in this state, said an animal rights advocate Ive known for decades. She travels to southern Indiana to get animals from shelters, only to euthanize them when she brings them back. She thinks she's doing the animals a favor by putting them out of their misery. I've heard similar claims from this womans critics across our Region and the state. There are a couple of Facebook groups dedicated to investigating and revealing her operation. Not one of those animals (has) been listed for adoption anywhere. So where are these animals going, and why isnt she trying to help clear shelters in her own area? an office manager from Westville Farm Supply, Inc., wrote to me in late 2023. We need to stop her from pulling animals and trapping peoples beloved pets. I reached out to the founder of that rescue shelter. She didnt respond to any of the allegations, though she asked me not to share her cell phone number. She's nothing but heartache to those of us who love animals, said a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator for more than 30 years. Ive seen dozens of photos of animals that he has rescued and rehabilitated. Owls, deer, birds, turtles and feral cats, among many others. I trust his opinion about anything involving animals because its his top priority in life, not the politics behind animal-related topics. Earlier this year, I heard from a volunteer at Hagrid's Hope, a small cat rescue created in 2023 to fill a void that exists in Portage. Our sole mission is to rescue cats that have been abandoned outside, momma cats and her kittens, cats that have been injured or abused or cats whose owners can no longer care for them, its website states. Named in honor of a rescued cat, the group does wonderful work in that community. We are doing everything we can think of to find grants and funding so we can continue to help these cats, and to increase awareness of this situation, the volunteer told me. The city could do more to help address the rising problem, I was told, so I contacted Portage Mayor Austin Bonta for any insights. To his credit, he replied immediately. I think they're good people in that group and they're working hard to help cats. But I'm a bit confused by the situation, he said. Bonta had already spoken with one of the groups members about efforts to find a location in the city for a permanent facility. I'm not sure if this is just a right hand not talking to a left hand situation, or maybe a right hand has been talking with me and the left hand talking with you, Bonta said. This happens often in my line of work. I hear conflicting input from different sources, prompting me to find a common ground for both parties, if possible. Not every disagreement or misunderstood situation has a happy ending. Other cases involving animal neglect or cruelty also find their way to my desk. Im currently working on a column about a Lake County man who shot and killed his dog, in front of his neighbors, but received only a slap on the wrist as punishment, Im told. Its a brutal story of cruelty, and the government failed when given the opportunity, a prominent Region official told me. With pet and animal issues, sometimes there is no common ground for advocates with the best of intentions. Most of them want what's right but disagree on how to make it happen. I could write one column a week on these issues. Instead, Im sharing a sampling of what I hear from people who seem to genuinely care about animals, but who at times get along with each other like frogs and scorpions. Truth is, Im not always sure whose position has more to do with human emotions than animal welfare. KHARTOUM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo acknowledged on Sunday his paramilitary group had withdrawn from Khartoum, part of Sudan's capital region, calling the move a tactical repositioning to Omdurman, another city within the tripartite capital region. In an audio message circulated via Telegram, Dagalo told his forces the withdrawal was a "decision approved by the command and the operations management," framing it as part of a broader strategy. "I assure you we have left Khartoum, but we will return stronger," he said, adding that the nearly two-year war against Sudan's military was "still in its early stages." His remarks marked the RSF's first direct response to the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) recent claims of retaking key sites in Khartoum, including the presidential palace and central government buildings seized on March 21. On March 26, the army said it regained control of Khartoum International Airport, a strategic hub held by the RSF since April 2023. Military officials this week asserted the SAF now commands all of Khartoum, one of three cities in the capital region, including Omdurman and Bahri. The conflict between the SAF and RSF, which erupted in April 2023 over tensions linked to a planned political transition, has killed tens of thousands, displaced over 15 million people, and left Sudan facing what the United Nations calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. UN agencies warn the country is nearing famine, with its healthcare system collapsed and accurate casualty counts nearly impossible to verify. Hamas has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it received two days ago from mediators Egypt and Qatar, the Palestinian militant group's chief said. "Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and accepted it," Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech. "We hope that the (Israeli) occupation will not undermine (it)," said Hayya, who leads the Hamas negotiating team in indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza that erupted in October 2023. Security sources told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase. The proposal suggests Hamas release five of the Israeli hostages it is holding each week, the sources said. The Israeli prime minister's office said it had held a series of consultations according to the proposal that was received from the mediators, and that Israel had conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Reuters asked the prime minister's office if it had also agreed to the ceasefire proposal but it did not immediately respond. Palestinians walk past debris of buildings destroyed during the Israel-Hamas war, in Gaza City on March 28, 2025. File Photo: AFP Phased ceasefire The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on Jan 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners. Phase two of the three-phase deal is intended to focus on agreements on the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas says any proposals must allow the launch of the second phase, while Israel has offered to expand the first 42-day phase. In response to calls on Hamas to disarm by Israel and the United States, Hayya said the group's arsenal was a red line and that it would not disarm as long as the "Israeli" occupation exists. Israel and the US say Hamas must not have a role in post-war Gaza arrangements. ADVERTISEMENT Israeli military strikes on Gaza continued on Saturday, killing at least 20 Palestinians across the enclave, health authorities said. Palestinians take part in an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025. File Photo: AFP The Israeli military said it had begun "ground activity" in the Jneina neighbourhood of the Rafah area to expand what it described as the security zone in southern Gaza. On March 18, Israel resumed bombing and ground operations in Gaza, which it said were intended to increase pressure on Hamas to free hostages. It has since issued evacuation orders to tens of thousands of residents in several areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, citing rocket firing into Israeli territories. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. ADVERTISEMENT Israel began its offensive after thousands of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies. "There are several inaccurate legal and factual assertions" in Crete's letter to LACOE. - Sarah Ziegenhorn, LAUSD Charter School Division In today's political environment, it should not be surprising when a public figure feels comfortable making statements that have no basis in reality. Still, the ease with which Brett Mitchell distorted the facts as he addressed the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) board was remarkable. Even more incredible was that the actual data was readily accessible, sometimes in the very paperwork he had submitted on behalf of Crete Academy. As co-founders of the charter school, Mitchell and his wife make a combined $390,982 annual salary running a school that focuses on the needs of homeless and economically disadvantaged students. Seeking to protect this income stream, he stood before the unelected LACOE Board on March 18, 2025, and asked them to reverse the LAUSD's decision to reject Crete's application to renew its charter. With the data not on his side, he presented different information. "As acknowledged in our charter petition, Crete falls into the low-performing category" - Brett Mitchell, January 10, 2024 [SIC] "we are not a 'low quality' charter school" - Brett Mitchell, February 13, 2025 One data point Mitchell repeatedly cited was that in previous years, oversight visits by the District's Charter School Division (CSD) found that his school was "Middle Performing". This was surprising, especially since the CSD does not include "Middle Performing" in its ratings. With four levels of performance on the scale (Accomplished, Proficient, Developing, and Unsatisfactory), there is not even a middle position. It is also clear that while trying to persuade the LACOE Board that the concerns of LAUSD regulators were new, Mitchell knew the reports generated after its Annual Performance-Based Visits told a much different story. Just two months earlier he wrote a letter to the LAUSD Board that stated: "The District also relies on Crete Academy's Annual Performance-Based Oversight Visit reports for the last seven years, in which the Charter School did not earn a rating higher than 2 (Developing) in Student Achievement and Educational Performance and earned a rating of 1 (Unsatisfactory) in 2023-24." Crete has been mired in mediocrity for its entire existence. The LAUSD CSD's findings are similar to those of the California Department of Education's Dashboard. Its first entry on the Dashboard in 2019 showed that the school's students scored 114 points below standard in both English Language Arts and Math: 2019 (Image by California Department of Education) Details DMCA The State suspended the Dashboard in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic. It resumed publication in 2022 but with a different coding system. In both English Language Arts and Math Crete was deemed to be performing "very low": 2022 (Image by California Department of Education) Details DMCA In 2023, the school's students showed a slight increase in their performance in English Language Arts but fell slightly in Math. This resulted in the lowest possible rating: In the last report published, Crete lost most of the gains in English Language Arts and even more ground in Math. Not only did it land in the red for both categories, U.S. News ranked it as one of the lowest-performing schools in California. This data directly contradicts the school's claim that it had above-average growth in 2024: 2024 (Image by California Department of Education) Details DMCA Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This is Oregon Insight, a weekly look at the numbers behind the state economy. NJ.com The median Oregonian is a little over 40 years old, one of the highest median ages of any state. Oregon has a higher share of people in their 70s than the national average, too. The states aging population has big implications for the future of Oregons economy, which needs young workers to fill jobs and run businesses. An older populace will also have important consequences for state revenues. Oregon relies heavily on personal income taxes to fill its coffers. And state economists note that older people tend to have lower incomes, and therefore pay less in taxes. Relative to taxpayers in their 40s and 50s, the average personal income tax paid by 70-somethings in Oregon is 40% lower, state economists wrote in their latest quarterly economic forecast. Oregonians in their early 50s pay more than $9,000 a year in state income taxes on average, according to the Oregon Department of Revenue. People in their late 70s pay about $5,000 a year. The economists didnt put a dollar figure on the revenue impact of the aging population but warned lawmakers that Oregons demographic changes mean slower growth in the decades ahead. This is Oregon Insight, The Oregonians weekly look at the numbers behind the states economy. View past installments here. -- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com. A man who reportedly escaped from the federal immigration detention center on the Tideflats has been caught in Oregon, according to law enforcement. In a post Saturday on X, the Seattle office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that Alvaro Flores-Barboza, 24, had been arrested and is currently detained by local authorities near Portland. ICE reported that the man is from Venezuela and escaped from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma on March 26. KOIN-TV, a Portland-based CBS affiliate, reported that Flores-Barboza was arrested early Saturday in Beaverton. KOIN also reported that Flores-Barboza was previously arrested in the Portland area in 2024 and convicted of reckless driving and felony use of a weapon. The facility in Tacoma has a capacity for 1,575 detainees. It holds people who are suspected of being in the country illegally or awaiting deportation. On Wednesday, the Tacoma Police Department responded to the detention center after the facility reported that someone in custody escaped, according to a police spokesperson. Officers responded to assist in conducting an area check, but no one was found. The spokesperson said they were called again about an hour later by someone from the facility to check the area of a Pilot Express gas station on Puyallup Avenue. Again, no one was located. Neither Immigration officials nor a representative of GEO Group, the federal contractor that runs the facility, independently confirmed news of the escape at the time. Sgt. John Correa with Tacoma Police Department told The News Tribune on Saturday in response to questions that the department had no information on how the man escaped or whether this was the first such incident. Flores-Barboza now faces removal from the U.S., according to ICE. No further details were immediately available. 2025 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.). Visit www.TheNewsTribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Scott Hancock left behind a trail of suffering across four states after torturing and raping 18 children. His horrific crimes stretched from Pasco, Washington, to Utah, Oregon and California, court documents said. The victims stories of grief and betrayal made up much of the four-hour sentencing hearing on Thursday for the 22-year-old man who was described as a serial rapist. This is probably one of the most egregious cases that Ive seen in all my career, Judge Norma Rodriguez said as she sentenced him to two decades in prison. It didnt just involve the molestation (and) rape of children. It involved the torture of children. Hancock entered an Alford plea to two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of first-degree child rape. The Alford plea means he doesnt admit to committing the crimes but felt it was likely he could be convicted of them. He faced between 20 and 26 years in prison. Rodriguezs decision came after she said she wouldnt follow an agreement that would have put him in prison for 17 years without more proof that he should receive that long of a sentence. Hancocks crimes began to be uncovered in 2019 and he has since been convicted in Utah, Oregon and now Washington. They all happened while he was still a juvenile, but the timing of the charges meant he faced them as an adult. Defense Attorney Tim Dickerson said the way the punishment was handled was unfair. While he didnt want to diminish the suffering the victims went through, he said, his client was still a teenager when the crimes were committed. These acts that youve heard about today happened across three different jurisdictions, he said. I want the court to understand that Mr. Hancock has been in custody since he was 16 years of age. Dickerson said hes been moved between jurisdictions until he reached Franklin County. Hancock didnt speak at his sentencing. Pasco police became involved in the investigation after one of Hancocks victims was caught abusing another child. Hancock started grooming the child when the boy was only 5, court documents said. The abuse happened in Oregon, California and Utah, as well as Pasco. He also forced that child to rape other children, according to court documents. Police believe the last time he abused the child was in 2018 when Hancock was 15. He also abused three other young children in a Pasco home. He was arrested in Utah after he left one young child severely scarred and allegedly molested three other children. When police interviewed him in 2019, he admitted to inappropriately touching about 14 children, according to court documents. He didnt provide any other details about the other abuse. Hancock was 17 at the time. Victims at the sentencing said theyve discovered 18 children who have been abused. He left the children mentally and physically scarred. Some of his crimes happened when the children were only a year old. He was convicted of sex crimes in Utah and then later in Oregon. He was released on those charges in May 2023 and a warrant was issued to bring him to the Tri-Cities, according to court documents. 2025 Tri-City Herald (Kennewick, Wash.). Visit www.tri-cityherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. On Saturday morning, roughly 100 people came together to watch whats known as the awakening of the dragon. The Eye Dotting ceremony, which took place on Saturday along the south waterfront in Portland, commenced the beginning of the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race season. The ceremony is put on by the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PESKA). An all-female Chinese drum line kicked it off, followed by a Buddhist ceremonial blessing before heading to the dock where the sleeping dragon boats waited. Notable figures, including Portland politician Mitch Green and members of both the Taiwan Consulate General and The Royal Rosarians, were asked to do the honors of painting red eyes on the heads of the dragon boats. This practice symbolizes awakening the dragon, and the beginning of the racing season. The dragon boat season lasts for 12 weeks. The 2025 Dragon Boat festival will be June 6-7 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. NOTE: The original dates in this article were wrong. We since updated them. James Flanagin, the only dentist in Leslie, Arkansas, treats patients in a one-man clinic in the back of an antique store. Flanagin says the town suffers from high levels of tooth decay because the local drinking water is not fluoridated. (Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) Katie Adkins In the wooded highlands of northern Arkansas, where small towns have few dentists, water officials who serve more than 20,000 people have for more than a decade openly defied state law by refusing to add fluoride to the drinking water. For its refusal, the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority has received hundreds of state fines amounting to about $130,000, which are stuffed in a cardboard box and left unpaid, said Andy Anderson, who is opposed to fluoridation and has led the water system for nearly two decades. This Ozark region is among hundreds of rural American communities that face a one-two punch to oral health: a dire shortage of dentists and a lack of fluoridated drinking water, which is widely viewed among dentists as one of the most effective tools to prevent tooth decay. But as the anti-fluoride movement builds unprecedented momentum, it may turn out that the Ozarks were not behind the times after all. We will eventually win, Anderson said. We will be vindicated. Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, keeps teeth strong when added to drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association. But the anti-fluoride movement has been energized since a government report last summer found a possible link between lower IQ in children and consuming amounts of fluoride that are higher than what is recommended in American drinking water. asaDozens of communities have decided to stop fluoridating in recent months, and state officials in Florida and Texas have urged their water systems to do the same. Last week, Utah became the first state to ban it in tap water. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long espoused fringe health theories, has called fluoride an industrial waste and dangerous neurotoxin and said the Trump administration will recommend it be removed from all public drinking water. Separately, Republican efforts to extend tax cuts and shrink federal spending may squeeze Medicaid, which could deepen existing shortages of dentists in rural areas where many residents depend on the federal insurance program for whatever dental care they can find. Dental experts warn that the simultaneous erosion of Medicaid and fluoridation could exacerbate a crisis of rural oral health and reverse decades of progress against tooth decay, particularly for children and those who rarely see a dentist. If you have folks with little access to professional care and no access to water fluoridation, said Steven Levy, a dentist and leading fluoride researcher at the University of Iowa, then they are missing two of the big pillars of how to keep healthy for a lifetime. Many already are. James Flanagin, the only dentist in the tiny Arkansas town of Leslie, treats patients in the back of an antique store and, with hand-painted lettering, advertises his clinic and himself as a pretty good dentist. (Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) Katie Adkins Overlapping dental deserts and fluoride-free zones Nearly 25 million Americans live in areas without enough dentists more than twice as many as prior estimates by the federal government according to a recent study from Harvard University that measured U.S. dental deserts with more depth and precision than before. Hawazin Elani, a Harvard dentist and epidemiologist who co-authored the study, found that many shortage areas are rural and poor, and depend heavily on Medicaid. But many dentists do not accept Medicaid because payments can be low, Elani said. The ADA has estimated that only a third of dentists treat patients on Medicaid. I suspect this situation is much worse for Medicaid beneficiaries, Elani said. If you have Medicaid and your nearest dentists do not accept it, then you will likely have to go to the third, or fourth, or the fifth. The Harvard study identified over 780 counties where more than half of the residents live in a shortage area. Of those counties, at least 230 also have mostly or completely unfluoridated public drinking water, according to a KFF analysis of fluoride data published by the CDC. That means people in these areas who cant find a dentist also do not get protection for their teeth from their tap water. A Flourish data visualization The KFF Health News analysis does not cover the entire nation because it does not include private wells and 13 states do not submit fluoride data to the CDC. But among those that do, most counties with a shortage of dentists and unfluoridated water are in the south-central U.S., in a cluster that stretches from Texas to the Florida Panhandle and up into Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. In the center of that cluster is the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority, which serves the Arkansas counties of Boone, Marion, Newton, and Searcy. It has refused to add fluoride ever since Arkansas enacted a statewide mandate in 2011. After weekly fines began in 2016, the water system unsuccessfully challenged the fluoride mandate in state court, then lost again on appeal. Anderson, who has chaired the water systems board since 2007, said he would like to challenge the fluoride mandate in court again and would argue the case himself if necessary. In a phone interview, Anderson said he believes that fluoride can hamper the brain and body to the point of making people get fat and lazy. So if you go out in the streets these days, walk down the streets, youll see lots of fat people wearing their pajamas out in public, he said. Nearby in the tiny, no-stoplight community of Leslie, Arkansas, which gets water from the Ozark system, the only dentist in town operates out of a one-man clinic tucked in the back of an antique store. Hand-painted lettering on the store window advertises a pretty good dentist. James Flanagin, a third-generation dentist who opened this clinic three years ago, said he was drawn to Leslie by the quaint charms and friendly smiles of small-town life. But those same smiles also reveal the unmistakable consequences of refusing to fluoridate, he said. There is no doubt that there is more dental decay here than there would otherwise be, he said. You are going to have more decay if your water is not fluoridated. Thats just a fact. Flanagin, the only dentist in the tiny Ozark town of Leslie, Arkansas, runs his clinic in the back of an antique store. He says the town suffers from high levels of tooth decay because the local drinking water is not fluoridated.(Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) Fluoride seen as a great public health achievement Fluoride was first added to public water in an American city in 1945 and spread to half of the U.S. population by 1980, according to the CDC. Because of the dramatic decline in cavities that followed, in 1999 the CDC dubbed fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. Currently more than 70% of the U.S. population on public water systems get fluoridated water, with a recommended concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, or about three drops in a 55-gallon barrel, according to the CDC. Fluoride is also present in modern toothpaste, mouthwash, dental varnish, and some food and drinks like raisins, potatoes, oatmeal, coffee, and black tea. But several dental experts said these products do not reliably reach as many low-income families as drinking water, which has an additional benefit over toothpaste of strengthening childrens teeth from within as they grow. Two recent polls have found that the largest share of Americans support fluoridation, but a sizable minority does not. Polls from Axios/Ipsos and AP-NORC found that 48% and 40% of respondents wanted to keep fluoride in public water supplies, while 29% and 26% supported its removal. Chelsea Fosse, an expert on oral health policy at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said she worried that misguided fears of fluoride would cause many people to stop using fluoridated toothpaste and varnish just as Medicaid cuts made it harder to see a dentist. The combination, she said, could be devastating. It will be visibly apparent what this does to the prevalence of tooth decay, Fosse said. If we get rid of water fluoridation, if we make Medicaid cuts, and if we dont support providers in locating and serving the highest-need populations, I truly dont know what we will do. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have shown what ending water fluoridation could look like. In the past few years, studies of cities in Alaska and Canada have shown that communities that stopped fluoridation saw significant increases in childrens cavities when compared with similar cities that did not. A 2024 study from Israel reported a two-fold increase in dental treatments for kids within five years after the country stopped fluoridating in 2014. Despite the benefits of fluoridation, it has been fiercely opposed by some since its inception, said Catherine Hayes, a Harvard dental expert who advises the American Dental Association on fluoride and has studied its use for three decades. Fluoridation was initially smeared as a communist plot against America, Hayes said, and then later fears arose of possible links to cancer, which were refuted through extensive scientific research. In the 80s, hysteria fueled fears of fluoride causing AIDS, which was ludicrous, Hayes said. More recently, the anti-fluoride movement seized on international research that suggests high levels of fluoride can hinder childrens brain development and has been boosted by high-profile legal and political victories. Last August, a hotly debated report from the National Institutes of Healths National Toxicology Program found with moderate confidence that exposure to levels of fluoride that are higher than what is present in American drinking water is associated with lower IQ in children. The report was based on an analysis of 74 studies conducted in other countries, most of which were considered low quality and involved exposure of at least 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water or more than twice the U.S. recommendation according to the program. The following month, in a long-simmering lawsuit filed by fluoride opponents, a federal judge in California said the possible link between fluoride and lowered IQ was too risky to ignore, then ordered the federal Environmental Protection Agency to take nonspecified steps to lower that risk. The EPA started to appeal this ruling in the final days of the Biden administration, but the Trump administration could reverse course. The EPA and Department of Justice declined to comment. The White House and Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about fluoride. Despite the National Toxicology Programs report, Hayes said, no association has been shown to date between lowered IQ and the amount of fluoride actually present in most Americans water. The court ruling may prompt additional research conducted in the U.S., Hayes said, which she hoped would finally put the campaign against fluoride to rest. Its one of the great mysteries of my career, what sustains it, Hayes said. What concerns me is that theres some belief amongst some members of the public and some of our policymakers that there is some truth to this. Not all experts were so dismissive of the toxicology programs report. Bruce Lanphear, a childrens health researcher at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, published an editorial in January that said the findings should prompt health organizations to reassess the risks and benefits of fluoride, particularly for pregnant women and infants. The people who are proposing fluoridation need to now prove its safe, Lanphear told NPR in January. Thats what this study does. It shifts the burden of proof or it should. Cities and states rethink fluoride At least 14 states so far this year have considered or are considering bills that would lift fluoride mandates or prohibit fluoride in drinking water altogether. In February, Utah lawmakers passed the nations first ban, which Republican Gov. Spencer Cox told ABC4 Utah he intends to sign. And both Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller have called for their respective states to end fluoridation. I dont want Big Brother telling me what to do, Miller told The Dallas Morning News in February. Government has forced this on us for too long. Additionally, dozens of cities and counties have decided to stop fluoridation in the past six months including at least 16 communities in Florida with a combined population of more than 1.6 million according to news reports and the Fluoride Action Network, an anti-fluoride group. Stuart Cooper, executive director of that group, said the movements unprecedented momentum would be further supercharged if Kennedy and the Trump administration follow through on a recommendation against fluoride. Cooper predicted that most U.S. communities will have stopped fluoridating within years. I think what you are seeing in Florida, where every community is falling like dominoes, is going to now happen in the United States, he said. I think were seeing the absolute end of it. If Coopers prediction is right, Hayes said, widespread decay would be visible within years. Kids teeth will rot in their mouths, she said, even though we know how to completely prevent it. Its unnecessary pain and suffering, Hayes said. If you go into any childrens hospital across this country, youll see a waiting list of kids to get into the operating room to get their teeth fixed because they have severe decay because they havent had access to either fluoridated water or other types of fluoride. Unfortunately, thats just going to get worse. Methodology: How We Counted This KFF Health News article identifies communities with an elevated risk of tooth decay by combining data on areas with dentist shortages and unfluoridated drinking water. Our analysis merged Harvard University research on dentist-shortage areas with large datasets on public water systems published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Harvard research determined that nearly 25 million Americans live in dentist-shortage areas that span much of rural America. The CDC data details the populations served and fluoridation status of more than 38,000 public water systems in 37 states. We classified counties as having elevated risk of tooth decay if they met three criteria: --More than half of the residents live in a dentist-shortage area identified by Harvard. --The number of people receiving unfluoridated water from water systems based in that county amounts to more than half of the countys population. --The number of people receiving unfluoridated water from water systems based in that county amounts to at least half of the total population of all water systems based in that county, even if those systems reached beyond the county borders, which many do. Our analysis identified approximately 230 counties that meet these criteria, meaning they have both a dire shortage of dentists and largely unfluoridated drinking water. But this total is certainly an undercount. Thirteen states do not report water system data to the CDC, and the agency data does not include private wells, most of which are unfluoridated. KFF Health News data editor Holly K. Hacker contributed to this article. Coolers and buckets filled with illegally harvested smelt sit in the beds of pickup trucks following a poaching sting on the Sandy River near Troutdale, Ore., Thursday, March 27, 2025. Authorities seized approximately 2,500 pounds of smelt during the one-day fishery. Photo courtesy of the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office seized approximately 2,500 pounds of illegally harvested smelt last Thursday during a joint poaching enforcement operation with Oregon State Police on the Sandy River. The fish were confiscated during the single-day legal smelt dipping season on March 27, 2025 a rare opportunity that drew large crowds to the riverbank between the Sandy Rivers mouth and the Stark Street Bridge. Thursday was only the third time in more than a decade that state officials allowed licensed anglers to catch the fish once prized by Native Americans for their high oil content. Eulachon smelt, also known as candlefish, are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. While they return to the Columbia River annually to spawn, their presence in the Sandy River is less consistent. These small, oily fish spend most of their lives in the ocean and typically die after spawning. A rare one-day smelt dipping season on Thursday, March 27, 2025, drew crowds to Troutdales Sandy River, as a spring break surge of eulachon returned in harvestable numbers. Under gray skies, people of all ages lined the banks for the first fishery since 2023, approved by ODFW after navigating federal protections. Mark Graves/The Oregonian The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife authorized bank-only dip netting with a 10-pound harvest limit per person. That amount is roughly equivalent to a five-quart bucket or a quarter of a five-gallon bucket. Anglers were required to bring their own containers and hold a valid 2025 Oregon license. Children 11 and under did not need a license. All individuals found in violation of harvest regulations were issued citations, the sheriffs office said in a social media post. The seized smelt were donated to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Officials stressed that overharvesting can harm river ecosystems, as smelt are an important food source for fish, birds and marine mammals. Collecting dead smelt from the banks for bait or any other use is prohibited. A rare one-day smelt dipping season on Thursday, March 27, 2025, drew crowds to Troutdales Sandy River, as a spring break surge of eulachon returned in harvestable numbers. Under gray skies, people of all ages lined the banks for the first fishery since 2023, approved by ODFW after navigating federal protections. Mark Graves/The Oregonian ODFW encourages those interested in future smelt dipping opportunities to subscribe to their email alerts, which are the first source of announcements for upcoming fisheries. More: Smelt dippers return to Sandy River for rare one-day fishery (photos and video) Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive 503-860-3060 mgraves@oreognian.com Nike is one of the world's best-known companies but troubles within its work force have emerged through the courts. Dave Killen / The Oregonian A ruling earlier this month from a federal appeals court raises serious First Amendment issues for Oregon journalists who intervene in lawsuits to unseal court records. News organizations routinely use the courts to obtain records that are outside of public view. The media might become involved in an existing case by asking that records not available to the public become open to all. An example is when a probable cause affidavit related to a criminal charge is filed under seal. The media might ask a judge to unseal the affidavit to provide more background and context for the charges. In some cases, media organizations might file to intervene in a lawsuit for the limited purpose of seeking to unseal records filed in the matter. That was the case a few years ago, when The Oregonian/OregonLive joined the Portland Business Journal and Business Insider in asking a judge to unseal records in a significant case involving Nike, one of our signature companies in Oregon. The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press represented the media coalition. The underlying case involved plaintiffs who claimed they had been harmed by a toxic culture at Nike, which denied the claims and vigorously defended itself. The basis for some of the plaintiffs complaints were contained in what were called the Starfish surveys, organized by a small internal group that wanted to understand experiences reported by Nike employees. A federal magistrate judge agreed with the media organizations that the documents filed in court should be unsealed. Nike appealed, saying the information would simply serve to embarrass employees. Independently, The Oregonian/OregonLives reporter Matthew Kish was pursuing an article about a different former employee with an entirely separate experience at Nike. The interesting twist was she was the onetime sister-in-law of Mark Parker, who later would become Nikes CEO. She was not a plaintiff in the lawsuit, but Kish sought comment from plaintiffs lawyer Laura Salerno Owens because Parkers complaints were similar to those of the women who had sued, and because Salerno Owens has heard the accounts of dozens of women who have worked at Nike. Salerno Owens previously told The Oregonian/OregonLive shes represented more than 50 Nike employees. During their conversation at a downtown Starbucks, Salerno Owens emailed Kish a set of documents that she felt might be relevant to his article. She later told the court she inadvertently did so, believing she was sending public court records. Kish quickly realized the documents did not look like any he had seen in the open court files, and Salerno Owens quickly asked for the records back, later going to court to demand their return. Federal Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo ordered us to return the documents, but she did so without hearing from our attorneys. Because The Oregonian/OregonLive was intervening for a limited purpose, we and our attorneys could not access certain records in the court system, nor were we notified of any court hearings related to establishment of the protective order or the request to return the documents. We appealed to Judge Marco Hernandez and he sent the case back to Russo, who correctly decided we had a First Amendment right to keep and report on the documents. That typically is the case if a reporter has done nothing illegal or wrong in receiving newsworthy information. Nike appealed this ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which held arguments in February in San Francisco. In a ruling I characterized as baffling and troubling, a three-judge panel decided that we were in fact a full party to the case despite previous rulings to the contrary. The decision sends the case back to federal court in Portland. The judges brushed aside any First Amendment questions that arise from any order that a news organization return newsworthy documents it received without having done anything improper. They decided we were a party but never addressed the fact we were not entitled to, nor allowed to, view any of the pleadings filed by parties in the case or be heard on them, as the actual parties were. Why is this concerning for journalists? First, it means if we receive significant, newsworthy material, we could be forced to return it and not report the information to the public, even if it is highly important to the community. Second, any reporters not involved in the court battle and who received such information under identical circumstances, might be free to report on the information. In other words, this creates a disincentive for media organizations to join legal battles on behalf of the public and in the public interest. Doing so could limit their ability to freely report on what they learn. Media organizations that are fighting for the publics right to know suddenly and mysteriously become a party to the underlying lawsuit and supposedly subject to the orders in the case. This is a dark day for journalism in Oregon. Its a darker day for Oregonians who care about the freedom of the press. We press for information, and publish it, because we think the public has a right to know. Were not done yet. We plan to continue to fight for our rights under the First Amendment and for yours. The Hood River County Sheriffs Office and a team of salvage divers, with the help of a crane, attempt to retrieve possible evidence in a long ago mystery: the disappearance of Portlanders Ken and Barbara Martin and their three daughters. The Martin family vehicle is believed to have been located in the Columbia River at Cascade Locks. March 6, 2025. Beth Nakamura Janice Crane For The Oregonian/OregonLive Crane is the executive director of the Friends of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum and the treasurer of the Oregon Museums Association. She lives in Cascade Locks. I met Archer Mayo, the diver investigating the 1958 disappearance of the Martin family, after the museum where I work published Images of America: Cascade Locks and Canal in August 2022. The book, compiled during the museums pandemic closure and subsequent years of reduced visitor traffic, includes photos, surveys, plans of the canal site and personal stories we curate at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. Mayo came to the museum after encountering the photographs and diagrams in the publication and shared his theory that the answer to what happened to the Martin family, who went missing nearly 70 years ago, could lurk in the depths of the Cascade Locks. His enthusiasm for the material was infectious and validating, and it was intriguing that the Locks could contain mysteries beyond those that attract the interest of our typical engineering nerds. Mayo and I maintained a collaborative dialogue as he continued his research. He contributed missing pieces that filled out our collection of Cascade Locks and canal construction photographs, and literal pieces of canal history from his dives. Earlier this month, based on Mayos extensive dives and research, crews pulled up part of a car that is believed to be the Martins. This discovery underscores the invaluable role that local history museum collections play in preserving records that may support answers to unsolved mysteries. Unlike larger institutions, local museums hold unique, place-specific materials that may otherwise be lost or overlooked. The stories of how the average American experienced an event are cared for and shared with pride by the history keepers in their hometowns. National events happen at the local level. Your community history museum is likely the only repository who may have cared enough to collect the personal photographs of amateur photographers experiencing how history happens every day. Ensuring the proper care, organization and accessibility of these collections is essential- not only for historical interpretation but also for the unexpected ways that they can contribute to solving real-world cases. Approximately half of the museums in the United States are small history museums. Small museum collections are less likely to be digitized, and many do not have space to invite researchers into the archives. Our expertise is overlooked because we have to be competent business managers, marketers, fundraisers, janitors, customer service staff and educators, in addition to content experts. Staff turns over due to low wages, complex jobs, isolated locations, funding issues and board dynamics. Some collections go unmanaged for decades. Because of these limitations, small history museums inadvertently hold the answers to unanswered questions in hard-copy formats. Aided by a pandemic grant, we were able to catch up on actual museum work without having to fundraise. While our visitors were safe at home, we worked on research, publications and digitization. As a result, our museum was able to provide Mayo with the Army Corps of Engineers annual chiefs reports and construction photographs that show the decision-making processes, original designs, new experiences and resulting redesigns to dramatically change the river at this site. We also collaborated with state and tribal agencies to support lower-profile cases and projects by connecting written first-person accounts from settler diaries to the historic record of Indigenous land-use, supporting protection for cultural sites. That unrestricted operating funding gave breathing room to uncover details of our community that had not seen the light of day in decades. Small history museums are frequently underfunded and understaffed. Over 5,000 small history museums opened in the United States between 1955 and 1965, founded by local governments and volunteers who were proud of the communities they built. However, between 2005 and 2015, they struggled as founders retired, exhibits aged and costs rose. Many were defunded by those same local governments and operations shuffled into nonprofit organizations. Operating a service such as a local history museum as a nonprofit without a steady funding stream is unsustainable despite the support of volunteers, small donors, nominal admission fees and state and regional grants. Now, government-owned museums, like the Five Oaks Museum in Washington County, are closing. The county is currently identifying how to dispose of the collection, setting a troubling precedent for other museums whose local governments retained ownership of their objects and archives. The collection at Five Oaks Museum could hold clues to unsolved mysteries, making its potential loss not just a cultural tragedy but a missed opportunity to uncover answers. Saving these endangered collections must be a choice that local governments and community members are willing to make through budget allocations and direct donations. The cost of preserving local history is relatively small. Preserving such collections is vital for both historical continuity and the potential to resolve lingering unknowns. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Members of the Blue Sky Rescue team, a Chinese civil relief squad, check the rescue equipment before departure in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 30, 2025. Sixteen members of the Chongqing Blue Sky Rescue team set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Sunday to provide assistance in rescue efforts. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) Members of the Blue Sky Rescue team, a Chinese civil relief squad, gather before departure in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 30, 2025. Sixteen members of the Chongqing Blue Sky Rescue team set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Sunday to provide assistance in rescue efforts. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) Members of the Blue Sky Rescue team, a Chinese civil relief squad, gather before departure in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 30, 2025. Sixteen members of the Chongqing Blue Sky Rescue team set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Sunday to provide assistance in rescue efforts. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) Members of the Blue Sky Rescue team, a Chinese civil relief squad, load rescue equipment onto a vehicle before departure in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, March 30, 2025. Sixteen members of the Chongqing Blue Sky Rescue team set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Sunday to provide assistance in rescue efforts. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) Regarding the piece on Washington Countys sewer agency by The Oregonian/OregonLives Jamie Goldberg: How Washington County sewer officials scored annual Hawaii trips and 5-star lodging, March 20, let me make sure that I have this straight. The CEO whos in charge of this Oregon agency, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, who has ties to Hawaii, praised the efforts to set up a subsidiary insurance company in Hawaii, which requires annual board meetings to be held in Hawaii. Those trips were paid for indirectly with ratepayer dollars. And then the insurance companys lawyer declined to provide The Oregonian/OregonLive with information detailing exactly the expenses for these trips on the grounds that the business is not subject to Oregons public records law because it is located in Hawaii. Thanks for Jamie Goldbergs great reporting, and keep digging! I wish people understood what we will lose when we lose independent local reporting like this. Janine Robben, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Employees who feel they are not adequately compensated are free to look elsewhere for a different job. Employees who choose to strike should not be able to get support from the public (Should workers on strike get unemployment benefits? Oregon Senate says yes, March 20). Unemployment taxes are levied most heavily on employers that have the most unemployment claims. Employers would, in effect, be underwriting the unemployment benefits given to their striking employees. This makes no sense. Most third-party rankings rate Oregon near the bottom as a place to run a business. CNBCs 2024 ranking of Top States for Business ranks Oregon as the third worst state in business friendliness ahead of only New Jersey and New York. It is no coincidence that New Jersey and New York are the only other states which currently allow striking workers at private employers to get unemployment benefits. Oregon certainly doesnt need to further damage its reputation as an unfriendly place for business. John Rees, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Although I am not a resident of Lake Oswego, I support those residents who have now received a legal judgment that they can enjoy and use the lake, even if they do not live on the lakeside, (Socialism and carnival act: What some Lake Oswego residents say about lake access amid legal battle, March 17). A couple writing in opposition to the judges ruling compared the lake to the Oregons governors mansion or the White House, saying that taxpayers arent entitled to use them just because they want to. Left unsaid is the often-unfortunate reality: Unless you have enough money. The writers went on to compare this change to socialism, stating When those who work the hardest must give to those who did not make the same commitment, you have socialism. This implies that the new ruling benefits people who havent worked hard enough, and that it will be a situation of the rich giving to the poor. Seriously, what kind of entitlement is this? Is it right for all citizens of Lake Oswego to fund the ongoing legal battle so that only some residents have access to the lake? This local situation reminds me of our national situation, with unelected billionaire Elon Musk having access to the White House and government agencies because he has enough money to buy his way in. As I see it, neither situation is right, just or legal. Having enough money to buy your way in shouldnt give you exclusive rights to the lake, to the governors mansion, or to the White House. Carol Brenneman, Tigard To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Carpenters averaged 59 minutes working to finish a barrack-type building from foundation to roof at the new Heart Mountain prison camp in Cody, Wyo., July 22, 1942. Crew raises a 140-foot long wall section. The structure is one of many such buildings being erected to house Japanese Americans being removed from the Pacific Coast. (AP Photo/Edward O. Eisenhand) AP HEART MOUNTAIN, Wyoming The last time a U.S. president invoked the Alien Enemies Act, Heart Mountain happened. Almost over night, a remote yet beautiful square mile of land deep within the nations interior became the third largest city in Wyoming, populated by people who were rounded up in raids and sent packing, hemmed in by guard towers and floodlights. Hysteria, patriotism and racism all things the U.S. government later acknowledged allowed President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to invoke the act after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and then an executive order that allowed federal, state and local authorities to round up anyone of Japanese descent living on the West Coast and send them to camps like Heart Mountain. Though two-thirds of the people were American citizens of Japanese-American descent, their homes and business were lost, and they survived Wyomings rugged weather with whatever they could cram into a suitcase. Current U.S. President Donald J. Trump recently invoked the act, which was passed in 1798, revoking protection status for Venezuelan immigrants who were living here legally, declaring a multi-national drug cartel to be running gangs in America. The presidential action is now tied up in a host of court action, including whether residents who were here legally can have their status revoked without due process, and whether the executive branch can invoke the act when not at war or without approval of Congress. The Army engineers' administrative staff for the Heart Mountain prison camp took over Cody, Wyo., high school for offices, July 22, 1942. School desks were ripped out of the assembly room and office desks move din for some of the 250 office workers on the job. Many were Cody High School students working for the first time in their lives. (AP Photo/Edward O. Eisenhand) AP Heart Mountain, run by the nonpartisan Heart Mountain Foundation, is just a dozen miles from the Montana border, created from Roosevelts order. The museum points out that the camps happened under a Democratic president, while apologies and reparations came from Republicans. Its not silent about what happened at the camp, nor what it could mean that the same acts and policies are being resurrected today, even if used in a different context. We need to acknowledge that its not about responding to Donald Trump, Heart Mountain Executive Director Aura Sunada Newlin said on a recent tour. Immigration policy is something our country has struggled with for a long time. We have not treated immigrants with a lot of humanity. She said places and museums like Heart Mountain help humanize history so that people understand something abstract like political policies and how it affects people in America and their families. We have to be willing to discuss these challenging issues, she said. History and Heart Mountain In 1812, when the Alien Enemies Act was first used, the concern was for British sympathizers. In 1918, as many as 6,500 Germans suspected of being alien enemies were rounded up. And, during World War II the act was invoked to round-up and imprison citizens and foreign nationals alike who shared a common Japanese heritage. Heart Mountain, an out-of-sight place, has a few scattered buildings that stand as a reminder of what happened the last time a president invoked the power to round up people based on nationality or race. Workers are busy completing work on a the Heart Mountain prison camp in this 1942 file photo. (AP Photo/FILE) AP Heart Mountain was so hastily constructed that the green lumber used for military style barracks hadnt fully dried. By the time it cured in the wind-blown high mountain region, gaps in the barracks could span a half-inch, leading to the joke that the camps had both hot and cold-running dust. Residents who were used to warmer coastal climates werent quite prepared for the harsh winters or the pounding summer sun. Heart Mountain became the largest prison camps of the Wartime Relocation Administration, which rounded up first- and second-generation immigrants from the West Coast states and sent them deep into the Rocky Mountain interior near Powell, Wyoming. At its height, more than 11,000 residents lost their homes, businesses and even pets in the name of national security. Another detention camp was located in Missoula, a camp that was created even before Roosevelts executive order. In an official apology issued by the U.S. government decades later, the federal government admitted the reason for the camps wasnt safety, security or even threats of espionage, instead it was racism and political incompetence that created the camps that dotted the American interior. Such camps had been contemplated for years by then, by leaders such as Roosevelt. White Americans had regarded their Japanese-American counterparts in places like California and Oregon with suspicion for their growing prosperity, and willingness to take jobs others werent. When World War II ended after the U.S. dropped devastating bombs on Imperial Japan, the camps were disbanded and residents were forced to resume their lives, often feeling shame about the three-year hiatus that ripped some families apart. Today, not many of the buildings from the original Heart Mountain site remain. A few barracks and the towering smokestack from the hospital and infirmary rise to challenge the summit of Heart Mountain. Ironically, most of the barracks that were built were displaced themselves, sold for $1 each to returning soldiers who needed homes after the end of World War II. Those barracks are still parts of homesteads, farms and ranches today. The town site that included schools, a newspaper, mess halls and a furniture manufacturing building has returned to a field not unlike the others that surround it. Down the hill, close to a guard tower with razor wire that is still standing, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum tells stories about hysteria, racism, distrust and families who were traumatized after being rounded up and relocated. A legacy, pilgrimage, and lasting effects Executive Director Sunada Newlin doesnt just know the history of this place because shes studied it shes lived with it her whole life, even though she was born decades after the camp closed. Her grandparents were some of the residents, even though they had lived in Wyoming, coming first to work as railroad laborers and miners. Still, her family was placed there, and in a display that highlights some of camps residents military service during World War II are items from her grandfathers time in the U.S. Army. He was serving his country while his family was incarcerated. And, in another twist of historical irony, a unit of Japanese-American soldiers fighting in Europe would help liberate the German Nazi concentration camp of Dachau, while family members in America were imprisoned. The museum and its legacy includes the Simpson-Mineta Institute, names for recently deceased former Wyoming Sen. Alan K. Simpson and Norman Mineta, who became lifelong friends after meeting each other as youth in Boy Scouts Simpson a ranch kid from the area, and Mineta one of those incarcerated there. Despite the political differences, Simpson was a Republican and Mineta a Democrat, they came together to form a friendship and ongoing dialogue about solutions. The Institute is looking to continue that legacy of dialogue, and Sunada Newlin said thats one of the ways that Heart Mountain can become something more than a place to chronicle inhumanity. However, the lasting effects of an immigration policy nearly 80 years ago still reverberate. Every summer, Heart Mountain hosts a pilgrimage where families and the descendants of families come back to remember what happened, as well as work through the aftermath, which left many families devastated and broken, losing a lifetime of work and property. Weve moved away from reminding people that two-thirds of the people who came here were American citizens because the fact is that we shouldnt have done this to anyone, Sunada Newlin said. Just because some werent citizens doesnt mean it was right. Sunada Newlin said that learning more and understanding about generational trauma has been helpful. For many of the camps incarcerees, their time in Wyoming wasnt discussed, but that doesnt mean the families werent affected. Children, many born at Heart Mountain, were encouraged to assimilate, abandon any Japanese traditions, and work even harder to fit into American society. Those effects still ripple, she said, even as the latest generation of Japanese-Americans seems ready to claim proudly its history, converting their familys history and ties to the camps as a point of pride rather than shame. This place of pain and loss, were relearning that part of our history and theres a lot of healing that needs to be done, Sunada Newlin said. She said part of that pain comes from not doing anything wrong, yet being punished. The message was: Youre dangerous, Sunada Newlin said. And in the Japanese culture, youre not supposed to do anything that would bring shame upon your culture or family. She said that most of the incarcerees believed the best way to demonstrate their patriotism was through compliance, largely for the sake of their children. However, Heart Mountains history nearly 14,000 people would call it home for some of the wars duration includes the largest number of draft resisters from any Japanese camp. Those resisters became a unique challenge for the government: They said they were willing to serve in the United States military as long as their rights and property were restored. The purpose of the museum and preserving the space isnt just to commemorate an ignoble part of the countrys history, rather the aftermath and how it affects its citizens. Sunada Newlin said that the perception that Japanese Americans who had be incarcerated just resumed their lives is only somewhat true, even though Japanese Americans have also become a sort of model minority. That idea itself has become real toxic, Sunada Newlin said. We have to talk about the hard things The idea that thousands of people returned to a normal life belies the number of suicides, addiction and broken families that resulted. She said its also about connecting with other fractured communities. Newlin said the irony of Heart Mountain is that it became significant to Japanese Americans, even as it holds a different significance for the Apsaalooke (Crow) people who consider the mountain sacred, but were displaced by European settlers. Thats why Heart Mountain also holds regular ceremonies with Native leaders, including smudging to honor the place that holds deep connections to very different cultural groups. A lot of our response when people come to see this place is: I didnt know about it, Sunada Newlin said. Adults are horrified because they didnt know America did this. Its also interesting because when school-age kids come here, they get it instantly. They understand picking on groups, on bullying. One of the many historical displays that seems to have an outsized effect on students is stories of Japanese Americans having to leave their pets behind. To push the negative stuff under the carpet is why most people dont know we exist, Sunada Newlin said. We have to talk about the hard things in the past so we dont do this again. She said some who come to the museum feel anger, others shame, and some even get defensive, citing the horrific treatment of American soldiers by Imperial Japan during the Bataan Death March. Guilt is not a very productive approach. The only way to address what went wrong is to empower the next generation to do something different, Sunada Newlin said. It would be sad if this is nothing more than gathering stories. This is a place to find hope for the future, and that future is bringing together communities that wouldnt necessarily come together. For example, recently the center sponsored a friendship and week-long experience for youth members of the Apsaalooke tribe and descendants of Heart Mountain to spend time camping and learning about each others culture. Sunada Newlin said they had more in common than they realized. It gave them a cause they could own, she said of the younger generation. Sunada Newlin and her staff also hope that taking the first step seeing a museum dedicated to the poor, illegal treatment of citizens by the U.S. government, will give visitors courage to tackle other difficult issues. We want to be the place where were inviting people to have constructive dialogue about very difficult subjects, Sunada Newlin said. That could range from race, immigration and national security. If they were problems that are easily fixed, we would have fixed them a long time ago, Sunada Newlin said. Still, as a person whose own family is deeply tied to Heart Mountain, and even as she has led the organization for three years, she was shocked to hear many of the past justifications and plans that led to Heart Mountain be used for a new generation, as migrants are being deported, detained and rounded-up. Its troubling to me personally and for our foundation, she said. Its not necessarily surprising or new. The level is new. The truth is that theres always been a danger, and so we want to educate as widely as we can. As many different visitors that come through doors react, there is one thing that neither Newlin or assistant director Rebecca McKinley, havent heard. No one has said, This could never happen again, McKinley said. Daily Montanan and Oregon Capital Chronicle are both 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 new poll conducted for The Oregonian/OregonLive finds an upswing in the percentage of Portland-area residents feeling more positively about the region, including downtown Portland, where foot traffic. Some residents say that their frustrations with the federal government have made them grateful to be in the Portland "bubble" for now. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Ironically enough, it may have taken the re-election of President Donald J. Trump for the residents of one of Americas most famously liberal cities to fall back in love or at least like with their hometown. Portlanders and residents of its nearby suburbs have famously been in sour moods since the pandemic shut down the region in 2020 and anti-police protests filled downtown streets for 100 straight nights that same summer. Five years later, though, the citys mood has brightened considerably, a survey of 600 voters commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive has found, even as Trump, whose conduct is anathema to the regions progressive-leaning residents, cements his grip on the levers of federal power. For many, the news out of Washington, D.C., is an anxiety-elevating churn of chaos and uncertainty, sending Portlanders back into the streets to protest, packing town halls with their congressional representatives and steeling themselves for federal budget cuts impacting their workplaces, government, roads and schools. Against that backdrop, some Portland-area residents are finding themselves more grateful for the city, warts and all. They say that has improved their outlook, despite nerves left frayed by the administrations flurry of actions. (It helps, no doubt, that 71% of survey respondents said they feel their personal financial situation is in good or very good shape.) It makes Portland look better Portland is our bubble, maybe, said Ryan Manis, an engineer who lives in Washington County who took part in the poll. The problems that are happening elsewhere make us feel safer and more comfortable in a place where we align with the ideas of the general population. The news outlets survey underlines the shift in attitudes among Portland-area residents over the past year. A year ago, 39% of respondents said drugs or public safety were their topline concern; that number has fallen to 24%. Portlands own favorability ratings have gone up too: 34% of respondents said they had a positive perception of the downtown core, up from just 21% a year ago. Its not as though it is all coming up (local) roses. Ninety-eight percent of survey respondents said they still consider homelessness a serious or very serious problem evidence of just how far political leaders, including newly elected Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson have to go to win back residents trust on the regions most intractable issue. And only 28% of respondents said the region as a whole was headed in the right direction. Still, thats a significant jump from the 22% from a year ago. Survey respondents told pollsters from Portland-based DHM Research this month that they were markedly more bullish on the state of downtown Portland and the regions attempts to get a handle on homelessness than they were last spring and even five months ago. Put another way: Disgust for Trump seems to have left some Oregonians more receptive to politicians like Gov. Tina Kotek, his political opposite, whose negative ratings were down in the Oregonians poll, which was conducted March 6 to March 13 and has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Survey participants were reached by telephone or text, and the demographics of respondents was tailored to be representative by age, gender, race, education, income and political party. I think Portland and Oregon are taking a stand and trying to protect peoples rights, said Ross Plambeck, a retired former project manager for the Portland Development Commission (today known as Prosper Portland) who took part in the poll. [The city and the state] are pushing back as best they can. The tools the president is using can be devastating to universities and cities and people. It is hard to know where he is going to quit. Plambeck said hes also been encouraged by increased foot traffic downtown and pop-ups of new stores and independent shops filling in empty storefronts in areas like the West End around the flagship Powells Books. The city has transformed itself before, he said, and can do so again, though it wont be overnight. Luzmila Gomez moved to the Portland area three years ago, fleeing the high cost of rent in Los Angeles. Since then, several of her friends and family members have followed her to the region, drawn by her descriptions of a place that is clean, green and tolerant, not to mention with a functional public transit system and a lot less traffic. She found Trumps reelection this past November baffling, she said, and has been relieved to find herself in Oregon, among what she said are like-minded people. I was really worried when (the Trump administration) announced that Black History Month and other months were not going to be celebrated, said Gomez, a poll respondent. My little brother lives here now and my niece. I went to their schools and they confirmed that there was no change, that this is a sanctuary state. I have found a lot of solace in that. Gomez, who lives in West Linn but works near Portland State, said she spends enough time at the universitys Southwest Portland campus to see that some portions of downtown still have a ghost-town feel, as remote work has taken root in the citys office class. But she noted that Portlands not alone shes observed similar vibes in Los Angeles and New York City. Manis, the engineer from Washington County, said he has tried to shift his news consumption habits since the election hes foresworn the site formerly known as Twitter, owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk because so much of it seems hopelessly beyond his control. He grew up in Chicago and went to school in Arizona, so he is well aware that the Portland area, like other very liberal enclaves, is a bit of a bubble and he wouldnt have it any other way, for now. If I leave Oregon, Im leaving the country, Manis said. This is the best place in the whole country. Katherine Rouzie, a retired medical librarian who lives in Northeast Portland who also took the poll, had a birds-eye view of the unrest of the summer of 2020, when racial justice protesters marched down her street, followed not long after by a convoy of Proud Boys, whom she called domestic terrorists, whose actions were designed to scare us. She knows the toll that the pandemic lockdowns and all that came next left on downtown Portland. But she said she has kept faith in the citys civic institutions, government leaders and its history of impactful political demonstrations, which she said shes ready to join again. Protest culture in Portland has picked back up as the Trump administration settles in. In a new poll conducted for The Oregonian/OregonLive, some residents say they are grateful to live in a place where others share their progressive values. Beth Nakamura After Trump was first elected in 2016, Rouzie said, she recalled her daughter calling her in tears, worried about the future of womens reproductive care. Her response was prophetic, Rouzie says now: She reassured her daughter that change might be coming but that Oregon would protect reproductive rights, which has proven true. I am appalled and horrified. There are just no words to describe how I feel about this guy and what is going on. Everyone is feeling the stress and getting upset, Rouzie said. I feel like we really have to practice a lot of self-care just to survive this. Kyle McKinley and his family bought a home in Southeast Portland in 2023 after moving from Ashland. He said they consider the city a good place to feel a sense of community in a time of uncertainty and threats against marginalized communities in particular. He was dismayed by what he called a growing tendency of Oregonians living outside the metro area to pile on Portland in recent years. In fact, he said he doesnt consider the city substantially different from the one he used to visit as a child and is a fan of the counter narrative spearheaded by The Portland Mercurys guerilla Say Nice Things About Portland! campaign. I get that there are encampments and that that is upsetting to some people, said McKinley, who responded to the poll. But I havent been anywhere on the West Coast in the last 10 or 15 years where that isnt the case. I am not sure what people are imagining is better. News from Washington, D.C., has him on edge, he said, as he contemplates censorship and cuts to services for veterans, for mental health and PTSD and for survivors of climate disasters, combined with the undermining of the broader economy. For his family, Portland is a safe port in that storm, he added. I cant think of a better place to be living in terms of having a community that is ready to defend itself from the political, economic and hate crime threats that this administration is imposing, McKinley said. Julia Silverman covers education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com A celebration was held for U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones in 2022 when he essentially retired from the bench, though he officially remained on senior status. U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones of Portland, who in 59 years on the bench presided over national cases that led to major settlements for defective breast implants and faulty siding for homes and regional cases that sent terrorist sympathizers to prison and established payments for men abused by a priest, died Saturday at age 97. He served 32 of those years active on the federal bench. You dont necessarily have to spend your vacation at the city where your transatlantic flight arrives or departs. Those cities might simply be starting and ending points for your trip. AP A European getaway doesnt have to come with sky-high airfare. With many budget and legacy airlines offering expanded transatlantic route schedules, competition on pricing is intense. For frugal travelers, that means both more options for flights and more opportunities for deals. According to data provided to NerdWallet by Dollar Flight Club, an airfare deals website, certain routes offer consistently low fares. That makes cities like Reykjavik, Iceland; Lisbon, Portugal; and Barcelona, Spain, some of the most affordable European destinations to fly to from the U.S. The cheapest average routes between the U.S. and Europe in 2025 Using airfare data from the 10 largest U.S. airports based on number of passengers, Dollar Flight Club identified 14 routes where average fares were less than $1,000 round trip. Those 14 routes (sorted by average fare) are: Loading Average fares were based on an analysis of 50,000 fares pulled on Jan. 27, 2025, for trips from January through September 2025. The data included fares from a mix of legacy and budget carriers. Fares will vary depending on your specific airport or travel date. But in general, knowing these routes can be useful in narrowing down where in Europe to go. Iceland is one of the cheapest destinations to fly into, making it a great opportunity to book that bucket-list trip to see the northern lights or visit the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa famous for its ethereal milky-blue waters. The cheapest flights to Europe in 2025 Average fares between Atlanta and Reykjavik, Iceland, run just $800 during the period surveyed and thats just the average. Actual prices can vary by day. For example, Dollar Flight Club found flights on that same route as low as $400. Of the 50,000 fares that Dollar Flight Club analyzed, here were some other notable deals, broken out by the 10 largest airports in the U.S.: Atlanta (ATL) Reykjavik (KEF) from $400, London (LON) from $480, Helsinki (HEL) from $545. Charlotte (CLT) Rome (FCO) from $483, Dublin (DUB) from $545, Madrid (MAD) from $560. Chicago (ORD) Frankfurt (FRA) from $435, Rome (FCO) from $450, Dublin (DUB) from $510. Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Amsterdam (AMS) from $525, Frankfurt (FRA) from $540, Rome (FCO) from $555. Denver (DEN) Paris (CDG) from $480, Amsterdam (AMS) from $525, Frankfurt (FRA) from $540. Las Vegas (LAS) Dublin (DUB) from $520, Madrid (MAD) from $535, Paris (CDG) from $550. Los Angeles (LAX) Paris (CDG) from $430, Barcelona (BCN) from $499, Dublin (DUB) from $515. Miami (MIA) Barcelona (BCN) from $410, Munich (MUC) from $412, Rome (FCO) from $420. New York (JFK) Lisbon (LIS) from $405, Milan (MXP) from $440, Berlin (BER) from $480. Orlando (MCO) Madrid (MAD) from $435, London (LHR) from $520, Rome (FCO) from $545. Tricks for traveling cheaply in Europe Be open-minded to long layovers, stopovers and multi-city trips. You dont necessarily have to spend your European vacation at the city where your transatlantic flight arrives or departs. Those cities might simply be starting and ending points for your trip. Georgia Fowkes, an avid traveler and self-described flight deal hunter says she once flew from her home in Pittsburgh to Sao Miguel Island in the Portuguese Azores archipelago. A daylong stopover in Boston helped her get there for less money. It was a well-planned route with a built-in side trip to Boston, she says. I was able to squeeze in a mini-reunion with an old high-school pal and eat clam chowder. She paid $387 for the round-trip flight. Had she not been willing to spend a day in Boston, her flight would have cost nearly $700. Go during shoulder season Summer is generally a busy time to go to Europe because kids are out of school. Shoulder season, which is the period between the high season and offseason, can offer the best of both worlds, with mild weather and seasonal activities still open. Consider a late spring or early fall trip to Europe if youre looking for lower prices and smaller crowds. Save on lodging Instead of staying at a hotel, consider a hostel. These are low-cost lodging options, which typically have massive rooms, bunkbeds and shared amenities, though many also offer private rooms. Some hostels offer stays as low as 12 euros a night. Big-name hotels are also adding more properties in Europe. Though theyre generally not the cheapest form of lodging, they can offer opportunities to spend points and miles, often earned through credit card spending. Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened 10 resorts last summer in Greece, Ibiza and Malta. And in January 2025, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced it would open hotels in more European markets, including Estonia, Iceland and Romania. The hotel brand has also expanded its presence in Spain from just four hotels in 2020 to 55 hotels as of the end of 2024. And then theres an ultra-affordable option. Couchsurfing is still alive and well too, Fowkes said. With couchsurfing, travelers stay (typically for free) in locals homes, often brokered through services like Couchsurfing.com. Travel by train through Europe Besides being a bit unconventional with your lodging, transit doesnt need to be simply traveling by air. Train travel within Europe is more accessible than it is within the U.S. For example, it takes less than two hours to go from Munich to Salzburg, Austria, and you can often find fares for less than $20. You can also ride in sleeper cars, for overnight trips, which could trim your hotel costs. Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia. The article Cheapest European Cities to Fly to in 2025 originally appeared on NerdWallet. Democratic state lawmakers hosted a town hall Saturday at St. Michaels Episcopal Church to provide Norman residents a platform to voice their concerns about state and federal issues. Cars lined the street in front of the church as 200 Normanites attended the two-hour town hall. Attendees of the town hall routinely broke out into applause. NEWSLETTERS * required Thank you for subscribing! Email * Please enter a valid email address First Name Last Name When major news breaks + a few times a week FREE SIGN UP Subscribing... Republicans have been advised to avoid town halls, according to NBC. In recent months, lawmakers have faced several protests when hosting town halls. In Oklahoma, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla) held a town hall over the phone on March 20 to address concerns regarding federal cuts in Oklahoma. Despite this, Cole will not be attending Normans Women in Action for All "Non Cole Town Hall on April 9. Rep. Jared Deck (D-Norman) acted as a moderator and participant. Attendees wrote questions on notecards that were provided to Deck, who directed them to his fellow lawmakers. Deck was joined by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman), Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) and Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman.) Topics ranged from concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE a Trump administration advisory panel tasked with modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity, according to a Jan. 20 executive order establishing the initiative to Sen. Lisa Standridges (R-Norman) efforts to prohibit municipalities with a population less than 300,000 from approving new homeless shelters. DOGE On concerns about DOGE and job losses, Menz said she was angry. Weve got people who are (a) flat tire away from losing everything, and now youre coming in with this new made-up government entity that is going to slash everything, Menz said. Its definitely wrong, and I think that people who are affected by this individually should be angry, and we owe them an explanation. On Feb. 27, OU Daily reported that National Weather Center employees in Norman were notified that they were to be laid off. The layoffs at the National Weather Center followed mass layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The New York Times reported that the NOAA layoffs were expected to cost more than 800 people their jobs. Boren expressed concern about how federal funding cuts have affected those at the university level and the impacts on veterans. Its incumbent upon us to find the words to articulate to those that have the decision-making capacity how this is impacting the people that they represent, Boren said. Your words, your feedback, your observations, are critical to changing this. Rosecrants said he is working with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to ensure those affected by job and funding cuts receive the assistance they need, even if what can be offered is limited due to the nature of the cuts. Theyre going to need assistance when it comes to those federal jobs, again, I dont think theres a whole lot we can do, Rosecrants said. But at the same time, at least were doing something for that. And I think the main thing is that we need to keep our federal delegation aware that they havent fixed the freaking problem. Protecting international students In light of the Trump administrations targeting of pro-Palestinian international students and faculty, which, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has led to 300 or more visa revocations, lawmakers were asked about protecting international students. One of the things that our international students need is they need to know that we are there for them, that we are supporting them, Deck said. On Feb. 7, OU Students for Justice in Palestine registered as a student organization after more than a year of organizing and activism. The group has held several protests and teach-ins, most recently on Mar. 10, when they protested the Board of Regents meeting and were removed. Menz, a member of the legislatures Latino caucus, said she and her fellow caucus members Sen. Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Arturo Alonso-Sandoval (D-Oklahoma City), have been putting together legal clinics to provide what she called a safety blanket through information. Menz also mentioned the Oklahoma Standby Guardianship Act that passed during the 2024 legislative session. Authored by Brooks and Rep. Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City), the act allows parents to proactively name a standby guardian under certain circumstances. Deck also noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that has carried out the arrests of international students in recent weeks, uses administrative warrants, not judicial warrants. A judicial warrant is when someone can knock a door down and enter a facility. (With) an administrative warrant, they must have permission from the homeowner or the resident, or the business, Deck said. If an ICE agent or a federal agent (were) to come to a public school, they would have to go through the front desk like anyone else. According to the National Immigration Law Center, compliance is always required with valid judicial warrants. Compliance is not always required with administrative warrants, which do not authorize searches but may authorize civil arrest or seizure. The idea of the public schools being an arena for immigration enforcement has caused tension in Oklahomas executive branch. In an interview with KOCO published on Jan. 23, State Superintendent Ryan Walters said he would support ICE raids in schools. On Jan. 28, the Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a rule requiring schools to collect citizenship information and report the number of students unable to verify their citizenship to the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Gov. Kevin Stitt harshly criticized the boards ruling and accused Walters of using children as political pawns. Stitt said he would block the rule, which currently awaits legislative approval. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM Ryan Walter-ize it On education, and Walters specifically, lawmakers fielded numerous questions. As the Trump administration attempts to dismantle the Department of Education, Walters has publicly lobbied for states to have more control over federal education funding. On Tuesday, Walters sent a memo requesting consolidated block grants for all of the Every Student Succeeds Act funds marked for Oklahoma. Distributing funding through block grants gives states control of the allocation of the funds. In response to a question asking what block grants are, Deck said it is essentially money going back to the states, but said there are drawbacks. Itll be a patchwork system, the way it used to kind of be, Deck said. It would only, I think, make the inequalities more of a spotlight. You would see people that need more, get less, and then people that have more get the same or more It really comes down to the way the states going to administer them and divvy them up, and can you really trust the state to do that? More pointedly, lawmakers were asked how the dismantling of the Department of Education will affect Oklahoma. Rosecrants, a former social studies teacher who jokingly said he basically cyberbullies Walters after trying to reach out in other ways, took the lead answering the question. We need to move away from the whole idea that theyre going to eliminate the department. That takes congressional action to do that, Rosecrants said. What they are going to do, and what can still affect negatively, I think will negatively affect things, including (Individualized Education Plans), 504s, special needs kids, those types of families that need the real help, I think theyre going to try and Ryan Walter-ize it." Rosecrants said that lawmakers dont have to physically tear down the department, but they can make it to where all the institutional knowledge walks out the door. They are out of control City issues such as Standridges efforts to thwart homeless shelters and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authoritys ACCESS Oklahoma plan were also discussed. Standridges Senate Bill 484 would restrict municipalities with less than 300,000 residents from approving new homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of a school or school property. Existing shelters will be permitted to continue operating, regardless of their proximity to a school. Norman residents have been split over the location of the emergency shelter, A Friends House, with proponents lobbying for its relocation. According to Deck, Standridges SB 484 would have ironic consequences on Normans shelter. I do want to point out, what this bill does is it keeps our current shelter downtown, right there, Deck said. It means we cant move it. It basically enables our city council to keep it right there in the middle of downtown, where I know several folks would like it to move. On Mar. 25, SB 484 passed the Oklahoma Senate 36-9, with two senators not voting. The bill needs the approval of the Oklahoma House of Representatives before heading to the governors desk. Boren, who voted against the bill in the Senate, isnt sure if the bill will be approved by her colleagues in the lower chamber. There is not much widespread support for that kind of mindset, Boren said. These are narrow people that have way too much political power, that can navigate their grievances through legislation, and I think at the end of the day, I think it will fail. A grievance many Norman residents share is their opposition to the OTA and the impending ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike expansion. Opponents of the project posit that the expansion would displace residents, many of whom have decades-long ties to Norman. In August, Norman City Council unanimously rejected a resolution that would have allowed the OTA to build turnpike facilities in Norman. In October, the OTA announced it would be moving forward regardless of the citys input. On Mar. 17, Cleveland County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution requesting the OTA resume its plan to design and build frontage roads and access points throughout the county. When asked if OTA is too big to fail and how to hold them accountable, Menz said she is working across the aisle to rein them in. They are out of control, Menz said. They are suing us actively right now because we came to pass a bill and override a veto of that bill that would bring them under more legislative scrutiny. Bringing the conversation full circle from the OTA to DOGE, Boren encouraged the community to get involved with community groups specifically, Oklahomans for Responsible Transportation, the organization behind the Pike Off OTA movement should continue their efforts. This is one of the most unique, most vibrant, most successful, bipartisan, bicameral, all walks of life, Libertarian, Independent, Republican, all colors of Republican, beet red all the way to pink, and Democrats. And they are really filtering out that national narrative so that they can save their homes, Boren said. Its a wonderful example of how we can take back our country. This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Religious disaffiliation is a problem (from my perspective) that interests and challenges me. Perhaps it even represents an opportunity, if approached in the right way. Here are a few links that are relevant to it: Some may want to put this on their calendars: BYU Easter Conference Over at the Peterson Obsession Board a couple of months ago, the prolific poster who calls himself Dumb-Dud (or, anyway, something very like that) announced that he had discovered that Im a relatively decent human being who has friends, and so forth, and that, based on that astonishing insight, he would no longer be devoting so much time and effort to attacking me in the future. His resolution lasted for approximately five or six hours, and hes been back at business as usual ever since. Earlier today, he summarized the results of the several years of study that hes dedicated to me: I refuse to read, I refuse to learn, I merely repeat well-worn and often irrelevant slogans and have become a rather tiresome parody of myself. At least one other researcher at the Obsession Board has independently performed the same analysis as Dumb-Dud, and has endorsed his conclusions. And its simply inconceivable that theyre both wrong. So I have a question for the folks who read this blog with any degree of regularity: Whats wrong with you? How have you been able to endure my repetitive and deliberately uninformed blathering? We woke up this morning on Hilo Bay, which is sometimes called the tsunami capital of the United States. Why? Its because the bays topography or shape steers tsunamis into Hilo from distant earthquakes. On 1 April 1946, a tsunami generated by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands killed between 165 and 173 people in Hilo Bay. On 23 May 1960, another tsunami, this one originating in that years Valdivia earthquake in Chile (apparently, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded), killed 61 people in Hilo. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was established largely as a result of those two tsunamis. The Big Island was shrouded almost completely in clouds as we ascended out of Hilo International Airport, but two enormous mountains rose up out of the fog. Im assuming that they were Mauna Loa and Kilauea two of the five volcanoes that created the island. (The others are Kohala, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai.) We landed in Honolulu and, after dropping off our luggage at our hotel, we paid a visit to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, sometimes called the Arlington of the Pacific, in the crater of the Punchbowl. Its a powerful place. A solemn place. I think that I still remember my first visit to it at the age of five. I couldnt help but think of one modern presidents response to Arlington National Cemetery itself on Memorial Day some years ago. I dont get it, he is supposed to have remarked to the former four-star general who would shortly become his White House chief of staff and whose own son, killed in Afghanistan at the age of twenty-nine, was buried near where they stood. What was in it for them? From the Punch Bowl, we drove up to the Nuuanu Pali, which offers a spectacular overlook down onto the other side of the island from Honolulu. Nuuanu Pali was also the site of the Battle of Nuuanu, one of the bloodiest military encounters in Hawaiian history. Having already sailed from his home island of Hawaii to conquer Maui and Molokai, Kamehameha I (aka Kamehameha the Great) invaded the island of Oahu. The pivotal battle for the island occurred in May 1795 in Nuuanu Valley, where the islands defenders were driven back up into the valley, trapped above the cliff, and then forced by Kamehamehas warriors to fall to their deaths. Approximately 400 warriors died in the battle. Ive never understood why Kamehameha is called the Great, nor why his name and his statues show up all over Hawaii. Yes, he unified Hawaii under a single ruler. But for what? Simply because he wanted to own all of the islands? Why? Did he have progressive new ideas to help people? Didnt he have enough poi to eat? Was his grass-hut palace on the Big Island too small? How many people had to die for him to gratify his pointless ambition? Why, again, do we call such men great? Ill bet that theres a different standard in heaven for greatness. And there should be a different one on Earth, as well. On a much more positive note: We bought our dinner on Saturday evening from Adelas Country Eatery in Kaneohe. I recommend it very, very highly. However, you should know we didnt that its a take-out place. Its tiny, it was crowded, parking is difficult, and there is no place in it to sit and eat. No tables and no chairs. We placed our order and then returned for it forty minutes later. Had we known, we would have called our order in. But, again, if you like noodle dishes and youre ever in the area, try Adelas Country Eatery. (I have received no compensation for this commercial statement.) I dont think that Ive already shared this horror from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File, so here it is: An inside view of how Latter-day Saint humanitarian aid spending happens and the impact it has: The most important part of the annual Caring For Those in Need report issued Tuesday by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isnt the $1.45 billion it provided in 2024 Posted from Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Artists Resisting Authoritarian Regimes Theres a reason authoritarians fear poets, musicians, and storytellers. Artistic expression constitutes a powerful form of resistance to authoritarian regimes. When governments ignore civil rights and erode freedoms, artists become dissidents by definition. Every act of free expression becomes a form of rebellion. Totalitarian regimes fear poets more than soldiers, Hannah Arendt wrote, because soldiers can be defeated, but ideas cannot be killed. Its possible that nothing could be more important to the future of America in this moment than grassroots, underground artistic expression. Artists can topple authoritarian regimes. It has happened before. The Prague Spring If you plopped down in Prague in the early 1960s, youd see a bustling medieval marvel of a city, now made gray and heavily surveilled. Soviet censorship strangled free expression and creativity, while Secret Police monitored dissent. A thick cloud of authoritarian control stifled this once vibrant cultural center. In 1968 a new president began reforming Stalinist policies. Posters for rock and roll shows lined the streets. Lectures and poetry readings sprang up in cafes and coffeehouses. Artists, filmmakers, poets, and musicians crept out from behind the Iron Curtain and ushered in The Prague Spring: a brief period of political reform and artistic freedom that lasted for seven months. Then the Russians put an end to it. The Warsaw Pact Nations invaded, arresting dissident leaders, and halting reforms. They imposed martial law, reinstated censorship, and nearly overnight almost every artist in Prague was branded a dissident. Plastic People of the Universe That same year a local band called The Plastic People of the Universe played their legendary first gig. They came out dressed in long gowns that spelled out UFO. A wooden flying saucer hung from the ceiling, giant balloons of transparent plastic stretched floor to ceiling, as fires burned in giant ashtrays. It was the kind of 1960s trippy performance art Andy Warhol would have loved. Their music was wild and experimental and frankly, not very good. Their manager explained what was remarkable wasnt the quality of the music, but the fact that they were playing at all. Soon the regime required all musicians to have a license to perform in public. The Plastics submitted their lyrics and auditioned for the jury, but their request for a license was denied. So they got creative, promoting their gigs as art lectures. The lectures would last ten minutes, then theyd offer a demonstration on the topic, and jam for two hours. Eventually, the authoritarians shut this down. Then they discovered unlicensed music was still allowed at weddings. Every wedding in the underground scene became an excuse for The Plastics to play. Members of the group got legally married, and one divorced couple remarried so The Plastics could be their wedding band. Eventually, the authoritarians halted this as well. The Plastics started setting up gigs in barns and farm buildings outside Prague. They would share the location at the very last minute. Fans would flock to see the show, then try to disappear before the Secret Police showed up. Soon informants began infiltrating the underground music scene, and rural gigs became harder to pull off. They went on like this for about five years, during which time a new member named Vratislav Brabenec joined the band. A former theology student and jazz musician, Brabanec began writing songs for their first album titled: Egon Bondys Happy Hearts Club Banned. Egon Bondy was the pen name of a banned Czech dissident poet who wasnt allowed to publish. The Plastics set his words to music as a powerful act of resistance. Non-Political Art Becomes Political. The Plastic People of the Universe never set out to be political activists. They were just rock musicians. It was the politicians who made them political, by being offended by their music. They did poke fun at the foolishness of the authoritarian regime who tried in vain to silence the Czech young people. As the bands popularity grew, The Plastics often wound up in jail alongside their own fans. Soon other bands started popping up, and in 1976 they planned a big music festival far south in a rural town called Ceske Budejovice. Border guards raided the show, beating the crowds viciously. Hundreds were injured, and the band started having doubts. About that time, Brabenec began interacting with other dissidents working secretly in Prague. Academics, writers, and philosophers gave underground lectures and circulated banned literature. A playwright named Vaclav Havel was the de facto leader of these dissident intellectuals. Havel became very important to the band. One night the bands manager met up with Havel and hatched a plan. Havel would show up at their next concert and speak to the crowd. Their plan would never happen, as one of the bartenders an informantoverheard their conversation and turned them in. The next day the entire band was arrested. Art Creating Community On the day of the trial, Vaclav Havel showed up at the courthouse with the entire dissident intellectual community. The underground music scene showed up as well. By arresting The Plastics and putting them on trial, the authoritarian leaders had inadvertently united the entire dissident community in Prague. They began talking together and making plans. Brabenec and three other musicians were sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Yet, the most significant outcome was a famous manifesto called Charter 77, which criticized the government for refusing to implement the freedoms it had agreed to under the Helsinki Accords. The authoritarians responded with a brutal crackdown that only fueled the resistance. Over the next decade the musicians and dissidents of Prague became more and more vocal. Eventually gathering nightly in Wenceslas Square, by the thousands, then tens and hundreds of thousands, demanding freedom and change. In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. The entire Czech cabinet resigned, and within a month the playwright Vaclav Havel was elected president, and what came to be known as the Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia. The Bible as Resistance Literature After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE, early Christians were scattered about the Mediterranean. Many fled north to Turkey and to modern-day Ukraine and Eastern Europe, though pretty much everywhere they went, early Christians found themselves living under the control of an authoritarian regime. The politics of the day were a nightmare. However, the response of these early Christ followers was not an armed rebellion or the formation of a political movement. Instead, they began a period of incredible creativity. They wrote songs and hymns, constructed liturgies and prayers, wrote books and letters, innovated new forms of worship, and constructed new philosophies and theologies. Disempowered and oppressed by an authoritarian regime, Christianity underwent one of the most profoundly creative eras in church history, culminating in the construction of the entire New Testament. Authoritarian Regimes Fear the Artist The most striking aspect of those dark decades in Prague was not the content of artistic expression generated by the dissident community. The most potent factor was that the artists formed an underground community of joyful rebellion whose chief characteristic was a refusal to be downcast. They united around artistic expression and formed a community of hope that helped liberate the Czech people. I dont know where America is headed. I dont know how successful Donald Trump and his MAGA cult will be in their attempts to rewrite the American story under the authoritarian banner. I only know this: every authoritarian regime fears the artist. Empires shrink before the artist because imagination is a danger to them. Artists can topple authoritarian regimes. It has happened before. MANILA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A two-seater plane crashed in Pangasinan province, north of Manila, on Sunday morning, killing its pilot and a student, local media said. The training aircraft nosedived and crashed into an open field in Lingayen town, killing the two at the scene, local authorities were cited by multiple media as saying. No other casualties have been reported. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has not issued a statement on the crash. Denis Arndt, an actor known for his role in the Sharon Stone film Basic Instinct, has died. He was 86. No cause of death was reported. His family announced his death with an obituary, noting that he died peacefully in his bed. He carried his brilliance, passion and dedication into his second career as an actor, both on stage and on screen, they wrote. (He) lived his life as a full and generous performance, known for his incredible wit, charm, rebel spirit, irreverence, sense of humor, grittiness and passion for his art, they added. His legacy, both on and off stage, will live on in the hearts of family, friends and community members. Arndt also reportedly served in the military during the Vietnam War and was award the Purple Heart. As an actor, Arndt played the role of Lt. Phil Walker, who interrogated Stone in an iconic scene in Basic Instinct. He was also known for his roles in S.W.A.T. and Undisputed. Mark A. Frederick previously served as the Director of Content at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona. Pa. Military Museum The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) has announced the appointment of Mark A. Frederick as the new Museum Educator at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Centre County. As the Museum Educator, Frederick will oversee interpretive and outreach programs, along with visitor services, a press release said. Since opening in 1969, the site has had only two other educators. This hiring allows Frederick the unique opportunity to not only build upon their groundwork but to develop other methods of interpretation. I am thrilled to revive certain events and to implement different, more innovative forms of programming for our visitors, he said in the release. It will be my responsibility, and that of our team, to usher in a new era of education and support. When the museum reopens after the completion of its capital project, it is vitally important that our educational tools complement the new gallery in a refreshing and engaging way. Said Tyler Gum, director of the Pennsylvania Military Museum: We are fortunate to have someone with Marks passion for interpretation and public history take on this essential role. His experience with event development, program management, community engagement, and public outreach will bring new energy to this important Pennsylvania heritage site. Frederick joins the Pennsylvania Military Museum with a wealth of knowledge, including experience in volunteer supervision, intern management, digital design, video production, and event marketing. He previously served as the director of content at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona. Throughout his career, Frederick has demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving and promoting regional history through the production of documentaries, exhibitions, public programs, and collections management. The Pennsylvania Military Museum is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with the active support of the Friends of the Pennsylvania Military Museum, a non-profit community-based organization, and is one of 23 historic sites and museums that make up the Pennsylvania Trails of History. FILE - Rappers Sheff G, right, also known as Michael Williams, and Sleepy Hallow, center, also known as Tegan Chambers, join the Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in the south Bronx, Thursday, May. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File) AP Sheff G, a rapper perhaps best known for his appearance alongside Donald Trump at a campaign rally last year, has pleaded guilty to attempted murder, according to multiple reports. The 26-year-old, whose real name is Michael Williams, has reportedly been sentenced to five years in prison. He was facing a number of serious charges linked to gang activity. VIBE reported that Williams was one of 32 individuals named in a 140-count indictment filed in May of 2023. Police say those named were involved in the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways Gangs, and the indictment involved a string of violent incidents, including a drive-by shooting in 2020 that resulted in a death and several injuries, VIBE reported. The site reported that in the shooting, Theodore Sniper Senior was killed and five others were injured. Police accused Sheff G of playing a key role in orchestrating the attack. Police said he texted a fellow gang member to confirm whether the intended target was hit and later gave one of the shooters a gold chain. He was also accused to being involved in another violent incident and was facing up to 20 years in prison before being given the five year sentence with five years supervised release after he is released. The rapper took the stage alongside Trump in the Bronx last year and took the media to task for their treatment of the president. One thing I want to say, he said. They always gonna whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump gonna shout the wins for all of us. Elon Musk, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS President Donald Trumps move to shrink the Social Security Administration could result in some not receiving payments for months, a staffer told The Washington Post this week. The staffer, who worked out of Baltimore and deals with payment systems, warned the post that nearly a quarter of his team is gone or will soon be gone. He told the newspaper that workers with top software skills are leaving for private sector jobs, and that will leave the administration without many of the workers who update the system and fix glitches. That includes, per the staffer, the exit of many of the individuals who can fix glitches that stop payments. That has to get cleaned up on a case-by-case basis, and the experts in how to do that are leaving, he told The Post. We will have cases that get stuck, and theyre not going to be able to get fixed. People could be out of benefits for months. Wired reported that DOGE is putting together a team to migrate the Social Security Administrations computer systems off COBOL programming in a matter of months. Fortune reported that the Trump administration is also planning to do away with payments via paper checks. The Trump administration and DOGE have been accused of using the changes as a backdoor way of cutting payments and gutting Social Security. Trump has promised not to touch benefits. During an appearance on the All-In podcast earlier this month, Howard Lutnick, a billionaire and the Commerce Secretary for President Trump, said only fraudsters would complain if they missed a social security payment. Lets say social security didnt send out their checks this month, he said. My mother whos 94, she wouldnt call and complain. Shed think something got messed up, and shell get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining. Ominously for folks counting on their checks, Lutnick said that for Elon Musk and DOGE the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen. Whoever screams is the one stealing, he said. Come on, your mother, 80-year-olds, 90-year-olds, they trust the government. USA Today pointed out that more than 70 million people get Social Security checks, and that includes most people over age 65, people with permanent disabilities and survivors of deceased workers. Also key, the site reported, many of the programs recipients depend on checks as their sole source of income. Weather permitting, this work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, March 31 PennDOT The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced there will be traffic restrictions on Sunday night, March 30, on northbound Interstate 83 in the Harrisburg region so maintenance can be performed on two sign structures between Union-Deposit Road and Jonestown Road (Route 22). The sign structures will be removed for maintenance and temporarily replaced with digital message boards. Weather permitting, this work will be performed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, March 31. There are three travel lanes and a ramp lane in this area. The two right lanes (including the ramp lane and right travel lane) will be closed, a press release said. The middle and left travel lanes will remain open for the majority of the work. However, after 9:00 PM there will be intermittent rolling stops of up to 15 minutes in the middle travel lane while the sign structures are lifted from their foundations. During this time, the left lane will remain open. This may cause delays. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone. JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, Pennsylvania, is the contractor for this work. 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. Information about infrastructure in District 8, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 8 Results. Find PennDOTs planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects. Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump at the finals for the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke | Associated Press Rosie ODonnell might have fled to Ireland following Donald Trumps victory in the 2024 election, but the actress and comedian is still talking about the United States. And now ODonnell seems to be floating a conspiracy of her own about the presidents win. I question why for the first time in American history a president has won every swing state and is also best friends and his largest donor was a man who owns and runs the internet, she said during an appearance on Irelands Late Late Show. So, I hope that would be investigated and that we would see whether it was an anomaly, or it was something else that happened on election night in America when Kamala Harris was filling up stadium with people who supported her and Donald Trump was not able to do that. There is no evidence that Trump or Elon Musk were involved in wrongdoing during the election. ODonnell was not through going at the president on the show. She also questioned him bringing UFC star Conor McGregor to the White House recently. McGregor reportedly lost a civil suit involving sexual assault accusations last year. Its strange to me that the President of the United States has so many friends who are sexual abusers, ODonnell said. I think it says that were in trouble. The foundation of our country is a melting pot of people all created equal and they are to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, she added. That is what we were promised as Americans, and to think that cruelty and lack of empathy is a value sprouted from the highest office in our country is overwhelmingly sad to me personally. New episodes in season 18 of "Naked and Afraid" air on Sundays on the Discovery Channel. Discovery A bachelor and a divorcee are partners on the next episode of Naked and Afraid. Naked and Afraid airs at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 30, on the Discovery Channel. LIVE STREAM: Fans can watch the Discovery Channel without cable on Fans can watch the Discovery Channel without cable on Philo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV. The episode is called The Beauty and the Bro. The synopsis is, A bro bachelor and a divorcee attempt to survive a 14-day fan challenge plagued by unrelenting heat, venomous centipedes and swarms of bees on a remote island in the Philippines; their biggest battle will be with each other. On Naked and Afraid, now in its 18th season, strangers without clothing are put into extreme environments. Each pair, one male and one female, are left with no food, no water, no clothes and only one survival item each as they attempt to survive on their own. What is Philo? Philo is a streaming service that offers more than 70 live channels and more than 70,000 titles on demand for $28 a month. Philo has a SEVEN-DAY FREE TRIAL. Channels include AMC, AMC+, A&E, MTV, BET, Discovery, VH1, Food Network, History, Nickelodeon, OWN, TLC, Lifetime, Hallmark, Paramount and TV One. Add-on packages include EPIX, STARZ and Movies and More. Philo offers an unlimited 1-year DRV. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream provides access to more than 100 channels, hundreds of on-demand titles, the ability to stream through three devices at once, and unlimited Cloud DVR storage. Channels include ABC, HGTV, Hallmark, Bravo, BET, Discovery, Food Network, AMC, Animal Planet, CMT, Comedy Central, FX, ID, Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and PBS Kids. Subscription package prices start at $86.99 a month. The streaming service offers a FIVE-DAY FREE TRIAL. What is Sling TV? Sling streaming service is $45.99 a month for the Orange (35 channels) or Blue (43 channels) Levels. Orange plus Blue is $60.99 a month. Premium subscribers also can get a month of Showtime, STARZ and EPIX for free. Channels include CMT, Bravo, BET, Comedy Central, A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, Discovery+, Hallmark, History, National Geographic, Lifetime, TLC and USA. After a taste of early summer this weekend, the reminder that were only turning the calendar to April comes Tuesday. Between now and then, theres plenty of rain forecast for all of Pennsylvania over a period of 36 hours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Light showers are predicted Sunday evening and then in the early morning hours of Monday as winds pick up. Highs on Monday in Harrisburg will again top 70. Showers and thunderstorms are likely before 4 p.m., then more storms are forecast Monday evening until close to midnight, with leftover showers into the early morning hours. As much as a half-inch of rain is possible in those storms, which could turn severe. As the NWS noted in its Facebook post, damaging winds are possible west of I-99 with thunderstorms on Sunday night and the severe threat will expand Monday to cover a larger area of central and eastern Pennsylvania, with the highest threat during the afternoon and evening hours. The storms are expected to move through western Pa. by early Monday afternoon and in Philadelphia north to Allentown by early Tuesday morning. Rainfall amounts could run between 1 and 2 inches around Philly, jeopardizing the Phillies home opener on Monday afternoon. Say goodbye to the warmer temps for a couple of days, with highs predicted to only reach into the 50s on Tuesday and Wednesday. The low on Tuesday night could dip as low as the freezing mark. Chilly winds will accompany the cooler temperatures on Tuesday. Beyond that, showers are forecast from Thursday into the weekend, with highs in the 70s on Thursday and Friday and into the 50s on Saturday and Sunday. This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) NAY PYI TAW/KUNMING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. The 37-member team from China's Yunnan Province arrived in Myanmar on Saturday, carrying full-function life detectors, earthquake early warning systems, portable satellite phones, drones and other rescue equipment. Team members, after landing in Yangon, headed to the hard-hit city of Nay Pyi Taw. At 18:30 local time on Saturday, the rescue team arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, immediately starting their work. According to the team, the three-story hospital where it has been working on the rescue, was severely damaged, as the first floor completely collapsed, burying numerous people. The rescuers have been using life detectors to find survivors with vital signs under the rubble. This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) This video screenshot taken on March 30, 2025 shows rescue operations underway in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. A rescue team of China's Yunnan Province, joined by Myanmar's rescue forces, retrieved an elderly man in earthquake-hit Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw at 05:00 local time on Sunday. The man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in the city. After an overnight emergency rescue, it was the first person rescued by the Chinese team after arriving in the earthquake-stricken area of Myanmar on Saturday. (Wang Hao/Yunnan Media Group/Handout via Xinhua) PokerNews Point of View: Teaching Dealers to Slide Cards Would Prevent Cheating Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link Recent advances in technology have caused concern about cheating in poker, from public and private cash games to tournaments around the world. There's a method of dealing cards that could provide a remedy. During an Only Friends podcast episode in August 2024, Matt Berkey told of an alleged cheating ring involving pinhole cameras at the table, a topic that caught the attention of WIRED for a feature story titled "Poker Cheaters Allegedly Use Tiny Hidden Cameras to Spot Dealt Cards." Less than a year later, poker pro Mike Holtz sounded the alarm on what he believes to be widespread cheating in some Las Vegas poker rooms, including collusion between players who are exploiting the high pitches of some dealers that he says exposes cards. Banning phones at the poker table is one way to address these new cheating concerns. Another way is for dealers in the US and worldwide to transition from the traditional card pitch to the sliding method that has become popular in Europe. PokerStars Announces Game Integrity Rule Changes at EPT Barcelona European Poker Tour Leads the Way While dealers typically "pitch" cards to players, sliding is a method gaining traction overseas where dealers flick cards across the felt to lower the distance between cards and the table making it harder for potential cheats to see the bottom of cards. The PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) announced at EPT Barcelona in August 2024 that, among other game integrity rule changes, it would gradually implement the sliding method. Veteran tournament director Kenny Hallaert told PokerNews at the time that he and other TDs were warned about players using hidden cameras in objects like AirPod cases to get a glimpse of cards. The 2016 WSOP final tablist said the sliding method ensures "the card that's being dealt to every player is still protected." The new style of dealing that debuted at EPT Barcelona got attention on social media, with mainly positive responses. "This is how dealers are taught to deal cards in the UK," one Reddit user wrote. "It's easy to learn, can be very fast, and minimises the chances of exposing a card." EPT Dealer What Do Players Say? Berkey and Holtz both suggested that dealers in the US move to the sliding method as a remedy for modern cheating methods. Both in a March 12 X video and later episodes of the PokerNews Podcast, Holtz specifically called out Resorts World and dealers at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit stop at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Bracelet winner Patrick Leonard voiced a similar concern about Las Vegas poker rooms and advocated for the sliding method. Patrick Leonard "In the last 3 months I've told the dealers 20+ times that their pitch is too high and I can see the cards," Leonard wrote on X. "Why do they 'pitch' them and not just slide them? Seems to fix a lot?" Other players have voiced their preference for pitching, including high-stakes pro and EPT Main Event champion Steve O'Dwyer. "Ive been advocating for this change for over a decade," O'Dwyer wrote on X about the EPT's change to sliding. Psychologist and author Maria Konnikova praised the EPT's rule changes, including the move to sliding, and spoke about her own research into modern cheating methods in an interview on the Life Outside Poker podcast. Is It Feasible? Paris Ballroom Teaching dealers to slide in poker rooms and on smaller tournament circuits seems feasible enough. Implementing the change at bigger festivals like the World Series of Poker, on the other hand, may present its own challenges. Hundreds of dealers are hired every summer for the WSOP, many of whom are newcomers to poker. Despite the scale and sheer number of dealers required for the WSOP, a gradual phasing in of the sliding method seems like a reasonable objective that would go a long way. Though it may prove difficult to implement a new dealing method across major poker tours, poker players and tournament directors are in agreement that sliding is the safest way to deal. Share this article Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Aiken, SC (29801) Today A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. A steady rain this morning. Windy with showers continuing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. 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%. Seth Taylor covers Greenville and the Upstate for The Post and Courier. Born in Iowa, he worked in Wyoming at the Buffalo Bulletin before moving to the Palmetto State. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-30 21:02:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 405 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2025 /New to The Street, a premier business and financial news program, has been recognized as the fifth leading financial news platform on YouTube, according to a recent feature in Barchart. This acknowledgment places New to The Street among the top financial media outlets, highlighting its growing influence in the digital financial news landscape. The Barchart article, titled "YouTube's Financial Powerhouses: The Rising Giants Shaping the Future of Finance Media," emphasizes the shift in audience engagement towards online platforms for financial news and analysis. It notes that traditional networks like CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV are now competing with digital-first brands such as New to The Street, which has amassed over 2.25 million subscribers on YouTube."We are honored to be recognized as one of the top financial news platforms on YouTube," said Vince Caruso CEO and CO-Founder of New to The Street. "This ranking reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content that resonates with our growing audience. As the media landscape evolves, we remain dedicated to providing timely and relevant financial news to our viewers." Top Financial News Platforms on YouTube:The Wall Street Journal YouTube+4KQLX Radio+4 Barchart.com+4 6M +CNBC 3M+Fox Business KQLX Radio 2.9M +Bloomberg TV KQLX Radio 2.52M +New to The Street 2.31M +New to The Street specializes in featuring emerging companies and industry leaders, offering in-depth interviews and analyses that provide viewers with unique insights into the financial world. The program's success can be attributed to its multi-platform approach, combining traditional broadcasting, digital content, and strategic outdoor advertising in high-traffic areas such as New York City. As digital platforms continue to reshape the financial news industry, New to The Street remains at the forefront, bridging the gap between innovative companies and the investment community. This recent recognition in Barchart YouTube's Financial Powerhouses: The Rising Giants Shaping The Future Of Finance Media underscores the program's role in redefining how financial journalism is delivered in the digital ageNew to The Street is a leading business and financial news program that showcases emerging companies, innovative technologies, and industry leaders. Through in-depth interviews and comprehensive coverage, the program provides valuable insights into the financial markets, fostering a community of informed investors and entrepreneurs. Website: newtothestreet.comYouTube Channel:New to The Street TVTwitter:@NewToTheStreetFacebook:New to The StreetMedia Contact: Monica Brennan Monica@ NewToTheStreet.com SOURCE: New To The Street PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-30 01:01:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 640 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 29, 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=33590or 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=33590call 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: 2025-03-30 01:00:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 654 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 29, 2025 /WHY:Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Atkore Inc. (NYSE: ATKR) between August 2, 2022 and February 3, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 23, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Atkore common stock 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 Atkoreclass action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=35751 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. 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 23, 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 made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") water pipes and electrical conduit pipes (together, "PVC Pipes"); (2) in turn, Atkore reaped significant, unsustainable financial benefits from its anticompetitive conduct; (3) as Atkore's price-fixing scheme was exposed, Atkore and its price fixing co-conspirators were no longer able to artificially inflate the price of PVC Pipes, resulting in a substantial decrease in the price of PVC Pipes; (4) Atkore's business and operations were negatively impacted; and (5) as a result of the above, defendants' positive statements about Atkore'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 Atkoreclass action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=35751 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-30 18:00:23 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 30, 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=25195for 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. The Award Committee of the 2025 Africa Annual Events and the University of Texas at Austin have conferred the prestigious Nelson Mandela Distinguished Africanist Award on Babafemi Badejo, a political scientist, lawyer and diplomat. The award was conferred on Mr Badejo, also a professor, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to African studies and service to the African people. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, the committee announced that the award was presented on Saturday at the University of Texas, Austin. This distinguished award, named in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, is a lifetime achievement recognition given to individuals who have demonstrated resilience, courage, and commitment to African liberation, the promotion of freedom and rights for Africans, and outstanding leadership in public service, the statement read. Past recipients of the award include renowned scholars and leaders such as Bonny Ibhawoh of McMaster University, Canada (2018), and Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja (2024). A scholar, diplomat, and advocate for African development Mr Badejo, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, is a distinguished scholar, diplomat, and peacemaker. 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 His career has been dedicated to shaping African governance, peacebuilding, development, and international relations. Mr Badejos extensive research, publications, and policy engagements have significantly influenced discussions on Africas role in global politics, security, and socio-economic advancement. He has also played a practical role in peacebuilding efforts across several African countries during his tenure at the United Nations. Professor Badejos work reflects his strong conviction in celebrating African culture and consciousness, the statement added. The professors intellectual contributions span key issues such as corruption, leadership deficits, and the evolving nature of democracy in developing nations. The award coincides with Mr Badejos 70th birthday, marking a significant milestone in his career. The recognition, according to the statement, serves as an inspiration for future generations of African scholars and leaders. Badejos reflection on Mandelas legacy In his acceptance speech on Saturday, Mr Badejo expressed gratitude for the honour, describing it as both a privilege and a solemn responsibility. Today, I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the 2025 Nelson Mandela Distinguished Africanist Award, he said. To be recognised in the name of Nelson Mandelaan enduring symbol of Omoluabi, Ubuntu, courage, resilience, justice, and African dignityis truly remarkable. Reflecting on a defining moment in his career, Mr Badejo recounted his 1991 encounter with Mr Mandela in South Africa, where he was part of a Nigerian delegation consulting on the countrys constitutional transition. The delegation, led by General Olusegun Obasanjo, had travelled to meet with ANC and National Party leaders, he recalled. I had the rare privilege of meeting Madiba in the bathroom. As he turned and we came face to face, I instinctively prostrated before him as a Yoruba man must. Mr Badejo described Mandela as a leader of extraordinary humility, wisdom, and strategic foresight, whose legacy remains a guiding force for African scholars, policymakers, and activists. A call for leadership and governance reform Addressing Africas challenges, Mr Badejo emphasised the continents leadership deficit and the external forces that exploit its vast natural resources. I dedicate this award to all those I have worked withfrom the corridors of the United Nations to local communities in Eko, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Nairobi, and beyond, he said. May we find the strength to redefine Africas global interests and establish governance systems that genuinely serve our people. He pledged to continue his advocacy for scholarship, peacebuilding, and improved governance across Africa. As I accept this award, I do so with a renewed commitment to research, peace, and governance reform in Nigeria and the continent, he said. I deeply appreciate my family, students, mentees, and colleagues for their unwavering support. Mr Badejo reaffirmed his belief in an Africa driven by the virtues of Omoluabi and Ubuntu, saying, That remains my greatest motivation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos Lagoon Chronicles, an art exhibition, will hold at the National Museum Lagos from 5 to 12 April. The exhibition marks the final phase of the Lagos Lagoon Climate Response project, carried out by the Help Africa Initiatives, an initiative supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark to tackle climate change and environmental challenges in communities along the Lagos Lagoon. The exhibition will showcase artworks by 13 artists who embarked on an immersive journey to capture the beauty and struggles of Epe and its people. Featured artists include Bolaji Alonge, Ogooluwa Adeniran, Basit Akinsemoyin, Olabisi Alonge, Gaspard Koutchika, Anthony Monday, Jason Ogbazi, Oluwapelumi Olaosun, Esther Oloruntobi, Oluwayemisi Onadipe and Femi Simpson. Their works will be displayed alongside intricately crafted interior design pieces made from water hyacinth, produced by local community members trained through the project. An opening ceremony on 5 April will feature performances by children from Ejirin, Crown Troupe Africa, children from Bariga, and performance artists Uche Enechukwu and Rasheed Ibrahim. A documentary, Lagos Lagoon Chronicles, which highlights the projects impact, will also premiere at the exhibition. Additionally, on 12 April, a free art workshop for children aged 5 to 12 will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. 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 Sustainable development The Lagos Lagoon Climate Response project aims to transform waste into wealth, promote sustainable water management and sanitation, create employment opportunities, and improve public health and education for children in public schools. The project has been documented to raise awareness and guide future sustainability efforts. According to Project Director Bolaji Alonge, This project is not merely about providing books for students, free medical assistance, or training citizens; it is about building bridges between tradition and modernity. It allows the people of Epe to take ownership of their development while preserving their unique cultural heritage. We will see the ripple effects of our work in the years to come. Mr Alonge, who has documented the impact of water hyacinth on Lagos Lagoon communities since 2018, recalled: Four years ago, our exhibition Greener Pastures highlighted the struggles of coastal villages in Epe due to the menace of water hyacinth, which affects their livelihoods, healthcare, and education. We are glad that our call for support was answered, and we are honoured to work with the people of Epe again to improve their quality of life. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that 118 lives were lost to Lassa fever during the first quarter of 2025. This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications at NCDC, Sani Datti. According to Mr Datti, 3,465 suspected cases were recorded between January and March, spanning 91 local government areas (LGAs) and 33 states. Of these, 645 cases were laboratory-confirmed, resulting in a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.3 per cent. More details The statement further revealed that 20 healthcare workers were among those infected. Of the infected health workers, Ondo recorded eight, Bauchi had four, while Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Gombe, Benue, and Ogun states recorded one or two cases each. To mitigate the spread, the NCDC said it has deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 10 states, including Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Taraba, Benue, Gombe, and Nasarawa. 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 deployments, which lasted two weeks, were extended in Edo and Taraba by 10 and seven days, respectively, due to the severity of the outbreak in those areas. Appeal for collective action The Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, called for intensified efforts from state governments and the private sector to address the outbreak. Mr Idris urged state authorities to provide financial support for the treatment of Lassa fever and related diseases while emphasising the private sectors critical role in ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and promoting public health awareness. Mr Idris noted that combating the outbreak requires a collective effort. Preventing Lassa fever requires a collective effort. While the NCDC and state governments are leading the response, every Nigerian has a role to play in reducing the spread of the virus, he said. Mr Idris also reiterated the importance of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures for healthcare workers, urging them to maintain vigilance and a high index of suspicion when treating potential cases. Focus on environmental hygiene The NCDC has advised Nigerians to prioritise environmental hygiene to prevent rats, the primary carriers of the Lassa virus, from accessing homes, food, and utensils. The agency appealed to authorities from all sectors to cooperate to curb the spread and reduce fatalities associated with the disease. Lassa Fever Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents or persons. Symptoms of Lassa fever include fever, headache, sore throat, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, and chest pain. In severe cases, it can cause unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Press Release March 30, 2025 PIMENTEL: MYANMAR QUAKE, ISABELA BRIDGE COLLAPSE ARE WAKE-UP CALLS FOR STRONGER PH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III asked the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) to conduct a thorough assessment of the structural integrity of public infrastructure across the country, citing the recent collapse of a bridge in Isabela as a pressing reminder of the need for greater preparedness. "The recent Myanmar earthquake and the collapse of the Isabela bridge as wake-up calls to reassess the country's disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience," Pimentel said in a statement on Sunday. "We should check the status of our public infrastructure. The collapse of the Isabela bridge should prompt a thorough evaluation of the quality of work in our construction projects to ensure that each infrastructure can withstand an earthquake with intensity 7 and above," Pimentel said. The senator also emphasized the urgency of earthquake preparedness, noting that the Philippines is located along several fault lines, including Marikina in Metro Manila. "Let's continue to be conscious of the need to prepare for earthquakes because the Philippines has many fault lines," he added. Among the regular preparations is the conduct of comprehensive earthquake drills across the country to educate communities on safety measures, according to Pimentel. "People should know where to go, what is the safest place in their area when an earthquake strikes. Regular earthquake drills should be encouraged to minimize casualties and ensure swift response during emergencies," he said. "These drills are essential in ensuring that Filipinos are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in times of disaster. We must continue and improve these initiatives nationwide," Pimentel added. He reiterated the need for proactive measures, urging authorities to conduct infrastructure audits, enforce strict building standards, and invest in disaster resilience programs to safeguard the public from potential calamities. BAGHDAD, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Foreign Ministry on Sunday expressed solidarity with Myanmar following a powerful earthquake that struck the country. In a statement, the ministry voiced Iraq's support for Myanmar's government and people during the crisis, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address the disaster's impact. The ministry also extended condolences to the victims' families and wished a swift recovery for the injured. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which hit Myanmar on Friday, has killed around 1,700 people, according to the latest report from local authorities. More than 1,600 people have been confirmed dead in an earthquake that occurred in Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia. The quake occurred on Friday afternoon, with an epicentre in Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city. The disaster also affected Thailand, a neighbouring country, where 10 people have been reported dead. In Thailand, the disaster affected Bangkok, the capital city 620 miles from the Mandalay region, by bringing down a 33-storey high-rise that was still under construction. According to multiple reports, the earthquake reportedly caused multiple buildings to collapse, including one of the largest monasteries in the city. Photos from Naypyidaw, the capital, showed rescue teams pulling victims from the rubble of several buildings that housed civil servants. 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 Reuters reported that the 7.7 magnitude quake left more than 3,400 people injured, with 139 others still missing under the rubble. Aftershocks also followed the initial quake, one of them reportedly measured to be 6.4 magnitude. The tremors were felt even across the border in Chinas remote provinces. Myanmars government has reported a high demand for blood in the hardest-hit areas and appealed for foreign assistance. The military leader and head of the junta, Aung Hlaing, said that although the country had been hesitant to accept foreign aid in the past, it was now open to assistance in light of the recent tragedy. However, the United Nations said on Saturday that wrecked roads and rubble are impeding relief efforts in Myanmar. Death toll to rise to 10,000 Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has predicted that the death toll could top 10,000. The agency said the 2025 quake is the most powerful to strike the Asian country in over a century. It equated the recent disaster to an earthquake that happened in 1912 in Taunggyi, a city in east-central Myanmar, describing it as the last incident with a similar magnitude. While Myanmar has experienced quakes in the past, they are of less magnitude and occur in distant, densely populated communities. The country is vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. An earthquake happens when rocks deep underground break or slip along a fault line, causing the ground to shake. This occurs because the earths surface is made up of giant rock pieces called tectonic plates that are constantly moving. As these plates move, they sometimes push against, pull apart, or slide past each other. This movement creates pressure in the rocks along fault lines. Over time, the pressure builds up until the rocks suddenly snap or shift, releasing energy in the form of seismic waves. According to the USGS, the Myanmar earthquake occurred because the India and Eurasia plates slid past each other sideways. This type of movement is known as strike-slip faulting. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has countered Atiku Abubakars claim that he (Atiku) picked Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election because a committee set up by the PDP rated him (Okowa) as its first choice for the position. Atiku was the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former vice-president contested in the 2023 presidential election with Mr Okowa, a former governor of Delta State, as his vice-presidential candidate. Atikus claim During an interview on Untold Stories with Adesuwa, published on Wednesday, Atiku recalled that after losing in the 2019 presidential election, some PDP leaders blamed him for choosing Peter Obi as his running mate without consulting adequately. The former vice president said that following the 2019 incident, he decided to allow the party leaders to choose his running mate in 2023. So in 2023, I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names for me to pick one as running mate. And they set up a committee, and they came up with (three) recommendations. Number one, number two, number three. So I picked number one (Mr Okowa), he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Atiku revealed that the committees second-choice candidate was Mr Wike, while the third was Udom Emmanuel, a former Akwa Ibom State governor. Its false But reacting in a statement by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, Mr Wike described the claim as false. The FCT minister said that contrary to the claims, the committee had organised an internal election to pick Atikus running mate. He said that although he had polled 13 votes against Mr Okowas two votes, Atiku decided to pick the former governor, insisting that the committee never presented any running mate to the Adamawa-born politician. Mr Wike accused Atiku of telling lies even during the Holy Month of Ramadan, despite being a Muslim. Wike never put himself forward to be Atikus running mate then, Atiku did by himself, and he (Wike) accepted his offer with conditions. The committee set up by the PDP picked Wike as Atikus running mate, but for reasons best known to him, he settled for Okowa, who had two votes from the committee members. Thats the truth Atiku should tell and stand with, not trying to colour his decision with falsehood, he said. Stand by your decisions Mr Wike advised Atiku to always be honest and stand by his decisions, adding that he (Wike) was no longer interested in the events of the 2023 presidential election. The FCT minister stressed that he has no regret that Atiku did not pick him as his running mate and that he does not regret taking the position he took concerning the presidential election. Background Mr Wike and Atiku had been locked in a protracted face-off over the zone to produce the PDP presidential candidate in 2023. Mr Wike had argued that it was the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce the countrys president. Atiku hails from Northern Nigeria, where the then-outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, also comes from. During the PDP primary election, Mr Wike lost to Atiku, who emerged the partys flag-bearer for the 2023 election. The then-governor formed an alliance with four other governors aggrieved with Atiku and the partys National Chairperson, Iyorchia Ayu. Mr Wike led the group called G5 Governors. Apart from Mr Wike, other members of the group included Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and their Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde. The group had demanded the resignation of the then PDP National Chairperson, Mr Ayu, to allow a southerner to lead the party and achieve a regional balance. Their argument was that both Mr Ayu and Atiku hail from northern Nigeria. The feud worsened after Atiku refused to pick Mr Wike as his running mate. Atiku later lost in the 2023 presidential election after coming second with 6,984, 520 votes behind the eventual winner, Mr Tinubu of the APC, who polled 8, 794, 726 votes. The G5 governors withdrawal of support for Atiku was said to be among the reasons for the PDP candidates loss at the poll. While some of the G5 governors supported Mr Obi of the Labour Party, others backed the APCs Mr Tinubu, now Nigerias president. Mr Wike supported Mr Tinubu of the APC in the election and helped him to win in Rivers despite being a PDP state. Mr Tinubu subsequently appointed the former governor as the minister of the FCT. Mr Wike has remained in the PDP despite serving as a minister in the APC-led federal government. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Today, different reports dominate the cover pages of Nigerian newspapers. Tinubu: I nearly quit 2023 race amid economic turmoil, the Nation reported. Vanguard reported, Confusion as Fubara, ex-HOS trade claims over bombings, Assembly burning. On the other hand, This Day newspaper reported In a Telephone Call, Buhari Rejoices With Tinubu at 73, Appreciates Role in Making Him President. According to the Tribune, Muslims celebrate end of Ramadan. Punch cover page headline read, Lynched Edo Travellers: Governors move against reprisals as 16 slain hunters buried. 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 2027 elections: Our fears for PDP Tambuwal, Orbih, The Sun reported. The Hope reported that Rivers crisis deepens Fubara, Ibas Clash over N15bn fraud, terrorism allegations. The Independent Newspaper also wrote Rivers Crisis All About Money-Sharing, 2027 Election Amaechi. 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 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is more expensive to conduct a recall election than a constituency election. This suggests that the commission may spend more money to complete the recall process of the embattled Kogi senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, than was spent conducting her election, whether or not the recall is successful. The Special Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Mohammed Kunna, made the statement on the high cost of a recall process during an online discussion on INEC Regulation and Guidelines for Recall 2024. The discussion also covered BVAS and IREV: Facts and Myths. At the event, held on Saturday on X, Mr Kunna explained that conducting a recall election was similar to conducting three constituency elections, the News Agency of Nigeria reported. Once a petition is received and verified to meet legal requirements, INEC must first conduct a verification exercise at the affected polling units. For that verification to happen, we have to use the Bi-Modal Voter Verification System (BVAS) because those who signed the petition must be verified as genuine registered voters in those units. Then, INEC needs to establish 50 per cent plus one signature from the constituency. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later After that, we proceed to the final stage: conducting the referendum, which involves a yes or no vote by registered voters in the constituency, Mr Kunna said. He added that this process involved mobilising staff, deploying election materials, transportation, and other resources, much like conducting three senatorial district elections. In my opinion, the recall process is much more expensive than conducting a single senatorial district election, he said. The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, acknowledged the high cost but emphasised that INEC must adhere to the law. What is important is what the law says we should do in each case if constituents wish to recall their representatives, Mr Oyekanmi said. Earlier, Mr Oyekanmi explained that INECs regulations and the Electoral Act specified the process for conducting a recall election. The law allows a recall election only if the petitioners meet constitutional requirements, including submitting signatures from at least half of the registered voters in the constituency. Once the petition is received, INEC performs a preliminary check and then verifies the signatures. The lawmaker facing recall is informed and has the right to deploy agents to observe the process. Observers and media personnel can also participate in the verification and referendum, he said. Mr Oyekanmi also addressed the possibility of online voting, stating that the Constitution did not permit INEC to conduct electronic voting. Move to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan PREMIUM TIMES reports that INEC announced that it had begun the process of verifying the over 200,000 signatures on the petition to recall Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan. The persons who submitted the petition claimed that all the signatories existed and were voters in Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans constituency. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and many observers have, however, raised concerns that many of the signatures were fake and that she enjoys the support of the majority of her over 400,000 constituents. INEC, by law, will now have to conduct the verification process of the signatories as part of the recall process. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans ordeal began when she challenged the sitting arrangement for senators put in place by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The mode of her challenge of what was by Senate rules the role of the senate president put her in conflict with the majority of her colleagues in the Senate and the Senate committee on ethics recommended her suspension for it. On the day she was to be suspended, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, on the floor of the Senate, raised an allegation of sexual harassment against Mr Akpabio, an allegation he has since denied. Minutes after she raised her allegation, the Senate adopted the earlier resolution of its ethics committee and suspended her for six months. She was also barred from entering the Senate building during the suspension and her salaries and allowances were stopped for the period of the suspension. The six-month suspension was issued despite previous court rulings that a lawmaker cannot be suspended for more than two weeks. Amidst the controversy, some residents of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans constituency announced that they would recall the senator, who many believe enjoys the support of the majority of the residents of her constituency. No recall of a lawmaker has been successful in Nigerias history. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Whistleblowers and Journalists Safety International Centre (WAJSIC) has condemned the crackdown on media freedom and called for the release of kidnapped journalists, activists and some prominent members of the public in Burkina Faso. In a statement issued on Saturday, the chairperson of WAJSICs governing board, Anas Anas, denounced the ongoing violations of human rights in the West African country under the ruling military junta. Mr Anas said this wave of repression is profoundly concerning and represents a blatant attack on fundamental freedoms. He said the current climate in Burkina Faso is marked by a systematic erosion of civil liberties, characterised by increased control over the media and the judiciary. WAJSIC, an international organisation that provides protection and preservation for whistleblowers and journalists, said at least eight media practitioners and activists have disappeared. Mr Anas said that since the military took over, freedom of expression has been suppressed, adding that international media outlets have been forced to leave. 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 crackdown has now extended to journalists and human rights defenders, several of whom have been forcibly taken in recent days, Mr Anas said. The group noted that instead of the authorities addressing the escalating Islamist insurgency bedeviling the state, the government is more focused on shutting down dissent voices through orchestrated acts of internal repression. Arrests The Human Rights Watch reported that on 24 March, three journalists were arrested and their whereabouts have remained unknown after they reported the military crackdown on the media. As a result of the crackdown, many journalists have been forced to flee the country because of their work. Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, Burkina Fasos military ruler, Ibrahim Traore, 37, has cracked down on journalists, the civic space and opposition members. According to the statement, Idrissa Barry, a popular journalist and political activist, was kidnapped on 18 March. Mr Barry is also a member of the political group, Serbir et Non se Servir (To Serve and Not Serve Oneself, or SENS). His whereabouts also remain unknown. Others who have been kidnapped include Anselme Sawadogo, a representative of Wallonia-Brussels in Burkina Faso and supporter of the SENS movement; Richard Koalga, a physician and SENS member, and Judith Tiendrebeogo, an official at the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, the countrys capital At least eight journalists and activists have been arrested, and their whereabouts remain unknown. To date, no official information has been provided by the authorities regarding these disappearances, Mr Anas said. This alarming lack of transparency exacerbates public fear and reinforces the prevailing climate of repression. READ ALSO: US lawmaker who accused USAID of funding Boko Haram fails to substantiate claim Demands WAJSIC demanded that the authorities disclose the whereabouts and conditions of all abducted individuals and ensure their safe return. It also requested that the government uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens, including freedom of expression and the press. It called for an end to the systematic crackdown on journalists, activists, and civil society actors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu said his decision to appoint Bosun Tijani as minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, despite his past criticism, was a testament to his belief in recognising talent, even in those who may have once been critics. The President disclosed this on Saturday night at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Presidential Villa to commemorate his 73rd birthday. Mr Tijani was among several dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages to the President, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Professor Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, a childhood friend of the President. In his remarks, Mr Tijani shared his personal experience of being appointed by President Tinubu despite his past activism and criticism of the President and the National Assembly. Before my appointment, I had never met Mr. President. But after my confirmation, he told me, I have looked at your records and activism, and I have seen there is something in you. I am giving you the opportunity to represent your country and contribute to making it a better place. I was expecting a proper scolding because of my records, but the magnanimity of the President is one that I experienced for the very first time in my life. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I remember that in that meeting, some people brought out my record again and told Mr President, He said this, he did this. But the President said, Shut it. Responding to the ministers remarks, President Tinubu confirmed that nominating Mr Tijani as a minister was a difficult decision, given the reservations of his close associates. When I picked him, it was tough. My very close confidantes, who had read his comments on social media, came to me and said, No, never. I said, Yes, he is talented. Because he criticises me and pours abuses on the parliament, it does not mean he has nothing to offer. Maybe his frustration at that time will drive him to contribute more to governance. And today, he is doing that, and I am very proud of him, the President stated. Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised the Presidents ability to forgive his critics, recalling the intense debate that preceded Tijjanis confirmation as a minister. When he came to the Senate for screening, senators said, No, no, we cant have him. One senator quoted from the internet where he described all Nigerian senators as morons. I had to stop proceedings and ask Bosun, Did you write this? And he admitted, Sir, I did because that was how I felt then. So I asked him, And you have the audacity to stand before us and expect us to confirm you?' The senate president noted that what ultimately swayed the lawmakers was their trust in President Tinubus judgment. Mr. President, we confirmed him because we knew you must have seen something special in him. You are never wrong when it comes to your judgment of people. I went into an executive session and told my colleagues, Let us give this young man an opportunity and see what happens. And today, I am happy to say that he is one of the best-performing ministers in the cabinet, Mr Akpabio said. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) March 30, 2025 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Depositors at the defunct Heritage Bank with balances exceeding the N5 million insurance cap are set to begin receiving partial refunds in April, according to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). The development follows months of uncertainty for customers who held significant balances at the lender before its abrupt closure. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked Heritage Banks banking licence on 3 June 2024, citing concerns about the banks financial condition. The NDIC was appointed as liquidator in line with Section 12(2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and Section 55(1 & 2) of the NDIC Act 2023. In a Sunday statement signed by its Acting Head of Communication and Public Affairs, Hawwau Gambo, the NDIC confirmed that it had made progress in recovering the banks assets and would begin the first tranche of liquidation dividends next month. With the considerable progress recorded in the asset realisation, the Corporation will declare the first tranche of liquidation dividends in April 2025, which will be paid to uninsured depositors on a pro-rata basis, in line with Section 72 of the NDIC Act 2023 on the priority of claims, the statement said. While depositors with balances below N5 million have already been reimbursed, those with higher amounts have only received the insured portion to date. 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 remaining balance in excess of the insured sum of the N5 million already reimbursed will be paid as liquidation dividends in accordance with the Corporations statutory mandate, the NDIC said. The corporation said it had commenced the realisation of Heritage Banks physical and investment assets, alongside an aggressive recovery of the risk assets, in order to fund repayments. Following the revocation of Heritage Banks banking licence the Corporation immediately commenced the banks liquidation process, including the verification and payment of insured deposits to all depositors, the statement said. However, it acknowledged challenges in reaching some insured depositors due to incomplete Know Your Customer (KYC) information, post-no-debit restrictions, name mismatches, or lack of alternate bank accounts. Some payments may have been processed without their immediate awareness, the NDIC added, urging depositors to check other bank accounts they may hold. READ ALSO: NAFDAC denies report indicting pharmacy council over counterfeit drug distribution Under Nigerian law, deposit liabilities take precedence in bank liquidation. The NDIC reiterated this, citing Section 72 of its Act: Deposit liabilities shall have priority over all other liabilities of the insured institution. As a result, other claimantssuch as creditors and shareholderswill be considered for payment only after all depositors have been fully reimbursed. The corporation sought to reassure the public about the safety of Nigerias banking sector. Members of the public are enjoined to continue their banking activities without fear, as all other banks remain safe and sound, the statement said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Sunday in Abuja, commended Nigerian mothers for their pivotal roles and support for their families. The First Ladys commendation was contained in a special message to all mothers in the country on the occasion of the Mothers Day celebration. She appreciated all women in the country for their inestimable sacrifices to the nation as a whole, describing mothers as the unsung heroes whose impact resonates far beyond what words could describe. I celebrate all mothers; mothers the heart of families, the nurturers of children, and the pillars of society. Your sacrifices, dedication, and commitment to raising the next generation is truly inspiring. Today, I honour every mother across Nigeria, those who care tirelessly for the families, who balance work and home, and those who, in spite of challenges, continue to give their best. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I say to all mothers that the future of our nation and the world lies in the values, wisdom and love we instill in the coming generation. Happy Mothers Day. God bless our dear Mothers, she said. READ ALSO: What Nigeria is doing to end Tuberculosis Oluremi Tinubu The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mothers Day has become a time-honoured tradition that is celebrated globally and is embraced by people of all types. While celebrated differently worldwide, the day reflects the profound influence of mothers and provides an opportunity for all to express gratitude and appreciation for women. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Arokodare Ebenezer, a 43-year-old business owner based in Lekki, for allegedly importing 60 parcels of loud, a potent strain of cannabis from the United States to Nigeria. According to a statement by NDLEAs Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Mr Ebenezer was apprehended on Monday, 24 March, at Bay Lounge on Admiralty Way, Lekki, while awaiting the delivery of his latest drug shipment. The arrest followed the seizure of his consignment, which arrived in Nigeria on 12 March in seven large cartons at a Lagos logistics company. A subsequent search of Ebenezers Lekki residence uncovered 94 grams of cannabis, a cannabis crusher, and other drug paraphernalia, bringing the total weight of seized drugs to 32.24 kilograms. During interrogation, Mr Ebenezer admitted to engaging in the illicit drug trade since 2017. In another operation, NDLEA officers thwarted an attempt by business owner Omoruyi Terry to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grams to Italy. Mr Terry was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight. 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 the statement, the NDLEA chairperson, Mohamed Marwa, commended the agencys officers and men for their operational successes and wished them a happy Eid al-Fitr celebration. May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society, Mr Marwa said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, says the state recorded 10 confirmed cases of diphtheria between 1 January and 27 March. Mr Abayomi said in a statement on Sunday that health authorities are intensifying efforts to control the outbreak. He said the outbreak was reported in multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs), with Eti-Osa being the most affected, recording 44 suspected cases. According to him, other impacted LGAs include Alimosho, Badagry, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Ojo, Mushin and Lagos Island, where various numbers of suspected and confirmed cases were identified. He said the laboratory tests on 76 samples confirmed 10 positive cases, while 63 returned negative results. Another three samples collected on 26 March are still pending results, he said. He said confirmed cases had been linked to locations such as Kings College in Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State Model School, and Meran in Alimosho LGA. He said cases were confirmed at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Mushin, De-Emmaculate School, Mile 12 in Kosofe LGA, and Gbara Junior Secondary School in Eti-Osa LGA. 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 areas remain focal points for intensified interventions, including targeted vaccination campaigns and public awareness efforts, he said. As part of the states response, 21 individuals have received Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT) treatment, with Kings College, Eti-Osa, accounting for the highest number of recipients 14. Other beneficiaries were from Lagos State Model School, Meiran, and various locations in Alimosho, Kosofe, and Badagry, he said. The commissioner said that all confirmed cases were mandated to remain on admission for treatment in the interest of public safety. He urged the public to cooperate with health authorities, as the measure was crucial to prevent further transmission of the disease. Mr Abayomi said that the suspected cases had fluctuated over the period, with some days recording as many as 15 cases and others as few as one. He said that data analysis from the outbreak report showed that the outbreak peaked in the third, fourth, and tenth weeks of 2025, with four cases confirmed each week. However, he noted that a decline in the number of cases in recent weeks indicated that containment measures might yield positive results. He said the state government has intensified contact tracing efforts, with 118 individuals identified as potential contacts of infected persons. Out of these, follow-up has been completed for 100 individuals, while 18 are still pending, he said. Additionally, 36 individuals across affected LGAs have received prophylaxis to prevent further spread. The commissioner reiterated that vaccination efforts targeting close contacts of index cases, suspected patients, and frontline health workers remained ongoing. He said that 36,310 individuals had been vaccinated in response to the outbreak. According to him, these include 7,473 individuals aged 9 to 17 years and 28,837 individuals aged 18 years and above, among whom 13,633 are healthcare workers. He said that risk communication and public health sensitisation efforts, which commenced at the onset of the outbreak, had been reinforced through community-based social mobilisation and media campaigns. Mr Abayomi urged strict adherence to precautionary measures as residents prepare for Eid-el-Fitr, Easter celebrations, and the second-term school vacation. He advised the public to maintain high levels of hygiene, wash hands regularly, use sanitisers, and avoid crowded places. He said there was a need for prompt reporting of symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, red eyes, neck swelling and thick grey or white patches on the throat. Reporting these symptoms immediately can save lives and prevent further transmission of diphtheria, he said. The commissioner said that the treatment for suspected cases is available free of charge at designated government health facilities. He commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his swift and strategic intervention in containing the outbreak. Mr Abayomi acknowledged the support of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF in providing technical assistance and resources to combat the disease. He assured residents that the state government and its partners are intensifying surveillance, treatment, and prevention efforts. Residents are advised to stay informed and adhere to all public health advisories, he said. He reaffirmed the governments commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents, urging them to cooperate with health authorities to mitigate the outbreak of the disease and prevent future occurrences. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print YANGON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen Chinese nationals were injured in the earthquake in Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed on Sunday. The embassy said in a written reply to Xinhua that the injured were in Mandalay Province, where most of whom are receiving medical treatment, and some of the injured are urgently transferred to Yangon for treatment. As of 11:00 Beijing time on Sunday, the embassy had received and handled hundreds of requests for help from Chinese citizens and assisted dozens of people in finding their missing relatives and friends. The embassy will do its best to provide consular protection and assistance to Chinese citizens, keep the consular helpline open, provide timely medical assistance information to the injured, and offer necessary assistance to those who lost their passports in the earthquake. A total of 1,644 people died, 3,408 were injured and 139 remained missing in the earthquake in Myanmar, the country's Information Team of the State Administration Council said on Saturday night. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the Southeast Asian country on Friday. Several Chinese rescue teams have joined the relief efforts with their Myanmar counterparts. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has congratulated Muslims across Nigeria on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Mr Ribadu, in a statement on Sunday, called for cooperation among Nigerians in tackling the national security challenges confronting the nation. He said the sacred period embodied the virtues of resilience, discipline, and sacrifice, urging all to bring to bear those virtues in their collective efforts to strengthen national security. Your cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other threats remains vital in ensuring peace and stability across our nation, particularly in our commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Therefore, the continued collaboration between the government, religious leaders, communities, and security agencies in combating terrorism and extremism remains paramount. The celebration of Eid-el-Fitr serves as a moment for deep reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to peace and national unity. 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 It is thus pertinent for Muslims and all Nigerians to come together in unity, embracing the core principles of love and togetherness that are essential for our national progress. Peace, unity, and compassion are the core values underpinning the true spirit of Eid-el-Fitr, Mr Ribadu said. The NSA also called on all Nigerians to continue to uphold the virtues of empathy, kindness, and tolerance during the festivities and beyond. He further urged all to remain vigilant against any forces that threaten their peace with a view to building a Nigeria where all citizens, irrespective of their faith, could live in harmony and prosperity. Our diversity is our strength, and in spite of the challenges we face as a nation, we remain united by a shared commitment to peace and stability. The administration of President Bola Tinubu and this Office uphold these values, and under my leadership, we are dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians regardless of background or faith. We remain steadfast in our mission to enhance Nigerias resilience against terrorism and violent extremism while promoting peaceful coexistence and national security. I wish you all a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration, he added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Supreme Court, we are reminded, is the last bus-stop on legal disputes. Yet, in nearly every case presented for judicial resolution, we find ourselves not merely before the court of law but also before courts of public opinion, of precedent, and of posterity. The judgment in Sunday Jacksons case is bad law, bad precedent, and bad policy. It is perverse on the scale of a miscarriage of justice. Numan, the town that lends its name to one of the 21 Local Government Areas in Adamawa State in north-east Nigeria, is home to the Bwatiye (Bachama), a transnational identity group stretching into parts of Cameroon. Located in the basin of Benue River and one of its tributaries, River Taraba, Numans fecund lands play host to vast energies in sedentary agriculture. Fulbe pastoralists have for long also found it welcoming for grazing their herds. These factors have made Numan a major frontier in the murderous livelihood conflict that has pitted sedentary farmers against armed pastoralists in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. Described as a crisis over scarce land and water resources, this conflict is estimated to have claimed the lives of around 10,000 Nigerians in the period since about 2013. It is widely recognised as the second most deadly conflict in Nigeria after the Boko Haram crisis. For nearly three years until 2018, Numan was the site of a murderous war between sedentary farmers and armed pastoralists. No one knows the number of those who have lost their lives in this conflict. James Courtright, who researched the situation, wrote in 2023 that by the time the crisis ended in January 2018, around 150 people were dead, a dozen villages burned to the ground and hundreds of Fulbe who had called Numan home had fled. Tens of thousands were reportedly displaced. This crisis even became the subject of litigation before the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court of Justice). On 5 December 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) visited Adamawa State to see things for himself. Subsequently, the Federal Government arranged to distribute emergency relief materials to affected communities, including Dong, Lawaru, and Kukumso in Demsa LGA; as well as Shafaron, Kodomti, Tullum, Mzoruwe and Mararraban Bare in Numan Local Government Area. Amidst these developments, the Federal Government launched what ultimately proved to be an inconclusive series of national consultations with all relevant groups designed to find a lasting solution to the farmers-herders conflict in parts of the country. The events in Kodomti village during this crisis were to become the subject of prosecutorial interest, which worked its way up to the Supreme Court, coming to a decision on 7 March. On 27 January 2015, an incident occurred in a farm in Kodomti belonging to Sunday Jackson. By the time the dust had settled, Alhaji Ardo Bawuro lay dead, a victim of three stab wounds in the neck in the hands of Sunday Jackson. 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 Adamawa State Director of Public Prosecutions arraigned Sunday Jackson on one count of culpable homicide punishable with death (murder) for the killing of Ardo Bawuro. On 10 February 2021, the High Court of Adamawa State convicted and sentenced Sunday Jackson to death. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 20 July 2022. From there he appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court found that the first and second conditions were fulfilled in the case of Sunday Jackson. As to the last two conditions, the court said that there was a reasonable mode of escape by retreat and there was no necessity to take the life of the deceased. It did so, notwithstanding that there was nothing in evidence about how safe it was to retreat. Consequently, the court held that the defence of self-defence is not available on a closer consideration of the evidence, and in the light of the circumstances of this particular case. The evidence relied on by the courts was straightforward. There was a coroners report but the judgment does not mention a pathologists report. According to Sunday Jacksons statement to the police: On Tuesday, 27/01/15 at about 11:10 hrs, I left my village and was cutting thatching grasses (sic) in a bush located in Kodomti village in Numan LGA when the deceased, Alh Buba Bawuro as identified attacked me after loosing (sic) sight of some persons alleged to be pursuing (sic) for killing his cattle. He attacked me in frustration and wanted to stab me with a dagger then we engaged in a wrestling encounter. I succeeded in seizing the dagger from him which I used to stab him thrice on his throat. When the deceased collapsed and was rolling down in a pool of his blood, I took heels and escaped. In its judgment on 7 March delivered by Justice Baba Idris, the Supreme Court determined that this statement was a confession and simultaneously also raised issues of self-defence, which had to be considered. In Nigeria, self-defence is a constitutionally guaranteed right. In criminal law, it is also total exoneration to a charge of murder. According to the court, four conditions must be present for self-defence to succeed. First, the accused must be free from fault in bringing about the encounter leading to death. Second, there must be present an impending peril to life or of grievous bodily harm. Third, there must be no safe or reasonable mode of escape. Fourth, there must be a necessity for taking of life. The Supreme Court found that the first and second conditions were fulfilled in the case of Sunday Jackson. As to the last two conditions, the court said that there was a reasonable mode of escape by retreat and there was no necessity to take the life of the deceased. It did so, notwithstanding that there was nothing in evidence about how safe it was to retreat. Consequently, the court held that the defence of self-defence is not available on a closer consideration of the evidence, and in the light of the circumstances of this particular case. The court also dismissed any possibility of a defence of provocation, which would have reduced the crime to manslaughter. This statement by Justice Tsammani is at the heart of the three flaws with this judgment. One is a matter of law and evidence: The Supreme Court believed it was alright for Sunday Jackson to have stabbed Ardo Bawuro once, but not thrice. But there was no evidence before the court as to which of the three stab wounds killed Ardo Bawuro. In his concurring judgment, Justice Haruna Tsammani said: on the facts as narrated., I am of the view that [Sunday Jackson] inflicted more harm than was necessary for the purpose of defending himself. Having overpowered the deceased and collected the dagger from him, a stab would not be considered excessive. It is also my view that [Sunday Jackson] acted in a vengeful manner by stabbing the deceased trice (sic) in the neck; a person he had overpowered. This statement by Justice Tsammani is at the heart of the three flaws with this judgment. One is a matter of law and evidence: The Supreme Court believed it was alright for Sunday Jackson to have stabbed Ardo Bawuro once, but not thrice. But there was no evidence before the court as to which of the three stab wounds killed Ardo Bawuro. It is possible that it was the first stab wound; or the second; or the third. That determination is a matter of evidence and, in criminal law, establishing what killed the Ardo Bawuro was the responsibility of the prosecution. If he was killed by the first stab, then the claim by the court that three stab wounds were too many is demonstrably gratuitous, and self-defence would have availed. In the absence of that kind of evidence, the court had no basis for excluding self-defence. Second, the court imposed an unreasonable standard of assessment, requiring a person whom it found to be in real peril of loss of his life from an assailant with murder or grievous bodily harm on his mind to make assessments that are beyond the capability of any human in the throes of a fight-or-flight struggle. Third, in suggesting that Sunday Jackson had a reasonable means of escape, the Supreme Court showed almost blissful lack of awareness of the nature of the conflict on the floodplains of the Benue River (and its tributaries). This case arose in a conflict zone between livelihood and identity groups. The standard of evidentiary assessment deployed by the Supreme Court required Sunday Jackson to possess almost divine knowledge of the surrounding circumstances. Asking him to run in the middle of this required him to be certain that there was no other danger around him. There was no way that he or anyone could in the middle of an active conflict zone have attained that degree of knowledge or awareness. The miracle in this case is how the court reached a unanimous judgment. The Supreme Court, we are reminded, is the last bus-stop on legal disputes. Yet, in nearly every case presented for judicial resolution, we find ourselves not merely before the court of law but also before courts of public opinion, of precedent, and of posterity. The judgment in Sunday Jacksons case is bad law, bad precedent, and bad policy. It is perverse on the scale of a miscarriage of justice. Sunday Jackson is eminently deserving of the exercise of the prerogative of mercy by the Governor of Adamawa State. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through [email protected]. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print How is a layman supposed to interpret all this? The grandiose legal system from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court failed Citizen Jackson. Now, it seems that the good old traditional conflict resolution mechanism (featuring the traditional ruler and the two feuding families) has come to the rescue The less time spent on further arguments the better I add my voice to Ardo Bawuros appeal to Governor Umaru Fintiri: Please exercise your prerogative of mercy and let Sunday Jackson go home. In Nigeria, you can be sentenced to death for defending yourself against an assailant. Forget all that youve read to the contrary. If your life is threatened by an armed herdsman, run for cover. Or simply allow the vagabond to slice your throat. Youre better dead and classified as a victim than to retaliate and be condemned to death for fighting for your life. Nigerias Supreme Court recently affirmed the judgement of the lower courts in respect of a case of culpable homicide against Citizen Sunday Jackson, who must now be sent to the hangman for defending himself when he was attacked with a knife by a herdsman feeding his cattle on Jacksons farm. Jackson was only 20 years old and an expectant father when the incident happened. He maintained a farm to support his family. On the fateful day, he was tending his farm when he was suddenly attacked by a knife-wielding herdsman, Buba Bawuro, in Kodomti Village, Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Self-defence In the ensuing struggle, he managed to overpower his assailant and returned the compliment. His assailant eventually died of his wounds. He was subsequently arrested and charged to court for murder, spending seven years in pretrial detention (the Nigerian prison system has an incredibly high number of Awaiting-Trial inmates). 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 When his case finally went to trial, he was sentenced to death, with the court ruling that he should have fled after disarming his attacker. The court did not reckon with the fact that the herdsman had seriously stabbed him in the leg and so could not have made a quick getaway, even if he wanted to. In a unanimous judgment (SC/CR/1026/2022), delivered by Honourable Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, the court ruled against Jacksons defence of provocation. The death verdict surprised many observers because it seemed to contradict the universal contention that every human being is entitled to self-defence if his/her life is under threat. Also, the fact that the courts seemed to believe that the quantum of violence could be calibrated in a life-or-death situation in such a manner as to apply only the appropriate dose that would make the assailant flee, instead of dying. He therefore appealed as follows: In light of these circumstances, I urge Your Excellency to exercise your prerogative of mercy and grant me a pardon, particularly as I have also spent ten years in the correctional facility, through the determination of this case. This would be a just and compassionate decision, considering the clear miscarriage of justice that has occurred in this case. The kernel of the Supreme Courts verdict can be found in its statement that, An accused person cannot legally be entitled to the defence of provocation and self-defence at the same time and in relation to the same offence. After the Supreme Court, there is no appeal, except to God. But that will be post-mortem. Only two earthly interventions can save Jacksons life now: If the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, exercises his prerogative of mercy and grants him a pardon, especially considering the fact that he had already spent ten years in the correctional facility; or if he is granted clemency by the president in exercise of the same prerogative of mercy. Appeal In a passionate appeal to the governor, Jackson wrote: I am a student and a farmer, who was going about my honest and lawful activity, when I was violently attacked and sustained severe injuries. Despite this, I was able to overpower my attacker and defend myself whereupon my attacker died. However, in a gross miscarriage of justice, I was sentenced to death in 2021 after already being in prison for several years. Jackson recalled that he was unarmed when his assailant attacked him with a knife. He tried to run for his life, calling for help but he was stabbed at the back of his head. According to him, My assailant stabbed me again on my leg, and one more move from him was going to end my life. I was too weak to run, so in defence of myself, I disarmed him while already in a pool of my own blood, and killed him to save my life. I have been devastated emotionally and mentally, as I have had to deal with the pain of this grave injustice against me. I have never set eyes on my 10 year daughter all these years, as she was born after my arrest, he said. He therefore appealed as follows: In light of these circumstances, I urge Your Excellency to exercise your prerogative of mercy and grant me a pardon, particularly as I have also spent ten years in the correctional facility, through the determination of this case. This would be a just and compassionate decision, considering the clear miscarriage of justice that has occurred in this case. Jackson has also appealed to President Tinubu to intervene in his case. Legal experts have drawn attention to Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), which guarantees the fundamental right to life of every Nigerian Citizen. Section 33(2) (a) provides that: A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by the law, of such force as is reasonably necessary-(a) for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property In a letter titled Death Sentence On Sunday Jackson By The Supreme Court Of Nigeria For Murder Of My Son Buba Bawuro, Ardo pleaded that Jacksons life be spared. He argued that there was no point taking another life. He declared, on behalf of his entire family, that they were not interested in executing the verdict of the Supreme Court. The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and Abuja has strongly condemned the Supreme Courts death verdict on Jackson. In a statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday, Chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend John Hayab, described the judgment as a grave travesty of justice and called on Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to grant Jackson a pardon. Conflict Resolution An international human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, and Pastor William Devlin who serves as the national president of REDEEM! an organisation committed to assisting persecuted people and groups in America and around the globe, took their advocacy for Jacksons life to the traditional ruler, Hama Bachama. The royal father facilitated a heart-to-heart discussion between the Jackson and Bawuro families, resulting in the victims father, Ardo Bawuro, writing to the governor to say that his family has forgiven Jackson for killing their son, and pleading that the governor grant clemency to the convict. In a letter titled Death Sentence On Sunday Jackson By The Supreme Court Of Nigeria For Murder Of My Son Buba Bawuro, Ardo pleaded that Jacksons life be spared. He argued that there was no point taking another life. He declared, on behalf of his entire family, that they were not interested in executing the verdict of the Supreme Court. His conclusion sounds quite edifying: In this regard, your excellency should count us out of the judgement passed on the victim (Sunday Jackson). My son can never wake up again. Based on this fact, I am pleading for clemency on Sunday Jackson to be pardoned and set free. How is a layman supposed to interpret all this? The grandiose legal system from the High Court to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court failed Citizen Jackson. Now, it seems that the good old traditional conflict resolution mechanism (featuring the traditional ruler and the two feuding families) has come to the rescue. The less time spent on further arguments the better. I add my voice to Ardo Bawuros appeal to Governor Umaru Fintiri: Please exercise your prerogative of mercy and let Sunday Jackson go home. Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on [email protected], Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print God always wins, even when He appears to lose. This is a comforting and convicting truth that calls us to examine our lives and choices. Are we fighting battles that should not be fought? Are we compromising our spiritual values for temporary gains? Let us seek to win in ways that matter eternally, knowing that Gods spiritual victory is the ultimate triumph. Speaking to the graduating class of Vassar College in 2001 about the vanity of wealth, Stephen King said, We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but were just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. If this is not startling enough, listen to a similar, but more captivating rendition of the same sentiments by Pastor John Piper, Picture 269 people entering eternity through a disaster in the Sea of Japan. Before the crash, there are a noted politician, a millionaire corporate executive, and others. After the disaster, they all stand before God utterly stripped of Mastercards, checkbooks, how-to-succeed books, and Hilton reservations. Here are all these people with nothing, absolutely nothing, in their hands, possessing only what they brought in their hearts. How absurd and tragic the lover of money will seem on that day, like a man who spends his whole life collecting train tickets and in the end is so weighed down by the collection that he misses the last train. Many of us find ourselves fighting battles that should never be fought, let alone won. Consider the case of a man who triumphs with a second wife over his faithful spouse. In this scenario, the man, who professes to be a Christian, leverages his strength, influence, and power to trample on his weak, poor, and vulnerable wife in favour of another, and gets away with it. On the surface, it appears he has won. But in the eyes of eternity, he is a woeful and pitiful failure. Dr Erwin Lutzer once remarked, Yes, God always wins, even when He appears to lose. He does not have to win numerically to win spiritually. This profound statement brings to light a truth that is often overlooked in our pursuit of worldly success and victories. It is a reminder that not all battles must be won, and that some victories can lead to spiritual defeat. God always wins, even when He appears to be losing in the eyes of men. He does not have to win numerically to win spiritually. This truth is especially evident in the spiritual and political landscape of nations, such as Nigeria. Recent political developments in Nigeria have revealed the emergence of a new generation of individuals who, despite their religious affiliations, have brazenly abandoned righteousness for unrighteousness, and honesty for deceit. These individuals, some of whom identify as Christians, have allowed their judgment to be clouded by ungodly desires and ambitions. Even when it appears that God is losing, He is, in fact, winning. God does not need to win numerically to claim spiritual victory. The superficial triumphs of individuals who compromise their faith for temporal gains are nothing compared to the eternal victories that God secures. 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 Rather than God using them, many of them are now using God. And interestingly, they always win with nothing or no one strong enough to stop them from merchandising and misrepresenting Christ acts that are now cheapening Christ before a watching world. They seem unstoppable. They are winning on earth. But will eventually lose in eternity, because even when it appears like God is losing now, God always wins. Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me (Job 27:5). In this reflection, we are reminded that true victory is not measured by earthly standards but by a life of integrity. A man who wins a battle at the expense of his moral and spiritual values is not a victor; he is a defeated soul. The political successes of individuals who forsake righteousness are hollow and transient, for they have sacrificed their eternal well-being for momentary power. As we navigate our lives, it is crucial to remember that not all battles must be won. Some victories come at too great a cost, leading to spiritual defeat. We must strive to align our actions and decisions with the values of righteousness, truth, and integrity. True victories are rooted in a life of integrity, not in the fleeting triumphs of this world. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out (1 Timothy 6:7). God always wins, even when He appears to lose. This is a comforting and convicting truth that calls us to examine our lives and choices. Are we fighting battles that should not be fought? Are we compromising our spiritual values for temporary gains? Let us seek to win in ways that matter eternally, knowing that Gods spiritual victory is the ultimate triumph. There are also some categories of ministers, some who may not even read this article, who are winning today. They win against their congregation who dare not question their lifestyles or practices. They win against the Bible. They care less whether their acts and practices align with the Bible they talk so much about. They have no iota of regard or respect for the corporate image of the church. They have become gods of men! They place curses on pastors or members who leave their churches. They are actively involved with different shades of ministerial rituals and occultism gravely unknown to many of their admirers. Rather than God using them, many of them are now using God. And interestingly, they always win with nothing or no one strong enough to stop them from merchandising and misrepresenting Christ acts that are now cheapening Christ before a watching world. They seem unstoppable. They are winning on earth. But will eventually lose in eternity, because even when it appears like God is losing now, God always wins. He does not have to win numerically to win spiritually. Wealth in the hands of a believer not invested in the right kingdom projects will eventually filter down the drain. Wealth is only a good servant in the hands of a broken master. Wealth in the hands of an unbroken man is a cruel master. What about many of our Christian businessmen and women who are actively involved in widespread bribery and corruption, forex round-tripping, financial investment scams and compromised real estate projects, where they knowingly sell the same assets to multiple buyers? Many of them have really won. They travel around the world. They buy and ride in choice cars and live in sprawling residences in posh neighbourhoods. Yes, they seem to have won on earth. But will they still win in eternity, because even when it appears like God is losing now, He always wins. He does not have to win numerically to win spiritually. After building one of the worlds greatest cathedrals, the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Istanbul, Turkey, Emperor Justinian in AD 537, in his dedication speech, shouted, Solomon, I have outdone you. Such was the grandeur of this colossal edifice, whose glory and splendour adorned the city of Constantinople for generations. It was the late Canadian prophecy scholar, Dr Grant Jeffrey who described a generation as a period of a hundred years, meaning that the church of the Holy Wisdom, which was dedicated in AD 537, survived more than ten generations before it was desecrated, hijacked, and converted into a mosque around 1453. This temple, in todays currency, would have sunk more than a billion dollars in construction costs. In his own account of the capture of this edifice, Dr Erwin Lutzer stated that, soldiers fought their way into the church of the Holy Wisdom, killing all worshippers. Religious icons and furnishings were destroyed. The priests performing their duties were massacred. Churches and convents were ransacked, and nuns were raped. Today, all the massive investments poured into the construction of the church of the Holy Wisdom have been totally wasted and lost after the passing of ten generations. Wealth in the hands of a believer not invested in the right kingdom projects will eventually filter down the drain. Wealth is only a good servant in the hands of a broken master. Wealth in the hands of an unbroken man is a cruel master. Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen Ministries in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Despite the horror captured on video, most national newspapers downplayed the incident. Shockingly, the atrocity was eclipsed by frivolous matters that received more prominent coverage. On Saturday, 29 March the day after the lynching I visited the PRNigeria Centre in Abuja to review the major national dailies. To my dismay, front pages were dominated by paid advertorials celebrating President Tinubus 73rd birthday. These glossy tributescompletely overshadowed the tragedy in Uromi. In school, we are taught that the media often described as the Fourth Estate exists to educate, inform, and serve as a watchdog for society. Yet, behind this noble ideal lies a troubling reality: media narratives are frequently shaped by the interests of their proprietors, patrons, and editors. Even on deeply sensitive national issues, editorial direction can be swayed by commercial gain, political allegiance, or ethnic loyalties. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, as I discussed in a recent article, starkly illustrates the hypocrisy and bias in global media coverage. Western outlets routinely suppress narratives sympathetic to President Vladimir Putin, just as some Eastern media demonise President Volodymyr Zelensky. Today, journalistic ethics are too often sacrificed for partisan interests. The once-vaunted integrity of global journalism is steadily eroding, compromised by ideological alignments and the influence of sponsors. Sadly, the Nigerian media is no exception. Ownership and editorial control increasingly dictate which stories are amplified and muted particularly on issues involving ethnoreligious tensions and national security. I have always found it challenging to watch graphic footage of human brutality. The lynching of Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a Christian student accused of blasphemy in Sokoto in May 2022, remains etched in my memory. Her horrific killing received widespread media coverage, with headlines invoking religion and regional identity Islam, the North, and Christianity. In sharp contrast, that same month, Harira Jibril, a pregnant Muslim woman, and her four children, were murdered in Anambra, allegedly by IPOB militants. This atrocity received scant media attention and, when reported, conspicuously lacked references to her faith or origin. The disparity reveals deep-rooted biases in our medias treatment of ethnoreligious violence. A more recent and equally distressing case underscores this troubling trend: the lynching of Northern hunters predominantly Hausa-speaking Muslims in Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday, 28 March. The victims, reportedly en route to Kano for Eid al-Fitr celebrations, were travelling in a truck when local vigilantes intercepted them and allegedly found dane guns on them. This sparked a mob attack. A harrowing video showed the men pleading for mercy as they were beaten and burnt alive, while onlookers stood by with chilling indifference. 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 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promptly condemned the killings, describing them as shocking and unacceptable, and ordered a thorough investigation and prosecution. He reaffirmed that jungle justice has no place in a civilised society and that all citizens have the right to move freely within the country. Several factors fuel this persistent media bias, including ownership influence, whereby proprietors and sponsors shape narratives to align with their interests; lack of diversity, as many newsrooms are dominated by personnel from a single region, leading to skewed perspectives; and commercial priorities, where advertising revenue and political patronage often outweigh the public interest as evident in the prioritisation of birthday tributes over national tragedies. Despite the horror captured on video, most national newspapers downplayed the incident. Shockingly, the atrocity was eclipsed by frivolous matters that received more prominent coverage. On Saturday, 29 March the day after the lynching I visited the PRNigeria Centre in Abuja to review the major national dailies. To my dismay, front pages were dominated by paid advertorials celebrating President Tinubus 73rd birthday. These glossy tributes, sponsored by political allies and business elites from both the North and South including High Chief Government Tompolo and Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar completely overshadowed the tragedy in Uromi. Newspapers like ThisDay, The Guardian, Vanguard, Saturday Sun, Saturday Telegraph, Leadership Weekend, and even Blueprint Weekend either buried the story deep within their pages or ignored it entirely. Their front pages focused on far less urgent matters: the death of Humphrey Nwosu, political wrangling in Rivers State, forest reserve issues, and women in leadership. Only four publications Saturday PUNCH, Saturday Tribune, The Nation, and Weekend Trust gave the incident the seeming prominence it deserved, with headlines such as: FG Orders Manhunt as Outrage Trails 16 Edo Travellers Lynching, Tinubu Orders Manhunt for Killers of Hunters in Edo, Edo Killing: Police Arrest 24 as President Orders Manhunt, and How 16 Hunters Were Mobbed, Killed in Uromi. Yet, even these reports by the four newspapers omitted a critical detail: the victims were Northern Muslims. If the roles had been reversed with Southern Christians lynched in the North there is little doubt that ethnic and religious profiling would have been amplified, generating widespread public outrage. Several factors fuel this persistent media bias, including ownership influence, whereby proprietors and sponsors shape narratives to align with their interests; lack of diversity, as many newsrooms are dominated by personnel from a single region, leading to skewed perspectives; and commercial priorities, where advertising revenue and political patronage often outweigh the public interest as evident in the prioritisation of birthday tributes over national tragedies. Such editorial decisions erode public trust in the media and deepen societal divisions. The press should serve as a bridge between Nigerias diverse communities, not a wedge. As I posted on Facebook, the murder of Northerners in Edo is not only horrifying it is a national tragedy. As we recently observed both the holy month of Ramadan and Lent, let us pray for peace and justice. But beyond prayers, we must act collectively and conscientiously to prevent future ethnoreligious violence and forestall retaliatory cycles. Let wisdom prevail. It is also a public reality that Northern voices are becoming increasingly marginalised in the mainstream media. Southern interests dominate most print, electronic, and online platforms. Northern elites, for their part, have failed to invest meaningfully in media ventures, often underestimating the strategic importance of the media in shaping public opinion and promoting regional representation. This recent episode underscores how media framing can shape national consciousness. When tragedies are filtered through biased lenses, they reinforce dangerous stereotypes and widen Nigerias fragile fault lines. The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) must urgently address these imbalances. Proactive measures including more inclusive hiring, stricter editorial guidelines, and greater accountability are essential. A more balanced media is not just desirable; it is vital for national cohesion. By acknowledging the current shortcomings and advocating for ethical, sensitive journalism, we can begin to foster mutual understanding and reflect the true diversity of our nation. As I posted on Facebook, the murder of Northerners in Edo is not only horrifying it is a national tragedy. As we recently observed both the holy month of Ramadan and Lent, let us pray for peace and justice. But beyond prayers, we must act collectively and conscientiously to prevent future ethnoreligious violence and forestall retaliatory cycles. Let wisdom prevail. Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of Award-Winning Crisis Communication Strategies. www.YAShuaib.com, [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu explained on Sunday in Abuja that his administration removed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to expedite development and enhance resident participation in governance. The President, who received FCT residents at the Presidential Villa for Sallah homage, said the bureaucracy associated with the TSA was hampering infrastructure growth in the capital city and had to be reviewed for impact and progress. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, led the residents during the homage. President Tinubu highlighted that freeing the FCT from TSA restrictions has swiftly catalysed infrastructure improvements, enhanced healthcare services, and increased security measures. I remember the day that the FCT Minister came to meet me, and he said, please take us out of the problem of the TSA so that I can do more work and achieve more. I said show me what you are about to do, and he presented his thinking and belief, Mr Tinubu said. And everything started changing rapidly. I started seeing the opening up of the rural areas by the FCT, the resuscitation of abandoned projects, and the completion of the Vice Presidents official residence that was abandoned for years. The FCT rehabilitated health care centres, upgraded facilities for school children, and provided furniture. 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 President Tinubu thanked the FCT Minister for proving that liberation from the bureaucracy was necessary and for restructuring the FCT public service so that civil servants could aspire to higher positions and provide leadership. We wouldnt have been able to open our mouths to celebrate if not because of the progressive ideas you brought to FCT. We can now celebrate the innovative ideas brought to the FCT, President Tinubu said. President Tinubu encouraged FCT residents and other Nigerians to look beyond ethnic and religious colourations in their leadership choices and focus more on results. Today, we live in peace, and security is improving. Hunger is coming down. Food prices are lowering. We can go to the market and do business. And our diversity and belief in ourselves are becoming stronger. We are not looking for magic. We are looking for results. We are looking for comfort. We are praying for good health. We are looking for someone who cares, the President noted. The job is not just about Wike or me, but everyone. Nyesom Wike is proving the diversity of Nigeria. He strengthened that diversity to develop prosperity, showing us that we are all members of one family, living together in the same house, in different rooms, and under one roof, the President said. President Tinubu urged more tolerance, broadmindedness and patriotism. All I appeal for is tolerance, which has brought us this far. We have learnt some lessons from Ramadan. May the lessons continue to be with us, he said. The FCT minister thanked the President for hosting the residents in the State House. This visit marks a historic moment as it is the first time the FCT residents can extend our greetings and best wishes to you in person during this blessed period. We are genuinely delighted to be here. Mr Wike pledged his loyalty to the President and committed himself to developing the capital city, assuring that the FCT would soon complete many projects. Despite our varied backgrounds, we are united in our unwavering support for your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, he added. Vice President, Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris attended the ceremony. The FCT delegation included members of the National Assembly, judiciary, religious and traditional leaders, security chiefs and women and youth groups. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy) March 30, 2025 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has hailed mothers on the occasion of this years Mothers Day celebration, describing them as exceptional and Irreplaceable. In his goodwill message, Mr Otti applauded mothers for the love and loyalty they constantly manifest. He emphasised the need to accord mothers the respect, regard and recognition they deserve, given the huge sacrifices they make on a daily basis to ensure peace and unity, as well as the well-being of families and the society in general. At the occasion of this years Mothers Day Celebration, Im glad that our mothers will be celebrating their special day today, a day that lifts their spirits and gladens their souls. A day that reminds all of us of how special and treasured they are. I therefore celebrate them as exceptional and irreplaceable creatures whose dispositions keep fostering peace and unity in the society, Mr Otti stated, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma. Mr Otti called on mothers in Abia and beyond to see this years celebration as another opportunity to display the unique virtues that make them special, and strive to inculcate them in the younger generation of women as a way of building a better and saner society for all. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later READ ALSO: Lagos Lagoon Chronicles to hold in April He assured mothers that his administration will continue to implement policies and programmes that will not only recognise and protect their place in the state, but ensure that they are free from all kinds of threats and abuses. Mr Otti, on behalf of his wife, Priscilla, and government of Abia State wished mothers a fantastic Mothers Day celebration filled with memorable joy and happiness. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Biola Adams-Odutayo, a Lagos resident charged with reckless driving causing the death of Adetunji Opaleye, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Bumpa, faces seven-year jail time if convicted. According to a statement from the police on Saturday, Ms Adams-Odutayo was arraigned at the Lagos State High Court in Tinubu, Lagos State, on two counts on 12 March, days after she was discharged from the hospital following the accident. The accident, which reportedly led to Mr Opayeles death, occurred at about 10.20 p.m. on 4 March, at 1004 Housing Estate entrance gate, taffic ligt junction, along Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Isiand, Lagos. Ms Adams-Odutayo, driving onto the expressway in her Ford Edge SUV with number plate LND 418 JR without checking for oncoming traffic, reportedly crashed into Mr Opaleye. A copy of the indictment shared on X by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian police, Ben Hundeyin, showed that the driver was charged under the states traffic law. The first count alleged that Ms Adams-Odutayo drove on the highway in an inconsiderable manner without due care and attention to other person(s) using the highway, when the accident occurred. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The police said the act constituted an offence under Section 50(1) of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State, 2018. The second count accused her of driving in a reckless and careless manner without due care and attention to other road users and caused the death of one Tunji Opaleye, male, aged 32 years. The police said the offence violated section 52 of the same Lagos States Road Traffic Law . Section 50(1) of the law, under which the first count was brought, criminalises reckless or dangerous driving. The provision prescribes a penalty of N50,000 fine upon conviction for any person who drives on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for others. According to the law, a subsequent conviction attracts a N100,000 fine or three months in jail, or both. Life cut short Born in Lagos on 20 December 1992, Mr Opayele attended Lagos State Model College Meiran before studying law at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). However, his passion for technology led him to become a software engineer. Before co-founding Bumpa, Mr Opayele worked in software development roles in Nigeria and the United States. He was a former employee of financial services firm E-Settlement and later founded HostCabal, a web hosting company. Bumpa, which he co-founded, automates retail operations for small businesses. In 2022, the startup secured $4 million in seed funding and has since facilitated over N160 billion in transactions for 60,000 SMEs. Aftermath of the crash Witnesses alleged that Ms Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional and head of health at an insurance brokerage firm, refused to exit her vehicle or assist Mr Opayele. A bystander claimed she avoided contact with him to prevent blood from staining her car. Bystanders struggled to get help as multiple vehicles refused to stop. An Uber driver eventually agreed to transport Mr Opayele, but two hospitals reportedly denied him treatment. In a final attempt, witnesses forced Ms Adams-Odutayo to accompany them to another hospital. Mr Opayele was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. READ ALSO: Lagos Lagoon Chronicles to hold in April Controversy Following the accident, Ms Adams-Odutayo allegedly sought medical attention for herself at the hospital and later attempted to flee. Since her arrest, her family has reportedly used personal connections to influence the case, with the police charging her only with reckless driving. She was detained for a single night before securing bail set at N1 million with two sureties, which she met the same day. Her swift release has fueled public criticism, with Mr Opayeles family, friends, and colleagues calling for stricter legal action. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 5951 Times) Udaipur, The city of Udaipur has once again showcased its rich cultural heritage and artistic brilliance on the global stage. Acclaimed theatre director Sunil Tank represented Udaipur at the worlds longest-running theatre festival, Alwar Rangam 2024-25, organized by the Rang Sanskar Theatre Group in Alwar. Running from December 18 to March 27, this historic festival featured performances by theatre artists and groups from across the world. Over 100 days, 100 plays were staged, making Alwar Rangam not only Indias but also the worlds longest theatrical celebration. This extraordinary feat has been officially recognized in the World Book of Records, bringing immense pride to Rajasthan and India. Festival curator Deshraj Meena had previously set a milestone in 2023 with a 75-day theatre festival, but this year, he broke his own record, placing Indian theatre on the global map. The event saw participation from renowned artists nationwide, with Sunil Tank being specially invited to introduce Udaipurs theatre traditions, folk arts, and cultural legacy. He also highlighted contemporary themes, values, and traditions of the region. Expressing his emotions, Sunil Tank stated, "It is a great honor and privilege to represent Udaipur on such a grand stage. The citys artistic depth and cultural vibrancy deserve global recognition." Senior theatre artist Sartaj Narayan Mathur from Jaipur praised Sunils contribution, stating that his efforts have elevated Udaipurs theatre scene to international recognition, inspiring aspiring artists. Another veteran, Ravi Chaturvedi, remarked that Sunils participation has marked a historic moment for Udaipur, reinforcing its artistic identity. The 100-day theatre extravaganza concluded on March 27, 2025, World Theatre Day, with the play Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, featuring renowned film actors Rajendra Gupta and Himani Shivpuri, directed by Suresh Bhardwaj. Notably, Sunil Tank, an active figure in theatre arts, serves as the Secretary and Director of Team Natya Sanstha. He has successfully established the Udaipur Natya Rang Mahotsav, a major theatre festival in Udaipur, further strengthening the city's theatrical landscape. Source : ( Read 6045 Times) Udaipur: A grand felicitation ceremony was organized by PFC Education at Radisson Green, where 200 students were honored for their hard work and exceptional academic performance. Chief Guest: Rohan Rajvanshi (ACCA Head, North-West) highlighted ACCAs global recognition in 180+ countries and its growing opportunities in India. Career Advantage: ACCA opens global pathways in finance, accounting, and auditing, offering high-paying jobs in UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Singapore, and more. Star Performer: Rohan Jain was specially honored for securing World Rank 1 & India Rank 2 in Performance Management & Advanced Taxation. PFC Education: More than just an institute, its a career-shaping platform preparing students for international careers with industry-ready training. #PFCEducation #ACCA #StudentSuccess #GlobalCareers #Udaipur Source : DHAKA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Sunday dispatched emergency relief aid to Myanmar in response to the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on March 28. Following the direction of Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been mobilized to send rescue and medical assistance teams to Myanmar. Essential relief supplies, including medicines, tents, and food, are being provided to support the affected population. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Bangladesh Armed Forces on Sunday evening, two aircraft landed at Yangon airport on that day. The ISPR emphasized that, subject to approval from the Myanmar government, additional relief supplies and a larger rescue and medical assistance team will be deployed later. In preparation for further relief operations, a specialized 26-member search and rescue team from the Bangladesh Armed Forces, along with a 10-member rescue unit from the Fire Service and Civil Defense, remains on standby to provide necessary assistance for the rescue operation. Additionally, two medical teams of 11 members each were on standby to provide medical services. QIONGHAI, China, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sub-forum on Religious Harmony and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations took place at the BFA (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 on March 28. The sub-forum focused on the theme "Countless Dharma Doors Converge in a Square Inch: A Discussion on the Future of Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures." The gathering brought together 12 eminent monks and cultural researchers from six countries and regions to explore the current state and future of digitizing Buddhist scriptures. Chaired by Venerable Master Yin Shun, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China, and President of the Buddhist Association of Hainan Province, the event aimed to advance the preservation and development of Buddhist culture through international collaboration. BFAs 10th Religious Sub-forum Highlights Global Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures BFAs 10th Religious Sub-forum Highlights Global Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures BFA's Decade of Progress: A Solid Foundation for the Future Yin Shun, reflecting on the ten-year journey of the BFA Religious Sub-forum, noted its steadfast commitment to the foundational goal of building a global community united by a common destiny. The sub-forum has been instrumental in promoting religious harmony and fostering cross-cultural dialogues, while also enhancing international cooperation in the fundamental domains of religion, culture, education, philanthropy, and healthcare. A notable achievement of the sub-forum has been in the area of digital preservation and accessibility of Buddhist teachings. It has effectively used digital technology to compile the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms and has facilitated the digital translation of Buddhist classics across the economically important Pan-South China Sea region. Furthermore, it has proposed initiatives to raise the digitization of these texts as a major national concern. The South China Sea Buddhist Academy, China's premier international Buddhist educational platform targeting Southeast Asia, has made significant contributions by educating 106 international students from several nations, most notably from Laos, Mongolia, Cambodia, and Nepal, and, by doing so, playing a crucial role in the international effort to digitize Buddhist scriptures. Digital Empowerment: Advocating for the Chinese Adaptation of Buddhism Ven. Guang Quan, Deputy Secretary General of the Buddhist Association of China and President of the Buddhist Association of Zhejiang Province, noted the crucial role of digitizing Chinese Buddhist scriptures in enhancing the international dissemination of Buddhist culture. He highlighted the accomplishments of Hangzhou Lingyin Temple in this area, including the development of an AI-based OCR engine for ancient books, production and tool platforms for digitizing ancient books, and a Buddhist scriptures reading hub. Building on these advancements, efforts are underway to digitize Buddhist canons, citing, in particular, the Jingshan Canon, the Yongle Northern Canon and the Siji Canon. Guang Quan's initiatives aim to further the interconnection of civilizations through digital technology, breathing new life into Asian Buddhist wisdom in the digital realm. Bhikshu HUIMIN, President, Comprehensive Buddhist Electronic Text Archive Foundation (CBETA) Taiwan, China, reflected on the establishment of the Electronic Buddhist Text Initiative (EBTI). He provided an overview of the current status of global Buddhist text digitization, highlighting its evolution from digital archives (DA) to digital humanities (DH). Additionally, he unveiled the groundbreaking concept of Artificial Intelligence and Brain-Computer Interface (AI - BCI) for the digitization of Buddhist culture. He stressed that the transition of Buddhism from traditional scriptures to cloud-based platforms represents not only the future of Buddhism but also a new civilization where mindfulness and technology merge. Hong Xiang, Research Assistant at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong, highlighted the transformative impact of digital technology on the collation and proofreading of the Dunhuang manuscripts, starting from the digitization project. He noted that the preservation of the Dunhuang manuscripts, which embody the essence of a multi-faceted and symbiotic civilization, demands interdisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, he advocated for global resource sharing in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. Zhu Cuiping, Editor-in-Chief of Zhonghua Book Company GuLian (Beijing) Digital Media Tech Co., Ltd, China, pointed out that the digitization of Buddhist scriptures is an enormous undertaking that requires a collaborative effort among the government, religious organizations, universities, research institutes, and publishing entities. She called for the initiation of a global initiative to compile Buddhist literature to drive the worldwide project of digitizing Buddhist scriptures. International Cooperation: Jointly Advancing the Global Digitization Project of Buddhist Scriptures The sub-forum placed particular emphasis on the contributions of Japanese and Korean Buddhism to the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. KAWANAKA KOKYO, Director-General of Administration of Jodoshu, Japan, presented the "Digitization of Zojo-ji's Three Great Buddhist Canons" project. He urged all parties to collaborate in furthering the global effort to digitize Buddhist scriptures, with the aim of fostering a more peaceful and harmonious future for humanity. JONG-RIM, Honorary Chairman of Tripitaka Koreana Research Institute, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, shared insights from the digitization efforts of the Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa Temple in Korea. He proposed the future goal of completing a comprehensive Tripitaka and developing a dictionary of concepts and terms utilizing digital technology. South China Sea Buddhist Friendship Circle: Fostering Digital Connections The sub-forum highlighted the role of the South China Sea Buddhist Friendship Circle in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. Ven. PHRAPROMMASITH (Thongchai Sukkayano) Supreme Patriarchs, elaborated on Thailand's experience in safeguarding Buddhist cultural heritage. He urged international cooperation to facilitate the digitization of Buddhist scriptures, aiming to provide convenient access to anyone anywhere with an interest in reading and better understanding the Dharma. SANDI MARBHIVAMSA, Chairman of Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Myanmar, and Ven. (Dr.) KIRINDE ASSAJI, Chief Prelate (Malwatta Chapter) Sanghanayaka of Sri Lanka's Western Province, provided insights into the current state of Buddhism in their respective countries and the advancements made in the digitization of Buddhist scriptures. They both expressed a strong willingness to collaborate with Buddhist communities from other nations in these endeavors. Looking to the Future: Consultation, Collaboration, and Sharing Ven. YAN JUE, President of the Buddhist Association of China, concluded by emphasizing that Buddhist scriptures represent a shared cultural heritage of humanity. He noted that their digitization presents not only a technical challenge but also a cultural mission. He also underscored the commitment of the Chinese Buddhist community to the global governance principles of consultation, collaboration, and sharing. By partnering with Buddhist and academic communities worldwide, they aim to advance the digitization of Buddhist texts, share the outcomes of these efforts, and further disseminate the teachings and scriptures of Buddhism. SOURCE The Buddhist Association of Hainan Province 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 Patna, March 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Patna late Saturday for his two-day visit to Bihar, during which he is scheduled to meet leaders of the BJP-led NDA, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and address a couple of public events. This visit by the Union Home Minister is aimed at energising the BJP and its NDA allies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections which is scheduled to take place later this year. After landing in Bihar, Amit Shah took to his official X account and said: "Under the leadership of Modi ji, the NDA government in Bihar has become synonymous with public welfare and good governance. Today, I had a detailed discussion with the Ministers, MLAs and senior officials of the @BJP4Bihar in the Bihar government. Once again, the NDA government is going to be formed in Bihar." The Union Home Minister was warmly welcomed at the Patna airport by senior BJP leaders from the state. After his arrival, Home Minister Shah proceeded to the BJP office in Patna, where he held a meeting with local leaders. Amit Shah held a meeting with Union ministers, MPs, state Ministers, and MLAs, emphasising the goal of securing 225 seats for the NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told IANS, "There will be more people coming to Bihar, and Bihar has to win the the influence and create a new enthusiasm all over the country. The BJP won the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi. So now the process of BJP's victory will continue..." Commenting on Amit Shah's visit to Bihar, the former Union Minister added: "This is an organisational meeting focused on the upcoming elections. Discussions will be held with all MLAs and MPs, as well as core committee members..." Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh told IANS, "The Home Minister has arrived, bringing joy across the state, especially among party workers. Known as the Chanakya of the party (BJP) organisation, his presence naturally enthuses the cadre..." BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS: "A wave of joy is sweeping across Bihar as Amit Shah arrives! Whenever he visits Bihar, an NDA storm begins to rise. There is an atmosphere of excitement and celebration among all party workers..." BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal told IANS, "The country's Union Home Minister, who also plays the role of a modern-day Chanakya in politics, is set to make a significant impact with today's crucial meeting in Bihar. With elections approaching, his visit at this time is highly strategic. Not just one, but multiple high-level meetings will take place. Initially, there will be discussions with MLAs, MPs, and Ministers, followed by another important meeting..." BJP MP Dharmshila Gupta told IANS: "We (BJP) have gained new energy and will fully reach the booth level. Our target is the booth..." She also added: "Today, on the sacred land of Buddha and the holy soil of Patna, we are honoured to welcome our country's respected Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah. With great enthusiasm, the senior leaders, dedicated workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the sisters of the Mahila Morcha stand here with flowers and garlands to extend a warm welcome to him. We wholeheartedly greet and honor him..." BJP MP Pradeep Kumar Singh told IANS, "We will win the elections, but the key is to secure a massive victory. Amit Shah has provided strategic guidance on achieving this goal. Following his advice, our party (BJP) workers will reach every village, every household, and every booth to ensure NDA's victory with a resounding majority..." Union Minister Raj Bhushan Nishad told IANS, "You all know that this is an election year, and in this crucial period, organisational strengthening and strategic guidance are essential..." The visit of Amit Shah, the first since last year's parliamentary polls, is seen as the unofficial start of the NDA's campaign with a target of winning 225 out of 243 seats. Home Minister Shah will address a public meeting in Gopalganj on Sunday, a key political event designed to mobilise the party's grassroots. Home Minister Shah's itinerary includes two official events on Sunday a" one in Patna and the other in Gopalganj. At Bapu Sabhagar, he will address a state-level cooperative conference attended by 6,950 representatives from various cooperative sectors, including PACS, fisheries, dairy and vegetable growers. He is expected to announce schemes worth Rs 903 crore for the cooperative and home departments. In Gopalganj, before addressing the public, Home Minister Shah will distribute 100 micro-ATMs to abank mitras' of Bihar State Cooperative Bank and launch several local initiatives, including a makhana processing centre in Darbhanga. Both events align with the UN-declared International Cooperative Year 2025 and Home Minister Shah will also unveil a web portal dedicated to cooperative activities. On Amit Shah's expected meeting with CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) acting president Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Amit Shah will meet the CM at his official residence on Sunday." State BJP Chief Dilip Jaiswal added that Amit Shah would return from Gopalganj around 3 p.m. and hold a joint meeting with NDA leaders before leaving for Delhi. After arriving in Patna, the Union Home Minister visited the BJP state headquarters for discussions with Union and state ministers, MLAs, MLCs and party office bearers. Patna, March 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Patna late Saturday for his two-day visit to Bihar, during which he met leaders of the BJP-led NDA, and will address a couple of public events. This visit by the Union Home Minister is aimed at energising the BJP and its NDA allies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections which is scheduled to take place later this year. After arriving in Bihar on Saturday, Amit Shah took to his official X account and said: "Under the leadership of Modi ji, the NDA government in Bihar has become synonymous with public welfare and good governance. Today, I had a detailed discussion with the Ministers, MLAs and senior officials of the @BJP4Bihar in the Bihar government. Once again, the NDA government is going to be formed in Bihar." The Union Home Minister was warmly welcomed at the Patna airport by senior BJP leaders from the state. After his arrival, Home Minister Shah proceeded to the BJP office in Patna, where he held a meeting with local leaders. Amit Shah held a meeting with Union ministers, MPs, state Ministers, and MLAs, emphasising the goal of securing 225 seats for the NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. Taking To his official X account, BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "Today, I attended a meeting with all the MPs, MLAs, Legislative Council members in the dignified presence of the country's illustrious Home and Cooperation Minister Mr. @AmitShah ji at the Bihar BJP office. In the meeting, I got guidance on the party's upcoming programs and organizational issues." He told IANS, "There will be more people coming to Bihar, and Bihar has to win the the influence and create a new enthusiasm all over the country. The BJP won the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi. So now the process of BJP's victory will continue..." Commenting on Amit Shah's visit to Bihar, the former Union Minister added: "This is an organisational meeting focused on the upcoming elections. Discussions will be held with all MLAs and MPs, as well as core committee members..." Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh told IANS, "The Home Minister has arrived, bringing joy across the state, especially among party workers. Known as the Chanakya of the party (BJP) organisation, his presence naturally enthuses the cadre..." BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS: "A wave of joy is sweeping across Bihar as Amit Shah arrives! Whenever he visits Bihar, an NDA storm begins to rise. There is an atmosphere of excitement and celebration among all party workers..." BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal told IANS, "The country's Union Home Minister, who also plays the role of a modern-day Chanakya in politics, is set to make a significant impact with today's crucial meeting in Bihar. With elections approaching, his visit at this time is highly strategic. Not just one, but multiple high-level meetings will take place. Initially, there will be discussions with MLAs, MPs, and Ministers, followed by another important meeting..." BJP MP Dharmshila Gupta told IANS: "We (BJP) have gained new energy and will fully reach the booth level. Our target is the booth..." She also added: "Today, on the sacred land of Buddha and the holy soil of Patna, we are honoured to welcome our country's respected Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah. With great enthusiasm, the senior leaders, dedicated workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the sisters of the Mahila Morcha stand here with flowers and garlands to extend a warm welcome to him. We wholeheartedly greet and honor him..." BJP MP Pradeep Kumar Singh told IANS, "We will win the elections, but the key is to secure a massive victory. Amit Shah has provided strategic guidance on achieving this goal. Following his advice, our party (BJP) workers will reach every village, every household, and every booth to ensure NDA's victory with a resounding majority..." Union Minister Raj Bhushan Nishad told IANS, "You all know that this is an election year, and in this crucial period, organisational strengthening and strategic guidance are essential..." The visit of Amit Shah, the first since last year's parliamentary polls, is seen as the unofficial start of the NDA's campaign with a target of winning 225 out of 243 seats. Home Minister Shah will address a public meeting in Gopalganj on Sunday, a key political event designed to mobilise the party's grassroots. Home Minister Shah's itinerary includes two official events on Sunday a" one in Patna and the other in Gopalganj. At Bapu Sabhagar, he will address a state-level cooperative conference attended by 6,950 representatives from various cooperative sectors, including PACS, fisheries, dairy and vegetable growers. He is expected to announce schemes worth Rs 903 crore for the cooperative and home departments. In Gopalganj, before addressing the public, Home Minister Shah will distribute 100 micro-ATMs to abank mitras' of Bihar State Cooperative Bank and launch several local initiatives, including a makhana processing centre in Darbhanga. Both events align with the UN-declared International Cooperative Year 2025 and Home Minister Shah will also unveil a web portal dedicated to cooperative activities. On Amit Shah's expected meeting with CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) acting president Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Amit Shah will meet the CM at his official residence on Sunday." State BJP Chief Dilip Jaiswal added that Amit Shah would return from Gopalganj around 3 p.m. and hold a joint meeting with NDA leaders before leaving for Delhi. After arriving in Patna, the Union Home Minister visited the BJP state headquarters for discussions with Union and state ministers, MLAs, MLCs and party office bearers. Beirut, March 30 : Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has announced the formation of a "transitional government" in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The announcement, initially scheduled for earlier this month, comes amid international calls for an inclusive Syrian transition following recent sectarian bloodshed, as the country's new leaders seek to reunite and rebuild Syria and its institutions after overthrowing former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government on December 8 which brought an end to 14 years of civil war. The new Cabinet retains key figures from the interim leadership, Xinhua news agency reported. Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, previously interim chief of foreign affairs authority, was appointed Foreign Minister, while former Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab was named Interior Minister. Marhaf Abu Qusra, who oversaw defence affairs in the interim administration, will serve as Defence Minister. The government also introduced several structural changes, including the creation of a Ministry of emergency and disasters to address natural and humanitarian crises, as well as a dedicated Ministry of youth and sports. Veteran opposition figure Hind Kabawat, a member of Syria's Christian minority and longtime Assad opponent, was named social affairs and labour minister, the first woman to be appointed by Sharaa. The leader of the White Helmets, the Syrian rescuers who worked in rebel-held areas, Raed al-Saleh, was appointed Minister of emergency situations and disasters. The Islamist-led authorities who now dominate Syria have vowed to protect minorities, especially after fighting earlier this month between gunmen from Assad's Alawite community and militia linked to the Sunni rebel forces that overthrew him led to civilian massacres. In December, a caretaker government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir was appointed to steer the country until a new Cabinet was formed, an announcement initially scheduled for March 1. In late January, al-Sharaa, leader of Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded Assad's overthrow, was appointed interim President. Former Syrian President Assad's government collapsed on December 8, 2024, following a 12-day offensive spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied militant groups. Since Assad's ouster, HTS commander al-Sharaa has led interim authorities, seeking to establish a new political framework for the country. This month, Sharaa signed into force a constitutional declaration regulating the country's transitional period, set for five years. Some experts and rights groups have warned that it concentrates power in Sharaa's hands and fails to include enough protection for minorities. Gaza/Jerusalem, March 30 : Hamas has said it had approved a proposal from mediators for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which it received two days earlier. "In our commitment to our people and families, we have engaged with all proposals responsibly and positively, aiming to end the war," Khalil Al-Hayya, head of Hamas in Gaza, said on Saturday in a statement. "Two days ago, we received a proposal from our mediator brothers. We responded positively and approved it. We hope the occupation does not obstruct it or undermine the mediators' efforts," the statement added. The statement also reaffirmed Hamas' stance on armed resistance, calling it a "red line" and warning that "the weapon of resistance" will remain in the hands of the people and the state "if the Israeli occupation persists". "We will never accept humiliation or disgrace for our people. There will be no displacement or deportation," it added. Hamas also said that, along with other factions, it had submitted to Egypt a list of independent professionals and experts to help form a committee to manage the enclave, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed on Saturday night that it had received a new Gaza truce proposal and sent to the mediating countries a counteroffer. Media reports suggested that the major points of dispute include the number of hostages to be released. The counteroffer was "fully coordinated with the US," according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported that under the terms proposed to Israel, Hamas would release a few of the 59 hostages still in its captivity in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire in Gaza. Despite the intensive mediation efforts for a ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its troops have begun new ground operations in the Al Janina area in Rafah, southern Gaza, aimed at expanding the security zone. It confirmed that the "Hamas terrorist infrastructures" were dismantled during the operations. According to the statement, the IDF and Israel's Shin Bet security agency also carried out airstrikes on military targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad throughout Gaza, "killing dozens of militants," including those "who had launched mortars toward Israeli territory". Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza on March 18, effectively ending a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that started on January 19. Lucknow, March 30 : Fifty-year-old Anuj Kannaujia, a sharpshooter of the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was killed in a police encounter late on Saturday during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Jharkhand Police in Jamshedpur, an official said. However, STF Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) DK Shahi was injured during the encounter. "STF and Jharkhand police tried to capture Anuj Kannaujia on the basis of information received, but they started firing towards the security forces. Anuj Kannaujia was killed in cross-firing," said Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (ADG) of Uttar Pradesh STF. Kannaujia, who was on the run for more than five years, was wanted in 23 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, land grabbing, and arms smuggling. The Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar recently increased his bounty from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for any information leading to his arrest in an effort to track him down. "The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs regarding Kannaujia's movement in Jamshedpur. As the police team attempted to apprehend him, Kannaujia opened fire, shooting nearly 20 rounds and even hurling a bomb in a bid to escape. This forced the security forces to retaliate, leading to a high-intensity gunfight. During the exchange of fire, DySP DK Shahi sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder but continued leading the operation. Eventually, Kannaujia was neutralised after sustaining multiple bullet injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival," Uttar Pradesh STF ADG added. Following the encounter, police recovered two pistols, a large cache of live cartridges, and mobile phones from the site. The mobile phones are now being examined for possible leads on his criminal network, an officer privy to the probe said. Kannaujia, a resident of Bahlolpur village in Chiraiyakot, Mau, had a long history of violent crimes and was one of the most feared operatives of the Mukhtar Ansari gang. His criminal record spanned multiple districts, with six cases registered against him in Mau's Kotwali police station, five in Rani Ki Sarai, two in Dakshin Tola, and three in Chiraiyakot, apart from several others in Ghazipur and Azamgarh, the official added. In recent years, police intensified efforts to crack down on Kannaujia and his associates. As part of the statewide anti-mafia drive, authorities demolished his house in Azamgarh using a bulldozer, while his family members were booked under the Gangster Act and sent to jail, the officer said. THE HAGUE, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The suspect in Thursday's stabbing in central Amsterdam is a 30-year-old Ukrainian from the Donetsk region, but his motive remains unclear, Dutch police said on Saturday. The suspect will be brought before an examining magistrate on Tuesday, who will decide whether he will remain in custody. Police have yet to confirm if the suspect had a terrorist motive. Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema said the investigation is in full swing and "has full priority at the moment." "We hope to get more clarity about the backgrounds of this horrible stabbing soon. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones," she said. The attack occurred around 3:20 a.m. local time on Thursday near the Dam Square, leaving five people injured, two of them seriously. New Delhi, March 30 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh indirectly attacked the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government over the language issue and stressed that the Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to protecting Hindi and all other Indian languages. Addressing a programme organised by the BJP's 'Mahila Morcha' to pay a theatrical tribute to Tamil queen Velu Nachiyar, the Defence Minister said on Saturday that some people were creating controversy over Tamil and Hindi and lauded the effort to spread awareness about her in north India. He also added on Saturday that the tendency to divide the country based on language must come to an end, adding that there is no competition but a spirit of cooperation between Hindi and other Indian vernaculars, asserting that efforts to break the country in the name of language should stop. "Some people are unnecessarily creating controversy over Tamil and Hindi languages. However, the BJP is fully committed to protecting Hindi and all other Indian languages, and we are working towards that. There is no competition between Hindi and other Indian languages, but rather a spirit of cooperation among them. Hindi strengthens all Indian languages, and all Indian languages strengthen Hindi," Rajnath Singh said. "This trend of dividing the country in the name of language must stop. And if anyone can spread this message effectively and play an active role in it, I believe our sisters can do it in a more impactful way," he added. The Defence Minister also said: "It is ironic that some people in our country have started considering Aurangzeb as their ideal. Aurangzeb not only divided the people of India on the basis of religion but also committed atrocities against followers of other faiths." His comments come at a time when the Tamil Nadu government, led by MK Stalin, is at odds with the Central government regarding the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the delimitation exercise. In his speech, Rajnath Singh also highlighted the BJP government's commitment towards women's empowerment, saying that the party has ensured reservations for women in Parliament and state Assemblies. He emphasised that without the support and empowerment of women, the goal of building a strong and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' is impossible. "We passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, ensuring reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies. When I was the party president, I also ensured that women held at least 33 per cent representation within the party organisation. Without the support and empowerment of women, building a strong and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) is impossible," Singh said. The Defence Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for focusing on women-led development in the country. "Today, our Prime Minister has shown complete faith in the strength and power of women. There's a growing focus on women-led development in the country. Before PM Modi ji, no one ever discussed women-led development," he said. The senior BJP leader on the occasion also paid tributes to Queen Mangammal, who was also from Tamil Nadu, and praised her rule. He said women played a key role in turning India's freedom movement into a people's movement. PM Modi too has often lauded Velu Nachiyar, an 18th-century queen, as among the inspirational figures who fought against the British rule. Jerusalem, March 30 : Hamas's armed wing has released a video showing an Israeli hostage, Elkana Bohbot, pleading for his release. Bohbot, who was abducted from a music festival in southern Israel during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, appears in the footage calling on the Israeli government to secure his freedom. The footage, approved for publication by his family, marks the second proof-of-life video of Bohbot in recent days. He is one of 59 hostages still held by the terrorist group Hamas. The three-minute video, spoken in Hebrew, is the second hostage footage shared by Hamas in recent days. "For the second time, I am prisoner number 22," Bohbot says in the footage, directing his words to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I am the one who asked to record the video. Hamas did not tell me to record the video. This is not psychological warfare. The real psychological war is me waking up without seeing my son, without my wife." Bohbot, 36, worked as a contractor and was a member of the Histadrut for 15 years. He was part of the production team at the Nova music festival on October 7, where he helped treat and evacuate wounded concertgoers before being abducted by Hamas terrorists. He and his wife, Rivka, have a five-year-old son. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed Bohbot's identity, stating that he was seen earlier this week in another video alongside captive Yosef Haim Ohana. In the newly released video, Bohbot expresses his concerns over Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the danger they pose to the hostages. He appeals to the Israeli government for his release, saying he wishes to be reunited with his wife and son. Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18 after a temporary ceasefire, Hamas has warned that continued military actions could endanger the lives of the remaining hostages. Of the 251 individuals taken captive during the October 7 attack, 58 are still held in Gaza, with the Israeli military stating that 34 of them are presumed dead. Israel's renewed military campaign in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties, with nearly a dozen people killed on Saturday alone, according to the regionas civil defence agency. The hostilities have led to mounting calls for a renewed ceasefire agreement. Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said that ceasefire negotiations were gaining momentum. "We hope that the coming days will bring a real breakthrough in the war situation, following intensified communications with and between mediators in recent days," Naim said in a statement on Friday. On Saturday evening, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government reach a deal to bring the hostages home. Some of the demonstrators included former hostages and relatives of those still in captivity. "Soon, Israel will celebrate Passover ... I wish for us to be able to hold the seder night with the hostages, who must return so that we can truly celebrate a real festival," said Yair Horn, a former hostage whose brother Eitan remains in Gaza. "Prime Minister ... let's reach a deal without fighting." The upcoming Jewish festival of Passover, known as the "holiday of freedom," is traditionally marked by a family meal where the Haggadah is read, symbolising liberation. Many protesters emphasised that true celebration would only be possible if all hostages were safely returned home. The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire began on January 19 after 15 months of conflict, halting hostilities, securing the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and freeing certain Palestinian prisoners. The second phase aims to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas insists any proposals must initiate this phase, while Israel has proposed extending the initial 42-day truce. According to Palestinian officials, Israel's offensive has resulted in more than 50,000 Palestinian deaths. The conflict began after Hamas-led gunmen launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251, according to Israeli figures. Kathmandu, March 30 : Former King Gyanendra Shah was fined by Kathmandu's civic body following the damage caused to public property and environment during the pro-monarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital a day before. As the protest was organised on the call of Gyanendra Shah, Kathmandu Metropolitan City's (KMC) Mayor Balendra Shah sent a letter to his residence at Nirmala Niwas at Maharjgunj on the outskirt of Kathmandu asking him to pay Nepali Rupees 7,93,000 as compensation against the damage. The fine was imposed for the alleged improper disposal of waste on roads and sidewalks, as well as damage to physical structures. The KMC issued the penalty notice on Saturday, citing the breach of the Waste Management Act, 2020, and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Finance Act, 2021, Kathmandu Post reported. Parts of Kathmandu on Friday witnessed a tense situation after pro-monarchy protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set fire to vehicles and looted shops in the TinkuneBaneshwor area of Kathmandu. Two persons, including a TV cameraman, were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between the security personnel and the pro-monarchy protesters. In the letter sent to Gyanendra Shah, copies of which were released to the media, the KMC said that the protest organised with the call of the former monarch had damaged various properties belonging to the metropolis and affected the environment of the capital city. Durga Prasai, who was the convener of Friday's agitation, had met Gyanendra Shah a day before and received instructions to stage the agitation demanding reinstatement of monarchy and a Hindu state. The pro-monarchists have become active since democracy day in February when Gyanendra Shah said, "Time has come for us to assume responsibility to protect the country and bring about national unity." The pro-monarchists were organising rallies in Kathmandu and other parts of the country, demanding the reinstatement of the 240-year-old monarchy, abolished in 2008. Earlier on Monday, March 24, a group of civil society leaders in Nepal slammed Gyanendra Shah for becoming "politically active with the aim of reinstating monarchy". "Gyanendra Shah's descent into political activism subverts the nation-building efforts of his ancestors and carries the danger of weakening the country before its neighbours and the world," eight civil society leaders had said in a joint statement. Beirut, March 30 : Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolph Haykal has said that the military is investigating the Friday rocket fire from southern Lebanon into Israel, with several suspects detained for questioning, media reported. Haykal made the remarks on Saturday during an inspection of the South Litani Sector Command and military positions along the border, Xinhua news agency reported. He warned that rocket attacks from Lebanese territory serve "the enemy" and reaffirmed the army's role in protecting Lebanon and its people, regardless of political or sectarian affiliations. "The army is making significant efforts to carry out its missions in the south, a fact recognised by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the five-member committee overseeing the ceasefire," Haykal said. He stressed that Lebanon remains committed to implementing UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement, in line with directives from President Joseph Aoun and the government's commitments. Haykal accused Israel of obstructing the army's full deployment in the south, citing its presence in occupied Lebanese territory and repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty. On Friday, Israeli warplanes struck targets in southern Lebanon and a building in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh after rockets were fired into northern Israel. Official Lebanese sources said six people were killed and 21 wounded in the Israeli strikes. The airstrike on Dahieh, a densely populated area and a stronghold of Hezbollah, was Israel's first in the area since November last year and signalled a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides despite a fragile ceasefire. A US- and French-brokered truce between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since November 27, 2024, halting more than a year of cross-border hostilities linked to the Gaza conflict. Despite the agreement, Israel has continued to strike targets in Lebanon, citing security threats from Hezbollah. The Israeli military also remains at five border positions, missing a February 18 deadline for its full withdrawal. This is the latest in many incidents, as Israeli violations since the cease-fire began have resulted in the killing of at least 117 people in Lebanon, according to media reports. For its part, Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire and accused Israel of seeking "pretexts to justify continued aggression against Lebanon". Washington, March 30 : Faye Hall, an American woman who was recently freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, thanked US President Donald Trump in a video message for securing her release. Trump on Saturday shared a video on social media of Faye Hall, the freed American woman who had been detained by the Taliban since February. "Thank you for bringing me home. I've never been so proud to be an American citizen," Hall said in the video posted by Trump, expressing her gratitude to the President and saying she was "so glad" he was in office. Hall also took a moment to acknowledge the women still detained in Afghanistan. "They're waiting for you to come and set them free," Hall said in her message. "Thank you, Faye a" So honoured by your words!" Trump's post read, accompanied by the video of Hall. Hall was released on Thursday "following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar," which has been mediating on the US' behalf, a source told CNN. Hall, a British couple and their Afghan translator had been detained since February 1 while travelling to the central Bamiyan province of Afghanistan. Hall's release comes after Trump envoy Adam Boehler and former Trump official Zalmay Khalilzad travelled to Kabul to secure the release of American George Glezmann, which was also mediated by Qatar. In a post on X, Khalilzad announced Hall's release, stating, "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home." Taliban officials did not reveal the cause for the arrest, however media reports have said that Hall was detained on charges of using drones without authorisation. The British couple detained with Hall remain in Taliban custody. A senior Taliban official said Hall was held by the Haqqani network to gain concessions from the US governments. Hall was released after the US dropped its bounties on senior Haqqani officials including a $10 million reward for Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban governmentas Interior Minister. The Haqqani network was responsible for some of the most deadly attacks during the war in Afghanistan. Hall is believed to be the fourth American released from Afghanistan since January. Earlier this month, George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was freed after more than two years in custody. Mardan, March 30 : In a first-of-its-kind operation, the Pakistan military carried out drone strikes to target suspected militant hideouts in Babozai village in Katlang tehsil of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) province's Mardan district, killing at least 11 militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and, reportedly, nine civilians. Following Saturday's operation, security sources claimed that the attack was carried out after credible information based on intelligence of TTP hideouts and the militants gathered in the Katlang mountains with a plan to carry out attacks during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festivities and prayers. Security sources also alleged that the air strikes killed 11 TTP militants, while a total of 25 TTP militants were neutralised in the military operation. However, after the incident, the locals and the government officials confirmed that civilians, including women and children, had also been killed in the airstrikes, stating that the locals staged a protest against civilian casualties. Locals stated that the drone strikes killed at least nine members of a shepherd family, who they said were civilians. The KP provincial government also confirmed the incident, adding that there were also civilian casualties. "An Anti-terror operation was conducted in the Karlang mountainous area of Mardan district based on credible information about the presence of terrorists. According to reports, this location was being used for the hideout and movement of terrorist elements," said Barrister Saif, spokesperson for the KP provincial government. "It is regrettable that unarmed people were killed in the operation, including women and children," he added. On the other hand, after receiving reports about civilian casualties and protests by locals of the area, who kept the dead bodies of the deceased on the Swat Expressway and blocked two lanes for traffic, the KP government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 million for each victim. Local sources revealed that the nine victims of the family, killed in the drone strike, belonged to Shamozai Tehsil of Swat district and used to migrate from Swat along with sheep and goats during the winter season to settle in the foothills of Babozai and Shamozai villages in Mardan district. The death of civilians has sparked a wave of anger and outrage among the locals and has raised many questions concerning the credibility of the intelligence reports about the TTP hideout targeted in the drone strikes. While the security forces reject the claim of civilian casualties, stating that all the killed in the air strikes belonged to TTP, stressing that no civilian could have been living in the mountainous ranges of Katlang tehsil, locals have also released the names of the killed victims in the strike, establishing the claim that they were civilians and not TTP militants. Amjad Ali Khan, Housing Minister of the KP government, claimed that he had known each victim killed in the drone strike personally, asserting that they all were civilians. "All the nine people, including two women and two children, who were killed in the drone attack in Katlang were 200 per cent innocent people. I knew each one of them personally as they belonged to my native town in Shamozai in Swat," he said. "I personally visited the site where they were killed and assured their relatives of a proper inquiry into the incident," he added. The KP government also issued a press release on the incident, assuring that an investigation into the incident has been initiated. "This is an immensely painful and regrettable development. Every effort is made during such operations to avoid collateral damage. However, the complex terrain, the deliberate tactics of militants to embed within civilian populations, and the fog of war can sometimes lead to unintended consequences," read a statement issued by the KP government. "The government extends its deepest condolences to the affected families and stands with the affected families in this moment of grief. Immediate measures are being taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding civilian presence in the area, extend medical assistance to the injured and facilitate relief and compensation for the victims' families," the statement added. The latest drone strikes seem to be a new tactic by the Pakistani military establishment to target militant hideouts. However, civilian casualties and the outrage expressed by the locals are certainly a major issue for the security forces to contend with as the anti-military sentiments among the locals will further aggravate. On the other hand, TTP had also announced a three-day ceasefire for Eid-ul-Fitr, terming its announcement as a gesture to allow the people of Pakistan to celebrate in peace. However, TTP also maintained that while it has halted its activities during Eid, it holds the right to respond to any military aggression in self-defence if attacked. Los Angeles, March 30 : A small plane crashed in a residential area in the US state of Minnesota, setting a house on fire, said the US Federal Aviation Administration. The SOCATA TBM7 aircraft crashed into the house around 12:20 p.m. local time on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the agency. "The plane departed from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis," said the agency, adding that the number of people on board was still unknown. Local media reported no survivors on board, citing the Brooklyn Park Fire Department. Smoke billowed from the burning home, which stood in the middle of a neighbourhood. The neighboring houses remained untouched by the fire. At least three firefighters were visible, working to extinguish the blaze. The fire chief confirmed that all houses were evacuated safely. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz acknowledged the incident on X, stating: "My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park, and we are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call." Witnesses nearby told local TV station KARE 11 that the plane crash started a fire at a home in Brooklyn Park. Fire crews said at a press conference that no one was in the house at the time of the fire. The US National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement that the crash is under investigation. "NTSB investigators are en route to the scene and are expected to arrive tomorrow. Once on site, the investigators will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation," said the NTSB. Seoul, March 30 : The top trade officials of South Korea, China and Japan on Sunday discussed bolstering trade cooperation among the three countries in their first trilateral ministerial meeting in six years, held amid growing protectionism and tensions in the global trade market. The 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting among the Republic of Korea, Japan and the People's Republic of China took place in Seoul, involving South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto, reports Yonhap news agency. It marked the first time since December 2019 that the industry ministers of the three nations held a trilateral meeting, as well as the first such meeting taking place in Seoul in 10 years. The 2019 meeting was held in Beijing. Sunday's meeting was a follow-up to the summit of the three countries' leaders held in Seoul last year. "Amid the rapidly changing global economic and trade environment, the meeting of the three countries' trade ministers for the first time in six years carries significant resonance not only for the three nations but also for the international community," Ahn said in his opening remarks. He called for efforts to create a "stable" environment for global trade by restoring the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Ahn also urged the three countries to join hands to respond to current issues in the global trade market, such as the rise of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation of economies and supply chain cooperation on critical minerals. In a joint statement released after the meeting, the three ministers said they support the "rules-based, open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core." The ministers called for the reform of the WTO to strengthen its functions, including negotiations, monitoring, deliberation and dispute settlement, as part of efforts to help the organisation better respond to current trade challenges. In Sunday's meeting, the three ministers agreed to speed up negotiations for the proposed trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to realize a high-quality and mutually beneficial FTA while advancing the regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP), the joint statement read. RCEP is one of the world's biggest free trade agreements, which South Korea, China and Japan have signed. The 15 member nations of RCEP account for around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, population and trade volume. Ahn, Wentao and Muto also agreed to boost cooperation on creating a "predictable" and "reliable" business environment to foster "free, open, fair, non-discriminatory and transparent" trade in the region, and exchanged opinions on measures to stabilize supply chains and export control issues, according to the statement. To foster sustainable growth, Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo will work together to strengthen cooperation on carbon-free energy technologies, including renewables, nuclear power and hydrogen, and advance digital cooperation, they said. The ministers also discussed bolstering cooperation for the successful hosting of the Osaka Expo, set to kick off next month in Japan, and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in South Korea's southeastern city of Gyeongju in November and in China next year. On the sidelines of the three-way meeting, Ahn was also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Muto later in the day, following his one-on-one meeting with Wentao on Saturday. The next trilateral economic and trade ministers' meeting of South Korea, China and Japan will be held in Japan. a"IANS na/ Seoul, March 30 : South Korea is set to fully lift the ban on stock short selling this week for the first time in five years, and shipbuilders, steelmakers and battery makers will likely be the targets of such trading practices, according to market watchers on Sunday. The country imposed a temporary ban on short selling in November 2023 after a series of naked short selling violations involving several global investment banks were discovered. Starting Monday, short selling will be allowed for all listed firms for the first time since March 2020, when the authorities banned short selling for listed firms amid a market rout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Yonhap news agency. The ban was partially lifted in May 2021 before it was reimposed in 2023. Ahead of the short selling resumption, the Korea Exchange (KRX), the bourse operator, developed a new system to detect any illegal practices. The financial regulator also drew up new regulatory changes. The financial watchdog said earlier it will enhance market monitoring and implement measures to prevent excessive volatility of certain stocks for up to two months after the short selling ban is lifted . Market watchers said battery makers, shipbuilders and steelmakers may be the targets of short selling as they recently have risen sharply on hopes for support policies and an industry turnaround. "Overbought stocks may experience short-term volatility," said Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. "But the short selling is itself positive for foreign capital inflows." Meanwhile, the head of South Korea's financial regulator vowed to take preemptive measures to ensure financial stability amid a slew of headwinds, such as high rates and policy shifts by the Trump administration. Lee Bok-hyun, governor of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), also stressed the need to further develop and promote the local financial market, making it work in tune with the global standards. "Our economy and financial market are surrounded by an array of uncertainties, as well as political uncertainties, which spur market volatility and economic downside risks," the FSS chief said. IANS na/ Seoul, March 30 : South Korea will push forward the project to provide telemedicine services for 4,500 crew members of deep-sea vessels using satellite telecommunications, the oceans ministry said on Sunday. There are many cases of belated treatment for the crews of deep-sea vessels during emergencies and for many diseases, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, reports Yonhap news agency. To help resolve this, the government partnered with Pusan National University Hospital's maritime medical research centre in 2015, providing 109,312 cases of telemedicine services for the crew of deep-sea vessels over the past 10 years, the ministry said. Last year alone, the government provided 24,026 cases of telemedicine services for 180 deep-sea vessels. Through the project, the government will instruct deep-sea vessel crews on how to respond to emergency cases and offer consultations for those who have chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, the ministry said. Last year, South Korea held a virtual meeting with the United States to enhance mutual understanding of their respective telemedicine industries and explore areas of cooperation. The session with some 30 companies from both countries followed up on the South Korea-U.S. Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue (SCCD) held in March, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The SCCD is a regular ministerial forum designed to discuss the promotion of resilient supply chains for key products, including semiconductors, batteries and critical minerals. The event came as the demand for mobile-based telemedicine services is anticipated to grow down the road amid the rapidly aging population. "South Korea has high potential in the digital health sector on the back of its vast amount of clinical data and advanced information technology," an official from the industry ministry said. "The ministry is seeking to support the commercialisation of related products and services while fostering experts to establish the industrial ecosystem for the digital health sector," the official added. PARIS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The French Ministry of Foreign Trade on Saturday said that U.S. interference in the diversity programs of French companies is "unacceptable," French media reported. Some major French companies operating in the United States have recently received a letter and questionnaire from the Trump administration inquiring about the existence of such programs. The letter warned that implementing these programs could prevent them from doing business with the U.S. government. The French Ministry of Foreign Trade highlighted that France and Europe will stand firm in "defending their companies, their consumers, and also their values." French business organizations, including the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME), also voiced their discontent, denouncing the move. They called on political and economic leaders to take a unified stance against what they see as undue pressure from the U.S. government. New York, March 30 : A new study in the US aims to determine the best method to screen and evaluate patients who are at risk of developing coronary heart disease and which patients would benefit from taking a statin medication to lower cholesterol. A new approach by researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City to determining risk and selecting a statin is the use of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score which is determined by taking a low-radiation dose image of the heart using computed tomography (CT) to look for calcium deposits in plaques in the heart's coronary arteries. "Our study is now fully enrolled with over 5,600 patients, and in this abstract for the American College of Cardiology, we wanted to look at baseline characteristics and differences in statin prescribing recommendations," said Jeffrey L. Anderson MD, principal investigator of the study and distinguished clinical and cardiovascular research physician at Intermountain Health. "The question is: Can we do a better job in selecting people who need a statin for primary coronary risk reduction by using the coronary artery calcium score, rather than just putting coronary risk factors into an equation that is, is it more effective to use direct imaging evidence of plaque burden or a risk probability. That's what we're aiming to find out," he said. The new study was presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Sessions meeting in Chicago on Saturday. The results of scoring by their assigned risk assessment tool were sent in letters to their personal physicians, including whether a statin was recommended based on a high-risk score. Patients in the two groups in the study were found to have very similar baseline characteristics. However, researchers found that the rate of statin medication recommendations were different. The study is expected to conclude in early 2026, at which time a comparison of outcomes, including deaths, heart attacks, strokes, and revascularisations during up to 7 years, and an average of over 4 years, of follow-up will be made. This is especially important considering that statins entail costs and can have side effects, including muscle aches and an increased risk of diabetes. IANS na/ New Delhi: Security by definition is protection against 'covert' offensive of the enemy -- an open military attack is taken care of by our defence forces -- and these can be countered only if information about the hidden plans of the adversary that is described as Intelligence, is made available in advance. Intelligence is thus the 'anchor' of Security and that is why every country invested on well-trained Intelligence agencies to produce that information. In the equation between Security and Intelligence -- it is 'information' vs 'action' -- both must succeed in the national interest and this would happen when in professional terms the agencies followed a set of guidelines while discharging their duties and the information they provided leads to an 'integral' response. First of all, such an agency should determine -- in its 'own judgement' -- what constituted a threat to the security and integrity of the nation and start taking steps to keep track of its origin and further advancement. This does not exclude the legitimate 'tasking' of the agency by the government of the day. In the complex geopolitics of our times, the threat might be rooted in a combination of entities and circumstances all of which have to be unearthed to secure complete Intelligence which is always the mission of the agencies. There is no compromise on some basic points here. The Intelligence organisation never sends on an information whose reliability is not totally guaranteed. It has an uncanny sense of 'actionability' of the Intelligence provided by it with the result that an action-taking authority would come to grief if it jumped to the conclusion that Intelligence was not 'specific enough' to be acted upon. Any Intelligence 'alert' provides the scope for some preventive measures against a threat even if the warning does not indicate the precise time and place of the clandestine 'enemy strike'. An Intelligence agency should not withhold actionable information in the process of looking for its 'completeness'. The Intelligence organisation has the professional 'commitment' to ensure that the information on a security threat is promptly communicated -- it also has a legitimate interest in keeping track of how it is responded to, by the action-taking authorities. Secondly, the Intelligence organisation knows that Security is not a 'one-time event' as it has to measure up to a change in the security scenario. The agency also tried to constantly improve upon its functioning in the light of its experience. It endeavoured to meet the expectations of the regime without becoming intrusive towards policy-making or political governance. Its prime duty of producing timely information of a threat to national security, includes communicating that information to all action-takers without losing time and making sure that it is received by the latter. Failure of action from the responders can result in a collapse of security and that is not unknown but a security failure attributable to lack of communication of Intelligence to the responders, would be a serious matter indeed -- reflecting on a systemic flaw in the working of the Intelligence organisation. The Kargil Committee Report noted that many pieces of Intelligence did not move up -- beyond the Brigade headquarters -- possibly because of a disregard of the fundamental point of Security that all Intelligence must travel to a point at the 'apex' where the 'integral response' will be decided upon. If this did not happen it would amount to depriving the final action -- taking authority of the benefit of looking at the 'total' information available, while responding. This is in line also with the basic mandate of the Age of Information we live in, that says that in any walk of life, 'knowledge- based decision-making' was required for success and that fuller the knowledge better would be the course of action chosen. Intelligence is a rare commodity and none of it should be allowed to be 'lost in transit'. In India national Intelligence agencies primarily handled 'information' and did not exercise Police powers -- it is, therefore, doubly important for them to ensure that relevant information of Intelligence value is carried to the action-takers without delay. The third professional guideline for Intelligence is linked to the fact that national security is now a multi-dimensional challenge dealing not only with the hardcore threats of espionage, subversion and sabotage -- and the new global terror that banked on faith-based motivation -- but also with the non-traditional dangers of food and water scarcity, economic security and climate change. The Information Technology revolution of 1991 transformed the world security scene by creating the means of instant communication across geographical boundaries, converting social media into an instrument of combat and throwing up the universal threat of cyber attacks that could destroy the critical infrastructure and strategic systems of the target country. In the era of 'proxy wars' -- that set in when the Cold War ended -- 'influencing' the system of governance and bringing down a regime through 'narrative building' are in vogue and these should be considered as the new forms of 'covert' offensive. Further, Economic Intelligence has acquired an unprecedented importance as the doctrine 'National security is inseparable from economic security' is now universally accepted. Damaging the economic strength of the opponent and in particular, sabotaging the economic assets of strategic value, is part of the new 'warfare' and this made the task of protecting all such establishments a basic requirement of national security. Moreover, since a combination of human and technical intelligence is now vital for national security, India appropriately created in 2004 the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) as a technical intelligence agency to promote technological innovation for serving the cause of intelligence production. NTRO reports to National Security Advisor and specialises in disciplines like remote-sensing, Sigint, data processing, cyber security, cryptology, hardware and software development and strategic monitoring. Artificial Intelligence (AI), the ultimate advance of Information Technology, is strengthening the function of analysis by facilitating quick examination of large data in public domain under various parameters and helping in predicting the enemy behaviour by throwing light on the adversary's modus operandi. AI applications are unfolding themselves as far as the domains of Intelligence and Security are concerned. The fourth important working principle of security is that the national intelligence agencies are required to work in coordination with each other and that the country also has to have a strategy of ensuring that intelligence-sharing arrangements with friends in the international community are in place in order to deal with the common geopolitical security concerns. In the Indian context in particular, it is logical to presume that Intelligence agencies would have occasions to share information with National Intelligence Agency (NIA) probing terrorism-related cases or with an Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) looking into funding of illicit entities. These organisations in turn, could run into information that would help the national Intelligence agencies in pursuing their work. Also, diplomacy today is geared to encouraging sharing of information on common security concerns such as terrorism, narcotics trade and human trafficking, with friendly countries -- foreign policy by definition is the product of national security and economic concerns, in that order. Multi Agency Centre (MAC) run by Intelligence Bureau over the years has proved to be of great value in terms of pooling together intelligence available to the participating organisations on a particular threat or problem area. Civil-Military intelligence coordination has also constantly improved particularly in areas where Army is engaged in counter- insurgency and counter-terror operations. Intelligence-based operations of Army and Paramilitary Forces have, in recent times proved to be very successful. Last but not the least, success of an intelligence organisation greatly depends on its internal management, recruitment methods and training protocols. India from the very beginning adopted a sound approach of inducting the top order of the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the batch every year to provide leadership to Intelligence Bureau which ensured a built-in advantage that IB would enjoy in terms of a close relationship with the state Police. That is a basic requisite for safeguarding Internal Security. The officers were selected for their willingness to opt for anonymity, capacity for hard work and an analytical bend of mind. The agencies also had their direct recruits in adequate numbers. All entrants high or low has to undergo a full scale 'basic course' on Intelligence tradecraft and then put on a probation before being finally accepted. There is a healthy exchange of officers between the internal and external intelligence agencies and also provision of lateral induction of area and subject specialists. All this has worked well -- particularly under the present NSA who is from an intelligence background -- and needs to be kept up. It may be mentioned that Intelligence Bureau's working is known for internal transparency within the norms of 'need to know', great clarity about credit-sharing as well as a tradition of 'nurtural' leadership. It promotes professional growth and ensures that an operator retained the initiative to pursue a task with total devotion. The senior officers of the Intelligence organisation were themselves prepared to work day and night without being asked and were available all the time for giving guidance to people under them whenever it is asked for. Intelligence Bureau set up by the British in 1888, celebrated its centenary in 1988 establishing the point that its goal is to access and furnish to the regime of the day, information about all that is happening inside the country as well as in the world around that has a security angle -- without getting involved in the regime's political moves. Intelligence agencies of India have, after Independence, continued to enjoy total trust of the national government -- whatever be its political complexion -- and this perhaps is the biggest testimony to their leadership functioning without any vested interest. (The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal) New York, March 30 : ChatGPT can be used in the sensory evaluation of foods, specifically brownies, according to a study, which offers insights that could streamline development of new products, and possibly enhance recipes. Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US looked at 15 different brownie recipes, ranging from standard ingredient lists to unusual combinations, including mealworm powder and fish oil. Study author Damir Torrico, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, provided ChatGPT with recipe formulas, and asked the AI to describe sensory characteristics of each brownie, including taste, texture, and overall enjoyment. Torrico then categorised the themes of ChatGPT's responses to determine if they were positive, negative or neutral. "Sometimes, relying on human testers can slow down the process, especially when multiple product prototypes need to be evaluated simultaneously. Sensory panels require time and careful coordination, and in some cases, certain ingredients may not be food-grade, making them unsuitable for tasting," said Torrico in the study published in the journal Foods. That is why large language models such as ChatGPT are being considered for sensory evaluation. It is possible to create models that can replicate certain human responses. Surprisingly, ChatGPT's responses were overwhelmingly positive, even for recipes that included unusual ingredients. This positivity aligns with the psychological phenomenon scientists call "hedonic asymmetry". "Hedonic asymmetry" is the idea that people (and apparently AI) tend to describe things that are beneficial to them in more positive terms. Food serves a role in keeping us full and giving us energy, Torrico explained, causing humans to respond to food in a positive manner. In ChatGPT's attempt to act human, it seemed to display this behaviour. "ChatGPT was trying to always see the good side of things," Torrico said. "Using AI can give general insights of what products can be considered for further testing, and what products shouldn't be put through that long process," Torrico said. "I could see ChatGPT being developed for sensory evaluation to help the industry." Looking ahead, he plans to refine the experiment, training ChatGPT to respond with a vocabulary that is similar to a human descriptive panel. IANS na/ New Delhi, March 30 : The Income Tax Department has raised a demand of Rs 2,209.17 crore, including interest, against Yes Bank Ltd, according to a stock exchange filing by the private sector bank. Yes Bank had initially received an order from the Income Tax Department on September 30, 2021 for the assessment year 2019-20, when it was granted a refund in line with the return of income filed earlier, However, the case was reopened by the income tax department in April 2023, according to the regulatory filing. The reassessment order was passed by the income tax department of the National Faceless Assessment Unit on March 28, in which effectively the grounds on which the reassessment proceedings were initiated have been dropped. Hence, the total income which was assessed in the original assessment order should have remained unchanged and consequently, no demand should have been raised against the bank," stated the filing. Yes Bank believes that it has adequate grounds to reasonably substantiate its position in this matter and clarified that the bank does not expect any adverse impact on its operations. "The bank would pursue an appeal and rectification proceedings against the said reassessment order under the applicable law," Yes Bank has further stated in the filing. Yes Bank stocks were trading at Rs 16.88 per share on Friday, shares of the bank have fallen 27.24 per cent in the last 12 months. Yes Bank reported a close to three-fold jump in its net profit to Rs 612 crore for the third quarter that ended December 2024 on the back of a decline in provisions for bad loans. The private-sector bank had earned a net profit of Rs 231 crore in the same quarter of the previous financial year. Total income increased to Rs 9,341 crore during the third quarter of the ongoing fiscal year from Rs 8,179 crore a year ago. Interest income increased to Rs 7,829 crore from Rs 6,984 crore. Net interest income grew 10 per cent to Rs 2,224 crore as against Rs 2,017 crore in the third quarter last fiscal year. Nagpur, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Deekshabhoomi and paid homage to Dr BR Ambedkar where he embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers in 1956. The PM was accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and was welcomed by the Deekshabhoomi president, Bhadant Arya Nagarjuna Shurei Sasai, also known as Sasai. The Prime Minister offered prayers to Mahatma Buddha. PM Modi reached Deekshabhoomi after paying tributes to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founders at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in the city. Deekshabhoomi has been a globally known place since last many years. It is the place of transformation of thoughts and actions for millions. Deekshabhoomi is built on the lines of the original Buddhist architecture, a replica of the famous stupa erected by the Great Emperor Asoka at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. It is the biggest ever stupa in the Asian Continent. It was inaugurated on December 18, 2001 by the then President of India, K.R. Narayanan. According to the Deekshabhoomi management, the revival of Buddhism with its originality intact was performed by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Ashok Vijaya Dashami (October 14, 1956) at this place,e and now it has worldwide recognition. The memorial was built with the untiring efforts of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti, Nagpur. It is the most sought after religious place of the Buddhist Circuit now and is visited by hundreds everyday. Researchers and academicians come to this place to study the philosophy of the Bhagwan Buddha and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The central memorial has been visited by several dignitaries of national and international significance. It draws a major number of visitors every year, and the congregation sustains a unique example of peace and harmony. On the Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din, a mega celebration is organised by the Samiti annually. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, in his address to Buddhists, had stated that Nagpur was a homeland of aNaga people, the aNaga river at this place was the early settlement of those people. All the Nagas were primarily Buddhists, and in reverence to them, he had chosen this place. He explained in detail the ways of upliftment of life by following the Panchasilas and the Eightfold path preached by the Buddha 2550 years ago. Kathmandu, March 30 : Nepal's ruling party, the Nepali Congress, and opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) demanded action against the former King Gyanendra Shah, holding him responsible for the violent protests that engulfed Nepal. While the Rajendra Lingden-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which backed the demonstration, warned the government not to drag the former king into the controversy. Two people died, and hundreds were injured in violent clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters. The protestors were calling for the restoration of the abolished monarchy in Nepal. The Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives, alleged that the former king orchestrated Friday's incident. "Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak briefed us on what happened on Friday. We have concluded that several targeted attacks launched against media houses and public and private properties were intended to create anarchy," Nepal's leading daily, The Kathmandu Post, reported, quoting Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Congress spokesperson. "Some are trying to set up a tyrannical political system. There were targeted attacks in which two people were killed. We hold the ex-king responsible for the way the rally was organised and the targeted attacks," he added. Meanwhile, the CPN (Maoist Centre) took a more aggressive stand towards the former king. "We should not spare him. Former King Gyanendra Shah no longer has the privilege of freedom. Nepali people are not ready to accept this. He is behind all the activities of pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu campaigners around the country," Maoist Centre chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Saturday. Meanwhile, the RPP, whose two leaders were earlier arrested for being involved in the protest, also demanded a probe to ascertain what happened. The RPP said that the government should take responsibility for what happened on Friday and dared the government to arrest the former king. "We challenge the government to arrest the former king. We are very clear that we should not drag the king into controversy. We will show our strength if the government dares to arrest him," party chair Rajendra Lingden said, addressing reporters. The party also threatened to take to the streets if their two arrested leaders -- senior vice president Rabindra Mishra and General Secretary Dhawal Sumsher Rana -- are not released within 24 hours. On the other hand, claiming that the then-King Gyanendra Shah was the mastermind behind the violent protest, a social media campaign has been launched demanding his arrest. Tension ran high in parts of Kathmandu after people tried to break through the security barricade during the protest. In response, security personnel fired tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters. Later, the police opened fire to take the situation under control. Dozens of commercial buildings, media outlets and political party offices were vandalised and set on fire, Nepali news outlet Annapurna Express reported. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Saturday inspected different areas, including Tinkune and Koteshwor, where pro-monarchy supporters vandalised and torched various physical structures. "In a democratic republic, there will be mutual competition. There are the government and opposition sides as per the people's mandate. But it should be countered by being united when anyone orchestrates anarchic activities against the system," he stated, condemning the incident. New Delhi, March 30 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, extended his heartfelt greetings to people across the country on the occasion of multiple regional and cultural festivals, including Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Cheiraoba, Cheti Chand, and Sajibu. Taking to the social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Best wishes to everyone celebrating Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, Cheiraoba, Cheti Chand, and Sajibu! May this auspicious occasion bring joy and happiness into your lives and fill your homes with peace and prosperity." These festivals, marking the beginning of the New Year for various communities in different parts of India, hold deep cultural significance. They symbolise the spirit of unity, as people across regions welcome prosperity and good fortune with traditional festivities. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri. In a message shared on X, he stated, "Hearty greetings to all countrymen on the auspicious occasion of 'Chaitra Navratri', the great festival of worship of Adishakti, Maa Durga. It is hoped that this holy festival brings happiness, peace, prosperity, and well-being in everyone's life, and the blessings of Mother Bhagwati remain on everyone." Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also extended her greetings, acknowledging the cultural diversity reflected in these celebrations. "Today is a day of festivals across the country. Warm wishes to all of you on the auspicious Chaitra Navratri, Nav Samvatsara Vikram Samvat 2082, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti-Chand, Navroz, and Sajibu-Cheroba. All these festivals celebrated on the arrival of spring and the New Year are symbols of India's cultural diversity. On this auspicious occasion, I wish happiness, peace, and prosperity for all the countrymen," she wrote in a post on X. These festivals, celebrated at the onset of spring, highlight Indiaas rich cultural heritage and serve as a reminder of the nation's pluralistic traditions. From Maharashtraas Gudi Padwa to Andhra Pradesh and Karnatakaas Ugadi, from the Sindhi communityas Cheti Chand to the Manipuri festival of Sajibu Cheiraoba and Kashmir's Navreh, each celebration adds to the vibrant mosaic of India's traditions. Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 : Kerala BJP State President and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has announced that he will not be watching the recently released Malayalam film 'Empuraan', starring superstar Mohanlal. Directed by actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, 'Empuraan' is the much-anticipated sequel to 'Lucifer', a 2019 blockbuster. However, the film has been mired in controversy, prompting the leader to take a stand. Taking to social media platform X, Chandrasekhar expressed his disappointment after learning about significant changes made to the movie. He revealed that the filmmakers had agreed to 17 cuts following public outrage, which led to a re-censorship process. "I had watched Lucifer and liked it. I was looking forward to watching Empuraan as it was a sequel. But now I've come to know that the makers themselves have implemented 17 edits and that the movie is undergoing re-censorship," he wrote. Chandrasekhar criticised the alleged distortion of facts in the film, saying, "A movie should be watched as a movie. It can't be seen as history. Any film that tries to build a story by distorting the truth is doomed to fail." "So, will I watch this sequel to Lucifer? No. Am I disappointed by this type of moviemaking? Yes," he said. The controversy erupted after the film's release on Friday, with viewers raising objections to certain scenes that reportedly depicted the 2002 Gujarat violence. Senior RSS national leaders, J. Nandkumar and A. Jayakumar, voiced their disapproval on social media. Various RSS-affiliated organisations in Kerala also criticised the film, intensifying the backlash. According to sources close to the production, the film is now undergoing re-censorship with 17 cuts. The name of the antagonist, Baba Bajrangi, will be changed. The film also reportedly portrays central investigative agencies like the NIA, IB, and ED in a negative light. These scenes are also expected to be removed as part of the re-censorship process. Meanwhile, RSS sympathisers have turned their ire toward the regional censor board members, accusing them of negligence. Guwahati, March 30 : The Assam government has decided to grant childcare leave to single fathers working in state government departments, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday. Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "Sometimes life may take unexpected turns and a man may have to be the sole caregiver for a child. If such a scenario ever arises for our State Govt employees, we've got you covered." "From now on, we will grant Child Care Leave to single fathers to take care of their little ones," he added. Child Care Leave (CCL) is an important provision granted to employees to ensure they can take care of their children without worrying about salary deductions or job security. In Assam, like other states in India, women government employees benefit from this leave to look after their children during crucial periods such as illness, examinations, or other essential needs. Child Care Leave in Assam was primarily granted to female government employees. However, according to the latest government directive, male government employees who are single parents (widowers, divorcees, or unmarried fathers) have also become eligible for this leave. The key eligibility criteria include that the employee must be a government servant under the Assam government. The leave is applicable for children up to 18 years of age and the leave can be availed for biological, adopted, or legally dependent children. Now, single fathers can avail of CCL. As per the amendment, eligible employees will now be able to take CCL for a maximum of two years (730 days). Additionally, government employees who have custody of disabled children will also benefit from the revised policy. It can be taken in multiple phases but not more than three times in a calendar year. According to a senior government official, the first 365 days are granted with full salary, while the remaining 365 days come with a reduced salary of 80 per cent. "The leave must be taken for a minimum of 15 days at a time. However, the leave is subject to prior approval by the competent authority, ensuring that it does not disrupt essential government functions," he added. Patna, March 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and NDA leaders on Sunday to discuss the strategy for the upcoming 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. His two-day visit also includes inaugurating several development projects and addressing a mega rally in Gopalganj. The Union Home Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate schemes worth Rs 823 crore for four departments. He will also distribute micro ATMs to 100 cooperative societies, address 7,000 cooperative societies and inaugurate Mithila's Makhana processing centre at an event at Bapu Auditorium in Patna. The Union Home Minister will address a public meeting in Gopalganj, marking his first rally there in 10 years. BJP leaders are expecting over one lakh people from Chapra, Siwan, Motihari, Bettiah, and Gopalganj to attend the leader's rally. This rally holds political significance as Gopalganj is the home district of RJD President Lalu Prasad and former CM Rabri Devi. After the Gopalganj rally, Union Minister Shah will return to Patna and hold a closed-door meeting with CM Nitish and NDA leaders. Union Minister and LJP(Ram Vilas) National President Chirag Paswan and Union Minister and HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi are also expected to attend this meeting. The agenda remains undisclosed, but discussions are likely to focus on seat-sharing and election strategy. On Saturday evening, Union Minister Shah held a closed-door meeting at the BJP office in Patna with senior party leaders. BJP has already set a target of winning 225 seats in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025. According to a senior leader of the BJP, Union Minister Shah has instructed party leaders to prepare a six-month action plan leading up to the elections. Leaders were asked to gather grassroots-level data and select potential candidates based on their performance and popularity. He reportedly instructed the BJP leaders to focus on avoiding internal conflicts among NDA allies. Seat-sharing talks will be held soon with all NDA partners, including CM Nitish's JD(U). JERUSALEM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Ryanair resumed flights to Israel on Sunday, with a flight from Baden-Baden, Germany, landing at Ben Gurion International Airport, marking the return of Europe's largest budget airline to the country. The Dublin-based carrier is restarting routes from 22 cities across 12 European nations, according to the airline. Ryanair had intermittently suspended its Israeli operations since the multi-front conflict began on October 7, 2023, and halted all flights last August. The airline announced its return in late January, citing the Gaza ceasefire and the Israeli parliament's repeal of a law mandating passenger compensation for flight cancellations. The resumption follows United Airlines' earlier return to Israel this month, making it the first U.S. carrier to do so. Delta Air Lines is scheduled to resume its Israeli flights on Tuesday, while British Airways is set to return on April 5. New Delhi, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised how the multiple festivals celebrated across India reflect the nation's deep-rooted diversity. Addressing the 120th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, he extended heartfelt wishes to the citizens on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri and various other festivals, including Eid. During the broadcast, PM Modi shared messages he received from people across the country, who sent their best wishes for Navratri, Gudi Padwa, Vishu, and the Hindu New Year. Highlighting the significance of these festivities, he said, "Today and in the next few days, the New Year is starting in different states of our country, and all these messages are about the wishes for the New Year and various festivals. Hence, people have sent me best wishes in different languages." Explaining the regional significance of the festivals, the Prime Minister noted, "Today, Ugadi is being celebrated with great pomp in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Today itself Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. In different states of our diverse country, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Poila Baisakh in Bengal, and Navreh in Kashmir will be celebrated." He further mentioned the upcoming festive season, stating, "Between April 13-15, there will be grand celebrations of festivals in different parts of the country. There is an atmosphere of excitement about this too, and the festival of Eid is also coming. This whole month is filled with festivals. I extend my greetings to the people of the country on these festivals." Stressing India's cultural unity despite its vast diversity, PM Modi remarked, "These festivals of ours may be in different regions, but they show how unity is woven into the diversity of India. We have to continue strengthening this feeling of unity." New Delhi, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday encouraged children to engage in constructive and productive activities during their upcoming summer vacations, emphasising the government's efforts to provide new learning opportunities. Addressing the 120th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', he urged students to pick up new hobbies and develop their skills during the long summer days. "During exams, I interact with young friends in Pariksha Pe Charcha. Now, exams are over. Many schools have started preparations for fresh classes. Summer vacation is about to start after this. Children eagerly wait for this time of the year," he said. Recalling his childhood, the Prime Minister shared, "I remember my childhood days when my friends and I used to indulge in all sorts of mischief, but at the same time, we always did something constructive and learned new things. The days of summer are long, giving children ample time to do various activities. This is the time to adopt a new hobby and further develop one's skills. Today, there is no dearth of platforms where children can learn a lot." He highlighted technological camps that teach app development and open-source software, as well as courses on the environment, theatre, and leadership. Encouraging participation in volunteer activities, he added, "Apart from this, you also have the opportunity to join volunteer services going on at many places during these holidays. I have a special request regarding such programmes. If any organisation, school, social institution, or science centre is organising such activities, share it with the hashtag 'My Holidays'. This will enable children and their parents across the country to access this information." PM Modi also mentioned the 'My Bharat' special calendar, which has been prepared by the government for summer vacation. He highlighted initiatives such as the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme, ELP at Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and the Ambedkar Jayanti Padyatra. Urging children and parents to share their experiences using the hashtag 'Holiday Memories', he said, "I will try to include your experiences in the upcoming Mann Ki Baat." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Kolkata, March 30 : Tension continued in Mothabari in West Bengal's Malda district, where communal attacks took place last week. The state police have claimed to have made 57 arrests in this connection so far. While the state police continued to make claims, even at the Calcutta High Court, that the situation in Mothabari was more or less under control, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, refuted the claims. According to him, if the situation had been under control, there would not have been restrictions on the entry of opposition party leaders and media personnel to troubled spots by placing barricades far away from the hotspots of tension. Adhikari wrote a letter to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose last week and requested him to direct the state government to deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at Mothabari till the situation comes under control. Meanwhile, amid the continuing tension, the BJP's state president in West Bengal and the Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, is scheduled to visit Mothabari in the day and speak to the members of the affected Hindu families. Already, a huge police contingent has been deployed around the tension hotspots and barricades have been raised, probably to prevent Majumdar and his associates from going to the troubled zone. District police officers said the security arrangements have been made to prevent fresh igniting of tension in the areas. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership in West Bengal has started preparations to approach the Calcutta High Court this week, seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation into the matter. A division bench of Calcutta High Court has already sought reports from the Malda district magistrate and district police superintendent on how the tension flared up at Mothabari. The deadline for submission of those reports to the Calcutta High Court is April 3. On Saturday evening, two officers of the West Bengal Police issued a caution of possible attempts to disturb the peace in the state targeting the forthcoming auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. Additional Director General (south Bengal) Supratim Sarkar claimed that the police have got specific intelligence inputs on some vested interests trying to instigate violence in the coming days. "There are plans to instigate people through different posters or posts. The police are on alert. There might be attempts to instigate tension among people from different communities, especially focusing on the occasion of Ram Navami. We requested people not to get instigated. There is no need to worry. But at the same time we also request people to be alert and inform the local police in case they notice any suspicious activities in their respective areas," said Sarkar. Mumbai, March 30 : Even as only 25.1 per cent of unique investors in India's mutual fund industry are women, they contribute a higher percentage of total assets under management (AUM) held by individual investors, a new report said on Sunday. A report by AMFI and Crisil Intelligence suggests that women, on average, tend to invest larger amounts than men. The report highlights that 13 states and union territories have exceeded the national average in AUM contribution by women. Mizoram leads with women investors holding 44.1 per cent of the AUM, followed by Nagaland (39.1 per cent), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (38.6 per cent), Sikkim (37.9 per cent), Goa (37.2 per cent), and New Delhi (36.8 per cent). Other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and West Bengal also show strong participation, with rates ranging from 33.3 per cent to 35.4 per cent. Several northeastern states stand out due to their matrilineal social structures and women-centric cultural norms, which encourage women to play an active role in financial decision-making. Mizoram, Nagaland, and Goa, known for their high literacy rates and progressive social indicators, have recorded significant female participation in investments, the report said. Economic hubs like New Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have also seen a rise in women's investments, driven by higher financial awareness, economic activity, and literacy levels. However, states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar report lower participation from women in AUM, which the report attributes to lower literacy levels and limited financial inclusion. The report further highlights that women investors' AUM has more than doubled over the past five years, increasing from Rs 4.59 lakh crore in March 2019 to Rs 11.25 lakh crore in March 2024. Women's AUM share in B30 cities -- areas beyond the top 30 metro cities -- grew from 20.1 per cent in 2019 to 25.2 per cent in 2024. This indicates a growing interest in mutual fund investments among women, especially in non-metro regions. Hyderabad/Amaravati, March 30 : Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday celebrated Telugu New Year Ugadi with gaiety and traditional enthusiasm. People in both the Telugu states offered special prayers, decorated the entrances of their houses and shops with strings of mango leaves, tasted the traditional festival food and heard 'panchangnam' to usher in the New Year. The Chief Ministers of the two states attended the main official celebrations in their respective state capitals, where 'agma' pundits read the 'panchangnam' or the forecast of the coming year. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka attended the official function at Ravindra Bharati. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the celebrations in Vijayawada. Ministers and senior officials attended the celebrations. The chief ministers and their Cabinet colleagues tasted 'Ugadi pacchadi', a mixture of neem buds, raw mango, tamarind juice, pepper, jaggery, and salt, which is a necessary part of the celebratory dishes. The mixture symbolises various hues of life. Cultural programmes marked the main official celebrations. The state governments also presented awards to some individuals for their services in different walks of life. Chief Ministers and governors of both states wished that Ugadi, this year named "Sri Vishwavasu", will bring peace and prosperity for Telugu-speaking people. Chief Minister Reddy wished that people be blessed with good fortune and their aspirations be fulfilled in the new Telugu year, along with bringing harmony, bountiful rains, and cheers in the farmers' lives with abundant crops. Revanth Reddy hoped that Telangana would register robust growth in all sectors and stand as a role model for the country in the implementation of welfare schemes. The CM called on everyone to celebrate Ugadi with joy and gaiety and to promote the significance of the Telangana culture and traditions. CM Naidu wished the Telugu people around the world. He wished that the festival bring happiness and prosperity to them. "I sincerely wish everyone achieves significant progress in line with your aspirations. Wishing that the year of Vishwavasu will fill the Telugu people with happiness and bring all success. I extend my best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Ugadi." Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma participated in the Ugadi celebrations at Raj Bhavan. He wished happiness and prosperity to all Telugu people. He stated that Ugadi is a festival that reflects Telugu culture and fosters unity among Telugu-speaking communities worldwide. In his address, the Governor encouraged people to embrace the New Year with dedication, commitment, and hard work. He emphasised the importance of selfless service and noble deeds in building a better future. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer greeted the people of the state and the Telugu people living across the world. "Ugadi is a Festival of joy, and I hope the New Year brings new cheer and a bright future for all," he said. Vadodara, March 30 : A fire broke out at a company in Manjusar, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Vadodara district, on Sunday. The fire erupted at Torrecid India Private Limited, which manufactures tile powder. Thick plumes of smoke rising from the site could be seen from a significant distance, triggering panic in the area. Multiple fire accidents have been reported in industrial units across Vadodara during the final days of March. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and speculation is rife regarding possible reasons behind the increasing number of such incidents. As soon as the fire broke out, the Fire Department was alerted, and emergency response teams rushed to the spot. Initially, four fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further. Firefighters worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control. So far, there have been no reports of casualties, but the extent of damage to the facility is yet to be determined. Authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. In recent weeks, several factories and industrial units in Vadodara have experienced similar fire outbreaks, yet no concrete reasons have been identified for the sudden spike in such cases. With rising temperatures and increasing industrial activities, experts emphasise the need for strict safety protocols and fire audits to prevent further incidents. The Fire Department has urged industrial units to take necessary precautions, ensuring their firefighting systems are in place and functional. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while ensuring that all necessary safety measures are implemented to prevent further accidents. Gujarat has witnessed industrial fire incidents over the past year, raising significant concerns about industrial safety and emergency preparedness in the region. In January, several industrial fires occurred within 24 hours in Vapi, Jambusar, and Borsara GIDC in Surat's Mangrol. Nagpur, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Centre has not only doubled the number of medical colleges but also tripled the number of operational AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in the country in order to provide better health facilities to people. Additionally, the number of medical seats has also been doubled. "Our goal is to serve the community by ensuring that qualified doctors are available to the people. We made a bold decision to provide medical education in the students' mother tongue, which ensures that even children from underprivileged backgrounds can pursue a career in medicine," he said. "It is our priority that all the citizens of the country get better health facilities. Today, due to Ayushman Bharat, crores of people are getting the facility of free treatment. Thousands of Jan Aushadhi Kendras are providing cheap medicines to the poor and middle-class families of the country. This is saving thousands of crores of rupees of the countrymen. In the last 10 years, lakhs of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been built in villages where people are getting primary treatment," said the Prime Minister. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre at Nagpur. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-specialty ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur. The institute was founded in memory of Guruji Madhavrao Sadashivrao Golwalkar. The upcoming project will feature a 250-bed hospital, 14 outpatient departments (OPDs), and 14 modular operation theatres, with an aim to provide affordable and world-class eye care services to the people. "Our mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning the world is one family, is resonating throughout the globe. Our actions reflect this belief. When Covid-19 impacted the world, India viewed the global community as its family and took steps to provide vaccines to those in need," said the PM. "Recently, Myanmar experienced a devastating earthquake, and India, through Operation Brahma, was the first to respond and assist the affected population. India also acted swiftly to provide aid to Turkiye and Nepal following their earthquakes. Additionally, we extended our support to the Maldives during their water crisis. In times of conflict, we have ensured the safe evacuation of our citizens from various countries. The world is witnessing that as India progresses, it is also becoming the voice of the Global South," he said. He added, "Wherever there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, India stands up for service wholeheartedly." "Today India's biggest asset is our youth. Today India's youth is full of confidence. Our youth are moving ahead, imbued with the spirit of nation-building. These youths are carrying the flag of the goal of a developed India by 2047. The feeling of world brotherhood is an extension of our own culture. When the focus is on we and not I during efforts, the spirit of the nation first is paramount. When the interest of the people of the country is the most important factor in policies and decisions, its effect is visible everywhere. Today, we are seeing how India is moving forward by breaking the mentality of slavery," said the PM. "We have taken the life mantra of country from Dev and love from Ram. We continue to perform our duties. That is why no matter how big or small the work is, no matter what the field is, the volunteers of the Sangh (RSS) work selflessly. Our body is meant for charity, for service and when this service becomes part of our sanskaar, then service itself becomes sadhna. This sadhna is the life breath of every volunteer," he remarked. "This service sanskar, this sadhana, this life breath is inspiring every volunteer for penance and austerity from generation to generation. This service sadhna keeps every volunteer constantly moving, it never lets them get tired or stop. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the modern Akshay Vat of the immortal culture of India. Today, this Akshay Vat is constantly energising the Indian culture... the consciousness of our nation," he said. "If we look at the history of our country, we see hundreds of years of slavery, so many attacks, so many cruel attempts to destroy the social structure of India, but the consciousness of India never ended, its flame kept burning. Even during the most difficult times, new social movements kept taking place in India to keep consciousness awakened," he said. "We all know the example of the Bhakti movement. In that difficult period of the medieval period, our saints gave new energy to our national consciousness with the ideas of devotion. New Delhi, March 30 : OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Sunday urged users to reduce their usage of ChatGPT's latest image generation feature, citing overwhelming demand. New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Sunday urged users to reduce their usage of ChatGPTas latest image generation feature, citing overwhelming demand. In a post on social media platform X, he said: "Can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep (sic)". Despite his appeal, many users were not convinced, with some even suggesting that he should fire his team. Responding to one such post, Altman defended his team, saying they had built one of the biggest websites in the world in just 2.33 years. "No thanks. In addition to building AGI, this team is on trajectory to build the biggest website in the world from a cold start 2.33 years ago," Altman replied to the post. On March 25, OpenAI introduced its newest AI-powered image generator, integrated with ChatGPTas GPT-4o model. This feature allows users to refine images iteratively and maintain consistency across multiple edits. Since its launch, there has been a surge in user engagement, with many experimenting by transforming images into various artistic styles, including Studio Ghibli. However, the rapid adoption has put a strain on OpenAIas infrastructure. Altman acknowledged the situation, stating: "Itas super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting." Due to copyright concerns, OpenAI has also restricted the generation of images in the style of certain living artists and studios like Studio Ghibli. To manage the high demand, OpenAI plans to introduce temporary rate limits. The free version of ChatGPT will soon have a cap of three image generations per day. Altman assured users that these restrictions are temporary and that the company is working to improve efficiency. Unlike earlier AI-generated art that relied on external tools like OpenAIas DALL-E, the new image generation feature is built directly into ChatGPT-4o. Users can create visuals seamlessly using text prompts and even specify details like aspect ratio, colour schemes, and transparent backgrounds. The model can also analyse and learn from uploaded images to enhance its output. In a blog post, OpenAI explained that their models have been trained on a vast collection of online images and text, allowing them to understand not just how images relate to language but also how they connect with each other. Mogadishu, March 30 : The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike on several ISIS-Somalia targets in the east African country. The airstrike was conducted on Saturday in the southeast of Bosaso, Puntland, in the northeastern region of the country. According to the initial assessment, AFRICOM said that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed, and no civilians were harmed. It stated that ISIS-Somalia's malicious efforts threaten US security interests. "ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack US and partner forces. This group's malicious efforts threaten US security interests," AFRICOM said in a statement. "Additionally, AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade ISIS-Somalia's ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the US homeland, its forces, and the civilians abroad," the statement further read. Meanwhile, AFRICOM added that the specific details about the operation will not be released to ensure continued operational security. In a similar attempt on March 25, the AFRICOM and the Somali government conducted multiple airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains. During the operation, AFRICOM said that several operatives were killed, and no civilian was harmed in the process. In February, Dorothy Shea, Deputy US Representative to the United Nations in New York, during the UN Security Council briefing, stated that countering ISIS and other terrorist groups around the world is a top priority for US President Donald Trump's administration. President Trump has already taken action in conjunction with the Somali government by directing precision airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia on February 1. Last month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the US always stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the US and its allies. According to a report from the US Department of State, the Somali government remained a committed partner of the US in the ongoing fight against al-Shabaab (AS) and ISIS-Somalia. New Delhi, March 30 : Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' program, calling it a source of inspiration for the youth and all those invested in India's development. He described it as a platform that highlights stories of ordinary Indians who, despite not being in politics, business, or government, contribute positively to their communities. "In my opinion, youth everywhere and those who are interested in India's development receive a monthly injection of inspiration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays out stories of normal Indians who are every day doing things that are inspiring, impacting their communities, cities, and villages," he said. Kerala BJP President also shared how he personally feels recharged after every episode. "For me, every month, I get recharged when I watch Mann Ki Baat. The next 30 days, I go forward energised by the stories of these people who have a vision for a greater, developed Bharat," he added. Addressing the controversy surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, Chandrasekhar accused the INDIA bloc of spreading misinformation, with an aim to mislead a particular community. He stated that the bill, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is not against any community but aims to protect people's constitutional right to property. "The Waqf Amendment Bill is not against anybody. It is a pro-people, pro-constitutional right to property amendment bill. The opposition, whether it is Owaisi or Rahul Gandhi, depends completely on lies and misinformation," he remarked. He further pointed out that in Kerala, many families have suffered due to alleged arbitrary land grabs by Waqf authorities. "In Kerala alone, there are hundreds of families in Munambam, outside Cochin, whose land and property are being grabbed by the Waqf unilaterally. The Waqf Amendment Act will protect people from their properties being taken away by anybody," he said. He also welcomed the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council's recent appeal to MPs to support the bill, calling it a step in the right direction. He urged all MPs, including those from Congress, to ensure that laws remain consistent with the Constitution and address real issues faced by the people. LONDON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday evening to advance what Downing Street described as "productive negotiations" towards an "economic prosperity deal." According to a statement, both leaders have agreed to continue negotiations this week. Starmer also updated Trump on last week's meeting of the "coalition of willing" in Paris, and they agreed to keep up the pressure on Russia. Trump has designated April 2 as "Liberation Day," when he plans to announce a set of tariffs affecting all U.S. trade partners. Although the details of the expected tariffs remain unclear, anxiety is growing among the U.S. allies. Britain is expected to face added challenges to gear up its economic growth once the tariffs come into force. Jammu, March 30 : Thousands of pilgrims gathered on Sunday at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district as the Navratri festival began. Atop the Trikuta Hills, the cave shrine was flocked by thousands on the beginning of the 9-day long Navratri festival as the authorities made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the pilgrims. Authorities deployed drones, AI-enabled CCTV cameras, and scores of security forces in plain clothes to complement electronic surveillance by human intelligence. All along the 12-Km long trek from the base camp to the shrine, deployment of security forces in sufficient strength was made to ensure the safety of the pilgrims using the trek. Long queues started on the trek right since Sunday morning and the train of pilgrims seemed to be endless. More pilgrims were arriving at the base camp indicating that the devotees visiting the shrine could far exceed Saturday's number of 48,000 who had 'darshan' of the deity. J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board, said in his message: "Heartiest greetings and best wishes to all on the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. I also extend my felicitations to our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters who are celebrating Navreh. The sacred festival marks the victory of the righteous over evil and knowledge over ignorance. May the Navratri Festivities inspire us to tread the path of right conduct and build a vibrant society in which women are respected as equal partners in nation building. I pray to Maa Durga to shower her blessings on all. Jai Mata Di." For the convenience of the pilgrims, the shrine board has taken new initiatives to ease the pilgrimage for the devotees. The Board has announced that persons with disabilities will receive various free services to facilitate their pilgrimage to the temple in the Katra belt. The initiatives include introduction of dedicated quota in helicopter bookings, Aarti and free battery car services for divyang pilgrims. Advance online bookings for helicopter services are now available for senior citizens and divyang pilgrims as a special category. Such reservations can be made through the board's website. An all-weather covered resting area for 1,500 pilgrims at Ardhkuwari is being set up to facilitate pilgrims during the present Navratri festival. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Istanbul, March 30 : Turkey on Sunday said that the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was detained on his arrival to cover unrest in the country over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, has been charged with terror-related offences and insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper and was assigned to cover protests over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, "has been arrested on charges of 'membership in an armed terrorist organisation' and 'insulting the president," according to the Turkish presidency. In a bulletin published by Turkey's "Disinformation Combat Centre," the presidency said the journalist was "known for anti-Turkey news and his closeness to the terrorist organisation PKK," the banned Kurdish militant group. Medin's employer, Dagens ETC, had raised concerns over his whereabouts after he was unreachable for two days. Speaking on the arrest of the journalist by the Turkish authorities, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Medin's arrest was being taken "seriously." Earlier, Mark Lowen, a BBC correspondent, was detained in Istanbul, where he was covering the protests and political crisis ignited by the arrest of Imamoglu. Turkey later deported the correspondent who was covering the anti-government protests in the country after he was detained and labelled "a threat to public order." Several journalists covering the anti-government protests in the country have been detained by the Turkish authorities. The Turkish Journalists' Union on Saturday called for media to be allowed to operate freely, following the detention of journalists and penalties imposed on several media outlets covering mass protests linked to opposition politician Imamoglu, according to media reports. Thousands of people joined a mass rally in Istanbul on Saturday, organised by Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), in a call to defend democracy and protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The detention of Imamoglu, the arch-rival of the Turkish President and a potential presidential election contender, sparked the country's largest street demonstrations in more than a decade. Munich, March 30 : Bayern Munich's defender Hiroki Ito will be out of action for a lengthy period after sustaining a metatarsal fracture, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday. Ito has suffered a recurrence of a fracture in his right metatarsal, a scan by the club's medical team has confirmed. The Japanese international sustained the injury in Saturday's 3-2 win against FC St. Pauli. Having come on in the 58th minute, he had to leave the field in the 89th. The club further said that Ito, who moved to Munich from VfB Stuttgart last summer, will be unavailable to Bayern for a lengthy period. "The news of another serious injury to Hiroki hits us all very hard. Heas only just battled back after months of rehab and will now be out for a long time again a" we can barely imagine how heas feeling. Heall get all the support he needs from us. Heas a fighter and we look forward to him being back on the pitch. Keep your head up, Hiroki a" FC Bayern are on your side," board member for sport Max Eberl commented on Ito's injury. Ito is the latest name on Bayern's list of injuries, as the Bundesliga leaders are also without Alphonso Davies for a lengthy period after the left-back diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee following his return from international duty with the Canadian national team and underwent surgery earlier this week. Davies picked up the injury early on in Canada's 2-1 win over the USA in a Concacaf Nations League third-place play-off last Sunday. It will be a huge cause of concern for the Bavarian outlet after recently signing a contract extension with the Canadian till June 2030. Alongside Davies, Dayot Upamecano has also been ruled out for the coming weeks. After being diagnosed with loose bodies in his left knee, which means he too will not be available to FC Bayern for several weeks. aAfter the injuries to Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano, weave now lost a third defender in a short space of time. We will now pool our forces even more to continue pursuing our goals," Eberl added. With Manuel Neuer also sidelined with a calf injury, depleted Bayern will take on Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals on April 8. New Delhi, March 30 : Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday accused the INDIA bloc of spreading misinformation regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill, with an intention to mislead a particular community. He stated that the bill, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is not against any community but aims to protect people's constitutional right to property. "The Waqf Amendment Bill is not against anybody. It is a pro-people, pro-constitutional right to property amendment bill. The Opposition, whether it is Owaisi or Rahul Gandhi, depends completely on lies and misinformation," he remarked. He further pointed out that in Kerala, many families have suffered due to alleged arbitrary land grabs by Waqf authorities. "In Kerala alone, there are hundreds of families in Munambam, outside Cochin, whose land and property are being grabbed by the Waqf unilaterally. The Waqf Amendment Act will protect people from their properties being taken away by anybody," he said. He also welcomed the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council's recent appeal to MPs to support the bill, calling it a step in the right direction. He urged all MPs, including those from Congress, to ensure that laws remain consistent with the Constitution and address real issues faced by the people. Former Union Minister's demand for Waqf (Amendment) bill's clearance from the Parliament comes ahead of its introduction in the House, likely next week. Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically stated on Friday that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be reintroduced in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. The second leg of Budget Session is set to end on April 4. Amit Shah also said no one should be afraid of the proposed amendments as Modi government is amending the Waqf Act in accordance with the ambit of the Constitution. "The opposition is misleading Muslims. No rights of Muslims will be curbed. They are just telling lies after lies," he said. The contentious Bill was referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) in August 2024. The panel's 655-page report was submitted to both Houses of Parliament earlier this month amid protests by Opposition and Muslim groups. Chennai, March 30 : Coimbatore Police are preparing to summon and question several high-profile individuals in the city following the arrest of a key drug peddler, who has revealed his connections with nearly 50 prominent figures, including doctors, engineers, and businessmen. The crackdown comes as part of an ongoing operation targeting drug syndicates operating in the city. Over the past few days, police have arrested multiple individuals, including the son of a Sub-Inspector, in connection with the drug racket. During the interrogation of one of the accused, and after scanning his mobile phone, investigators uncovered contact details and communications with nearly 50 influential individuals from Coimbatore. According to police sources, the accused -- identified as A. Ritesh Lamba (41) -- is believed to be the kingpin of the syndicate. He reportedly maintained regular contact with several VIPs in the city. Officials stated that all those found to have been in communication with Ritesh Lamba would be summoned for questioning in the coming days. In a major breakthrough on Friday (March 29), the police arrested seven individuals in connection with the drug operation. The accused were identified as K. Manikandan (39), S. Vinayagam (34), V. Krishnakanth (34), M. Mahavishnu (28), D. Adarsh (24), A. Ritesh Lamba (41), and B. Rohan Shetty (30). All are residents of various localities in Coimbatore. Significantly, Mahavishnu is the son of Vijayalakshmi, a Sub-Inspector serving in the Economic Offences Wing of the Coimbatore Police. Authorities seized a large quantity of narcotics during the operation, including 24.40 grams of MDMA (ecstasy),12.47 grams of MDMA powder, 92.43 grams of cocaine, 1.62 kg of green ganja, 1.01 kg of dry ganja and 1.68 kg of Kush (a high-potency form of cannabis). In addition, the police recovered Rs 25 lakh in cash, a cash counting machine, four digital weighing machines, a large stock of premium liquor, three cars, and 12 mobile phones. Investigations have revealed that the gang sourced MDMA and cocaine from Maharashtra, while the ganja and Kush were procured from Himachal Pradesh. The suspects were reportedly living extravagant lifestyles financed by their illegal drug trade. One of them was found to be constructing a house in Kovaipudur, and others owned properties in the upscale Teachers Colony area. Legal proceedings have been initiated to freeze 12 bank accounts linked to drug-related transactions and to seize the accusedas immovable properties. Nagpur, March 30 : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday said that RSS does not believe in opposing anyone and is confident that one day, those opposing its work will join the fold. He said that in the last 100 years, Sangh, as a movement of national reconstruction, has travelled from neglect and ridicule to curiosity and acceptance. "When Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is completing the hundredth year of its service, there is an evident curiosity about the way Sangh perceives this landmark. It has been crystal clear for the Sangh since its inception that such occasions are not meant for celebration but provide us with an opportunity to introspect and rededicate to the cause. It is also a chance to acknowledge the contributions of the stalwart, saintly figures who guided the movement and the series of Swayamsevaks and their families who selflessly joined this journey," said Hosabale. Hosabale's write-up on 'RSS at 100' was uploaded by Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Bharat, on X on Sunday to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Sangh founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, which happens to be the Varsh Pratipada - the first day of the Hindu calendar. Hosabale's write-up is significant as the RSS recently announced that it would celebrate its centenary year by organising several events for 12 months from the Vijayadasami Day in 2025. The timing of writing the article was also crucial as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the RSS headquarters at Nagpur and paid tributes at the memorial of Dr Hedgewar and second RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar. "While there is a tendency to look at everything from the political prism, Sangh is still focussing on the cultural awakening of society and creating a strong network of right-minded people and organisations. The participation of women in social transformation and restoring the sanctity of the family institution has been the focus of Sangh for the last few years. Around 10,000 programmes were organised throughout Bharat with the participation of more than 27 lakh people after the Sangh called for a tri-centenary celebration of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar - a testimony of how we are collectively celebrating our national icons. When the Sangh work entered its 100th year, Sangh decided to take the core man-making for nation-building work up to the block and village level," said Hosabale. "Adding up to 10,000 Shakhas in the last one year with systematic planning and execution is a symbol of determination and acceptance. The goal of reaching each village and Basti is still an unfulfilled task and is a matter of introspection. The call for Pach-Parivartan -- the five-fold programme for transformation -- will continue to be the main focus in the coming years. While expanding the Shakha network, Sangh has focused on inculcating civic duties, an environment-friendly lifestyle, socially harmonious conduct, familial values and systemic transformation based on the sense of selfhood, so that everyone contributes to the larger cause of Param Vaibhavam Netum Etat Svarashtram -- taking our Rashtra to the pinnacle of the glory," he said. According to Hosabale, Sangh Swayamsevaks played a pivotal role in the fight for restoring democracy through peaceful means when the Constitution was brutally assaulted during the emergency. "Sangh has expanded from the concept of Shakha to engaging in service activity by invoking the righteous power of society and has made significant strides in these 99 years. Movements like the Ram Janmabhoomi liberation connected all sections and regions of Bharat for cultural liberation. From national security to border management, participatory governance to rural development, no aspect of national life is untouched by the Sangh Swayamsevaks. The biggest satisfaction is that society is coming forward to be part of this systemic transformation," he said. "When the world is grappling with multiple challenges ranging from climate change to violent conflicts, Bharat's ancient and experiential wisdom is eminently capable of providing solutions. This gigantic but inevitable task is possible when every child of Bharat Mata understands this role and contributes to building a domestic model that inspires others to emulate. Let us join this resolve to present a role model before the world of a harmonious and organised Bharat, taking the entire society together under the leadership of righteous people (Sajjan Shakti)," said Hosabale. (Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in) Patna, March 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a scathing attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad, accusing him of defaming Bihar in India and abroad with the fodder scam. Addressing a Cooperative Department event at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna, he asked, "What did Lalu Prasad do for the poor?" Stepping up the attack, the Union Minister said, "Lalu and Rabri governments will be remembered for jungleraj, lawlessness and corruption." He also shared: "Under PM Awas Yojana, 40 lakh houses have been built, ensuring a better life for the people of Bihar. But what was the situation in Bihar under RJD rule? Extortion, jungle raj, hooliganism, dacoity, kidnapping, and ransom demands were prevalent in the state. The RJD government was riddled with scams..." The Union Cooperation Minister also highlighted the achievements of the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. "RJD's 'Jungle Raj' will be remembered as a dark period in the state's history," he said. He asserted that whenever the RJD government came to power in Bihar, it led to the state's "downfall", while under the NDA rule, it developed. Contrasting funding for Bihar during the UPA and NDA governments, he said: "Under Lalu's tenure as a union minister in United Progressive Alliance, Bihar received Rs 2.8 lakh crore from the Centre while under PM Modi's 10-year rule at the Centre, the state has received Rs 9.23 lakh crore, significantly more." He promised that if the NDA is re-elected in the 2025 Assembly polls, it will reopen the sugar mills. The Union Minister also announced that the NDA will contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections under Nitish Kumar's leadership. He urged voters to re-elect the NDA with a huge majority, promising further development and stability in Bihar. Earlier in the day, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various schemes worth more than Rs 800 crore in Patna. Hyderabad, March 30 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Sunday that the proposed Future City near Hyderabad will emerge as a destination for investments in the country. Addressing the main official celebration to mark Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy also stated that the development of Future City will provide employment to lakhs of people. Emphasising the need for developing new cities to propel the countryas development, he said the Future City has been planned with the vision to boost Telanganaas growth. "It will not be a mere city where people will live but it will be an investment destination," he said. Claiming that 'Telangana Rising ' is creating wonders, he said the government was working with the aim of making Telangana a role model for the entire country. Revanth Reddy compared the annual budget 2025-2026, presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, with 'Ugadi Pachadi'. He said that the state government is working with the goal of increasing revenues and distributing them among the poor. He said the budget has given top priority to agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. The Chief Minister also observed that better law and order is a must to attract investments to the state. He reiterated the resolve to undertake the Musi River rejuvenation project. In an apparent reference to the oppositionas criticism of the Musi River project, he remarked that when development happens, there will be some obstacles. No policy will have 100 percent support, he said. Extending heartfelt wishes to Telangana people on the occasion of 'Vishwavasu Nama' Ugadi, Revanth Reddy wished that the state witnesses growth in both welfare and development and also people get abundant employment opportunities. He said the state government was launching a scheme to provide fine-quality rice to the poor. He recalled that it was the Congress government that enacted the Food Security Act to alleviate hunger among the poor in the country. He pointed out that Telangana ranks number one in paddy production in the country. Last year, the state produced 1.56 lakh tonne paddy, he said, adding that even the undivided Andhra Pradesh had not seen this level of production. The government is also paying bonus to farmers cultivating fine-quality paddy. He said 60-65 per cent farmers in the state were growing fine quality rice. Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka, state ministers and senior officials attended the programme. New Delhi, March 30 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday listened to the 120th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme and shared its recording on her social media account for the citizens to draw inspiration and join efforts for water conservation and practise Yoga. The CM also wished people on the occasion of Rajasthan Day and visited the Chhatarpur temple in south Delhi to mark the Hindu New Year and Navratri and sought blessings for Delhi's development. "I sought blessings for uninterrupted development in the city and maintenance of harmony," said CM Gupta after the offering prayers, urging people to join the government's development efforts and initiative on rainwater harvesting. In a video message and a post on a social media platform, CM Gupta wrote, "Happy Rajasthan Day! This land of heroes is world famous for its glorious history, rich culture and indomitable courage. May its traditions, tales of valour and development continue to move forward. Best wishes for happiness, prosperity and progress to the people of Rajasthan!" She recalled that on this auspicious day, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel brought together different princely states and created Rajasthan. The Delhi BJP also celebrated Rajasthan Diwas during which CM Gupta joined city unit chief Virendra Sachdeva to highlight the contribution of people from the desert state in the development of the country and city. The event was organised by the BJP ST Morcha. Earlier, Sachdeva and CM Gupta listened to the 120th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Man Ki Baat radio programme. "Mann Ki Baat is a source of knowledge, education and information... it has become a programme of consciousness and awareness. It is very good for the new generation and youth," said Sachdeva. He said the slogan of 'Catch the Rain' given by the PM will surely be implemented in Delhi in the form of rainwater harvesting. On the PM's reference to International Yoga Day on June 21, Sachdeva said even the young generation must adopt Yoga as it is India's gift to the world. New Delhi, March 30 : Patna University Student Union (PUSU) elections have made history as three key positions for the first time, including the president's post, have been won by women candidates. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) Maithili Mrinalini emerged victorious in the Presidential race, marking the first time in the university's 107-year history when a woman has been elected to the top post. The election witnessed a 45 per cent voter turnout, with Mrinalini securing 3,524 votes and defeating NSUI's Manoranjan Raja by 603 votes, who finished second with 2,921 votes. Independent candidate Dheeraj Kumar won the vice president's post. Apart from Mrinalini's win, Saloni Raj was elected as the General Secretary. Soumya Srivastava secured the Treasurer's post, further cementing this election as a landmark moment for female leadership in student politics. Following her victory, Maithili Mrinalini expressed gratitude to the students, acknowledging the weight of responsibility that comes with the position. "First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all. A huge, huge thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming here, showing your support, and placing your trust in us," she told IANS. Maithili Mrinalini added that at this moment, she is not just overwhelmed with happiness but also deeply aware of the immense sense of responsibility that comes with it. "The faith you (students) have shown in us is something we never want to let down," she promised. The elections saw intense competition between the student wings of the two major political parties, ABVP and NSUI. The Jan Suraaj had also initially fielded its candidate but later withdrew from the contest, extending unconditional support to NSUI. With approximately 20,000 eligible voters spread across 12 colleges, the elections were closely watched. The voting process was completed in a single day while the counting was held on the same night. The results mark a shift in the university's student politics, emphasising greater female participation and leadership. Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) has been a terrific investment over the past year. The energy midstream giant's unit price has rallied 22.5%. Add in its lucrative cash distributions, and the total return is more than 30%. One catalyst fueling the master limited partnership's (MLP's) rally is the growth it has coming down the pipeline. Here are three notable growth catalysts that could help fuel strong returns for investors through at least the next five years. Capitalizing on the Permian Basin's growing volumes Energy Transfer owns a diverse array of energy midstream assets across the U.S. Given the overall diversity of the company's operations, it can be easy to overlook its prime position in the prolific Permian Basin. The company has significantly enhanced its Permian platform in recent years through a series of strategic deals: Lotus Midstream: The acquisition of Lotus enhanced its crude pipeline footprint across the Permian. Crestwood Equity Partners: The merger with Crestwood helped deepen its value chain in the Delaware Basin side of the Permian. WTG Midstream: It bought WTG Midstream, which owned and operated the largest private Permian gas gathering and processing business with assets located in the core of the Midland Basin. Sunoco LP JV: The company formed a joint venture with affiliated MLP Sunoco LP to combine their crude oil and produced water gathering assets in the Permian. These deals have put Energy Transfer in an even stronger position to capitalize on the continued strong volume growth ahead in the region. The company is expanding some existing gas processing plants (Arrowhead II and III) and building new facilities (Mustang Draw and Red Lake III and IV) to increase its processing capacity. It's also building the large-scale Hugh Brinson Pipeline to transport more gas out of the region. As volumes continue rising, the company should have more opportunities to expand its Permian position. Positioned to capitalize on growing gas demand Energy Transfer has an extensive natural gas infrastructure platform with 105,000 miles of intrastate and interstate pipelines and 236 billion cubic feet of gas storage capacity. This extensive gas infrastructure puts the company in a strong position to capitalize on growing gas demand from catalysts like artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, the onshoring of manufacturing, and electric vehicles. The midstream giant currently supplies gas to 185 power plants around the country either directly or indirectly via its extensive pipeline systems. With gas demand surging, power plant operators are racing to lock up supplies. The company has received requests to connect gas to more than 60 new power plants across 13 states and 15 plants it already serves. Jammu, March 30 : J&K Lt Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha on Sunday visited the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu to enquire about the welfare of security personnel who were injured in the Kathua anti-terrorist operation. A team of doctors at GMC Jammu briefed him on the health condition of SDPO Border, Kathua, Dy SP Dheeraj Katoch and SPO Bharat Jalhotra and medical procedures being followed. Manoj Sinha also met the family members of the injured and assured all possible assistance. He directed the hospital administration to ensure the best possible medical care for the speedy recovery of the brave police personnel. Five security personnel, including four policemen and one para commando, were martyred in the Kathua operation in which two terrorists were also killed. Seven security personnel, including the SDPO Border Kathua, were injured in the operation. The operation against terrorists has not been called off, as further areas adjoining the Safiyan village in the jurisdiction of the Rajbagh police station of Kathua district have been brought under the search operation now. The group of five terrorists, all believed to be Pakistani mercenaries, were first seen by a woman and her husband in Sanyal village about four kilometers away from the International Border (IB). When the team of J&K Police reached Sanyal village, they engaged the terrorists in an encounter. In this encounter, the SDPO and two policemen were injured, but the terrorists fled from the area, leaving behind arms and ammunition. The same group was later sighted in Safiyan village at Ghati Heights, where the army, police, BSF and the NSG joined the operation. Two terrorists were killed while five security men were martyred in the encounter in the Safiyan village area. Hyderabad, March 30 : Amid the buzz about an imminent expansion in the Telangana Cabinet, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met Governor Jishnu Dev Varma at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday. According to an official statement, the Chief Minister met the Governor to greet him on Ugadi, the Telugu New Year. The meeting lasted for an hour. The Chief Minister is understood to have discussed with the Governor the proposed Cabinet expansion. Minister for Environment and Forest Konda Surekha, MP Anil Kumar Yadav, Chief Ministeras advisor Vem Narender Reddy, and others were present. The much-awaited Cabinet expansion is likely to take place after April 4. As the Parliament session is concluding on April 4, the expansion is not likely to be held before that. The Congress top brass last week gave its nod for the Cabinet expansion. However, reports about probable ministers triggered intense lobbying by certain sections within the party. MLAs from Madigas, a Scheduled Caste community, have written to the Congress' Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, seeking priority for them in Cabinet expansion. They are reportedly not happy over reports that Chennur MLA G. Vivek will be inducted into the Cabinet. Vivek, son of senior Congress leader and former G. Venkatswamy, comes from the Mala community. Similarly, a section of the leaders is opposing the proposed induction of Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy into the Cabinet as his brother Komatireedy Venkat Reddy is already a minister. Some MLAs are opposed to the proposal of having another minister from Reddy community. The Congress leadership reportedly decided to induct 3-4 ministers. A Cabinet berth each is likely for Reddy, SC, and BC communities. Government whip Aadi Srinivas is seen as a strong contender from the BCs. Since there is no Muslim representation in the Cabinet, the Congress is likely to induct someone from the community. Revanth Reddy and his 11 Cabinet colleagues took oath on December 7, 2023. The state can have a maximum of 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Many aspirants of Cabinet berths have been waiting for the expansion for more than a year. Though there have been strong speculations of an expansion after the Lok Sabha elections last year and the Chief Minister visited New Delhi many times, the leadership kept the issue pending. The Congress party has 65 MLAs in the 119-member state Assembly. Ten MLAs from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) also switched loyalties to the ruling party last year. Bilaspur, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Sipat stage-III, an advanced 800 MW ultra-supercritical power single unit on Sunday, by remotely pressing a button during a ceremony held in Mohbhatta village, Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. The project is situated within the expansive premises of the Sipat Super Thermal Power Station in Sipat town, Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. This landmark project, with an investment of Rs 9,791 crore, embodies cutting-edge technology designed to enhance fuel efficiency while significantly reducing emissions. Once operational, the station's total installed capacity will rise to an impressive 3,780 MW, addressing the growing power demands of the Central Region, including beneficiary states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, and the home state of Chhattisgarh. The Sipat-III project seamlessly aligns with NTPC's long-term strategy to modernise its power generation facilities while embracing eco-friendly and efficient energy solutions. Beyond the technological advancements, NTPC Sipat demonstrates a robust commitment to sustainable development and community welfare. It adheres to stringent environmental protocols and employs advanced mechanisms to minimise its ecological impact. Initiatives such as afforestation programmes, water conservation efforts, and support for the local community underscore NTPCas dedication to harmonising energy production with regional progress. In a related development at the Chhattisgarh Energy Investors Summit-2025, NTPC Limited and its subsidiary NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) signed multiple agreements worth Rs 96,000 crore, heralding a new era of sustainable energy initiatives. These agreements include the establishment of nuclear energy capacities, pumped hydro storage systems, and renewable energy projects powered by solar, wind, and hybrid sources. The nuclear capacity expansion alone entails the development of 4,200 MW in Chhattisgarh, with an estimated investment of Rs 80,000 crore. Meanwhile, NTPC and Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) have joined forces to set up a 1,200 MW pumped hydro storage project in Gariyaband district with an investment of Rs 5,876 crore. Additionally, NGEL and CSPGCL will develop renewable energy projects up to 2 GW at an approximate cost of Rs 10,000 crore, contributing to the stateas Renewable Generation and Purchase Obligations. The agreements were formalised in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and senior officials from both NTPC and the state government, marking a significant step forward in India's energy transition and the pursuit of its Net Zero goals. Patna, March 30 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over corruption during a public rally in Gopalganj and asked the people of Bihar to decide between NDA's progress and RJD's lawlessness in the upcoming state elections. The Home Minister accused Lalu Prasad Yadav and his party of "corruption", "lawlessness", and "hindering Bihar's development" while asserting that the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. "The people of Bihar must choose between NDA's progress and RJD's lawlessness in the upcoming Assembly elections. The people must decide whether they want to go back to Lalu-Rabri's jungle raj or continue on Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar's path of development," he said during his address. The Home Minister further added that PM Modi's government has worked for Bihar's progress, while the Congress has failed Bihar in the last 65 years. Amit Shah promised that the NDA will "make" Bihar "flood-free" if re-elected for another five years. He also announced plans for a Ramayana Circuit in Bihar and a grand temple for Mata Sita. The Home Minister also accused Lalu Prasad Yadav of "looting" Bihar through "scams", saying, "Lalu Prasad Yadav has no shame. He looted fodder meant for cows and did the tar scam. His government only promoted extortion, ransom, and kidnapping." He also criticised RJD's land-for-job scam, saying: "Would Bihar again go to those involved in corruption? Would it go to the ones who took land in exchange for jobs?" He mocked Lalu Prasad Yadav for prioritising his family's political ambitions over Bihar's youth. "Lalu Yadav did only one thingset up his entire family. Now his son wants to become CM. But he never thought about setting up the youth of Bihar," he said. He praised PM Modi for creating job opportunities and empowering Bihar's youth. Amit Shah's Gopalganj rally set the stage for a fierce NDA vs. RJD battle in Bihar's upcoming assembly polls. With Modi and Nitish Kumar leading the charge, NDA is preparing to counter Lalu Yadav's influence and solidify its position in Bihar ahead of the 2025 elections. New Delhi, March 30 : Indian Navy ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on Sunday to boost 'Operation Brahma' to render assistance to earthquake-hit Myanmar. New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Indian Navy ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on Sunday to boost aOperation Brahmaa to render assistance to earthquake-hit Myanmar. Under MEA's direction, the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts are being progressed in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF. On Saturday, the Naval ships Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, sailed for Yangon. Approximately 52 tonnes of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. "The Indian Navy remains committed to India's resolve to remain the 'First Responder' in the region," said an official statement. Earlier, India intensified its efforts to assist Myanmar by sending two C-17 aircraft with a 118-member Indian Army field hospital unit, including women and childcare services, as well as 60 tonnes of relief material, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. In total, five flights providing relief material from India landed in Myanmar, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Taking to social media platform X, MEA spokesperson wrote: "#OperationBrahma continues. Two C-17 aircraft with 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit, including Women & Child Care services and 60 tonnes of relief material have landed in Myanmar. With these, five relief flights from India have landed in Myanmar today." The spokesperson in another X post said: "Another C130 aircraft landed in the capital city Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, with 38 personnel of @NDRFHQ & 10 tonnes of relief material. This is the third Indian aircraft @IAF_MCC to bring relief assistance to Myanmar today. #OperationBrahma." Additionally, a field hospital with 118 personnel, including doctors, were airlifted from Agra. The massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday led to widespread destruction, with the death toll surpassing 1,644 as more bodies are being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings. New Delhi, March 30 : In a major development, the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Sunday apprehended a notorious criminal named Rahul Ranjan from Jahangirpuri after months of pursuit. The criminal was on the run and wanted in at least two cases of the Arms Act and theft. The notorious criminal is a habitual offender and has been involved in about 50 cases, including robbery, snatching, theft, NDPS, attempt to murder and more, informed the police. The Crime Branch, acting on a tip-off on Sunday, reached the spot where he was hiding and took him into custody. For months, he had been changing his place of stay to evade arrest. Secret information about Rahul Ranjan was received by a police head constable, following which the police team sprang into action and nabbed him from the Jahangirpuri area. A team led by Inspector K.K. Sharma and under the supervision of ACP Arvind Kumar and DCP Vikram Singh launched a manhunt to nab the absconder. The police raided his rented accommodation in Jahangirpuri, where he was found to be living with his family. Among the two cases in which he has been nabbed are robbery in the Janakpuri area and possession of Arms, including live cartridges. Both incidents happened about 10 years ago, and he was declared a proclaimed offender by the court, but he didnat appear for court hearings and kept absconding from the police net. In 2013, he snatched the purse of a woman resident while she was parking her scooty. Rahul, along with his accomplice, came from behind and lifted her purse containing documents like voter card, ATM card, Doctor slip and a gold chain of 15 gms. He was arrested, and stolen items were recovered from him. He didnat appear in repeated court hearings and was declared a proclaimed offender. In another incident, the police team had laid a trap to nab him near West Uttam Nagar Metro station and apprehended him on a motorcycle. A country-made pistol (315 bore) along with 1 live cartridge was recovered from his possession. An FIR under the Arms Act was lodged against him, and a trial was initiated against him. Rahul Ranjan attained notoriety after dropping out of school. After quitting school, he started working in the transport department, where he came into contact with habitual criminals and started committing crimes like snatching and robbery. New Delhi, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call on Sunday for public participation in water conservation has brought into focus the Jal Shakti Ministry's 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain - 2025' drive that has enlisted 24.24 lakh water bodies in the first-ever census. New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call on Sunday for public participation in water conservation has brought into focus the Jal Shakti Ministry's 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025' drive that has enlisted 24.24 lakh water bodies in the first-ever census. In the 120th episode of his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said, "Catch the Rain' campaign is not just a government effort but that of the people. Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan is also being run to connect more and more people with water conservation." Earlier this month, the Ministry launched the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2025' campaign. As part of the earlier Jal Shakti Abhiyans, till June 2024, 24.24 lakh water bodies were enumerated in the country's first water bodies' census, and 671 Jal Shakti Centres were established, according to official documents. At least 25,397 traditional water bodies were renovated, 71,096 reuse and recharge structures were built, apart from the completion of 1.41 lakh watershed development projects, said an official report. Apart from these, several projects under these heads were still underway. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan campaign calls upon all citizens to join hands in securing India's water future through innovative solutions and grassroots participation. It underscores the importance of water security, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge in the face of climate change and growing water challenges. The initiative focuses on 148 districts, fostering greater synergy between government agencies, communities, and stakeholders in ensuring the sustainable management of water resources. The campaign focuses on water conservation and rainwater harvesting, enumerating, geo-tagging and inventory of water bodies; setting up of Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts to provide information and support for water conservation and intensive afforestation to enhance groundwater recharge and reduce erosion. Additionally, the campaign emphasises on de-silting and cleaning water bodies, revitalising abandoned borewells for groundwater recharge, snow harvesting in hilly regions, and the rejuvenation of small rivers. A statement said that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched in 2019 to address the acute water stress in various parts of the country. The campaign was divided into two phases: the first phase was during the monsoon season from July 1 to September 15, 2019, and the second phase from October 1 to November 30, 2019, for states receiving the Northeast retreating monsoons. The campaign's primary focus was on water-stressed districts and blocks, emphasising the need for local-level interventions and community participation, it said. In 2021, 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' was launched with the theme 'Catch the Rain Where it Falls When it Falls'. This initiative subsumed the earlier Catch the Rain campaign, extending its coverage to all blocks in both rural and urban areas across the country. Since its inception, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain has become an annual campaign, the statement said. Bilaspur, March 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday strongly criticised the previous Congress governments for years of neglect towards Chhattisgarh, accusing it of plunging the state into a prolonged era of darkness and underdevelopment. He highlighted that the Congress, which governed for six decades, labelled districts backward, resulting in generational destruction and loss. The "disregard" of Congress for the challenges faced by Maoist-affected regions further exacerbated the situation, PM Modi said. In stark contrast, Prime Minister Modi said, his government has adopted transformative initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra, which have revolutionised healthcare and infrastructure. "With 5,000 kilometers of roads sanctioned, including 2,500 kilometers under PM JANMAN Yojana, Chhattisgarh is now witnessing a new era of progress. The establishment of hospitals in Sukma and the celebration of events like the Bastar Olympics symbolise this remarkable transformation," he said. While handing over keys to three beneficiaries, Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of "punya" (profound virtue) of providing shelter, a noble act deeply rooted in Indian society. PM Modi shared: "Today, three lakh impoverished families are moving into their new homes, a testament to the trust in 'Modi Ki Guarantee'." He described the fulfillment of someone's dream of owning a home as one of the greatest gifts. Unlike plain houses, PM Modi pointed out, these houses are customised to meet the needs of the poor and equipped with amenities like toilets, tap water, and cooking gas under the Ujjwala scheme. Thousands of women now own homes, many for the first time, and the initiative has generated employment for numerous individuals, he said. The Congress governments had left these aspirations of owning a house, buried in files, but the Vishnu Deo Sai government, in its first cabinet meeting, revived such aspirations of people and pledged to construct 18 lakh houses. Of these, three lakh homes have been completed, offering permanent housing to families in Bastar and Sarguja districts of the state, Prime Minister Modi said. Chhattisgarh has embraced the BJP's vision wholeheartedly, observing 2025 as 'Atal Nirman Varsh', a year dedicated to fulfilling promises and advancing development, he said. PM Modi highlighted efforts to bring projects to remote areas, focusing on solar energy and sustainable solutions. Under the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, registrations for free electricity have commenced, and many got enrolled, PM Modi said. He further said efforts are underway to make petroleum products affordable, introduce CNG vehicles, and supply cooking gas through pipelines, addressing the previous government's inaction on gas infrastructure. On the occasion, PM Modi inaugurated or laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 33,700 crore. The projects include NTPC's Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (800MW) and CSPGCL's Super Critical Thermal Power Project (2x660MW), alongside three POWERGRID transmission projects under WRES (Western Region Expansion Scheme). Cleaner energy solutions are being introduced through the City Gas Distribution project and Visakh-Raipur Pipeline, spanning over 1,540 km. Railway projects totaling 219 km and road upgrades worth Rs 1,270 crore aim to improve connectivity. Educational advancements include 130 PM SHRI Schools and Vidya Samiksha Kendra in Raipur. New Delhi, March 30 : Aiming to hone skills against a dozen other counterparts, including the US, Israel, and France, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in biennial multinational air exercise INIOCHOS-25, starting in Greece from Monday, an official said. The IAF contingent, including Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 and C-17 aircraft, will join the prestigious multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force at Andravida Air Base from March 31 to April 11, 2025. INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. According to the Hellenic Air Force, this edition, featuring the largest number of fighter aircraft and helicopters fielded by the participating countries, is divided into three phases. Phase 1, comprising the deployment of participating forces, was from March 24-30, while Phase 2 is the main phase, entailing the execution of the exercise, from March 31 to April 11. The final phase will be the redeployment of forces, from April 11 to April 13. The execution phase of the exercise will comprise Offensive Counter Air Operations, Defensive Counter Air Operations, Strategic Air Operations, Air Power Contribution to Counter-Land Operations, Air Power Contribution to Maritime Operations, Reconnaissance Missions, Combat Search and Rescue, Time Sensitive Target, and High Value Airborne Asset, as per the Hellenic Air Force. Apart from the Hellenic Air Force and the IAF, the participants include France with the I-2000, the Israel with G-550, Italy with Tornado, Montenegro with B-412, Poland with F-16, Qatar with F-15, Slovenia with 2 PC-9, Spain with F-18, the UAE with I-2000/9, and the US with F-16, KC-46 and KC-135. Cyprus will be represented by support staff, while Bahrain and Slovakia will have a team of observers. As per the IAF, its participation in Exercise INIOCHOS 25 is to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among participating air forces. An official said the exercise will provide an opportunity to train in planning and executing combined air operations, refine tactics in complex air warfare scenarios, and gain insights into operational best practices. IAF's participation will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also contribute to mutual learning and enhanced coordination among participating countries. The IAF's participation in INIOCHOS-25 reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence. The exercise will further reinforce India's strategic partnerships-and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations, said the statement. In October last year, the IAF undertook the 12th Joint Military Training (JMT) with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) at Air Force Station Kalaikunda, West Bengal. The RSAF participated with its largest contingent till date, comprising aircrew and support personnel from F-16, F-15 squadrons, along with G-550 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and C-130 aircraft. The IAF participated with Rafale, Mirage 2000 ITI, Su-30 MKI, Tejas, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft. Vijayawada, March 30 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday asserted that a poverty-free society is his life's ambition and the P-4 programme was launched to achieve the objective of zero poverty. Addressing the main official function in Vijayawada on the occasion of the Telugu New Year 'Ugadi', Naidu emphasised that wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a few. A just society is possible when everyone has access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, he said. The Chief Minister launched the Margadarshi - Bangaru Kutumbam Zero Poverty (P4) initiative. His vision is that wealthy individuals should support the poor, and 10 per cent of society's elite should voluntarily uplift the bottom 20 per cent. He called on Telugu people to become global role models in philanthropy. He claimed that in the last nine months, the NDA government made all its decisions with the "People First" approach. While focusing on welfare and development, the government is also attracting investments. It introduced WhatsApp Governance, making government services accessible to citizens without the need to visit offices. Stating that a Rs 3.22 lakh crore budget was presented for 2025-26 despite financial constraints, he wished that people's income grows so that their living standards improve, making them happy and healthy. Naidu criticised the previous government, saying that Andhra Pradesh suffered heavily in the last five years. He claimed that problems created by the past administration were unprecedented in his long political career. Recalling that he built the HITEC City in Hyderabad to promote IT, providing jobs to thousands of youth, he said that all of them are now settled either in the country or abroad. "I promoted IT then, and now I am talking about AI and Quantum Valley. Similarly, when I promoted mobile phones at that time, some people made fun of it. The situation now is that we cannot move forward without cell phones. If these cell phones are properly used, radical changes can be witnessed in life, but problems will arise if they become an addiction," he maintained. He said that he shares the same vision as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to make Andhra Pradesh and India stronger. He prayed that India become a global leader, with Telugu people playing a crucial role in the country's progress. The Chief Minister pointed out that Indian culture and traditions are unique and must be preserved. "Forgetting history means losing our identity. Ugadi reminds us of Pachadi (a traditional festive dish) and Panchanga Sravanam," he said and recalled that, in his childhood, villagers used to sit together and listen to the Panchanga recitation. Investing in stocks comes with risks. There's no way around that fact. However, some stocks can be less risky than others during certain market conditions. Three Motley Fool contributors think they've found relatively safe stocks to buy right now with major market indexes remaining near correction territory. Here's why they like Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Abbott is a diverse healthcare stock with a fantastic dividend David Jagielski (Abbott Laboratories): If you're looking for safety within the healthcare sector, a top name to consider right now is Abbott Laboratories. It's a good stock to put in your portfolio that you won't have to worry about. For starters, it offers an above-average dividend yield of 1.9% (the S&P 500 average is 1.4%). Abbott has increased its dividend for 53 consecutive years. Not only can you collect a dependable dividend with this stock, but it's also likely to grow over the years as Abbott's sales and profits rise. The big reason it makes for a stable and safe investment is because its operations are highly diverse. Last year, Abbott generated $19 billion in sales from medical devices, $9 billion from diagnostics, $8 billion from nutritional sales, and $5 billion from its established pharmaceuticals segment. Collectively, these segments make Abbott a fairly safe investment to hold on to. While its diagnostic sales were down 7% last year, largely due to higher COVID testing demand in the previous year, all of the company's other business units generated positive year-over-year growth, with the end result being an overall company growth rate of just under 5% for the full year. Shares of Abbott have risen by more than 80% over the past five years and with a modest price-to-earnings multiple of 17, it's still a good value buy. Its modest beta value of 0.69 also tells investors this isn't a highly volatile stock in relation to the markets. If you want a good, safe healthcare stock to hold, with a great dividend, Abbott can make for a no-brainer buy right now. A proven ability to navigate challenges Keith Speights (AbbVie): Big pharmaceutical companies don't have exclusivity forever for the drugs they invest heavily in developing. Eventually, those drugs lose patent protection and can experience significant sales declines as new rivals enter the market. But few have faced as scary a patent cliff as AbbVie and handled it so effectively. When AbbVie spun off from Abbott in 2013, the writing was already on the wall for its autoimmune disease drug Humira losing exclusivity. Not only did Humira rank as AbbVie's top-selling product, generating 65% of the company's total revenue by 2017, but it also ranked as the top-selling drug in the world for several years. New Delhi, March 30 : Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said that climate change poses an existential challenge for our planet and the solution to the complex problem must be found collectively. Presiding as Chief Guest at the valedictory session of National Conference on Environment- 2025, organised by the National Green Tribunal, he said the problem of "huge dimensions" needs to be fixed with "immediate, urgent, concerted and sustained" efforts. "Everyone among us is in a position to make a contribution. When the contribution converges into totality, it will be result-oriented," said V-P Dhankhar. "We are trustees of everything offered by Mother Earth and we must pass on to the future generations all this in good shape," said the Vice President. He also praised the NGT for doing its bit to protect the environment of the country, adding that for him the acronym stands for 'Nurturing Green for Tomorrow'. Calling for collective global action on climate change, Dhankhar said, "There is a global need to evolve and believe in environmental ethics. This underscores humans' moral obligation to protect and preserve the environment." "Let us realise the worth of nature before we lose it forever," he said, calling for urgent measures to protect the environment. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday called for nurturing and protecting the environment for the next generation, saying it is a "moral responsibility" of parents towards their children. Inaugurating the Conference, the President said, "It is our moral responsibility to provide a legacy of a clean environment to the coming generations. For this, we will have to adopt an environmentally conscious and sensitive lifestyle so that the environment is not only protected but also enhanced." She called for actions with which the environment can become more vibrant and said, "Balancing clean environment and modern development is both an opportunity and a challenge." The President said: "We all have to make India a developed nation by 2047 with clean air, water, greenery, and prosperity that would attract the entire world community." Ranchi, March 30 : The controversy surrounding the construction of a flyover ramp near the Sarna Sthal, a sacred site for tribals in Sirmatoli, Ranchi, has deepened. Thousands of tribals on Sunday gathered at the site demanding the complete removal of the ramp, which they claim infringes upon their religious space and traditions. With protests intensifying, authorities have deployed a heavy contingent of police and security forces. The entire area has been barricaded, effectively turning it into a security fortress. The dispute has been simmering for weeks. A massive protest was witnessed on March 22 when a complete shutdown of Ranchi was observed. The protesters argue that the ramp, part of an under-construction flyover, obstructs access to the Sarna Sthal and diminishes the space required for major religious gatherings. Sirmatoli houses Ranchias largest Sarna Sthal, a site of immense cultural and spiritual importance for tribals. Every year, grand processions from Ranchi and surrounding areas culminate here during Sarhul, the communityas biggest festival. This year, Sarhul falls on April 1, making the dispute even more sensitive. Tribal organisations claim that the flyover ramp, built very close to the sacred site, will disrupt religious rituals, including the massive processions that gather here during Sarhul. They argue that it is not just an issue of encroachment but a direct attack on their faith and heritage. In response to the growing agitation, the district administration took partial corrective action by deciding to shorten the ramp. A significant portion was demolished, and debris removal is still ongoing as of Sunday. However, this action has failed to pacify the protesters. Slogans demanding the demolition of the entire structure continue to echo through the streets. Some protesters have warned that if the administration does not take further action, they will dismantle the ramp themselves. Given the rising tensions, Sirmatoli Chowk has been turned into a high-security zone, with Ranchi DIG-cum-SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha, City SP Rajkumar, SDM Utkarsh Kumar, and officers from various police stations mobilised in the area. The protest is being spearheaded by tribal organisations under the banner of aSirmatoli Bachao Morcha.a Last week, these groups staged a dramatic demonstration in Ranchi, carrying out a symbolic funeral procession of all tribal MLAs and ministers, including the Chief Minister, accusing them of failing to protect their religious rights. Chennai, March 30 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S. Ramadoss on Sunday called on the Tamil Nadu government to create separate Tamil teacher posts in government primary and middle schools, similar to the existing structure in high schools and higher secondary schools. In a statement here, Dr Ramadoss emphasised the need to ensure proper implementation of Tamil as a compulsory subject in private schools as well. He highlighted that although the state has mandated Tamil education in private institutions by law, enforcement remains weak, resulting in the non-appointment of qualified Tamil teachers. "Currently, Tamil is taught as a compulsory subject in government schools up to Class 8, but there are no dedicated Tamil teacher posts for these classes. This not only hampers the quality of Tamil education but also contributes to rising unemployment among Tamil graduates," said Dr Ramadoss, a prominent leader of the Vanniyar community. He noted that over 50,000 graduates with degrees in Tamil literature, along with B.Ed. qualifications, remain unemployed and are often forced to take up jobs unrelated to their field of study. "Tamil can only be effectively taught by those who have specialised in the language. Despite repeated appeals from Tamil scholars, successive governments have failed to address this critical issue. This continued neglect is a grave injustice to the Tamil language," he added. The PMK, although a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has consistently opposed the implementation of Hindi and the three-language policy proposed by the Union government, along with the state's ruling DMK. PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss, son of Dr. Ramadoss, has previously stated that Tamil Naduas two-language policy is sufficient and effective. He pointed out that the state has achieved the status of the second most economically developed state in the country without adopting the three-language formula. A former Union Minister, he had earlier criticised the Centre for attempting to impose the three-language policy, stating that while the Centre may try to persuade Tamil Nadu, it cannot enforce the policy against the will of the people. New Delhi, March 30 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for another six months in certain parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, officials said, adding that further extension of the law would be effective from April 1. The AFSPA, which gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the "maintenance of public order", was on Sunday extended for six more months in the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the 13 police stations of five districts a" Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. There are 16 districts in Manipur, which has been devastated by the ethnic violence between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals since May 3, 2023. The MHA notification said that the Central government, after review of the law and order situation in the state of Manipur, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958, extended the law for another six months with effect from April 1. A separate notification of the MHA said that the AFSPA has been extended in eight districts of Nagaland -- Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren and 21 police stations in five other districts a" Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto and declared these areas as adisturbed areaa for a period of six months with effect from April 1. Another MHA notification said that the AFSPA has also been extended in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of the state, bordering the state of Assam, and declared these areas as adisturbed areaa for a period of six months with effect from April 1. The law and order situations of the areas of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where the AFSPA has been extended, were also reviewed by the government. Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, four days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who was heading a BJP-led government for the second term, resigned on February 9, following ethnic violence for over 23 months. Many organisations in Manipur, including the Manipuri Studentsa Federation (MSF), the Nupi Khunai (Yairipok), and the Meira Paibis have been agitating, demanding withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state. The Manipur government in October last year extended the promulgation of the AFSPA in the entire state, except in the jurisdiction of 19 police stations in seven districts of the Imphal Valley, for another six months. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that the MHA has lifted the AFSPA from the Dibrugarh district. Despite its removal from Dibrugarh, the Act will remain in effect in Tinsukia, Sibsagar, and Charaideo districts. Sarma highlighted the gradual reduction of AFSPA's coverage in Assam. "At one time, the entire state was under AFSPA. The Centre has steadily reduced the areas where the Act applies. Today, the Union Home Ministry decided to remove the 'disturbed area' designation from Dibrugarh, leaving only three districts under AFSPA. We aim to reduce this further in the coming days," the Chief Minister had said. AFSPA was originally imposed across Assam in 1990, during a peak in insurgent activities led by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Since then, it has been renewed every six months, with periodic reviews leading to the gradual exclusion of certain areas based on the prevailing security situation. New Delhi, March 30 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for another six months in certain parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, officials said, adding that further extension of the law would be effective from April 1. The AFSPA, which gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the "maintenance of public order", was on Sunday extended for six more months in the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the 13 police stations of five districts a" Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. There are 16 districts in Manipur, which have been devastated by the ethnic violence between the majority Meitei and the minority Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals since May 3, 2023. The MHA notification said that the Central government, after review of the law and order situation in the state of Manipur, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the AFSPA, 1958, extended the law for another six months with effect from April 1. A separate notification of the MHA said that the AFSPA has been extended in eight districts of Nagaland -- Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren and 21 police stations in five other districts a" Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, and Zunheboto and these areas declared "disturbed area" for a period of six months with effect from April 1. Another MHA notification said that the AFSPA has also been extended in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of the state, bordering the state of Assam, and these areas declared as adisturbed areaa for a period of six months with effect from April 1. The law and order situations of the areas of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, where the AFSPA has been extended, were also reviewed by the government. Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, four days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who was heading a BJP-led government for the second term, resigned on February 9, following ethnic violence for over 23 months. Many organisations in Manipur, including the Manipuri Studentsa Federation (MSF), the Nupi Khunai (Yairipok), and the Meira Paibis have been agitating, demanding withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state. The Manipur government in October last year extended the promulgation of the AFSPA in the entire state, except in the jurisdiction of 19 police stations in seven districts of the Imphal Valley, for another six months. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that the MHA has lifted the AFSPA from the Dibrugarh district. Despite its removal from Dibrugarh, the Act will remain in effect in Tinsukia, Sibsagar, and Charaideo districts. Sarma highlighted the gradual reduction of the AFSPA's coverage in Assam. "At one time, the entire state was under AFSPA. The Centre has steadily reduced the areas where the Act applies. Today, the Union Home Ministry decided to remove the 'disturbed area' designation from Dibrugarh, leaving only three districts under AFSPA. We aim to reduce this further in the coming days," the Chief Minister had said. The AFSPA was originally imposed across Assam in 1990, during a peak in insurgent activities led by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Since then, it has been renewed every six months, with periodic reviews leading to the gradual exclusion of certain areas based on the prevailing security situation. Dehradun, March 30 : Uttarakhand unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Mahendra Bhatt on Sunday said that the hill state has witnessed a three-fold rise in the mining revenue under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government, as compared to previous regimes, and this was the result of 'reforms' initiated in the sector. Addressing a press conference, in the backdrop of an 'ugly altercation' between BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and a top bureaucrat of the Mining Department, Bhatt said that the three-fold jump in revenue was itself an indicator of plummeting mafia operations and the government's growing supervision. "Earnings from mining have gone up from Rs 300 crore to over Rs 1,000 crore. This shows Dhami government's role in streamlining the sector and weeding out the corrupt and mafia syndicate," he said. The BJP leader also stated that till 2017, when the Congress was in power, the mining revenue stood at just Rs 335.27 crore. The Uttarakhand BJP chief also took potshots at the Congress' charges of government-mafia collusion in the mining sector and stated that the party itself was facing the heat because those being penalised were found to have close links with it. He said that the Opposition, including Congress, were nervous because of the crackdown on the mining mafia in the state. aCongress leaders are concerned over fines being imposed on the mining mafias. The penalty has increased 8 times in the past five years, from Rs 18.05 crore to Rs 74.22 crore. Most of this money has gone from pockets of mafias enjoying the support of Congress leaders, so it is natural for them to be pained and upset," he stated. Notably, the issue of illegal mining in Uttarakhand cropped up after BJP MP and former state CM Trivendra Singh Rawat raised the matter in Parliament and sought the state government's intervention in containing the menace. Rawat, speaking in Lok Sabha on Thursday, put his own party's government in the dock as he raised the issue of illegal mining in the hill state and stated that this was posing much harm not just to the people but also to the ecology of the northern state. He spoke about rampaging trucks loaded with illegal mining extracts and how this was damaging the roads and also putting lives at peril at night. Rawatas adisclosuresa not only gave the Opposition ammunition to slam the Dhami government but also prompted a quick rebuttal from the state's Mining Department. State Mining Department director Brijesh Kumar Sant, in a hurriedly released counter, said that mining revenue saw a record rise in the current financial year and hence the allegations stand as abaseless, false and misleadinga. New Delhi, March 30 : Zerodha Co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath on Sunday shared his health update after he suffered a mild stroke last year. He said that 14 months after the stroke, his body is "almost" back to normal and his mind is still healing. "So, yeah, fourteen months after the stroke, my body is almost back to normal, and my mind is at about 85 per cent," he posted on X social media platform. "My writing hasn't improved at all. Maybe because I don't practice enough. My speech is, well about 85 per cent," Nithin Kamath added. On February 26 last year, he took to Instagram to announce about suffering from a stroke. "Around 6 weeks ago, I had a mild stroke out of the blue. Dad passing away, poor sleep, exhaustion, dehydration, and overworking out any of these could be possible reasons," he wrote. "I've gone from having a big droop in the face and not being able to read or write to having a slight droop but being able to read and write more. From being absent-minded to more present-minded. So, 3 to 6 months for full recovery," the Zerodha Co-founder added. He wondered why a person who's fit and takes care of himself could be affected like this. "The doctor said you need to know when you need to shift the gears down a bit," said Kamath, posting an image of him in the hospital. "Slightly broken, but still getting my treadmill count," he added. Several startup leaders wished him speedy recovery after they got to know from his X post that he suffered a mild stroke. In April, Nithin Kamath made his first public appearance. In a post on X then, the entrepreneur shared a picture of him present at the 'Zero1' fest where he discussed health and wealth. Chennai, March 30 : Tamil superstar Vijay Sethupathi is all set to collaborate with celebrated Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh for a high-octane pan-India film. The yet-to-be-titled project was officially announced on Sunday on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi. The film is scheduled to go on floors in June and promises to offer an experience like never before. Known for his flair for crafting distinctive characters and compelling narratives, Puri Jagannadh will be presenting Vijay Sethupathi in a role that is said to be completely new for the versatile actor. This ambitious venture will be produced on a grand scale by Puri Jagannadh and Charmme Kaur under their banner, Puri Connects. The makers describe it as a cinematic extravaganza, bringing together Purias dynamic storytelling style and Sethupathias magnetic screen presence. The project gains further intrigue with Puri having penned a unique script that showcases a side of Vijay Sethupathi never seen before. The announcement of the film project radiates the excitement and synergy between Vijay Sethupathi, Puri Jagannadh, and Charmme Kaur as they come together to bring this dream project to life. The film will be released in five languages -- Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi -- ensuring a wide pan-India reach. New Delhi, March 30 : The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and IIT Kanpur have jointly organised a hackathon to encourage students to develop advanced solutions using Large Language Models (LLM) and generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), an official statement said on Sunday. The hackathon, held at IIT Kanpur on March 28-29, brought together students from various engineering colleges across India, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs statement said. The objective was to demonstrate democratising complex financial statements so that financial information is more readable and understandable, it added. The challenge given was to transform financial data into clear, engaging stories to enable well informed decisions. The hackathon tried to address the challenge, leveraging GenAI. Teams attempted transformative solutions to simplify financial statements and unlock deeper insights. The presentations made by the teams at the hackathon showed that GenAI has the potential to revolutionise financial statement analysis by simplifying complex financial concepts, automating data extraction, and generating insightful narratives. As technology continues to evolve, stakeholders can expect to see increased adoption in financial reporting, leading to more efficient, accurate, and informed financial decision-making. The event enabled the interaction of academia, students, and the regulator joining hands to address common challenges. The solutions were discussed and students were guided how to carry their innovative ideas further forward. Teams from VIT Vellore, MNNIT Allahabad, IIT Lucknow, and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, Nuzvid emerged as winners in the competitions. The Hackathon was judged by a combined team of experts from IIT Kanpur and the NFRA. The statement said it was also noteworthy that many of the winning teams choose to offer their innovations to the open-source community so that more improvements and value additions can happen, and these solutions can be further developed and used by anyone interested. The NFRA, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, said that it looks forward to further such opportunities to engage with the student community. Mumbai, March 30 : Popular social media influencer Jannat Zubair celebrated Eid with her family in Medina. Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Popular social media influencerA Jannat Zubair celebrated Eid with her family in Medina. She was accompanied by her father Zubair Ahmad Rahmani, mother Nazneen Zubair Rahmani, and brother Ayaan Zubair Rahmani. The entire family faced the camera wearing traditional Muslim ensembles during the religious trip. Sharing her experience of visiting Medina with her loved ones, Jannat wrote on her Instagram handle, "Eid Mubarak...Celebrated Eid in Medina today with my family, and my heart is full. A dream come true, Alhamdulillah. May Allah accept our prayers and fasts, and bless us all with peace, protection, and endless mercy." The photographs shared by Jannat on social media also give us a glimpse of the beautiful city of Medina. Jannat was joined by her close friend and actress Reem Sameer during her trip to Medina. Dropping some snippets from her time there, Reem mentioned on her IG, "My best Eid till date. Allah ka Bohot Bohot shukar hai for everything. alhamdulillah For everything. (Thank you very much to Allah for everything.)" On a different note, Jannat was recently in the news for her alleged breakup with fellow influencer Faisal Shaikh. Now, the latest reports suggest that Jannat and Faisal will be seen together in the upcoming episodes of the cooking reality show, 'Laughter Chefs season 2' Going by the reports, Jannat, who was part of the initial season of 'Laughter Chefs' is set to return for the second season, and she might also be accompanied by Faisal. For the unversed, Faisal appeared in a few episodes of the show during the primary season as a special guest. Jannat was paired with Reem in the previous season of 'Laughter Chefs'. However, these two were absent from season two. On the other hand, Faisal has been flaunting his culinary skills in another cooking reality show 'Celebrity MasterChef'. The more money you have, the more you have for scammers to steal. Wealthy Americans make juicy targets for fraudsters. A single well-executed scam can steal hundreds of thousands in one transaction. Read More: 3 Signs Youve Made It Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley Find Out: 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks So what are the most common scams targeting wealthy Americans in the post-Artificial Intelligence (AI) world? Whaling Youve heard of phishing: attempts to get victims to share sensitive information that scammers can use to steal money or identities. Whaling takes phishing to the next level by personally targeting wealthy or powerful individuals. These are not crimes of opportunity they are targeted, deliberate operations, said James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4. Attackers will use OSINT (open-source intelligence) on the target and their family and friends to gain access. Through social engineering, they will work to build rapport and leverage that trust to gain access. Once trust is established, they ask the victim to divulge information, pay fake invoices, or invest in fake opportunities. Discover More: What Is the Estimated Median Income for the Upper-Middle Class in 2025? Relationship Impersonation Fraud Scammers dont always try to form a new relationship with their victim. In some ways, its easier for them to simply impersonate someone you already know and trust. Steve Tcherchian, chief information security officer for cybersecurity firm XYPRO, explained how it works: Scammers use social engineering to impersonate private bankers, accountants, lawyers, or family office staff. Using publicly available information or breaches from unrelated platforms, they can create a profile allowing them to craft a convincing email, call, or even a deepfake video to manipulate a high-net-worth individual into approving wire transfers or sharing sensitive credentials no malware or hacking necessary. Investment Scams Impersonation fraud often happens in the investment world. With the rise of AI, its become alarmingly easy for scammers to mimic brokers, replicate emails, and use the same tone and structure in their communications, warned Karin Zilberstein, VP of product at cybersecurity platform Guardio. They can mimic their writing patterns and even create fake audio messages and videos seemingly from that person. For example, an executive lost her life savings to a real estate scam when she received a fraudulent email from a hacker posing as her mortgage broker, instructing her to wire a $398,359 downpayment, she said. Quetta, March 30 : Amid growing unrest in Pakistan's Balochistan, the provincial government has imposed a ban on night-time travel across several key national highways. Quetta, March 30 (IANS) Amid growing unrest in Pakistanas Balochistan, the provincial government has imposed a ban on night-time travel across several key national highways. According to a notification issued by deputy commissioners (DCs), the restriction applied to public transport, prohibiting travel from 6 pm to 6 am, according to media reports. The ban covers several significant highways, including the Quetta-Taftan Road, Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Road, Sibi Road, Coastal Highway, and Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Road. The restriction comes after at least six people were injured in a suicide blast near a rally of Pakistanas Balochistan National Party (BNP) on Saturday in the Mastung district of Balochistan, Pakistanas leading newspaper, The Express Tribune, reported. Condemning the attack, BNP chief Ahktar Mengal described it as a failed attempt to make the protest unsuccessful once again. Meanwhile, the protest of the BNP demanding the release of arrested Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders continued on Sunday, after the provincial governmentas talks with the party failed to reach a solution. Over 250 activists of the BNP were also arrested during the rally that was leading the peaceful long march to Quetta against the illegal detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists. BNP organised the rally from Wadh to Quetta against the illegal detention of BYC leaders and activists, including Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch, amid the police crackdown. Chandigarh, March 30 : In a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the grenade attack on YouTuber and social media influencer Roger Sandhu's house, the Punjab Police arrested the seventh accused on Sunday. The accused, identified as Maninder alias Bobby, a resident of Ali Chak, Jalandhar, was apprehended at the Chandigarh Airport, marking a significant development in the case. This arrest follows a series of actions under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mannas efforts to make the state a safer place, say police. The arrest of Maninder, based on credible intelligence, was carried out by the Jalandhar Rural Police. Police teams had been actively working to unearth the entire network of individuals involved in the attack. The incident took place on the night of 1March 15-16, when a group of attackers launched an assault on Roger Sandhu's residence in Raipur Rasoolpur, Jalandhar. Initial investigations revealed that Maninder had facilitated the procurement of weapons and handed them over to co-accused Rohit Basra. Basra, in turn, provided these weapons to other assailants, Amritpreet and Dheeraj, on March 8 in Jandu Singha. Maninder has a criminal history with several prior cases registered against him under the Arms Act. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that following this arrest, the total number of arrests in the case now stands at seven. The police had previously arrested six other individuals, including Amritpreet Singh alias Sukha, Hardik Kamboj, Dheeraj Kumar, Santosh Kumar alias Pandey, Lachmi, and Rohit Basra. Authorities have seized one hand grenade, two 32-bore pistols, cartridges, and three motorcycles from the suspects. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jalandhar Rural, Gurmeet Singh, shared that the police acted swiftly after receiving credible information about Maninderas arrival at the Chandigarh Airport. He said that investigations are ongoing, and more arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days. New Delhi, March 31 : A massive fire broke out at a hospital in Delhi's Laxmi Nagar on Sunday night, officials said. As of now, no casualties have been reported. The Delhi Fire Service is actively working to control the blaze. The fire at the Makkar Multispeciality Hospital left several patients and their family members trapped. Upon receiving information, the police teams from Laxmi Nagar Police Station and nearby police stations rushed to the spot along with a team of Delhi Fire Service and initiated a rescue operation. As per officials, several fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene, and firefighting operations are currently underway to contain the blaze. The fire broke out at Makkar Multispeciality Hospital, a prominent healthcare institution in Laxmi Nagar. According to the locals the scene at the site were chaotic, with flames engulfing a portion of the hospital building. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but officials suspect an electrical malfunction may have been the trigger. The Delhi Fire Service responded swiftly to the emergency, deploying four fire tenders to the spot. The firefighters were working tirelessly to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the hospital. The rescue operation is being led by experienced personnel, who are prioritising the safety of patients, staff, and visitors. Fire Officer Deepak Hooda confirmed that the fire was confined to the ground floor and has been successfully extinguished. "The fire that broke out today was extinguished in time. Earlier, it was reported that a child was affected, but he had already been taken away," Hooda told IANS. The fire incident occurred at a hospital, raising concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness. The Delhi Fire Service received a call regarding the fire and promptly dispatched personnel to the spot. Fire Officer Hooda said, "We received a call regarding a fire at a hospital. The fire was on the ground floor and it has been doused. There are no injuries." The fire department's prompt response ensured that the situation was brought under control. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Fire Officer Hooda noted, "The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained." Authorities will work to determine the origin and circumstances surrounding the incident. Further details regarding the incident are being awaited. Promoting the third and final season of Prime Video's Bosch: Legacy has been a bittersweet experience for star Titus Welliver. ADVERTISEMENT "The emotional part of my life says to me, 'Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please, oh please!' And then there's the business part of my brain that says, 'Let it go,'" Welliver, 63, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview about the likelihood of a future revival of the show. Legacy returned this week with fresh episodes after a two-year hiatus. It is a sequel to Welliver's seven-season series, Bosch, and both shows are based on the best-selling Los Angeles detective novels by Michael Connelly. "A decade of doing this show is something we are all very, very proud of -- that we've been able to sustain the fan-base and the audience that we have," Welliver said. "The other side of that is Hollywood's a pretty crazy place. So, I always say, 'Never say never.' I've got no tea leaves to read. So, I'm just very excited for this season to come out because I think we kind of really overshot the mark in the best possible way," he added. "It's probably one of our strongest, if not maybe even one of our best seasons." It is Harry Bosch's imperfections and humanity that make the ex-police-detective turned private investigator such a beloved character, according to Welliver. "He's clearly an empath or he would not be this invested in and good at his job as he is," Welliver said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "Also, there's a kind of innate sadness about the character," he added. "He carries his trauma and despite the fact that he is not an emotionally demonstrative person, he internalizes so much that the audience senses the weight that he carries almost to the point of being a burden." The actor thinks that viewers are also attracted to the authentic-seeming relationship he has with his daughter Maddie (Madison Lintz), who is now a rookie cop for the LAPD. "We steered very, very clear of it being a sort of typical 'father knows best' dynamic," Welliver said. "They disagree passionately," he added. "It's a much more real relationship between a father and daughter [than is usually seen on TV]." Season 2 of Legacy ended with Maddie demanding Harry tell her whether he put out a hit on the man who kidnapped and tortured her. "The funny thing about that is that he doesn't respond to her," Welliver said. "We go out on him just kind of looking away and then we come into this first episode in Season 3 and it's eight months later, so whatever the continuation of that conversation was and any other conversations that have occurred since all have been off camera," he added. "That's still a lingering thing that's there." Meeting an old friend of Harry's and hearing stories about his time as a member of a Special Forces team in the Afghanistan War makes Maddie wonder how well she actually knows her father. "That raises some questions for her. It moves her to a place of going: 'I don't really know my father. I don't think I know him to the depth that I thought I did,'" Welliver said. "So, that creates tension." The history of coeducation at the University of Georgia spans more than a century, starting just before 1914, when Mary Lyndon, the first woman to get a degree from the university, got her masters degree. UGAs first 12 female undergraduate students started school just a few years later, in 1918. An aerial drone photo shows a view of Yangpu International Container Port in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) As protectionism surges across the globe, bringing in economic headwinds, China is doubling down on opening its doors and positioning itself as a stabilizing force in an increasingly fractured global economy. This message was front and center during Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with representatives of the international business community on Friday, where he said that China has been and will remain an ideal, secure and promising destination for foreign investors. For more than four decades, China's reform and opening-up has fundamentally transformed the country and impacted the wider world. Today, China remains the locomotive of the world economy, contributing about 30 percent to global growth. International businesses have thrived in China's vast and dynamic market, with numerous success stories of win-win cooperation. Today, the appeal of the Chinese market remains stronger than ever, with its growing and increasingly sophisticated consumer base offering unparalleled opportunities. China's ongoing transition toward a greener and smarter economy is unlocking new frontiers for innovation and industrial cooperation. Despite external pressures, the country's business environment continues to evolve toward greater transparency and predictability, ensuring a stable foundation for long-term investment. Staff workers assemble an offshore wind turbine in the waters of Laizhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 15, 2022. (Photo by Lin Songfei/Xinhua) Stability has become a defining trait of China amid geopolitical turbulence, providing a socio-economic environment that investors find reassuring. As global markets grapple with rising uncertainty, China serves as a stabilizing force, promoting shared growth over zero-sum competition. The message of cooperation was also echoed at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, held this week on the tropical island of Hainan. Rather than focusing solely on trade figures and policy targets, discussions at the forum underscored China's efforts to foster a more open, inclusive global economy, one that embraces innovation, strengthens supply chains, and deepens cooperation in areas such as green development and digital trade. As noted by scholars like Ian Goldin, professor of globalization and development at the University of Oxford, China recognizes the necessity of global cooperation, not just for its own future but for the broader world as well. History has shown that openness leads to progress, and cooperation -- not fragmentation -- drives prosperity. In the turbulent times, China's unwavering commitment to opening-up is not only crucial for its own growth but for the future of the global economy. We recently published the Best Retirement Portfolio for a 65-Year-Old. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) stands against other stocks in the best retirement portfolio. The American retirement system is feeling the strain, with challenges like shrinking fees, underfunded plans, and an aging population slowing down industry growth. Over the last decade, 401(k) expense ratios have declined by a third, according to a PwC report, and recordkeeping fees dropped 8% between 2015 and 2019, making it harder for retirement firms to stay profitable. Some companies have had to merge or shut down, but there is still a big opportunity. Businesses that offer better retirement benefits, financial advice, and affordable plans for small companies could attract more people and unlock an extra $5 trillion in retirement savings. The urgency is real. A quarter of US adults have no retirement savings at all, and only 36% feel on track. Even those who are saving may not have enough. For people nearing retirement, between the ages of 55 to 64, the median savings of $120,000 might provide less than $1,000 a month for 15 years. This is hardly enough, especially with longer life expectancies and rising healthcare costs. For most Americans, retirement means either living off of savings or finding ways to generate passive income. While some can count on Social Security or a pension, many have to plan their own financial future. Savings usually involve withdrawing money over time, while passive income could mean anything from rental properties to online businesses. Brian Bollinger, founder of Simply Safe Dividends, believes dividend-paying stocks can be a game-changer. Instead of selling stocks to make money, retirees can rely on regular dividend payments, helping stretch their savings. Dividends have been a huge part of stock market returns, making up about 45% of the broader market's total gains since 1900. But despite their importance, they are often overlooked when planning for retirement, especially as baby boomers look for reliable income sources. According to Thornburg Investment Management, retirees typically fund expenses through either a total return approach, investing for growth and selling assets as needed, or a high-income approach, relying on high-yield investments for steady income. The first risks selling in down markets, while the second limits portfolio growth. A better strategy combines both; investing in stocks that not only pay dividends but also increase them over time can provide a steady income while allowing retirees to grow their wealth. Unlike bonds with fixed returns, dividend stocks can grow income, offering both stability and long-term financial growth. Over 30 years, dividend income has outpaced bond payouts, making it a strong option for retirees. Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, a police official said. Images used for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo The Naxalites, 10 of whom are women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he added. "The cadres surrendered citing the hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology, exploitation of tribals by senior cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) as well as differences brewing within the movement. They are also impressed by security forces setting up camps and the 'Niya Nellanar' (your good village) scheme under which forces and the administration are providing basic amenities in remote areas," Bijapur Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. Of the 50 who surrendered, Ravindra Karam (19), Roni Parsik (22), Rakesh Kadti (30), Kope Lekam (24), Shanti Tati (22) and Sonu Hemla (22) were in crucial positions in different Maoist formations including PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) number 1 and carried cash rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, he said. "Three surrendered ultras have bounties of Rs 5 lakh each, while five have rewards of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads. The District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), CRPF and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) played a key role in their surrender," Yadav said. All the surrendered Naxalites were provided assistance of Rs 25,000 each, said the SP, who urged Naxalites to take advantage of the government's rehabilitation policy and join the mainstream of society. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the surrender of the 50 Naxalites and said those who lay down weapons and adopt the path of development will be rehabilitated. "It is a matter of great joy that 50 Naxalites in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) surrendered, abandoning the path of violence. I welcome those who leave violence and weapons and join the mainstream of development," he wrote on 'X' in Hindi. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream. "After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country. This is our resolution," the Union home minister asserted. Congratulating security forces, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said positive results of the new surrender and rehabilitation policy of the state are clearly visible on the ground. "People trapped in the vicious circle of Naxalism are now laying down arms and returning to the mainstream of society. Our government is ready for the revival of every person who shuns the violence and chooses the path of peace," Sai said in a statement. This success is the result of the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Left Wing Extremism (LWE) by 2026, the CM added. "The construction of roads in remote areas, establishment of schools and hospitals under Niyad Nellanar scheme have ignited the flame of trust and hope towards the government in Bastar region. This is not just surrender, it is the return of trust. Those who were a symbol of fear yesterday are becoming the hope of the future today," Sai said. "Chhattisgarh is now moving forward on the path of peace, development and new consciousness. More than 2200 Naxalites have been arrested or have surrendered in the state so far under the double engine government (since December 2023). More than 350 Naxalites have been killed," Sai said. The surrender came hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state. Addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district in the afternoon, Modi said the situation is rapidly changing and a new era of peace is setting in Naxal-affected areas. "Over the decades, Naxalism got encouragement in many states including Chhattisgarh due to policies of Congress. Whichever region lagged in development, Naxalism flourished there, but what did the party that ran the government for 60 years do? It declared such districts as backward and turned away from its responsibility," the PM said. Incidentally, security forces gunned down 18 Naxalites, including 11 women, in twin encounters in Chhattisgarh's Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region on Saturday, recording a major success in the mission to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026. With the latest successes, 134 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in the state so far this year. Of them, 118 were eliminated in the Bastar division. In 2024, a total of 792 Naxalites had surrendered in Bastar region, comprising seven districts, as per police. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers and immunity from prosecution unless approved by the Centre, was on Sunday extended for six months in entire Manipur, except the jurisdictions of 13 police stations, in view of the law and order situation there. IMAGE: Army personnel block the road with barb wires in Manipur's Kangpokpi. Photograph: ANI Photo The AFSPA, under which a particular state or some areas are declared "disturbed", has also been extended to eight districts in Nagaland and 21 police station areas in five other districts of the state for six months, according to a notification issued by the Union home ministry. The law was also extended to Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and three police station areas in Namsai district in the state for six months beginning April 1 after a review of the law and order situation in these northeastern states. The AFSPA, often criticised as a draconian law, gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary. "Whereas the central government after review of the law and order situation in the state of Manipur, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (28 of 1958) declares the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the following 13 (thirteen) police stations of 5 districts, as 'disturbed area' for a period of six months with effect from 01.04.2025, unless withdrawn earlier," the notification related to Manipur read. The police station areas in Manipur where the AFSPA will not be in force are: Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Patsoi, Wangoi in Imphal West district, Porompat, Heingang, Irilbung in Imphal East district, Thoubal in Thoubal district and Bishnupur and Nambol in Bishnupur district and Kakching in Kakching district. Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13 after Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who was heading a BJP-led government, resigned on February 9 following ethnic violence that claimed over 260 lives since May 2023. The disturbed area declaration was in force in the entire Manipur (except the Imphal municipality area) from 2004 till early 2022. In April 2022, the Manipur government issued a notification where it said that "disturbed area" will no longer be applicable in seven police station areas of Imphal West district, four police station areas under the Imphal East district and one police station area each in the districts of Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. There are 16 districts in Manipur. In October 2024, the Manipur government reimposed AFSPA in the entire state, barring 19 police station areas A month later, the AFSPA was also extended in six of the 19 police station areas after violence broke out in Jiribam district. More than 260 people were killed and thousands left homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. In a separate notification, the home ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Nagaland has been undertaken. After that, Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek and Peren districts in Nagaland were declared as 'disturbed area' under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier. The areas in Nagaland declared as 'disturbed area' under AFSPA for six months fall "within the jurisdiction of i) Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima District; ii) Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki 'C' police stations in Mokokchung District; iii) Yanglok police station in Longleng District; iv) Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha District; and v) Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto District", according to the notification. A third notification issued by the home ministry said a further review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh has also been undertaken. Therefore, Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering the State of Assam, are declared as 'disturbed area' under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for six months with effect from April 1, 2025, unless withdrawn earlier, it said. There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of the law from the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir. Manipuri activist Irom Chanu Sharmila fought against the law by remaining on hunger strike for 16 years, before ending it on August 9, 2016. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said the AFSPA has been removed in 70 per cent of the areas in the northeastern states even though it is in force in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah had also said that the central government would consider revoking AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal on Sunday expressed regret over the raging row surrounding his recently released film L2: Empuraan and assured that the controversial portions would be removed from the movie. IMAGE: A post of Mohanlal's film L2: Empuraan. The national award-winning actor posted a regret note on his Facebook account hours after state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan extended their support to the Prithviraj-directed movie and criticised the Sangh Parivar for the social media attack against its makers. Mohanlal's social media post, expressing the entire movie team's "sincere regret", was later shared by its actor-director Prithviraj and one of the producers Antony Perumbavoor in their respective accounts. Amidst the intense criticism unleashed by Sangh Parivar against some portions of the movie, Mohanlal said in his Facebook post, "As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my films promote hatred toward any political movement, ideology, or religious community. With that in mind, both me and the Empuraan team sincerely regret any distress that may have caused to those who love me." "We also acknowledge that the responsibility for this rests with all of us who worked on the film. With this realisation, we have collectively decided to remove such elements from the movie," the actor said. He further said for the past four decades, he has lived his film life as one among the people. "Your love and trust are my only strength. I firmly believe that there is no Mohanlal beyond that." the actor added. Earlier in the day, CM Vijayan, who watched the movie along with his family members the previous evening, came up with a strongly worded FB post accusing Sangh Parivar of creating an "atmosphere of fear" regarding the stand adopted by its makers against communalism. The Left veteran said the movie has reference to one of the "most brutal genocides the country has ever witnessed". That has angered Sangh Parivar and its masterminds, he alleged. There have even been reports that the producers are being forced to re-censor and edit the movie under this pressure. This atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar is a matter of concern," the Chief Minister said. He further pointed out that it is not good for democracy that communalists are able to destroy a work of art and viciously attack artists simply because they have taken a stand against communalism and portrayed its horrors. Stating that the rights to make films, watch, enjoy and evaluate them or agree or disagree with them should not be lost. The united voice of the country, which is rooted in democratic and secular values, must be raised for this, Vijayan said. State Finance Minister K N Balagopal and veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist leader E P Jayarajan also came out against the social media attack against the makers of Empuraan movie. Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan extended his whole-hearted support to the makers of Empuraan movie and accused Sangh Parivar of distorting history. In a FB post, Satheesan alleged that the Sangh Parivar believes that freedom of expression means freedom of things being created in their favour. "Their agenda is to celebrate such flawed works," he charged. Stating that cinema is the creation of a group of artists, he said modifying the content of a work of art by threatening, insulting and humiliating through social media is not a success. "It is an indication of radical failure and cowardice. Don't forget that no matter how much you try to cover it up, historical truths will always remain clear," the LoP added. He also made it clear that he would surely watch the movie. However, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he won't watch Mohanlal-starrer, L2: Empuraan. He also said that he was disappointed by this sort of movie-making. "I had watched Lucifer and had liked it. I had said that I would watch the movie Empuraan when I heard it was a sequel to Lucifer," Chandrasekhar said in a FB post. Earlier, Chandrasekhar had endorsed the stand taken by senior party leader M T Ramesh that a film should be seen as a film. "But now I have come to know that the makers of the movie themselves have made 17 amendments in the movie which is undergoing re-censorship," he said. He said that he understood that there were topics in the movie that disturbed Mohanlal fans and others. "A movie should be watched as a movie. it can't be seen as history. Also, any movie that tries to build a story by distorting the truth is doomed to fail. So, will I watch this sequel to Lucifer? No. Am I disappointed by this type of moviemaking? - Yes," Chandrasekhar added. L2: Empuraan, the second part of the Lucifer movie, a trilogy planned by the Prithviraj-Mohanlal team, has become a topic of hot debate over its critique of right-wing politics and the covert mention of the Gujarat riots. On Thursday, the day of the movie's release, the Sangh Parivar vehemently criticised the film on social media, while the Congress and Left platforms celebrated the film for portraying the right-wing politics as "villainous". L2: Empuraan, which had its worldwide release on Thursday, had 4,500 shows in 746 screens in Kerala alone on the opening day, sources said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday sounded the bugle for Bihar assembly polls due later this year, urging the people to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by voting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance back to power. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the gathering at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on March 30, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Addressing a rally in Gopalganj, a stronghold of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Shah also charged the opposition party's president Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, both of whom had together ruled the state for 15 years, with running a "jungle raj", alleging that murders, kidnappings and dacoities became an industry in the state while they were in power. It was the first public meeting addressed by Shah, regarded as the BJP's principal strategist, in Bihar since last year's Lok Sabha polls. "Major businessmen fled the state, worried about their own safety. Lalu also made Bihar infamous the world over because of his involvement in the fodder scam," Shah claimed. The Union minister said things began to improve when the BJP, in alliance with Janata Dal-United headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, formed a government in the state. If the NDA returns to power later this year, Bihar's decades-old problem of annual floods will become a thing of the past, he said. "The people of Bihar have a choice to make between the Lalu-Rabri duo, representing the jungle raj, and development under Modi and Nitish," said the former BJP president. "I hope you all will press the lotus button, in the assembly polls later this year and vote for the BJP-led NDA. The people of Bihar have always shown their affection for Modi. I am sure you will strengthen his hands further," he said. Shah had interacted with senior party leaders in the state capital late Saturday night when he is said to have remarked that a victory in Bihar has a far-reaching impact and "we must strive to win the assembly polls". Shah pulled no punches in lambasting the RJD supremo for alleged nepotism, accusing him of making his wife the chief minister, getting his daughter elected to Parliament and "now both his sons want to become the CM". Shah made no explicit mention of Prasad's younger son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, in line with the BJP's strategy of treating the 35-year-old as a man of little consequence, but for his father. The strategy first became apparent through a "leaked" video of state BJP leaders a few months ago in which they were seen discussing the need to train their guns only at Lalu, in contrast with the stance adopted till Lok Sabha polls which saw repeated "jungle raj ke yuvraaj" (Prince of the jungle raj) jibes from the Prime Minister himself. In his speech at Gopalganj, Shah tore into the "messiah of the downtrodden" image that Prasad has crafted for himself over decades, saying: "One who eats up fodder meant for cattle can do nothing for the poor". The ailing septuagenarian was also attacked by Shah for his alleged failure to secure for Bihar what was its due during the 10-year-long Congress-led UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh, despite being a key ally. The Union home minister also charged the RJD supremo with "setting up a record of scams" and read out a list of alleged financial scandals involving Prasad, from his stint as the CM in the 1990s to his tenure as the railway minister in the UPA1 government. Shah also spoke of the Centre's intent to build "a grand temple" at the birthplace of Goddess Sita in Bihar, on the lines of the Ram Janmabhoomi at Ayodhya in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. The rally at Gopalganj was preceded by a function at Patna, earlier in the day, when Shah shared the stage with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to launch central and state projects worth over Rs 8,000 crore. His two-day tour of Bihar will conclude with a meeting of NDA leaders at the residence of Kumar. Besides BJP and JD-U, the NDA in Bihar includes Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha, headed by Union ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi respectively, besides Rashtriya Lok Morcha of Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha. Members of the Brattleboro Fire Department check the supplies and train a little on the towns ambulance as the fire department fully takes over all EMS transport service calls in Brattleboro on Monday, July 1, 2024. More than 800,000 Afghans who fled Afghanistan after the Talibans takeover in 2021 live without papers in neighboring Pakistan. These undocumented Afghan refugees and migrants face a rapidly approaching deportation order issued by Islamabad requiring them to leave the country by March 31. Another 1.4 million Afghans who are formally registered with the Pakistani government and who hold a Proof of Residence card issued by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have until June 30 to return to their homeland. Many have lived in Pakistan for decades. The fate of an additional 40,000 Afghans who are waiting to be resettled to third countries, mostly in the West, is unclear. Pakistan initially said these at-risk Afghans, a group that includes activists, journalists, and former members of the defunct Western-backed Afghan government and its armed forces, must leave or face deportation by March 31. But a source at the Pakistani Interior Ministry told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal that the deadline for them to leave the country has been extended to June 30. Among this group are some 15,000 Afghans who are waiting to be resettled in the United States, although their status remains unclear after President Donald Trump's administration announced that the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) would be suspended for at least three months starting on January 27. We are left in a deep despair, said Hina, a 25-year-old Afghan woman who lives with her family in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Her family had been cleared for resettlement in the United States and even booked their flights from Islamabad. But now they are in limbo. Our dreams of building a safe future [in the United States] have been shattered, added Hina. We cant return to Afghanistan where our lives will be at risk, nor can we build a stable life in Pakistan. Growing Fears Pakistan has already forcibly deported more than 800,000 undocumented Afghans since 2023, when it launched a major crackdown, according to the UN. The deportees have returned to a country gripped by devastating humanitarian and economic crises, and many have struggled to access shelter, health care, and food and water. The deportations have coincided with tensions soaring between the unrecognized Taliban government in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of sheltering Pakistani militants, a claim rejected by the Afghan militant group. Ahead of the March 31 deadline, Pakistani police conducted night raids and arbitrarily detained and arrested hundreds of Afghan refugees in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby city of Rawalpindi, according to international rights groups. Videos shared on social media show Pakistani police using loudspeakers to order undocumented Afghans to leave Islamabad. "The problem is that our children go to school here and we have jobs here, Obaidullah, an undocumented Afghan refugee living in Peshawar, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. What will we do in Afghanistan? Dire Situation The tens of thousands of Afghans who are awaiting resettlement abroad face a race against time. Many of them are in a dire financial situation in Pakistan, said Maiwand Alami, who leads an NGO to help Afghan refugees in Islamabad. They have sold their homes in Afghanistan, but that money has since run out, Alami told RFE/RL. But [their] biggest problem is uncertainty about their immigration cases. Everybody is anxious about it. Afghans in Pakistan are now required to extend their stay every month. It costs 20,000 rupees [about $71] per person which is a lot of money here, especially if you dont have any income, Alami said. The resettlement of Afghans to the West is uncertain amid increasingly anti-migrant sentiment across Europe and the United States. Trump said the United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans. He ordered the suspension of USRAP until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States. An American woman has been released by the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan after being detained since February, the second freeing of a US citizen in the past eight days. In a video posted by US President Donald Trump on March 29, Faye Hall said she had been released by the Taliban after being detained in the war-torn country last month. "I've never been so proud to be an American citizen," Hall said in the video. "Thank you, Mr PresidentGod bless you." Trump thanked Hall for the comments and added: "So honored with your words!" Former U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad first announced the release hours earlier on X, saying it had occurred on March 27. He said she was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul. "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home," said Khalilzad, who has been part of a US team seeking the release of hostages held by the Taliban. The development came a week after George Glezmann, 66, was released from detention in Kabul following the first visit by a senior US official to Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in the wake of the withdrawal of international troops in August 2021. Hall had been detained in February while with a British couple in their 70s, Barbie and Peter Reynolds. British media said the Reynolds had been operating school projects in Afghanistan for 18 years and had remained in the country despite the Talibans return to power. Reuters quoted a US official as saying Adam Boehler, Washington's special envoy for hostage affairs, had worked with Qatari officials and others to win Halls release. There was no immediate information on the British couple. Their daughter has pleaded for their release, citing health concerns. Several Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. Upon his release, Glezmann also thanked Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others who helped free him. He told Fox News he was abducted in the streets of Kabul and thrown "into a dungeon with no windows no nothing." Two other Americans held in Afghanistan were exchanged in late January for a Taliban man imprisoned for life in California on drug and terrorism charges. Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were swapped for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 and was incarcerated in a US prison. Aid worker Corbett, 40, and Mahmood Habibi, 37 -- who led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous Afghan government -- were detained separately in August 2022. The world community has not recognized the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, although some countries -- including Russia, China, and Turkey -- still maintain embassies in Kabul. Qatar has also maintained direct contact with the Taliban and has helped broker negotiations for the release of US hostages. Amid poverty and unrest in the country, the Taliban rulers have made moves to open ties with the rest of the world. Western nations are reluctant to engage with the extremist group amid complaints of widespread human rights violations, especially against girls and women. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, AFP, and AP Pure chaos. Now, those are two words that don't sound appealing under any circumstances. Yet that is the exact term that a team of Wedbush analysts led by Dan Ives used to describe President Donald Trump's plan to slap a 25% tariff on all imported cars starting April 3. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter A similar duty on the auto-parts-supply chain will be imposed the following month, Trump said, giving companies operating within the USMCA trade pact time to verify U.S.-made components. So, how is that going over with the folks in the car business? Not so good. "Over the last 24 hours we have spoken to many in the auto industry from around the US, Europe, and Asia, and the conclusion is this tariff announcement (in its current form) would send the auto industry into pure chaos and raise the average price of cars between $5,000 on the low end and $10,000 to $15,000 on the high end," Ives said in a March 28 research note. "Every automaker in the world will have to raise prices in some form selling into the US, and the supply chain logistics of this tariff announcement heard around the world is hard to even put our arms around at this moment," he added. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric vehicle maker will be affected by President Donald Trump's tariffs.(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)Brandon Bell/Getty Images 'Winner from this tariff is no one': Ives The analyst said that even U.S. automakers that produce cars in America have roughly 40% to 50% of auto parts that come from abroad. A U.S. car with all U.S. parts made in the US is "a fictional tale not even possible today," he added. Meanwhile, Trump convened CEOs of some of the countrys top automakers for a call earlier this month and warned them not raise car prices because of tariffs, The Wall Street Journal reported. "The winner in our view from this tariff is no one ... as even Tesla still is hit from these tariffs and will be forced to raise prices," said Ives, a big-time Tesla (TSLA) bull. More Tesla: It may be surprising to hear Tesla getting tapped by tariffs, given Chief Executive Elon Musk's connection with the Trump administration through his Department of Government Efficiency, which is dramatically reducing federal employment rolls. Another Wall Street analyst, TD Cowen's Itay Michaeli, says Tesla's US-sold vehicles are made exclusively at the company's Fremont, Calif., location or at Giga Austin in Texas, making the electric-vehicle maker a relative winner" in the tariff wars. Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian publicly rejected holding direct negotiations with Washington over its rapidly expanding nuclear program, which had been proposed in a letter from US President Donald Trump and delivered to Tehran earlier this month. Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open, Pezeshkian said in televised remarks on March 30, referring to Trumps letter. While high-ranking Iranian officials had previously spoken against the idea of holding nuclear talks with the United States, Pezeshkians comments mark Irans first formal rejection of the US call for negotiations. Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and they have previously warned that military action is on the table should Iran reject Trumps outreach. Pezeshkians remarks now help set the stage for a further rise in tensions between Tehran and Washington over the countrys nuclear program. Iran has long maintained that its program is for peaceful use, but Iranian officials have also threatened to pursue a weapon as tensions amid a growing standoff with the United States over sanctions and renewed bombing in the Gaza Strip following the collapse of a cease-fire in Israels war against Iran-backed Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. A report in February by the UNs nuclear watchdog said that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. An Emirati delegation delivered a letter to Tehran from Trump proposing nuclear talks with the United States earlier this month, but hours before it arrived Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had already dismissed the prospect of talks with the Trump administration. Similar comments were made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on March 27 when he said that Tehran had sent a formal written response to Trump via Oman which maintained that Iran will not hold direct negotiations as long as Trumps maximum pressure campaign is in effect. This official response includes a letter in which our position regarding the current situation and Mr. Trump's letter has been fully explained to the other party, Araqchi said. In his televised comments, Pezeshkian offered the most direct acknowledgement yet that Tehran has rejected direct talks, although he left the door open for indirect negotiations with the United States and trust-building efforts. We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said. They must prove that they can build trust, he said, referring to the United States. Irans economy has been reeling from years of sanctions, particularly after Trump, in his first term, pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions. Tehran is looking to find ways to ease those sanctions or have them removed entirely, but the public rejection of Trumps letter could lead to new pressure from Washington and other powers who are worried about Iran's nuclear program. More sanctions could also be coming if Tehran doesn't reach an agreement. With the 2015 nuclear deal set to formally expire in October 2025, world powers that are still part of the pact have only have a few months before they lose the ability to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. With reporting by the Associated Press The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has risen to over 1,700, with fears that the number could soar in the coming days. The 7.7-magnitude quake -- one of the strongest the war-torn country has experienced in a century -- also shook neighboring Thailand, causing damage and fatalities there. The quake in Myanmar left around 1,700 dead, 3,400 injured, and more than 300 missing as of March 30, the Southeast Asian countrys military government said. International aid agencies also warn of an expanding humanitarian crisis in the earthquake's aftermath. "The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement, warning that there was an urgent need to stabilize the situation ahead of the monsoon season before secondary crises emerge. Rescue workers in Myanmar are continuing to search for possible survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings, and the countrys military leadership has declared a state of emergency across six regions and allowed hundreds of foreign rescue personnel into the country to assist with the quakes devastating aftermath. The junta chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the number of fatalities could go up and his administration faced a challenging situation, state media reported, days after he made a rare call for international assistance. India, China, and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbors that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore, and Russia. Myanmars military government is locked in a fight with insurgents, a situation that could hamper the rescue and relief operation. The opposition National Unity Government said that anti-junta fighters under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks as of March 30. Critical Infrastructure Severely Damaged Across the country of 55 million, critical infrastructure -- including bridges, highways, airports, and railways -- has been severely damaged, hampering humanitarian operations. The quake comes on top of an already dire situation in a county wracked by a conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people ,and debilitated the health system. In some areas near the epicenter in central Myanmar, residents told Reuters that government assistance was scarce, leaving people to fend for themselves. The U.S. Geological Service's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output, Reuters reported. Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including the second-biggest city, Mandalay, and the capital Naypyitaw, were struggling to cope with an influx of injured people, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said late on March 29. The Moment Bangkok Building Collapses In Earthquake No media source currently available 0:00 0:00:56 0:00 The quake also shook parts of neighboring Thailand, triggering the collapse of an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok and killing at least 18 people across the capital, according to local authorities. As of March 30, at least 76 people remained trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed building, where rescue operations continued for a third day on March 30, using drones and sniffer dogs to hunt for survivors. With reporting by Reuters US President Donald Trump said that he will impose secondary tariffs of 25 percent to 50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During a March 30 phone interview with NBC news, US President Donald Trump said that he was very angry and pissed off when Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault -- which it might not be -- but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump said. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, Trump said. There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Trump added that the trade measures would be put in place within a month if no cease-fire agreement is reached. The highly sensitive diplomatic juncture comes after the White House announced on March 25 that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a cease-fire and to allow navigation in Black Sea, as well an agreement to not strike each other energy facilities. Issues persist with implementing the deal. Kyiv says that it would take effect immediately and Moscow has stated that it would follow the partial lifting of sanctions pertaining to Russian companies and banks involved in the international food trade. The comments by Trump mark a shift from the softer approach the White House had taken toward Russia since the US president made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy priority. They also come after he had previously criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was sick of his handling of the war and called him a "dictator without elections." Trump told NBC that he will speak with Putin during this week. Meanwhile, in his nightly video address on March 30, Zelenskyy said that "Russia's response to the American proposition of unconditional cease-fire are drones, bombs, artillery shelling, ballistic missiles on a daily basis; Putin is demonstrating that he doesn't give a damn about diplomacy." "What is needed are tougher sanctions against Russia, more air-defense capabilities for Ukraine, and more unity among our partners," Zelenskyy added. Attacks Continue Amid Ukraine Diplomacy Amid the US-led diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire deal, Kyiv accused Moscow of a "war crime" on March 30 after Russian drones struck a military hospital. The overnight strike hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as part of an attack that also hit a shopping center, apartment blocks, and other targets, killing at least two people according to authorities. The Ukrainian militarys general staff accused Russia of violating the norms of international humanitarian law in the attack, which they denounced as deliberate, targeted shelling." They added on March 30 that casualties included servicemen undergoing treatment in the medical center. An hour before the Kharkiv attack, Zelenskyy said that Kyiv expected a strong response from Western countries to the near daily Russian drone attacks on its territory. Our partners should clearly understand: These strikes are not just attacks on Ukrainian civilians, but also on all international efforts -- on the very diplomacy we are trying to use to end this war," Zelenskyy said on March 29 in his previous video address. In addition to the attacks on Kharkiv, Ukrainian authorities said that Russia fired a ballistic missile and launched drones as part of a barrage that also hit the cities of Dnipro, Kryviy Rih, and Poltava. In total, Ukrainian authorities said that the overnight attacks killed at least two people and injured 26 others across the country. Zelenskyys remarks came after a 24-period of intensifying deadly strikes by Russian forces. The Ukrainian president added that for too long, a US proposal for an unconditional cease-fire has been on the table without a proper response from Russia. That says a lot. Russia is striking at the positions of everyone who wants to end this war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of Shaheds every night, he added, referring to Iranian-made drones. Earlier, a regional governor said a Russian drone attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro late on March 28 killed four people and sparked a large fire in a hotel and restaurant complex as well as at multiple private homes. Russian forces used more than 20 drones in the strike on Dnipro, which also injured 25. Zelenskyy said a pregnant woman was among the injured. Pictures and videos posted on social media showed flames and large plumes of smoke in the air. Others showed shattered buildings, the badly damaged upper floors of a high-rise apartment block, and streets strewn with smashed glass and pieces of buildings. Elsewhere on March 29, at least seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryviy Rih, Ukraines state emergency service said. Over 300,000 in district court fines remain outstanding in County Roscommon, according to figures released under Freedom of Information. A total of 839 fines, valued at 319,692 have not been paid over the last five years, with the largest amount being recorded in 2022 at 96,214 reflecting 255 unpaid fines. Not surprisingly the lowest amount recorded was in 2020 during the Covid lockdown with 39 fines unpaid totalling 10,375. In 2021 there were 202 outstanding fines amounting to 81,633. In 2023 Roscommon court office recorded 193 unpaid fines valued at 72,342 while 150 were reported last year totalling 59,128. The Roscommon court office covers the district court sittings held in Roscommon Town, Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea and Strokestown. Carrick-on-Shannon recorded the lowest amount nationally with 133,756.42 in unpaid fines since 2020 while Castlebar reported 336,234.35 and Sligo 316.786. Mullingar recorded 842,401.98 in unpaid fines. The largest amount outstanding was in Dublin with over 13 million unpaid while Cork also saw over 3.236 million outstanding and Galway court office reported a figure of 2.412 million. The figures, released to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, showed that almost 45m in unpaid district court fines are outstanding across Ireland. The former barrister has described the extraordinary amount as a slap in the face to the victims of their crimes. What does this say to the victims who have been impacted by crimes such as drink driving, assault, theft, and shop lifting? she asked. We are imposing fines that a percentage of criminals are choosing to ignore and it seems there is little we are doing about it. 45 million would fund a lot of domestic violence refuges, road safety campaigns, and extra gardai on our streets. The MEP suggested that it is time for a get-tough approach to those criminals who feel they are above the law. Ms Ni Mhurchu claimed that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014, which came into force in January 2016, is clearly not working when it comes to the recovery of outstanding fines, and called for more aggressive implementation. The act allows measures up to and including taking someones social welfare or salary to pay the fines due, she said, claiming further that 133, 851 district court fines across the country have yet to be paid in full. Sunday Show 30.03.2025 The French conductor Nathalie Marin, an internationally recognized conductor, has recently come to Romania for a conference in Bucharest and a concert in Pitesti. Sunday Show 30.03.2025 Lacramioara Simion, 30.03.2025, 14:00 The guest of todays show is the French conductor Nathalie Marin who has recently come to Romania for a conference in Bucharest and a concert in Pitesti. Stay tuned to find out more about her first visit to Romania and her career in conducting. We recently published a list of 12 Best Aerospace and Defense Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR) stands against other best aerospace and defense stocks to buy according to analysts. Defense Spending Uncertainty On February 13, CNBC reported that President Trumps statement regarding a potential reduction in US defense spending triggered a drop in defense stocks. During a White House event, the President proposed cutting the defense budget in half, stating that there is no need for the United States to spend nearly $1 trillion on the military. He mentioned plans to discuss this idea with China and Russia in future meetings. This sent mixed signals regarding military spending. On the one hand, he has emphasized the need for a strong military and proposed initiatives like the Iron Dome of America, a missile defense system. On the other hand, he also suggested significant cuts to defense spending, aligning with broader efforts to reduce government expenditures. To discuss this, TD Cowens Roman Schweizer joined CNBC for an interview on February 14. He noted that setting aside all the mixed signals and uncertainty around the sector, the government would increase defense spending. This will be a result of the reconciliation plan of the Senate and House, however, the magnitude of this increase is still unclear. Schweizer also noted that some members of both the House and Senate are pushing President Trump to increase defense spending to 4% or 5% of GDP. Moreover, US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, reiterated that US defense should be pegged at 3% of GDP. Schweizer highlighted that this forms an interesting baseline for a potential $40 billion to $60 billion increase in spending over the upcoming years. Regardless of the uncertainty in the White House regarding increasing or decreasing defense spending, the industry has been redefining itself with the help of technology and AI. On February 21, Morgan Stanley released a report highlighting megatrends for the industry. The report highlights that innovations in unmanned drones, robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence are not only modernizing military operations but also influencing how nations allocate and grow their defense budgets. In 2023, global military expenditures reached a record high of $2.4 trillion, marking a 6.8% increase from the previous year, the steepest annual growth since 2009. Morgan Stanleys Global Investment Office views this resurgence in defense spending and technological innovation as an opportunity to enhance productivity and stimulate economic growth. They highlighted that the integration of new technologies can create investment opportunities not only in defense contractors but also in related sectors such as supply chains, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and cybersecurity. Simple calculations reveal that this Ioniq 5 has travelled around 541 km everyday for 3 years and 5 months, which is quite like a new record When thinking about buying an electric car, customers often have some worries about battery life. However, latest-gen EVs have advanced battery packs that can deliver a robust performance even in the long term. A relevant example is this new post on social media, where an Ioniq 5 owner reveals his vehicles odometer reading at a staggering 666,255 km. Lets check some more details revealed by the Ioniq 5 owner. Trip to the moon and back Information about this particular Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been posted on a Facebook page. The owner mentions it as a 2023 model, although exact details of the variant have not been provided. With an odometer showing a massive 666,255 km, the post has gone viral on South Korean social media. The owner is a salesman by profession. The super high odometer reading reveals that he must be travelling quite frequently. According to the owner, this odometer reading of 666,255 km on his Ioniq 5 has come in just 3 years and 4~5 months. This is even more surprising, as it reveals that the owner must have been driving his Ioniq 5 for around 541 km every day, on an average. It includes Saturdays and Sundays and not a single day of rest for the last 3 years and 5 months. Assuming that the owner took rest on at least Sundays and wasnt working on Korean official holidays, the average daily running would be even higher. Covering 541 km in a day in South Korea means a driving time of around 5-6 hours. And that does not cover practical scenarios such as traffic congestion and rest breaks. As a salesman, the Ioniq 5 owner must also be managing his professional commitments such as visiting clients and attending meetings. It is not mentioned if the owner was driving the car himself or if he had a driver working for him. The possibility of covering 666,255 km in 3.5 years seems more possible with a driver. However, there is no such information given. 666,255 km is just around 1 lakh km short of a round trip to the moon. If the owner maintains his current run rate, he can add 1 lakh km in less than a year. Original battery lasted 580,000 km Another mind boggling information revealed in the post is that the original battery of the Ioniq 5 lasted an impressive 580,000 km. Thats unpreceded, especially considering that actual battery warranty is much lower. It varies depending on the market. For example, the Ioniq 5 in the US and Australia is available with a battery warranty of 8-10 years. However, theres a cap of 1.60 lakh km. That means this Ioniq 5 battery lasted 3.6 times the kilometres covered in the warranty. Battery replaced free of cost by Hyundai At 580,000 km, this Ioniq 5 had clearly travelled more distance than covered under the warranty. Even then, Hyundai replaced the battery completely free of cost. It is likely that Hyundai has treated this as an exceptional case and rewarded the owner accordingly. In India, Hyundai had launched the Ioniq 5 in January 2023 at the Auto Expo. The EV is imported into India as CKD units and assembled at the companys plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is currently available at a starting price of Rs 46.30 lakh. The Ioniq 5 in India is offered with an 8 year / 1.60 lakh km battery warranty. Product warranty is 3 years with unlimited kilometres. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group representing General Motors Toyota, Volkswagen and other major automakers warned new 25% tariffs President Donald Trump plans to impose next week on imported vehicles will hurt U.S. consumers. "Additional tariffs will increase costs on American consumers, lower the total number of vehicles sold inside the U.S. and reduce U.S. auto exports all before any new manufacturing or jobs are created in this country," said Alliance for Automotive Innovation John Bozzella in a statement. The group represents every major automaker including Ford Motor, Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Bozzella said the group supports Trump's goal of more U.S. auto production. "We are committed to building and investing in the U.S., but these facilities and supply chains are massive and complex and cant be relocated or redirected overnight," Bozzella added. The White House did not immediately comment. Ford CEO Jim Farley told employees in an email Friday "the impacts of the tariffs are likely to be significant across our industry affecting automakers, suppliers, dealers and customers." Despite the fact that more than 80% of vehicles Ford sells in the United States are assembled in America "this does not mean Ford is immune to the impact of tariffs, which could be meaningful," Farley added. Other questions remain open including whether Trump will extend 25% tariffs imposed earlier this month on vehicles assembled in North America that are not exported under a free trade agreement and if next week he will impose reciprocal tariffs on the EU and others that further hike automotive tariffs. The White House said on Wednesday it expects the new tariffs on autos and auto parts to raise $100 billion in revenue over the next year. Automakers may spread the tariff cost between U.S.-produced and imported models, cut back on features, and in some cases, stop selling affordable models aimed at first-time car buyers, as many of those are imported and less attractive if they carry a higher price tag. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Alistair Bell) Insider trading signals become particularly relevant as the new Trump 2.0 regime has caused a plethora of industries to crash and trade near their lows the tariff news cycle has become exhausting, causing uncertain capital spending plans on top of direct cuts to many government programs and spending. The policies of the new US administration could indeed have long-lasting effects on many industries, such as government contracting (the closure of USAID represents a giant erosion of the total addressable market). Heres what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said: Insider trading, specifically purchases made by key executive officers and directors, can often signal future stock price appreciation. When insiders buy shares of their own company, it suggests that those with the most intimate knowledge of the firms prospects view the stock as undervalued. Economic research supports this idea; for instance, Lakonishok and Lee (2001) found that insider buying tends to precede periods of higher-than-average returns, indicating that insider purchases provide meaningful predictive power regarding stock performance. Therefore, tracking insider transactions, particularly when top management is actively buying shares in companies that are at or near 52-week lows, may help investors anticipate stocks that are about to explode. Despite the current headwinds and uncertainty (which also caused heightened volatility in the last 2 weeks), there are indications that the recent US stock market correction was short-lived, and the market could return to growth. Helping the stock market move higher was a rebound in Februarys retail sales, following a downward revision in January. The pattern of evolution hints that Januarys sluggishness was more weather-driven and had little to do with the general strength of the consumer. Yardeni Research recently expressed a strong belief that retail sales will move higher in March and April, supporting the economy. Also, the recent cuts in real GDP growth projections for the first quarter of 2025 by the Atlanta Fed are primarily driven by a minority of economic niches dependent on public spending, while the core economic sectors remain strong. With that being said, we are currently at a potential bottom of the market correction, which could represent a favorable moment to pick stocks that are about to explode. We recently compiled a list of the 12 Stocks That Are About to Explode . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) stands against the other stocks that are about to explode. Story continues The market and the economy have become hooked, become addicted, to excessive government spending, and theres going to be a detox period Could we be seeing this economy that we inherited starting to roll a bit? Sure. Look, theres going to be a natural adjustment as we move away from public spending. Despite major changes being made in some directions, we do not exclude the possibility that many companies, that reached new lows since the election day of November 2024, are mainly driven by investors fears and uncertainty, which may or may not materialize. For instance, many healthcare stocks have been trading lower on fears that Republicans will start digging into Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement policies and potentially interfere with the revenue base of companies relying on those programs. In this context, watching for potential hidden signals from insiders (such as significant insider buying) may help clear out any uncertainty, fear, and doubts by providing a tangible indication of managements confidence in the companys future prospects. Is Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (BZH) About to Explode? A construction team working in unison to build a single-family home in a neighborhood. Our Methodology For this article, we used Insider Monkeys insider trading screener to find stocks with at least two insiders buying shares worth at least $100,000 in 2025. Then, we considered only the stocks that are at or near their 52-week low. Our belief is that at least two insiders buying a significant amount of stock while the share price is at or near the lows represents an increased probability that the bottom is in rear-view mirror. Finally, we compare the list with our proprietary Q4 2024 database of hedge funds ownership and include in the article the top 12 stocks with the largest number of hedge funds that own the stock. Analysts projections for each stocks upside potential were also included to assess their likelihood of significant growth. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25 Analysts Upside Potential as of March 27: 111.07% Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) is a residential homebuilder operating primarily in the United States. The company specializes in designing and constructing single-family homes and townhomes across various price segments, from entry-level to move-up buyers. The company offers customized floor plans and flexible home designs, emphasizing energy efficiency, quality construction, and affordability. BZH focuses its operations in select markets across the Southeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions, strategically targeting areas with strong demographic growth and housing demand. With an analyst upside potential of over 111%, BZH is one of the stocks that are about to explode. Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) had a profitable and productive Q1 2025 that positions it to achieve both its full-year outlook and multiyear goals. The company experienced notable growth with community count up nearly 20% versus the prior year, enabling increased sales and closings compared to last year. Their active lot position grew by about 10%, providing visibility into further community count growth for both current and next year. The companys balance sheet efficiency improved with 59% of lot position now controlled through options, up from 53% last year, which helps improve returns and mitigate risk. Zero Energy Ready homes gained significant momentum, representing more than 85% of sales during the quarter, up from 43% in the previous years first quarter, with reduced costs to achieve the DOE standard by several thousand dollars per home. Despite these positives, Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH) missed both sales and closings guidance for the quarter, particularly experiencing challenges in the Texas and Florida markets, where higher inventory levels led to sluggish sales and more aggressive incentives. Looking forward, the company remains committed to achieving its three multiyear goals: expanding community count, deleveraging the balance sheet, and delivering superior homes. They expect to end the year with around 180 communities and are on track to have more than 200 communities by the end of FY2026. The company also aims to reduce its net debt-to-net capitalization ratio below 30% by the end of the fiscal year 2026. Overall BZH ranks 10th on our list of the 12 stocks that are about to explode. While we acknowledge the potential of BZH as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BZH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks To Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Senior UK and EU diplomats advised the Prime Minister on Saturday to fight back against Donald Trump should he pursue harsh tariffs on British exports. British government officials in Washington and London were in the midst of trying to head-off US trade duties on key UK industries. In particular, there is concern regarding the threat to impose reciprocal 25% tariffs on countries that levy VAT on America's exports. - Guardian Airbus boss, Guillaume Faury, believes that incoming trade tariffs will create a situation that is either "so bad for both sides that you need to come to a resolution" or provoke major "suffering" among America, thus forcing a compromise. In an interview, he also made abundantly clear that he did not know what exactly the US administration was planning, nor how political leaders in Europe would react. Nonetheless, he was adamant that Airbus could handle whatever was thrown at it and noted that the business had way to adapt, as well as its manufacturing sites in the US. - The Sunday Times Thousands of protesters rallied in front of Tesla dealerships on Saturday to protest against Elon Musk's role in the US administration's efforts to dismantle the federal government. Over 200 events were planned worldwide with the first events taking place in Australia and New Zealand, and then across Europe and the UK. In Berkeley, California, the carmaker's showroom has been shut down every Saturday over the last month due to protests. - Guardian Ferrexpo will face the Ukrainian government in an international court as Kyiv continues to try and recoup from its major shareholder, oligarch Kostyantyn Zhevago. Ukraine has previously tried to seize Zhevago's 49.5% stake in the miner. Now it is trying to take a stake in the Poltava mine directly, Ferrexpo's main asset. The miner's other main shareholders include BlackRock, Fidelity, JP Morgan, HSBC and Legal & General. - Financial Mail on Sunday DEAR ABBY: I am recently separated, and my divorce will be final soon. I have met a woman I didnt even know could exist. Shes perfect for me. The problem is, she lives an hour and a half away and cant drive at night due to a medical condition. I have fallen for her, and its mutual. The issues are the distance and the fact that her father just passed away. Shes a widow living with her toxic mother. We both want this to work, but she needs time and space. Im willing to give it to her because I believe she is totally worth it. This is the second serious relationship in my life. My ex and I were together for decades, but among other bad things, she cheated on me. Im wondering if you have some advice for me. This new woman is my true unicorn. Id do anything for her. I want to be with her, and she says the same, but even though her mother is toxic, she doesnt seem to want to leave her and the bad situation shes in. Its early, I know, but Im willing to wait. We have so much in common. She hasnt asked for anything except time and space, but Im almost 40. (Shes a little older.) Im so clueless with relationships. Im scared and excited. We want to be a family with a home. Please help me out here. CONFUSED IN SOUTH CAROLINA DEAR CONFUSED: You need to summon enough patience for all of this to play out. You are still married, and, frankly, you need time to regain your balance after a bad marriage that lasted decades. While Im sure your unicorn is a very special woman, she needs time to grieve her fathers death and to decide whether she wants to live apart from her mother who face it may always be part of the package deal. Happiness and excitement are intoxicating. Do not act impetuously. Take this very slowly. Those long, inconvenient drives may help you to gain perspective. With time, if this is as right as you are hoping it will be, youll have the happy ending youre hoping for. ** ** ** 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. ** ** ** What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in What Every Teen Should Know. Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.) FILE - This 2016 photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a strain of Candida auris, a potentially deadly superbug fungus, cultured in a petri dish at a CDC laboratory. (Shawn Lockhart/CDC via AP) Infection rates are climbing for a drug-resistant fungus strain found in hospital systems in at least two states. Candida Auris (also called C. auris) is a deadly fungus killing more than one in three infected patients. First detected in hospitals in 2016, the number of cases has substantially risen each year, growing from 51 reported cases in 2016 to 4,514 in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2023, 413 cases were reported in New York, based on CDC tracking. While C. auris may not be a serious threat to healthy individuals, those already sick in hospitals are at much higher risk. Diagnosing a C. auris infection can be difficult, as symptoms like fever and chills are common to various other infections. In addition, the fungus has become resistant to all anti-fungal treatments. C. auris is highly transmissible between patients through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects in healthcare facilities, the CDC wrote. The fungus has been detected in 38 states, with a significant increase in cases reported between 2022 and 2023, according to CDC reports. In 2023, the CDC identified it an emerging fungus considered an urgent antimicrobial resistance (AR) threat, spread at an alarming rate in U.S. healthcare facilities. To read more about C. auris, visit the CDC website here. The site of a former Catholic high school in Monmouth County will be sold to the township and turned into a park, parish officials said. Mater Dei Prep High School in Middletown closed in 2022 after 61 years and multiple efforts to save it. Middletown has agreed to buy the closed high school and surrounding lands, the Parish of St. Mary announced Thursday night. MORE: Another N.J. Catholic school is shutting down. See the list of 30+ recent closures. The township is planning to demolish the building and provide park space and playing fields for Middletown residents and organizations, the parish said. The site will be named Mater Dei Park. The decision to sell was not taken lightly, but we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and the broader community, said the Rev. Jeffrey Kegley, pastor of Saint Mary Mother of God Church. Terms of the agreement and related details, including whether the sale has been finalized, were not included in the announcement. Middletown officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Officials cited declining enrollment in explaining the decision to close Mater Dei Prep in 2022. The school was originally slated to close in 2015, but a group of alumni and parents lobbied the the Diocese of Trenton and helped raise over $1.5 million to keep its doors open for a few more years. But enrollment eventually dwindled. It is among more than 30 Catholic schools in New Jersey that have permanently closed in recent years due to financial pressures. The parish said it will use the largest portion of the sale proceeds to invest in the student endowment fund for its Saint Mary School, which enrolls students in grades 2 to 8. Remaining funding will be dedicated to the maintenance and upkeep of the parish, the Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Shrine and religious education programs, the parish said. It will secure our parishs future and the mission for Catholic education in our town. We see this as an opportunity to strengthen our community, both spiritually and socially, Kegley said of the sale agreement. Kegley said the parish will continue to have access to the property as part of the agreement. This ensures that the land remains a community asset, promoting health, recreation, and community spirit rather than being developed into condos or additional buildings. Mater Dei Park will be a lasting legacy, named in honor of our parishs commitment to the community, Kegley said. The Parish of Saint Mary was founded in 1879 and has more than 4,200 families as members. NEW YORK (AP) Charlie Javice, the charismatic founder of a startup company that claimed to be revolutionizing the way college students apply for financial aid, was convicted Friday of defrauding one of the world's largest banks, JPMorgan Chase, out of $175 million by exaggerating her customer base tenfold. A jury returned the verdict after a five-week trial in federal court in Manhattan. Javice, 32, and her co-defendant, Olivier Amar, face the possibility of decades in prison in a case that has drawn comparisons to Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Javice appeared sullen at the defense table as the verdict was read. A lawyer placed her hand on Javice's back. She brushed past reporters and didn't speak as she left court. Javice was in her mid-20s when she founded Frank, a company with software that promised to simplify the arduous process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a complex government form used by students to apply for aid for college or graduate school. The company promoted itself as a way for financially needy students to obtain more aid faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees. Javice appeared regularly on cable news programs to boost Franks profile, once appearing on Forbes 30 Under 30 list before JPMorgan bought the startup in 2021. JPMorgan executives testified that Javice told them she had more than four million clients and would have about 10 million by years end, but it turned out there were only about 300,000 customers and a list verifying her outsized claim was largely bogus. Javices lawyer, Jose Baez, told the jury that JPMorgan knew what it was getting in the deal, accusing the bank of making up the fraud allegations because of buyers remorse after regulatory changes made the data it received in the deal useless to its hopes of gaining new young customers. Defense lawyers asked the judge to set aside the verdict, arguing the evidence was not sufficient to sustain the conviction. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said he would hear arguments on that next week and resolve a dispute over whether Javice and Amar must wear ankle monitors while awaiting sentencing on July 23. Javice's lawyers argued the device will interfere with her new career: teaching Pilates classes for three or four hours a day. Javice, who lived in Florida, has been free on $2 million bail since her 2023 arrest. Javice and Amar, Franks chief growth and acquisition officer and effectively its No. 2, were convicted on all four counts in their indictments, including conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud charges that are each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The NYPD is searching for a person in connection with an alleged robbery in Sunnyside. (Courtesy NYPD) NYPD STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York City Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in identifying an individual wanted in connection to a robbery at 7-Eleven in Sunnyside. Police report that on March 17 around 1:10 p.m., an unidentified individual allegedly attempted to leave the convenience store without paying for several items. The store manager tried to stop the individual from leaving and the individual forcibly removed the items from the managers hands and fled the scene on foot, authorities said. There were no injuries reported, according to police. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.All calls are strictly confidential. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth awards retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Eric Geressy the Distinguished Service Cross at the Pentagon, Washington D.C., March 18, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Spencer Perkins) Office of the Secretary of Defen Staten Island native and retired Army Sgt. Maj. Eric Geressy was honored on March 18, 2025, with a prestigious award for his hard work and service. The ceremony, held at the Pentagon, recognized Geressys leadership and bravery. Military leaders, veterans, and families filled the auditorium to honor Geressy, who was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest award for valor. The ceremony honored Geressy for his heroism during an ambush at Combat Outpost Blackfoot in Baghdad on Sept. 4, 2007, according to Defense.gov. Retired U.S. Army Col. Michael Steele speaks at a Distinguished Service Cross presentation ceremony in honor of retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Eric Geressy at the Pentagon, Wahington D.C., March 18, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Spencer Perkins) Office of the Secretary of Defen Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who once served under Geressy, presided over the event. Geressys former commanders, retired Army Colonels Michael Steele and Myron Reineke, were also present. Are you here because Eric Geressy has met your expectations of leadership? Id say no, thats not why youre here. You and I are here because Eric Geressy has exceeded our expectations of leadership, said Colonel Michael Steele. Were here because Eric is a fanatical soldier and a fanatical leader. Humbly accepting the award, Geressy credited his team for the achievement, emphasizing that such honors reflect collective effort. Awards like this Medals of Honor, Service Crosses, Silver Stars theyre presented to individuals, but theyre earned by teams, said Geressy. Although this medal has been awarded to me, it belongs to all of you. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Eric Geressy speaks at a Distinguished Service Cross presentation ceremony in his honor at the Pentagon, Wahington D.C., March 18, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Spencer Perkins) Office of the Secretary of Defen Geressys dedication to service is deeply rooted in his family history. His grandfather made three combat jumps during World War II while serving in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. His uncles served in the 20th Special Forces Group and on the USS Intrepid, and a great-uncle was killed during Operation Ginny while he served with the Office of Strategic Services; his name is etched on the memorial wall at CIA headquarters, according to Defense.gov. All this stuff, as a kid, I was really captured with it, Geressy said. I knew at a very young age thats what I wanted to do enlist and serve, be a paratrooper or something like that," said Geressy. For Geressy, dedication to his fellow soldiers defined his 36-year career from growing up in Staten Island to serving in Iraq and now working as a civilian senior advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Manlius, N.Y. More than 300 of people gathered in the town of Manlius Saturday, braving the cold and wet weather, to take part in a global Tesla Takedown protest. On Saturday, protests were planned at over 500 locations across the globe for a day of action against Elon Musk, according to a report from NPR. Protests were reported in Europe and hundreds in the United States. In Central New York, people gathered on one side of North Burdick Street, lining up from the Tesla dealership down past the Carrabbas Italian Grill in Towne Center at Fayetteville. The Manlius Police Department was prepared for the protest, setting up cones and monitoring it to ensure safety. Protesters held signs mainly against Elon Musk and his DOGE department, often claiming Musk was a Nazi. Other signs were about a variety of issues including immigration, Canada and President Donald Trump. One man beat a tune on a drum he was wearing. Several people with megaphones lead chants against Musk and Trump. One protester stood out, wearing a knights helmet and holding a shield that said Elon cheats at Diablo, possibly a nod to accusations of Musk cheating at video games. A man in a knight's helmet and shield protests along North Burdick Street, close to the Tesla dealership on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Rylee Kirk Some people passing in cars honked their horns in support and waved to protesters. Others shouted at the protestors and gave them the finger. It looked similar to a protest at the same location just two weeks earlier. The protest was organized by Indivisible Onondaga County, Indivisible Syracuse and the CNY Solidarity Coalition. Lisa Caldwell was one of the organizers. She said they put the protest together because they feel what is happening in America right now is an emergency. This is a constitutional crisis, and we are trying to get people to listen to whats really happening, Caldwell said. It is imperative that people stand up and demand action because we did not vote for this. Healthcare, higher education, Social Security and unions are under attack, she said. The Tesla dealership was selected because many people feel that Elon Musk is meddling in the U.S. government, she said. Elon Musk, the unelected person, has taken this role of buying the election for president and buying his way into the White House, she said. The only way that were going to stop this steal is by the power of our purse, the power of our wallet. Caldwell noted that she does feel reassured by the number of people who came to the protest. Two supporters were Jen and John Douchinsky. They cited Elon Musk, protecting democracy, immigration and the treatment of Americas allies as some of the reasons they came to protest. Jen and John Douchinsky protest along North Burdick Street, near the Tesla dealership in Fayetteville on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Rylee Kirk If we dont really stand up and say This is not ok, then were going to lose all that we love about America, Jen said. I would just like our country to go back to treating people like human beings, John said. Both their signs had Ukrainian Flags at the top. Johns sign had Cage the Musk-Rats in stenciled letters. Jens sign had Resist at the top and a list of things to resist such as xenophobia, deceit, and other attributes. The only word that was left off of there was everything. Jen said. Were not even 100 days into President Donald Trumps second White House term, but gamblers are already looking forward to the 2028 presidential election. And a surprise name hovers near the top of the leader board of potential White House hopefuls, according to the Election Betting Odds site. The site shows that most gamblers think that California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be the Democratic candidate for president in 2028. Newsom gets support from 17.5% of gamblers on Election Betting Odds, followed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. On the GOP side, 44.5% of bettors think that Vice President JD Vance will be the Republican Party candidate for president. But bettors have installed a surprise candidate behind Vance on the GOP leader board: Trump himself. The incumbent president is getting support from 7.5% of gamblers, according to Election Betting Odds, followed by the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., who gets the support of 5.5% of wagerers. President Trump, having been elected to the White House two times, is not eligible under the U.S. Constitution to run for a third term. As for the big general election matchup, 22.9% of gamblers think that Vance will win the 2028 race and become the nations 48th president, succeeding current boss Trump in the Oval Office. Just 5.3% of gamblers are wagering that Newsom will win the 2028 general election. Newsom is term-limited out of office as governor of California. There are reports that former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump, is looking to run to succeed Newsom in the California statehouse. Just 5.5% of gamblers are wagering that Harris will be the Democratic candidate for president in 2028, according to Election Betting Odds, which aggregates action from a number of other betting sites. The site shows that 1.5% of gamblers think that billionaire Elon Musk, a top Trump aide, will be the GOP candidate for president in 2028. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With millions of New Yorkers struggling to keep up with skyrocketing childcare costs, one Staten Island legislator is looking to put money back in parents pockets. Assemblymember Michael Reilly, who represents the South Shore of Staten Island, has introduced legislation to establish a childcare tax credit in New York to reimburse parents for a significant portion of their annual childcare costs. I introduced A5810 to address the immense financial strain placed on New Yorks working families, especially in recent years and especially in single-parent households. In just New York City alone, more than 1/3 of children live in a single-parent household, Reilly said. The bill, if passed and signed into law, would allow for 25% of New Yorkers annual childcare costs to be put against their taxes, reducing the amount of money they may owe the state come tax season. By allowing these families to apply 25% of their childcare expenses as a tax credit, we will have helped ease the burden that out-of-pocket costs place, allowing for greater flexibility to balance work, family life and other priorities, Reilly explained. The credit would apply to childcare costs incurred on children ages 13 and younger, as well as children with disabilities, regardless of their age. If the bill were to become law, it would take effect immediately and apply to taxable years commencing on or after Jan. 1, 2026. A 2023 report from the Citizens Committee for Children of New York found that 80% of New York City families with children under 5 years old cannot afford childcare and 80% of families with children ages six through 12 cannot afford out-of-school care. Estimated annual childcare costs in New York City range from roughly $10,000 to $20,000 per child depending on age and the type of child care being provided, according to data from the Office of Children and Family Services 2022 New York State Child Care Market Rate Survey Report. Researchers found that for home-based care, estimated annual childcare costs were $16,250 for ages zero through two, $14,300 for ages three through five and $10,840 for ages six through 12. For center-based care, estimated annual childcare costs were $20,176 for ages zero through two, $16,900 for ages three through five and $11,760 for ages six through 12. With the median income for all New York City families with children at $77,681 in 2022, the average family with one child between the ages of six and 12 could have spent between 11% and 26% of their income on childcare alone. Similarly, the average family with one infant and another preschool-age child could have spent 36% of their income on home-based childcare or 43% of their income on center-based child care. New York Citys childcare affordability crisis was found to disproportionately impact single parents, more than 90% of whom could not afford any care regardless of setting and across all age groups, according to the report. Now more than ever, our working families need relief, and this bill provides a common-sense solution thatll put money back in the pockets of those who need it most, the assemblymember said. Other efforts to address childcare costs Reilly isnt the only New York elected official looking to tackle the rising costs of childcare, with Gov. Kathy Hochul having included various proposals in her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 New York State budget aimed at putting money back in parents pockets. Those proposals include an expanded state child tax credit, universal free school meals, a first-of-its kind BABY benefit, free diapers and supplies for 100,000 babies and expanded access to nutrition programs. The governor has proposed the largest expansion of the states child tax credit in New York history, which would increase the maximum credit per child from $330 to $1,000 for children under the age of four and $500 for children between the ages of four and 16. Under the proposal, the state estimates that the average credit given out to families will double from $472 to $943. The expanded credit would be phased in over a two-year period, with the $1,000 credit for children under the age of four available for the 2025 tax year and those with children over four eligible for the $500 credit for the 2026 tax year. If approved, this would be the second major expansion of the Empire State Child Credit under Hochul, who previously expanded the program to include children under the age of 4 through the states Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The budget also includes a proposal that would provide free breakfast and lunch to all New York students, regardless of their family income, for the first time in the states history. If approved, the proposal will provide two free meals per day to all 2.7 million students across the state, saving families an estimated $165 per child in grocery spending each school month. Studies have shown that providing free meals can improve attendance, test scores and classroom behavior, as hunger can cause inattentiveness and disruptive behavior in students. For expecting mothers, the governor has proposed the states first ever Birth Allowance for Beginning Year (BABY) benefit, which would provide pregnant New Yorkers who receive public assistance with $1,200 upon the birth of their child. Additionally, eligible mothers would receive $100 per month throughout the course of their pregnancies, bringing the total benefit to $2,100, assuming a typical nine-month pregnancy. Another proposal would allow the state to partner with Baby2Baby a national non-profit that provides essential items to one million children living in poverty annually to provide maternal health and newborn supply boxes to all expectant mothers enrolled in Medicaid and those reached through community-based organizations and hospitals serving lower-income areas. The proposed program, which is expected to reach 100,000 New York families, would provide families with supply boxes stocked with resources, educational materials, self-care products and diapers. The governor has also proposed expanding access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals to other services to pregnant women and mothers of young children. The proposal would expand the number of enrollees from 445,000 to 475,000, providing crucial nutritional assistance to an additional 30,000 New York families. Popular ABC presenter Simon Marnie frothed spectacularly at the lack of an official farewell on his final day at the ABC on Friday, spraying management in a headline-generating screed. Marnie (who had been on leave) said later it was not his wish that his comments became public. Whatevs. But hours later, Aunty did throw open the doors of its flagship Studio 22 in Ultimo, Sydney to farewell another departee outgoing managing director David Anderson. Aunty threw open the doors of its Studio 22 in Ultimo to send off David Anderson (pictured in 2020). Credit: James Brickwood CBD imagines everyone gathered around the pianoforte to singalong to the Majestic Fanfare and the theme from GP, before posing in the photobooth with an oversized Bluey mascot while steadfastly ignoring the way Anderson and other execs were whacked on the bum by a sharply reversing saloon swing door in the form of the Antoinette Lattouf unfair dismissal case. Ernest, a lifelong Washington, D.C. resident, stands in the National Mall with the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Cultures distinctive shape inspired by African motifs in the background. DNA Study Revisited by artist Roberto Lugo, part of an exhibition, The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture, at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington. Such exhibitions are threatened by Trumps latest order. Credit: AP This museum is under threat, say some experts, because of US President Donald Trumps new executive order aimed at restricting programming he deems anti-American at federally funded museums and cultural institutions. Ernest, a vendor who declined to give his last name, says he saw Trumps order as an attack on the American value of respect for diverse opinions. We are a diverse country made of all races, all cultures, and theyre trying to take it away, Ernest said on Friday. By Luc Cohen and Tatiana Bautzer NEW YORK (Reuters) - Entrepreneur Charlie Javice was convicted on Friday of defrauding JPMorgan Chase into buying her college financial aid startup Frank for $175 million in July 2021. Javice and co-defendant Olivier Amar, who was Frank's chief growth officer, were each convicted on all four counts they faced: securities fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy. The verdict followed a five-week trial in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Javice showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The judge scheduled Amar's sentencing for July 23 and Javice's for August 26. They each could face decades in prison, though Hellerstein has broad discretion in determining their punishment. "While Javice and Amar may have thought that they could lie and cheat their way to a huge payday, their lies caught up with them," Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky, whose office brought the charges, said in a statement. In court after the verdict, Amar's lawyer, Sean Buckley, said, "He intends to continue to fight these charges." Lawyers for Javice declined to comment to reporters after the verdict. Javice studied at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and founded Frank in 2017. She appeared on Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" list in 2019, drawing media praise for simplifying college financial aid for students and parents. But JPMorgan sued her in December 2022, saying she lied about Frank's customer base. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office brought criminal charges four months later. Prosecutors accused Javice of falsely assuring the largest U.S. bank that Frank had 4.25 million customers, not the 300,000 it actually had. JPMorgan discovered the inflated number when it tried to contact customers it believed were real to sell products, and received far fewer responses than expected, prosecutors said. Jamie Dimon, the bank's longtime chief executive, has called the Frank acquisition a "huge mistake." A spokesperson for the bank declined to comment on the verdict. JUDGE TO DECIDE ON ANKLE BRACELET In her opening statement, prosecutor Rushmi Bhaskaran said Amar bought "sham lists" of student data from third parties, which he and Javice could pass off as customers to JPMorgan. Javice's lawyer Jose Baez told jurors that JPMorgan performed extensive due diligence and knew how many clients Frank had before completing the purchase, but complained due to "buyer's remorse." Three recent bushfires that tore through western Victoria have provided authorities with a rare chance to get feral deer numbers under control. Deer populations have exploded in Victoria, the only mainland state where deer are listed as a protected species and cant be hunted without government approval. Estimates vary wildly, but the Victorian governments Deer Control Strategy suggests there are between several hundred thousand and up to 1 million wild animals or more on private and public land in the state. A government spokesman confirmed authorities have stepped up aerial shooting campaigns in bushfire-scorched regions, taking advantage of canopy loss in areas such as the Grampians. Advertisement This venue appears in the April 2025 Melbourne hit list. See all stories . Whats red, white and out every night of the week? The checked tablecloths along Lygon Street, where restaurants mostly stick to the roll-call of dishes many Melburnians intrinsically link with Italian food. Not that theres anything wrong with that: its comfort food for many of us. But four new Italian spots most of them nowhere near Carlton are taking their pasta and tiramisu to new places. Decca promises to be a new neighbourhood spot for an under-served part of Melbournes east. Tom Blachford Decca Alphingtons huge YarraBend development, on the corner of Heidelberg Road and Chandler Highway, has capacity for around 4500 residents. Now they have a new 80-seat restaurant and wine bar nearby in fact, they dont even need to leave the precinct. Called Decca, its the latest from ex-Coda, Tonka and Lollo at The W Hotel chef Adam DSylva, who lives nearby. This area really needed something like this, he says. The two-tone space is kitted out in warm walnut timber and textured grey walls. DSylva describes the menu as loosely Italian, though its punctuated with Asian (his signature yellow duck curry from Coda) and French (creme brulee) flourishes. Advertisement Rigatoni with spicy vodka sauce at Decca. Fresh pasta still takes precedence, with a $30,000 La Monferrina machine extruding shapes of all sorts: paccheri for white Tuscan ragu of sausage, porcini mushrooms and cavolo nero; rigatoni for spicy vodka sauce; and casarecce for a classic carbonara. A Parrilla charcoal grill touches much of the menu from the 1.2-kilo rib-eye to the king prawns finished with roasted garlic butter. Tiramisu fans can find it in two untraditional forms. An ice-cream, courtesy of DSylvas gelato shop Boca, is mascarpone-based and flecked with sponge cake and chocolate shavings; while a dessert cocktail blends Broken Bean coffee liqueur with Flor de Cana rum and Baileys, capped by a savoiardi biscuit. 27 Mills Boulevard, Alphington, instagram.com/decca_restaurant Related Article Cheap and cheerful and so fun: The Italian restaurants Pia Miranda loves to eat at Advertisement Caffe Greco Oakleigh A fixture of 1990s Melbourne has been resurrected, this time in the heart of Oakleigh. Owner Nick Zampelis first opened Caffe Greco on Chapel Street in 1994, inspired by the story behind Romes oldest coffee house (with which it shares a name), established 265 years ago by a Greek migrant and visited by writers, artists, revolutionaries and royalty. Caffe Greco gives equal billing to Greek and Italian dishes on its menu. Reviving the all-day restaurant in Melbournes Greek centre was a no-brainer - and Zampelis has gone all out for the 300-seater. The originals red-leather booths are joined by marble, classical frescoes and imposing chandeliers at this third iteration (a branch operated at Crown until 2010). The Greek-meets-Italian menu includes 14-hour lamb shoulder, bruschetta, and rib-eye cotoletta with semi-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives and feta. Classic Italian pizzas are joined by a saganaki one with fig jam. Family-sized pastas, including frutti di mare, feed five people. Sicilian sweets, such as cannoli, are made by the Bruno family who ran Cafe Siciliadolce. Advertisement Im trying to highlight to everyone the rich history that both these cultures [Italian and Greek] have. 27-29 Eaton Mall, Oakleigh, caffegrecooakleigh.com Bar Taralli Change is afoot in North Melbourne, and chef Salvatore Giorgio is part of that. For his debut restaurant, Bar Taralli, hes written a menu thats all about Italys south, where his family comes from. Ive always wanted to intertwine the southern regions Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily in a restaurant, he says. Its namesake speaks to that: taralli are circular savoury crackers made slightly differently in each region. Advertisement Bar Tarallis bombette are little rounds of pork wrapped in pancetta and stuffed with cheese. Arianna Leggiero While some familiar dishes dot the menu, regional specialties reign. As in Calabria, house-made nduja arrives at the table in a candle-lit terracotta pot so it stays warm, ready to be mopped up with crusty bread. Scialatielli, a short pasta with a noodle-like shape from the Amalfi Coast, is served with the best seafood that day. And Pugliese bombette are little bombs of pork scotch stuffed with caciocavallo cheese, wrapped in pancetta and cooked over charcoal a little like a mini porchetta. I want to show people that Italian food isnt generic, says Giorgio. Spaghetti bolognese doesnt even exist in Italy. 12 Errol Street, North Melbourne, bartaralli.com.au Pizzette makes more than 20 different styles of pizza al taglio. Advertisement Pizzette Pizza by the slice isnt just a New York City thing. Rome is famed for its big rectangular slices in a rainbow of seasonal toppings, wrapped in paper and eaten on the run. Now you can get this ultra-convenient pizza on Brunswick Street, where Pizzette offers more than 20 pizza al taglio slices. Toppings go onto a focaccia-adjacent base, which co-owner Julie David describes as fluffy in the centre and soft on top, [with] a bit of crunch on the bottom. Her partner Alex Macchi is the pizzaiolo, bringing experience from Di Stasio Carlton and 400 Gradi. Roasted eggplant parmigiana is an owner-favourite, while customers are flocking to the polpette featuring beef meatballs, and mortadella with burrata on a white base. Focaccia sandwiches are also available. Related Article 10 of Melbournes best Italian restaurants (and how to dine for less at each) Advertisement Slices are pulled from the Moretti Forni electric deck oven, ready in less than a minute if theyre already on display or 10 minutes if Macchi needs to make it from scratch. The mix-and-match menu and speedy turnaround makes Pizzette perfect for solo ventures, pre- and post-gig bites, and the indecisive. There are also 40-odd seats for groups, and two different gluten-free bases. A liquor licence is on the way, but for now, slurp a lemon granita or Cortese soft drinks imported from Italy. 361 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, pizzette.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Continuing the elementary tales of last week, Kerry Kyriacou of Strathfield mentions, A few years ago, shopping in Broadway, I saw a USYD student wearing a T-shirt saying: Fluoride and Uranium, Carbon and Potassium. C8 always allows a little boasting. Eric Scott of Bondi Junction wants us to know, I cant let the discussion on elements wind down without mentioning the moon landing. The connection being that in 1969, in the highlands of Scotland, we were able to access the big event on television thanks to the hospitality of a local. In a satisfying link with science it was in the town of Strontian, which Geoff Maynard and others will know gave its name to strontium. Back to the not-at-all-declining mental acuity of C8 readers, Rosemary Seam of Kempsey would like to say, We old folk find it patronising to be subjected to these tests, particularly when it always seems to be the same one. Doesnt say much for the mental acuity of the administrators. Also, reading rites. Tony Dennis of Holland Park West has a bespoke service. I have no need to scan Column 8 forward or backward to see if Ive been published. My 95-year-old mum, Norma, gives me a call first thing in the morning to give me the good news. Hello, Norma, and keep up the good work. Regarding animal interactions and travelling (C8 of late), Steve Hulbert of West Kempsey offers, Reindeer interactions can also be exciting. Last week, above the Arctic Circle in Norway, I visited a reindeer farm. Ive never been in a mosh pit, but entering a large enclosure with 300 hungry reindeer, while holding a bucket of feed, probably gave me an excellent insight. Hungry reindeer are very determined. So, children, thats why we leave carrots for them on Christmas Eve. A mother who allegedly stabbed her three sleeping children, including her paraplegic daughter, will remain in custody for at least two months as her lawyer made no application for bail over three charges of attempted murder. The 47-year-old woman was charged at Westmead Hospital, where she is being treated under police guard for suspected self-inflicted stab wounds to her abdomen suffered in the alleged attack against her children, aged between 10 and 16, before their father intervened. She was not required to face Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday when her matter was briefly heard. Defence lawyer Peter Guirguis made no application for bail and it was formally refused. An interim apprehended domestic violence order taken out by police to protect the womans husband will be considered at her next court appearance. More than half of Queenslands principals are seriously considering quitting the worst result in the country, according to a survey. The top two sources of stress? The sheer quantity of work, and a lack of time to focus on teaching and learning. And as Queenslands education department rolls out red-tape-reduction plans in schools, teachers and principals are struggling to keep up with non-teaching tasks, such as responding to emails from parents. Principals are working more than 54 hours per week during the school term. Credit: Jessica Shapiro More than 2100 school leaders were surveyed last year as part of an annual project by the Australian Catholic Universitys Institute for Positive Psychology and Education. The council report said development plans would ensure a staged approach that would protect environmental and heritage sites. Ballan resident John Kowarsky has accepted the towns population will grow. But he said the location of the proposed development site is inappropriate. Ballan resident John Kowarsky near the proposed rezoning site. Credit: Simon Schluter Im not opposed to more houses, he said. Im opposed to houses in that position. Its actually the worst position to put a residential development. Kowarsky believes that land south of the railway line is more appropriate for development as it offers walking access to the town centre and station, plus multiple driving routes. He said the Werribee River, which runs along the site proposed for rezoning, can rise dramatically and flood occasionally, even though it barely flows much of the time. Kowarsky, who lives opposite the site, said he feared that developing the area would damage the wildlife and environment, particularly the river. Weve still got this beautiful wetland thats threatened by such a development. The small town of Ballan is set for a population boom if rezoning of rural land goes ahead. Credit: Simon Schluter A flora and fauna assessment said that remnant vegetation was mostly restricted to the eastern part of the site along the Werribee River. It said the endangered gang-gang cockatoo had the potential to be found in the area, while the vulnerable little eagle was likely to be found there. Black-tailed wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos have also been recorded in the area. Wombat Forestcare convener Gayle Osborne said residential development resulted in more hard surfaces, which would increase water runoff into the Werribee River. Were worried the river will silt up and will be degraded by having the housing estate so close, she said. Her group is also concerned that an increased population will bring more domestic cats and dogs, which could harm native wildlife. Ballans population is already increasing. Credit: Simon Schluter But another Ballan resident, Michael Ryan, said the town might get more services and shops. It wont worry me having more people in the town, he said. You cant say: Were here now, were full, we dont want any more people here. The former mayor of the Horsham Rural City Council said he had no problem with the location of the proposed development. But he insisted it should adhere to good design principles, including open space rather than houses jammed next to each other. Loading Wel.Co, a partner of the proposed development, said the project had considered Ballans future, including infrastructure, public spaces and a housing mix that complemented the towns character. It said the plan included $40 million of investment from Wel.Co to deliver three local parks, wetlands, open space, playgrounds and a community facility. The company insisted the project would improve the health of the Werribee River, as its plan included planting native vegetation and the introduction of wetlands and retarding basins to treat stormwater before it reaches the river. Protecting and enhancing the Werribee River corridor is a key priority in the design and delivery of this precinct, it said. It also noted that independent engineers had undertaken a traffic assessment as part of the plan to mitigate potential impacts. More people are embracing historic charm of Ballan. Credit: Simon Schluter Moorabool Shire Council chief executive Derek Madden said the council considered the amendment request at a meeting last year and resolved to seek authorisation from the state government to prepare and exhibit a planning scheme amendment. He said settlement boundaries had been set for Ballan, which guided where development should occur. Madden said Ballans residential growth would go towards achieving the Victorian governments target of 20,000 additional dwellings in Moorabool by 2051. Labor has countered the Coalition on its vow to force gas exporters to reserve more fuel for the domestic market, saying it will use an existing law to ensure supplies for households and industry. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the existing law, passed at the end of 2022 over Coalition objections, already worked as a gas reservation plan because it gave the government the power to direct the companies when needed. Asked if he was willing to get more gas from the exporters if needed, Albanese said: Of course. The law provides that, most importantly, and weve acted. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Labors gas plan will do far more to reduce costs than the Coalitions. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he could reduce the wholesale gas price to below $10 a gigajoule and also vowed to open up more gas fields by overcoming environmental barriers to new projects. After all, Dutton has faced regular condemnation from Islamic leaders for his comments on Muslim immigration and his unwavering support for Israel during the war in Gaza. Cricketer Usman Khawaja branded Dutton an absolute disgrace last July for saying a minority Labor government would be a disaster because itll include Muslim candidates from western Sydney. Its a sight few would have had on their bingo card for the second full day of the election campaign: Peter Dutton removing his shoes to enter a mosque. Yet there the opposition leader was on Sunday at the Al Madinah Masjid in Leppington in western Sydney. Dutton has also argued against accepting Palestinian refugees from Gaza on the grounds they pose a national security risk, and in 2016, caused a stir by telling parliament the Fraser government had made a mistake by allowing so many Lebanese Muslims to migrate to Australia. Dutton has said he has apologised for the comments, but community leaders insist they have no memory of him doing so. Dutton has visited a mosque before in the West Australian town of Katanning in 2016, for example but this was a rare event. Now, the election campaign is in full swing, and Dutton is chasing votes in ethnically and religiously diverse communities. With his striking decision to visit a mosque before a church, synagogue, or Hindu temple, Dutton was inviting voters to take another look at him and reassess their assumptions. All Australians deserve to be able to worship in peace and harmony, he said during his visit to the mosque, where many worshippers come from Pakistani backgrounds. Loading As well as the minister for immigration, home affairs and defence, Dutton has served as the Coalitions de facto minister for 2GB over the past decade, dialling in for regular chats with Sydneys conservative talkback station. In the early days of the campaign, he is also presenting himself as the minister for SBS, filling his campaign itinerary with stops designed to present him as a champion of multiculturalism. To be sure, Dutton is still trying to appeal to white, working-class voters in suburban and regional Australia. He kicked off his campaign at the XXXX brewery in Brisbane and, on Sunday, put on a high-vis vest to visit a western Sydney brick factory. After his plane arrived at Sydney airport, he dialled into 2GB for a phone interview. There is no sign that US President Donald Trump is good for Dutton. On the key measures of personal performance, Australians have shifted to Albanese. But the prime minister is walking a tightrope because he wants to suggest Dutton is copying the American president while, at the very same time, claiming the government will work well with Trump. Can Albanese keep up this high-wire act for five weeks? One part of the governments message has fallen flat: the federal budget. Only 32 per cent say this budget is good for the country, the lowest rating in years. But this is not pivotal for the election. The result was 50 per cent for the federal budget in March 2022, when Scott Morrison was prime minister. Albanese won power seven weeks later. Loading By rights, the Coalition has won the budget argument. Only 51 per cent like the Labor cut to personal tax rates, but 68 per cent like the Coalition cut to fuel excise. Albanese has rebounded anyway. Australians are looking past the election sweeteners when they consider the two leaders and their parties. Resolve director Jim Reed says the results suggest the shift to Labor was under way long before the budget and as far back as the arrival of Cyclone Alfred, which made an earlier election impossible. Alfred rescued Albo, says Reed. The longer campaign and the federal budget have been very beneficial for Labor. Labor strategists will not see it this way, because they always thought Dutton would lose ground when he came under scrutiny closer to polling day. Cyclone or not, the race was going to tighten when election day neared. The latest survey reveals a big shift over just one month. Unlike other polls, the Resolve Political Monitor does not give respondents an option to be undecided on primary vote; they must tell us how they would cast their votes. This can lead to big swings because nobody can park their vote in an uncommitted cohort. Our poll is designed to be more sensitive by not allowing voters to hide by refusing to answer, says Reed. This is why Labors initial honeymoon was higher in our poll, why we were the first to show a majority No vote in the referendum, why Labors fall from favour was sharper in our survey and why we are now seeing a large swing back to them this month. The margin of error in this survey is lower than usual, at 1.7 percentage points. This is because Resolve put the core questions to a larger base of 3237 respondents. As always, the pool of respondents was selected to reflect the wider population. The survey shows the two major parties are neck-and-neck with 50 per cent each in two-party terms when voters say how they would allocate their preferences. Some polling experts prefer a measure that calculates preferences on the way they flowed at the last election. Tallied this way, the results show Labor has the edge: 51 per cent to 49 per cent. Loading Neither result is conclusive because the margin of error is 1.7 percentage points. The 50-50 outcome suggests a swing of 2.1 per cent against Labor in two-party terms since the last election. This would be enough to see Labor lose four seats Gilmore, Bennelong, Lyons and Lingiari when applying the pendulum devised by ABC analyst Antony Green. But there is no such thing as a uniform swing. The parents of a nine-year-old girl were arrested by British police after they complained about their daughters primary school in a WhatsApp group. Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine were reportedly detained by six officers in front of their younger daughter, aged three, before being left in a cell for eight hours in Hertfordshire, north of London. Maxie Allen was arrested after complaining about his daughters school on WhatsApp. Credit: X/MaxieAllen_prod They said they were questioned on suspicion of harassment, malicious communications and causing a nuisance on school property. After a five-week investigation, police concluded that there should be no further action. The arrest of the couple on January 29 reportedly came after the school complained about Allen and his partner sending numerous emails and making disparaging comments on a parents WhatsApp group. We recently published a list of 10 Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) stands against other best consumer staples stocks to buy according to analysts. Is the US Economy Headed for a Recession? Consumer confidence is plunging in the US. It dropped further in March, with the Conference Board reporting the future outlook falling to the lowest level in more than a decade. The Conference Boards monthly confidence index dropped to 92.9, reflecting a 7.2-point slip and making March the fourth consecutive month of index contraction. The index calculates respondents outlook on job prospects, business, and income. The fall was higher than analyst estimates, as economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimated a reading of 93.5. That is not all: the measure for future estimates is painting an even bleaker story with the index falling to 65.2, reflecting a 9.6-point drop and making it the lowest number in 12 years. The reading is also considerably below the 80 level, which is typically considered a benchmark signal for an incoming recession. While the confidence drop was spread across income groups, it was primarily driven by a decline in consumers aged 55 or older. These readings are materializing at a time uncertainty and concerns regarding President Trumps tariffs are already looming on the market. These concerns have coincided with other surveys exhibiting waning consumer sentiment and a volatile stock market. CNBC reported that Stephanie Guichard, senior economist, global indicators at The Conference Board, said the following about the situation: Consumers optimism about future income which had held up quite strongly in the past few months largely vanished, suggesting worries about the economy and labor market have started to spread into consumers assessments of their personal situations. On March 14, CNBC reported that while headwinds like persistent inflation and high interest rates were already affecting companies, they now have to deal with additional obstacles such as worsening consumer sentiment, tariffs that go on and off, and mass government layoffs. Over the last weeks, investor presentations and earnings calls have shown a distinct trend: consumer-facing businesses and retailers are warning that fiscal Q1 2025 sales are coming in softer than expected. 2025 may prove to be a year tougher than what analysts initially estimated. READ ALSO: 11 Best Coffee Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best Department Store Stocks to Invest in. Consumer Staples: Are They a Safe Haven Amid Recession Concerns? Consumer staples are generally considered a safe haven amid recession and market volatility. We discussed how the consumer staple sector is expected to perform and whether it can be considered a safety net amid the current market dynamics in a recently published article on 12 Best Household Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Here is an excerpt from the article to shed light on the situation: Its not the hypocrisy that bothers me; its the stupidity. Were all shocked shocked! that President Trump and his team dont actually care about protecting classified information or federal record-retention laws. But we knew that already. Whats much worse is that top Trump administration officials put our troops in jeopardy by sharing military plans on a commercial messaging app and unwittingly invited a journalist into the chat. Thats dangerous. And its just dumb. This is the latest in a string of self-inflicted wounds by the new administration that are squandering Americas strength and threatening our national security. Firing hundreds of federal workers charged with protecting our nations nuclear weapons is also dumb. So is shutting down efforts to fight pandemics just as a deadly Ebola outbreak is spreading in Africa. It makes no sense to purge talented generals, diplomats and spies at a time when rivals such as China and Russia are trying to expand their global reach. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office. Credit: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg In a dangerous and complex world, its not enough to be strong. You must also be smart. As secretary of state during the Obama administration, I argued for smart power, integrating the hard power of our military with the soft power of our diplomacy, development assistance, economic might and cultural influence. None of those tools can do the job alone. Together, they make America a superpower. The Trump approach is dumb power. Instead of a strong America using all our strengths to lead the world and confront adversaries, Trumps America will be increasingly blind and blundering, feeble and friendless. Lets start with the military, because thats what he claims to care about. Dont let the swagger fool you. Trump and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth (of group chat fame) are apparently more focused on performative fights over wokeness than preparing for real fights with Americas adversaries. Does anyone really think deleting tributes to the Tuskegee Airmen makes us more safe? The Trump Pentagon purged images of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb that ended World War II because its name is Enola Gay. Dumb. Social media influencer Andrew Tate is facing a new lawsuit in the United States, in which he stands accused of sexually assaulting his former girlfriend at a Los Angeles hotel and beating her. It adds to existing legal trouble for Tate, known for his misogynist views, who is charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania. His brother, Tristan Tate, is also accused in that case. Andrew and Tristan Tate land in Florida in February after leaving Romania. Credit: AP Andrew Tate had 4.7 million followers on Instagram before Meta kicked him off the platform, and off Facebook, in 2022. In her complaint, Andrew Tates former girlfriend, Brianna Stern, argues that his abusive treatment of her follows a long pattern of making blatant misogyny part of his brand. She said he initially acted effusively loving and generous to lure her into a relationship that later turned abusive. ~Body Cam Rollout to Begin on Bonaire, with Statia and Saba to Follow~ Oranjestad, St. Eustatius:--- The Caribbean Netherlands Police Force (KPCN) recently delivered a presentation to the Statia Government on the use of camera surveillance as a tool to support enforcement and improve public safety across the island. The meeting was attended by Island Governor Alida Francis, Commissioner of Infrastructure Reuben Merkman, Island Secretary Malvern Dijkshoorn, members of the Governors Cabinet Rient Hassel and Naomi Roberts, and KPCN representatives Mr. Melvin Sint Jago, Chief Inspector and Head of the Information and Expertise Department; Mr. Andre de Graaf, Intelligence Specialist with the Intelligence Unit; and Mr. Robelto Hodge, Chief of Basic Police Service St. Eustatius. During the presentation, KPCN outlined its plan for the introduction of body-worn cameras (body cams) for law enforcement in the Caribbean Netherlands. The rollout will begin on Bonaire, with St. Eustatius and Saba to follow in the next stages. As part of the session, KPCN shared the results of a recent pilot in Bonaire where cameras were used during two major events: Dia di Rincon and the Bonaire Regatta. The pilot was deemed a success, with noticeable improvements in enforcement efficiency and overall public safety during these large-scale events. Island Governor Alida Francis welcomed the presentation and the broader vision being pursued, stating: In the interest of public order and mainly security and safety, it is important to introduce camera surveillance on St. Eustatius. Camera surveillance is an important instrument to support enforcement by the local government. A proposed ordinance is currently being worked on that will require the support of the Island Council. The Statia Government will continue working closely with KPCN to support the responsible introduction of enforcement tools that contribute to a safer, more secure community. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) has successfully apprehended two individuals involved in an ATM skimming operation on the island. The suspects, both Bulgarian nationals identified by their initials N.Z.V and G.N.S, were caught installing skimming devices on an ATM machine. In the early hours of Thursday, March 27, 2025, the Police Central Dispatch received a report of two male individuals placing skimming instruments on an ATM located on L.B. Scott Road. Additional information indicated that the suspects were driving a small white vehicle and heading toward A.J.C. Brouwers Road. Multiple police patrols were immediately dispatched to the area, where officers successfully intercepted the vehicle in question. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered several instruments commonly used for skimming activities. The suspects were promptly arrested and transported to the Philipsburg Police Station for further investigation. During interrogation, it was revealed that one of the suspects had previously been arrested and convicted in Sint Maarten for a similar offense. He had been banned from the island but managed to return via the French side. A subsequent search of the suspect's rented residence, conducted in cooperation with the French authorities, led to the discovery and confiscation of a large quantity of skimming cards and additional skimming equipment. Both suspects remain in police custody as the investigation continues. The Sint Maarten Police Force urges financial institutions and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to ATM usage. Safety Tips for ATM Users To minimize the risk of falling victim to ATM fraud, the Sint Maarten Police Force advises the public to follow these safety precautions: Inspect the ATM: Check for any unusual devices attached to the card slot or keypad before using an ATM. Check for any unusual devices attached to the card slot or keypad before using an ATM. Cover the Keypad: Always shield the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from capturing your information. Always shield the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent hidden cameras from capturing your information. Use Secure ATMs: Preferably use ATMs located inside banks or well-lit, high-traffic areas. Preferably use ATMs located inside banks or well-lit, high-traffic areas. Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions. Regularly check your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: If you notice suspicious individuals near an ATM, do not proceed with your transaction and report the situation to the authorities. If you notice suspicious individuals near an ATM, do not proceed with your transaction and report the situation to the authorities. Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect that an ATM has been tampered with, notify the bank and the police immediately. KPSM Press Release. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Honorable Minister of Justice, Mr. N. Tackling, paid a visit to the Sint Maarten Police Station in Philipsburg today to officially acknowledge and extend well wishes to five police officers who will be traveling to the United States for specialized training. The officers will depart this Sunday to Miami Dade College, where they will participate in the School Resource Officer Training Program alongside officers from other Dutch Caribbean islands. This program is designed to equip them with the necessary skills to support and engage with schools, students, and the wider community, ensuring a safer learning environment for the youth of Sint Maarten. During the visit, both Minister Tackling and Chief of Police, Mr. C. John, expressed their appreciation for the officers' dedication to professional development. They reminded the group of the importance of this training, emphasizing that their role will go beyond enforcement to include mentorship and guidance in local schools. KPSM remains committed to strengthening its collaboration with educational institutions and ensuring that officers are well-prepared to support youth-related initiatives. KPSM Press Release. Yet CoreWeave is also a bad gauge for the AI boom more broadly because the company itself has so many problems. Chief among them is its business model, which is based largely around using debt to build data center capacity, well ahead of actual demand. The company has borrowed $8 billion to lease data centers and equip them with Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), the expensive computer chips that many developers favor for training and running AI applications. That debt carries high interest paymentsmost analysts estimate that it will need to make at least $1 billion of debt service payments in 2025, but that this figure could, depending on what happens with core interest rates and several aspects of CoreWeaves business, be as high as $1.7 billion. That would wipe out between two-thirds and all of the money the company just raised in its IPO. And CoreWeaves debt is likely to increase. The company still has about $4.4 billion in debt that it has secured but not yet drawn down. And CoreWeave certainly didnt have the IPO it had initially hoped for. The company first talked about raising about $4 billion in equity at a selling point that would value the company at $35 billion. But due to lackluster investor interest, it wound up scaling that back to a $1.5 billion equity offering that valued the company at about $19 billion. In its first day of trading, the stock initially dropped from its IPO price of $40 per share, before recovering and bouncing around just above the IPO price. It was definitely not the blockbuster stock market debut that one might have expected for a company selling a key infrastructure component for techs newest new thing. First, you can see why some people might see CoreWeave as a proxy for AI as a whole. The New Jersey-based companys entire business is running data centers full of the specialized Nvidia chips that customers need to run their AI workloads. CoreWeave is the first new pure play AI company to go public since OpenAIs ChatGPT chatbot debuted in 2022, sparking the AI boom. Nvidias been public for decades, and arguably its valuation was bid to such lofty heights late last year that it had nowhere to go but down (Nvidias shares are down 20% year to date, but remain about 20% higher than they were at this time in 2024.) Other AI pure plays, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, are still private, while the Big Tech titans that have seen a big boost from AI have much more diversified revenue streams. So, if investors cant get enthusiastic about a company like CoreWeave, then maybe the whole AI sector is in trouble. For those bearish on the technology, it seems like an open-and-shut case. Story Continues CoreWeave has also been a pioneer in debt instruments for which the collateral is the GPUs the borrower plans to buy, or in some cases lease. The problem here is that GPUs are a rapidly depreciating asset. Nvidia is rolling out new, more capable chips each year. Most of the GPUs in CoreWeaves current collection are Nvidias 2022 Hopper GPUs, which are being replaced by Nvidias newer Blackwell chips that offer significantly better performance. As a result, prices for renting time on Hoppers has fallen dramatically over the past year. That makes it harder for CoreWeave to earn revenue. More than that, though, CoreWeaves debt instruments have covenants that mean the payments CoreWeave owes increase as its depreciation expense rises. CoreWeave has said it plans to depreciate its chips over a six year periodbut some analysts think that a more honest depreciation schedule would see the value of those chips written off within half that time. Long-term leases and a five-alarm fire cash burn rate Wait, it gets worse. CoreWeave leases its data centers on long, fixed terms. The company has $2.6 billion in operating lease payments it must make, with the weighted average lease term currently nine years. The company had $213 million worth of lease payments due in the next 12 months at the end of 2024. The company makes enough money to cover those, but if its revenue doesnt grow as anticipated, it could leave the company dangerously overextended, obligated to pay for data center capacity it cant sell. Whats more the company is burning through cash at a prodigious rate. Last year, it brought in $2.75 billion in cash from its business, but sent $8.7 billion out the door leasing data centers and buying and leasing GPUs. The company has also committed to almost $10 billion worth of additional spending on new data center projects in the U.S., U.K., and Europe. The only way it can afford those projects will be to take on more debt. But it turns out that one of its major existing debt instruments says it is not allowed to take on more debt before it repays the loan. To get around this, CoreWeave created a special purpose vehiclea separate company that it controlsso that it can obtain more debt to meet its obligations for a deal with OpenAI that it announced earlier this month and that would see OpenAI spend $11.9 billion with CoreWeave over five years. 75% of CoreWeave's revenue comes from Microsoft and Nvidia And I havent even mentioned yet the extent to which CoreWeave is dependent on just two customers, Microsoft and Nvidia, which collectively accounted for more than 75% of its 2024 revenue. Or that Microsoft, which was about 60% of CoreWeaves revenue in 2024, has already started pulling back from spending with the company, cancelling a number of contracts because of what Microsoft has said are service delivery issues. Or that Nvidia is not only a major customer of CoreWeave, but also its primary supplier of GPUsoh, and an investor, owning 6% of its stock. That kind of ouroboros-like circulation of money often raises investors eyebrows, with Nvidia potentially propping up CoreWeave artificially. All in all, you can see why investors might be wary of CoreWeave. But what does this have to do with the AI boom as a whole? Well, some analysts have looked at the revenue CoreWeave makes from customers aside from Microsoft and Nvidia, which amounted to about $440 million last year, and used it as an indictment of AI as a technology. Companies are finding todays AI models too unreliable to adopt at scale, these critics say. If AI applications really were transforming business, critics say, CoreWeaves revenues outside Microsoft and Nvidia ought to be a lot higher. Business are adopting AI, but they don't need to use CoreWeave This argument misses some key points, however. CoreWeave rents raw GPU capacity. But it is not a normal cloud service provider. It doesnt offer traditional central processing units (CPUs) that are the workhorses of almost all non-AI applications. And it doesnt offer an extensive suite of cybersecurity, data security, and traditional application hosting services like all the big cloud providers do. Pretty much the only businesses that want raw GPU capacity without all of the other stuff are either cloud providers themselves, like Microsoft, or the companies building the most cutting-edge, general-purpose AI models, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. And even most of those AI companies already have deals with one of the major cloud providers to be their exclusive computing partner. Anthropic is partnered with AWS. Cohere is running on Oracles cloud. A better tell of how the AI adoption is going is to look at the growth in the cloud revenues of these hyperscalers. Sure, such figures quickly get messy. The cloud providers often lump different types of services together in big buckets, making it very difficult for analysts to figure out exactly what portion of revenue growth is coming from AI applications. The pricing of some AI software also makes it difficult to determine whether the revenue bump is coming from widespread adoptioni.e. selling more licensesor simply from the cloud providers jacking up the prices of existing enterprise software licenses. But the cloud revenue from Microsoft and Google Cloud both climbed 30% last year. AWSwhich has not played as big a role in the AI boom so farsaw revenues increase about 19%. And executives at these companies have been attributing a good portion of that growth to enterprise adoption of AI. So far, theres no reason to doubt them. Meanwhile, while the hyperscalers might need spare capacity from a company like CoreWeave, they are all building out their own data centers at a prodigious rate, and increasingly stocking those data centers with AI chips of their own designpartly so they dont have to be so dependent on Nvidias GPUs. Microsoft has pulled back on spending with CoreWeave, but says it is still on track to spend $80 billion expanding data center capacity this year worldwide. Estimates are that the Big Tech companies collectively plan to spend at least $300 billion on new data centers in the U.S. this year. None of this points to the idea that AI as a technology is failing. The DeepSeek question weighs, but on vendors, not the tech Now, that is not to say that all of that data center capacity will definitely be needed. One of the question marks that no doubt weighed on CoreWeaves IPO and that has weighed on Nvidias stock too, is the DeepSeek factor. In January, the Chinese AI company shocked industry watchers when it showed that it is possible to build AI models that match some of the most cutting-edge reasoning capabilities of leading models from OpenAI and Anthropic, but do so in ways that dont require nearly so much computing hardware. That might mean companies wont need access to nearly as many GPUs. On the other hand, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has argued that these new reasoning models use a lot more computing capacity for inference, which is the term AI researchers use for running a model after it has been trained. Another issue that is hanging over the entire AI industry is whether any of the companies building foundation models can ever be profitable. Creating cutting-edge models remains fiendishly expensive in terms of overall computing cost and the salaries of AI researchers, and yet the model capabilities are being duplicated by many competitors within weeks of debuting. This commoditization has driven prices per token, the basic unit of data an AI model handles, down dramatically. That in turn makes it difficult for the AI model companies to earn a profit. Increasingly, it looks like the companies that have more defensible business models and pricing power are those that are building applications for specific industry verticalslaw or accounting or manufacturing of pharmaceuticalson top of the foundation models. Again, none of this means the technology itself wont be transformative. History of examples of technologies that have radically changed society, but where the profits for the companies building out that technology were uncertain at best. The railroads are one example. Civil aviation is another. And the internet boom of the late 1990s is yet another. All those technologies were real and transformative. But in each case, a large number of companies driving the technology forward were lousy investments, with many going belly-up. AI may be no different. But investors shouldnt write off the impact of AI just because CoreWeaves IPO flopped. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com US carries out strike against IS in Somalia Washington, March 30 (AFP) Mar 30, 2025 The US military carried out an air strike Saturday against the Islamic State group in the Puntland region of Somalia, killing several IS operatives, Africa Command said. In a statement, the European-based command said the latest raid was conducted in coordination with the Somali government and hit "multiple ISIS-Somalia targets." The IS group's Somalia operation is relatively small compared to the Al Qaeda-linked jihadists Al-Shabaab, but it has been gaining strength in semi-autonomous Puntland. "The airstrike occurred southeast of Bosasso, Puntland, in Northeastern Somalia," the AFRICOM statement said. "AFRICOM's initial assessment is that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed and no civilians were harmed," it said. The latest strike follows a similar operation two days earlier that AFRICOM said complemented "a larger counter-terrorism initiative" under way in Somalia. And it follows US strikes in February, which Puntland authorities said had killed "key figures" in IS, without giving further details. Trump says 'there will be bombing' if Iran fails to make 'peace deal' Washington, March 30 (AFP) Mar 30, 2025 US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be bombed if it persists in developing nuclear weapons. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," NBC News said the president told one of its correspondents in an interview late Saturday. It said he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called "secondary tariffs." Trump's language represented a sharpening of his comment a few days earlier that if Tehran refused to negotiate a new nuclear agreement, "bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran." It was not clear whether Trump was threatening bombing by US planes alone or perhaps in an operation coordinated with Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Politico late last month that "in order to stop a nuclear Iranian program before it will be weaponized, a reliable military option should be on the table." Analysts have said Iran may be just weeks away from producing a deliverable nuclear weapon -- though Tehran denies it is building such arms. Either way, such an attack carries a risk of spreading to a wider conflict. Trump in 2018 pulled the United States out of an agreement to relieve sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Now, in his second term, he has said he is open to talks on a new deal that could reduce the risk of military escalation. Trump revealed in early March that he had sent a letter proposing such talks to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meantime, he has pushed ahead with his "maximum pressure" program of additional sanctions and the threat of military action. Tehran, deeply suspicious of the US administration after Trump's withdrawal from the original nuclear deal, has refused to negotiate directly with Washington. According to NBC, Trump also said US and Iranian officials were "talking," but he did not give details. In a video published early Sunday by Iranian state media, President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran's response to Trump, delivered to intermediaries in Oman by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said that "direct negotiations were rejected." But, he added, "The supreme leader has also emphasized that indirect negotiations can continue." "We do not avoid negotiations," said Pezeshkian, a reformist who has called for reviving nuclear talks with the US. "Rather, it is their unfaithfulness that has caused problems for us so far. They must prove that they can establish trust regarding decisions, and I hope this will materialize." It was unclear whether Trump had spoken to NBC before or after Pezeshkian made his comments. Oman has in the past served as an intermediary between the US and Iran. You are here: World Flash China has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan (approximately 13.9 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts, a spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency said on Saturday. At the request of the Myanmar government, China will also send two rescue teams and supply tents, blankets, first-aid kits, food and drinking water -- items that are urgently needed in affected areas, said spokesperson Li Ming. The first batch of supplies is scheduled for delivery on Monday, according to the agency. China will offer further assistance based on Myanmar's needs, it added. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. The information team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said 1,002 people have been killed, 2,376 were injured, and 30 remain missing. 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 These new laws build on significant efforts to stop organised immigration crime and protect the integrity of our borders, including increasing raids and arrests for illegal working and getting returns of people who have no right to be here to their highest rate in half a decade. She said: Its a great picture of Alex and of how he might possibly look like now. Then you try to put a body to it and how he might be dressed and looking. By Tim McLaughlin (Reuters) - Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue missed out on taking home more than $4 million in cash after the utility's shareholder return and operating profit during 2022-2024 failed to meet performance targets. Blue received $438,240, just 9% of the potential target payout of nearly $5 million, the company disclosed on Friday in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company did not respond to a message seeking comment. Dominion's total shareholder return ranked second lowest among peers over the 3-year period, leading to no payout on that goal, which accounted for 50% of Blue's performance-based target compensation. The company's total return was minus 21% during that period. Dominion's stock suffered during the performance period as investors lost confidence in the utility's management team, according to analysts. But Dominion made several moves to lessen its debt burden, such as selling its stake in the Cove Point liquefied natural gas plant to Berkshire Hathaway for about $3.3 billion in after-tax proceeds. Dominion's electricity sales are expected to surge over the next decade as more energy-hungry data centers are built in the company's key Virginia territory. Still, Blue received no long-term performance pay related to Dominion's cumulative operating profit target for 2022-2024. With a performance weighting of 40%, operating profit per share was $8.87, well below the minimum threshold target of $11.70 per share, Dominion said. Meanwhile, Dominion's renewable energy generating capacity exceeded a minimum target despite fewer solar projects moving forward during the performance period than anticipated. With a 10% weighting, that metric allowed Blue to receive 9% of the total target cash payout across the three goals. (Reporting By Tim McLaughlin; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Euan Blair, the chief executive officer of Multiverse, conceded that his company had expanded too quickly in America - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Euan Blairs technology start-up lost more than 60m last year as the company counted the cost of a rushed US launch. Multiverse was set up by Mr Blair son of Sir Tony Blair, the former prime minister in 2016. It offers to match apprentices to technology companies, and grew revenues by 29pc to 58.4m in the year to March last year. However, losses climbed from 45m to 60.6m. The company said it was on the path to profitability. Multiverse, valued at $1.7bn (1.3bn), laid off staff in the US over the period after Mr Blair conceded that the company had expanded in America too fast. It left a federally-approved apprenticeship system last year after limited enthusiasm for the regulated scheme and said it had rightsized staff numbers there. Mr Blairs company, which links apprentices with tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and Just Eat and provides on-the-job training, has continually made losses. The figures were also affected by two acquisitions, of US companies Peergrade and Searchlight, and by a jump in overall staff numbers. Headcount grew from 690 to 822 despite the company losing 103 employees including from US redundancies. Jillian Gillespie, Multiverses chief financial officer who recently joined from software company MongoDB, said companies in Europe need to become more comfortable with loss making businesses. All my life Ive worked at companies who found an enormous market by making losses for prolonged periods before becoming profitable, she said. To be serious about creating great European tech companies we have to get more comfortable with businesses following this path. I joined MongoDB when it was a bit further behind in its journey to IPO than Multiverse is today: but the momentum in these annual accounts is a good sense of the direction were taking the business towards. Mr Blair, 41, owns almost 19pc of the company, according to Companies House records, a stake that would be worth around 250m at its $1.7bn valuation in 2022. The entrepreneur has targeted apprenticeships for people from underprivileged backgrounds, and has repeatedly said that an obsession with academia has held back opportunities. The position is in marked contrast to Mr Blairs father, who as prime minister targeted 50pc of school leavers going to university. Multiverses investors include the Walton family, the American dynasty behind the Walmart retail giant. Investment company StepStone and venture capital firms Lightspeed Venture Partners and General Catalyst led a $220m funding round in 2022. The company said the number of apprentices it has trained now stands at 18,521, up from 13,300 a year earlier. 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. IMPACT Strategies promoted Scott Manning from director of construction operations to vice president of operations, and Derek Hinrichs from controller to chief financial officer. The commercial construction management company has locations in St. Louis, Missouri and Fairview Heights, Illinois. NewGround, a St. Louis-based architectural design and build firm, hired Danielle Calcara as the companys first senior vice president of marketing. The Edwardsville Community Foundation appointed Jason Cook, Eaton Corporation, and Chris Layloff, Gori Law, as directors for 2025. ECF is a nonprofit serving Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and surrounding Illinois communities with tax-deductible charitable donations. Karen Englert transitioned to Government Relations with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America where she will secure federal and state funding for Clubs across the Midwest. Englert will continue as chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County until April 18. Josh Laney returned to the corporate offices of the rebranded Session Taco in St. Louis, Missouri, working as director of operations across all seven locations in St. Louis and Kansas City. Western Specialty Contractors promoted Josh Woolard to manager of its Springfield, Illinois branch. Western is a family owned company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with 30 offices nationwide. KAI 360 Construction Services, one of four business units comprising KAI Enterprises, added Vera Cavato as senior project manager to its staff in St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation accepted Catherine Neville into the 2025 Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge, a womens professional development program. Neville is vice president of communications for Explore St. Louis. ST. LOUIS A crowd of thousands in attendance, packed downtown. A dizzying range of souvenirs, up for grabs. Eyes trained on a guy who strolled out with Led Zeppelin walk-up music blasting. That was the scene last week, not at Opening Day for the Cardinals, but for the World of Asphalt Show and Conference which bills itself as the largest and leading event for asphalt professionals and contractors along with an accompanying show, called AGG1, dedicated to the aggregates and raw materials that make paved surfaces. Beneath the shows fanfare and at times industrial carnival-like atmosphere, the multi-day extravaganza was all about pavement: the pervasive and critically important material we walk, drive and park on that can also exacerbate the hotter, wetter weather wrought by climate change by fueling urban heat islands or stormwater runoff. Some at the event, which ran from Tuesday through Thursday at the Americas Center Convention Complex, said the timing couldnt have been better, with pavement in some ways caught up in the zeitgeist and tied to hot-button issues locally and nationally. Potholes, for example, have featured prominently in St. Louis mayoral race. And amid the Trump administrations funding cuts and stated fixation on efficient government spending, some at the show said its more crucial than ever to do better, smarter roadway construction and maintenance, which guzzles billions upon billions of tax dollars annually. It could not be a timelier conversation, said Lindsey Hermes, the president and chief operating officer of BioSpan Technologies, a locally based company that makes soybean-based treatments to preserve pavement and prolong its lifespan. We have such an opportunity to make an impact. Federal spending on roads and highways has exceeded $50 billion annually in recent years, per the Congressional Budget Office a figure that it has projected to grow, moving forward. Meanwhile, state and local governments across the country have spent triple that amount, dumping more than $150 billion toward roadways in 2021, for example, based on U.S. Census Bureau data compiled last year by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit focused on policy issues. Amid that backdrop, companies like BioSpan aim to deliver savings that yield both economic and environmental benefits, by helping asphalt last longer. Hermes says applying the companys top-selling product, called RePlay, onto roads can save ultimately save governments more than $37,000 per mile, per year, in avoided maintenance and construction costs. BioSpan, based in Washington, Missouri, made its sales pitch at the World of Asphalt through tabletop demonstrations of fixing a pothole with its products, in a setup that resembled a cooking show. BioSpan was just one of more than 400 exhibitors at the World of Asphalt show, which took up a bigger footprint than ever, according to its organizers. Event officials said an early tally counted more than 11,500 attendees. Registration for the convention cost $109 to $709, with programs aimed at paving company personnel, the companies that help supply the industry with materials and equipment, and a large contingent of prospective customers in the form of government and city officials from departments of transportation and public works. Once inside, acres of gleaming, monstrous construction equipment filled the events cavernous space machines seemingly ready to level just about anything, or grind up and spit out the rocks, hydrocarbons, and old, recycled pavement, called RAP an acronym for Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement that becomes new pavement. (Remarkably, the multi-ton machines were parked atop plush carpet without leaving any tracks.) The show floor boasted lots more than just industrial-scale equipment, free tote bags and hardhat-shaped trinkets, and stations for businesses called Towmaster, SealMaster, ShoulderMaster and RUBBLE MASTER, in all capital letters. Amid the sea of specialized products and services were places to talk mineral sizing, buy specialized footwear for walking atop asphalt and sell used milling teeth thus knocking out what one might imagine could be standard industry errands. Attendees could also snag the March issue of Pit & Quarry magazine, featuring the top 100 crushed stone producers and the next inductees of the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame. Nearby, colorful cartoon posters at a station for Asphalt Pro magazine advertised Asphalt Lane, a childrens activity book designed to deliver a positive educational message to your local school children. Some exhibitions featured particularly elaborate production value. The central area occupied by Volvos line of construction equipment was replete with a hype-building DJ who teed up Led Zeppelins Immigrant Song as the intro music for Scott Young, the companys head of sales for North America. He then proceeded to talk about an array of vehicles, including asphalt rollers in the companys compaction lineup that he described as being especially near and dear to my heart. And beneath the glitz and showmanship, one could find serious discussions about building materials and innovations aimed at figuring out how pavement-heavy cities can avoid drowning or cooking themselves amid hotter and wetter extremes. Some proven technologies or designs like permeable or porous pavement that lets water seep through it are already able to help on both fronts, said Amlan Mukherjee, the senior director of sustainability and intelligent construction for the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Instead of that water running off, it goes in right through the pavement, he said in an interview at the show Tuesday. It cools your pavement as it does that. Mukherjee said the asphalt industry seeks to evolve along with the challenges at hand. In all areas of engineering, were seeing the impact of changes in climate, overall, and how that impacts our designs and our choice of materials, he said. Here are this weeks local business and nonprofit awards, acquisitions and donations: GETTING BETTER The University of MissouriSt. Louis collaborated with BAE Systems to expand geospatial workforce development through scholarships and internship opportunities. Students studying remote sensing and GIS will have access to BAEs GXP software and customized training. HELPING OUT The Saint Louis Mental Health Board awarded Child Care Aware of Missouri a $107,468 inaugural contract to provide telehealth and mental health services for up to 225 childcare educators and their families in St. Louis, Missouri. The board is an independent taxing authority that administers public funds statewide for behavioral health and childrens services. Missouri Humanities awarded a $10,000 inaugural grant to the Mosaics Fine Art Festival for the 30th anniversary three-day showcase of local and regional artists set for September in St. Charles, Missouri. The Missouri State Board of Nursing awarded Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, a $621,975 grant from the Nursing Education Incentive Program to develop a state-of-the-art nursing education center. MILESTONE ThrottleNet celebrated 25 years providing IT managed services across the Midwest from headquarters in St. Louis and an office in Kansas City, Missouri. PROJECTS Citizens for Modern Transit and AARP in St. Louis, Missouri, in partnership with Metro Transit, the City of St. Louis, St. Louis REALTORS, and Ameren Missouri, opened the Transit Stop Transformation Project at the MetroBus Stop, 13th St. and Gravois Ave. near Soulard. This is the seventh completed Transit Stop Transformation Project and the first in St. Louis city. Regarding "Clergy call for Missouri to reject Ten Commandments in schools" (March 25): State Sen. Jamie Burger says that when prayer went out of schools guns came in. I think he is mistaken on the cause of school gun violence. There has not been school-sponsored prayer in public schools since 1962. The first notable school shooting, Columbine, happened in 1999. So we went 37 years without major gun violence in schools when there wasn't school prayer. Look up school shootings by year. They have steadily increased each decade since 2005 from single digits, to teens, to dozens, to currently in the 50s or 60s per year. What changed? The increasing influence of the National Rifle Association and loosening of gun laws. The NRA spent $140 million on pro-gun candidates and lobbying since 2010. Think about that. In 2017 Missouri allowed permitless concealed carry; in 2021 Missouri passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act, making it more difficult for local police to work with federal law enforcement regarding gun violence. Missouri has among the highest gun death rates among all the states. We have no universal background check requirement, no owner licensing, no waiting periods, no concealed-carry permit requirement, no laws regulating gun shows. There is a culture of gun worship. Really, its not lack of prayer that is killing our kids. Susan Jarrett Oakland Lithuanian military and law enforcement personnel observe efforts to recover a U.S. Army M88A2 Hercules armored vehicle near Pabrade, Lithuania, March 26, 2025. (U.S. Army Europe and Africa) STUTTGART, Germany U.S. Navy divers are pushing through thick layers of mud in a flooded Lithuanian bog, where efforts are ongoing to excavate a submerged armored vehicle and locate four missing American soldiers, Army officials said Sunday. U.S. military resources have poured into Lithuania, where the harsh terrain has complicated efforts to recover an M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle stuck under some 15 feet of water and sludge, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement. The vehicle has continued to sink into the bog, USAREUR-AF said. Navy personnel began dive operations last night and are continuing to swim and dig toward the vehicle, the Army said. Meanwhile, the Armys 21st Theater Sustainment Command out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, is bringing in a specialized ramping system to help stabilize the area and enable the use of more heavy equipment. So not only are we dealing with the terrain, a lot of mud that is over top of the vehicle, but also the fact that its 70 tons that were trying to recover out of a swamp or bog, Brig. Gen. John Lloyd, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, said in a statement. Army soldiers are being joined by hundreds of other Lithuanian and Polish personnel, who also have brought in gear and manpower to assist in the effort ever since the M88A2 went off course in the early morning hours Tuesday on a Lithuanian training base. All four of the missing soldiers are from the 3rd Infantry Divisions 1st Armored Brigade. The accident happened on a base near the city of Pabrade, which has been a training hub for U.S. forces for many years. The Army has not declared the soldiers dead, with officials saying they are still considered missing. The rescue and recovery operation has involved a wide array of specialized gear, including high-powered dredging systems and water pumps. Engineers at the site are working to create berms to establish a contained area from which water can be pumped and mud dredged, providing emergency personnel on site access to the vehicle, according to the Army. We cannot thank our Allies enough for everything theyve done for us to help find our soldiers, Col. Jim Armstrong, commander of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, said in a statement Sunday. They see our Soldiers as their own Soldiers, and we are absolutely in this together. Families of the affected soldiers continue to be updated on the status of recovery efforts, the 3rd Infantry Division said. Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Santiago, the winner of the traditional first kiss, embraces his wife, Sonia, during the USS Indianas homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Indiana returned last week to Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., after six months and 42,000 nautical miles on deployment. Its great to be back just in time for the spring weather, Cmdr. Kyle McVay said Thursday in a service news release. This crew knocked it out of the park in terms of professionalism and mission accomplishment, and I couldnt be any prouder of them as they reunite with their loved ones. Indiana visited ports in Scotland, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Greece. While deployed, 34 personnel earned their submarine warfare devices commonly referred to as dolphins. Family and friends were gathered at the pier to welcome their sailors home. A crew member embraces his wife and child during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) A crew member embraces a loved one during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) Families and friends prepare to greet their sailors during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) A crew member embraces his loved one during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) A crew member greets his wife and children during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) Families and friends prepare to greet their sailors during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy) Sailors get ready to conduct mooring operations during the USS Indiana homecoming event at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27, 2025. (John Narewski/U.S. Navy) USS Indiana (SSN 789) returns to Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 27 following a regularly scheduled deployment. (John Narewski/U.S. Navy) Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Santiago, a culinary specialist on board and winner of the traditional first kiss, was first to depart the boat to greet his wife Sonia, who said she was excited for the benefit of having him come out first. I love the fact he came out first for the raffle, Sonia Santiago said. I participated in both the hug and the kiss raffle, and the fact that I won one of them, I was excited about that. Santiago was also welcomed by his mother, uncle, niece, and nephew, all driving in from The Bronx, N.Y. The Santiago reunion was followed by the traditional first hug winners, and a few new dads while Indiana was out, seven babies were born before the gates opened for all families. Indiana and crew operate under Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 12. Fast-attack submarines are multimission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reviews an honor guard at Camp Ichigaya, the Japanese Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tokyo, on March 30, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO U.S. Forces Japan has begun reorganizing into a warfighting headquarters, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday during his first trip to the Indo-Pacific since taking office. Hegseth that day discussed restructuring USFJ amid regional security challenges with Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani at Camp Ichigaya, the Ministry of Defense headquarters in central Tokyo. The Defense Department has begun the first phase of upgrading USFJ into a joint force command better equipped to coordinate with its Japanese counterpart, Hegseth told reporters after the meeting. This also means reorganizing U.S. Forces Japan into a warfighting headquarters, increasing its staff and giving its commander the authorities needed to accomplish new missions, he said USFJ will soon add personnel in central Tokyo and at its headquarters at Yokota Air Base in the western suburbs, Hegseth said. The upgrade will improve coordination with Japans own, recently created, joint operations command, he said. The Pentagon announced plans in July to modernize USFJ into a command with expanded missions and operational responsibilities to complement the Japan Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command. The Japanese command was established in March to take operational control of all three of its armed forces and work closely with USFJ. Hegseth gave no timeline for the USFJ reorganization but welcomed the creation of the new Japanese command. Its more urgency, its more cooperation in real time, he said. It also increases our readiness to respond to contingency or crisis, support U.S. operations and help Japan and U.S. forces defend its territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani walk past officials of the Japan Ministry of Defense ahead of their meeting in Tokyo on March 30, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) Peace through strength CNN earlier this month reported the Pentagon had proposed consolidating four global commands and cancelling the USFJ restructuring to save $330 million over five years. The Republican chairs of the House and Senate Armed Service committees immediately questioned the path forward for that move. The security environment in the Western Pacific has deteriorated in recent years. China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities and has vowed to take control of Taiwan by force, if necessary. Beijing also claims Tokyo-administered islands in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, North Korea has deployed troops to assist Russia in Ukraine and continues to advance its nuclear and missile technology. America and Japan stand together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the communist Chinese, Hegseth said. America is committed to sustaining robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific including across the Taiwan Strait, he said, noting Japan would be on the front lines of any conflict the allies might face in the Western Pacific. The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the region, Hegseth said. Their goal is increased deterrence, peace through strength and keeping the enemy guessing, he said. This means ensuring that we have the right posture in Japan and the right capabilities forward deployed here, whether permanent or temporary, he said. It also means expanding access to key terrain in the first island chain such as Japans southwest islands and, certainly, it means exercising together at those critical locations. The U.S. military is more focused than ever on deterring a Chinese seizure of Taiwan, according to internal guidance reported Sunday by The Washington Post. An Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance memo, signed by Hegseth and marked secret/no foreign national in most passages, was sent throughout the DOD earlier this month, according to the newspaper. China was identified as the U.S. militarys pacing threat by both the first Trump administration and the administration of former President Joe Biden. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with his Japanese cournterpart, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, in Tokyo on March 30, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) Pacing threat However, Hegseths guidance, which the Post said drew from the conservative Heritage Foundations Project 2025, describes the potential invasion of Taiwan as a priority over other potential dangers, The Washington Post reported. China is the Departments sole pacing threat, and denial of a Chinese fait accompli seizure of Taiwan while simultaneously defending the U.S. homeland is the Departments sole pacing scenario, Hegseth wrote, according to the newspaper. Hegseth and Nakatani on Saturday visited Iwo Jima, now known as Iwo To, for a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of a fierce World War II battle between Japan and the United States. You and I are both former infantrymen, Nakatani said, ahead of Sundays meeting. I have experience as a ranger and platoon leader and you, Secretary Hegseth, have experience in the war against terrorism after 9/11 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth thanked the Japanese people for outstanding support of over 100,000 U.S. service members, their families and DOD civilians. Our forces from every service train and operate with Japans Self-Defense Forces every single day, he said. We are inheritors of the same warrior ethos. Nvidia (NVDA) has been in a slump for weeks, reaching concerningly low levels. The artificial intelligence (AI) leader has battled extreme volatility over the past month but failed to generate sustainable momentum. As of this writing, shares are down more than 12% for the month and 8% for the week. Despite the momentum generated by last weeks GTC (GPU Technology Conference) 2025, market momentum still seems to be working against NVDA and many of its big tech peers. 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 The future may appear uncertain right now, as ongoing pressure from tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China continues to push down entire sectors and prompt concern about a bear market. However, a major announcement is coming soon, and it has the potential to significantly impact Nvidia and many of its peers, particularly those in the chipmaking space. The catalyst the industry needs may finally be in sight. Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang are facing difficult market conditions but a saving grace may be coming. AI investors can mark their calendars for May 15 For the past few months, both investors and consumers have anxiously waited to learn more about how the Trump administration will handle AI policy. Vice President JD Vance has discussed it at multiple events but offered little direct context as to upcoming policies. However, the White House is scheduled to release its so-called AI Diffusion Rule on May 15, described as a regulatory framework that aims to control foreign countries' access to high-tech chips from the US. It will provide investors with an in-depth look at what to expect regarding AI over the next few years. Related: JD Vance offers jolting preview of U.S. AI policy Whenever he discusses AI policy under Trump, Vance highlights the need for less regulation. Therefore, the AI Diffusion rule will likely mean fewer rules for companies to follow, including where AI chips can be sold. Such a decision would be in stark contrast to the AI Diffusion Rule that former President Joe Biden implemented before leaving office in January 2025. It included severe curbs on AI chip exports and garnered significant backlash from companies in the space, including Nvidia. Wall Street seems optimistic about what this new AI policy framework will mean for Nvidia. One Bank of America BAC strategist describes the date as liberation day, as it will likely be the growth-driving catalyst the company needs. Per Business Insider: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signs a memorandum aboard an E-4B Nightwatch aircraft while flying over the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. (Madelyn Keech/U.S. Air Force) The Department of Defense is launching a deferred resignation program and early retirement initiative aimed at trimming the size of the civilian workforce, the agency said over the weekend. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a memorandum signed Friday, said the military is realigning the workforce and looking for ways to automate more positions in an across-the-board restructuring to supercharge our American warfighters. The net effect will be a reduction in the number of civilian full-time equivalent positions and increased resources in the areas where we need them most, the memorandum states. The Defense Department didnt release the full memorandum, but said in a summary released Saturday that the moves would reduce duplicative efforts within the Pentagon. The memo also did not specify how much of the workforce it intends to cut. However, the reductions are required to put the department on ready footing to deter our enemies and fight for peace, the DOD said. The Pentagon offered deferred resignations in January through a program managed by the governments Office of Personnel Management, offering participants full pay and benefits through September. OPM made the offer available to most full-time federal employees. As of March 18, only about 21,000 of DODs 900,000 civilian workers had signed up. Thats far short of the roughly 50,000-60,000 employees the Pentagon wanted to register, according to a March 18 release. Now, deferred resignations and early retirements are being offered under Defense Department authority for nearly all DOD civilians, rather than under the auspices of OPM, the Pentagon said. Exemptions should be rare, Hegseth said. My intent is to maximize participation so that we can minimize the number of involuntary actions that may be required to achieve the strategic objectives. The memo also calls for senior DOD officials to provide a future-state organizational chart of their respective departments that details how they will be streamlined. The new organization charts must be submitted to the Defense Departments human resource office of personnel and readiness no later than April 11, DOD said. The Pentagon said it sees opportunities through technological solutions to automate some positions, particularly at the headquarters level. Judge OSullivan said the unfortunate childs parents had given very honest evidence to the court but had failed to prove their case A judge has dismissed a damages claim brought on behalf of a three-year-old child whose feet and legs were scalded when she stepped on a water bottle which then burst in her home. Judge Fiona OSullivan heard in the Circuit Civil Court that Abrish Tariqs father, Tariq Iqbal, had been lying on the floor of their home on a mattress with the water bottle against his back and had got up to go to the kitchen. Seconds later Abrish walked across her fathers abandoned mattress and stepped on the water bottle accidentally, causing it to explode and splash boiling water over her feet and lower legs. Tariq Iqbal, on behalf of his daughter who is now aged 10, told the court he had bought the water bottle in Argos in Jervis Street, Dublin, in 2014 and the accident had happened just under four years later in 2018. He told barrister John Kerr, who appeared with Johnsons Law Firm for Argos, that on the evening of the accident his wife had filled the bottle with boiling water from the kettle up to a level of three-quarters full. Both he and his wife accepted in cross-examination by Mr Kerr that they had breached instructions on the neck of the bottle not to fill it beyond two thirds, never to use boiling water and to make certain that all air in the bottle had been expelled. The court heard that when the rubber bottle exploded Abrish had been splashed with near boiling water and scalded. She had been taken by ambulance from her home in Hanbury Lane, Meath Street, Dublin, to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Crumlin, where her blistering scald wounds had been cleaned and dressed. She had undergone continuing treatment at the hospital where specialists said she would be left with at least one mild skin blemish and a slight scar. Forensic engineer Donal Terry, who gave expert evidence on behalf of Argos, said the indications in the case were that the water bottle did not fail in normal use but had been routinely overheated, possibly poorly stored and certainly overfilled with water that was far too hot on the night in question. Judge OSullivan, in dismissing the case, said the unfortunate childs parents had given very honest evidence to the court but had failed to prove their case against the defendant. Mr Kerr said Argos Limited, of Milton Keynes, England, was not pressing the court to award legal costs against the childs father and Judge OSullivan made no order as to costs. By Dawn Chmielewski, Katie Paul and Kane Wu (Reuters) -Private equity firm Blackstone is evaluating making a small minority investment in TikTok's U.S. operations, according to two people familiar with the matter. Blackstone is discussing joining Chinese parent company ByteDance's existing non-Chinese shareholders, led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, in contributing fresh capital to bid for TikTok's U.S. business. The group has emerged as front-runners. Their proposal entails spinning off TikTok's U.S. operations into a separate entity and diluting Chinese ownership in the new business to below the 20% threshold required by U.S. law. TikTok, General Atlantic, and Blackstone declined to comment. Susquehanna did not respond to a request seeking comment. The fate of the app used by nearly half of all Americans has been up in the air since a law, passed last year with overwhelming bipartisan support, required ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19 or face a ban on national security grounds. TikTok briefly went dark in the U.S. in January after the Supreme Court upheld the ban, but flickered back to life days later once U.S. President Donald Trump took office and postponed enforcement of the law to April 5. Trump has said he may extend that deadline further and dangled a possible reduction in tariffs on China to try to get a deal done. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said he expects the general terms of an agreement that resolves ownership of the app to be reached by the April deadline. ByteDance and its investors have not disclosed how much fresh investment would be needed to buy out Chinese shareholders and meet the requirements of the U.S. law. According to legal filings from TikTok last year, global investors own about 58% of ByteDance, while the company's Chinese founder Zhang Yiming owns another 21% and employees of different nationalities - including about 7,000 Americans - own the remaining 21%. The White House has been involved to an unprecedented level in the closely watched deal talks, effectively playing the role of investment bank. Reuters and others reported in January that Trump's administration was working on a plan for TikTok that would involve tapping Oracle and some existing ByteDance investors to take control of the app's operations. (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, with additional reporting from Katie Paul and Krystal Hu in New York and Kane Wu in Hong Kong; editing by Kenneth Li and Marguerita Choy) The man, who was granted anonymity at the High Court in 2010, appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast on Friday A key witness who helped secure convictions against two dissident republicans for the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll has been charged with drug dealing. The man, who was granted anonymity at the High Court in 2010, appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast on Friday. He is alleged to have been concerned in the supply of Class C drugs cannabis, zopiclone and pregabalin, as well as being unlawfully in possession of all three. The defendant is further charged with possessing 915 of criminal cash. Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast His lawyers made an application to the court to anonymise the defendant in relation to the charges, given the High Court order granted it in 2010, but District Judge Anne Marshall adjourned the matter for a formal hearing on Wednesday. The man was a prosecution witness in the case against Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton, who were convicted at Belfast Crown Court for their part in the 2009 ambush of PSNI Constable Stephen Carroll. The officer, aged 48 and from Banbridge, was the first police officer to be killed in Northern Ireland since the formation of the PSNI. Murdered police officer Stephen Carroll Responsibility for the attack, which Lord Justice Paul Girvan described as callous and cowardly, was claimed by the Continuity IRA. Wootton was also convicted of collecting information for the use of terrorism and was found guilty of trying to obtain the address of another policeman weeks before the murder. Constable Carroll was shot dead two days after two British soldiers, sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimcar, were murdered in a Real IRA gun attack outside their barracks in Antrim town. He died of a single gunshot wound to the head sustained as he sat in an unmarked police car while colleagues attended a 999 call in the Lismore Manor area. McConville and Wootton were sentenced to 25 and 18 years respectively and have been in custody since the 2009 murder. Brendan McConville Their supporters launched a Justice for the Craigavon Two campaign, claiming the pair were wrongly convicted. John Paul Wootton Constable Carrolls widow Kate said the evidence showed they were behind the killing and put them at the scene. The Criminal Cases Review Commission initially rejected an application by McConvilles legal team to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, before it decided to re-examine it in 2022. McConville and his legal team previously raised concerns about MI5 double-agent Dennis McFaddens involvement in the Justice for the Craigavon Two group. Double agent Dennis McFadden McConville told Channel 4 News in 2020: I believe he sabotaged my appeal. I felt that he had a real genuine concern on justice. Little did I know that it was the hand of MI5. Speaking in 2022, Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said: This is a situation whereby an MI5 agent placed himself within the confines of a close family and campaigning circle to ensure that he obtained information with regards to the defence preparations of a high-profile murder case. Violent episode took place in Co Longford housing estate A father of one lost his head when emerging from a house in a midlands housing estate armed with two large kitchen knives after another man had smashed the front door of his house with an iron bar, a court has heard. Ovitta Chimenya (37) of Cnoc Na Gaoithe, Lanesboro, Longford contended his actions in being charged with knife possession following an incident at Cnoc Na Gaoithe, Lanesboro, Longford on April 28 last year were motivated purely by an act of self-defence. Chimenya was arrested by Garda Vincent OLeary after the officer arrived at the scene of a disturbance in the south Longford estate at around 11pm. When he arrived, a sitting of Longford District Court was told Garda OLeary initially arrested Chimenyas co-accused Michael Fox, Cnoc Na Gaoithe, Lanesboro, Longford with an iron bar also being taken off the 45-year-old before he was placed in handcuffs and put into the back of a patrol van. Ovitta Chimenya was convicted of knife possession after a court heard how a garda was forced to draw his baton on the accused when the 37-year-old emerged from his house brandishing two large kitchen knives after his neighbour Michael Fox (45) had banged on his door with an iron bar. Fox was later charged with possession of an iron bar in threatening the residents of Cnoc Na Gaoithe and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour arising out of the same incident. Two further charges of causing criminal damage to Chimenyas front door and being drunk in a public place were subsequently struck out. Garda OLeary, in giving evidence before Judge Bernadette Owens, said the volatility of the situation had caused him to draw his ASP baton in first arresting Fox and also as he attempted to deal with Chimenya who began to approach the officer wielding two kitchen knives in either hand. Garda OLeary, who was initially on his own, told of how he confronted the Malawi born supermarket worker while he awaited assistance from both Longford and Ballymahon Garda Stations. I approached him from a footpath and shouted at him to desist and to drop the knives, said Garda OLeary, who added how after a series of shouts and directions, the accused dropped both weapons and returned inside. Chimenya, it was revealed, made full admissions following his arrest and detention at Longford Garda Station during the early hours of the following morning. Garda OLeary said it was his belief Chimenya was unaware of the presence of gardai when he exited his front door armed with the two knives, a belief the long serving officer said was due to him standing to the right of a blue car outside Foxs residence. In taking questions from his solicitor Frank Gearty, Chimenya conceded that while his actions were disproportionate, they were moves which were induced by unbridled anger. For me at that moment, I know we had rung the guards and we were waiting for the guards, but I was in a moment of fear that someone was trying to get through my door, he told the court, adding how the episode had left his partner and young child crying. Ovitta Chimenya was remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Longford District Court in June for the purposes of a restorative justice report. It wasnt meant to happen that way and I acted out of rage thinking that we were going to be attacked. Under questioning from Inspector Dave Jordan, the accused insisted he had never intended using the two knives for anything other than to ensure Fox was as far away from his property as conceivably possible. To be honest, it was to scare him out of my house and door and chase him out of my driveway when he was hitting the door, he said. Mr Gearty, in attempting to put forward the argument of self-defence on behalf of his client, maintained Chimenya, despite his actions, was simply attempting to preserve both his own premises alongside the well-being of his partner and child. Not alone was he defending his own property, but his wife and young child were in there, he said. It was the arrival and banging on the door and he didnt realise the garda was there. Mr Gearty said it was not his or his clients intention to dress up a situation that should never have descended to the extent it did, stressing however that the court had the discretion to accept Chimenya was defending both himself and his family. He acknowledges he lost his head and came out in a way that he should never have come out and thank heavens the way it played out, he said. Judge Owens, in taking on board that submission, said what compromised Chimenya in putting forward the argument of self-defence was his decision to open his front door and go outside while brandishing the two knives. In that respect and given the courts difficulty in seeing the danger Chimenya was in to warrant arming himself with what could be construed as two very lethal weapons, Judge Owens ruled the State had adequately proven its case. Upon hearing of Chimenyas one previous conviction for the possession of a flick knife in July 2016, she directed him to undergo a restorative justice report while also ordering him to pay 750 to the Garda led charity, Little Blue Heroes. Chimenya was consequently remanded on bail to reappear at a sitting of Longford District Court on June 10. His neighbour and co-accused, meanwhile, was remanded on bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on July 15 for a probation report. Convicted sex offender had predatory ways even as schoolboy, says woman he targeted more than 20 years ago A sex offender jailed recently for targeting two young girls has been a creep since he was at school, says a woman who rebuffed him more than 20 years ago. Carl Long of Greencastle Close in Newtownabbey has been sentenced to 22 months, six of which will be served in prison and the remainder on licence. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to 16 charges last year including grooming, possessing extreme images and harassment, despite his previous claims that his two young victims were lying. After Longs sentencing at Belfast Crown Court on March 14, the investigating officer who put the paedophile behind bars described his behaviour as despicable, predatory actions. Following his conviction another woman has come forward to say Long has been a predator since he was a schoolboy, with a self-confessed foot fetish, who targets women and men. Carl was still at school when he sent me a message asking what underwear was I wearing, and would I like him to come up to my house because he wanted to sleep with me, but in cruder terms, she says. I was only a teenager myself at the time and I dealt with him myself, I told him not to come anywhere near me, but I dont think I was the first one. I know hes tried this on with other women, and its always the same type of message, about your underwear and that he wants to have sex. I know hes also tried it on with a man, messaging him about sexual favours. Carl Long Shes aware of a further incident when Long, who worked for Canyon in Mallusk, Co. Antrim, was drinking with a man and woman on holiday. When the man fell asleep the woman briefly left the room and returned to find Long massaging her sleeping friends genitals with his foot. In court he admitted to a foot fetish, asking one of his child victims for pictures of her feet in return for cash. When she refused he got angry and threatened to send the naked pictures shed sent him to her father. Long had met the young Scottish girl while on holiday in Bulgaria with his partner and her daughter in 2019, sending her a friend request at the end of that year and escalating to asking for naked images by the summer of 2020. In one exchange he told her, do it now. In December 2020 Police Scotland informed the PSNI that Long had been communicating with the child on Snapchat. He admitted to a series of offences against her of distributing indecent photographs, harassment, two counts of possessing extreme pornography, two of possessing indecent images and possessing a prohibited image of a child. The charges relating to his second victim were of sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child between 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity, and four offences of sexual activity with a child between 13 and 16. Carl Long He also admitted two offences of meeting a child following sexual grooming, intentionally encouraging or assisting the distribution of indecent pseudo-photographs of children and possessing an indecent image of a child. The young girl told her mother in 2023 that shed slept with a man who was from the north Belfast area. She told a social worker shed posted messages on Snapchat and later met up with a man she thought was in his thirties and had sent videos and pictures of herself to him when he requested them. In police interviews she said shed told Long she was 18 but at the time she was aged only 15, and that the first time they met he picked her up in his car and sexually assaulted her. She told officers that just after she turned 16 Long stopped contacting her. Long was arrested in July 2023 and denied knowing the young girl. When he was shown pictures of her in his bedroom he claimed she was a 19-year-old hed met on Tinder. A Victim Impact Report described the young girl as vulnerable and she said his abuse had worsened her PTSD. Carl Long The woman who rebuffed Longs sleazy advances when she was a teenager says jail wont change him. Id definitely say hes a dangerous predator. This jail sentence wont stop him. As soon as hes released he will be on to the next victim, she told the Sunday World. Hes always been a sleazy creep. His eyes just look through you. And he has a weird obsession with underwear. Before his trial last year he was saying these wee girls were telling a pack of lies, but there was enough evidence for him to plead guilty. She believes other women have been subjected to his seedy behaviour and shes urged anyone whos had a similar experience to speak up. This has been going on for years. My encounter with him was over 20 years ago and I wasnt the first one. Id urge other victims to come forward, she says. Long has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and he will be the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years, when he will be closely monitored by the PSNI. He was also given a disqualification order and a barring order and as part of his licence conditions he must attend one-to-one counselling sessions. After his sentencing a PSNI statement praised the courage of Longs victims. We hope the bravery shown by these victims to bring this man to justice will encourage others who have experienced any form of sexual abuse to come forward to police, the statement added. Last weekend, the Sunday World published for the first time images of the dreadful injuries sustained by Leitrim pensioner Jim Fahy Missing Amy Fitzpatricks aunt, Christine Kenny, has said seeing pictures and video of injuries inflicted on a pensioner by Dave Mahon brought back the horror of her nephews killing at the hands of the brute. Mahon was released in 2021 after serving five years in prison for the manslaughter of his stepson, Dean. Weeks later he was charged with a serious assault on his neighbour following a row at a barbeque but he was last week acquitted of the charge by the direction of the trial judge. Last weekend, the Sunday World published for the first time images of the dreadful injuries sustained by Leitrim pensioner Jim Fahy after he was headbutted and punched by Mahon at the barbeque nearly four years ago. Mahon has claimed in court that he was acting in self defence. Christine Kenny and brother Christopher, with Christophers late son Dean Fitzpatrick Army veteran Fahy, who was aged 70 at the time of his beating, was unable to give evidence at a Circuit Court case earlier this month as he is recuperating from an illness in hospital. Witness Noel Byrne had earlier told the trial he had seen Mahon repeatedly punching and headbutting the frail pensioner in a room in Mr Fahys house. In the absence of the jury, the court was also told that Mr Fahy had retracted his statement against Mahon on September 17, 2023 and Judge John Aylmer said given the circumstances no properly charged jury could find the accused guilty and directed them to acquit. Myself and our family were horrified to see the pictures of the injuries inflicted on this poor man, Christine told us in the wake of Mahons acquittal. It brought back again the horror we had to endure after Dave Mahon killed my nephew. He had an excuse at the time that Dean ran into a knife and now has yet another excuse with this old man that it was self-defence. Amy Fizpatrick Looking at the injuries its clear there was a lot of violence, and this is not the first time he had been so violent as we know after he knifed Dean to death. Its disgraceful that a man like him can do so much damage to families. Its something we will never get over and now this is after happening to this other poor man. Mahon stabbed his wife Audreys son Dean Fitzpatrick to death in May 2013 following a row over a bike outside his north Dublin apartment. Mahons stepdaughter Amy Fitzpatrick (15) had previously gone missing on New Years Eve in 2007 while he, Audrey and her two children were living on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Amy remains missing to this day, with Audrey maintaining Deans death at the hands Mahon was forgiven but not forgotten. Dave Mahon with Amys mum Audrey Mahon served five years in jail for the killing and then went to live with Audrey at her home in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim in July 2021. The Sunday World visited the area near Breffni Crescent prior to his release and spoke to residents in the area, with some saying Mahon should be given a second chance but others stressing that if he stepped out of line he was would be told in no uncertain terms he would not be welcome here. Pensioner Fahys house is a few doors up from Audreys home on the outskirts of the town. She accompanied Mahon to the trial, who is her second husband after she divorced Christopher, the father of her only two children. Five days after the incident, we photographed Jim Fahys injuries as he told us: I put my hand up because he stepped back as if to give me a head butt. How we reported the assault involving Jim Fahy And the next thing he caught me, and I cant remember how many thumps he gave me. Thats what happened. I wasnt unconscious. I cant see properly out of this (his right) eye. He blasted Mahon as an animal who didnt deserve his freedom. Christine explains that her brother Christopher is still in bits over what happened his two children he had with Audrey. Hes not getting over the death of his son, she reflects. His daughter Amy is still missing and still is always in his and all our prayers. I visit Deans grave regularly, as my parents are buried in the same graveyard. Im a Massgoer and Im always saying prayers for both Dean and Amy. Amy needs to be found and we would love someday if Amy could be buried with her brother Dean, but we still dont know where she is or what happened her. The Sunday World previously revealed how Mahony was a key member of the Kinahan gang, having started out as a driver for members of the organisation Drug boss Brian Mahony hasnt been seen in Ireland for two years since his blinged-up Dublin home was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau. He was last spotted driving a UK-reg vehicle in Coolock in March 2023, according to evidence heard in the High Court this week. CAB wanted a court order to pay over 26,442 of whats left of his assets to the State coffers, 10 years after the original case. Judge Alex Owens agreed that Mahonys address could not be established for him to be notified, and made the order for the money to be transferred. The original case centred on a seized Range Rover, an apartment in Calahonda in Spain and a property at Riverside Drive in Coolock. It emerged a Spanish bank had repossessed the apartment and the Range Rover was sold for 12,750, while the sale of the Coolock house left 14,000 after the mortgage was paid off. The house at Riverside Drive had been a target for CAB since Mahony was first identified as being linked to Kinahan cartel figures in 2010. He had bought the house in 2005 for 300,000 with a mortgage from the EBS and a 30,000 deposit, which the High Court deemed were from the proceeds of crime. Mahonys wife Ciara had previously tried to lay claim to the house, saying she had paid the mortgage and for the propertys upkeep. In 2016, she failed to stop the CAB case and was given nine months to leave the property, which she said was her family home. CAB disputed her claim that she paid the mortgage and for the general upkeep of the house, and sought its seizure. The action was brought after Brian Mahony failed to pay a tax judgement from Revenue in 2013 for 1.25m. The Sunday World previously revealed how Brian Mahony was a key member of the Kinahan gang, having started out as a driver for members of the organisation. In 1998, he was arrested along with Coolock drug dealer Gerard Bolger with 250,000 worth of cannabis in a van. He got a three year sentence but on his release began to move up through the ranks of the criminal underworld. Mahony linked up with one of the cartels money men and set himself up with a legitimate dry-cleaning business to give him cover. He and Ciara moved into the house together in 2006 and bought a holiday home in the south of Spain. The couple married in 2010 after Ciara had split from another drug-dealing boyfriend, Jeffrey Mitchell, who has since died. She was jailed for her part in setting up her employer to be robbed by Mitchell in 2002, getting a 12-month sentence for the 60,000 heist. Officers believed at the time Mitchell was working as one of the main distributors of drugs in Ireland and was involved in money laundering for the Kinahan cartel. Irish, Colombian and Spanish nationals lifted after Ghost phone network hack A man is taken into custody by gardai during the operation A tech expert arrested this week as part of an international investigation into the crime gang known as The Family was previously linked to violence and witness intimidation while their logistics manager has also wreaked terror in his local community. Gardai and Spanish cops made a series of arrests this week targeting the leadership of the west Dublin mob, as well as facilitators and close associates. The leader of the gang and two of his brothers were among those arrested in the raids which Gardai hope will eventually lead to the dismantling of the mob who have become the biggest drugs suppliers in the country. This weeks raids are the latest to come after authorities hacked the encrypted Ghost communication network as part of an international operation. Some of the drugs haul found in vehicles that were seized in operations organised by several police agencies The infiltration of the network allowed authorities to decipher communications which members of The Family gang, who are based in the Ballyfermot and Clondalkin areas of Dublin, thought were completely secure. As well as the leadership of gang, gardai this week also arrested a tech expert who specialised in phone encryption technology. He is a businessman aged in his 40s who is based in Leinster and has a long history of criminality. He runs a number of businesses, including firms specialising in encrypted phone technology and the motor trade. He has numerous convictions, some of which are for violent offences, and served several years in prison for brutal assaults. He and his associates were previously linked to serious witness intimidation ahead of court case which led to witnesses refusing to give evidence. Operations organised by several police agencies, including the gardai Gardai also arrested other gang associates this week, including a drug dealer with a history of violence and hatred for gardai who is based in the south east of Ireland. The man is suspected of being involved in logistics for The Family. He is in his 60s, has numerous convictions dating back decades for offences, including, drugs, money laundering and demanding money with menace. He has served several years behind bars, made numerous threats to kill people and was linked to planting a hoax bomb on a vehicle as part of an intimidation campaign linked to his drugs operation a number of years ago. The man has also threatened gardai who have targeted his activities. The leader of the gang who was among those questioned this week is already before the courts on money-laundering offences. Gardai are hopeful of bringing organised crime charges against key members of The Family and dismantling their operation. The arrests are the second part of the operation following a series of raids last September which came in the wake of the infiltration of the Ghost communication network, which originated in Australia but became popular with criminal gangs around the world. Arrests were made in Spain and Ireland this week Those arrested were released without charge but Gardai are preparing files for the DPP and are hopeful of bringing charges against the gang at a later stage. Six people were arrested in Ireland while another six were arrested in Spain in a series of raids which got underway on Monday. Authorities said they caught members of the gang, including an Irishman and Spanish associates, red-handed in a warehouse in Castellon, which was the main shipping base for the gang to dispatch drugs including cocaine and marijuana to Ireland. More than 100kg of cocaine which was vacuum packed and ready for distribution was seized in Castellon. The gang hid the drugs in sophisticated false bottoms and hidden compartments of a host of different vehicles, including cars, trucks and semi-trailers. Authorities seized 12 cars, including high-end vehicles with hidden compartments and four transport trucks in the raids. Authorities in Spain said the criminal network used passenger cars to transport the drugs to the warehouse, which also stored various legal products in a bid to mask the nature of the operation. Cash seized by Spanish police The drugs were then loaded onto a truck registered in Ireland and hidden in secret compartments beside legal cargo. The truck was due to travel to Ireland where The Family would distribute the drugs amongst its network here. Spanish authorities later said the total number of arrests increased to 20 people, including Irish, Spanish and Colombian nationals. Documents, cash, phones, computers and a firearm and ammunition were amongst the items seized in the raids. Over the past year authorities have seized around 30m worth of cocaine and cannabis as part of the operation targeting the gang. Europol described The Family as one of Irelands high-risk criminal networks this week. Arrests were made in Spain and Ireland this week The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug-trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland, they said in a statement. In an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to evade detection, the criminals had relied on sophisticated encrypted communications and fragmented their exchanges across multiple platforms. The Ghost network was hacked and watched live over eight months before a co-ordinated day of action took place on September 16, 2024. In Ireland 300 Gardai were deployed on searches which unearthed crypto currency keys, encrypted devices, mobile phones, laptops and SIM cards. On that same day a truck was intercepted in the south east and 100kg of cocaine was found behind concealment panels. In the run-up to the day of action cash, and a further 118kg of cocaine were discovered. OReilly is left battered and bruised as fellow inmate violently attacks him with mug concealed in sock Evil wife killer Joe OReilly sustained a bloody gash to the head during a vicious assault by a fellow prisoner in the Midlands Prison on Monday. The convicted murderer was walking through the prisons B1 landing at noon when he was struck across the back of the head with a cup hidden in a sock by fellow prisoner Scott Skinner. Galway native Skinner was subsequently wrestled to the ground by prison staff before he could do further damage to OReilly. The shocked wife-killer sustained a deep cut to the back of the head in the attack. OReilly never saw it coming, a source told the Sunday World. Rachel Callaly was killed And staff are still trying to get to the bottom of what was behind it. He works in the prison shop so the talk is that he may have been targeted by another prisoner over a disagreement to do with his work there. Maybe there was a disagreement over money or someone was demanding a freebie and Joe refused something of that nature. OReilly suffered a bad cut to the back of the head and had to be taken off to the infirmary. He was patched up and didnt need to be taken to hospital but it was a big shock to him. OReilly is a very arrogant man, so this will be a big blow to his ego. OReilly has now spent in excess of 17 years behind bars for the horrific murder of his wife Rachel in 2004. OReilly under arrest The 6ft 5ins brute bludgeoned Rachel to death with a dumbbell at their Naul home in Dublin on October 4, 2004, and staged the attack as a burglary. Before his arrest, callous OReilly went on The Late Late Show alongside Rachels devastated mum to issue an appeal for information on his wifes murder. The assault has been reported by prison authorities to Gardai. Attacker Scott Skinner is originally from the Tuam area in Galway but has also lived in Dingle, Co Kerry. He is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence for robbery and assault causing harm. On August 26, 2021, he carried out a robbery on a young woman at Spanish Arch during which he stole her handbag and phone. Officers at the house in Naul where Rachel was murdered Skinner also assaulted her. He received a four-and-a-half year sentence for the attack with the final two years suspended. Skinner separately received a three-and-a-half year sentence in March 2022 for making a threat to kill and assault causing harm in Connolly Park, Tralee in 2021. Following Mondays incident, he was taken back to his cell by prison officers. He has since been the subject of P19 disciplinary proceedings and has been removed from the Midlands Prison to neighbouring Portlaoise Prison. Sources have told the Sunday World that assaults of this nature are becoming more frequent behind bars as conditions in the prisons across the country continue to deteriorate due to overcrowding. OReilly on the Late Late with Rachels mum before he was arrested for his wifes murder Figures released by the Irish Prison service earlier this week show a massive 33 per cent increase in prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in 2024 compared to 2023. In the Midlands Prison alone, the number of such assaults rose from 92 to 114. In Cork Prison, the number rose from 112 to 135. And in Cloverhill, the number jumped from 182 assaults to 262 assaults. The figures make for scary reading, a source told the Sunday World, and there is a direct correlation between the number of these assaults and overcrowding. And things are only getting worse. The prison estate is designed to accommodate maximum numbers of in and around 4,500 prisoners. As of this week, there are roughly 5,300 prisoners behind bars and an average of 20 prisoners are being added to that by the courts each day. Its a powder keg and there are genuine fears, if nothing is done, that we are heading towards a very serious incident in the near future. Contacted this week, a spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service declined to comment on the assault on prisoner Joe OReilly. Rachels family after OReilly was found guilty of murder in 2007 However, in relation to the increasing numbers of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults, he said: Any act of violence against any person is unacceptable. Any criminal act carried out within our prisons, including an assault on a staff member, will be reported to An Garda Siochana for investigation and prosecution. The Irish Prison Service has a number of initiatives aimed at reducing violence in our prisons such as the Community-Based Health and First Aid programme, which has been active since 2009. In addition, peer mediation initiatives have transformed prison environments through innovative inmate-led approaches. Both programmes emphasise reducing violence, harm, and conflict while fostering health, wellbeing, and a culture of non-violence. Eamon Grogan (88) has called for the urgent exhumation of his uncle, an RIC constable executed by the IRA over a century ago, from a site subject to a planning decision in Blarney Eamon Grogan photographed at a location in Ringwood in Blarney, where his uncle Thomas Joseph Walsh is believed to have been secretly buried in 1920. A former IRA volunteer has called for the recovery of the remains of his uncle, who was an RIC constable executed by republicans during the War of Independence and secretly buried at a location in Cork. Eamon Grogan (88), who was an active IRA member in the 1950s, believes his uncle Thomas Joseph Walsh is buried at a location at Ringwood in Blarney, which is now subject to an upcoming An Bord Pleanala decision that could approve the construction of 246 homes and a creche there. Mr Grogan, originally from Fairview and now living in Donabate, told The Corkman he wants to the see the remains of his uncle, who was executed by the IRA on November 7 in 1920, exhumed if indeed they are there before any development takes place in Ringwood. Though Mr Grogan was reared in a republican household and took part in two arms raids on British Army barracks in Armagh and Omagh as a young IRA volunteer in 1954, he wishes to see his uncle receive a proper burial regardless of political affiliations. Everybody is entitled to bit of respect, they are dead now and they can do no more harm, Mr Grogan said. Like anybody else, whether they are British soldiers or Irish soldiers or IRA, they are all entitled to proper decent respect when they die and they should not be forgotten. And its one of the things thats included in the Geneva Convention, that the remains should be returned, be they army or whatever, at the end of all hostilities. But of course that never happened, some were returned. Its always there at the back of their minds: Where is he, and what became of him? Mr Grogan, who was a mechanic by trade and worked with Aer Lingus before he retired, said the recovery of his uncles body would bring closure to his mothers side of the family. Its always there at the back of their minds: Where is he, and what became of him? His parents tried without success to find the location of his burial. Now Ive taken up the mantle, he said. Remarkably, it was not until 2019 that Mr Grogan began to learn about the life and death of his uncle, after deciding to look into his family tree during the Covid-19 lockdowns. RIC Constable Thomas Joseph Walsh From his research, he discovered that Constable Walsh was a Catholic born in Dublin in 1893 who served with the British Army during World War I. Walsh joined the RIC on November 4, 1919 and was stationed in the East Riding administrative division of Cork, where it was not long before he came to the attention of the IRA. In a witness statement submitted to the Bureau of Military History in 1956, former IRA captain Sean Healy, who was born in Shanballymore, describes what led to the killing of Constable Walsh. Sean Healy said he was made aware of Constable Walsh after the RIC man had entered the parcels office at Cork Railway Station and scrutinised and insulted staff while looking for an individual. A Drumhead Courtmartial took place. He was found guilty of being a traitor to his country and he paid the supreme penalty The IRA veteran said he received orders to put Walsh permanently out of commission and inquiries revealed that the constable intended to travel to Dublin by the night mail train (on November 6, 1920). Healy and two volunteers boarded the train at Blarney station and disarmed and removed Walsh. However, as Walsh was being marched away, he escaped his guards and jumped over a fence into a wood. In heavy fog, he evaded the IRA mens revolver fire. Sean Healy and his comrades then called to Frank Busteed, the local IRA commander, who mobilised his volunteers for a manhunt initiated at about 1am on Sunday, November 7. Constable Walsh was recaptured around 4am after some locals found him hiding in a cow shed. Former senator and forensic anthropologist John Gilroy, historian and archaeologist Padraig Og O Ruairc and Eamon Grogan's son Niall in conversation with a Blarney man who brought them to the location where local knowledge indicates Constable Walsh was buried. A Drumhead Courtmartial took place. He was found guilty of being a traitor to his country and he paid the supreme penalty, Sean Healy stated. Mr Grogan said the family of Constable Walsh contacted the British Dominions Office in 1926 regarding his disappearance and the office then contacted garda commissioner Eoin ODuffy. The gardai reported that Constable Walsh had been executed and secretly buried at Ringwood in Blarney. Mr Grogan said efforts to recover his uncles body were halted because exactly where he was buried was unknown. The story more or less rested there until I resurrected it, he said. Mr Grogan and his son Niall met north Cork-based historian and archaeologist, Padraig Og O Ruairc, and former senator and forensic anthropologist, John Gilroy, at Ringwood last Easter to search for his uncles burial place. As they travelled through fields the search party encountered a local man walking a dog who asked them if they were employed by Cork City Council, which granted permission for a large scale development representing the first phase of a wider housing project in Ringwood last December. The councils decision was appealed by a third party and An Bord Pleanala are due to make a decision on the planning granted for the housing by May 6. Mr Grogans party informed the dog-walker that they were searching for the remains of an RIC man, and, to their surprise, the local told them he knew where the constable was buried. When asked how he knew where the burial site was, the man replied: Oh, everyone knows theres an RIC man buried down there. Eamon Grogan pictured in front of an old farm building, close to where his uncle is believed to have been buried, where he believes his relative may have hidden from the IRA prior to his recapture. Mr Grogan said the location where this man brought them to is a swampy area where there are lots of trees. He said there is a well-beaten track close to the site that travels underneath the nearby Cork to Dublin railway line, which he believes the IRA would have used to march Constable Walsh to his deathplace. An old farm building close by may have been where his uncle was recaptured after he escaped the IRA, according to Mr Grogan. The great-grandfather of three said he and other family members have written to the council archaeologist about excavating his relatives remains but they have not received a response. Nevertheless, he is optimistic that a dig for the body will take place before any development occurs in Ringwood. "I would expect that they would respect the fact that there are remains there, because remains are sacred, he stated. Historian Padraig Og O Ruairc joined Mr Grogans search in Ringwood last year soon after he had released a book titled The Disappeared. The work identifies Constable Walsh and all other known victims of forced disappearances in Ireland over the last century. Mr O Ruairc told The Corkman that archaeologists will likely be employed at Ringwood ahead of any development because there is a historic ringfort in the area. Eamon Grogan with John Gilroy and Padraig Og O Ruairc on the road that his uncle was escorted down following his capture by the IRA. The author, who is also an archaeologist, said he cannot see why the same professionals could not be tasked with recovering the remains of Constable Walsh. In 2018, Mr O Ruaircs research led to the recovery of the remains of Private George Duff Chalmers, a British Army soldier who was shot and buried by the IRA near Moy in Clare in 1921. He believes it is possible that the remains of the constable, and the many others who were disappeared across the country over a century ago, can also be recovered. Mr O Ruairc said the Irish and British governments have made little effort to recover the bodies who were disappeared in the War of Independence and Civil War period. He called for politicians from the governing parties of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, who claim their political heritage from republican leaders Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins respectively, to take action to recover the remains of disappeared people. Its up to the State to take action They have to accept that in the 20th century, the overwhelming majority of people who were disappeared in this country were disappeared by the so-called Good old IRA, he said. There is still about 64 bodies missing from the War of Independence. "In a lot of cases we know exactly where they are buried and their relatives and their families deserve the same effort, the same compassion and the same resources that the families of those disappeared in the north in more recent times are getting. Mr O Ruairc said several families have contacted him looking for help to recover the remains of their relatives. The wood that Eamon Grogan believes his uncle entered after his escape from his IRA guards. I dont have the license, I dont have permission to go out with a shovel digging even though I know where the bodies are. Its up to the State to take action, he said. Cork North-Central TD Colm Burke told The Corkman that if there is clear evidence regarding where Constable Walsh and other disappeared people are buried then relatives requests for excavations should be accommodated. The TD believes a lack of reliable information might prevent the recovery of disappeared bodies, as many of those who would have known the exact locations of burial sites have died. He said extensive efforts carried out in Northern Ireland have not resulted in remains being found. You have to be careful, and get as much information as possible before you endeavour to take action, he said. Deputy Burke said efforts to recover those disappeared over a century ago may not have occurred due to the sensitivity of the period and the fact that Ireland had less accountability and media freedom in its aftermath. Immediate families adversely affected, they felt it safer not to be raising too much of an issue about it, he said. "I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position A survey of over 130 TDs and senators has found that not one of them would back MMA fighter Conor McGregor in a presidential bid. Presidential candidates must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities in order to get on the ballot, with 134 TDs and senators telling Sky News this weekend that they would not support McGregor. Asked whether they would nominate Mr McGregor, one unnamed senator described him as a tacky, moronic vulgarian while another called him a cheerleader for misogyny in Ireland and a populist buffoon. "He's a misogynist and a thug. On behalf of the women of Ireland he can f*** off, said one TD. Other comments ranged from "not a hope in hell" to "I could not think of anyone more unfit" and "I would genuinely rather we didn't have a president at all. "I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position, said Fine Gael senator Garret Ahearn. Fine Gaels Maeve OConnell said the fighters divisive behaviour and rhetoric would be completely unsuitable for such a role, while Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan said: "As a mother of four young boys I have far more ambition for them than to have someone like that in a position of respectability." Labour TD Duncan Smith said he could not think of anyone more unfit for public office, while Fianna Fail TD Malcolm Byrne said there is no evidence that McGregor has the necessary skillset for the role. All 234 members of the Oireachtas were surveyed by Sky News, with a total of 134 TDs and 30 senators responding to the Sky News poll. It was noted that is is still possible for McGregor to pick up a few nominations in the Oireachtas, with several strong-willed independent politicians declining to respond to the survey despite repeated emails, calls and WhatsApps. Another survey conducted by the Irish Times this weekend found that just one of 188 councillors surveyed about the MMA fighters presidential aspirations would support him in a bid for Aras an Uachtarain. McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case in which a Dublin jury found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay her damages. It comes following his visit to the White House on St Patricks Day, where he met US President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials, and told reporters that he was in Washington to raise the issues that Irish people face, which he said have "never" been spoken about "on the main stage". He accused the Irish Government of having zero accountability and said Irish money was being spent on overseas issues that has nothing to do with the Irish people, adding that the illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country. He said rural towns have been overrun and Irish-Americans need to hear this because if not there will be no place to come home and visit. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said his remarks were wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patricks Day, or the views of the people of Ireland, while Tanaiste Simon Harris said the professional fighter had no mandate and was in Washington DC in a personal capacity. Jacinta Flood (57) was recovering from surgery for a benign brain tumour A woman who allegedly fell in a toilet cubicle of Beaumont Hospital a day and a half after brain surgery has settled a High Court action for 2million. Jacinta Flood (57), the court heard, was recovering from surgery for a benign brain tumour at the Dublin hospital six years ago when it is claimed she suffered injuries in the unwitnessed fall. Her counsel John Healy SC with Doireann OMahony BL, instructed by Callan Tansey solicitors, told the court that while there was nursing supervision of Ms Flood after the surgery it was their case that at the time of the fall, two nurses were allegedly outside the toilet cubicle. The court was told that there was no criticism of the surgery carried out at Beaumont Hospital. Counsel said it was their case that after the fall, Ms Flood suffered a severe and sudden deterioration and was rushed to theatre for emergency brain surgery. Mr Healy said there were profound changes in Ms Floods cognition, personality and mobility and she now requires constant supervision. He said she has right sided weakness and is at risk of falling and has severe impaired memory. The settlement which was reached after mediation is without an admission of liability and Counsel said a full defence was put forward in the case. All of the claims were denied and the hospital contended that Ms Flood was closely monitored. Counsel said the case involved multiple risks. He said there was no criticism of the brain surgery or the supervision after but solely during the time Ms Flood was in the toilet cubicle. Outside court Ms Floods daughter Rachel said her mother was an amazing woman and her personality has now changed and she forgets everything and she need 24 hours care. She said the settlement would make it easier on the family. Jacinta Flood, of Letterkenny Donegal had through her husband Cathal Flood sued Beaumont Hospital. Ms Flood, who two years earlier had developed epilepsy, was transferred to Beaumont on May 16, 2019 . She had an uncomplicated craniotomy and surgery for the benign tumour. In the proceedings it was claimed substandard care had been provided to Ms Flood and there have been an alleged failure to put in place any or any adequate plan of management for Ms Flood after her surgery. It was also claimed there was a failure to provide any or any adequate supervision of Ms Flood despite the fact that she was at risk of a fall. It was contended that if Ms Flood had undergone the initial brain surgery and had not fallen and allegedly struck her head, she would have made a complete physical recovery. She might have been left with some mild memory disturbance but otherwise her life would have been back to normal, though she would have remained liable to epileptic fits., it was contended. All of the claims were denied. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was clear that every aspect of the case would have been contested if it had gone to a full hearing and the settlement was fair and reasonable. By Milana Vinn, Dan Catchpole and Mike Stone (Reuters) - Several private equity firms and at least one aerospace supplier are among the remaining bidders competing to buy Boeing's Jeppesen navigation unit for more than $8 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. Boeing is expected to invite bids for Jeppesen from the suitors in the coming weeks, six sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential. In recent weeks, several private equity firms have joined together to pursue a buyout of Jeppesen. Those private equity groups include Vista Equity and Warburg Pincus; Advent International and Permira; and TPG and Francisco Partners, according to three of the sources. The remaining parties also include aircraft parts maker TransDigm, and technology-focused buyout firms Thoma Bravo and Silver Lake, who are bidding separately. Honeywell and Carlyle had also expressed interest in acquiring Jeppesen, the sources added. It is unclear whether Honeywell and Carlyle are planning to submit final offers. Honeywell has its own competing navigation products. If the talks to sell Jeppesen are successful, the deal would rank as one of the biggest carve-out transactions in recent memory. In 2023, Ball Corp sold its aerospace assets to Britain's BAE Systems for about $5.6 billion. The final offers are expected to value Jeppesen between $8 billion and $9 billion, three sources said. Boeing had initially expected to fetch a price of more than $6 billion when the auction was launched late last year, but robust demand from potential buyers has pushed up the price tag, the sources said. Boeing is expected to further whittle down the list of potential buyers in the coming weeks ahead of final-round bids, one of the sources said. Boeing, TransDigm, Vista, Warburg Pincus, Advent, Permira, TPG, Francisco Partners, Thoma Bravo, Silver Lake, and Honeywell declined to comment. Carlyle did not respond to a request for comment. The planned sale of Jeppesen is part of CEO Kelly Ortberg's plan to streamline Boeing and reduce its debt pile by selling non-core businesses. In February, British Airways said it was buying Boeing's maintenance operation at Gatwick Airport near London. Boeing is separately attempting to offload its drone business Insitu. Jeppesen, which provides navigation products and software, is seen as a sought-after asset that could boost aerospace contractors and private equity firms, that typically like to buy businesses that generate steady cash flow. TransDigm, which has a market value of about $77 billion, has struck several bolt-on deals in recent years. The Cleveland, Ohio-based company acquired DART Aerospace for $360 million in 2022; Calspan for $725 million and CPI's electron device business for $1.4 billion in 2023; and Raptor Scientific for $655 million in 2024. Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States Donald Trump has hit out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. The US president was speaking after Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre and apartment blocks in Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens. In an interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Mr Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) Mr Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Mr Putin reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraines constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it is under martial law. If a deal isnt made, and if I think it was Russias fault, Im going to put secondary sanctions on Russia, Mr Trump said, adding that there would be a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil. Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States. Nonetheless, he reiterated that he and Mr Putin have a very good relationship. Ukraines General Staff had earlier denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital late on Saturday. Among the casualties were service members who were undergoing treatment, it said. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said those killed were a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. Volodymyr Zelensky (AP) Ukraines air force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 were intercepted and another 35 were lost, having probably been electronically jammed. Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. He repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing comments he made on Thursday that Russia is prolonging ceasefire talks just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Russias Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems had shot down six Ukrainian drones, and that its troops had taken control of a village in Ukraines partly occupied Donetsk region. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise pressure on Kyiv and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. The grieving family of a 4-year-old killed by a dog in Katikati say the boys late mother will be waiting for him. He was Timothy Tuuaki Rolleston-Bryan, described as having a little mischief in his smile, a little wild in his eyes, but a heart full of cuteness. Two people suffered injuries in Friday afternoons attack. Police were called to the Katikati incident about 2.50pm. Rolleston-Bryan was taken to the Katikati Medical Centre in a critical condition. He died a short time later, police said. In a notice posted online, Rolleston-Bryans family said he would lie at Otawhiwhi Marae in Waihi Beach before a funeral on Tuesday. You will be dearly missed, our little Timoti. Go on, little boy, your mum will be awaiting your arrival, the notice said. The family did not wish to comment when approached by the Herald. Dog attack victim Timothy Tuuaki Rolleston-Bryan, 4, died on Friday. A spokesman for local Tuapiro Marae, Shaan Kingi, said the small community was shocked by the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected by the loss. At this time, our priority will be to support our whanau through this hard time, Kingi said. We are all shocked. All our focus is directed to the grieving family and the survivor. Kingi thanked emergency services and the Katikati Medical Centre. Dog attack victim Timothy Tuuaki Rolleston-Bryan is described as having "a little mischief in his smile, a little wild in his eyes, but a heart full of cuteness" by his grieving family. They did everything they could and ensured they looked after our family during this medical event. Police said animal management staff have taken the dogs involved in the incident and are making inquiries on behalf of the coroner. A relative told Stuff they did not know how the incident happened but were called to the medical centre. They said they had made statements to police. Two lucky Lotto players from Auckland and Ohope will be living the dream after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw. The winning tickets were sold at Four Square Ohope Beach in Ohope and on MyLotto to a player from Auckland. Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $6 million. Strike Four has also rolled over and will be $700,000 on Wednesday night. 16 Lotto players win Second Division Sixteen lucky Lotto players will be in for a treat after each winning $15,751 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw. Three lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $21,086. The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were sold at Four Square Taita in Lower Hutt, Pak N Save Moorhouse in Christchurch and on MyLotto to a player from Christchurch. The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores: Store Location Porchester Road Superette Auckland MyLotto Auckland Dinsdale Lotto & Stationery Hamilton MyLotto Hamilton MyLotto Horowhenua Levin Lucky Lotto Levin MyLotto (x3) Wellington Four Square Taita (+PB) Lower Hutt MyLotto (x2) (+PB) Christchurch Pak N Save Moorhouse (+PB) Christchurch Four Square Diamond Harbour Christchurch MyLotto Ashburton Fresh Choice Geraldine Canterbury Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App. Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board. Syracuse, N.Y. Each clump of hair that drifted to the floor of Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub on Sunday carried with it a story. Some tales were met with roaring applause and raised pint glasses, a celebration of survival and strength. Others were met with solemn silence and tears, a quiet tribute to the ones who should still be here. Roughly 7,500 men, women and children have sacrificed their locks since 2005 in solidarity with the kids who lose their hair to cancer treatments. Thousands more have donated money. On Sunday, 196 more went bald. Before the first haircut, this years event had already raised $400,000. Collectively, Central New York has raised $8 million to find a cure. This gathering has consistently been among St. Baldricks top fundraising locations, usually between No. 2 and No. 1 in the United States. A core group of individual shavees and teams here comes back every year. Susan Heard, for example, has raised more than $108,000 in her 15 shaves. Lukes Syracuse Army pulled in more than $54,000 in honor of Luke Ungerer who died in 2016, shortly before his fourth birthday. Harold and Anne Willoughby were the first shavees on Sunday. Theyve gone bald for 12 years. Their son, Ed, participated in Baldricks until he and his fiancee were killed in a car accident. Heaven is too far away for him to be here today and help, Harold said after his shave. But he is here. I can feel it. Amy LaPan raised $4,409 to have her head shaved. She walked into Kitty Hoynes at 11 a.m. on Sunday with her daughter, Bella Grosso, something 20 years ago she never thought would happen. Bella was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia a week before her third birthday. Organizers David and Cindy Hoyne and emcee Chow Downey used Bella on the first-ever poster for this fundraiser. Bella is now 23 and cancer free. She graduated from Nazareth University and is a nurse in the oncology unit at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Amy LaPan of Marcellus was shaved at Kitty Hoynes on Sunday. Her daughter was diagnosed with cancer a week before her third birthday. Her daughter, now 23, is an oncology nurse. 196 people shaved their head during the 20th annual St. Baldrick's event to raise money to fight pediatric cancer. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) Bella thanked the crowd for all the support over the past 20 years and waved. Glasses went up and tears fell. It doesnt get much better than that, does it? said David Hoyne. Thats why we did this. Sundays fundraiser will be the last at Kitty Hoynes. Organizers think its time for someone else to take over. After saying goodbye to the hair hes grown over the past year, Chow reminded anyone who would listen that this isnt goodbye. Dont say its the last, he said. When funding fell short, we stepped up. Because someone has to fund cancer research. We will all go wherever it is next year. Its time for some new blood and new ideas. Syracuse always comes through. **** Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun throughout Central New York no freebies, no favors, just honest eats. You can call or text him at (315) 382-1984 or email cmiller@syracuse.com. Follow @HoosierCuse on Instagram and X, and sign up for his Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here. There will be more tears than usual today at the St. Baldricks fundraiser for pediatric cancer research at Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant, 301 W. Fayette St. After 20 years of hosting the event, organizers think its time for a reboot. Theyre hoping to pass the torch to someone else next year. Its hard to say that its the last, because that means something is ending, proprietor David Hoyne said. We would like to feel that its the beginning of the next chapter. And what a book theyve written over the past 20 years page after page filled with stories of bravery, grief, joy, generosity and hope. Since 2005, thousands of men, women and children have shaved their heads in solidarity with the kids who lose their hair to cancer treatments. Thousands more have donated money. Together, they have raised more than $7 million to find a cure. More than 200 people will lose their locks today. You can make a donation here. The St. Baldricks Foundation fills a gap left by too little government funding and minuscule investment by the pharmaceutical industry in treating pediatric cancer. A portion of the fundraisers proceeds comes back to the Upstate Cancer Center for research, where it recently helped to fund a breakthrough in preventing relapses of a type of leukemia. The Kitty Hoynes fundraiser puts a national spotlight on Syracuse in a good way. It is consistently among St. Baldricks top fundraising locations across the country, currently ranked No. 2. A core group of individual shavees and teams comes back every year. Susan Heard (the No. 2 individual) has raised more than $107,000; Lukes Syracuse Army (the No. 5 team), more than $49,000. Does [the ranking] really matter? It doesnt, Hoyne said. I feel that its about Syracuse. Its about community, No. 1. This is what they have done. Hoyne believes St. Baldricks can be even bigger, if it were someones focus every day of the year. Why not try and grow this thing more than what it is? Kyle Patchett, for one, would like to see St. Baldricks continue at Kitty Hoynes. Patchett owns Forum Barber, 227 W. Fayette St., a few doors down from the pub. Over the past couple of years, he and his three co-workers have shaved hundreds of heads one every five or 10 minutes. Its a long days work, but its so much fun, he said. You hear everyones story, he continued, delivered with gusto by emcee Chow Downey. Everyones crying. Everyones laughing. Its a beautiful atmosphere. Its just the best day. This Sunday will be bittersweet for St. Baldricks volunteer organizers David and Cindy Hoyne, Downey, Sophia Meskos and all the other volunteers who drive this event. Just dont say the word last. How can you say that to families that have lost children, our families that are battling with their kids right now, and our future kids that are just being born? Hoyne asked. Could it ever be hosted here again? I dont know. Quite possibly. Am I going to say no? Never. We feel we are in a good spot to pass it along. Theyre willing to lend a hand to anyone who wants to take it on. Thank you, Kitty Hoynes, for 20 years of laughter, tears and bald heads on St. Baldricks Day. Whos got next? About Syracuse.com editorials Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte and Marie Morelli. To respond to this editorial: Submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines. If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com In an interview with the New York Times, former Fox News host and Syracuse University alumna Megyn Kelly said that while she believes President Donald Trump has taken inappropriate liberties with women in the past, she supports him now because the policies he is implementing are more important than what he did years ago. My own personal opinion is that most of the allegations against him are much more complicated than the mainstream media would have you believe, Kelly said to Lulu Garcia-Navarro in the Times podcast, The Interview. I dont think Donald Trump is a rapist or a sexual assaulter. I do think hes taken inappropriate liberties with women and gotten handsy with them in a way hes owned himself years ago when he was a celebrity, and it is what it is. Thats the past. I dont give a s--- about Trump getting handsy with someone 20 years ago. I want someone who will close the border, which he has. I want someone who will keep boys out of my daughters sports, which he has. I want someone who will stand up to the insane DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies so that white kids will stop hearing in school that theyre born with some original sin from which they cannot recover, which he has. Kelly said that as far as the accusations brought against Trump by E. Jean Carroll, which resulted in a jury in a civil trial finding Trump liable for sexual abuse, I dont believe one word of that. Not one word. Kelly, who now hosts a popular podcast and YouTube show, famously clashed with Trump when she moderated a 2015 Republican presidential debate, when Kelly asked him about comments hed made in the past calling some women fat pigs and dogs. In an interview after the debate, Trump criticized Kellys questions, saying There was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. Kelly said that she has put that incident behind her. Trump was trying to win a presidential election, and ... it was useful for him to have me as a foil, she said in the Times interview. Look, you have to separate when youre in this business, you the person and you the professional. Megyn Kelly the woman and Megyn Kelly the brand, and they were attacking Megyn Kelly the brand, which is fair game. But Kellys relationship with Trump has improved over the years, and Kelly went as far as to publicly endorse Trump on the eve of the 2024 election an unusual move for a journalist. Yes, Im still a journalist, but Im in this new ecosystem where the old rules dont apply, she said. When Garcia-Navarro pointed out to Kelly that many people saw her endorsement as caving to Trump, Kelly said she saw it a different way. I dont think it was me caving. It was me rising. It was me answering something I truly felt called to do. Im thrilled Trump won. I shudder to think of what the country would be right now if Kamala Harris had won, and in the end, I had no qualms about going out there for him whatsoever. Kelly was born in Syracuse and attended Tecumseh Elementary School in the Jamesville-DeWitt school district before her family moved to the Albany are when she was 9. She later returned to Central New York to get a degree from Syracuse University. 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. We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best ADR Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB) stands against the other best ADR stocks. American Depositary Receipts (ADR) are US-listed securities that represent shares in foreign companies, allowing American investors to gain exposure to international equities without dealing with foreign exchanges or currencies. Unlike regular shares of domestic companies, ADRs are issued by US banks and trade on American exchanges, typically in US dollars. While they provide easier access to foreign markets, ADRs can carry additional risks such as currency fluctuations, geopolitical factors, and differences in accounting standards or regulatory environments. Investors should also note that ADRs come in two forms: sponsored and unsponsored. Sponsored ADRs are issued in partnership with the foreign company and typically offer more reliable financial reporting and investor communication. Unsponsored ADRs, on the other hand, are created without the companys direct involvement and may have limited information available, making due diligence more challenging. READ ALSO: 10 Worst ADR Stocks To Buy According to Short Sellers ADRs were not particularly popular in the last 15 years, as the US stock market has been the best-performing developed market since the 2008 financial crisis, significantly and consistently outperforming all major European markets as well as the Chinese stock market. The US stock market has massively benefited from the USs technological leadership and the emergence of tech giants with multi-trillion-dollar capitalizations, a more favorable business environment with lower tax rates, more aggressive financial stimulus, and, more importantly, significantly higher productivity growth vs. other regions. As a result, the US stock markets not only delivered higher earnings growth but also experienced the largest increase in valuations compared to Europe and China. The latter is partially attributed to foreign capital flowing into the US market as investors recognized the superior growth opportunities of US companies. The recent political developments initiated by the Trump 2.0 regime have set the stage for a potential reversal of the aforementioned trends, which may drive relative outperformance of foreign markets and make ADRs attractive again. First, the Trump 2.0 tariff turmoil and massive cuts in federal spending are likely to cause an economic slowdown and thus cut the earnings growth potential of domestic companies. Second, the threat of tariffs imposed on the USAs allies is already causing retaliatory measures, including the potential substitution of American products for European or Canadian alternatives (again, this endangers the earnings growth potential of US domestic companies while boosting the potential of European and Canadian companies). Third, Europe has recognized that the US has become a less reliable partner, as evidenced by the major shift in policies of the new administration, and is already taking steps to ensure its independence and minimize dependence on the US. This is illustrated by the recent decision of Germany to create a 500 billion infrastructure fund to boost its defense capabilities (funds which are planned to be spent primarily on European contractors). Last but not least, the increasing tensions between the Western allies could potentially drive a return of European capital to the European continent, which may cause a relative valuation repricing in favor of the European stock market. BMO Capital Markets analyst John P. Kim upgraded Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP) on Friday from Market Perform to Outperform, raising the price forecast from $4 to $5. The analyst notes that Hudson Pacific Properties shares have dropped due to disappointing earnings, mainly caused by weaker performance in their office and studio segments, which has led the market to speculate about potential insolvency. Despite these challenges, the company has been actively seeking ways to generate cash flow, including raising debt and selling assets, Kim writes. These efforts are aimed at easing their near-term debt obligations, which extend through 2026. Per Kim, the companys current valuation is lower due to a decline in earnings, which could continue because Hollywood production has taken longer than expected to resume, and the recovery of West Coast office spaces has also been slower than anticipated. Also Read: Spire Global Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call Meanwhile, the analyst highlights that the companys recent $475 million CMBS transaction has helped provide some relief and offers additional support for its valuation. These apart, Kim notes that Hudson Pacific plans to sell an additional $150 million worth of assets in 2025, potentially including properties like 625 Second, 10950 Washington, Fourth & Traction, and/or Hollywood Media. Furthermore, Hudson Pacific and Blackstone Inc. have decided to pause the development of the Sunset Waltham Cross Studios, a 91-acre media complex in the U.K., with the aim of reworking its entitlement for an alternative use that could exceed its $297.3 million value as of December 31, 2024. Price Action: HPP shares are trading flat at $3.01 at last check Friday. Read This Next: Image Via Shutterstock. Latest Ratings for HPP Date Firm Action From To Jan 2022 Mizuho Downgrades Neutral Underperform Jan 2022 Keybanc Downgrades Overweight Sector Weight Jan 2022 Baird Downgrades Outperform Neutral View More Analyst Ratings for HPP View the Latest Analyst Ratings UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Hudson Pacific's Valuation Discounts $475 Million Deal And Asset Sales, Analyst Upgrades Stock originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Trump can't stop 'sustainability revolution': Al Gore Paris, March 29 (AFP) Mar 29, 2025 Former US vice president Al Gore on Saturday condemned President Donald Trump's "extremely hostile" stance on fighting climate change, but said his administration had "limited" ability to stop the "sustainability revolution". "I don't want to minimize the difficulties presented by the new administration in the United States that is extremely hostile to anything that would help us solve the climate crisis," Gore told journalists in Paris. "However, I think that their ability to slow the sustainability revolution is limited," added the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Gore, who narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, then gained new fame as an environmentalist with the 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth", said he wanted to avoid "what my kids call toxic positivity". But despite what he called alarming signals from the Trump administration on freedom of speech, scientific research and climate issues, he sounded a largely upbeat note on the bigger picture. "We are already seeing many of Donald Trump's executive orders overturned by the courts. And to those who worry that he will disobey court orders, I think that is unlikely in the end," Gore said. "He will give the impression that he disrespects the court and may not obey court orders, but public opinion in the United States among Republicans as well as Democrats... is strongly in support of the rule of law and the necessity of government officials, including the president, obeying orders from the federal judiciary." Gore condemned the administration's treatment of universities and student activists, including the recent arrest of a Turkish student at Tufts University who had co-written an article criticizing the college's handling of anger around Israel's war in Gaza. He also said he was "very concerned" by a recent court ruling against Greenpeace ordering the environmental group to pay more than $660 million in damages for protests against an oil pipeline. But the tide is turning, Gore said. "We'll provide voters a chance to say, yay or nay. Do you like what Trump is doing or do you not like what he's doing?" he said. "And if the polls continue trending in the direction they've been trending recently, this may be an unpleasant experience for Donald Trump." Japan issues mid-level volcano warning Tokyo, March 29 (AFP) Mar 29, 2025 Japanese authorities issued a mid-level warning Sunday for a volcano in the southwestern Kyushu region, telling people not to approach and that an eruption "may occur". There was, however, no evacuation order for local residents near the Shinmoedake volcano, part of the Kirishimayama cluster. "Volcano warning issued for Kirishimayama (Shinmoedake) (near crater) (Volcanic alert Level 3: Do not approach the volcano). An eruption may occur. Follow local government's instructions and stay away from dangerous areas," the disaster management agency said on X. Japan has scores of active volcanoes and sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire" where a large proportion of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded. WHO says Myanmar quake a top-level emergency, seeks urgent funding Geneva, March 30 (AFP) Mar 30, 2025 The World Health Organization said Sunday the Myanmar earthquake was a top-level emergency as it urgently sought $8 million to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. The WHO said the high numbers of casualties and trauma injuries were at high risk of infection due to limited surgical capacity in the country, while the underlying conditions in Myanmar meant the quake was likely to intensify the risk of disease. "WHO has classified this crisis as a Grade 3 emergency -- the highest level of activation under its Emergency Response Framework," the United Nations health agency said in its flash appeal for funds. The initial 7.7-magnitude quake struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay on Friday, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The quake has killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in neighbouring Thailand. In Myanmar, "preliminary assessments indicate high numbers of casualties and trauma-related injuries, with urgent needs for emergency care. Electricity and water supplies remain disrupted, worsening access to health services and heightening risks of waterborne and food-borne disease outbreaks," the WHO said. "Trauma-related injuries -- including fractures, open wounds, and crush syndrome -- are at high risk of infection and complications due to limited surgical capacity and inadequate infection prevention and control." - $8 million appeal - The WHO said it needed $8 million to respond to the immediate health needs over the next 30 days, "to save lives, prevent disease, and stabilise and restore essential health services". "Without immediate funding, lives will be lost and fragile health systems will falter." The WHO said hospitals were overwhelmed, while the scale of deaths, injuries and damage to health facilities "are not yet fully understood". The agency said displacement into overcrowded shelters, combined with the destruction of water systems and sanitation infrastructure, had sharply increased the risk of communicable disease outbreaks. "This earthquake strikes amid an already dire humanitarian context marked by widespread displacement, fragile health systems, and disease outbreaks -- including cholera," it said. "Immediate health needs include trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anaesthetics, and essential medicines. "Disease surveillance must be urgently strengthened to prevent outbreaks of cholera, dengue, and other communicable diseases." The WHO said the first supplies of trauma kits to treat severe wounds and fractures, and multi-purpose tents, to also create space for the increasing number of injured, had reached a 1,000-bed hospital in the capital Naypyidaw, having been sent from an emergency stockpile in Yangon. Similar supplies are en route further north to Mandalay General Hospital. Besides emergency interventions, the WHO said the continuity of essential services such as immunisation, and maternal and child health, was also critical over the coming 30 days. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The daughter of Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed that the cancer drugs that her mother was placed on last year are no longer working. The 84-year-old revealed in 2024 that her cancer was being kept at bay thanks to a new drug, which had left her feeling much better than she thought she would be. The broadcaster, who is best known for founding Childline, a telephone helpline for young people aged up to 18, has previously revealed that she has registered with the Swiss assisted dying clinic, Dignitas. Speaking to 5 News on Thursday (27 March), Rantzens daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, said that the medication her daughter was put was an improvement, but then admitted: I really wish that was true but I don't think that's the case anymore. Wilcox also revealed that Rantzens health is so poor that travelling to Dignitas is now out of the question. Both Rantzen and Wilcox are advocates of making assisted dying legal in the UK. The topic is the subject of a much-debated parliamentary bill which has this week been delayed by two years. Speaking of the delay, Wilcox 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. Dame Esther Rantzen waves from a bus during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London in June 2022 ( PA Archive ) 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? She continued: Frankly, Dignitas is out of the window for us as well. You have to be relatively healthy to do that, if she had gone, she would have gone months before she would have died here. Estimates published in 2024 suggested that more than 7,000 people a year or roughly 20 per day in the UK are in pain in the last three months of their lives. The Office of Health Economics (OHE), which said it has no stance either way on the topic of assisted dying, said its estimates presumed the person was getting the highest standard of care available, likely to be in a hospice. This means the true number of people dying in pain is likely to be significantly higher than our conservative estimate, the organisation said. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Bible gifted to OJ Simpson from his former defense attorney, the late Robert Kardashian, has been sold for a hefty price. The executor of Simpsons estate, Malcolm LaVergne, put the Bible up for auction earlier this month, with Roberts daughter, Kim Kardashian, offering $15,000 for it. However, the offer was turned down, since the item had been under contract with the court to be auctioned off. Now, the Bible which featured Roberts full name on the front has been sold for $65,800, according to Goldin Auctions website. A total on 49 bids were made, 14 of which came on Saturday. The winning bid was made at 10:42 p.m. last night. However, LaVergne told TMZ he is unsure who the new owner is. Robert gave Simpson the Bible in 1994 after the former athlete was arrested and charged with the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson was cleared of these charges in 1995 following one of the most high-profile trials in U.S. criminal history. OJ, This book will help, the lawyer, who died in 2003 after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, wrote inside the religious text. God loves and he will speak to you with his words. Read this book everyday. God has a definite plan for your life. You are his child and he will use you again. I love you and God loves you. LaVergne later explained to People why Kim Kardashians offer to purchase the book was denied. OJ Simpsons bible, which he received from Robert Kardashian, was sold for $65,800 on Saturday ( Getty Images ) The amount is why I had no choice, because why would I spend $15,000 of estate money why would I spend $15,000 in attorneys fees to sell it to Kim for $15,000? he said earlier this month. That's a zero-sum game. That's a bad business model. If Kim had offered $150,000 for it, we would've been in court getting this approved outside of the auction. Simpsons trial attracted extensive media attention, with Robert working as one of the six attorneys on his defense team. Robert met Simpson when they were students at the University of Southern California. The two quickly became close friends and business partners, investing in the companies Juice Inc and Concert Cinema. The Goldman and Brown families subsequently pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson in civil court. In 1997, a predominately white jury in Santa Monica, California, found Simpson liable for the two deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages. Robert married Kristen Mary Houghton, now known as Kris Jenner in 1978, and they welcomed four children - Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Robert Kardashian Jr - who all referred to Simpson and his former wife as Uncle OJ and Auntie Nicole. However, Roberts decision to defend Simpson divided his family. Kim has candidly spoken about the repercussions that Simpsons trial had on their family. While Kris refused to support Simpson, Kim has admitted she stuck by her fathers side. Kourtney and I were drawn to our dad. We felt like Mom was happily remarried, so we would live with Dad. We didnt want him to be by himself, Kim told GQ in 2023. She also remembered her dad pulling her and Kourtney out of school to attend the trial with him and seeing Kris on the opposite side of the courtroom. According to Kim, Kris was displeased they werent at school and confused as to why they were there. Kim is also now following in her fathers footsteps and becoming a lawyer. During Thursdays episode of The Kardashians, she opened up about how Robert inspired her career, as she visited a group of incarcerated firefighters in California. I think my passion for prison reform really kind of got sparked with my dad, she said. And all of the giving back that he would do and just all the places he would take us to help other people. My dad resonates through all of that and I always feel his energy every time I do something like this. 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 California mother and grandmother are in custody after a teenage boy ran into a grocery store bound and naked. Employees at the Cost Less grocery store in Ceres, about 95 miles from San Francisco, were stunned when a 15-year-old child ran in around 1:39 p.m. on Thursday. The child, who is autistic, was bound at the wrists, the Ceres Police Department said. Grocery store managers described the child as nonverbal and said he was not communicating. Multiple visible injuries suggested the child may have also been bound at the ankles. Emergency personnel transported the teenager to a nearby hospital for treatment. The teenagers mother, Leandra Renteria, 36, came to the grocery store searching for her son. Thats how police encountered her. Through the investigation process, authorities discovered she had another autistic child, a 12-year-old girl, living at the familys residence. Police conducted a welfare check and found the girl safe in the home. However, the home was in poor condition, officials said, noting they did not have a history of responding to the address. Renteria, Gary Wilson, 58, and Lenore Wilson, 54, were arrested for child abuse and neglect and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. Its not clear what the Wilsons connection is to the case. Lenore Wilson is Renterias mother and Gary Wilson is her husband, The Modesto Bee reported. A county inmate search did not yield results for the suspects. The Independent has emailed the sheriffs office for additional information. Meanwhile, both children have been placed in Child Protective Services. Grocery store Director Del Ambris told the outlet he was proud of how his employees handled the situation. Rather than dwell on what happened to this kid, lets look at whats going to happen to this kid, he said. The bad part of his life, hopefully, now is changing. Dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans, the head of the worlds fastest-growing tech company stood on stage holding a new phone aloft. It was August 2012 10 months after Steve Jobs died and Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun had decided to imitate the late Apple boss in both his outfit choice and the iPhone-looking device in his hand. It was not the first knock-off to be unveiled in China that year. Other emerging startups like HiPhone, Goophone and Meizu all joined Xiaomi in creating cheap Apple clones and it wasnt just phones. Baidu was viewed as a poor imitation of Google, Alibaba was dismissed as Chinas eBay, while Weibo was known as the Chinese version of Twitter. The New York Times described China in 2013 as a country where products like iPhones are made but rarely invented, while Time magazine ran a 3,000-word article that year headlined Why China Cant Create Anything. The innovation that takes place in China tends to build upon existing technology, not generate revolutionary ideas, the articles author wrote, referencing what is now referred to as Chinas copycat era. The Great Firewall of China, which kept the countrys internet separate from the rest of the world, meant that US tech companies rarely made their way into the country but none left. There were no Chinese apps that became popular in the early days of the iPhone, nor any social networks that made a dent in English-speaking markets. A 2014 article in the Harvard Business Review lamented how China had gone from a country that invented the compass, gunpowder and paper, to one that favoured imitation over innovation. The report concluded: Can China lead? On this we have our doubts. But just over a decade later, against all these projections, China may now be on the verge of toppling the tech dominance of the US. From apps and artificial intelligence to robots and rockets, China is turning into a world leader. open image in gallery Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun on stage in Beijing in 2012 ( Jason Lee/Reuters ) A report last September from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a Washington think tank, noted that China is catching up, in many cases at an extremely rapid pace and the scale of their efforts is massive. The analysts observed that China has entered a new stage in its economic development, becoming a rival innovator in advanced industries. Huge advances have been made in critical sectors like AI, while in some areas like electric vehicles and batteries it is even taking the lead through an onslaught of technological breakthroughs and brainpower. To use an analogy, the report noted, its as if we were to look out at the ocean and see calm waves, but over the horizon is a tsunami of hundreds of strong, innovative, and lower-cost Chinese firms in dozens of industries seeking to grab global market share from established leaders. The same month that report was published, TikTok topped the app charts in the US beating the American-made Instagram. Fellow Chinese app Temu was the most downloaded e-commerce app, while BYD was on its way to becoming the global leader in electric vehicles 13 years after Elon Musk had scoffed at the idea of the Chinese automaker being considered a rival to Tesla. Just three months after ITIFs report, the release of DeepSeek caused further panic in the US tech industry. The unexpected arrival of such an advanced AI model from an unknown Chinese startup resulted in more than $1 trillion in total losses for US tech stocks, as investors began to doubt the status quo. The launch of DeepSeek underscored a historic pivot in the balance of technological power, said Nigel Green, chief executive of global financial advisory and asset management firm deVere Group. The implications of this AI breakthrough extend far beyond tech, touching on geopolitics and global trade It highlights the accelerating pace of the global AI arms race, with China now firmly establishing itself as a serious competitor. This is not just about a single company; it represents a larger trend that will redefine the global economic landscape. This month, another AI model called Manus has added further ammunition to this AI arms race, leading to speculation that China may be on the brink of achieving the ultimate prize of human-level AI. The success in artificial intelligence began in 2017, when Chinas State Council issued its Next-generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan. It outlined how China could seize the major strategic opportunity for the development of AI and become a global power in science and technology. China must accelerate the rapid application of AI, cultivating and expanding AI industries to inject new kinetic energy into Chinas economic development, stated a document detailing the plan, which included a blueprint for research, training, infrastructure, policies and regulations that would all push towards this goal. The plan included exact target dates that are now being hit. By 2025, China will achieve major breakthroughs in basic theories for AI, the authors wrote, such that some technologies and applications achieve a world-leading level. At Chinas annual legislative meeting earlier this month, the two main topics were geopolitics and technology. President Xi Jinping further reportedly outlined plans for China to fully overtake its rivals, stressing the urgency for his country to become the worlds dominant technological superpower. The US has tried to stifle Chinas growth and repress its influence. In 2018, Washington introduced restrictions on what semiconductors could be exported to China, severely limiting access to the advanced chips needed for artificial intelligence development. It forced China to come up with its own technologies and workarounds. When DeepSeek was unveiled earlier this year, AI researchers were astonished that it could perform at a similar level to OpenAIs ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost and computing power. If China takes the lead in this field, it could have profound implications for the world. If China establishes AI dominance, global technology standards would increasingly reflect Chinese priorities and values, Dr Wei Xing, from the University of Sheffields School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, told The Independent. Chinese AI systems would likely emphasise different objectives beyond merely regulatory differences to fundamental cultural and philosophical distinctions in how AI should serve society. The fundamental values embedded in AI systems how they make decisions, what they are trained for, and whose interests they serve would reflect Chinese cultural perspectives on the relationship between individuals, technology, and the state. Despite the emergence of China as a genuine rival to the US, Dr Xing noted that it does not necessarily signal an end to the USs dominance. Each country will likely continue to be competitive as each leverages its unique strengths. This is a view shared by tech entrepreneur Claire Trachet, who founded the fundraising advisory firm Trachet. She claims that the fundamentals of US tech dominance remain intact, including the ability to raise capital, attract global talent, and build companies that scale internationally. This could mean that rather than one country dominating, the balance could shift to two or more tech superpowers, perhaps including China, Europe and the US. Chinas tech growth has been explosive in targeted areas like AI, EVs and, historically, payments but thats the result of long-term strategy, centralised investment, and a domestic market supporting rapid scale. This doesnt mean the US is in decline, Ms Trachet told The Independent. The US remains a magnet for capital, talent, and big ideas especially because it brings together so many different voices and perspectives. At the same time, Europe is starting to see real momentum too These facts are simply more evidence that were moving toward a multipolar tech world. Kathleen Cannino, photographed Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at the Covington Library, is a special education advocate who played an integral role in the passage of a Louisiana law giving parents the right to ask schools to install classroom cameras. She is a recipient of the 2024 Louisiana Inspired Inspirit Award for her work. (Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune) You are here: World Flash Trade officials from India and the United States concluded their four-day parleys on Saturday, with both sides resolving to deepen bilateral cooperation in priority areas, including increasing market access, said a statement issued by India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The officials decided to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepen supply chain integration in a mutually beneficial manner, added the statement. The trade talks were held as a follow-up to the February India-U.S. Joint Statement, in which the two sides agreed to expand bilateral trade to reach 500 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, including through the conclusion of a Bilateral Trade Agreement. We recently published the Best Retirement Portfolio for a 65-Year-Old. In this article, we are going to take a look at where International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) stands against other stocks in the best retirement portfolio. The American retirement system is feeling the strain, with challenges like shrinking fees, underfunded plans, and an aging population slowing down industry growth. Over the last decade, 401(k) expense ratios have declined by a third, according to a PwC report, and recordkeeping fees dropped 8% between 2015 and 2019, making it harder for retirement firms to stay profitable. Some companies have had to merge or shut down, but there is still a big opportunity. Businesses that offer better retirement benefits, financial advice, and affordable plans for small companies could attract more people and unlock an extra $5 trillion in retirement savings. The urgency is real. A quarter of US adults have no retirement savings at all, and only 36% feel on track. Even those who are saving may not have enough. For people nearing retirement, between the ages of 55 to 64, the median savings of $120,000 might provide less than $1,000 a month for 15 years. This is hardly enough, especially with longer life expectancies and rising healthcare costs. For most Americans, retirement means either living off of savings or finding ways to generate passive income. While some can count on Social Security or a pension, many have to plan their own financial future. Savings usually involve withdrawing money over time, while passive income could mean anything from rental properties to online businesses. Brian Bollinger, founder of Simply Safe Dividends, believes dividend-paying stocks can be a game-changer. Instead of selling stocks to make money, retirees can rely on regular dividend payments, helping stretch their savings. Dividends have been a huge part of stock market returns, making up about 45% of the broader market's total gains since 1900. But despite their importance, they are often overlooked when planning for retirement, especially as baby boomers look for reliable income sources. According to Thornburg Investment Management, retirees typically fund expenses through either a total return approach, investing for growth and selling assets as needed, or a high-income approach, relying on high-yield investments for steady income. The first risks selling in down markets, while the second limits portfolio growth. A better strategy combines both; investing in stocks that not only pay dividends but also increase them over time can provide a steady income while allowing retirees to grow their wealth. Unlike bonds with fixed returns, dividend stocks can grow income, offering both stability and long-term financial growth. Over 30 years, dividend income has outpaced bond payouts, making it a strong option for retirees. A video mocking Immigration Minister Tony Burke for scurrying like a rat out of a community meeting appears to be the first salvo from a Palestine activist group that is promising to drive government and opposition MPs out of western Sydney. Anger over Israels war in Gaza has left MPs in the citys west wary of a febrile atmosphere turning confrontational, as police ramp up election security to counter record threats against politicians. Flyers by Stand4Palestine instructing followers to confront and disrupt politicians in mosques. Credit: Facebook Labors education minister and campaign spokesman Jason Clare on Sunday said a video basically threatened Tony Burke, who is also Labors home affairs minister. Thats not how democracy is done in Australia, Clare said. A gathering of over 1000 golden retrievers was held in dry, fine conditions on Sunday, but somehow two of them, Bear and Gus, found some mud, and soaked their paws in it. They proceeded to jump all over co-owner Jonny Ellis, but Ellis only laughed. Its all good: Jonny Ellis and his muddy footed dog, Bear, at the Gold Rush golden retriever gathering. Credit: Chris Hopkins Theyre silly clown dogs, said Ellis, noting how at home, Bear and Gus like lying on each others heads. I dont care if they get muddy. We have towels in the car. The laid-back vibe gelled completely with the event, the Gold Rush, held exclusively for goldies and their devotees at St Annes Winery at Myrniong, near Bacchus Marsh. Prominent planner Stephen Rowley, author of The Victorian Planning System, published diagrams on his website on Wednesday to provide a sense of the scale of buildings possible under the new code. The entire point of such controls is to provide clarity to developers and the community. Visualisation of the outcomes should therefore have been part of the preparation of the code, Rowley wrote. One of planner Stephen Rowleys diagrams. Credit: Stephen Rowley On Friday afternoon, after The Age sent questions, the state government released a 90-page document with guidelines for applying the new townhouse and apartment code. They include diagrams for applying different aspects of the standards but not examples of the scale of buildings to be green-lit without appeal rights. Developers can still apply to exceed the new standards, but this will trigger a longer process and allow residents to object at the state planning tribunal. Loading Whitehorse Mayor Andrew Davenport warned the code would erode suburb character and lead to bulkier buildings with less greenery. He said the removal of neighbourhood character assessments and appeal rights made this the most significant of the governments planning reforms. It allows, and in many ways encourages, generic responses to comply with standards that do not reflect any local characteristics of an area and could be the same response to a suburb anywhere in Victoria, Davenport said. Boroondara Council director of urban living Scott Walker said the new tick-the-box approach was a return to a planning method of the 60s and 70s that produced the monolithic walk-up flats. Given the poor outcomes, planning shifted to a performance-based approach in the 1990s which took into consideration the local context, Walker said. Now, the clock is being turned back to an antiquated [approach]. A Brimbank Council spokesman said the erasing of any real consideration of whether a development fit with an areas character was disappointing. Character is made up of much more than simply setbacks, site coverage, trees and front fences, yet this is all that the new provisions have narrowed it down to, he said. City of Manningham planning and liveability director Andrew McMaster said the decision to switch off the councils local policies and schedules in planning decisions would have far-reaching consequences for neighbourhood character. Over the years, significant investment has been made in developing strategies ... It is disappointing that these efforts are now being effectively undone without consultation or any right of reply, McMaster said. Better planning outcomes are achieved by involving communities in the planning process and considering local needs and aspirations. City of Glen Eira director of planning and place Rosa Zouzoulas said the new planning code did not encourage increased housing density because it did not include a requirement to consider if an application was an under-development. Municipal Association of Victoria president Jennifer Anderson said the governments consultation for the new planning code was constrained, with detail provided to councils in early March. This is not an efficient way to pursue planning system reform, she said. The new planning controls did not resolve bigger problems, Anderson said, such as labour shortages and construction costs. Analysis from the association shows more than 120,000 homes have been approved by councils but not built. Planning Institute of Australia state president Patrick Fensham said the new deemed-to-comply standards were permissive and risked leading to developments that appeared jarring in local contexts, with potential impacts on neighbours. He also said that while the governments priority had been to build more housing in transport hubs, these changes were spatially blind by applying to residential areas statewide. We could see an unintended consequence of more ad hoc development outside well-located areas, he said. An Allan government spokeswoman said Rowleys diagrams did not accurately show what developments would look like because they excluded features such as windows, balconies and greenery. The townhouse code is much more than heights and setbacks, she said. [It] lays out clear, common-sense rules for well-designed homes up to three storeys so more Victorians can find a place to rent or buy a place close to what matters to them and their loved ones. She said the deemed-to-comply approach would cut approval times down by 60 per cent and prevent developments being held up at the state planning tribunal. She said the standards were developed in consultation with more than 140 representatives from councils and the development and planning sector. The deemed-to-comply approach does not apply to single dwellings and buildings of four storeys or more. When it comes to boosting your salary, it pays to ... stay? That's the newest finding from wage growth data out of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which tracks the three-month rolling average of median wage growth for "job switchers" and "job stayers." A tight labor market in recent years helped drive wage growth for job switchers far above what workers who stayed in their current positions saw. That gap hit a multi-decade high in August 2022, when job switchers saw their median wage growth hit 8.4%, 2.8 percentage points higher than wage growth for job stayers during that time. Wage growth for the two groups has been converging over recent years, with job stayers now seeing higher median wage growth. In February, workers who switched jobs saw 0.2 percentage points less wage growth than those who stayed. That's the most that job switcher wage growth has lagged job stayers in over six years. The bright side to a gloomy trend Slowing wage growth is hardly ideal for workers looking to boost their income, but financial advisors say the shift could offer a silver lining for long-term retirement savings. "Job-hopping can no doubt be detrimental to retirement savings," said Carla Adams, founder of Ametrine Wealth in Lake Orion, Michigan. READ MORE: Social Security call wait times soar what advisors need to know Recent research from Vanguard supports that claim. Researchers looking at earnings from over 50,000 job switchers found that a worker starting with a $60,000 salary who changes jobs eight times throughout their career could forfeit an estimated $300,000 in total retirement savings. "The typical (median) job switcher experienced a 10% pay increase in our income sample," the authors wrote. "Despite this notable increase, the median job switcher saw a 0.7 percentage point drop in their saving rate." Adams said that drop is likely due to low auto-enrollment rates in employee-sponsored retirement accounts. Under Secure 2.0, companies must auto-enroll employees in most 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Doing so can help boost retirement savings participation, but advisors say the standard contribution rates aren't high enough to adequately save for retirement. Auto-enrollment plans typically set employee contributions at between 3% to 6% of their pay. Many plans now include an "auto-escalation" feature that increases the employee's contribution rate by 1% annually until it reaches a maximum of 10%. That feature helps, but it can take years to reach its escalation cap, Adams said. For someone who was contributing 10% at their previous job, starting a new role where they are auto-enrolled at only 3% can significantly reduce their contribution rate. 17 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh SUKMA 4 security personnel were injured in the operation A Maoist carrying a Rs 25 lakh reward on his head was neutralised IN YET another major success, security forces gunned down 17 Naxalites, including 11 women and a Maoist carrying a Rs 25 lakh reward, during an anti-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Saturday, officials said. Three of the injured security personnel belong to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the State police, the fourth is from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said. A high-ranking, dreaded Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, is among the neutralised cadres, they said. About 10 days ago, security forces had killed at least 30 members of the banned CPI (Maoist) in two separate encounters in the Bijapur and Kanker districts of the States Bastar region, comprising seven district, including Sukma. The latest gunfight broke out around 8 am in the forest under the Kerlapal police station area, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti- Naxalite operation, Inspector General of Police of Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI. The IG said personnel from the DRG and CRPFs 159th battalion were involved in the operation launched on Friday night based on inputs about the presence of Maoists in the forests of Gogunda, Nendum and Upampalli villages in the Kerlapal police station area, he said. After the exchange of fire stopped, bodies of 17 Naxalites, including 11 women, were recovered from the encounter site, he said. He said three DRG and one CRPF personnel sustained minor injuries in the face-off. The injured jawans have been admitted to a hospital, and their condition was stated to be normal, he said. Sundarraj said a large cache of firearms, including an AK47 rifle, self-loading rifle (SLR), INSAS rifle, .303 rifle, a rocket launcher and barrel grenade launcher (BGL), and explosive materials were recovered from the spot. WEAPONS CANNOT BRING CHANGE, ONLY PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT CAN: AMIT SHAH ON NAXAL VIOLENCE: THOSE carrying weapons and resorting to violence cannot bring change, only peace and development can, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday after security forces killed 17 Naxalites in Chhattisgarh. Another strike on Naxalism! Our security agencies have neutralised 16 Naxalites and recovered a massive cache of automatic weapons in an operation in Sukma, he wrote on X. 15 Naxalites surrender DANTEWADA, Mar 29 (PTI) FIFTEEN Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada district on Saturday, a police official said. Of these, Sikka alias Bheema Mandavi was the Jantana Sarkar head under Potali RPC of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), he said. The other 14 are lower rung ultras. They laid down arms citing disappointment with the hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology, the official said. EYE-OPENER THE walk-out of the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee meeting by Rajya Sabha Chairman (and Vice President ) Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar citing lack of decorum should come as an eye-opener to everybody. The news item about the incident states clearly that Mr. Dhankhar decided to stage a walk-out when he realised that the Government as well as Opposition members refused to budge from their respective positions on many issues. This is serious and needs a deep consideration by everybody in the parliamentary system to think and rectify behaviour at all levels. For, if the members are not in a position to sort out how they will run the business of the House -- Rajya Sabha, in this case -- then they are failing the system -- which is not acceptable to anybody. This is not the first time that committee meetings had serious differences of opinion. But the fact that the Rajya Sabha Chairman felt like walking out of the meeting, points to an unfortunate reality of the inability of members to come to terms with the issues confronting them. The matter, thus, becomes a cultural issue that prevents the people in committee set ups to agree on a particular item on the committee agenda and allow it to be put up in the House appropriately and accept or reject it on the floor. But if the Business Advisory Committee is not able to agree upon the points of the Rajya Sabha agenda, then the matter is far more serious than one may imagine. This brings us to a firm point that the countrys House of Elders -- the Rajya Sabha -- should have members whose belief in democracy and healthy and non-partisan debate is unfaltering, unwavering. The expectation that the members are able to finalise properly the agenda for the House without uncalled for friction, and issues are discussed only on the floor of the House. There may be some points of disagreement among members, all right. But those gaps could be filled in the debate on the floor of the House. But the scenario at the Business Advisory Committee meeting was altogether different, as Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar noted -- and chose to stage a walk-out. There can nothing more unfortunate. It must be stated with sadness that in the past some time, the democratic mould of Parliament is getting tugged at by many elements. Presiding officers -- Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha -- have time and again insisted upon decorum be made the core value of the discourse. Instead of achieving that, the members and their respective political parties seem intent upon stalling smooth discourse in the House or in committee meetings. The Opposition members often allege that their suggestions on business of the House are not included in the agenda. The ruling party members often dismiss such allegations, stating that the Opposition distorts the issues. If such a cantankerousness is going to rule the roost even in committee meetings, then the future health of parliamentary democracy will be uncertain. Once such atmosphere gets lodged in public conduct, then it may become very difficult for Parliament to run its show in a smooth manner. By staging a walk-out, Mr. Dhankhar has exposed the lacunae in the democratic set up. Now it is time the political community undertakes a serious rethink of its conduct on and off the floor of the House and alter its ways -- so that the national discourse becomes more meaningful. NEW CHALLENGE ASIGNIFICANT development in the Asian geopolitical theater has been noted by the international community with keen interest as Bangladesh Chief Adviser Mr. Muhammad Yunus completed his visit to China. Mr. Yunus extracted support from Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping in investments and also loan concessions as the two countries signed nine important agreements. The development reflects Bangladeshs focus on seeking deeper relations with China to navigate economic and diplomatic challenges arising out of the political situation in the country. Beijing has been carefully watching the unfolding chaotic situation in Dhaka after Ms Sheikh Hasinas government was ousted from power in Bangladesh last year. Mr. Yunus has been leading the interim government with a heavy imprint of former Prime Minister Ms Khalida Zia in governance. Already taking an antagonist approach towards India the government in Dhaka is clearly leaning towards China to shore up its future while renegotiating loan terms and attract investment. Despite knowing the pitfalls of hobnobbing with Beijing, Mr. Yunus seems too keen on jumping the lucrative investment offers with the only aim of keeping the United States out of Bangladesh and at the same time needling India. The cookie has the potential to crumble soon and Bangladesh will realise the blunder in due course of time. Mr. Jinping has promised increasing Chinese investments and relocating Chinese manufacturing industries to Bangladesh. He has also identified key sectors for potential relocation which again shows the groundwork prepared by Beijing to woo Dhaka once the Indian influence waned after the fall of Ms. Hasina. The new development was promptly tracked by India but it has refused to come out with a reaction. New Delhi will have to factor in these changes as it reworks its strategy towards Dhaka. It is imperative for India to be in the scheme of things to play counterbalance to China. Gudhi Padwa gift for consumers as power tariff to reduce Residential single phase consumers (using 1-100 units) will see a steep 24% reduction by 2029-30 Hotels, resorts and guest houses, previously categorised under commercial tariff, will now be billed under the industrial tariff New rebates will be available for residential consumers using power between 9 am and 5 pm MERC has reduced Cross Subsidy for HT industrial consumers from existing level of 113% to 101% and for LT industrial consumers from existing 108 % to 100 % Avg power price for HT industrial consumers will reduce by 15 % and for LT industrial consumers by 11% for FY 2025-26 MERC has enabled ToD rebate of Rs 0.80 to 1.00/kWh for residential consumers during Solar Hours (9 am to 5 pm) Staff Reporter : A Gudhi Padwa bonanza for 3.16 crore power consumers in State was announced as Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has provided 10 per cent reduction in energy tariff to domestic consumer for next financial year. The new rates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 were decided after completing adjudication of MYT Petition of MSEDCL. As per the Commissions ruling, there is across the board lowering of tariff as consumers will pay less for electricity starting from 2025. According to the new order, power tariffs will drop by 10% in the financial year 2025-26. By the year 2029-30, the total reduction will be 16%. This decision is in contrast to Mahavitarans proposal, which had pressed for no tariff change in 2025-26 and only a 3.6% reduction by 2029-30. The main reason behind this cut is a projected surplus of Rs 44,481 crore in revenue, which will help reduce the overall cost of electricity supply, as per MERCs order. Residential Consumers: For households, electricity prices will fall by 10-12%, depending on the usage. Those using between 1-100 units will see a steep reduction of 24% by 2029-30. New rebates will also be available for residential consumers using power between 9 am and 5 pm, during solar hours, giving them a discount of Rs 0.80 to Rs 1.00/unit. The only loss from consumers point of view is reduction in usage time by one hour. Now peak consumption period will be from 5 pm that may lead to marginal rise in bills. Industrial Consumers: Businesses will also benefit from new financial year. High-tension (HT) usage industries will see a reduction in electricity charges from current 113% to 101%, while low-tension (LT) industries will see a decrease from present 108% to 100%. HT industries will pay 15% less in 2025-26, with annual cut of 4% until 2029-30. LT connection industries will see an 11% drop initially, with 3% cut each year subsequently. Data centers and semiconductor units are now classified as industrial consumers, will also benefit due to lower tariff, along with 10% discount on charges if they use 100% green energy. Commercial Consumers: Hotels, resorts, and guest houses will now fall under industrial tariffs instead of commercial ones, leading to significant savings. Commercial users will also benefit from a reduction in cross-subsidy charges, leading to up to a 30% decrease in electricity costs for HT-Commercial users and 20% for LT-Commercial users. Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners: To encourage the use of electric vehicles, MERC has eliminated fixed demand charges for EV charging. With this, EV users can expect an 8-10% reduction in their electricity bills, thanks to lower rates and additional time-of-day benefits. Agricultural Consumers: Farmers will continue to receive heavily subsidised electricity, with rates well below the actual cost. In the future, more solar-powered agricultural feeders will help reduce the costs even further. The Hitavadas efforts bear fruits For quite some time, The Hitavada has been consistently highlighting the hardship faced by power consumers. On several occasions, the newspaper has published articles and news stories on how the high power rates in Maharashtra were impacting trade and industrial growth. The recent campaign by this newspaper on Effect of high power rates on the regional industrial units and its migration to adjoining states played a vital role in the latest decision. INDIA SENDS RESCUE TEAMS,relief supplies to Myanmar NEW DELHI : AS MYANMAR reels from death and destruction caused by a massive earthquake, India on Saturday mounted a multi-agency mission delivering 15 tonnes of essential materials and dispatching more aid by air and sea along with rescue teams to the neighbouring country. In a reflection of New Delhis strong commitment to extend help, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Myanmars Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and said India stands in solidarity with the people of that country. India has named its rescue mission for Myanmar as Operation Brahma. Hours after New Delhi delivered 15 tonnes of essential relief materials to Yangon in a military transport aircraft, another military plane landed in Myanmars capital Nay-Pyi-Taw carrying a group of rescue personnel. India became the first country to bring rescue personnel to the capital city to help local authorities, officials said. Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour, the Prime Minister said on X after his phone conversation with the senior military general. Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma, he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Indian naval ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon. In a social media post, Jaishankar also said that an 80- member strong search and rescue team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) departed for Myanmars capital Nay Pyi Taw. They will assist the rescue operations in Myanmar, he added. India has deployed NDRF abroad on two previous occasions -- during the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2023 Turkiye quake. In the morning, India delivered 15 tonnes of relief materials to the Myanmarese city of Yangon after a C130J military aircraft of the Indian Air Force transported the consignments to the Myanmarese city. The supplies included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, readyto-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets and essential medicines, officials said. Two more IAF aircraft are also carrying relief materials, according to officials. Sixty para-field ambulances are also being sent by air to Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma, they said. #OperationBrahma gets underway. First tranche of humanitarian aid from India has reached the Yangon Airport in Myanmar, Jaishankar posted on X after India dispatched the first consignments of relief supplies. The relief materials were handed over to Chief Minister of Yangon U Soe Thein by Indian envoy to Myanmar Abhay Thakur. Sangh played pivotal role in fight for restoring democracy By Dattatreya Hosabale Sarkaryavah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sangh Swayamsevaks played a pivotal role in the fight for restoring democracy through peaceful means when the Constitution was brutally assaulted during the emergency. Sangh has expanded from the concept of Shakha to engaging in service activity by invoking the righteous power of society and has made significant strides in these ninety-nine years. WHEN Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is completing the hundredth year of its service , there isanevidentcuriosity about the way Sangh perceives this landmark. It has been crystal clear for the Sangh since its inceptionthat suchoccasionsare not meant for celebration but provide us with an opportunity to introspectandrededicatetothe cause. It is also a chance to acknowledgethecontributions of the stalwart saintly figures whoguidedthemovement and theseriesofSwayamsevaksand their families who selflessly joined this journey. There cannot be a better occasion than the birth anniversary of the Sangh founder Dr Keshav BaliramHedgewar, whichhappens to be the Varsh Pratipada the first day of the Hindu calendar to revisit the journey of hundredyears toresolve forthe future of harmoniousandunited Bharat for the world peace and prosperity. Dr Hedgewar was a born patriot, and this trait of unconditional love and unadulterated dedication for Bharat was visibleinhisactionsfromchildhood. By the time he completed his medical education in Kolkata, he had already been exposed to allthe efforts from the armed revolution to Satyagraha- undertakentofree Bharat from British colonisation. As we fondly call him in Sanghcircles, Doctor, respected all those ways and never tried to belittle any of them. Social reforms or political independence was one of the central pointsofdiscussionatthattime. At the same time, as a doctor ofIndian society, he diagnosed thefundamentalproblems that caused us to lose our independence and decided to find a lasting solution. He realised that the absence of patriotism in day-to-day life, the deterioration of collective national characterresultinginparochial identities and the lack of discipline in social life are the root causesofexternalinvadersfinding theirfoothold inBharat.He could experience that people had lost the collective memory of our glorious history due to incessant aggressions. Hence, there was a sense of pessimism and inferiority complex about our culture and knowledge tradition. Itwashisconvictionthat mere political activism under a fewleaderswouldnot solve the fundamental problems of our ancient Rashtra. Hence, he decided to devise a method of consistent efforts to train people to live for the nation. The innovative and uniquefunctioningoftheSangh based onthe Shakha method is the outcome of this visionary thinkingbeyondpoliticalstruggle. While participating in the political freedom struggle and encouraging others to do the same, Dr Hedgewar developed this trainingmethodfororganising the entire society and not creating an organisation withinthesociety.Today,afterahundredyears , thousandsof youth continuetojointhepathshown by Doctor Hedgewar and are ready to dedicatethemselves to the national cause. There is a growingacceptanceandexpectations of the society from the Sangh. These are nothing but thesignsofapprovalforDoctor ji vision and method. The progressive unfoldment of this movement and philosophy is nothing short of a miracle. It was not easy to explain theideaofHindutvaandtheidea of Rashtra when most of the English-educated elites were influencedbytheEuropeanidea of nationalism, which was narrow, parochial and exclusivist. Doctor Hedgewar did not theorise the ideology, but he gave an action programme in seed form that has been the guiding forceinthis journey. Duringhis lifetime, Sangh's work reached all the regions of the Bharat. When we attained independence andatthe same time Bharat Mata was unfortunatelypartitionedonreligiouslines, it was Sangh Swayamsevaks who dedicated themselves to thecauseofrescuingtheHindu population from Pakistan and resettlingthemwithhonourand dignity. Theorganisationforthe organisation's sake mantra unfolded into transmitting organisational energy into various walks of national life. TheconceptofSwayamsevak, which is more ofasense of responsibilityanddutyforsociety, started showing its presenceinfieldsrangingfromeducation to labour to politics. Everything has to be reorganised in light of the national ethos, for which Sri Guruji (Madhav Sadashiv Golwarkar), the second Sarsanghachalak, was the guiding force during this phase. Bharat is an ancient civilisationwitha destinedrole toplay in the interest of humanity basedonitsspiritualtraditions. If Bharat has to perform the role based on the ideas of universal harmony and oneness, then the common populous of Bharat has to prepare itself for that goal. Sri Guruji provided a strong ideational foundation for the same. The reformist agenda of the Hindu society gained new momentum when all sects of Bharat declared that any form of discrimination has no Dharmic sanction. Sangh Swayamsevaksplayeda pivotal role in the fight for restoring democracy through peaceful means when the Constitution was brutally assaulted during the emergency. Sangh has expanded from the concept of Shakha to engaging in service activity by invoking the righteous power of society and has madesignificantstridesinthese ninety-nine years. Movements like Ram Janmabhoomi liberationconnectedall sections and regions of Bharat for cultural liberation. Fromnationalsecuritytoborder management, participatory governance to rural development, no aspect of national life is untouched by the Sangh Swayamsevaks. Thebiggestsatisfaction is that society is coming forward to be part of this systemic transformation. While there isatendency to look at everything from the political prism, Sangh is still focussingontheculturalawakening of society and creating a strong network of right-minded people and organisations. Participation of women in social transformation and restoring the sanctity of family institution has been the focus of Sangh for the last few years. Around ten thousand programmes were organised throughoutBharatwiththeparticipation of more than twenty-seven lac people after the Sanghcalledfora tri-centenary celebration of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar a testimony of how we are collectively celebrating our national icons. WhentheSanghworkentered itshundredthyear,Sanghdecided to take the core man-makingfornation-buildingworkup to the block and village level. Adding up to ten thousand Shakhas in the last one-year with systematic planning and execution is a symbol of determination and acceptance. Thegoalofreachingeachvillage and Basti is still an unfulfilled task and is a matter of introspection.ThecallforPachParivartan the five-fold programme for transformation - will continue to be the main focusinthecomingyears.While expandingtheShakhanetwork, Sangh has focused on inculcating civic duties, an environment-friendly lifestyle, socially harmonious conduct, familial values and systemic transformation based on the sense of selfhood, so that everyone contributes to the larger cause ofParamVaibhavamNetumEtat Svarashtram taking our Rashtra to the pinnacle of the glory. In the last hundred years, Sangh, as a movement of nationalreconstruction, has travelled from neglect and ridiculetocuriosityandacceptance. Sangh does not believe in opposing anyone and is confident that someday, anyone opposing the Sangh work will join the Sangh fold. When the world is grappling with multiplechallenges rangingfromclimate change to violent conflicts,Bharat'sancientandexperiential wisdom is eminently capable of providing solutions. Thisgiganticbutinevitabletask is possible when every child of Bharat Mata understands this role and contributes to building a domestic model that inspires others to emulate. Let us join this resolve to present a role model before the world of a harmonious and organised Bharat, taking the entire societytogetherundertheleadership of righteous people (Sajjan Shakti). Business entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently addressed an SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, telling the crowd that when it comes to any industry, AI is merely a tool of the trade, not the overall magical solution, according to TechCrunch. For You: Mark Cuban Wants To Reshape Healthcare 5 Ways His Approach Could Save Americans Money Find Out: 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks That includes small businesses, which usually struggle to get their footing in the early years, though with Cubans advice, might be able to harness AI to beat their competitors. GOBankingRates reached out to business experts to see if they agreed with Cubans advice and found out how small businesses can use AI to edge out their competitors. Expanding Resources AI can be a valuable tool for small businesses, particularly those with limited resources, explained CEO of Abrigo, Jay Blandford. In addition to serving small businesses, many community banks and credit unions are small businesses themselves. Blandford pointed to survey data from Abrigo, which revealed that among banks and credit unions with fewer than 500 employees, 19% are excited about AI, while 76% are either excited or open but cautious. This suggests that most of these small businesses are receptive to using AI, Blandford concluded. Read Next: Mark Cuban Says He Keeps a Large Part of His Portfolio in Cash: Heres Why Streamlining Processes In the opinion of Alexandre Fossier, an affiliate specialist and investor at iGamingNuts, one of the biggest advantages AI brings is streamlining financial operations such as automated bookkeeping, expenses tracking, and forecasting revenue trends, cutting down on cost and errors in the process. I agree with Mark Cuban: AI is a tool, not the answer! Fossier commented. It wont do the work for you, but if you use it properly, it can streamline many aspects. The companies that embrace AI to streamline operations, manage money better, and reach customers in smarter ways are the ones that will stay ahead. Time Management One of the most, if not the most, valuable resource that any small business owner has is time. How can you get ahead with your brand or business with a limited staff or doing it solo? AI might be the key element to solving that problem. Automated customer service tools like chatbots can handle questions instantly, freeing up time for actual human interactions where they matter, Fossier explained. AI-driven inventory management can help businesses avoid overstocking or running out of products at the worst possible time. These small wins add up fast, especially in industries where margins are tight and competition is fierce. We recently published a list of Top 8 AI News Updates Investors Should Not Miss. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI stands against other top AI news updates investors should not miss. The global AI industry is growing at a rapid pace but a looming deadline could stall development across the world. The AI diffusion rule, unveiled by Former US President Joe Biden during his last week in Office, restricts the number of AI processors that can be exported to most nations. The rule will be effective on May 15th. The goal is to ensure that AI development stays concentrated in the US and its close allies. American policymakers want AI data centers and infrastructure built elsewhere to comply with US security standards. If the US government implements the controversial framework, industry experts believe it could disrupt global infrastructure development plans and pose challenges for leading technology companies expanding in foreign markets. When asked about export controls last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that we should continue to interact with the government, so that whatever policy they believe is best, is informed. Amid fears of the US taking control of global AI development, senior foreign officials and top tech companies urge the Trump Administration to reassess the semiconductor strategy. They are trying to persuade Trumps team to ease some regulations before the compliance deadline. Left unchanged, the Biden rule will give China a strategic advantage in spreading over time its own AI technology, echoing its rapid ascent in 5G telecommunications a decade ago, said Microsoft president Brad Smith last month. We selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkeys Q4 2024 database of over 1000 hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI) Introduces Pelco AI Security Devices for Tough Environments A close-up view of a mission-critical communication device in action. Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57 Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) is a tech firm offering enterprise security and public safety solutions through communication and video security products, cybersecurity solutions, LTE devices and broadband systems, and command center software. Stocks have sold off in recent days as investors digested President Trump's latest round of tariffs. The headlines are expected to intensify in the week ahead, with an April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline that Trump has dubbed "Liberation Day" looming on Wednesday. The big questions from investors headed into the expected announcements are to what extent will Trump impose levies on trading partners and whether the moves lead to further escalation of the trade war. "The market is going to have a lot to digest," Veda Partners director of economic policy Henrietta Treyz told Yahoo Finance. "And they're going to see just how forward-looking and long-term these tariffs are, which is not currently priced in." Ajay Rajadhyaksha, global chairman of research at Barclays, said on a call with reporters on Thursday that Trump's recent 25% auto tariffs on foreign made-vehicles were "a bigger deal than the market is making it out to be." "It is a statement of intent," Rajadhyaksha said. "And at least in my mind, it releases the risk that April 2 is something that markets can't dismiss. I think we will be negatively surprised." The growing market fear is that worse-than-expected tariffs could weigh on already souring sentiment and eventually slow economic growth. The impact of tariffs has already prompted several Wall Street firms to lower their S&P 500 year-end targets. Goldman Sachs strategist David Kostin on Monday cut his target for the second time in March, from 6,200 to 5,700. Meanwhile, Barclays recently lowered its target from 6,600 to 5,900. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Should the eventual tariff rate land higher than Barclays' roughly 15% estimate, the firm sees more potential downside risk for stocks and the economy potentially slipping into recession. The possibility of this outcome has Rajadhyaksha telling clients to "be as defensive as possible." "We are as defensive as I can remember in the last two and a half years," Rajadhyaksha told Yahoo Finance in a separate interview after Thursday's media call. The economics team at Goldman Sachs also believes markets will be surprised to the downside next week. Goldman Sachs' recent survey of market participants shows investors likely expect a nine percentage point reciprocal tariff rate, per chief political economist Alec Phillips. But Goldman Sachs' team believes the initially proposed rate will be higher, potentially closer to double what market participants expect, Phillips wrote. By Krystal Hu and Jaspreet Singh (Reuters) - OpenAI must transition to a for-profit company by the end of the year to secure the full $40 billion funding led by SoftBank it is in the final stages of raising, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. SoftBank can pare back the size of the funding round to $20 billion if Microsoft-backed OpenAI fails to restructure into a for-profit company by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the news earlier in the day. This would mark an accelerated deadline for OpenAI to pull off its complicated transition. It was under a two-year deadline from its last round of financing with investors. The startup has said its transition to a for-profit entity is required to secure the capital it needs to develop the best AI models. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai) A Burdwan fast track court, after four days of conviction, pronounced judgment against the chairperson, Burdwan Development Authority and 12 of her political colleagues today, pushing the convicted persons behind bars. This possibly has put an end to a recurrent political vendetta that began in the 1980s with the murder of former MLA Kashinath Tah of Congress. He was the father of Kakoli Tah Gupta, the chairperson of the Burdwan Development Authority. Advertisement The judge, Fast Track Court-II, Burdwan, Arvind Mishra ordered three years of punishment for the sick BDA chairperson and 10 years for others. Advertisement The same fast track court granted temporary bail for the BDA chairperson against a Rs 20,000 personal bail bond late yesterday. On Wednesday, the judge had recorded the live video submission of Kakoli pertaining to the conviction of an attempted murder case registered on 5 September 2017 at Nari village close to Burdwan town. The video submission was transmitted from the superspecialty hospital where Kakoli currently is undergoing treatment. Sandhya Pal, wife of one Debu Pal of Nari village close to Burdwan town lodged a complaint against 15 persons, including Kakoli after Debu lost his right eye in the 2017 attack on him. The court had acquitted two persons during the trial period. Debu is the father of Jibonkrishna Pal, former elected member of the local Ryan panchayat and the member of the rival faction of that of Tahs. Apart from holding the charge as chairperson, BDA, Tah also holds the position of block president of the ruling Trinamul Congress over the years. Her father Kashinath Tah, then a Congress leader was murdered allegedly by the CPI-M cadres on 11 August 1980 allegedly by the CPI-M cadres. Later, after the Trinamul Congress assumed the office in 2011, Pradip Tah and Kamal Gayen, the CPI-M leaders accused in Kashis murder, were hacked to death at local Dewandighi locality. Biswajit Das, lawyer for the convicted persons, had submitted medical reports of the BDA chairperson before the court. Contai in East Midnapore turned into a battleground on Saturday over the elections to the Kanthi Cooperative Bank, with allegations and counter-allegations flying between the Trinamul Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and CPI-M. Tensions escalated as violence broke out during the polling process, leading to injuries and political outrage. CPI-M central committee member Sujan Chakraborty criticised TMC MLA Akhil Giri, stating: He has turned a cooperative election into a caricature. This is unacceptable. He was once a minister but lost his position due to controversial remarks about the President of India and others. Yet, his behaviour remains unchanged. Elections in this state are synonymous with chaos, be it the Kanthi Cooperative elections or the Indian Medical Association or doctors council polls. Advertisement The BJP also lashed out at the ruling party. Senior BJP leader Sajal Ghosh condemned Giris actions, saying: Akhil Giri has insulted the police, calling them animals. Ironically, the police work under chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The way he ran around, like a goon, despite being a veteran MLA is shameful. It looks like Kurukshetra war in the name of cooperative bank election. Advertisement The situation worsened when Akhil Giri alleged that he was attacked while trying to stop fake voters from casting ballots. The police assaulted us. They denied votes to people carrying photocopies of their documents and kept harassing voters. Does a cooperative bank card hold no validity? When we protested, I was physically assaulted, Giri claimed, adding that he sustained injuries on his hand. The election has become a power struggle between political factions. The BJP accused TMC of preventing its supporters from voting through intimidation and violence, even vandalising BJPs camp office. Conversely, TMC accused BJP of bribing voters and resorting to threats to sway the election. Reports suggest that legitimate shareholders were being denied their voting rights over document verification issues. Voters without specific slips were allegedly barred from casting their votes, leading to further unrest. The BJP MP, Dibyendu Adhikari, mocked the ruling party over Giris assault claims. It is indeed unfortunate that a TMC MLA is being attacked by the police. The police are their own people. If the allegations against them are true, an investigation is necessary. However, our sources indicate that it was Giri himself who incited violence. Clashes and disturbances were reported from multiple locations, including Kanthi, Egra, and Ramnagar. The elections were conducted across 13 polling stations in the Contai-Egra sub-division, covering 78 seats and over 58,000 voters. The town of Contai, known as the stronghold of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, witnessed the most intense confrontations, turning it into a virtual war zone. With violence marring the election process, political tempers continue to flare. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Hrishikesh Saha today warned that incidents such as the recent unrest in Maldas Mothabari will persist unless a rational and enlightened society is established. Malda, a sensitive border district with cultural and demographic ties to Bangladesh, remains a focal point for discussions on Hindu welfare and regional stability. Advertisement Addressing a press conference at the RSS north Bengal headquarters in Siliguri, Mr Saha, the Sanghchalak of Uttar Banga Prant (covering north Bengal and Sikkim), emphasised the need for societal harmony under saintly leadership. If society is shaped under the guidance of saints, divisions will vanish. We strive for collective welfare, he said. Advertisement The RSS leadership highlighted resolutions from its recent national meeting in Bengaluru, urging the central government to engage with Bangladesh to safeguard Hindus there and counter anti-India forces, particularly Pakistans alleged destabilising role. Mr Saha stressed that upheavals in neighbouring nations like Bangladesh and Nepal, impact India due to shared cultural and historical bonds. Referring to Nepals Hindu resurgence and Bangladeshs shrinking Hindu population, Mr Saha asserted: The global Hindu awakening has begun. Hindutva, rooted in humanitarian values, is guiding societies toward justiceevident in Nepals positive change. The RSS also outlined centenary celebrations from October 2025, reinforcing its outreach. On Mothabari, Mr Saha confirmed RSS delegations had visited the area and lodged police complaints, vowing Hindus would no longer tolerate oppression. Maldas strategic location, bordering Bangladesh, underscores the RSSs broader concerns about sub-continental stability and Hindu solidarity. The Kotwali police arrested a woman on charges of attempting to smuggle multiple unauthorised mobile SIM cards to her husband, an undertrial at the Krishnagar District Correctional Home. The accused, identified as Sarmina Bibi, hailing from Sagarpara police station area in Murshidabad, was caught red-handed while attempting to deliver the SIM cards concealed within onion peels and food items. Advertisement According to officials, the incident took place last night when Sarmina Bibi entered the correctional home premises. During a routine security check, authorities discovered 13 unauthorised SIM cards cleverly hidden inside the onion peels. She was detained by correctional home officials, who subsequently filed a complaint with the police. Advertisement Following the complaint, Kotwali police arrested the woman and produced her before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of the Krishnagar District Judges Court on Saturday. A case has been lodged against her under Sections 318, 319, 336, 337, 338, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as Section 42 of the Indian Telegraph Act. Additional superintendent of police Meetkumar stated: We have appealed to the court for her police custody to further investigate the matter. Her husband, Manirul Sheikh, was arrested approximately 40 months ago under an NDPS case by Karimpur police station and is currently facing trial. The woman was attempting to provide him with unauthorised SIM cards to facilitate illegal communication with his associates from within the correctional home. Authorities are now probing the possibility of a larger conspiracy, with police officials determined to uncover the motive behind the act. We will conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain her intentions and determine if others are involved in this smuggling attempt, added ASP Meetkumar. We recently published a list of 10 Mega Cap Stocks Gaining Bullish Momentum This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) stands against other mega cap stocks gaining bullish momentum this week. The S&P 500 index started the week with a bang after staying under pressure for a few days. There was a realization that Wall Street may have overestimated the impact of tariffs. Once the dust settles, the market will continue to go higher, just like the US economy which continues to grow despite challenges. When the broader market corrects itself due to uncertainty, such as the one brought about by Trumps tariff wars, mega-cap stocks also get affected. This provides investors, especially the ones that invest at regular intervals, to take another bite of these impressive stocks. The same situation happened during the last week, and we believe that after Mondays impressive recovery, the trend is about to reverse. Mega cap stocks like the ones in our list have driven the market in recent months and are therefore likely to be the ones leading it again. We decided to come up with the top 10 mega-cap stocks in the S&P index that have lost a considerable chunk of value in the last month and are now trading at a discount, a valuation gap that could quickly be recovered during this weeks trading. To come up with the list of 10 oversold S&P 500 Mega-Cap Stocks To Trade This Week, we only looked at stocks with a market cap of at least $200 billion that have lost the most value in the last month. Is Oracle Corporation (ORCL) The Mega Cap Stock Gaining Bullish Momentum This Week? A team of IT professionals meticulously crafting a large-scale enterprise performance management system. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) provides services and products to address enterprise information technology environments. The company also offers cloud and license business infrastructure technologies, cloud-based industry solutions for various industries, Oracle license support services, and Oracle application licenses. The stock is down 8.6% in a month. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) boasted a surging cloud demand right before the recent dip in share price. Enterprise demand for AI-powered cloud services is likely to keep going up as AI applications go mainstream. Oracle is setting itself up for this demand by partnering with tech companies like Nvidia, AMD, xAI, and OpenAI. Many people focused on the earnings themselves, but shrewd investors would have noticed how active the company management was in making new deals, something that will reflect in its finances in the coming quarters. Two Bangladeshi immigrants, who entered India illegally through river routes near the India-Bangla border, have been arrested in Mandawali, East Delhi, authorities said on Sunday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania said they received a tip-off that two Bangladeshi immigrants have been staying in two different areas of Mandawali. Acting upon the info, a team of cops was deployed to the suspected area to nab the suspects, the DCP said. Advertisement Additionally, the police team meticulously conducted raids in different locations of the reported area leading to their arrest. Advertisement Upon the sustained interrogation, the detainees revealed that they had illegally entered India by crossing the borders in Kolkata, West Bengal. The accused also disclosed that they travelled to Delhi by local trains and had been residing in various localities without valid documents or permits. On the next course of action, Dhania said, The detainees will be produced before the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office), R K Puram, Delhi, for their deportation process. The team of Delhi police has initiated a drive to get a hold on illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who overstayed in India while the crackdown on the illegal immigrants is on, the official mentioned. Within 24 hours of the murder of a 20-year-old youth in the New Usmanpur area, East Delhi, the Delhi Police nabbed three assailants, including two juveniles, authorities said on Sunday. The action was followed by CCTV analysis in which the suspected trio were seen roaming in the area, said a police official. Advertisement He added that they were arrested from the Shastri Park area. Following sustained interrogation, they revealed that they had a monetary dispute with the deceased which led to his killing. Advertisement The weapon of the offence, a button-operated knife, along with the deceaseds phone, was confiscated from the accused. Notably, the incident came to light after a PCR call was received at around 4 pm on Saturday alerting the cops about a boy lying in a pool of blood near Durga Mandir Park in the New Usmanpur area. Soon after registering a complaint regarding the incident, a team of cops rushed to the scene of the crime. Upon reaching the spot, the policemen found a boy lying with several injury marks on his body. The victim was rushed to the JPC Hospital, an official said. However, the doctors declared the victim dead. Meanwhile, a Crime and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team visited the crime scene to collect evidence and secure the spot for the police, an official mentioned. The body of the deceased, identified as Dilshad, was later sent for postmortem. Authorities stated that a case has been filed under section 103 (pertaining to murder) at the police station. Bollywood has seen its fair share of larger-than-life personalities, but few compare to the enigmatic Raaj Kumar. His deep, deliberate dialogue delivery and no-nonsense attitude made him a legend both on and off the screen. However, veteran actor Raza Murad recently dropped a bombshell about a dark chapter in the late superstars past. In a candid conversation with ANI, Raza Murad recalled a shocking incident from Raaj Kumars early days. According to Murad, the actorthen a police sub-inspectorwas involved in a brawl that had tragic consequences. Advertisement Raaj sahab was at Juhu beach with a friend and his girlfriend when someone passed an inappropriate remark about the lady. Raaj sahab lost his temper and beat the man so badly that he died, Murad revealed. Advertisement This led to a murder case against Raaj Kumar, sparking a lengthy legal battle. Murad shared that his father, a close friend of the actor, attended every court hearing to support him. It went on for months, but in the end, he was acquitted, Murad stated. Despite this controversy, Raaj Kumar remained a force to be reckoned with in Bollywood. Murad described him as a man who never played by the ruleswhether in his personal life or his career. Raaj sahab was a Kashmiri Pandit. Before becoming an actor, he served as a police sub-inspector. But fate had other plans, and he went on to become one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema, Murad reminisced. His towering presence was unforgettable. Murad shared a memory from his childhood: Once, I went to his cottage with a garland to honor him. He was so tall that I thought I was looking at the Qutub Minar! But he bent his neck so I could place the garland on him. That was his humility. Raaj Kumars distinct dialogue delivery set him apart in an industry filled with great voices. His slow, deliberate speech and unique style made every line he spoke unforgettable. People loved his style. It was his trademark. He was Jani for everyone, Murad said, referencing the legendary actors famous way of addressing people. Raaj Kumars wit was as sharp as his on-screen performances. Murad shared an amusing anecdote about the stars flight to London. He was seated in first class when a few fans in economy requested to meet him. The air hostess allowed one fan to approach. When the fan greeted him, Raaj sahab looked around and quipped, Jani, where have you brought us, to Dharavi? Murad laughed. Raaj Kumar was also a huge admirer of fellow superstar Dilip Kumar. Raza Murad recalled a memorable moment when Raaj Kumar visited Dilip Kumars house at 1:30 AM after watching Ganga Jamuna. He told Dilip Kumar, After watching this film, I now know that there are only two actors in this countryRaaj Kumar and Dilip Kumar. That was the kind of respect he had for true talent. Born Kulbhushan Pandit in 1926, Raaj Kumars journey from a police sub-inspector to a Bollywood icon is the stuff of legend. His first film, Rangeeli (1952), didnt make waves, but Mother India (1957) changed everything. The film catapulted him to fame, and he never looked back. Over his career, he starred in over 70 films, delivering unforgettable performances in classics like Waqt (1965) and Pakeezah (1972). His legacy remains unparalleled, with his distinct style and powerful screen presence continuing to inspire generations. Raaj Kumar passed away in 1996 at the age of 69, but his legend lives on. Amid a massive controversy surrounding his latest film L2: Empuraan, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has issued an apology and expressed regret for the distress caused to his fans. He clarified that his films do not intend to promote hatred against any political ideology, organization, or religious group. Advertisement In a Facebook post, Mohanlal stated, I have learned that some of my dear well-wishers have been deeply troubled by certain political and social themes in Empuraan. As an artist, it is my responsibility to ensure that none of my films spread animosity toward any political movement, ideology, or religious community. I sincerely regret the distress this has caused, and the Empuraan team and I fully acknowledge our responsibility in this matter. Advertisement He further added, Therefore, the Empuraan team and I sincerely regret the mental pain caused to my loved ones. Realizing that the responsibility lies with all of us who worked on the film, we have collectively decided to remove the contentious parts. Emphasizing his deep bond with his audience, the veteran actor said, For the past 40 years, I have lived my cinematic life as one among you. Your love and trust are my greatest strengthsbeyond that, there is no Mohanlal. Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran, who directed the movie, has shared Mohanlals Facebook post. The controversy erupted over the alleged depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots in the film, leading to backlash from Hindu organizations, including the RSS. Organizer, the RSS mouthpiece, published an article accusing the movie of vilifying an entire Hindu community. While BJP and RSS leaders strongly opposed the film, Congress and Left leaders praised it, calling it an expose on the Gujarat riots. Earlier, producer Gokulam Gopalan had announced that the production team had decided on 17 cuts in the movie, and the revised version would be released in theaters next week. The edits include the removal of riot scenes, changes to the antagonists name from Baba Bajrangi, and muting of certain dialogues. Meanwhile, BJP Kerala President Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his disappointment with the film and announced that he would not watch it. Initially, he had shared a positive message about the films release, wishing the team success. However, after facing backlash, he changed his stance, stating, I had watched Lucifer and liked it. I had planned to watch Empuraan as its sequel, but now, with 17 amendments and re-censorship, I have no interest. He added, A movie should be watched as a movieit cannot be considered history. Any film that distorts the truth is doomed to fail. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly defended the film, accusing the Sangh Parivar of creating an atmosphere of fear due to its stand against communalism. In a Facebook post on Sunday, he called Empuraan a milestone for Malayalam cinema and stated that it references one of the most brutal genocides in Indias history. News has emerged that producers are being pressured into re-censoring the film, Vijayan wrote. The atmosphere of fear created by the Sangh Parivar is alarming. The fact that communal forces can devalue a work of art and vilify its creators simply for taking a stand against communalism is a serious blow to democracy. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh has demanded that the state government extend its recent ban on slaughterhouses and meat sales within 500 meters of religious places. He called for the closure of liquor shops and restaurants selling meat in these areas as well. Singh argued that while liquor shops, KFC, McDonalds, and other outlets continue to operate along highways, the state government should take similar action against them. Within 500 meters on the highway, you will find KFC, McDonalds, and other such establishments. Why should liquor shops, KFC, or McDonalds remain open? The state government should shut them down too, he said. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Singh criticized the governments policies, particularly its promotion of free liquor offers in the state. He claimed that while Muslims in UP face restrictions on offering Namaz, the government is promoting liquor sales under the guise of Saugat-e-Modi. He called this a reflection of the BJPs double standards. Singh also questioned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various historical and political matters. He asked why the RSS has never had a Dalit, backward, or tribal leader in its 100-year history. Prime Minister Modi and the RSS should explain why the tricolor was not hoisted at the RSS headquarters for 52 years. JP Nadda said that BJP does not need the RSS. The RSS supported the British, and it must answer for that, he alleged. He further accused the RSS of representing only select castes and regions, citing historical instances like Shyama Prasad Mukherjees letter to the British opposing the Quit India Movement and the opposition to Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses Azad Hind Fauj. Singh claimed that Modi has only turned to the RSS now that BJPs seat share has declined in the Lok Sabha. On the issue of the Waqf Bill proposed by the Modi government, Singh warned that if the bill is introduced, the government could face serious consequences. He claimed that BJPs allies, including Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary, have issued an ultimatum, stating that their support for the government would be at risk if the bill is brought forward. Advertisement Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Patna late Saturday for his two-day visit to Bihar, during which he met leaders of the BJP-led NDA, and will address a couple of public events. This visit by the Union Home Minister is aimed at energising the BJP and its NDA allies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections which is scheduled to take place later this year. Advertisement After arriving in Bihar on Saturday, Amit Shah took to his official X account and said: Under the leadership of Modi ji, the NDA government in Bihar has become synonymous with public welfare and good governance. Today, I had a detailed discussion with the Ministers, MLAs and senior officials of the @BJP4Bihar in the Bihar government. Once again, the NDA government is going to be formed in Bihar. Advertisement The Union Home Minister was warmly welcomed at the Patna airport by senior BJP leaders from the state. After his arrival, Home Minister Shah proceeded to the BJP office in Patna, where he held a meeting with local leaders. Amit Shah held a meeting with Union ministers, MPs, state Ministers, and MLAs, emphasising the goal of securing 225 seats for the NDA in 2025 Bihar Assembly polls. Taking To his official X account, BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: Today, I attended a meeting with all the MPs, MLAs, Legislative Council members in the dignified presence of the countrys illustrious Home and Cooperation Minister Mr. @AmitShah ji at the Bihar BJP office. In the meeting, I got guidance on the partys upcoming programs and organizational issues. He told IANS, There will be more people coming to Bihar, and Bihar has to win the the influence and create a new enthusiasm all over the country. The BJP won the Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi. So now the process of BJPs victory will continue Commenting on Amit Shahs visit to Bihar, the former Union Minister added: This is an organisational meeting focused on the upcoming elections. Discussions will be held with all MLAs and MPs, as well as core committee members Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh told IANS, The Home Minister has arrived, bringing joy across the state, especially among party workers. Known as the Chanakya of the party (BJP) organisation, his presence naturally enthuses the cadre BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS: A wave of joy is sweeping across Bihar as Amit Shah arrives! Whenever he visits Bihar, an NDA storm begins to rise. There is an atmosphere of excitement and celebration among all party workers BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal told IANS, The countrys Union Home Minister, who also plays the role of a modern-day Chanakya in politics, is set to make a significant impact with todays crucial meeting in Bihar. With elections approaching, his visit at this time is highly strategic. Not just one, but multiple high-level meetings will take place. Initially, there will be discussions with MLAs, MPs, and Ministers, followed by another important meeting BJP MP Dharmshila Gupta told IANS: We (BJP) have gained new energy and will fully reach the booth level. Our target is the booth She also added: Today, on the sacred land of Buddha and the holy soil of Patna, we are honoured to welcome our countrys respected Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah. With great enthusiasm, the senior leaders, dedicated workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the sisters of the Mahila Morcha stand here with flowers and garlands to extend a warm welcome to him. We wholeheartedly greet and honor him BJP MP Pradeep Kumar Singh told IANS, We will win the elections, but the key is to secure a massive victory. Amit Shah has provided strategic guidance on achieving this goal. Following his advice, our party (BJP) workers will reach every village, every household, and every booth to ensure NDAs victory with a resounding majority Union Minister Raj Bhushan Nishad told IANS, You all know that this is an election year, and in this crucial period, organisational strengthening and strategic guidance are essential The visit of Amit Shah, the first since last years parliamentary polls, is seen as the unofficial start of the NDAs campaign with a target of winning 225 out of 243 seats. Home Minister Shah will address a public meeting in Gopalganj on Sunday, a key political event designed to mobilise the partys grassroots. Home Minister Shahs itinerary includes two official events on Sunday one in Patna and the other in Gopalganj. At Bapu Sabhagar, he will address a state-level cooperative conference attended by 6,950 representatives from various cooperative sectors, including PACS, fisheries, dairy and vegetable growers. He is expected to announce schemes worth Rs 903 crore for the cooperative and home departments. In Gopalganj, before addressing the public, Home Minister Shah will distribute 100 micro-ATMs to bank mitras of Bihar State Cooperative Bank and launch several local initiatives, including a makhana processing centre in Darbhanga. Both events align with the UN-declared International Cooperative Year 2025 and Home Minister Shah will also unveil a web portal dedicated to cooperative activities. On Amit Shahs expected meeting with CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) acting president Sanjay Kumar Jha said, Amit Shah will meet the CM at his official residence on Sunday. State BJP Chief Dilip Jaiswal added that Amit Shah would return from Gopalganj around 3 p.m. and hold a joint meeting with NDA leaders before leaving for Delhi. After arriving in Patna, the Union Home Minister visited the BJP state headquarters for discussions with Union and state ministers, MLAs, MLCs and party office bearers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) campaign for the assembly election in Bihar on Sunday with a massive rally in Gopalganj, the stronghold of RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad. Making an attempt to set the stage for a fierce battle between the Modi-Nitish leadership and Lalu & family, he asserted that only Modi-Nitish duo can develop Bihar while Lalu and family is the only obstacle in the states development. Advertisement He said, You have to decide whether you want to go back to Lalu-Rabris jungleraj or to walk on the path of development with Nitish Kumar and PM Modi. Advertisement Shah said that Lalu Prasad was always concerned about his family he made his wife chief minister of Bihar, made his sons ministers, made his brothers-in-law MLAs and made his daughter a parliamentarian. He never thought of the development of the people of Bihar. On the contrary, Modi ji has been working for the development of the state and its people. Shah promised that if the NDA is voted to power for another term, Bihar will be free from the recurring flood problems and a grand Sita temple will be constructed in Sitamarhi, a town in Bihar that holds immense significance in Hindu mythology as the reputed birthplace of Sita. Earlier, Amit Shah dropped a hint that Nitish Kumar will be the CM face of the NDA government in Bihar. Participating in a programme organised by the Cooperative Department in Patna, Shah called upon the people of Bihar to form the NDA government in Bihar once again in 2025 under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, who has played an important role in transforming Bihar. However, the opposition parties have termed it just another jumla. RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said that Amit Shah has just played with words and he has not made a proper announcement, as was expected by the JD(U) workers. On this occasion, Amit Shah also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various central and state government projects worth over Rs 800 crore. He expressed confidence that Bihar, with its fertile land, water, and other natural resources, will benefit the most from the cooperative sector. He said that the opposition governments completely ruined the cooperative sector in Bihar during their tenure and promised that the government under the leadership of PM Modi will restart the 30 closed sugar mills in Bihar. During his visit, Shah also attended a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the CMs House in Patna which was also attended by Bihar BJP President Dr Dilip Jaiswal, Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) supremo Chirag Paswan, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) National President Santosh Suman and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party supremo Upendra Kushwaha. The NDA leaders resolved to go to the election together. The ST Morcha of the BJP felicitated Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi BJP President VIrendra Sachdev on the occasion of Rajasthan Day on Sunday at an event held at Delhi BJP headquarters. The event saw a grand welcome of the CM and Sachdeva with a Rajasthani turban and swords by ST Morcha President C L Meena, and co-incharge Commando Surendra Singh. Advertisement The event commenced with traditional Rajasthani folk songs, highlighting the richness of the state in historical heritage and cultural heritage. Advertisement Extending her wishes for the day, Gupta said, This event has marked the beginning of a new chapter in uniting different sections of society in Delhi and assured that all the demands presented during the event would be fulfilled. She added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government follows the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. The CM said receiving bow and arrow reminded her of Khatu Shyam Baba while wearing the turban evoked the memories of the brave women warriors of Rajasthan who, while maintaining their dignity, never hesitated to wield weapons in battles. The BJP chief said the journey of the state from being divided into small princely states to its current stature is remarkable, and due to the hard work of its people, the state is now setting new benchmarks in the field of development. Sachdeva added that all Rajasthanis residing in Delhi will be provided with the necessary facilities, and their demands will be addressed. For the first time, the Delhi Legislative Assembly hosted a cultural evening on Sunday to celebrate the auspicious Hindu New Year, which begins with Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and Chaitra Navratri. Addressing the event, Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta stated, Hinduism is not just a religion but a way of life. It is the most tolerant and inclusive faith, embracing all. Its foundation is based on the principle of Sarve Bhadrani Pasyantu, Sarve Shantu Niramayah, which means, May all beings be happy, may all beings be healthy. He highlighted that Indias culture, traditions, literature, history, and art have fascinated people worldwide since ancient times. Quoting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, Hindu society is like an elixir; it is immortal and has the power to turn every defeat into victory. The Speaker advocated for a National Cultural Policy to educate children about Indian traditions and instill cultural sensitivity. Our culture is not something that can be learned solely from books; it is passed down through families and society. However, it is concerning that the younger generation is forgetting traditions and values due to the influence of Western culture and the internet, he added. Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gupta emphasized, Indias promise is not just a development agenda; it is a value-driven agenda, inspired by our heritage and guided by the principles of justice, equality, and compassion. Let us all resolve to uphold these values and work toward building a stronger India. Additionally, to mark the Hindu New Year, a grand Shobha Yatra was organized in Pitampura, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta actively participating. She extended her prayers for happiness and prosperity for all citizens on this sacred occasion. She further stated that Hindu society is once again embracing its glorious cultural roots, with the world acknowledging the greatness of Sanatan Dharma. She noted that Yoga and Ayurveda have gained global recognition and acceptance. Extending her best wishes for the Hindu New Year, CM Gupta reiterated the governments commitment to preserving cultural heritage, contributing to societal progress, and fulfilling the vision of making India a Vishwaguru (global leader). Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised how the multiple festivals celebrated across India reflect the nations deep-rooted diversity. Addressing the 120th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, he extended heartfelt wishes to the citizens on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri and various other festivals, including Eid. Advertisement During the broadcast, PM Modi shared messages he received from people across the country, who sent their best wishes for Navratri, Gudi Padwa, Vishu, and the Hindu New Year. Advertisement Highlighting the significance of these festivities, he said, Today and in the next few days, the New Year is starting in different states of our country, and all these messages are about the wishes for the New Year and various festivals. Hence, people have sent me best wishes in different languages. Explaining the regional significance of the festivals, the Prime Minister noted, Today, Ugadi is being celebrated with great pomp in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Today itself Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. In different states of our diverse country, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Poila Baisakh in Bengal, and Navreh in Kashmir will be celebrated. He further mentioned the upcoming festive season, stating, Between April 13-15, there will be grand celebrations of festivals in different parts of the country. There is an atmosphere of excitement about this too, and the festival of Eid is also coming. This whole month is filled with festivals. I extend my greetings to the people of the country on these festivals. Stressing Indias cultural unity despite its vast diversity, PM Modi remarked, These festivals of ours may be in different regions, but they show how unity is woven into the diversity of India. We have to continue strengthening this feeling of unity. Gudi Padwa 2025 wishes to you all! It is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Maharashtra and marks the beginning of the Marathi New Year. It falls on the first day of Chaitra month in the Hindu lunisolar calendar, which usually coincides with March or April in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is also observed in other states under different names, such as Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and Cheti Chand among the Sindhi community. Advertisement Gudi Padwa signifies the arrival of spring and the harvest season. It is believed to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana and his return to Ayodhya. Another belief associates it with the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who hoisted the Gudi as a symbol of victory in battles. Advertisement Wishing you joy, prosperity, and new beginnings on this Gudi Padwa and Ugadi! May this festive season bring happiness and success to you and your loved ones. #GudiPadwa #Ugadi2025 #festival #HappyGudiPadwa #HappyUgadi #ChaitraNavratri pic.twitter.com/VGwP5KS2Ex The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 30, 2025 Here are some simple and heartfelt Gudi Padwa 2025 wishes: 1. Wishing you a joyous and prosperous Gudi Padwa. May this new year bring happiness, success, and good health to you and your family. 2. May this Gudi Padwa fill your life with new opportunities, positivity, and success. Happy New Year. 3. On this auspicious occasion, may your home be filled with happiness, your heart with love, and your life with prosperity. Happy Gudi Padwa. 4. Lets welcome the new year with hope and joy. Wishing you a wonderful Gudi Padwa filled with love and success. 5. May the Gudi bring you good luck, health, and prosperity. Happy Gudi Padwa. 6. As we hoist the Gudi and celebrate, may this festival mark the beginning of brighter days ahead. Wishing you a blessed Gudi Padwa. 7. Happy Gudi Padwa. May this festival bring endless happiness, wealth, and success to you and your loved ones. 8. Lets welcome the Maharashtrian New Year with enthusiasm and gratitude. Wishing you a blessed Gudi Padwa. 9. May the vibrant colors of Gudi Padwa brighten your life with happiness and success. Have a wonderful celebration. 10. Wishing you and your family a year full of joy, peace, and prosperity. Happy Gudi Padwa. Gudi Padwa is a time of joy, renewal, and celebration, marking the beginning of a prosperous new year. As we welcome this auspicious occasion, let us embrace new opportunities, cherish traditions, and spread happiness with our loved ones. May this festival bring success, health, and prosperity to all. Wishing everyone a wonderful Gudi Padwa and Ugadi filled with positivity and blessings. The Telangana Police launched a crackdown on the protests by students of the University of Hyderabad against the state governments proposed auction of 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli. The government land, adjacent to the university that boasts of rich biodiversity is considered an urban forest with mushroom-shaped rocks, greenery, and small animals. Advertisement As earthmovers were brought in on Sunday to clear the area the protesting students, who resisted the move, were lathicharged and arrested. Even a journalist covering the protest was detained. Advertisement Ever since the state governments plans to develop the land came to light, there have been protests, both online and offline, from students, citizens, and environmental activists, and PILs have been filed. Several students of the HCU, including girls, were arrested by the police as they resisted the earthmovers brought in to clear the land at Kancha Gachibowli. The state government, taking advantage of the long weekend due to Ugadi and Eid decided to clear the land, though a PIL was currently pending with the high court and protests were going on. Barricades were put up at the east campus near the School of Economics. The arrested students complained that they were not told where they were being taken to by the police. They were later taken to the Madhapur police station. Several students showed injuries after being dragged by police personnel and their clothes torn. BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the arrests. He said, The draconian police overreach in Telangana is alarming. Journalists are being detained, and dissenting voices arrested. This blatant suppression of free speech and expression is unacceptable. And Rahul Gandhi goes to town preaching about democracy and free speech. The double standards is beyond sickening. Telangana BJP also condemned the lathicharge and arrest of the student through its X handle. It said, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who earlier used derogatory language against the protestors, is now resorting to police force to crush dissent. Facing a financial crisis of its own making, the Congress government is selling off public land to private players while the chief minister hurls abuses at students daring to oppose it. The chief minister had recently dismissed the protests over the Kancha Gachibowli land in the Assembly, saying, There are no tigers or deer in that area, but some foxes are trying to disrupt the development, raising howls of protest from student organizations and civil society groups. The state government has maintained that the land adjacent to the HCU did not belong to the university, and IT minister D Sridhar Babu has stated that the biodiversity and the Mushroom rocks will be preserved. The Hindu New Year is known by many names across various states. Often called Chaitra Navratri in North India, it is celebrated as Gudi Pawda in Maharashtra. While Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka mark the day as Ugadi, the Sindhi community celebrates it as Cheti Chand. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu rings in the day as Puthandu while Manipur celebrates it as Sajibu Nongma Panba. This year, the Hindu New Year 2025 is on March 30. While the world rings in the New Year on January 1 as per the Gregorian calendar, several Indians also celebrate the New Year as per the Hindu lunar calendar. Also called the Vikram Samvat, the new year marks the arrival of the month of Chaitra. To celebrate the new year with your loved ones, we have curated a list of wishes you can share with them. Advertisement Hindu New Year 2025 wishes: Wishing you and your family happiness, prosperity, and good health this Chaitra Navratri. May this Gudi Padwa fill your lives with laughter, love, and prosperity. Wishing you and your family a very happy new year. The new year brings new beginnings. May this new chapter bring you all the happiness and prosperity you wish for. Hoping for your goals to turn into reality this year as we celebrate new beginnings with Ugadi. May the Nav Varsh fill your life with the best of health, wealth, and goodness. Wishing you and your family a very happy new year. May you step into the new year with new opportunities and the light keeps shining bright for you, always. Wishing you a very happy new year. New year, new spirits, new opportunities. I pray you find all that you have been wishing for, this new year. May the new year bring you more strength and resilience. Wishing you health, wealth, and prosperity. Happy New Year 2025. A new year brings new opportunities, new hope, and new determination. It is a day to look forward to fulfilling wishes and working hard towards ones goals. With the arrival of the new year, we also look back to the past year and express gratitude for health and wealth for us and our loved ones. Advertisement Statesman wishes all its readers a very happy and prosperous new year 2025. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multinational air exercise at Andravida Air Base in Greece, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. The air exercise, being hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, is scheduled to be held from March 31 to April 11. Advertisement The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 and C-17 aircraft, according to the ministry. Advertisement The INIOCHOS exercise serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. It will integrate multiple air and surface assets from 15 countries under realistic combat scenarios designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges, it said. The IAF looks forward to participating in Exercise INIOCHOS 25, a platform to enhance international cooperation, synergy, and interoperability among participating Air Forces. This exercise will provide an opportunity to train in planning and executing combined air operations, refine tactics in complex air warfare scenarios, and gain insights into operational best practices, the ministry said in a statement. With all operations conducted from Andravida, IAFs participation will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also contribute to mutual learning and enhanced coordination among participating countries, it said. Stating that the IAFs participation in INIOCHOS-25 reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence, the ministry said, The exercise will further reinforce Indias strategic partnerships and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital here on Sunday to enquire about the health of the J&K Police personnel who sustained injuries during an encounter with terrorists in Kathua. A team of senior doctors briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the health condition of SDPO Border, Kathua, Dheeraj Katoch, and SPO Bharat Jalhotra, and the medical procedures being followed. Advertisement The Lieutenant Governor also met the family members of the injured personnel and assured them of all possible assistance. He directed the hospital administration to provide the best possible medical care for the speedy recovery of the brave police personnel. Advertisement Notably, four police personnel were killed, and seven others, including an Army soldier, were wounded in the seven-day-long encounter with a group of heavily armed Pakistani terrorists. So far, two terrorists have been neutralised, and a joint team of the Army, BSF, CRPF, and J&K Police is continuing a massive search operation in the forest area of the Kathua district to track down the other terrorists. Indian Navy ships, Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, have sailed for Yangon on Saturday, as part of the Indian Navys immediate response towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. Notably, India on Saturday launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar in the wake of a devastating earthquake that struck the country on Friday. Advertisement The HADR efforts are in progress in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Advertisement Indian Navy ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on March 30 (Sunday), to assist in the HADR operations, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. Approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores, it said. The Indian Navy remains committed to Indias resolve to remain the First Responder in the region, it added. On Saturday, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material reached Yangon. The first tranche of humanitarian aid includes tents, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, essential medicines, and other emergency supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Smruti Mandir in Nagpur at Reshimbagh and paid his tributes to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and stalwart Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar (Guruji). During his visit, PM Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Advertisement Paying homage to the RSS stalwarts, Modi also wrote a message in the visitors book that said: This place, dedicated to the values of Indian culture, nationalism, and organisational strength, inspires us to move forward in the service of the nation. Advertisement Modis visit, seen as an opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to the RSS ideology, coincided with the centenary celebrations of the RSSs foundation as well as the Pratipada programme, marking Gudi Padwa, the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The RSS and the Marathi New Year celebration of Gudi Padwa share a special connection. As per the Hindu calendar, the birth anniversary of RSS founder, the late Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, falls on Gudi Padwa, making the festival significant for the RSS. Notably, Modi is only the second prime minister after Atal Bihari Vajpayee to visit Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. This is also his first visit to the RSS headquarters after becoming the Prime Minister. The prime minister also visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in 1956, and offered prayers to Lord Buddha. After concluding his visit to RSS Smruti Mandir and Deekshabhoomi, Modi laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur. Madhav Netralaya is the new extension building of the Eye Institute and Research Centre. The premium centre was established in the memory of Guruji Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS. Later in the day, the PM is scheduled to inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway Facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur around 12:30 pm, after which he will leave for Chhattisgarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a 33,700-crore development package in Chhattisgarh, presenting a vision for the economic transformation in the tribal-dominated state while sharply criticizing the Congress over corruption and policy failures. Addressing a massive gathering in Bilaspur, Modi emphasized that the projects are align with his governments broader agenda of infrastructure expansion, housing, education, and rural empowerment. His visit reinforced the Central governments commitment to accelerating Chhattisgarhs growth, positioning the state as a key beneficiary of national development initiatives. Advertisement The projects unveiled by Modi include three lakh new houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 130 PM-SHRI schools equipped with smart classrooms and modern laboratories, a 540-km petroleum pipeline to enhance regional energy security, and an extensive network of rural roads and power grids aimed at improving connectivity in Maoist-affected areas. Advertisement Modi emphasized that these initiatives would create thousands of jobs and accelerate the states economic development. He stated that his government was ensuring that every family in Chhattisgarh, especially in tribal regions, has access to quality education, modern infrastructure, and better livelihood opportunities. He further added that the projects are part of a larger effort to integrate Chhattisgarh into Indias economic mainstream, reducing its historical dependence on mining and agriculture by fostering industrial and educational hubs. Taking aim at the Opposition, Modi accused Congress of failing Chhattisgarhs youth through recruitment scams, misgovernance, and stalled development projects. He alleged under the Congress rule, corruption was rampant, recruitment exams were marred by paper leaks, and government funds meant for the poor were misused. He assured the people that under the BJPs leadership, every rupee allocated for development is being spent transparently and efficiently. Highlighting the BJPs recent electoral victories, Modi stated that from the Lok Sabha elections to the Assembly and civic polls, the people of Chhattisgarh have shown their trust in the BJPs vision, and the party remains committed to delivering on its promises. A significant moment during Modis visit was Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sais tribute to Bilasa Devi Kewat, the legendary tribal leader after whom Bilaspur is named. The gesture, widely seen as an effort to bolster the BJPs tribal outreach, linked Kewats courage to the governments women empowerment initiatives. Sai remarked that Bilasa Devi was a symbol of strength and leadership, much like the women of today who are shaping Indias future. He added that her legacy aligns with the Modi governments flagship schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ujjwala Yojana, reinforcing the BJPs appeal among women voters. While Modis visit focused on governance and development, Chhattisgarh witnessed a major security breakthrough as 50 Maoist insurgents, including senior cadres, surrendered in Bijapur. The mass surrender, the largest of 2025, included 13 high-ranking Maoists who carried cumulative bounties worth 68 lakh. Among those who laid down arms were Ravindra Karam, a member of the PLGA Battalion No. 1 with an 8 lakh bounty and active since 2007, Bhima Oyam, an Area Committee Member from the National Park Area Committee with a 5 lakh bounty and 25 years of experience, and Aaytu Potam, a Janata Sarkar president who had been part of the Maoist movement since 1996. Officials cited growing disillusionment with Maoist ideology, improved security infrastructure, and increasing trust in government policies as the main reasons for the surrender. The insurgents will be rehabilitated under the Niyad Nellanar scheme, which provides financial incentives, vocational training, and land rights. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav stated that this surrender marks the collapse of Maoist influence in the region, as villages now trust development rather than fear. The governments intensified counter-insurgency measures have played a crucial role in these turnarounds. More than ten CRPF and DRG camps have been established in Maoist-affected areas, surveillance drones have been deployed in Sukma and Bijapur, and tribal haat bazaars have been revived to boost local economies. Additionally, over 2,000 tribal youths have been trained as community ambassadors to bridge the gap between security forces and villagers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the mass surrender, calling it a crucial step toward achieving a Naxal-free India by 2026. Congress, however, dismissed the claim, arguing that the government must ensure the genuine reintegration of surrendered cadres instead of using such incidents for political gains. With Prime Minister Narendra Modis extensive infrastructure push and a significant security development marked by the Maoist surrender, Chhattisgarh is undergoing a notable transformation toward stability and economic growth. These initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity, strengthen security, and promote inclusive development, signaling a broader shift in the states trajectory. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several other dignitaries greeted the people of the state on the Rajasthan Day that, this year, coincided with the Chaitra Shukladi, the first day of the Hindi new year, Vikram Samvat 2082. In her message for the occasion, the President praised the desert state for its glorious history, age-old tradition and culture, and the convention of cordial hospitality. She also mentioned the reputation and fame earned by the people of Rajasthan all over the world for their hard work, entrepreneurship, and efficiency. Advertisement The President pointed out that the history of the state is full of tales and folk-lores of bravery and valour (of its heroes soldiers). Advertisement Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi stated, Powered by talent and hardwork of its people, Rajasthan has been making fresh strides in its march for development. I wish with their hard work and talent, the people of this state will keep on touching milestones one after another, and contributing to prosperity of the nation, PM Modi said Terming Rajasthan the land of the brave, Home Minister Shah recalled the valour and patriotism of historic figures Maharana Pratap, Padmani, Meera Bai, etc. Rajasthan has the pride of being the birthplace of such great personalities who have always remained dedicated to the cause of the nation and their faith-religion. State Governor Haribhau Bagade and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma among many dignitaries of the state have also greeted the people of the state on the occasion. While the state has been observing Rajasthan Day on March 30 every year, from this year onwards, the Day would be observed on Chetra Shukladi, the first day of the Hindi new year, Vikram Samvat, CM Sharma announced. President Dorupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday greeted people, especially the Muslim brethren, on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr. In her message, the President said, On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all Indians living in India and abroad, especially Muslim brothers and sisters. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting and prayer during the holy month of Ramadan. Advertisement She said this festival strengthens the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and compassion. Advertisement This festival also promotes social bonding and inspires us to build a harmonious, peaceful and prosperous society. Eid is an occasion to promote the spirit of empathy, compassion and charity. May this festival bring peace, progress and happiness in the lives of all and give us strength to move forward with a positive attitude, Murmu said. Extending his warm wishes, the Vice President said, Eid reminds us of the strength we draw from our cultural diversity and the common bonds that unite us. The essence of this holy day transcends mere celebration, it embodies the constitutional ideals of unity, compassion, and mutual respect that form the cornerstone of our diverse democracy. Let us celebrate the profound spirit of renewal and collective harmony that this sacred occasion represents. May the spirit of Eid inspire us to recommit ourselves to the values that illuminate our path forward and bind us as one remarkable, resilient nation, he said. We recently published a list of 10 Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) stands against other best consumer staples stocks to buy according to analysts. Is the US Economy Headed for a Recession? Consumer confidence is plunging in the US. It dropped further in March, with the Conference Board reporting the future outlook falling to the lowest level in more than a decade. The Conference Boards monthly confidence index dropped to 92.9, reflecting a 7.2-point slip and making March the fourth consecutive month of index contraction. The index calculates respondents outlook on job prospects, business, and income. The fall was higher than analyst estimates, as economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimated a reading of 93.5. That is not all: the measure for future estimates is painting an even bleaker story with the index falling to 65.2, reflecting a 9.6-point drop and making it the lowest number in 12 years. The reading is also considerably below the 80 level, which is typically considered a benchmark signal for an incoming recession. While the confidence drop was spread across income groups, it was primarily driven by a decline in consumers aged 55 or older. These readings are materializing at a time uncertainty and concerns regarding President Trumps tariffs are already looming on the market. These concerns have coincided with other surveys exhibiting waning consumer sentiment and a volatile stock market. CNBC reported that Stephanie Guichard, senior economist, global indicators at The Conference Board, said the following about the situation: Consumers optimism about future income which had held up quite strongly in the past few months largely vanished, suggesting worries about the economy and labor market have started to spread into consumers assessments of their personal situations. On March 14, CNBC reported that while headwinds like persistent inflation and high interest rates were already affecting companies, they now have to deal with additional obstacles such as worsening consumer sentiment, tariffs that go on and off, and mass government layoffs. Over the last weeks, investor presentations and earnings calls have shown a distinct trend: consumer-facing businesses and retailers are warning that fiscal Q1 2025 sales are coming in softer than expected. 2025 may prove to be a year tougher than what analysts initially estimated. READ ALSO: 11 Best Coffee Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best Department Store Stocks to Invest in. Consumer Staples: Are They a Safe Haven Amid Recession Concerns? Consumer staples are generally considered a safe haven amid recession and market volatility. We discussed how the consumer staple sector is expected to perform and whether it can be considered a safety net amid the current market dynamics in a recently published article on 12 Best Household Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Here is an excerpt from the article to shed light on the situation: In the 120th Episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said yoga and traditional Indian medicine are gaining global recognition, and stressed that with less than 100 days to go for Yoga Day, this is the perfect time to embrace yoga. Now less than 100 days are left for Yoga Day. If you have not yet included yoga in your life, do it now, it is not too late yet. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated 10 years ago on the 21st of June, 2015. Now, this day has taken the shape of a grand festival of yoga. The theme of Yoga Day 2025 has been kept as Yoga for One Earth One Health. We wish to make the whole world healthy through yoga, he said. Advertisement He said summer days are long and children have a lot to do during the time and this is the time to inculcate a new hobby as well as hone ones skills. You also have the opportunity to join volunteer activities and service endeavours during these holidays. If any organization, school or social institution or science centre is organising such summer activities, do share it with #MyHolidays, he suggested. Advertisement For example, if an organization is running a technology camp, children can learn about open-source software along with developing apps, Mr Modi said in his monthly radio programme. Be it environment, be it theatre or be it leadership, courses on various subjects are being conducted they can join them as well. There are many schools that teach speech or drama, which are very useful for children. Apart from all this, you also have the opportunity to join volunteer activities and service endeavours going on at many places during these holidays. I specially urge you regarding such programs If any organisation, school or social institution or science centre is organising such summer activities, do share it with #MyHolidays. This will help children and their parents from across the country to get information about these easily. Highlighting the importance of traditional medicine, he said, People of our villages and especially the tribal community know very well about the importance of Mahua flowers. Cookies are being made from Mahua flowers in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. Cookies made of Mahua flowers are becoming very popular due to the efforts of four sisters of Rajakoh village in Madhya Pradesh. In Adilabad district of Telangana also, two sisters have carried out a new experiment with Mahua flowers. Security forces in Jharkhand successfully foiled a Naxal attack by recovering and defusing two powerful IEDs during an anti-Naxal operation in the forests of West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. The explosives, planted by Naxalites to target security personnel, were safely neutralised with the help of a bomb disposal squad. A joint team comprising the Chaibasa Police, CoBRA 203 and 209 Battalions, Jharkhand Jaguar, and CRPF 193 and 197 Battalions has been conducting a special operation in these areas since March 4. During the operation, security forces discovered two IEDs in the Biduk Ponga forest area under the Ghaghra police station limits. Additionally, in the Chotanagra police station area, two more IEDs, each weighing 5 kg, were found between the Diku Ponga and Hathna Bera forests. All explosives were safely destroyed on-site to prevent any potential casualties. Advertisement According to intelligence reports, top CPI (Maoist) leaders, including Misir Besra, Anmol, Modhu, Anal, Asim Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohra, Chandan Lohra, Amit Hansda alias Upton, Jayakant, and Rapa Munda, have been actively moving in the Saranda and Kolhan regions with their armed squads. The security forces have intensified operations to curb their activities and neutralise potential threats. Advertisement West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar stated, Our anti-Naxal operations are ongoing. The recovery of IEDs indicates that the Naxalites were planning to attack security forces, but we successfully foiled their attempt. Such operations will continue until the region is completely secured. With this latest success, security forces have reaffirmed their commitment to countering Naxal influence in the region. The joint operation is set to continue, ensuring that Jharkhands affected areas are made safer and free from extremist threats. In a combined operation, the Uttar Pradesh STF and Jharkhand police shot dead a sharpshooter of the Mukhtar Ansari gang in an encounter in Jamshedpur late on Saturday night. The UP police had announced a reward of Rs 2.50 lakh on shooter Anuj Kanaujia, who was killed in an encounter with the STF, ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said here on Sunday. Advertisement The ADG said that 25 rounds were exchanged during the encounter, and the criminal even threw a bomb at the police. STF DSP Dharmesh Kumar Shahi was injured after being shot in his left shoulder. He was admitted to a hospital in Jamshedpur. Advertisement Two days ago, Mau Police declared a reward of Rs 2.50 lakh on 36-year-old Anuj Kanaujia. He had committed four murders, and 23 cases, including those of murder and robbery, were registered against him. ADG Amitabh Yash said the STF had received specific information two days ago that Anuj Kanaujia was hiding in Jamshedpur. Following this tip-off, the UP STF contacted the Jharkhand Police. At 10.30 pm on Saturday, the police laid a siege to Anujs hideout in the Chhota Govindpur area in Jamshedpur. On realising that he had been surrounded, Anuj opened fire on the police but was killed in retaliatory firing. Anujs brother-in-law had given him shelter and also maintained his office at home, the ADG said. In a decisive setback to Naxal insurgency, 50 cadres, including several high-ranking members, surrendered before security forces in Bijapur on Sunday. Among them were 13 insurgents carrying a cumulative bounty of 68 lakh, marking one of the most significant mass surrenders in recent years. The development underscores the combined impact of sustained counter-insurgency operations and Chhattisgarhs rehabilitation initiatives aimed at dismantling the Naxal network. Advertisement The surrender, facilitated under the states Niyad Nellanar policy, signals a growing disenchantment within Naxal ranks as the security forces continued to assert dominance in insurgent strongholds. Officials say the move also reflects the increasing reach of governance and development programs in previously Naxal-controlled regions, prompting cadres to abandon the path of violence. Advertisement Among those who laid down arms were senior members of the banned CPI (Maoist), including Ravindra Karam, a member of PLGA Battalion No. 1 with a bounty of 8 lakh, and Bhima Oyam, an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the National Park Area Committee, who had a 5 lakh bounty on his head and had been active for over 25 years. Another prominent Naxal to surrender was Aaytu Potam, a Janatana Sarkar president with a 1 lakh bounty who had been associated with the Maoist movement since 1996. Notably, 32 of the surrendered Naxals were from the militia wing that has been the backbone of Naxal operations in Bastar. The decreasing support from local tribal communities has been a crucial factor in pushing these insurgents to surrender, security officials noted. Officials attributed the surrender to a combination of factors, including intensified security operations, and rehabilitation incentives offered by the government. Many cadres expressed frustration over internal conflicts within the Naxal leadership and their increasing acts of violence against innocent tribals. The expansion of roads, electricity, and welfare schemes in Maoist strongholds has led many to rethink their association with the insurgency. The Niyad Nellanar policy that offers surrendered Naxal insurgents an immediate financial grant of 25,000, vocational training, and assistance in reintegrating into society, has also played a crucial role in drawing them away from militancy. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Dr. Jitendra Kumar Yadav said these surrenders prove that Maoist ideology has lost its appeal and that villages now trust development, not fear. The surrender comes amid a broader push by security forces to weaken Maoist influence in Bastar. According to police data, since January 1, 2025, 153 Maoists have been arrested, 157 have surrendered, and 83 have been neutralized in encounters. Authorities have also deployed advanced surveillance tools, including drone monitoring and artificial intelligence-based tracking, to curb Maoist activity. Over 10 new CRPF and DRG camps have been established in core Maoist zones since last year, strengthening the security grid. Reacting to the surrender, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded Chhattisgarhs efforts in tackling Naxal insurgency. He said that with each successful operation and rehabilitation initiative, India moves closer to becoming a Naxal-free nation. He reiterated that the governments resolve remains firm, stating that Naxal violence has no place in a democratic society. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the success of the states surrender and rehabilitation policy, reaffirming his governments commitment to bringing Naxal insurgents back into the mainstream. He stated that every surrendered cadre represents a step toward lasting peace in Bastar and urged more insurgents to shun violence and join the path of development. However, Opposition leaders have called for greater transparency in the allocation of rehabilitation funds, demanding a structured oversight mechanism to ensure surrendered cadres receive full benefits. Authorities have outlined the immediate course of action for the surrendered Naxal insurgents. They will undergo psychological counseling, skill development training, and be provided assistance to reintegrate into society. Additionally, the state government has allocated 5.2 crore for new vocational training centers in Dantewada and Bijapur to support former insurgents. Security forces remain on high alert, as intelligence inputs suggest Naxal retaliation attempts in response to the recent setbacks. Combing operations have been intensified across key districts ahead of the monsoon season, a period when Naxals traditionally regroup. Two women were arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly circulating counterfeit currency in South Delhis Sarojini Nagar Market, authorities said on Sunday. The accused, Rani Jha, 22, from Faridabad, Haryana, and Akaansha Desai, a 29-year-old resident of Andaman & Nicobar Island, were arrested. The arrest led to the confiscation of a total of 33 fake currency notes from their possession, officials said. Advertisement Deputy Commissioner of Police Surendra Choudhary said a team was present in Sarojini Nagar Market to keep an eye on the pickpockets. While patrolling, they received an input through local sources that two girls have been circulating fake currency notes in the area for shopping. Advertisement Acting upon the tipoff, the team immediately laid a trap and got hold of the two suspected girls and apprehended them, Choudhary further said. During questioning, the accused revealed their names and addresses. A case has been filed against the two under the relevant sections of BNS, and will be produced before the court. Further investigation on this case is underway, the DCP stated. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankars recent remarks on China underline a calculated shift in Indias foreign policy ~ firm but not confrontational, pragmatic yet not submissive. While the border standoff remains the central issue, New Delhi has refused to let Beijing dictate the terms of engagement. Instead, India is crafting a response that blends military preparedness, economic diversification, and strategic diplomacy. The unresolved tensions along the Line of Actual Control continue to define India-China relations. Despite multiple rounds of talks, the situation remains far from normal. Mr Jaishankar has been clear that peace and stability at the border are non-negotiable for a broader normalisation of ties. His messaging is a departure from past diplomatic caution, signalling Indias readiness to stand its ground. This shift is not just rhetorical ~ India has reinforced its border infrastructure, expanded defence partnerships, and recalibrated its military posture to deter any misadventure. At the same time, economic realities complicate complete disengagement. Advertisement China remains Indias largest trading partner, and despite efforts to cut dependence, imports continue to surge. The trade imbalance ~ heavily skewed in Chinas favour ~ remains a concern. India has sought to address this by strengthening domestic manufacturing and building alternative supply chains with trusted partners. While these measures will take time to bear fruit, the message is clear: New Delhi is looking beyond Beijing for its economic future. Diplomatically, India has been walking a tight-rope. Advertisement The Quad grouping ~ although not much has been heard of it after President Donald Trump assumed office ~ remains a crucial pillar of its strategic outlook, reinforcing cooperation with the US, Japan, and Australia. Yet, India has resisted being drawn into an overtly anti-China bloc, opting instead for a nuanced approach. Engagement with BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation continues, underscoring New Delhis commitment to a multipolar world rather than binary alliances. This strategic autonomy is what differentiates Indias China policy from that of other regional players. Mr Jaishankars recent interactions have reinforced this independent stance. While Washington has recalibrated its Asia strategy under Secretary Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, India has continued to chart its own course. New Delhi has welcomed US engagement in the Indo-Pacific but has not outsourced its security calculus to any single partner. Similarly, despite growing ties with Russia, India has made it clear that its policies will not be dictated by external pressures. Beijing, however, has shown little inclination to recalibrate its approach. Its aggressive posturing, from the South China Sea to the Himalayas, signals intent to assert dominance rather than seek equilibrium. For India, the challenge is to maintain a firm stance without escalating tensions beyond control. The broader trajectory of IndiaChina ties will depend on whether Beijing acknowledges this reality or continues to push its expansionist agenda. For now, measured distance remains Indias best course of action ~ engaging where necessary, deterring where required, and ensuring that the balance of power does not tilt in Beijings favour. The BJPs latest engagement with Muslims through Ramadan goodwill kits ahead of Eid has sparked debate across political circles. While some see it as a welcome gesture of inclusivity, others view it as a calculated move before key elections. The initiative, which involves distributing Eid kits to millions of underprivileged Muslim households, signals a shift in approach, but the larger question remains ~ what does this mean for the partys relationship with Indias largest minority commu nity? For years, the party has positioned itself against what it calls appeasement politics, often criticizing riv als for symbolic gestures toward minorities. The large scale distribution of Eid hampers, complete with festive essentials, appears to contrast with that stance. However, this outreach is not an isolated event but part of a broader strategy. Over time, the party has engaged with Pasmanda Muslims, an economically and socially disadvantaged group within the community. It has fielded candidates from these groups in local elections, a move that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Welfare schemes benefiting weaker sections, including Muslims, have been highlighted as part of its development-focused approach rather than identity politics. Advertisement The leadership has also actively reached out to Muslim women, positioning itself as a champion of gender reforms. Policy decisions allowing women to undertake religious pilgrimages without a male guardian and initiatives aimed at economic empowerment have been part of this engagement. Additionally, participation in cultural events celebrating syncretic traditions has been used to project inclusivity. The timing of this outreach, just before a major state election, is difficult to ignore. The ruling party has faced setbacks in states where Muslim voters hold sway, and any shift in voting patterns could be significant. Advertisement With Bihar elections later this year, where coalition politics often determines outcomes, direct engagement with Muslim voters could be aimed at weakening opposition strongholds. The states Pasmanda Muslim population, in particular, has been a focus of the partys strategy, with repeated assurances of economic upliftment and social justice. That said, the outreach should not be dismissed as mere electioneering. Political strategies evolve based on ground realities, and the partys approach toward Muslims seems to be undergoing a recalibration. The key question is whether this shift is sustainable or remains a tactical move during election cycles. While welfare schemes and outreach programmes are steps in the right direction, true inclusion goes beyond such measures. Meaningful engagement requires fostering an environment where Muslims are seen as equal stakeholders in Indias future, not just as beneficiaries of state initiatives. For outreach to be credible, it must be consistent, irrespective of electoral considerations. The current initiative, whether a political move or a sincere effort at inclusion, reflects an evolving approach to Muslim engagement. What remains to be seen is whether this leads to lasting change or fades once the ballots are cast. Saudi Arabia has officially announced that Eid Al-Fitr 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon on Saturday, March 29. This marks the end of Ramzan 1446 AH, bringing the month of fasting to a close. The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the moon sighting, declaring Saturday as the final day of Ramzan 1446 AH. Advertisement Another total #solareclipse is expected later in 2025, offering a complete blackout experience in certain parts of the world. | #SuryaGrahan2025 |https://t.co/XzUluzz50H Advertisement The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 29, 2025 A significant moment in Islamic history will unfold this Eid, as Sheikh Abdurrahman Al-Sudais will lead the Eid Al-Fitr 2025 prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This will be his first time presiding over the Eid prayers in his four-decade-long tenure. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MoHRSD) has declared a four-day holiday for employees in the private and non-profit sectors. The break begins on the evening of Saturday, March 29, and will last until Wednesday, April 2. Regular work resumes on Thursday, April 3. The importance of moon sighting Moon sighting plays a crucial role in Islamic tradition, as the lunar calendar determines the start and end of months. The beginning of Ramzan and the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr are both based on the appearance of the new crescent moon. On March 27, the Saudi Supreme Court had urged Muslims across the kingdom to look for the Shawwal moon on the evening of March 29. With the crescent confirmed, Saudi Arabia will observe Eid on March 30. When will Eid be celebrated in India? Eid celebrations in India will likely take place on March 31 or April 1, depending on the local moon sighting. Ramzan began in India on Sunday, March 2, a day after it started in Saudi Arabia. Tens of thousands of people staged rallies in South Koreas Seoul on Saturday, either demanding the ouster or reinstatement of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his short-lived martial law invocation in December. Both sides called on the Constitutional Court for a prompt ruling on Yoons impeachment trial, as the court has yet to announce its ruling date on the case. Advertisement An estimated 15,000 protesters gathered near Gyeongbok Palace, holding up picket signs demanding Yoons immediate ouster and chanting End insurrection and embrace a new world. Advertisement Police blocked traffic in nearby lanes. What the Constitutional Court must uphold is the safeguarding of democracy on this land and a ruling for an ouster, Kim Jae-ha, a leader of the civic group behind the rally, said. There are limits to public sentiment. The Constitutional Court will be kicked out of the publics heart if warnings against it accumulate, he said. The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four other opposition parties also staged a separate rally in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, where DP floor leader Park Chan-dae declared: Where Yoon should be is in prison. He will attempt martial law again if he is not ousted. On Yoons side, an estimated 23,000 people gathered in central Seoul for what has become a regular weekend rally, denouncing his impeachment as null and void, and demanding a Constitutional Court ruling in his favour. The protesters had planned to stage a mass march toward the Constitutional Court but canceled it due to safety concerns. Save Korea, a Christian civic group, hosted a separate rally near the National Assembly in the western Seoul area of Yeouido, attended by about 3,000 participants, including several lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party, Yonhap news agency reported. Taking the podium, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun accused the Constitutional Court of dereliction of its duties for failing to set a date for Yoons impeachment ruling, demanding the court not delay and deliver its ruling next week. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a rapidly deteriorating crisis in South Sudan on Saturday and called for urgent dialogue, immediate release of detained officials, and renewed commitment to the 2018 peace agreement. He further appealed to the regional and international community to speak with one voice in support of peace in South Sudan. Advertisement All the dark clouds of a perfect storm have descended upon the people of the worlds newest country and one of the poorest, Guterres said while addressing reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. Advertisement South Sudan may have fallen off the worlds radar, but we cannot let the situation fall into the abyss, he added and urged South Sudanese leaders to put down the weapons and put all the people of South Sudan first. Guterres called for the restoration of the Government of National Unity and the full implementation of the peace agreement, which remains the only legal path to free and fair elections in December 2026. We fully support the initiative to deploy the African Union Panel of the Wise, he said, adding that he had spoken with the Chairperson of the AU Commission. South Sudan is now facing what the Secretary-General described as a security emergency, political upheaval, humanitarian catastrophe, displacement crisis, economic collapse and a severe funding shortfall all at once. Half the population is severely food insecure, he warned, while three out of four people require humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, over one million people have fled across the border from Sudan since fighting broke out there last year between rival militaries, while cholera has also been reported, compounding the crisis. Combined with growing regional spillover from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, Guterres painted a dire picture of a country on the edge. Lets not mince words. What we are seeing is darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 civil wars, which killed 400,000 people, he said You cant walk into a dealership today and not see a United Nations of parts, said Skyler Chadwick, director of Product Consulting at Cox Automotive. But sourcing and supply varies between each servicer, he adds, making it all the more complex to nail down when exactly prices will rise after these tariffs take effect. Much of the car repair market has heavily relied on imports, particularly from America's biggest trading partners. According to February numbers from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, a trade group that represents home, auto and business insurers, about 6 in every 10 auto replacement parts used in U.S. auto shop repairs are imported from Mexico, Canada and China. And while automakers may develop new pricing strategies for new vehicles impacted by tariffs, Caldwell expects they will to be less likely to absorb the costs of individual parts leaving consumers with the bill perhaps more imminently. Trumps Wednesday proclamation on auto tariffs points specifically to engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components. That covers a lot of repairs as is, Caldwell notes, and the administration has also signaled the possibility of future expansion. If you are bringing your car to get repaired, chances are, its going to have a part that comes from another country, said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto-buying resource Edmunds. That price that you pay is likely going to be directly affected by the increase (from these tariffs). It depends on what you need fixed and where you go in to get your car serviced. But some industry analysts warn that drivers could see costs jump as early as the coming weeks or months. Here's what you need to know. While the White House says these tariffs will foster domestic manufacturing and raise $100 billion in revenue annually, economists stress that straining the auto industry's global supply chain brings significant disruptions. Dealerships and car repair shops will likely have little choice but to raise prices leading drivers across the country to pay more for everyday maintenance. The new taxes, which are set to begin April 3 and expand in the following weeks, are estimated to raise the average cost of a car imported from another country by thousands of dollars . But repairs for vehicles that currently use foreign-made parts are also expected to get pricier and, as a result, hike insurance costs farther down the road. NEW YORK (AP) Even if you're not in the market for a new car, U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports could make owning one more expensive. Story Continues Desiree Hill, owner of Crowns Corner, an auto repair and mechanics shop in Conyers, Georgia, says the auto tariffs were already hurting her business. She was working on repairing a vintage 1960 Opel Rekord car and ordered a part from Germany, but the manufacturer canceled the order due to the tariffs. I cant get (the part) anywhere in our country. Period. So that that was very disappointing, she said. About half of the cars she works on are foreign-made, so the tariffs will make repairing those cars more difficult. Unfortunately we dont have a choice but to raise prices if they are raised on us, she said. We cant take that kind of loss. Car repair prices have already been on the rise for years, with analysts pointing both to growing labor costs and more expensive components needed for vehicles with advanced technology. Edward Salamy, executive director of the Automotive Body Parts Association, also says car companies have been trying to gain a monopoly to limit remedies to their own parts or processes, reducing options for consumers. Tariffs, he said, will just exacerbate the issue: Many of these distributors will have no choice but to raise their list price." How are car dealerships managing? Joshua Allrich, who operates a family-owned used car dealership called Allrich Auto in Atlanta, is among those concerned about facing higher costs while also trying to save his customers money. Its going to make things a lot more expensive," Allirch said, adding that, while he's looking forward to the possibility of people rushing to buy cars before the tariffs take effect, his business will soon have to adjust. My wheelhouse is economy cars, affordable cars. And now, this tariff is going to directly hit us because its gonna just make things go up. Chadwick says that dealers and other servicers will need to be as transparent as possible as these tariffs take effect while also preparing to have difficult conversations about rising prices with customers. He adds that tariffs are also going to put pressures on the reselling market. Used cars often have to be serviced before dealerships can sell them back to customers again opening the door for higher repair costs due to tariffs. And all that cost goes right back into the consumer" through what they end up having to pay for the vehicle, he explains. In efforts to delay impacts, some dealers and repair shops might turn to stocking up on inventory before tariffs hit, particularly for parts that get requested the most. Analysts say many have long-anticipated the threat of auto tariffs, and are already grappling with the impact of Trump's new steel and aluminum levies that took effect earlier this month. But stockpiling can only go so far. And for small business owners, spending money for a lot of inventory at once can be risky, especially when Trump's on-again, off-again tariff threats raise questions about how long they will last. If they end up being short-lived, Caldwell said, Do you really want to buy a bunch of inventory that youre going to have to sit and hold on (to) for quite some time? What will happen to my insurance premiums? Because accidents involving new parts will see increased costs for repairs, insurance premiums will also likely rise due to tariffs. But that may be farther into the future. Bob Passmore, department vice president of personal lines at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, expects consumers to see an impact on their insurance bill in 12 to 18 months at a minimum. That's because increased prices have to hit claims costs, then be implemented after new rates are filed and approved. Still, the trade association has estimated that personal auto insurance claims costs alone could rise a total of between $7 billion and $24 billion annually. It wasn't immediately clear how large providers of auto insurance were preparing for the impacts of these tariffs. Allstate, State Farm, Geico and Progressive did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment on Friday. But even if it takes long to trickle down, these tariff-related hikes would again arrive as consumers have already faced rising insurance costs. The Insurance Information Institute estimated average U.S. auto premiums increased 14% in 2023 and 12% in 2024. Mark Friedlander, the institute's senior director of media relations, said via email that the research trade nonprofit projected a 7% average premium increase for auto insurance across the U.S. in 2025 at the start of the year but that didn't account for potential tariff impacts, which will drive them even higher. Increased costs spanning from tariffs cause a chain reaction for insurance, Caldwell adds. This is a total ownership cost increase, rather than just a purchase increase." ______ AP Business Writer Mae Anderson in New York and Video Journalist Sharon Johnson in Atlanta contributed to this report. Wildfires in South Korea reignited in the southeastern part of the country overnight, fire authorities said on Saturday, adding firefighting helicopters were dispatched to extinguish them. An official with Gyeongbuk Fire Service Headquarters said reports of smoke in Andong, some 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul in North Gyeongsang Province, had started coming in at around 10 p.m. Friday night. Forestry officials believe the fire reignited around 3 a.m. on Saturday. Advertisement The Korea Expressway Corporation blocked off a section of a nearby highway at 5 a.m. and reopened it just before 9 a.m. With vehicles unable to reach the mountainous areas, 11 helicopters were called in to contain the fire. Advertisement Officials said fires had also restarted in other parts of the province, including Euiseong, just south of Andong. Regional officials called in nine firefighting helicopters, along with 230 firefighters and public servants and 50 soldiers, to contain the fires. Separately, a fire that started near a transmission tower around 9 p.m. Friday in the county of Cheongsong, east of Andong, spread to an adjacent mountain. Cheongsong officials warned residents to brace for a possible power outage. Nine other helicopters were in operation over Cheongsong and Yeongyang to put out embers. North Gyeongsang officials said plumes of smoke were rising in some parts of the province but claimed fires had not restarted. The province plans to send in 30 helicopters on Saturday. The Korea Forest Service earlier announced wildfires in North Gyeongsang had been fully brought under control as of 5 p.m. Friday after killing or injuring dozens of people and forcing thousands of others to flee. About 48,000 hectares of woodland, equivalent to some 80 per cent of the size of Seoul, have been scorched in the worst wildfire disaster ever in South Korea, according to the forestry agency. Of them, nearly 13,000 ha were in Euiseong, and nearly 10,000 were in Andong, Yonhap news agency reported. The fire also damaged 2,996 houses and more than 1,000 agricultural facilities, according to an official estimate. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the death toll from the fires hit 30 on Saturday, up two from the previous day, along with 43 injuries. It said 6,885 people from 4,193 households had yet to return home since evacuating. It added that some 55.4 billion won ($37.7 million) had been collected in donations through relief organizations. South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo said the government will provide full administrative and financial support for displaced people until they return to normalcy. Presiding over a meeting in Seoul on the response to the wildfires, Han also urged firefighting authorities to keep a close eye on embers. Its more important than anything to ensure there wont be a recurrence of such a tragedy, Han said. We need to take a comprehensive review of the governments response system and see if were prepared for major wildfires amid rapid climate change. The interior ministry plans to offer 230 million won to back relief efforts in North Gyeongsang. Saint-Laurent, QC (H4T1V6) Today Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 70F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. MORE THAN ABOUT THE ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybihas article spoke to me about the interconnectedness of the world. And how everyone gets hurt in some way or another when the world becomes unquiet. The butterfly effect speaks of one small change in an area triggering drastic changes in another, despite the sectors being unconnected. An example cited by Sybiha is about how Ukraine played a crucial part in helping develop ISROs semi-cryogenic engine, the SCE-200. It fuelled Indias Chandrayaan dreams. I remember a photograph that was shown to me after the Chandrayaan-3 launch, of the spacecrafts rocket lighting up the sky over Byron Bay, Australia. The photographer had clicked the image 30 minutes after the launch from Sriharikota. Interconnectedness, as I said. The minister has called for a fair peace and real security, and not one where the large and the powerful decide the fate of the smaller. It is a desire that we all share for our own country and every nation in the world. Sybiha expresses hope that 2025 will see the end of the war. It is a hope and prayer that we share with you, minister. And, thank you for taking the time to reach out to THE WEEKs readers. Mridula Ghosh, who has been writing for us regularly from Kyiv, bolsters this cover with her views on the conflict. Among other things, she quotes a report by the American Enterprise Institute which said that Ukraine aid supports defence manufacturing in over 70 American cities. She cites another study that said that US President Donald Trumps usage of aid to Ukraine is a misnomer because 60 per cent of that aid stays in the US, 25 per cent reaches Ukraine and 15 per cent is spent globally for humanitarian assistance and the like. Interconnectedness on another level, if you like. Additionally, in the cover story we have a guest column by Ambassador V.B. Soni, former Indian envoy to Ukraine. This issue is heavy on international affairs, I admit, as we also have a large article on Trump tariffs by Senior Assistant Editor K. Sunil Thomas, who writes that how India deals with the challenges and the opportunities will shape our future. We also have an interview by Senior Correspondent Shubhangi Shah with Saad Mohseni, CEO of Moby Group, Afghanistans largest media company. And, in Sound Bite, Anita Pratap says that Norwegians do not want to go to the US even as tourists now. Another bit of good reading I would recommend is Pooja Biraias article on how the dodo is set to make a comeback in 2028. They say that if you live long enough, you might see most of your beliefs (and a few old sayings) proven wrong. In my case, the saying is: Dead as a dodo. Russia runs through this issue all the way to @leisure, where Deputy News Editor Navin J. Antony writes about Hollywoods geopolitics-shaped view of Russia. I loved the punchline: In The Putin Interviews, after watching Dr Strangelove; Putin rises to leave. Oliver Stone hands him the film case, and Putin walks off only to return moments later, holding the empty case. The disc, apparently, is still in the player. With a smirk, Putin raises the empty case: Typical American gift. Where there's smoke, there's fireso goes a saying. There indeed was a fire in Justice Yashwant Varmas home in Delhi on the night of Holi, but the smoke coming out of it is unholy. Worse, its getting thicker and murkier. At start, it had looked an open-and-shut case. There was a fire in an outhouse on Varmas vast living acres when he and wife were away. The firemen who put it out reported to have spotted bags of cash, much of it in ash. The police alerted the chief justice of the high court; he informed the chief justice of India, who initiated a three-judge probe. Most assumed Varma prima facie guilty, since he was transferred instead of being denied judicial work, as is the practice when a judge faces probe. But questions remainwho counted the burnt cash and the ash, and arrived at the reported figure of Rs15 crore? Why did the fire chief first say there was no cash, and then say there was? Why did the top cop take 17 hours to alert the high court chief justice? Why did the cops leave the cash-and-ash unattended till at least the judge returned? Imaging: Deni Lal And the mother of all questions, asked by the judge himself: would any knave be naive enough to go on a holiday leaving so much cash in an outhouse next to the guard room? Hope the three judges find answers to these and more mysteries, if any. But, whats the big deal? Cash in vaults, beds, pillows and cushions in ED-raided India has become so routine that YouTube crusaders have made an industry out of ED videos. Give them a clip of an ED raid in Timbuktu or Thiruvananthapuram; they would come out with a clip that would nail an honest bloke in Tirunelveli or Tinsukia. Its not the quantum of cash but the alleged location of the loot that has shocked the nation. Politicians can be Brutuss mistresses, civil servants can be Cascas concubines, but the Indian public, like the Roman mob, expects judges to be like Caesars wifeabove suspicion. Many a judge has failed it. A.M. Bhattacharjee of Bombay quit when asked about getting $80,000 and $75,000 royalty for two books from an unknown publisher; Shamit Mukherjee of Delhi was made to quit and arrested in a multi-crore land scam; P.D. Dinakaran of Madras quit to escape impeachment over graft; Punjab and Haryanas Nirmal Yadav, whose alleged cash bundle was wrongly left at another Nirmals door, was FIRed the day she retired. More are serving on the bench. As the law minister told Parliament in 2022, about 1,600 complaints had been received against HC and SC judges. Whats the remedy? The only method is impeachmenta near-impossible ordeal, as the bids over V. Ramaswamy and Soumitra Sen proved. One escaped thanks to a deal with the ruling Congress; the latter quit half way through the process. No one has an answer. The political class would like to take out the NJAC bill from the judicial trash can, and get a say in choosing judges through search teams, talent hunters and selection committees manned by executive and judicial heads. Good idea, sirs, but what is the guarantee that your NJAC-chosen angels wont get tempted by the devil after they sit on the bench? After all, except Sen, all in the above list got tainted while on the bench. Ladies and gentlemen, the issue is not about selecting good judges; its about ensuring good conduct among the selected judges. What is needed is not just transparency in selection, but transparency in their post-selection life. For a start, why not get judges to declare assets every year? A few judgesone in ten last yeardo it. It is voluntary; make it mandatory. Our good lords, I am sure, wont mind. prasannan@theweek.in There's very little in common between India and Ukraine, countries that are thousands of kilometres apart and located in different geographies and continents. However, art brings together diverse cultures, as was evident on Sunday as the Auditorium, Information Centre, Baha'i House of Worship (Lotus Temple), came alive with Ukrainian music. This concert featured not only Ukrainian but also Indian and other international musicians. The concert - 'A Bridge for Peace & Compassion' - was a collaborative effort of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC). Among the highlights of the evening included the many performances by Taras Filenko, the Ukrainian-American pianist, scholar, and teacher, who performs globally to promote Ukrainian culture and raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine. "Sometimes, art conveys what words cannot," Filenko said, and rightly so, as the concert offered a profound glimpse into the classical and folk music of Ukraine. The audience broke into applause as the Ao Naga Choir group sang the traditional Naga, Ukrainian, and even Indonesian tunes, serving as the perfect example of how easy it is for art to bridge boundaries. Pic from Ukrainian instrumental vocal event in Delhi | Kritajna Naik The Ukrainian folk songs played on piano along with sitar, tabla, and flute served as the correct fusion that makes sense, a jugalbandi between Filenko on piano and dancer Nisha Kesari doing Kathak was refreshing to watch. The concert ended with the Ukrainian national anthem, and the performers were offered sunflowers, which since 2022 when Russia started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. "Just like the 1920s, our art is again under threat," said Filenko at the concert, which, in a way, also served as a space for international solidarity and the display of Ukrainian soft power. It also showed the power that a nation's soft power can have at a time when it's under siege, especially in raising awareness about the cause. Actor Mohanlal, whose latest film Empuraan has ignited a social media backlash from Sangh Parivar supporters for its references to the Godhra train burning incident and the Gujarat pogrom of 2002, has apologised for some of the scenes that triggered the backlash and has informed fans and well-wishers that he is standing by the decision to remove the scenes that have hurt the sentiments of the right-wing groups that called for a boycott of the film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. In a Facebook post, Mohanlal said that as an actor, it is his duty to ensure that a film of his isn't "showing hatred towards an ideology, or a political or religious institution," adding that he and the entire Empuraan team expresses regret for the mental anguish that the film has caused to his well-wishers and closed ones. "And recognising that this is the responsibility of everyone in the team, we have decided together to excise the hurtful portions from the film," he shared. Meanwhile, 'Empuraan' actor Giju John, who plays the chief editor of a television channel in the film, has expressed his support for Prithviraj Sukumaran and the entire team amidst reports of a revised version of the film replacing the original version. He implored serious film buffs to watch the uncut version before it's pulled out. In a statement, Giju wrote, "As a film enthusiast and a member of the Malayalam film industry, I stand in full solidarity with Prithviraj Sukumaran, whose groundbreaking work on Empuraan has created cinematic history. Rooted in his vision and unwavering commitment, for the 2nd time (first, with Lucifer), he has expanded Malayalam cinema's potential and propelled its commercial scope to new heights. No matter how grand the script is, it still requires a director with vision, talent, mental faculty, and the tenacity to execute it beyond its potential. I sincerely hope that the entire Malayalam industry stands with you all. A generation of aspiring filmmakers would be thankful for galvanizing them to dream big." Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to save water during this summer season and said through various initiatives of the government and NGOs, 11 billion cubic metres of water was saved across the country in eight years. Highlighted the importance of water conservation during the upcoming summer. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/sM1KWQmI0J Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 30, 2025 Urging everyone to save water during the monthly Mann ki Baat broadcast on Sunday, Modi said, In many states, works related to water harvesting and water conservation have gained new momentum. The Ministry of Jal Shakti and numerous NGOs are working in that direction. Thousands of artificial ponds, check dams, borewell recharge and community soak pits are being constructed in the country. Like every year, this time too, preparations have been made on a war footing for the catch the rain campaign. Modi added, During the last 7-8 years, over 11 billion cubic metres of water has been conserved through newly built tanks, ponds and other water recharge structures. Modi said various festivals being celebrated today and to be observed in the coming days are a pointer to the spirit of unity pervading India's diversity and asked people to continue to strengthen this feeling. Modi extended greetings to the citizens on these festivals. He said the long days of summer are a time for students to develop new hobbies and polish their skills. The prime minister urged those offering various activities for students to use the hashtag "myholidays" and students and parents to share their experiences with "holidaymemories" hashtag. The prime minister urged people to make yoga a part of their daily lives. The International Yoga Day on June 21 has now become a grand celebration, he said, noting that this year's theme for the event is "yoga for one earth one health". Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a jibe at the Congress party, saying Naxalism in India had got encouragement for decades due to the policies of the grand old party. Modi was addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, a state which remains a Maoist stronghold despite a fall in Naxal activities nationally. "Over the decades, Naxalism got encouragement in many states including Chhattisgarh due to policies of Congress. Whichever region lagged in development, Naxalism flourished there, but what did the party that ran the government for 60 years do? It declared such districts as backward and turned away from its responsibility," said the prime minister. #WATCH | Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Chhattisgarh had to be made a state because the benefits of development were not reaching here. Development work could not be done here under the Congress rule, and even if there was some development work, the pic.twitter.com/3PSVm0OjBa ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 According to data shared by the government in the Rajya Sabha last week, Chhattisgarh reported 267 incidents of Maoist violence in 2024, making it the worst-affected state in the country. Along with Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana also continue to report a heightened presence of Maoist activity. Most of other Maoist-affected states, however, showed a clear downward trend in recent years. Modi said indifference of erstwhile governments towards the Naxal menace was like adding fuel to the fire. You (Chhattisgarh) have also suffered it. The (previous) Congress government never took care of amenities of poor tribals," he said. The prime minister claimed that ever since the BJP government came to power in Chhattisgarh, the situation has changed. "Due to development and welfare efforts, a new era of peace is being seen in the naxal-affected areas," he said and listed the various initiatives launched by the Centre for the development of such areas. "The housing dreams of the poor people went missing in files during the previous (Congress) government, but the BJP government has fulfilled this dream. Our government not only makes houses but also makes (enriches) lives of people who live there," he said. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin slammed the Centre and Reserve Bank of India for permitting banks hike to charges for ATM withdrawals beyond the free limit. Stalin said the move would negate the objectives of financial inclusion of the poor. In a social media post on X, Stalin said, The Union Government urged everyone to open bank accounts. Then came demonetisation, pitching #DigitalIndia. What followed? Charges on digital transactions, penalties for low balances and now the RBI has allowed banks to charge up to Rs. 23 for ATM withdrawals beyond monthly limit. The Union Government urged everyone to open bank accounts. Then came demonetisation, pitching #DigitalIndia. What followed? Charges on digital transactions, penalties for low balances and now the RBI has allowed banks to charge up to Rs. 23 for ATM withdrawals beyond monthly https://t.co/Bv0AWMEEa9 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 30, 2025 Stalin said the move would negate the objectives of financial inclusion. He added the move will severely affect MNREGA workers and beneficiaries of the Tamil Nadu governments women monthly assistance scheme. Beneficiaries of #MNREGA, which is already starved of funds and the poor who benefit from our #KMUT cash transfers will be the ones who will be hit the hardest. This is not digitisation. It is institutionalised extraction. The poor swipe, the rich smile, the chief minister charged. The RBI on Friday permitted banks to increase charges on ATM cash withdrawals beyond the free monthly usage by Rs 2 to Rs 23 per transaction from May 1. "Beyond the free transactions, a customer may be charged a maximum fee of Rs 23 per transaction. This shall be effective from May 1, 2025," the RBI said in a circular. Currently, banks are allowed to charge Rs 21 per transaction, after a customer exhausts the free transaction limit. Currently, account holders are eligible for five free transactions every month from their own bank ATMs. They are also eligible for free transactions from other bank ATMs three transactions in metro centres and five in non-metro centres, PTI reported. You are here: World Flash A survivor was rescued Sunday in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, by China's Yunnan Rescue Medical Team, following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that struck the country Friday. The elderly man had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of Ottara Thiri Hospital. The Chinese team used life detection equipment to find him and rescued him early Sunday. The rescue team, which arrived in Nay Pyi Taw Sunday, immediately joined local Myanmar firefighters to search for survivors. Their collaboration is part of ongoing rescue operations after the earthquake. China's Red Cross Society (RCSC) has also sent urgent humanitarian aid to Myanmar. The supplies, dispatched from Yunnan's disaster relief center, include 300 tents, 2,000 blankets, 600 folding beds, and relief kits for 2,000 households. According to Myanmar's State Administration Council, the earthquake has killed at least 1,644 people. Rescue teams are working to assist those affected by the disaster. Forget stealth fighter jets, drones, and orbital, Earth-observing spy satellites. If you ask the U.S. Army, the future of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) may actually reside in... blimps. Or at least they had better hope so. Earlier this month, the U.S. Pentagon announced it has awarded a $4.2 billion, 10-year contract to build "lighter than air systems, tethered systems, and elevated sensors" for the Army to a series of 10 different companies, working together and individually. Several of the names will be virtual unknowns to defense investors, privately held companies with names like Advanced Technology Systems Co, Elevated Technologies LLC, and Skyship Services Inc. Other names, however, will be more familiar: Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) is one of those latter. Also Britain's QinetiQ. Most familiar of all, though, will be RTX Corp (NYSE: RTX) and TCOM Holdings, the two companies that began building Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor (JLENS) aerostats for the Army back in the mid-2010s. What you need to know about JLENS You probably remember JLENS even if the name doesn't quite ring a bell. In 2015, aerostat made headlines under the title "Raytheon's Wandering Blimp" when the aerostat broke free from its anchor at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. The gigantic blimp began floating up and down the Eastern Seaboard, dragging its massive tether along the ground, taking down power lines and generally wreaking havoc until finally being shot down by Pennsylvanian policemen armed with shotguns. "Pop!" Suffice it to say the Army quickly put JLENS on the shelf after that incident, but nearly a decade later, JLENS resurfaced when the Polish military asked Congress to let it purchase $1.2 billion worth of aerostats to use for air and missile defense. RTX, TCOM, and QinetiQ were all named as vendors in the program. And now, one year later, here we are again with these names popping back up -- this time in a U.S. Army competition to sell nearly four times as many aerostats. Image source: RTX Corp. What is JLENS good for? Late last year, I floated the idea (pun intended) that the U.S. military might want to revive JLENS as a way of keeping track of the strange surge of unidentified flying objects, believed to be hostile surveillance drones, that had been swarming over East Coast military bases and government installations for weeks. Peering down from an altitude of 10,000 feet, JLENS has been described as able to detect and track "all fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and land attack cruise missiles," and even "surface moving targets, large caliber rockets, and tactical ballistic missiles," around "a 360-degree field of view" and "up to a range of 340 miles." That's in contrast to most ground-bound radar systems currently used by the military, which have trouble detecting drones flying too close to the ground, as reported in a recent 60 Minutes story on the drones crisis. I had a long talk on WhatsApp with Anil Tiwari, president of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, and Vikrant Pandey, the general secretary, a short while back about Justice Yashwant Varma. I told them that though my family has known Justice Varma's family very closely for 3 generations, I will not protect him if he is corrupt. But the question is whether he is corrupt? I told him I had spoken to several lawyers of Delhi, who all spoke highly of him. As a Judge he was patient, courteous, and learned in the law, and there was never any complaint against his integrity. I also asked Tiwari and Pandey whether it is conceivable if anyone would be so crude and stupid as to keep Rs 50 crore in cash in several bags in his outhouse, where it could be easily discovered? If he had to take bribe of such a huge sum, surely he would take it abroad in Dubai, Singapore, London in a secret haven or in the form of a flat etc in a foreign country which could not be discovered. I also told them that I too have lived in a Judge's bungalow, and there are outhouses in the premises where servants live, and so it would be extremely dangerous to keep bags of cash there. Also, there are police guards at the gate. I told them that I had written many articles and given video interviews in this connection. I told them I too had been a member of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, and I am very sad that in such a haste the Bar Association has declared Justice Varma guilty of corruption (by saying that the High Court is not a 'koodadaan', implying Justice Varma was 'kooda') without considering the above aspects. This is behaving like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, who would say "off with his head" whenever anyone was brought before her, without even giving him a hearing. A man's reputation is for him a valuable asset, so one has to be careful before tarnishing it, and should enquire carefully into the allegation with a cool head before coming to a definite conclusion, and give him a hearing. Justice Varma's reputation has been trampled into the dust irreparably by the worthless Indian media which only seeks 'mirch masaala' or sensations to increase circulation or TRP. But surely lawyers should have behaved in a more responsible and circumspect manner. I told them that I would like to address the Bar Association members online in their next meeting, to which they agreed. Justice Markandey Katju retired from the Supreme Court in 2011. Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. United States President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran of bombings if Tehran did not reach an agreement with the US over its nuclear programme. Trump also said that secondary tariffs would be imposed on Iran if a deal was not made. Also read | Iran signals openness to indirect talks on Donald Trump's conditional peace proposal "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing...But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago," Trump told NBC News. After assuming the president's office in 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal with Iran. He has been insisting that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons. Also read | US wants to negotiate nuclear deal with Iran? Trump writes to Supreme Leader Khamenei A report in February by the UN's nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapon-grade uranium. Trump's remark came after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct negotiations with the US over its nuclear program. "We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a Cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. It is not clear whether Trump would accept any indirect negotiations. Meanwhile, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Friday said that American bases in the Middle East are vulnerable to Iran's attacks. "The Americans themselves know how vulnerable they are. If they violate Irans sovereignty, it will be like a spark in a gunpowder depot, setting the entire region ablaze. In such a scenario, their bases and their allies will not be safe," he said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his response in February warned that talks with the US "are not intelligent, wise or honorable". Trump had sent a letter to Iran's leadership seeking negotiations on the nuclear deal in March. He had then warned that if Iran does not negotiate, "it will be ugly for them". Hamas says it has accepted a new Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators Egypt and Qatar, offering a glimmer of hope in the ongoing conflict. The draft deal, approved by Khalil al-Hayya, Hamass most senior leader outside Gaza, proposes the release of five hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire. The latest offer comes a fortnight after the collapse of an earlier truce brokered by President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden in January. Its collapse has led to heightened tensions and further Israeli military incursions into Gaza. The proposal appears to have been timed to coincide with the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, potentially offering a symbolic pause in hostilities. Hamass conditions include a return to the first-phase ceasefire terms, such as the entry of humanitarian aid and a commitment to negotiate a second phase. During the initial truce earlier this year, Hamas released 33 hostages, but 59 remain in captivity, though not all are believed to be alive. The group had previously demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the warterms that stalled earlier talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, responded with a counter-proposal, said to have been crafted in coordination with the United States. Netanyahus office confirmed that consultations took place on 28 March, culminating in the submission of Israels revised plan to mediators. While details remain undisclosed, an Israeli official indicated the counter-offer seeks a ceasefire extending through Passover, along with talks for a long-term resolution. The proposal bears similarities to a plan presented weeks ago by US envoy Steve Witkoff, which Hamas had rejected. The renewed diplomatic push follows a breakdown on 18 March, when Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza, accusing Hamas of flouting the terms of the initial ceasefire. Renewed hostilities have led to nearly 1,000 deaths, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry. Israel also halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza, with Netanyahu warning that his troops would remain in Gaza until all hostages were released. The move has faced widespread global criticism; in Israel too, many have questioned the decision, accusing the prime minister of endangering the lives of the hostages by prioritising his political survival. A recent Hamas video featuring hostage Elkana Bohbot underscored their plight, while the group confirmed that American-Israeli Edan Alexander is among the five slated for release. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the prospect of any releases but urged a comprehensive deal to free all 59 captives immediately, questioning the limited scope of the proposal. Meanwhile, Hamas claims it has engaged positively with the mediators and adhered to prior terms, urging Israel not to obstruct progress. Reports suggest Hamas also seeks a brief truce to quell growing anti-Hamas protests within Gaza. Since the conflict reignited following Hamass October 2023 attacks, Gazas health authorities report 50,277 Palestinians killed and 1.1 lakh injured. Intensive talks involving Qatar and the US continue, with Washington pressing Hamas via third parties for Alexanders release as a gesture to President Donald Trump. As many as 25,362 illegal immigrants were arrested in Saudi Arabia in the last week of March 2025 alone, an official release said on Saturday. The arrested individuals were found guilty of breaching border security laws, and employment and residency regulations existing in the Kingdom. The Saudi authorities further broke down the statistics, clarifying that as many as 18,504 individuals among the arrested 25,362 were overstaying their visas or violating similar residency-related laws. 2,854 were picked up for job-related issues like working in the Arab nation without proper papers while 4,004 were caught for trying to cross the country's borders illegally. Among the 4,004 people arrested, 1,533 people were apprehended while trying to enter Saudi Arabia sans proper papers while the remaining were trying to sneak into neighbouring nations. Among those trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 65 per cent were from Ethiopia, 30 per cent were Yemeni nationals, and the remaining 5 per cent belonged to other countries, Arab World said in a report. A landlocked country in the Horn of Africa, 68.7 per cent of the population in Ethiopia (82,679 thousand people in 2021) is multi-dimensionally poor, says the United Nations Development Programme. An additional 18.4 per cent is classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (22,076 thousand people in 2021) in the drought-ravaged country. Yemen, widely considered the poorest country in the Middle East, facing a dire humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing civil war. Earlier this month, the United Arab Emirates also revealed the details of a similar crackdown targeting foreign nationals overstaying their visas and travel agents helping people work in the country illegally. At least 6,000 people have been deported by UAE authorities since January for overstaying their visas. Hoping to convince the Western countries that the new Syrian government is inclusive, Ahmed al-Sharaa has roped in members of minority communities in his five-year transitional government that will replace the previous interim administration. The Cabinet, which has 23 members took oath on March 29, around four months after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. However, the new Cabinet will not have prime minister and instead will be led by a secretary general, as per the country's temporary constitution. Al-Sharaa, as secretary general, is expected to lead the executive branch. FROM THE MAGAZINE | Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who has reverted to his original name Ahmed al-Sharaa, was appointed Syrias interim president on January 29. Jolani, who leads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, played a key role in pic.twitter.com/7ZMCwpQYIY THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) February 12, 2025 While inducting the new Cabinet members, al-Sharaa said, "The formation of a new government today is a declaration of our joint will to build a new state." Who are the Christian, Kurd and Alawite cabinet members in Syrian government? Hind Kabawat Ahmed al-Sharaa has nominated Hind Kabawat, a Christian woman, as the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour. She is known for posing resistance to the Bashar al-Assad regime since 2011 when the war began. Mohammed Terko Mohammed Terko, a Kurdish Syrian who is based in Damascus, took oath as the education minister. However, the members of the US-backed Kurdish group, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were not inducted in the cabinet. Earlier, SDF commanded Mazloum Abdi inked a truce deal with al-Sharaa to merge the Kurdish forces with the Syrian army. Yarub Badr Yarub Badr, an Alawite, is the new Transportation Minister. This is a significant move by the al-Sharaa government as the ousted Assad dynasty belonged to the Alawaite community. Concentrated mainly in the Latakia and Tartus governorates, Alawites recently faced crackdown by Syrian authorities over deadly coordinated attacks at hospitals. Amgad Badr Amgad Badr, who is set to lead the Agriculture Ministry, will represent the Druze community in the cabinet. Raed al-Saleh Raed al-Saleh who heads the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue organisation, is known for his humanitarian efforts during the war. White Helmets was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize thrice. He has been named the Minister of Disaster Management and Emergency Response. Two of the cabinet members were retained from the interim government, including Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. Intelligence department head Anas Khattab is the new Interior Minister. Mohammed al-Bashir who was part of the interim government, will take over as Energy Minister to restore power in the war-torn country as well as rebuild the oil sector. Mohammed Yosr Bernieh is the finance minister. Several foreign students in the US, including Indians, have received official emails from authorities asking them to self-deport. The emails sent by the Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office on behalf of the US Department of State notified that their F-1 student visas have been revoked. While the authorities had earlier targeted students who took part in campus protests, they have now cracked down on those who have posted "anti-US" posts on social media. These include those who post in support of Hamas as well as on pro-Palestinian issues. Be honest. Visa fraud has serious consequences. Lying or providing fake documents can result in a permanent visa bans under U.S. immigration law. Watch the video to learn more. pic.twitter.com/ggLIfgS4KA U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) March 29, 2025 The emails stated that the authorities received information regarding their activities and hence their F-1 visas have been revoked as per the US Immigration and Nationality Act Section 221(i). The Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Office stated that the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement will get in touch with the college officials regarding the visa cancellation. It also warned that students that staying in the US without a valid visa can make them ineligible for a future visa and result in fines and detention. The bureau advised students with cancelled visa to self-deport using CBP Home App. If they fail to do so, the US agency said the students may not be able to secure their possessions if the authorities are forced to deport them. It also warned the students that they could be deported to any other country and not necessarily their country of origin. F-1 visas are given to foreigners who pursue academinc study. However, a report by The Times of India suggests that the crackdown will also target those who hold M visas (vocational study) and J visas (exchange students). In 2023, the US consular team in India had processed a record 14 lakh visas overall and issued 1.4 lakh student visas. The US Embassy in India recently announced cancellation of 2,000 visa appointments created by bots. "We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies," the embassy posted. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar has rocked the country with the death toll crossing 1,700. According to authorities, the toll is likely to rise as rescue efforts are underway. Many countries including India, France, and the European Union have extended support and sent assistance. However, with the ongoing civil war, many countries are reluctant to reach out to the quake-hit country, complicating the relief efforts. Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war since 2021 after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. A Chinese rescue team from Yunnan Province has pulled an elderly man out of a collapsed hospital early Sunday morning in Naypyidaw. Another team, the Chinese Rescue Team of Ramunion, has also rescued a survivor from the rubble in Mandalay. Both teams arrived in Myanmar on pic.twitter.com/ICWErdJGFH CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) March 30, 2025 Even while the rescue efforts are ongoing, there were reports of military airstrikes in regions including the Pauk township in the Mayway region. India is the first responder in the Myanmar Earthquake. Specialised rescue team from 50 (I) Para Brigade, 118 personnel for the field hospital, Operation theatres, relief material.pic.twitter.com/dmiimzF1C5 Shining Star (@ShineHamesha) March 30, 2025 Though the National Unity Government, which represents the ousted civilian administration, said its rebel units would pause fighting for two weeks, there have been no such announcements from the military so far. Understanding Myanmar's armed conflict After Aung Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy party were jailed, the security forces put down pro-democracy demonstrations with force, leading to armed resistance. In several cases, the escalations and protests ended in violence. Despite lacking weapons and manpower, the pro-democracy fighters allied with ethnic minority groups seeking autonomy. The resistance is coordinated by the self-styled National Unity Government, whose claim to legitimacy is that it was formed by elected lawmakers. The NUG, which operates underground, has an armed wing called the People's Defence Force. Myanmar military is continuing to carry out airstrikes despite condemnation from the United Nations and calls for it to halt all military operations in the wake of the earthquake. Singapore's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the military regime, that seized power in a coup four years ago should be focusing on saving lives and helping those in need. The National Unity Government said that it would collaborate with the UN and international nongovernmental organisations "to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps, in the areas it controls. Myanmar's ruling junta in a rare gesture sought the help of 'any country' as the earthquake toll is rising. In 2008, the military refused to allow in foreign rescue teams or emergency supplies after Cyclone Nargis, which claimed over a lakh lives. India was among the first nations to lend a helping hand to Myanmar, which has been struck by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake and several aftershocks that were measured above 6.0 magnitude. In total, India has sent 157 tonne of relief material to Myanmar. The death toll has reached 1,644 on Sunday morning while 3,408 have been injured. At least 139 people were missing. #OperationBrahma continues. Two C-17 aircraft with 118 member Indian Army Field Hospital Unit, including Women & Child Care services and 60 tonnes of relief material have landed in Myanmar . With these, five relief flights from have landed in Myanmar today. pic.twitter.com/h5CBKIGsd3 Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 29, 2025 The Ministry of External Affairs launched Operation Brahma to provide aid to the quake-hit neighbouring nation. Two naval ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, laden with humanitarian relief material weighing 40 tonne set sail for Yangon on Saturday. They will arrive the destination on March 31. Two more ships from Sri Vijaya Puram under Andaman and Nicobar command are expected to leave for Yangon soon. On Saturday early morning, India had sent its first aircraft loaded with 15 tonnes of relief material around 3 am from Hindon Air Force Base, Ghaziabad. It reached Yangon by 8 am. Another C130 aircraft landed in the capital city Nay Pyi Taw, with 38 personnel of @NDRFHQ & 10 tonnes of relief material. This is the third Indian aircraft @IAF_MCC to bring relief assistance to Myanmar today. #OperationBrahma pic.twitter.com/eU26SDWGpu Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 29, 2025 Later, an 80-member NDRF team was flown to Naypyitaw for search and rescue operations on two aircraft. They are supported by canine squads to find people trapped in debris and also equipped with concrete cutters and drill machines to rescue the victims. Two other flights headed for Mandalay deployed 118 medical personnel from the Indian Army's Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, the team will provide advanced medical and surgical care. They are also setting up a medical treatment centre in Mandalay with a capacity of 60 beds. The makeshift hospital will be able to carry out emergency surgeries and casualty treatment. The UK has pledged $12.9 million in aid for Myanmar while China has promised $13.8 million in assistance. Beijing has also sent 82 rescue personnel to Myanmar while Hong Kong sent 51 personnel, two search and rescue dogs and 9 tonnes of equipment. The National Unity Government (NUG), a group that is fighting the ruling junta in Myanmar, has declared a unilateral ceasefire to allow relief efforts in the country. In neighbouring Thailand, the death toll touched 17. At least 32 were injured and 83 were missing. The Ukrainian Army in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions are bracing for fresh Russian assaults in the coming weeks and expect Moscow to redeploy its battle-hardened units from Kursk in these vital positions. Ukraine has reasons to believe this fresh Russian offense may last as long as nine months if a ceasefire deal is not leaked. THE RUSSIAN ARMY will go to BERLIN , PARIS LONDON and the rest if that is what NATO wants ! USA needs to walk away if they also do not want the repercussions of their rancid warmongering against Russia ! There is NO ARMY , either singular or combined of NATO forces, which pic.twitter.com/EcsI6eTZWw (@SMO_VZ) March 28, 2025 Ukrainian officers are concerned about the arrival of Russian soldiers who have fought in Kursk, media reports claimed, as these units are ruthless, experienced and energetic following successful campaigns in the region. Meanwhile, media reports quoted Ukrainian sources as saying that a Russian troop buildup near Selydove in Donetsk Oblast was confirmed through a radio interception. More armoured vehicles, drones and units were being summoned in the region, hinting at an imminent Russian push. ALSO READ | Will waiting for Putin's death help Ukraine? Zelenskyy hopes Russian leader will die soon and war will end Zaporizhia is a city in southeastern Ukraine while Sumy is in northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian commanders fear that the upcoming offensive may force them to press more men into these regions, leaving other fronts vulnerable. If Vladimir Putin is planning a large-scale spring offensive, the present defenders will require reinforcements, they believe. Kyiv is aware that Russia is likely to launch a fresh offensive in the coming weeks to strengthen its position on the negotiation table. If the Russian army is preparing for a long war like Kyiv belives, lasting at least six months, then 2025 is going to be another blood-soaked year in the battlefronts. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. ALSO READ | Vladimir Putin does not consider Zelenskyy a valid negotiating partner, suggests UN-led govt in Ukraine Russia's Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, said its air defence systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. Both sides have accused one another in recent days of violating a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire, and Russia has continued sending regular swarms of drones over Ukraine. In his nightly video address on Saturday, just as the Kharkiv attack was unfolding, Volodymir Zelenskyy said Ukraine expected a "serious response" from Western countries to the nearly daily attacks. "Our partners must understand that these Russian strikes target not only our people, but also all international efforts, diplomatic efforts aimed at ending this war," he said Ambassador V.B. Soni As the Raisina Dialogue, which concluded in New Delhi on March 19, marked its 10th anniversary, its theme, Kalachakra (wheel of time), proved especially apt. India finds itself at a pivotal moment, with global effortsled by the United States underway to discuss and shape the future of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Indias diplomatic balancing act is under the spotlight, as it navigates its historical ties with Russia, growing partnerships with Ukraine and the west and the evolving geopolitical landscape. As critical negotiations unfold, India must strategically assess its role, ensuring that its national interests remain protected, especially in the event of a breakdown in talks and the imposition of further sanctions on Russia. Indias diplomatic imperative While Indias foremost priority is maintaining stability, it must also pragmatically evaluate its diplomatic leverage, economic security and strategic autonomy. A balanced approach will enable New Delhi to safeguard its interests, while reinforcing its global standing as a responsible and influential power committed to peace efforts. India has consistently advocated for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While maintaining its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia, it has also underscored the importance of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. This careful positioning allows India to be perceived as a neutral and credible voice in global diplomacyan image further bolstered by its G20 presidency in 2023 and active participation in multilateral organisations. A measured approach to US-Russia negotiations India views the ongoing US-Russia negotiations with cautious optimism, hoping for de-escalation and stability in global geopolitics. However, prolonged hostilities pose significant risks, including economic disruptions, energy insecurity, and increased geopolitical volatility. Given its strong ties with both Russia and the west, India is uniquely positioned to play a constructive role in diplomatic mediation. To leverage this position effectively, India must: Act as a diplomatic bridge India can facilitate backchannel discussions between Russia, Ukraine and key global stakeholders. Support humanitarian initiatives India can play a critical role in ensuring the safe passage of civilians, humanitarian aid delivery and prisoner exchanges by leveraging its non-aligned stance. Promote economic cooperation Engaging both Russia and Ukraine on trade and investment can serve as a confidence-building measure, encouraging economic interdependence as a pathway to stability. In this context, it would be relevant to quote from Prime Minister Modis recent interview on the Lex Fridman podcast: I can tell President Putin that this is not the era of war. I can also tell President Zelensky that regardless of how many people stand with you, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield. Ukraine may hold countless discussions with its allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussion must include both sides. Current situation provided an opportunity for meaningful talks between Russia and Ukraine. I am not neutral. I strive for peace. He concluded by underlining Indias position and expressing concern about how the war has hurt the Global South. Power point: Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, at a command post in Kursk which was taken back from Ukrainian control | Getty Images Mitigating risks from potential sanctions Should negotiations collapse, leading to intensified sanctions against Russia, India must proactively implement a strategy to protect its economic and strategic interests. Key measures include: i) Maintaining diplomatic equilibrium India must continue engaging with the US and European allies to avoid secondary sanctions, while preserving its strategic autonomy in foreign policy decisions. ii) Diversifying energy sources While India has significantly increased its oil imports from Russia at discounted rates, it must prepare for potential restrictions by strengthening partnerships with Middle Eastern and African energy suppliers. India can also explore alternative energy options, provided they remain economically viable, given logistical constraints and increased costs. iii) Enhancing trade with alternative markets To mitigate potential disruptions in trade with Russia, India should expand its economic engagements with ASEAN, Africa and Latin America. iv) Strengthening rupee-rouble transactions To navigate financial sanctions, India should enhance trade settlements in local currencies and explore alternative payment mechanisms, including digital currency collaborations. v) Expanding defence procurement channels Given Indias reliance on Russian military equipment, accelerating domestic defence indigenisation and diversifying military procurements through partnerships with France, Israel and the US will be crucial. By adopting a well-calibrated strategy, India can navigate the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while strengthening its role as a key global stakeholder in peace and stability. As global negotiations continue to evolve, Indias ability to maintain strategic autonomy, economic resilience and diplomatic credibility will be critical in shaping its future on the world stage. The author is former Indian ambassador to Ukraine. We recently published a list of 10 Mega Cap Stocks Gaining Bullish Momentum This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) stands against other mega cap stocks gaining bullish momentum this week. The S&P 500 index started the week with a bang after staying under pressure for a few days. There was a realization that Wall Street may have overestimated the impact of tariffs. Once the dust settles, the market will continue to go higher, just like the US economy which continues to grow despite challenges. When the broader market corrects itself due to uncertainty, such as the one brought about by Trumps tariff wars, mega-cap stocks also get affected. This provides investors, especially the ones that invest at regular intervals, to take another bite of these impressive stocks. The same situation happened during the last week, and we believe that after Mondays impressive recovery, the trend is about to reverse. Mega cap stocks like the ones in our list have driven the market in recent months and are therefore likely to be the ones leading it again. We decided to come up with the top 10 mega-cap stocks in the S&P index that have lost a considerable chunk of value in the last month and are now trading at a discount, a valuation gap that could quickly be recovered during this weeks trading. To come up with the list of 10 oversold S&P 500 Mega-Cap Stocks To Trade This Week, we only looked at stocks with a market cap of at least $200 billion that have lost the most value in the last month. Is Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) The Mega Cap Stock Gaining Bullish Momentum This Week? A customer service team in an office setting using the company's Customer 360 platform to communicate with customers. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a customer relationship management (CRM) technology provider. Its technology connects customers and companies. The company provides Data Cloud, Salesforce Starter, Agentforce, Industries AI, Slack, MuleSoft, and Tableau. Software stocks are expected to drive the next AI bull run and Salesforce is one of the most likely stocks to lead that rally. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) has a wide range of AI products, as recently pointed out by Evercore analysts, calling the stock the most resilient if AI and software spending were to slow down. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is also making its mark on a global level after recently announcing a $1 billion investment in Singapore. This will further help the company strengthen its AI offering, Agentforce, which is gaining traction by the day and cashing in on a good chunk of the AI growth. Mridula Ghosh Diary of Resilience/ Mridula Ghosh/ Kyiv To save face from many lost battles against Ukraine, and to get what it needs from the international community, Russia needs a regime change. However, the imperialist circles led by President Putin are still quite dominant, and they have rallied a large number of people to their side. Therefore, many are sceptical whether Russia would honour any ceasefire. Ask anyone in Ukraine how to stop the war, and they will say: let Putin order his soldiers to leave Ukraines sovereign territory, and there will be no war. However, this straightforward solution finds no echo in the imperialist realm of warmongering Russia. Why Russia needs peace With the occupation of Crimea in February 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russia etched its name in history as an aggressor, violating the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum (security assurances granted to Ukraine for joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and every conceivable international treaty. After 80 years, Russia unleashed a brutal war on mainland Europe, just as Germany and the Soviet Union did in 1939 when they attacked Poland, launching World War II. By claiming NATO and Europe are subsidised by the US, Trump has upended long-held views of Euro-Atlantic cooperation and diplomacy. He has also advanced unprecedented economic demands, waging tariff wars on other countries. Historically, the US has supported Russia at Ukraines expenserecognising the USSR (1932) amid the Ukrainian famine, forcing Ukraine to abandon its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum (1994) and failing its obligations when Russia took Crimea in 2014. Despite boasting that it would seize Kyiv in three days and subdue Ukraine in two weeks, Russia, the self-proclaimed second most powerful army in the world, has lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers and yet failed to secure victory. Equally humiliating is its reliance on North Korean troops and its decision to bring people from South Asian and African nations under false contracts to fight on the frontlines. Russias economy worsens daily under sanctions, though it deploys various tactics to evade them. Elite economic and political circles in Russia realise the wars futility, yearning for peace and lifting of sanctions. Yet, the leadership persists with nuclear sabre-rattling and reiterates outdated, unreasonable demands on sovereign Ukraine. Peace for Ukraine is existential A smaller power than Russia, Ukraine entered the conflict with its defence capabilities at a nadir following the Budapest Memorandum, when it relinquished its nuclear arsenal. Over the years, Ukrainian policymakers did little to bolster its defences for such a war. Who could have foreseen a conflict with Russia? Once the worlds third-largest nuclear power, Ukraine now appeals to some 30 nations for arms to defend itself. A series of meetings, conferences and negotiations has unfolded. President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a 10-point plan at the Bali G20 Summit in 2022, followed by summits in Copenhagen, Jeddah, and Bernall to no avail. Ukrainians have mounted a tenacious resistance, but delayed and inadequate arms supplies have halted planned offensives, forcing tactical shifts. Zelensky | Reuters Ukraine has pushed into Russias Kursk region, currently holding parts of it, while Russia occupies 20 per cent of Ukraines territory, conducting deportations and population replacements there. It has even enshrined these territories in its constitution as its own, flagrantly violating Ukraines sovereignty. Putin also is indicted by the International Criminal Court for the suspected kidnapping of 19,000 Ukrainian children. Thus, beyond peace, Ukraine must reclaim its land and its people. It does not need to haggle for a truceit requires a lasting, just resolution. Many perceive a Trump-Putin alliance because of the similarities in their statements with regard to Zelensky (in pic) , that he has no legitimacy without elections. Trumps claim that Zelenskys ratings had sunk to 4 per cent was swiftly debunked by polls showing 6567 per cent support. Trumps hyperbole and the reality of US aid As the war of attrition prompts both sides to explore peace, the shift in US leadership has marked a turning point, presenting opportunities and challenges alike. The spotlight is now on US President Donald Trump. By claiming NATO and Europe are subsidised by the US, Trump has upended long-held views of Euro-Atlantic cooperation and diplomacy. He has also advanced unprecedented economic demands, waging tariff wars on other countriesincluding neighbours Canada and Mexicoand even staking territorial claims on Greenland, perhaps hinting at Arctic ambitions. Trumps Make America Great Again (MAGA) rhetoric, his choice to appoint the unelected Elon Musk as head of the department of government efficiency (DOGE), his efforts to dismiss federal staff, his cancellation of university and research funding and his curbs on Voice of Americas free speech services have drawn widespread criticism, though they have won praise from some Russians. Trumps exaggerated claims of millions killed and hundreds of cities reduced to rubble were overblown, as was his repeated assertion that US aid to Ukraine totalled $350 billion. Official US records tell a different tale. Since February 2022, Congress has passed five major bills totalling $175 billion. Additionally, in December 2024, a $20 billion loan was approved, to be repaid with interest from frozen Russian assets. (Of this, about $128 billion has directly supported Ukraines government.) Zelensky clarified these figures at a news conference on February 23. The Ukrainian government has received most, but not all, of this funding. A significant portion was spent in the US, paying American factories and workers to produce weapons either sent to Ukraine or used to restock Pentagon reserves depleted during the war. An analysis by the American Enterprise Institute found that Ukraine aid supports defence manufacturing in over 70 American cities. Confusion emerged when Zelensky noted on February 2 that Ukraine had received only $75 billion of the $175 billion allocated by the US. What became of the other $100 billion? Was it lost or stolen? No. The explanation is that only a portion passes through Ukrainian hands. A large part pays for activities related to the war, but not to Ukraine directly. These include the training of Ukrainian forces, global humanitarian assistance, additional costs of US surge forces in Europe and intelligence support for both NATO and Ukraine. The Center for Strategic and International Studies notes that aid to Ukraine is a misnomer: 60 per cent stays in the US, 25 per cent reaches Ukraine, and 15 per cent is spent globally. Moreover, Trumps claim that the US outspends Europe on Ukraine is false, as data shows Europes contributions exceed those of the US. Trump-Putin tandem or stand-off? Many perceive a Trump-Putin alliance because of the similarities in their statements with regard to Zelensky, that he has no legitimacy without elections. Trumps claim that Zelenskys ratings had sunk to 4 per cent was swiftly debunked by polls showing 6567 per cent support. Beyond that, conferences and meetings on Ukraine have revealed stark differences between European and US approaches. Peace now hinges on Trump, who boasted during his campaign that he could end the war in 24 hours. Europe, however, remains sceptical of quick fixes. Against this backdrop, attention turned to the Munich Security Conference. True, Munich 2025 was not Munich 1938 (when France and Britain agreed to German annexation of the German-majority part of Czechoslovakia), but US Vice President J.D. Vances speech exposed a growing rift between Europe and the US. The US began engaging Russia on Ukraine, and any talks excluding Ukraine shocked analysts and leaders in Ukraine and Europe, evoking memories of Munich 1938 and the Berlin Conference of 188485 (when colonial powers partitioned Africa among themselves). Talks shaping Ukraines fate ultimately included the country, though not without tension for Zelensky at the Oval Office. Trumps declaration to withhold all aid and vital intelligence rattled Ukraine, yet Zelenskys domestic support rose further. US officials secretly met and urged Ukrainian figures like former president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to push for elections, but both wanted status quo to prevail till the war ended. These events highlighted the divergent stances of the US and Europe on Russia. A seemingly apocalyptic diplomatic impasse after the Oval Office incident was deftly averted through wise counsel to Ukraine from Jonathan Powell, Britains national security adviser and a close aide to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, joined by seasoned Ukrainian negotiators and allies. Diplomacy matured. What appears as a Trump-Putin tandem, threatening Ukraines security, may yet become a stand-off under global scrutiny. Beyond a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine, the pressing issue is a 30-day ceasefire as a prelude to elaborate peace talks. Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire, while Putins answer was a vague yes, but he wants Ukraine to abandon its NATO aspirations and cede territory. The Russian proposal was deemed promising but incomplete by Trump after his representative Steve Witkoff met Putin. Witkoff had to wait for eight hours before he got a chance to speak to Putin. Direct Trump-Putin talks are expected soon. Notably, Trump has not lifted sanctions on Russia, and additional punitive measures are planned against its shadow 280-tanker fleet. The US treasury departments General Licence 8L, issued by the Biden administration to 12 Russian financial institutions, expired on March 12. This exemption allowed limited hard currency operations in the energy sector, but Trumps refusal to renew it is seen as pressure on Russia to accept the ceasefire. A two-hour telephone conversation between Trump and Putin on March 18 gave little result except the exchange of 175 prisoners of war from each side. No sooner than they spoke on banning strikes on energy infrastructure and general rhetoric of peace, Russian drones rained on Ukraine for several hours, targeting a hospital in Sumy, killing civilians and destroying houses in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa. What lies ahead? Pragmatists in Russia believe that a ceasefire offers a chance to mend ties with the west and get rid of the sanctions. They understand the necessity of withdrawing from Ukrainian territories as well. Their stance on reparations or war crimes accountability, however, remains unclear. What is clear is that Russia cannot be the same after the war. To save face and to get what it needs from the international community, it needs a regime change. The name of First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, an economist, is floated as a possible future leader who might reshape Russia after the war. Trumps accommodating steps seem promising to these circles, yet Putins imperialist faction, bolstered by propaganda, still dominates, leaving many in Europe doubtful whether Russia will honour a ceasefire. Unlike Russia, people in Ukraine debate the war openlyon the frontlines, on social media, in its streets and public spaces. Most prioritise saving lives and securing guarantees. In shaping a future peace deal, surrendering vast swathes of territory is unthinkable. A bitter aftertaste lingers: historically, the US has supported Russia at Ukraines expenserecognising the USSR in 1932 amid the Holodomor (Ukrainian famine) that ravaged Ukraines farmlands, forcing Ukraine to abandon its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 and then failing its obligations when Russia took Crimea in 2014. Young Ukrainians harbour deep scepticism. The same is true for its European partners. In their support for Ukraine, European leaders announced that 30 countries, including China, will join the coalition of the willing in sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, after a peace treaty has been concluded. Chinas shift towards Europe to balance Russia-US tandem on Ukraine is significant. It remains to be seen whether Ukraines partners will be reliable peace brokers, truly safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity rather than merely paying lip service. Should they fail, nuclear proliferation, aggressive territorial expansion and grave violation of human rights could become normalised globally. Shall we leave such a grim world to our future generations? The author, formerly with the UN, is associate professor of international relations at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy. Last week, I paid my first official visit to India as Ukraines foreign minister. It was an intense and insightful diplomatic trip. In New Delhi, I attended the 10th anniversary edition of the Raisina Dialogue, one of the worlds leading diplomatic forums. I also had a bilateral meeting with my Indian counterpart Dr S. Jaishankar, and several other important meetings with colleagues from Bhutan, Ghana, Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand. Ukraine will never recognise Russias occupation of its territory. Allowing redrawing of the maps would mean a return to the Yalta order, where the large and the powerful decide the fate of the smaller. Few countries in the world would enjoy such an order. Our military muscle must compensate for our diplomatic scars. This is why we will not accept any limitations on our armed forces or defence capabilities. After New Delhi, I travelled to Mumbai, Indias financial capital, where I attended a business forum with over 130 Indian companies and inaugurated Ukraines new consulate general. Even during wartime, we are increasing our diplomatic presence in India. It demonstrates Indias importance to Ukraine and the world. India is the worlds largest democracy and a key global player. India aspires to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which Ukraine supports. Throughout my meetings, I sensed a strong desire to expand our bilateral ties, economic cooperation, technology and business contacts. We are eager to expand our mutually beneficial cooperation. I discussed specific projects that can be implemented in the near future to benefit our countries. We appreciate Indias support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The joint statement issued during Prime Minister Modis visit to Ukraine in August 2024 reflects Indias support for a just and lasting peace. Historically, Ukraine and India have developed numerous promising areas of cooperation, including agriculture, digitalisation, technology and defence. Because of the war, Ukraine has developed some cutting-edge technology. We have contributed to Indias technological successes. We are proud that Ukrainian engine technology was used in New Delhis successful lunar mission. I am confident we can accomplish much more. Before the full-scale war, we had also hosted a large number of Indian students. We look forward to seeing them again, and we will welcome more Indians once the security situation improves. All of my conversations and public speeches in India revolved around the path to a fair peace in Ukraine. It was important for me to convey the message to the people of India, as well as wider Indo-Pacific and global audiences: Ukraine wants peace more than anyone else and is actively working to end the war this year. Ukraine took a significant step toward peace two weeks ago in Jeddah when it agreed to the US proposal for a 30-day full ceasefire. Unfortunately, we are yet to see Russias willingness to reciprocate. Instead of accepting Ukraines proposal to cease fire unconditionally, Moscow continues to put forward various demands. It is a true demonstration to the world that Ukraine has never been an obstacle to peace, and Russia is the only source of this war. Russian aggression against Ukraine is colonial at its core. Russia rejects Ukraines right to exist as a sovereign nation, deported at least 20,000 Ukrainian children in order to raise them as Russians, and tries to steal Ukrainian natural resources in the occupied territories. There must be no place for such brutal colonialism in the modern world. We continue to work towards a fair and lasting peace. The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war, said former UN General Assembly president Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, a prominent Indian and the first woman to hold the position. Her words could not be more timely today. The Minsk process from 2014 to 2022 left us with diplomatic scars. Ukraine engaged in over 200 rounds of negotiations with Russia and established 25 ceasefires, all of which were quickly violated by Russia. The entire peace effort came to an end in February 2022, when Russia unilaterally withdrew from the Minsk process and launched a full-scale invasion. We must not repeat past mistakes. Now is the time for diplomacy. But diplomacy alone is not enough. It needs to be backed by strength. Our military muscle must compensate for our diplomatic scars. This is why we will not accept any limitations on our armed forces or defence capabilities. We know that in todays world, any multilateralism and goodwill must be backed by a million-strong army. And we have such an army now. Ukraine is a force of good, dedicated to the world of the rule of law, rather than the law of force or the jungle. Ukraine is the country that has made one of the most significant contributions to international peace and security. We gave up the worlds third largest nuclear arsenal in 1994, making the greatest contribution to non-proliferation in human history. In three decades of its independence, Ukraine deployed boots on the ground to maintain peace in other countries. As many as 45,000 Ukrainians served as peacekeepers around the world from the 1990s until 2022. We helped maintain peace around the world. Now we need the world to come together and help restore a fair peace in Ukraine. Not only Ukraine, but the entire world, including India, the worlds largest democracy and a growing global power, is interested in a fair peace in Ukraine that respects international law and the UN Charter. Aggression must never be rewarded in any way. Ukraine will never recognise Russias occupation of its territory. Allowing redrawing of the maps would mean a return to the Yalta order, where the large and the powerful decide the fate of the smaller. Few countries in the world would enjoy such an order. There will be no Yalta-2 or Minsk-3. We need a fair peace and real security. We believe that India, as a global power, can play a significant role in restoring peace, as well as in postwar demining, recovery and economic development. Our actions today are defining the 21st century: whether it will be a century of people or dictators, peace or perpetual war, dignity or disrespect. The Ukrainian battlefield is one of the places where these fundamental principles are being determined and tested. I encourage our Indian friends to pass this test together and come out of it stronger. Kathmandu, Mar 30 (PTI) The Nepal government has downsized the security team deployed for former king Gyanendra Shah, a day after pro-monarchy protests in parts of the Nepalese capital turned violent. The number of security personnel at the Nirmal Niwas, the private residence of the ex-king, has been reduced from 25 to 16 after Friday's protests, during which protesters pelted stones, attacked the office of a political party, set vehicles on fire and looted shops. Two persons, including a TV cameraman, were killed and 110 others injured in the clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters, who were demanding the reinstatement of a Hindu monarch. The government has also reshuffled the team of security personnel deployed for the ex-monarch, Home Ministry sources said. The government has also increased vigilance on the activities of the former monarch, the sources said. The Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament, said on Thursday that former king Gyanendra should be held responsible for Friday's violent incidents. Over a dozen properties, including business complexes, restaurants, hospitals and private and government buildings were also vandalised by protesters. Former king Gyanendra was behind all the activities of pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu campaigners around the country, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', a former prime minister and the chairman of the opposition CPN-Maoist Centre. However, the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party has demanded the release of its two leaders -- Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Ravindra Mishra -- arrested after the protests. The party warned that it would take to the street if the two were not released within 24 hours. The party held the government responsible for what happened during their demonstration in Kathmandu on Friday. U.S. airstrikes pummeled sites across Yemen controlled by the Houthi rebels early Friday, including neighborhoods in the capital, Sanaa. The extent of the damage and possible casualties wasnt immediately clear, though the number of strikes appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation under President Donald Trump appears more more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Initial reports from the Houthis described at least seven people being hurt in the attacks Friday in Sanaa, Yemens capital that the rebels have held since 2014. Other strikes hit around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, the rebels stronghold of Saada and in Yemens al-Jawf, Amran and Marib governorates. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge what at those sites had been targeted, other than Sanaa International Airport, which is used for both civilian and military traffic. Neighborhoods in the capital also are home to military and intelligence service sites as well as crowded with civilians. An Associated Press video showed one bomb dropping into Sanaa, with a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as many people were awake in the final days of Ramadan. Your browser does not support the video tag. Other areas hit included mountainous terrain north of Sanaa in Amran, where military camps and other installations are believed to be. The Houthis al-Masirah satellite news network described communication networks going down after the attacks, which included at least 19 strikes there alone. The U.S. militarys Central Command, which now has authority from the White House to strike offensively in Yemen without pre-approval, did not immediately acknowledge conducting any strikes. The command, which under Biden offered details on individual strikes, has not provided that information in this campaign. The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis say have killed at least 57 people, started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far. The attacks greatly raised the Houthis profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemens decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab worlds poorest nation. (AP) The defense secretarys decision to review military standards on combat and physical fitness and appearance opens a Pandoras box of widely differing rules among the services. And it will raise a crucial question: Should there be a cookie-cutter approach, or should service differences, evolving social norms and recruiting realities play a role in policy decisions? Pete Hegseth has been very public about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women, and he warned there would be reviews to address the issues. He is a staunch proponent of making all standards the same, regardless of gender, and military officials are braced for changes as reviews continue. In a March 12 memo, Hegseth said the undersecretary for personnel must gather information on military standards pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards. We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the worlds most lethal and effective fighting force, he wrote. The effort is seen as a broadside against women serving on the front lines which they have been doing successfully for years. Hegseths memo calls for a review of how standards have changed and the impact of those shifts since Jan. 1, 2015 the year the Defense Department opened all combat jobs to women. And it raises questions about whether he wants to make all fitness tests the same for the services and make them all gender- and age-neutral or whether he will set minimum standards and allow the services to require more stringent requirements as desired. Eliminating the current policy of scoring annual fitness tests based on age and gender could hurt retention and recruitment if troops are suddenly told to meet a new, dramatically harder requirement. Such changes are generally phased in over time. Heres a look at the current standards. Physical fitness tests The military has long had what is largely a two-part system for physical fitness standards: ___Routine annual fitness tests with different requirements based on gender and age. ___More grueling standards for specific combat, special operations, infantry, armor, pararescue jumpers and other jobs that are the same for everyone in that occupation, and are not adjusted for age or gender. Right now, the fitness tests are a hodgepodge. Each service has basic tests that all service members must pass once or twice a year. For every service, the tests vary. Scoring is adjusted for gender and age. For example: A 20-year-old man must complete a run in a faster time than a woman or a 30-year-old man in order to receive the maximum score. Fitness tests used to be simpler: a run, push-ups and sit-ups. They evolved over time and now can include options. For example, Air Force service members can do either a 1 1/2-mile run or a sprint. Other services will, at times, allow biking or rowing as a cardio substitute for the run; planks are now more widely used than sit-ups. The Army and Marines have more extensive fitness tests. The Army, in a major overhaul several years ago, expanded its fitness test to six events, including a dead lift, run, planks, push-ups, standing power throw and a combination sprint/drag/carry. The events were meant to mimic real-world military circumstances. An early plan to make that test gender and age neutral was scrapped after studies showed problems. The Marine Corps has two tests a year. In the first half, Marines take a physical fitness test that includes a three-mile run, pull-ups and planks. In the second half of the year, they take a combat fitness test that includes an 880-meter run in combat boots, an ammo-can lift and an exercise that mimics troops maneuvers under fire. The maneuver portion includes an obstacle course with a low crawl, high crawl and sprint, as well as dragging a person and using the firemans carry. Job-specific courses and standards Specific military jobs like special operations, infantry, armor and pararescue jumping require different, higher-level physical and often mental and psychological tests, requirements and qualification courses. Those standards require everyone to meet the same gender- and age-neutral requirements. For example, an Army soldier who wants to be a Green Beret or a sailor who wants to be a SEAL must pass those grueling months-long qualification courses. Also, after the Pentagon allowed women to be in all combat jobs, the Army set specific fitness standards for each military occupation that are the same regardless of sex or age. Recruits who want to serve in an infantry or armor job must pass a specific physical assessment that has higher, more significant demands, in order to sign a contract for that specialty. Other standards Over the years, a wide array of standards and requirements have been adjusted for reasons ranging from religious tolerance to recruiting and evolving societal trends. In large part, they are driven by recruiting struggles and the need to woo those from a changing universe of American young people, including those with less academic schooling or people from states where marijuana is legal. The Navy, for example, began in 2022 to enlist more recruits who score very low on the Armed Services Qualification Test. That was to help meet recruiting goals. A year later, it began to bring in people who didnt graduate from high school or get a GED. Both were shifts that the other services have largely avoided. The Navy argued that it needed those lower-scoring recruits to fill jobs that involve intense manual labor. Hegseth has said little about that type of standard and has focused on physical rather than mental fitness. In addition, several services have changed policies on hair and beards. They now allow different buns and ponytails for women, and beards in certain circumstances for either medical or religious reasons. And most of the services have relaxed policies on marijuana in recent years. Similarly, they have all loosened restrictions on the size and placement of tattoos, opening the door to full-sleeve tattoos. Most now allow small ones on the neck or finger. (AP) As losses mount in lower federal courts, President Donald Trump has returned to a tactic that he employed at the Supreme Court with remarkable success in his first term. Three times in the past week, and six since Trump took office a little more than two months ago, the Justice Department has asked the conservative-majority high court to step into cases much earlier than usual. The administrations use of the emergency appeals, or shadow docket, comes as it faces more than 130 lawsuits over the Republican presidents flurry of executive orders. Many of the lawsuits have been filed in liberal-leaning parts of the country as the court system becomes ground zero for pushback to his policies. Federal judges have ruled against the administration more than 40 times, issuing temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, the Justice Department said Friday in a Supreme Court filing. The issues include birthright citizenship changes, federal spending, transgender rights and deportations under a rarely used 18th-century law. The administration is increasingly asking the Supreme Court, which Trump helped shape by nominating three justices, to step in, not only to rule in its favor but also to send a message to federal judges, who Trump and his allies claim are overstepping their authority. Only this Court can stop rule-by-TRO from further upending the separation of powers the sooner, the better, acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote Friday in the deportations case, referring to the temporary restraining orders. Stephen Vladeck, the Georgetown University law professor who chronicled the rise of emergency appeals in his book, The Shadow Docket, wrote on the Substack platform that these cases, especially together, reflect the inevitable reckoning just how much is the Supreme Court going to stand up to Trump? In the first Trump administration, the Justice Department made emergency appeals to the Supreme Court 41 times and won all or part of what it wanted in 28 cases, Vladeck found. Before that, the Obama and George W. Bush administrations asked the court for emergency relief in just eight cases over 16 years. Supreme Court cases generally unfold over many months. Emergency action more often occurs over weeks, or even a few days, with truncated briefing and decisions that are usually issued without the elaborate legal reasoning that typically accompanies high court rulings. So far this year, the justices have effectively sidestepped the administrations requests. But that could get harder as the number of appeals increase, including in high-profile deportation cases where an extraordinary call from the president to impeach a judge prompted a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. Heres a look at the appeals on the courts emergency docket: Trumps deportation order will be a critical test Immigration and the promise of mass deportations were at the center of Trumps winning presidential campaign, and earlier this month, he took the rare step of invoking an 18th-century wartime law to speed deportations of Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang. Lawyers for the migrants, several of whom say they are not gang members, sued to block the deportations without due process. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge at the federal courthouse in Washington, agreed. He ordered deportation flights to be temporarily halted and planes already making their way to a prison in El Salvador be turned around. Two planes still landed, and a court fight over whether the administration defied his order continued to play out even as the administration unsuccessfully asked the appeals court in the nations capital to lift his order. In an appeal to the Supreme Court filed Friday, the Justice Department argued that the deportations should be allowed to resume and that the migrants should make their case in a federal court in Texas, where they are being detained. Mass firings of federal workers have generated lawsuits Thousands of federal workers have been let go as the Trump administration seeks to dramatically downsize the federal government. The firings of probationary workers, who usually have less time on the job and fewer protections, have drawn multiple lawsuits. Two judges have found the administration broke federal laws in its handling of the layoffs and ordered workers reinstated. The government went to the Supreme Court after a California-based judge said some 16,000 workers must be restored to their positions. The judge said it appeared the administration had lied in its reasons for firing the workers. The administration said he overstepped his authority by trying to force hiring and firing decisions on the executive branch. Anti-DEI teacher training cuts have been blocked, at least temporarily Trump has moved quickly to try and root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the government and in education. Eight Democratic-led states argued in a lawsuit that the push was at the root of a decision to cut hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher training. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the cuts, finding they were already affecting training programs aimed at addressing a nationwide teacher shortage. After an appeals court kept that order in place, the Justice Department went to the Supreme Court. The administration argues that judges cant force it to keep paying out money that it has decided to cancel. Trump wanted to end birthright citizenship. So far, courts have disagreed On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order that, going forward, would deny citizenship to babies born to parents in the country illegally. The order restricting the right enshrined in the Constitution was quickly blocked nationwide. Three appeals court also rejected pleas to let it go into effect while lawsuits play out. The Justice Department didnt appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn those rulings right away, but instead asked the justices to narrow the court orders to only the people who filed the lawsuits. The government argued that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings, touching on a legal issue thats concerned some justices before. (AP) Three Uzbek nationals have been sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates for the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan hyd, a 28-year-old Chabad shliach, in November 2024. The convicted individuals, identified as Olimpi Toirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28, and Azizbek Kamlovich, 33, were arrested shortly after the murder in a coordinated operation involving Turkish intelligence and UAE authorities. The trio was apprehended in Istanbul, Turkey, and extradited to the UAE to face trial. Emirati officials confirmed the arrests in November 2024, releasing photographs of the suspects in custody and announcing the initiation of legal proceedings. Rabbi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan dual citizen, was abducted on November 21, 2024, while working in Dubai, where he managed a kosher supermarket and served as a shliach for the Abu Dhabi branch of Chabad. His body was discovered days later in Al Ain, approximately 150 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, following an intensive search by UAE security forces. Evidence of a struggle was found in his abandoned vehicle, and early reports suggested the attackers had intended to kidnap him and transport him across the border to Oman before the plan unraveled, resulting in his death. The UAE Ministry of Interior described the crime as a deliberate act and vowed to uncover its full circumstances and motives. While Israeli officials initially suspected Iranian involvement, citing the use of Uzbek operatives as a possible link to Tehrans influence, Irans embassy in Abu Dhabi denied any role in the killing. The investigation has not publicly confirmed a definitive motive, though the case has been widely framed as an attack on the UAEs burgeoning Jewish community and its commitment to tolerance and coexistence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had pledged to ensure justice for the killers, praised the UAEs swift action in a statement last year, emphasizing that the murder would not derail the growing ties between Israel and the Gulf state, forged under the 2020 Abraham Accords. The White House also condemned the killing as a horrific crime against those who stand for peace, with National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett noting the UAEs rejection of violent extremism. Rabbi Kogans death sent shockwaves through the global Jewish community. As a dedicated Chabad shliach, he worked alongside Chief Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Duchman to expand Jewish life in the UAE, including establishing the regions first Jewish education center and ensuring kosher food availability. The execution date for the three men has not been announced, and it remains unclear whether any appeals will be permitted under UAE law. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The heart of San Franciscos Chinatown is under siege not by bulldozers or policy bans, but by something just as destructive: rising tariffs. The neighbourhoods small shops are feeling the pinch from U.S. tariffs on China, which are now at 20%. The owners have weathered economic downturns for generations, shifting demographics, and even the pandemic. These businesses operate on small margins, face tight competition, and serve a largely elderly clientele living on fixed incomes. Don't miss Edward Lau, who owns a shop selling China-imported herbal products and supplements for pain relief, is among the business owners worried about the impact. Raising prices to offset higher costs could drive customers away, gravely impacting their livelihoods. However, absorbing these increased costs indefinitely isnt sustainable. "It's becoming more expensive so people will start thinking of alternatives or simply won't use it They'll be hit really hard," Lau told CBS News. "The uncertainty makes it really hard to do business." Although over 90% of North American manufacturers moved at least some of their production out of China between 2018 and 2023, small mom-and-pop businesses like Lau's will continue to struggle under current conditions. The impact of tariffs on small businesses Tariffs are directly increasing the cost of imported goods such as merchandise, food items and supplies that small businesses rely on, both in San Francisco's Chinatown and across the country. Beyond higher costs, supply chain disruptions caused by tariffs can make some imports scarce or only available at steep prices. As a result, owners struggle with strained cash flow and lower profit margins. Without financial reserves or a buffer, many have no choice but to raise prices or adjust their pricing strategies. The longer these challenges persist, the greater the impact on customers. Many may turn to larger competitors, which benefit from economies of scale and can keep prices down. Read more: Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among Americas wealthiest plus 2 ways to build that first-class portfolio Israel submitted a counterproposal to a new Egyptian proposal for a hostage release/ceasefire deal, the Prime Ministers Office announced on Motzei Shabbos. Hamas agreed to a new Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire/hostage release deal on Pesach and Eid al-Fitr, Al-Arabay Al-Jadeed reported on Shabbos. The report quoted Egyptian sources who said that Hamas agreed to release US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander along with four other hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and the launch of negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. However, there definitely wont be a deal by Eid al-Fitr, which begins on Sunday. According to a Kan News report on Friday, Hamass willingness to accept a deal is not related to Eid al-Fitr but to the recent protests in Gaza against Hamas. The terror group is currently unable to put a brutal end to the protests due to the IDF forces presence in Gaza and needs a ceasefire to secure its control over the Strip. Meanwhile, Israel is insisting that 10 live hostages be released in accordance with the previous proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff. The Prime Ministers Office stated on Motzei Shabbos: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations yesterday following the proposal received from the mediators. In the last few hours, Israel has conveyed its counterproposal to the mediators in full coordination with the US. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) The IDF and Shin Bet on Motzei Shabbos released a joint statement saying that forces in recent days located findings belonging to the body of the hostage Manny Godard, Hyd, who was murdered and abducted by Islamic Jihad on October 7. Despite the findings that were returned, his body is still being held in the Gaza Strip, the statement continued, adding that the findings were found at an Islamic Jihad post area in Rafah. Manny, Hyd, and his wife Ayelet, Hyd, residents of Kibbutz Beeri, were murdered during the October 7 assault, and Mannys body was abducted to Gaza. Mannys daughter, Bar Godard, spoke at a protest on Motzei Shabbos in Tel Aviv, saying: I want to share with you that there was an attempt to extract my fathers body but it failed. The officer who is accompanying us said that IDF forces managed to extract a refrigerator from an Islamic Jihad outpost containing findings of my father, but said that the operation [to extract his body] was unsuccessful. She added that she and her family demand that the government should not send any soldiers to risk their lives to return our fathers body. We will not agree to any other family joining the circle of bereavement in an attempt to bring him back. She added: We demand that he and all the other hostages be returned in one deal. Thats what needs to happen, now. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, one of the leaders of the Jewish kehilla in Iran, attacked Israel live on Iranian television on Friday and disavowed the State of Israel. He spoke on the Machfel program, one of the most popular television programs in Iran. Beginning his speech in broken Hebrew, he said: We are Jews who believe in our holy Torah. We we absolutely do not approve of the Israeli government, what its doing in the Holy Land. We demand peace for the whole world, for all the inhabitants of the Holy Land. He then switched to Farsi, speaking against Zionism and condemning the Zionists and the government of Israel who are committing war crimes and killing innocent people in Gaza and Lebanon. He emphasized that Judaism as a religion acts according to the Torah of Moses, the prophet of G-d, and fundamentally opposes arrogance and oppression. There are rules in the Torah of Judaism, even in times of war, which indicate that one should avoid harming defenseless civilians. In particular, he noted that according to Jewish law, even in times of war, it is forbidden to cut down fruit trees in a besieged city. And although Zionism grew out of the Jewish community, it is political and not a true representative of Judaism. He also compared Zionism to ISIS, which carries out violence in the name of Islam, adding that just like ISIS cannot represent Islam, Zionism cannot represent Judaism. The TV host noted that Chacham Hamami referred to the true doctrine of Judaism, sees Zionism as a deviation from the Jewish religion and emphasizes that the crimes of the Zionist regime contradict the religious principles of Judaism. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The Hamas terror group murdered one of the leaders of the anti-Hamas protests that took place in Gaza last week. Over the weekend, Hamas terrorists abducted Odai Naser Saadi, 22, tortured him for four hours and executed him. They then dumped his body at the doorstep of his familys home with a message: This is the price for those who criticize Hamas. There are also reports that Hamas has been carrying out a scare campaign, threatening anyone who participates in the protests and even those who published the videos abroad. The campaign appears to have been successful as the protests came to a halt after three consecutive days. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Iran has hurled a thunderous threat across the Indian Ocean, vowing to obliterate the joint U.S.-U.K. naval base on Diego Garcia in a storm of missiles and drones if the United States dares to attack the Islamic Republic. The chilling warning, reported by Britains The Telegraph on Saturday, comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran spiral toward a breaking point, with the remote Chagos Archipelago base now a glaring target in Irans crosshairs. Iran possesses the firepower to strike from its mainland, boasted Iranian state media, flaunting the nations arsenal. Newer Khorramshahr missiles, with their lethal intermediate range, and the Shahed-136B kamikaze dronecapable of striking 4,000 kilometers [2,485 miles]stand ready to rain destruction. Diego Garcia, a fortified speck in the Indian Ocean some 5,200 kilometers (3,200 miles) from Tehran, has suddenly morphed from a strategic asset into a potential powder keg. The threat erupted into the open during Fridays Al Quds Day event, where Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of Irans Parliament, delivered a blistering address. The Americans know how exposed they are, he roared. If they cross Irans borders, it will ignite a regional inferno. Their basesand those of their allieswill become ash. His words, amplified by Irans Tasnim News Agency, painted a grim picture of a U.S.-led misstep sparking apocalyptic chaos. Fueling the drama, Diego Garcia has quietly bristled with new firepower. Last week, multiple U.S. B-2 stealth bombersghostly giants from Missouritouched down at the base, as reported by The Wall Street Journal on March 27. These are no ordinary warbirds: the B-2, with a staggering 6,900-mile range, is the only aircraft capable of wielding the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bunker-buster designed to shatter fortified targetslike Irans nuclear sites. Air & Space Forces Magazine called the deployment unusual, noting its the first significant B-2 presence on the island since 2020. A U.S. Strategic Command spokesperson confirmed the arrival but left the mission shrouded in mystery. The stakes ratcheted higher after President Donald Trumps recent declaration, tying Iran directly to the Yemen-based Houthis relentless attacks on U.S. naval vessels and global shipping lanes. Let nobody be fooled! Trump thundered on Truth Social. The hundreds of attacks by those sinister Houthi thugs emanate from Iran itself! Dismissing Tehrans claims of lost control, he accused Iran of arming, funding, and directing the chaos with highly sophisticated military equipment and so-called intelligence. Any future Houthi attack, he warned, will be treated as Irans own aggression. Irans response has been a defiant snarl. State media aired footage of missile tests and drone swarms, while commanders hinted at unseen capabilities lurking in their arsenal. Diego Garcia, once a distant outpost of Western dominance, now looms as a lightning rod in this deadly standoff. The U.S. has offered no official reply, but the Pentagons silence only thickens the air of impending doom. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Israeli security forces have thwarted a chilling terrorist plot orchestrated by a 17-year-old Arab citizen loyal to the Islamic State (ISIS), the Israel Police and Shin Bet announced in a joint statement on Sunday. The suspect, a resident of Jisr az-Zarqaa coastal Arab town nestled between Kibbutz Maagan Michael and Caesareawas apprehended on March 2 in a dramatic joint operation. The teenager, whose identity remains under wraps due to his age, had repeatedly sworn allegiance to ISIS and its shadowy current caliph, investigators revealed. His target was a deadly attack within the Menashe Divisions jurisdiction, a region under the eye of the Israel Police. A raid on his home uncovered a trove of documents detailing the creation of explosives, signaling his intent to unleash havoc. Prosecutors wasted no time, slapping the suspect with a serious indictment and requesting his detention be extended until the legal proceedings conclude. The arrest marks yet another alarming chapter in a wave of radicalization sweeping parts of Israels Arab population since the onset of the war on Oct. 7, 2023. According to Kan News, Israeli security officials have probed 80 cases involving Arab citizens since the war began, with 26 individuals pledging loyalty to ISIS and other global jihad groups. In 2024 alone, the Shin Bet detained 177 Israeli Arabs for questioning in national security cases. A 2023 poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that one-third of Arab citizens rejected the notion that Hamass October 7 massacre reflected poorly on Arab society, the Palestinian people, or Islam. More recently, a June 2024 survey revealed that 14.7% of Arab Israelisroughly 308,700 out of 2.1 millionbelieve Hamas should rule Gaza post-war, clashing head-on with Israels core objective to dismantle the group. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing. And it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. President Donald Trump delivered this chilling warning to Tehran on Sunday, vowing to unleash a devastating military response if the Islamic Republic refuses to return to the negotiating table for a new nuclear deal. The remarks, reported by NBCs Kristen Welker during her Sunday morning broadcast on Meet the Press. Your browser does not support the video tag. Trumps rhetoric follows months of simmering tensions, with Iran ramping up its uranium enrichment activities in defiance of international pressure. Intelligence reports suggest Tehran is closer than ever to achieving a nuclear breakout capability, a red line for both the United States and its regional ally, Israel. Trump, who famously withdrew from the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 during his first term, has long criticized the agreement as the worst deal ever and insisted on a tougher stance against Irans nuclear ambitions. Adding fuel to the fire, sources within the Pentagon confirmed late Saturday that the U.S. military has deployed a squadron of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to the remote British Indian Ocean Territory of Diego Garcia. The strategic island base, located roughly 2,000 miles from Irans southern coast, positions these advanced aircraft within striking distance of Irans heavily fortified nuclear installations, including the Natanz enrichment facility and the deep-underground Fordow site. Military analysts speculate that the deployment signals a readiness to execute precision strikes capable of crippling Irans nuclear programa move that could ignite a broader regional conflict. Iran must return to the negotiating table immediately, Trump previously demanded during a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago, flanked by advisors and military officials. Were not playing games anymore. They can choose peace and prosperity, or they can choose destruction. Its up to them. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Newly exposed documents show that Israels Defense Ministry, through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), drafted and circulated a plan effectively legitimizing Hamass rule over Gazaa mere four months before the terror group unleashed the horrific October 7 massacre. Dubbed the Hudna Plan, the document was disseminated on June 11, 2023, by COGATs head, Maj.-Gen. Ghassan Alian, and outlined a strategic framework that granted Hamas de facto sovereignty over the Gaza Strip. The roots of this fateful plan trace back to a May 2023 high-level meeting in Cairo, attended by representatives from the Shin Bet, IDF, and COGAT, where Egyptian officials proposed a long-term hudna (ceasefire) with Hamas. Upon their return, COGAT assembled a think tank comprising Shin Bet and IDF Southern Command officers, where the Hudna Plan was finalized. The document was then forwarded to then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, proposing a long-term arrangement with Hamas, believing that the terror group had assumed the role of a responsible governing body after refraining from escalating conflicts in 2021s Operation Guardian of the Walls. The prevailing view among Israels defense officials at the time was that there was a clear distinction between Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)with PIJ viewed as the primary aggressor in past conflicts. This misguided perception, the report suggests, contributed to a willingness to explore diplomatic engagement with Hamas rather than preparing for its imminent attack. One of the most shocking details uncovered in the report is that COGATs Hudna Plan explicitly recommended de facto acceptance of Hamas rule, and granting it permission to consolidate its influence in the Palestinian arena, along with expanding its regional ties. This proposal was not merely a theoretical discussion. It was widely circulated within the IDF and defense establishments highest ranks, sparking an internal meeting titled The Security Regime in the Gaza Strip, attended by all senior IDF commanders. It was at this meeting that then-IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, reportedly backed a broad hudna proposal and directed engagement with mediators to move forward. A month later, in July 2023, Israels Security Cabinet convened for its first major discussion on Gaza. The National Security Council presented plans for preserving long-term calm with Hamas while working toward a civilian agreement with the terror groupprovided that Israels phased conditions were met. Just months after this plan was drafted and promoted at the highest levels of Israels security establishment, Hamas launched its bloodiest attack on Israeli soil, murdering over 1,200 innocent civilians, taking hostages, and shattering any illusion that it had matured into a governing entity. The bombshell revelation raises profound concerns about Israels pre-October 7 security assessments, forcing difficult questions about how Hamas was able to so easily deceive intelligence and military officials into believing in a long-term ceasefire while secretly plotting a large-scale massacre. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) (Reuters) - Artificial intelligence startup Scale AI is seeking a valuation as high as $25 billion in a potential tender offer as it looks to capitalize on the booming demand for the technology, Business Insider reported on Friday, citing multiple sources. Top tech companies are racing to build AI into their products and services. Startups catering to the surge in demand for AI chips and machine learning have been a bright spot in the private funding market. Terms of California-based Scale AI's tender offer, where investors and/or the company buy shares from existing shareholders, are being discussed and the final valuation could change, the report said. The startup, which was valued at nearly $14 billion in a funding round last year, did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the report. Founded in 2016, Scale AI is backed by tech giants Nvidia, Amazon and Meta. The company provides vast amounts of accurately labeled data, which is pivotal for training sophisticated tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating Scale AI for its compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. (This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture with no changes to text) (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Shreya Biswas) Textiles Spinnovas board of directors has appointed Janne Poranen as chief executive officer. Pornane, the Finnish fiber firms co-founder, will continue to serve as the chair of the board upon reassuming the position of CEO. He now handles all of the groups businesses and will lead its management team. Following Tuomas Oijalas resignation, the former CEO will continue supporting Poranen with strategy and depart by mid-September, as previously reported. Considering the current development stage and special circumstances, the company said, Spinnova will deviate from recommendation No. 21 of the corporate governance code 2025, which concerns the separation of the roles of the CEO and chair of the board. Suzanos decision not to invest into the next steps of collaboration with Spinnova was disappointing, but it also opens new opportunities, Poranen said. We are aware of the challenges ahead, but the letters of intent signed last year showed that there is global demand and need for our solution. More from Sourcing Journal The solution? Shifting Spinnovas focus back onto its fibersomething at odds with the efforts Oijala made during his 475 days (give or take) as CEO. We have the technological expertise of how to make the Spinnova fiber, Poranen said. The organization is now concentrating on making the fiber production cost-effective for industrial scaling. We will continue this work with great focus. Retail H&M Groups head of sustainability, Karin Brinck, has left the Swedish giant after nearly 14 years. Per a LinkedIn post penned by Brinck, she joined H&M in 2011 while starting a second career in sustainability, joining H&Ms Global Sustainability team as an EA. Per the post, she will take some time before taking on her next endeavor. Meanwhile, the nominating committee of H&Ms board proposed that Klas Balkow be elected as a new member. Also requested was the re-election of Anders Dahlvig, Danica Kragic Jensfelt, Lena Patriksson Keller, Karl-Johan Persson, Helena Saxon, Christian Sievert and Christina Synnergren. It is proposed that Karl-Johan Persson be re-elected as chair of the board, while Stina Bergfors has declined to stand for re-election. Sneaker chain outpost Foot Locker announced that Franklin Bracken, currently executive vice president and chief commercial officer, has been named president, continuing to report to CEO Mary Dillon. As president, Bracken will work alongside Dillon on the companys Lace Up Plan strategy. Bracken will continue to oversee global retail operations, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty and real estate. We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best ADR Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against the other best ADR stocks. American Depositary Receipts (ADR) are US-listed securities that represent shares in foreign companies, allowing American investors to gain exposure to international equities without dealing with foreign exchanges or currencies. Unlike regular shares of domestic companies, ADRs are issued by US banks and trade on American exchanges, typically in US dollars. While they provide easier access to foreign markets, ADRs can carry additional risks such as currency fluctuations, geopolitical factors, and differences in accounting standards or regulatory environments. Investors should also note that ADRs come in two forms: sponsored and unsponsored. Sponsored ADRs are issued in partnership with the foreign company and typically offer more reliable financial reporting and investor communication. Unsponsored ADRs, on the other hand, are created without the companys direct involvement and may have limited information available, making due diligence more challenging. READ ALSO: 10 Worst ADR Stocks To Buy According to Short Sellers ADRs were not particularly popular in the last 15 years, as the US stock market has been the best-performing developed market since the 2008 financial crisis, significantly and consistently outperforming all major European markets as well as the Chinese stock market. The US stock market has massively benefited from the USs technological leadership and the emergence of tech giants with multi-trillion-dollar capitalizations, a more favorable business environment with lower tax rates, more aggressive financial stimulus, and, more importantly, significantly higher productivity growth vs. other regions. As a result, the US stock markets not only delivered higher earnings growth but also experienced the largest increase in valuations compared to Europe and China. The latter is partially attributed to foreign capital flowing into the US market as investors recognized the superior growth opportunities of US companies. The recent political developments initiated by the Trump 2.0 regime have set the stage for a potential reversal of the aforementioned trends, which may drive relative outperformance of foreign markets and make ADRs attractive again. First, the Trump 2.0 tariff turmoil and massive cuts in federal spending are likely to cause an economic slowdown and thus cut the earnings growth potential of domestic companies. Second, the threat of tariffs imposed on the USAs allies is already causing retaliatory measures, including the potential substitution of American products for European or Canadian alternatives (again, this endangers the earnings growth potential of US domestic companies while boosting the potential of European and Canadian companies). Third, Europe has recognized that the US has become a less reliable partner, as evidenced by the major shift in policies of the new administration, and is already taking steps to ensure its independence and minimize dependence on the US. This is illustrated by the recent decision of Germany to create a 500 billion infrastructure fund to boost its defense capabilities (funds which are planned to be spent primarily on European contractors). Last but not least, the increasing tensions between the Western allies could potentially drive a return of European capital to the European continent, which may cause a relative valuation repricing in favor of the European stock market. Two women have been killed and two children injured in a two-car crash in Mallow, Co Cork. The incident took place on the N72, at Navigation Road, at around 3.30pm. One woman in her 60s and another woman in her 40s who were driving the cars were pronounced dead at the scene. A boy and a girl, who were passengers of the car driven by the younger woman, were taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment to injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The bodies of both women were taken to the mortuary at Cork University hospital where a post-mortem examination is to take place. The road was closed pending a technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. Local diversions are in place. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward and for relevant footage to be submitted. Contact Mallow Garda Station on (022) 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. We noted this investigation early this morning . . . Here's the aftermath report and more context as the (unofficial) homicide count hits 33 so far this year . . . Check the deets: Homicide 4300 blk of N Corrington This morning, just before 3:45 AM, officers responded to the 4300 block of North Corrington regarding a follow up to a missing persons investigation. Officers were directed to a motel room where they located an adult male and an adult female victim. Both victims were suffering from gun shot wounds and were pronounced deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a double homicide. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident. They are canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. Crime scene technicians are processing the scene for 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 . . . Police investigating deaths of 2 victims in motel room as double homicide The Kansas City Police Department is asking for any information that could aid their double homicide investigation. Police discover double homicide while investigating another case Officers found a man and woman shot to death in a northland motel room early Saturday morning. Developing . . . Here's real science and help or the Sunflower State to try to gain "herd immunity" amid a public health threat and a growing number of cases . . . Check-it: The measles outbreak in Kansas has encouraged a local health department to host vaccine clinics. The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment offers the measles vaccine at the walk-in clinics in Olathe and Mission. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KCTV5: Johnson County opens vaccine clinic amid measles outbreak Developing . . . The peaceful suburbs of Johnson County suffer an uptick in criminality and property crime very much like KC proper . . . Here's a bit of advice about keeping safe in local places where locals once lived carefree . . . Check-it: Police stress that this sense of security is exactly what criminals exploit. Lenexa Police Public Information Officer Danny Chavez said thieves specifically target parks, community pools, and other public spaces where visitors often leave their belongings inside vehicles. It really doesnt matter if your car is locked, Chavez said. They will break a window, and thats what happened this week. Authorities advise residents to never leave purses, wallets, or bags inside their vehicles. If bringing a purse is necessary, police recommend locking it in the trunk before arriving at the park. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Today thousands of protesters dominated the streets inside and around the Kansas City loop in a show of outrage against the current Commander-In-Chief. From what we noticed . . . This is the biggest political demonstration that KCMO has witnessed in at least half a decade . . . The question we hope will inspire some conversation for loyal blog readers: IS KANSAS CITY NOW THE CORE OF ANTI-MAGA SENTIMENT IN THE MIDST OF RED STATE AMERICA?!? Here's some description and more reporting . . . The march, which followed a route from 13th Street and Grand Boulevard to the National World War I Museum and Memorial, was critical of the Trump administration. Sings at the march addressed a variety of causes, including recent widespread federal layoffs and the state of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Hundreds of people participate in 'March for Democracy' in downtown Kansas City, Missouri Hundreds of people gathered for a "March for Democracy" in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday morning. Hundreds gather in downtown Kansas City to 'March for Democracy,' protest Trump administration "The country feels like it is going into a spiral down. So many people fired, so many people hurt." Deveoping . . . Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 'EcoTank ET-2980': Epson unpacks 7th generation cartridge-free printer Epson America launched its 7th generation of EcoTank cartridge-free models with the new EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Color Supertank Printer Sunday March 30, 2025 10:44 PM , ummid.com News Network Los Alamitos (California): Epson America launched its 7th generation of EcoTank cartridge-free models with the new EcoTank ET-2980 Wireless All-in-One Color Supertank Printer. The most recent addition to the number-one selling Supertank printer line, the ET-2980 leverages proven PrecisionCore Heat-Free technology to provide everyday users with stellar print quality and reliability, ensuring a worry-free experience that lasts the life of the printer, Epson said in a statement March 26, 2025. "Designed to address key concerns" Megha Shukla, Group Product Manager, Consumer Inkjet, Epson America, said the new printer has been designed to address some key concerns of the users. "Epson designed EcoTank to address several pressing concerns from anyone who prints the hassle and cost of buying ink cartridges, the high-cost of printing in color and running out of ink when you need it most," said Megha Shukla, group product manager, Consumer Inkjet, Epson America. "As an industry leader of efficient, compact and precise engineering, Epson has remained dedicated to printing innovation and continues to improve the experience with the seventh generation of EcoTank, starting with the ET-2980", she said. "A Perfect Family Printer" The ET-2980 combines simplicity with a modern look, offering advanced technology that enhances both performance and print quality, making it an ideal choice for everyday family printing including content created by AI. "With print speeds 50% faster than its predecessor, ET 2980 offers speed and longevity, with a permanent printhead engineered to last the life of the printer", Epson said. The EcoTank ET-2980 also offers uniquely keyed EcoFit bottles that help prevent ink from drying out and comes with enough ink to last up to three years. "Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 90 individual ink cartridges4 ensuring zero cartridge waste", the company said. ET 2980 Features The EcoTank ET-2980 features built-in USB connectivity and is the first printer qualified under the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Agile Multiband standard including Apple AirPrint to deliver a seamless wireless experience. The latest Epson launch also offers the user-friendly Epson Smart Panel app with an innovative interface to transform iOS or Android mobile devices6 into an intuitive control center. "For added convenience the EcoTank ET-2980 includes a 1.44" color screen, auto duplex printing, 100-sheet paper tray, and built-in scanner", Epson said. ET 2980 Price Priced at $299.99 MSRP, EcoTank ET-2980 comes in both black and white designs. The black printers are available at Micro Center, Amazon.com, Officedepot.com, Staples.com, Bestbuy.com. The white printers are available at Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy, Micro Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart, La Curacao, Brands Mart, AAFES, London Drugs, Amazon.com, Walmart.com. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares jumped this week after new comments from Trump administration officials and a board shake-up at the companies drew fresh attention to their potential release from government control. But beyond the stock market, housing experts see plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the end of an arrangement that dates back to the depths of the financial crisis. The biggest one? Privatization will probably send mortgage rates higher. We can debate how much of a cost it will be, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics. Thats a legitimate debate, but rates are going to go higher. The Trump administration is considering sweeping changes to a crucial piece of the US housing ecosystem at a time when affordability is near an all-time low and home sales are mired in a years-long slump. While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dont make mortgages, they play a crucial role in lending by buying up mortgages from banks and other lenders and packaging them into bonds. The system frees up money for more loans. Sign up for the Mind Your Money weekly newsletter Subscribe By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Investors' willingness to buy the bonds mortgage bonds are a more than $10 trillion market helps keep Fannie and Freddies borrowing costs, and by association, 30-year mortgage rates, low. Today, mortgage bonds are seen as a good bet by investors in part because Fannie and Freddie have the government's backing and share its top credit ratings. A major hurdle to privatization is how to preserve at least some of that backing. If investors perceive a private Fannie and Freddie as riskier, the companies will have to pay more to borrow, which would likely mean mortgage borrowers will pay more too. Read more: What determines mortgage rates? It's complicated. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that plans to release the two companies will hinge on mortgage rates. At around 6.7%, rates today are more than 1.5 percentage points higher than they were at any point during Trumps first term, and theyre at similar levels to where they were before Fannie and Freddie entered conservatorship in 2008. The power of a guarantee The companies, known as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), were chartered by the federal government but spent decades as private companies. In fall 2008, they were on the brink of failure when risky mortgages they bought up began going bad en masse. The Bush administration, fearing a complete collapse of the mortgage financing market, placed the two companies under its supervision and spent billions to bail them out. That takeover is an example of Fannie and Freddies implicit guarantee the idea that the government wouldnt let such an important financial institution fail, even if it were private and no formal agreement about government support was in place. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home The Moon (Hilal) Sighting Committees and religious authorities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the United Kingdom (UK) have issued appeals to Muslims in the respective countries to sight the crescent, Eid Moon or Eid Chand, Sunday 29th Ramadan 1446 AH corresponding to March 30, 2025. Sunday March 30, 2025 7:46 PM , Team ummid.com Eid al Fitr 2025 Moon Announcement: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan announced that Eid ul Fitr would fall on Monday March 31, 2025 as the Shawwal moon was sighted. The announcement came after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad, while meetings of zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees were held at their respective headquarters concurrently. India and Bangladesh have also confirmed Shawwal Moon sighting Sunday, and Monday March 31, 2025 as the first day of Eid al Fitr. 07:40 PM (IST): Ruyat e Hilal Committee, Imarate Sharaiyah Hind, New Delhi has confirmed sighting of Shawwal 1446 AH in India and Monday March 31, 2025 as first day of Eid al Fitr. "There are widespread reports of Eid Moon Sighting in Delhi and from other parts of India." "Accordingly, tomorrow, i.e. Monday March 31, 2025, will be the first day of Shawwal 1446 H and the Eid al Fitr", Imarate Sharaiyah Hind Delhi, which works under Jamiat Ulama Hind, said. Meanwhile, Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee Pakistan has convened its meeting to confirm the first day of Eid in the country. 07:30 PM (IST): There are reports of Eid Moon Sighting from some parts of India, including from Patna in Bihar, Bhuj in Gujarat, . However, an official announcement by Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee, New Delhi is awaited. Meanwhile, Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee Pakistan has convened its meeting to confirm the first day of Eid in the country. 06:35 PM (IST): The Crescent of the month of Shawwal 1446 H is sighted in Bangladesh, accordingly the first day of Eid al Fitr in the country will be Monday March 31, 2025, the National Moon Sighting Committee announcd a litte while ago. "The moon of the Hijri month of Shawwal has been sighted in the sky of the country. Accordingly, the holy month of Shawwal will be counted from tomorrow, Monday (March 31)", the National Moon Sighting Committee said after its meeting held at the Islamic Foundation Baitul Mukarram Mosque Sunday evening. The meeting was presided over by the Moon Sighting Committee President and Religious Affairs Minister Dr. A.F.M. Khalid Hossain. Meanwhile, Ruyat e Hilal Committees and Religious Authorities in India and Pakistan have called meetings to confirm the first day of Eid in the two countries after Maghrib prayers today. 04:30 PM (IST): The Moon Sighting Committees in India and Religious Authorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh have called meetings in the respective countries to analyse and confirm the sighting of Shawwal Moon 1446 H after Maghrib salah in a short while today to confirm the first day of Eid al Fitr. The Eid Chand confirmation will likely be made first by Bangladesh followed by India and Pakistan. The official confirmation of Eid Crescent in Bangaldesh is expected by 06:15 PM (IST), in India by 06:50 PM (IST) and in Pakistan by 07:20 PM (IST) today. 02:30 PM (IST): Wifaqul Ulama UK has announced Monday March 31, 2025 as the first day of Shawwal 1446 H when the Eid al Fitr celebrations will commence across the United Kingdom. "....As the New Moon is not sighted Saturday, the Islamic month of Ramadan will complete 30 days. Shawwal will begin after Magrib on Sunday 30th March "The first day of Shawwal will be Monday 31st March, 2025", it said in a social media post. Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Brunei, Tunisia, Algeria and Iran have also confirmed Monday March 31, 2025 as the first day of Eid al Fitr. 04:00 AM (IST): The Moon (Hilal) Sighting Committees and religious authorities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the United Kingdom (UK) have issued appeals to Muslims in the respective countries to sight the crescent, Eid Moon or Eid Chand, Sunday 29th Ramadan 1446 AH corresponding to March 30, 2025. The Central Moon Sighting Committees, also known as Markazi Ruet-e-Hilal Committees, have made special arrangements to sight the new moon and decide the first day of Eid al Fitr 2025 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries, and the United Kingdom (UK). The moon sighting committees in South Asia and the UK will hold special meeting today after Maghrib and analyse, if any, the reports of Shawwal or Eid moon sighting. Eid al Fitr 2025 Moon sighting Appeals to sight Shawwal Moon have also been issued by Hilal Committees in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Patna, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Islamabad, Karachi, KP, Lahore, Dhaka, and other cities in the three countries. Wifaqul Ulama UK has also appealed Muslims in London and other parts of the Kingdom to spot the moon of the month of Shawwal on Sunday. Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura is also sighting the Eid 2025 Crescent today i.e. Sunday March 30, 2025. The official announcement by Religious Affairs Ministry Dhaka and Central Moon Sighting Committee New Delhi and Karachi is expected soon after Salate Maghreb Sunday evening. "Eid will be celebrated on Monday March 31, 2025 if the new moon is spotted today. If the moon is not sighted today, then Monday will mark a regular fasting day and Eid will be celebrated on Tuesday April 01, 2025", the Hilal Committees said. How Eid Moon is confirmed Islamic Calendar is based on lunar system. Under this system, a new month begins with sighting of moon on 29th of every month. If the crescent is spotted on 29th, the prevailing month ends and the new month begin on the next day. However, if the moon is not spotted on 29th, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month starts a day later. Accordingly, Eid al Fitr celebrations in India, Pakista, Bangladesh, UK, Singapore and other countries will commence on Monday March 31, 2025 if the New Moon is spotted Sunday. Else, the first day of Eid will be Tuesday April 01, 2025. The countries celebrating Eid al Fitr Sunday Saudi Arabia has confirmed Sunday March 30, 2025 as the first day of Shawwal and Eid al Fitr Day 2025. The decision was taken after Saudi Royal Court confirmed sighting of the Eid Moon on Saturday March 29, 2025. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Palestine, Bahrain and other Arab states, and also Turkey, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon and part of Iraq, too are celebrating Eid al Fitr today i.e. Sunday March 30, 2025. Muslims in North America are celebrating Eid al Fitr today i.e. Sunday March 31, 2025. Oman on the other hand has announced to celebrate Eid al Fitr of Monday March 31, 2025. 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 Over 122mn Muslims visited Makkah, Madinah during Ramadan As many as 122,286,712 worshippers were received at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophets Mosque, Masjid Nabawi, in Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan Sunday March 30, 2025 1:04 PM , ummid.com News Network Makkah al Mukarramah: As many as 122,286,712 worshippers were received at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophets Mosque, Masjid Nabawi, in Madinah during the holy month of Ramadan. The CEO of the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophets Mosque, Eng. Ghazi Al-Shahrani said a total of 16,558,241 pilgrims from the Kingdom and abroad performed Umrah during the month of Ramadan 1446 AH. "The worshippers totaled 92,132,169 at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and 30,154,543 at the Prophets Mosque in Madinha", Al-Shahrani said. Over 40mn in Makkah Mosque on 29th Night of Ramadan The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques had earlier said that a new record - more than 40 million worshippers , had gathered at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al Haram, in Makkah to offer Taraweeh prayers and participate in Dua Khatam al Quran on Friday March 28, 2025 - the 29th Night of Ramadan. The authority had earlier also said that over 14 million Muslims had visited Masjid Nabawi in Madina during the first half of Ramadan 1446 AH. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. A top Hamas official said on Saturday the group approved a new Gaza ceasefire proposal put forth by mediators, urging Israel to back it but warning the Iran-backed group's weapons were a "red line". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed it had also received a proposal from the mediators and had submitted a counter-proposal in response. "Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediating brothers in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and approved it. We hope that the occupation (Israel) will not obstruct it," Khalil al-Haya said in a televised address for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. "The weapons of the resistance are a red line," he added. Netanyahu's office confirmed it had received a proposal from mediators. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday, held a series of consultations pursuant to the proposal that was received from the mediators," his office said in a statement. "A few hours ago, Israel conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the US," it said without elaborating. A day earlier, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim had said talks between the Palestinian Islamist movement and mediators over a ceasefire deal were gaining momentum as Israel continues intensive operations in Gaza. Palestinian sources close to Hamas had told AFP that talks began Thursday evening between the militant group and mediators from Egypt and Qatar to revive a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The fragile truce that had brought weeks of relative calm to the Gaza Strip ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombing campaign across the territory. The talks in Doha started a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release hostages, and Hamas warned the captives would return "in coffins" if Israel did not stop bombing the Palestinian territory. bur-aya-jd/ysm One of the small pleasures of walking, as opposed to riding a bike or driving a car, is that there is very little stopping you from taking a shortcut when an advantageous route presents itself. If a paved path meanders through a park to and fro, why not cut straight across the grass to get from A to B more quickly? As more people take that same passage, their footsteps start to wear a new track into the turf. These unofficial thoroughfares, known as desire lines or paths of desire, are the marks left by pedestrians rebelling against being told where to walk. Ben Rossiter, executive officer at Victoria Walks, uses a desire path near Victoria Parade in the city. Credit: Wayne Taylor Right across Melbourne whether its at the back of the Royal College of Surgeons building in the city or near the Melbourne Museum in Carlton or in just about any piece of parkland youll probably find a desire path taking you on the most direct passage to your destination. A dying woman battling an infection and agonising radiation burns has been forced to wait 36 hours for a bed, some of those in a corridor, in another example of the overload on Western Australias health system. Shar Christoff Harris, 37, mother to a young child, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and has documented her journey on Tiktok. On the advice of her doctor, Harris presented to the emergency department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital at 2.30pm on Thursday. She posted about her stay in ED where she said the hospital did not have the pain medication she needed. Du is the chief executive of Capital Alliance which is also the owner of the tower, with the first 19 floors containing 200 hotel rooms and the higher levels the apartments. He lives in the buildings penthouse and acts as chair of the owners corporation. He says such a fee is for the benefit of the owners. Many are overseas investors. Yes, a selling point was the pool and gym, he said. But they sit under the title of the hotel to reduce owners corporation fees. Ive lived in apartments for the last 10 years and dont use the facilities frequently. So this gives apartment owners the option of not having to pay if they dont use them. [The fee charged] is up to the hotel manager. Weve tried to do our very best to help owners over the price, but unfortunately, it has nothing to do with me. We own the hotel real estate but we dont manage the hotel. Strata levies have rocketed since the owners moved in, with Cropleys quarterly levies rising from $4500 a year to $12,000 a year, on his bills. Du says that is only to be expected. As the developer, when we complete the building, the owners corporation fees would naturally be lower because every new building has a 12-month defect liability period and everything is serviced for free in the first year, he said. Loading In the second year onwards, those things are no longer free, so costs do go up. I pay close to $35,000 a year, but thats nothing to do with me and Capital Alliance. After an AGM late last year, Du was appointed to oversee the strata committee that runs the building, as chair, with his companys chief financial officer Kalvin Yeoh and chief operating officer Nancy Cao also part of the ruling body. The companys chief investment officer Jason Huang is the buildings facilities manager. The AGM late last year degenerated into chaos after a number of proxies were presented by Du, Yeoh and Cao, and others by an owner who is a Capital Alliance employee, another owner who lists his address for notices as the Capital Alliance office, according to the strata roll, and another known to be close to Du. At the VCAT directions hearing on March 3, 2025, Cropley, who launched the action with others and was at the time of the AGM the secretary of the strata committee, asked for the last AGM to be declared invalid in his submission because of what he described as procedural irregularities, conflicts of interest and improper election processes. A full disclosure of ballot records was being sought. Cropley and the others have since withdrawn or indicated an intention to withdraw the VCAT action. Jenny Holmes, 64, a retired university maths tutor who bought into the building 18 months ago, says she walked out of the AGM. I got there and they had all these proxy votes for people who worked for Capital Alliance that no one was allowed to inspect, she said. Apartment dwellers can view the Melbourne skyline. Credit: Joe Armao We had no idea if they were valid or not. So there was no point in voting for anything as our votes wouldnt count at all. Over 18 months, we had no working air-conditioning for a month, the lift broke down for a period and the car stacker is always breaking down, and you call the maintenance company and they never answer. This masthead called the company and didnt receive a response. Du said he and his employees were all residents in the building and at on the committee to represent their own interests as owners of apartments rather than as the developer. Im a private resident and I represent my own house; its got nothing to do with the business, he said. This is all part of a campaign of disinformation, and a lot of these matters are now before VCAT. But the strata committee wont provide access to the body corporate register, or to financial records, as well as those proxies, alleges another owner, senior telco manager Peter West, 71. This masthead has seen an email trail from February 13, 2025 that contains six requests from West for information to the strata managers, rebuffed with responses such as, I dont know what you mean, I need more details, I need specific dates and documents you wish to see, which, the email chain demonstrated, have all been provided. If there were some transparency and openness, a lot of the problems might go away, said West. But were not allowed to see contracts, or accounts, or anything. Ive lodged a case with [Consumer Affairs Victoria], and a lot of the owners want an inquiry Bangkok: Its Saturday afternoon in steaming Bangkok and now 11 hours since rescue crews pulled a survivor from the four-storey mound of concrete, wires and dust that until Friday was a freshly topped-out skyscraper. The heat and the violence of the buildings collapse in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake is sapping hope that the rest of the missing, 78 at the most recent count, will be found alive. But not all of it is lost. Rescuers tell this masthead they have the locations of seven people still breathing in the rubble. Its just that getting to them is so fraught. With 33 storeys worth of building rubble to sort through, the risk of further collapse is too great to go in quickly. Rescuers work at the site a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: AP They say the effort at the moment is to lift risky debris and then work out how to get in. Dog squads and drones are helping the search for survivors. So are two Thai telecom companies, who have positioned trucks at the perimeter to search for phone signals. Thailand is a key auto hub in Asia. Yvan Cohen/LightRocket/Getty Images Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports stand to impact global carmakers and supply chains. Thailand's auto exports are expected to be hit, adding to investor gloom and risk. China's offshore manufacturing facilities could also be impacted. US President Donald Trump's auto import tariffs are impacting more than carmakers' stocks global supply chains connected to the vast vehicle industry are also getting hit, adding to investment risk. "South Korea is most exposed, followed by Japan. Within ASEAN, Thailand a regional manufacturing hub is most vulnerable," Nomura economists wrote in a note on March 27 about the auto tariff risks in Asia. In Thailand, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira told reporters on Thursday that the country's auto part exports will be affected by the tariffs. Pichai did not quantify the impact of Trump's impending levies on Thailand. The country is Southeast Asia's largest car production hub, with an extensive network of factories that supply parts and raw materials for global players from carmakers to tiremakers. Thailand's benchmark SET Index dropped 1% on Friday to a one-week low. The index is about 16% lower year to date as Trump's trade war injects more uncertainties into a market already battered by corporate scandals, weak economic growth, poor corporate earnings, and political instability. Thailand's auto shipments account for just 4.3% of its exports to the US, but weak global demand could depress shipments of auto parts elsewhere. "These effects may take some time to materialize but, in our view, pose a clear medium-term threat to one of Thailand's leading industries," wrote Nomura analysts. The vulnerabilities in Thailand underscore the existence of investor landmines worldwide as investors move some investments away from the US's volatile markets. The 25% tariff on all imported finished vehicles is slated to take effect on April 3. A 25% tariff on auto parts is slated to take effect no later than May 3. Trump's executive order did not name China, but it said the pandemic and its impact on global supply chains has undermined the US's ability to maintain a resilient domestic industrial base. In contrast, foreign auto industries "propelled by unfair subsidies and aggressive industrial policies, have grown substantially," the order stated. The tariff announcement sent domestic and foreign auto stocks tumbling. In Asia, Japan's and South Korea's car makers are expected to be in the direct line of fire, with shares of auto giants Toyota and Hyundai posting sharp losses since the executive order was signed. We recently published a list of 9 AI News and Ratings on Investors Radar. In this article, we are going to take a look at where UiPath Inc. (NYSE:PATH) stands against other AI news and ratings on investors radar. According to a Reuters report posted on March 25, Chinese AI firms have made significant progress in closing the technology gap with the U.S., with some areas now only three months behind, according to 01.AI CEO Lee Kai-fu. He highlighted DeepSeeks advancements in optimizing chip usage and algorithm efficiency, allowing China to compete more closely in AI development. Despite U.S. semiconductor sanctions, Chinese companies have adapted by improving their algorithms, with DeepSeek even surpassing expectations in certain areas like infrastructure software engineering. As per the report, Lee emphasized that investing in proprietary models is becoming more challenging due to competition from major tech firms and open-source alternatives, leading 01.AI to focus on AI applications instead. The company recently launched Wanzhi, a platform for enterprise AI deployment, and expects substantial revenue growth in 2025. China Advances AI Despite US Chip Export Controls Senior foreign officials and major tech companies are urging the Trump administration to ease AI chip export restrictions. In a discussion on March 25, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh explained that initial U.S. controls began in 2022 under the Biden administration, limiting the semiconductor kingpins high-end chip shipments to China by restricting interconnect bandwidth. These measures expanded with a 168-page diffusion rule categorizing countries based on access levels. Despite restrictions, Chinese firms like Ant Group continue AI advancements by optimizing available resources, including Huawei and AMD chips, reducing pre-training costs by 20% through heterogeneous computing. According to Singh, the semiconductor kingpin argues that these restrictions are cutting into its revenue, with its China exposure dropping from 20% to below 10%, while AI firms like OpenAI claim the market remains undersupplied, further driving demand for GPUs. Singh noted that U.S. AI models still outperform Chinese counterparts in reasoning and multimodal tasks, giving them a competitive edge. Furthermore, investors remain confident in the Mag 7 stocks, viewing market dips as buying opportunities. However, concerns are rising about data center expansion and energy supply challenges, especially in regions beyond traditional hubs like Virginia. For this article, we selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkeys Q4 database of over 1000 hedge funds. The identification of missing service members, especially those who were Prisoners of War (POWs) in past conflicts, has profound impacts not only on the military community but especially on the living relatives of those lost. In many cases, the family members play key roles in identifying th Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and pleasant with refreshingly low humidity! Great weather to celebrate the 4th of July!. Tonight Mostly clear skies and very comfortable overnight. By Scott Murdoch (Reuters) -Virgin Australia executives will begin meeting with prospective investors on Tuesday ahead of a potential relisting of the Bain Capital-owned airline, according to a person familiar with the matter. Australia's second-largest airline which competes with larger Qantas in the domestic aviation market, collapsed in 2020 following tough COVID-19 restrictions that damaged the global airline industry. Virgin executives plan to meet prospective investors on Tuesday to pitch the company's surge in profitability, the person added.The person could not be named as they were not authorised to comment to the media. Virgin referred a Reuters request for comment to Bain, which declined to comment. Bain bought out Virgin for about A$3.5 billion ($2.20 billion) after the airline called in external administrators, an Australian equivalent of bankruptcy protection, in the early months of the pandemic when abrupt flight cancellations hurt its ability to service debts. As the end of most pandemic restrictions prompted a surge of demand for travel in 2022, Bain began exploring a possible Initial Public Offer, but the private equity firm paused preparations for a listing in 2023 due to volatile equity markets, a person familiar with the matter said at the time. On Tuesday, Virgin Chief Executive Dave Emerson, who started in the job this month, will begin a non-deal roadshow to discuss the company's prospects with fund managers, the person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. ($1 = 1.5896 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Writing by Byron Kaye; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Stephen Coates) COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Volvo Cars, majority-owned by China's Geely, has brought back former CEO Hakan Samuelsson to head the company for the next two years at a turbulent time marked by mounting tariff pressures, replacing Jim Rowan who has run the group since 2022. Samuelsson, 74, takes the helm after U.S. President Donald Trump last week followed through on his threats for new tariffs on imported cars, saying a 25% duty on vehicles not built in the U.S. would kick in this week. "The car industry is under pressure from many directions," Samuelsson said in a statement. Shares in the company, which are down almost 70% since the group's 2021 listing, fell by 1.2% to a new all-time low by 0844 GMT on Monday, while the wider market in Stockholm was down 1.6%. Samuelsson is taking on the job on Tuesday and will serve a two-year term while the group prepares to appoint a long-term successor, it said on Sunday. Rowan's exit comes only about three years after his appointment in January 2022, which followed Volvo's listing on the Stockholm Stock Exchange the previous year. Volvo Cars board Chair Eric Li said the company was facing fast-moving technological shifts, growing geopolitical challenges, and intensifying competition. "He brings a rare combination of industrial depth, strategic clarity, and proven leadership and Hakan has a broad knowledge of our group," Li said of the veteran CEO who ran Volvo from 2012 to 2022. Last month Volvo Cars warned that 2025 would be a tumultuous and competitive year during which it might struggle to match its 2024 sales performance and profitability. Geely Sweden, which manages the group's investments in the European brands such as Polestar and Volvo Cars, declined to give further comment. Trump is set to announce further tariffs on Wednesday, which he has dubbed "Liberation Day." (Reporting by Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru and Johan Ahlander and Marie Mannes in Stockholm; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Jane Merriman and David Evans) Roll-on/roll-off carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen announced separate contract changes worth more than $2 billion. The Oslo, Norway-based company (OTC: WAWIF) said it has signed a contract renewal with a European automotive manufacturer. The five-year agreement, valued at $380 million, is set to commence on Tuesday. In a separate development, the carrier announced a 10-year contract extension with an automotive OEM. Wallenius did not disclose the identity of either company. An OEM typically produces parts. The scope of services provided by Wallenius Wilhelmsen under these agreements is comprehensive and includes receiving vehicles, end-of-line services, accessory installation, delivery management, vehicle distribution and storage, and digital supply chain insights. Wallenius Wilhelmsen offers short-sea and deep-sea ocean services under separate agreements. The long-term, multiproduct contracts provide seamless integration, flexibility for both parties, and room for innovative collaborations to enhance digital value chain solutions, said John Felitto, executive vice president and chief operating officer of logistics services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, in a release. Looking to the future of the contract renewal, the parties expressed their intention to expand the partnership further. The shared vision includes broadening the contracts scope to encompass ocean services, creating a more comprehensive and integrated strategy. This approach aims to streamline processes and leverage advanced digital solutions to future-proof operations. The contract has a solid land-based scope and is one of our largest, Felitto said. It is exciting to enhance a partnership that already prioritizes comprehensive integration and digital transformation at its core. The extended contract, starting in April 2027, has an estimated gross revenue of $2 billion, the carrier said. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: China blocks sale of Panama Canal shipping terminals to US investor: Reports Port of Savannah sets record container, rail and truck moves in February Trump tariff fears plague ocean container rates Trade groups, businesses speak to both sides of proposed US port fees The post Wallenius Wilhelmsen secures ro-ro contract extension, renewal worth more than $2B appeared first on FreightWaves. The Socialist Equality Party condemns the attack on the Youth Demand organisation and demands the release and dropping of all charges against its members and supporters arrested over last Thursday and Friday by Londons Metropolitan Police. The raid on the groups publicly advertised meeting at Westminster Quaker Meeting House, a little over half a mile from Downing Street, is a major escalation in the Starmer Labour governments assault on democratic rights. Up to 30 police officers, some armed, smashed their way into the meeting at St Martins Lane, central London Thursday evening (March 27). Police made six arrests of women attendees during the raid, on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, and a further five Youth Demand supporters at other locations, mostly their homes, on Friday. In total the police conducted 12 house raids within 20 hours. Met Police officers conducting a search of a house as part of their raids on Youth Demand supporters. [Photo: Youth Demand] According to a Sky News report Sunday, five of those arrested Thursday have been released on bail, with one reportedly facing no further action. The additional five arrested Friday have been released on bail. Youth Demand, set-up in 2024, is an environmental and political activist group. Its Westminster meeting was to plan non-violent civil resistance actions in April. A statement issued by the group on Friday explained: At around 7:30pm yesterday, over 30 Metropolitan Police officers crashed into the Youth Demand Welcome Talk at the Quaker Meeting House in Westminster and arrested six people, including one attending their first ever welcome talk and a journalist Police said that they were arresting people for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. After forcing their way into the Quakers building the police were confronted, as described by the Times, by a group of women, aged between 18 and 38, who were sitting in a circle eating hummus and bread sticks. One of those arrested, Ella Grace-Taylor, aged 20, said the meeting had been discussing the 1963 peace march in the US against racial segregation in Alabama when they were alerted to massive banging. Someone in the room saw a police officer through the window and two seconds later dozens of police swarmed. An officer grabbed my arm, turned me around to face the wall and placed me in handcuffs. Some of the others were sitting down, not doing anything, not resisting, and they were also put in cuffs. Following her arrest, Ella was held at a police station for than 12 hours and not allowed to telephone her parents or a solicitor. Her home was raided by police a few hours later. Ella added, None of us slept. I came home at 6am and my bed was stripped and my neatly organised homework was strewn all over the floor. Police also confiscated possession of the arrested including laptops and phones. One of the arrested students had their dissertation, written in French, in their rucksack, which was seized. Westminster Quakers Meeting House holds many regular events. The same evening rooms were being used, according to the Times, for private counselling sessions and a life drawing class. Even these roomswhich had nothing to do with the Youth Demand gatheringwere searched by the cops. Police broke into the Quaker Meeting House despite it being a place of religious worship. It is also home to two Quaker wardens. Mal Woolford, an elder warden at the Westminster meeting house condemned the police operation as ridiculously heavy-handed and said officers flooded the building. He noted Apparently, not all of them [targeted by the police] were even involved with the organisation; they were just curious, and they ended up in handcuffs. The Quakers have facilitated meeting rooms for environmental, peace groups and left-wing groups for well over a century. An official statement responded, Quakers in Britain strongly condemned the violation of their place of worship, as a direct result of stricter protest laws removing virtually all routes to challenge the status quo. Police, some equipped with tasers, forced their way into Westminster Meeting House. They broke open the front door without warning or ringing the bell first, searching the whole building and arresting six women attending the meeting in a hired room. Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, noted that up unto that evening, No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. Since its formation, as part of an umbrella bodyincluding Just Stop Oil, Assemble, and Robin HoodYouth Demand has been subjected to a concerted state attack. In April 2024, in protests at Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmers support for Israels genocide, Youth Demand members laid childrens shoes and hung a banner that said Starmer stop the killing outside his north London homewhich was also surrounded with red hand prints. Three protesters, aged between 21 and 24 were found guilty at a trial in June of public order offences. Two more members of the group were arrested the following month after spray-painting 180,000 killed on the pavement in front of the Cenotaph near Downing Street. Dozens more were arrested in London on the day of the State Opening of Parliament in July last year on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This law was enacted under the previous Conservative government in June 2022, under section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The Act created a new statutory offence of intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance, codifying and abolishing the old offence of common law public nuisance. Those convicted under Section 78 can face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Rabah Kherbane, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers noted in an article that just in the few months, Since its introduction the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] had by the end of 2022 issued at least 201 charges of statutory public nuisance aimed at individuals participating in protest action The common law offence of public nuisance was traditionally, and frequently used to prosecute significant environmental offences. This included air pollution and the release of noxious substances by corporations or individuals that caused real harm to the general public. There is no irony lost in the fact the same offence in statutory form is now being zealously deployed to prosecute environmental protestors. What is now underway is the utilisation of the legislation to criminalise thought and break-up peaceful political activity before any action has even taken placebased only on a suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisanceand all determined by the police. The attack on Youth Demand follows just weeks after mass arrests at a March for Palestine demonstration in the capital and the persecution of its organisers in the Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The Starmer government has intensified the repression begun by the Tories against those opposed to war and austerity, particularly targeting left-wing, anti-capitalist and socialist individuals and groups. Workers and youth should study the Socialist Equality Party statement, No to Starmers war and austerity governmentfight for socialism! published just three days before the youth group arrests. We explained: War means the militarisation of the economy and gutting social spending on welfare, local services, education and the National Health Service and this cannot be carried out through democratic means. Like rearmament in the 1930s, war today will be accompanied by a shift to the dictatorial forms of rule pioneered by Trump in the US. This is prefigured by Starmers deploying police-state measures against those protesting the Gaza genocide. The BBC radio documentary In Detail The Toxic Waste Scandal released March 4 deals with the cluster of birth defects in newborns in the town of Corby in Northamptonshire, England. The defects were a consequence of the negligent clean-up around 1983-1997 at the site of the former steelworks, which closed in 1981. The documentary complements the Netflix series Toxic Town, which is streaming concurrently. The Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher decimated the nationalised steel industry in the 1980s on the grounds of unprofitability. Thatchers successor John Major (1990-1997) left local authorities, many of them controlled by the Labour Party, to deal with the decommissioning of up to 70 years of steel industry waste. Labour-run Corby Borough Council (CBC) planned to reclaim the 700-acre steelworks site and attract private capital to build a theme park and businesses. Memorial to Corby steel workers, 28 January 2007 [Photo by Tim Heaton / Memorial to Corby steel workers / CC BY-SA 2.0 With George Taylor narrating, one of the up to 30 or more children poisoned in the womb by contaminated waste from the steel plant, the programme unravels how the scandal was made possible. George, now aged 32, tells the story through the real voices of the people who were there. From the moment mothers realised there was a community of children born with birth abnormalities, it was obvious something had gone terribly wrong. But it was not the authorities who stepped in to find the cause. In fact, CBC put every obstacle in the way of finding the truth. It was the mothers, their dedicated legal team, council whistleblowers Ted Jenkins and Sam Hagen that did that, and it took a 13-year battle. The story first broke nationally, in a Sunday Times April 11, 1999 article headlined, Birth defect cluster found near toxic dump. This alerted solicitor Des Collins that something big was happening. Listening to the mothers of the affected children persuaded Collins to begin litigation on the grounds of negligence against Corby Council. CBC responded by inviting the mothers to a public meeting in February 2000--called by the Regional Health Authority (RHA)--to report their investigation into the birth defects. The RHA denied the existence of a cluster, saying the incidence of defects in Corby was no higher than the surrounding Kettering area. In her own voice, Lisa, whose daughter Simone was born with a hand defect recalls: I asked at the meeting, What constitutes a cluster?What an absolute whitewash. I knew then we were in for a fight and they were going to make us look bad. Collins reflects: That was the first time I saw them [the mothers] all come together. They were quite appalled that evidence should be produced by the council and used to try and bring the case to an end. The arrogance, of putting them in the audience and telling them the case was no good! The callous message of the RHA to Get on with your life steeled the mothers for a fight. The first challenge for the legal team was to investigate whether a cluster of birth defects existed. Mathematician Dr. Tony Fox studied the data and realised the council had distorted the statistics. They compared the incidence of defects in Corby with Kettering and Corby, and not Kettering alone. But was the incidence high enough to constitute a cluster? Collins consulted Professor of Epidemiology (incidence of disease in populations) Louise Parker at Newcastle University. She found, The rate in Corby was not only high compared with Kettering, it was high compared with the rest of Europe. George Taylor recounts his own journey, suffering terribly due to his hand deformity. During his last year at primary school, the pain in my hand went mad. A swelling at the base of his index finger proved to be a tumour. Aged 14, George underwent further surgery lasting a gruelling 13 hours, after another tumour developed in the palm of his hand. This kind of stuff happened to lots of us. We went under the knife, while our parents sat in cold grey corridors waiting for us. George today works as a civil servant, but he is in constant pain and has a 13cm tumour in his shoulder and hopes he wont lose an arm. Georges mother Fiona recalls feelings of guilt: Why has it happened? Whats wrong with his hand. Is it something Ive done, is it my fault you look to blame yourself. Collins realised he had to find the agency by which the contaminants in the toxic waste entered the bodies of the pregnant women. It was the mothers who pointed him in the right direction. They described how the lorries raced through the town carrying the steel waste, which slopped out onto the roads. The sludge dried out and covered the town periodically with an atmospheric soup of toxic materials, which the residents of Corby (population 60,000) breathed in. Georges parents ran the Kings Arms pub near the clean-up site, serving the drivers who drove the lorries carrying the waste to landfill sites. The drivers came in covered with red dust. The dust spread on the tables, on the floor. Georges pregnant mother cleaned it up every night. The Toxic Waste Scandal [Photo: screenshot from BBC website ] The mothers and their legal team gathered enough evidence to request the High Court pursue a class action against CBC, which they were granted in 2005, and as a result gained access to the councils files. It took 10 years for The Corby Group Litigation V Corby Borough Council legal case to open at the High Court in London, in February 2009. While the council conceded that highly toxic cadmium was in the steel waste, they denied a link to the birth defects. Consultant gynaecologist specialising in foetal medicine, Dr. David Penman, gave evidence. He declared that toxins such as cadmium found in the steel waste has been shown in experimental animals to cause defects. As to the likely route into the body, he suggested by inhalation. Consulted again by Collins, Dr. Tony Cox, with a PHD in air pollution modelling, worked out that small particles of dust could travel in the air 3-4 kilometres, and was able to reach the mothers. The legal defence for CBC countered with evidence that seemed to indicate the dust could not travel so far. With access to the councils files, Dr. Fox realised they had based their contention on a German study in 1992 that missed a digit and reduced distance by times 10. On July 29, 2009, the Hon. Mr Justice Akenhead found CBC liable in negligence, public nuisance and a breach of statutory duty for its reclamation of a Corby Steelworks 1985 and 1997. CBC continued to deny the link between the clean-up and the birth defects. This was under a Labour government led by Tony Blair (1997-2007), committed to privatisation and profiteering. Profits were to be made from the land reclamation in Corby, and rumours of bribery in the tendering process were rife. The CBC called an extraordinary public meeting to consult with the public as to whether they should appeal the court ruling. They declared council taxes would rise 25 each year over 20 years to pay the court costs, and asked the meeting whether they should continue to fight on behalf of taxpayers as a whole? Lisa reflects bitterly: You (CBC) just put all the blame back on us, so the Corby people are going to resent us, for the rest of our lives probably. George said: It was suggested that the birth defects might merely reflect the fact that the lower social classes drink more, smoke more, and take more illegal drugs. CBC later decided to drop their appeal and made an out of court settlement in 2010 of 14.6 million with 18 families. Episode eight of the series sits uncomfortably with the previous ones. It gives voice to two witnesses for the defence who cast doubt on the verdict, concluding that there was no cluster and the whole thing a mystery. This contrasts miserably with the rest of the documentary, which details the incontrovertible evidence proving the negligence of Labour-run Corby Council in the 1980s led to a devastating cluster of birth defects. The mothers and their supporters were vindicated. We recently published a list of 10 Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) stands against other best consumer staples stocks to buy according to analysts. Is the US Economy Headed for a Recession? Consumer confidence is plunging in the US. It dropped further in March, with the Conference Board reporting the future outlook falling to the lowest level in more than a decade. The Conference Boards monthly confidence index dropped to 92.9, reflecting a 7.2-point slip and making March the fourth consecutive month of index contraction. The index calculates respondents outlook on job prospects, business, and income. The fall was higher than analyst estimates, as economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimated a reading of 93.5. That is not all: the measure for future estimates is painting an even bleaker story with the index falling to 65.2, reflecting a 9.6-point drop and making it the lowest number in 12 years. The reading is also considerably below the 80 level, which is typically considered a benchmark signal for an incoming recession. While the confidence drop was spread across income groups, it was primarily driven by a decline in consumers aged 55 or older. These readings are materializing at a time uncertainty and concerns regarding President Trumps tariffs are already looming on the market. These concerns have coincided with other surveys exhibiting waning consumer sentiment and a volatile stock market. CNBC reported that Stephanie Guichard, senior economist, global indicators at The Conference Board, said the following about the situation: Consumers optimism about future income which had held up quite strongly in the past few months largely vanished, suggesting worries about the economy and labor market have started to spread into consumers assessments of their personal situations. On March 14, CNBC reported that while headwinds like persistent inflation and high interest rates were already affecting companies, they now have to deal with additional obstacles such as worsening consumer sentiment, tariffs that go on and off, and mass government layoffs. Over the last weeks, investor presentations and earnings calls have shown a distinct trend: consumer-facing businesses and retailers are warning that fiscal Q1 2025 sales are coming in softer than expected. 2025 may prove to be a year tougher than what analysts initially estimated. READ ALSO: 11 Best Coffee Stocks to Buy Now and 10 Best Department Store Stocks to Invest in. Consumer Staples: Are They a Safe Haven Amid Recession Concerns? Consumer staples are generally considered a safe haven amid recession and market volatility. We discussed how the consumer staple sector is expected to perform and whether it can be considered a safety net amid the current market dynamics in a recently published article on 12 Best Household Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Here is an excerpt from the article to shed light on the situation: Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. CareTrust, Genuine Parts, and Hess Midstream have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of up to 6%. CareTrust REIT CareTrust REIT (NYSE:CTRE) primary business consists of acquiring, financing, developing and owning real property to be leased to third-party tenants in the healthcare sector. Don't Miss: CareTrust REIT has increased its dividends consecutively for the last 10 years. As per its most recent dividend hike announcement on March 18, the company raised its quarterly payout from $0.29 to $0.335 per share, which is equal to an annual figure of $1.34 per share. The current yield on the dividend is 4.62%. The company's annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $228.26 million. In its Q4 2024 earnings report on Feb. 12, CareTrust posted revenues of $86.94 million and EPS of $0.40. Both figures beat the Street estimates. Check out this article by Benzinga for four analysts' insights on CareTrust REIT. Trending: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Heres how you can earn passive income with just $100. Genuine Parts Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) is a leading global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts and value-added solutions. Genuine Parts has increased its dividends every year for the last 69 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Feb. 18, the companys board raised the quarterly payout by 3% to $1.03 per share, equaling an annual figure of $4.12 per share. Currently, the dividend yield on the stock stands at 3.41%. Genuine Parts' annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $23.49 billion. In its Q4 2024 earnings release on Feb. 18, the company posted revenues of $5.77 billion and EPS of $1.61. Both figures came in above the consensus estimates. See Also: Dogecoin millionaires are increasing investors with $1M+ in DOGE revealed! Hess Midstream Hess Midstream LP (NYSE:HESM) is a midstream company that owns, operates, develops and acquires a diverse set of midstream assets to provide services to Hess and third-party customers. The company has increased dividends every year for the last eight years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Jan. 27, the company raised the quarterly payout from $0.6846 to $0.7012, equal to $2.80 annually. Currently, the dividend yield is 6.29%. We recently published a list of Why These 15 Aerospace Stocks Are Surging In 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) stands against other aerospace stocks that are surging in 2025. The aerospace industry is riding a wave of growth as global conflicts across the world have sparked a surge in demand. This has led to swelling backlogs and a flood of orders from every corner of the globe. Meanwhile, recent administration changes in the United States have shaken things up. European countries are ramping up their aerospace orders and are eager to secure advanced technology. Some nations have hesitated over U.S. orders amid shifting policies, but cancellations seem unlikely since trade wars have simmered down a bit. Beyond geopolitics, the industry is buzzing with other trends. The commercial aviation sector is roaring back with record passenger traffic. This has pushed airlines to modernize fleets with fuel-efficient aircraft. Moreover, AI software is making defense aircraft more potent, and the entire industry has seen a bump in growth. Methodology For this article, I screened the best-performing aerospace stocks year-to-date. I will also mention the number of hedge fund investors in these stocks. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here). Why RTX Corp (RTX) Is Surging In 2025? An aerial view of a commercial jetliner in flight, its airframe glinting in the sun. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) Number of Hedge Fund Holders In Q4 2024: 80 RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is one of the biggest aerospace and defense companies. The stock is up significantly so far in 2025 as Raytheon secured a follow-on contract with the U.S. Army Futures Command to enhance its Rapid Campaign Analysis and Demonstration Environment (RCADE). RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) also got a $529 million contract to supply Patriot air defense systems to the Netherlands and a $946 million contract for Patriot systems with Romania. 2024 financial performance was solid, with $80.7 billion in sales, up 9% year-over-year, and an adjusted EPS growth of 13%. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) also has a backlog of $218 billion. The consensus price target of $166.4 implies 22.5% upside. RTX stock is up 17.82% year-to-date. Overall, RTX ranks 12th on our list of aerospace stocks that are surging in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of RTX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RTX but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. Saturday Night Live took on the Department of Defense group text scandal in its cold open with host Mikey Madison. Madison, a recent Oscar winner for Anora, played a teenage girl gossiping with her friends (Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman) about high school and crushes in a group chat infiltrated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, played by Andrew Dismukes. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Rockets went airborne 15 minutes ago, he said. Whos ready to glass some Houthi rebels? Flag emoji, flag emoji, flag emoji, fire emoji, eggplant. The White House has been under fire this week after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a Signal group in which Hegseth, JD Vance and other high-ranking officials were discussing confidential plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen. Israel better bend over and spread it, Dismukes continued. Baller. Water squirt emoji. God bless the troops. Eggplant. The vice president, played by Bowen Yang, then entered the chat, as Hegseth asked about his trip to Greenland. Nobody knows why Im here. Especially me. But praise Trump, our work here is mysterious and important, Yang said, in a cheeky nod to Severance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A car horn interrupted the gab session, and Madison said, Got to go, Matts here to pick me up. Were going to a movie. Who? Gaetz? Dismukes asked, referencing the former Republican congressman who was investigated by the House ethics panel over allegations of sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl. (Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.) Actually, yeah! Madison said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Marcello Hernandez) was then added to the chat, and upon learning there were three teen girls in it, he said, We were totally pranking you guys, LOL. But would you mind emailing your names and home addresses to deportations@ice.gov? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Madison makes her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live and was in the cold open a rare feat for the host, who normally first appears during the monologue. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BIKE Magazine aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Its obvious that the mechanical mountain bike groupset isnt dead with the recent release of SRAM 90 and SRAM 70 mechanical Transmissions, and I wanted to highlight some of the other contenders for the title of best mechanical MTB groupsets. This guide will offer my professional recommendations for the best mechanical mountain bike groupsets that deserve your cold-hard cash. I will detail the SRAM and Shimano hierarchy of MTB groupsets, cassette options for climbing and general riding, and how SRAM, Shimano, and other groupsets correlate. Were in an age of batteries and computers controlling everything, and if you want to stick it to the AI powers that be and unplug your riding, youre likely looking for the best mechanical mountain bike groupsets that money can buy. Im a big fan of mechanical drivetrains and have been putting them through the paces for the last few years on all kinds of bikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cable and housing still have a seat at the table. I want to revisit some of my favorite mechanical drivetrains and give them a pedestal while all eyes are on yet another industry standard with T-Type drivetrains. However, they are still included in this list. Related: The Future Does Not Have Fewer Gears The SRAM GX Eagle DerailleurPhoto: Ryan Palmer One of the unsung heroes of mechanical engineering to hit mountain bikes. I have put GX Eagle components through hell, left them there to rot, and then later returned to retrieve them. The GX drivetrain is often taken for granted and is seen as the entry-level 12-speed mechanical MTB group from SRAM. Still, if youve spent much time on NX or SX-level Eagle drivetrains, youll quickly realize that GX is a tier above. It has stiffer mechanics, crisper shifting, and a nicer feeling in the hand. I compare SRAM GX Eagle to a mix of 12-speed Shimano XT and SLX. You get the benefit of multiple shifts seen with XT shifters. The build quality and finish of SRAM GX Eagle components are also steps above SRAM NX and SX Eagle. SX is the lowest tier of the SRAM 12-speed hierarchy, with NX being one small step up before hitting GX. GX-equipped bikes offer a value that wont require any upgrading out of the box for most riders, in my opinion. The only thing that Shimano has over GX Eagle is the adjustable and rebuildable clutch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have even been so bold as to mix SRAM GX Eagle cassettes with Shimano derailleurs and vice versa, with only very minor perceivable losses in shifting efficiency. And for the most part, 12-speed MTB cassettes can be mixed around to an extent. SRAM GX Eagle also gets added bonus points for its aftermarket support. Brands like Madrone Components offer parts to not just rebuild them but also improve them with stiffer cages, parallelograms, and more. Ill get into that a bit more down below, though. Related: SRAM GX Eagle Drivetrain 12 Speed for $500 The new SRAM Eagle 90 Mechanical TransmissionPhoto: SRAM The SRAM mechanical Transmissions have been teased for months online prior to the launch in March of 2025, with spy shots surfacing every few weeks. There was a lot of speculation if we would ever see a mechanical T-type drivetrain with so many bikes that had adopted the T-Type compatibility doing away with cable ports on the frame. Despite all the speculation, SRAM finally pulled the curtain back on the very rebuildable, and highly anticipated mechanical version of its Transmission drivetrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a new cable pull ratio, stiffer derailleur, new cassette spacing, and shift pattern, the SRAM 90 Transmission is the GX Eagle equivalent of the Transmission offerings. Sitting just a step above the SRAM 70 Transmission, the SRAM 90 is slightly lighter and slightly more rebuildable than the lower-tier SRAM 70 Transmission. It also uses a clutch mechanism different from the SRAM 70 rear derailleur, the same one found on the electronic GX, XO, and XX T-Type derailleurs. The disassembled SRAM Eagle 90 Rear DerailleurPhoto: SRAM The differences between SRAM 90 and SRAM 70 Transmissions are minor, but the 90 opts for an 8-bolt chainring mount interface that is seen on the electronic Transmission drivetrains, whereas the 70 uses the older 3-bolt. The cranks of SRAM 90 come in 150mm, 155mm, 160mm, 165mm, 170mm, and 175mm lengths. The two drivetrains also use the new T-Type cassettes, but 90 borrows the GX 10t 52t Eagle Transmission cassette that bolts up to an XD freehub. The new SRAM Eagle 70 Mechanical TransmissionPhoto: SRAM The more affordable option for mechanical SRAM Transmission, the SRAM 70 sits at about the level of SX Eagle, and uses different materials to bring the price down to a more affordable pricepoint and will likely be found on more entry-level bikes. The derailleur of the SRAM 70 is slightly less rebuildable than the SRAM 90, and uses a different clutch mechanism to keep the chain in check. The shifter is also only available in a 22.2 aftermarket band clamp option, while SRAM 90 comes in the SRAM Matchmaker interface. Eagle 70 uses the existing XS-1270 cassette, which slides onto a HG freehub, despite the difference in freehub compatibility, it still offers a broad 10-52 spread of gears. The SRAM 70 and 90 chains are also slightly different in treatment but are compatible across the whole range of transmission drivetrains, which could be a great way to save money on consumable parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The setup has also been simplified for the mechanical SRAM transmissions, and the brand has done away with the need for trim screws and a b-tension screw. Instead both use borrow a similar install procedure as the electronic siblings but with a few changes due to the inclusion of a cable. There are two setup positions that require an Allen key to be inserted to lock the cage in place to get an optimal gap between the cage and cassette. After tightening everything down, fine-tuning can be done with a traditional barrel adjuster on the shifter. Shimano XT M8100-SGS DerailleurPhoto: Ryan Palmer A workhorse of a drivetrain that can be found already equipped on several mid-level to high-end builds or mixed with SLX-level parts as a nice upgrade. The XT shifter, in particular, shines in the 12-speed hierarchy of Shimano. It can be used in conjunction with the SLX rear derailleur to give riders the multi-shift function, and it also has a much more premium feel when shifting through gears. The Shimano 12-speed groupsets feel much more premium than some of the SRAM Eagle 12-speed bits, especially at the bottom of the hierarchy. I see the Shimano M8100 XT group as a mix between SRAM GX and XO/X01 but with a slightly more utilitarian vibe. I love mechanical gears and Shimano XT is one of the best examples of how to do it. Photo: Deven McCoy The cassettes are a bit more complex from an installation standpoint than SRAM's. Shimano 12-speed cassettes are still a jumble of cogs that need to be puzzled onto the Microspline freehub body, but the clear marking makes this easier than you might assume when first glancing at them all laid out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shimano also offers the XT M8100 rear derailleur at two different lengths to accommodate different riders and disciplines. The GS is a shorter cage that is less prone to rock strikes and snags but only works with a 10-45t cassette, whereas the SGS cage will work with the wider range 10-51t cassettes, which are ideal for riders who live in steeper environments and need a biggbailoutout gear. Related: Shimano Mic Drops SRAM With XT, SLX 12-speed Groups Much like the XT M8100, the SLX M7100 drivetrain is a utilitarian and robust groupset, but unlike the XT M8100, it is often overlooked as a valid contender for aggressive riders. In my experience, the XT M8100 shifter paired with an M7100 cassette and rear derailleur is the ideal mechanical groupset for most riders. The ability to mix and match these component lines gives a less expensive option that still performs great in all conditions. I have hundreds of miles on an SLX M7100 rear derailleur, and with consistent cable and housing love and care, it hasnt let me down yet. Its carried me through summers of bike park smashing and big-ass rides with 8k+ of elevation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lower cost of the consumable components like cassette, chain, and chainrings make the SLX M7100 a terrific way to make upkeep more affordable for riders who arent critical of every gram but prioritize efficient function, ride after ride. Related: Long and Short Cage Derailleurs Explained The Madrone JAB DerailleurPhoto: Madrone Components When Madrone arrived on the scene with its own prototype MTB derailleur and aftermarket support for SRAM MTB derailleurs, it showed that mechanical drivetrains are still relevant. And to that point, the small and impressive brand has continued to make waves and has recently announced the launch of the Jab. The Jab originated from the hills of Southern Oregon, where it got its namesake. The Jabberwocky trail in Ashland, Oregon, is a ribbon of undulating dirt that winds through a sleepy theatre town's watershed and sees thousands of tires roll through over the peak seasons. This locally respected trail is where the Jab got its name, and like the trail, it is designed to endure abuse and heavy use all year long without letting you down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developed to work with SRAM and Shimano shifters, accommodating 11 and 12-speed drivetrains and multiple cassette options. Its as versatile as it is beautiful and will be available in April 2025. Related: Madrone Cycles Announce Pre-Orders for the Jab Derailleur Its not just the Jab that got Madrone on this list. Madrone Components can be found all over the world these days, and the company has held fast to the ethos of keeping MTB components out of landfills. I recently smashed a SRAM GX Eagle RD on a particularly stubborn chunk of sandstone, which rendered the poor thing useless thanks to a few small cracks and a disfigured cage. Madrone saved me from retiring the component with a rebuild kit, cage, and new pulleys, and after a rebuild that was relatively easy, the GX Eagle derailleur is more like a phoenix reborn from the ashes of destruction. Rebuilt with cage, links, and pulleys. Don't mind the cable end.Photo: Deven McCoy After riding the rebuilt GX Eagle derailleur with the beautifully machined Madrone parts, its not just riding as newits even better. The pulleys are smooth and easy to clean, and the cage and mechanisms are stiffer and shift quicker than ever. I wouldn't hesitate to look to Madrone as a valid upgrade, even without the necessity for repair. However, that would feed into the consumerism mindset of marginal gains, which is not a pillar of the brand's ethos. Related: Facilitating Longevity with Madrone Cycles Photo: Ingrid Components Photo: Ingrid Components A less popular name in mountain bike groupsets, this Italian brand has been designing and building some incredibly nice-looking mechanical drivetrains for a few years. The RD1 rear derailleur and TTS shifter are designed to complement one another with what Ingrid calls analogical design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RD1 and TTS are an amalgamation of digital precision and the intuitive mechanics of early 80s thumb shifters. They are precise and embrace the modern wide-range cassettes, but they still hold dear the emotion of simpler times in the sport. The TTS shifter uses one thumb paddle with an intuitive push to upshift and pull it back to downshift. The RD1 derailleur is made to work with SRAM, Shimano, and MicroShift flat bar 11 and 12-speed shifters with available fins. The Ingrid RD1 is also designed to accommodate many different drop bar drivetrains, making it impressively versatile depending on the cage and fin you bolt to on. Ingrid also makes its own cassettes and cranksets to complete the drivetrain. The cassettes come in a 10-42 spread and a broader 10-52 flavor. The CRS-G2 crankset, much like the RD1 and TTS, has a striking and angular appearance and comes in three sizes: 166.25mm, 170mm, and 173mm (as far as I can tell). Related: These Might Be the Coolest Mountain Bike Components in the World. The microSHIFT Advent X 10-speed mountain bike drivetrainPhoto: microSHIFT Designed to buck trends, be durable, and compete with top-of-the-line groupsets with more speeds and broader gear ranges. The Advent X drivetrain from microSHIFT quickly surprised me with its precise and crisp shifts, robust construction, and, most importantly, attainable price tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might not have 12 selectable cogs or the palmares of other brands, but it more than makes up for these factors with reliable shifting, an adequate spread of gears, and a construction that honestly begs to be ridden as hard as possible. While 12-speed drivetrains are excellent to ride, and we have all been spoiled with gear choice, getting on the Advent X drivetrain feels incredible in comparison. A wide-range 10-speed cassette feels so familiar, and the added stiffness of fewer gears means everything feels remarkably solid on the trail. With each cog being thicker, the chain being more robust, and less precision needing to be engineered into the shift mechanism, this 10-speed MTB groupset is a testament to the efficiency of less being more. For most riders, the prospect of a more affordable groupset that will last longer is a huge selling point, and if you dont need the latest and greatest tech or just want to bring an older bike into the modern age, the Advent X is the groupset you should be considering. Related: The Best Beginner Mountain Bikes You Can Buy Right Now The TRP EVO 12 mechanical mountain bike drivetrain in goldPhoto: TRP Known around the globe for brakes, TRP is a staple in stopping. But the brand has also dedicated a lot of time and energy into going. The EVO 12 groupset from TRP uses several interesting bits of tech to be proud of when pulling up a seat at the round table of mechanical drivetrains. The standout feature of the TRP drivetrain is the patented Hall lock and instant silent clutch mechanism on the rear derailleur. Thanks to these two features, the TRP EVO 12 drivetrain is an incredibly silent ecosystem, and the attention to detail is noticeable throughout the components. Th Hall Lock on the TRP EVO 12 derailleur.Photo: Ryan Palmer The shifter is ergonomic but different enough that it takes some getting used to at firstwhich is a good thing, in my opinion. The shifter uses an interesting switch that allows riders to select a 5-at-a-time mode or a more precise single-shift option for race day. The rear derailleur of the TRP EVO 12 drivetrain uses a cage release that simplifies tire changes and wheel removals. This system is similar to the SRAM cage lock and the Shimano derailleur clutch switch. TRP has also developed a cassette for the EVO 12 drivetrain, and it is offered in a 10-52t spread that bolts right onto a Shimano MicroSpline freehub. All the TRP EVO 12 components cater to those who love a bit of gold, but they also come in a less blinged-out black and silver colorway. Photo: Vivo Cycling Vivo is a relatively new face in the industry but one that we should all be familiar with. It is a small operation that is cooking up just two very industrial-looking parts out of machined alloy and titanium. The shifter, called the F3, is a fantastic-looking nugget of 6062 and 7075 alloys, steel, and titanium, with a plethora of customization options. The aptly named Enduro derailleur has more of the same design language and uses 7075 alloy and Ti to present visuals that would look right at home in a sci-fi movie. The F3 shifter is designed to work perfectly with the Enduro derailleur and vice versa, but the derailleur is only compatible with the F3 shifter and SRAM 12-speed shifters, not Shimano. Aside from the obviously eye-catching appearance, the F3 shifter is designed to be customized to fit the rider's hand perfectly, with over 30,000 (not a typo) possible options thanks to the unique 3D-printed paddles. Photo: Vivo Cycling Photo: Vivo Cycling The Enduro derailleur is a complex and hearty example of engineering without a drop of plastic anywhere in the construction. Designed to work with 12-speed cassettes with 10-52t gear spreads, the Enduro is a masterclass in right-to-repair practices and can be torn down and rebuilt with fairly standard tools. Durability and serviceability are the benchmarks with Vivo, and the Enduro has sealed cartridge bearings throughout the form, titanium hardware, and attention to detail that can only be achieved when assembled by hand. The 10 Best Mechanical Mountain Bike Groupsets of 2025 first appeared on BikeMag on Mar 30, 2025 In Delaware, you dont need to travel far to find a place with a name that raises an eyebrow or piques curiosity. While some states boast straightforward town or city names like Springfield or Washington, Delaware's map reads more like an eclectic short story collection. According to WorldAtlas.com, these seven uniquely named communities in Delaware, spread across the state's three counties, often catch visitors by surprise and spark curiosity about their origins. From Slaughter Beach to Pot-Nets, Delaware's quirky town names tell tales of the First State's rich history, each one a window into the region's colonial past, maritime heritage and rural traditions. Slaughter Beach, a coastal sanctuary Perhaps the most striking example of an unusual name on the map is Slaughter Beach, a tiny coastal community of about 220 residents, along the Delaware Bay. Founded in 1681, the towns name origins remain unclear; however, there are several theories on the town's website. Horseshoe crabs at Slaughter Beach. The most straightforward theory speculates the name is connected to "Slaughter Neck," an area located just southwest of the town. In colonial Delaware, "neck" commonly referred to elevated terrain between two boundaries. Another explanation points to a former postmaster named Slaughter. A more dramatic account suggests that the name refers to the springtime spawning of horseshoe crabs. When these crabs are stranded upside down and dying in the sun, they are said to resemble a ''slaughter'' of crabs. A darker local legend tells of settlers ambushing Native American leaders during peace talks by asking them to gather around a cannon they claimed was their "god." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the town offers a peaceful retreat along the Delaware Bay. Known for its environmental conservation efforts, it serves as a sanctuary for horseshoe crabs. Broadkill Beach's Dutch roots and natural beauty Just north of Slaughter Beach lies Broadkill Beach, whose name nods to its Dutch origins. Nestled along the Delaware Bay, the town offers picturesque waterfront views and easy access to the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, a popular spot for birdwatching and kayaking. The town comes alive during its Fourth of July festivities, drawing locals and visitors alike with fireworks and family-friendly events. More: What is the deadliest day for driving in Delaware? Here's what a study finds Corner Ketch is still a mystery Tucked near the Pennsylvania-Delaware border, how Corner Ketch got its name is still a mystery. According to World Atlas, some believe the name comes from the French word cache, meaning "hiding place," while others trace it to an old English term for a tavern. An unincorporated area of New Castle County, Corner Ketch offers few commercial attractions providing visitors a glimpse into the county's quieter side. Gumboro, formerly known for gum trees Located near the Maryland border, Gumboro stays true to its agricultural roots. The towns name may stem from the white gum trees once common in the area. History buffs can explore the West Woods Methodist Episcopal Church, which dates back to the 1800s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Gumboro Community Center, housed in a former school, serves as a hub for local events and gatherings. Bacons: A slice of railroad history Bacons, a small outpost in Sussex County, earned its name not from breakfast meat but from its founding family. The town, also known as Bacons Switch, honors the Bacon family, early settlers who built a sawmill and basket-making business. Its railroad heritage lives on through its name, referencing the "switch point" where trains once connected nearby towns Laurel and Delmar. Charles and Kelly Cooper, of Dover, buy peaches from Fifer Orchards while eating peach ice cream during Wyoming's annual Peach Festival on Aug. 2, 2014. Wyoming: East not west Despite its Western-sounding name, Wyoming is firmly rooted in the Mid-Atlantic. In 1856, "Camden Station" or "West Camden" was renamed Wyoming to honor the Rev. John J. Pierce, a pastor who helped plan and later led a church in the town. Pierce was originally from the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyoming later grew into an agricultural center, notably for cultivating apples and peaches. Today, the town hosts an annual Peach Festival, held downtown on the aptly named Railroad Avenue. Shhhhh! Keep it down: WorldAtlas names the 8 quietest towns in Delaware Pot-Nets: A nod to coastal traditions Rounding out Delaware's collection of distinctive place names is Pot-Nets. The unusual moniker comes from the pots and nets used to catch crabs and other shellfish in Indian River Bay. Today, the area is a waterfront community offering scenic views of the bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Visitors can enjoy boating, crabbing, and scenic strolls along Pot-Nets Point, a popular local spot also known as Lingos Point. You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Exploring Delaware towns with unique and historical names Delaware homeowners are feeling the pinch of soaring energy bills, with the states electricity costs ranking among the highest in the country. After a winter of steep price hikes sparked heated debates over the causes, residents are seeking solutions to curb their expenses. Google Trends data reveals a 366% surge in nationwide searches for how to lower electric bills a clear sign energy-saving strategies are top of mind. Energy experts at Delmarva Power and the U.S. Department of Energy have shared practical, effective tips to help Delawareans cut costs and keep their homes comfortable, even as temperatures rise. Sen. Stephanie Hansen, a Middletown Democrat and the chair of the Senate Environment, Energy and Transportation Committee, speaks at a hearing Feb. 14, 2025, at Legislative Hall about the spike in Delmarva Power bills many customers are facing this winter. At left is Sen. Russ Huxtable, a Lewes Democrat. 8 energy-saving tips to lower your home's electric bills If you're looking to save money on your electric bills, here are some key strategies from energy experts to help you manage rising costs: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1. Run appliances at night: Using heat-generating appliances, such as dishwashers, dryers, and ovens, during the hottest part of the day makes your AC work harder. Instead, run these appliances at night or during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower. 2. Add houseplants for natural cooling: Indoor plants do more than brighten up a space they also help reduce humidity. By absorbing excess moisture, houseplants can naturally lower the temperature, decreasing the need for AC use. 3. Install blackout curtains: Blocking out sunlight with blackout curtains is a simple yet effective way to keep indoor temperatures down. Keeping them closed during the day prevents heat from entering your home, reducing your cooling needs. More: Drone roof inspections can't trigger insurance cancellation, Delaware commissioner rules Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. Use a dehumidifier: Humid air makes it harder for your body to cool down, forcing your AC to work overtime. Running a dehumidifier can reduce humidity levels and lower your homes temperature, making it feel cooler with less energy usage. 5. Seal drafts and insulate properly: Small gaps around windows and doors allow hot air to seep in. Use weather stripping and caulk to seal leaks, and make sure your attic is well-insulated and ventilated. This helps keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. 6. Monitor energy use with a power meter: A power-consumption meter can reveal which appliances are draining the most energy. By identifying and unplugging energy hogs, you can reduce waste and trim your electric bill. 7. Lower water heater temperature: Water heaters account for a significant portion of household energy costs. Lowering the temperature from 140F to 130F can save money without sacrificing comfort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8. Upgrade to smart lighting: Automated or motion-sensor lighting can reduce unnecessary energy use. Smart lighting systems adjust brightness based on natural light levels and turn off when rooms are unoccupied, leading to long-term savings. How to get a free home energy checkup In a move to support energy conservation, Energize Delaware has expanded its Home Energy Checkup and Counseling program to all Delaware residents, removing previous income restrictions. The program provides: Free one-hour home energy assessments Installation of energy-saving products Expert guidance on reducing energy consumption In addition to the consultation, residents can receive assistance with installing LED lighting, efficient showerheads, door sweeps, furnace filters, smart power strips and other energy-saving devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information or to schedule a free Home Energy Checkup, visit Energize Delawares website. You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 8 expert-approved ways to lower your electric bill ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Its March, and that means were halfway to the New Mexico State Fair returning to Albuquerque. To celebrate, the Expo New Mexico Flea Market brought in some vendors to give people an early taste of the fun. Vendors lined the state fairgrounds, giving people a sneak peek at some of the things expected to be seen at this years state fair, including food, boots, and games. While its possible the fair could eventually move from the Expo New Mexico grounds, for now, people say its good to get excited for this years fair. Public backlash as officials hold meeting on future of Expo New Mexico Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it builds the excitement. Were here on the state fairgrounds. Its exciting, the adrenaline is rushing, theres so many people, so many sales, so much food. The food is my favorite thing, personally. But its just amazing because you get to see the community come together as a whole, and when we get to the State Fair, its even more, says New Mexico State Fair Queen, Kaitlyn Maria. The Halfway to Fair Extravaganza will wrap up Sunday at Expo New Mexico. It goes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Mar. 30I pulled onto a gravel road just before 7 a.m., making my way to the shore of one of Freezout Lake's many nearby ponds. Just south of Choteau, the area sits among north central Montana's rolling hills and Great Plains. Just as the first glimpse of sunlight seeped through a cloudy sky, and just as I stepped out of my car, a deep, loud echo drumming noise took me off guard. I looked to the right and saw what appeared to be a mist of white lift off the lake. It moved right, it moved left, dancing through the sky with ease and coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of snow geese were making their way from the lake to the Arctic, an annual event that draws visitors and bird watchers from near and far. Five friends and I made our way a bit closer to the action. The geese began making their way to the plains, flying above us in perfect order. It seemed like it could never end. We sat for an hour, watching the birds soar through the sky in synchronicity, before leaving the lake until later in the morning when we returned to watch again. LOCATED JUST north of Fairfield on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountain Front, the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area at 12,000 acres has become a hot spot for waterfowl hunting and bird watching. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area is a "waterfowler's heaven and a birdwatcher's delight," according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Approximately 230 species of birds have been documented in the area, including shorebirds, raptors and other non-game birds, but waterfowl are what the area is known for. The reason I went to Choteau, and one of the biggest highlights Freezout Lake has to offer, is the spring waterfowl migration, when tens of thousands of birds stop to feed in surrounding fields enroute to their Arctic nesting grounds after spending the winter in California. Snow geese numbers usually peak at the end of March, with other migrating birds traveling through both before and after. The geese, while at Freezout Lake, feed twice a day in the surrounding fields. They leave the lake at sunrise and return in the late morning to rest until dinner time. The routine is repeated daily, and an average goose spends four days at Freezout Lake, the state agency says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just the magnificence of all these birds being there at the same place," said Bob Lee with the Flathead Audubon Society. "They're just another interesting life form in this world." Lee leads a trip to Freezout Lake for the Flathead Audubon every year. The number of birds, weather and visibility varies each year, Lee said, reminiscing on a year where his group stood watching during a blizzard. This year, Lee and three other birders traveled to Freezout Lake on a Sunday night to watch the birds Monday morning. Of course it was spectacular, Lee said, but he observed a lower number of birds than usual. "This is a pretty warm winter, so I think maybe the geese are a little more strung out in their migration," Lee said. "They're not pushing as hard, but otherwise I think it was a pretty good year. We saw plenty of geese flying in as we were leaving on Monday." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brent Lonner, a wildlife biologist at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said that water levels at Freezout Lake have been lower this year, leading to a different trend in the bird's migration. He specifically sited swans, saying that many are choosing to skip over Freezout Lake for better conditions in Southern Canada. "We've had a slow migration this year," Lonner said. "We've been slow, had below average numbers throughout this entire migration. But now we're starting to build." The average amount of geese on a peak migration day is around 50,000 birds on the lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lonner recalled one spring around 20 years ago, when approximately 300,000 birds were on the lake in one day. He attributed the phenomenon to bad weather father north, keeping the birds at Freezout. Five years ago, in similar circumstances, the lake pushed to 200,000 birds. As of Thursday, that number peaked at 40,000, according to Lonner, who expects the end of March to maintain good numbers after a slow start. "What I'm telling folks if you think of making a trip out to Freezout, the sooner the better," he said. Dan Casey led the trip to Freezout for the Flathead Audubon from the 1980s to 2015. He was there to witness the flock of 300,000, which Casey says may have actually been as large as half a million birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's one thing to see individual birds, but to see the entirety of these flocks in action is incredible," Casey said. "Even in a low year, that's still more birds than most people see in a flock." An estimated 30,500 geese were at the lake the morning of March 22, when I visited. To the naked eye, it was nearly impossible to attempt to count the birds as they sailed throughout the area, but it was the most birds I have ever seen at once. While we were in Choteau, we were able to attend the Wild Wings Festival, an event put on to celebrate the peak of the migration. With numerous educational booths and raffle options, people from across the state gathered to learn more about the famous geese and visit the famous lake. "It's just a happy time for a lot of people, it kind of symbolizes the fact that spring is on the way," Casey said, reflecting on his decades of watching the migration. "Waterfowl are one of the first things that happen in the spring and the spectacle of the snow geese is moving." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Mary, the kind Airbnb owner who shared her house with us the night prior, said, we were lucky enough to watch "the magic flight." Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com. Snow geese fly above Freezout Lake in Choteau, Montana during their yearly migration north. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Leah Guttman, a Whitefish resident, holds a snow geese feather at Freezout Lake during the migration. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Bobby Oshaben, a Whitefish resident and artist, paints a plein air piece as snow geese take off from Freezout Lake on March 22, 2025. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moon hides behind clouds during sunrise at Freezout Lake. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Thousands of snow geese fly above Freezout Lake in Choteau, Montana, during their yearly migration north. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Thousands of snow geese fly above Freezout Lake in Choteau, Montana, during their yearly migration north. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Birds rest on the water at Freezout Lake. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Two Canada geese fly near Freezout Lake during the snow goose migration. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake) Tundra swans glide across the skies at dusk. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tundra swans and ducks gather in one of the ponds with Priest Butte in the background. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News) Tundra swans, snow geese and a variety of ducks gather in one of the ponds at the Freezout Wildlife Management Area. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News) Snow geese take off from a pond in the gray light of dawn at Freezout Lake. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News) A flock of snow geese glides in at dusk with the Rocky Mountain Front in the background at Freezout Lake. (Chris Peterson/Hungry Horse News) Mar. 29Phyllis Marie Ramsey Phyllis Burton was born on January 2, 1923, in a small town in the midst of a farming region in south-central Washington State, by the name of Sunnyside. Down the road about six miles there was another farming town by the name of Grandview. A three-year-old boy lived there by the name of Milton Herman Ramsey, and they would build a long and beautiful life together. They dated during high school and eloped on August 8, 1942. Phyllis was a war bride and Milton was soon off to Europe as a fighter pilot. On January 29, 1944, he was shot down over France. For five months, Phyllis didn't know if her husband was dead or alive. That five months felt like another lifetime, but Phyllis kept hope and stayed brave. Then a letter arrived, and Milton was on his way home. He had a short leave in California, so they danced to big-band music in a dance hall on the beach in Santa Monica. After the war, they decided to have a family. Milton joined the Air Force and Phyllis became a mother. First Tom (1949), then Mike (1953), and finally Marikay (1954). No matter what life had in store for her, Phyllis embraced it. Like the time when Milton came home from work when they lived in Boise, Idaho and announced that the family was being stationed in Hawaii. She learned to hula and was on local TV. Different locales, different cultures, different languages, different people, Phyllis saw that the whole family got through it together. From adapting to scorpions in Hawaii to scorpions in Morocco. From trying to learn Arabic to learning Spanish in Spain. There were adventures around every corner and there was always Mom to see to it that her children were taken care of and brought up proper. She had her way of doing things and taught her values her way. From doing laundry on Mondays to brushing teeth, making the bed, and folding the towels with the seams on the inside. And for Phyllis there was always Milton. They took care of each other and loved one another. He retired from Sandia Air Force Base and went to work for Sears. Phyllis got a job as a doctor's receptionist. They quit smoking together. After some years they decided to return to Washington State for retirement. They bought a nice home and stayed there until they needed assistance to be safe. Marikay took them under her wing and they returned to NM. The last years were good to them. They celebrated 75 years of marriage in 2017. Milton died in 2018 and Phyllis always missed him. She went to be with him and the Lord on February 28, 2025. She leaves behind her children Marikay, Mike and Tom, and two special grandchildren, Wesley Ryan Ramsey and Sean Reilly Ramsey. 102 years is a blessing! As she was a blessing to others. A life well lived, in the arms of God with her husband by her side she rests for all time. Phyllis is gone but her spirit will always be with us. Everyone is doing a double-take because this tiny Pekingese puppy is so fluffy and round that at first glance, you might mistake her for a guinea pig! With her golden and black fur puffing out in all directions and her little button nose peeking through, it's hard to tell at first glance. All we know is this pint-sized Pekingese pup is an overload of cuteness in the best possible way. Everything about this precious Pekingese pup is too cute for words. Her adorable fur coloring, her cute little face, her precious little tail waggle. She's just everything. In the video uploaded to the TikTok account for @Biggiwigspekingese, everyone agrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person commented, "Oh my gosh, the preciousness almost knocked me out of my chair." SIGN UP to get pawsitivity delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends Another person replied, "What a stunning little floof!" Related: Rare Persian Kitten Who Looks Like a Werewolf Is So Cute People Can't Take It As adorable as Pekingese puppies are, compared to dogs or cats, guinea pigs require less space and care. Just a clean cage, fresh food, and daily cuddles keep them happy. Shutterstock - Lost_in_the_Midwest Guinea pigs are also super affectionate and love interacting with their humans. If you handle them gently and frequently, they will even grow to recognize you! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are adopting one for a younger child, make sure you teach them how to handle their new pet with care and how to never drop them. Guinea pigs can startle easily, so make sure that they are never too loud around their new fur baby. Another reason guinea pigs make great pets? They aren't destructive, so they won't destroy your house! They are much less likely to chew furniture, and you never have to worry about them tearing up your carpet. It goes along with the reason why they don't bite. Now, you just have to decide which is cuter. A guinea pig or a Pekingese puppy! That's a near impossible decision to make! Mechanics want you to stop making these avoidable mistakes with your car. Maskot via Getty Images Your car can be one of the most expensive and important investments youll ever make, but many of us dont give our vehicles the kind of maintenance attention they need. Mechanics and technicians would know: As the doctors of cars, they see it all. My job is to give you an overall state of health of your car, so you can make educated decisions on what to do with it, and to alert you to things that you may not know about, and that you wont necessarily recognize or see, said Bogi Lateiner, a Phoenix-based master automotive technician and the owner of Girl Gang Garage, a network that provides hands-on training for women in the trades. Too often, technicians say, we are making maintenance decisions or failing to do so in ways that create potential safety hazards and can lead to costly mistakes. We spoke with car repair experts about their own big wonts as lessons for us all: 1. I wont neglect car maintenance. "I equate oil changes to brushing of teeth," master automotive technician Bogi Lateiner said. "'Can you get away with only brushing your teeth once a month?' You'll survive, but you're going to lose your teeth and you're going to lose your friends." Elena Popova via Getty Images Of all the mistakes she sees, Lateiner told HuffPost this is the most common. They think, Its not a big deal. And they can deal with it later, she said. In reality, preventative maintenance is going to be always less expensive than the repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lateiner said she would never ignore regular oil changes, for example. Oil is the lifeblood of your car, she explained. Its job is to keep your engine cool and lubricated. When the engine oil starts to get thick, or it breaks down, when the additives in [the oil] stop doing what theyre supposed to do... the engine can break prematurely and deteriorate in either minor or massive catastrophic ways, she said. So keeping fresh oil in there is really just crucial. Lateiner recommends changing the oil about twice as often as the 15,000-mile intervals that car manufacturers typically recommend. I cut those oil change intervals in half most of the time, she said. The longest I would go is 8,000 miles on a full synthetic oil change on a European car with high-quality oil. 2. I wont rely solely on car maintenance reminders. Speaking of oil changes, Robin Reneau, owner and lead technician of Georgia Auto Solutions in Conyers, Georgia, said she would never rely on the oil change reminder sticker to determine when her oil should actually get changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You might not always drive the same amount of miles within the recommended oil change interval, leading to either premature or overdue oil changes, Reneau told HuffPost. Variability in driving conditions also can make these generic reminders unreliable. Factors such as frequent short trips, towing or driving in extreme temperatures can accelerate oil degradation, requiring more frequent changes than indicated on the sticker, Reneau said. Over time, engine wear can affect oil performance differently, necessitating changes sooner than anticipated. Instead, Reneau said she checks her cars oil level and condition to track her oil consumption and determine when she should change it. 3. I wont use aftermarket car parts. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts are specifically designed by the car manufacturer for your vehicle, while aftermarket parts are produced by other companies and are typically cheaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grace Claudio, a New York-based master automotive technician for BMW Manhattan, told HuffPost you should avoid using aftermarket parts because they end up costing you in the long run. Claudio gave the example of an aftermarket battery that the car does not register, so the car still thinks it has a faulty battery and will not operate correctly as a result. Ive had it where things come apart, and it makes it worse than it already was, Claudio said. And then its more of an expensive repair. 4. I wont use coolants or fuels that are different than what my manufacturer recommends. Cars are programmed to work with certain types of fluids, and Lateiner said car owners should always stick to the ones the manufacturer advises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That goes for your coolant, your oil, the type of fuel that you use, she said. So if your car is asking for 91-octane [gas], you have to use 91-octane. When a car owner uses fuels that are different than what the vehicle was designed for, it leads to bigger repair issues. Lateiner said shes seen European cars with weird symptoms that disappeared once theyd gotten their oil changed to the proper one. 5. I wont buy any over-the-counter product that promises to stop a leak. Lateiner warned against using products that promise to stop leaks in engine oil, coolant, power steering fluid and flat tires. Its a Band-Aid. It is a temporary solution at best, and very, very often, it winds up causing more damage than good, Lateiner said. The ones for tires will make an absolute mess of your rim, and the person doing your tire change is going to hate you. 6. I wont change my cars exterior without considering the climate where I live. Some people like to do car wrapping on their vehicles, where cars get covered in a special vinyl film as a way for owners to change up the look without using paint. But Cheyenne Ruether, a Las Vegas-based master auto body technician, said she prefers painting over wrapping a vehicle, especially in sunny states such as Nevada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the UV rays here are so extreme... they often cause cracking or delaminating relatively quickly, Ruether said. And they are a huge pain to remove. 7. I wont layer a rubber floor mat that does not fit on my drivers side. Claudio said she sees a lot of customers who will layer a rubber floor mat on top of the regular carpet floor mat on the drivers side to keep their car clean. The problem is that too often, these rubber floor mats are not fitted properly and cause a safety hazard. The floor mat on the drivers side will get stuck on the accelerator and then you cant stop the car, or it will get stuck behind the brake and then its hard for you to brake the car, she noted. Instead, Claudio recommends taking out the carpet floor mat and picking a floor mat that fits correctly around the accelerator and brake pedal. 8. I would never ignore a cars warning light. A car's warning light can be the last alert you get before things reach a point where a bigger repair is needed. matsou via Getty Images Our cars today especially are designed to self-correct a lot of things, Lateiner said. When the cars can no longer self-adjust for issues, the internal codes will turn on a warning light to alert the driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the only way the car has of telling us that something is wrong, before it gets so wrong that youre on the side of the road, Lateiner said. Listen to your car, because it is trying to talk to you. If you see a warning light, you should look up what it means in your owners manual, Lateiner explained, because some lights could indicate issues you can address on your own. Depending on the problem, you can also ask your local car shop about what they recommend doing next. If youre financially not in a position to do a real fix, you can say, Im not in a position to fix this right now. I really just need to know, is this safe to continue driving? How much time do I have? Lateiner said. Its always better to know than to not know. 9. I wont replace tires with used car tires. Claudio said clients can make the mistake of replacing old tires with used tires. Shes seen used-tire sellers give customers a tire thats not the correct size, or one with a bubble in the sidewall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of times they put a tire on there thats pretty bad, Claudio said. She said to watch out for tires that look like they are cracking, or that have worn tread on the inner and outer parts. Even if your used tire looks normal, its age could pose a hazard. Tire manufacturers like Michelin recommend replacing tires no later than 10 years after their date of manufacture. Many car manufacturers also recommend replacing a tire at least every six years, regardless of condition. To check a tires age, look at the four-digit Tire Identification Number on the sidewall. The second two digits indicate the year the tire was made, and the first two digits indicate the week. (A TIN of 0719, for example, would mean the tire was made during the seventh week of 2019.) 10. I wont lie to a car mechanic about the issue Im having. Its the job of car technicians and mechanics to diagnose whats wrong with your vehicle, so dont make their job harder by fibbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We get it all the time ... I dont know what happened. It just suddenly started making this weird noise, Lateiner said. And then we look at it like, Clearly youve been off-roading with your very low-profile car. The more accurate information you can give us, the quicker we can get to the actual problem, because youre not sending us on a wild-goose chase, she continued. To give more helpful details, Lateiner recommends keeping track of when you hear the weird noise. If youre having trouble describing the sound, Lateiner recommends taking an audio or video recording that you can show your technician, or taking someone on a test drive with you so they can hear it too. Ultimately, maintaining a car properly can involve upfront costs and extra research, but it should save you headaches in the long run. Related... WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) One person was taken into custody following a Sunday morning standoff in Wyoming. Around 5:30 a.m., officers with the Wyoming Police Department were sent to the area of 30th Street and Byron Center for a domestic situation. The police department said a standoff followed, and the Wyoming Tactical Arrest and Confrontation Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was eventually taken into custody without incident. There is no danger to the public, the police department said. The case remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) A deadly shooting on the Bradenton Riverwalk left one person dead and two others injured Sunday morning. According to the Bradenton Police Department, shots were fired at Rossi Park, located on the riverwalk, just after 4 a.m. 16-year-old boy accused of killing teen girl with edged weapon near Cypress Lake Preserve Officers found three victims with gunshot wounds, who were transported to nearby hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One victim died from their injuries, while the remaining two individuals are continuing to receive treatment. Bradenton Police Department Bradenton Police Department Bradenton Police Department Bradenton Police Department Bradenton police have two suspects in custody, confirming that at least two individuals fired shots. This remains an active investigation. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) A man suffered life-threatening injuries from a shooting in Birminghams Lakeview district early Sunday morning. According to officer Truman Fitzgerald with the Birmingham Police Department, the shooting occurred around 1:50 a.m. at 28th Street S and Seventh Avenue S. Fitzgerald stated the shooting appears to have stemmed from an argument between two men over a possible traffic crash. Apartment complex in Center Point area damaged in fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one is in custody in connection to the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) For years, Catholic Community Services of Utah (CCS) has been providing legal support for hundreds of unaccompanied minor children. These children had escaped dangerous situations in their home country, including abuse or trafficking. CCSs Refugee services guided these children through the muck and mire of immigration court so that the children could stay in the country. However, with the Trump administrations recent announcement to slash funding for the legal representation of immigrant children, the CCS is worried that 126 children that they oversee are now going to stand alone in the courtroom. LEARN MORE: Trump administration cuts legal help for migrant children traveling alone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the children that we work with are as young as five or six, said Virginia Maynes, senior immigration attorney in CCSs unaccompanied minors program. She said these kids were alone when they came to the U.S. Some of their parents had passed away, and some had abusive parents. Maynes added: Some of them have wonderful parents, quite frankly, who have made the incredibly difficult, heart-wrenching decision to send their children to safety. However, the one journey that Maynes hopes these children wont have to face alone is the complex immigration process. With legal representation, the children are seven times more likely to be granted protection to remain, Maynes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the child loses in court, they risk getting sent back to the potentially dangerous situations that they had narrowly escaped from and may once again have to live under the threat of abuse or exploitation. Without legal support, the children would have to explain in front of the court why they need to stay in the U.S. while the government attorney argues against their case. It puts a completely unfair burden on the child, Maynes said. Maynes said that the biggest joy that she feels during her job is when she sees relief on a childs face as they learn that theyre granted to stay in the country: Seeing that relief is palpable. And it makes me smile honestly. But the smile on her face dimmed as she transitioned from remembering the past to worrying about the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain hopeful that this funding will be restored, Maynes said. However, as she knows that the reality may not catch up to her hopes, shes asking for donations and additional funding toward the CCS. Those funds would help the organization continue its work to conserve the kids childhoods. Theyre trying to come to the United States so that they can find safety and security and the ability to have a childhood, Maynes said. To learn more about CCS, check out their website at ccsutah.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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) One person was airlifted after a serious single-vehicle crash involving four juveniles in Clark County on Saturday. According to the Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened on East Pitchin Road near South Pitchin Road, Green Township, at approximately 3:35 p.m. Officials said all the juveniles in the crash were all under 16. The initial investigation found a vehicle driven by one juvenile with three passengers was heading west on East Pitchin Road. The driver lost control while passing the centerline into the westbound lane, crashed into a fence and hit the tree line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center for minor injuries. One passenger was taken to Kettering Health Medical Center for minor injuries. A second passenger was treated on the scene and released to their guardian. The third was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital. The crash is under active investigation. 2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) A teenager has died after a crash on Union Cross Road in Forsyth County on Thursday, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Troopers responded to the crash at about 4:08 p.m. Thursday. According to Highway Patrol, Armando Medel Ortiz, 17, of Winston-Salem, was driving west on Union Cross Road when he crossed the center line, ran off the left side of the road and hit a tree head-on. He died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools confirmed that Ortiz was a student at Glenn High School. We were deeply saddened to hear a WS/FCS student passed away, WS/FCS said in a statement. Our counselors with the Student Services team were at Glenn High School all day Friday supporting students. We ask the community to keep our student, their family, and the entire Glenn High student body in their thoughts and prayers. Highway Patrol says Ortiz was properly restrained at the time of the crash. Investigators believe that excessive speed for the condition at the time contributed to the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Industry associations alleged their member buildings will have to replace products and appliances that exceed federal standards in order to comply with the state and local programs Two people were charged with crimes Friday after a vehicle fled from police during a traffic stop attempt in Manchester, leading to a pursuit and manhunt in Londonderry, officials said Friday night. Daniel Beauregard, 43, of Exeter Daniel Beauregard Joseph Anderson, 40, of Manchester Joseph Anderson The incident began around 9:10 a.m. when a state trooper attempted to stop a silver Chevrolet Impala for traffic violations on Interstate 293 southbound near Exit 1, New Hampshire State Police said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver ignored commands and continued driving, leading authorities on a chase onto Interstate 93 before exiting at Exit 5 in Londonderry, police said. Troopers reportedly ended the pursuit due to the drivers erratic behavior and public safety concerns. A silver Chevy Impala was later found abandoned near power lines along Route 28 in Londonderry. A police K-9 unit tracked two suspects who surrendered to Derry police officers Daniel Beauregard, 43, of Exeter, and a 38-year-old woman, police said. With help from witnesses and Londonderry police, troopers located a third suspect, Joseph Anderson, 40, of Manchester, in a swampy area after spotting him with a drone. Investigators allege Daniel Beauregard was driving the Impala. He was charged with reckless conduct by use of a deadly weapon, operating a motor vehicle after being certified as a habitual offender, disobeying a police officer, and resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson, who had an outstanding parole violation warrant, was charged with resisting arrest. He sustained minor injuries during the incident and was treated at a local hospital. Both men were being held at Hillsborough County jail pending arraignment Monday in Manchester District Court, police said. The woman was released without charges. Police asked anyone with information on the incident to contact Trooper Edward Perciballi at 603-223-6172. Seattle, Washington (AP) Two people were killed and four others injured during an early morning shooting at a house party in Tacoma, Washington, authorities said Saturday. The Pierce County Sheriffs Department, in a statement on social media, said one male juvenile was in custody. They did not provide his age. Shortly before 12:30 a.m., deputies were notified of 30 to 40 young people running and screaming from a house party, with several callers reporting a fight had broken out in the street. Before deputies arrived, shots were fired, and people and vehicles fled. Vehicles were getting stuck in the neighborhood while chaos embodied the entire street, the statement says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies attempted lifesaving measures on one male at the site, but he died, the statement said. Five others went to local hospitals on their own. The department said it later learned another male had died of injuries at a hospital. The remaining four had serious injuries but were expected to recover, according to the statement. Those who were shot ranged in age from 16 to 21. Nearby homes and vehicles were damaged by the gunfire, the department said. Authorities did welfare checks at nearby homes and found no one else injured. They said two weapons were found. Tacoma is about 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Seattle. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump lashed out at both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, expressing frustration with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders as he struggles to forge a truce to end the war. Although Trump insisted to reporters that were making a lot of progress, he acknowledged that theres tremendous hatred between the two men, a fresh indication that negotiations may not produce the swift conclusion that he promised during the campaign. Trump began voicing his criticisms in an early morning interview with NBC News while he was at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida. He said he was angry, pissed off that Putin questioned Zelenskyys credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian leader recently said that Zelenskyy lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal and suggested that Ukraine needed external governance. Trump said he would consider adding new sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. The Republican president rarely criticizes Putin, and hes previously attacked Zelenskyys credibility himself. For example, Trump has suggested that Ukraine caused the war that began with a Russian invasion three years ago, and hes insisted that Zelenskyy should hold elections even though its illegal under Ukraines constitution to do so during martial law. On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump reiterated his annoyance toward Putin but somewhat softened his tone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think hes going to go back on his word, he said. Ive known him for a long time. Weve always gotten along well. Asked when he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump said there was a psychological deadline. If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it, he said. Trump soon pivoted to criticize Zelenskyy. Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Trump said, referring to negotiations over U.S. access to critical minerals in Ukraine. And if he does that hes got some problems. Big, big problems. Trump and Zelenskyy were supposed to sign the deal when the Ukrainian leader visited the White House. However, their meeting ended with acrimony that played out in front of television cameras in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump suggested on Sunday that Zelenskyy wanted to renegotiate the deal to get better security guarantees. He wants to be a member of NATO, he said. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that. The U.S. has been pushing for a comprehensive ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine to peacefully end their 3-year-old war. Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting, and the feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea was thrown into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Trumps comments on Putin come after weeks of intense pressure on Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian drones hit Ukraine's 2nd largest city Kharkiv Meanwhile, Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping center and apartment blocks in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens. Ukraines General Staff denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital late Saturday. Among the casualties were service members who were undergoing treatment, it said. Regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said those killed were a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximize pressure on Kyiv and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's air force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Zelenskyy said Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine came under Russian attack. Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. Zelenskyy also repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war," echoing comments he made Thursday in Paris that Russia is prolonging ceasefire talks "just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Russias Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said its air defense systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. It also claimed Sunday that its troops had taken control of a village in Ukraines partly occupied Donetsk region. The Russian claim could not be independently verified, and Ukraine did not comment. ___ With reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) If you have information about cattle theft in rural areas, you may get a $20,000 reward if your tip leads to an arrest. The Duchesne County Sheriffs Office said the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is offering the reward, which will be given for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of people individuals involved in crimes against livestock. The sheriffs office said calving season in Utah typically means there is an increase in cattle theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Amur tigers share enclosure at Hogle Zoo for first time as keepers look to breed them Were asking the public to be vigilant and keep your eyes open for any suspicious activity in rural areas and report anything unusual, the sheriffs office said. Cattle theft is a serious crime that directly impacts our local farmers and ranchers. Your help could make all the difference in bringing those responsible to justice. Anyone with information about potential livestock crimes has been asked to call the sheriffs office immediately. The sheriffs office can be reached at 435-738-2015, or Central Dispatch can be reached at 435-738-2424. Alternatively, tips can be emailed to sheriff@duchesne.utah.gov. Courtesy: Duchesne County Sheriffs Office ABC4.com has reached out to the UDAF to learn more about the reward but has not yet heard back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no further information at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A 21-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly pointed a gun at a woman who honked at him. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On March 20, around 9:45 a.m., a 48-year-old woman was exiting a CVS parking lot SOM Center and Aurora Roads in Solon, Ohio, when she was almost struck by a sedan whose driver was on the phone, CBS affiliate WOIO-19 reported. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman told police that she honked at the driver, identified as 21-year-old Edward Kirk of Garfield Heights, who allegedly exited his car, pointed a loaded gun at her and threatened to shoot her before driving away. She then called the police, and officers caught up to Kirk on SOM Center Road near US 422, WOIO-19 reported. The loaded gun was found inside his car, according to police. Kirk told police that he grabbed his gun because he was afraid he was in a road rage situation. He is charged with aggravated menacing, WOIO-19 reported. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)First responders are essential to public safety in every community, but cities and towns across the country are seeing a shortage of people seeking careers in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency medical services. U.S. Air Force Academy Band to perform at Springfield Symphony Hall This week on 22News InFocus, well be talking with representatives from a local police and fire department and a regional ambulance service to find out whats being done to recruit more people into those careers here in western Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch 22News InFocus Sunday at noon. If you miss any of the program, you can find it here on our 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) PCBPD is investigating a shooting that left 3 people injured on Saturday. At around 9:19 p.m., shots were fired in Pier Park, in the area of Dave and Busters. At the time, there were several dozen police officers within 15 to 20 feet of the area, patrolling crowds. Authorities quickly discovered three victims with gunshot wounds. They were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City Beach Police Chief JR Talamantez confirmed the situation as an ongoing attempted murder investigation. Talamantez said the incident involved two large groups of people but could not give a possible motive for the shooting. He also confirmed they have four persons of interest in custody. He could not say whether the people in custody were the shooters or shooter. The shooting comes after a week of police trying to control crowds of spring breakers. Talamantez said that while officers are working around the clock to patrol the high traffic areas, they have been met with pushback. I can confirm that our officers were working, have been working diligently all week to try to maintain order in Panama City Beach, with a crowd that just does not listen to authority, Talamantez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCBPD is urging anyone with videos, photos, or information to contact the police department. The investigation into the shooting 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 mypanhandle.com. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) People gathered in Hartford for 90s Con filled with nostalgia and notable stars on Saturday. Visitors to the Connecticut Convention Center got to experience the iconic Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, Nickelodeon Slime machine and they could experience the 90s on a throwback television set. Hartford HealthCare celebrating Hartford Hospitals first female neurosurgeon Some 90s stars made an appearance as well, including actress Brittany Daniel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its kind of wild to think but I guess yeah I was in Sweet Valley High which was pretty iconic I guess for the 90s and Swans Crossing but a lot of people are coming up to me for White Chicks and Joe Dirt so its kind of fun, said Daniel Its not just 90s fans here. 90s Cons last day in Hartford is Sunday, doors open 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. Well, America, who you gonna believe? The Trump administration officials who royally screwed up with their Signal group chat about combat plans, or your lyin eyes? There was no classified information as I understand it, said President Trump on Tuesday, a day after the Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg reported that hed been accidentally added to a group chat on the messaging app Signal in which the countrys top national security officials were blabbing about imminent plans to drop bombs on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can attest to the fact that there were not classified or intelligence equities that were included in that chat group at any time, the dictator-curious Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified in a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting hearing. Nobodys texting war plans, insisted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reporters in Hawaii on Wednesday. And yet, as Goldberg reported, Hegseth described airstrikes that would be carried out by Navy F-18s based on an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, and drone attacks launched from the Middle East. Giving an exact time, he wrote, This is when the first bombs will definitely drop. Sounds like classified or intelligence equities to me. Among the lineup for the rest of chat group: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security advisor Mike Waltz, who has taken responsibility for somehow including Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration, with its irrational destruction of critical services and institutions, with its incompetence and willful ignorance, is playing Jenga with our lives and American democracy. Remove a few more pieces of what holds this country together the social safety net, the ability of our courts to protect us from tyrannical overreach, the facts about current events and U.S. history and its all going to come crashing down. Maybe it already has. I know exactly what Im doing, said Hegseth, the Fox News weekend host elevated by the president to one of the most important jobs in the world because, it's been suggested, he looks good on TV. In the short time the former National Guard infantryman has been the face of the mighty United States military, he has consistently shown he does not, in fact, know what he is doing. During his first appearance on the world stage in Brussels, Hegseth foolishly ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine and suggested its borders could never be restored to what they were before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. What a negotiator! He threw away Ukraines leverage before peace talks had even begun. He made a rookie mistake, said Republican Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, who compared Hegseth's comments to something that could have been written by Tucker Carlson and Carlson is a fool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In any case, since when does the person in charge of the American military its 2.8 million people, its 750 bases in 80 countries, its $850-billion budget get to enjoy a learning curve? "Mr. Hegseth's lastest mistake could have led to catastrophic consequences," said the New York Times in a news story about the Defense secretary's constant missteps. In disclosing the aircraft, targets and timing for hitting Houthi militia sites in Yemen, Mr. Hegseth risked the lives of American war fighters. Arguing, as Trump and his allies have, that the information was not classified therefore no laws were broken is simply specious. It was sensitive information, not classified, and inadvertently released, Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi told reporters Thursday, appearing to rule out any sort of criminal investigation. And yet, the Espionage Act makes it a crime to handle national security secrets with such gross negligence that they fall into the hands of an unauthorized person, as the Signal chat did. It was also set to disappear after a set period of time, a violation of the federal law that requires all official communications to be archived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now, said Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee during a hearing 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. If the government officials in charge of keeping us safe dont think details of an upcoming bombing mission should be held as tightly as possible and not splashed around an app that is vulnerable to enemy hackers, they have no business keeping their jobs. If this arrogant group had an ounce of integrity or humility, someone and it ought to be Hegseth would resign. At the very least, he should apologize for this colossal screw up and plead for forgiveness from the Americans he put in harms way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social Threads: @rabcarian 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. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scandal involving the state's most prolific and revered DNA analyst, Yvonne Woods, has led to the discovery of irregularities in procedures and manipulated or deleted data in over 1,000 past criminal cases. Despite the scandal breaking nearly 17 months ago, the true scope of the crisis remains mostly unknown, unclear or hidden. Critics allege it is intentional as those with potentially conflicting interests including the state's attorney general whose office represents CBI appear to be trying to limit the damage by finding ways to edit, delay, or outright block the release of needed information. Absolutely devastated: North Carolina daycare teacher accused of choking child A daycare worker at First Assembly Christian School in Monroe, North Carolina, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a young child. The incident reportedly took place last month, leading to the arrest of teacher Tiffany Ivey. The arrest followed an investigation by Monroe police after a mother reported that her daughter claimed to have been choked by her teacher on Valentines Day at her daycare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was absolutely devastated. I would have never thought that a teacher could do something like that, the mother said, expressing her shock over the allegations. The mother, who requested anonymity, recounted her daughters conversation with her sister, where she mentioned that her teacher, Ms. Tiffany, had choked her. The mother took action by visiting the daycare to review surveillance footage, which she claims showed the teacher grabbing her daughter and shaking her. According to a police warrant, Tiffany Ivey was charged with misdemeanor assault on a child under 12. The daycare confirmed that Iveys employment was terminated following the incident. The daycare released a statement on Facebook stating that they took appropriate action immediately upon learning of the incident. The state is also conducting an investigation into the matter. Chilling new footage was captured this week of masked government agents abducting another college student. This time, if was Tufts University Ph.D. student and Fulbright scholar from Turkey, Rumeysa Ozturk. While these abductions are blatantly illegal and have been compared to Nazi Germanys Gestapo by two Democratic congressman this week, the Trump administration is promising more are coming. MSNBCs Ayman Mohyeldin discusses the pro-Israel groups like Betar US that are taking credit for Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul asked the state Supreme Court early Sunday to block Elon Musk from paying voters mere hours before his event in Green Bay a move Musk through his attorneys said was an effort to curtail his First Amendment rights. In a filing Sunday, Kaul asked the high court to issue an injunction "as soon as possible but no later than the planned event on Sunday evening." More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This case involves an issue of great public importance that requires urgent and authoritative resolution," Kaul wrote. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul makes remarks at the Wisconsin Democratic Convention on Saturday June 8, 2024 at Potawatomi Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis. The court, which has a liberal majority, not yet indicated whether it would entertain Kauls request before Musk's event, which starts at 6:30 p.m. No location has been announced yet. Attorneys representing Musk said in a filing Sunday that Kaul's efforts "are aimed at restraining Mr. Musk's political speech and curtailing his First Amendment rights." Musk's attorneys, in the motion, called on liberal Supreme Court justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky to recuse from deciding whether to hear the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Critically, Justices Dallet and Karofsky have very publicly assisted Judge Susan Crawford with her campaign for a seat on this Court. Judge Crawford, in turn, has been vocal in criticizing Mr. Musk. Given this backdrop, and to avoid any potential perceptions of bias and manifestations of possible bias, Justices Dallet and Karofsky should decline to participate in consideration of this matter," Musk's attorneys wrote. Kaul, a Democrat, went to the state Supreme Court a day after a Madison-based state appeals court declined to intervene in the Musk event. The appeals panel rejected a motion filed by Kaul late Friday seeking emergency relief after a Columbia County circuit judge rejected hearing Kaul's lawsuit against Musk before Sunday, according to Kaul. Musk initially said he would pay two voters each $1 million. He later backtracked and said the money would go to people who signed a petition to oppose judges who rule against President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, the world's richest person and a close ally of Trump, has poured about $20 million into the race to back conservative Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel through spending from his own coffers and via two outside groups. Schimel has sought to distance himself from Musk's event in recent days. "We have no plans to be there. We have a very aggressive campaign calendar," Schimel told reporters Friday. "I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is." More: Crawford calls Musk's $1 million giveaway 'immoral,' Schimel says he doesn't control the billionaire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberal Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford called Musk's activities "immoral" on Saturday. Kaul's lawsuit sought a restraining order barring Musk "from any further promotion of the million-dollar gifts" to attendees of the planned Sunday event and "from making any payments to Wisconsin electors to vote." In an odd twist, Crawford was initially assigned to oversee the case involving her race but a spokesman said it was a random assignment and that she would recuse. Law Forward, a liberal law firm, and State Democracy Defenders Fund filed an amicus brief Sunday supporting Kaul's filings at the state Supreme Court. The groups represent a "broad coalition of voters" and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk is giving away millions of dollars in an apparent attempt to influence Wisconsin voters, Norm Eisen, the co-founder and executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund, said in a release. It is essential that our laws be followed, even and especially by the richest person in the world. Page 1 of OA Emergency Motion for Injunction Page 1 of OA Emergency Motion for Injunction Contributed to DocumentCloud by Alison Dirr (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) View document or read text Page 1 of OA Emergency Petition for OA Page 1 of OA Emergency Petition for OA Contributed to DocumentCloud by Alison Dirr (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) View document or read text This story was updated to include new information. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AG Kaul asks Supreme Court to block Musk payments hours before event BANGKOK (Reuters) -The toll from Myanmar's earthquake continued to rise on Sunday, as foreign rescue teams and aid rushed into the impoverished country, where hospitals were overwhelmed and some communities scrambled to mount rescue efforts with limited resources. The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, jolted the war-torn Southeast Asian nation on Friday, leaving around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured and over 300 missing as of Sunday, the military government said. The junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the number of fatalities could rise, state media reported, three days after he made a rare call for international assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India, China and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. But residents in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing reported that international aid had not arrived as concerns grew about a severe shortage of food, electricity and water. "The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement. The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations" and said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the Trump administration, is deploying to Myanmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Critical infrastructure - including bridges, highways, airports and railways - across the country of 55 million lie damaged, slowing humanitarian efforts while the conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people and debilitated the health system rages on. The military council has rejected requests from international journalists to cover the devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity and hotels. The U.S. Geological Survey's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could eventually top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'NO AID, NO RESCUE WORKERS' Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including the second-biggest city, Mandalay, and the capital Naypyitaw, were struggling to cope with an influx of injured people, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said late on Saturday. Ashin Pawara, a monk living in Mandalay, said concrete buildings had become unsafe, forcing people to sleep on the streets and open ground. Hospital buildings collapsed in the earthquake, leaving patients lying on the ground without proper beds. "I havent seen anyone receiving international aid, but local self-help groups are donating food, water and snacks," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chinese embassy in Myanmar said a Chinese rescue team freed a woman who had been trapped for about 60 hours inside the Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay. The quake also shook parts of neighbouring Thailand, bringing down an under-construction skyscraper and killing 18 people across the capital, according to Thai authorities. At least 76 people remained trapped under the debris of the collapsed Bangkok building, where rescue operations continued for a third day, using drones and sniffer dogs to hunt for survivors. Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the previous administration, said anti-junta militias under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks from Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The devastation in some areas of upper Myanmar, such as the town of Sagaing near the quake's epicentre, was extensive, said resident Han Zin. "What we are seeing here is widespread destruction - many buildings have collapsed into the ground," he said by phone, adding that much of the town had been without electricity since the disaster hit, and drinking water was running out. "We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight." Sections of a major bridge connecting Sagaing to nearby Mandalay collapsed, satellite imagery showed, with spans of the colonial-era structure submerged in the Irrawaddy River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With bridges destroyed, even aid from Mandalay is struggling to get through," Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw, a political association linked to the NUG, said on Facebook, adding that food and medicine were unavailable. 'CAN YOU HEAR ME CALLING OUT?' In Mandalay, scores of people were feared trapped under collapsed buildings and most could not be reached or pulled out without heavy machinery, two humanitarian workers and two residents said. "My teams in Mandalay are using work gloves, ropes and basic kits to dig and retrieve people," said one of the humanitarian workers. Reuters is not naming them because of security concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are countless trapped and still missing. The death toll is impossible to count at the moment due to the number trapped and unidentified, if alive." A video filmed by a Mandalay resident on Saturday and shared with Reuters showed patients in beds, some attached to drips, on the grounds outside a 500-bed orthopaedic hospital in the city. Public and private healthcare facilities in Mandalay were damaged by the quake, according to the World Health Organization. In Bangkok, at the site of the collapsed 33-storey building, rescuers surrounded by shattered concrete piles and twisted metal continued their efforts to rescue dozens of workers trapped under the rubble. Teerasak Thongmo, a Thai police commander, said his team of policemen and rescue dogs were racing against time to locate survivors, struggling to move around metal debris and sharp edges on an unstable structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our team is trying to find anyone that might still be alive. Within the first 72 hours, we have to try and save those still alive," he said. Near the rescue operations, relatives and friends of the missing and trapped construction workers waited for news. Some broke down. "Ploy, Ploy, Ploy, my daughter, I'm here for you now!" one woman wailed, as she was hugged by two others. "Ploy, can you hear me calling out for you?" (Reporting by Bangkok bureau, Shoon Naing and Wa Lone; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by William Mallard, Alexandra Hudson and Rod Nickel) **Related Video Above: $90 Million in Ohio lottery wins in 2024 AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Police are asking for the publics help in finding a man suspected of stealing lottery tickets from a convenience store in Akron. Akron police said in a Facebook post that the theft took place around 9:30 a.m. on March 16 at the Damak Mini Mart on East Tallmadge Avenue. Arrests made in fatal Halloween party shooting in Summit County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before fleeing on foot, the suspect reportedly took four rolls of tickets, which police valued at $1,500. Police shared the following photos of the felony theft suspect: Photo courtesy Akron police Photo courtesy Akron police Those who may have any information regarding the theft are asked to reach out to detectives at 330-375-2490 or to the tip line at 330-375-2TIP. Summit County Crimestoppers callers can remain anonymous at 330-434-COPS (2677). Akron tax preparers guilty of $1.2M pandemic relief fraud face decades in prison Anyone who may see the suspect is asked to call 911 immediately and not approach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two brothers connected to an Alabama murder were found hiding out less than 10 miles away in Georgia. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On January 25, Phenix City police in Alabama were called to a shooting along Highway 165. Phenix City said they found Hernandis Harmon with multiple gunshot wounds. Harmon later died. Following the investigation, Phenix City police issued capital murder and hindering prosecution warrants for brothers Rufus Alson and Douglas Armour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phenix City officials reached out to the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office to locate the pair. Muscogee County, Ga. is about 14 minutes or 6.7 miles from Phenix City, Ala. TRENDING STORIES: On Friday, the Muscogee County Sheriffs Office conducted two search warrants in East Columbus and South Columbus. Investigators found and arrested Alston and Armour. Officials said Alston had marijuana, along with a Glock, modified to operate in an automatic capacity. Armour was found to have an AK-47 rifle, police said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Alston was charged with the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capital murder Hindering prosecution Unlawful possession of firearms or weapons Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute Armour was charged with the following: Capital murder Hindering prosecution Hit and run Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon The pair was booked into the Muscogee County Jail. The case remains under investigation. Allegheny College now has flashing crosswalk signs operational at the colleges two busiest crosswalks on North Main Street. The flashing crosswalk signs are at the crosswalk at North Main Street and the Brooks Hall Road Gate; and at the crosswalk at North Main and George streets by the Baldwin Hall dormitory. The project to alert drivers traveling North Main Street has been about two years in the making, said Joseph Michael, Allegheny Colleges director of facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are our two busiest crosswalks with students and other pedestrian traffic crossing that area campus, Michael said. There are ADA-accessible push buttons on poles on each side of North Main Street at both crosswalks to activate the flashing warning lights. Those crosswalks are less than 500 feet apart but carry foot traffic between dormitories and classroom buildings and other facilities located on both sides of North Main Street. The project cost the college around $90,000 with Bronder Technical Services of Prospect carrying out the work, Michael said. Mark Weindorf, Allegheny Colleges director of public safety, said the project is welcomed improvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are the two busiest crossings and North Main Street is on a hill, Weindorf said. The different colors and flashing lights will draw attention to motorists. The flashing crosswalk signs are an outgrowth of a 2016 safety improvement study for the North Main Street corridor that runs through Allegheny Colleges campus. A half-mile section of North Main Street from Loomis Street to Allegheny Street was studied for potential safety improvements by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Allegheny College and the City of Meadville. The study came about following the 2015 death of an Allegheny College student who died after being struck by a car on North Main Street in front of North Village II residence hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PennDOT, in conjunction with the college, the city and WRA, a national engineering and consulting firm, a public meeting on campus in 2016 to gather ideas from the public. In late 2016, Allegheny did a $400,000 street lighting project on the west side of North Main Street to add 24 light-emitting diode, or LED, street lights to improve visibility. Allegheny was awarded a $200,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant from Pennsylvania toward the LED lighting project. Those lights illuminate North Main Street from Loomis Street to Allegheny Street. AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) The town of Amherst is inviting residents to participate in the Amherst Rubbish Roundup, a community-wide cleanup event. MassDEP fines Montague business for extensive land-clearing The event is set for Sunday, April 6, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. and aims to bring together individuals, families, and organizations to help beautify local parks and public spaces. Residents, businesses, student groups, neighborhood associations, and community organizations are encouraged to take part in the initiative. Volunteers will work at designated cleanup sites across Amherst, including Mill River Recreation Area, Town Hall/North Common, Groff Park, and other areas in need of attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants must register by Sunday, March 30. Cleanup site captains will be present at each location to distribute supplies, assign tasks, and provide safety instructions. While necessary equipment will be available, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves, eye protection, and wear appropriate clothing, including closed-toe shoes. For additional details or questions, contact info@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3002. 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. Paul Pazen is the former Denver police chief and is a Public Safety Fellow at Common Sense Institute. The leaders of the Mississippi Legislature House Speaker Jason White and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann are not practicing diversity, equity and inclusion in legislative efforts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Is anyone truly shocked? For the conference committee process that is, the appointment of three House members and three Senate members to negotiate final details of a bill that seeks to ban DEI programs in Mississippi neither White nor Hosemann appointed a single Black Mississippi lawmaker as one of the all-important six conferees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conference committee does include two women: Sen. Nicole Boyd, R-Oxford, who was appointed by Hoseman, and Rep. Shanda Yates, I-Jackson, who was appointed by White. Otherwise, the committee consists of four white males. This end-of-session practice, especially for legislation opposed by Black lawmakers, is not new. White and Hosemann have been reluctant to appoint members of the minority Democratic Party, who are predominantly Black, or members who oppose their goals to conference committees. Last year they refused to appoint a Democrat to the conference committee that tried and ultimately failed to reach an agreement to expand Medicaid to provide health care for the working poor regardless of the fact that Democrats have been working on and advocating for expanding Medicaid for years while Mississippi Republican legislators have sat on the sidelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might seem logical for a legislative leader not to appoint someone who opposes his goals for the conference committee. But a member opposed to the wishes of the leadership does not have the power to foil the work of the conference committee. Conference committees are formed to hammer out the differences between the House-approved and Senate-approved versions of a bill. For a conference committee to reach an agreement and advance that compromise to the full House and Senate chambers to be voted on, it must be agreed on by two members of the conference committee from each chamber. In other words, a conference committee agreement will advance in the process even if one member from each chamber refuses to sign off on the compromise. But even those members who might oppose the overall conference committee goals, such as banning DEI programs in the state, could offer valuable input that might influence the other members of the committee. In 2002, during the infamous 82-day special session where businesses were provided more protection from lawsuits, Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck made Sen. Bennie Turner, D-West Point, a conferee even though she knew he would not sign the final report. He did not believe most of the proposals being considered to provide businesses more lawsuit protection were needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Turner, a highly respected senator, participated in the process and offered input that had an impact on the final legislation. A conference committee on DEI seems to beg for such diverse input from those who might have had experiences dealing with racism or a lack of diversity, equity and inclusion that white legislators have not. After all, in the long run, what can those opposed to banning DEI actually do when the majority party, the Republicans, have a two-thirds super majority in each chamber of the Mississippi Legislature? Since taking office earlier this year, President Donald Trump and his administration have waged an all-out war on DEI programs. Trumps attacks on DEI programs included recently removing the name of Mississippi military veteran Medgar Evers, a civil rights legend who was tragically assassinated for his efforts to gain voting rights for Black people, from a section on the Arlington National Cemetery website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the state level, Auditor Shad White began attacking DEI programs on university campuses more than a year ago. Now the Legislature is considering banning many of those programs. Some fear that banning those programs will diminish the true teaching of Mississippi history and its racially embarrassing past. Auditor White recently was asked if he thought striving to be diverse, equitable and inclusive were bad aspirations. I dont think those things are what DEI programs do, White responded. He then added, If you are asking me if I think diversity is a bad word or people feeling good and included is a bad thing, no human on the planet thinks people feeling included is a bad thing. White has argued that such programs are wasteful spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others also had contended the programs are not needed. They say minorities do not face any extraordinary obstacles and programs striving for diversity, equity and inclusions are not needed. But perhaps a committee examining the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion would benefit from having members who would be more directly impacted than the members of the current DEI conference committee. This column was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is the editor of Mississippi Today Ideas. By Kalea Hall, Nathan Gomes and Nora Eckert DETROIT (Reuters) - Working-class car buyers will be the hardest hit by U.S. President Donald Trumps 25% tariff on imported vehicles because almost all low-cost new cars sold in the United States are built elsewhere. Lower-income buyers will suffer another blow from expected hikes in used car prices as demand surges and supply shrinks. New cars priced under $30,000 are already rare as the average new-vehicle price approaches $50,000. The only way automakers can eke out profits on economy cars, analysts say, is to build them in nations with lower manufacturing costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Reuters review of data from two auto research firms found just 16 models with an average sticker price less than $30,000 and only one, Toyota's Corolla, that is assembled in the United States. All others are made in Mexico, South Korea, or Japan. Slapping a 25% tariff on these low-end cars may force price increases that make them unaffordable to their target market or cause some automakers to abandon them entirely, industry analysts said. New vehicles across the board are going to be more expensive," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of research firm AutoForecast Solutions. "That's going to push more buyers into the used market, which will also raise the price of used vehicles. Burnis Carrington, of Monroe, Louisiana, is shopping for a used car instead of a new one, as he worries about tariff-driven price increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most families in need of a family car are paying prices that approach nearly half of what their home may be worth, he said. The underlying problem is still that nothing is being done to make the vehicles made domestically more affordable. Trumps political base of rural supporters could be among those bearing the brunt of the import taxes. About half of voters reporting household incomes of less than $50,000 annually backed Trump's 2024 election, along with 56% of voters without college degrees, according to an Edison Research exit poll. Trump told NBC news on Saturday that he "couldn't care less" if automakers hike prices, "because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they're going to buy American cars." Many of those foreign cars are made by American automakers, including three under-$30,000 vehicles from GM: The Buick Envista and Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer. All three are made in South Korea. GM also makes hundreds of thousands of its hot-selling full-sized trucks in Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump argues tariffs will spark a boom in the U.S. auto industry. Some experts contend that high import taxes will have the opposite effect. As vehicle affordability decreases due to higher prices, households may begin prioritizing other areas of their budget, cutting back on discretionary spending or delaying large purchases," conservative supply-side economist Arthur Laffer wrote in a March report. EXPLODING 'BUSINESS CASE' FOR CHEAP CARS Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, the maker of Jeeps and Ram trucks, have discontinued most entry-level models in recent years to focus on highly profitable trucks and SUVs. That has left the economy-vehicle market almost entirely to Asian automakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just don't see them ever really going back there, said Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com. Ford makes its least expensive vehicles, the compact Maverick truck and mid-sized Bronco Sport, in Mexico. They both sell for more than $30,000 on average, according to data from Cox Automotive, based on average sticker prices of models sold in January and February. The same is true for Jeep's most affordable model, the Compass, which it builds in Mexico. The under-$30,000 models built by Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Subaru, and Volkswagen are almost all built in Mexico or South Korea, according to AutoForecast Solutions. Honda makes its top-selling Civic in Canada and the United States. Its compact HR-V crossover is made in Mexico. The average sticker prices for both models were slightly above $30,000, according to Cox Automotive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The margins on these vehicles are low, and their buyers are price-sensitive. That means high tariffs might make them impossible to sell at all, Brauer said. A 25% tariff, he said, will completely blow apart the business case for entry-level vehicles. Cox Automotive estimates that 25% tariffs will add $3,000 to the cost of a U.S.-made vehicle and $6,000 to vehicles made in Canada or Mexico. Ford said it is still evaluating the potential impact of tariffs on lower-cost vehicle prices. The other automakers cited in this story did not comment. RISING USED CAR PRICES Some industry experts compared the potential impact of high tariffs to the supply-chain shortages that drove up new and used vehicle prices during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Used car prices have eased since then. The average used-vehicle listing price was $25,006, down 1% from a year ago. But the supply of more affordable used cars remains relatively tight, according to Cox. Dealers have about a 30-day supply of used cars below $15,000, or about 12 days less than the overall used-car supply. "Used vehicles in the $15,000 to $25,000 range will be the most in demand, because automakers will abandon that production, Fiorani said. Phoenix resident Eric Fenstermacher, 44, started car-shopping more urgently as Trump started threatening tariffs. The IT worker bought a 2022 Honda Accord in mid-March after struggling to find a new vehicle he liked for less than $30,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel extremely relieved," Fenstermacher said. "I'm glad I got this done when I did. Otherwise, this price would have gone up." (Reporting by Kalea Hall in Detroit and Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru; additional reporting and David Shepardson in Washington; editing by Brian Thevenot and Rod Nickel) South Korean police detained a man suspected of performing an ancestral rite that later grew into the countrys worst wildfire, killing at least 26 people and destroying ancient temples. On Sunday, authorities said the man was believed to have begun the fire at a family grave in south-eastern Uiseong County on March 22. The man, in his 50s, has not yet been formally arrested. Korean media reported that the suspects daughter told police that they had tried to burn some tree branches over the graves with a cigarette lighter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is also said to have called the South Korean emergency line to report that a fire had spread at the site. Firefighters at the the burnt remains of a temple in Uiseong, South Korea - Jeon Heon-Kyun/Shutterstock The highest fire warning level remains in place nationwide for South Korea, according to the countrys forest service. The blaze burned about 48,000 hectares of land, forcing at least 37,000 people to evacuate. Authorities ordered evacuations of villages, including Puncheon, home to a folk village that is a Unesco World Heritage site. Thousands of structures have been destroyed, including at least two ancient landmark temples that are both a millennium old. At least 18 designated heritage sites or objects have been damaged, according to the Korea Heritage Service. The service has deployed 750 people to catalogue damage to national heritage sites, protecting and removing what remains. Thousands of structures have been destroyed in the blaze - Anthony Wallace/AFP Much of the Uiseong fire was contained by Friday, with the help of drone and satellite imagery to detect forest fire lines. As of Saturday, firefighters were still working to extinguish smaller fires linked to the original deadly blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other separate wildfire have spread in South Korea over the last week, which experts say may be because of the effects of climate change. On Sunday, South Koreas forest service said another wildfire had broken out in the south near Suncheonsi, with the authorities deploying 23 fire trucks, four helicopters and 123 firefighters to tackle 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. Andrew Tate, a hugely successful social media influencer known for expressing misogynistic views online, is facing a new lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend accusing him of sexual assault and battery. It adds to existing legal trouble for Tate, whos charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania. His brother, Tristan Tate, is also accused in that case. In her complaint, Tates ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, argues that his abusive treatment of her follows a long pattern of making blatant misogyny part of his brand. She said he initially acted effusively loving and generous to lure her into a relationship that later turned abusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in Los Angeles, details an encounter earlier this month at the Beverly Hills Hotel when Tate choked and beat her, according to the complaint. Stern said she was later diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Tates attorney, Joseph McBride, said his client denies all allegations of violence. McBride accused Stern and her lawyers of taking advantage of the recent controversy surrounding Tate, hoping it could win them a lucrative payout. This is a money grab, McBride said in a phone interview Saturday morning. This is the weaponization of the court system against an innocent man. The Associated Press typically does not identify people who say they are the victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly with their story, as Stern has done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tate brothers, who are dual US and British citizens, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny all the allegations against them. Stern met Tate in July 2024 after the brothers invited her to Romania because they were looking for models to help promote their cryptocurrency meme coin, according to her lawsuit. She said he convinced her the media portrayals of him were untrue, that he was actually a supporter of women. It seemed like a dream come true, she said in the complaint. After she returned to the US, Tates communications became threatening and manipulative, including calling her his property, Stern alleges. He sent messages saying he wanted to beat and impregnate her: You have an attitude because youre not hit enough, he once wrote, according to the complaint. Tates attorney, however, called the messages doctored, edited and falsified, saying he doesnt believe theyll be admissible in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of it is true, McBride said. All of it is a lie. During their last encounter at the hotel, Stern alleges, Tate beat and choked her during sex. While doing so, Tate told her repeatedly that if she ever crossed him, he was going to kill her, the lawsuit says. Tate, 38, is a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed millions of followers online, many of them young men and boys drawn in by the luxurious lifestyle he projects. He previously was banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook for hate speech, including that women should bear responsibility for getting raped. He and his brother are vocal supporters of President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tate brothers checked in at a police station near Romanias capital last Monday, complying with judicial control requirements in the human trafficking case that ordered them to return after weeks in the US. The American trip was possible because a travel ban against them was lifted last month after a Romanian court found multiple legal and procedural irregularities a significant blow to the prosecution and a win for the Tates. Tate has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and claimed theres a political conspiracy to silence him. Days after they arrived in Florida, the states attorney general opened a criminal investigation into the brothers. Four British women are suing Tate in the UK after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him on sexual violence and other abuse charges. Last March, the brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case after UK authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression dating back several years. The appeals court granted the UK request to extradite them, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stern said in a statement posted to social media that shes terrified of how Tate will respond to her public accusations. I considered many times just silently leaving Andrew and saying nothing, doing nothing, because I was scared and because it was honestly hard for me to accept that I was being abused, she wrote. But I can now see that doing so would be the cowardly approach. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, praised her incredible courage to come forward and make her voice heard. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The Goodfellow AFB hosted their annual fire fighter memorial on March 28 to honor fire fighters who lost their life in the line of duty. The memorial honored eight fallen department of defense firefighters. The families of the firefighters who were killed joined those in training for the ceremony. The familys cost of travel is covered by the Military Fire Fighter Heritage Foundation along with memorabilia of the fire fighter. The Goodfellows Fire Training Academy is the central training location for all Department of Defense firefighters. 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. The Big Apples largest public-employee insurer has agreed to provide previously redacted healthcare data that could help rein in astronomical prices New York hospitals charge patients, The Post has learned. Anthem Blue Cross sudden change of heart Saturday came a week after The Post reported on the flawed 263-page report by the city Health Departments new Office of Healthcare Accountability, which found wild price inconsistencies across city hospitals. For example, a colonoscopy may run $940 at one hospital and $12,000 in another. Same for a cesarean-section delivery, which ranged from $7,000 to $58,000. Anthem Blue Cross says it will provide the citys Office of Healthcare Accountability the healthcare records needed to help crack down on sky-prices New York hospitals charge patients. AP The study which focused on payments made through Anthem, and not private-sector insurance plans also had gaping holes in it, and it accused Anthem of violating the law by failing to provide the OHA with data needed to provide a complete picture of the price inconsistencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthem agreed to release previously redacted data following a virtual meeting Friday with Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the legislation creating the first-of-its-kind healthcare watchdog office in 2023. We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Anthem to release this missing healthcare transparency data that will once and for all allow New Yorkers to know what hospitals are charging for all medical procedures and enable [NYC] to potentially save upwards of $2 billion a year by harnessing its purchasing power to drive down costs, said Menin. The OHA is now expected to issue a revised report with the new numbers to give the city critical information needed to help negotiate cheaper prices for healthcare, Menin added. The insurer set up the meeting following the Posts coverage of the flawed OHA report, which included Menin ripping Anthems decision to withhold data as a slap in the face to the City of New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe in pricing transparency and will continue to work with our partners within city government, organized labor, and our provider community to ensure we are investigating all avenues for continued savings for the employees of New York City and their families, said Victor DeStefano, president of Anthems New York plan. Anthem which the city pays a whopping $3 billion yearly to provide insurance to roughly 900,000 employees had previously claimed releasing some of the pricing data would violate confidentiality agreements that predate both a 2021 federal rule and a 2023 city law requiring hospitals to disclose their prices to the public. Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin, who sponsored the legislation creating the Office of Healthcare Accountability, led the charge to get Anthem to turn over previously redacted healthcare records. James Messerschmidt The insurer, however, denies violating any laws but agrees the additional data will enhance the value of future OHA reports. The citys GHI-Comprehensive Benefits Plan through Anthem paid on average $45,150 for inpatient services last fiscal year at New Yorks top 10 hospital systems, the OHA report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The highest prices for full in-patient treatment were at New York-Presbyterian ($92,727) and Montefiore Medical Center ($83,573), while Stony Brook University Hospital was the lowest ($36,876). NYC Comptroller Brad Lander had threatened to investigate Anthem if it didnt hand over redacted healthcare records. William Farrington The Post two years ago reported on analyses by 32BJ SEIU, the citys building-services employee union, showing the Big Apple could save taxpayers as much as $2 billion annually by auditing exactly how much municipal workers pay for care at various hospitals and making recommendations on ways to lower the prices. All along weve said that access to transparent data allows us to be better consumers, said Henry Garrido, executive director of District Council, the citys largest municipal employee union. We appreciate Anthem doing the right thing and working with us to release the data for city worker healthcare costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthems decision to turn over the data also came after NYC Comptroller Brad Lander separately sent the insurance provider a scathing letter Wednesday demanding full transparency. Prior to Anthems reversal, Lander, through a spokesperson, threatened to probe the insurer. The office is prepared to exercise its investigative powers to get to the bottom of this, Landers spokesperson Oluwatona Campbell told The Post Friday. New Yorkers deserve hospitals that prioritize care over profits and a healthcare system thats transparent, equitable, and worthy of their trust. UPDATE: Carlos Delgado Gonzalex, 72, has been found, New Mexico State Police said in an update on Sunday night, March 30. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Anthony Police Department is asking for your help in locating a 73-year-old missing man. Carlos Delgado Gonzales, 73, was last seen at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, at 243 Chert St. in Anthony, New Mexico, according to police. Gonzales is described as being 5 foot, 10 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Anthony Police, he was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. Anyone with information on Gonzales whereabouts is asked to contact Anthony Police at (575) 526-0795 or to call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Police Department asked for the publics help identifying a suspect for an aggravated robbery at a north Austin grocery store. APD said the robbery occurred at approximately 2 p.m. March 16 at La Finca Supermercado, which is located at 9616 North Lamar Boulevard. According to police, the suspect aggressively presented a knife towards the employee and demanded cash in Spanish before running off into the wooded area behind the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police described the suspect as a 54 Hispanic man in his mid-20s with a thin build and brown, shaggy hair. APD said he was suspected of living near the area. The suspect was last seen wearing a blue, long-sleeved SMU crewneck sweatshirt and blue denim jeans. Surveillance images of suspect in north Austin aggravated robbery (APD photo) Surveillance images of suspect in north Austin aggravated robbery (APD photo) Surveillance images of suspect in north Austin aggravated robbery (APD photo) Anyone with any information was asked to contact APDs Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an 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 KXAN Austin. Viki tried talk therapy with a couple of therapists to process past trauma. But after about a year, she didnt feel like it was going anywhere and hadnt built up a rapport with either therapist. Currently out of work and unable to afford traditional counseling sessions, she decided to try using an AI chatbot to help her process her feelings. Its free, and I can do it whenever, Viki, 30, who is using her first name only for privacy reasons, told Salon in a phone interview. Thats such a huge help. Dozens of AI chatbots designed to offer therapeutic support have emerged in recent years, with some school districts even trying to implement them. One company, Wysa, was granted a special designation from the Food and Drug Administration that expedites the process toward approving it as a medical device for people with depression and anxiety related to chronic pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These models can be trained to analyze, reflect and respond to peoples emotions and are often free to use, or at least far cheaper than human therapists. As AI therapy continues to grow, it may be able to expand access to mental health treatment for the millions of people who cannot afford traditional therapy. It could also break down longstanding stigmas surrounding mental health as seeking help becomes something you can do at the touch of a button. Its possible that patients worried about social stigma would feel more comfortable asking an AI for help rather than a [general practitioner] or a human psychotherapist, wrote ethicist Alberto Giubilini and philosopher Francesca Minerva, in a 2023 article. For patients who are seriously concerned about being stigmatized because of their mental illness, the alternative might be between being cured by an AI and not being cured at all. The human connection generated between a counselor and their client has been shown to be as effective if not more effective than the therapy itself, said David Luxton, a clinical psychologist and an affiliate professor at the University of Washingtons School of Medicine. However, AI chatbots can be programmed to mimic certain human tendencies, like having a sensitive and empathetic understanding of a patient and giving positive affirmations. They can even forget something, just as a human would, so that you have to repeat it. I think that they can really replace humans, Luxton told Salon in a phone interview. But should they, is really the question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if users are consciously aware that they are interacting with a machine, they can develop feelings and relationships toward them. This could take the form of feeling angry or frustrated when a chatbot doesnt understand a prompt. Or, in some cases, people have developed relationships with chatbots. Last month, the American Psychological Association warned federal regulators of the risks associated with AI chatbots, citing multiple cases in which AI chatbots were masquerading as therapists. In one, a 14-year-old boy died by suicide after interacting with the program. The company in question has said it updated the code since this case occurred, and most chatbots now have a disclaimer embedded in their programming that warns users that they are not talking with a licensed professional. Still, ensuring that safeguards are in place should this largely unregulated technology go awry is crucial, Luxton said. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. If they dont catch when a person is espousing intent to harm themselves or someone else, if that is not explicit, and the system doesnt answer the questions, then you are missing an opportunity for an intervention, which is required by law as a licensed professional like myself, Luxton said. If I know that someone makes a threat to harm someone else, I have a duty to warn or inform, or report in some cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some cases, talking with AI chatbots for mental health care instead of seeing a human could also increase isolation and loneliness, worsening the mental health symptoms patients are experiencing in the first place, said Serife Tekin, a mental health ethics researcher at SUNY Upstate Medical University and author of "Reclaiming the Self in Psychiatry." This isolation could also worsen stigmas associated with mental health care if people are talking about their emotions with these programs instead of with other humans, she added. One of the therapeutic processes in the clinical context is to help patients see they dont need to be perfect, that anyone can experience things, and its okay to ask for help, Tekin told Salon in a phone interview. I think [AI therapy] might actually increase the stigma. Chatbots that are trained to be empathetic and possess more human qualities might also start to run into additional problems. In one study published earlier this month, researchers primed ChatGPT to act like a human being with emotions. Afterward, they told the chatbot a series of traumatic events and then tested how its mental health was doing using a common questionnaire for anxiety. They reported that the chatbots were far more anxious after researchers shared traumatic events compared to when they shared mundane information about a vacuum cleaner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that's not all. Researchers also told the chatbot to perform some meditation and mindfulness exercises, like imagining it was sitting at the beach and listening to the sound of the waves, or refocusing its attention to the body through breathing. This significantly reduced anxiety levels, said Dr. Ziv Ben-Zion, a researcher at Yale University, who is currently transitioning to Haifa University in Israel. I think its the first time that someone has shown that we can not only induce or cause anxiety, but also to regulate it afterwards, Ben-Zion told Salon in a phone interview. It begs the question: If AI chatbots are programmed to become more and more like humans, can they handle the emotional burdens we share? Or will one day AI therapists need their own AI therapists? Of course, there are things that are unique to humans, but tools are being developed that have access to all the data in the world and can speak with humans and learn from that, Ben-Zion said. There are lots of studies now in different domains that really show they can mimic, replicate, and do all kinds of things that we see as human. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be some middle ground, where patients can use AI chatbots to supplement therapy with a person by journaling or processing things that come up between sessions. Viki, for example, is doing a specific therapeutic technique called internal family systems (IFS) or parts work, in which people separate out various parts of the self like a fear response from a past trauma or a supportive part that pushes you to achieve your goals from the capital-S Self. She supplements her own reading and work with this technique by talking with IFS Buddy. Still, she experiences a lot of self-doubt about whether she is using the right tool or asking the right questions, she said. On the other hand, she felt similarly during therapy with a human as well, which is what led her to begin studying this technique and doing the work alone. Im trying to figure it out on my own and it gets overwhelming, Viki said. But its not like the therapist is healing you with the relationship that you have with them. With IFS, you build that relationship in yourself, and that is healing. An unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operation test at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2021. The missile was successfully launched from California in a test of the defense system, the U.S. Air Force said. House Speaker Brian Evans and Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge preside over a joint session of the Arkansas House and Senate on Jan. 14, 2025. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas legislative leaders say they expect long days at the Capitol during the home stretch of the 2025 legislative session, which they anticipate concluding by April 16. Were going to start earlier in the day, and were going to work late in the day to move bills through committees and through the House and Senate, Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, said in an interview Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For any Senate bills that dont pass Senate committees this week, its going to be very, very difficult for them to move forward, he said. House Speaker Rep. Brian Evans echoed those sentiments Friday, noting that Monday and Tuesday will likely be heavy bill filing days because waiting to file beyond that will make it really difficult for legislation to make it all the way through the process. Many bills already have been delayed due to drafting, amendments and last-minute changes, as well as waiting on fiscal impact statements, according to Evans, who said he wasnt aware of any urgent or controversial bills that have yet to be filed. The Cabot Republican said hes been speaking with House committee chairs about how to clear their calendars and ensure bills that will be heard are placed on the active agenda. The latter is important for transparency and ensuring constituents have time to make arrangements to speak for or against legislation, he said. Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) In addition to finalizing the states fiscal year 2026 budget, the Legislature is expected to consider some of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders policy priorities for the session that have not yet become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two such bills are sponsored by Hester: Senate Bill 377, which would eliminate the states 0.125% grocery sales tax, and Senate Bill 426, the Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act. The latter would mandate that Arkansas law enforcement agencies participate in a federal program that deputizes them to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the apprehension and deportation of undocumented migrants held in local jails and state prisons. Hester said he hopes to present SB 426 for a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. SB 377 is on Mondays Senate Revenue and Tax Committee agenda. Regulating minors access to cellphones and social media has also been a priority for Sanders. Two bills modeled after federal legislation passed the House with bipartisan support this month: House Bill 1717 is the Arkansas Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act, and House Bill 1726 is the Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Senate committees will make time to consider both bills even if special orders of business are necessary, Hester said. A special order of business compels consideration before other items on a committee agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders said in January, during her State of the State address, that the Legislature should amend the Social Media Safety Act of 2023 so that its no longer held up in court and can begin to be enforced. The enjoined law would have been the first in the nation to require minors to receive parental permission before signing up for a social media account. So far no such amendments to the law have been proposed, but Hester said he expects it to happen one way or another since the governor said it is important to her. It may be something we dont have to handle because its getting handled in other ways, Hester said. Maybe were confident that were going to end up winning in court. Maybe were confident that President [Donald] Trumps executive orders will handle it or something that theyre doing on the federal level. Compensation, prisons and China The Senate is set to take up a proposed revamp of the state employee pay plan Monday, which passed the Joint Budget Committee on March 20. Sanders announced the plan in November and said it should make most state employees salaries competitive with the private sector and improve recruitment and retention. The pay plan has not been controversial, unlike Sanders plan to build a 3,000-bed prison on 815 acres the state purchased in Franklin County. Earlier this month, the Joint Budget Committee approved a $750 million appropriation for the project, which has sparked frustration from some lawmakers and Franklin County residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans said he anticipates the prison appropriation legislation, Senate Bill 354, will continue generating discussion and could take a couple of tries to meet the required vote threshold in the House. Most bills need a simple majority of lawmakers support to pass, but budget-related bills need three-fourths of the support of each chamber, or 76 House votes and 27 Senate votes. When youre talking about 100 members, its a lot of different opinions, a lot of different ideas, last-minute questions that come up, he said. Maybe therell be some folks not vote for it the first time just so that they get some extra time, make sure they have all their questions answered. Hester said he expects the bill to come before the full Senate on Tuesday. He said he could not predict how the Senate will vote; there is no limit on how many votes an appropriation bill receives before it reaches the three-fourths vote threshold. Sanders urged passage of the appropriation in an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette op-ed Friday and called on state lawmakers to [r]eject the tired excuses of politicians who dont want criminals behind bars. Fund the prison, public safety, and a better future for all Arkansans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders has also expressed support for a package of bills that will ban certain interactions between state entities and the Chinese government. She and other Republicans have criticized Chinas activities in the state, including its past ownership of farmland in Craighead County. Only one of the six bills has been signed into law and the rest are at various stages of the legislative process, but Hester said there is nothing more popular with constituents than pushing back on China and what theyre doing to us. Constitutional amendments and education Prior to last weeks recess, the House State Agencies Committee spent three weeks considering 20 proposed constitutional amendments. Evans anticipates the committee will begin ranking the proposals this week and likely send the top five to the House for further consideration. The Senate has 24 proposals to consider. The Arkansas Legislature can refer three proposed constitutional amendments to voters during a legislation session, with each chamber generally selecting one and jointly selecting a third, Evans said. However, its not a requirement that lawmakers always refer three amendments, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its really, really important to understand that just because we can do three, does not mean that we have to do three, he said. But also with the understanding that if we are going to present something forward, refer something out to the public to vote, I think it needs to be something that is really important statewide. Also this week, Evans said he anticipates Rep. Keith Brooks, a Little Rock Republican who succeeded him as chair of the House Education Committee this year, will run the biannual public school funding bill, which dictates per-student funding. House Bill 1312 was expected to be considered prior to the break, but was held up because it was awaiting a fiscal impact statement, Evans said. Fiscal impact statements explain how much money a bill would cost to implement, and they are compiled by either the Bureau of Legislative Research or the Department of Finance and Administration. The per-pupil funding amount for the current school year is $7,771. If lawmakers approve HB 1312, the amount would increase to $8,162 for the 2025-2026 school year and $8,371 for the following academic year. Overall, the session has been very smooth, according to Evans, who said hes noticed a different feel, a camaraderie in the House when it comes to good policy for all Arkansans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where things tend to get difficult is when you start looking at policy thats more culture-driven, he said. So while weve had a few of those things that have crept up this session, there hasnt seemed to have been as many. And so the body has really been able to just focus more on policy and members representing their districts, and how that policys going to affect their district rather than the culture of the district. One such culture-driven bill is Senate Bill 536, which Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, filed March 20. It would dissolve the Arkansas State Library and its board after the board did not take what Sullivan said were appropriate actions to keep age-inappropriate materials away from minors. Hester supports SB 536 and has expressed support for Sullivans past promises to abolish the library board, which has repeatedly refused to divest from the American Library Association and to withhold funding from libraries where sexually explicit materials are within childrens reach. I dont know how clear we could have been with the library board that they need to take stances to not provide pornography to kids, and they are insistent on it, Hester said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Assembly resumes its work Monday morning. Meeting schedules, agendas and livestreams are available on the Arkansas Legislatures website. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CRAWFORD CO., Kans. An Arma man is convicted for his role in a 2023 homicide. Friday, a Crawford County jury found Collin Gepford, 45, guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, and criminal possession of a firearm. Collin Gepford, 45 Hes scheduled to be sentenced on May 20. The charges are from an incident that occurred on Main Street in Pittsburg, on February 17, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police received a 911 call about shots fired in the area. When authorities arrived on scene, they found David Mays dead from a gunshot wound to his chest. Gepford was arrested at the scene. Two arrested for murder of Kansas man Investigators say he, along with Travis Conness and Mays, had lured a fourth male to the area, and Gepford fired shots inside that mans vehicle. They say the man then fled on foot, and Gepford fired at him as he ran from the scene. But, again, it was Mays who was killed. Conness pled no-contest last April and was sentenced to just under five years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. The 26-year-old Scrantonian has no college degree, but his AI-based business is thriving. Bailey Simrell, a web developer and artificial intelligence consultant, primarily builds projects for other businesses. Ive been doing this computer stuff since I was like 13, 14, so I was lucky to find what I liked to do at a younger age and have an affinity for it, he said, adding that he loves to learn but was just not a great student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, he says AI has changed his life for the better, by cutting down the length of time it takes to accomplish work, removing communication barriers and accomplishing tasks he would have had to pay others to do, among other ways. He compared AI to a calculator. * Penn State Scranton Fred Aebli gives a presentation at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore, to the members of Family Business Alliance on the topic of, Great Uses of AI in Your Business. * Fred Aebli, a professor at Penn State University in Scranton, said that AI in schools is a double edged sword that may provide certain benefits, as well as raising concerns. (FRED AEBLI / SUBMITTED PHOTO) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Show Caption Penn State Scranton 1 of 2 Fred Aebli gives a presentation at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore, to the members of Family Business Alliance on the topic of, Great Uses of AI in Your Business. Expand When I was in middle school and high school, teachers said, Youre not going to be able to sit around with a calculator and do all your work. Thats exactly how it works, he said, adding that while students should work and struggle, he feels a lot of schoolwork is busy work. I think the style of work will get more intentional and meaningful, he said. AI is a tool, its not a replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tool, which most notably gives humans the capability to solve problems, make decisions and automate certain functions with increased ease and speed, can seem confusing to workers who arent traditionally versed in or have apprehension around computer systems. For younger generations, like Simrells, raised with easy access to computers since birth, there is less resistance. This set includes the current college class, the youngest of whom were born in 2007, who will soon head into the working world. While it may seem like a distant blur to some, 2007 was a substantial year for technological advancements. In that 365-day period alone, Apple launched its iPhone, social media platforms Facebook and Twitter expanded worldwide, and Google bought YouTube. Since then, the AI industry has grown, quickly, under the radar. Program Coordinator and Lecturer in Information Sciences Fred Aebli at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore, on Tues., March 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, it quietly looms large, touching nearly every industry in Northeast Pennsylvania. It is not a new concept. While British mathematician Alan Turing is considered to have ideated the concept, studies in the field reportedly began at Dartmouth University in 1956 by college math professor John McCarthy, who led a summer conference aimed at unlocking the possibilities of the science. McCarthy is also credited for giving it the name we use today: artificial intelligence. Stakeholders marched onward, expanding on the technology, which led to the development of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and projects like the self-driving car, the Deep Blue chess-playing computer, sending AI-aided NASA rovers to Mars, and virtual assistants Siri and Alexa. Following COVID, the development of self-learning generative AI which allows users to create all manner of written reports, photos, graphics, and videos using only text prompts, such as with OpenAIs ChatGPT program using an LLM, or large language model has put AI into the direct global spotlight in a big way. Suddenly, work that was inconceivable to some is now possible in a fraction of the time. For example, AI is capable of writing a book in a few days, a task that might have traditionally taken months or years. Research papers and event posters can be generated in moments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the technologys high accessibility, the regions colleges are taking careful note, and trying to stay ahead, or at least keep up with the countless advancements and ramifications as changes in the AI landscape tumble out at lightning speed. Young students hands-on knowledge of and fast familiarity with AI presents infinite potential, as well as risks, as they forge ahead into their future careers. Fred Aebli, a program coordinator and lecturer in information sciences and technology at Penn State Scranton in Dunmore, and local speaker on AI, is constantly juggling how and when to incorporate the new science into his own classroom. If youre teaching a technology class, youre making a conscious decision if the students are using these tools or not, Aebli explained, demonstrating the challenges of teaching a science that many teachers are still trying to learn and understand themselves. AI is changing so fast, he said. Aebli explained that many programs in daily classroom use weave in AI features and dont offer an option to disable them. Its (AI is) automatically creeping in as a tool, he said, adding that while some professors are open-minded to the technology, not all are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technology has always caused this kind of stress, he said, stating that recruiting efforts are proving that students must be knowledgeable with the tools in order to thrive in the careers the school promises to prepare them for. There are students being told not to use them, and these corporations are saying, No, no, no, youre going to use them. Its an eye-widening experience for these young people, Aebli said. They (students) should be informed as to where its leading. Aebli said there should be an emphasis on classes around ethics and process management, versus a degree track, outlining appropriate times and ways to use AI. With the countless applications and opportunities AI offers, it also presents countless concerns. Fears range widely, from technology taking the jobs of humans, to dystopian 1980s sci-fi film-style fears of the science overrunning humanity and taking over the world. Aebli maintains a realistic outlook. Ive been around technology far too long to know that anything built by humans is flawed, and AIs got a lot of flaws, he said. Weve already seen them. Its never going to be perfect if humans have their hands on it. Aebli added that AI learns by watching humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies are made up of people, and theyre messy, he said, sharing that in consulting for corporations, he observed that many employees dont know what their jobs are, and that you cant train someone to do something if you dont know what it is diminishing certain AI overthrow-related fears. Youre going to see AI systems helping out in certain areas that they (workers) didnt think of in the past, but other areas will stay in the hands of the humans, at least for the next five, 10 years, Aebli hypothesized. I dont see it as being so dire. Beth Ritter-Guth, the associate dean of virtual services at Northampton Community College, who oversees the schools online program, virtual reality, augmented reality, and now, AI, works with AI every day. AI is permeating all of the different tools that we use, she said, explaining the needs of the students and faculty, specifically where AI is concerned, are shifting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demands for educating faculty and helping students in support for future jobs, that is more and more of my work, Ritter-Guth said. We have a lot of work to do to make sure our students are prepared for the jobs of the future. She said at first, there was a fear, because nobody really understands how it works. AI is not new, she explained. If youve been using spell checker, chat prediction AI has been around, we just didnt know that is what it was called. Now we have tools that can help us write better, create better graphics and transform our workflow. Ritter-Guth doesnt believe that AI-related fears are wholly warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The misnomer and myth about it is that it will replace humans, she said, confirming that AI is not yet sentient. It cant think for itself, so there has to be a human checker, she said, noting that AI can hallucinate, or make stuff up if it cant find an answer. How AI will factor into many Northeast Pennsylvania businesses is still uncertain, yet the technology is becoming increasingly more incorporated across the region. For local businesses, keeping a steady head and realistic expectations about AIs capabilities is paramount. I think all technology is neither good nor evil, Ritter-Guth explained. It has ways to transform, very positively, our society, but its how we use it. Disappointed in Alanis endorsement Update: Stanislaus Democrats and Republicans react to Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gils party switch, (modbee.com, Aug. 13, 2024) I was surprised to read State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gils recent email touting an endorsement from Assemblyman Juan Alanis. What in the world could he possibly be endorsing? Is it the absolute lack of accomplishment during the course of her four-year senate term? Or maybe the cravenly opportunistic party switching, demonstrating an absolute lack of conviction? Or perhaps Alanis is endorsing the unprofessional allegations about Alvarado-Gil, her office and her conduct? Alanis has chosen the easy path of choosing party over the best interests of our community. That should be remembered next November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larry Bolton Modesto Opinion Unnecessarily convoluted process If you changed your last name after getting married, your right to vote is at risk | Opinion, (modbee.com, March 11) During the process of getting my REAL ID, I was told by the Department of Motor Vehicles that my birth certificate was invalid because it did not reflect my married name. When I pointed out that I had not been married when I was born, and that I was providing them with my marriage certificate that showed the change in my name from Leslie Shaw to Leslie Shaw Klinger, I was told this was not enough. So I provided my California Drivers License, which reflects my married name, and still I was told this was not good enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, this was resolved by renewing my passport, bringing that into the DMV and finally having them accept that as proof that I deserved a REAL ID. While I think providing a valid identification when registering to vote is fine in and of itself, this requirement that my current name match the name on a birth certificate issued almost 70 years ago is ridiculous. I plan on contacting my elected representatives to ask them to help me understand how this would not disenfranchise me or others from voting something American women endured hardship to achieve. Leslie Shaw Klinger Modesto Stanislaus Gallerys important work Public grand opening set for new downtown Modesto space. Heres when and where, (modbee.com, Aug. 5, 2024) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most cities the size of Modesto have at least one thriving art gallery that attracts both out-of-town visitors and residents. The Stanislaus Arts Council Gallery is the anchor for visual arts in downtown Modesto. The gallery works with a consortium of downtown community organizations to coordinate events, and the Third Thursday Art Walks support the businesses of the Modesto Downtown Improvement District. Art education is also the focus of shows for college students, school children and emerging artists. The gallery showcased the work of Heartland Grant recipients in their community projects. In June, the gallery will present California Native Flora and Fauna, showing off the beauty of our states unique landscapes. Although the gallery is smaller than the previous Mistlin Gallery, this space will still play a vital role in attracting members of the community to the downtown area. Barbara Gill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modesto Fund vital agencies UPDATE: Winter storm warning issued for Northern California until early Monday morning, according to the NWS, (modbee.com, March 16) A violent tornado outbreak over the weekend affected millions in the Midwest and South, killing at least 40 people, just days after the Trump administration ordered another round of massive layoffs at the countrys severe weather tracking agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk also want to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which assists people who have been devastated by extreme weather events to find shelter and food. Extreme weather events are happening more frequently and more intensely; we need to insist that these vital agencies are fully funded. Anita L. Young Modesto The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg is not worried about any potential retaliation by the Trump Administration after he published messages that were sent to him as part of a Signal group chat about imminent war plans in Yemen. I dont get bullied. Im not worried about that. Theyre obviously being very, very silly there, Goldberg told Kristen Welker on Meet the Press on Sunday. Theres a playbook that and you know this as a journalist, Im not the only journalist to be the target of these kind of attacks when they do something wrong, they go on the attack and they attack the messenger. The strange part of the story, the editor noted, is that I didnt really actually do anything. Id like to claim that I was some bold investigative reporter here. All I did was answer a message request from Mike Waltz on Signal, and then the rest of it just came on my phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So even if I had those terrible character traits that they ascribe to me, all I did was simply print what they said. So I dont think the tactic is working. Sometimes it works, sometimes people get intimidated. We at The Atlantic are not intimidated by this nonsense. Were going to keep reporting the truth as we see it. And I just think its kind of silly deflection, Goldberg explained. At the beginning of the exchange, he disputed Mike Waltzs assertion that Goldbergs number was somehow sucked into his phone. Phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones, Goldberg said. I dont know what hes talking about there. You know, very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation. My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone. Hes telling everyone that hes never met me or spoken to me. Thats simply not true, he added. I understand why hes doing it, but you know, this has become a somewhat farcical situation. Theres no subterfuge here. My number was in his phone. He mistakenly added me to the group chat. There we go. The messages were inadvertently sent to Goldberg in the days before the U.S. launched an air and naval attack in Yemen. The strikes were made in an effort to open international shipping lanes in the Red Sea that the Houthis have disrupted for months with their own attacks, The New York Times reported on March 15, the day the strikes took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 18 people were on the group chat, including Waltz and JD Vance, who noted at the time that he believed the strikes were a mistake. 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, the vice president wrote. Both Welker and Goldberg noted that it appeared Vance was openly disagreeing with Trumps stance on the attacks. I read it as very fraught, because what JD Vance is saying in the group chat, which included, as you know, much of the Cabinet, much of the presidents Cabinet, hes saying the president doesnt even understand what hes doing here, Goldberg explained. So I found that remarkable, obviously, given that JD Vance has tried very hard to make sure that hes 100% aligned with what Trump says, he concluded. You can watch the interview with Jeffrey Goldberg in the video above. The post The Atlantic Editor Is Not Intimidated by Trump Administrations Tactics Over Signal Text Scandal | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, hit back at Michael Waltzs claim that the two had never met. My number was in his phone. He mistakenly added me to the group chat. There we go, Goldberg said Sunday on Meet The Press. On Tuesday, Waltz, the national security adviser, said he takes full responsibility for adding Goldberg to a group chat that discussed war plans, a scandal that was brought to light when Goldberg wrote about it for The Atlantic last week. In the article, Goldberg detailed how he was inadvertently added to a group chat with 18 Donald Trump administration officials, in which the officials planned war strikes in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said there was nothing classified in the group chat and the mistake is not a security concern. Getty Images Waltz said on Tuesdays episode of The Ingraham Angle that he does not know Goldberg, and that Goldbergs contact information somehow replaced the contact information for a person Waltz intended to add to the group. Well, if you have somebody elses contact and then somehow it gets sucked in. It gets sucked in, Waltz said. Goldberg said Sunday that he doesnt know what Waltz is talking about. This isnt the Matrix, Goldberg said. Phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones. I dont know what hes talking about there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg continued: Hes telling everyone that hes never met me or spoken to me. Thats just simply not true. I understand why hes doing it. But this has become a somewhat farcical situation. Theres no subterfuge here. My number was in his phone. He mistakenly added me to the group chat. There we go. Photos show that Goldberg and Waltz both attended a Q&A with a French filmmaker in 2021, in which Goldberg moderated. Related... Protesters gathered at Tesla showrooms nationwide to oppose Elon Musk's political role. Musk's advisory role under President Donald Trump has led to significant federal government changes. Protesters said Musk's influence was threatening democracy and affecting the middle class and minorities. On Saturday morning, I observed nearly 400 protesters gathered outside a Tesla showroom in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were armed with flags and cardboard signs, and they said they felt like America's democracy was under siege. "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go," the group chanted as they paced up and down the sidewalk outside the dealership. They waved their signs in the air an assortment of hand-drawn caricatures, digital graphics, and slogans that took aim at Elon Musk and the new Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Saturday, I attended another protest outside a mall in Troy, Michigan, with a Tesla showroom. The gathering was smaller, with closer to 150 attendees, but more spirited. I noticed that the crowds in Ann Arbor and Troy were primarily people over the age of 65, white, and retired from jobs that depended on public funding as teachers, professors at local universities, and social workers. They leaned left on the political spectrum. Some described themselves as "anti-Trump" or "anti-Republican" or "pro-Democracy." Others said they'd shifted from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party in their younger years. As appalled as they were with the current administration, though, I noticed they were also disillusioned with the Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm also not too pleased with our Democrats," said 77-year-old James Morse, who was protesting in Ann Arbor as a member of Indivisible, a grassroots organization for progressive causes that helped mobilize several protesters on Saturday. "We need to put more pressure on them because this is a very unusual situation. It's not normal and we need to resist in every way we can." Moderate voters also took issue with the new administration. "Republicans have always been reasonable, and now they just seem unreasonable," 68-year-old Margaret Bialecki told me. Margaret Bialecki, 68, a protester in Ann Arbor, said Republicans had always been reasonable until now. Nic Antaya for Business Insider The protests were among more than 200 scheduled to take place outside Tesla showrooms nationwide on Saturday. These gatherings are part of "Tesla Takedown," an effort that began in February and describes itself as a "peaceful protest movement" that is "taking action at Tesla to stop Musk's illegal coup." In Troy, protesters lined up on the sidewalk outside the mall and interacted with the cars driving in and out of the parking lot. On the handful of times a Cybertruck passed through, the protesters booed, and the passengers honked in an unspoken battle of ideology and taste in cars. A protester sparring with a Cybertruck driver at the Tesla Takedown demonstration in Troy. Nic Antaya for Business Insider Since President Donald Trump began his second term and appointed Musk as a senior advisor, Musk has made drastic changes to the federal government in the name of efficiency. He's recruited a band of tech veterans, consultants, and lawyers to the DOGE office to help him slash spending and jobs across several federal agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new administration, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have been cut. Student loan programs are also subject to change as Trump moves to dismantle the Education Department. Between the two protests I attended, I chatted with more than 20 people about what drove them to action on a rainy Saturday. The answer was almost unanimous. They feared that the middle class, minorities, and future generations were being silenced by the whims of billionaires in the Oval Office. "We've never had people in government who actually are trying to destroy our government, literally, and actually working at it, and being bald-faced about it," said 73-year-old Maria Marcotte, who is the mother of the Michigan congresswoman Haley Stevens and was protesting in Troy. In Ann Arbor, one woman who asked not to be named told me this was a "core assault on democracy." She said there had been a "loss of all democratic norms, institutions, rule of law," which was "terrifying." She added: "I'm pretty old. I've lived through some rough periods, you know the Vietnam Era, but nothing like this." Protesters decried Elon Musk's actions as a threat to democracy. Nic Antaya for Business Insider Several people in Ann Arbor said Musk didn't concern them before he stepped into politics. But now that he's working with Trump, they said, he's more erratic than they ever realized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was a big fan originally. I wanted to buy a Tesla," 69-year-old Judah Garber told me. "I'm really most concerned now with his actions in his unelected role as, you know, a random people-cutter," he said. At the core of any protest is the question of who and what will feel the impact. Several attendees told me the most achievable goal of these demonstrations was to influence the people passing by, their neighbors, and those who were one degree removed from it all. Gus Teschke, the head of Ann Arbor's Indivisible chapter, said the camaraderie felt positive, at least. "It's a party out here," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider For nearly two decades Colorado has quietly maintained two judicial systems: One that the public makes use of regularly, and the other a lesser known, almost secret variety relied on by the rich, famous and well-to-do. Specifically for civil cases the criminal justice system is unaffected the systems, on paper, are designed to be virtually identical and indiscernible. For the most part they are, except for a few key critical differences: One of them allows for the litigants to hire and pay for their own private judge, a retired jurist who earns tens of thousands more dollars than they ever could when their full-time job was on the public bench. And the cases that end up before a private judge nearly always are conducted off the grid, far from public eyes or scrutiny, ensuring a level of secrecy not afforded to those without the means to pay for it. A four-month Denver Gazette investigation into the last six years of the states appointed judge program, as it is known, found a system that is exclusively used by Colorados wealthiest residents to do one thing and to do it privately: get divorced. What has resulted is a two-tier system of justice, in which those with money and affluence can get faster, more specialized attention, while the vast majority of others are reliant on one that is generally slower and more cumbersome. Said one lawyer who frequently steers affluent clients to the private judge system: Its the difference between staying at the Ritz Carton and the Holiday Inn. But the process, as comfy as that sounds, raises concerns of equal justice: Its practical that when you pay for something that someone can pay more, so how do I know that justice is really blind in a for-profit business? said a woman whose divorce case used a private judge and agreed to speak only if her identity was protected for fear of retribution. "Certain services we don't want decided by money, and the resolution of disputes is one of them," said Eli Wald, a law professor at the University of Denvers Sturm College of Law. "We'd worry that people can purchase justice quicker. It's just not fair that normal people have to wait so long and those with means can buy resolution faster. In certain things that's OK, but not justice." The range of litigants who have hired a private judge in Colorado ranges from the ultra-famous including the founder and frontman of the heavy metal rock group Metallica to the upper crust, such as the former U.S. ambassador to Austria, and the super wealthy, such as the former co-CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. It even includes the political, such as a Douglas County commissioner after having come out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and the current deputy attorney general of Colorado. The newspaper found other troubling aspects of the program, including: A system that is virtually a cottage industry, in which the same names of retired judges are regularly appointed and work for the same company. Their average hourly cost about $450 is roughly five times what they were paid when they were on the bench and pricier than some of the costliest divorce lawyers. A rubber-stamp process, where the chief justice of Colorados Supreme Court the sole authority to make the judicial appointments has never denied a request and, in several cases, not bothered to check whether the appointed judge had any discipline or complaints against them. There is virtually no oversight or review. When litigants request the appointment of a private judge to their case, the wording is so outdated that prospective judges agree to abide by rules of judicial conduct that havent existed for more than 15 years errors that are frequently repeated in the chief justices appointment order. A greater frequency of cases that are suppressed from public access, a measure of secrecy that includes the appointed judges order to do so and the lawyers underlying request for it. One private judge has sealed about two-thirds of the more than three dozen cases she's been appointed to handle since 2019, a frequency far more than she ever suppressed in her years as a district court judge. During their appointments, at least a half-dozen private judges has made political campaign contributions some of them dozens of times and totaling thousands of dollars. Such donations are prohibited in the Judicial Code of Conduct they agree to uphold. Though the rule allowing for private judges was ostensibly created to help alleviate courthouse congestion, the vast majority of the appointment requests said the underlying reason was for the litigants personal privacy, even though divorce and civil cases are, by law, presumptively public and accessible. None of the private judges except one has filed a personal financial disclosure statement revealing any potential conflicts of interest in the years since theyve left the bench, even though all other types of jurists are required to do so. None of the cases contained a financial accounting of what the private judge was ultimately paid, despite a requirement and oath to do so. There is no prohibition on a retired judge with a history of discipline from serving as an appointed judge, despite such a bar from serving as a senior judge. Its happened at least once in Colorado. Half a dozen women interviewed by The Denver Gazette for this article said theyd never heard of the process until their lawyers recommended it. Several said they felt pressured into agreeing. All refused to be identified publicly for fear their divorces and the lucrative outcomes or custody arrangements they received could be affected, either by the private judge who oversaw them or by ex-spouses they dont want to anger. One said she agreed to use a private judge only after her ex-husbands lawyer warned her that she faced a long and drawn-out divorce that would leave me penniless. Another said she felt the system was little more than a money grab, as expenses ran into thousands of dollars more than what had been estimated. It was enough to have liquidated nearly all her savings and left her sleeping in bunkbeds with her children in a small apartment just years after having enjoyed an exclusive home in an affluent neighborhood. Yet another applauded the process, saying she enjoyed the secrecy away from the public courthouse. No one gets to see my dirty laundry hanging out to dry, she said, adding that she appreciated the additional perks, including the free lunches they served during the hearings. Avoiding the traffic jam of litigation A private judge has all the power and authority of a regular sitting district court judge. But they are not bogged down by hundreds of cases on their docket and do not answer to voters every few years. Their decisions can be appealed and they are subject to oversight by the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. Unlike a district court judge, who is paid by taxpayers, a private judge is paid directly by the litigants, who also cover all the other expenses typically borne by the government. The judges can even walk away from a case at any time if the litigants run out of money or fail to pony up funds whenever the judge demands it. For their part, lawyers who have hired private judges speak of the process glowingly, specifically noting that there is no easier and quicker way to get hearings before a judge, and cases arent stuck in a traffic jam of litigation that regularly clogs the public court system. Among their accolades for private justice, almost universally, the lawyers cite their clients' nearly guaranteed confidentiality from prying eyes, a benefit most others do not get in regular district court. That privacy could include a blanket over allegations unfounded or not ranging from infidelity, sexual and physical abuse, malfeasance, fraud, or other professional misconduct that could impact reputations, careers and businesses if publicly known. We represent many high-end clients who want their privacy, not to have to be in the courthouse and sit on a bench outside the courtroom for all to see them, said Suzanne Griffiths, an attorney who is among the most prolific employers of private judges. You can accuse your spouse of all sorts of bad behavior, true or not, and anyone can read it if its public record. Private judges are more inclined to suppress a case than a public judge. In all, The Denver Gazette found nearly 200 cases involved the use of a private judge since 2019, only one of them a regular civil lawsuit. The rest were domestic relations (DR) cases, nearly all divorces, records show. The court system now doesnt really provide DR cases with sufficient time to handle the high net-worth ones, attorney Jordan Fox said. Divorce often needs a more expedient resolution and when were doing an even run-of-the-mill divorce, that could easily be a $2-to-$3 million-dollar litigation. The solution: a private judge. So, when the clients can afford it, going to a private judge with less on their docket and availability at a moments notice, it really does provide a benefit, said Fox, whose law firm, Tate/Sherman & Howard, is a frequent user of the process. Attorneys point to long delays in scheduling hearings at the regular courthouse and last-minute cancellations that can needlessly cost thousands of dollars for witnesses and experts, as well as thousands more in prep time that has to be repeated for a later date. A lot of sitting judges will say when theres a discovery dispute, they dont want motions, to call their office, maybe it happens sooner, but frequently not. You might not get the time you need, said attorney Jersey Green, who litigated the only civil case to use a private judge. Theyre just not available and dont have the time and can be extraordinarily frustrating. So, a case with hundreds of small skirmishes, potentially, theres not a real efficient way to handle it in the traditional court context. 'It's where the money is' The Colorado General Assembly in March approved a Judicial Department request to add a dozen more district court judges in answer to a system it says is so overburdened that it cant keep up. In an analysis the department made of judicial workloads, it noted that, even though the number of domestic relations cases statewide dropped by more than 3,300 in 2023 compared to five years earlier, theres been a greater need for judges to work on them. Yet, The Denver Gazette found that many of the counties where the new judges are to be allocated arent the ones where the most private judge appointments are happening, theoretically the places with the most crowded dockets. For example, El Paso County and the 4th Judicial District in which it sits has by far the highest number of domestic relations cases filed annually, with more than 5,440 of them in 2023, according to the Judicial Departments annual report. Only five private judge appointments have occurred there in the past six years, The Denver Gazette found. Denver had the second highest number of divorce filings last year and accounted for a quarter of the private judge appointments, but no new judges are allocated there. The two counties with the most private judge appointments Arapahoe and Douglas, respectively accounted for a third of them, records show, jurisdictions that ranked third and seventh in the state for domestic relations filings last year. Only one new judge is allocated for the two judicial districts in which they sit: The 18th and 23rd. Some of the other counties with the greatest number of DR case filings Weld, Larimer and Pueblo among them have had no private judge cases the past six years, records show. Of the three, one new judge is being allocated to Weld Countys 19th Judicial District. "We do not currently have enough active judges to handle the workload of the courts. The senior judge program, appointed judges ... and retired judges all help expand our capacity to serve the public by resolving disputes in a timely and efficient manner when the court system is understaffed," the Judicial Department told The Denver Gazette in an email through a spokesperson. "But even those additions are far from sufficient to address our need. The contributions of our retired judges, whether provided through the Senior Judge Program or paid for by the parties in a civil matter, are critical to assisting our active judges in meeting the publics needs." And Eagle County, where just 262 divorce cases were filed last year, managed to account for nearly 5% of all private judge appointments since 2019, records show. Similarly, Boulder County saw more than 1,100 divorce cases filed last year and has had more than 8% of the private judge appointments happen there. Neither judicial district is scheduled to get a new district court judge. Said a retired judge who asked her name not be used in order to speak freely: Clearly, its not where the need is; its where the money is. The judge has not received an appointment as a private judge, though she said she would if asked. This private judge system is a godsend to them and they can probably name their price, the retired judge said about the hourly rate a private judge is paid. Its an extremely lucrative practice. Adapting rules for private judges Colorados private judge program was on the books in the early 1980s but rarely used, largely because the Supreme Court hadnt bothered to come up with any rules for how it would operate. It remained in obscurity. Although then Chief Justice Anthony Vollack issued a directive in 1996 regarding appointed judges, it didnt change much. Of particular note was that any appointed judge would be paid an agreed upon salary, a change from an earlier and less popular practice of paying the same as any other district court judge. Apparently not enough retired judges said theyd be happy to help. Despite the order, use of private judges remained rare. That shifted in 2004 with the courts formulation of a Judicial Advisory Council Subcommittee, which drafted the significant Rule 122 that would govern the selection and use of an appointed judge. With it came a new judicial canon of conduct specifically for those judges. The Colorado Supreme Court adopted the new rule and the so-called Canon 9 in 2005. I think the whole point of the rule at the time was to alleviate pressure on the civil and domestic courts that were groaning because the time to trial was extensive, said Carol Haller, who was an attorney at Colorado Legal Services, a former Weld County judge and former deputy state court administrator who served on the subcommittee. This was all a couple of years before we had a push to hire more judges. Thats how attorney Jonathan Asher remembers it, too. There was a sense that for some litigants, the delay and sometimes unpredictability of the court system, that it might make sense to formalize a process that people could ask to appoint private judges, said Asher, who at the time was executive director of Colorado Legal Services and served on the subcommittee. It was never viewed as a replacement for the public justice system, merely a supplement that some might be interested in. A key difference to Canon 9 that set it apart from the other eight canons other judges were required to follow was the allowance for political contributions. But that ended five years later in 2010, when the Supreme Court adopted a new set of judicial conduct canons that barred appointed judges as well as senior and retired judges from making contributions to political candidates and organizations. Leniency on discipline problems Featured Local Savings Colorados rules on private judges are similar to those of other states that have allowed the practice for years. California is viewed as the originator of the system, where it is frequently referred to as rent-a-judge. In Colorado, litigants can shop around for a retired judge whose schedule or lack of a busy one could accommodate their need to move things quickly. Sometimes, that's a matter of finding a judge with a degree of expertise in a particular subject area, such as family law. A frequent criticism of the public courts is that litigants are at the mercy of the public docket, and often of judges who are unfamiliar with the complexities of family law. With a private judge, hearings are at the convenience of the litigants, not the judge. But there are critical differences, too. In Texas, for example, a private judge must meet certain criteria in order to be appointed. One area is that the candidate must not have been removed from office or resigned while under investigation for discipline. In Colorado, that prohibition applies only to applicants for the Judicial Departments senior judge program, where a retired judge can work a few months on the bench filling in for other judges, while still earning retirement credits with the states pension system. But not a private appointed judge. There is no prohibition on their service should they have a history of discipline in Colorado and The Denver Gazette found at least one instance where that has happened. One judge who retired amid an investigation into their conduct and was later disciplined privately over it has been appointed at least a dozen times, according to records and interviews with people familiar with the matter. The Judicial Department said a discipline record shouldn't be an automatic disqualifier. "Private discipline can be imposed for a variety of reasons that may or may not reflect the judges suitability to serve as an appointed judge," the department said through a spokesperson in an email. "For example, private discipline imposed years ago for conduct that was later corrected should not automatically preclude a retired judge from service as an appointed judge. Consideration of any past discipline should be handled on a case-by-case basis." Private disciplines are not public and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline will not confirm any inquiry or outcome that is not a matter of public record. No discussion about transparency In Californias system, a retired judge in its senior judge program cannot serve as an appointed one, as well. You have to choose one or the other, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George said in 2002, when he announced the restriction. It was a question of perception, he said. One senior judge there had put a trial into recess so he could attend to private judging matters. In Colorado, there is no prohibition on serving both programs. Currently, Randall Arp, who served in Jefferson Countys 1st Judicial District for 17 years until his retirement in 2023, is the only senior judge to have accepted appointments as a private one, The Denver Gazette has found. "We are not aware of any issues or conflict of interest concerns in Colorado about senior judges also serving as an appointed judge," the department said through a spokesperson's email. "Under the Code of Judicial Conduct, all judges must avoid conflicts of interest or appearances of conflicts of interest. At this time, we do not see the need for such a restriction." And in California, a private judge is not allowed to suppress or seal any case before them. That decision is left exclusively to the district court judge originally assigned to the case or the sitting chief judge in the jurisdiction the case is filed. The Judicial Department told The Denver Gazette it has no plans to change how it works in Colorado, which allows private judges to suppress. "Cases before appointed judges are civil cases filed in state courts subject to the same rules as if the case were before an active district or county judge," the Department said. "The appointed judge has the same authority as an active judge, and a ruling made by an appointed judge can be appealed in the same manner as in any other case." In Colorado, where 10 different private judges have suppressed cases from the public, the idea of transparency or a lack of it never occurred to the subcommittee that created Rule 122. The one judge who retired amid an investigation into their conduct and was later disciplined privately over it has been appointed at least a dozen times, according to records and interviews with people familiar with the matter. I dont remember any discussion about transparency or appointed judges being a good way for people to have their private business kept private, Haller said. No one ever said (in the subcommittee meetings) it was a good way for rich people to keep their business private. Asher, who served on the subcommittee, said his concern for the number of suppressions that private judges are approving in Colorado is a matter of perception. It would seem to me that if its known a particular judge is more willing to seal cases that counsel and litigants, if they think theyll want things sealed, theyll try to get that judge hired and approved, he said. That just seems logical. Few discipline checks Private judges affirm the chief justice can request their discipline history from the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel that oversees the states law licensing and the Commission on Judicial Discipline. There is no requirement to check, but the thinking is to ensure there are no issues with a judges past or current performance on the bench before they are appointed. Theoretically, a private judge could still be subject to discipline for any misconduct while serving in that capacity. Youd think the litigants would even ask, that one of the attorneys would care, said Asher of the subcommittee. Id be very surprised if neither lawyer would care. Yet the frequency with which the Supreme Court staff requested discipline histories is sporadic at best, The Denver Gazette found. Of the 35 appointments made in 2024, for example, discipline histories were requested only nine times, records show. The year before it was only four times for the 27 appointments that were made. The same for 2022, records show. In Texas, a candidate for private judge must not have been removed from office or resigned while under investigation for discipline or removal. That would include their time serving as a private judge in any other matter. Not in Colorado. The standard practice of the Commission (on Judicial Discipline) was to respond to requests for discipline status submitted by the Supreme Court staff and those would include records of past private and public discipline, and any pending discipline or pending proceedings or complaints, said Christopher Gregory, the former executive director of the commission until January 2024. Some of those requests that were responded to were in the affirmative. Gregory explained that any request for a private judge should include a discipline check no matter how frequently the same name might come up. You dont know if theyre still on the bench and later rotated off, or if there is something new that has arisen since the last request, Gregory said. Even if its to be the same response, the process requires it be checked. The 'pots and pans division' The perception that private judging sets up a two-tier system of justice, one for the wealthy and another for the rest, is a long-running discussion. In Ohio, experts debated the issue in 1995, noting conflicts with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment was intended to maintain equality in the treatment of all individuals where state action was involved, attorney Amy Litkovitz wrote in the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution. In the area of private judging, there is some concern that wealthy litigants will be able to hire a private judge, but that litigants who are pro se (represent themselves), using legal aid, or depending on a judgment in order to pay court and attorneys fees will not. Because private litigants incur expenses which traditional litigants do not, private judging appears more expensive. Thus, the non-affluent are ostensibly excluded. Litkovitz, however, thought those problems were somewhat exaggerated, theorizing that clearing the clogged courts with private judging actually benefited those forced to use the regular justice system. Others say private judges, for some litigants, might be compared to expensive shopping. "When the attorneys develop intimate business relationships with the private judges, and the financial benefits to them both, what's that look like for the have-nots?" said Christine McGinley, executive director of Project Justice Colorado. But Colorado, according to one of the writers of Rule 122, relies on the chief justice to weed out any concerns. However, the chief justice has not denied any of the 177 requests to appoint a private judge in the six years of data reviewed by The Denver Gazette. It seems unlikely that the Chief Justice is going to be particularly concerned about the parties motives unless the case is of such notoriety as to arouse the Chief Justices curiosity or concern about the desirability of removing the case from the regular judicial system, then-attorney Richard Holme wrote in The Colorado Lawyer in September 2005, when the new rule was passed. Said McGinley of Project Justice Colorado, The more you look into this the more youll see its little more than a high-end service. The rest of us have to deal with magistrates who start out in DR court without any training on how to even be a judicial officer, let alone an expert in family law. Most if not all new judges start off in family court. Some Colorado judges refer to it as the pots and pans division. 'Less scrutiny in private judging' Public access to the courts is another matter of dispute. Private judging in Colorado is largely, if not exclusively, done in conference rooms or mock courtrooms away from the courthouse. The subcommittee that issued Rule 122 thought some guarantee of public access was important. Since appointed judge proceedings are still public proceedings, a location must be selected that will accommodate the possibility of members of the public or the press being in attendance, Holme wrote in The Colorado Lawyer. Thus, it is not expected that a proper location would be the office of one of the lawyers or of the appointed judge. Hearings might be held in hotel or motel ballrooms or conference rooms, school auditoriums, and the like. What The Denver Gazette found, however, is that hearings are frequently held in the downtown Denver offices of the Judicial Arbiter Group (JAG), a collection of retired judges who serve as mediators, arbitrators and, for the bulk of the cases in Colorado, private judges. The JAG offices have a pair of large conference rooms and a pair of mock courtrooms that appear much like public courthouses around the state, except for one key difference: There is no public gallery seating. Asked about the publics ability to access any hearing at its offices at any time, JAG managing arbitrator, retired judge William Meyer, was succinct: Most of those involve financials and are closed to the public anyway. Inaccessibility to hearings that are presumed to be public is a concern, but its impact might actually be less than perceived, according to Wald, the DU law professor. In private judging, we allow it not so much because we want the rich and powerful to escape scrutiny and more privacy, we do so because there is relatively little harm to the public, Wald said. There is less scrutiny in private judging, but practically speaking the average person is not the recipient of a lot of scrutiny in the first place. There is less of a perception of harm to the public. Lack of accounting The actual costs of the private judge system is a mystery. Rule 122 requires a public report of the expenses incurred to be filed when the private judges tenure ends. But records show that hasnt happened in the six years reviewed by The Denver Gazette. That was news to the Judicial Department. "After the judges tenure in the case ends, the parties are solely responsible for filing financial reports that document the amount the parties themselves have spent," the department said through a spokesperson. "The parties are required to file this information with the trial court, not the Supreme Court. If it is true that this is not happening on a consistent basis, the Department will look into the issue further." Each Supreme Court petition to appoint the judge must show how much the judge will be paid records show on average it is $450 per hour and estimate the overall cost for all other expenses, such as for court reporters. In Colorado, the chief justice has not denied any of the 177 requests to appoint a private judge in the six years of data reviewed by The Denver Gazette. At a salary of nearly $199,000 a year, district judges in Colorado are paid about $95 an hour for a typical 40-hour workweek. The average estimated cost of using a private judge, according to the petitions requesting them, was about $10,000, with several reaching as high as $75,000. But litigants interviewed by The Denver Gazette said it was much higher with one saying theyd already paid the judge more than $100,000 for a case that is still pending. Whenever theres paid services, theres always someone who can pay more, said one litigant whose case is ongoing. Said another: The more acrimonious the divorce, the more money they make. Editor's note: The original version of this story said Carol Haller is an attorney at Colorado Legal Services. She was with Colorado Legal Services. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday he expected to have a one-on-one discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump on tariffs, as Washington prepares to announce new tariffs on its trading partners on April 2. There are concerns Australia could be impacted by the looming escalation in the Trump administration's global trade war when it unveils the reciprocal tariffs on so-called "liberation day". Trump this month imposed steel and aluminium tariffs that affect Australian exports. Albanese, speaking on the second full day of campaigning ahead of a May 3 general election in Australia, said his government had engaged "very constructively" with U.S. officials on tariffs, ahead of the expected April 2 announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the possibility of speaking with Trump on the issue, Albanese said: "We'll have a one-on-one discussion". "A couple of weeks ago, the reason why that didn't occur was because the president made a decision to not talk to anyone and impose this regime on every country," Albanese added, in remarks televised by the Australian Broadcasting Corp from Canberra. A key issue in Australia's election campaign is which leader - Albanese or the Liberal-National coalition's Peter Dutton - would best handle relations with Trump, who exempted Australia from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium during his first presidential term. Albanese has previously said his centre-left Labor government is "engaging on a daily basis" with the Trump administration over tariffs, pointing to his two phone calls with the U.S. president and early meetings between the two countries' defence and foreign ministers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on Sunday, Albanese's government made a pledge to crack down on price gouging by the nation's supermarkets, as part of the five-week election campaign in which the cost of living also is a central issue. Albanese on Saturday touted Labor's credentials on affordable healthcare. The government is running neck-and-neck in opinion polls with the National-Liberal coalition, which has campaigned on a housing crisis that it claims is putting home ownership out of reach. Longer-term, the coalition wants to adopt nuclear power in the country. After enjoying a healthy lead for much of his term, Albanese's personal approval ratings are now near those of Dutton, a former police officer and the defence minister in the last conservative government. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Paul Simao) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. These dishes contain Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria behind tuberculosis (TB). Each outlined area contains a different antibiotic, and you can tell which drugs the bacteria is resistant to based on how well it grows in that section. Drug resistance makes TB much more challenging to treat. | Credit: CDC / Dr. George Kubica Author John Green has been obsessed with tuberculosis (TB) since 2019, when he first visited Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone and met a young TB patient named Henry Reider. In his latest book Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection (Crash Course Books, 2025), Green explores the history of the bacterial disease, highlighting its impact in different eras of history. And he calls attention to the present reality of TB, a curable disease that nonetheless kills over a million people each year due to stark health care inequities around the globe. In this day and age, Green argues that injustice is the root cause of TB cases and deaths, and that we can collectively choose to correct that injustice and finally snuff out the deadly disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: 'We have to fight for a better end': Author John Green on how threats to USAID derail the worldwide effort to end tuberculosis At the time, I knew almost nothing about TB. To me, it was a disease of history something that killed depressive 19th-century poets, not present-tense humans. But as a friend once told me, "Nothing is so privileged as thinking history belongs to the past." When we arrived at Lakka, we were immediately greeted by a child who introduced himself as Henry. "That's my son's name," I told him, and he smiled. Most Sierra Leoneans are multilingual, but Henry spoke particularly good English, especially for a kid his age, which made it possible for us to have a conversation that could go beyond my few halting phrases of Krio. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, "I am happy, sir. I am encouraged." He loved that word. Who wouldn't? Encouraged, like courage is something we rouse ourselves and others into. My son Henry was 9 then, and this Henry looked about the same age a small boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. He wore shorts and an oversized rugby shirt that reached nearly to his knees. Henry took hold of my T-shirt and began walking me around the hospital. He showed me the lab where a technician was looking through a microscope. Henry looked into the microscope and then asked me to, as the lab tech, a young woman from Freetown, explained that this sample contained tuberculosis even though the patient had been treated for several months with standard therapy. The lab tech began to tell me about this "standard therapy," but Henry was pulling on my shirt again. He walked me through the wards, a complex of poorly ventilated buildings that contained hospital rooms with barred windows, thin mattresses, and no toilets. There was no electricity in the wards, and no consistent running water. To me, the rooms resembled prison cells. Before it was a TB hospital, Lakka was a leprosy isolation facility and it felt like one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside each room, one or two patients lay on cots, generally on their side or back. A few sat on the edges of their beds, leaning forward. All these men (the women were in a separate ward) were thin. Some were so emaciated that their skin seemed wrapped tightly around bone. As we walked down a hallway between buildings, Henry and I watched a young man drink water from a plastic bottle, and then promptly vomit a mix of bile and blood. I instinctively turned away, but Henry continued to stare at the man. I figured Henry was someone's kid a doctor, maybe, or a nurse, or one of the cooking or cleaning staff. Everyone seemed to know him, and everyone stopped their work to say hello and rub his head or squeeze his hand. I was immediately charmed by Henry he had some of the mannerisms of my son, the same paradoxical mixture of shyness and enthusiastic desire for connection. Henry eventually brought me back to the group of doctors and nurses who were meeting in a small room near the entrance of the hospital, and then one of the nurses lovingly and laughingly shooed him away. "Who is that kid?" I asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Henry?" answered a nurse. "The sweetest boy." "He's one of the patients we're worried about," said a physician who went by Dr. Micheal. "He's a patient?" I asked. "Yes." "He's such a cute little kid," I said. "I hope he's going to be okay." Dr. Micheal told me that Henry wasn't a little boy. He was seventeen. He was only so small because he'd grown up malnourished, and then the TB had further emaciated his body. "He seems to be doing okay," I said. "Lots of energy. He walked me all around the hospital." "This is because the antibiotics are working," Dr. Micheal explained. "But we know they are not working well enough. We are almost certain they will fail, and that is a big problem." He shrugged, tight-lipped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a lot I didn't understand. After I first met Henry, I asked one of the nurses if he would be okay. "Oh, we love our Henry!" she said. She told me he had already gone through so much in his young life. Thank God, she said, that Henry was so loved by his mother, Isatu, who visited him regularly and brought him extra food whenever she could. Most of the patients at Lakka had no visitors. Many had been abandoned by their families; a tuberculosis case in the family was a tremendous mark of shame. But Henry had Isatu. I realized none of this was an answer to whether he would be okay. RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 of the deadliest superbugs that scientists are worried about 'It is a dangerous strategy, and one for which we all may pay dearly': Dismantling USAID leaves the US more exposed to pandemics than ever Massive tuberculosis outbreak sickens dozens in Kansas He is such a happy child, she told me. He cheers everyone up. When he'd been able to go to school, the other kids called him pastor, because he was always offering them prayers and assistance. Still, this was not an answer. "We will fight for him," she told me at last. Editor's note: This excerpt, from Chapter 1 of "Everything is Tuberculosis," has been shortened for the purpose of this reprinting. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection In "Everything Is Tuberculosis," John Green tells the story of Henry Reider, a tuberculosis patient he met at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. Throughout the book, he interweaves Henry's story with scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.View Deal An international cactus smuggling operation worth over $1 million has led to a landmark court ruling that could transform how we protect rare plants worldwide, The Guardian reported. What happened? In February 2020, Italian police discovered more than 1,000 rare cacti in the home of Andrea Piombetti, a well-known plant collector who called himself "The King of the Cactus Pirates." Alongside his accomplice Mattia Crescentini, Piombetti had smuggled the plants from Chile through Greece and Romania before selling them to collectors across Europe, Asia, and North America. "These were incredible plants, they were ancient plants, hundreds of years old," Andrea Cattabriga, a cactus expert who helped identify the stolen specimens, told the BBC. Some of the cacti were older than the smugglers themselves, growing just one centimeter per year in harsh desert conditions. Why is cactus smuggling concerning? The illegal plant trade threatens biodiversity in some of Earth's most unique ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The collection of a few specimens can really affect the species that could face extinction. But each living form in the desert is important because it is a very selective environment where biodiversity is very complex," cactus expert Andrea Cattabriga explains. Local volunteer Mauricio Gonzalez describes how poachers in Chile's Atacama Desert can wipe out entire species: "Sometimes the volunteers hide their favorite plants under rock slates to conceal them from potential poachers. Since the cacti tend to have highly localised endemisms with small populations found only in specific sites, poachers can wipe out a whole species with a couple of flicks of a chisel." Research shows that 76% of Copiapoa species are endangered because of trafficking and rising global temperatures. "They are in very rapid decline," says Pablo Guerrero, a cactus researcher at the Universidad de Concepcion. "Some will go extinct in the wild soon. It is very dramatic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When plant populations vanish, entire networks of insects and animals lose their food sources and habitats. Human communities also suffer as natural attractions disappear and ecosystems become less stable. What's being done about cactus smuggling? The case has created two exciting breakthroughs for plant protection. First, about 840 of the stolen cacti were sent back to Chile, one of the first known cases of plants being returned to their country of origin. 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. Even more significant was the court's ruling that the smugglers must pay 20,000 (about $21,594) to a conservation organization to repair the ecological harm they caused. "We're giving plants a right, a right to not be destroyed, because they are beings," Cattabriga said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This approach is now being explored in Uganda, the Philippines, and Indonesia, creating a potential wave of "green litigation" whereby poachers will pay for the full environmental cost of their crimes. You can help by researching the origin of any unusual plants before buying them, supporting conservation organizations working to protect rare species, and reporting suspicious plant sales to local authorities. 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. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Saturday, Mar. 29, 2025, the Autism Society of North Carolina hosted its annual walk/run at Greenville Town Common. Its an event to help raise awareness and acceptance for people with autism and to bring the community together. Officials with The Autism Society of North Carolina said 1-in-36 children are diagnosed with autism and about 5.4 million Americans are living with it. People showed out for the race and WNCTs own Brian Bailey emceed the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of individuals trying to be integrated in the community, particularly right now. We have a lot of young adults with autism in this community, Eastern Regional Services Director for the Autism Society of North Carolina Holly Akin said. Many of them are looking for employment opportunities, volunteer opportunities and peer relationships, so its really important for people to meet the individuals with autism and build those bonds. Click the video above for more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Defence ministers from the Baltic states have warned that a ceasefire in Ukraine would significantly increase the security threat to their region. Source: Financial Times, as reported by European Pravda Details: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are concerned that Moscow will not stop at Ukraine once a ceasefire agreement is signed by the Trump administration. The Baltic states point out that the Kremlin has already outlined plans to ramp up military production and deploy additional troops along their borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We all understand that when the war in Ukraine will be stopped, Russia will redistribute its forces very quickly. That means also the threat level will increase significantly very quickly," Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told the FT. His Lithuanian counterpart, Dovile Sakaliene, made similar statements while in the United Kingdom earlier this week. "Lets not lie to ourselves that Russia is going to be done after Ukraine. Russia will use this time following a ceasefire to speed up its military capabilities. They already have a huge, battlefield-trained army, which is going to get even bigger," she said. A cessation of hostilities would give Russia the opportunity to create a 1.5-million-strong army and add an entirely new army corps in the north, doubling the number of troops near Finland and the Baltic states. Pevkur noted that of the 600,000 Russian troops currently in Ukraine, 300,000 would likely be redeployed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These men will not go back to different parts of Russia to harvest the corn or do something else because the salary they are getting in the army is like 5 to 10 times more than what they could get in their hometown," Pevkur said. The Baltic States are particularly concerned about the large-scale Zapad military exercises, which will take place this autumn near their borders in Russia and Belarus. These exercises, held every four years, simulate a conflict with NATO countries and involve tens of thousands of troops, tanks, aircraft and artillery. Pevkur and Sakaliene also warned against the redeployment of NATO troops from their countries to form a so-called European "reassurance force" that would be sent to Ukraine as a means to deter Russia from further aggression. NATO's eastern flank countries, including Poland and Romania, have stated they cannot assume commitments to deploy forces in Ukraine at the expense of their own security. Estonia also opposed the United Kingdoms plans to redeploy British troops to Ukraine that were originally intended for the defence of the Baltic States. Background: Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the country's armed forces estimate that Russia views the West as a systemic enemy, is building up its military power and preparing for a large-scale confrontation with NATO. Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised a devastating response to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin for an attack on Poland or any other NATO member state. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The death toll in Bangkok from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday has risen to 17, Thai authorities said on Sunday, as rescue teams search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building. At least 83 people remain missing, authorities said, adding that 32 others have been reported injured. Rescue teams are concentrating on a collapsed 30-storey skyscraper in Bangkok, where more people are believed to be trapped. Ten deaths have been confirmed at the site so far, but more people are thought to be under the rubble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday rescue crews recovered the body of a worker from the skyscraper, local media reported. They used a crane and metal basket to lift the body from the debris in the early hours of Sunday, according to the Khaosod newspaper. The quake has caused significant damage in the Thai capital and also been felt in parts of China and Vietnam. Myanmar opposition declares unilateral ceasefire In Myanmar the country's opposition democratic shadow government announced on Sunday a two-week unilateral pause in its fighting with the ruling military junta, though "defence operations" are excluded from this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "suspension of all offensive military operations" is to take place in the "earthquake-affected areas and related districts," the National Unity Government (NUG) wrote on X. The military junta continued its attacks against rebel groups shortly after the earthquake struck on Friday, according to media reports. In an interview with the BBC, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called on the junta to halt all military operations. The NUG has been fighting the junta since shortly after the military took power in a coup in 2021. The death toll in Myanmar so far stands at 1,644, with more than 3,400 injured, but the casualty figures could rise by thousands due to the proximity of populated areas to the epicentre and the vulnerability of many structures. A new poll finds a plurality of Americans believe the county has become a ruder place. The boorish President Trump shoulders some of the blame. (Associated Press) If youve driven on the freeway in recent years, been to the grocery store, attended a movie or a live performance heck, if youve been at all sentient the findings of a new poll will startle you about as much as the sun rising at dawn and setting at dusk. America has gotten ruder. At least, thats how a plurality of Americans perceive the tetchy state of our union. A poll released this month by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic many of those surveyed believe public behavior in the United States has changed for the worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our politics surely have. Everything's a war. Everything's a battle. There's no collaboration, no coordination, no civic pride, said Don Sipple, a veteran communications strategist who helped shape campaign messages for George W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown, among many others. Civic duty is just warfare," Sipple continued. "And since Donald Trump entered the [presidential] race in 2015, its only gotten more corrosive and caustic. Thats what happens when you have a president with no filter, no conscience and a flamethrower where his mouth should be. More on that in a moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Barabak: He's been an outspoken Trump critic. Others fear the price he and his family pay The pandemic seems a good starting point to measure the foundering of Americas ps and qs, seeing as how it produced the equivalent of a national nervous breakdown and pried a deeply divided country even further apart. The Pew survey found that just under half of U.S. adults polled 47% said the way people behave in public these days is ruder than before the pandemic. Two in 10 said todays behavior is a lot ruder. Some 44% of adults said public behavior is about the same; 9% said people are behaving a lot or a little more politely in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those latter respondents have presumably been anesthetized, never set foot in the real world or live in a permanent, chemically induced stupor. How do you or, rather, how did the Pew researchers measure rudeness? The behaviors they tested involved, among various trespasses, smoking, swearing and the use of technology around other people. Of the eight actions mentioned in the survey, two drew the widest disapproval: 77% said its rarely or never acceptable to smoke around others and 74% said the same about taking a photo or video of someone without their permission. About two-thirds of adults said it is rarely or never acceptable to bring a child to an adult venue, such as a bar or upscale restaurant; to visibly display swear words, such as on a T-shirt or sign; or to curse out loud in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smaller majorities say its rarely or never acceptable to play music out loud or to wear headphones or earbuds while talking to someone. In both instances, a sizable number said it depends: Roughly a third said its sometimes OK to play music out loud, and about a quarter said that about wearing headphones while talking to someone. The poll found the largest gap in perceived rudeness was between those of different ages. Older adults were more likely than younger adults to consider it impolite to curse out loud, visibly display profanity or wear headphones or earbuds while talking to someone in person. Strikingly, in an age when everything seems politicized there were not major differences in viewpoints based on respondents partisan affiliations. At the very least, Democrats and Republicans agree that wafting cigarette smoke in someones face and capturing their reaction on video without first asking is untoward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe theres hope for the republic yet. Not that youd want to model the behavior of our boorish, foul-mouthed chief executive. It seemed scandalous and highly indecorous back in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush referred to his Democratic rivals, Bill Clinton and Al Gore, as two bozos. Bush felt obliged to apologize, as did his son George W., when he was seeking the White House eight years later and a hot mic caught him referring to one of the New York Times political correspondents as a major league a. Its worth noting that indiscretion, however heartfelt, became public by accident. Bush didn't bellow it out at a campaign rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compare that with Trumps casual profanity and the insults fat, ugly, scum, "stupid," "sleazebag," "pencil neck," son of a bitch he regularly spews at opponents. When he descended upon the Justice Department earlier this month to whine about the serial criminal cases he once faced, arguably the least shocking thing about Trump's extraordinary, browbeating appearance was the presidential use of the profanity bulls while in public. Donald Trump has been at the leading edge of changing the discourse norms of leadership in the presidency, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a University of Pennsylvania expert on political communication and the author of extensive works on the subject. I mean, hes broken barriers never before broken. Read more: Barabak: Elon Musk brought a Silicon Valley mindset to Trump's Washington. It's been a disaster Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to parse the degree to which politics shape culture and how much culture shapes our politics. As Jamieson noted, "We're influenced by what we see around us. If I hear a lot of what we would traditionally mark off as uncivil discourse, it seems normal to me. Is it any surprise, then, that America has gotten ruder? Especially with the crassness and vulgarity routinely emanating from the nation's ill-mannered chief executive? Andrew Breitbart, the late conservative website publisher, famously suggested politics is downstream from culture. But it seems these days the waters have commingled, creating a pool thats increasingly foul-smelling and polluted. Like a fish, America's manners have rotted from the top down. So, too, our political dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No wonder people hold their nose and refuse to take their earbuds out. Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 29Barbara Nylund, Colonel, US Army Medical Corps, PhD, MD Barbara Nylund, who lived with open arms and an open heart, died on December 26, 2024, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her life was illuminated by a sense of wonder in all things and by the spirit of adventure. She radiated a warmth, easily shared, and an indomitable intellectual curiosity. A Doctor of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and a Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps, she lived with a fierce sense of justice and the dignity of every being, and with a dedication to serve others. She was born in 1943 in Galveston, Texas, where her father, Theodore Nylund, served in the Army Corps of Engineers. The family returned to New Mexico, where her mother, Mabel Richardson, worked as a legal secretary. Mabel had known many prominent people in her youth, including Leonard Sly, aka Roy Rogers, Peter Hurd, the renowned New Mexico artist who painted the official portrait of President L.B.J., and Jim White who claimed discovery of the bats of Carlsbad Caverns. So, as a child, Barbara was given firsthand knowledge of artists' studios, musical groups, explorers and naturalists. The Seaton Ranch was only a short ride from her Uncle Bob's Lone Pine Ranch; Helen Hardin, a classmate, introduced Barbara to her mother, the muralist Pablita Velarde, and to printmakers Gene Kloss and R.C. Gorman. In Santa Fe, Barbara began her lifelong love of learning at Kaune Elementary school. Graduating from Sandia High in Albuquerque, she attended the University of New Mexico as an undergraduate and graduate student. She received a PhD from George Washington University for research on membrane transport and returned to UNM, joining the Army to complete her medical education. Embarking on courses in photography, art, celestial navigation and astronomy, as well as wilderness and marine medicine, she never stopped learning. Having spent so many years studying, she would often say her life "was an open book." In 1976 she met and married John Ross Morgan, Jr., a nuclear engineer. After his death, Barbara established a fund in his name to support environmental law at the Library of the UNM Law School, where he had been studying. As a doctor she was dedicated to patient care, advocating for access and concerned with ethical standards. She took on many leadership roles. She was chief of Gastroenterology at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and then at Letterman Army Hospital at the Presidio, San Francisco. After many years of private practice, during which she served on the Board of the Marin Medical Society, as Medical Director of Our Lady of Peace Hospice of Marin and as Chief of Staff of Novato Community Hospital, she received the highest honor in her field, the American Gastroenterological Association Fellowship. Barbara loved the outdoors, raised rabbits, rode horses and pitched tents. She became a Girl Scout, a riding councilor and, at age 16, participated in the New Mexico Civil Air Patrol. Inspired by her cousin Marlene, who had a pilot's license, Barbara wrote a school paper about Jacqueline Cochran, a pioneer in women's aviation and the first woman to break the sound barrier. Cochran was the head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), more than a thousand American women fliers in non-combat roles during World War II. Barbara sent her the biography and it was returned with a signature and a note: "Don't stop flying!" Undeterred by boundaries, Barbara applied to the astronaut program before any women had been admitted. In her pulmonology rotation she had the privilege of testing several of the Astronauts of Apollo 15 who were training for their moonwalk on the New Mexico plains. In 1989 she met and later married Wendyn Cadden, an artist and activist, and together they dedicated their lives to sailing and social justice. Later, in California, while still in the Army Reserves, Colonel Nylund spoke to groups of high school students alongside Leon "Woodie" Spears, a Tuskegee Airman, one of the surviving African American aviators who fought courageously in Europe, facing discrimination in training, assignments and recognition. She illuminated the unrecognized service of the WASPs and introduced the Navajo Code Talker Chester Nez of the US Marine Corps as he was promoting his book that described the invaluable skills that helped the US Military outsmart Japanese intelligence in WWII. Dr Nylund will be remembered for her endless generosity, her skill and caring as a medical practitioner, her fierce sense of justice and her loving heart. She died after a long battle with reality in dementia. On March 28, 2025 she was laid to rest with military honors at Santa Fe National Cemetery. In addition to her spouse, Wendyn Cadden, she is survived by her sister, Marilyn Beall, nephew Nathan Alexander Beall and grandnieces Mattie Rose and Samaera Beall. Donations in memory of Barbara Nylund may be made to the John Ross Morgan, Jr. Library Endowment for Environmental Law (#632020), MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131. ANDERSON Although her official title is county engineer, Jessica Bastin wears many different hats when it comes to county government. She is currently the director of the newly created Madison County Parks and Recreation Department. She was instrumental in the distribution of the countys American Rescue Plan funds, and was active with the countys Bicentennial Committee. A native of Pennsylvania, Bastin came to Indiana to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology to get her engineering degree and stayed in the Hoosier State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bastin, 45, came to go to school and fell in love with Indiana. She was appointed to the Pendleton Town Council and lost a bid for re-election. Bastin started as Madison County engineer in 2021. I was at Anderson University at the time, she said of applying for the county position. It was during COVID-19. I was not actively looking, but looking for another position. A mutual acquaintance showed me the opportunity, Bastin said. The responsibilities that came with the job were not what I expected at that time, she said. But that was in a good way, because I wanted to be involved more than I thought I would. It has been a lot of fun because I get to do so many different things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bastin said the opportunity with the American Rescue Plan funds was not on her radar. When the funding was announced, she expected to play a more ancillary role on potential projects. It gave me a more active role in that, she said. I got to meet a lot of people and the needs of the community. Bastin said the experience gave her a wider view of the Madison County community and how her position is involved in other projects. My background is infrastructure, she said. Looking at where we want to be and what needs to be done to get there in the areas of transportation, drinking water, waste water and stormwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bastin said she loves being involved in different areas of the community. Ive had a lot of different mentors over the years, she said. Ive been fortunate to have a lot of good people in my life both personally and professionally. Its important to have someone to just talk to at times. Bastin said her family likes to camp, kayak and hike during her time away from work. The family has a beekeeping business in Henry County. One person was extricated from a vehicle in a high-angle rescue off Gold Camp Road Saturday, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Just before 11 a.m., the Fire Department announced on social media that rescue efforts involving "numerous apparatus and crews" were underway to rescue one patient. The department further reported that there were road closures. About 30 minutes later, firefighters reported that one person had been extricated from the vehicle, and that crews were "hauling the patient safely to a waiting ambulance." A photo shared to the Fire Department's X account shows a vehicle, apparently stuck and far below the road, surrounded by trees and steep rugged terrain. Firefighters did not initially say in their post how the car ended up off the road or how far down the road it was believe to have traveled. No information about the condition of the patient was provided. A local township administrator is facing charges after a traffic stop on March 21. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Beavercreek Township Administrator Ryan Rushing, 31, has been charged with Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated (OVI), speed and marked lane violations, according to Fairborn Municipal Court records. An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper stopped Rushing around 11 p.m. on March 21, according to court records. News Center 7 is working to learn additional details about the traffic stop. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beavercreek Township Board of Trustees chair Tom Kretz told News Center 7 that Township leaders are aware of the charges. Kretz said Rushing told him about the traffic stop and charges before the regularly scheduled Trustee Meeting on Monday, March 24. Following Township policy, Mr. Rushing notified the full Board of Trustees of the incident at the regularly scheduled Trustee Meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, during a duly called Executive Session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.2.22(G)(1), Kretz said in a statement. Kretz believes Rushing also reported the incident to the Beavercreek Township Human Resource Manager on Monday. Based on Mr. Rushings account of the incident to the Board of Trustees, and after consulting with Township General Counsel, the Board of Trustees believes the following to be true: a) The incident did not occur on Township property or while operating a Township-owned vehicle b) The incident did not occur during Township business hours c) The incident did not occur while, on the way to, or on the way from, Mr. Rushing performing any Township-related duty or role d) No damage to property or injuries were reported at the incident e) Mr. Rushing is working through the legal process with his legal counsel at his own expense and using personal leave or vacation time to address and resolve the matter, and f) Mr. Rushings ability to perform his official duties since the incident occurred has not been impacted because of the incident in any way Therefore, as of this time, the Board of Trustees views this matter to be Mr. Rushings matter, not a Beavercreek Township matter, unless and until his personal matter should in any way limit or negatively impact his ability to perform his duties as Beavercreek Township Administrator. Mr. Rushing has been an outstanding employee of Beavercreek Township and has an impeccable and unblemished record of performing his role, responsibilities, and duties as Beavercreek Township Administrator. Beavercreek Township Board of Trustees chair Tom Kretz said in a statement Court records indicate that Rushing is scheduled to appear in court on April 14. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A 40-year-old Beaverton man died in a crash in Clackmas County on Friday, the sheriffs office said. Tyler Ryan Sahnow was driving a van on South Kropf Road near Gibson Road around 5 p.m. when, investigators said, he may have crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Chevy Suburban. Despite emergency efforts, Sahnow died at the scene. A 37-year-old mother and her 6-year-old son were in the Suburban at the time of the crash. First responders got them out of the Suburban and took them to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities said the Woodburn residents are expected to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UPS to lay off 244 workers at Swan Island facility The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but officials said they believe that impairment may have been a factor in this crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Clackamas 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 KOIN.com. Driving through Dublin in his taxi, Gavin Pepper gestures down a stretch of pavement. You wouldnt go there at night, he says. Theres gangs of foreign men hanging around all over the city. You dont see many Irish people walking there any more. Its the sort of forthright remark that tends to stay in a cabbies front seat. But Pepper no longer speaks only as a taxi driver. Hes now a councillor for Finglas, a working-class district of north Dublin, elected on a wave of public anger over migration. He says his election was driven by a migration policy handed down from on high imposed, as he puts it, by Irelands political elite on poorer communities with no say in the matter. Youre punching a wall that wont break, he says. They have all the money, all the power, all the NGOs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, he has built a viral following confronting ministers and rallying support from voters who feel overlooked. Mount Street said no, he says, referring to protests against continued high-levels of immigration that took place in an affluent Dublin neighbourhood. And they got attention. Were told to just get on with it. For Pepper a Nigel Farage fan immigration has become a front of a broader class war in an increasingly well-to-do Ireland. And these days hes no longer shouting into the void. Gavin Pepper (centre) was elected councillor for Finglas on a wave of anti-immigration sentiment - Patrick Bolger Atlantic allies Across the Atlantic, his message is echoed by powerful allies. In the White House on St Patricks Day, it wasnt the Irish taoiseach Micheal Martin who was the guest of honour, but MMA fighter Conor McGregor, grinning in a green pinstripe suit. The Irish former martial arts champion is a divisive figure, recently found civilly liable for rape (which he denies). Yet that has not stopped him attempting an improbable shift from sporting icon to anti-immigration presidential hopeful and finding vocal backing from Elon Musk. Invited as part of a private delegation, McGregors presence stunned Irish officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the White House press room McGregor delivered a blunt message: the Irish government is overseeing an illegal immigration racket that is running rampant. Irish people in rural towns, he claimed, have become a minority in one swoop. In some areas, the numbers appear to bear him out. Refugees now outnumber locals in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, and are expected to do so soon in Dundrum, Co Tipperary. But McGregors critics point to official census data albeit three years old to argue he is exaggerating. Ballyhaunis in Mayo was the town with the highest proportion of non-Irish residents at 37 per cent, a census release from 2022 noted. Other towns with a large share of non-Irish citizens included the Longford towns of Ballymahon (33 per cent) and Edgeworthstown (31 per cent). Martin, the taoiseach, called the remarks wrong and unreflective of Irish values. That did not stop Musk sharing a clip of McGregors speech. It was watched 73 million times. It doesnt surprise me in the least that a lot of people agreed with what he was saying, noted Garron Noone, an Irish comedian, following McGregors remarks. There absolutely is an immigration issue in Ireland... the government continually does not allow people to express their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The backlash was so swift that Noone temporarily deactivated his social media accounts inadvertently proving his own point about just how fraught the issue has become. Immigration Ireland Irelands population is growing faster and becoming more diverse than at any time since the 19th century. For most of the 20th, it hovered just above three million. Today, it exceeds five million, growing far more rapidly than most other EU countries. In 2023 alone, the population rose by 3.5 per cent far outpacing Britains 1 per cent fuelled by non-EU migration and the arrival of over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Asylum applications have also surged. In the past decade, the number of asylum seekers housed in Ireland, mostly from Africa and Asia, has increased by 650 per cent, from 4,000 to over 30,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irelands government has, in recent years, advertised the country as a lucrative destination for refugees. In 2021, then-minister for equality and integration, Roderic OGorman, issued a series of tweets published in Arabic, Albanian, Somali, Urdu and French pledging that new arrivals would receive own-door accommodation within months. The message travelled. The following year, non-Ukrainian asylum claims in Ireland surged by 400 per cent. They arrived amid a housing crisis, with a shortfall of 250,000 homes. And the strain wasnt evenly felt: it landed hardest in rundown estates and rural towns, where schools, hospitals and housing were already under pressure and where, locals say, they were never warned or consulted. Take Lissywollen, a down-at-heel town 70 miles to the west of Dublin. There Geraldine Stokes, a member of the Traveller community, found out via Facebook that a large asylum centre was being built beside her childhood home. She had heard the centre, a sprawling government-owned site minutes from a primary school and creche, would house 200 men then 1,000 increasing the towns population of 20,000 by 5 per cent. It was peaceful, she says of early protests against the plans, made up mostly of local mothers. But then it wasnt safe anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The women, she claims, were verbally abused by some of the centres occupants. When the national Gardai Siochana riot squad arrived, they werent so nice either, she says. They were pushing people, putting their hands on them. Geraldine says officers warned she could be reported to child services for bringing her children along. Where do you go from there? she says. If you say anything, youre racist. Weve had racism all our lives being Travellers. So thats a bit of a kick in the teeth. An Garda Siochana said after the protests that no arrests were made and that it respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and to carry out peaceful protest. The council is now mounting a legal challenge against the use of the centre to house asylum seekers. Street protests Similar scenes have played out across Ireland. In Roscrea, County Tipperary, residents protested after the towns only hotel was repurposed for asylum accommodation. Leo Varadkar, then-taoiseach, insisted no community had a veto over who moved into their area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With emergency powers in place to bypass planning laws, he was technically correct. But this left residents with little recourse beyond legal challenges or taking their objections to the streets. While most protests remained peaceful, several in deprived areas turned violent. In Coolock, a run-down part of north Dublin, skirmishes erupted, with Gardai pepper spraying and beating back protestors with riot shields. The planned asylum centre there was torched three times. By August 2024, there had been 33 arson attacks on asylum accommodation over the past 12 months. Initially the protests were held up as evidence of the emergence of ugly far-Right politics, in which locals wrongly objected to the arrival of large groups of unvetted males into their communities. The government insisted the asylum seekers were screened and composed of vulnerable people of all demographics fleeing war. There was significant fallout. A leaked government report cited a marked drop in properties offered up for migrant housing because of legal, local and criminal challenges. To avoid public flashpoints around hotels, the state began targeting less incendiary sites to house asylum seekers nightclubs, banks, equestrian centres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, slowly, the far-Right narrative started unravelling. The justice minister admitted that more than 65 per cent of asylum applications were rejected in 2023 rising to 80 per cent in January 2024. Taoiseach Martin later acknowledged in a stunning about-turn that most applicants were in fact economic migrants. Government data shows that around half are single males. Last year, many arrivals in Dublin airport had destroyed their travel documents en route to Ireland. Now, most arrive via the border with Northern Ireland which, at Dublins insistence during Brexit, has no infrastructure to monitor who enters the state. Irish officials claim to use Eurodac, the EUs centralised biometric database, to vet arrivals. However, records up to 2023 indicate that Eurodac has never been used by Irish police to conduct criminal or terrorism related background checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A string of high-profile crimes involving suspects of foreign-origin some so outrageous as to be without precedent in Ireland have intensified public unease. In 2022, Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old school teacher was stabbed to death by a Slovak national while jogging. In Sligo, an Iraqi beheaded two men in a homophobic attack. In Dublin, a naturalised Algerian migrant stabbed multiple children. In New Ross, an eight-year-old girl, whose mother was an Irish convert to Islam, was allegedly killed by her partner. Officials insist there is no link between migration and crime. But with nationalities omitted from crime statistics, many draw their own conclusions. Rumour and rage fill the vacuum left by the lack of reliable data. An economic price Then theres the cost. In 2024, asylum support spending for both Ukrainian refugees and International Protection applicants soared to 1.8 billion compared to just 150 million a decade ago. With planning laws suspended, much of the due diligence normally required for lucrative government contracts has quietly fallen away. Mattie McGrath, an independent member of the Irish parliament, calls the ballooning, lightly-regulated industry a racket. Fraud and deceit, he says. People are being taken for fools. Irish parliamentarian Mattie McGrath has been vocal on the impact of immigration - Patrick Bolger He describes a situation in which the state is effectively outbidding its own citizens for hotel beds and other accommodation. Kilcoran Lodge once central to local life in Tipperary has been earmarked as an asylum centre. Weddings, funerals, communions its all gone, McGrath says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Dundrum (population 220), plans were announced to house 280 asylum seekers. Thats more than a 100 per cent change [in population numbers]. If thats not a plantation, what is it? His use of the term plantation a pointed reference to Irelands colonial past has been condemned by the government as echoing far-Right rhetoric. But the anger he channels is no longer confined to rural meetings or late-night pub talk. Its now the talk in the fine-dining rooms of Killarney. Paul Treyvaud, restaurateur and TV chef, is scathing about the effect on Irish tourism. This is the worst winter Ive ever seen. The industry in my opinion has been destroyed. Treyvaud says Killarney has lost up to 40 per cent of its tourist accommodation. It didnt take a genius to figure out: remove the hotel beds, and tourism suffers. The financial incentives were clear. Hotels that once operated seasonally switched to state-funded, year-round occupancy often with utilities and insurance covered. They did very well, Treyvaud says. For rival businesses which stayed open, he says, the impact could be brutal: Staff couldnt find accommodation. The high street was decimated. Im painting my own hotel now. In Drogheda, he says, one hotel making 1 million annually was offered 13 million to convert to an asylum centre. By early 2025, the impact was undeniable: tourist visits to Ireland had dropped 30 per cent year-on-year. Spending fell even further. I was called a fascist, a Nazi now the taoiseach says illegal migration is out of control, Treyvaud says. The same thing I was saying 18 months ago. Poisoned politics The government appeared slow to grasp the scale of public discontent. As far back as February 2024, immigration had already overtaken housing as the nations top concern. A poll found more than a third of voters would support a hardline immigration party. A Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll found that 82 per cent backed a Rwanda-style returns system. A hostile electorate and legal challenges softened the governments approach. It held off on placing asylum seekers in areas where locals had protested, and issued more muscular statements on the need for deportations. By November, the temperature had cooled. Only 6 per cent named immigration as their top concern in the national election exit polls. The centrist Fianna Fail-Fine Gael coalition was returned to power. But the election showed that discontent was deeply entrenched. All three major parties including the ostensibly nationalist but pro-mass-migration Sinn Fein lost vote share or stagnated. Turnout fell to 60 per cent, the lowest since the foundation of the state. The Greens, widely blamed for coalition failings, were wiped out. Several independent and small-party candidates running on migration and housing surged. Aontu, one of the few immigration-sceptic parties in the Dail, doubled its vote share in some areas. Its leader, Peadar Toibin, says voters are waking up. Migrants have at times been given priority for housing, health, and transport. That must end, he says. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin says voters are fed up with virtue signalling and woke politics - Patrick Bolger Toibin rejects the populist label. It is often used to condemn the democratic instincts of the electorate, he says. But public trust in the state is eroding and fast. Deportation orders go unenforced. Communities are left in the dark. Migrants, he says, have been bussed in during the dead of night with little notice or consultation. He recalls landlords being paid 800 a month tax-free to house Ukrainian refugees, far more than Irish tenants received in state support. It gave Ukrainians, he says, a competitive advantage in the housing market. In Donegal alone, one-in-10 rental properties was taken out of circulation. Asylum seekers, meanwhile, received very attractive benefits free healthcare, free transport usually reserved for low-income Irish citizens. These cack-handed policies were the brainchild of what he calls the establishment bubble sometimes dismissively referred to as Official Ireland. Anyone questioning policy is treated as beyond the pale. As a result, he says, the Irish people have been ahead of the government on immigration. As Toibin sees it, the establishment is now being pulled kicking and dragging back towards centre, because they had a reckoning with their electorate who are fed up with virtue signalling and woke politics, from a uniform establishment distracted from bread and butter issues. A new island story Yet as Irelands leaders scramble to regain control of the political narrative at home, a new one is being written abroad often without them. Musks reposts carry Irish grievances far beyond the islands borders. Theyve become ammunition in a broader clash playing out across the western world: over sovereignty, identity and elite complacency. Last year, the Irish government proposed a sweeping hate speech bill one that could, conceivably, have criminalised some of the posts shared by Musk, many of which cast Europes multicultural experiment in an unflattering light. Though the legislation was eventually shelved, many Irish politicians like their British counterparts seem convinced that racial harmony depends on narrowing the legal boundaries of acceptable speech. Musk takes the opposite view: let people speak freely, and let the chips fall where they may. For years, many Irish were hesitant to voice concerns about immigration. The countrys own emigrant legacy generations who crossed the seas in search of a better life made people reluctant to deny others the same chance. But the mood is shifting. To a growing number, the slogan Ireland is full no longer sounds xenophobic, but simply factual a reflection of finite housing and overstretched public services. Back in Dublin, Gavin Pepper keeps driving his taxi, and keeps speaking his mind. Some Dubliners recognise him and honk their horns. Many believe he is saying what others wont. Ireland belongs to the Irish, Pepper insists. Sinn Fein says Palestine belongs to the Palestinians but were told Ireland belongs to everyone? Its the kind of message that now finds a warm reception in Washington. The question is: how far will it travel at home? 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. Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers. Question: I am a Board Member of an HOA community. That was very poor advice that you gave to the retired police officer. If you had done your due diligence, when it comes to the "thin blue line" flag, there is much controversy regarding it. Many, including myself, see this flag as a "us vs. them mentality. It is used to oppose racial justice movements, and it is also associated with white supremacy (you can also Google the fact that many white supremacists join police forces all over the country). Some police departments have banned officers from using "thin blue line" imagery while on duty, since the flag has been co-opted by extremists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope that you will write a retraction to your response. Thank you. Signed N.M. More on flags: Can homeowners association stop former NYPD officer from flying 'thin blue line' flag? Dear N.M., Respectfully, there is nothing to retract my answer was legally accurate, though I will say that you were not the only person to message me about your concerns regarding the meaning of the thin blue line flag that was described in the question. I was neither condoning nor condemning the thin blue line flag, as thats not my place. The letter writer asked me a question about whether the HOA could limit their flag, and the new law is very clear that its protected. In fact, its obvious to me that the exact intent of the new statutory language was to protect flags like the thin blue line flag. So, regardless of whether you support or are offended by either its message or the use of its message by various political groups, my answer was legally correct, and your legitimate complaint would be with your legislature. A thin blue line U.S. flag is displayed in a room at the Police Memorial Building in Jacksonville. But what are the rules for flying this flag at home? Even if every person in your community was offended by such a flag, it would not mean that you have a right to restrict it the statute now prohibits it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incidentally, another letter writer questioned why the flag code doesnt supersede Florida law, making the modified flag illegal and while it technically does supersede Florida law, the flag code is only advisory. You cant be prosecuted for violating the flag code, because youre allowed to bastardize and even destroy an American flag if you want to its protected free speech. So, since theres no possible penalty for violating the flag code, I dont think you could argue that the flag code supersedes Florida law and allows HOAs to ban flags that might be protected under the HOA Act, but might arguably violate the Federal law. Beware of this spam aimed at HOAs Question: I have been receiving email notifications asking me to enroll our HOA under the Corporate Transparency Act. I register our HOA as a not-for-profit corporation with the State of Florida and we file taxes every year Is this request legit, and do we have to register? If so, why? Signed, C.S. Dear C.S., Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Corporate Transparency Act is an on-again, off-again law that requires most smaller corporations to file information regarding the beneficial owners of the corporation to help prevent fraud. The original deadline for filing was January 31, 2024, but the law was halted by a federal court for likely being unconstitutional, and then it was restored by the court of appeals. But, effective March 21, 2025, President Trump has put the law indefinitely on hold for domestic corporations. Currently, no entity created in the United States is required to register their beneficial ownership information under the CTA. The email you received was a spam advertisement. There are many dozens of companies that solicit corporations to register under the CTA for a fee. This was not necessary in the first place, as its not complicated to register, but while the law was in effect it was at least a legitimate convenience. The indefinite freeze in the law has not stopped the solicitations, and my clients get them on a regular basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Personally, I would never give personal information to a company like this even if the requirement was still active it would have been better to at least allow your associations attorney or your management company to do the filing. With that said, you can ignore the law until the President says otherwise (which I frankly do not expect to ever happen). Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your location. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lawyer: Like it or loathe it, 'thin blue line' flag legally protected Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer throws a pitching session during spring training baseball in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer throws a pitching session during spring training baseball in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws during the first inning of baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) FILE - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer throws a pitching session during spring training baseball in Dunedin, Fla., on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File) TORONTO (AP) The Toronto Blue Jays put right-hander Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list Sunday because of inflammation in his right thumb. The move comes one day after the three-time Cy Young Award winner left his debut start with Toronto after three innings because of right lat soreness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manager John Schneider said Scherzer will visit a hand specialist in the U.S. on Monday. Hopefully this kind of resets him and knocks it out, Schneider said of the persistent thumb issue. We obviously need him. Elite pitcher, and we want him to feel his best. Toronto recalled left-hander Easton Lucas and selected lefty Mason Fluharty, both from Triple-A Buffalo. Left-hander Richard Lovelady, who allowed four runs in relief of Scherzer and took the loss against Baltimore on Saturday, was designated for assignment. Following Saturdays 9-5 defeat, the 40-year-old Scherzer said his lat soreness was directly related to lingering thumb pain that forced him to push back a spring training start earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling himself frustrated, Scherzer said solving the thumb issue is his top priority. This thumb is absolutely critical to your arm health, he said after Saturday's game. Ive got to get this 100% before I pitch again. Scherzer signed a $15.5 million, one-year contract in February. He went 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA in nine starts for Texas last season, starting the year on the injured list while recovering from lower back surgery. He also had a stint on the IL with shoulder fatigue and didnt pitch after Sept. 14 because of a left hamstring strain. Scherzer allowed two runs and three hits Saturday, including two solo home runs. He threw 45 pitches, 28 for strikes. He struck out one and walked none. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb The body of a missing Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter who went missing at sea while diving over three months ago has been recovered. On Saturday, LAFD announced the body of Connor J. Lees, 29, was found in the waters off Long Beach on March 26. On Dec. 4, 2024, Lees, who was off duty, went free diving with three other men in the Port of Long Beach off Pier J. Free diving involves holding ones breath for as long as they can while diving without scuba gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men called for emergency help just before 10 p.m. when Lees did not return to their boat, launching a multi-agency search with divers from the U.S. Coast Guard, LAFD, L.A. County Fire, Long Beach Police and the L.A. Port Police. More than 19 hours after the search began, officials made the decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission. The decision to transition operations to a recovery mission is not taken lightly, LBFD said in an Instagram post on Dec. 5, 2024. As we make this transition, our thoughts and prayers continue for the family of the missing diver and for our brothers and sisters at the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Connor Lees, 29, is seen in a photo provided by familly. (GoFundMe) Search and rescue operations for Connor Lees, lost at sea during a free dive off Long Beach on Dec. 5, 2024. (KTLA) A vigil in Seal Beach to honor the life of Connor Lees, lost at sea during a free dive in waters off Long Beach on Dec. 5, 2024. (KTLA) A painting of Connor Less by artist Rosanna Tos was provided to the Los Angeles Fire Departments Fire Station 94 in Lees honor. Search and rescue operations for Connor Lees, lost at sea during a free dive off Long Beach on Dec. 5, 2024. (KTLA) Officials told The Times that investigators did not suspect foul play and that Lees was believed to be lost at sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A candlelight vigil was held at Seal Beach on Dec. 22, 2024, where family, friends and colleagues gathered to honor Lees in his hometown. On March 26, LAFD confirmed Long Beach police had recovered his body from the ocean waters. Lees had worked with LAFD for six years and served at Fire Station 94 B Platoon in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw community. The LAFD stands united in grief alongside Firefighter Lees family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him, LAFD officials said Saturday. We would also like to express our profound gratitude to the Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Fire Department for their unwavering dedication and support throughout the search and recovery efforts. Their professionalism, determination, and compassion have brought solace to our department and to Firefighter Lees loved ones during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A GoFundMe page to support Lees family 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 KTLA. The body of a Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter has been found, months after he went missing. Connor Lees, 29, an avid surfer and ocean-lover in addition to his career, went free-diving on December 4th, 2024; now, nearly four months later, authorities have found his remains. Following his disappearance, a GoFundMe account was activated to support his family. As we look to the sea, it reads, at the waves of its surf, at the beauty of its depths, at the sunset on its horizon, we wait to discover the full text of Connor's story. For now, we are assured that he is where he always wanted to be. He loved the water and everything it brings to our lives. It shaped him into the boy, the son, the brother, the friend, the athlete, the surfer, the explorer, the firefighter, the companion, and the man he became. In his time, Connor will tell us how he and the sea forever remain connected. A candlelight vigil was also held weeks after his disappearance in Seal Beach. In an Instagram post, the LAFD broke the news about Lees body, explained what happened, and honored their fallen: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with profound sadness that we share an update regarding Firefighter III Connor J. Lees. On March 28, 2025, the Long Beach Police Department recovered the body of Firefighter Connor J. Lees from the waters off Long Beach. Firefighter Lees, 29, was a dedicated member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department for six years, serving with distinction at Fire Station 94 B Platoon in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw community. He was off duty at the time of his disappearance, recreationally diving with friends. As previously reported, on December 4, 2024, the City of Long Beach's public safety agencies responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding a missing diver in the Port of Long Beach. The Long Beach Fire Department immediately initiated a coordinated search effort, joined by the Long Beach Police Department, the Los Angeles City Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division, and the Los Angeles Port Police, operating under a Unified Command. Despite an exhaustive and highly technical search, Firefighter Lees was presumed lost at sea, and recovery efforts were concluded on December 6, 2024. The LAFD stands united in grief alongside Firefighter Lees family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace, Connor Lees. See the GoFundMe page here. Related: Missing Teen Identified in Human Remains on Oahu Twenty middle-school students from the Pikes Peak region represented the importance of civic engagement and diverse opinions as they competed in the 2025 Civics Bee hosted at The Broadmoor International Center on Saturday. Michael Lordino, president of the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce, said the event aims to engage students in local community issues and introduce them to the importance of having opposing viewpoints. The Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce hosts the regional competition. "A lot of kids think that adults are the only ones that can put their viewpoint out there, but their voices matter, too," Lordino said. "I think it's great that kids have the confidence to say this is what I believe and this is what I think we should fix." To qualify for participation in the annual Civics Bee, students crafted essays that were evaluated by judges across the nation. In their essay, each student is tasked with identifying a local problem and finding a corresponding solution. After the first two rounds of questions Saturday, five finalists presented their essays to the judges. From those five, three were chosen to compete in the state competition in Denver. Competing students sat in a straight line on the stage facing an audience of supportive parents, grandparents and siblings. One parent, Heidi Haskins, talked about the importance of face-to-face communication and independent thinking at a young age. "They are all connected to this," Haskins said as she lifted her phone. "You can say whatever behind a screen, but when you have to do it in person, you have to be true to yourself." Haskins had a lot of pride for her daughter, Aliyah, saying she was the only student chosen to compete from Cheyenne Mountain Junior High. "It's important that we all do our part in the world, no matter what it is, and you all have to find our passion," Haskins said. "I'm excited to see what this does for her and what passion this might spark inside of her." Former Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers was in attendance and emphasized how government cannot function without the "thoughtful" engagement of its citizens. He said it is not just a matter of electing qualified people to public office, but rather a matter of understanding one's personal stance on hot topic issues. "Politics is the process by which the actions of our government are determined," Suthers said. "It will take place whether or not you are engaged in the process, but it's more effective when you are." Featured Local Savings A seventh-grader from Lewis-Palmer Middle School, Benjamin Knauf, found his enthusiasm for civic engagement by growing up listening to his parents have those open conversations. "I think it's good that we learn how civics works and that we need to be involved, because otherwise, in the future no one will have an understanding of what we need to do," Knauf said. Knauf's essay that earned him a spot in Saturday's competition was about water conservation. He said his passion for the topic revolves around understanding what came before him and avoiding the repetition of history. "You have to know about history to not make mistakes that people made before you," Knauf said. His mother, Louise, echoed the sentiment of many Saturday regarding the importance of listening to diverse opinions. She spoke with pride as she talked about her son and his efforts to be a well-educated member of democracy. "I think understanding that lots of people come from different backgrounds and different opinions allows us to be able to see the world through other people's walks of life, and not just our own," Louise said. "Understanding that we don't all share the same experiences allows us to care for more people." As the competition came to an end, the five finalists stood up to present their essays. They each were faced with questions from local and state leaders on their topic, requiring quick thinking on the spot. Finalists chosen to present wrote on a wide range of topics, from abortion rights to sight-impaired resource accessibility. Violet Wessells scored well during the first two rounds and moved on to the final presentation Saturday. The essay that got her there focused on fire mitigation and ways to prevent unnecessary disasters from striking the city. Before answering questions from the three judges, she read aloud snippets from her essay. "Humans have a right to live in a location that is not cluttered with dead trees and littered with washed away dreams that were once flowing through the land," Wessells read. The state competition in Denver is scheduled May 30, and the first-place winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize. The overall champion will advance to the National Civics Bee competition in Washington, D.C., in the fall. Rescue workers have recovered the body of a worker from the rubble of a high-rise building in Bangkok that collapsed due to a massive earthquake, local media reported on Sunday. Rescue workers used a crane and metal basket to lift the body from the debris in the early hours of Sunday, the Khaosod newspaper reported. The search for other victims remains ongoing, with sniffer dogs being deployed to aid the efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 30-storey tower block, which was under construction, collapsed on Friday after a powerful earthquake struck the region. Hope remains for survivors, as teams detected signs of life beneath the rubble on Saturday. Rescue crews are now racing against time to free any trapped survivors. News channel Thai PBS reported on Saturday that eight bodies had been recovered so far, while 46 people were still missing. The epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude quake was in Myanmar, where at least 1,644 people were killed and over 3,400 injured, according to the Myanmar Now news outlet, citing the ruling military junta. Tremors were also felt in China and Vietnam. On a weekday afternoon earlier this month, Waterford resident Bonnie Fenn Sullivan was deep inside the crowd of nearly 200 protesters near the New London Superior Court that her group, the Guardians of Democracy Indivisible, helped organize to rail against President Donald Trump's politics and policies. Sullivan, a 75-year-old former civics teacher, didn't particularly stand out amid chanting sign-wavers calling for Trump's impeachment and imprisonment until she spoke. I want to inspire others to speak out and know they are not alone, she said to a reporter. People cant sit this one out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside her living room on Tuesday, Sullivan and several other founding group members acknowledged they all retired women in their 60s and 70s might come across as unlikely rabble-rousers. But Fenn and her contemporaries, who've managed to turn a small grassroots organization formed seven years ago into a prominent anti-Trump operation whose rallies regularly attract hundreds of protesters, are exactly the kind of people who tend to spearhead such movements. "A lot of us were in college in the 1960s and a lot of my older friends who are now livid about what's going on were protesting," Sullivan said. "Then there was the women's lib movement where people my age, unlike our mothers, could chose professional work and be treated as equals. Were older women with children and grandchildren, but we have time to do this. The protection of my family; I figure thats my job now. Since its founding in 2018 as an organization dedicated to elect President Joe Biden, the Guardians in past months have seen attendees at its bi-monthly meetings at the Waterford Public Library nearly triple to 162 individuals. Sullivan said the group grew out of casual book club conversations years ago that quickly pivoted to political discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the book clubs, wed talk about whatever we were reading for about five minutes and spend the rest of the time talking about politics and how to elect Democrats, Sullivan said. And we revved up our work in January 2024 when I watched the ball drop on New Years Eve. Some members of the group said they were already on edge after the U.S. Supreme Courts 2018 overturning of Roe v. Wade abortion protections, concerns that turned to anger with Trumps re-election last year. In addition to reproductive rights, the women, along with protest attendees, said they were concerned over Trump's anti-immigration stances, his penchant for antagonizing longtime international allies and his pushes to dismantle institutions like the federal Department of Education. Members said they hoped that by drawing attention to their concerns, it might lead others to speak against Trump, shore up support for their cause and prompt on-the-fence Republicans to rethink their support of the president. "We want people to know they're not alone," Sullivan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indivisible organization had been in existence since Trumps first administration, and the Guardians group recently became formally affiliated with the nonprofit political action group. Indivisible bills itself as a national grassroots movement consisting of thousands of local groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. A lot of this grew out of frustration, the fact that we didnt know what to do, said Georgene Didato, 68, of Waterford. We started contacting our representatives, taking part in protest marches and voting with our wallets. The group used a combination of social media, word-of-mouth outreach and traditional flyers to begin advertising its rallies, which are attended by a mix of men and women across the age spectrum. "It's relational organizing that helps persuade people to join us in writing postcards, making phone calls and turning out for protests," Sullivan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women taking the lead Jeremy Pressman, a political science professor at the University of Connecticut, said while he hasnt yet seen any completed study data on Trump protester demographics, it is common for people 50 or older to be involved with and lead those kinds of events. They tend to have a lot of experience with activism and have more time to devote than younger adults who can be focused on establishing careers or raising families, Pressman said. The one big exception is youths between 16 and 25. Pressman, the co-founder and co-director of the Crowd Counting Consortium, an event-counting project that tallies and publicizes protest data, said younger protesters can seize on an issue civil rights, Black Lives Matter, anti-war and quickly attract new followers to a cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women in the last 60 to 70 years have played a prominent role in protests, he said, partially in reaction to the traditionally patriarchal make-up of government. There are lots of women leaders, but no woman president, no women majority on the Supreme Court or in Congress. Theres fewer women governors and state legislators. Protest can be seen as an opening to seize some of those leadership roles. Pressman said concerns over access to reproductive rights and wider health care options seem to be a big recent motivator for female protest leaders whove learned to develop networks of like-minded peers. He noted the 2017 Womens March protest, held the day after Trumps first inauguration, which attracted between 3 million and 5 million participants from around the country, was a watershed event. A lot of groups were created out of that event, and its had a lasting legacy both for individuals and organizations, Pressman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, Pressman said, Trump appeals to a certain version of manhood, one that reflects a tough, masculine persona. One that supposedly has been suppressed by the left, he said. "We were forced into this Since Trumps second inauguration in January, the Guardians have held three rallies in New London, each attracting more than 100 attendees. The group was part of other marches and gatherings in the city organized by like-minded organizations, including Rise Up Mystic. We know we have to be visible, said Clare Evento, 71, a Guardians member from Waterford. We were forced into this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Guardians are co-sponsoring a Hands Off Our Democracy rally with the Indivisible Southeast CT group on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the courthouse at 70 Huntington St. The rally is one of several similar events protesting Trump and Elon Musk scheduled for across the region and nation. We cant wait for elections in 2026 to start talking about this it's too urgent, said 71-year-old Waterford Guardians member Kathy Jacques. The early group members come from a variety of work backgrounds Sullivan is a retired teacher, Evento is a former social worker, and Didato worked retail before teaching dance but all said they were in the enviable position of not having to worry about being pressured out of a job by critics. Several of the group founders said they saw Trumps rhetoric as eerily similar to the type of language their parents recalled fascist leaders uttering last century. They said concerns over those types of exhortations were dismissed at the time as overreactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know our history and what came before, said Karen Culver-Rymsza, a 67-year-old Waterford resident and former scientist. For Mimi Vymola, a former engineer living in East Lyme, her fears of Trump come from a more personal place. The 63-year-old artist immigrated to Portugal and eventually the U.S. from Angola as a 13-year-old girl with her sister and mother her father followed a few months later amid racial unrest in the southern African nation. My entire world was turned upside down, and the loss was devastating, said Vymola, a legal U.S. citizen who said she still worried about traveling abroad under Trump's administration. I dont want to go through that again. j.penney@theday.com An aggravated felon and registered sex offender from Bhutan was apprehended in Erie. According to a public affairs officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the individual has a history of domestic violence and assaulting a child under the age of 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Depending on who you asked, the late David Boren was either a skilled, centrist Democrat with big ideas who navigated the United States Senate easily, a governor who had no problem pushing back against the old guard, a back-row state Representative who spent his first couple of years in office learning the political ropes, a smart, dedicated university professor. Or the man who charted a new trajectory for the University of Oklahoma. That was the consensus Saturday afternoon, during a memorial service for Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. Boren died at home, February 20. A short time later he was buried in a private ceremony in Seminole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturdays memorial service was a chance for the public and the states politically elite to come together and remember Borens career. Two former governors, a retired United States Senator, a Oklahoma Supreme Court justice and dozens of Boren's former staff members, from his time in the Senate and from his tenure at OU, were among the hundreds who attended. The service also featured music, prayers and a look at Boren's life presented by two different pastors, Robert E. Long and Rev. David Spain. Former Governor David Walters, a Democrat, said he didn't expect to see another leader like Boren for quite a while. "He had such direct involvement, and, given the permissive nature of partisan politics, it will be a long time before we have someone who is able to survive that many levels of public service successfully as he did," Walters said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters said Boren did many things well. "Every time you talked to David Boren, his entire thought process was filled with big ideas," he said. "So, I think his manner of thinking constantly about big ideas was a great strength he brought to the institutions that he served." Like Walters, Sean Burrage, the state Chancellor for Higher Education, said Boren had a rare political gift and was skilled at inspiring people to take up public service. "My most meaningful lesson was that the most meaningful work was that of public service," Burrage said. Burrage said Boren taught him that lesson when he served as an intern when Boren was in the United States Senate. During a trip when Burrage was driving for Boren, he said Boren told him the work that mattered was work for others. "I realized, later, that it is what matters," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Boren's public service work was well known, it was his dedication to education and his fight to make sure everyone got a chance at education that set him apart, said former University of Oklahoma Professor Keith Gaddie. "David Boren was a warrior for thought and education," Gaddie said. Though Boren was well known for his political skill and his efforts at the University of Oklahoma, one colleague said Boren was, simply, a good friend. Former House Speaker Glen Johnson who later served as Chancellor for Higher Education said his family and Boren's family had a long history. In fact, Boren's father faced off against Johnson's father in a congressional race in 1946. "We've been close friends for a long time," Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said the friendship so solid that when Johnson got married in summer of 1993 the only person he wanted as his best man was David Boren. "Our families go back a long way," Johnson said. "And he (Boren) is clearly a mentor of mine. By the time I ran for the House the first time, in 1982, he'd been in the Senate for about four years." Boren, Johnson said, "was always helpful." He said the friendship continue to grow, and Johnson learned that Boren knew and liked his fiancee, Melinda. "About the time we got engaged, I asked him (Boren) if he would be the best man and he said, 'absolutely,'" Johnson said. "He said he would get back for as many of the pre-engagement events as he could and they did," he said. Johnson and Melinda would marry in July of 1993. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that Boren a sitting U.S. Senator was willing to serve as his best man, Johnson said, was simply an honor. "He's always been just a really, really good friend," he said. "I don't think anyone was surprised that he would be my best man." Born in 1941, Boren was the son of Lyle H. and Christine McKown Boren. In 1963 he graduated in the top 1% of his class at Yale University with a degree in American history. Two years later, he earned a master's degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in England. Boren served as a professor at Oklahoma Baptist University, later in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, as governor, as United States Senator and, finally, as president of the University of Oklahoma. In 1968, Boren graduated from the University of Oklahoma's College of Law. That same year, Boren married Janna Lou Little. The couple had two children but divorced in 1975. In 1977, midway though his term as governor, Boren married Molly Shi, a special district judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boren, Johnson said, was a rare contribution to state politics. "If you look at every one of this positions, he excelled," Johnson said. "Even as a young state representative, he would go against the grain, against the crowd, if he thought it was the right thing to do. It was all very natural. He could take information, synthesize it and turn around and present it to a legislative committee and be the expert on the subject. With him, it was natural." Molly Shi Boren, widow of David Boren arrives at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Former Governor George Nigh greets former Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Current University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. Former Oklahoma City Mayor Andy Coats at the memorial service for David Boren at St. Lukes Methodist Church, Saturday, March 29, 2025. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: David Boren praised by many at memorial service Saturday Boston police are seeking the publics assistance in the search for a missing 91-year-old. Marie Maxi was reported missing in the Fenway area of Boston. She was last seen on Saturday, around 7 A.M., at 100 Norway Street in Boston According to police, Maxi suffers from dementia and is believed to be in need of assistance. Maxi is described as 50 tall, 130 pounds, wearing a long navy-blue coat with black fur, holding a purse and an aluminum cane Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact District D-4 Detectives at 617-343-9542. 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 The town hall at the centre of Barrow-in-Furness is an extravagant piece of Gothic architecture, crowned by a 164ft clock tower that rings out on the hour, every hour. It was built in 1886 as a symbol of prosperity, when shipbuilding and steel making thrived in the Cumbrian port town. Today, however, the building is less a monument of success and serves more as a painful reminder of Barrows prosperous past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The surrounding streets are plagued by boarded-up shops and broken windows, while a neighbouring multi-storey car park was closed last year because so few people were driving to the town centre. There are lots of places that have been derelict for years, sighs Trevor Vincent, who works in a nearby charity shop. Everything is closing down all weve got left are barbers, takeaways and vape shops. Yet this isnt merely a familiar tale about a northern town once a champion of industry. In fact, Barrow is still home to the countrys most important defence manufacturing site. Run by BAE Systems, the Devonshire Dock complex still employs one in three people in the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is where thousands of highly skilled workers operate, in the most secret of conditions, to build the huge submarines that provide the UKs ultimate security guarantee the at-sea nuclear deterrent. Team Barrow Since the end of the Cold War, business has been painfully slow. But now, as Britain rearms, Barrows skills are in demand again and the yard is poised to be busier than ever. Barrow is still home to the countrys most important defence manufacturing site, the Devonshire Dock - Kristina Anderson/BAE Systems The pipeline of work should reinvigorate the town, in no small part because it will trigger a population surge. Over the next decade, as BAEs workforce grows, Barrow is expected to balloon in size from 60,000 people to 90,000, as workers and their families move to the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means new infrastructure will be needed, including bigger hospital facilities, more schools and thousands of new homes. But if BAE is to get the talent it needs, it will also require a transformation of the towns decaying urban centre so that people want to live there. Within Whitehall, the issue is so urgent that the Government has partnered with the local council and BAE to push the project forward. Known as Team Barrow, the scheme has been handed 200m in Treasury funding and is being led by Simon Case, the former Cabinet secretary. In scope, the proposed regeneration has drawn comparisons to Bournville, the model village built by the Cadbury family to house the workers at their chocolate factories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Case says Barrow is the living, breathing example of what happened to some industrial towns after the government cut defence spending following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Barrow grew rapidly in the late 1800s after industrialist Henry Schneider found iron ore nearby and began shipping it out of the port. The town quickly transformed into the worlds largest steelworks. Barrow grew rapidly in the late 1800s after industrialist Henry Schneider found iron ore nearby - BAE Systems Business remained strong through the industrial revolution, both World Wars and then the Cold War, as the Devonshire dockyard built dozens of Royal Navy vessels, including aircraft carriers, frigates, submarines and destroyers in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. But since the early 2000s, that workload has shrunk to just 11 submarines, including two Astute-class boats yet to be delivered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The towns fortune has gone up and down with the yard, Case says. And so when the work for the yard dropped off, that is when worklessness and other problems started to grow. Signs of decline Today, it is one of the most deprived areas in the country, scoring poorly on unemployment, education, child poverty and life expectancy when compared to the national average. The rate of economic inactivity in Barrow is 41.4pc, including 26.2pc of people who are retired. This is higher than average for both the UK and the North West. The most visible sign of this decline can be seen in the towns main shopping streets once-bustling places now pockmarked with boarded-up store fronts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other Barrovians that The Telegraph spoke to on Thursday, charity shop worker Vincent, who was accompanied by his 15-year-old daughter, said the most depressing aspect of the towns decline has been the feeling that there is nothing to do locally. In recent years, major retail brands, including WH Smith, have abandoned the town, while large units have been left vacant by the collapse of retail chains such as Wilko and Debenhams. I grew up here and Ive never seen it this bad, says Vincent, 46. Many people have stopped coming into Barrow to shop and instead go to nearby market towns such as Ulverston or Kendal, he says, with some even going as far afield as Lancaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whos going to come into a town where theres nothing to do? asks former shipyard worker John Pringle, 71, walking with his friend Brian Beard, 75, to a nearby pub. Former shipyard worker John Pringle, 71, with his friend Brian Beard, 75 - Stephen Garnett for The Telegraph A national asset But with the shipyard ramping up again, Case says regenerating Barrow has become a national and moral imperative. With tensions rising around the world, the Royal Navy has placed a 31bn order for four Dreadnought-class submarines, which will replace the nuclear-armed Vanguard boats, as well as a fleet of new Aukus-class attack submarines that will enter service from the late 2030s. To keep Britain secure, these need to be delivered on time and to cutting-edge specifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting our boats out of Barrow is of profound importance to our nations security, Case says. With the pressure that weve got on getting the Astute boats finished, then Dreadnought and then Aukus, we started to focus on this two years ago for almost Bournville-like reasons. The town is a strategic national asset, although it hasnt always been viewed that way. Pretty quickly, we realised we needed Team Barrow to create an environment that would deliver that happy, skilled workforce we need to support the defence nuclear enterprise. Thanks to Mr Putin and Mr Xi, the business case makes itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will involve a variety of measures, says Case, with Team Barrow aiming to use its money to catalyse private investment or directly intervene where necessary. For example, the council is using government funding to clean up a large brownfield site near the dockyard. This will allow for a new 800-home waterfront development known as Marina Village. It is part of efforts to kickstart building in the area, which has only delivered around 80 homes a year previously, but will soon need to start building up to 1000 annually. Another boost to the town has come from the University of Cumbria, which has built a new campus next to the BAE yard that will offer courses in engineering, project management, computer science and nursing. Barrow is about to become a university town, says Case. Thats never been said about Barrow before and it is a sign of the ambition we have here. Grand plans Back in the town centre, BAE is also literally setting up shop. In a bid to draw attention to the regeneration plans, it has bought units formerly used by WH Smith and Debenhams and converted the former into a modern exhibition centre called the Bridge. Here, people can learn about opportunities in the area, and not only those at the yard. There are grand plans for the boarded-up Debenhams department store - Stephen Garnett for The Telegraph There are even grander plans for the former Debenhams department store next door, which the company wants to transform into a high-tech training centre. It will provide a space for workers to learn complex welding techniques or other technical aspects of submarines, using large-scale models. Crucially, however, the buildings designs do not include a canteen meaning the 600 or so people who go there every day will have to venture outside for lunch. Were hoping that the captive audience of people will really drive economic activity into the town centre once again, explains Catherine Reay, a project manager at BAE who will eventually run the new training centre. A broader masterplan for the town centre is also being drawn up, with policymakers considering creating a local development company that will have the power to oversee major changes. The plans are also likely to include rejuvenating some of the most battered buildings to make them fit for new tenants. Green shoots Though it is still early days, Case points to green shoots, including the opening of a new coffee shop, Coffee DAsh, in the Portland Walk arcade, as well as a new branch of the Furness Building Society. Ash Holroyd, 33, says he bet on the towns future by opening his cafe in September last year, having previously run a coffee van in the towns market. We need businesses to support the town, he says. I hope this will spur people to come and socialise again. While chatting, customers of all ages come and go and Holroyd greets most by name. Ash Holroyd, 33 has opened a new coffee shop in Barrow-in-Furness, in a bet on the towns future - Stephen Garnett for The Telegraph Case argues that this is the sort of family-friendly venue that Barrow needs more of to help attract high-skilled workers, some of whom currently choose to live in nearby towns and commute in. For families transferring in from somewhere else in the country, of course, theyll have the option of living in some absolutely beautiful towns and villages nearby, Case says. But we want Barrow to be an attractive, viable option for them as well. In the long term, Case hopes the town can diversify its economy, potentially by securing green energy jobs from the construction of new wind farms in the Irish Sea. Barrow does have several things going for it already, including an active local art scene, close proximity to the Lake District, beaches and major bird-watching spots such as Walney Island. There are also hopes that a revamp of the local theatre, the Forum, and other initiatives will help bring in more visitors. BAE apprentice Abbie Cocker, 21, who is training to be a project manager, says having access to the national park has changed her life. A lot of people who come from further away havent experienced the Lake District, but it started my love of walking, she says. Id never move back home now. For Case, the regeneration of Barrow is a chance to make sure that future activity at BAEs yards can benefit the whole town. If you go back to the Bournville example, that tells you of a time when prosperous towns had these partnerships between government and industry, and they produced magnificent structures like the town hall. We are now getting investors who are starting to say, Hey, this looks like a town with a future. How can we get involved? With enough willpower, its a future that could restore Barrow to its former glory. 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. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Counties in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley are beginning to lift their burn bans as risk of wildfires decreases. Northwest Arkansas Benton County Ban lifted as of Mar. 30. Carroll County Ban in effect as of Mar. 30. Madison County Ban in effect as of Mar. 14. Washington County Ban lifted as of April 2. Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Arkansas native inspired Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash River Valley Crawford County Ban lifted as of Mar. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan County Ban lifted as of Mar. 30. Franklin County Ban lifted as of Mar. 28. Sebastian County Ban in effect as of Mar. 13. This list is subject to updates. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Its Sunday, March 30. Take a look at our top stories with KELOLAND On The GO. The South Dakota Highway Patrol says several passengers were hurt Saturday when a bus rolled on Interstate 90 west of the Vivian, SD exit. Bus rollover on Interstate 90 A Harrisburg woman died in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon near Canton. Woman dead following crash near Canton A traffic stop during a saturation patrol in Hamlin County turned into a pursuit and an arrest Friday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturation patrol leads to pursuit & arrest A stretch of Interstate 90 in Rapid City is back open to traffic Sunday morning following a semi-truck crash. Semi-truck crash closes part of I-90 Saturday was a messy day across KELOLAND. From snow to freezing rain and even some pea-sized hail, there was truly something for everyone. Storm Center AM Update: Chilly Sunday; Watching the Midweek Outlook Sanford Healths Bloom the Boutique helps well over a dozen cancer patients each month get a new wig. But its not everyday the salon gets a request for an unnatural hair color. Ovarian cancer patient receives sparkly purple wig A Sioux Falls School is getting ready to give their students a more in-depth lesson in agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CTE is adding a new agriculture building Check out our Boredom Busters! Sunday Boredom Busters: March 30th Download the KELOLAND News app to find the latest headlines while on the go. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This will drive you crazy. Last week, a Denver City Council committee proposed giving a consultant $15 million to study the road to DIA, Pena Boulevard, for five years to evaluate whether the city needs to relieve congestion on it. Let me save Denver five years and $15 million: Yes. We need to relieve congestion on Pena Boulevard. Now. Average daily traffic along Pena Boulevard has soared from 75,000 in 1995 to more than 136,000 in 2023, an increase of 80%, according to airport officials. Given that rate, we know that in five years, traffic will rise to 156,000 people a day which will require a completely different plan! OK, OK, you say, but we need to study the problem carefully to come up with the right solutions to that congestion. Guess what? Weve already done that, too. In its Pena Boulevard Transportation and Master Plan released early last year, airport planners identified five possible options, including adding a frontage road, a bus-only lane specifically for RTD, mountain shuttles, other transit vehicles, a special distributor road to separate different types of airport traffic and a managed lane for car pools. Heres a thought: Pick one or two of those and do it! Now! Why is it so hard to build anything anymore? DIA, which faced significant delays, was built in less time than that study would take. During World War II, the U.S. built 300,000 planes in less time than that study would take. Way back in 1930, the Empire State Building was built in a fifth of that time one year. Weve made it too difficult in this country to get big things done. Take Front Range rail. Way back in 2001, the Colorado Department of Transportation proposed the Front Range Corridor as a federally designated high-speed rail corridor. Twenty-four years later, not an inch of track has been built yet. Meanwhile, for comparisons sake, in the last 17 years, China has built 29,770 miles of a high-speed rail network, the worlds largest and best. ARRRGGGGGHHHHH! A new book proposes a different tack for our country: abundance politics. Abundance reorients politics around a fresh provocation: Can we solve our problems with supply? writes journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson in Abundance. The core argument: Get rid of regulations and obstacles that make it impossible to build things, and get America building again. The answer to a politics of scarcity is a politics of abundance, writes Klein, a politics that asks what it is that people really need and then organizes government to make sure there is enough of it. That doesnt lend itself to the childishly simple divides that have so deformed our politics. Sometimes government has to get out of the way, as with housing. Sometimes it has to take a central role, creating markets or organizing resources for risky technologies that do not yet exist. Seems simple, doesnt it? Then why has it been so hard to do recently? Our inability to build the things we need is a particular policy failure haunting blue states such as Colorado. It has become too hard to build and too expensive to live in the places where Democrats govern, writes Klein. It is too hard to build homes. It is too hard to build clean energy. It is too hard to build mass transit. The problem isnt technical: We know how to build apartment complexes and solar panel arrays and train lines. The problem is the rules and the laws and political cultures that govern construction in many blue states. Laws meant to ensure that the government considers the consequences of its actions have made it too difficult for the government to act consequentially. Look at what is happening in liberal strongholds such as New York, Illinois and California. In 2023, California saw a net loss of 268,000 residents; in Illinois, the net loss was 93,000; in New York, 179,000. Why are they leaving? Klein asks. In surveys, the dominant reason is simply this: The cost of living is too high. Its too expensive to buy a house. Its too expensive to get child care. You have to live too far from where you work. And so theyre going to places where all of that is cheaper Texas, Florida, Arizona. He cites a study in California that found that as the share of liberal votes rises by 10 points in a given city, the number of housing permits declines by 30%. Featured Local Savings We see examples right here: Some opponents of the DIA study insisted that the city should not fund the study not because its a waste of money but because it might lead to more highway expansion and, thereby, more car traffic. That perspective views all cars (even electric ones?) as evil, preferring mass transit and other forms of transportation. Unfortunately, that attitude stops any sort of building dead in its tracks, increasing our congestion rather than addressing it. If Democrats are to become the party of abundance, Klein writes, they have to confront their own role in creating scarcity. In the past few decades, Democrats took a wrong turn. They became the party that believes in government, that defends government, not the party that makes government work. This critique of blue government is more powerful, I would argue, coming from a committed liberal like Klein. His book is a blueprint for how liberalism might find a new narrative and a new mission to revive itself. But its an argument conservatives can take to heart just as well. Not sure were building any sort of positive future via the wrecking ball politics being practiced right now by Elon Musk. America developed a right that fought government and a left that hobbled it, Klein points out. Debates over the size of government obscured the diminishing capacity of government. Lets reimagine what government can do, rather than dismantling it. So why did this happen? Americans have always mistrusted government, but a country this size needed a government able to wield power around the world and get large-scale things done. And so we depend on the courts to reconcile the government we want with the suspicions we harbor, says Klein. Were unusually legalistic as a result. America has twice as many lawyers per capita as Germany and four times as many as France, Klein points out. And much of that energy is devoted to suing the government. As a result of all our lawyers, we have become more process-obsessed than outcomes-oriented. The environmental movement also slowed the building of things dramatically as activists forced the country to clean up its messes and do something about global warming. But degrowth, as Klein puts it, isnt the only way to improve our environment, and is now actually getting in the way of converting to a more robust clean-energy economy. The environmentalist movement evolved to stop bad people from destroying the world, and so we have perfected the art of saying no, Larry Selzer, the president and CEO of the Conservation Fund, told the authors. But we cant no our way to the growth we need. The interstate clean-energy system the solar farms, the wind turbines, the transmission lines, the pipes will touch more than 500,000 miles of land. This will be an enormous project. We have to build, and build, and build. So how do get rolling again if we all agree we need to build, baby, build? Right now there are over 60 overlapping federal permitting programs that oversee infrastructure project approval. That doesnt count the state and local laws. So clearly we need a concerted effort to reduce laws and regulations that impede building, for one. Others think we need new laws to fast-track important projects past legal and environmental challenges. But Klein and Thompson think we need something more. No individual law will address this many different blockages at this many points in the system, they write. What is needed here is a change in political culture, not just a change in legislation. For years and years, the government has been very good at slowing things down. Now we need it to speed things up. We have lost faith in the future that once powered our optimism, concludes Klein. Of course, we could do something more drastic and follow William Shakespeares advice: First thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers. Vince Bzdek, executive editor of The Gazette, Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics, writes a weekly news column that appears on Sunday. Doctor relocates to new Valparaiso office Dr. Kumari Singh, a family medicine physician, is now seeing patients at the Franciscan Physician Network Glendale Health Center, 1101 Glendale Blvd., Suite 101, in Valparaiso, a release said. Existing appointments have been moved to the new Valparaiso location, the release said. Singh completed medical school at Windsor University School of Medicine at St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies, and completed her residency at the University of North Dakota Bismarck in Bismarck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the new Valparaiso location, Singh will continue to see patients at Coolspring Health Center, 1225 East Coolspring Ave. in Michigan City. For more information, call 219-307-4750. Legacy Foundation leader to speak The Crown Point Rotary Club will host Kelly Anoe, president and CEO of the Legacy Foundation, at the clubs weekly luncheon at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday at Youche Country Club, 2301 W. 129th Place, Crown Point, a release said. Since joining Legacy Foundation, Lake Countys community foundation, in 2014, Anoe has been instrumental in driving impactful initiatives that support local communities, the release said. She also serves on multiple boards and committees, including the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance Public Policy Committee. The event offers an opportunity for the community to learn more about philanthropys role in local development, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information or to RSVP, contact Joseph Skibbie at jskibbie@jrsmarcom.com IUN hosts annual career event The Indiana University Northwest Office of Career Services will host the 21st Annual Community Employment and Internship Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 11, according to a release. The event will take place at the Savannah Center Gymnasium at the Gary campus, 3400 Broadway. Call 219-980-6650 for information. Those attending should dress professionally and bring resumes, the release said. Employers interested in participating should contact Diava Carter, Director of Career Services, careernw@iu.edu. Valparaiso University names nursing dean Dr. Elizabeth Gmitter is the new Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Valparaiso University, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gmitters appointment comes at a pivotal time, as the College of Nursing and Health Professions embarks on a transformative campaign to build a state-of-the-art health professions facility, the release said. Previously, Gmitter served as Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Career Programs at Malcolm X College in Chicago, where she led more than 20 healthcare programs, including 12 with specialized accreditation, the release said. The campaign for the new health professions facility will focus on securing funding, engaging alumni and community partners, and developing an innovative learning environment. For more information, visit valpo.edu/college-of-nursing-and-health-professions. Gary Schools welcomes new curriculum director The Gary Community School Corp. has announced the addition of Renita Craig to its academic team as Director of Curriculum and Assessment, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craigs career experience includes serving as a junior high and elementary principal, assistant principal, special education director and high school special education teacher. Craig holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Francis, a masters in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago, and a bachelors degree in Special Education from Eastern Illinois University, the release said. For the latest district news, visit garyschools.org. Applications open for Leadership Northwest program The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest has opened applications for the 2025-2026 Leadership Northwest Indiana program, a release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program, facilitated by a team that includes faculty members from the PNWs College of Business, as well as leadership practitioners, plans to meet monthly from September to May 2026. The facilitation team provides research-based leadership content and skill-building for effective leadership in the workplace and in life, the release said. To view more information about the program and registration, visit pnw.edu/lni. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1. More information can be found online at pnw.edu/leadership-institute or by contacting the Leadership Institute at leadershipinstitute@pnw.edu. Franciscan, partners plan Safe Kids Day Children and their families are invited to the free Safe Kids Day Saturday at the Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA, 100 W Burrell Drive, Crown Point, according to a release. The interactive event will include a variety of activities along with educational booths with information about keeping kids safe, healthy and happy. Families will learn more about bike and helmet safety, child passenger safety, stranger danger, pediatric dental care, fire safety, pet safety, medication safety, the Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program, safe sleeping, breastfeeding, water safety and more, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families can also attend the Tim Hanning: Pro Kids Show at 10:30 a.m. and noon. Hannings award-winning show connects with kids through magic, comedy, music, puppets and audience involvement, the release said. Safe Kids Day is a project of Safe Kids Northwest Indiana in partnership with sponsors Franciscan Health Crown Point, the Dean & Barbara White YMCA, Franciscan Health Trauma Services and Cleveland-Cliffs. Employee earns business credential Adam Lange, a staff accountant at CLH, CPAs & Consultants, recently earned the Certified Valuation Analyst credential from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, according to a release. To achieve the CVA designation, Lange underwent a rigorous process, including the completion of intensive coursework covering valuation theories and techniques, successful passage of a comprehensive examination and demonstration of professional experience in the field of business valuation, the release said. CLH, CPAs & Consultants is a full-service certified public accounting firm with offices in La Porte, Michigan City, and Valparaiso. (NewsNation) With the rising popularity of luxury makeup and anti-aging skincare among teens, a California lawmaker is sounding an alarm about the dangers of ingredients in cosmetics, proposing a bill that would ban the sale of the products to people under 18. Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, introduced the bill Tuesday, aiming to prohibit the sale of cosmetics to minors if they contain vitamin A and its derivatives. Products containing retinoids, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acids, ascorbic acids, and citric acids are on the chopping block. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes as consumers of beauty merchandise are getting younger. Elementary-age kids are flocking to beauty stores, and social media, especially TikTok, is an enticing motivation to show off the latest goods. 30-year study reveals keys to healthy aging Anti-aging skincare products are the latest trend, but some are concerned about the dermatological harm products made for adults can have on children. Children who are 10 years old, 12 years old, shouldnt have to worry about wrinkles, Lee told The Los Angeles Times. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are now being called Sephora Kids. The viral trend of Sephora Kids is better marketing than any company could ever pay for, Lee said. The multibillion-dollar industry is willingly profiting off this trend, even though they themselves admit and know that those products are not safe for children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spare bodies will solve medical challenges: Scientists What is a Sephora Kid? Sephora Kid refers to young consumers, particularly those under 18, of anti-aging skincare and makeup, as the industry begins to market toward teens. Gen Alpha, those born between 2010 and 2024, are the primary demographic, but some Gen Zers (born between 1997 and 2012) can be considered a Sephora Kid. The term is derived from the global beauty retailer Sephora. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 was originally published in CalMatters. More than 17,400 high school seniors last fall got the sweetest news any anxious student can get: Congratulations, because of your high school GPA, youre automatically admitted to one of 10 California State University campuses of your choice and theyre all relatively affordable. Even with less than a week to go before the campuses wrap their final decisions about whom to admit, a pilot program focusing on Riverside County is already showing that more students have been admitted from the county than last year, about 10,600 so far in 2025 compared to last years roughly 9,800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot builds on Cal States efforts to enroll more students and works like this: High school seniors receive a notice in the mail that theyre automatically admitted as long as they maintain their grades, finish the 15 mandatory courses necessary for admission to a Cal State, and complete an admissions form to claim their spot at a campus. Cal State was able to mail the notices because it signed an agreement with the Riverside County Office of Education that gave the university eligible students addresses. Now in the programs first year, Cal State joins other public universities across the country in a growing national movement to automatically admit eligible students. From November through January, Cal State informed students they were accepted to the 10 campuses. To claim a spot, students needed to go online and pick at least one campus. If past admissions and enrollment trends hold, Cal State as a system will educate hundreds of more students, all from Riverside, than they would have without the pilot. Thatd be a boon for a system that prides itself on its affordability and motto that its the peoples university; Cal State admits a far higher percentage of students than the University of California. It also could serve as a much-needed budget boost from the extra tuition revenue those students bring, especially at campuses with sinking enrollment. Eight campuses Channel Islands, Chico, East Bay, Humboldt, Maritime Academy, Monterey Bay, San Francisco, and Sonoma are so under-enrolled that Cal State is pulling some of their state revenues to send to campuses that are still growing. Cal Maritime is soon merging with another campus because of its perilous finances. The pilot also includes the two closest campuses to the county, San Bernardino and San Marcos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system chose Riverside County because all of its public high school students were already loaded onto a state data platform that can directly transmit student grades to Cal State a key step in creating automatic admissions. Riverside is also ethnically and economically representative of the diversity of California many of the students the CSU is so proud to serve, a spokesperson for the system, Amy Bentley Smith, wrote in an email. At Heritage High School, a public school in Riverside County, the pilot encouraged students who previously didnt even consider attending a public four-year university to submit the automatic admission forms to a Cal State. Silvia Morales, a 17-year-old senior at Heritage, got an automatic admissions letter. I was pretty set on going to community college and then transferring, because I felt like I wasnt ready for the four-year commitment to a college, she said. Even with a 3.0 GPA, higher than the 2.5 GPA Cal State requires for admission, she nearly didnt submit the forms to secure her admission until early January. Thats well past the standard Nov. 30 admissions deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt until her counselor, Chris Tinajero, pulled her into a meeting that she decided to opt into the pilot. I went through the sales pitch like, Hey, you get this guaranteed admission, youre an amazing student, he recounted. The pitch worked. Though Cal State sent a physical pamphlet and her high school also emailed her about the pilot, I wasnt really paying attention, Morales said. She needed an adult she trusted at the school to persuade her that the applications were worth the effort, she said. Morales applied to three Cal State campuses in the pilot plus two outside the program that were still accepting late applications Chico, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Northridge and San Bernardino. She got into each one, she said. Her parents are proud of me because I want to go to college, Morales said. Neither went to college, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Final enrollment figures wont be tallied until August, including how many of the students admitted through the pilot attended one of the 10 campuses. But the systems chancellors office is already planning to replicate the pilot program in a Northern California county, which will be named sometime in April, Cal State officials said. A bill by Christopher Cabaldon, a state senator and Democrat from Napa, would make automatic enrollment to Cal State for eligible students a state law. The bill hasnt been heard in a committee yet. A boost in application numbers Of the 17,000 students who received an invitation to secure their automatic admissions, about 13,200 submitted the necessary forms. Thats about 3,000 more students who applied from the county than last year. Those who otherwise wouldnt have applied to a Cal State include students who were eyeing private colleges, said Melina Gonzalez, a counselor at Heritage who typically advises students who are already college-bound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearby private colleges offer all students application fee waivers; at Cal State, typically only low-income students receive fee waivers. But the pilot provided each Cal State student one fee waiver worth $70, which was a draw to students and their parents who dont qualify for the fee waiver but might struggle to pay. Last year, 10 of the 100 senior students Gonzalez counseled didnt apply to a Cal State. This application season, all her students submitted at least one Cal State application, she said. It was big, it was really cool, their eyes, they were so excited, she said of the automatically admitted students. They would come in and show me their letters. Parents called her asking if the pamphlet from Cal State was authentic. With guaranteed admission, some parents ultimately decided to pay for additional applications to campuses in the pilot, knowing it wasnt in vain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Heritage, high school counselors reviewed Cal States provisional list of students eligible for the pilot to add more seniors, such as those who hadnt yet completed the mandatory courses but were on track to do so. Tinajero was also able to persuade some students who hadnt completed all the required courses for Cal State entry to take those, including online classes. Still, others with qualifying grades didnt apply because they werent persuaded that a four-year university was for them. Tinajero sees program growth in the coming years, assuming Cal State continues with the pilot. Younger high school students who witnessed the fanfare of automatic admissions may take more seriously the need to pass the 15 required courses to be eligible for a Cal State or University of California campus, he said. Thats part of Cal States vision for this pilot, said April Grommo, the systems assistant vice chancellor of strategic enrollment management: Begin encouraging students to take the required courses in ninth grade so that by 11th and 12th grade theyre more receptive to applying to Cal State. Pilot leads to more applications The automatic admissions pilot is likely what explains the jump in overall applicants, said Grommo. If you look at the historical numbers of Riverside County students that have applied to the CSU, its very consistent at 10,000, so theres no other accelerator or explanation for the significant increase in the applications, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some campuses in the pilot are probably going to see more students from Riverside County than others. The eight under-enrolled Cal State campuses each enrolled fewer than than 100 Riverside students as freshmen, a CalMatters review of 2024 admissions data show. Two enrolled fewer than 10 Riverside students as freshmen. Cal State isnt solely relying on past trends to enroll more students. Grommo cited research that suggests direct admissions programs are associated with increases in student enrollment, but not among low-income students, who are less familiar with the college-going process or have additional economic and family demands, like work and child care. The quad at San Francisco State University in San Francisco on July 7, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters Even after students are admitted, some dont complete key steps in the enrollment process, such as maintaining their grades in the second semester, completing registration forms to enroll, and paying deposits. Others, especially low-income students, have a change of heart over summer about attending college, which scholars call summer melt. Then there are the students who got into typically more selective campuses, such as at elite private schools and the University of California, and choose instead to go to those. To prompt more students to actually enroll, Cal State officials in early March hosted two college fairs in Riverside County for students admitted through the pilot. About 2,600 students signed up to be bussed from their high schools to large venues, including the Riverside Convention Center, where they met with staff, alumni and current students from all 10 Cal State campuses participating in the program. Those were followed by receptions with students and parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grommo said they maxed out capacity at both venues for the student events. While its common for individual campuses to host events for admitted students, it was a first for Cal States central office. The event costs, physical mailers to students about their admissions guarantee, invitation to the college fairs and another flyer about the relative affordability of a Cal State cost the systems central office around $300,000, Grommo estimates. But if the event moves the needle on students agreeing to attend a Cal State, the tuition revenue at the largely under-enrolled campuses alone would be a huge return on investment. The effort is a far more targeted approach than another admissions outreach effort Cal State rolled out last fall to inform students who started but didnt finish their college applications that theyre provisionally accepted, as long as they complete and send their forms. The notification went to 106,000 students and was the result of a $750,000 grant Cal State won from the Lumina Foundation, a major higher education philanthropy. The system will know by fall if this notification resulted in more students attending a Cal State. But that was aimed at students who already applied. The Riverside pilot brings in students, like Morales, who wouldnt have applied without the mailers and entreaties from counselors. Shes leaning toward picking Cal State San Bernardino for next fall. Its close to home and an older cousin recently graduated who had a good experience there, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her next task? Working with her parents to complete the federal application for financial aid by April 2, the deadline for guaranteed tuition waivers for low- and middle-income students. Its possible that Cal State may take the direct admissions pilot statewide. All counties are required by state law to join the state-funded data system that Riverside is already a part of to electronically transmit students high school grades to Cal States and UCs. Doing so removes the need for schools to send campuses paper transcripts. The deadline for all counties to join the state data system is summer of 2026. This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license. When the humanitarian aid workers decided to dismantle their elaborate tented setup erected right up against the border wall they hadnt seen migrants for a month. A year earlier, when historic numbers of migrants were arriving at the border, the American Friends Service Committee, a national Quaker-founded human rights organization, came to their aid. Eventually the group received enough donations to erect three canopies, where it stored food, clothing and medical supplies. But migrant crossings have slowed to a near halt, bringing a striking change to the landscape along the southernmost stretch of California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelters that once received migrants have closed, makeshift camps where migrants waited for processing are barren, and nonprofits have begun shifting their services to established immigrants in the U.S. who are facing deportation, or migrants stuck in southern Mexico. Meanwhile, the Border Patrol, with the assistance of 750 U.S. military troops, has reinforced six miles of the border wall with concertina wire. American Friends Service Committee Program Coordinator Adriana Jasso, has been packing up clothing, food, water and other supplies that were once offered to migrants crossing into the U.S. at an area called Whiskey 8 in San Ysidro. On a recent day at the aid station erected by the Service Committee a few miles west of the San Ysidro border crossing, just one mostly empty canopy remained. Three aid workers wearing blue surgical gloves were packing up boxes labeled kids/hydration," "tea and hot coco"and small sweater. There was no need for them now. Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector are now making about 30 to 40 arrests per day, according to the agency. Thats down from more than 1,200 per day during the height of migrant arrivals to the region in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adriana Jasso, who coordinates the U.S.-Mexico program for the Service Committee, recalled that hectic time and the group's aid effort. This was the first time we took on this level of providing humanitarian aid, Jasso said. But these days, she said, its the closing of an experience for now. Because life can be unpredictable. In May 2023, the Biden administration ended a pandemic-era policy under which migrants were denied the right to seek asylum and were rapidly returned to Mexico. In the leadup to the policy change, migrants descended on the border by the thousands. Two parallel fences make up much of the border barrier near San Diego. Asylum seekers began scaling the fence closest to Mexico and handing themselves over to Border Patrol agents, who would tell them to wait there between both fences for processing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days often passed before agents returned to the area, known as Whiskey 8. In the meantime, Jasso and her colleagues doled out hot instant soup, fresh fruit and backpacks through the slots in the fence. The last time Jasso saw any migrants there was Feb. 15 a 20-person group made up mostly of men from India and China. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) volunteer Emma Starkey packs up at an area called Whiskey 8 in San Ysidro. "It's been about a month since we've seen anyone," Starkey said about migrants. Then a storm came in, dislodging two of the canopies. Jasso and her team took that as a sign to tear the rest of it down. The stench of the contaminated Tijuana River wafted in the morning air as Jasso hauled out a plastic shelving unit from the canopy. Inside the canopy, one of the last remaining items was a stuffed Minnie Mouse, her bubblegum pink shoes shaded gray with dirt. A young girl had handed it to Jasso through the fence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Border Patrol refused to let her take it, Jasso said. I promised her I would take care of it and that somebody would love it as she did. Just as Jasso was packing up at Whiskey 8, Border Patrol held a news conference a few miles away. Parked against the border wall, east of the San Ysidro border crossing, a Border Patrol SUV and a green Humvee served as a backdrop to illustrate the partnership between the departments of Homeland Security and Defense. A pair of U.S. soldiers look towards Tijuana that rests behind the border wall with new concertina wire along the U.S. and Mexico border near San Ysidro. A gate in the barrier opened and Border Patrol, Marines and Army officials showed reporters how both fences were now sheathed in concertina wire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loud music could be heard from Tijuana, where construction workers were building an elevated highway right up against the wall separating Mexico from the U.S. Troops created an obstacle design by welding metal rods to the top of the fence, pointing toward Mexico, and attaching more layers of wire over that. Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego sector, said the additional wire, installed since troops arrived on Jan. 23, has slowed illegal entries. Stalnaker said federal prosecutors in San Diego had also accepted more than 1,000 border-related criminal cases this fiscal year. And following Trumps tariff threats, Mexico vowed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border. Those troops now meet with U.S. agents a few times a week and conduct synchronous patrols on their respective sides of the border, Stalnaker said. Construction workers in Tijuana work high above the border wall that features new concertina wire along the U.S. and Mexico border near San Ysidro. What we see behind us here today is the result of a true whole-of-government effort, from the Marines laying down miles of concertina wire along the border infrastructure, to the soldiers manning our scope trucks and remote video surveillance cameras, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only Border Patrol agents can arrest migrants entering the country illegally, but Stalnaker said that using military personnel to detect migrants has freed agents to spend more time in the field. Last April, San Diego became the top region along the border for migrant arrivals for the first time in decades. Stalnaker said theres been a 70% decrease in migrant arrests so far this fiscal year, compared to the same period last year. To say there has been a dramatic change would be an understatement, he said. But Stalker noted that Border Patrol expects an increase in attempts by migrants to enter California by boat as we continue to lock down the border here and secure it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farther east, Jacumba Hot Springs was once the site of additional open-air camps , where hundreds of migrants slept on plastic tarps (or in tents, if they were lucky) and huddled around campfires fueled by brush to stay warm. Sam Schultz approaches Moon Camp, where migrants would rest and camp out after crossing the U.S./Mexico border near the unincorporated town of Jacumba Hot Springs. "It's hard to keep it up if you don't see anyone at all," Schultz said about his efforts to continue to bring food and water to the migrants in the area. A tank filled with water for migrants, tires to sit on and sandbags, that were used to weigh down tents, is all that remains at Moon Camp near the unincorporated town of Jacumba Hot Springs. Sam Schultz, a retired international relief worker who has lived near Jacumba for nine years, once made daily deliveries of water, hot meals and blankets to migrants there. When the camps popped up a few miles from his home, he felt compelled to help. The tents that once covered a camp site just off Old Highway 80 are gone. Schultz's son recently hauled them away because they're no longer needed. Schultz still visits three sites a few times a week to check if water left out for migrants needs replenishing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The water hasnt been touched, he said. Legal aid and humanitarian organizations that helped migrants have shifted their operations away from the border. Immigrant Defenders Law Center, headquartered in Los Angeles, served migrants who were bused there from the border by the Texas governor; the group also provided legal help to those waiting in Tijuana for appointments with Customs and Border Protection. After his inauguration, President Trump quickly canceled existing appointments and ended use of a phone application used by the Biden administration to schedule them. Lindsay Toczylowski,the law centers co-founder and CEO, said that since arrests by immigration agents have increased around Los Angeles, the organization has begun to focus on defending recently detained immigrants from deportation. Oscar Mendoza, right, peers out of his tent with his daughters Melina, 15, and Dolores, 12, foreground, at the Movimento Juventud 2000 shelter in Tijuana. Mendoza and his family fled Morelos, Mexico, for the border due to all the violence along with his family being threatened. Erika Pinheiro, executive director of Al Otro Lado, said many of those deported to Mexico are being sent farther south, so there arent as many people stuck in Tijuana. She said the organization has brought staff to Mexico City and to Tapachula, which borders Guatemala. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinheiro said the San Ysidro-based organization recently scaled up a project supporting non-Spanish-speaking migrants in Mexico refugees who now cannot seek asylum in the U.S. but also cant safely return to their country of origin. The American Friends Service Committee has also shifted its work to focus on offering know your rights presentations at schools, churches and community centers. But back at Whiskey 8, Jasso said the organization will continue offering direct humanitarian aid to migrants moving forward. A border patrol agent rides an along the U.S./Mexico border wall near an area called Whiskey 8 where migrants used to receive water and food in San Ysidro. She recalled learning about three migrants who died earlier this month in the Otay Mountain wilderness after calling for help during a storm that brought near-freezing temperatures to the harsh terrain. With migrants now unable to seek legal ways of entering the U.S. through the asylum process, advocates anticipate that more will begin to risk their lives by attempting to enter illegally through more remote and dangerous terrain. Some desperate enough might even try to jump over all the newly installed concertina wire. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Mar. 29WILKES-BARRE As part of the Shapiro Administration's commitment to maintaining the Commonwealth's natural resources and enhancing tourism, Pennsylvanians are invited to register for the 2025 Pick Up Pennsylvania litter cleanup initiative. A collaborative effort among the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Environmental Protection (DEP) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Pick Up Pennsylvania offers civic-minded volunteers an opportunity to help keep their communities clean and free from litter. Litter can pollute streams and rivers with microplastics, degrading water quality and harming the fish, birds and wildlife that depend on healthy streams and rivers to thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pick Up PA, an annual volunteer effort to clean up Pennsylvania roads, parks, streams and communities, represents Governor Shapiro's commitment to protecting Pennsylvania's cherished natural resources. Earlier this year the Shapiro Administration announced more than $15 million in funding to conserve and protect waterways and watersheds, reclaim abandoned mine sites, and plug abandoned wells. In 2024, more than 77,000 volunteers participated in Pick Up Pennsylvania. Over 3.2 million pounds of litter and trash were picked up, 4.5 million pounds of materials recycled, and more than 14,000 trees, flowers and other greens were planted. Also in 2024, PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway program hosted nearly 23,000 volunteers belonging to 4,600 groups and supported the collection of more than 39,000 bags of trash from PA roadways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Last fiscal year, PennDOT spent $18 million picking up litter along the 40,000 miles of state-owned roadways. The Shapiro Administration has made protecting the Commonwealth's environment a key focus, and we're proud to continue that work," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "The thousands of Pennsylvanians who volunteer their time to keeping litter out of our roads, parks and waterways are a key component to keeping PA beautiful, and there is always more work to be done." Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, said, "As we drive along the highways and back roads of Pennsylvania, it's easy to see the impact of litter. Litter affects our quality of life, the natural environment, and economic development in communities across the state." Information about the state's infrastructure and results the department is delivering for Pennsylvanians can be found at www.penndot.pa.gov/results. Rep. Meuser co-sponsors legislation to stop radical district court judges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week co-sponsored H.R. 1526 the No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA) of 2025 to prohibit district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions that he said reach far beyond their jurisdiction. The bill comes in response to U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's emergency order attempting to block the deportation of Venezuelan nationals, under the Alien Enemies Act, who are suspected members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Rep. Meuser said this law gives the President power to detain, relocate, or deport non-citizens from countries that the U.S. is at war with. The Tren de Aragua gang is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, and the Trump Administration has determined they are "conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States." Despite this, Rep. Meuser said Judge Boasberg's ruling has put such deportations of gang members on hold nationwide until April 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 94 District Courts across the United States, each of which serves a small and specific geographic region. However, District Court judges currently have the ability to issue nationwide injunctions. Many have argued that this ability has led to what is often referred to as "judge shopping." Rep. Meuser said this is a legal strategy where plaintiffs file lawsuits in specific jurisdictions because they believe a particular judge is more likely to rule in their favor. Republicans argue this practice is being utilized to halt many aspects of President Trump's agenda as the majority of lawsuits against the administration have been filed in courts with historically liberal judges. Rep. Meuser said the No Rogue Rulings Act seeks to curb "judge shopping" by limiting a district court judge's ability to issue rulings that apply throughout the country. Higher courts in the federal system would still maintain this ability. "Since President Trump was sworn in, unelected activist judges have repeatedly attempted to block his agenda through nationwide injunctions," Rep. Meuser said. "These rulings often come from a single district judge and are the result of judge shopping where plaintiffs seek out a favorable court to impose their will nationwide. The No Rogue Rulings Act is a straightforward legislative solution that restores proper judicial restraint and ensures that policy decisions are made by elected representatives, not individual judges. This legislation is about reinforcing the rule of law and keeping our courts focused on interpreting the law not making it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement H.R. 1526 will be considered on the House floor this upcoming week. State reminds SNAP recipients to change EBT card PINs The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) today are reminding Pennsylvanians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to change their EBT card PINs ahead of their monthly SNAP benefit distribution. "DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said, "Do not become a victim of this crime. Make sure you change your PIN every month, and when you swipe your EBT card at a card reader, please make sure a skimming device is not attached." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Phone: DHS' EBT Recipient Hotline is available at 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366) and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online: Users can change their PIN online through DHS' EBT contractor, Conduent, via their Connect EBT website. Pennsylvanians are urged to take an extra look before swiping their card at a point-of-sale machine to ensure there is no skimming attachment. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. While a lot of different headlines have been grabbing attention during this legislative session, a series of bills have helped the states economic capabilities navigate the corridors of the Arkansas Capitol Building. Capitol View host Roby Brock met with Arkansas Secretary of Commerce, Hugh McDonald, to talk about the impact of tariff decisions coming out of Washington D.C. and perspective on legislation passed so far in Arkansas that affect the Natural States economy. Roby then talks with Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families executive director Keesa Smith-Brantley to talk about the politics and potential reality of changes to Medicaid funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 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 KARK. HEPHZIBAH, Ga (WJBF) Six months after hurricane Helene hit our area, one organization is helping distribute supplies to those impacted by the storm. Caring For Others is a non-profit with a mission to eliminate poverty. With close to $5 million worth of products, organizations including Good 360, NOBLE, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Motor Trucking Association and more are assisting those who lost everything to the hurricane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President, Founder and CEO of Caring for Others, Eslene Richmond-Shockley, said she hopes to bring a smile to families faces when they see just how much they will be receiving. When you lose everything that you have, you lose your dignity, you lose everything that God has given you, but if you keep hoping, something is going to happen. This is joy for me to make sure that they are well taken care of. Not only the furniture, but they have the clothing, mind, spirit and soul, Richmond-Shockley said. The event was held at Diamond Lakes Regional Park with one area giving out necessities such as clothes, shoes, and laundry detergent, and the other area giving out mattresses, suitcases filled to the brim with items and other household goods. Peyton Kliewer, Director of Disaster Recovery at Good 360 said, People dont realize how big the need still is and even if your home wasnt directly impacted maybe your job was, I think its amazing to see the turnout and Im just glad we are here to support the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of volunteers spent their morning at the park helping unload boxes to get prepared for the hundreds of cars waiting to be stocked. Its so great to have an entity like Caring for Others come and bring all types of goodies for our community, and I cant tell you how appreciative we are as a county to have them come and do this for our citizens, Alvin Mason, District 4 Commissioner of Augusta-Richmond County said. Garnett Johnson, Mayor of Augusta said, To be the recipients of all of this love, all of these gifts to help us in our most desperate time of need, is just incredible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. (The Hill) Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said he certainly believes that theres enough room on Mount Rushmore for President Donald Trumps face. Burgum joined Trumps daughter-in-law and new Fox News host Lara Trump for an interview that aired on her show My View with Lara Trump on Saturday. His appearance came just days after Trump signed an executive order that gave Burgum the power to determine if public monuments, memorials or statues removed during the Biden administration give a false construction of American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Interior is in charge of the National Park Service, Lara Trump said. The National Park Services is in charge of Mount Rushmore. A lot of people wonder, will we ever see President Trumps face on Mount Rushmore? What do you think? Trump says hes considering ways to serve a third term Well, they certainly have room for it there, Burgum replied. He added that there will be fireworks and other celebrations around July 4th both at Mount Rushmore and across the country to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the countrys founding in 2026. Its not the first time the idea of placing Trump alongside the former presidents on Mount Rushmore has been introduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced a bill that would add Trump to the rock carvings shortly after he began his second term. A group of panelists on Fox News Channels Outnumbered also voiced support for the idea. If eventually added, Trump would join former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln on the South Dakota monument. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, Chair of Sentebale - Credit: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Sentebale) The chairwoman of a charity cofounded by Prince Harry accused the former royal of harassment and bullying at scale in a pair of new interviews. Earlier this week, the Duke of Sussex announced that he was stepping down from Sentebale, which he cofounded in 2006 to help people in southern Africa living with HIV and AIDS; the charity was created as a tribute to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Prince Harry and his Sentebale cofounder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho cited that their relationship with Sentebale chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka had broke down beyond repair. The princes previously asked Chandauka to resign from her position; she refused, and threatened legal action, further underscoring the broken relationship, they added in their statement. Days after Prince Harrys exit from Sentebale, Chandauka sat down for an interview to give her side of the breakdown, and claimed that the Duke of Sussex orchestrated a campaign of bullying and harassment in an effort to force her to resign as well as prevent her whistleblower complaint alleging abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir. So its a cover-up, and the prince is involved, she told Sky News. Speaking to Financial Times in a separate interview, Chandauka said tensions between her and Prince Harry first arose in the past year, citing an incident where the Sussexes public relations team asked Chandauka to speak out in support of Harrys wife Meghan Markle, who had been facing negative publicity. I said no, were not setting a precedent by which we become an extension of the Sussex PR machine, Chandauka said in the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added, The number-one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patrons brand. However, Sentebales trustees five of whom also exited the charity this week along with Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso placed the blame on the situation on Chandauka, adding that they had lost trust in her but her legal actions prevented them from removing her as chairwoman. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) A Chemung County Legislator has called for a bipartisan investigation by the New York State Legislature into New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) for what he says are issues with the company that have arisen over the past several months. Rodney Strange, legislator for Chemung Countys 15th District, announced on Facebook late Saturday, March 29, a call to action against NYSEG for many issues around the companys practices toward customers. It is clear that people dont trust NYSEG, and they have no faith in the NYS Public Service Commission, Strange said in the post. What needs to happen is for the State Legislature to conduct a Bipartisan, Comprehensive, Independent Investigation into the many issues that have arisen over the past several months with NYSEG, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEC to review wildlife protection and enforcement process after seizure of Peanut the squirrel Some of those issues Strange mentioned include billing practices, operating procedures, electric costs, delivery costs, supply charges, smart meters, and other issues brought to light by customers around the state. This has to be the focus because nothing has happened since these problems started, and there is no solution in sight, Strange said. Strange is asking the public to contact their local state senator and assembly member and tell them to work on solving these problems that he says are financially cropping New Yorkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Children as young as five are being kicked out of school for attacking their teachers following a rise in poor behaviour. Across the 2022/23 academic year, 3,599 children in reception and nursery were either suspended or expelled for physical assault against an adult. A further 1,890 were excluded for assaulting other children, figures obtained by The Telegraph show. Across all age groups, more than 100 primary school pupils were also excluded for theft in 2022/23, while 148 faced punishments for drug or alcohol misuse and 855 were sanctioned for carrying weapons or other prohibited items into school, official data show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, 138 pupils were excluded for inappropriate use of social media or online technology, including one child aged five or younger. Telegraph analysis of official data shows the number of exclusions handed out for violent behaviour among pupils aged 11 and under, shot up by 40 per cent in a single year. In total, 25,724 suspensions and expulsions were recorded for physical assault during the autumn term in 2023, up from 18,259 in the same period the year before. This included 15,283 assaults against adults and 10,441 against other children, which resulted in 421 primary school children being permanently expelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unions warned that teachers were increasingly under attack from their pupils. Department for Education figures also show a jump of nearly a third in the number of primary pupils excluded for launching tirades against their teachers. Primary school teachers were forced to hand out 2,762 suspensions and exclusions for verbal abuse against an adult last autumn, up 32 per cent on the year before. Meanwhile, punishments for racism, homophobia and transphobia, and sexual misconduct all saw significant rises last year. The number of primary school pupils excluded for racist behaviour increased nearly 1.5 times last autumn to 648. It follows concerns that pupil behaviour has deteriorated since the pandemic, with experts pointing to an overstretched teacher workforce plus a rise in phone use and mental health problems among children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charities have also raised the alarm over young children turning up to primary school in nappies or unable to say their name since the pandemic, which is thought to have contributed to worsening behaviour problems. A survey by four leading childrens charities, shared with The Telegraph earlier this year, showed that two-thirds of teachers were concerned about behavioural problems among four and five-year-olds. Patrick Roach, general secretary of The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, said the figures were just the tip of the iceberg. Union leader Patrick Roach has spoken of his concerns for members faced with violent pupils - Yui Mok The increase in the number of pupils being suspended or excluded for assaulting school staff reflects the feedback and casework from our members that levels of violence and abuse from pupils have increased since the pandemic, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These figures represent the tip of the iceberg as we know that in too many cases schools fail to deal effectively with serious assaults and attacks on teachers. We are urging ministers to establish an effective national multi-agency forum on school safety and security to explore how best schools and colleges can respond to increasing levels of attacks and threats and to examine the contribution that other agencies can make to better support efforts to keep staff and pupils safe. Schools, too, need to respond to the increase in violent and disruptive behaviour by ensuring there are effective behaviour management policies in place to deal with and deter acts of violence and abuse and that sanctions are clearly and consistently enforced. High pressure Rosamund McNeil, assistant general secretary at the National Education Union, added: Increases in behavioural issues at primary school level is a real worry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 14 years of chronic underfunding has created larger class sizes and a loss of experienced teachers and pastoral posts. The primary curriculum needs to be more varied so there is interesting learning, fit for this age group, who all develop at different stages and ages. There is strong evidence that a focus on activities like outdoor learning, learning through play and exploration, art, music, and lots of opportunities to read whole books is vital for primary children but these are greatly reduced because of high pressure formal tests and all the preparation. We need to see funding levels returned to our schools and LA authorities that allows for the support and resources where needed for children and families. Hungry and tired children cant learn and cope successfully with the school day, so the Government needs to urgently tackle child poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are political choices and ones which we would expect a Labour Government to be making. Tom Bennett, the Governments behaviour tsar, has previously said that high exclusion rates are a sign of a system working, not one thats broken. Writing for The Telegraph following record suspension and exclusion figures last year, he said that schools cant perform miracles, and some extreme behaviours cant be managed by patience alone. The education regulator is working on a new system to assess the quality of schools. Ofsteds new report cards will measure behaviour as part of colour-coded inspection sheets, alongside a range of other measures including attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. STORY: China, Japan and South Korea held their first trade talks in five years on Sunday amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs. :: Seoul, South Korea The three Asian manufacturing giants agreed to "closely cooperate for a comprehensive and high-level" talks to improve free trade in the region. That's according to a statement released after the meeting. Trade ministers from the three nations met ahead of Trump's planned announcement on Wednesday of more tariffs in what he calls "liberation day". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement :: File Last week, Trump announced 25% import tariffs on cars and auto parts, a move that may hurt companies, especially Asian automakers, which are among the largest vehicle exporters to the U.S. Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo are major U.S. trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads among themselves. :: File Disagreements over issues including territorial disputes have prevented them from making any substantial progress on a trilateral free-trade deal since starting talks in 2012. The ministers agreed to hold their next ministerial meeting in Japan. China has revealed plans for its own supersonic successor to Concorde, launching an aerospace race with the United States. Engineers from the countrys state-owned aircraft manufacturer, Comac, revealed blueprints for the new plane in an academic paper published earlier this month. The aircraft will be able to fly 1.6 times faster than the speed of sound and travel distances of up to 11,000km, or 6,800 miles, at a time. The range would allow the plane to fly from Britain to Malaysia non-stop, and is well above Concordes maximum range of around 4,500 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas C949 jet is also set to be much quieter than Concorde, with sonic booms of 89.3 decibels compared to the Anglo-French jets thunderous 105. The shape of C949s reverse-camber fuselage is set to dampen the shock waves caused by the surrounding air travelling faster than the speed of sound, which creates loud booms that can be heard nearby. Concordes own sonic booms saw it blocked from taking overland flights following noise complaints. The Chinese craft is designed to hold 168 passengers, more than the 128 maximum capacity of the Concorde. C949 will be slower than its predecessor, however. Concorde reached top speeds of Mach-2.2, equivalent to 2,154 km per hour or 1,338 miles per hour, meaning it could fly from London to New York in less than three hours. C949s top speed will be Mach 1.6. The Chinese plans are part of a wave of interest in reviving commercial supersonic air travel, which ended with the retirement of the Concorde in 2003 following a catastrophic crash at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport three years earlier that killed 113 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several start-ups are vying for the title of heir to the Concorde, with most based in the US. Boom Supersonic, which is based in Denver, Colorado, successfully launched a test flight of its prototype XB-1 supersonic passenger jet in January. The plane successfully broke the sound barrier, reaching speeds of 850 miles per hour during three separate flights over the Mojave Desert. Spike Aerospace, which is based in Boston, Massachusetts, is separately working on plans for its own 1.6-Mach passenger plane that it also expects will be quieter than Concorde. Meanwhile, Nasa and Lockheed Martin have joined forces to develop a one-person jet that is capable of travelling 1.4-Mach while making a sonic boom of just 75 decibels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britains own efforts to develop a Concorde successor saw Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines work to develop its own hypersonic spaceplane called Sabre that would have been capable of travelling at speeds of up to 19,000 miles per hour. However, the company collapsed into administration last October after struggling to raise fresh funding. Reaction Engines had previously received support from Rolls Royce, BAE Systems and the Government. Sabre would have been able to travel from London to Sydney in just four hours. Blake Scholl, Boom Supersonics chief executive, said in a tweet over the weekend: Aight folks, its no surprise, but China has now officially entered the supersonic race. Game on. Lets beat em. Beijings pursuit of supersonic jet technology is likely to raise concerns about the potential for dual-use of the technology for military purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comac was first started by the Chinese government in 2008. It is currently subject to sanctions from the US government over its links to the Peoples Liberation Army. In January, Beijing-based Sichuan Lingkong Tianxing Technology outlined plans for a supersonic drone able to travel at Mach-4, equivalent to 4,900km per hour, or 3,045 miles per hour. The Chinese drone is set to be called Cuantianhou, a name given to the Monkey King in Chinese mythology. 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. CARL JUNCTION, Mo. Fire spread through a home in Carl Junction early Sunday morning (3/30) after it was struck by lightning. Around 3:00 a.m., emergency crews were called a home on Briarwood Ridge Road in Carl Junctions Briarbrook neighborhood. When firefighters arrived, they found flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof of the two-story home. Strong winds from ongoing severe storms made firefighting difficult and prompted a second alarm, calling for mutual aid from Joplin, Webb City, and Oronogo Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around that time, a wind gust of 79 mph was reported just to the east at the Joplin Airport. Residents of the home were able to make it out safely and no injuries were reported. The home suffered extensive fire and smoke damage. The red cross has been contacted to assist the displaced family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Clocks across the majority of European countries sprang forward by one hour on Sunday morning as the continent moves to daylight saving time. Clocks in most European nations including Germany were advanced by one hour at 0100 GMT to 0200 GMT, heralding longer evenings and brighter days. This means that for the coming months parts of Europe will be on Central European Summer Time (CEST), before moving back to Central European Time (CET) in the autumn, when clocks go back again by an hour on October 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain for its part moves from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to British Summer Time (BST), while the east of the continent moves from Eastern European Time (EET) to Eastern European Summer Time (EEST). The biannual clock changes on the last Sunday in March and October have always been controversial and never fail to spark debates ever since their introduction in many countries from the 1970s onwards. While some relish the additional daylight time won, others argue that the changes may disrupt sleep schedules, for example. The European Commission proposed a directive to end the twice-yearly clock changes across the European Union in 2018, but it has so far not seen any progress. Comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez was arrested after police allegedly found narcotics in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Friday night in Burbank. Burbank Police Sgt. Stephen Turner said Rodriguez, 70, was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for "code violations" at around 7:30 p.m. in the area of Victory Boulevard and Lamer Street. "During the investigation, narcotics were located," Turner said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez was booked at the Burbank jail for possession of narcotics and released with a citation to appear in court next month, Turner said. Read more: 'Ugly Betty' alum Eric Mabius arrested on suspicion of battery in Florida bar brawl Rodriguez is telling a different version of the story. He told TMZ that he was sleeping in the passenger seat when a "Caucasian" officer on a "power trip" slapped him to wake him up. Rodriguez told the outlet that the drugs belonged to the driver of the vehicle. Bobby Samini, his attorney, called the charges against Rodriguez false, and said his arrest and treatment by police were a "violation of his civil rights." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He fully cooperated with law enforcement at all times," Samini said in a statement. "Law enforcement asserted that the driver of the vehicle was in possession of a controlled substance. Mr. Rodriguez did not have any controlled substance in his possession, nor was he under the influence of any controlled substance." Rodriguez, the son of a migrant farm worker, was born in Mexico before moving to East Los Angeles in his youth. His career in stand-up began in L.A. comedy clubs in the late 1970s. Rodriguez's work includes writing and acting in dozens of films, including his own stand-up comedy specials. He also hosted television shows on Univision and MTV. He is known for his roles in such movies as "Blood Work," "Rat Race," "The World's Fastest Indian" and "Tortilla Soup." 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. Comedian Paul Rodriguez was arrested on Friday for possession of narcotics though the funnyman claims the drugs werent his and that he got roughed up by police. The incident happened Friday night in Burbank, California, when authorities pulled over a vehicle in which Rodriguez was a passenger. Although the vehicle was stopped for a code violation, a subsequent search of the car turned up narcotics, the Burbank Police Department confirmed to The New York Daily News. Rodriguez was promptly arrested and booked at the Burbank Police Jail for possession of narcotics, cops said. He was later released with a citation to appear in court on April 25. A city attorney will decide whether Rodriguez will face formal charges for the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the 70-year-old comedian, the narcotics police found belonged to a female friend, who was behind the wheel at the time. He told TMZ on Saturday that he was sleeping in the passenger seat and was slapped awake by aCaucasian officer on a power trip. He claims he got roughed up before being taken into custody and is now considering filing a formal complaint. His friend was similarly arrested but remained in custody on Saturday for outstanding warrants, according to the outlet. The Burbank Police Department did not address Rodriguezs allegations of mistreatment. Born in Mexico but raised in Los Angeles, Rodriguez developed an interest in standup while in college and honed his skills at L.A.s Comedy Store. Beginning in the early 80s, he appeared on countless talk shows and comedy specials, before gaining an even larger fanbase as part of the 2002 comedy documentary The Original Latin Kings of Comedy, alongside the likes of George Lopez and Cheech Marin. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him at No. 74 on its list of the 100 Greatest Standups of all Time. DENVER (KDVR) Police are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred Saturday afternoon, according to a post on X from the Commerce City Police Department. Police are on the scene of the incident in the 6000 block of Parkway Drive. W. Colfax Avenue closed in Lakewood due to crash Police said one suspect is in custody. The man who was stabbed was transported to the hospital, but the extent of his injuries is unknown. Officers said he was alert when transported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police ask for people to avoid the area 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 FOX31 Denver. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Thousands of people packed the streets of Ybor City Saturday for Tampa Pride events. Pride means being able to express yourself without any type of judgment from anybody, Laura Ruiz said. Like, you see everybody, they have their own sense of creativity, being able to express themselves, and I just love it. To Prachi Misra, pride means to be seen. When youre at pride, theres a part of you that gets seen that is usually hidden away, Misra said. Usually, when it comes to sexuality, especially in the state of Florida, you have to hide it at work, you have to hide it in your day-to-day activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a part of you that you have to hide from other people that never gets shown, but at pride, when you see a stranger walking down the street, its like, I recognize that we have this shared community and I recognize you for who you are, she continued. Abby Schnittker said this years pride event was extra special to her because of the current political climate. I think it means something different to every person, she said. Everyone has their own definition of what pride means to them and what it means to find their own identity, and I think thats amazing. I think thats something that shouldnt be taken away by any government or politicians that we have in power right now, Schnittker continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tampa Pride President Carrie W. also spoke on this years political climate, saying it brought its challenges. This year, with all the political climate and a lot of the things theyre saying, no DEI, weve lost a lot of the sponsors this year, he said. Probably over or around a dozen, dozen and a half. So, its been kind of a challenging year, but Ill tell you what, the community has become strong, and thats what we like, he 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 WFLA. The communities of Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Miami water polo and fitness took to social media to mourn the sudden death of Belen sophomore Lucas Osuna at a water polo tournament Friday. Osuna was 15. The cause of his death hasnt been released. Lucas Osuna, you will forever be in our hearts, the Miami Whitecaps Water Polo Club, based at Belen, posted to Instagram. We are going to miss you. An amazing, smart, kind-hearted and hilarious person. Prayers for you and your family. We will never forget you. Our team will not be the same without you. We love you! READ MORE: Belen Jesuit student dies at water polo tournament, officials say. What we know Gladiators Water Polo Club posted a two-photo RIP to Facebook with one of the photos being a shot of Lucas doing a double bicep flex, a shot used by LaSalle and others in their condolence posts on Instagram and/or Facebook. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez posted to Instagram, Lucas was the eldest son of my dear friend Mike, whom Ive known for years through our time training together in Coconut Grove. My heart breaks for him and his family. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez posted to Instagram the day after the death of Belen Jesuit student and water polo player Lucas Osuna. A couple of posts linked to Meal Train, through which people can volunteer to provide a meal or raise funds for meals for families going through the aftermath of a birth, death or medical issue so theres one less thing to worry about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Meal Train post had raised $69,666 as of 6:50 p.m. Saturday and volunteer cook slots were filling up into May. The school Lucas had attended since the 2020-21 school year posted to Facebook Saturday morning, when it hosted a prayer service for Lucas. We are united as a faith community to mourn our brother Lucas Osuna 27 and support his family and one another. Together we will pray for the repose of his soul and comfort those he loved and loved him. May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ bless and console us during this time of sorrow - Our Lady of Belen, Pray for Us. Lord God, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement you are attentive to the voice of our pleading. Let us find in your Son comfort in our sadness, certainty in our doubt, and courage to live through this hour. Make our faith strong through Christ our Lord. Amen. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. There's one case that has baffled Columbia Police Department Chief Jeremy Alsup and his detectives for more than a decade. There's a conflicting victim statement, a lack of evidence, no witnesses and a twist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terrance Smith was walking home during the early hours of June 8, 2008 when he was stabbed in the neck. While he was still alive, Smith told police he was stabbed outside a neighborhood bar, but he didnt see who did it. He said he stumbled to ex-girlfriend Casandra Kay Hills home, where she reportedly found him on the porch and called police. That statement ended up being his dying declaration," Alsup said. Smith died in surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police found no blood around the bar. According to the original report, blood was only found inside Hills home. His declaration statement doesnt fall in line with any information we obtained. It doesn't make it unsolvable, but it does make it very difficult without someone willing to come forward with a different statement, the chief said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The twist? Hill was charged with attempted second-degree murder for stabbing a man four years after Smith's death. She ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in that case, according to court records. The Columbia Police Department has never named her as a suspect in Smith's death. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Terrance Smith's killer hasn't been caught following 2008 murder After months of planning and discussion, the Cook County sheriffs office starting Tuesday will no longer accept new electronic monitoring participants, marking the beginning of a shift in one way pretrial justice is handled in Cook County. The county will now run all electronic monitoring through the court system, merging parallel programs that have previously operated separately under the authority of Sheriff Tom Dart and Chief Judge Tim Evans. Often used as something of a middle ground between being released or jailed pretrial, both programs use GPS technology to oversee defendants that judges determine need additional supervision, even though they arent ordered to remain in jail. Officials have discussed merging the electronic monitoring programs for years, but the move became a reality last year when Dart announced he would no longer take new clients. The change was supported by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, but was initially resisted by Evans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a large undertaking: The chief judges office needs new staff, new space and the money to pay for both. Evans office estimated it would cost about $10 million this year alone as its responsibilities ramp up. It is also poised to set off battles with unions that represent sheriffs office personnel whose electronic monitoring roles will no longer be needed as that program ramps down. And the move has been divisive, bringing to the fore long simmering public debates about how electronic monitoring should be used and whether it makes the community safer. Some experts and stakeholders support the change, arguing that the new system will be better aligned with more humane best practices and reduce inefficiencies from having separate, siloed monitoring programs. Others, though, including the Cook County states attorney, have raised concerns about the public safety impact of the change. With dueling political philosophies, labor conflicts and budget issues on the horizon, the county will begin the transition Tuesday, though a full switch is likely at least six months away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tribune sent a list of questions to the offices of Evans and Dart about the implementation of the change, cost and budget issues and public safety and other concerns raised by community and criminal justice stakeholders. A spokesman for Evans referred to a presentation made to the county boards Criminal Justice Committee in March, but otherwise declined to answer questions and said Evans would release a more comprehensive statement on Monday. In written answers to Tribune questions provided by a spokesman for Dart, the sheriff said he made the decision to phase out his program because of longtime concerns about his offices ability to manage the program safely. As Sheriff, I swore an oath to protect the citizens of Cook County, and I believe a true failure of leadership would be to continue an Electronic Monitoring program that has been degraded to the point that it can no longer responsibly serve our communities, Dart said in the statement. How the programs work For years, the county has run multiple electronic monitoring programs, started at different points in time for different reasons. The sheriffs program was created in 1989 out of a mandate to reduce overcrowding in the county jail following a consent decree, while the chief judge launched a separate program in 2009 to supervise people charged or convicted of violating orders of protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dart has talked about shedding responsibility for his program as early as 2019, claiming that high-risk suspects released on electronic monitoring hurt his ability to effectively manage the program. That criticism from Dart only increased with passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act, when he said he was receiving more defendants accused of gun and violent offenses. Preckwinkle at the time welcomed a transition to the judge to foster a program that supports rehabilitation and reentry. In the written statements to the Tribune, Dart said that for decades his program operated in order for low-level, non-violent offenders to remain in the community while ensuring they appeared in court. He was critical of changes in law and policy that he said led to more defendants charged with serious violent offenses being placed in his program. Darts position, though, is at odds with reform advocates and other county leaders who have said that electronic monitoring is a restrictive measure that should be reserved for more serious charges. Evans has previously pushed back on absorbing the sheriffs program, questioning the notion that it would result in savings and efficiencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Electronic monitoring at times can put the agencies running the programs in a hot seat if suspects on the programs are accused of committing a new, high-profile crime, though it is up to individual judges to decide whether someone should be released and on what conditions. The chief judges office runs a curfew program in which most participants are barred from being out at night and in the early morning but can still attend work, school and the doctor. Evans also runs a domestic violence-focused GPS program. The sheriffs program usually defaults to a 24-hour house arrest model except for movement allowed by the law or judges. According to the most recent available data, the sheriffs electronic-monitoring program oversaw slightly more than 1,500 people while the two GPS-based programs run by the chief judges office had around 2,100 participants. The sheriffs sunset date is slated for September, though his head of intergovernmental affairs, Jason Hernandez, said that date is not ironclad at an early March hearing in the countys Criminal Justice Committee. Costs and logistics There wont be significant savings to balance the ledger from Dart phasing out his electronic monitoring program. Dart plans to offer new roles to the roughly 105 employees already assigned to the program, and will allow electronic monitoring employees to bid for other jobs, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether it was fiscally responsible to keep the employees even though work was transferring out, Dart said they have more than 300 vacant correctional officer positions. Even with the EM Investigators returning to the jail there will still be the need for additional staff, he said in the statement. Jordan Boulger, an executive assistant for administration and research in the chief judges adult probation department told commissioners at the March hearing that in order for their office to match the full 24-hour monitoring currently done by the sheriff, including device deactivations, swapping out malfunctioning devices, responding to alerts and knocking on doors and other manual work that our staff do in the field it would need about 66 to 83 new people in its home confinement unit, on top of the 39 officers and nine supervisors already working there. Each person on electronic monitoring is also assigned a pretrial supervision officer. After the full transition, the offices overall pretrial caseload including defendants who are not on electronic monitoring is estimated to rise from about 6,400 today to about 7,300 in the next six months, Boulger said, requiring another 54 to 70 people in that unit on top of the 73 already there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All those new employees will need space to work, and additional technology (the two offices use the same vendor for monitors) and training. The chief judges current space at 26th Street and California Avenue is bursting at the seams already, adult probation officials testified. Their goal is to find more space close to the courthouse. County commissioners shifted $6.3 million from Darts budget to Evans this year to help the chief judge pay for the transition, but its short of the estimated $10 million price tag. The chief judge put in a separate request with state officials earlier this month for reimbursement to cover some of the 150 new positions, a change that would require a tweak to the proposed state budget. Cara Smith, the states pretrial services director, told county commissioners earlier this month that legislators were aware of the request. Looming fights with the unions that represent workers currently assigned to the sheriffs electronic monitoring program could also add to the cost, as labor leaders pledge to fight the transfer of the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony McGee, vice president of the Teamsters Local 700 and a former Cook County corrections officer, said leaders believe reassigning the some 90 investigators now assigned to electronic monitoring could run afoul of the law and their collective bargaining agreement and are prepared to use every resource thats available to us to right this wrong. Dart said his office has been conversing with the unions to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. The union that represents the chief judges adult and juvenile probation departments, AFSCME Local 3486, meanwhile said it wants assurances that enough staff, training and equipment will be added to handle the growing caseload and the increasing responsibilities of later shifts. AFSCME regional director Anne Irving told the Tribune that officers were already concerned about their safety before this transition. Members want assurances they can handle the additional caseload, be paired up when necessary and wont be running from case to case to case without consideration of the risk level of that client or their environment, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the kind of thing were going to have to bargain: What kind of enhanced security could we provide for folks working with that population? she said. At the March hearing, Office of Chief Judge staff said they expected to onboard an incoming class of probationary employees before April 1 to fill vacant positions and expected two more new classes to join the office in June and October. Public safety debates Every day, thousands of people pour into the countys courthouses, some walking through the halls with a black device strapped to their ankle with a blinking green light. Amid debates on how to best manage the program is discourse on the devices themselves and whether they are effective at getting people to court and stopping them from committing new criminal acts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is really no research that shows that electronic monitoring promotes public safety or court appearance rates, said Naomi Johnson, co-executive director of the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts. Some experts and advocates for criminal justice reform say the county should work toward shrinking its electronic monitoring programs, using the technology only in narrow, targeted circumstances. They point out that it is still a form of detention, forming barriers for people who need to work and meet other basic needs, which can create circumstances in which people are more likely to reoffend. Electronic monitoring is a tough issue. I think a lot of people think of it as this kind of risk-free way to ensure that people come back to court or that theyre maintaining some sort of level of safety, but we know that there are lots of downsides to both the overuse of electronic monitoring and the poor administration of electronic monitoring, said Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell. So we are really excited for the opportunity to improve this program. Others, though, raised concerns about shifting the responsibility for electronic monitoring away from the sheriffs office, where sworn law enforcement could respond to potentially dangerous situations. The chief judges probation officers do not have arrest powers and would need to rely on local police or the county sheriff to take potential violators into custody. In a statement, Dart said he has told the chief judges office that they are ready to support them with any law enforcement services they may need to ensure public safety going forward. In a recent interview with the Tribune, Cook County States Attorney Eileen ONeill Burke said she has significant concerns about the change, including how quickly there will be sufficient staffing for the chief judges program, the civilian status of the employees and whether additional movement would be allowed mirroring curfew rules for many of the defendants in the chief judges program. Assistant states attorneys do have the ability to petition judges to ask that defendants be taken off electronic monitoring or otherwise detained. McGee blasted Darts decision to step away from the monitoring program, calling it a failure of leadership. He said the sheriffs electronic monitoring investigators have specialized training to administer the program, which includes making sure participants adhere to the rules, sometimes conducting searches or seizing weapons. The fact that the sheriffs office and the county are even considering something like this puts the public at risk, McGee said. In response, Dart in the statement said his program has been hamstrung by legislation and arbitrarily altered from a non-violent program to a program monitoring violent participants to the point that it no longer serves the public. Other stakeholders, though, have hit back on claims that the changes could adversely affect public safety. It is highly unusual for a pretrial electronic monitoring program to be run by a sheriff, said Johnson, who called the transition away from Dart long overdue, since it is more common for EM programs nationally to be administered by the judicial branch. Sharlyn Grace, senior policy adviser at the Cook County public defenders office, said the change also aligns Cook County with much of the rest of Illinois. The Illinois Office of Statewide Pretrial Services operates electronic monitoring with civilian employees, she said. Thats not a problem in the majority of counties in the state where statewide pretrial services is operating, Grace said. If someone is accused of committing a new offense, theres the ability to collaborate with law enforcement. Supporters of the move also point to an opportunity to streamline the programs and make them more efficient, arguing that over the years they have become duplicative. The Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts recommended the county merge its programs back in 2022 when it published a report after it was contracted by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council to review the electronic monitoring system. The report called the current setup inefficient and confusing, citing siloed programs and communication challenges between programs. I think its important to remember that this isnt a change. This is a slow transition thats happening, Johnson said. The chief judge has had their electronic monitoring program for a long time. The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected two separate bids Friday in a drug murder and child neglect case. Drug murder The appeals court rejected a bid to overturn a murder conviction in a fatal shooting during a botched drug deal. Rahmere Dunn, 26, was sentenced to 60 years in July for the Nov. 12, 2021, death of Jediah Perry, 21, of Gary. Perry messaged him that day after Dunn got off work to buy $140 worth of marijuana. Dunn said Perry had a gun to his head as they met in Perrys car and tried to rob him before he shot Perry five times, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Prosecutor Jacqueline Altpeter said it was an execution too many shots for self-defense. In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Paul Mathias rejected Dunns three-part argument. First, he wrote Lake Superior Judge Salvador Vasquez did not abuse his discretion when he barred defense lawyer Lonnie Randolph II from asking hypothetical questions during jury selection. Second, he upheld Vasquezs decision during the trial to bar Dunns friend Jonathan Igras from testifying. Igras slipped into the courtroom in an afternoon for part of Dunns testimony. Legal rules require a separation of witnesses so they cant listen to whats already been said in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bailiff told Vasquez at trial there was a miscommunication with Randolph and he thought the lawyers only witness, a doctor, had already testified that day. Mathias wrote Dunns defense was not compromised because the shooting already happened by the time Igras was involved. Dunn called him after the shooting, saying Perry tried to rob him and later gave him both guns. At trial, Randolph argued Igras said he sold the guns and could corroborate parts of Dunns testimony. Finally, Mathias said the court was right to exclude Perrys cousins prior statements to police as hearsay. The man told an investigator that Perry asked him to help him rob Dunn, but never picked him up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man never responded to two defense subpoenas and didnt show for prior depositions. The man told another police officer he did not want to testify, Mathias wrote. Mathias said since the police statement about getting picked up was hearsay, it was not admissible in court. Dunn can appeal. His release date is in 2067. Child neglect The court rejected Marc Burnetts bid to lower his sentence after his girlfriends then 2-year-old son was left with permanent brain damage while in his care. Burnett, then 21, of Hammond got ten years in prison in October after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his appeal, Burnett asked for the rest of his sentence to be changed to three years in Lake County Community Corrections and six years on probation arguing the sentence was too harsh, since he had no prior criminal history and it was unlikely to happen again. At the sentencing, the childs father, Tyler Coyle, said the boy underwent three life-saving brain surgeries, countless hours of therapy, needed round-the-clock care and needed a wheelchair or walker. His son cant really talk and was back in diapers after the brain injury. He faced another brain surgery down the line. In a 3-0 decision, Appeals Judge Elaine Brown wrote Burnett pleaded guilty, the child had lifelong injuries and Burnett hadnt met his burden to prove the sentence was inappropriate. Burnett can also appeal the decision. His earlier release date is in 2032. Post-Tribune archives contributed. mcolias@post-trib.com With just days to go before Tuesday's election, the two Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates split on billionaire Elon Musk's heavy spending and engagement in the contest. Liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford said it was "immoral" for the Texas billionaire to try to buy votes with his million-dollar giveaways. Musk is holding a rally on Sunday evening in Green Bay and promising to dole out two $1 million checks at the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul is suing to stop the payments, though a Madison-based state appeals court panel on Saturday declined to quickly intervene in the case. Conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel said he would not be attending the Green Bay event with Musk, one of his highest-profile backers who has become a lightning rod for controversy over his actions to make massive cuts to the federal workforce at President Donald Trump's behest. More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel While saying he does not control the tech exec, Schimel made it clear he has no objections to Musk's intervention in Tuesday's high-states court race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything Elon Musk talks about is restoring law and order to Wisconsin, restoring objectivity to our courts," Schimel said. "He doesn't want anything from me except that I will follow the law and stop the Supreme Court from making the law from the bench. That's all he wants." One watchdog group has estimated the Supreme Court race could top $100 million in spending, making it the most expensive judicial race in the country. Records show Musk and two of his groups have poured about $20 million into the race, spending it on TV and digital attack ads, voter turnout, canvassing and texting. That makes him the leader among the deep-pocketed donors putting money into the race, including liberal megadonor George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker backing Crawford. Last week, Musk offered $1 million to someone who signed his "Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges." A Green Bay resident ended up receiving that check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk then promised to dole out two $1 million checks at his Sunday event in Green Bay "in appreciation for you taking the time to vote," in a since-deleted post on X. He backtracked after election experts and Democrats questioned whether the offer violated the state's election bribery laws. He deleted the post and said in a new post that he would instead be handing over the checks to two people who would serve as spokespeople for his petition. The new post also no longer said attendance would be limited "to those who have voted in the Supreme Court election," as the original post had stated. Brad Schimel, Susan Crawford both campaign in Milwaukee on Saturday Both Schimel and Crawford had campaign events in the Milwaukee on Saturday. Crawford spoke to more than 100 volunteers at the Milwaukee County Democratic Party headquarters about the need for them to get out the vote on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterward, she talked about Musk and his impact on the race. She said it was unclear whether, ultimately, the controversial ally Trump has a negative or positive influence. A recent Milwaukee Law School poll found that only 41% of the state's registered voters viewed Musk favorably. "I think that is a wait-and-see question. We're going to fight for every vote in Wisconsin and make sure that we're doing everything that we can to overcome the now $25 million-plus that he's put into this race." According to state election reports, Crawford's campaign has raised $26.6 million, more than any other judicial candidate in the country and nearly double the amount collected by Schimel's campaign. Overall, spending by liberal and conservatives is very close in the contest. Crawford said she has been surprised by the attention the race has received. She noted that Trump, who has endorsed Schimel, wasn't even president when she first announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I could not have foreseen this," she exclaimed. "I did know that there would be some national attention on the race." Later in the day, Schimel spoke to about 75 supporters at Tavern on H in Franksville and another 120 supporters at Serb Hall on Milwaukee's south side. During his first talk, he mentioned that he first chatted with Musk when Trump called him a week ago to endorse him. The president then handed the phone to Musk, the CEO of Tesla and Space X, Schimel said. The two had a short conversation in which they discussed his role in returning two NASA astronauts to Earth and for "saving free speech" by buying Twitter, now X. "'With the stuff you've done,' I just said, 'Thank you,'" Schimel said of their talk. "And you know what? He was really humbled by that. He was kind of sweet." Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel makes remarks at a Save the Court Rally hosted by the Republican Party of Milwaukee County on Saturday March 29, 2025 at American Serb Hall in Milwaukee, Wis. Schimel was a little less effusive about Musk when speaking to reporters later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about Musks involvement in the campaign, Schimel said he does not control Musk. Hes doing what hes doing, Schimel said. He added that he thought reporters were more interested in Musks involvement in Wisconsin than the voters hes talking to and drew a parallel to wealthy liberal donors like Soros and Pritzker. Schimel predicted hed know Tuesday night whether Musks involvement in the race was a net positive or negative for his campaign. Earlier this year, Schimel told a gathering at the Milwaukee Rotary that it would be "illegal" for him or his campaign to communicate or coordinate with Musk during the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't communicate with him," Schimel said. "Neither anyone on my team has ever talked with him or his team about what he's doing or what messaging he's doing. That's actually illegal for a judge (or) candidates to do it or any candidate to communicate or coordinate with outside groups." Asked Saturday about that, Schimel said he must have misspoken. He said it is permissible for him to talk to Musk but not to coordinate their efforts. Last week, Schimel, Musk and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin participated in a live 30-minute discussion about the election on X, which is owned by the tech billionaire. Schimel event draws protesters As rain came down outside Schimel's rally, a large group lined the sidewalk and spilled into the parking lot protesting Musks spending on the race. Among them was David Weingrod of Milwaukee, who called it crazy that the worlds richest person was pouring $20 million into the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. People protest as Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel is scheduled to speak at a Save the Court Rally hosted by the Republican Party of Milwaukee County on Saturday March 29, 2025 at American Serb Hall in Milwaukee, Wis. He accused Musk of trying to buy himself a seat on the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he does it here, then he's going to do it in every place around the country because he can afford it, Weingrod said. So, we have to prove that really people aren't gonna allow him to get away with this. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he was going to try to be at Musks rally. Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker speaks to the press as Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel is scheduled to speak at a Save the Court Rally hosted by the Republican Party of Milwaukee County on Saturday March 29, 2025 at American Serb Hall in Milwaukee, Wis. I am happy he's here, and I know he's here because President Trump is behind Brad Schimel, Walker said. He called Kauls lawsuit a political pot-shot meant to draw attention away from billionaires whose spending is directed at boosting Crawford. Johnson said he appreciated Musk's involvement in the race and would be at the Green Bay rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for what will happen Tuesday, Johnson didnt name a winner. I think our base is very well aware of what's at stake here, Johnson said. I think their base is pretty well fired up, and this will probably be a classic Wisconsin race, very close right down to the end. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates split on Musk $1 million giveaway Protestors gathered in downtown Minneapolis Saturday to speak out against the recent detainment of a University of Minnesota international student by Immigration Enforcement and Customs (ICE) agents. The University of Minnesota informed students, faculty and staff that the graduate student was detained Thursday at an off-campus residence. The student was enrolled at the Twin Cities campus at the time of arrest. No reason for the arrest was given, with the university adding that it's actively working to gather more details. Gov. Tim Walz also announced he has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for more information. United Electrical Workers Facebook On Saturday, leaders from United Electrical Workers joined the universitys Graduate Labor Union Local 1105 for a rally in downtown Minneapolis, which saw a crowd march to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building, where a press conference was held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump administration has said they expect 'every one of Americas colleges and universities to comply' with the administrations goal to 'find, apprehend, and deport' student organizers. We will not comply," Local 1105 President Abaki Beck said. United Electrical Workers Facebook "We at Local 1105 will not stand by and allow our rights to be trampled." Officials including Minneapolis Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley, State Sen. Doron Clark and Gov. Tim Walz have also spoken out against the arrest. Local 1105 will hold another rally and press conference Monday at 100 Church Street Southeast outside Morrill Hall on the Twin Cities campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrill Hall was where pro-Palestine protesters gathered in October, occupying the building in protest of the university's investment in Israeli companies and "newly" announced policies limiting how protesters can organize on campus. There have been widespread reports in recent weeks of ICE agents detaining individuals in the U.S. legally for their involvement in protests or sharing opinions against Israel's actions in Gaza. I am deeply saddened and disturbed to be sharing the news that an international graduate student at the University of Minnesota has been arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I remain committed to supporting residents with every tool available. Read more: pic.twitter.com/RQPluJAOfN Robin Wonsley - Minneapolis Ward 2 (@MplsWard2) March 28, 2025 The University of Minnesota is one of 60 colleges sent letters on March 10 from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, warning the institution of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations to "protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and education opportunities." SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A Sioux Falls School is getting ready to give their students a more in depth lesson in agriculture. After growing up in an agriculture family, Amanda Wolf thinks its something she may want to pursue someday. I think in the future I want to become either like an ag teacher or like a vet, Senior CTE student, Amanda Wolf said. Controversy over Noems latest Homeland Security video Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She gets to solidify that passion in her classes at CTE. Just a few weeks ago, their class mama pig Penelope gave birth to 9 piglets. Shes been here for about three weeks, and the piglets have been here for about two. And every day the students come out and take care of her. We have a couple students who need to make sure the pens clean, make sure shes fed, watered, CTE Ag Teacher, Kimmie Martin said. Weve learned about how quickly they can grow, how quickly like they gain on weight and like how they like, get on weight and everything and what they eat and stuff, Wolf said. Its all a part of the many ag education classes at the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really fun for the kids that take my classes. They sometimes are really timid to even go into the chicken coop at the beginning of the semester, or the beginning of the year. And then by the end of it, theyre helping with the full process of docking tails and castrating and giving vaccinations to piglets, Martin said. The classes will only expand in the next few years, with CTE building an agriculture addition on campus. It is a barn, and theres also going to be a large greenhouse with a head house attached to it, and two classrooms and a large shop/storage space, Martin said. I think its going to bring more kids out here to see what they have, and more kids will be more interested in to the ag department, Wolf said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of bringing the farm to the classroom, theyll be able to bring the class to the farm. CTE plans to start classes in the new barn and agriculture center in the fall of 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A temporary curfew for people under 18 on the Gila River Indian Community has been extended until May after a rise in violent crime on the reservation, located just south of metro Phoenix. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and Lt. Gov. Regina Antone signed an executive order stating that the curfew has helped improve safety in the community. However, the order, signed on March 28 and shared on social media, noted that "threats to public safety remain and calls of shots fired in neighborhoods continue." The curfew extension prohibits anyone under 18 from being in a public place or building on the reservation between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily until May 1, with exceptions for emergencies, work, school, or community-sponsored events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The curfew did not apply to minors accompanied by their parent or guardian. While the Gila River Community Code already enforces a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for minors, the executive order moves the start time two hours earlier while keeping the same end time. The temporary curfew took effect in late February alongside a public safety emergency that community authorities said kept children and young adults safe after a string of violent crimes. "Because much of the violence has taken place at night, we must continue a temporary enhanced curfew," read the order. Recent crime on the Gila River Indian Community In late February, around the time the new curfew took effect, the Gila River Police Department urged the public for assistance after law enforcement detected an increase in gunfire on the reservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Remember, what goes up must come down these stray bullets can cause serious injury or even death, putting our families, children, and elders at risk," read the warning. On Feb. 25, police announced they had located a person of interest in a shooting in Sacaton, but it was not known if this was related to the temporary curfew enacted around that time. On Feb. 19, police said a drive-by shooting struck several houses near Main Street and Sacaton Road, with authorities asking the public to come forward with any information. A summary of police crime statistics for February on the reservation reported 58 assaults, 29 disorderly disturbances, nine drug-related cases, 10 DUI arrests, and seven missing-persons cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cases in January were similar, with 65 assaults, 28 disorderly disturbances, 17 drug-related cases, nine DUI arrests, and four missing-persons reports. Fatal police shootings in 2024 In July 2024, 28-year-old Marcus Lewis, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, was killed in a shooting by the local police, which was investigated by the FBI. In early June 2024, 23-year-old Officer Joshua Briese of the Gila River Police Department and 23-year-old Alicen Apkaw died after a shooting on the reservation that left four others injured, including another police officer. Witnesses reported that the shooting occurred at a late-night party where police had responded to a noise disturbance involving a large crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same day as the shooting, Lewis called a special meeting with the Gila River Indian Community Council. Leaders approved a ban on all large-scale dances, according to documents posted on the community's Facebook page. In November, Joseph Notah was indicted and accused of brandishing a firearm and assaulting Briese during the shooting. He faces one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. According to the indictment, Notah brandished a Del-Ton DTI-15 semi-automatic rifle chambered for 5.56 mm ammunition, which he would be required to forfeit if convicted. However, the indictment does not specify whether he fired the weapon during the incident. Zach Stoebe, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office, confirmed that a 16-year-old tribal member was also taken into federal custody. However, he declined to provide further details on the teens case, including potential charges or whether a grand jury had indicted him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gila River Police Department asked the public to report gunfire on the reservation by calling 911, or for nonemergencies, calling 520-562-4511, or sharing information anonymously through the tip line at 520-562-7144. Students disappointed: Colleges cancel Native convocations to comply with Trump order The Arizona Republic's Karen Bartunek and Perry Vandell contributed to this article. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's a look at the extended curfew at Gila River Indian Community A 28-year-old Davenport man was in custody Sunday after Davenport Police say he tried to elude a traffic stop, according to Scott County Court documents. Jeremy Miller (Scott County Jail) Jeremy Miller faces felony charges of controlled substance violation, eluding speed 25 mph over the limit second or subsequent, failure to affix a drug stamp and interference with official acts dangerous weapon; and serious misdemeanor charges of assault on persons in certain occupations and driving while license denied or revoked, according to Scott County Court records. Shortly before 4 p.m. March 23, Davenport Police conducted a traffic stop on a white 2004 Subaru Impreza in the 1300 block of Harrison Street for dark window tint, according to Scott County arrest affidavits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller, who has an Iowa driving status of revoked effective 5/7/2024-5/6/2025, was driving a car with dark window tint that could not be tested with a tint meter before Miller took off from the traffic stop, affidavits show. He did not have a front registration plate affixed to the front bumper of the vehicle, Davenport Police say in affidavits. Officers say Miller fled the lawful traffic stop in the vehicle, at a high rate of speed, as the fully uniformed officer was removing (Miller) from the vehicle, knowingly and with intentional disregard for the safety of the officer, according to affidavits. Affidavits show Miller has a prior conviction for felony eluding on Aug. 29, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police conducted a search warrant on Millers apartment, according to affidavits, which show police found: Multiple denominations of currency, both rolled up and flat, containing a white powdery residue, consistent with cocaine. Two small baggies containing a white powdery residue, consistent with cocaine. Two cut straws, containing a white powdery residue, consistent with cocaine. A metal container, containing a white powdery residue, consistent with cocaine. A black digital scale, containing a white powdery residue, consistent with cocaine. 29.70 grams (total package weight) of a white powdery substance, which tested positive for cocaine. Based on the amount, packaging material, and digital scale, the defendant has intent to deliver the narcotics, police say in affidavits, which show Miller did not affix a tax stamp to the narcotics. Miller, who was arrested on a warrant, was being held on a cash-only $50,000 bond in Scott County Jail on Sunday, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing April 8 in Scott County Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. Remains of the popular stone mason, artist and Hobbit house builder David Riemens who lived off the grid were found in 2018, but the case is still unsolved. David Riemens lived off the grid in a treehouse for years in the Watertown area, but he wasn't a recluse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known around town as a talented artist, stone mason and Hobbit house builder, Riemens often visited the library and local merchants, friends Laura and Donny Nuessle said. The 60-year-old was reported missing on Aug. 8, 2012. And while Riemens had a transient lifestyle and was planning a trip to visit family in Michigan just before his disappearance, finding his truck at a nearby store quickly cast suspicion. "You start to think the worst, then Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ashe said. In January 2018, a human skull was found off Taylor Road near Sparta Pike close to Watertown. That led to more human remains, later determined to belong to Riemens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators have spoken with several people, though Wilson County Sheriffs Office Det. Major B.J. Stafford said, I would not classify anyone interviewed as a person of interest. Solving the case would mean so much to Donny and I and so many friends here in Watertown, Laura Nuessle said. Stafford still encourages anyone with information to submit a lead or information by visiting the Wilson County Sheriff's Office website and clicking on Crime Stoppers Tip. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County's David Riemens missing in 2012, remains later found I was a public school teacher for more than two decades, so I know how important it is that students see themselves reflected in their school curriculum. When certain histories or cultures are left out or misrepresented, students can be left feeling isolated or excluded. And that is exactly what appears to be happening in Californias own ethnic studies curriculum. At a time when the federal government is trying to rewrite American history by banning diversity initiatives, California must persist in elevating the lived experiences of everyone in this country. This mission is one that all Californians should enthusiastically support. Ethnic studies, which the state of California moved toward making a high school requirement in 2021, is about understanding, embracing and uplifting the many stories that shape California, and teaching our students about the experiences of marginalized communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion However, ethnic studies was initially introduced without statewide curriculum standards, leaving it open to broad and sometimes ahistorical interpretation. Unfortunately and especially since the horrific attack on Israel in October of 2023 and the resulting Israel-Hamas war this guidance gap has sown confusion and allowed some ethnic studies courses to be manipulated into pushing political agendas that glorify Hamas, perpetuate antisemitic tropes and denigrate Jewish people. Consequently, many in the Jewish community are rightfully skeptical of whether our students will feel comfortable and welcome in their ethnic studies classes. We cannot let this situation continue. For ethnic studies to fulfill its promise, our state must show that California takes this responsibility seriously, and that starts with supporting educators in the classroom by outlining clear standards for appropriate content and instruction. To make this change, I jointly authored Assembly Bill 1468 with Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Los Angeles, and State Senator Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park. The legislation would require Californias Department of Education to create curriculum standards and oversee ethnic studies instruction, better ensuring historical accuracy, preventing political views from entering the classroom and making sure students are welcomed and affirmed at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AB 1468 will send the signal that California takes ethnic studies as seriously as it takes every other high school class. A true commitment to ethnic studies requires that the state develop curriculum standards, as well as aligned materials and instruction, just as it has for English, math, science, health, physical education, history and other disciplines. Strong, clear standards will ensure that ethnic studies creates mutual understanding and compassion among students, teachers, parents and administrators. They will also free us from biases that are corrosive to a strong, multicultural democracy. Under this new bill, Jewish students and all students in our public schools will be assured that their teachers have clear guidance on what students should learn in ethnic studies. The bill will also ensure that students come away from their course with more knowledge of Californias richly multicultural population, deepening their empathy for their fellow students and becoming more aware of the world around them. I recognize that there are voices in the state calling for ethnic studies to be abolished because some have abused their positions by bringing their political opinions into schools. Those incidents are completely unacceptable. This bill will strengthen the original intent of ethnic studies by ensuring that teachers have the tools they need to fulfill it. The legislation will also anchor California as a leader in the fight against efforts to roll back the clock in our schools. Some opponents of AB 1468 have said it will stifle the true teaching of history. But continuing ethnic studies without safeguards is absolutely not viable. When complex issues arise, it is essential that they are taught in thoughtful ways without promoting harmful stereotypes or debasing other cultures. This bill will ensure that ethnic studies is taught in a way that combats all forms of hate, including antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal of ethnic studies is to tell important stories of the people of California. When curriculum is based on clear standards, ethnic studies courses will tell these stories in ways that promote empathy and belonging not just within our classrooms, but across our communities. Ethnic studies must encourage critical thinking, while ensuring that the classroom experience reflects Californias values of multiculturalism, unity and mutual respect. Assemblymember Dawn Addis represents California Assembly District 30, which includes portions of Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz Counties. March 30 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1842, Dr. Crawford Long became the first physician to use anesthetic (ether) in surgery. In 1858, a U.S. patent was granted to Hymen Lipman for a pencil with an attached eraser. In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William Seward reached an agreement with Russia for the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million in gold. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI A voter casts a ballot in the Democratic presidential primary February 29 at the Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C. On March 30, 1870, the 15th Amendment, granting African American men the right to vote, was adopted into the U.S. Constitution. File Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI In 1870, the 15th Amendment, granting African American men the right to vote, was adopted into the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1923, the Cunard liner Laconia arrived in New York City, the first passenger ship to circumnavigate the world. The cruise lasted 130 days. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., chews on a pencil during a congressional hearing on July 29, 2010. On March 30, 1858, a U.S. patent was granted to Hymen Lipman for a pencil with an attached eraser. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI In 1975, the South Vietnamese city of Da Nang fell to North Vietnamese forces. UPI correspondent Paul Vogle described "the flight out of hell" as refugees attempted to flee the city. In 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot and injured U.S. President Ronald Reagan outside a Washington hotel. White House Press Secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a Washington police officer also sustained injuries. Hinckley was released from a psychiatric hospital in September 2016. Thomas Kelly's "The Fifteenth Amendment" is an 1870 print celebrating the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On March 30, 1870, the 15th Amendment, granting African American men the right to vote, was adopted. Photo by Thomas Kelly/Library of Congress In 1999, a jury in Oregon awarded $81 million in damages to the family of a smoker who died from lung cancer. A state judge reduced the punitive portion to $32 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2006, Jill Carroll, a freelance reporter for The Christian Science Monitor, was freed in Baghdad after being held for 82 days by kidnappers. Screenshot courtesy of CNN In 2018, at least a dozen Palestinians died in the first week of the so-called Great March of Return protests in Gaza. More than 180 people died in the nearly weekly protests through the end of 2019. In 2023, a Manhattan grand jury took the unprecedented step of voting to indict a former president, formally charging Donald Trump in an investigation into hush-money payments made to adult film actor Stephanie Clifford, known professionally as Stormy Daniels. Mar. 30Stallard was 2024 Lawrence County Fair princess Allie Stallard, a junior at Dawson-Bryant High School and dedicated 4-H member, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the Ohio delegation to the Ignite by 4-H National Summit. This prestigious event brings together high school students from across the country to explore key topics in STEM, Agriscience and Healthy Living. Stallard was the sole representative from Lawrence County and southeastern Ohio and one of just 15 students selected from the entire state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the summit, she connected with peers from across the U.S. and Canada, attended Agriscience-focused workshops, and visited a farm to explore the farm-to-table process firsthand. She also had the opportunity to hear from notable speakers, including moderator Jenna Bush Hager and astronaut Emily Calandrelli. As part of the event, Stallard collaborated with fellow Ohio delegates to prepare and present a group project on Agriscience. A committed 4-H member for nine years, Stallard currently serves as president of the Back Road Haybalers 4-H Club. She is also an active member of the Lawrence County Junior Fair Board and Teen Leaders and was named the 2024 Lawrence County Fair Princess. Allie's experience at Ignite by 4-H not only showcased her dedication to leadership and learning, but also highlighted the opportunities available through 4-H for youth to engage in national level education and networking. A dead body reported by a dog walker in a German city was found to be a sex doll after a five-hour forensic operation by police. The dog walker reported finding a corpse in a blue plastic bag around 8pm on Saturday in the north-eastern city of Rostock, and a team was deployed to locate it. The team included homicide and patrol officers, drone pilots, forensic pathologists and several fire engines, as well as a specialist 3D scanner used only for serious crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having cordoned off the area and photographed the evidence, police were laying the groundwork for a crime scene when at midnight, five hours into the search, one of the officers touched the body for the first time. That was enough to make it clear it was not flesh and blood but made of synthetic material. Doll was badly charred The sex toy, marketed as a real doll for its lifelike qualities, had been disposed of in a large blue Ikea bag with some parts of it apparently burnt. That made it hard to identify and led to speculation that the doll was charred and disposed of in public on purpose, reports the local Nordkurier newspaper. Police removed the doll from the scene and the waiting funeral director was told their services were no longer needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers called it one of the strangest deployments of their careers, but they are not the first people to be fooled by such sex dolls. In 2023, Warwickshire Police closed off a country lane near Kineton for 31 hours after they thought they had discovered a dead body. A spokesman for the force said at the time that it came as a great relief to find it was only a sex toy. Last year, a New Zealand woman mistook a headless lifelike sex doll for a body on the beach. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Israeli airstrikes on a tent and a home housing displaced people in southern Gaza killed 10 people Sunday, including children, as Palestinians observed the first day of Eid-al-Fitr, rescuers said. The Israeli military is stepping up its renewed campaign in Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying efforts to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages were working and vowing to implement Donald Trumps hugely controversial scheme to relocate Palestinians from the territory. Twenty people were also injured in the strike on the Al-Mawasi area, Khan Youniss Director of Civil Defense Yamen Abu Suleiman told CNN, warning the death toll would likely rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A local hospital confirmed the fatalities so far, saying five children had been killed. Video of the aftermath of the strike shows some of the child victims wearing new Eid clothing. In Middle Eastern tradition, children wear new clothes to celebrate the three-day holiday. In the footage, a man is seen dragging a child toward the hospital, asking: What was these childrens fault? They did nothing. CNN has approached the Israel Defense Forces for comment. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are observing Eid this year in the face of dwindling aid supplies and a mounting death toll in the strip. Every year, Im used to baking Eid cookies for my children, one displaced woman, Ameneh Shaqla, told CNN. But because of the current situation and how expensive everything has become, I was only able to prepare one kilogram just to bring them some joy so they dont stay sad because of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdel Fattah Khalil Karnawi, a street vendor, told of the soaring prices for clothing. We came to the market to get Eid clothes for the children. Unfortunately, the circumstances are tough and prices are very high. Bodies of Palestinians are brought to the Nasser Hospital by their relatives in Khan Younis Sunday. - Hani Alshaer/Anadolu via Getty Images Israel resumed its offensive on Gaza almost two weeks ago, shattering a two-month-old ceasefire. It imposed a complete blockade of humanitarian aid entering the enclave, warning that its forces would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of the remaining 24 hostages who are believed to still be alive. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since then. Al-Mawasi, a coastal region west of the city of Rafah, has repeatedly come under Israeli attacks, even though it was previously designated by Israel as a humanitarian area. Thousands of Palestinians have fled to Al-Mawasi, living for months in makeshift tents made of cloth and nylon, with little access to humanitarian relief. In comments made on Sunday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to step up the military campaign, saying the pressure on Hamas was working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It works because it operates simultaneously: on one hand, it crushes Hamas military and governmental capabilities and, on the other, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages. This is exactly what we are doing, Netanyahu said at a government meeting. Rejecting assertions Israel was unwilling to negotiate, he added that cracks were showing in Hamas following the renewal of the offensive and said Israel would implement the Trump Plan the voluntary emigration plan, a scheme Trump himself appears to have walked back on. New ceasefire proposal Sundays strike comes as Hamas has agreed to a new Egyptian proposal to release five hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire, a Hamas source told CNN. The proposal is similar to one presented several weeks ago by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, although it is not clear whether it also includes the release of additional bodies of deceased hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In exchange for the release of five hostages, Hamas expects a return to phase 1 ceasefire conditions, including the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as well as an agreement from Israel to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, the source said. Israel has responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal, according to a statement from the Israeli prime ministers office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter-proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States, the office said. Netanyahu is facing competing demands at home from his right-wing coalition who want to increase pressure on Hamas and families of the remaining hostages who fear more military action could endanger their loved ones. This story has been updated. CNNs Jeremy Diamond and Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Dearborn Inn renovation erased historic charm The Dearborn Inn, a beloved landmark in Dearborn, has long been a cherished gathering place for countless memories. ("Dearborn Inn reopens after a two-year renovation," Detroit Free Press, March 19.) For me, it was where childhood laughter echoed during Ford Day Camp, where graduations were celebrated, Easter brunches savored, weddings exchanged vows and Ford work meetings forged lasting connections. It was also the romantic memory for my honeymoon. The Inn's historic charm and timeless beauty made it an iconic setting for these milestones. However, the recent renovations have brought about significant changes. The beautiful portrait of Henry Ford, once a centerpiece over the classic fireplace where Dearborn mayors would pose for photos, is now replaced by a flat-screen TV. The historic lobby, once adorned with history, elegance and surrounded by fresh flowers, is almost unrecognizable. Amidst these transformations, only the original marble floors remain as a testament to the Inn's enduring legacy. The Marriott Gunter Hotel in San Antonio got a historic restoration. Why did the Inn get "renovated"? The Ten Eyck is gone. The Early American Room is gone. The interior history is gone. I will be back in June with a box of tissues. Jim Vogel North Carolina Thanks, Henry Ford Health I am reaching out to express my extreme gratitude for the Henry Ford Health Professionals, especially the 6th Floor, Pod 6 ICU Staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My name is Timothy Bryce, and my twin brother was in the ICU at Henry Ford Hospital Detroit from Jan. 17 to Feb. 6. While the outcome was not what we had all hoped for, each and every health care professional that entered my brother's room was incredible. From the moment we arrived, I was profoundly moved by the compassion, professionalism, and dedication that the team demonstrated. The level of care and attention provided to my brother David and our family was nothing short of extraordinary. I would like to extend a special thank you to NP Samantha, Physician Assistant Rose, and RNs Sarah, Malika, Kim, Tina and Ashley. These are the names I had written down, but I know that every single person who stepped into his room played a vital role in his care. Their unwavering commitment, patience, and empathy did not go unnoticed. Timothy Bryce Birch Run I used to support Tulsi Gabbard As a registered independent voter, I supported Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence. I am alarmed and disappointed by the texting about national security issues on an unsecured and unapproved platform. I am further alarmed by the cavalier attitude that this administration has communicated about this serious incident, stating it is a "lesson learned" with no plans for investigation or disciplinary action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This does not make me feel safe or confident in security staff or this administration. There needs to be accountability the United States of America deserves that, and my fellow citizens deserve to feel safe. Please show your resolve. Kristine Hahn Waterford Trump's position on climate change is extremism I totally agree with Nancy Kaffers opinion piece. (Trump's EPA sings tune that reminds me of Flint water crisis, Detroit Free Press, March 23.) Since the earth is currently 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, I think we should heed the warnings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that Global warming, reaching 1.5C in the near-term, would cause unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards and present multiple risks to ecosystems and humans." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Trump administration and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency is doing everything to hinder our countrys already meager efforts to lessen the ongoing climate crisis. The Project 2025 report labels efforts to even adapt to an obviously changing climate as "climate extremism." What am I missing? The IPCC projections are a consensus of all the contributors, making their resulting reports anything but climate extremism. The real extremism comes from those who choose, for whatever reason, to ignore the problem. We, our children, and our grandchildren will pay the price of their folly. James M. Rine Grosse Pointe Woods Trump's attacks should ring alarms Donald Trumps attacks on judges, his admin's reckless handling of war plans, and his attacks on free speech should ring an alarm for all Americans. His rhetoric undermines the rule of law, his security lapses endanger national safety, and his policies erode our first amendment of free speech and the right to protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about party its about right and wrong, a democracy or an authoritarian government. Democracies crumble when good people stay silent. We must reject leaders who put power over principle. The time for passive concern is over if we value justice, decency, and a government that serves the people not one man we must not be silent. We are the leaders weve been waiting for, its up to us, the people. If we all speak up loudly and show up publicly, we can take the power back. Nicholas Jansen Fife Lake, Michigan Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters and we may publish it online and in print. If you have a differing view from a letter writer, please feel free to submit a letter of your own in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Dearborn Inn renovation, Henry Ford Health, Signal scandal | Letters When Emily Pike left her group home in late January, she simply wanted to go home. Two months later, she finally returned to Peridot, Arizona, on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Emily's brother, cousins, and members of the Redrum Motorcycle Club carried her pink and purple casket into the gymnasium of San Carlos High School for her memorial service on March 29. The school was filled with a sea of black, red, and pink as hundreds gathered to honor the 14-year-old girl, who was tragically found dismembered in February. Attendees wore pale pink roses pinned to their shirts and dresses, while pink and purple flowers adorned Emily's casket, which also featured a picture of Hello Kitty, one of her favorite characters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pink was Emily's favorite color, family and friends said. "She's just the definition of love," said Emily's uncle, Allred Pike Jr. People from across the state gathered for a two-day memorial and wake to honor Emily, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Her death ignited outrage in Indigenous communities and beyond after her remains were found near Globe, nearly three weeks after she had run away from her Mesa group home. Emilys casket was escorted by a hundred bikers, family members, and community members from Globe to her mothers home in Peridot on March 28. The sound of motorcycle engines revving blended with the ululations of Native men and women. The casket of Emily Pike shows a Hello Kitty, a favorite of hers, during her memorial at San Carlos High School on March. 29, 2025, in San Carlos, Arizona. Agatha Key, Emilys grandmother, wept as she followed the procession behind the fleet of motorcycles and the hearse carrying her granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emilys father, Jensen Pike, who has been incarcerated since 2024, attended the wake March 28, according to his brother, Allred Pike Jr. However, Jensen was unable to be present for the memorial service and burial the following day. 'She had a future ahead of her' Family and friends remembered Emily as a sweet, soft-spoken girl who loved art and her cat, Millie. She was thinking about high school and college, planning her future, and figuring out what she wanted to do with her life. She had a crush on a boy, took guitar lessons, and had just started experimenting with makeup. Emily was "a normal teenager," said Allred Pike Jr. "She had a future ahead of her, she had goals." The pink casket of Emily PIke sits at the front during a memorial for Emily Pike at San Carlos High School on March. 29, 2025, in San Carlos, Arizona. Emily was born family-oriented. Her first and middle names honored people on both sides of her family, and when she was brought home from the hospital for the first time, her house was overflowing with relatives who wanted to meet her. Growing up, she lived with her mother, brother and extended family in a small house on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hearing the little pitter patters of Emily's tiny feet running up and down the house was everything," said Emily's cousin, Alyssa Dosela, taking a deep breath. "Waking up in the early mornings to the smell of grandma's freshly made tortillas, Emily was sitting at the table waiting for a piece." 'She just missed her family': Slain teen Emily Pike ran away to see family and friends, group home CEO says Emily had five siblings and countless cousins with whom she was very close. She visited her aunts, uncles and extended family in Colorado and Utah, who doted on her. They took her to malls, water parks, zoos and the movies. Emily's story was not necessarily a happy one. She came from a broken home and was taken by the San Carlos Tribe Social Services when she was 11 or 12. She was placed in a group home 100 miles away from her mother and ran away multiple times, mostly spurred by a desire to see her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her parents were long separated, and the two sides of her family were heavily divided, though they said there was no bad blood. Emily was in her mother's custody before Social Services took her. Despite her hard childhood, Emily's resilience shined through her smile, many said. In photos shared by her family on social media and in a slideshow during the memorial service, a smile continuously graced Emily's face. "Throughout all the hardships that she went though, she still managed to smile," Allred Pike Jr. said. "(We) remember the love, remember the smile." Emily was laid to rest in the Lower Peridot Cemetery, about two miles from her mother's house. At last, Emily was home. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Slain Apache teen Emily Pike honored in San Carlos memorial service A record number of visitors have attended Germany's popular Leipzig Book Fair this year, according to figures revealed on the final day of the four-day event on Sunday. The book industry has been under economic pressure for years, amid recurring warnings that books are a dying breed, but the crowds of bookworms flocking to the eastern German city for one of Europe's largest book fairs suggest otherwise. Some 269,000 visitors attended the Leipzig Book Fair, the Leipzig Reads festival and the Manga-Comic-Con convention this year, up from 13,000 in 2024 - the highest attendance number seen in the event's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The great interest in the book fair shows how important the analogue experience still is," said Director Astrid Bohmisch. At the same time, the number of exhibitors this year decreased slightly to 2,040 compared to 2,085 last year. According to the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, small, independent publishers in particular are facing economic pressure. In Germany, federal and state-level support for publishers is mainly available in the form of prizes awarded for literary programmes. But the association argued that this type of funding isn't predictable enough, calling for better structural support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Book sales declined by 1.7% Germany last year, according to the association. While total turnover still increased by 0.8%, this was merely due to the fact that books have become more expensive, it said. The guest of honour at this year's Leipzig Book Fair was Norway, with some 50 authors, including Karl Ove Knausgard and Trude Teige, representing the Scandinavian country under the motto "Traum im Fruhling" (Dream in spring). Next year's book fair is due to take place from March 19-22. Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy gave a scathing analysis of his own partys standing with voters, explaining why it is a pretty broken brand right now. Appearing on The New Yorkers podcast Friday, the Connecticut lawmaker addressed the prevalence of public opinion polls that indicate voters are deeply dissatisfied with the Democrats platform. I think we are a pretty broken brand right now, Murphy told the magazines editor, David Remnick. And I think some of the people on the left dont want to go through that hard rewrite of what the Democratic Party stands for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy offered a succinct but devastating account of whats at the heart of his partys brokenness. He said that the Dems have become the status quo party, adding: We have reverted to defending democracy instead of explaining how we are going to break it down and reform it. Sen. Chris Murphy speaks at a news conference after a weekly policy luncheon with Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 06, 2024 in Washington, D.C. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Murphy, who has represented his state in Congress since 2007, said that his party has not been pugilistically populist ... where we name the people who have power and we build very easy-to-understand solutions about how to transfer power. Murphy also pointed to what has been a popular explanation for President Donald Trump and the Republicans success during the 2024 election cycle: Were a pretty judgmental party, filled with a dozen litmus tests. He said that the Dems dont let you in unless you agree with us on kind of everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy said the party could do a better job at fostering a little more acceptance of people who have diverging views on cultural and social issues. He painted the consequences of Democrats sinking brand in dire terms. Amid Trumps attack on the judiciary and his political foes, Murphy said that he was worried that there wouldnt be a free and fair election in 2026. What Im talking about is that the infrastructure necessary for an opposition to win will have been destroyed, he explained. No lawyers will represent us. They will take down ActBlue ... They will have threatened activists with violence, so nobody will show up to our rallies. This is why Murphy believes that everything we should be doing right now... should be geared toward trying to make Republicans stop this assault on the rule of law and Democratic norms. Thousands gathered to March for Democracy in downtown Kansas City on Saturday, voicing concerns about what several marchers called an overreach by the federal government on citizens rights. Furrowed brows, smiles, shouts and tears occupied the faces of passionate protesters, who bellowed chants that echoed off the concrete sky-rise buildings. By mid-morning, thousands of marchers lined the sidewalks of 13th Street, wrapping around several blocks from Oak Street to Main Street. The massive crowd walked a little over a mile from downtown to the west side of Union Station, culminating in a huge gathering on the lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The march brought people together with a collection of causes weighing heavily on their hearts, some deeply personal. Truly horrifying and offensive Susan Wyssmann, 73, said her daughter works for a federally funded grant program that teaches children about the environment. That program, she said, was slashed among other federal cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk. Demonstrators hold signs while they walk south along Main Street during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. I am sure there are government inefficiencies, Wyssmann said. But to take a sledge hammer and crash agencies, jobs and rights of people without any kind of due process... is truly horrifying and offensive to me. Kansas Citians are among thousands across the country feeling the effects of a federal workforce reduction. Some have previously spoken to The Star about losing their jobs and feared effects of fewer federal workers. Isaac Fisher, 12, with flag, Kasper Sorio, 15, with sign, and Colin Grave, 12, shouted out protest chants during a pro-democracy rally that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Many in the crowd on Saturday said they shared similar fears. Several picket signs were decorated with messaging against Musk and President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People with megaphones positioned throughout the crowd on Saturday led chants, including, This is what democracy looks like, Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go, and Love, not hate, makes America great. Cars passing by on the street beside them obeyed signs reading honk for democracy, prompting loud cheers. Demonstrators hold signs while they walk south along Main Street during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Threatening our democracy A mother among the crowd said she decided to march because she was deeply concerned about government overreach. Pushing her toddler in a stroller, Michaela Meckel said the federal government was going against her values and that she wanted to raise awareness. Im really concerned about threats to free speech, Meckel said. Demonstrators hold signs while they walk south along Main Street during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Meckel discussed the Trump administrations immigration policy and its attempt to use a wartime law to allow certain deportations. She said using a war law at a time of peace concerned her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think free speech and checks and balances (in) our Constitution are all so foundational to what makes America a place that has been, you know, a world leader for so long, Meckel said. And I think the current policies are really threatening our democracy and our ability to be a leader in the world. Protestors Kim VanMaren and her husband Roger VanMaren arrived at the march well before it began. The hill on the northern side of the National World War I Museum and Memorial was packed with thousands of people during a pro-democracy rally that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Kim VanMuren said she believes she has seen a gradual dismantlement of the democratic system as she once knew it. We both see executive power taking way, way too much space, way too much power, way too much word away from the other balancing factors of our of our federal government, Kim VanMuren said. Were frustrated that Congress is not standing up and assuming their responsibilities to balance power. Demonstrators hold signs during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Drums and voices boomed around them as Kim and her husband spoke to The Star about their concerns. They called on more people to speak up, saying the massive turnout Saturday was encouraging, but that the march itself would not be enough. Really makes me angry Roger VanMuren, a former school district superintendent, said he was concerned about the Trump administrations executive order to dismantle the education department. Neither he nor his wife have shown up to an organized protest before. But a laundry list of unknowns prompted them to come Saturday, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kids are being told theyre of no value when you get rid of the Department of Education, especially the marginalized, Roger VanMuren said. That really makes me angry. Sitting on a concrete slab near Union Station, Linda Jurkiewicz, 66, criticized the federal government for what she said she feels to be a lack of diplomacy. Demonstrators hold signs during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. I am shocked that weve gotten to be a country of such ugliness, Jurkiewicz said. Jurkiewicz said she feels like much of the nation is not well informed on current events and called for younger leaders to get more involved in the democratic process. Partisan politics have driven a wedge between real problem solvers, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I will admit, honestly, I mean, I wish I did more, Jurkiewicz said. I wish I called my senators, you know, I wish I did that stuff, wrote them, and I dont do hardly any of that. A demonstrator displayed a sign expressing her opinion of D.O.G.E. director Elon Musk during a pro-democracy march that took aim at the Trump administrations policies Saturday, March 29, 2025 in downtown Kansas City. Attending the protest with her grandmother on Saturday, Chloe Fischer, 19, said feelings of hurt and hope can live at the same time. A University of Missouri Kansas City student studying journalism, Fischer said she felt compelled to march for freedom of the press and free speech. Its important to be able to empathize with other people, Fischer said. When other people are under attack, thats still important to me, even if it doesnt affect me personally. Other people are just as important. DRIPPING SPRINGS Democratic Congressman Greg Casar of Austin spent part of Saturday afternoon in the neighboring district of Republican colleague Chip Roy, chiding him for following the GOP playbook of not hosting in-person town hall meetings with the folks back home. But while Casar was engaging in a spirited 90-minute back-and-forth with Roy's constituents, he was not exactly talking with Roy's voters. Instead, the event at Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center consisted of mostly Democrats, many of them waving hand-made signs poking fun at the Republican congressman, and at the Republican president. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, holds a town hall meeting in the district of Republican Congressman Chip Roy using a cutout of the Texas lawmaker as a prop, March 29,2025. Billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who makes Austin his home and is heading up what President Donald Trump calls the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was also a favorite target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his off-the-cuff remarks, Casar went after them both. "The best way to push back against abuses by our government, and the people that have purchased politicians, is for people to hold elected officials accountable," said Casar, a former Austin city council member who is in his second term in Washington. "You're doing exactly what you should be doing here today." Linda Paul, who drove to Dripping Springs from Wimberley, told the American-Statesman that she is unnerved by the sharp cuts made to countless federal agencies that provide services many Americans depend on. She described herself as an active Democrat in her mostly rural community of fewer then 3,000 people and said it's time for those in her party to mobilize in opposition. "There are a number of people who are disgusted by what is happening in our current government," Paul said. "We're ready to fight back, and the best way to do that is to show up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After some congressional Republicans across the nation were met by voters angered by some of Trump's actions since resuming office in January, Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson advised lawmakers in his party to avoid in-person town hall meetings. "If any future leader of, the Democrats ever told me that, I would say to 'go take a hike,'" said Casar, the chairman of the U.S. House Progressive Caucus. Although Roy was not among those who showed up, organizers of the town hall meeting that drew about 300 people that's 100 more than there were chairs to sit in placed a life-size cutout of the congressman's likeness on a chair at a table with a blue and white checkered table cloth. People attending a town hall meeting in Dripping Springs hold their hands over the heart during as a band sang the national anthem on March 29, 2025. Roy's congressional office did not respond to a voicemail message from the Statesman seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roy did hold a town hall meeting late last month, but it was virtual for people in his district who had signed up to attend. In a social media post Wednesday, Roy defended the Musk-led initiative while also pointing out that the money paid to federal workers who have been fired or encouraged to resign was allocated by acts of Congress. More: John Cornyn makes it official: He's running for reelection. Will Ken Paxton challenge him? "DOGE is shining a spotlight on stupid," Roy said on X. "But Congress needs to look in a mirror and find religion on spending there will be nowhere to hide for fans of corporate welfare and big government." While Casar and many of the attendees condemned the actions of the second Trump administration and the compliant Republicans in Congress, one of those who attended said Democrats also should be held to account because they've narrowed their appeal over the past few decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacob Parks, who said he drove from San Antonio to attend the town hall, was among the only one to raise his hand when Casar asked if any conservatives, Libertarians or independents had a question. Parks asked why Democrats are not doing more to bring male voters into their tent. Casar validated Parks' concern. He noted that Democrats cemented their majority in Congress and in statehouse across the nation as a result of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. One of the signs at a town hall meeting in Dripping Springs protesting federal spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration, March 29, 2025. Those majorities held through President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs because they benefitted working families and those in poverty, said Casar. "We do not have that right now in today's Democratic Party, and that needs to change," Casar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Why an East Texas lawmaker wants to name I-35 through Austin after President Donald Trump Roy's Congressional District 21 runs along Interstate 35 from south Austin to San Antonio on the east. From there, it sprawls out to the west, deep into the solidly red sections of the Hill Country. Roy won his fourth term in November with 62% of the vote. But in Hays County, which is home to Dripping Springs, Casar was in a more friendly territory. The presidential ticket headed by Democrat Kamala Harris last year carried 53% to 36% over Trump. In an interview with the Statesman after the town hall, Casar returned to the theme of broadening his party's appeal by emphasizing its support for the social safety net and protections for working-class voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's what longtime populist Texas Democrats in the country used to be all about," he said. "I think we've got to go back to those roots of taking on corporate elites. Nobody would tell you that in this last presidential election, that the core message of Democrats was to break the unholy alliance between corporate greed and corrupt government. That was not the message." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why Democrat Greg Casar did a town hall in Chip Roy's GOP district House Democrats are ramping up their aggressive strategy of conducting town halls in Republican-held districts, vying to exploit the GOPs advised moratorium on the events to make inroads with frustrated voters, pick up battleground seats, and flip control of the House in next years midterms. A number of Democrats who ventured this month into GOP territory said they liked what they saw: anxious voters who are up in arms over both President Trumps dismantling of the federal government and the reluctance of the majority Republicans to provide a check on executive power. Encouraged by their experiences, Democrats say they not only intend to return to those battleground districts, theyre also eyeing plans to broaden their range in the weeks and months to come. The Democrats campaign arms, in some cases, are helping to coordinate the effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are mad theyre mad and fearful that their health care might be taken away. Thats the thing that I heard the most, said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who recently staged town halls in three California districts held by Republican lawmakers Reps. Ken Calvert, Young Kim and David Valadao where he estimated crowds of roughly 1,000 people. It was just frustration of: What are you going to do to stop this? Khanna acknowledged that the crowds were made up largely of Democrats and independents who reside in those purple districts. But theyre angry and mobilized, he said. And if you have 1,000 people in your district that are angry and mobilized like that and knocking on doors and ready to get people out that should be a huge red flag for these Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khanna is hardly alone. In Wisconsin, Rep. Mark Pocan (D) has already staged two town halls in the neighboring district held by GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden, and a third just outside of it, with plans to do more. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has joined a national tour, launched by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), thats dipped into Republican districts, including one in Colorado represented by first-term GOP Rep. Gabe Evans. And in Maryland, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D) drove two hours from home to the expansive Eastern Shore district represented by Rep. Andy Harris (R), the head of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, where Raskin said he found 900 frustrated voters waiting to vent about the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are outraged, Raskin said. Its a race between the anger of the people and the Trump administrations speed in moving to dismantle our democratic order. The aggressive gambit of diving into districts controlled by the other party is hardly ordinary. But Democrats say Trumps unconventional approach to governing demands an unconventional response. And after House GOP leaders urged Republican lawmakers to steer clear of in-person town halls an avoidance strategy adopted after voter outrage over Trumps actions erupted virally in some of those public forums Democrats have stepped up their infiltration operations. First and foremost, were filling a void thats left by our Republican colleagues who have been told by their leadership to not face your constituents because what were doing is not popular, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said. And so as Democrats, we want people across the country, people in swing states, to know that when your representatives opt out of doing their job because theyre trying to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, were going to step in and were going to fill that void no matter who you are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Frost was set to join Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) at a town hall in Michigans 10th District, where GOP Rep. John James is a top target of Democrats in the midterms. And other Democrats are also escalating the strategy in the coming days and weeks. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) dropped into Kims district in California on Saturday for a town hall. Khanna said hes eyeing a visit to eastern Pennsylvania, where Republicans had flipped the seat of former Rep. Susan Wild (D) in November and Democrats want it back. Raskin, who has already left Maryland to visit Wilds former district, has plans to venture even further to Long Island in the coming weeks. And Frost said hes preparing a blitz of behind-enemy-lines town halls next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The target, said Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the Democratic whip, is vulnerable Republicans. The aim, she added, is holding them accountable for the moderation they preach at home and coming down here and voting in lockstep to take away the services that taxpayers and their constituents depend on. Republicans have dismissed the Democrats strategy as both disingenuous and ineffective. GOP strategists are pointing out that Democrats are facing their own troubles at town halls, where some lawmakers have faced liberal voters furious that Democrats arent fighting harder against Trump and the flood of executive actions that have defined his first months in office. Republicans also allege that the crowds at the Democratic events in GOP districts are orchestrated to exclude Trump supporters who might challenge them. In that sense, they charge, the town halls arent town halls at all. In a desperate attempt to distract voters from the chaos in their own party, Democrats are resorting to political theater that panders to the far-left radicals instead of addressing the concerns of everyday voters who have already rejected their out-of-touch agenda, Mike Marinella, a spokesperson for the National Republican Campaign Committee, said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one is falling for their latest charade. Democrats have rejected any suggestion that the cross-district events are staged or feature paid protesters. While some of the town halls have been orchestrated by liberal advocacy groups, unions and local Democratic officials, Democrats maintain that anyone is welcome to attend. Raskin said he addressed that very issue at the outset of his town hall in Harriss district. I started by saying that the people who are showing up at the town halls are not paid protesters, Raskin said. But the people not showing up are paid politicians. Pocan said one of the events in Van Ordens district was organized by a farmers union that had invited lawmakers from both parties. No Republicans showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two minimum parts of your job are taking the values of your district to Washington and explaining Washington to your district, Pocan said. And if you dont do town halls, youre doing neither of those things. Van Orden declined to comment on the town halls. Not all Republicans are taking their leaderships advice and avoiding town halls. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) is one of them. Shes conducted a number of public forums this year in her state. On more than one occasion, the event was disrupted by shouts and booing from the audience, which she blamed on Democratic activists. There was legitimate pushback at some of them, where people asked very pointed and good questions. But the screaming and yelling and profanities thats just an effort to exercise the hecklers veto, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hageman dismissed the notion that some of the protesters might be Trump supporters who have soured on the presidents policies. Oh, gosh no, she said. They dont act that way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Scores of demonstrators decried Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in two protests in Frederick on Saturday at Francis Scott Key Mall and outside City Hall. Signs at both rallies asked drivers to honk to show support. Protestors lined Spectrum Drive outside the mall just in front of the Tesla charging stations as part of a nationwide demonstration against Musk and his vehicle company called "Tesla Takedown." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla protest 6 Teresa Roberts, left, and John Roberts, both of Hagerstown, hold a sign during a protest at Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick on Saturday. "Consumers still have power, and we need to boycott companies that have their hands in the federal cookie jar," said Frederick resident Lori Duke, who attended the protest at the mall as part of a crowd of around 40. Duke and others took issue with Musk's involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency, which has worked to cut thousands federal employees and claims on its website it has saved the federal government over $100 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said the cuts are necessary to fight what he has described as wasteful spending and government bloat. Tesla protest 5 Lisa Wismath of Berryville, Va., holds a sign during a protest at Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick on Saturday. Duke said the fact that Musk was not elected and still holds much sway with the government undermines American democracy. Musk is the world's richest man, according to Forbes, and owns multiple companies that deal with the government, such as SpaceX and Tesla. "We have to do something to fight this oligarchy," said Donna Trado of Taneytown, who attended the protest. "The whole point is to hit them where it hurts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla protest 1 Kat Koser of Frederick, foreground, and Lisa Wismath of Berryville, Va., hold signs during a protest at Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick on Saturday. The "Tesla Takedown" nationwide protest, occurring outside Tesla charging stations and showrooms, asks people to divest themselves of Tesla stock and vehicles to hurt Musk's business interests. City Hall demonstration Earlier in the day outside Frederick City Hall, around 30 people stood along the intersection of Church and Court streets with signs showing support for Palestine and Ukraine and denigrating the current federal administration as "fascist." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was the sixth consecutive Saturday a protest has taken place near City Hall, said Frederick residents Jan and Mick O'Leary, who helped start the regular demonstrations. City Hall protestors 3 At Frederick City Hall on Saturday, Mark Posthuma from Frederick holds a sign asking drivers to honk to support their protest against the policies of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. "Right after all this stuff started, I was really upset," Jan O'Leary said. Jan and Mick decided to start showing up regularly after they attended a rally against Trump and Musk at City Hall on Presidents Day, Feb. 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protestors attending the demonstration made their feelings about the administration known. City Hall protestors 2 Jan O'Leary holds a sign during a protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk outside Frederick City Hall on Saturday. O'Leary and her husband, Mick, started protesting every Saturday at City Hall following a Presidents Day demonstration in February. Sandra Doggett, who helps teach the English language in Frederick, said she is distressed about the government's actions. She said the presidential administration is not adhering to the very checks and balances she teaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frederick resident Theresa Posthuma said Trump's actions including an executive order declaring the government would only recognize two sexes are targeting certain segments of society. "We're all just this far away from becoming disenfranchised," she said. Jan O'Leary said she plans to keep protesting every Saturday "for as long as it takes." DENVER (KDVR) Denver police are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred on Saturday night, according to a post on X from the Denver Police Department. The stabbing took place in the 1900 block of 29th Street. Four hospitalized after crash in Lakewood One victim was transported to a local hospital, and the extent of their injuries is unknown. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and officers are working to develop suspect information. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Precipitation returns to the Denver weather forecast overnight Saturday. Rain, which may even have a few rumbles of thunder, will start after sunset with a transition over to snow in the city. Potential snowfall accumulation Sunday. Given how warm the ground is, however, snow accumulation is unlikely in metro Denver. Portions of the eastern plains may see minor grassy accumulations, with the best chance for minor accumulations in the mountains. View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31 Weather tonight: Rain and snow showers Seasonal temperatures overnight Saturday. Temperatures will fall to near freezing across the region, with areas in the mountains and east most likely to drop slightly below freezing. Winds will occasionally be breezy at times. Weather tomorrow: Drier and cooler Cooler temperatures on Sunday. After some early rain/snow showers, Sunday afternoon will be drier, cooler, and mostly cloudy. Temperatures only reach the 40s. Dont rule out the chance for an isolated shower popping up in the afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team Looking ahead: Active weather to start April Tuesday is the first day of April, and more showers will be possible late in the day with gusty winds in the afternoon. Temperatures will be cool, only in the middle 50s, for much of the first week of the month. April looks to start with an active weather pattern. Several chances for rain and snow exist, especially heading into next weekend. Saturday will need to be watched in particular for possible accumulating snowfall. With that said, highs on Saturday look to be in the 40s, so timing will be important when it comes to snow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Authorities have shared the latest updates on evacuation guidelines for areas affected by the Table Rock Complex Fire. As of 5 p.m. today, the Pickens County Sheriffs Office (PCSO) stated that the evacuation guidelines for affected residents have been updated from mandatory to voluntary. This applies only to residents of Pickens County. The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) reported that residents of Greenville County north of the Greenville-Pickens line, west of Wildcat Falls on Highway 11/Highway 276 and east of the Table Rock Reservoir are still under mandatory evacuation. Authorities urge that, although specific evacuations are now voluntary, that residents return to home with caution and avoid outside activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highway 11 is also reported to be fully reopened as of today. PCSO said that they will continue to patrol the affected areas to ensure public safeties. In addition, the Table Rock Complex information line will be closing today at 7:00pm. For more information on the fires call 803-906-9730 or email 2025.tablerockcomplex@firenet.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. After wildfires destroyed more than 15,000 structures in California, builder KB Home is developing a community of fire-resilient homes to help homeowners weather any future disasters. The homes include details such as fire-rated roofs and buffer zones to prevent the spread of wildfire. Homes in the new Dixon Trail community outside of San Diego start at $1 million. In the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which destroyed more than 15,000 structures including many under-insured and uninsured homes, KB Home is developing a fire-resilient community to help homeowners avoid the next disaster. The new Dixon Trail community in Escondido, Calif., just outside of San Diego, will include 64 homes that meet the stringent home and neighborhood-level wildfire resilience standards developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homes start at $1 million and can range into the low millions of dollars. The median price of a new home in Escondido is $743,000, according to Redfin. The details that make the homes more resilient to wildfires include class A fire-rated roofs, noncombustible gutters and siding, windows with two panes of tempered-glass or fire-resistant glass blocks, and vents that are resistant to flame and embers, according to a company press release. The builder worked with the city of Escondido to adapt building codes in order to accommodate the fire-resilient changes. To prevent the spread of fire, almost all structures are built 10 feet apart from each other, and each home includes a 5-foot noncombustible buffer around its perimeter where homeowners cant plant anything. Given the threat of wildfire in California and in the Escondido area, the company expects solid demand for the pioneering Dixon Trail homes, said Steve Ruffner, KB Home senior vice president of national contracts and studio supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want [our customers] to be able to save money and feel safe. And I think both of these can be accomplished. And so it's exciting for us to be the first to do it, he told Fortune. The destructive January wildfires in the Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles highlighted the wildfire risk many California homes face. Economic losses from the fires are estimated at around $250 billion, according to AccuWeather, making the wildfires one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. While the wildfires have subsided, the risk of disaster remains as the most recent fire risk map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) shows that across Southern California, which includes the San Diego area, areas with a "very high fire hazard" have grown 26% to 817,212 acres since 2011. In addition to the extra protection against wildfires, Dixon Trail homes may come with insurance and sustainability benefits, said Jacob Atalla, vice president of sustainability at KB Home, just as several insurers are reducing or eliminating their business in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Potentially lowering the risk profile of these homes may result in lower home insurance premiums, and therefore continue with the affordability mission that we've been on for many years, Atalla told Fortune. Any learnings gathered from the development of the fire-resilient homes will also be shared with the California Building Industry Association (BIA) and IBHS to help builders improve fire safety for structures across the state, Ruffner said. Already, one-third of the homes have sold, and two buyers have already moved in, Ruffner said. Another 30 homes are under construction, and all 64 homes should be completed in a year, he added. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Two court documents obtained by KTSM detail that an El Paso Police officer who has since been fired threatened to shoot up a womans home and that he allegedly tried to choke a woman in a separate incident. Joshua Anthony Gallardo, an El Paso Police officer, was officially fired by the El Paso Police Department on Thursday, March 27, a department spokesperson said. El Paso Police officer with history of assault officially fired Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallardo, age 29, had allegedly choked and punched a woman while he was driving back in 2023, as previously reported by KTSM. According to jail records obtained by KTSM, there were three filings against Gallardo in 2024 and three this year. We obtained two court documents that resulted in arrest warrants being issued for Gallardo in two separate incidents one in February 2024 and the other in January of this year. In the first, a 29-year-old female victim told detectives that she had an argument with her boyfriend, identified as Gallardo, who had been drinking with friends. This alleged incident happened on Feb. 11, 2024 and the victim met with detectives about two weeks later on Feb. 26 to detail what happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The female victim said she found messages on his phone from another woman, according to court documents. Gallardo and the woman began to argue and the woman laid down on the bed with her back to Gallardo in an attempt to end the argument and go to sleep, the court document said. The defendant then embraced the victim from behind with his arm on her chest, according to the court document. The man began to tighten his grip and applied pressure to her throat to impede her breathing, the document said. The victim told detectives she slapped the mans arm and told him to stop but he continued to apply pressure until she could not breathe or talk, the court document said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim struggled with her whole body and kicked backwards with her legs to free herself, the court documents said. The suspect then accused the woman of kicking him in the balls and left the apartment, the document said. In this incident, a judge issued a warrant for assault with the intent to impede breathing or circulation. El Paso Police officer allegedly chokes woman while driving, punches her in the face The victim also told detectives that she had been subjected to a pattern of verbal and physical abuse by Gallardo from December 2023 through February of this year, according to court documents obtained by KTSM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 17 of this year, a female victim, also described as a 29-year-old, told detectives about an incident in which Gallardo became increasingly upset with her because she did not attend a quinceanera party with him. The victim said at the time they were no longer in a relationship with each other. The woman told detectives she went to a church event and the suspect, Gallardo, began to text her and asked why she was late to the quinceanera party. The woman then went out to have dinner with friends and Gallardo kept demanding to know where she was and began to threaten to go over to her home, court documents said. The victim told him not to come by her home, the court document stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim said as she was driving home that night, Gallardo continued to call her repeatedly and left a voice message that he was going to go over to her home and shoot her place up, according to court documents. The victim played the voicemail for detectives, according to court documents. According to court documents, Gallardo mumbled something at first but then could be heard to say, You made it worse than what it is. Now I am going to go to your house and Im gonna (expletive) shoot that place up. The victim told detectives that she was in fear for her life, especially since Gallardo was an El Paso Police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victim told detectives that she called Gallardos mother for help and his mother got him to calm down, court documents said. The victim said that he did not end up showing up to her house that night and stopped calling. In this incident, a judge issued an arrest warrant for making terroristic threats with fear of imminent serious bodily injury. Gallardo was placed on administrative leave last year, according to El Paso Police. He was a two-year veteran assigned to the Mission Valley Regional Command Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. We are only a few weeks into Elon Musk and DOGEs attack on the federal government workforce in the name of "rooting out fraud, corruption and abuse," and Americans are still waiting for the big reveal. President Donald Trump has claimed theyve found "billions in fraud and corruption" but no one on the DOGE team has shared publicly any real fraud or corruption. Their sledgehammer approach has sliced the jobs of thousands of individuals who eschewed offers from the private sector to serve the country as scientists, researchers, computer analysts, soldiers, and CPAs, many of those who were probationary employees. As a result, the nuclear stockpile was put at risk some who were responsible for safeguarding these weapons were dismissed. This year, Americans will have even more problems getting straight answers from the IRS, and the agency will be able to conduct fewer audits which will actually cost the government more than the layoffs will save. Farmers who need expert help dealing with challenges like the bird flu and invasive species will have more trouble finding an agriculture expert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans, especially the soldiers suffering from exposure to burn pits, will find longer wait lines and fewer doctors and nurses to help, as 1,200 jobs have been cut at the VA. Americans traveling to national parks this year will find longer lines and wait times, parks and forests that are not cleaned, and even some locations shuttered, as more than 1,000 employees of the National Park Service have been eliminated. Protestors gather in front of Cincinnati City Hall to protest President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk These are just a few examples of the knife-cutting through the federal workforce. The massive number of layoffs will no doubt save the federal government significant dollars, although at the expense of services and support for the public. But there is no indication that any of these large swarths of layoffs have anything to do with fraud, corruption and abuse. Even the closing of USAID and the highly touted cuts to its programs had nothing to do with fraud, corruption and abuse. Although we can argue the merit of programs like those promoting an inclusive workforce in a country not friendly with the U.S. and its fair to raise questions about this expenditure and whether its worth pursuing it is false to try to categorize it as fraud, corruption and abuse. A new administration certainly has the right to fund issues it considers important, but another administrations priorities do not make them corrupt or fraudulent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sad fact is there is definitely fraud, corruption and abuse in federal expenditures. Representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle have lists of such abuse of public funds in every corner of the government, from the Defense Department to the Education Department to Health and Human Services. The massive layoffs will impact all parts of the country, as 80% of all dismissed employees live outside Washington, D.C., and affect businesses that these employees support, from daycare centers to restaurants to grocery stores. But the layoffs wont put a dent in the real fraud, corruption and abuse at the federal level. As thousands upon thousands of federal employees have had to pull up roots, go on unemployment, and search for some way to support their children and partners, every dismissed employee and everyone else should be asking, Where is the fraud, corruption and abuse? And why are those who actually control the federal purse strings, our representatives and senators, not asking this question? Dr. Randy Overbeck lives in Lebanon and is a retired educator who served children in Ohio for 40 years, running four school districts as superintendent and assistant superintendent. Randy Overbeck This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: DOGE cuts have nothing to do with fraud, corruption or abuse | Opinion A 17-year-old girl has been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run in western Wisconsin, with the teen suspected of being drunk behind the wheel. The Dunn County Sheriffs Office says it received a report of a woman lying in a ditch on County Highway Y between 330th Avenue and 370th Avenue just after 7 a.m. The woman appeared to have been struck by a vehicle. The sheriffs office responded along with fire crews and state patrol, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police received information about the suspected driver and her location, with deputies arresting the girl on pending drunk-driving, hit-and-run and homicide charges, according to the sheriffs office. The crash is under investigation, and the victims identity has not been released. A 25-year-old Marshall man was killed when he was hit by a car in Scott County Friday morning. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Toyota Rav4 was southbound on Highway 169 near Old Brickyard Road in Jackson Township at around 6 a.m. when the driver of the Toyota "maneuvered" to the left lane and struck a pedestrian who was standing in the lane. The pedestrian, identified as 25-year-old Firaol Abebe Merbratu, of Marshall, was killed in the crash. The driver of the Toyota, identified as a 45-year-old Jordan woman, was uninjured. A passenger in the Toyota was also uninjured. No further information has been released. An accused drug dealer is officially heading to trial in Ventura Countys first fentanyl murder case. The Ventura County District Attorneys Office announced Thursday that Rodney Rey Yanez, 56, of Oxnard, has been held to answer for the second-degree murder of a gas station employee. This decision came after a four-day preliminary hearing where 16 witnesses were called, officials said, including a firefighter paramedic and several law enforcement narcotics experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the murder charge, officials said Yanez was also charged with nine felonies and four misdemeanors related to his alleged drug possession and sale activity. According to the DAs Office, it was on Sept. 20, 2023, when Yanez allegedly sold fentanyl to Dylan Rusch at an Oxnard gas station. Rusch, who was working at the gas station, then overdosed in the restroom. Officers and paramedics later found Rusch and, despite life-saving efforts, pronounced him dead at the scene. The victims toxicology results showed a lethal level of fentanyl was the cause of death. The DA Offices initial report did not include whether Rusch knew what he was taking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers with the Oxnard Police Department arrested Yanez on July 24, 2024, and booked him at the Ventura County Main Jail. He remains in custody with $1 million bail. The DAs Office said Yanez is charged in a series of alleged drug offenses for possessing and transporting for sale fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs in the 14 months before Ruschs death. We believe the evidence in this case is compelling and fully supports the judges findings, said prosecutor Audry Nafziger. We are prepared and eager to present this case to a jury at trial. Yanez returns to court on April 10 for an arraignment on information. 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. A Dunwoody officer is recovering after a head-on collision early Sunday morning, police said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to officials, officers received a call around 5 a.m. about a suspected drunk driver near the intersection of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive. A witness told police a person appeared to be asleep at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz sedan while idle at the intersection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A short time later, the witness called back and told police the Mercedes-Benz started moving again. Authorities said police were a short distance from the area when an officer found the Mercedes-Benz traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Ashford Dunwoody Road at Perimeter Center North. That officer was able to swerve and avoid a crash with the suspects vehicle. Officials said, another officer started driving southbound on Ashford Dunwoody Road at Meadow Lane and wasnt able to avoid the suspects vehicle which led to a head-on crash with the suspected drunk driver, later identified by Georgia State Patrol as Asante Smith, 24, of Atlanta. According to Dunwoody police, the officer is OK. The officers age and identity was not released. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspected drunk driver, whose age and identity were not released is charged with DUI, driving on the wrong side of the roadway, and a seatbelt violation by the Georgia State Patrol. Since the airbags were deployed in both vehicles, the suspected drunk driver was taken to the hospital for medical clearance. The suspect will be booked into the DeKalb County Jail upon release. GSP is investigating the crash. Troopers said there were no injuries from the collision. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa appointed Cynthia Gellibert, secretary general of public administration, as interim vice president on Saturday, replacing the elected-Vice President Veronica Abad. Over the past year, Noboa and Abad have feuded over who would represent the country as president while Noboa takes time out to campaign in the run-up to the presidential election in which he seeks a four-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country's constitution states that when the president campaigns, the presidency must be handed over to the vice president. Abad, who has also been serving as the Andean country's ambassador to Israel, has repeatedly argued that she had the right to the presidency, but was suspended from her post by the labor ministry in November. In the decree, Noboa stated that Abad was barred from holding public office based on legal issues and insubordination. The ministry accused her of committing a serious disciplinary offense by not complying with a Noboa order to travel to Turkey on set dates. In the April election, Noboa faces leftist Luisa Gonzalez, in an unexpectedly tight contest featuring the same two candidates who were in a 2023 snap election. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Michael Perry) Mar. 30It can be tricky to decide which developments to editorialize on, which to let pass by. The general consensus is that there's little value in giving additional airtime to ill-fated nonsense. There's an argument to be made, however, for calling ill-fated nonsense out. With that balancing act in mind, we'll dedicate a few paragraphs to a lamentable effort in Augusta last week: the decision by a group of Maine Republicans to file for a people's veto of the two-year state budget (which passed, by simple majority, earlier this month). "Rep. Gary Drinkwater, R-Milford, is listed as the applicant on the paperwork, which was also signed by Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith, R-Palermo, Rep. Mike Soboleski, R-Phillips, Rep. Kimberly Haggan, R-Hampden, and Sen. David Haggan, R-Hampden," we reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What now? They have until June 18 to submit a minimum of 67,682 voter signatures to place a proposal for a veto on a statewide ballot, exposing Maine to a debilitating months-long government shutdown if, thankfully, it's a big if, they are secured, validated and acted on. "The people are crying for Republicans to stand up," Rep. Katrina Smith told WMTV last week. "This was an effort by legislators who thought this would be a path forward, and we'll be exploring how that path goes forward from here." "We're under the gun here," her colleague Rep. Mike Soboleski said, referring to a gun of their own hasty making. "We've got to get a lot of work done in a very short period of time." You'll forgive us for not thinking it a particularly good use of time. Copy the Story Link One of Illinois biggest little cities has a version of Chicagos Magnificent Mile shopping hub, with a few notable differences. You wont find standalone boutiques for Gucci, Rolex or Tiffany in Rockfords proudly blue-collar Miracle Mile. The anchor tenants include a bowling alley, a Dollar General and a tattoo parlor or two. But theres something else shoppers wont find, either: A steep retail vacancy rate, such as the once-unimaginable 26% of empty space on the Mag Mile. Rockfords Miracle Mile shows what a TIF can do when its used as intended. A stretch of the city that two decades ago suffered from blighted buildings and vacant land has slowly recovered with assistance from this tax increment financing district, while staying true to its roots. Theres nothing gentrified, Disney-esque or foppish about the Miracle Mile, which is one reason why it works for Rockford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its vacancy rate? Less than 10%. For Miracle Mile merchants who gathered at Don Carter Lanes earlier this month to celebrate their TIFs 20th anniversary, any talk about how TIFs could be abused was beside the point. They worked for us, said Brad Sommer, general manager of the bowling alley, which got help from the TIF to fund a facelift and renovation. It allowed for businesses to remodel and beautify. It has a snowball effect. As many Chicagoans can attest, TIFs dont always go right. In fact, the city has a history of TIF abuse. TIFs dont lend themselves to sweeping conclusions. Theyre potentially aldermanic and mayoral slush funds that can be raided for pet projects. In a perfect world, we wouldnt need TIFs at all economic growth would be organic. But here we are, and the reality of Chicagos economy, however, often requires creative tools to encourage investment. Heres how TIFs work. TIFs are an economic development tool designed to fight blight and disinvestment. They work by capturing property tax revenue to subsidize improvements within a targeted area. Chicago is dotted with TIFs that divert tax dollars from local public services such as schools, parks and libraries. Unfortunately, politicians can take advantage of the resulting slush funds for projects that have nothing to do with fighting blight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Mayor Richard M. Daley was the king of TIFs, using them in wealthy areas, including downtown, to pump tax money into private developments that didnt really need it. This page has repeatedly warned against the perils of mayors and aldermen using TIF funds to butter up well-connected real estate developers. In more recent years, TIFs have garnered headlines more as a way to plug deficits than to grease development. Mayor Brandon Johnson has declared record TIF surpluses in each of his first two years for exactly that reason, and it wont be a surprise if he does the same thing later this year with what surely will be yet another substantial deficit. Still, it would do us well to remember that TIFs retain their usefulness. Exhibit A: Rockfords Miracle Mile. Its no secret that Rockford has faced hard times in its modern history. The Rust Belt collapse of the early 1980s wiped out much of its traditional manufacturing base. The Great Recession made Rockford ground zero for underwater mortgages, draining wealth from a city that could ill afford it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These days, Rockford has staged a comeback. In 2024, its metropolitan area chalked up the largest annual decrease in unemployment of any city in Illinois. Its housing market has rebounded. Another huge plus is on the way nearby, as automaker Stellantis works to relaunch the idled Belvidere assembly plant. That investment alone is expected to create a slew of good-paying jobs, which will help to support Rockford merchants such as Patricia Drewelow, whose House of Books recently got city encouragement to move into a spacious new Miracle Mile site near the bowling alley. The location was previously a long-gone insurance brokerage, and each of the individual offices now has a theme based on the books for sale inside, such as Mystery, Religion, and Kids. I love it here, Drewelow said, as she showed off each department. Rockford Ald. Frank Beach, who has represented the Miracle Mile for the past four decades, said he believes TIFs should get more respect. When the city launched its Miracle Mile TIF, he said, We were all looking for ways to help the businesses. Had nothing been done for the area, it would have kept deteriorating, he said, and TIFs were one of the only ways we could fund development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took time for the clean-up campaigns, sidewalk repairs, new facades, safety lighting, trees, bushes and security cameras to have an effect, Beach recalled, and a shooting at the bowling alley that claimed three lives in 2020 was a tragic setback for the district. Today the Miracle Mile has become a staging area for popular events, and a spot where cars that used to zoom past with the doors locked on Rockfords State Street now turn into busy parking lots to patronize the merchants. The temptation to continue draining the TIFs to help cure Chicagos structural deficits is strong; Rockford is a stark example of the potency TIFs retain to spur growth and development. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Illinois gained over 32,000 nonfarm jobs on net since before the pandemic. But 73% of them were government jobs. Where the state could use some work is private-sector growth. Some of Illinois most important industries still havent recovered from the pandemic. For example, the state is down more than 20,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry since that industrys pre-COVID-19 peak. Illinois still has among the highest unemployment rates in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We say an easy place to start is to get rid of rules and requirements that prevent people from finding work. This legislative session, there was broad, bipartisan momentum around occupational licensing reform, a rare and welcome example of both sides of the aisle supporting pragmatic solutions for the public good. Despite support from both sides of the aisle, licensing reform legislation went nowhere. Licensing reform always faces stiff opposition from special interest groups that benefit from keeping out competition. But if we want to get people back to work, its a necessary part of the solution. To understand how burdensome rules keep people on the sidelines, consider what aspiring barbers have to navigate before they can become licensed: 1,500 hours in an approved barbering school, which can cost as much as college tuition. By comparison, New York requires just 500 hours a third as much yet suffers no apparent decline in public safety or service quality. A Democrat-sponsored bill could have made it easier for Illinoisans to become licensed stylists. State Rep. Michael Crawford, D-Chicago, is behind legislation that would enable aspiring barbers to become licensed through apprenticeships, offering an alternative to traditional schooling by recognizing hands-on training under licensed professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, a downstate Republican wanted to make it easier for newcomers to our state to find work. State Rep. Paul Jacobs, R-Marion, is the lead sponsor of the Recognition of Licenses Act, which would establish provisions for the recognition of out-of-state professional licenses in Illinois. Illinois does recognize some out-of-state professional licenses, such as teaching licenses, but not all. And its not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, which establishes mutual recognition of nursing licenses among the 41 member states. Another bill, sponsored by state Rep. Yolonda Morris, D-Chicago, wouldve added Illinois to the NLC a long-overdue and crucial step in addressing the nursing shortage thats plagued hospitals since COVID-19 hit. With a list of legislative backers ranging from Democrats such as Morris and Crawford to Republicans such as Jacobs, sponsors of these proposals span the political spectrum, and youd hope that alone wouldve given Springfield politicians the confidence to act decisively. The benefits are clear: More people working leads to stronger communities, better personal fulfillment and other perks for government namely, more tax revenue, more consumer spending and less reliance on public aid. In a state that desperately needs private-sector jobs growth, these are not controversial proposals. Its true that reducing licensing red tape wouldnt fix all that ails Illinois economy but its a smart place to start. We wish Springfield wouldve acted on this initiative and hope these bills are revived soon. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. When I began covering homelessness for the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times, a service provider told me something that has guided me to this day: If you meet one homeless person, youve met one homeless person. So in addition to writing about homelessness policy and fights over housing, I wanted to hear the stories of people I encountered in my neighborhood and around the city. I wrote about the well-kept man who lived in an RV outside my condo building with his fluffy white dog. I urged my concerned neighbors to help him get services, not get him towed. (One neighbor, a lawyer, was kind enough to do free legal work for him.) Eventually he drove off the street and never returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I met a woman sitting on a sidewalk outside a wine store on an industrial stretch of Cotner Avenue one early evening before the Fourth of July in 2019. Her name was Michelle, she was in her 50s, and she told me she just wanted a shelter bed for the night. Just released from a hospital, she was still wearing her hospital ID bracelet. She had no cellphone because an abusive ex-fiance had smashed it, she said. I called the nonprofit help hotline, 211, but the only thing the operators could find for her was a bed in the Antelope Valley far from where we were on the Westside. After a while, Michelle slumped down and said she wanted to go back to the hospital. The owner of the wine store and a staffer walked outside to see what was going on. I expected them to complain. Instead, they asked how they could help. I called an Uber to take her to the hospital. When the car arrived, the owner of the store pressed cash into the drivers hand, asking him to take care of her. When I got back to work after the holiday, Michelle had called my office phone and left a message thanking me and saying she was OK. I never heard from her again. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority now has a computerized system that tracks many shelter beds across the county in real time. It was rolled out to service providers this month and will be made available to the 211 hotline system in July. Another time, I befriended a neatly dressed man who sat on a bench and politely panhandled outside a Whole Foods store in Santa Monica. James, in his mid-50s, had lost a job at a big retailer, and when his unemployment benefits ran out, he became homeless. James told me all he wanted was to rent a room in a house somewhere. He watched as luxury cars whizzed by and said surely someone had an empty room to offer him. Eventually a service provider found him a room in a six-bedroom apartment just west of USC. I visited once and brought him groceries. He shared the kitchen and dining area with the rest of the residents. At one point we heard a woman yelling at someone. People here are crazy, he told me with some chagrin. This was not the room of his dreams. I lost touch with him after that visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there was Joshua, a homeless man I have kept in touch with for years. I was the foreperson on a jury that found him guilty of a misdemeanor battery charge on a Metro train in 2019. I was curious about his life and why he had gotten into trouble. After the trial ended, I spent hours on the phone with him, sporadically, as he violated his probation, went back to jail then emerged again, usually with a new phone number. He found a trade school and took computer classes wanting to learn some kind of skill that would help him find a job. Eventually, he said, an instructor told him he was too unprepared to take the course and she couldnt devote the time necessary to help him catch up. These days, he exists on General Relief ($221 a month) and CalFresh food benefits delivered on an EBT card. He has spent nights sleeping on benches and trains and more recently on buses where he has found sympathetic drivers who chat with him and look the other way when he doesnt pay the fare. I repeatedly urged him to go to a shelter but he refused, saying they werent safe. I have listed the reasons why it was worth a try. I know you want better for me, Miss Hall, he said once, hearing my exasperation. It wont always be like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want better for all of them the unhoused people I met and those I never did. Don't we all? They dont have to be heroic figures to deserve housing, any more than the people who already live in housing are heroic. I cant guarantee that none of these folks ever napped on your lawn or, worse, went to the bathroom on it. But such cases only underscore that society should provide for every person's basic needs to be met with dignity eating, sleeping and other bodily functions. (And I have written editorials calling for more public toilets throughout the city.) We should want better for all people who are this impoverished, who got waylaid possibly by mental illness or substance abuse but above all by poverty. They are hamstrung by an economy in which housing is a commodity, an investment that skyrockets in value for no reason beyond that it is scarce and therefore increasingly valuable to its owner and decreasingly accessible to the vast number of Angelenos who cant afford thousands of dollars a month in rent. There are 75,000 unhoused people in the county of Los Angeles. (About 45,000 of those live in the city of L.A.) They all need permanent housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I once spoke to an assembly of students at a private school alongside Emily Martiniuk, a woman who is formerly homeless. She started by asking the students in elementary grades and junior high what they wanted to be when they grew up. Hands shot up as she ticked off various professions. Now, she said, how many of you want to be homeless? Every journey into homelessness is different. The one thing every unhoused person shares is this: No one intended to be homeless. In Martiniuks case, crippling illness and depression caused her to lose her job and her family. My life fell apart, she told the students. But with medical care and help from social workers, she found permanent supportive housing, then another apartment subsidized by a housing voucher, and now speaks often to various groups and elected officials about her experiences. Ive spent years and thousands upon thousands of words arguing for measures that would increase funding for both the services and housing that homeless people need the sort of services that helped Emily. I have scolded people for opposing homeless housing in their neighborhoods even when they voted for the measures that would set aside funds for it and embracing anti-camping ordinances as the way to get homeless people out of their neighborhoods. Anti-camping ordinances dont make people vanish. They simply get pushed to someone elses neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeless housing is a misnomer, really. It instantly eliminates the problem that it names, because as soon as people step into their apartments, they cease to be homeless. Those who suffered from mental illness or substance abuse and crushing poverty still will have those struggles, of course, but now they can face them with the knowledge of a secure place to sleep every night. That matters. Think of a problem you have faced and how much harder it would have been if you had had no place to sleep, shower, store your possessions or use the bathroom. In this last piece I write as a member of this honorable editorial board that has long cared about people and their fate in Los Angeles and beyond, I challenge you to care about providing homes to people who need them. I challenge you to welcome new affordable housing when it's proposed in your community, because as an Angeleno witnessing this crisis, you know how many lives that housing could change how many lives it could save. Hold Los Angeles politicians accountable not by insisting they keep these developments out of your neighborhood but by demanding they build more of them in all our neighborhoods. Los Angeles cannot thrive if there is one community of people safely in homes and another forced onto the sidewalks. 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. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Palestinians in Gaza marked the normally festive Eid al-Fitr on Sunday with rapidly dwindling food supplies and mourning for several children killed in Israel's latest airstrikes. There was anger as the bodies of 14 emergency responders were recovered in the southern city of Rafah a week after an Israeli attack, which the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called the single most deadly attack on Red Cross Red Crescent workers anywhere in the world since 2017. Many Palestinians prayed outside demolished mosques to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. It's supposed to be a joyous occasion when families feast and purchase new clothes for children, but most of Gaza's 2 million people are just trying to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the Eid of sadness, Adel al-Shaer said after attending prayers amid rubble in the central town of Deir al-Balah. We lost our loved ones, our children, our lives and our futures. Twenty members of his extended family have been killed by Israeli strikes, including four young nephews a few days ago, he said and began to cry. Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas and resumed the 17-month war earlier this month with a surprise bombardment that killed hundreds, after the militant group refused to accept changes to the truce reached in January. Israel has not allowed food, fuel or humanitarian aid to enter Gaza for a month. There is killing, displacement, hunger and a siege, said Saed al-Kourd, a worshipper. We go out to perform Gods rituals in order to make the children happy, but as for the joy of Eid? There is no Eid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arab mediators are trying to get the truce back on track. Hamas said Saturday it had accepted a new proposal from Egypt and Qatar. Israel said it made a counter-proposal in coordination with the United States, which has also been mediating. Details were not immediately known. Emergency workers' bodies found The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the bodies of eight of its emergency medical technicians, and five members of Gaza's Civil Defense, were recovered a week after they and their ambulances vanished in Rafah during heavy fire. The PRCS said a ninth colleague was still missing, adding that the targeting of medics cannot be seen as anything other than a war crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza's Health Ministry asserted that some of the bodies had been bound and shot in the chest, and it called on the United Nations and other international organizations to investigate and hold Israel accountable. Israels military on Sunday said its troops had opened fire on vehicles advancing suspiciously without emergency signals or movement coordinated in advance. It asserted that nine terrorists had been killed. Netanyahu lays out conditions for ending the war Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue military operations while negotiating. He rejected claims that Israel does not want to end the war, while laying out conditions that go far beyond the ceasefire agreement and have been rejected by Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas will disarm. Its leaders will be allowed out. We will look out for the general security in the Gaza Strip and allow for the realization of (President Donald) Trumps plan, Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting. Trump has proposed that Gaza's population be resettled in other countries so the U.S. can redevelop Gaza for others. Palestinians say they do not want to leave their homeland. Human rights experts say the plan would likely violate international law. Israeli strikes on Sunday morning killed at least 16 people, including nine children and three women, according to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Two girls appeared to be wearing new clothes purchased for the holiday, according to an Associated Press cameraman, including spotless sneakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday evening, a strike hit a tent in Deir al-Balah and killed at least two people, according to an AP journalist at the hospital. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. Hamas is still holding 59 captives 24 believed to be alive. Israel's offensive has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence, and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas. Israel approves controversial project in West Bank Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahus security Cabinet approved the construction of a road for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Critics say it will open the door for Israel to annex a key area just outside Jerusalem, further undermining the feasibility of a future Palestinian state. Netanyahus office said the project is meant to streamline travel for Palestinians in communities near the large Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim. Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog group, said the road will divert Palestinian traffic outside of Maaleh Adumim and the surrounding area known as E1, a tract of open land deemed essential for the territorial contiguity of a future state. That will make it easier for Israel to annex E1, according to Hagit Ofran, a settlement expert with the group, because Israel can claim there is no disruption to Palestinian movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics say Israeli settlements and other land grabs make a contiguous future state increasingly impossible. Several roads in the West Bank are meant for use by either Israelis or Palestinians, which international rights groups say is part of an apartheid system, allegations Israel rejects. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three for their future state. A two-state solution is widely seen as the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict. ___ Jahjouh reported from Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled in Cairo and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) An elderly woman was violently stabbed to death on the morning of March 29 on Olu Street in Hilo, according to Big Island police. Police say that the 81-year-old woman was stabbed in her face and was found unresponsive in her driveway. Family of siblings killed in Manoa fire appeals for help after theft Authorities were later able to identify the suspect in the murder case as 30-year-old Keone Peter Tosie Brown, where he was arrested on a neighboring property. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You According to a witness at the scene, when Brown was done allegedly stabbing the woman, he turned his attention toward the witness and threatened her with a knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims identity is currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Police have this case classified as Murder in the Second Degree and Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree. Police ask any potential witnesses or those with any information to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr. at (808) 961-2383 or at duane.rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. ELKHART Elkhart Community Schools says an elementary teacher has resigned amid accusations that she abused a special education student. The alleged mistreatment by the Eastwood Elementary School teacher included putting the student in a headlock and force feeding him as well as punishing him by taking away a communications device that he relies on. The accusations were raised by his mother, who is represented by central Indiana attorneys who have filed court actions against several Indianapolis-area districts on behalf of parents in recent years. The mother said she learned of the alleged abuse when she was contacted by the Department of Child Services, which is conducting an investigation. Another school staff member then shared with her the details of how the teacher was verbally and physically abusive to her son and other children on a near-daily basis, according to attorneys Catherine Michael and Tammy Meyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elkhart Schools said in a statement Thursday that Eastwood Elementary School Principal Brandon Cavanaugh learned of the allegation involving a teacher on March 7. In accordance with district policy and state law, he promptly reported the matter to Child Protective Services and informed district-level administrators, the statement reads. Following established district protocols, the teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave, and ECS began an internal investigation in coordination with the Department of Child Services. The teacher has since resigned and is no longer employed by Elkhart Schools, according to the district. The internal investigation continues, and the district says it will take action that follows the law and board policies after it concludes. We understand that situations like these are deeply concerning. Please know that we are committed to handling this matter with the utmost care and diligence, the statement reads. While we are unable to provide further details at this time due to the ongoing investigation and the confidentiality of student and personnel matters, we remain steadfast in our responsibility to our students and community. Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for all students at ECS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school was alerted to the teachers abusive behavior as early as December, according to attorneys representing the students mother. They allege that multiple staff members raised concerns about the teacher but the district took no action until outside authorities became involved After the DCS informed the school it was investigating on March 7, the principal tried to catch the teacher in the act but failed, according to Michael and Meyer. The mother says she was stonewalled when she confronted the school with the allegations. She was met with evasive responses and later learned that the principal had withheld crucial information from her, according to the law firm. A formal lawsuit has not yet been filed. 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? In what feels like another life, Donald Trump ran for presidential election on the promise of "draining the swamp," in a direct appeal to the masses of workers and the poor of the US who knew something wasn't quite right with the status quo. It worked, sparking a nationwide movement backing a man whose immense fortune had been built on union busting, labor exploitation, and government handouts from the poor to the rich in short, on the backs of the very workers he swore to protect. Now that Trump is the status quo, those voters are learning once again what a shrewd business man he is. Case in point, his chief lackey Elon Musk is in charge of gutting the federal government and its various social safety programs and it sounds like he's looking to hand off the gig to the totally stable hands of artificial intelligence. New reporting by Wired has revealed that Musk's DOGE is putting together a team to totally redo the Social Security Administration's computer systems from COBOL, an old but trustworthy code language undergirding the entire Social Security program. Experts say the process is a major undertaking with some huge risks, which probably explains why it hasn't been done yet a 2014 report by the SSA noted that the system contains some 60 million lines of code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan is headed by Steve Davis, one of Musk's faithful enforcers, and will apparently encompass migrating the entire system onto a more modern contemporary language within a matter of months. With that timeframe, the venture is likely to rely on generative AI, a source told Wired a horrifying prospect given that even the most advanced AI models still struggle to solve the majority of programming tasks. Add to that a team of inexperienced tech bros, and the SSA system responsible for over 65 million payments is poised for disaster. "DOGE thinks if they can say they got rid of all the COBOL in months, then their way is the right way and we all just suck for not breaking shit," an SSA source told Wired. It's not just the government that still runs on COBOL. A 2017 Reuters study on the coding language found that COBOL is a major pillar of the US financial industry, making up 43 percent of banking systems. At the time, some 95 percent of ATM transactions depended on COBOL, and software experts still note that 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies actively use it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If COBOL is so ubiquitous, then why the sudden rush to scrap it all and start fresh when it comes to social security? On the surface, this definitely falls on Musk's "work fast, break things" ethos, paired with Trump's beloved austerity policies. Indeed, the private equity buzzards are already circling over the SSA. That said, DOGE didn't come up with the idea to gut social spending that's a time-honored tradition of capitalism's elites and it certainly isn't the first administration to chip away at Social Security. What is new is the callous disregard with which this administration is treating the most vulnerable in America, in what basically amounts to a PR campaign for DOGE. An AI-enabled SSA crash might not mean much to the richest man in the history of the world, but the millions of people relying on the already flailing system to dispense retirement funds, disability, and Medicare benefits don't share his luxury. As Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressley pined: "The cruelty is the point." More on DOGE: One of Elon Musk's DOGE Kids Reportedly Helped a Cybercrime Ring EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) Businesses impacted by the East Palestine Train Derailment over two years ago can still apply for loans through state funding. The East Palestine Emergency Support Program was created to provide loans to businesses impacted by the February 2023 train derailment. Loans can be used to assist with ongoing expenses and recovery efforts. In total, $5 million was made available through the program. For-profit and non-profit businesses located within a two-mile radius of East Palestine that were operational on or before Dec. 1, 2022, are eligible to apply. The loans are 0% interest and range from $10,000 to $1 million. The loans are forgivable if utilized for payroll, employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, utility expenses, worker protection, or inventory replacement expenses related to the train derailment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of last May, 26 businesses have received support totaling more than $4 million through the program. Eligible businesses can apply through the online application. Jon Rudder contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Mar. 30Would look at physical toll to first responders At Tuesday's Lawrence County Commissioners meeting, they got a proposal from a pre-med student to have the county's EMTs participate in a study about the effects of their job on their body. Lawrence County EMS Executive Director of Operations David Hahn, said one of his employees, who is in her final year in the pre-med program at Marshall University, came to him with the idea of doing the study with her professor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study would "look at the physical toll this job takes on the body. If approved, they would bring a mobile MRI on some of the employees who have signed an agreement to allow them to do that," he said. The study would then be compiled and submitted to the state governments of Ohio and West Virginia. Hahn said he wanted to run the idea before the commissioners before agreeing to it. Commissioner Colton Copley asked if the study would only involve Lawrence County EMTs or whether it would include Cabell County EMTs. Hahn said at this time, it would only be Lawrence County but it may be expanded to other EMTs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no financial responsibility to the county for the study. Copley said they would run it by Brigham Anderson, the county's legal counsel, to see if there were any legal issues for the county. "In theory, I think it sounds like a great opportunity for her and for us to further the knowledge of how to improve EMS," Copley said. "It's exciting. Hopefully, we can help with the project after we talk to Brigham." In other actions, the commissioners took the following actions on agenda items: Approved floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District for a renewal of a permit for Danny Holschuh, filling and grading project located at 2131 County Road 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approved appropriations and transfers dated March 25, 2025, under $75,000, submitted by Dylan Bentley, acting administrator. Received and filed the Certificate of County Auditor that the total appropriations from each fund do not exceed the Official estimate of Resources. Approved and signed the DJFS IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Common Pleas Court in the amount of $127,674.15, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. Approved and signed the DJFS IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Clerk of Courts in the amount of $19,326.94, term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approved and signed the IV-D Contract Security Addendum for the Department of Job and Family Services. Approved and signed the DJFs IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Juvenile Court in the amount of $140,694.02, term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025. Approved Danny Larsen from part-time EMT to full-time EMT effective March 26, 2025. Approved the first and final change order for PID 117369 TR101.40 Bridge Replacement, submitted by Patrick Leighty, County Engineer. Approved the Preliminary Resolution and advertise to publish for public viewing and public hearing for Private Road 3467. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approved the appointment of James Hayes to the Lawrence County Regional Planning Commission beginning April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2025. Received and filed the 2024 Annual Storm Water Report submitted by Kim Carrico, Urban Education Specialist, Soil and Water Conservation District. Approved and signed the CCAO Worker's Compensation Plan agreement. The commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in the commissioners' chamber on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday urged the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disband, one month after the jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan called on the organization to disarm. "Our time and patience aren't endless," Erdogan said in a message to mark the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr festival that heralds the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. "We expect that the organization disbands without further delay and fully lays down its arms," the Turkish president said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island off Istanbul since 1999, issued a call on February 27 for PKK fighters to disarm following decades of bloody conflict with the Turkish state. However, the PKK has set conditions, including Ocalan's release. Ankara has so far rejected the demands, including the ceasefire unilaterally announced by the group. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States, has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since the early 1980s. Tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict. Ocalan's appeal had sparked hope among many Turks for an end to the years of fighting as well as a boost for democracy, but those hopes have largely been shattered following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considered a key rival to Erdogan, Imamoglu of the opposition secular Republican People's Party (CHP) has been accused of supporting the PKK, among other charges. His detention on March 19 sparked nationwide protests, plunging Turkey into the worst political crisis in many years. The Kurdish vote played a central role in Imamoglu's election victories in Istanbul. Imamoglu is the latest Turkish opposition mayor to have been suspended after numerous Kurdish politicians in the south-east of the country were replaced by government-appointed administrators over terrorism accusations. Many in Europe are sceptical about the likelihood of achieving a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine in the near future. Source: The Washington Post, citing an unnamed European official, as reported by European Pravda Details: The publication states that European officials accuse Russian leader Vladimir Putin of delaying a ceasefire in order to extract concessions and drive a deeper wedge between Europe and the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe controls the sanctions Russia wants lifted, including exclusion from the Belgium-based SWIFT international payment system. However, European leaders remain firm. As one official said, if the Kremlin wants to talk sanctions, "everyone will have to talk to us". At the same time, diplomats fear that Europe could be accused of obstructing peace talks due to its tough stance. This may put Europe and the US on a collision course, especially as they are already in conflict over trade and defence. European leaders have now turned to one of Trumps favourite phrases "peace through strength". French President Emmanuel Macron said on 27 March that this does not mean "starting by lifting sanctions". He stated that Europe would continue to "convey our vision" in dialogue with the United States and that "we must be able to defend our interests". Still, many in Europe doubt a long-term ceasefire will be achieved any time soon, an unnamed European official said. Some diplomats described European plans including the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as an exercise in preparation and leverage-building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European officials acknowledge that easing sanctions will eventually be part of negotiations, though in their view, a temporary ceasefire must come first. Only then can talks return to issues like sanctions. Background: Following talks in Saudi Arabia on 2325 March, the US, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ban on strikes against energy facilities but this agreement has not been upheld in practice. Russia continues to attack Ukraines energy infrastructure. President Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine will prepare evidence of Russia violating the energy ceasefire and submit it to the United States, expecting a proper response. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Extreme weather events continue to impact food production around the world, leading to rising grocery costs. As greenhouse gas pollution contributes to a changing climate, intensifying natural disasters impact the yield of staple crops. What's happening? Dirty energy usage contributes to global warming, which has disrupted agricultural production in recent years. Crops such as cocoa and coffee have had smaller yields as above-average rainfall and higher temperatures have impacted annual harvests. Supply chain management consulting group Inverto published research stating that cocoa prices increased by 163% and coffee prices increased by 103% in the last 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increased cocoa costs have forced chocolatiers to adapt their recipes to keep costs low for customers. Still, many manufacturers are struggling to adjust and believe chocolate is trending toward being a "premium" product. Why are crop yields important? Rising prices of crops have been detrimental to our food supply, which has a ripple effect on your grocery trip. "Food commodity prices are set to remain volatile over the coming year," Inverto said in its report. Fluctuations in harvests can increase the total cost of your shopping list. These changes also impact what you see on shelves. In addition to cocoa and coffee, shoppers have noticed that products such as olive oil, sugar, and strawberries have become scarce or expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High costs can lead to food insecurity, which has become more prevalent in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic. What's being done about crop yields? Experts are advising food manufacturers to take precautions to mitigate increasing production costs. Inverto said these companies can enter forward contracts with farmers to lock in prices for future crop purchases in order to stabilize costs for consumers. "Companies should also undertake more contingency planning that will allow them to more quickly swap one food commodity for another," said Katharina Erfort, principal at Inverto. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Some farmers are also adjusting their crops to ones that are more amenable to changing weather conditions in their regions. Meanwhile, scientists are developing technology to make certain crops more resilient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With chocolate in particular, retailers such as Aldi have invested in more sustainable and ethical cocoa supply chains. Meanwhile, consumers can plan out their grocery trips in advance to ensure they reduce waste and spend their budgets efficiently. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Conflict in Sudan is affecting worldwide supplies of an ingredient found in a surprising range of products: gum arabic, Reuters reported. What's happening? Gum arabic, harvested from acacia trees, is used to mix, thicken, and stabilize ingredients. It's found in pet food, lipstick, and everyday foods including M&M's and Coca-Cola. About 80% of the global supply of gum arabic is produced in Sudan. For almost two years, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces has been at war with the Sudanese army. Late last year, it took control of Kordofan and Darfur, the main regions where gum arabic is produced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RSF claims to be protecting the gum arabic trade, Reuters revealed. However, at least some traders have fled the country or had their products seized. Gum arabic is turning up for sale in markets outside Sudan without the certifications that would ensure its conflict-free origins and at much cheaper prices than usual. It appears that this gum arabic has been smuggled out of the country, likely with RSF cooperation and with the RSF charging for the privilege. "Today, the gum in Sudan, I would say all of it is smuggled, because there's no real authority in the country," Herve Canevet, global marketing specialist at ingredient supplier Eco Agri, told Reuters. Why is gum arabic smuggling important? As with many other ingredients, companies have made efforts in recent years to ensure their gum arabic is conflict-free, meaning it doesn't help fund violence in areas of war. Many buyers have ethical concerns about their money being used in these conflicts. If a country that is the source of this vital ingredient is at war, it can impact the ability of Coca-Cola and others to manufacture their products as usual unless they accept smuggled ingredients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More broadly, this issue highlights an ongoing problem with global supply chains. When the world needs a material that comes from a small number of places such as gum arabic or lithium that supply is at risk from all kinds of events, including wars, disasters, and the rising global temperature. The effects can be far-reaching and dramatic. What's being done about the gum arabic supply? Some companies, such as Nexira, are taking steps to get their gum arabic from sources outside Sudan, Reuters reported. In the long term, other countries could expand their production. Meanwhile, savvy buyers can choose to support conflict-free products. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) President Donald Trump has made lots of headlines for his continued interest in annexing more territory, including Greenland. The president says its a matter of international security. Skeptics believe it has more to do with mineral rights. Regardless, the Danish territory of Greenland isnt for sale and despite Trumps claims, surveys show the vast majority of Greenlanders dont want to join the United States. The president isnt the first American to show an infatuation with the island. A University of Michigan researcher focused his studies on the frigid land, leading multiple expeditions across the Arctic Ocean and naming landmarks after his Ann Arbor contemporaries. His research eventually laid the groundwork for some of the climate studies being done today. An undated photo of University of Michigan professor William Hobbs. (Courtesy Bentley Historical Library) ACROSS THE ARCTIC William Herbert Hobbs worked as a geology professor at the University of Michigan for nearly 30 years. His work, studying how mountains and glaciers were formed, took him all across the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the CMU logo found its way into the Smithsonian Even as he aged, his spirit of adventure never waned. Hobbs turned 60 in 1924, but instead of focusing on retirement, he set his sights on Greenland. His purpose was to study the connections between polar glaciers, the weather and the land masses beneath the ice, historian James Tobin wrote for Michigan Today, a university blog. In 1926, shortly before his 62nd birthday, Hobbs led his team of six to the desolate island. The team comprised of Hobbs, another U-M geologist named Ralph Belknap, two meteorologists, a surveyor and a radio man. After making their way to Nova Scotia, Canada, the team sailed on a fishing schooner, traversing around several icebergs and patches of fog to land on Greenlands southwest coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latest trial of University of Michigans tumor destroyer exceeds goals Hobbs ended up taking three trips in all each summer in 1926, 1927 and 1928 and guided a fourth trip by radio in 1930. In addition to several film recordings, he took meticulous notes of his expeditions. They were eventually repurposed into a book called Exploring About the North Pole of the Winds. According to Tobin, one of Hobbs first goals was to leave a lasting imprint on the island. University of Michigan professor William Hobbs, center, and two other researchers prepare to fly a weather balloon during their 1926 expedition to Greenland. (Courtesy Bentley Historical Library) Researchers monitor a weather balloon on the 1926 expedition to Greenland. (Courtesy Bentley Historical Library) University of Michigan professor Williams Hobbs is shown resting on top of a glacier during his 1926 expedition to Greenland. (Courtesy Bentley Historical Library) The little group had barely set down their gear when Hobbs set off on a spree with a map and a pencil, planting Michigan-connected names on practically any feature of the landscape that caught his eye, Tobin wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giant lava flow hiding in plain sight in Michigan The teams base cam was named Camp Little, after the universitys then-president, Clarence Cook Little. The universitys five previous presidents each had mountains named after them. Other deans, U-M icons and important people tangentially connected to Hobbs were also honored. The names of his landmarks never stuck, but his work has. A glacier and a landmass in Greenland are both named after Hobbs and researchers continue to use his work as a basis for studies. FOLLOWING HOBBS Perry Samson, a professor of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan, has led two research expeditions to Greenland one in 2006 and another in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expeditions used both old and new tools, recreating some of Hobbs own experiments. They also got to analyze the conditions in Greenland with a broader understanding of climate science and the human impact on global warming. A rising threat: Climate change exacerbates challenges for Great Lakes piping plover Greenland has become a key focal point for climate scientists. Samson highlighted the island in The New North Pole of the Winds, a 2020 documentary about his 2019 trip. He explained that the overall temperature of the earth is rising, but some areas are hit harder than others. Global temperatures are rising. Few would debate that. As it happens, as global temperatures rise, its not rising equally everywhere, Samson said. The Arctic temperatures are rising faster than outside the Arctic, and Greenland is sort of the canary in the cage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to field work on the island, NASA uses an array of satellites to keep a close eye on the shrinking ice shelf. That data shows that since 2002, Greenland has lost an average of 268 gigatons of ice per year. Its a giant number, but the impact looms larger in perspective. A gigaton is one billion metric tons. One gigaton of ice would fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. So over the course of 22 years, on average, Greenland lost enough ice to fill 107.2 million Olympic-sized pools each year. Thats 2.36 billion pools in all. A group of tourists hike near the town of Ilulissat, Greenland against a backdrop of huge icebergs. (Getty Images) The Earth is a big place and our oceans hold a lot of water. It takes approximately 361 gigatons of melted ice to raise global sea levels by a single millimeter. That may not sound like much, but Greenland also holds a lot of ice, and archaeological discoveries have found that the island has lost most of its ice before when the Earth was at the same temperatures it is approaching now. A study published by international researchers in 2023 called their latest findings frightening. They found that, unlike previous assumptions that Greenlands ice sheet has been frozen for millions of years, there was a time when a majority of the island was ice-free about 400,000 years ago. If all of the ice on Greenland was to melt down now, it would raise global sea levels by approximately 23 feet, affecting billions of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its already happening: MSU researcher says climate change will trigger unprecedented droughts Laura Paddison wrote for CNN that Earth has even more factors working against it now. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are 1.5 times higher now than they were 400,000 years ago and global temperatures keep climbing, Paddison wrote. Paul Bierman, a researcher at the University of Vermont who was the lead author on the 2023 study, told CNN that geologists dont usually get very upset about what we find, but this is really upsetting. Said Bierman: Were dooming the Greenland ice sheet, and a lot of that sea level rise is going to come quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just like the ice shelf, the opportunity to follow Hobbs footsteps is shrinking. Only time will tell whether the world can do enough to reverse carbon pollution and save Greenlands ice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. If you rely on street parking to visit the Minnesota State Fair, expect to start paying $25 a day for it in the near future. Melissa Turtinen Though street parking during the Great Minnesota Get-Together has long been free in Falcon Heights, a plan to start charging daily parking fees is now moving forward in the city council. At a hearing last Wednesday, council members approved two motions: one to change city ordinances to allow for electronic parking meters, and another that allows the city to negotiate a contract with ParkMobile, a pay-to-park app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per MPR News, a city task force aimed at exploring the issue told the council that the high traffic generated by the fair causes "wear and tear" on city infrastructure and strains public resources. The expenses come in the form of everything from extra police and staff hours to additional porta-potties, and the city gets the bill without adequate compensation from the fair, one task force member argued. The proposal would bring up to $200,000 in revenue for the city annually, the task force says. However, according to FOX 9, the plan is seeing its share of local pushback, with residents describing it as "greedy" and "unwelcoming" during last week's "packed" hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The station notes that the proposal, which is still preliminary, calls for issuing parking passes for neighborhood residents. The council is set to meet again next week to continue exploring the plan. It's not yet clear when the new parking system would go into effect if approved. Loss of a family favorite course Id like to write in about the recent loss of a family favorite. As spring arrives, I thought about one of my familys favorite things to do together. Im talking about the amazing putting course at Canyon Lakes. My family has loved going there for many years because its so much fun and such a great value. The course is so beautiful with real grass fairways and rough along the edges with occasional sand traps thrown in. The course is covered with mature trees, wraps around a wonderful pond, filled with turtles and duck families. Its really a great place to make family memories. Unfortunately, I recently called the course to see if they were open and was told the sad news. The course is scheduled to be torn up so that a new building can be built next to the course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was heartbreaking, and my family and I are now mourning the loss of one of our favorite things to do in the Tri-Cities. Well miss you, Canyon Lakes Putting Course. Mike Bowen, West Richland Op-ed data dated, has been revised In the recent op-ed published by the Tri-Herald about Washingtons bag ban, the author argues that the U.S. contributes little to the ocean plastic pollution crisis, but this is far from the truth. The decade-old research cited has since been updated and found that the U.S. is the third-biggest contributor to ocean plastic pollution and number-one generator of plastic waste globally. When it comes to plastic bags specifically, Americans are estimated to use 100 billion plastic grocery bags each year, and plastic bags are also one of the most commonly found items polluting beaches and waterways worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, numerous studies have found that plastic pollution is highly deadly to marine life even a single piece of plastic swallowed has been shown to kill a seabird, and baby sea turtles have died from swallowing less than half a sugar cube worth of plastic. Bans are proven to be effective in reducing plastic bag pollution. So while theres no silver bullet to the plastic pollution crisis, we know that when it comes to plastic bags, bans are the right solution. Anja Brandon, Ocean Conservancy, Portland Farmers likely will need handouts Remember in 2021 when Dan Newhouse, our Fourth District congressman, was one of the few Rs to vote for the impeachment of President Trump after Jan. 6? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He endured the wrath of the MAGAs until he was re-elected with the help of a lot of Ds. Well, his moment of clarity passed shortly after the election when he again dived headfirst into the fevered swamp that encompasses all MAGAs. I guess he is hoping the memories of Rs fade with time. Now that farmers and ranchers across the U.S. struggle with the loss of customers for their product under Trump tariffs, many probably are destined to go bankrupt. That is, unless they receive massive bailouts (again), taking the government handouts they so righteously criticize when provided to the truly needy. The MAGA cognitive dissonance must be overwhelming. Don Merhar, West Richland Abuse awareness event set May 8 April is Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to spread the word on how abuse impacts our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, there were 271 interviews related to suspected child abuse through the Kids Haven program, a collaboration between The Support, Advocacy and Resource Center (SARC) and local city/county governments to support children who have allegedly been physically and/or sexually abused. There are several ways to get involved and show your support. Start by simply talking about child abuse. Shedding light on this issue can help others recognize the signs and protect the children around them. If you suspect a child is being abused, report it! Reporting doesnt imply that abuse has been proved, but it raises concern about a childs well-being. You can participate by attending community awareness events happening throughout April. SARC will be hosting The Clothesline Project and The Little Hearts Project, which will be displayed in libraries across Benton and Franklin counties. You can also attend SARCs Community Education Night on May 8 at Amistad Elementary. This event offers valuable information for parents, along with presentations for children of all ages. We encourage everyone to attend! For more information, call SARC at 509-374-5391. Katie Sheets, Richland LIGO observes 10th anniversary I want to thank readers as LIGO celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first direct detection of the ripples in the fabric of space and time, launched by the merger of two black holes more than a billion years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your support for science enabled the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund more than a half century of research that led to the birth of gravitational-wave astronomy 10 years ago. On average, each American chipped in 10 cents per year to achieve this capability. Over more than 50 years, that grew to more than $5 per person. I know that you work hard for your money, and I want you to know that we at LIGO also work hard, not only on technical problems but also to be good stewards of the tax dollars we receive on your behalf. You can learn more about what your contributions have achieved by visiting us at LIGO for one of our Second Saturday tours. (Our 300th black hole merger might even be detected while you are in our control room!) You have already paid the price of admission and I hope that you will continue to support science. Fred Raab, Richland A convention may help Democrats Democrats lack the leadership needed to form a unified, moderate party that will exercise common sense in lieu of emotions to determine a path for victories over GOP autocrats in the upcoming 2026 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will continue to circle with one foot nailed to the floor until they organize a national convention wherein members are faced with listening to the sophomoric, egotistical diatribe that may be interspersed by a few worthwhile opinions. Then, they can decide to vote for the person who will best lead the party in what they have collectively decided is the only worthwhile path forward. They must elect a moderate who understands root-cause analysis and a commonsense approach to convincing our general population that Democrats can return us to normalcy and democracy. They need a leader who can steer the party to success in 2026, thus regaining some control in Congress and enhance a return to adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law. Jim Tow, Cdr, USN (Ret), Richland Newhouse must explain his actions Whether a Dan Newhouse town hall to hear constituent concerns was the TCHs wording in a recent article titled Newhouse Defends Federal Cuts, or just the wording Newhouse staffers used, the wording is problematic. Newhouse does NOT need to hear constituent concerns. Hes heard them daily for two months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People call and write constantly, but Newhouse staff dont even take our contact information. There are no replies, not even the form letters his office has used for 10 years. Dan knows full well that our concerns are that a group of lawless billionaires is dismantling the institutions of our country and ripping our friends, neighbors, and family members livelihoods away in order to again turn our tax dollars into tax cuts for those same billionaires. Instead, Newhouse needs to tell us how hell stop this chaos and restore the rights and resources his party is stealing from his constituents. Cant wait to hear him explain how the jobs of people I know personally were waste and fraud, because we all know they werent. Super cant wait to hear Dan tell us hell trade Musk the Newhouse family federal ag subsidies and his local property tax abatements for our frozen firefighting dollars. Rochelle Riling, Okanogan Extreme weather conditions continue to negatively impact annual harvests around the United States. In the Pacific Northwest, a record-setting deep freeze has decimated pear crops, and according to farmers, it will soon be evident on store shelves. What's happening? Washington and Oregon produce around 87% of the nation's pears. Of course, the number that 87% amounts to varies each year. This year, it has dropped drastically. The estimated 10.6 million boxes of pears produced in the Pacific Northwest this year represents a 31% decline from the industry's five-year average. This is largely due to freeze damage in the northern growing region, an unsettling result of increasingly unpredictable weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are still pears to be consumed, frost damage has left many with a brown ring, or russet. That may not sound like a huge deal, but according to experts, it can impact pear sales significantly. "If it was not going to look attractive in the store, [the fruit] would either not sell at all, or sell at such a discount that growers couldn't pay to harvest it," Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, said. Why is the decline in pear crops important? This precipitous drop in pear crops is no isolated incident. Farmers around the world are struggling to adapt to our changing environment, and our food supply is at risk. This can mean less produce on shelves, higher prices on the produce that remains, and the loss of beloved items created with that produce. For example, winemakers in Europe are being forced to migrate north or lose their product altogether. What's being done about struggling crops? While this news is alarming, plenty of people are taking action to address the issues farmers are facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers recently made a breakthrough that may help crops become more resilient to extreme weather conditions. They're doing this by editing drought-resisting genes found in pears into other vital crops. Another recent agricultural breakthrough involves vertical farming. It's believed that these new methods can significantly improve the efficiency of vertical farming and increase food production. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. In a significant legal blow to the Trump administrations immigration agenda, a federal judge has slammed the brakes on a controversial deportation policy that allowed the deportation of migrants to countries where they had no prior connection without first giving them a chance to challenge their removal in court. The ruling, part of the case D.V.D., et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al., halts a practice that critics say endangers migrants by sending them to nations where they may face persecution or violence. The ruling extends beyond the named plaintiffs, providing protection to thousands of migrants facing similar risks of abrupt removal. Ruling from Boston, U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy on Friday issued a nationwide temporary restraining order on Friday, citing serious concerns over due process violations and potential breaches of international law under the Convention Against Torture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judges decision prevents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting individuals subject to final removal orders to third countries ones not designated in their original immigration proceedings unless they are first given written notice and the opportunity to seek legal protection. The restraining order will remain in effect until an April 10 hearing, in which the court will determine whether to impose a longer-term injunction against the policy. Just hours after the decision, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal, arguing that the ruling undermines executive authority over immigration enforcement. The Trump administrations aggressive immigration strategy has led to a significant increase in deportations of migrants to third countries, primarily within Latin America and the Caribbean. Key partners include Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama, and El Salvador. While the practice aims to improve the management of migration flows and alleviate pressure on U.S. detention centers, it has ignited a firestorm of controversy due to apprehensions about the safety and legal rights of those deported. Deported migrants often find themselves trapped in a cycle of violence, exploitation and legal limbo in these third countries, human rights advocates say, arguing that these deportations not only run counter to international laws but also endanger vulnerable individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding fuel to the fire is the Trump administrations use of a mega prison in El Salvador, which has become a destination for hundreds of Venezuelan migrants accused of being members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. The controversial policy has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts alike. The administrations policy, introduced in February, directed ICE officers to review the cases of migrants previously released from detention and initiate their removal to alternative countrieseven if those individuals had complied with all conditions of their release. The case is the latest in a series of legal battles over Trumps aggressive immigration policies. Critics argue that forcibly sending migrants to unfamiliar countrieswithout considering the risks they may faceviolates U.S. asylum laws and international treaties. Trina Realmuto, an attorney with the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, welcomed the ruling as a critical safeguard against arbitrary removals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were relieved the judge saw the urgency of this situation, both for our named plaintiffs and the thousands of individuals facing similar deportation risks, she told Reuters. Murphys ruling is one of several judicial roadblocks to the administrations sweeping immigration policies. In another high-profile case, Washington, D.C. District Judge James Boasberg recently extended a freeze on the deportation of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliation, citing concerns over the administrations use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. That case is now headed for a Supreme Court showdown, as the Trump administration argues for broad executive power to enforce deportations under national security justifications. With multiple courts weighing in, legal experts say the Supreme Courts eventual ruling could reshape the limits of executive authority over immigration enforcement for years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security has not yet publicly responded to the ruling. There are several legal proceedings in federal court affecting immigrants in the U.S. and potential deportations: April 8: Hearing on possible extension of the Washington, D.C. courts ruling on Venezuelan deportations. April 10: Hearing on whether Judge Murphys temporary restraining order will be converted into a longer-lasting preliminary injunction. Supreme Court review pending: The Trump administrations emergency request to reinstate deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. Miami Herald wire services were used to complement this story. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) Crews responded to a structure fire in Panama City Beach on Saturday evening. According to Panama City Beach fire officials, the fire happened at 17118 Front Beach Road, the former Lynns Buffet. Protesters demand release and relocation of Gulf World Marine Park animals Crews were met with smoke and fire showing from the rear of the building. Several handlines were deployed to extinguish the fire while a search was conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire officials confirmed there were no injuries. However, the building was significantly damaged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trumps response to the Signal text leak was deplorable and outrageous. Failure to hold those responsible for using Signal, minimizing the consequences and attacking The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg is unacceptable leadership. What happened to Youre Fired from the Apprentice? Have we forgot President Harry Trumans leadership principle, The buck stops here? The leak was not likely an error, mistake or act of omission. Most likely the leak resulted from acts of commission. Someone probably decided not to verify the identity of individuals on the thread. Moreover, someone used Signal instead of communications lines for high government officials. Could using Signal have been intentional? Was Signal used to go around the normal procedures where emails, chats and other communications are automatically recorded and archived? We deserve a thorough investigation and those responsible should be terminated and perhaps prosecuted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Lipton, Raleigh USDA cuts United States Department of Agriculture cuts are bad for North Carolina, farmers and school kids. First, N.C. is a big agricultural state. When one of its best customers reduces their usual order, we lose money. Second, farmers and producers typically have epic years which create a surplus supply. Naturally, commodity prices drop, which can lead to bankruptcy. If Russia refuses to pay for chicken leg quarters, the USDA pays good, but not market prices, and buys the oversupply. That stabilizes prices, so farmers stay in business, school lunch purchases pay lower prices and children eat healthy, locally produced food. Once tariffs begin, market volatility is predicted. So why take away market stabilization devices like USDA purchasing? Unless the state economy, farmers survival and child hunger mean nothing to the current administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chrystal Bartlett, Raleigh Medicaid One in four North Carolina residents get health care through Medicaid. Yet, Congress is considering cuts to this vital program. People in nursing homes, those with disabilities, children will be affected. Rural hospitals will reduce care. As a person of faith, I am deeply troubled. Our Congress members have said little about these cuts. Why? Dont turn your back on citizens who need support. Dont cut Medicaid! Ann Ringland, Durham New bill I am disappointed that state senators Vickie Sawyer and Brad Overcash, primary sponsors of SB 516, the Womens Safety and Protection Act, are once again hiding behind womens safety to advance a discriminatory agenda towards the transgender community a community of people whose contributions enrich our state in every sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the senators really want to advocate for womens safety, they should consider bills that give women the right to make decisions about their own bodies. They should write bills that protect women against abusive partners and restrict access to guns, often used to kill women, instead of enacting laws to protect abusers. Write bills that protect women when pregnancies threatens their lives. Write bills that fund quality daycare. The bathroom bill 2.0 is another so-called solution in search of a problem that doesnt exist, which will cause as much economic damage to this state as the first bathroom bill. Rev. Dr. Nancy Petty, Raleigh Tariffs, Tillis Senator Thom Tillis knows that because of President Trumps tariffs imported cars will soon cost 25% more. That will boost sales of domestic cars, but how many cars are made in this country? How many cars are made from parts made in this country? Americans will pay more for cars and will avoid buying them, allowing the coming Trump-created recession to accelerate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That the president would create such problems in a world beset with problems seems beyond comprehension. The only explanation is he has no understanding of what he is doing or concern for the outcome. The one thing Tillis has in common with Trump is political party. When this is over, what does Tillis want history to say about that party and his role in it? Debra Ann Burdick, Durham Education Every student deserves opportunity, resources and support to reach their potential no matter where they live, their race or how much their family earns. Public schools and the Department of Education exist because students, with and without disabilities, have the right to an education that imparts lessons, life skills and a love of learning. Cynthia Lodestro, Chapel Hill A Colorado Springs woman is facing attempted murder and arson charges after allegedly setting multiple fires in a home while her disabled boyfriend was inside, according to an online police report. Just before 6 p.m., Friday. the Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 630 Concerto Drive, in the Broadmoor Bluffs neighborhood. The fires were quickly extinguished; firefighters reported one person was transported to the hospital with burn injuries. Only cosmetic damage was reported inside the home. The Colorado Springs Police Department also responded to a call at the address, with a reporting party indicating that a woman with a large knife was possibly starting fires in the home while her disabled boyfriend was inside. Police say the suspect, later identified as Lisa Steele, was taken into custody and is facing attempted murder and arson charges. As of Saturday morning, Steele remains in El Paso County jail on a mental health hold, according to public records. FORT ATKINSON, Wis. (WFRV) Firefighters were called to a southern Wisconsin airport on Tuesday after high winds caused a plane to veer off the runway. According to a release from the City of Fort Atkinson, first responders with the local fire department were called to a reported aircraft incident at the Fort Atkinson Municipal Airport on Highway K around 5 p.m. on March 25. When crews with the Fort Atkinson Fire Department arrived, they saw a single-engine private aircraft off the runway at the south end of the airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire on Appletons Superior Street brought under control, $75K in damages An investigation determined that while the plane was attempting to land, wind conditions caused the aircraft, a Cirrus SR20, to veer off the runway into a grass area west of the landing strip. The plane was able to stay upright and sustained only minor damage to the front tire cover. The pilot was uninjured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. House Speaker Daniel Perez said Wednesday he wants to lower the states sales-tax rate, trimming revenue by almost $5 billion a year. Perez, R-Miami, told House members he has directed Ways & Means Chairman Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, to produce a bill next week that would lower the rate from 6 percent to 5.25 percent. This will not be a temporary measure; a stunt or a tax holiday. This will be a permanent, recurring tax reduction, Perez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking their powerful positions in November, Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, have warned lawmakers about a need to slow spending. At least in part, that is because federal money that flooded into the state during the COVID-19 pandemic has dried up. Perez said the sales-tax proposal is tied to efforts to reduce state agency spending. We cannot spend our way out of a spending problem. We must remove the temptation to spend, Perez said. House and Senate budget panels this week have released initial spending proposals for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which will start July 1. The House and Senate ultimately will have to negotiate a final budget in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albritton spokesman Katie Betta said in an email Wednesday that the two leaders have shared views on the budget, including concerns about spending on recurring programs, and that the president looks forward to reviewing the House proposal. The Senate budget prioritizes broad-based tax relief, debt repayment and reserves, while reducing per-capita spending, Betta said. The president has tremendous respect for the speaker and looks forward to partnering with the House on a significant, broad-based tax relief package to make sure Florida families can keep more of the money they earn. Without a state income tax, Florida relies heavily on sales taxes to fund programs such as schools, health care and prisons. While the state has a 6 percent rate, many counties have higher rates through what is known as a discretionary sales tax. Perezs comments Wednesday came after Gov. Ron DeSantis and many lawmakers have called during this years legislative session for reducing or possibly even eliminating property taxes. Critics of such property-tax ideas have said they could force increasing sales taxes to make up the lost revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a budget proposal released Feb. 3, DeSantis called for $2.2 billion in tax cuts that mostly would come through the elimination over two years of a tax that businesses pay on commercial leases, a move long sought by business groups. Hes also called for a return of sales tax holidays on school supplies, recreational items, hurricane supplies, and for ammunition and firearms. As part of budget negotiations, the House and Senate are expected to reach a deal on a tax-cut package. Perez gave a brief overview Wednesday of the House budget proposal, which he said will be lower than the $116.5 billion budget in the current fiscal year and DeSantis proposed $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. For the first time since the Great Recession, we will roll out a budget that actually spends less money than we did in the prior fiscal year, Perez said. Of course, the special interests will say the sky is falling and the world is ending. But it wont, and its not. They have lost sight of the difference between our states needs and their wants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Perez announced his sales-tax proposal, the House unanimously voted to override four of DeSantis budget vetoes from the current years spending plan. Those vetoes totaled $4.74 million. It was not immediately clear whether the Senate also will vote to override the vetoes. The four vetoed items were $140,000 for the Florida Senior Veterans in Crisis Fund; $2.5 million for a Rockledge water-treatment project; $1 million for an automated staffing, time management and scheduling system; and $1.104 million for a sewer and water project in Baldwin. Betta said Albritton is gathering input and will make a final decision regarding taking up the additional veto overrides when the bill returns from the House. During a special session in February, the House and Senate overrode a DeSantis veto of $57 million for legislative support services --- the first time the Legislature has overridden a DeSantis veto during his six years as governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After DeSantis vetoed the $57 million last year, the Legislature had to dip into reserves to avoid firing employees or shutting down operations. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Pointing to his obesity and other medical conditions, lawyers for Death Row inmate Michael Tanzi are trying to halt his scheduled April 8 execution by arguing that using the states lethal-injection procedure would violate the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Tanzis lawyers and the state Attorney Generals Office have filed a flurry of documents this week at the Florida Supreme Court, as justices consider whether the execution should proceed. In a brief filed Monday, Tanzis lawyers described him as a 48-year-old morbidly obese man who suffers from conditions such as sciatica, a nerve condition that affects his back. The brief argued that using the states three-drug lethal injection procedure on Tanzi could result in issues such as a sedation drug not fully taking effect and difficulties in placing intravenous lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The existing protocols for lethal injection do not contemplate the execution of someone with obesity and uncontrolled medical conditions, like Mr. Tanzis, that are likely to complicate the lethal injection process, the brief said. Executing Mr. Tanzi using the existing protocols is likely to cause serious illness and needless suffering. But in a brief filed Wednesday, the Attorney Generals Office said Tanzi had not shown that using lethal injection on him would violate the U.S. Constitutions Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The states brief also said Tanzi has long known of his general medical condition, heavy weight and asserted back issues and that the current lethal-injection procedure has been in place since 2017. There is no provision in Florida law that supports waiting until a death warrant is signed to litigate an Eighth Amendment lethal injection claim, the Attorney Generals Office argued. Tanzi fails to credibly or adequately explain how the facts on which his claim is based were unknown to him or his attorneys and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of due diligence. Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 10 signed a death warrant for Tanzi, who was convicted in the April 2000 murder of Janet Acosta. Court documents said Tanzi assaulted and kidnapped Acosta as she sat in her van during her lunch hour in Miami. Tanzi drove to the Florida Keys, strangled Acosta and disposed of her body in a secluded area, the documents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monroe County Circuit Judge Timothy Koenig last week issued a 12-page decision rejecting arguments by Tanzis lawyers seeking to halt the execution. The lawyers went to the Supreme Court, asking for a stay of execution and to return the case to circuit court for further proceedings. It is unclear when the Supreme Court will rule. Among the issues in the appeal is the states use of the drug etomidate as a sedative before other lethal-injection drugs are administered. Tanzis lawyers argued in this weeks brief that because of his body mass, the drug likely would not keep Mr. Tanzi in a deep state of sedation for the duration of his execution. The brief argued that there is a significant risk that Mr. Tanzi will be paralyzed but aware when another drug is administered, creating the sensation of being burned from the inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Attorney Generals Office, in the brief filed Wednesday, disputed those arguments. Tanzi fails to offer any support for his groundless assertion that the massive dose of etomidate, that has been repeatedly and successfully used in Floridas lethal injection protocol, will not work for him, the states brief said. Under Florida law, executions must be carried out by lethal injection or the electric chair. The state House and Senate have started moving forward with bills (SB 1604 and HB 903) that would allow a method not deemed unconstitutional which could authorize execution by firing squad or nitrogen gas. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Fontbonne, The Early College of Boston, a leading Catholic school for young women serving grades 7-12 celebrated its 70th anniversary with a gala on Saturday night. This year the school honored three distinguished alumnae for their accomplishments. The graduates recognized are Jean Hynes, a 1987 graduate who went on to become the first female to be named CEO of Boston-based asset management firm Wellington Management. Melissa Nelson, a 2006 graduate became the first Black woman to be named the Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Division at Massachusetts General Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2007 graduate Arielle Gaines, an educator at Match Community Day Charter School in Hyde Park, where she was recognized as a Teacher of the Year. The anniversary gala also featured a student speaker who highlighted the character and leadership skills students cultivate throughout their education at Fontbonne. 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 Kansas City Councilwoman Joanne Collins was the victim of a downtown robbery on Monday, police confirmed. Collins, 89, was the first Black woman elected to Kansas Citys City Council. She served as the 3rd District city council member. Police were called to the area of West 12th Street and Central Street, near the Kansas City Convention Center, around 4:30 p.m. Monday for a robbery, and officers found the victim, Collins, had been injured in the incident, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department. Joanne Collins Collins was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives are pursuing all leads and making headway at identifying a subject, he said. The investigation is ongoing. Collins became the first Black woman to be elected to City Council in 1974. She was re-elected to the seat four times before she stepped down in 1991. Collins also served in stints as the citys mayor pro tem and acting mayor. A former prime minister of Denmark said Sunday she is befuddled by President Donald Trump's attitude toward her country and its territory of Greenland, given Denmark's long alliance with the United States. Speaking on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," former Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said, "This whole talk about Denmark not being a good ally, that is simply not true. And it is a little bit insulting, to be honest, that we have stood side by side with America for decades." She added: "We have deployed with America. We have veterans that have been under U.S. command. And I was also thinking of them when the vice president said that we had not contributed because we have been with America, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Libya." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said that the United States needs to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, for national security reasons and has repeatedly said he would not rule out a military invasion to get it. On Friday, Vice President JD Vance scolded Denmark during a visit to Greenland, saying, "Denmark hasn't done a good job at keeping Greenland safe." In response to Vance's remarks, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Friday: "This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies." Greenland's new prime minister urged unity in response to "the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside. And Thorning-Schmidt said Sunday she was "taken aback" and "quite shocked" by Vance's remarks. Thorning-Schmidt was Denmark's prime minister from 2011 to 2015. In her discussion with Zakaria, she noted that the United States, as part of NATO, previously had a much greater military presence in Greenland than it does now. The United States also made use of unoccupied Greenland for military operations during World War II after Denmark was overrun by Nazi Germany in April 1940. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is nothing, she said, stopping the United States from ramping up its military presence in Greenland again without needing to take over the whole territory. "There is a treaty from 1951 where it is very clear that the Americans have huge access to Greenland," she said to Zakaria, noting that at one point during the height of the Cold War, there were 16 bases on Greenland. "Are we in such a new situation so we all have to scale up in Greenland? Denmark has just decided to invest massively in Greenland in security," Thorning-Schmidt said. "And the irony of all this is that the Americans could do exactly the same," she added. "Greenland is NATO territory. There's nothing stopping the Americans from getting more engaged militarily in Greenland, having more bases, if that's what they want. And I do think that both the Greenlandic people and, of course, the people in Denmark would support such a move. So the irony is that it's very little that the Americans can't have in Greenland right now without talking about taking over Greenland and all these other things." Sue Gordon, the former deputy director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration, said the risk of loss from the Signal group chat could have been profound. Gordon joined CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday, where she was asked to weigh in on top Trump administration officials using the app to coordinate its attack against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. There is nothing about the information that has to do with operations that is appropriate for this communications channel, Gordon began. None. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there are other communications channels that are available for this type of thing, and the risk of loss that comes with uncontrolled communication is profound, she continued. Gordon, like other officials, was sounding the alarm after it was revealed that agency heads added The Atlantics editor in chief to the Signal group chat. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally said no war plans were shared, but a second round of released screenshots showed he messaged about the attack location, time and weapons used. Democrats have called for an investigation into the matter and raised concern about the use of the app for official communication, particularly when there are other lines of more secure communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House defended the agency heads, and President Trump has claimed that it was not a big deal. Gordon said she believes it shouldnt have happened at all. I dont think we need to argue at any level whether it was appropriate for this to happen, she said. We can talk about how that happened, we can talk about what they could have done, and we can talk about what to do next, but on the top line, this isnt what you discuss in those channels. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Four people were transported to the hospital after a crash in Lakewood, according to a post on X from West Metro Fire. West Metro Fire said that all the people injured in the crash were in serious but stable condition. Hotels, Boulder residents react to Sundance move to Colorado One person had to be extricated from their vehicle. West Colfax Avenue is open again as of 6:10 p.m. after police investigated the crash, according to a post on X from the Lakewood Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the eastbound lanes of W. Colfax Avenue were closed at Ingalls Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. France has accused Donald Trump of interference after the White House demanded that European companies working with the US government drop diversity schemes. Companies in France and other EU countries have received letters in recent days warning that Mr Trumps executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes applied to companies outside the United States. The order bans companies with federal contracts from operating illegal DEI programmes. The letter from the US embassy in Paris says this applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurore Berge, Frances equality minister, called the letter a diktat, and said that French companies would not sign up to its demands. Ms Berge told French broadcaster BFMTV: The letter is a form, obviously, of interference. Thats to say its an attempt to impose a diktat on our businesses. She said that many companies do not intend to respond to what is a sort of ultimatum laid out by the US embassy in our country. Its out of the question that well prevent our businesses from promoting social progress, she added. Thankfully, a lot of French companies dont plan to change their rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Berge later tweeted: We have principles and laws and we intend that they be respected, despite what the US Embassy says. The US letter, which emerged on Friday, demands that companies return a form in five days confirming that they are complying with the order. Companies must confirm they are in compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, and that they do not operate any programmes promoting diversity, equity and inclusion that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws. UK companies are not believed to have received a similar letter. The US embassy in London did not respond to a request for comment on whether it planned to send similar letters to companies in the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, BP and GSK are all among the US Governments top 100 federal contractors, according to the General Services Administration. GSK said in February that it was dropping diversity activities in order to continue work for the US government. This weekend, it emerged that WPP, the London-based advertising giant, had dropped references to DEI from its latest annual report as Mr Trump campaigns against the policies. The omissions were first reported by the Sunday Times. UK branches of companies including McDonalds and Deloitte have kept DEI policies despite their US counterparts scrapping 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. A Georgia woman has learned her fate after she was found guilty of poisoning her husband to death. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Torii Fedrick, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole on Thursday after a Thomas County jury found her guilty in connection to her husbands death. Fedricks husband, Phil Fedrick died in September 2021 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Officials said Torri Fedrick poisoned him with ethylene glycol, a substance usually found in antifreeze and brake fluid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When her husband was taken to the hospital, medical staff suspected poisoning, authorities said. Phil Fedrick died a week later. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Thomas County Sheriffs Office, Torri Fedrick gave her husband the substance. TRENDING STORIES: After medical staff conducted proper testing and assessments, it was later confirmed the poisoning was crucial in the case being found. The GBI conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of death was poisoning. A motive in the case wasnt revealed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police in south Georgia are investigating after they said a fetus was found in an apartment dumpster. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On March 20, around 6 a.m. Tifton first responders were called to Brookfield Mews Apartments regarding an unconscious woman who was bleeding. First responders later confirmed the woman, identified as Selena Maria Chandler-Scott, 24, of Tifton, had suffered a miscarriage earlier. Scott was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told Tifton police, Scott had put the fetus in a bag and placed the bag in a dumpster outside. Tifton officers found the dead fetus, police said. At that time, no charges were filed against the 24-year-old mother. TRENDING STORIES: The next day, upon further investigation, Tifton police arrested and charged Scott with one count of concealing the death of another person and one count of throwing away or abandoning a dead body prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tift County Deputy Coroner Blair Veazy told WALB the autopsy revealed the fetus that was found in the dumpster at the Brookfield Mews Apartments was approximately 19 weeks old. Veazy also told WALB there were no signs of injury or trauma, and the baby never took a breath. It was determined that the mom just had a natural miscarriage. You know its just an unfortunate, sad situation, Veazy told WALB. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Scott is being held in the Tift County Jail awaiting her first appearance. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Tifton Police Department Det. Chris Knight at 229-382-3132. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said on Sunday that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe lied repeatedly about messages in a Signal group chat in which top members of the Trump administration discussed an attack on Yemen. Intelligence officials told your committee this week that no classified information was shared. Do you believe that directors Ratcliffe and Gabbard were truthful when they testified before your committee? NBC Newss Kristen Welker asked Bennet on Meet the Press. No, I think they lied repeatedly to our committee and to the House committee. Kristen, let me try to make this as simple as I can, Bennet replied. I think the American people know this. If this material was not classified, literally nothing that Ive ever heard as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee over all these years is classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Bennet labeled the Signal incident disrespectful to rank-and-file intelligence officers during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies and the personnel who work for them is entirely unacceptable. Its an embarrassment. Do better. You need to do better, he said Tuesday. Bennet wasnt the only Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee to critique the Signal incident Tuesday. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), went after Trump officials for the lack of care shown in their including a journalist and disregarding security protocols using Signal for discussion of an important operation. Theres plenty of declassified information that shows that our adversaries, China and Russia, are trying to break into encrypted systems, Warner said Tuesday, adding that the Trump administration had demonstrated careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that is not a one-off or a first-time error. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his interview on Meet the Press, Bennet said there is a need for the top members of our intelligence community to be nonpartisan. We need them to tell the truth to the American people, he added. The Hill has reached out to Gabbards office and the CIA 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. GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) A central Ohio tattoo community is mourning the loss of one of their own after Richard Cook, 45, lost his battle to cancer on March 1. Cook owned GreyStone Tattoo Company in Gahanna with his wife, Karli. There were some initial concerns about his shop remaining open. But his fellow artists said he never quit on anybody, so they cant give up on his dreams. Cook had been battling multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, for years. But continued to tattoo when he could. Karli Cook said that was his driving force. He always wanted to get back to work as soon as he could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coroners office art exhibit aims to break addiction stigma He was an energy, a vibe, a just bigger than life presence, Karli Cook said. The confidence he had was like no other. The couples plans to buy a farm together and raise their kids and animals were all cut short. Talking about the future is hard because youre just talking about a daydream thats never going to happen, Karli Cook said. While Richard Cooks cancer prognosis didnt look good, that didnt stop his friends and family from holding on to hope. No matter the odds, you still are like, no we got this., Karli Cook said. We got time. All while youre watching them suffer and be so sad that theyre leaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Cooks friends and family said he was the human equivalent of a warm hug. He was known for his jokes and fun nature. They said he leaves behind an unfillable hole. Everybody thats ever met him walked away a better person from talking to him or hugging him, Richards best friend and business partner Aaron Jordan said. According to Karli Cook, he saw the good in everyone. He was an animal lover, husband, friend, father and child at heart. The whole world could disappear, and it wouldnt matter as long as he had us, Karli Cook said. Richard Cook wore many hats. On top of owning GreyStone Tattoo Company, he owned Take a Dump, a dumpster business, with Jordan. Both companies now have an even greater purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything I do from this point on, if I dont do it with a little more intention, that would be disrespectful, Richards friend Jamie Hickey said. Karli Cook said hes proof that you never know when youll receive life-changing news. She encourages everyone to hold their loved ones tight and share the things that matter to you before its too late. According to the Cook family, a celebration of life will be held for him at some point this summer. It will be open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 10 days after polls showed that his new podcast kind of backfired, Gavin Newsom told Bill Maher the Democratic brand is toxic right because of cancel culture. In his interview at the top of Fridays Real Time with Bill Maher, the California governor also called for the party to rebrand. Newsom has been on the defensive since launching This Is Gavin Newsom in late February, the first few episodes of which featured him having friendly conversations with right wing figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Banon. He was widely criticized (and mocked) for agreeing with Kirks views on transgender athletes, and not even bothering to push back when Banon yet again lied that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, polls have shown that the podcast actually did significant damage to Newsoms popularity, particularly with Democrats he would need to win a hypothetical primary. And even Kirk later dunked on him over that. Speaking to Maher, Newsom called that reaction interesting. I mean, this idea that we cant even have a conversation with the other side you have to, he said. They won. Thats it, the bottom line. And by the way, or the notion we just have to continue to talk to ourselves or were in the same damn echo chamber, he continued. These guys are crushing us. The Democratic brand is toxic right now. During that conversation, both men also agreed with Sen. John Fettermans assertion that Democrats will become a permanent minority without serious reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom took the opportunity to plug his podcast and added that he believes having the opportunity to dialogue with people I disagree with is a chance to try to find common ground and not take cheap shots. The Democrats, he continued, tend to be a little more judgmental than we should be. This notion of cancel culture, youve been living it, youve been on the receiving end of it, Newsom told Maher. For years and years and years Democrats need to own up to that. Theyve got to mature. Watch the clip from Real Time in the video above. The post Gavin Newsom Tells Bill Maher the Democratic Brand Is Toxic Right Now Because of Cancel Culture | Video appeared first on TheWrap. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Gazas bakeries will run out of flour for bread within a week, the U.N. says. Agencies have cut food distributions to families in half. Markets are empty of most vegetables. Many aid workers cannot move around because of Israeli bombardment. For four weeks, Israel has shut off all sources of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies for the Gaza Strips population of more than 2 million Palestinians. Its the longest blockade yet of Israels 17-month-old campaign against Hamas, with no sign of it ending. Many are going hungry during the normally festive Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday. Aid workers are stretching out the supplies they have but warn of a catastrophic surge in severe hunger and malnutrition. Eventually, food will run out completely if the flow of aid is not restored, because the war has destroyed almost all local food production in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We depend entirely on this aid box, said Shorouq Shamlakh, a mother of three collecting her familys monthly box of food from a U.N. distribution center in Jabaliya in northern Gaza. She and her children reduce their meals to make it last a month, she said. If this closes, who else will provide us with food? The World Food Program said Thursday that its flour for bakeries is only enough to keep producing bread for 800,000 people a day until Tuesday and that its overall food supplies will last a maximum of two weeks. As a last resort once all other food is exhausted, it has emergency stocks of fortified nutritional biscuits for 415,000 people. Fuel and medicine will last weeks longer before hitting zero. Hospitals are rationing antibiotics and painkillers. Aid groups are shifting limited fuel supplies between multiple needs, all indispensable trucks to move aid, bakeries to make bread, wells and desalination plants to produce water, hospitals to keep machines running. We have to make impossible choices. Everything is needed, said Clemence Lagouardat, the Gaza response leader for Oxfam International, speaking from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza at a briefing Wednesday. Its extremely hard to prioritize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Compounding the problems, Israel resumed its military campaign on March 18 with bombardment that has killed hundreds of Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to health officials. It has hit humanitarian facilities, the U.N. says. New evacuation orders have forced more than 140,000 Palestinians to move yet again. But Israel has not resumed the system for aid groups to notify the military of their movements to ensure they were not hit by bombardment, multiple aid workers said. As a result, various groups have stopped water deliveries, nutrition for malnourished children and other programs because it's not safe for teams to move. COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid, said the system was halted during the ceasefire. Now it is implemented in some areas in accordance with policy and operational assessments ... based on the situation on the ground, COGAT said, without elaborating. Rising prices leave food unaffordable Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 42 days of ceasefire that began in mid-January, aid groups rushed in significant amounts of aid. Food also streamed into commercial markets. But nothing has entered Gaza since Israel cut off that flow on March 2. Israel says the siege and renewed military campaign aim to force Hamas to accept changes in their agreed-on ceasefire deal and release more hostages. Fresh produce is now rare in Gazas markets. Meat, chicken, potatoes, yogurt, eggs and fruits are completely gone, Palestinians say. Prices for everything else have skyrocketed out of reach for many Palestinians. A kilo (2 pounds) of onions can cost the equivalent of $14, a kilo of tomatoes goes for $6, if they can be found. Cooking gas prices have spiraled as much as 30-fold, so families are back to scrounging for wood to make fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its totally insane, said Abeer al-Aker, a teacher and mother of three in Gaza City. No food, no services. I believe that the famine has started again. Families depend even more on aid At the distribution center in Jabaliya, Rema Megat sorted through the food ration box for her family of 10: rice, lentils, a few cans of sardines, a half kilo of sugar, two packets of powdered milk. Its not enough to last a month, she said. This kilo of rice will be used up in one go. The U.N. has cut its distribution of food rations in half to redirect more supplies to bakeries and free kitchens producing prepared meals, said Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian agency, known as OCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of prepared meals has grown 25% to 940,000 meals a day, she said, and bakeries are churning out more bread. But that burns through supplies faster. Once flour runs out soon, there will be no bread production happening in a large part of Gaza, said Gavin Kelleher, with the Norwegian Refugee Council. UNRWA, the main U.N. agency for Palestinians, only has a few thousand food parcels left and enough flour for a few days, said Sam Rose, the agency's acting director in Gaza. Gaza Soup Kitchen, one of the main public kitchens, cant get any meat or much produce, so they serve rice with canned vegetables, co-founder Hani Almadhoun said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot more people showing up, and theyre more desperate. So people are fighting for food, he said. Israel shows no sign of lifting the siege The United States pressured Israel to let aid into Gaza at the beginning of the war in October 2023, after Israel imposed a blockade of about two weeks. This time, it has supported Israels policy. Rights groups have called it a starvation policy that could be a war crime. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told a news conference Monday that Israel is acting in accordance with international law. He accused Hamas of stealing aid and said Israel is not required to let in supplies if it will be diverted to combatants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He gave no indication of whether the siege could be lifted but said Gaza had enough supplies, pointing to the aid that flowed in during the ceasefire. Hunger and hopelessness are growing Because its teams cant coordinate movements with the military, Save the Children suspended programs providing nutrition to malnourished children, said Rachael Cummings, the groups humanitarian response leader in Gaza. We are expecting an increase in the rate of malnutrition, she said. Not only children adolescent girls, pregnant women. During the ceasefire, Save the Children was able to bring some 4,000 malnourished infants and children back to normal weight, said Alexandra Saif, the groups head of humanitarian policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 300 malnourished patients a day were coming into its clinic in Deir al-Balah, she said. The numbers have plunged to zero on some days because patients are too afraid of bombardment, she said. The multiple crises are intertwined. Malnutrition leaves kids vulnerable to pneumonia, diarrhea and other diseases. Lack of clean water and crowded conditions only spread more illnesses. Hospitals overwhelmed with the wounded cant use their limited supplies on other patients. Aid workers say not only Palestinians, but their own staff have begun to fall into despair. The world has lost its compass, UNRWAs Rose said. Theres just a feeling here that anything could happen, and it still wouldnt be enough for the world to say, this is enough. ___ Magdy and Keath reported from Cairo, El Deeb from Beirut. AP correspondents Fatma Khaled in Cairo and Julia Frankel and Sam Mednick in Jerusalem contributed. Gen Z staff at one of Britains leading accounting firms are to be trained on how to have telephone conversations. Forvis Mazars, the accountancy giant, is launching a comprehensive learning and development programme this year aimed at boosting its employees relationship skills. It will include training on having challenging conversations over the phone. The new training is being set up in response to concerns that Gen Z workers lack the soft skills necessary for work in the City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Gilbey, the chief executive of the accounting firms UK business, said the social skills course would include everything from immersive simulations of client meetings to lessons on picking up the phone. Mr Gilbey said: Weve committed to a major firm-wide investment to put relationship skills front and centre. The training will also cover topics including relationship building and impactful communication, aimed at boosting the confidence of Gen Z staff. Employers have become increasingly concerned about young people lacking the skills needed for the workplace as a result of the impacts of lockdown and the rise of remote working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James ODowd, the founder of recruitment firm Patrick Morgan, said remote work and an increased reliance on digital communication had left many Gen Z hires unprepared for the basics of working life. Gen Z workers often lack core interpersonal skills such as the ability to hold a conversation, read a room, build rapport or simply pick up the phone and solve a problem without hiding behind email, he said. More broadly, Gen Z workers have been accused of lacking resilience and being unable to take criticism. Last month, law firm Gibson Dunn posted a job listing for a support lawyer in its London office, saying that Gen Z staff needed more hand-holding because of lockdown. Newly qualified lawyers at Gibson Dunns City offices are paid 180,000 a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forvis Mazars said its new training programme was designed to prepare the firm for a market environment in which computers carry out many of the basic tasks currently done by junior staff, meaning interpersonal tasks will become far more important. Mr Gilby said: The ability to create and maintain genuine human connection will still be the foundation of success. Mr ODowd said: Graduate hiring is set to rapidly decline in the City, with the rise in offshoring and the increased use of automation. We foresee a real challenge emerging for junior professionals in the UK: if they cant add value through communication, interpersonal skills or the ability to navigate ambiguity, their role in the professional services value chain becomes increasingly hard to justify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forvis Mazars currently has 14 offices across Britain and employs over 3,300 UK staff, including more than 1,500 in London. 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. When Alphonso and Tierney Whitfield first moved into their College Park, Georgia home in 2022, they were eager to start their new life together. But that hope quickly turned into a headache when they discovered plumbing issues, Atlanta News First (ANF) reported. Every time the couple flushed their toilets, wastewater appeared in their yard. Unsure of the cause, they hired a local plumbing company. Estes Plumbing discovered the sewer line needed to be replaced and applied for a permit from the city to complete the work. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The total cost was $8,000 a hefty sum for anyone, but especially for new homeowners. The worst part? Replacing the line didn't fix the couple's sewage issues. Thats because the issue could only be solved by fixing an issue on city property, something that only happened this month. It feels like I finally started living in my home, living in my yard, having people over, Alphonso told ANF Consumer Investigator Harry Samler. But why did the city take so long to intervene? Why didn't the plumbing line replacement work? Estes Plumbing technician Logan Cumby determined that the Whitfields' issue had nothing to do with the new line but instead with part of an old line located on city property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a plumbing company replaces a residential sewage line, it typically does not do work on city property, Cumby told ANF. We determined the break is in the street, and we cant fix it because its not on the homeowners property. But city officials pushed back, saying the plumbing company must have connected the Whitfields' new line to a city pipe no longer in use. But Bill Knox, a manager at Estes Plumbing, insisted that wasn't true. If we mess something up, we stand by it, and well fix it, Knox told reporters. But in this case, weve done everything right. The Estes team returned to the Whitfields' property and ran a camera through their sewer line. The footage showed the new sewer line was properly connected and intact until it reached an older pipe located under the street and on city property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The footage showed an older clay pipe that seemed to have collapsed, likely causing the Whitfields' sewer issues. A neighbor a few homes away had also reported problems with their sewer, indicating the cause likely wasn't the new sewer line on the Whitfields' property. Following further investigation, a College Park City spokesperson confirmed the city would connect the Whitfields' line to the city tap for $1,600. A few days later, Department of Public Works officials showed up to replace the collapsed pipe and connect the city line to the Whitfields' home. After the lines were replaced, everything was finally flowing correctly for the first time in two years. Read more: Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here's the net worth you need to rank among Americas wealthiest plus 2 ways to build that first-class portfolio How to budget for unexpected home repairs Unexpected home repairs, like the plumbing nightmare the Whitfields experienced, can strain homeowners financially. Here are several proactive steps to protect yourself: Consider a home warranty A warranty typically covers the repair or replacement of major home systems for a relatively affordable annual fee. However, carefully read the fine print to understand exactly what's included. Often, issues arising from normal wear and tear are excluded from coverage. Early intervention can reduce costs Addressing minor issues quickly can prevent them from escalating into major repairs. Regular home maintenance, like routine plumbing inspections, gutter cleaning or HVAC system checks, can help you catch problems early, reducing long-term costs. Create a sinking fund for home costs Setting up a dedicated savings account specifically for home-related expenses ensures you're prepared when unexpected costs arise. Experts generally recommend setting aside between 1% to 3% of your home's value annually. If your home is valued at $300,000, this translates to saving between $3,000 and $9,000 per year. Compare quotes from multiple service providers When faced with a major repair, request estimates from several contractors. Prices can vary dramatically between providers, and reviewing multiple quotes ensures you're getting a fair price and helps you better understand the scope of work required. Research legal aid options If your home repair involves another party, such as a neighbor, the city or a contractor, knowing where to find legal assistance can be critical. Local legal aid societies, homeowner advocacy groups or a real estate attorney can provide guidance and representation if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, make sure you understand what your homeowner's policy covers. Depending on the nature of the repair, your home insurance may cover some or all of the expense. Being proactive in financial and home management strategies can save you significant time, stress and money in the long run. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. With strong support in the Georgia legislature, a plan to expand tax credits for parents of young children is moving forward. A revised version of House Bill 136 passed the state Senate, putting the plan to give Georgia parents with children younger than six years old a $250 tax credit even closer to becoming law. Under HB 136, which passed the Senate unanimously on Friday, parents would get $250 for each child under six, beginning tax years on or after Jan. 1, 2026. The proposal also gives parents $600 for child care and dependent care costs. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, only one parent can receive the tax credit, according to the bill. Additionally, child care payments for employees can be made by businesses with a minimum of $1,000 per year that they receive benefits from the company, and can be made directly to the child care facility used by the employee for their children. If these payment are made by a business as a benefit of employment, it must be as an addition, not instead of other compensation or benefits. Businesses that do this will be able to receive credits against their imposed taxes equal to $500 per child made per taxable year or $1,000 per child if the company is making those payments for the first time, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, statewide, only $20 million in tax credits will be allowed to be paid out. Now that its passed the Senate, with revision, the bill heads back to the Georgia House of Representatives for approval. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Eric Hogue is president of Colorado Christian University, which was included in the Wall Street Journals College Pulse Ranking for a second consecutive year and named one of the fastest-growing universities in the country for the ninth year in a row. Georgia Southern Universitys live bald eagle mascot, Freedom, has died. The university announced that Freedom died on Saturday. He served as an ambassador for Georgia Southern and appeared for many years at Georgia Southern sporting events, the St. Patricks Day parade in Savannah, commencements, and other appearances across Georgia and the United States. Freedom became a part of the Georgia Southern community in 2004 when he was found knocked out of a nest in Maitland, Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A permanent injury to his beak prevented his release back into the wild. The university acquired Freedom with the permission of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. We are incredibly saddened by the passing of Freedom, who soared as a symbol of Georgia Southern pride and True Blue spirit, Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero said. Freedom was more than a mascot; he represented strength, spirit, and unity for Georgia Southern. His loss will be felt by so many in Eagle Nation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OSLO (Reuters) -A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian space port on Sunday, in what German startup Isar Aerospace had described as an initial test. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was billed as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations, including Sweden and Britain, have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions. Isar Aerospace, which had warned that the initial launch could end prematurely, said the test produced extensive data that its team can learn from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blasting off from Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, the Spectrum is designed for small and medium-sized satellites weighing up to one metric tonne, although it did not carry a payload on its maiden voyage. Global players in the satellite launch market include Elon Musk's SpaceX, which launches from the United States, and French ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran that uses a spaceport in South America's French Guiana. SpaceX also operates the Starlink satellite service, a communications network spanning much of the globe. Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association said Isar's first flight would lead to further progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives - nor should it be," BDLI Managing Director Marie-Christine von Hahn said in a statement. Sunday's mission was intended to collect data on the company's in-house developed launch vehicle, in a first integrated test of all its systems, Bavaria's Isar Aerospace said last week. Sweden, with its Esrange launch site and Britain with its SaxaVord Spaceport in the Scottish Shetland Islands, are the nearest rivals to the Norwegian site, all of which aim to give Europe greater autonomy in space flights. SaxaVord, which suffered a setback when a rocket engine exploded during a test last year, plans its first satellite launch in the third quarter of 2025, and Esrange also aims to stage its inaugural launch this year. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo, additional reporting by Madeline Chambers in Berlin; editing by Giles Elgood) Credit: Isar Aerospace/NASASpaceflight.com A test rocket aimed at kick-starting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded 40 seconds after its launch from a Norwegian space port. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was described as the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe, where several nations including Sweden and Britain have said they want a share of a growing market for commercial space missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the largest German rocket since V-2, the Nazi-era rocket that has often been described as having launched the space age and was the worlds first long-range guided ballistic missile. Isar Aerospace, the German company that developed the Spectrum rocket, insisted the failed flight had produced extensive data from which its team could learn. Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success, Daniel Metzler, the chief executive, said in a statement. We had a clean lift-off, 30 seconds of flight, and even got to validate our flight termination system. Spectrum, a two-stage orbital launch vehicle, is 28 meters long, powered by 10 engines developed in-house by Isar, and was specifically designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firm was founded in 2018. Its website lists a group of investors including Airbus Ventures and Bulent Altan, a Turkish-American aerospace executive and engineer considered to have been a key contributor at Elon Musks SpaceX. The global space race has increasingly become focused on the deployment of satellite constellations. Several European nations, including the UK, have expressed interest in this growing market for satellite launches. The rockets developers said it had a clean lift-off - STR/Isar Aerospace/AFP via Getty Images Key companies working on technologies include SpaceX, which conducts launches from the US and operates the Starlink satellite communications service. Frances ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, uses a spaceport in French Guiana, on the northern coast of South America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, the UK Government announced a 20 million investment to help fund the construction and launch of the first British-manufactured and launched orbital rocket. The rocket, Prime, is being built by Orbex, based in Scotland. It is also designed to launch satellites into orbit, and is due to launch from a Scottish spaceport late this year. China is a growing player in the satellite launch race. On Sunday, Chinese state media reported that the country had sent a new satellite into orbit from the island of Hainan, using a Long March-7A rocket. 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. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed strong support for Canada in the country's stand-off with the administration of US President Donald Trump over tariffs. "We stand by your side," Scholz said in English at the opening ceremony of the Hannover Messe, the world's largest trade fair on machinery and electronic technology, where Canada is this year's partner country. US relations with Canada plummeted to a historical low after Trump announced tariffs on his country's northern neighbour in February under the "America First" trade policy. Trump has also been publicly musing for weeks about annexing Canada as the 51st US state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Hannover Messe fair, attended by more than 200,000 people, Canada is seeking to strengthen ties and build new trade partnerships with Europe as its reliance on the United States as its largest trading partner is undermined. "Canada has friends all over the world especially here in Germany and Europe," Scholz said, emphasizing free trade, competitiveness and technological sovereignty as the proper responses to protectionism and tariffs. "A look at the markets and stock prices shows: It's not us who are on the wrong track with our trade policies," Scholz said, adding that trade wars are unwinnable even for the United States. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) It was a special reunion at Sisters Hospital as former NICU patients were reconnected with the nurses and doctors who welcomed them into the world. WIVB News 4 caught up with one local mom who said the staff at Sisters saved her daughters life. Gabbi Needham is a thriving 10-year-old. She loves dancing, performing and spending time with friends and her mom, Sandi. Shes our miracle, Sandi told WIVB News 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats an understatement. Gabbi was born at Sisters Hospital three months early. She was very sick, Sandi said. They had all hands on deck with her. She was premature, 28 weeks. The baby was very premature, said NICU Nurse Manager Jennifer Mendola, who was also Gabbis nurse at the time. She had a lot of issues at birth and honestly the team wasnt sure if Gabbi was going to survive. Mendola and the rest of the NICU staff were not going to give up on her. After 107 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Gabbi was finally healthy enough to go home. We didnt know if she was going to make it or not and here we are today, Sandi said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10 years later, Sandi and Gabbi are reconnecting with the people who saved Gabbis life. Its truly one of the memories I will remember forever, Mendola said. Being the provider, the nurse to take care of this family, it really validates what I do. And I can see the great work the team in general did for Gabbi and Sandi. On Saturday, dozens of families were reunited with the nurses and doctors who treated their babies in the NICU. We spend days, weeks, months with the family, but we dont really know what happens when they go home, Mendola said. This is a great way to reconnect and to see what the kiddos are doing in school, what activities theyre in, how theyre thriving and how theyre growing. It reflects the impact of the care that is provided at Sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sisters of Charity Hospitals NICU provides care to around 700 babies every year. These healthcare heroes make it possible for children to grow up healthy and ready to take on life, which is exactly what Gabbi is doing. Thank you for all you did for me., Gabbi said. If it wasnt for you, I wouldnt be here today. I always tell them, I cant thank them enough, Sandi said. Were going on 10 years and the care that they gave both of us, my family and her, it was amazing, it really was. Latest Local News Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her 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 News 4 Buffalo. The Brooklyn wigmaker accused of fatally mowing down a mother and her two young daughters has been charged with manslaughter and criminal negligent homicide for the horrific Saturday crash. Miriam Yarimi, 32, who cops said was driving her Audi A4 on a suspended license, careered into a crowd of pedestrians, killing the mom and girls ages 8 and 4 as they left Shabbat services in Gravesend, according to police. The victims 4-year-old son is in critical condition in the hospital. Yarimi now faces three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminally negligent homicide and four counts of second-degree assault for smashing into the pedestrians on Ocean Parkway, police told The Post on Sunday. Miriam Yarimi, 32, the driver accused of fatally running down a mother and her two daughters in Brooklyn Saturday, is a wigmaker who lives a luxe lifestyle. Instagram/iitsanellie Yarimi is also a mother of one who dedicates much of her Instagram page with photos of the young girl, who appears around the same age as the victims of Saturdays fatal crash. Instagram/iitsanellie Yarimi won $2 million from the NYPD in a lawsuit alleging she was raped by a police officer when she was a minor. Peter Gerber The incident began when Yarimis Audi collided with a Toyota Camry Uber. The impace caused her luxury sedan to plow into nine pedestrians in the crosswalk in the heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horrifying dashcam footage posted on X by @NYScanner shows the Audi smashing into mom Natasha Saada and her three children Diana, 7, Deborah, 5, and 4-year-old Philip as they crossed the road. The overturned Audi barely misses other pedestrians, the clip shows. Really, really tragic tragedy, said Mayor Eric Adams during a church stop Sunday right before visiting the dead victims home. Number one, the person should not have been on the road, he said of Yarimi. [They have a] suspended license. Were going to ensure that this is investigated to the full extent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My heart goes out to the family, Adams added. Yarimi, a 32-year-old mom of one who goes by the name Ellie, is a wigmaker by profession, something noted by the vanity plate of the Audi in the crash, which reads WIGM8KER. Here is the latest on Miriam Yarimi and the Brooklyn crash that killed mom, 2 kids: Members of the Jewish Funeral Home arrived and picked up all three victims from Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn Paul Martinka Yarimi has a taste for luxury vehicles as she posted a video two weeks ago that shows her sitting in a yellow Porsche. Instagram/iitsanellie Her photo shows her proudly showing off the fatal car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When approached at the Brooklyn home of the victims, a family friend told The Post that the surviving little boy needs our prayers. Hes in the hospital. He needs our prayers. Yarimis estranged husband declined to comment to The Post when reached at his home Sunday. Yarimi previously settled a lawsuit against the NYPD for $2 million after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by an officer when she was 14. Maimonides Medical Center at 4808 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Borough park Brooklyn. Paul Martinka Her driving record has been allegedly dismal: The Audi racked up over 93 traffic violations on WIGM8KER including 20 speeding tickets, with more than $10,000 in fines, according to the online records site Hows My Driving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those violations include a ticket for speeding through a school zone in Brooklyn on March 16, records showed. Since August 2023, her Audi has received 20 speed-camera tickets and five red-light tickets, as well as dozens of parking infractions. A funeral for Saada and her two young children is scheduled for later Sunday, with the bodies then to be transported to Israel from JFK airport, sources said. Additional reporting by Joe Marino and Hannah Fierick Were only a few months into 2025, and many groups are making big leaps in progress when it comes to accomplishing their mission. One group that has done nothing but make waves in big ways turns five this year and has a lot to show for it already. Growing Lucasville Opportunities was dreamed up by a group of community leaders and business owners during the pandemic and went into full swing as soon as things opened back up. The idea was simple: Lucasville needed a park, and residents needed a reason to be proud of the township. The group started small with programs and events that benefited the community while making big plans for a park. Over the coming years, theyd receive major grants and donations, step up their event game to major feats and become a household name. The idea for the park came when leaders of GLO saw people ordering food on lunchbreaks during the shutdown but had nowhere to eat. The indoor dining options were closed and there was no park. People were sitting in the cemetery and in parking lots to eat out of their car. This gave them the idea of starting a park project, since the township has never had one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt think small, however, and pulled together a plan to include a covered structure, a war memorial, a playground, hiking trails, an amphitheater and more. They collected big and small donations, won grants and even competed in a national competition with Kubota to bring home big cash donations and national attention. Last year was good to us, with our drive-in and community tree lighting events; people are becoming expectant of these events and get excited each year, GLOs Treg Cunningham said. We made a lot of progress in the park development as well. The amphitheater project is pretty much wrapped up now, which was the largest phase of the community park project. We are over the hill with the overall park project, but were halfway there now and we are going to begin wrapping up. The organization also added the Southern Ohio War Memorial to the park last year, in partnership with the Memorial Committee. It is a beautiful memorial honoring killed in action service members from eight southern Ohio counties going back to World War I, GLOs Kenny Boldman said. The monuments, military flags and brick pavers are a beautiful new addition in 2024. We also have pavers that can be purchased for $35 to honor any honorably discharged southern Ohio service member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pavers can be ordered by calling 740.285.5778 or contacting any Lucasville American Legion member. Boldman also spoke heavily about the groups recently purchased playground equipment and previous accomplishments, such as the covered meeting structure and the future plans of hiking trails and more. According to Boldman, the playground element is essential to the parks purpose. Lucasville has never had a community park or playground for the kids. Our order has been placed, and we expect the materials to arrive in the next couple months, Boldman explained. So, next summer, we will be working on building our playground for the kids, which is exciting. Boldman also commented on the growth of events managed by GLO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are seeing an increase of interest in people pertaining to the events we are doing, Boldman said. 2024 was a good year for several things that we did, and it will impact us in the future. With the amphitheater completed, were looking forward to hosting some concerts and events in the park. Events have included Christmas tree lightings with massive opportunities for things to do, other smaller events, and the revival of the Lucasville Scioto Breeze Drive-in, which has welcomed thousands back into Lucasville chasing nostalgia. With the community park getting closer and closer to completion, and more interest building in the groups endeavors, Cunningham explained that the GLO event committee is currently evaluating the slate of events. Weve been doing well with events, but that committee is going back to the drawing board this year to see how we can improve events and new things we can add to the calendar, including events and festivals, Cunningham said. The tree lighting and drive in should continue, but we are not done looking at ways of improving GLO as an organization while providing more opportunities to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cunningham, Boldman, and the rest of GLO members are excited to see so much of their plan coming together and manifesting, their events continuing to grow, and opportunities for Lucasville to improve in the future. Its exciting to think about our achievements, Cunningham said. We go back and forth on this topic as an organization when we hit a roadblock or feel discouraged. When we can look back, knowing we started between four and five years ago and are half a million dollars into this park project; it is a big accomplishment for this group and community as a whole. Weve had a lot of support from the community and look forward to growing. Follow GLO on Facebook for updates on their park planning and event. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, on Sunday pushed back against an earlier claim from national security adviser Mike Waltz about a group chat in which top Trump administration officials discussed an attack on Yemen. Waltz claimed earlier this week that Goldbergs phone number was sucked in to his phone via somebody elses contact. This isnt The Matrix, phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones, Goldberg told NBCs Kristen Welker on Meet the Press. I dont know what hes talking about there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation, Goldberg added. My phone number was in his phone, because my phone number is in his phone. Goldberg detailed his time in the group chat he was mistakenly added to in a report last Monday that rattled Washington and resulted in heightened fears around national security. The White House scrambled to contain the controversy surrounding the group chat this week, with officials pouncing on a headline description of attack plans versus war plans, suggesting a small difference in wording showed controversy was too intense. On Sunday, Goldberg said Waltz is telling everyone that hes never met me or spoken to me, thats simply not true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand why hes doing it, Goldberg added. Waltz said Tuesday in a White House meeting that he and Goldberg had never met. Theres a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president, Waltz said. Whether its the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families, and this one in particular Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor in chief, brushed off the risk of a legal threat from the Trump administration after he reported on a Signal group chat featuring top Trump administration officials. Jeffrey, I dont have to tell you this, the administration has taken legal action against news organizations, NBC Newss Kristen Welker said Sunday on Meet the Press, following clips of Trump administration officials slamming Goldberg. Are you concerned that this administration will come after you? No. I dont get bullied. Im not worried about that, Goldberg replied. Theyre obviously being very, very silly there. Theres a playbook that, and you know this as a journalist, Im not the only journalist to be the target of these kind of attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his Sunday interview, Goldberg also pushed back on an earlier claim from national security adviser Mike Waltz, who was a part of the chat that Goldberg was mistakenly added to. Waltz had said Tuesday that Goldbergs phone number was sucked in to his phone via somebody elses contact. This isnt The Matrix, phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones, Goldberg said Sunday. I dont know what hes talking about there. You know, very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation, Goldberg added. My phone number was in his phone, because my phone number is in his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg detailed his time in the group chat in a report last Monday that rattled Washington and resulted in heightened fears around national security. 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. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) Lexington police announced that a missing man was found on Sunday. The Lexington Police Department said in a news release that Matthew Perry, 24, was last seen around 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, in the 3200 block of Mantilla Drive. Authorities described Perry as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair. MISSING IN KENTUCKY Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said Matthew has a developmental disorder. A golden Alert has been issued for Matthew Perry, 24, who was last seen around 2:40 p.m. on Sunday. (Lexington Police Department) Anyone with information that could help find Matthew is asked to call the Lexington Police Department at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling (859) 253-2020, online at bluegrasscrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips available app at p3tips.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 56 News. Greg Raymond is President, Childrens Hospital Colorados Southern Region and Lonnie Cramer is President and CEO for UCHealths Southern Colorado Region. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The Goodfellow Air Force Base hosted a Vietnam War Veterans Day event on March 29 to honor Veterans, surviving spouses and family. Congressman August Pfluger was a guest speaker at the event organized by the Goodfellow Heritage Community. At the end of the Vietnam War, most of the Vietnam War veterans were not thanked for their service, they were treated rather poorly, said Ronald Graham, Freedom Through Vigilance Association President. This is an example of you can hate the war but dont hate the veteran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years ceremony included the 50-year anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Republican Rep. Mike Turner (Ohio), former chair of the House Intelligence panel, said its surprising that the Trump administration is considering the information leaked in a Signal group chat about plans to attack the Houthi rebels not a big deal. Turner joined ABC Newss This Week on Sunday, where he was asked about the messages Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent to the group. Hegseth originally said no war plans were discussed in the group chat, but The Atlantic later revealed the secretary shared information about the location, time and weapons planned for the attack. Clearly the subject matter thats being discussed, the status of ongoing military operations, should be considered classified information, Turner said. And its surprising to find it in an unclassified manner. To find it in this way is surprising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner, like other Republicans, argued The Atlantics choice of calling the messages war plans or attack plans was inaccurate. They werent really attack plans, he said. They were on discussions of ongoing military operations. Turner argued The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, oversold the exchange and lost some credibility. The White House has said that there was no classified information being discussed, he continued. And I think it is surprising people are struggling with the information thats there because this information really has at its roots [in] classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that he believes the White House is being legalistic about its response to the incident and noted the people involved in the group chat have the ability to declassify information. Turner noted there will likely be an investigation from the inspector general, and he said the investigation should probe whether the messages were classified when Hegseth sent them and whether that information should even be discussed via Signal. I do think that it is a platform that can be compromised and perhaps these types of discussions should not be used, he said of Signal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) All four proposed constitutional amendments on the March ballot were rejected. These amendments covered specialty courts, tax reforms, juvenile prosecution and judicial vacancies. Louisiana voters reject all 4 proposed amendments on March 29 ballot On election night, Gov. Jeff Landry stated that the intent of Amendment 2 was to enhance opportunities for Louisiana residents and attract more people to the state. Read his full statement below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary goal of Amendment 2 was to create a better opportunity for our citizens, Landry said. To work towards inviting people into our State rather than have them leave. Unfortunately, Soros and far-left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2. Although we are disappointed in tonights results, we do not see this as a failure. We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure. We will continue working to give our citizens more opportunities to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better future for Louisianians. This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed. Other Louisiana officials react to failed amendments The failure of the proposed constitutional amendments sends a clear message: the people of Louisiana expect more from their government. Across party lines and parish boundaries, voters stood together to reject measures they felt did not reflect our shared values or serve the common good. This outcome is a testament to the strength and clarity of public willrooted in a deep sense of fairness, compassion, and responsibility. I am proud to stand with those who raised their voices in defense of the most vulnerable among us, and who believe that power in our democracy must be earned, not assumed. Let us carry this momentum forward, working togetherregardless of politicsto build a stronger, more just Louisiana for all. Congressman Troy Carter, Sr. I am overjoyed to see the groundswell of Democrats come together from across Louisiana to give Jeff Landry a resounding defeat. Together, with voters from every party, people came to the conclusion that the constitutional amendments were at best misguided at worst an attempt to give tax breaks to the rich while locking up more of our children. That is not the Louisiana values we stand for. Let us take this victory and continue to build toward a more equitable prosperous future for everyone in our state. The Louisiana Democratic Party along with our dedicated supporters, worked tirelessly to educate voters about the dangers of the amendments. The Louisiana Democratic Party is committed to fighting for policies and initiatives that prioritize working families, protect civil rights, and ensure a stronger, more equitable Louisiana. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the voices of everyday Louisianans are heard and respected on every level of government. Louisana Democrats Louisiana took a stand for youth justice by rejecting Amendment 3. This victory belongs to the youth, families, and advocates who refused to accept policies that harm children and weaken communities. Charging youth as adults does not create safer communitiesit only increases the likelihood of harm and trauma for our young people. By voting no, Louisiana has refused to take a step backward in its approach to public safety, and its a step forward in recognizing that all children deserve support, not incarceration. While this is a significant win, our work does not stop here. We must continue to push for real investments in youth and familiesexpanding mental health resources, educational opportunities, and community-based programs and supports that address the root causes of harm. Most importantly, we will continue to call for leaders to fully implement the promises of Act 1225 of 2003, which was intended to transform the youth justice system into a holistic model of coordinated care. Families and Friends of Louisianas Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) remains committed to fighting for a system that prioritizes care over cages. Together, we will keep working to build a Louisiana where every child has the chance to thrive. Gina Womack, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Families and Friends of Louisianas Incarcerated Children Making Louisianas business climate attractive and competitive has long been a top priority for the business community, echoed in LABIs LA Driven strategic plan. To achieve that, we have made clear the need to overhaul Louisianas tax code to promote fairness, predictability and transparency. Saturdays result on constitutional amendment 2 makes clear the need to return to the drawing board in order to build consensus on such a critical issue that impacts every Louisianan. While this outcome isnt what we had hoped for, we remain deeply motivated to build on the achievements of the past year. Our commitment to ensuring that Louisianas citizens and job creators receive the fair, straightforward tax code they rightfully deserve remains stronger than ever. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President and CEO Will Green Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Idaho schools for now will be able to continue actions to prevent spreading diseases, after Gov. Brad Little on Saturday vetoed a bill that would prohibit mandates on medical interventions. Little vetoed Senate Bill 1023, which would have expanded on the states medical freedom law prohibiting businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. The bill would ban businesses, as well as schools and preschools, from requiring any medical intervention, including all types of injections. The bill would also bar mandates from any treatment or action taken to diagnose, prevent or cure a disease. Little in his transmittal letter wrote that while medical freedom is an Idaho value, the bill would prohibit schools from sending students with contagious conditions home. In the letter, Little included a list of other bills he signed into law, including those this month that banned mask mandates and allowed health care professionals to refuse treatments that violated their personal beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling Senate Bill 1023 medical freedom is a total misnomer. Idaho already boasts the most medical freedom of any state in the union, and this bill works against parental choice, Little said in an emailed statement. Parents deserve to send their children to school or day care knowing they will be safe from contagious illnesses that disrupt families lives. This was Littles first veto of the legislative session, and the Idaho Legislature could choose to vote on the bill again to try to override the veto. But the Senate in February approved the bill in a 19-14 vote, less than the two-thirds support it would need for the bill to become law by overriding Little. Senate Republican leaders didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Health Freedom Defense Fund Founder Leslie Manookian, who one lawmaker had described as the real architect of the bill, told legislators at a committee meeting that the bill was protecting our God-given rights to decide whats best for ourselves. But some lawmakers had doubts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, previously said the changes would be too far-reaching by going from COVID-19 vaccines to every medical intervention. This is a bridge too far that I cannot get over, McCann said. It is too broad. House lawmakers passed the bill with more than two-thirds support. House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, said he hopes the Legislature could either send Little another bill addressing his concerns or override the veto. I dont know if the Senate has the votes to override that bill, I havent heard yet, Moyle told the Statesman. Maybe theres an easy way to fix (the bill). Millions of people could be affected by a significant acid spill that contaminated a major river in Zambia, and authorities are concerned about the potential long-term impact. What's happening? As detailed by the Associated Press, investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia determined that an acid spill at a Chinese-owned copper mine on Feb. 18 caused around 50 million liters of waste "containing concentrated acid, dissolved solids and heavy metals" to flow into a stream that is connected to the Kafue River, which runs for over 930 miles through the heart of the country and is considered Zambia's most important waterway. While the AP noted that authorities are still investigating the full extent of the environmental damage from the incident, there is already reason to worry after dead fish washed ashore and signs of pollution were found at least 60 miles downstream from the site of the acid spill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told the AP that he is seeking help from experts and described the situation as "a crisis that threatens people and wildlife along the Kafue." He wasn't alone in assessing the magnitude of this issue. "It is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences," Chilekwa Mumba, an environmental activist who works in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, told the AP. Why is this important? Zambia is home to 20 million people, and the AP stated that about 60% of the population lives in the Kafue River basin. The river provides drinking water for around five million people and is a vital source for fishing, irrigation for agriculture and water for industry. In the city of Kitwe, which is home to an estimated 700,000 people, the water supply has already been completely shut down due to the acid leak from the copper mine run by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, which is majority-owned by the state-run China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zambia is among the world's top 10 producers of copper, an essential element in the production of smartphones and other technology. This has caused China to establish a foothold in Zambia to mine for copper and other minerals despite frequent criticisms and increased discontent over its presence within the African nation. "It really just brings out the negligence that some investors actually have when it comes to environmental protection," Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer, told the AP. "They don't seem to have any concern at all, any regard at all. And I think it's really worrying because at the end of the day, we as Zambian people, (it's) the only land we have." In addition to affecting the livelihood of residents who depend on the Kafue River, the acid spill also had a major environmental impact and caused deaths among marine wildlife as well as the destruction of crops along the river's banks. The reach of the contamination raised concerns among authorities who now fear that the mining waste can seep into the earth or be carried to other areas. Sean Cornelius, who lives near the Kafue, told the AP that fish died and birdlife near him disappeared almost immediately after the acid spill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Prior to the 18th of February this was a vibrant and alive river," Cornelius said. "Now everything is dead, it's like a totally dead river. Unbelievable. Overnight, this river died." What's being done about this? In hopes of counteracting the acid and mitigating the damage, the Zambian government called upon the air force to drop "hundreds of tons" of lime into the Kafue River, per the AP. A government spokesperson made it clear that Sino-Metals Leach Zambia would be on the hook to fund the cleanup operation, and chairman Zhang Peiwen met with government officials to apologize for the acid spill. "This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry," Peiwen said at the meeting, adding that the company "will go all out to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible." Still, the situation drew the ire of social media users who were disappointed to learn of the environmental damage caused by the acid leak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is the largest [and] longest river in Zambia and a huge part of its [ecosystem]. This is a huge environmental catastrophe," a user posted on X. "Heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of this spill," another user wrote. "The environment deserves better." 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. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed disappointment after voters rejected a constitutional amendment he said would have been a game changer for the state. Although there were four amendments on the ballot, Amendment 2 seems to be the one the governor hoped to pass, as it was the only one his message addressed. Many decried the amendment from the start, and a group of residents filed suit to get it removed from the ballot. The Louisiana Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit, a move the governor applauded, but then came election day, and a higher-than-expected voter turnout would lead to an overwhelming no vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statewide, NWLA parish election results In a statement issued Saturday night, the governor said, The primary goal of Amendment 2 was to create a better opportunity for our citizens. To work toward inviting people into our State rather than have them leave. Unfortunately, Soros and far left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2, Governor Landry said. Although we are disappointed in tonights results, we do not see this as a failure. We realized how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure. We will continue working to give our citizens more opportunities to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better future for the Louisianans. This is not the end for us we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed. The portion of the governors response that credits the amendments failure to George Soros, the GOP supervillain who pours mountains of money into elections to skew votes toward his ultra-liberal world desires, keeps the political boogeyman alive. However, the Louisiana Illuminator reported that spending favoring Amendment 2 outpaced vote no spending. They also noted that donations made in support or opposition to amendment votes in Louisiana do not have the same strict ethics reporting rules. So maybe Soross money did infiltrate and infect the election. Or maybe Louisiana voters want their states governing body to do its job govern. Giving the 94-year-old Soros so much credit is to ignore the influence and loud opposition of former Louisiana Legislator Woody Jenkins, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, or Representative Tammy Phelps, and others from both sides of the aisle who did not support the amendment for one reason or another. It also ignores that some who voted to elect the governor in November 2023 could also vote to reject his rejection of a constitutional convention, instead opting for this amendment vote. Elections have consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eleventh-hour request by Louisianas most famous business owner, Curtis James Jackson, who also goes by the moniker 50 Cent, did not go well with voters or over their heads. The seemingly apolitical Jackson has mainly been absent since his Humor & Harmony Festival last August. Still, he supported the amendment through a text and email campaign, causing social media users to question his timing and the reason why. The No to Them All Coalition also said, This is a win for the people of Louisiana. Voters saw through the smoke and mirrors and saw that these amendments were not written with our interests at heart. Tonights vote sends a resounding message that the agenda behind these amendments never had a mandate and that voters are sick of being lied to, shut out, and taken for granted. If our elected leaders want to make changes to our constitution in the future, we, the people of Louisiana, have two words of advice for them, Do Better. The Louisiana Legislature will convene on April 14, 2025. The outcome of this election indicates that the Louisiana residents elected them to do the heavy lifting. They were not elected to place complicated tax code changes on the backs of taxpayers. Residents want a state that works for them, not just big business buddies that pop in and out for photo ops with shovels or ribbons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State computer systems are dated, potholes and litter adorn state roadways, car insurance is highest nationally, and schools are underperforming despite the gains made by some. Louisiana historically ranks last in quality of life and first in things that will kill you. Lets make this next legislative session great by putting down the performative party masks and listening to hardworking Louisianans who want to care for their families, live their American Dreams, and leave a little something behind for the next generation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RELATED VIDEO: Chickamauga Nation raises concerns over Franklin County prison site (Mar. 2025) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote an op-ed urging legislators to fund the planned Franklin County prison, declaring that enough is enough when it comes to Arkansas prison bed shortages and high crime rates. The op-ed, titled Finish the job, was published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette days before the Board of Corrections meets in Little Rock on April 3 to discuss prison construction, jail backups and the Protect Arkansas Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders wrote that Arkansas has gone two decades without significant investments in its prison system, adding that this has led to chronic prison bed shortages, releasing violent offenders back into society because of lack of space and worst-in-the-nation crime rates. Sanders also referenced the Protect Arkansas Act, which helped create a pathway for a new prison and overhaul the parole system. She emphasized that her administration is moving quickly to build a 3,000-bed facility, but the full cost still needs to be approved. Now, those same legislators must finish what they started, she said. She also pointed to the 3,600 individuals who have repeatedly cycled through the prison system, and argued that without adequate facilities, rehabilitation efforts cannot succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reject the tired excuses of politicians who dont want criminals behind bars, Sanders concluded. The full op-ed can be found on the Arkansas Governors website. Burn ban updates for Northwest Arkansas, River Valley The background Plans for a prison in Franklin County were announced on Oct. 31, 2024, with a $2.95 million land purchase. The 3,000-bed facility aims to address the states bed shortage and create 800 jobs. The cost has risen from $330 million to estimates as high as $825 million, with some proposing a $1 billion reserve fund. Key reading 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. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Emotions were high Saturday as friends and family of Deacon Darren Lewis gathered at Christ Memorial Baptist Church to say goodbye and celebrate his 60 years of life. Lewis was hit and killed by a car in a police chase earlier this month. His wife, Kathy, talked to WSAV exclusively about their love. Those who know him best remembered him for his love for food, humor, faithfulness, and bright smile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I knew when I met that man was there was love in his heart, Bobby Gibson said. It didnt matter what my skin color was, what I came to do, if it was a job he was paying me for, he always treated me like a friend. He was an amazing man, his son, Larry Drake, said. I saw how well he took care of my mother, and that made me a better man. It gave me a new perspective about my own marriage. Lewis grew up in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Savannah when he was a teenager. He was a 1982 graduate of Windsor Forest High School. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. Years later, he settled back in Savannah, marrying Kathy in May 2000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -The United States will not get Greenland, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday in a post on Facebook in response to Donald Trump's statements he wants to take control of the vast Arctic country. "President Trump says that the United States is getting Greenland. Let me be clear: The United States won't get that. We do not belong to anyone else. We determine our own future," Nielsen said in the social media post. Trump on Saturday told NBC News he "absolutely" had real conversations about annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We'll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%," Trump said, according to NBC. During a visit to a U.S. military base in the north of Greenland on Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark of not doing a good job of keeping the island safe and suggested the United States would better protect the strategically located island. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Sharon Singleton) The prime minister of Greenland pushed back Sunday against assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that America will take control of the island territory. Greenland, a huge, resource-rich island in the Atlantic, is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States. Trump wants to annex the territory, claiming its needed for national security purposes. President Trump says that the United States will get Greenland. Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future, Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nielsens post comes a day after the U.S. president told NBC News that military force wasnt off the table with regard to acquiring Greenland. In Saturdays interview, Trump allowed that I think theres a good possibility that we could do it without military force. This is world peace, this is international security, he said, but added: I dont take anything off the table. Greenlands residents and politicians have reacted with anger to Trumps repeated suggestions, with Danish leaders also pushing back. Trump also said I dont care, when asked in the NBC interview what message this would send to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has invaded Ukraine and annexed several of its provinces in defiance of international law. (Bloomberg) -- Grocery retailers in Australia would face major fines for inflating prices or offering bogus discounts under proposed government reforms. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, facing an election in May focused on cost-of-living pressures, aims to introduce legislation to prohibit excessive pricing and strengthen consumer protections. Australias competition regulator earlier this month criticized the oligopolistic market structure in the countrys grocery sector. The regulator said then that the two largest supermarket chains, Woolworths Group Ltd. and Coles Group Ltd. which control about two-thirds of sales have little incentive to compete. They are being watched, they know that the government is prepared to take strong action and crack down, Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television Sunday. If they are ripping people off, then they are in the gun to pay a heavy penalty for it. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commissions inquiry called for greater transparency from supermarkets on pricing, though stopped short of recommending any regulation or a forced breakup of the major chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australias opposition Liberal Party would favor the introduction of targeted divestment powers, Senator James Paterson told the ABC. We can have that last-resort power, which will be a very tough incentive. Subscribe to The Bloomberg Australia Podcast on Apple, Spotify, on YouTube, or wherever you listen. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. SUNSET, Ark. A small Arkansas community may soon be seeing new life as a local church is looking to make a big impact. Big things are coming for the small town of Sunset in Crittenden County, Arkansas. Its our desire to make certain that we are connecting not just with this community but with the region, said Pastor Anthony D. Coleman. Marion Church of God in Christs Pastor Anthony D. Coleman said they plan on expanding the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday was the groundbreaking ceremony. Groundbreaking in Sunset, Arkansas. Groundbreaking in Sunset, Arkansas. We have about 10 acres all around us that were preparing to build, Pastor Coleman said. This is the first phase of that community effort. Mayor Young proposes using xAI tax funds to benefit Boxtown He said its a project thats been in the making for years. When I saw the dilapidated homes and the oppression that was here with the drug infestation, among other things, the Lord placed on my heart to make certain that this community knows that we dont have to leave in order to receive what God has for them, Pastor Coleman said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town is home to less than 200 people and covers 0.3 square miles of land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pastor Coleman said Sunset lacks many community resources, but he hopes the church can fill that gap. We dont have a park that we need or [a] walking space for this community to have, he said. So, thats what were planning to do. Pastor Coleman said he is anticipating the cost of the entire project being in the millions. Family mourns woman who died in AR high-speed chase, crash However, he said theyve gained support from local and state officials. If theres funding that I can help allocate to this area for programs that youre trying to do, I will do that, said State Representative Jessie McGruder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a nonprofit organization, Pastor Coleman said. So, we also are soliciting other fundraisers, other organizations, other nonprofits, and foundations to assist us in this area. Phase One will include adding classrooms, educational spaces and a fellowship hall to the church building. Pastor Coleman said he wants the new facility to be a gathering space for the community that can be used to host local events and cater to the needs of those living nearby. Were not here to build a sanctuary, he said. Were here to build a facility for the community. According to Pastor Coleman, construction will begin in the next three weeks. 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. Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal it received from mediators, the groups leader in Gaza said Saturday. Two days ago, we received a proposal from our mediating brothers, the leader, Khalil al-Hayya, said during a speech. We dealt with it positively and approved it. We hope that the occupation will not obstruct it and thwart the mediators efforts. While the details of the ceasefire proposal were not immediately available, al-Hayya said Egypt suggested the formation of a community support committee to manage the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This committee would bear full responsibility for the Strip in all areas, he said. It would be composed of independent national figures, and they would assume their duties immediately upon reaching an agreement to block any propaganda that the enemy might practice. Egypt had not released any comment about the proposed details Saturday, but its State Information Service said Friday that its minister of foreign affairs and emigration spoke with his Turkish counterpart to discuss ceasefire efforts. Israel has submitted a counterproposal to mediators after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations on Friday, according to his office, adding that it is in full coordination with the United States. On Sunday, Netanyahus office issued a statement saying his Cabinet had agreed to increase the pressure on Hamas, to create the best conditions for the release of our hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said that Israel was negotiating with Hamas, but that it was conducting negotiations under fire, through military pressure. It is not clear what, if any, objections Israel has to the ceasefire proposal. If adopted, this ceasefire would come after Israel broke a previously established ceasefire with Hamas, launching a barrage of deadly airstrikes at Gaza and killing more than 400 people. That ceasefire agreement had gone into effect on Jan. 19. Israel blamed Hamas for the attack, citing the groups refusal to meet Israels demand to release more hostages in return for the resumption of talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that was not part of that original ceasefire agreement, which included a first phase, where Hamas released 25 living hostages and the bodies of eight in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and detainees by March 1. The second phase was meant to begin 16 days later and would have included the exchange of all the remaining hostages and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire. The second phase never came. Netanyahu accepted a plan by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trumps special envoy to the Middle East, to extend the ceasefire for 50 days to discuss Phase 2, which Hamas rejected. After Hamas rejection, Israel blocked the flow of aid and goods into Gaza and eventually hit the enclave with airstrikes on the night of March 18. In remarks following the airstrikes, Netanyahu said that this is just the beginning. The strikes ended nearly two months of relative peace between Israel and Hamas. It is not clear how the new ceasefire proposal differs from the last, or whether Hamas will accept Israels counterproposal. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com STORY: Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya said in a speech televised Saturday that the militant group has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it received this week from mediators in Egypt and Qatar. He added that he hopes the Israeli occupation will not undermine the plan aimed at securing a pause in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza that erupted in October 2023. Security sources told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal suggests Hamas release five of the Israeli hostages it is holding each week, the sources said. :: Hamas Military Wing It comes as Hamas released video of Israeli hostage Elkana bohbot asking for help to be freed so he can see his wife and son. And as protesters against the Israeli government like Amoon Shang Gillon took to the streets of Tel Aviv to push for their return. "We are here today because we want all the hostages to come home and all the people of Gaza to come home also. All the people need to have life. We all like to live. This is what we want." While Palestinians in Gaza's Khan Younis like Hadaya Al-Najjar prepared for Eid on Saturday amidst Israel's resumption of an aerial and ground operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want a solution, we don't want the situation to stay like this, we are people like everyone else, aren't we human beings? Don't the children have the right to be joyful like all the other children of the world? Why should we be different?" The Israeli prime minister's office said it has discussed the proposal and has sent a counter-proposal to the mediators. Reuters asked the prime minister's office if it had also agreed to the ceasefire proposal but it did not immediately respond. Hamas has been accused of beating a man to death and leaving him on his familys doorstep in a warning against any further protests against its rule in the Gaza Strip. The terror group has been the subject of rare public demonstrations against it in the territory as the war with Israel drags on, with more than 50,000 Palestinians having been killed. Earlier this week anti-Hamas chants were heard during a wider protest against the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uday Al Rabbay was kidnapped shortly after participating in the protest. He was returned dead and bloody to his familys home days later. Mazen Shat, a senior police officer affiliated with Fatah the Palestinian nationalist group that lost control of Gaza after a brief war with Hamas in 2007 told The Telegraph: Uday was martyred by the criminals of Hamas. And whats his crime? He told the truth, because he refused to be silent on injustice, because he did not kneel to Hamas. Credit: Telegram/Hamza20300 Mr Shat said Hamas had tortured the young man for four hours. Images showed open wounds and bruising that left their victims body swollen and bloody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas is oppressing people in a brutal way, Mr Shat said. Like a puppy on a rope around his neck, they dragged him to the door of his house and told his family that this is the punishment for those who complain about Hamas. Sam Habeeb, a Gazan who now lives in London and is a former parliamentary candidate for Ealing North, told The Telegraph it was the first time Gaza witnessed such large-scale protests since Hamas violently took control of the Strip in 2007. While protests have occurred over the years, including large uprisings in 2023 and 2019, they have usually been quashed quickly, with fear of violent crackdowns deterring people from coming onto the streets. Violent crackdowns on protesters is criminal and unacceptable, said Mr Habeeb. This is a heinous crime that is completely condemned. It is unacceptable to restrict the freedom of protest and kill and torture the protester Uday Al Rabai. Not all people in Gaza are part of Hamas, and they have the right to express their views freely. Palestinians have called on Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza - Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg Hamas won a huge majority in parliamentary elections in 2006 after Palestinian voters rejected the long-time rule of the Fatah movement, seen by many as too weak to achieve their aims of an independent Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct 7 2023 saw support for the group soar in Gaza and the West Bank, that has since waned as the war has gone on. A poll by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research in September showed public opinion plummeting amid Gazas decimation and mounting death toll. The recent protests followed the collapse of a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to exchange Israeli hostages kidnapped on Oct 7 in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Israel has renewed relentless air strikes on the Strip, killing hundreds more civilians in what it says are strikes on Hamas. Civilians who had returned, hoping to rebuild their homes and lives, find themselves at the centre of a war zone. People have been under Israeli bombing since October 2023, they dont want the war to continue by all means. Hamas must accept the fact that the majority of people of Gaza want an end to this war and certainly they have the right to express their views freely, said Mr Habeeb. Palestinians in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, chant slogans during a protest calling for an end to the war with Israel - AFP via Getty Images Gazan-born Hamza Howidy, who now lives in exile in Europe, has been tortured and imprisoned by Hamas twice for protesting, first in 2019 and then in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He warns that Hamas would now say those who have been rounded up and murdered are collaborators, a crime punishable by death. It is believed from sources in Gaza that at least six others have been killed and described as collaborators. After his first arrest for protesting in Jabaliya, north Gaza, in 2019, he told The Telegraph he was given a welcome gift in prison. Everyone in the prison tortures and humiliates you, its how they get to know you better, he said. They drew a bicycle on the wall and told me to ride it if you dont pretend to ride it, they beat you. They want you to feel like nothing. On Saturday, Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group had agreed to a proposal that security sources said included the release of five Israeli hostages each week. But he said laying down its arms, as Israel had demanded, was a red line Hamas would not cross. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, repeated a demand for Hamas to disarm and for its leaders to leave Gaza as he promised to step up pressure on the group while continuing efforts to return hostages. 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. Wednesday, April 2 No Cuts, Raise Revenue Dont Balance the Budget on the Backs of the Most Vulnerable rally: The Health Care Is a Human Right WA coalition, representing 40 community and labor organizations, is rallying to demand that Washington state leaders reject budget cuts to essential services and instead pursue revenue solutions. They also are calling for lawmakers to revisit the tax code. The rally will run from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the north Capitol steps of the Legislative Building in Olympia. Speakers will include Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer; Rachelle Martin, President of the Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council; Vicki Lowe, Executive Director of the American Indian Health Commission; and Rep. Natasha Hill of Washingtons 3rd Legislative District. Take a tour of the Governors Mansion: Think you know your local history? Take a tour of the historic Washington State Governors Mansion at the Capitol Campus and find out. The Mansion has been home to Washington State Governors since 1910. Guided tours will be offered six days now through June, on the first and second Wednesday of each month: April 2 & 9; May 7 & 14; June 4 & 11. Tours are at 10:30 am, 11 am, 11:30 am, and noon and are 30 minutes long. Reservations are required. Thursday, April 3 High Season begins at the Olympia Farmers Market: Spring has arrived, and so have the high-season hours at the Olympia Farmers Market! Starting April 3, you can shop for fresh locally grown produce, handmade artisan goods, and delicious market treats from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The market is at 700 Capitol Way N. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History talk on Yukon River expedition: Head to the Schmidt House each month for a free hour-long talk on social or natural history presented by a recognized expert. Talks begin at noon on the first Thursday of the month. This Thursday, local historian Dennis Larsen will speak about the 1883 Schwatka Expedition to the Yukon River. In 1881, the U.S. Army asked Congress to fund an exploration of the interior of Alaska. Congress refused, so an unsanctioned party of six soldiers and one civilian (a Washingtonian) disappeared into the Arctic wilderness in 1883. Larsen tells the harrowing story of their five-month adventure, based on the explorers journals. The Schmidt House is at 330 Schmidt Pl SW, Tumwater. Attendance is free. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. First come, first seated until room capacity is reached. Saturday, April 5 Comedian Kyle Kinane returns to Olympia: Cozy Comedy is bringing back Kyle Kinane to the Capitol Theater for the third straight year. As a comedian, he has been seen on Conan, The Tonight Show, Netflixs The Standups, and three of his own hour-length specials on Comedy Central. As an actor, hes been in the Judd Apatow series Love and truTVs Those Who Cant. He was also on Drunk History, where he says unfortunately he wasnt acting. Opening for Kinane will be Olympias Sam Miller and Monica Nevi. The show begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for general admission, or $45 for seats in the first three rows of the main floor or the first row of the balcony. Benefit for Feisty Felines Cat Rescue at South Bay Grange: Mas Uda Dancers are hosting this event, which will feature lots of vendors offering dance goods, crafts, baked goods and more, as well as dance workshops: Ready to RRRRRUMBA! from 10 a.m. to noon for $35; Musicality and Expression for $30 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Afternoon hafla (dance performance) from 3:30 to 6 p.m. by donation. For more information, contact Kashani via Facebook Message or 360-459-3694 (non textable). The Grange is at 3918 Sleater Kinney Road NE. WET Science Centers Trip to the Stars planetarium program: Ready, set, blast off with crafts and activities that are out of this world! Explore the stars with guest educators from the Museum of Flight during a one-hour Portable Planetarium program. Planetarium shows are at 10:15 am, 11:30 am, 1:15 pm, and 2:30 pm. Each show has limited space and involves sitting on the floor for 50 minutes. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thurston County Furniture Bank is open: The nonprofit all-volunteer furniture bank is open the first and third Saturdays of every month from 9 a.m. to noon at 2121 Log Cabin Road SE, Olympia. The Furniture Bank building is at the back of the parking lot. Donations of gently used furniture are accepted. Pick up of donations can be arranged but usually takes 3-4 weeks. Those looking for furniture are welcomed. For further information go to Furniture Bank of Thurston County Olympia CRC. Would you like to have your event included in our weekly Whats Happening calendar? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put Whats Happening in the subject line. HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Staff members with Hardin County Schools (HCS) shared highlights from a benefit for those battling childhood cancer on Friday. Event organizers said the districts Student Advisory Council wanted to plan a benefit that brought the staff and community together, transforming a T-shirt sale into something more. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The benefit supported the Addison Jo Blair Foundation in Elizabethtown and the St. Baldricks Foundation. District staff members participated by shaving their heads or wearing wigs while seeking donations. On Saturday morning, the Addison Jo Blair Foundation posted on Facebook that money donated during the benefit will go toward children and their families dealing with cancer, as well as research into medicines to treat it. Hardin County Schools staff members participated in a benefit for those battling childhood cancer. (Hardin County Schools) Hardin County Schools staff members participated in a benefit for those battling childhood cancer. (Hardin County Schools) Hardin County Schools staff members participated in a benefit for those battling childhood cancer. (Hardin County Schools) Hardin County Schools staff members participated in a benefit for those battling childhood cancer. (Hardin County Schools) We are so proud of everyone who stepped up to brave the shave and raised money for this cause that is so dear to our hearts! Members of the nonprofit wrote. More information about childhood cancer can be found on the Addison Jo Blair Foundation and St. Baldricks Foundation websites. 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. Mar. 30Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a Hartford man after receiving a report of domestic assault Saturday evening. The Oxford and Androscoggin County Sheriff's Offices responded to 299 Tucker Road in Hartford at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Saturday after an 80-year-old man reported that his stepson, Eric Newell, 51, assaulted him. According to a release from the Oxford County Sheriff's Office, deputies attempted to "deescalate the situation" but were unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newell exited the residence and advanced toward deputies while armed with a knife, the sheriff's office said. Oxford deputies Reece Rodrique and Derek MacDonald both shot Newell after he did not comply with their demands, the release said. Newell died from his injuries. Both deputies were placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol when deadly force is used. The Office of the Maine Attorney General will be investigating the use of deadly force. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced the return of the Department of Environment Services Mobile Household Hazardous Waste and Pharmaceutical Collections program on Friday. The collections are held in partnership with local municipalities, allowing residents to properly dispose of up to 30 gallons of chemicals such as fertilizers, paint, automotive fluids, household cleaners, and pool chemicals for free. Both the health of our environment and the health of our families can be jeopardized by the improper disposal of household hazardous waste, Bello said. Thats why were making it easier than ever to dispose of hazardous items by bringing our collection initiative to our neighborhoods. Just bring your household hazardous waste and pharmaceuticals to one of our collection events and our Department of Environmental Services will handle the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appointments are required for all hazardous waste collections. Any Monroe County resident can schedule an appointment to dispose of household hazardous waste at any location from 7:45-11:45 a.m through the Monroe County/WM Ecopark website. Collection sites in Monroe County include the following: April 26, Town of Gates DPW, 475 Trabold Road May 17, Town of Perinton DPW, 100 Cobbs Lane June 7, Town of Ogden DPW, 2432 S. Union Street September 20, Town of Webster DPW, 1005 Picture Parkway October 4, Town of Greece DPW, 647 Long Pond Road In addition, Monroe County is providing four mobile pharmaceutical collection events, three of which will be in partnership with Wegmans Food Markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appointments for these collections are not required and will be held at the following locations: April 12, Churchville Park, 9 a.m. until noon. May 3, Wegmans, 3701 Mt. Read Boulevard, Greece, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. July 19, Wegmans, 745 Calkins Road, Henrietta, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. September 10, Wegmans, 1955 Empire Boulevard, Webster, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. These are in addition to the standing schedule for residents to drop off household hazardous waste every Wednesday from 1-6 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Monroe County/WM Ecopark at 10 Avion Drive in Rochester. For additional information on household hazardous waste, visit the Monroe County website 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 RochesterFirst. Colorado Democrats reelected state chair Shad Murib to a second two-year term Saturday at a reorganization meeting of the party's central committee in Aurora. The health and long term success of the Connecticut River watershed will be discussed at an all day summit next week in Middletown, officials said. The Connecticut River Museum is set to host the 2025 Connecticut River Valley Environmental Summit, which will bring together experts, advocates, and community members to discuss the health and sustainability of the Connecticut River watershed. The summit will take place on April 5, at Wesleyan University, officials said. The summits theme is Our Sustainable Future, with experts coming together to address key challenges facing the Connecticut River watershed, engaging a diverse audience of scientists, policymakers, academics, and cultural institutions, officials said. The event offers a chance to share ideas, build new connections, and explore ways to protect the states largest river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This summit is a vital platform for addressing the pressing environmental issues facing our region, said CRM Executive Director Elizabeth Kaeser. In 2024, the results of Unified Water Study increased the health grade of the River to an A- from a B. This is a great result but to ensure that the Connecticut remains a healthy river, everyone in its watershed needs to become a river steward. We are bringing together leading experts and community members to share knowledge, develop solutions, make connections, and inspire action, she said. This years summit is set to feature a diverse lineup of speakers and sessions addressing key environmental challenges and opportunities. Workshops include learning about healthy watersheds for Long Island Sound, bringing back migratory fish populations, empowering native interests on the Connecticut River, a river steward roundtable, and learning about what the next generation of river stewardship will require. The summit will also include a poster session, lunch discussions workshops, and opportunities for networking and collaboration, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summit will begin with public check-in from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and opening remarks will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sessions will be held throughout the day and the summit will wrap up starting at 3:55 p.m. Both live and streaming tickets are available. Tickets range from $10 for a streaming ticket to $30 for an in-person member ticket and $40 for an in-person non-member ticket. Student tickets are $10. For more information and to register, visit https://ctrivermuseum.org/crves-2025. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com (NewsNation) Heart disease is a condition that plagues many Americans, with one person dying from it every 33 seconds. In 2022, it was the cause of death for 1 in 5 Americans. However, several observable risk factors can help ensure prevention. Per the CDCs 2022 data, it is the leading cause of death in the United States with 702,880 in that year ahead of cancer 608,371. Per its provisional 2023 data, it was also the leading cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 30-year study reveals keys to healthy aging What causes heart disease? Heart disease is a broad reference to multiple heart conditions. The most common is coronary artery disease; which disrupts blood flow to the heart. This decrease in blood flow is the most common cause of heart attacks. Several risk factors significantly contribute to ones likelihood of having heart disease. These include high blood pressure, smoking and high blood cholesterol. Per the CDC, 47% of Americans have at least one of three. How can heart disease be prevented? Individuals are encouraged to discontinue smoking if they have not already. It causes damage to blood vessels and subsequently heightens the possibility of heart disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regular physical activity, specifically 2.5 hours of moderate intensity per week, according to the Surgeon General. Utah woman receives 100 cancer treatments, living far beyond doctors expectations Obesity is a contributor to heart disease, and in addition to exercise, the CDC recommends limited amounts of foods rich in saturated and trans fat. Similarly, restricting sodium, sugar and alcohol is advised to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and blood sugar levels respectively. In addition to these measures, checking ones cholesterol, blood pressure and managing diabetes and medicines are suggested by the CDC. Is heart disease becoming more common? Cardiovascular disease is not just an American issue, it is the leading cause of death worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite promises from the American Heart Association (AHA) that its goal for the 2020s was to decrease heart disease deaths by 20%, this has not occurred thus far. Instead, its forecast is that heart disease will largely increase by 2050 to whereby 6 in 10 adults will live and die with heart disease. CA bill would ban sale of some beauty products to Sephora Kids As cited by Stat, cardiovascular disease has trended upward since 2020 after a near-linear decrease from 2000 to 2019. Heart failure is more prevalent now than it was in the past, and its more prevalent because of the successes of cardiovascular care, particularly around myocardial infarction and hypertension, Sean Pinney, chief of cardiology at Mount Sinai Morningside told the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are more baby boomers alive, and therefore there are more baby boomers who also have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Beyond this sentiment, some believe heart disease could be less prevalent if greater care for implementation existed. Patients themselves know that obesity is bad. Patients themselves know that high blood pressure, high cholesterol is bad, but they just dont take on active participation until theyre sick, Clyde Yancy, chief of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine told Stat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump has issued a wave of executive orders targeting high-profile law firms. While some firms have agreed to Trump's demands, others have sued the administration. So far, several of Trump's executive orders have been ruled unconstitutional by district judges. President Donald Trump has taken aim at Big Law in recent months. Some law firms struck deals with the president, while others instead chose to challenge his orders in court. Trump has accused the Big Law firms including Paul Weiss, Perkins Coie, and Covington & Burling, among others of weaponizing the judicial system. His orders have, in turn, made it harder for the firms to continue conducting business as usual, ordering reviews of each firm's government contracts, canceling security clearances for some employees, and, in certain cases, blocking them from entering federal buildings, including courthouses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several firms have alleged in lawsuits that the executive orders intended to chill free speech and deter clients from doing business with them. So far, many of the firms that have fought back are winning in court. Still, other firms agreed, at times preemptively, to work with the administration to avoid punitive executive actions against them. Several of these firms have seen high-profile resignations in response, and faced criticism from others in the industry for their refusal to challenge the legality of the orders. The law firms that the president has singled out are those that he says have wronged him in some capacity, typically by representing his political opponents, or those that have implemented diversity initiatives in their hiring practices that are counter to his anti-DEI efforts. In addition to the initial executive orders, Trump has also instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to identify firms with "frivolous" cases against the administration so that they could be targeted for further punitive action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether they've challenged the administration or struck a deal, here are the firms Trump is taking on, how they've responded, and where the legal process stands for those who have fought back in court. Paul Weiss On March 14, Trump issued an executive order directed at the prominent New York City-based law firm Paul Weiss, where he railed against the attorney Mark Pomerantz and decried what he said was "unlawful discrimination" from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the firm. Pomerantz previously left Paul Weiss to aid the Manhattan District Attorney's office as it probed Trump's finances. When Pomerantz resigned as special district attorney in February 2022, he wrote in a departing letter that he believed Trump was "guilty of numerous felony violations." In the order, Trump sought to revoke security clearances and bar access to government buildings for attorneys of the firm. Such a sweeping directive could also include federal courthouses, a scenario that would be detrimental to the firm's work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trump just days later rescinded the executive order and announced an agreement with Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp. Trump said the firm would provide $40 million in pro bono work for causes that the administration supports and end its DEI policies. Karp received a heap of criticism, with many questioning why Paul Weiss didn't challenge Trump's order. In an email to the firm's attorneys, he said there was a desire from the outset to challenge the directive. In the same email, though, Karp argued that even if Paul Weiss won in court, it would become "persona non grata" with the Trump White House, which could prompt a wave of clients to switch to other firms and subsequently threaten the viability of the firm. "It was very likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the administration," Karp wrote in the email. On May 23, four top partners at the white-shoe firm Karen Dunn, a star litigator who has helped Democratic candidates prepare for presidential debates, her longtime partners Bill Isaacson and Jessica Phillips, and the former prosecutor Jeannie Rhee announced that they would be leaving Paul Weiss to start their own firm. Perkins Coie On March 6, Trump targeted the law firm Perkins Coie, issuing an executive order to suspend the security clearances of the firm's attorneys and criticizing its diversity and inclusion policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the order, Trump called out what he said was the firm's "dishonest and dangerous activity." The president, in his order, highlighted the firm's representation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton his rival in the 2016 presidential election during that year's tumultuous campaign. However, Perkins Coie struck back, filing a lawsuit against the administration for actions that it said "violates core constitutional rights, including the rights to free speech and due process." "At the heart of the order is an unlawful attack on the freedom of all Americans to select counsel of their choice without fear of retribution or punishment from the government," Perkins Coie managing director Bill Malley said in a statement in March. "We were compelled to take this action to protect our firm and our clients." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day after Perkins Coie filed its suit, a federal judge agreed to temporarily block part of the president's executive order. Perkins Coie, in a statement, said the ruling was "an important first step in ensuring this unconstitutional Executive Order is never enforced." On May 2, US District Judge Beryl Howell, in a scathing ruling, struck down President Donald Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie, declaring his effort to target the Big Law firm unconstitutional. "Eliminating lawyers as the guardians of the rule of law removes a major impediment to the path to more power," Howell wrote in her ruling. "In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase 'Let's kill all the lawyers,' EO 14230 takes the approach of 'Let's kill the lawyers I don't like,' sending the clear message: lawyers must stick to the party line, or else." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Perkins Coie told Business Insider in a statement that the firm was pleased with the judge's ruling. "This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution," the statement said. "As we move forward, we remain guided by the same commitments that first compelled us to bring this challenge: to protect our firm, safeguard the interests of our clients, and uphold the rule of law." Covington & Burling LLP Trump on February 25 signed a memorandum to evaluate federal contracts and direct the suspension of security clearances for some employees at Covington & Burling, a DC-based law firm known for its antitrust work. The president in the memo said he was suspending the clearances of individuals who advised former special counsel Jack Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith brought two federal cases against Trump one for election interference in the 2020 presidential election and the other for retaining classified documents but both were dropped after the president won reelection to a second term in November 2024. In the memo, Trump went after individuals whom he said were "involved in the weaponization of government" and named Peter Koski, a lawyer at Covington representing Smith. A Covington spokesperson in March said it was representing Smith in an "individual" capacity. "We recently agreed to represent Jack Smith when it became apparent that he would become a subject of a government investigation," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We look forward to defending Mr. Smith's interests and appreciate the trust he has placed in us to do so." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firm has not taken any public action against the administration in response to the executive order against it. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Skadden made a deal with Trump, acting before it was singled out in any executive orders. The firm promised to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services "to causes that the President and Skadden both support," Trump announced on March 28. Skadden also affirmed its commitment to merit-based hiring and employee retention, Trump said. The firm also agreed that it would refrain from engaging in "illegal DEI discrimination," according to a copy of the agreement that Trump shared on Truth Social. In a statement, Jeremy London, Skadden's executive partner, said the firm "engaged proactively" with the administration to reach the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We firmly believe that this outcome is in the best interests of our clients, our people, and our Firm," London said. Speaking from the White House, Trump referred to the deal as "essentially a settlement." Within the firm, some associates and employees expressed frustration about the deal, calling it the beginning of the end for Skadden. In the weeks leading up to the agreement, Skadden associate Rachel Cohen publicly resigned and circulated an open letter among associates at top firms calling out their employers for what she has described as inaction in the face of the administration's attacks. After the deal was announced, another employee, Brenna Frey, also resigned publicly in an announcement on LinkedIn. Elias Law Group The chair of Elias Law Group took a different approach after it was targeted by the administration. Trump named the Elias Law Group in his "frivolous" lawsuits memo, formally titled "Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court." It claimed that the law firm was "deeply involved in the creation of a false 'dossier' by a foreign national designed to provide a fraudulent basis for Federal law enforcement to investigate a Presidential candidate in order to alter the outcome of the Presidential election." The memo went on to say that the firm "intentionally sought to conceal the role of his client failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the dossier." However, the memo did not order security clearance revocations or contract reviews as similar orders against other major law firms did. Marc Elias, the Democratic election lawyer who founded and chairs the group, released a statement swinging back at Trump, whose actions target "every attorney and law firm who dares to challenge his assault on the rule of law," he said. "President Trump's goal is clear," Elias said in the statement. "He wants lawyers and law firms to capitulate and cower until there is no one left to oppose his Administration in court." Adding that American democracy is in a state of "peril," Elias said his law firm would not cower. "Elias Law Group will not be deterred from fighting for democracy in court," he said. "There will be no negotiation with this White House about the clients we represent or the lawsuits we bring on their behalf." Jenner & Block Trump on March 25 signed an order targeting Jenner & Block, revoking security clearances from the firm's attorneys, and ordering a review of the firm's contracts with the federal government. Trump's order singled out Andrew Weissmann, a former Jenner attorney who Trump accused of building his career around "weaponized government and abuse of power." Weissmann was a lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Special Counsel's Office, which investigated Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and its ties to Russia. Jenner issued a statement calling the order an "unconstitutional executive order that has already been declared unlawful by a federal court." "We remain focused on serving and safeguarding our clients' interests with the dedication, integrity, and expertise that has defined our firm for more than one hundred years and will pursue all appropriate remedies," the statement from Jenner said. Jenner also fought back with a lawsuit. The firm is represented by Cooley LLP, a liberal-leaning firm that has hired lawyers from Democratic administrations. On March 28, Judge John D. Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order that keeps the Trump administration from taking action against Jenner. On April 1, Bates extended this order until a final judgement has been made. Both the Justice Department and Jenner consented to the extension. Following the ruling, Jenner said in a statement that the order holds "no legal weight." "We will continue to do what we have always done, our job as lawyers and fearless advocates for our clients," the firm said. On May 23, Judge Bates said Trump's order against Jenner & Block retaliated against the firm for protected speech, striking it down in its entirety and declaring it unconstitutional. "The order raises constitutional eyebrows many times over. It punishes and seeks to silence speech 'at the very center of the First Amendment,'" Judge Bates, of the District Court of DC wrote in his ruling , adding that Trump's order did so "via the most 'egregious form of content discrimination viewpoint discrimination,'" and "in an unacceptable attempt to 'insulate the Government's laws from judicial inquiry.'" A spokesperson for Jenner & Block directed Business Insider to their public statement following the ruling, which said that the firm is "pleased with the court's decision to decisively strike down an unconstitutional attack on our clients' right to have zealous, independent counsel and our firm's right to represent our clients fully and without compromise." "Our decision to fight the executive order in court is rooted in Jenner & Block's history and values: we fiercely advocate for our clients under all circumstances," the firm's statement continued. "This ruling demonstrates the importance of lawyers standing firm on behalf of clients and for the law. That is what Jenner will continue to do for our clients paying and pro bono as we look to put this matter behind us." WilmerHale The Trump administration has also targeted WilmerHale, which employed Mueller and other lawyers who worked with the Justice Department to investigate ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign. On March 27, Trump signed an executive order that suspended security clearances for WilmerHale employees and limited their access to federal buildings. The order also revoked WilmerHale's government contracts for engaging in "partisan representations to achieve political ends" and "efforts to discriminate on the basis of race." In contrast with other firms that have inked deals with the president, WilmerHale filed a lawsuit. The firm hired Paul Clement, the conservative legal superstar of the firm Clement & Murphy, to fight back against the Trump administration. "This lawsuit is absolutely critical to vindicating the First Amendment, our adversarial system of justice, and the rule of law," Clement told Business Insider in a statement. On the afternoon of March 28, Judge Richard J. Leon of the US District Court for the District of Columbia approved a motion for a temporary restraining order to halt executive actions against WilmerHale. "There is no doubt this retaliatory action chills speech and legal advocacy, or that it qualifies as a constitutional harm," Leon wrote. A spokesperson for WilmerHale called the executive order unconstitutional and praised the court's "swift action." WilmerHale was handed a legal victory on May 27 after Judge Leon struck down the order in its entirety, saying that the executive order was a form of "coercion" against the firm to "suppress WilmerHale's representation of disfavored causes and clients." "I have concluded that this Order must be struck down in its entirety as unconstitutional," Judge Leon wrote. "Indeed, to rule otherwise would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers!" "The Court's decision to permanently block the unlawful executive order in its entirety strongly affirms our foundational constitutional rights and those of our clients," a spokesperson for WilmerHale told Business Insider. "We remain proud to defend our firm, our people, and our clients." Harrison Fields, principal deputy press secretary, told Business Insider in a statement that the White House opposes Judge Leon's ruling. "The decision to grant any individual access to this nation's secrets is a sensitive judgment call entrusted to the President," Fields said. "Weighing these factors and implementing such decisions are core executive powers, and reviewing the President's clearance decisions falls well outside the judiciary's authority." While the federal government can appeal Judge Leon's decision, in which case the proceedings will be heard in the court of appeals, no appeal has yet been announced. Milbank On April 2, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had struck a preemptive deal with Milbank without targeting the firm for executive action. The terms of the deal, according to the president's announcement, include the firm's agreement to end any DEI-based hiring practices, and to perform at least $100 million worth of pro bono legal work to advance causes supported by the Trump administration, such as "assisting veterans" and "combatting antisemitism." In addition, Milbank's pro bono committee will ensure the firm takes on cases representing "the full political spectrum, including Conservative ideals," and commits that it "will not deny representation to clients" based on the personal political views of individual lawyers, per Trump's announcement. "Milbank LLP approached President Donald J. Trump and his Administration, stating their resolve to help end the Weaponization of the Justice System and the Legal Profession," reads a statement from the White House included in Trump's post. "The President continues to build an unrivaled network of Lawyers, who will put a stop to Partisan Lawfare in America, and restore Liberty and Justice FOR ALL." Milbank's chairman, Scott Edelman, said in a statement posted by Trump that, after a "constructive dialogue," the firm was "pleased we were so quickly able to find common ground" with the administration. When reached by Business Insider, a spokesperson for the firm provided a letter sent by Edelman to Milbank's staff in which he said the agreement "is very much in Milbank's interest." "The Administration's expressed concerns about big law firms, and in some cases its entry of Executive Orders against particular firms, have created uncertainty for law firms like ours," Edelman's letter to staff reads. "With this agreement, we believe we have gone a long way to putting these issues behind us. But we have done so in a way that allows us to continue to focus on the Firm's values and missions, including with respect to pro bono and our hope to foster an inclusive, non-discriminatory community where all of our members have an equal opportunity to succeed." Edelman added: "Having now reached an agreement with the Administration, we can continue to do what we do best focus on providing the best possible advice, counseling and service to our clients." Susman Godfrey On April 9, Trump signed an executive memorandum targeting Susman Godfrey, a specialized litigation firm. In a fact sheet, the White House accused Susman of spearheading "efforts to weaponize the American legal system and degrade the quality of American elections." Trump's order sought to immediately suspend any Susman security clearances held by the firm's employees, "pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest." The federal government said it would also terminate any contracts with the firm. The firm's hiring practices will also be reviewed "to ensure compliance with civil rights laws against racial bias." On April 11, Susman filed a complaint against the Trump administration, arguing that Trump's executive order was in violation of the Constitution. "Unless the Judiciary acts with resolvenowto repudiate this blatantly unconstitutional Executive Order and the others like it, a dangerous and perhaps irreversible precedent will be set," the complaint reads. "If President Trump's Executive Orders are allowed to stand, future presidents will face no constraint when they seek to retaliate against a different set of perceived foes. What for two centuries has been beyond the pale will become the new normal," it adds. A final decision in the case remains pending, although a judge has placed a restraining order preventing the implementation of Trump's order. Willkie Farr & Gallagher Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which employs Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, struck a deal with the administration, pledging at least $100 million in pro bono legal work for conservative causes, Trump said in an April 1 social media post. "Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP proactively reached out to President Trump and his Administration, offering their decisive commitment to ending the Weaponization of the Justice System and the Legal Profession," the White House said, according to Trump's post on Truth Social. The firm's ties to Trump go to the 1990s when it represented the then real estate developer in a bankruptcy case. In 2023, Willkie brought Tim Heaphy as partner. Heaphy was the former chief investigative counsel for the congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attacks on the Capitol. The firm also represents X, Elon Musk's social media platform. Trump said that Willkie Farr & Gallagher also committed to "Merit-Based Hiring, Promotion, and Retention," which touches on the Trump's efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives. Wilkie Farr lost its longest-serving lawyer in April after Joseph Baio, a partner who'd worked there for 47 years, resigned over the firm's preemptive deal with Trump, The New York Times reported. A representative for Willkie Farr & Gallagher did not respond to a request for comment. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft Trump said in a Truth Social post April 11 that the administration had come to an agreement with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, saying the law firm agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services. The services would go toward causes supported by Trump and the law firm, including assisting veterans and law enforcement, combating antisemitism, and "ensuring fairness in our justice system." The statement said the firm also agreed to "not engage in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences" or to deny legal representation "because of the personal political views of individual lawyers." "The substance of our agreement is consistent with the principles that have guided Cadwalader for over 230 years: We always put our client's interests first; We believe that Justice should be available to everyone; and We are committed to attracting, retaining and nurturing the very best talent from all backgrounds," Patrick Quinn, managing partner at Cadwalader, said in a statement shared by Trump. Cadwalader did not respond to a request for comment. Kirkland & Ellis Trump also announced on April 11 that the administration had come to an agreement with an additional four law firms, including Kirkland & Ellis. The president said in a Truth Social post the firms agreed to provide a total of $500 million in pro bono legal services to go toward the same types of causes, with each firm contributing $125 million. The firms also agreed to engage outside counsel to oversee their hiring practices and ensure they comply with antidiscrimination laws. Trump said as a result of the agreement, he would end an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into the law firms over their DEI practices, which was initially announced on March 17. In a joint statement shared by Trump, the senior executives at the four law firms said: "We have resolved this matter while upholding long-held principles important to each of our Firms: Equal Employment Opportunity; providing pro bono assistance to a wide range of underserved populations, and ensuring fairness in the Justice System; and representing a broad spectrum of clients on various matters." In a firm-wide internal memo obtained by BI, the Kirkland & Ellis executive committee said the agreement "resolves the EEOC's investigation, including its broad request for information about our people and our clients, which we no longer will be required to provide, and we will not be the target of an executive order." "We made the decision to pursue this solution because at our very core our mission is to protect and support our people and our clients, and this agreement does both," the memo said. Jacqui Pittman, an associate at Kirkland, publicly resigned after the deal was announced. A&O Shearman A&O Shearman was among the law firms with which Trump said on April 11 that his administration had reached an agreement. The firm agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services to causes supported by the administration. It also agreed to engage outside counsel to oversee its hiring practices, and the EEOC investigation into the firms has stopped. A&O Shearman did not respond to a request for comment. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Simpson Thacher & Bartlett also reached an agreement with the White House to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services to causes supported by the firm and Trump, as well as engage outside counsel to ensure its hiring practices comply with antidiscrimination laws. As a result of the agreement, the EEOC investigation into the firm's hiring practices was stopped. Los Angeles-based attorney Siunik Moradian, an associate at the firm, resigned after the deal was announced. He told Business Insider he'd considered leaving Big Law since the Paul Weiss deal was announced and found "firms were a lot more willing to cut a deal than I thought." "I think what becomes really concerning for me is that these law firms are not making deals because of the strength of the Trump administration's claims or potential claims," he said. "They're extra-legal extortionist tactics, and it just seems like a dangerous precedent and something that the Trump administration is going to add to their playbook of weaponizing the legal system in the courts." Simpson Thacher & Bartlett did not respond to a request for comment. Latham & Watkins Latham & Watkins was also among the four firms that reached an agreement with Trump, according to the April 11 announcement. The firm agreed to provide $125 million in pro bono legal services as well as engage outside counsel to oversee its hiring. As a result, the Trump administration ended the EEOC investigation into the firm. Sam Wong, an associate at Latham, announced his resignation from the firm on LinkedIn following the announcement of the deal. Latham & Watkins did not respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Underlying the 2024 election results was a subtle trend that could signal a dramatic reshaping of the electorate: a surge in ticket-splitting among Latino voters who shifted sharply toward Donald Trump but also supported Democratic House and Senate candidates. The rise in voters simultaneously backing both parties, revealed by a detailed new POLITICO analysis of results and voting records, complicates how both parties will approach next years midterms and the 2028 presidential race. It also raises an urgent question: Were Trumps gains with Latinos a sign of a fundamental break with the Democratic Party, or are voters who backed him in 2024 still largely Democrats who just preferred him over Kamala Harris? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are monumental. Heavily Hispanic and Latino areas that saw significant ticket-splitting are key to many swing districts and battleground states. The party that can win over those voters Republicans converting Trump supporters into reliable GOP voters, or Democrats bringing them back into the fold more firmly will have a clear electoral advantage in the years ahead. The working class of the future are Latinos in the southwest, said Mike Madrid, a veteran Republican political consultant who authored a book on Latino voting trends. Whichever party captures the votes and confidence of a multiethnic, aspirational working class will be the dominant party for the next generation. While Republicans and Democrats are largely working off the same data about what happened in 2024, top leaders in each party are making drastically different bets about what it means as they craft their 2026 strategies. Republicans see opportunities to make inroads with a previously elusive voting bloc, theyre looking to ensure Latino voters new to the GOP continue to vote for Republican candidates, using Trumps success as a stepping stone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've seen a trend over the last couple decades, really, of Hispanic voters embracing Republicans," said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the chair of the House GOP campaign arm. "We, the Republican Party, really want to earn the votes from the Hispanic community, and we made a very concerted effort over the last couple of cycles." Some Democratic leaders dont see cause for panic. Trumps success in November was unique, they argue, not a warning sign of a fracturing of their multiracial coalition. They look at down-ballot victories as a roadmap to winning back power and argue that the success of Democratic congressional candidates is proof the party still has what it takes to win with Latino voters. That is even more true in future elections, they say, with Trump not directly on the ballot and Republicans the party in power in an uncertain economy. "The dynamic in the midterm is going to be very different," said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), the chair of the House Democratic campaign arm. "It's not a presidential cycle, and Republicans are going to have to defend what they're doing to take away resources from our communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still other Democrats see a crisis in the making. They worry the presidential shift signals a fundamental realignment that could endanger the partys chances of reclaiming power leaving down-ballot Democrats who survived the presidential wipeout in 2024 unsafe in future elections. Trumps presidential win was driven by shifts among nearly every type of voter and across every geography, and his gains were largest among Latino voters. But the POLITICO analysis of precinct-level results and cast-vote records, the most detailed data available, shows Latino voters also drove a resurgence in ticket-splitting in 2024. Trump voters in the most Latino areas were disproportionately likely to also vote for Democrats in key Senate and House races, blunting Republicans down-ballot improvements and preventing deeper liberal losses. In Clark County, Nevada, where Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) was reelected in a Trump-won district, the POLITICO analysis of cast-vote records found a nearly one-third increase in ballots for both Trump and Democratic House candidates compared to 2020, with crossover voting greatest in predominantly Latino precincts. The trend played out in key Senate races too. In Arizona, now-Sen. Ruben Gallego ran 6.3 points ahead of Harris in precincts where at least 80 percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino, compared to 4 points statewide. The border city of Nogales, which is roughly 95 percent Hispanic or Latino, epitomizes how the presidential shift largely did not trickle down-ballot: In 2020, former President Joe Biden won just shy of 77 percent of the two-party vote there. In November, Gallego still won 75 percent of ballots, but Harriss share dropped to 69 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Nevada, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen ran 5.5 points ahead of Harris in heavily Latino areas, more than double her 2.4-point statewide differential in two-party vote share. And in Texas, Colin Allred still outperformed Harris the most in the predominantly Latino Rio Grande Valley even as he came up short against Sen. Ted Cruz. The prevalence of split-ticket voting speaks to perhaps an isolated effect that may be Trump-specific, rather than a permanent shift of support from Democrats to Republicans, said Luke Warford, a Texas-based Democratic political strategist. Still, he said, winning over voters more fully will require serious financial investment. And theres a lesson amid the partys ongoing identity crisis many of the most successful down-ballot candidates distinguished themselves from the partys broader image. The results from Texas, Warford said, indicate a broad unpopularity of the national Democratic brand, and the need for Democrats in Texas to show clearly what it means to be a Texas Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some Democrats worry that means Trumps success might still signal a troubling trend. It should be a serious warning sign, said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), whose South Texas seat went for Trump last year. I won by 2.5 points. We used to win by 20 points and 30 points down there. Were living in extraordinary times, Gonzalez said. If we rely on just historical data, I think it's negligent. Six of the 13 congressional districts that went for both Trump and a House Democrat are at least 40 percent Latino, and five of those six districts swung more than 10 points to the right at the presidential level between 2020 and 2024. Those voters backed Trump while also reelecting members like Gonzalez along with Reps. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) and Josh Harder (D-Calif.) all of whom are now in the DCCCs incumbent-protection program , and named as targets for Republicans next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, are strategizing about how to fully bring Latinos into their camp. Lea Marquez Peterson, a Republican member of the elected Arizona Corporation Commission, launched the Hispanic Leadership PAC in 2023 to support Hispanic Republican candidates and provide a consistent voice to Latino voters about conservative principles. The goal, she said, is to not drop the ball, continue to look at the data, what we just learned in this last election, and then to continue that outreach. Over the past decade, lower Hispanic turnout in midterm elections was generally seen as a warning sign for Democrats. But with more Latino voters potentially up for grabs, that math is shifting. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), whose South Florida district is roughly two thirds Hispanic or Latino, said he believes Latino voters will be drawn to GOP policies and have increasingly rejected Democrats. But translating that into votes can be a challenge, especially in a non-presidential year. The question is turnout, he said, and how do we get the turnout? Over the upcoming days, a wide swath of the nation will be at risk for robust thunderstorms that will be capable of producing numerous tornadoes, large hailstones and intense wind gusts. Two consecutive storms that will traverse the Plains and portions of the East will spark rounds of severe weather and kick off a notable flood threat as the week goes on. After severe thunderstorms struck portions of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys on Sunday, AccuWeather severe weather experts are sounding the alarm bells for another high risk to develop in an eerily similar corridor. Severe weather Sunday night A line of strong thunderstorms formed Sunday afternoon and progressed eastward through Sunday night. Severe weather extended from northeastern Texas and Louisiana to Michigan and western Ohio. Hail and damaging winds were reported across the region with tornado reports in Missouri, Tennessee and Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were more than 400 reports of severe weather on Sunday and Sunday night, ranging from large hail and high winds to several tornadoes. Severe storms to stretch from New England to Gulf coast Monday The same storm to produce the severe weather risk on Sunday will continue to plague residents farther east from Monday to Monday night. A squall line of thunderstorms is expected to continue to plow eastward into Monday midday across the Interstate 10 and 20 corridors of the Southeast states, forecasters say. While this initial line of storms may wane during the afternoon hours as it moves along, a separate line may develop farther to the north later in the day and advance across Virginia and the Carolinas. AccuWeather.com Cities like Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, down to Jacksonville, Florida, are forecast to face intense storms on Monday as the main frontal boundary advances to the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some storms can be severe at the local level in portions of Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and western New England this afternoon and evening. Next storm to emerge into Plains late Tuesday into Wednesday A secondary storm will begin to shift out of the Rockies and across the Plains from early to midweek, posing yet another notable threat for damaging storms. The greatest chance for severe weather will arise later in the day on Tuesday, from the afternoon onward into the night, as the storm gathers energy and becomes more organized across the Central states. AccuWeather.com As this zone of low pressure advances northeastward from Nebraska and across the Midwest from Tuesday to Wednesday, a swath of moisture will surge out of the South and fuel storms across the region. Severe weather outbreak into midweek Forecasters are warning of another intense round of tornadoes, large hail and destructive wind gusts on Wednesday and Wednesday night, setting up across an uncannily similar region from northeastern Texas to Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Wednesday could end up being a carbon copy of Sunday, in terms of storm position and expected intensity. Another high risk zone is in the forecast from northeastern Arkansas to western Kentucky and southern Indiana," warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger. AccuWeather.com Especially since this second round of severe weather on Wednesday is projected to impact some of the same cities that faced powerful thunderstorms through Sunday night, those trying to recover from storm damage can be particularly vulnerable to impacts around midweek. "The harsh nature of the storms expected to develop across the Mississippi River basin around midweek will pose an additional threat to any residents who are exposed to destruction a few days prior. While there will be a brief lull in activity on Monday and Tuesday for some areas to allow for cleanup and recovery, another quick-hitting blow can exacerbate impacts and recovery time," highlighted AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Locations like Paducah, Kentucky, for example, will face multiple rounds of hazards over the upcoming days, ranging from flash flooding and tornadoes to hailstones that can reach diameters larger than a ping-pong ball. Flash flood threat to last into late week Even following the destructive storms anticipated through midweek, forecasters also warn that the pattern that will persist into the upcoming weekend will consist of rounds of heavy rain, if not additional thunderstorms. AccuWeather.com "If residents are in an area not directly impacted by damaging wind gusts, hail or tornadoes into midweek, they are likely going to encounter flash flooding this week," noted Roys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rising creeks and streams can quickly stir up trouble for those that reside in low-lying areas, especially given the heavy rainfall that occurred back in February. Similar to the zone of heaviest rainfall expected this week, from the fatal Kentucky flooding that occurred in mid-February also encompassed much of western and central areas of the state, extending into northwest Tennessee. Another round of intense and potentially historic rainfall to similar areas could result in extended road closures and power outages. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Robotic arms moved around as Lackawanna College student Karim Vaquero and his classmate Luke Kotcho entered commands on remote controls. As they entered prompts, the robotic arms drew squares with a highlighter on a large sheet of paper. Vaquero, who resides in Carbondale, is hopeful the skills hes learning in the colleges Robotics and Automation program will land him a job working with robots. Thats kind of the future, he said. Robotics and automation is basically going to be the primary choice for major corporations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As colleges grapple with declining enrollment, mounting student debt, high tuition and political debates over how they teach race and other topics, Americans are questioning the value and cost of a higher education degree. Only 36% of adults say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in higher education, a decline from 57% in 2015, according to a report released last year by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. A similar survey conducted by the Pew Research Center last year found 35% of adults say a college degree is somewhat important, while 40% say its not too or not at all important. Roughly half, or 49%, of respondents said it is less important to have a four-year college degree today in order to get a well-paying job than it was 20 years ago. Leaders of higher education institutions in Northeast Pennsylvania say earning a college degree leads to opportunities in todays workplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with a degree earn $1 million more than those without one, are less likely to be unemployed and more likely to have health insurance, they said. Attending a higher education institution teaches students skills like the ones Vaquero and Kotcho are learning that can be transferred to the workforce. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, pointed to a survey the association conducted in 2023 showing eight in 10 employers agree a higher education prepares graduates to succeed in the workforce. Credentials, which are usually short-term programs that lead to a certificate, are also increasingly being valued by employers. Theres a strong correlation between the knowledge, skills, mindsets and dispositions that employers are seeking, which they think are essential for success at the entry level and for advancement in their companies, and the liberal education that students receive, she said. The leaders say some professions, like health care, require that employees have a degree or certification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the programs that we offer require some sort of formal training, T.J. Eltringham, Lackawanna Colleges chief operating officer, said. Theres still that need for post-secondary training. Some of the colleges programs, including nursing, cybersecurity and robotics, were launched with the intention of filling local employers need for people with those skills. Students enrolled at the college, many of whom live in Northeast Pennsylvania, can fill those positions, he said. Were training students that are going to stay here and are working, Eltringham said. * First-year students Karim Vaquero and Luke Kotcho program robots to draw a shape at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * First-year student Luke Kotcho provides instructions to a robot at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. * Robots that Robotics and Integrated Technology Program Director Rob Crane and his students utilize in a classrom at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. * Robotics and Integrated Technology Program Director Rob Crane talks about one of the machines in a classroom at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. * First-year student Karim Vaquero gives a robot instructions to draw a shape at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * First-year student Luke Kotcho programs a robot at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. * First-year student Luke Kotcho maneuvers a robot at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. Show Caption 1 of 7 First-year students Karim Vaquero and Luke Kotcho program robots to draw a shape at Lackawanna College in Scranton on Tues., March 11, 2025. Expand Robotics and Automation Program Director Rob Crane takes a hands-on approach to teaching his students different aspects of the fields. I think it prepares them in that they can hit the ground running from day one, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students also learn more that prepares them for the workforce than just the classes in their major. Eltringham said college teaches students skills like communication and how to work with a team. At the University of Scranton, students are required to take English, philosophy, theology and history in addition to the classes in their major. The Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., the universitys president, says these core curriculum classes teach students to be critical thinkers. We equip them to be ethical leaders, great communicators, he said. They know how to problem solve at the workplace. Local higher education institutions are adapting to meet the needs of todays workplace. With technology evolving, students and faculty are learning to use tools like AI to support their work and learning, Marina said. The university has also evolved to accept students of all faiths and celebrates diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Technology has also allowed the University of Scranton to expand its degree programs, offering many graduate degrees, most recently psychiatric nursing, online. The construction of the Robert S. and Marilyn A. Weiss Hall on Madison Avenue on the University of Scranton campus will help develop the local workforce, Marina said. Eltringham said the certificate programs offered at Lackawanna College allow students to obtain a certificate, enter the workforce and return for either an associate or bachelors degree. Pasquerella said colleges need to improve on aligning what students are learning with what they could do for a career. She said e-portfolios and other mechanisms, as well as internships, show students how the skills theyre learning connect to careers. Just being mindful of the ways in which we can help through the curriculum make those explicit connections between curriculum and career will help them identify not only a job thats going to be high paying, but a job that will help fulfill them throughout their lives, she said. From the Dispatch Faith on The Dispatch Hi and happy Sunday. With Indias importance in geopolitics risingperhaps in no small part to its charismatic leader, Narendra Modiit may be easy to assume the Hindu nationalist political project he has become the leader of is something akin to Christian nationalist movements in the U.S. Thats not the case, the Hudson Institutes Bill Drexel writes in todays Dispatch Faith. While religion does indeed play an important role in the growing Hindu nationalist movement in India, thats too narrow a lens through which to view it. Bill Drexel: Hindu Nationalism Is Growing, But Its Not Indias Version of Christian Nationalism Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the inauguration of grand Ram temple's Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ram Janmaboomi Temple, built at the site of the demolished 16th-century Babri Mosque in the northern Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Imtiyaz Khan/Anadolu via Getty Images) Understanding a society as vast and complex as Indias has never been easy, but in recent years the meteoric rise of Hindu nationalism in the worlds largest nation has compounded that challenge for most Americans. The gargantuan mass movement behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi has championed a vision of India that places Hindu heritage at the center of the nations identity. With this formidable force remaking Indian society, reconstructing the countrys monuments, and rebranding its civilization, it is only natural to grasp for the closest analogues that come to mind to understand these rapid transformations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most obvious association in the American contextChristian nationalismis a poor lens through which to view the movement behind the new India, lending itself to over spiritualizing and underestimating Hindu nationalisms mass appeal. Even if Christian nationalismwhich seeks to formally establish the United States as a Christian nation with biblically grounded lawsappears ostensibly similar, applying this more familiar American template is likely to lead astray anyone who wants to understand the political culture behind an emerging global power and, very soon, the worlds fourth largest economy. But as a counterpoint rather than a comparison, Christian nationalism can serve as a revealing foililluminating Hindu nationalists ideas, institutions, and impacts on their own terms. Christian theologians, Hindu organizers. To be sure, Hindu nationalism and Christian nationalism do share some meaningful parallels. Both are breeds of cultural nationalism, emphasizing shared heritage and traditions as the key determinant of national coherence. Both seek to revise the relationship between church (or temple) and state, moving beyond promoting appreciation foror even rootedness inJudeo-Christian heritage or Indic civilization toward a system that explicitly privileges their nations largest religious traditions. And at their worst, both are infamous for identitarian chauvinism and intolerance to minority groups, especially Muslims. Even if they ultimately serve as poor metaphors for one another, it is fair to say that they resemble each other more than any other major political paradigms in either country. But move beyond these external similarities toward their motivating beliefs, and major divergences start to appearstarting with each movements ideological roots. Observers familiar with the highly defined Protestant faith commitments of Christian nationalist leaders may be surprised to discover that the father of contemporary Hindu nationalism, V.D. Savarkar (1883-1966), was an unabashed atheist who refused to allow Hindu religious rites at his wifes funeral and publicly encouraged Hindus to give up religiously motivated vegetarianism. Whats more, he was critical of the very concept of Hinduismarguing that the term was akin to lumping together the conflicting beliefs of Englands Jews, Jacobins, Utilitarians, and Trinitarians and calling it Englishism. Savarkars metaphor may be apt. Scholars of religion endlessly debate how to reckon with Hinduisms mind-bogglingly diverse beliefs, practices, and rituals. While Protestantism stands as perhaps the most stringently defined major religious tradition, with its emphasis on doctrinal precision and scriptural authority, Hinduism represents the opposite end of the spectrumeasily the least systematized of the worlds major faiths. Regardless of where one falls in the debate about Hinduisms coherence, there is no doubt that it contains far more theological diversity than Christianitys many denominations, or Abrahamic religions as a whole. Religious Hindus often disagree, for instance, as to whether there are many gods (millions, by some estimates), one, or nonethe latter even having several independent sects championing different variants of atheism. Thats just one example. Hinduism writ large also contains multiple, sometimes contradictory paths to enlightenment that Hindu swamis teachfrom devotion to personal deities, to philosophical contemplation, to ritual practice, to mystic yoga. Crafting social and political movements from religious traditions as different from one another as Hinduism and Christianity was bound to create coalitions that look and operate differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sidestepping the complexities of reconciling disparate Hindu creeds and traditions, Savarkar instead argued that Hindus are better viewed as the ethnic group that has carried forward the tangle of interrelated streams of faith and philosophy that make up Hindu civilization. The proper comparison, in Savarkars estimation, was not so much to what we today may refer to as Christian nationalism as it was to Zionism. That vision of nationalism was connected primarily to ethnic Jews, even as they were bonded by a common faith tradition and its historical geography. In Savarkars 1923 canonical work defining Hindu nationalism, Essentials of Hindutva, he even goes so far as to claim that the Jews may be the only other people in the world that can claim national coherence on par with the Hindus, for this reason. Still today, many Hindu nationalists have a special affinity for Zionists, whom they see as their closest ideological counterparts. Likewise, the usage of Hindu in Hindu nationalist may be best understood as similar to the use of Jewan identity usually employed more ethnically than religiously, though it is often both. Drawing on prior anti-colonial Hindu revivalist movements from across India, Hindu nationalism ignited in the mid-1920s, disproportionately led by Brahmin Hindus from the western region of Maharashtra. Though the Brahmin caste traditionally performs priestly duties at the top of the caste hierarchy, these early leaders of Hindu nationalism echoed the unusually political role of Brahmins in the regions Maratha Empire (1674-1818), a Hindu polity that left the area with a pronounced sense of cultural pride. Like early 20th-century Zionists and other nationalist movements of the time, the first self-described Hindu nationalists were much more modernist than mystic. Their guiding pursuit was not nirvana, but a muscular state driven by scientific rationalityso much so that they even drew some inspiration from the strident statism of fascist movements in Europe, which were emerging contemporaneously (and whose full horrors had yet to unfold). Their rituals were not centered on worship, but on building an ethos of martial discipline, collective memory, and social service, with regular gatherings to exercise, sing patriotic songs, and study Hindu historyin addition to mobilizing for disaster relief and community aid. This state-building character remains deeply ingrained in the DNA of Hindu nationalism, and for many Hindu nationalists, religion is secondary or even incidental to their primary goal: strengthening Hindu society. This is not to say the first iterations of Hindu nationalism ignored spirituality. Even Savarkar defined ethnic Hindus as anyone for whom India is fatherland and holy landregardless of specific creed or lack thereofand elements of Hindu religion have been integral to Hindu nationalist organizations from their earliest beginnings. As the movement has evolved from its initial stages, it has also embraced a pronounced sense of religiosity. Indeed, a primary catalyst in Hindu nationalisms recent ascent was a successful campaign to construct a Hindu temple in the place of a 16th-century mosque purportedly built over the Hindu deity Rams birthplace, opened to the public in January 2024. Devotional Hindu groups now form a central pillar of the Hindu nationalist coalition, and the religious wing of the Hindu right in India is likely to continue to play a prominent role in the broader movement for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while Christian nationalist leaders often present themselves as theological purists with unyielding fidelity to holy writ, Hindu nationalist leadership has emerged primarily from grassroots organizersfocusing on unifying and mobilizing community groups rather than parsing doctrine. Put differently, if Christian nationalism is about christianizing the nation, Hindu nationalism is more about nationalizing the Hindus. These fundamentally different approaches have produced dramatically different outcomesand help explain Hindu nationalisms remarkable success in contemporary India. The organization family. Fast-forward to the present day, and the ideological differences between Christian nationalism and Hindu nationalism have grown into striking institutional disparities. Todays Christian nationalism exists as a diffuse patchwork of leaders and institutions, spinning off from theological and institutional legacies of prior waves of Protestant political fervor: Centuries-old allegiances to Protestant Christendom, Puritanism, Manifest Destiny, and Cold War Christian anti-communism have left traces, to varying degrees, on the diffuse set of Christian nationalist thinkers and organizations that exist today. And while many American evangelicals desire a more pronounced role for their faith in public life, they have typically gravitated toward other approaches for bringing religious values into society: common good public engagement, issue-based advocacy, or moral majority campaigning, to take a few examples. As such, Christian nationalism has lacked the institutional coherence needed to be a major force in American politics and was functionally relegated to being merely one among many factions of the religious right. Even if reenergized in recent years, it remains an inclination more than a movement. Hindu nationalism, by contrast, has exploded in popularity over the last century from a small, politically irrelevant clique to a massive nationwide ecosystem of powerful, coordinated organizations touching nearly every aspect of Indian society. At its core is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or National Volunteer Organization, a cadre-based body founded in 1925 whose thousands of volunteers conduct daily shakhas (gatherings) focused on physical training, nationalistic education, and community service projects among its millions of members. The RSS spawned the BJP, now the worlds largest political party with 110 million members, and has produced its most successful politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has won more democratic votes than any other politician in history. It has also established influential offshoots like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (literally, the World Hindu Council); the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, one of the worlds largest labor unions; and dozens of other affiliated organizations spanning education, health care, rural development, and media. Collectively these are known as the Sangh Parivar, or Family of Organizations. Bonded by common roots and continued cross-pollination with personnel cultivated through the RSS, the Sangh Parivar has been successful in adapting Hindu nationalist ideas and narratives to a wide range of audiences across Indian society, mostly through grassroots efforts. That, together with the electoral success of the BJP, has made Hindu nationalism a diverse and composite mass movement, dwarfing the size and influence of Christian nationalism, and absorbing varied groups and perspectives thatlike Hinduism more broadlydo not always strive for strict coherence. It has also blurred the lines between who and what is Hindu nationalist, exhibiting a full spectrum of associations including everything from radicals, to hardliners, to moderates. The movements influence has grown so pervasive that even their political opponents tried adopting more outwardly Hindu symbols and religious displays in their campaigninga resounding testament to the breadth of social transformation that the Hindu nationalists have achieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The difference between the impacts of Hindu nationalism and Christian nationalism thus brings us full circle: Christian nationalisms leaders have tended to be poor institution-builderspreferring doctrinal purity over the many compromises needed to build and maintain broad-appeal movements. Hindu nationalists, by contrast, have made community organizing their movements centerpiece, assimilating and carving out space for more religiously oriented elements, but treating its project as primarily an exercise in unifying a Hindu society. To Christian ears, it may sound ironic that Protestant Christianitys tendency toward sophisticated theological coherence has inadvertently resulted in a more incoherent brand of cultural nationalism. But Protestantisms ever-increasing number of denominations tells a similar story of theological focus and institutional balkanizationa model that may work for producing well-informed disciples, but not so much for broad political appeal. Meanwhile, Hindu nationalisms flexibility and adaptability in absorbing sometimes inconsistent groups and ideas into its foldeven if often under the auspices of social organizing rather than religious adherencebears an unmistakable resonance with Hindu spirituality. In that sense, for all their considerable differences in how they view religious belief, the way each operates in practice bears the unmistakable stamp of its religious rootsjust not in the way most observers would expect. Tal Fortgang: A New Exodus Illustration by Noah Hickey. (Photo credit: Pablolivaresc/Adobe Stock; Tupungato/Adobe Stock.) In case you missed it, for our Monday Essay feature this past week, Tal Fortgang ponders the prospect of Orthodox Jews vacating elite colleges and universities in light of campus turmoil in the last 18 months. He looks at this not just through the lens of what opportunities Jewish students might lose, but what non-Jewish students (and their institutions more broadly) will lose too: one of the last remaining bridges between the religious and secular worlds. Modern Orthodox Jews are told before going off to college to be a kiddush HaShem, or sanctification of Gods name. While they do not proselytize, they do not isolate themselves either. They invite their friends to attend Shabbat dinners at campus Hillel and Chabad houses. On some campuses, menorah lightings draw large crowds every Hanukkah. Perhaps most crucially, non-Jewish and non-observant Jews inevitably notice when their Orthodox peers abstain, unthinkably, from what are thought to be key components of campus life. They notice when their friends arent at parties on Friday night, shut off their phones and laptops for 25 hours each weekend, and cant eat the late-night pizza provided by the debate club. They see their kippah-clad peers uncomfortably approach professors the first day of each semester to inform them that they will have to miss classes for holidays. Yes, even the esoteric ones. No, I cant show up to class and just listen that morning; I need to be in synagogue, praying. Those demonstrations of forbearance are especially important. By example, they drive home the possibility that a life well-lived can be governed by restraint and obligation rather than choice alone. Fortgang concludes the essay by drawing on his own experience as a Jewish student at Princeton University. We believed, rather, in the power of a covenantal community. We are obligated to do certain things, and if you want to be a full member of our community, you fulfill your obligations. Not out of fear of punishment, but out of conviction that it is the right thing to doeven if it is difficult to explain without reference to ancient rabbinic teachings, or hard to balance with coursework and extracurriculars. That is what binds Jews as a people, we believe. And that is more important to living a meaningful, fulfilling life than all the choicesall the bacon, all the sex, all the freedomin the world. Read the whole thing on our website. More Sunday Reads The streaming show The Chosen, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ, has become a runaway hit with Christian viewers since its debut in 2017. For Christianity Today, Christopher Kuo reports on its popularity among non-Christians too (or at least those who used to be non-Christians). Sabi Ali, a 26-year-old office administrator in London, grew up Muslim and would often debate with her Christian cousins about faith. Last year, her cousins convinced her to start watching The Chosen. After the first episode, Ali was skeptical. But by the end of the second, she was in tears, and she ended up binge-watching the show in a week and a half. One scene in particular resonated deeply with her. It was when Jesus came to the boats with Simon Peter and Andrew and none of them were getting any fish, Ali said. Jesus said, Throw the net again. I had goose bumps all over my body, and I didnt know why but I felt so emotional. Ali began to doubt the teachings of Islam and the Quran, which says that Jesus was a miraculous prophet but not the incarnate Son of God. She began going to church regularly and now identifies as a Christian. With so much of the political worlds attention on the use of senior Trump administration officials use of the Signal messaging app, our friends at The Pillar published an explainer on how the Holy See handles so-called pontifical secrets. As one commenter on the piece remarked, its the kind of explainer you didnt even know you wanted until you cant stop reading. Depending on the department, cracks about phone taps and electronic sweeps may be more or less jokes though in some offices, like the Secretariat of State, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, or even the Dicastery for Bishops, few are laughing about it. You only have to look back through the last few years of Vatican City scandals and trials to see that wire tapping is, if not normal in the curia, certainly not unheard of. Cardinals have recorded private calls with the pope, auditors have claimed their offices were bugged, and senior officials have gone on record, admitting to using electronic surveillance experts to look into their rivals Indeed, when Vatican prosecutors come knocking to serve a warrant, they tend to check a suspects phone quickly, to get a look at back-and-forth messaging. WhatsApp exchanges featured prominently in the recent London financial scandal trial, and before that they provided some of the most eye-catching evidence in the so-called Vatileaks trials. A Good Word This April 20 will mark one of the few times that both eastern (Orthodox) and western (Catholic and Protestant) Christians will celebrate Easter on the same day. For Religion Unplugged, Clemente Lisi writes about a movement to encourage the worlds Christians to unify on the day they celebrate Christs resurrection. The World Council of Churches, a global Christian organization founded in 1948 to work for the cause of ecumenism, has urged churches to find a common date for Easter. Eastern and Western churches have used different calendars to calculate the date of Easter since the 16th century, and only rarely do they coincide, said the Rev. Martin Illert, WCCs program executive for faith and order. The Julian calendar was used in the West until 1582, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. The Julian calendars method of calculating Easter was standardized in the year 325 at the First Council of Nicaea. We hope that the anniversary of Nicaea will help create a momentum so that in the future, all Christians can celebrate Easter together,Illert said. The Vatican has also called for Christians to unite on a common date. Last year, Pope Francis encouraged the work of the Pasqua Together group an ecumenical initiative that encourages Christians of various denominations to celebrate Easter together and invited them not to let this unique opportunity pass by in vain. I encourage those who are committed to this journey to persevere, he said, and to make every effort in the search for a shared agreement, avoiding anything that may instead lead to further divisions among our brothers and sisters. 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. PITTSBURG, Kans. Historians from across Kansas share their research at Pittsburg State University. 108 professors, undergraduate and graduate students, and independent historians gathered in Russ Hall for the 96th Annual Kansas Association of Historians Conference. This two-day event ended Saturday after a full schedule of presentation sessions on a variety of topics. More on PSU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some focused on historical figures who made an impact on the history of Kansas, as well as Scottish and modern American history. Others shed light on different cultures, politics, race, gender and more. Fort Hays State University graduate student and high school teacher, Megan Wade, says it was a way for her to bring what she learned into her classroom. I have some high school students back in Coffeyville that are really going to be interested in the information that theyve learned, and Ill be able to bring that back to them. So being able to help them through attending this has been the biggest thing for me, said Megan Wade, Fort Hays State University graduate student and high school teacher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is exciting for us to have 100, 108 people from around the region coming here to enjoy our campus. Its a beautiful campus. Its a beautiful town. Theyve enjoyed their experience, I feel, and its exciting, said Dr. Kris Lawson, Kansas Association of Historians president and PSU professor of history. Dr. Lawson hopes each of the historians who attended and presented will be inspired by what they learned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The Wichita Falls Fire Department is battling flames at a historic home near Faith Mission. Crews received a call of a structure fire around 6:08 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The Berry Brown House at 1400 Travis Street was found in flames. Credit: Jalen Wells KFDX Credit: Jalen Wells KFDX Credit: Jalen Wells KFDX From our Big Blue tower camera, smoke could be seen smoldering downtown Wichita Falls. According to Preservation Texas, the house was built in 1892 and is among the oldest remaining structures in Wichita Falls. Its status is listed as endangered and listed as a local historic landmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a crew on scene working to gather more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An historical marker for Camp Concordia and old Fort Bliss will return to Lincoln Park on Sunday, March 30 in South-Central El Paso. The El Paso County Historical Commission and the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee will celebrate the markers re-installation at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Park, 4001 Durazno Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos by Nigel Wickens/KTSM After the Civil War, the U.S. Army relocated Fort Bliss at Magoffinsville to a site near present-day Lincoln Park, which was then part of the Concordia Ranch, and named the new post Camp Concordia, according to a news release sent out by El Paso County earlier this week. The original Camp Concordia Historical Marker was damaged during the construction of the I-10 Connect Project, the County said. The El Paso County Historical Commission worked with the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to replace the broken marker, the County said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The replacement marker will be one of the activities included as part of the Cesar Chavez Day Wheela, Vicla and Pedal Car show at Lincoln Park, the County said. El Paso County Historical Commission is dedicated to the preservation and public representation of El Paso History. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Kathy Hochul vows to "fight back hard" against federal demands to terminate New York City's congestion pricing program, positioning New York state for a consequential fiscal confrontation with significant implications for businesses and taxpayers. This battle extends beyond the $9 toll for vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district, touching fundamental questions of fiscal autonomy that will shape New York's budget landscape for years to come. Drawing the line on state fiscal authority Hochul has framed this dispute in terms of state versus federal authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is our decision, not yours," she asserted in a recent NPR interview, establishing a clear position that New York should control its own transportation and revenue policies. Her stance reflects both the necessity of preserving the expected $1 billion in annual revenue and growing public support, as recent Siena College polling shows New York City voter support for congestion pricing has climbed to 42% from 32% in December. By defending congestion pricing as a matter of state sovereignty rather than merely a transportation policy, she elevates the stakes of the dispute. This approach appears to resonate with voters statewide, as opposition has dropped from 51% to 40% since federal intervention began. New York Governor Kathy Hochul addresses the media following President Trump's efforts to kill New York's congestion pricing on Feb. 19, 2025 in New York City. Earlier in the day, the Trump administration terminated approval of New York City congestion pricing The toll structure had been hitting motorists for $9 if they rolled into central Manhattan from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays between certain hours. From a tax policy perspective, this framing has significant implications for businesses. If the state prevails, it will serve to strengthen New York's position in future tax disputes. If federal revocation stands, it could constrain New York's ability to raise revenue for infrastructure funding, potentially leading to alternative tax measures affecting businesses differently. The $1 billion question The fiscal implications cannot be overstated. The MTA projected approximately $1 billion in annual revenue from congestion pricing for upgrading New York City's transit infrastructure, and New York faces immediate fiscal planning challenges against the backdrop of an already strained state budget and significant fiscal pressures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loss of congestion pricing revenue would force difficult choices that may include reexamining business tax credits and incentives, adjusting transportation taxes, or delaying infrastructure improvements. The strengthening public support particularly helps the governor's position, with the dramatic reversal in New York City from 56% opposition to just 35% suggesting federal intervention has galvanized local backing. Building a coalition of governors Hochul is not operating in isolation. Her characterization of Democratic governors as the "firewall" against federal policies threatening state budgets indicates broader strategic coordination. When asked about united strategies, she referenced proposed Medicaid cuts affecting every state, declaring "this moment calls for all of us to be the firewall." This coalition-building approach has implications beyond congestion pricing. As Hochul explained, "We are in litigation since day one. Our attorney general, Tish James and I work closely together." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This suggests a multi-faceted strategy and coordination that could influence federal-state fiscal relationships across multiple policy areas. The olive branch and the sword Hochul's approach includes both confrontation and attempted cooperation. "We offered up an olive branch, [we said] 'We'll work with you on infrastructure. Let's redo Penn Station,'" she explained, before adding, "Once you draw first blood on us, we're coming back hard." This dual-track strategy reflects complex fiscal realities. While defending congestion pricing, she must also identify areas for potential federal-state collaboration. This balanced approach appears to be gaining traction, as statewide opposition to congestion pricing has narrowed. Strategic considerations for businesses As this high-stakes fiscal confrontation unfolds, businesses should consider several strategic approaches: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Develop contingency plans for both outcomes, assessing exposure to both congestion pricing costs and potential alternative revenue-raising measures. Evaluate potential changes to tax incentives if congestion pricing revenue is permanently lost, as business tax credits are already facing heightened scrutiny. Engage constructively in policy discussions while public opinion is shifting to help shape fiscally responsible outcomes. Monitor the broader implications of this and other state sovereignty disputes, as precedents established could affect how similar fiscal conflicts are resolved. Opinion: Congestion pricing is not the only solution to the MTA's financial problems Looking ahead Hochul's determination signals a protracted legal battle with significant fiscal implications. Her characterization of the dispute as "our decision, not yours" establishes clear battle lines over state fiscal autonomy that will resonate beyond congestion pricing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For businesses and taxpayers, the coming months will require careful attention to both legal challenges and potential budget adjustments. Whether New York is able to successfully ward off federal meddling in congestion pricing will not only determine how transit infrastructure is funded but could also reshape the broader fiscal relationship between New York and the federal government for years to come. Argi O'Leary is principal at Ryan, the largest firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. Prior to joining Ryan, she served as Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYC congestion pricing: Why won't Kathy Hochul budge? | Opinion Mar. 29Editor's note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 "Moving the Community Forward" special section of The Jamestown Sun. JAMESTOWN Hofmann Trucking is helping move the community forward by assisting with a commercial driver's license (CDL) program that will be offered in Jamestown, says Curt Waldie, CEO and owner of the business. The James Valley Career and Technology Center plans to offer a CDL program through Jamestown High School in the next academic year, according to Adam Gehlhar, director of JVCTC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're just partnering with them to get the program started and we're excited about that as part of keeping Jamestown progressive," Waldie said. Hofmann Trucking was founded on July 1, 1999, by Waldie and the late Larry Lee Hofmann. The business provides over-the-road trucking services and some local truck repairs. Waldie said having the CDL program means that drivers will be able to attain a CDL in Jamestown rather than having to go to Fargo or other locations. "Extensive training is now required to obtain a commercial driver's license. You have to take a course of study to do that," regardless of age, he said. "This is going to allow the Jamestown school and surrounding areas to offer this to 12th grade students so they can obtain it even before they graduate high school. But then it also will be opened up to the general public ... ." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waldie said there is a great demand for CDL drivers, noting a CDL is also needed for driving buses and one-ton pickup trucks. "It's to enhance every aspect of our local area because there's a definite shortage in all those areas," he said of the new program. "... We're a part of the business in the semitruck industry, but this program will help the whole community." Hofmann Trucking celebrated 25 years in 2024, Waldie said. It employs 160 people. He thanked his employees and Jamestown residents for pushing Hofmann Trucking forward. "We've opened a terminal now in West Fargo," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hofmann Trucking has four terminal locations. Its corporate office is in Jamestown and other locations are Tioga and West Fargo, North Dakota, and Douglas, Wyoming. "We thank the community for their business and support of Crossroads Repair and Hofmann Trucking," Waldie said. HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) Hundreds of people gathered in Holland Saturday morning for a Unity Demonstration and March, organized by I AM Academy. Community members of all ages and backgrounds walked more than a mile calling for justice, solidarity and positive change. Holding signs and chanting, marchers crossed the Unity Bridge while cars honked in support. Organizers said the event aimed to stand against recent policy changes that they feel are dividing communities and to demonstrate the power of unity. The Unity Demonstration in Holland on March 29, 2025. Miguel Mendoza Munoz, a senior at West Ottawa High School and a first-generation American, said the march was about more than just walking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My journey here was not easy. It was hard, Munoz said in front of a crowd. We are unified by our community. We have the resources to help you. I want to make positive change change to benefit you and those of tomorrow. The demonstration also highlighted the struggles faced by local immigrant families. Seeing a bunch of my family members struggle with fears of being deported and trying to get citizenship is really hard, Yazlen Ochoa, a Holland High School student, said. The Latino community overall, were super hardworking and committed to getting a better life for all of our families. Owen Baer, a junior at Holland High School, said he attended because he was frustrated by the way the government is handling immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think our government is starting to lead through fear rather than through facts and compassion and love, Baer said. Xavier Murphy, also a junior at Holland High School, was another speaker at the event. His speech centered around having a seat at the table. He said seeing the community unite was powerful, especially people who come from all different kinds of backgrounds. Its really heartwarming to see that everyone is here to support one big cause, Murphy said. A sign at the Unity Demonstration in Holland on March 29, 2025. Lindsay Cherry, cofounder of I AM Academy, emphasized the importance of showing up for one another. Its important that we support our neighbors, Cherry said. The Black and brown communities are here, and we are very much in support of each other. Thats what today is all about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cherry, who said Saturdays march was just the beginning, explained her motivation for organizing the event. I am a mother, Cherry said. Unfortunately, the policies that are being changed are impacting the things that theyre dreaming about. High school students who spoke at the event said the march was a statement to show that, in the face of challenges, the community will stand together. Kelsey Simpson, a high school student and member of I AM Academy, spoke about the importance of unity. You cant win a war by yourself, Simpson said. Theres strength in numbers, and we all need love and a team to really get things done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elijah Reynolds, another high school student and I AM Academy member, said the march was a reminder that solidarity transcends differences. Its a great feeling, seeing people that dont look like me, dont act like me, talk like me, here to support the same things that Im supporting, Reynolds said. It feels like I got your back, you got mine. Cherry said I AM Academy plans to hold similar events to continue building unity and advocating for change. The march was a collaboration with Boys and Girls Club, CultureWorks, Upward Bound TRIO, Out On The Lakeshore, Maple Avenue Ministries, Third Reformed Church, Bluestocking Bookshop and Justice and Reconciliation Ministry at Hope Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers hope the momentum from Saturdays march will inspire future advocacy and 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 WOODTV.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) D.C. police are investigating after an 18-year-old man was shot and killed in Southeast on Saturday night. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), officers responded to the 3300 block of 10th Place SE for a reported shooting just after 11 p.m. There, they found Jose Walters, 18, of Southeast, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Police said he was not conscious or breathing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Pentagon City mall closed after fights break out Medics responded and took Walters to the hospital; however, despite life-saving efforts from responders, he was pronounced dead there. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation. As of Sunday morning, no arrests have been made, according to MPD. Police urge anyone with information to call (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411. MPD offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for a violent crime committed in the 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), said in a TikTok she will no longer be attending the grad school she had originally planned on going to because that school doesnt support students right to protest. Given recent events, I am not going to give my money/go into debt for/support institutions that dont support their students and the right to protest and speak out for their communities, Walz said Saturday in a TikTok that has more than 460,000 views as of Sunday. Thats just not where Im at. Students deserve to be protected. She said she originally applied to one school, which she said she wouldnt name, and had her heart set on it. She added shes not worried about being protected because shes a privileged white woman, but shes didnt want to put herself in a position where shes giving money to a school that doesnt support their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She ended the video saying shes going to do more research going forward and only apply for schools that align with her values, and possibly go to grad school in a year. Im not really in a rush, she said. Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, cheers during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. Erin Hooley via Associated Press Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that the State Department has revoked more than 300 student visas of college students, many of who have protested in support of Palestine. And since spring 2024 when pro-Palestine protests started popping up on college campuses across the nation, colleges have used police force to contain the protests and encampments. President Donald Trumps administration also pulled $400 million in funding from Columbia University and said that funding would not be given back unless campus security could arrest students. According to The New York Times, Columbia, in response, hired 36 officers with that authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was detained earlier this month by Homeland Security agents after he protested in support of Palestinian rights. Related... HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The resignation of an Horry County deputy police chief earlier this month came after he was told about an internal investigation involving possible policy violations, according to a separation document provided to News13 by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Brandon Strickland resigned on March 11 amid an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division over alleged misconduct in an investigation into the death of Scott Spivey, 33, during a September 2023 road-rage incident. This officer resigned when advised of a current Internal Affairs investigation regarding policy violations, according to the document. Upon his resignation, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was contacted and has a current investigation pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document submitted to the academy on March 26 by Horry County police also indicates that Strickland is involved in a pending criminal matter. Stricklands attorney, William Von Herrmann, disputes some of those claims. In a statement to News13, Von Herrmann said in part: It appears there has been some information to the effect that Brandon Strickland resigned as a result of being notified that he was under criminal investigation. This is simply untrue, the statement reads. Strickland was informed there was information that leadership wanted to discuss with him. He had been made aware through rumors and conversations early in the week that an internal investigation was ongoing and he should continue in his leadership position if nothing had occurred. Von Herrmann continued, saying Strickland was not notified of any pending criminal investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately three days later, he was in a meeting with several members of HCPD leadership and there was no mention of ANY criminal investigation going on, he said. The topic of the meeting was a potential policy violation they were looking into. HCPD internal investigations was not a part of the meeting until he had decided to resign. He was intimidated and not shown any information concerning the investigation until much later. He resigned as a matter of protecting the integrity of the department with the belief that once cleared, he would return. About two weeks ago, Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt asked the FBI and SLED to review evidence in Spiveys shooting death. SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich said they are not reopening the investigation into Spiveys death at this time. The FBI said its reviewing Stricklands alleged misconduct. An Horry County police report showed Spivey had allegedly initiated the Sept. 9 shooting before he was killed. However, about a week later, 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson asked the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office to review the shooting after Weldon Boyd, who owns Buoys on the Boulevard in North Myrtle Beach, posted a thank you message on Facebook shortly after the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office in April 2024 declined to prosecute Boyd due to insufficient evidence. Spiveys family two months later sued Boyd. News13 has requested Stricklands resignation letter from Horry County police. Stricklands position was filled recently when Horry County police named Mick Kathman its new deputy chief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of people gathered at the corner of Southwest 177th Avenue and 12th Street, holding signs and chanting outside the overcrowded Krome Detention Center entrance on Saturday. The protest came as the Trump administrations immigration crackdown funneled people into the Miami facility. Reports of inhumane conditions inside Krome where detainees face overcrowding and lack necessities such as beds, food, and medical care fueled Saturdays demonstration outside the detention center. READ MORE: Inhumane: Overcrowding strains Krome detention center amid Trumps immigrant crackdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., initially started with only a handful of people near the Miccosukee Casino. Organizers had received permission from the Tribe for protesters to park there, but police soon ordered them to leave. As it grew, hundreds of demonstrators filled the space near the detention centers entrance while passing cars and trucks honked in support. See the scene as hundreds protest inhumane conditions outside Krome detention center Martin Vidal, 31, an organizer with the South Florida chapter of 50501 a political action group that co-organized the protest said their primary goal was to oppose Krome and the human rights abuses going on there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miami-Dade is as metropolitan as it comes, said Vidal, born and raised in South Florida. Immigration is whats given the city the life and vibrancy that it has, and to see this happening here to people that just came here to be a part of the American experience and have a better life is disgusting. Holding signs and chanting slogans, protesters line the side of the road on SW 177th Avenue and 12th street to protest conditions inside Krome Detention Center on Saturday, March 29. People deserve humane treatment Organizers came prepared with bullhorns and designated chanters to lead the crowd. The main chanter was Obsidian Tiburon, a Taino representative of the American Indian Movement who came down from Orlando to attend the protest. Tiburon said that as soon as they heard of the horrid conditions in there [Krome] they started a group chat with other activists in Florida to organize the People deserve humane treatment no matter what, no matter who they are, said Tiburon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They led many of the chants, such as No one is illegal, power to the people, and The people united, will never be defeated. In my indigenous culture, Taino, often we pray through song and voice and music. Chants are not only a way to let the world know what it is that we want and what we demand but a way for us to have community solidarity, Tiburon said. Protesters chanting and holding signs lined the side of the road on SW 177th Avenue and 12th street to protest conditions inside Krome Detention Center on Saturday, March 29. Nicholas Bissanti, 32, an organizer with Florida Valkyries a social justice group which led Saturdays protest. Florida has historically been a swing state, and, you know, you can see in the last election, especially, it went very red. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said one of the groups goals in organizing events such as protests is to bring back a sense of community. People can start to feel disheartened when they see everythings red around them, and they feel like theyre just a little blue dot in a big sea of red, he said. Meghan Francisco, 40, from St. Petersburg, learned about the protest through TikTok and drove down to attend. America is founded on a fundamental right of free speech, which includes the right to protest, the right to assemble, and I think its extraordinarily important that we exercise that right, Francisco said. Many protesters held signs featuring people detained by ICE, including Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student who was taken into custody earlier this month in Manhattan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others carried signs highlighting South Florida locals, such as Eduardo Nunez Gonzalez, a Cuban man detained by ICE while taking out his trash in North Miami. His wife reported that during his time at Krome, he was deprived of food, water, and a bed before being transferred to another detention center in New Mexico. READ MORE: Cuban detained by ICE while taking out his trash in North Miami; family demands answers I think we are going through a period of escalation of violence towards immigrants, said Leo Gonzalez, 25, who was holding one of the signs. We cannot let immigrants in this country be harassed by ICE and be kidnapped. Miami-Dade County, FL, March 29, 2025 - Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson participated in the protest along with hundreds of people who were protesting the conditions inside Krome Detention Center. Protestors lined the side of the road on SW 177th Avenue and 12th street to protest conditions inside Krome Detention Center. Among the crowd was former Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson, holding a sign that read, We are not Nazi Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she was outraged after reading a Miami Herald article about conditions at Krome and felt compelled to attend the protest. Its just so despicable that people are lying on the floor, not able to even have beds, to sleep in toilets, to use food or water, Sorenson said. Its the federal government thats doing this here in our county, but we need all our local elected officials to rise up and say, This cant happen in our county, she added. The protest continued into the afternoon, even as rain began to fall. What we need is everyone paying attention, said Vidal. You look out and you see people being treated as worse than human, then its the obligation of everyone to come, speak out, join us. The Trump administration is revoking students immigration status without notifying them or their schools, according to Zeteo. Citing documents and interviews with university officials, Zeteo reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appears to be manually revoking students immigration status an authority typically left to university staff. Sometimes, ICE is not even informing the university or student that the status has been revoked, meaning students could be detained by immigration without any warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students immigration status is tracked in a database called Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). In addition to having an immigration status, students also have student visas. Visas allow students to enter the U.S., while their status allows them to remain here as long as they are enrolled in courses, maintain the proper documentation, and abide by work restrictions. Just because a students visa is revoked does not necessarily mean they would lose their status. As an anonymous source told Zeteo: Someone at ICE pushed a button, and now [students] are illegal through a process that absolutely should not be happening. ICE has arrested several university students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, even though their free speech rights are protected by the First Amendment. ICE detained Palestinian activist and legal resident Mahmoud Khalil earlier this month. Khalil has been held in a Louisiana detention center while his attorneys ague he should be released, describing his arrest as a Kafkaesque attempt to subvert free speech. ICE has also detained a Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, as well as a University of Minnesota graduate student. A video shows masked officers dressed in plainclothes approaching Ozturk and restraining her before showing her their badges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the administration has revoked more than 300 foreign student visas. We do it every day, every time I find one of these lunatics, he said, referring to a detained student. As Zeteo pointed out, Rubios State Department is also reportedly using artificial intelligence to revoke student visas from those it designates as pro-Hamas. Ramya Krishnan, a senior staff attorney at Columbia Universitys Knight Institute and lead attorney on a challenge to the administrations deportation policy, told Rolling Stone, Frankly, I dont think we have seen the government do what it has done here before. This is unprecedented. The most obvious analogy would be to McCarthyism, but even during the McCarthy era, I dont think you saw the government round up student and faculty protesters based on their political viewpoint, the way that you are seeing the government do here. The administration is justifying the arrests by claiming these students somehow pose a threat to foreign policy. But Krishnan and her team say that argument doesnt hold up: We think that the First Amendment forecloses the administration from relying on these provisions in this way, because it is engaging in blatant viewpoint discrimination by targeting only pro-Palestinian advocacy and the First Amendment prohibits the state from engaging in viewpoint discrimination. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has obtained a list from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that reveals just how terrifyingly easy it is for the government to designate a Venezuelan immigrant as an Alien Enemy, including allowing ICE officers to declare tattoos and items of clothing as containing gang signs. American Immigration Council Senior Fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick shared on X (formerly Twitter) a copy of the Alien Enemies Act Validation Guide on Sunday. The guide outlines a point system ICE can use to deport immigrants it designates as members of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang and send them to the infamously cruel and inhumane Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador. Earlier this month, the administration flew nearly 300 Venezuelans to CECOT because it alleged they were members of TDA despite a court order instructing the government not to deport the immigrants. The administration has appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing judges do not have legal authority to halt its deportations. The ACLU and Democracy Forward have filed suit against the administration over the deportations, saying they violate the limits of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act and improperly attempt to bypass the procedures and protections in immigration law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the checklist, an ICE official must determine that the immigrant is a Venezuelan citizen older than 14. After that, the guide lays out a point system the agency created with different allegations and point allotments. Any conviction for violating federal or state law criminalizing or imposing civil penalties for activity related to TDA constitutes 10 points. Self-identifying as a member or associate of TDA verbally or in writing to law enforcement even if that self-identification to a law enforcement officer is unwitting, e.g., through lawful interception of communications is also 10 points. Communicating with known TDA members is six points. A section titled Symbolism allots four points for having tattoos denoting membership/loyalty to TDA or wearing clothing to indicate allegiance to TDA. Social media posts displaying symbols of TDA or depicting activity with other known members of TDA get two points. In the Association section, merely being in group photos with two or more known members of TDA or living with known members of TDA is worth two points. Eight points or more is enough to classify immigrants validated as members of TDA. For example, someone could be given six points for texting with a known member of TDA and another three points for sending money to a known member of TDA, Reichlin-Melnick pointed out. That totals to nine points, enough for deportation as an alleged TDA member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guide notes that if all points are from the Symbolism and/or Association categories, agents should consult your supervisor and [the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor] before determining whether to validate the alien as a member of TDA. But if a supervisor allows it, a Venezuelan adult in the U.S. who has tattoos and clothing an ICE officer says contain TDA symbols could be deported to CECOT for those reasons alone. Its a scary thought, especially considering the case of Neri Alvarado Borges, a native of Venezuela who ICE sent to CECOT with several dozen other Venezuelans the government accused without due process of affiliating with TDA. Alvarado told a friend that an ICE agent told him he was detained because of your tattoos. Were finding and questioning everyone who has tattoos, the ICE agent said, according to what Alvorado said to his friend, who spoke to Mother Jones. Alvarado has a tattoo of an autism awareness ribbon in tribute to his 15-year-old brother who is autistic. Even though Alvorado said an ICE agent later declared him clean after searching his phone and hearing Alvorados explanation of the meaning behind his tattoos (the agent reportedly said, Im going to put down here that you have nothing to do with Tren de Aragua) they still sent him to CECOT where he remains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this checklist, ICE can declare any Venezuelan an Alien Enemy without ANY concrete evidence based solely on an ICE officers interpretation of tattoos and hand signs, or the bad luck of having a roommate ICE thinks is TDA, Reichlin-Melnick wrote. This is why due process matters! More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As part of a journalism class I teach at Boise State University, one chapter is dedicated to law and ethics. In that chapter, we talk about shield laws, which are laws meant to protect journalists from being subpoenaed in criminal or civil cases to reveal confidential sources or disclose otherwise unpublished information, including notes or interview recordings. The idea behind a shield law is to protect the activity of news-gathering and to ensure the freedom of the press, a freedom that the founding fathers recognized as so important to the republic that they put it in the very first amendment to the Constitution. Every semester, I tell my students that Idaho is one of just 10 states that doesnt have a shield law enshrined in law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This semester will be different. Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Thursday signed House Bill 158, a media source shield law, which passed both the House and the Senate unanimously. I have to admit that the Press Club for years has had trepidation about suggesting a shield law because there are a lot of Idaho legislators who are not friendly and even outright hostile to the media, and the idea that they would pass something to help journalists and sources seemed far-fetched. But a few things came together this session. First, you might note that the bill is a media source shield law, emphasis on source. I think a lot of legislators recognized that the bill protects sources who wish to remain anonymous, that a judge cant compel a journalist to disclose an anonymous source. And some legislators saw that as being in their self-interest, as many of them have been anonymous sources themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im on the Idaho Press Club board and am the chairman of the clubs First Amendment Committee. Idaho Press Club president Melissa Davlin and I had been working with Don Day of BoiseDev to push back against a subpoena BoiseDev had received in a lawsuit. We co-wrote a letter to the judge urging him to deny the subpoena. I know Don will never let me forget this, but at one point I suggested that getting held in contempt of court and going to jail would be good publicity for BoiseDev. Fortunately, it didnt come to that. But at the same time, Press Club member Nate Sunderland of East Idaho News let us know that theyve been subpoenaed a few times, and it was a major problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant tell you how many times we said, We really need a shield law in Idaho. Sunderland ended up writing about East Idaho News experience of getting dragged into the middle of a defamation lawsuit when it was served a subpoena that demanded the website turn over all of its notes, drafts and communication related to a news article, as well as all recordings made with one of the subjects in the case. To their tremendous credit, Reps. Barbara Ehardt and Marco Erickson, both R-Idaho Falls, read Nates column and got involved. Ehardt and Erickson worked with Davlin to bring forward the shield law in very short order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wasnt sure what the chances of passage were, but I was blown away when it passed both chambers unanimously. Just the threat of being subpoenaed can be a scary thing, and actually being subpoenaed, even if you prevail, takes a toll financially, mentally, and in terms of time and resources. It takes away from the real work journalists should be performing, and bad actors could subpoena journalists they dont like. A huge thank you to Ehardt and Erickson, Davlin and the Idaho Press Clubs lobbyist, Ken Burgess, for working on this and making Idaho the 41st state to have a shield law on the books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant wait to tell my students all about it. Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way . SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois lawmakers have proposed a bill that would change the tax code to reflect other prescription drug taxes. The bill would amend the Retailers Occupation Tax Act to recognize cannabis as prescription and nonprescription medicine and drugs as long as a buyer purchases it from a dispensary and has a medical cannabis card. The proposal would also amend the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to stop certain cannabis infused products being used for medicinal purposes from being taxed twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was proposed by Illinois Rep. Sonya Harper (D) on January 10th. The potential law was referred to the House Rules Committee on January 28th. If signed into law, the changes would take effect at the start of 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) An Illinois man allegedly claiming to have ties to the CIA, FBI, and Kentucky State Police was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly made threats to harm attendees of a funeral service in Williamsburg. The Williamsburg Police Department (WPD) posted on Facebook that an investigation began on Friday, March 28, when officers were told that someone had made threats to at least two people who planned to attend a funeral service on Saturday morning. Officers said the context of the threat made it seem like the person was planning to cause harm, and initial information reportedly showed the person could be heavily armed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KSP: Murder investigation underway in Monticello with arrest made Law enforcement identified the person as Daniel Graiber, 49, of Weaton, Illinois. Officers wrote on Facebook that additional concerning information developed as law enforcement started to investigate further. Police reportedly learned that Graiber had made his way to southeast Kentucky and allegedly went to two different gun stores trying to buy a 100-round ammunition drum. Shortly before the funeral service in Williamsburg was set to start, WPD officers sent out an officer safety bulletin to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Corbin police reportedly found Graibers car heading south on I-75 toward Williamsburg soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department wrote that on the morning of Saturday, March 29, Graiber was arrested after allegedly arriving at the funeral home and asking when family members would be showing up for visitation. During the course of the investigation, Graiber is also accused of impersonating a peace officer, by making statements indicating he worked for the CIA and that he was associated with the FBI and Kentucky State Police, the WPD wrote. He was lodged in the Whitley County Jail and charged with: Second-degree terroristic threatening Impersonating a peace officer First-degree disorderly conduct First-degree possession of a controlled substance first offense hydrocodone LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said that during the investigation, officers found several items, including: Three handguns Multiple gun magazines Ammunition Tactical ballistic vest Suspected hydrocodone pill tablets Baton Cellphone Accessories associated with the investigation Williamsburg police said officers are working alongside the FBI to continue the threat investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. It wasn't a religious ceremony, but it felt like one. In Allen Park Presbyterian Church on Saturday, dozens listened to a man on a stage who shouted through a microphone while members of the crowd took turns raising their hands high. People would come and go up the aisles, collecting money from the crowd. In exchange for the money, they gave them fish. In the quaint church on Park Avenue, a few blocks away from downtown Allen Park, dozens of the most serious fish-collecting hobbyists gathered to spend some money on freshwater fish for their aquariums. It was a fish auction held by the Southeastern Michigan Aquarium Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Cunningham, 49, of Newport, is the president of the society, which started in May 2022. Since then, Cunningham has been trying to grow the club and expand interest in the hobby. He said the club often hosts experts in the field, like biologists, animal nutritionists and conservationists, who teach them more about the hobby. More animal news: Someone killed a rattlesnake at U-M. Why arboretum staff say you should leave them alone In addition to leading the society (and working a full-time job in the automotive industry), Cunningham runs an online fish breeding business, Cunningham Tropicals. On the website, it reads: "Fish isn't just my business. It's my passion." He's not lying about that. Cunningham said he has about 100 aquariums in his house, which serves as the stock for his website. Several of those tanks house his own personal favorite fish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It all began in 1999 when I fell in love with the Frontosa Cichlid," Cunningham said, referencing a freshwater fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika in central Africa. From there, he was rapt. "All of a sudden, I'm loading up the back of my dad's (Ford) Explorer with totes full of water and fish," Cunningham said with a laugh. Weather preview: Severe thunderstorms could affect southern Michigan Sunday: What to know Steve Stapleton, 40, of Allen Park, is another big-time fish breeder and collector in Michigan. His focus, he said, is on the "niche, higher end" fish. Stapleton said he works directly with fish collectors in Africa to procure species he finds interesting to house in one of his 50 fish tanks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I nerd out on this a little more than some other guys," Stapleton said. "I have 25 species of endangered fish, some that are totally extinct in the wild." Stapleton's expertise is in rare fish often endangered and extinct freshwater species from places like Africa. He said he hopes to use some of the fish he has bred to help repopulate their native environments in countries like Uganda and bodies of water like Lake Victoria. Steve Stapleton, 40, of Allen Park looks over the fish he was going to put up for auction as two of his three daughters there to help, Grace and Ava Stapleton wait to place the bags of fish on the tables during the Southeastern Michigan Aquarium Society fish auction at the Allen Park Presbyterian Church in Allen Park on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Although there were no endangered species for sale at Saturday's auction, plenty of fish exchanged hands. Guppies, catfish, cichlids and even shrimp and snails rolled through the auction table. Elise LeBaron, a 19-year-old aspiring marine biologist, came down to the auction from Lansing on behalf of Preuss Pets, where she works. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only an hour into the auction, LeBaron had won three bids on different freshwater species. Some of the fish, LeBaron said, were for the pet store. Others, like the 10 celestial pearl danios she snagged, were a gift for her mother, who also keeps an aquarium. "I'm fish-obsessed, which most of my friends don't seem to understand," LeBaron said. "I'm just not a dog or cat person because they're a lot of work which is not to say fish are without work, but I like the fishy guys." Like most people at the auction on Saturday, LeBaron's life revolves around fish. Later this year, she said she will start her college career, studying to become a marine biologist. Even the lock screen on her phone is an image of one of her fish: a freshwater bichir a neat ray-finned African fish who is unnamed because LeBaron cannot think of a name dignified enough for such a creature, she said. Throughout the afternoon, hobbyists hung out and dropped some cash on new fish, flora and aquarium equipment while the auctioneer rattled his way through the bids. Even Cunningham, the president of the society, got a couple of fish for himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fish, they don't pay my bills," Cunningham said. "I just do it for fun." Even though fish may not pay Cunningham's bills, the auction generated $2,790 in sales, netting about $600 in profit for the Southeastern Michigan Aquarium Society. Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit fish collectors bid on unique fish at hobbyist auction SAN FRANCISCO (AP) U.S. immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump. The March 5 notice raised alarms from immigration and free speech advocates because it appears to expand the government's reach in social media surveillance to people already vetted and in the U.S. legally, such as asylum seekers, green card and citizenship applicants -- and not just those applying to enter the country. That said, social media monitoring by immigration officials has been a practice for over a decade, since at least the second Obama administration and ramping up under Trump's first term. Below are some questions and answers on what the new proposal means and how it might expand social media surveillance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is the proposal? The Department of Homeland Security issued a 60-day notice asking for public commentary on its plan to comply with Trump's executive order titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats." The plan calls for uniform vetting standards and screening people for grounds of inadmissibility to the U.S., as well as identify verification and national security screening. It seeks to collect social media handles and the names of platforms, although not passwords. The policy seeks to require people to share their social media handles when applying for U.S. citizenship, green card, asylum and other immigration benefits. The proposal is open to feedback from the public until May 5. What is changing? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The basic requirements that are in place right now is that people who are applying for immigrant and non-immigrant visas have to provide their social media handles, said Rachel Levinson-Waldman, managing director of the Brennan Centers Liberty and National Security Program at New York University. Where I could see this impacting is someone who came into the country before visa-related social media handle collection started, so they wouldnt have provided it before and now theyre being required to. Or maybe they did before, but their social media use has changed. This fairly widely expanded policy to collect them for everyone applying for any kind of immigration benefit, including people who have already been vetted quite extensively, she added. What this points to along with other signals the administration is sending such as detaining people and revoking student visas for participating in campus protests that the government deems antisemitic and sympathetic to the militant Palestinian group Hamas Levinson-Waldman added, is the increased use of social media to make these very high-stakes determinations about people. In a statement, a spokesperson for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service said the agency seeks to strengthen fraud detection, prevent identity theft, and support the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These efforts ensure that those seeking immigration benefits to live and work in the United States do not threaten public safety, undermine national security, or promote harmful anti-American ideologies, the statement continued. USCIS estimates that the proposed policy change will affect about 3.6 million people. How are social media accounts used now? The U.S. government began ramping up the use of social media for immigration vetting in 2014 under then-President Barack Obama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. In late 2015, the Department of Homeland Security began both manual and automatic screening of the social media accounts of a limited number of individuals applying to travel to the United States, through various non-public pilot programs, the nonpartisan law and policy institute explains on its website. In May 2017, the U.S. Department of State issued an emergency notice to increase the screening of visa applicants. Brennan, along with other civil and human rights groups, opposed the move, arguing that it is excessively burdensome and vague, is apt to chill speech, is discriminatory against Muslims, and has no security benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years later, the State Department began collecting social media handles from nearly all foreigners applying for visas to travel to the U.S. about 15 million people a year. How is AI used? Artificial intelligence tools used to comb through potentially millions of social media accounts have evolved over the past decade, although experts caution that such tools have limits and can make mistakes. Leon Rodriguez, who served as the director of USCIS from 2014 to 2017 and now practices as an immigration attorney, said while AI could be used as a first screening tool, he doesn't think we're anywhere close to where AI will be able to exercise the judgment of a trained fraud detection and national security officer" or that of someone in an intelligence agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also possible that I will miss stuff, he added. Because AI is still very much driven by specific search criteria and its possible that the search criteria won't hit actionable content. What are the concerns? Social media is just a stew, so much different information some of it is reliable, some of it isnt. Some of it can be clearly attributed to somebody, some of it cant. And it can be very hard to interpret, Levinson-Waldman said. So I think as a baseline matter, just using social media to make high-stakes decisions is quite concerning. Then there's the First Amendment. It's by and large established that people in the U.S. have First Amendment rights, she said. This includes people who are not citizens. And obviously, there are complicated ways that that plays out. There is also fairly broad authority for the government to do something like revoking somebodys visa, if youre not a citizen, then theres steps that the government can take but by and large, with very narrow exceptions, that cannot be on the grounds of speech that would be protected (by the First Amendment)." A man who reportedly escaped from the federal immigration detention center on the Tideflats has been caught in another state, according to law enforcement. In a post Saturday on X, the Seattle office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that Alvaro Flores-Barboza, 24, had been arrested and is currently detained by local authorities in Oregon. ICE reported that the man is from Venezuela and escaped from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma on March 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN-TV, a Portland-based CBS affiliate, reported that Flores-Barboza was arrested early Saturday in Beaverton, Oregon. KOIN also reported that Flores-Barboza was previously arrested in the Portland area in 2024 and convicted of reckless driving and felony use of a weapon. The facility at 1623 E. J St. in Tacoma has a capacity for 1,575 detainees. It holds people who are suspected of being in the country illegally or awaiting deportation. On Wednesday, the Tacoma Police Department responded to the detention center after the facility reported that someone in custody escaped, according to a police spokesperson. Officers responded to assist in conducting an area check, but no one was found. The spokesperson said they were called again about an hour later by someone from the facility to check the area of a Pilot Express gas station on Puyallup Avenue. Again, no one was located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Immigration officials nor a representative of GEO Group, the federal contractor that runs the facility, independently confirmed news of the escape at the time. Sgt. John Correa with Tacoma Police Department told The News Tribune on Saturday in response to questions that the department had no information on how the man escaped or whether this was the first such incident. Flores-Barboza now faces removal from the U.S., according to ICE. No further details were immediately available. Previous reporting from The News Tribune contributed to this article. An impaired driving suspect from Ireland was extradited from France this month to face charges in a North Carolina crash that killed his 12-year-old brother and their parents, federal prosecutors said Friday. Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, 20, was in the Cabarrus County jail on Saturday on an immigration detainer and $1 million secured bond, court and jail records showed. Sheriffs investigators issued warrants for Gheorghes arrest a week after the September 2023 crash, according to the warrants filed in Cabarrus County Criminal Superior Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gheorghe was charged with felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle in the multi-car crash that killed Leonidas Gheorghe, 12, their mother, Adela Gheorghe, 47, and father, Nicolae Gheorghe, 49, court records show. Gheorghe was jailed on March 14 and faces a court hearing Thursday, according to court documents. Deputies: Van hit oncoming traffic The family lived in the Stanly County town of Norwood, public records show. Gheorghe is alleged to have been impaired by alcohol and drugs when he allegedly caused the crash on Highway 24/27 in Midland, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release Friday. The crash was about 20 miles east of Charlotte. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family was returning home around 8 a.m. Sept. 20, 2023, when Solomon Gheorghe is accused of swerving their van into oncoming traffic near Bethel School Road, according to a Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office statement at the time. Paramedics airlifted Solomon Gheorghe, who was initially pinned inside, to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Uptown Charlotte with life-threatening injuries, deputies said. The technology we have at our disposal today is nothing short of mind-blowing. Yet, somehow Mother Nature still manages to craft tools that humans couldn't even sniff. Take Kilo, for instance. This German shepherd was an eight-year veteran of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service until his retirement last month, according to the Vancouver Sun. His job was to detect invasive mussel species using his superpowerful nose that has become the stuff of legends. In over 200 inspections, Kilo sniffed out more than two dozen contaminations. His exceptional work protecting Vancouver's delicate aquatic ecosystem resulted in the expansion of the program. He even got a fellow German shepherd named Major on the BC Conservation Officer Service payroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The canine species is renowned for its exceptional sense of smell. Dogs have applied their noses to everything from disaster rescue to bomb-sniffing operations to discovering new species of truffles. Kilo's olfactory acumen, however, is even more exceptional than most. "Kilo's abilities are uniquely exceptional, and there is simply no substitute, human or mechanical, that can achieve what Kilo can and has done with his nose," the dog's handler, Sgt. Dan Bartol, told the Sun. On top of his incredible invasive mussel-detection abilities, Kilo is adept at a variety of other scent-centric skills. Bartol said that the shepherd is also "trained to search for people and evidence, including bear parts and shell casings, and assisted in numerous COS investigations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dogs are enough of a reason all their own to inspire us to protect our planet. Not only do they offer pure unconditional love and companionship, but they help us in our conservation efforts. Kilo isn't the only example, either. In Australia, scent-detection dogs are even being used to protect the endangered koala population. They're doing this by seeking out koalas that are free of the dangerous chlamydia infections that threaten the species. There's also a dog named Eba in California that was adopted by a research biologist and trained to sniff out orca excrement. Her unique skill is being used to track and protect the endangered species. Dogs Earth's best friend. 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. India has expanded its relief effort to help its neighbour Myanmar in the aftermath of Friday's devastating earthquake. Four Indian Navy ships carrying a total of 70 tons of relief and medical supplies have set off on their way to Yangon on Myanmar's south-eastern coast, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wrote on X on Sunday. A mobile army hospital is also to be airlifted to the city of Mandalay - the epicentre of the earthquake - accompanied by a team of 118 people, Jaishankar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Indian Air Force plane carrying 15 tons of relief supplies already landed in Yangon on Saturday. India is also participating in search and rescue efforts in Myanmar with recovery specialists. The situation in the south-east Asian country remains unclear following Friday's earthquake, which also caused damage in Thailand. Myanmar's state television most recently reported that around 1,700 had been killed and 3,400 people injured in the disaster, with 300 people still missing. The ruling military junta expects the number of victims to rise further. A town hall meeting hosted by controversial Indiana Republican Victoria Spartz descended into chaos after the congresswoman gave apparently unsatisfactory answers to several questions from constituents. The room erupted with boos and chants on Friday after Spartz said she would not be calling for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other members of the so-called Signalgate group chat. Would you demand the immediate resignation of Pete Hegseth, Michael Waltz and the rest of the group chat? one woman asked, prompting cheers and chants of lock him up from others in the room. Ukrainian-born Republican U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz was interrupted multiple times and booed by constituents at a town hall meeting in Muncie, Indiana, on Saturday (REUTERS) The room erupted with boos and chants on Saturday after Spartz said she would not be calling for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other members of the so-called Signalgate group chat which was revealed on Monday (REUTERS) No I will not demand their resignations, Spartz replied, sparking an angry response. And actually all of the resignations go through the Senate anyway so you should talk to the Senators, maybe theyll have town halls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spartz, who was born in Ukraine but emigrated to the United States in 2000 at the age of 22, later referred to the incident, in which classified information about U.S. military operations in Yemen was discussed on Signal, a commercial messaging service, and also inadvertently shared with a journalist from The Atlantic, as an innocent mistake prompting more vocal responses. Elsewhere at the town hall, attendees confronted Spartz about the Trump administrations actions and her past vote against aid for Ukraine. I just wonder why that you dont want to support your own people? one attendee said, per CNN. Angry constituents express themselves during a townhall hosted by Victoria Spartz. Throughout the evening the congresswoman was interrupted by loud shouting, as well as some constituents who walked out of the event encouraging others to follow suit (REUTERS) Spartz attempted to win back the crowd but was drowned out multiple times by boos and other loud vocal protests (REUTERS) My number one job as an American congresswoman is to protect interests, American interests, and make sure that your money, when we give it to any foreign power is Spartz began to reply before being cut off by the crowd. The congresswoman has been an advocate for U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, but has been critical of the Kyiv government as well as prime minister Volodymyr Zelensky. Last year she also voted against $61 billion in aid for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the rest of the event Spartz was interrupted by loud shouting, as well as some constituents who walked out of the event encouraging others to follow suit. Saturdays town hall followed an equally raucous event on Friday. That crowd became enraged after Spartz told them: "If you violated the law, you are not entitled to due process." Attendees confronted Spartz about the Trump administrations actions and her past vote against aid for Ukraine (REUTERS) Demonstraters protest outside the venue of a townhall hosted by Victoria Spartz. The congresswoman has been a controversial figure for some time having last year faced an investigation by the House ethics committee over alleged abuse of staffers (REUTERS) The congresswoman later hit back on social media, lashing out at what she called the radical left (REUTERS) Writing on X following the event, the congresswoman wrote: I dont think radical left has learned yet that shouting and screaming is not going to work - no one is going to be intimidated. I still appreciate everyone who came to my town halls this week & hope at least some on the left were able to hear common sense policies we are trying to implement benefiting all Americans. I dont think radical left has learned yet that shouting and screaming is not going to work - no one is going to be intimidated. I still appreciate everyone who came to my town halls this week & hope at least some on the left were able to hear common sense policies we are trying pic.twitter.com/LoMKurIPod Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) March 29, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spartz has been a controversial figure for some time. Last year she faced an investigation by the House ethics committee over alleged abuse of staffers. The allegations were first reported by Politico, which cited multiple complaints over the congresswomans general toxicity and rage. Staffers claimed Spartz asked one to die for her and said she would constantly berate her staff calling them r****** and children resulting in multiple resignations from her office. As Northeast Pennsylvania and the country, in general, face a labor shortage, industry experts feel while the area is well-positioned for success, it will take a creative and collaborative approach for local companies to attract and retain workers. We need to develop our internal pipeline and keep kids here for jobs in our businesses and industries, said Teri Ooms, executive director of The Institute, a regional data analytics and research organization. Coupled with that, we need to have a talent attraction strategy because Im not sure were going to continue to have enough younger people to fill the vacancies and positions. Were near full employment, not just regionally but statewide and nationally, and there are not a lot of people to fill the void. Were not going to be the only ones doing it, so it will be an interesting competition. It will be critical to ensure those willing to work have the skills to meet the demands of the occupations and the means to get to the job sites, Ooms added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless we figure out a way to find bodies and be willing to educate and train them, if needed, and reduce barriers theyre facing, were going to continue to have this workforce challenge, she said. Continued technological advancements havent lessened the demand for employees, either, Ooms added. Were seeing it more in manufacturing, logistics and distribution, and definitely some retail and service sectors, but it hasnt alleviated the need for people, yet, she said. We know were in the midst of a worker shortage, and that labor shortage is not a short-term thing. And while some companies are putting more emphasis on monitoring employee well-being, others continue to lag behind, Ooms added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think were seeing an increase in employers doing it because some of them are pretty savvy in recognizing early on what they need to do to make it work, but there are some that dont see it, or dont care just yet, and until it becomes a crisis for them theyre not going to acknowledge it, she said. Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, stressed employers must look outside their typical demographics to identify and hire workers, despite the current fruitful job picture. Were still resting on one of the most positive periods of workforce in Lackawanna County, for decades, with the low unemployment rate at 4% and lower its been hovering at 3.5% to 4% but, as a community, I think we we need to encourage our members and businesses to think beyond what theyve traditionally considered to be their candidates and cohorts of candidates for the jobs, he said. Specifically, looking to veterans, the disabled, previously incarcerated, immigrant and refugee communities. Our members need to broaden their horizons and recognize there could be some real talent in places they havent looked before. The process for attracting prospective businesses to the region also evolved over the past two-plus decades, Durkin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From an economic development standpoint, 25 years ago, the first questions would be about real estate, he said. Now, the first and most important thing they talk to us about is the workforce, which used to be a given, but there are fewer people in that unemployed or available pool. And its not only do you have the bodies, but are those people properly skilled for the jobs theyre looking to land here. Specifically, the focus of the Scranton Plans and SLIBCOs marketing is on very specific areas including health care, technology, energy and advanced manufacturing, Durkin said. Those arent the jobs of the factory worker from 30, 40 or 50 years ago, he said. They require individuals to have skill sets, particularly STEM related. Were looking for those types of businesses with high-end, skilled job opportunities for our residents. And the more the technology advances, irrespective of what job it is, those jobs are going to keep changing and evolving, so the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow has to be connected to a lifelong learning environment. John Augustine, president and CEO of Penns Northeast, a regional economic development agency that serves Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne and Wyoming counties, noted the region built a strong reputation that may lead more larger firms to choose the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When companies are looking to do business, theyre not necessarily just looking at marketing materials, he said. Theyre looking at logos of companies that are already there. Theyre saying if our competitor is there, maybe we should be there, or if a big company like Amazon Web Services is building a data center in the Salem Twp. area, maybe thats where we should be looking to build another data center. There is continued growth in our region providing numerous job opportunities across the board everything from manufacturing to warehouse distribution to data centers and AI. * A washing machine for the Army Reserve at Production Systems Automation Inc in Duryea on Wed., March 12, 2024. REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Workers in the fabrication and welding building at Production Systems Automation Inc in Duryea on Wed., March 12, 2024. REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER * Production Systems Automation Inc in Duryea on Wed., March 12, 2024. REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Show Caption 1 of 3 A washing machine for the Army Reserve at Production Systems Automation Inc in Duryea on Wed., March 12, 2024. REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Expand As more companies move into the region, it also benefits the workers financially, Augustine said. Even at our base level, pick-and-pack jobs in warehouses are starting at $17-$18 and up, he said. Competition raises rates so if a company is paying $24 an hour and another moves in and wants those employees, they need to pay more. As the growth continues, wages will continue to increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uncertainty around potential tariffs may also create additional workforce opportunities in the region and country, Augustine added. I think were going to see more companies manufacturing in the United States and I think were going to see that growth across the board, but specifically with data centers to support AI and the cloud, he said. The growth of Duryea-based Production Systems Automation an engineering and manufacturing firm can largely be attributed to the advancement of technology, said Michael McHale, the companys president and CEO. When you look at advanced vision systems or robot systems, thats allowed a lot more development, he said. I think a lot of the robotics and automation world has been driven by smarter electronics. The digital age has been driving opportunity. When you can deploy more systems, you can grow your business vertically into machining and welding the blue-collar aspect of building equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Production Systems, which also operates locations in Delaware and Washington counties, expanded from four employees in 2016 to 100 at the present time including 84 in Duryea, McHale said. Weve kind of grown everywhere from mechanical and electrical engineering, hardware and software engineering, welding, CNC programming, and fabricators, he said. Weve pretty much grown across every market sector inside the business. Weve done a lot of work for General Dynamics and Gentex, and our projects have gotten larger in size and scope. McHale expects technology to further influence the industry throughout the next decade. Were seeing AI starting to be introduced into some of our platforms like robot programming, he said. AI is going to add a big push, which should add more blue-collar work. Most of our automation removes the jobs that are very difficult to staff and dangerous. When we put systems in, you need more engineers and programmers inside the facilities, so its eliminating some jobs but youre developing some higher (quality) blue-collar and white-collar jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McHale thinks different conversations need to take place among business and community leaders to continue moving the region forward economically. I think our area has a lot of the skill sets needed to advance manufacturing and advance a higher-paying workforce, we just have to be able to adopt it, he said. We live a little bit in the past and we need to live in the future. We somewhat adapted with the warehouse boom, but if we dont adapt to the coming technology boom then were doomed to repeat the fate of the 70s, 80s and 90s when you had to leave. Its time to talk about new things. Additionally, a debate regarding the merits of working from home versus employees returning to an in-person setting gained traction and will likely play a large role in hirings in the coming years. Durkin believes many companies will continue offering some type of remote work to appease candidates. I think having the flexibility to work remotely is great, but I would also never undersell the importance of having people in the office, he said. There is tremendous value that comes with the collegial environment of people being together from the standpoint of creativity, bouncing ideas off each other, and positive results from that experience. I think a little bit of each side and the balance based on the circumstances is the future of the workforce. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. Its been more than five years since Terrell Ray was shot multiple times in the back on his girlfriend's front steps at the Villager Condos on Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee Boulevard. The suspect or suspects stole Rays 2006 Camaro, found later on Aug. 2, 2019 at a Nashville apartment complex, police said. Ray, 30, was never in trouble with the law, and Murfreesboro Police labeled him as "an innocent victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's where his case goes cold. I expected a quicker resolution. However, I trust they are doing all that they can and always have been honest and up front with me, Rays mother Trina Anderson said. I can only wait on God to deliver it to me. When the time is right, it will be revealed. Anderson has launched a Murfreesboro chapter of Mothers over Murder. It helps support women who've lost children to violence or other reasons. Terrells life was not in vain, she said, noting that her sons death has a purpose for me to be active with other mothers. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mom find purpose after son Terrell Ray's 2019 unsolved shooting death Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has once again rejected direct negotiations over the country's nuclear programme with the government of US President Donald Trump. "We responded to the US president's letter via Oman and rejected the option of direct talks, but we are open to indirect negotiations," Pezeshkian said at a Cabinet meeting in Tehran on Sunday. Iran is not opposed to negotiations, he said, but the United States must first correct its past "misconduct" and create a new basis for trust, the ISNA news agency cited Pezeshkian as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump said Tehran must either negotiate a new nuclear deal or face a military solution. Khamenei firmly rejected this, saying that Iran is only willing to negotiate indirectly through third countries. In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal which was intended to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Since then, Tehran has also stopped adhering to the terms of the agreement. Iran is facing the worst economic crisis in its history as a result of international sanctions. According to observers, only direct negotiations between the oil-rich state and the Trump administration could lead to a lifting of the sanctions. Tehran is also facing political troubles, with its self-proclaimed "axis of resistance" against its arch-enemy Israel - consisting of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen - significantly weakened. Tehran has rejected direct negotiations with the United States in regarding its nuclear program, responding to a letter from President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. However, he added, the path for indirect negotiations remains open, the state news agency reported. "In this response, although direct negotiations between the two parties are rejected, it has been stated that the path for indirect negotiations is open," Pezeshkian said. PHOTO: People walk by as a painter repaints an anti-U.S. mural in Tehran, Iran, March 29, 2025. ( Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian stated that Irans response to the U.S. president's letter was sent via Oman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump says he sent a letter to Iran urging negotiations on nuclear weapons He emphasized that Iran has never avoided negotiations and blamed the United States for not fulfilling its former commitments, including terminating the former nuclear deal in Trump's first term in 2018. PHOTO: Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses members of parliament in Tehran on March 2, 2025. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) It was the breach of commitments that caused problems on this path, which must be addressed to restore trust, the letter underscored, according to Pezeshkian. "It will be the actions of the Americans that determine whether negotiations continue," he added. Iran rejects Trump's request for direct nuclear negotiations, state media reports originally appeared on abcnews.go.com (Bloomberg) -- Iran has told US President Donald Trump it wont engage in direct negotiations with his administration, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in televised remarks. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pezeshkian said the decision was conveyed in Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis response to a letter Trump had sent earlier this month on the prospect of new talks over Tehrans nuclear program. He said Irans response also indicated that indirect communication with the US would remain a possibility, as it had in the past. They must prove that they can build trust regarding their decisions, and I hope this will happen, Pezeshkian said. Its the behavior of the Americans that determines the future path of negotiations. In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from an international accord that imposed restrictions on Irans nuclear-enrichment activities in return for sanctions relief. Since the start of his second term, hes revived the so-called maximum pressure strategy, ramped up sanctions and warned of military action against Iran if efforts for a new deal fail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran delivered its response to Trumps letter via Oman on Wednesday, according to the countrys Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Over the weekend, Araghchi described the letter as containing both a threat and an opening for diplomacy, adding that Iran remained skeptical of Trumps intentions. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iran's president said Sunday that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, offering Tehran's first response to a letter that U.S. President Donald Trump sent to the country's supreme leader. President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran's response, delivered via the sultanate of Oman, left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. However, such talks have made no progress since Trump in his first term unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. In the years since, regional tensions have boiled over into attacks at sea and on land. Then came the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which saw Israel target militant group leaders across Iran's self-described "Axis of Resistance." Now, as the U.S. conducts intense airstrikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen, the risk of military action targeting Iran's nuclear program remains on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a Cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. The U.S. State Department, responding to Pezeshkian, said that President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon." The president expressed his willingness to discuss a deal with Iran, it added. "If the Iranian regime does not want a deal, the president is clear, he will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran. Trump talked about dealing with Iran while flying from Florida to Washington on Sunday evening. Well see if we can get something done, he told reporters. And if not, its going to be a bad situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would prefer a deal to the other alternative which I think everybody in this plane knows what that is, and thats never going to be pretty, he said. Iran's position hardens after Trump's letter Having Pezeshkian announce the decision shows just how much has changed in Iran, since his election a half-year ago after he campaigned on a promise to reengage with the West. Since Trump's election and the resumption of his maximum pressure campaign on Tehran, Iran's rial currency has gone into a freefall. Pezeshkian had left open discussions up until Iran's 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came down hard on Trump in February and warned talks are not intelligent, wise or honorable" with his administration. The Iranian president then immediately toughened his own remarks on the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, there have been mixed messages coming from Iran for weeks. Videos from Quds, or Jerusalem, Day demonstrations on Friday had people in the crowds instructing participants to only shout: Death to Israel! Typically, Death to America was also heard. A video of an underground missile base unveiled by Iran's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also showed its troops stepping on an Israeli flag painted on the ground though there was no American flag as often seen in such propaganda videos. But Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, published an article last week that included listing U.S. bases in the Middle East as possible targets of attack. The list included Camp Thunder Cove on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, where the U.S. is basing stealth B-2 bombers likely being used in Yemen. The Americans themselves know how vulnerable they are, warned Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Friday. "If they violate Irans sovereignty, it will be like a spark in a gunpowder depot, setting the entire region ablaze. In such a scenario, their bases and their allies will not be safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Tehran's two recent direct attacks on Israel with ballistic missiles and drones caused negligible damage, while Israel responded by destroying Iranian air defense systems. Iran's rejection is the latest in tensions over nuclear program Trump's letter arrived in Tehran on March 12. Though announcing that he wrote it in a television interview, Trump offered little detail on what he exactly told the supreme leader. Ive written them a letter saying, I hope youre going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, its going to be a terrible thing, Trump said in the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move recalled Trumps letter-writing to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his first term, which led to face-to-face meetings, but no deals to limit Pyongyangs atomic bombs and a missile program capable of reaching the continental U.S. The last time that Trump tried to send a letter to Khamenei, through the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2019, the supreme leader mocked the effort. Trumps letter came as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weapons-grade levels of 60% purity something only done by atomic-armed nations. Iran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb. A report in February, however, by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.s nuclear watchdog, said that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran's reluctance to deal with Trump likely also takes root in his ordering the attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020. The U.S. has said Iran plotted to assassinate Trump over that prior to his election this November, something Tehran denied though officials have threatened him. ___ Vahdat reported from Tehran, Iran. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed. In the Aurora mayoral race, incumbent Richard Irvin and challenger John Laesch have both received notable endorsements ahead of the April 1 consolidated election. Irvin, a lawyer who was born and raised in Aurora, made history in 2017 when he was elected as the citys first Black mayor. Laesch, a union carpenter and former Naval Intelligence analyst, previously lost the mayoral race against Irvin in 2021 and two years later was elected to be one of two aldermen at-large on the Aurora City Council. Last weekend, more than 20 Black pastors met to endorse Irvins run for a third term as mayor of Aurora, according to a news release from his campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those pastors included the Rev. Dr. Julian Spencer of Main Baptist Church, Pastor Jesse Hawkins of St. John AME and Irvins own pastor, Kevin Bedford of Progressive Baptist Church, the news release said. A number of local public safety organizations, such as the Aurora Association of Professional Police Officers and the Aurora Firefighters Local 99, have also endorsed Irvin, as have labor organizations like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 461 and the Painters District Council 30, his campaign website shows. Irvin was also endorsed by the editorial boards of both the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald. Over the past few weeks, Laesch has drawn endorsements from Democratic elected officials, current and former, at the federal, state and local level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those include former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez and Jesus Chuy Garcia, state Sen. Karina Villa and a number of board members from surrounding counties, among others, according to Laeschs campaign website. Plus, Laesch has received the endorsements of previous mayoral candidates Jazmine Garcia, who dropped out of the race and endorsed Laesch ahead of the Feb. 25 primary, and Karina Garcia, who lost to Irvin and Laesch in the primary. The state Democratic Party has also been sending out mailers and running online advertisements targeting Irvin. A list of endorsements, along with information about the two candidates backgrounds and platforms, can be found on the candidates respective websites at irvinformayor.com and johnforaurora.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the final days leading up to the election, both candidates are gearing up for a final push to get voters out to the polls, they separately told The Beacon-News. On Sunday and Monday, Irvin is planning to be out knocking on doors and going directly to voters to talk about what weve done for Aurora and our vision for the future, just like he has done every weekend for the past couple months, he said. Irvin said he will be trying to walk and speak to voters in all of the citys wards. Plus, he will be attending some meet-and-greets at peoples homes, he said. Laesch said his campaign is placing a heavy focus on door-to-door campaigning and handing out leaflets at early voting locations in these last few days before the April 1 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia was scheduled to be out with Laeschs campaign, along with the campaigns for alderman at-large candidate Keith Larson and 2nd Ward alderman candidate Alfonso Santoyo, canvassing with a focus on the 2nd Ward, according to Laesch. A week before the election, Irvin held a State of the City address to showcase the citys progress in safety, economic development, education and economic development over the last several years under his leadership, he said. That event, held at Fox Valley Mall on Wednesday evening, was the fifth such speech he has held since the start of last year, as he held four State of the City addresses last year. While some members of the Aurora City Council attended that speech, Laesch instead was at the Get Out the Vote Rally at the Roundhouse event, which was held at Two Brothers Roundhouse on North Broadway and organized by the Working Families Aurora Political Action Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Laesch, a number of other local candidates supported by Working Families Aurora attended the event, including Larson and Santoyo, according to the groups Facebook page. rsmith@chicagotribune.com By James Mackenzie and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated a demand on Sunday for Hamas to disarm and for its leaders to leave Gaza as he promised to step up pressure on the group while continuing efforts to return hostages. He said Israel would work to implement U.S. President Donald Trump's "voluntary emigration plan" for Gaza and said his cabinet had agreed to keep pressuring Hamas, which says it has agreed to a ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Netanyahu's comments were a recipe for "endless escalation" in the region. Netanyahu rejected assertions that Israel, which has resumed its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month truce and sent troops back into the enclave, was not negotiating, saying "we are conducting it under fire, and therefore it is also effective". "We see that there are suddenly cracks," he said in a video statement issued on Sunday. On Saturday, Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group had agreed to a proposal that security sources said included the release of five Israeli hostages each week. But he said laying down its arms as Israel has demanded was a "red line" the group would not cross. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, health authorities in Gaza said at least 24 people, including several children, had been killed in Israeli strikes. Nine were killed in a single tent in the southern city of Khan Younis, they said. Later on Sunday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Service said it had finally been able to get access to search for rescue teams that had come under Israeli fire during a rescue mission in western Rafah, a week after the attack. It said it had recovered 13 bodies from the scene, seven of them were Palestinian Red Crescent members, another five were from the Gaza Civil Emergency Service, and another was a United Nations worker. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Since Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza on March 18, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate areas in northern Gaza where they had returned following the ceasefire agreement in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu said Israel was demanding that Hamas lay down its arms and said its leaders would be allowed to leave Gaza. He gave no detail on how long Israeli troops would remain in the enclave but repeated that Hamas's military and government capacities must be crushed. "We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary emigration plan," he said. "That is the plan, we do not hide it, we are ready to discuss it at any time." Trump originally proposed moving the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza to countries including Egypt and Jordan and developing the Gaza Strip as a U.S.-owned resort. However, no country has agreed to take in the population and Israel has since said that any departures by Palestinians would be voluntary. EID IN GAZA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after a devastating Hamas attack on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 that killed some 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally, and saw 251 abducted as hostages. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, and devastated much of the coastal enclave, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in tents and makeshift shelters. Sunday's strikes took place as Palestinians celebrated the Eid holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "We are here to celebrate the rituals of God amid the destruction and the sounds of cannons," said Minnatallah Al-Far, in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, where most of the area has been laid waste by Israeli bombardment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In Gaza, our situation is very difficult. Other people are celebrating these rituals in peace and safety, but we do them amid destruction and bombardment," she said. In Israel, Netanyahu has faced a wave of demonstrations since the military resumed its action in Gaza, with families and supporters of the remaining 59 hostages joining forces with protesters angry at government actions they see as undermining Israeli democracy. On Sunday, he rejected what he described as "empty claims and slogans" and said military pressure was the only thing that had returned hostages. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Alex Richardson and Sharon Singleton) JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Hungary this week, his office said on Sunday, defying an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court issued over allegations of war crimes in Gaza. During the visit, due to begin on Wednesday and run until Sunday, Netanyahu will meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, who invited him in November, soon after the ICC issued the arrest warrant. Orban said at the time that the warrant would "not be observed". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All European Union member states, including Hungary, are members of the ICC, which means they are required to enforce its warrants. Orban, a right-wing nationalist, has often been at odds with the EU over democratic standards and human rights in Hungary. There was no immediate comment by Hungary about this week's visit. It will be Netanyahu's second trip abroad since the ICC announced the warrants, following a visit to Washington in February to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. Israel has denounced the warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, describing the allegations as "false and absurd". The ICC has also issued a warrant for the arrest of a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Alexandra Hudson and Helen Popper) Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that Russian forces are preparing to escalate offensive operations in several parts of the war zone in the spring and summer of 2025. This may be part of Moscow's strategy to increase pressure on Ukraine amid potential peace talks. Source: ISW Details: Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press that the Russians could launch a new offensive in an unspecified area of the front in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) nations share concerns voiced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a possible escalation of hostilities in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Additionally, two Ukrainian commanders reported that Russia has recently stepped up reconnaissance missions along the front line and intensified combat operations on the Pokrovsk front. Major Viktor Trehubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group, stated that Russian forces have "recovered" after a temporary operational pause on the Pokrovsk front. He added that Ukrainian intelligence has detected a significant concentration of Russian troops near Selydove, south of Pokrovsk. The commander of a Ukrainian battalion operating in Donetsk Oblast expressed concern that Russia might move some of its forces from Kursk Oblast to other parts of the war zone. Quote: "ISW has recently observed intensifications in Russian offensive operations in the Lyman, Pokrovsk and Orikhiv directions and ongoing Russian offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces from remaining positions in Kursk Oblast." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: ISW reports that Russian forces have advanced to within 3 km of the administrative border between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts in two sections of the Pokrovsk front. The Kremlin is likely to exploit these advances to sow chaos and fear in the information space. Quote: "The Russian military command is unlikely to redeploy forces from Kursk Oblast if Russia intends to conduct a concerted offensive operation to seize or advance closer to the city of Sumy, and Russia likely does not have enough readily deployable operational-level reserves to conduct significant offensive operations against the cities of Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia without redeploying forces already committed to other areas of the front line." Details: ISW analysts suggest that the Russian military is likely aiming to bring these cities within artillery range to make civilian life unbearable or to prepare for ground operations ahead of a potential ceasefire. Quote: "It is unlikely that the Russian military is capable of conducting three significant offensive efforts against major Ukrainian cities even after conducting such redeployments, as Russia has suffered significant armoured vehicle and personnel losses over the last three years of fighting and has not demonstrated the ability to conduct complex operations involving multiple simultaneous axes of advance since Winter 2022." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: As of this report, ISW has not identified any significant redeployment of Russian troops on the Sumy, Kharkiv, or Zaporizhzhia fronts in open sources that would indicate preparations for renewed offensive operations. However, analysts suggest that Russian forces may have conducted a rotation that was not publicly reported. To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 29 March: Ukrainian and US officials continue to negotiate the terms of temporary ceasefires on Black Sea operations and energy infrastructure strikes, indicating the ceasefires are not yet fully codified. The Kremlin appears to be using the Black Sea ceasefire negotiations with the United States to test the extent to which Russia can extract concessions from the West, as the implementation of a maritime truce would not require any sanctions relief. European allies continue to provide financial and materiel support to Ukraine and agreed to expand intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Russian forces are reportedly poised to intensify offensive operations in several areas of the frontline in Spring and Summer 2025 in hopes of influencing ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiations. Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine amid reports of shifting and more deadly Russian strike tactics. Russian forces are reportedly employing more advanced long-range drones, complicating Ukrainian air defence operations and allowing more drones to penetrate Ukraine's air defence umbrella. Zelenskyy ordered Ukraine's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and General Staff to establish a new aviation chain of command within the Ukrainian General Staff and conduct widespread aviation management reform to strengthen Ukraine's aerial capabilities. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod Oblast and near Pokrovsk. Russian forces recently advanced near Kupiansk, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the launch of the "Indra Navy 2025" exercises in Chennai, India. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! James Carville, a Democratic strategist who managed former President Bill Clintons first campaign, claims that the Trump administration has already collapsed. Carville made the remarks during a Saturday CNN appearance, stating that the administration is made up of nincompoops and buffoons. The presidents top officials have contributed to a massive collapse faster than he says he couldve imagined. Carville had recently authored an op-ed in The New York Times in which he wrote Trumps honeymoon period would in the be over within the next 30 days, or by Memorial Day at the latest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stuck to his guns during the interview on Sunday, citing the leaking of a Signal group chat between top officials charting out a military strike and the presidents decision to withdraw New York Representative Elise Stefaniks nomination for United Nations Ambassador. James Carville speaks onstage during Election Night Live With Brian Williams at Amazon Studios on November 05, 2024 (Getty Images for Amazon Studios) Trump pulled her nomination to strengthen voting margins in the House. The move suggests there could be a weakness among House Republicans. What tense are we in? Is it collapsing or has it collapsed? Thats the only argument to have, said Carville. And I was wrong. I said Memorial Day, its before April Fools Day, which the Trump administration should make a national holiday because it so accurately represents who they are. Other policy choices like tariffs, which are sending markets tumbling, are not working in Trumps favor either, Carville said. The strategist did note that recent polling suggesting the unfavorability of Democrats is going to swing upward after Democratic candidates begin winning elections. He called the current moment a glorious opportunity for Democrats to redefine themselves. Jerry Dyers four years and change as Fresno mayor makes his 40 years as a Fresno police officer and chief feel like a lifetime ago. Not just Dyers lifetime but someone elses. Its like I was never in the police department ever, Dyer said toward the end of an hour-long sit down with The Bees opinion crew (i.e. Juan Esparza Loera, Tad Weber and myself) after one of us committed the journalistic sin of tossing out a weighty question when the interview subject is already late for his next meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mea culpa on that. But after listening to Dyer discuss the priorities and potential pitfalls of his second term, digging into the fine details on several topics, it felt right to conclude on a wider lens. Opinion So I asked Dyer, somewhat clumsily, what he would have done differently during his first four years as mayor if he possessed all the knowledge about the job he has today. I have to tell you, Dyer replied, before making the off-handed and somewhat surprising remark about no longer feeling like a cop. I definitely wish I would have had all of the knowledge I have today when I first started (as mayor) because I could have probably accelerated some things, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the other thing is, I wish I would have had the relationships that I have today with my council. Were not only colleagues, were really good friends. You have to have those relationships to get things done. Dyer will need the councils cooperation to accomplish many of the primary objectives he intends to see through during the final three years, nine months of his administration. To keep abreast of everything going on in the city, Dyer carries with him a list of projects and topics printed on sheets of stapled-together 8 12 by 14 paper. The March list contains 46 items, accompanied by his scribbled notes in blue ink, including: the railroad grade separation at Blackstone and McKinley avenues, which Dyer hopes will be finished around the time he leaves office; sorely needed upgrades to downtowns aging sewer and water infrastructure; terminal expansion and runway reconstruction at Fresno Yosemite International Airport; the pedestrian overpass over Highway 99 at Roeding Park; and new facilities for seniors, 911 emergency calls and firefighter training. At present, though, no issue is more pressing than to close a growing budget deficit that Dyer indicated will surpass the $20.6 million shortfall projected last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on some things, for example $1.2 million every year that we have to take out of the general fund for the landfill, and other things that werent built in (to the projection) we had exceeded $30 million in the red, Dyer said. Thats my job as mayor. Weve been meeting for the last three weeks, several times a week, hours at a time. Mayor Jerry Dyer answers questions after presenting his fiscal year 2024 mayors budget during a news conference at Fresno City Hall on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Departments trimmed, jobs held vacant Dyer asked department heads to come up with 5% cuts some were too painful to enact while purposefully and selectively leaving hundreds of city jobs vacant during the past year. Not quite a hiring freeze but nearly so. Thats going to be our biggest savings, he said. Had we not done that, the shortfall would have been much greater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fresno would have faced deficits in previous budget cycles had the city not reaped the benefits of $170 million from President Bidens American Rescue Plan Act over the last few years, funding that is no longer available. But because the city utilized some of that money to expand the police and fire departments, including new labor contracts, those costs must now be absorbed into the general fund. Making cuts to police and fire is the last last thing any mayor wants to do. Which is why Dyer didnt exactly shy away from a question about the potential for a public safety tax on a future ballot. Weve done it for parks, right? Dyer said before bringing up Clovis 1% general sales tax that starts April 1, more than 90% of which is earmarked for police and fire. I think those discussions are going to be had over the next few years. My job as the mayor was to reduce whatever expenses we possibly can in the city thats tolerable for the people of Fresno before we do anything or have any discussions about revenue enhancements. And we did that this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One complication, at least for the 2026 election cycle, is the tenuous status of Measure C, the long-standing county transportation tax that is set to expire in January 2027. Dyer stressed the importance of renewing Measure C, which could get in the way of a city public safety tax because voters probably arent eager to approve two tax initiatives on one ballot. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer hugs Abdul Jawad, a Palestinian business owner in Fresno, following a news conference to promote unity among local Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim groups in Fresno, at Fresno City Hall on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Second-term emphasis on housing, SEDA Another major emphasis of Dyers second term is housing. Fresnos lack of housing stock, in the mayors view, has contributed not only to its homelessness problem but resulted in the loss of property tax revenues to places like Madera County and Clovis where sprawl is a way of life. Numerous affordable housing projects, including one specifically for farmworkers, are currently at various stages of development throughout the city. At the same time, Dyer wants to get moving on a 9,000-acre expansion of southeast Fresno (known as SEDA) that has been mired in legal disputes as it undergoes environmental review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEDA has loomed in the background but will soon be a front-burner topic. Because if the Fresno City Council doesnt approve the projects environmental impact report by the end of June a workshop is tentatively scheduled for May the city must return $600,000 to the federal government it used to fund the study. The environmental review is just a first step, Dyer said. People are trying to push back on that, but we arent going to go from that to building houses. Its not going to happen. Four years have passed since Dyer permanently exchanged his blue police officers uniform for the tailored blue suits he favors as mayor. Long enough to feel like another lifetime ago. A man has been charged after allegedly vandalizing a Wellington familys Tesla while they were out to eat at a west Wichita restaurant. The Gill family has a Tesla, and had one before this one, because its automated driving function helps Abigail Gill drive more easily. The 18-year-old has spinal muscular atrophy. She uses a wheelchair. The family believes the Tesla was targeted because of frustration with the owner of the company, Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill was out to eat with her mother, brother and boyfriend on March 20. Gill rode there with her boyfriend. Her mother and brother drove their family vehicle, a Tesla Model X. After their meal, Gills mother noticed the family vehicle had been keyed on the passenger side. They then noticed the driver side had been keyed as well. They got home and pulled the video that records around the car and assists with the automated driving and saw something that disturbed them. A man who had been sitting next to them had left the restaurant, keyed the passenger side of their car, then went back inside. He came out again and keyed the other side of the car and then picked up his family. Besides catching the act and his face, the video also caught the license plate on his vehicle, Gill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the repair estimate was $17,000. Johnathan F. Erhart was charged Friday with one count of criminal damage to property. If convicted, the 30-year-old Jefferson County man could be sentenced to five to 17 months in prison, under the Kansas sentencing guidelines. Depending on any prior criminal history, he could also be given probation or prison. He doesnt appear to have any convictions in Kansas. The Eagle spoke with Gill on Thursday, when police had identified a suspect but charges had not yet been filed. She said they believe it was politically motivated vandalism, which has been happening across the country since Musk stepped into the political sphere as an adviser and de facto head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the vandalism hurt their family, not Musk, she said. We were super shocked and disappointed, she said. Its a sad thing to see, especially here. The hope is that the suspect will have to pay for the damage, she said, adding that they did not talk about politics at the table next to the suspect and his family. She said they werent parked near each other. Ahead of jury selection on Tuesday for Karen Reads re-trial, supporters of hers are gathering and hosting standouts across the country to bring attention to her case. Read, 45, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting John OKeefe, her Boston police officer, with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead. Karen Read Murder Trial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Last week, Judge Beverly Cannone ordered that the 200-foot buffer zone remain in effect for Reads second trial and be extended to include the area bounded by Bates Court, Bullard Street, Ames Street, and Court Street. Cannone said the demonstrators will also be prohibited from using audio enhancing devices while protesting. Reads first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Jury selection in Reads second trial is slated to begin on Tuesday, April 1 and 218 potential jurors are being called in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a full list of standouts, visit the link here. Get caught up with all the latest news in the Karen Read case. 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 Kate Middleton has shared a sweet message about her family in honor of Mothers Day in the UK. The Princess of Wales, who shares three children with Prince William, posted a sweet tribute to Mother Nature on Instagram on Sunday. Her video included a series of outdoor scenes, including a flower blossoming, Kates hands touching a tree, and William walking dogs. In the caption, the royal expressed how much she loves being outdoors with her husband and children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary. This Mothers Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognize how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life. C, she wrote in the caption. During Mothering Sunday last year, Kate made headlines when Kensington Palace released a photo of the princess sitting with her three children. The photo, captured by William, also marked Kates first time being seen in the public eye, months after she was recovering from a planned abdominal surgery. Although it appeared completely normal at first glance, social media users then examined some points in the photo, before questioning if it was altered, or photoshopped. For example, Charlottes left-hand sleeve appeared to partially dissolve into nothing. Kates right hand also appeared to be unusually blurred, while a wall near Louis leg appeared to disconnect. From there, many news agencies decided to remove the image. AP issued an immediate kill notification on the picture, noting that at closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image. Getty Images also confirmed the photo was removed from their site in accordance with [their] editorial policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kate later addressed the controversy, confessing that the photo was edited. However, she didnt specify what edits were made to it. Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused, she wrote on Instagram at the time. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day. C Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer last year, also recently shared a health update, revealing her she was in remission. I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year, she wrote in a message on social media in January. My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldnt have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional. Kate Middleton shared a video of some sweet moments outdoors in her Mothers Day post (Getty Images) She added: It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support. C. At the time, she also made a surprise return to the Royal Marsden Hospital, where she thanked the staff who provided her with exceptional care during her treatment. She spoke with patients at the London hospital in what she described as an important moment in her personal journey, four months after her chemotherapy ended. SHELBYVILLE Tara Barrett-Duzans father, Ron Barrett, warned her when she discussed taking over the family farm that it wouldnt be easy. He said, 'I think its going to be kind of like drinking from a fire hose, but I think you can do it, she said. Hes not wrong. Barrett-Duzans struggles and successes are the focus of the documentary The Farmers Daughter. The film premiered on Saturday at the Roxy Theater in Shelbyville. Another free showing will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 31, in Buzzard Hall at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The film is also available on Amazon Prime for $2.99. Although several daughters have gone on to manage or at least help on the farm, that wasnt the plan for Barrett-Duzan when she was a young adult. Her career choice was to be a reporter, which she was able to accomplish in 2004 by working for the Decatur television station WAND. I was pretty set on journalism, she said. Her path changed after experiencing losses in her life. Scot England, director of the documentary, was WAND-TV morning co-anchor with Barrett-Duzan nearly 15 years ago. The two had stayed in touch after she left in 2011 to join the field of agriculture. When she left to help her dad on the farm, I thought, thats something that TV female anchors dont ever do, England said. And thats something male anchors never do, because theyre wimps. After Barrett-Duzans father died in 2018 and she took over running the farm, England wanted to tell her story. The story was familiar to Moweaqua native Amy Myers, a farm kid herself in the 1970s and 1980s and who attended Saturday's premiere. This took me back to my childhood. It was pretty emotional, she said. I can relate. I went out and drove the truck for my dad and moved equipment from farm to farm. Myers brought friends to watch the documentarys premiere. Chris Burge was the only one raised in a big city, but she now lives in Moweaqua, a typical farming community. It was very impressive, but I think she did what she had to do, she said. No matter, as a mom and as a woman, you do what you have to do because that is just your job. Kylie Daniel, who now owns Half Moon Digital in Shelbyville, worked behind the camera with both England and Barrett-Duzan at the television station. I do video production mainly, but I also do web design and graphic design, Daniel said about his current career. Thats how Scot saw me. Whenever he saw that, he reached out. The Farmers Daughter is Daniels first feature film. Its the first and biggest project Ive done, he said. After having her daughter in 2011, Barrett-Duzan left the newsroom for the corn and soybean fields. I went on maternity leave, she said. I came back and put my notice in. Barrett-Duzan admits she had to be talked into the documentary project. Im the one who asks the questions, she said about returning to filming. I honestly didnt want to do it, because those days are long gone. The Farmers Daughter Another opportunity to view The Farmers Daughter in theaters will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 31, in Buzzard Hall at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The showing is free to the public. The film is also available on Amazon Prime for $2.99. Knowing Englands personality, Barrett-Duzan said she couldnt say no. I know when he sets his mind to something, hes going to follow through with it, she said. The Farmers Daughter began as a project two years ago, which included editing. Daniel filmed an entire year of Barrett-Duzan on the farm. Planting and harvest were captured. And we wanted to show what she did in the wintertime too, England said. Old family videos were added to the finished product. Otherwise, Barrett-Duzan wasnt part of the process, nor was she aware of who else was interviewed and added to the film. I didnt know it was going to be a full-length documentary, she said. Spoiler alert: Barrett-Duzan worked with her father for seven years on the farm in Hume, a town of approximately 400 in Edgar County. However, she didnt know the business side of running a farm. I didnt know all of the thousands of decisions you have to make throughout the year, she said. There was a lot I didnt know, and a short amount of time to figure things out. Along with former co-workers, family friends and business associates who helped Barrett-Duzan along the way were interviewed for the movie. My dad had good relationships with all of those people, she said. They were very helpful. Theres no book that you can look up. Ron Barrett died in 2018 after a six-month battle with cancer. Her brother Cory Barrett died in 2009 from a motorcycle accident. Barrett-Duzan was given the responsibility of taking over the family farming business, which includes 1,600 acres. Her husband, Jared Duzan, recently left his job at Ameren to help her on the farm. I didnt know all the specific things he (her father) did throughout the year, Barrett-Duzan said. But when youre the one doing it and making all of the decisions, you realize its year-round. The goal is to keep the farm in the family and pass it on to her young daughter and/or son. My goal was to pour everything I have into it, to try to at least give it a round, and see if I can handle it, Barrett-Duzan said. A man who walked up to the pulpit at the church hed grown up in, Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, a few minutes before last Sundays 11 a.m. Mass was soon wrestled to the ground by four parishioners, including a deacon. Jimbo Gillcrist had just started to recite his own version of the Our Father, and to say how were all Gods children. He had intended to talk to his fellow Catholics about care for the migrant, but he didnt get to before being taken down, marched out and handcuffed by OP police. I thought the worst that could happen is maybe theyd try to shout me down and ask me to leave, Gillcrist told me in an interview on Friday. I in no way thought Id be tackled in a church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When one of those who removed him called the police, they reported, He has long hair and a beard. I know that because I listened to the 38-minute audio of the whole thing that was recorded on Gillcrists phone, which his removers took away from him but failed to stop from recording. So I can also say that the police who responded were a lot more chill than the church folk, one of whom asked the others, Is anybody armed? Mine is in my car, one responded. Mine is, too, said another. All the better to protect followers of Christ from someone quoting Christ? Some horrible things have happened in churches throughout history, actually, so I could understand safety being a concern. But the back-and-forth between Gillcrist and those who made him leave suggests they were more focused on propriety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Holy Spirits pastor, Fr. Justin Hamilton, nor Deacon John Williams, who Gillcrist said was among those who removed him, answered messages asking about what happened. If Gillcrists name sounds familiar, hes the theology teacher fired from Kansas Citys Rockhurst High School last November after telling his students that it would be their moral duty as Catholics to stand up against mass deportations. So here he is, doing that, or trying to. Holy Spirit Deacon John Williams Brother, you need to leave After he started his prayer, a priest approached him at the pulpit: Come with me. Turn the sound off! Brother, you need to leave. And then, after the sounds of a very quick takedown came this: Stay still. Were not going to hurt you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You already used violence against me in a church. Youre trespassing. Trespassing? Im a baptized Catholic. Its inappropriate. To pray? Theres an appropriate time. It is the appropriate time. No, you have to listen to your authorities, which is your pastor. As Gillcrist was taken out, he raised his voice for the first and only time, Love your neighbor as yourself! And who is my neighbor? When police arrived, an officer asked those who had marched him out, Did he do anything physical? He pushed our priest off the steps one answered, but he didnt fall or anything. A second officer arrived and said, Is he the one who pushed the priest? Put him in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I didnt, Gillcrist insisted. Well figure it out, one of the officers said. And they did, while Gillcrist sat in the back of the patrol car in cuffs. Video shows the moments before Jimbo Gillcrist was taken down at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. So I see you mention Gaza and Ukraine Officers asked Gillcrist some questions as telling as his answers, so Im just going to let the recording play: Why are they saying you pushed a priest? They were trying to pull me away from the pulpit. I grabbed the pulpit and just held on. I didnt push anyone. They had four guys grabbing me and dragging me off there. What made you want to preach today? Im worried about human beings, our brothers and sisters who live within our midst and are being targeted by the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you consider to be targeted by the government? What class of people are you Undocumented immigrants. So you dont agree with deportations and things like that? Uh-huh. Did you say anything like that? I didnt even get there. Looking at a copy of Gillcrists prepared remarks, the officer said, So I see you mention Gaza and Ukraine in here. Whats your message with that? Theyre our brothers and sisters. When we stop seeing people that way its so easy to start making laws or enacting policies that harm them. In the end, another officer said he had talked to the pastor and there wouldnt be any charges for now, but if you do return here, you will be charged with trespassing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So was this a pointless provocation or an important disruption? I understand those who say church needs to be a refuge from politics. At the same time, I dont see how you could take Matthew Chapter 25 seriously for I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome and register no protest right now. Where is American Oscar Romero? Jesus spoke a lot about care for the stranger, who is these days being snatched off the street without any due process and used by smiling Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as a prop with a shaved head and few clothes, looking shamefully for us not unlike a prisoner in Dachau. If youre an actress from Canada, maybe things will eventually be made right, but if not, who knows? The danger everyone ought to see is that if you can be picked up and shipped out without any hearing for supporting Palestinians and without due process, we really dont know that its any more than that then you can also be sent away for supporting Israel, or Ukraine. Or Jesus, or even Donald Trump. Gillcrist belongs to a different, less conservative parish now. But what he was thinking in going to Holy Spirit, he said, is that those in his original faith home may not hear his point of view very often. If he could move even one person who doesnt like whats going on a little closer to speaking out about that, he had to try. Of course, his effort might also have had the opposite effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went, too, because he sees the Catholic Church in the U.S. as silent when it should be strong. Where is the American Romero? he asked, referring to Oscar Romero, the sainted Salvadoran archbishop assassinated in 1980 for standing up against a repressive regime. Gillcrist had just started speaking when he was stopped, so I dont know that he had the chance to change that one mind, or that he would have even if hed been allowed to finish. I do know, however, that many are wondering how to make this country a place where both people and the rule of law matter again. Theyre not sure how to stop our slide into autocracy. Im not, either, but we do know we have to try and then try some more. Whether or not Gillcrist went about it the right away, I give him credit for looking for different ways to express his straight-from-Jesus dissent. Because for those of us revulsed by whats going on, smiling along like were still in the before times is no longer possible. It appears lawmakers have decided to defeat for the moment legislation that would have put an end to the publication of public notices. All governmental units in Indiana are required by law to publish notices in local publications to inform members of the public of meetings, advertising for bids and proposals and legal actions such as sheriffs sales. The state sets the price that publications can charge for the public notices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ever since I started working in Anderson, one of my daily habits has been to check the public notices to determine agendas for public meetings, rezoning requests for future development and projects that are being bid in local communities. A 2024 study of 26 Indiana cities found that, on average, they spend $5,538 on public notices. Its a relatively small price to pay to inform residents about what business is being contemplated or taking place. The legislation that so far has been defeated by lawmakers would have had the state set up a website for the advertising of public notices. There are two problems with the concept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First of all, who would monitor the website to make sure all the required public notices are being provided for the public to read? The second problem is that, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey, 25% of Indiana households dont have access to internet service. No internet, no access to the public notices. Over the years, many people have found that although local units of government and school systems have webpages on the internet, the information about when public meetings are going to take place or the posting of agendas is missing. Locally, there has been considerable discussion about transparency in local government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relying on officials to post the public notices on a website can be frustrating for local residents. In fact, there have been local meetings or proposed actions delayed because a notice wasnt posted. Aside from the Indiana General Assembly website, which provides timely information about legislative meetings and agendas, many state agency sites are difficult to navigate to find desired information. One good thing that will be taking place this year is the requirement for all public meetings to be livestreamed. Many meetings are already available on the internet, but without a published notice, how will residents know about a scheduled meeting or what will be discussed? The public notice elimination legislation has been discussed before and will be again in the future. Public notices are a requirement that must be maintained in the future. The News US stocks suffered their worst quarter in almost three years ahead of President Donald Trumps announcement of sweeping tariffs on April 2, after he suggested the levies could apply globally. Youd start with all countries, so lets see what happens, Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. Last week, he suggested that concessions could be made for some countries. The S&P 500 dropped 4.6 per cent in the first three months of 2025, with one investor from US bank Jefferies telling The Financial Times: I dont think any of us expected the kind of continued headline noise [and] the lack of clarity on how the administration will go about achieving its goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investors raced to buy haven assets ahead of the sweeping levies reciprocal tariffs as well as duties on steel, aluminum, and cars coming into force. Goldman Sachs slashed its projection for US growth this year, and raised its inflation forecast, estimating the likelihood of a recession in the next 12 months at 35%, while Axios said analysts are now beginning to worry about Wall Streets least-favorite s-word, stagflation. SIGNALS Trumps tariff goals are manifold and contradictory Source: The Washington Post Donald Trump has long touted tariffs as a way to push companies to invest more in the US and promote American businesses. He has also positioned them as a revenue source for the government, while some conservative lawmakers see them as a means to force other countries to grant concessions. Trump, for now at least, appears to be trying to demonstrate that tariffs can accomplish several goals simultaneously, The Washington Post wrote. An economist with a center-right think tank, though, noted that several of these stated goals are in contradiction with each other You cant have a tariff for everything and everyone in time, they will have to reveal what the real purpose is. Uncertainty runs the gamut, from Wall Street to Midwest farms Sources: Reuters, Marketplace, The Mankato Free Press Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The questions swirling around the tariffs from what goods they will affect to how governments and companies respond, to how prices will change has permeated the economic ecosystem. Markets are bracing for volatility after April 2 while analysts have warned of high-level impacts: The uncertainty alone is going to drag on growth, a Deutsche Bank economist said. In some communities where agriculture is the dominant industry, tariffs are the dominant topic of discussion, Minnesota paper The Mankato Free Press wrote. Fears range from a consumer spending slowdown to diminished exports. There is an uneasiness in the farm community because of the uncertainty, one local farmer said. Im sympathetic to the America First agenda But I dont want it to become America Alone. Globalization may not be fully threatened Sources: Financial Times, PGIM Despite many analysts fears that Donald Trumps tariffs will prompt the worlds markets to put up their own barriers, Trump 2.0 will not be a fatal blow to international trade, the Financial Times Tej Parikh argued. The US is influential, but it alone can not reverse globalization; Europe and China are larger contributors to global trade growth, and a US retrenchment would only spur other countries to fill the gap, Parikh wrote. Asset manager PGIM defined the current moment as a dual-track era, in which national security-related sectors are deglobalizing for example, artificial intelligence, chips, minerals, military tech but the less flashy goods and services sectors, which make up 75% of the global economy, are still globalizing at high speed. COURTESY STATE OF HAWAII State Reps. Diamond Garcia and Kanani Souza COURTESY STATE OF HAWAII State Reps. Diamond Garcia and Kanani Souza Key Hawaii Republicans offered differing viewsw of President Donald Trump three months into his second term, with some continuing their full support while others are hearing from constituents who regret voting for him. State House Minority Floor Leader Diamond Garcia (Ewa-Kapolei ) continues to back Trump and his administrations efforts to slash spending and reduce the federal workforce through his new, unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, arguing both are long overdue. The vast majority of the American people support the efforts of DOGE and what theyre doing, Garcia said. The American people want accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant Minority Leader Kanani Souza, like Garcia and other House and Senate Republicans, also represents a West Oahu district, Kapolei-Makakilo. But shes heard differently from her constituents, including fears about Trumps elimination of federal programs aimed at supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, and his often-conflicting messages about possible cuts to programs including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps. Souza said some people are concerned about funding cuts for Native Hawaiian programs. 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. A lot of my constituents, both sides of the aisle, are concerned with whether Social Security will be cut in the future. A lot of what were seeing is a wait-and-see scenario, she said. Souza and Garcia represent different ends of Hawaii Republican ideology in the nine-member Republican House caucus and three-member Senate Republican caucus. House Minority Whip Elijah Pierick, who represents the West Side district of Royal Kunia-Waipahu-Honouliuli, agrees with Garcia that America should focus on its own citizens rather than send aid to foreign countries, sometimes for programs that mainstream Americans may not support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think our U.S. citizens in our state are much more important to be focused on than people in every other country, Pierick said. Unlike Souzas constituents, Garcia said voters in his district tell him they like Trumps policies after years of feeling left behind. Trumps predecessors, Garcia said, were focusing on all of these ridiculous other things like climate change and gender issues versus the cost of living. Thats why West Oahu has pretty much flipped red. People were just frustrated that this is what the government was focusing on, not on lowering the cost of living, not on bringing Hawaiians back to Hawaii from the mainland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Assistant House Minority Leader David Alcos III (Ocean Pointe-Barbers Point ) said he and his constituents share conservative values and their confidence in Trumps decision making. While I acknowledge that there are differing opinions, the overwhelming majority I encounter are supportive of President Trump, he wrote in a text to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. My constituents feel that for the first time in a long while, their voices are being heard, and they see real action being taken on the issues that matter to them. Many have also expressed their support for the work being done by Elon Musk, particularly regarding a wasteful overspending by the government, and savings of our taxpayers money. But Souza has noticed what she calls a shift toward common ground between some Republican and Democratic voters over their concerns for Trumps actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have some other constituents who are telling me, I voted for President Trump and Im not happy with what Im seeing, she said. This is a very different scenario than maybe even six months ago or eight months ago when I was campaigning. It was very polarized. Under the new administration in Washington, the Legislature now has to look to forecasting our needs at the state level in case some of these programs are cut from (federal ) funding, Souza said. Pierick trusts Trumps decision making and thinks Hawaii should rely less on federally funded programs. I dont think we should feed anybody thats not working as an adult thats able to work, Pierick said. Everybody thats getting these free handouts needs to go to work, get a job, use a paycheck to buy their own food. Hawaii needs to grow up and not have a baby mentality of We need more resources. We need to be more self sufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tamara McKay, chair of the Hawaii Republican Party, called the reaction among local Republicans to Trumps first months in office definitely mixed, of course. But she believes in the overall goals of Trump and his administration, even if it means reduced funding for Hawaiis nonprofit organizations, education and other programs, including a reduced federal workforce across the islands. Once he cleans house, we will be able to move forward in a healthy way for the country, McKay said. A lot of people are saying they want DOGE to come to Hawaii because they feel the level of corruption in the state of Hawaii is out of control. I agree. We need a good enema. Its not exclusive to one party. Our whole state needs to be reset. She wants the Trump administration to investigate Hawaiis nonprofit organizations, the state Office of Elections, state Department of Education and the federal veterans affairs and Social Security agencies in how they operate and spend money. At the same time, McKay said she understands the ongoing questions and concerns over how Musk has been operating DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I agree there is some frustration and lack of transparency, she said. I can see both sides. In some cases, its too fast and not strategic and using a hatchet approach. With some of the programs (that were cut ), I have to agree it was too much too soon. But I do believe youre going to see in the next couple of months that its going to get better. While Trump promised to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine immediately, as well as turn around the U.S. economy, McKay said he promised instant results he could not deliver on. We love Trump. We love Trump, she said. But sometimes its unrealistic to say the economys going to get better on Day One. He was not being realistic. House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto (Mililani-Waipio Acres-Mililani Mauka ) said shes more focused on state issues than paying attention to every Trump administration headline coming out of Washington on a daily basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But constituents still turn to her office seeking explanations about the effects of the presidents actions, especially his recent executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education and what it means for education in Hawaii. Some constituents have reached out to Matsumoto, mistakenly believing that I talk to Trump every week because they want to know, What is Trump thinking about this or that ? I say, I know just as much as you. Asked to characterize constituents reaction to Trump so far, Matsumoto said, We get a mix of calls from people who are fearful of whats going to be happening next. I do think the media, especially the national media, stirs up fears that may not be warranted. So theyre hearing mixed messages about what the media are saying. Overall, Matsumotos waiting to see how Trumps early actions affect Hawaii and the rest of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe a shake-up is what needs to happen, she said. No matter what side youre on, people can admit that theres a need for changes. Change is not always easy, and sometimes there will be changes that people will have to reverse or fix. As for now, Matsumoto said, Theres so much we dont know, and so much is speculation. But as a state, we need to take a deep-dive look at what were spending and ensure we have a responsible government. Im glad these conversations are coming to light. Signage and flowers are placed on a tree next to where ICE agents apprehended Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk on March 27, 2025, in Somerville, Massachusetts. Ozturk was arrested for purported activities related to terrorist organizations amid the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Nearly 20 years ago, my wife and I were lucky enough to study abroad in England. We had been awarded graduate scholarships and obtained our student visas from the British government. At the time, there was a heartbreaking genocide happening in Darfur. As concerned students invested in the moral standing of our university, we joined peaceful protests calling on Oxford to divest from companies that profited from the genocide and urged the British Parliament to intervene. I never feared that my exercise of free speech would get me arrested and kicked out of what I took to be the second freest nation on earth, after my own. And I certainly could not have imagined a swarm of British agents abducting me on the street and deporting me without cause. Perhaps in the time of King George III but not the age of constitutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish graduate student at Tufts University in Boston, was walking peacefully to the universitys Interfaith Center to break her Ramadan fast when six government agents in masks and hoodies surrounded her and took her away screaming in an unmarked SUV. For a day or more, according to Fox News, Rumeysas family and lawyers had no idea where she was and were unable to contact her. No charges were filed against her. A federal district judge even ordered the government not to move her out of state. But she was moved anyway to a detention center in Louisiana, awaiting deportation. Rumeysa had a valid student visa, as Fox News also reported. She was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship to complete her Ph.D. at Tufts Department of Child Study and Human Development, where she researches children and media. No charges were filed against her and there was no warrant for her arrest; warrants are issued by judges who require the government to show cause. The best guess for why she has been detained is that her name appeared with several others on an article in the student newspaper last year calling on Tufts University to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with ties to Israel. The op-ed never mentioned Hamas, which the U.S. government rightly considers a terrorist organization. There is no evidence that she harbored any sympathy for, much less aided and abetted, Hamas or other organizations opposed to the United States. It seems her only crime was to peacefully speak out, as a concerned student, in a manner disfavored by the current administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans may freely disagree about the heartbreaking conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has left thousands of innocent Israelis and hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians dead or injured in recent years. For my part, having traveled to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and believing in the state of Israel as a necessary response to the evils of the Holocaust (in which Jewish family members of mine were killed), I take seriously the conclusions of the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International that Israels war in Gaza is a plausible genocide. But regardless of what we believe about Israel and Palestine, there is one thing on which Americans overwhelmingly agree: our constitutional right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment is sacred and immigrants who lawfully reside among us are not without rights of their own. As you uphold my right to call the war in Gaza genocidal, I defend your right to call Hamas an evil terrorist organization. In fact, Ill join in that because it is also true. Freedom of speech is as American as apple pie. Its what has attracted many of the brightest minds from foreign lands to come here legally as students and help make America the richest, most innovative nation on earth including Elon Musk. Sadly, Rumeysa is not alone. She is one of hundreds of lawful immigrants so far who have been targeted for deportation by the Trump administration in recent weeks, without any pretense of due process. Their abductions on American streets by unmarked and unidentified law enforcement agents are being funded by our tax dollars to the tune of untold millions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far we have seen at least seven other students detained for showing sympathy for Palestinians; hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported to a Salvadoran prison camp against the orders of a federal judge, and extended detentions and physical abuse of lawful migrants at the American border. These and countless other acts represent an unprecedented abuse of federal power against individuals whose lack of citizenship gives them limited legal recourse, in spite of their legal status in this country. Given the choice, I still believe my fellow Americans would choose the Constitution over a man who would be king. Its time we make that choice not just for Rumeysa but for this country we love. New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com. ARLINGTON, Va. (WDCW) A kite reportedly made contact with a United Airlines flight Saturday as the plane was approaching Reagan National Airport (DCA), the airline said. In a statement to Nexstars WDCW, United Airlines said it is aware of reports that a kite struck United Flight 654, which departed from Houston for Washington, D.C. However, the airline added that the aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection, there was no damage to the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), whose police department patrols Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles International airports, said that its officers had responded to reports of kite-flying that day at Gravelly Point. FAA reports near-miss at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving Delta plane, Air Force Talon Gravelly Point, a park across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is just a few hundred feet away from the north end of DCAs runway. People are not allowed to fly kites there because of the danger of low-flying aircraft, according to the MWAA. Upon responding to the park, the airports authority said officers briefly confiscated a kite flying in the restricted air space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That kite was returned to its owner shortly later and no charges were filed, said Emily McGee, a spokesperson for the MWAA. Officers also warned people about flying kites in the area. Delta Air Lines drops new set of pilot trading cards: How to get yours Across the Potomac on the National Mall, National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers held the annual Blossom Kite Festival on Saturday to celebrate cherry blossom season. According to organizers, the kite festival was unrelated to the kite-flying activity at Gravelly Point. The reported incident comes just two months after an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided above the Potomac River near DCA, killing 67 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, a Delta Air Lines Flight preparing to leave Ronald Reagan and an incoming military jet received instructions to divert and prevent a possible collision, officials said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) A kite reportedly made contact with a United Airlines flight Saturday as the plane was approaching Reagan National Airport (DCA), the airline said. In a statement to DC News Now, United Airlines said it is aware of reports that a kite struck United Flight 654, which departed from Houston for DCA. FAA reports near-miss at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving Delta plane, Air Force Talon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the airline added that the aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection there was no damage to the aircraft. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), whose police department patrols Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles International airports, said that its officers had responded to reports of kite-flying that day at Gravelly Point. Gravelly Point, a park across the Potomac River in Alexandria is just a few hundred feet away from the north end of DCAs runway. People are not allowed to fly kites there because of the danger of low-flying aircraft, according to the MWAA. Upon responding to the park, the airport authority said officers briefly confiscated a kite flying in the restricted airspace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That kite was returned to its owner shortly later and no charges were filed, said Emily McGee, a spokesperson for the MWAA. Officers also warned people about flying kites in the area. American Airlines plane, military helicopter collide near DCA, crash into Potomac River Across the Potomac on the National Mall, National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers held the annual Blossom Kite Festival on Saturday to celebrate cherry blossom season. According to organizers, the kite festival was unrelated to the kite-flying activity at Gravelly Point. The reported incident comes just two months after an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided above the Potomac River near DCA, killing 67 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. In sixth grade, I won an essay contest from the Nashville Kiwanis Club on What It Means to Be a Patriot. I wore a clip-on tie, stood behind a microphone twice the size of my head and nervously gave a speech about freedom, fairness and helping others. Even then, I understood that patriotism wasnt just about flags or fireworks it was about caring for your country and the people in it. Lately, Ive been thinking about that essay. Democracy doesnt collapse overnight. It erodes slowly when citizens tune out, when facts get blurry, when fear divides us and when the rule of law is twisted to serve the powerful instead of protecting everyone equally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rule of law isnt just a legal phrase its the foundation of a functioning democracy. History teaches that authoritarianism grows not only through force, but through silence and indifference. We each have a role. Being a patriot means showing up, telling the truth, defending the law and helping fix whats broken not just when its easy, but especially when its not. America isnt perfect, but the promise is still worth protecting. Thats what my sixth-grade self believed and I still do. James Tracy Puett, Prescott Would Biggs cut Medicaid again? Arizona business leaders are opposed to federal Medicaid cuts, as described in Arizona Republic reporter Stephanie Innes story on March 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizonans need to know a little history: When the Legislature debated the expansion of Medicaid, or AHCCCS, in 2013, Andy Biggs, a Republican who was then president of the state Senate, led the opposition to it. Biggs, now a congressman running for governor, raced down from the Senate presidents lofty dais to the Senate floor and made an impassioned argument against expansion. Despite his opposition, it passed. One can guess that as governor, Biggs would try to cut AHCCCS in Arizona. Business leaders should pin him down on this issue, and if he favors Medicaid cuts, the business community should oppose his gubernatorial candidacy. Arizonans should weigh Biggs likely opposition to Medicaid, and many other far-right positions he holds, in deciding to vote for someone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael A. Chihak, Tucson Kelly should've bought a Lucid U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is only green when it fits his agenda. Why did he not buy an Arizona-produced Lucid when he traded in his Tesla? He could have supported jobs in Casa Grande. He should write a refund check to the U.S. Treasury for his electric vehicle rebate on that Tesla, since he is not really green. And Lucid employees should take note of Kellys action, which he publicized on social media. Connie Dekavallas, Scottsdale Phoenix's VA offers first-class care I recently spent four days in the Phoenix Veterans Administration Medical Center. I went to the emergency room with a sinus infection and was seen in 10 minutes. Later in the day, I was admitted to ward 4C for shortness of breath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After many tests, it was confirmed that I had pneumonia and later lung damage under the general diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis. More tests are scheduled, including a biopsy to determine if I have lung cancer (no, I never smoked). A special shout-out to my day-shift nurse for her going beyond what was required to ensure my first-class health care. Also a fellow veteran, she would always come in to give me the latest information possible. I served as a Marine and Army officer over nearly 18 years of active and reserve time. I deserve the first-class health care by the VA that I received. As a veterans activist, advocate and lobbyist, I will continue to fight a reduction in VA staff, budget or attempts to privatize it.Aaron M. Davis, Mesa Put the tribal flags back up As a veteran, taking down the tribal flags flying at the Phoenix VA hospital seems petty and egregiously unnecessary. To be honest with you, I didnt even know they were there ... and I drive by the VA a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now that I know the tribal flags were there, they seem like a good idea. The tribal flags represent tribal sovereignty and the fact that Arizonas tribes allied themselves with the United States military. More letters: Funds schools and roads, not a DBacks stadium While some anti-American activists try to portray the relationship between the U.S. Army and Arizona tribes as simply genocide, the reality is different. In fact, the U.S. military was often unhappy with the civilian governments Native American policy and being left with fixing the messes created when the civilian government didnt keep its promises. If youre interested in commentary about Army frustration with that, read Bourkes On the Border with Crook (be prepared for lots of detail about 19th century Arizona). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put the tribes flags back up at the VA. They symbolize something a whole lot different from the political differences that a bunch of clueless white people are quarreling about today. Jim McManus, Phoenix Hunting with hounds is just cruel Fair chase is a core principle of ethical hunting, but there is nothing fair about using packs of dogs to chase mountain lions and bears. Hound hunters rely on GPS tracking collars to pursue and corner exhausted animals, often chasing them for miles until they can no longer run or have bayed into a tree or cliff. At that point, the hunter moves in for an easy kill. Even hunters admit that hounds track and corner bears better than any person could. Thats not fair chase it is cruelty disguised as tradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has the authority to prohibit this cruel practice and is currently considering a petition to create rules that would prohibit hounding of mountain lions, bears and small mammals. Game and Fish should approve this petition and end the cruelty. Tom Krepitch, Phoenix Whats on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Patriotism is not just waving a flag. It's caring for others | Letters STUART, Fla. (WFLA) An armed man was caught on camera charging at a Florida officer, just before being fatally shot. At around 7 a.m. Saturday morning, an officer with the Stuart Police Department responded to the Sierra Condominiums for an armed man acting erratically. 2 teen gunmen arrested in murder of 7-year-old Florida boy: deputies A surveillance video shows the officer speaking with the 36-year-old from behind his patrol vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, who police have not named, then charges at the cop while holding a large knife. Due to the immediate threat of the armed suspect charging towards the officer, and left with no other option, the officer fired his duty weapon striking the suspect, the police department said. The armed suspect was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries. According to the police department, the officer involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave in accordance with their policy. The Martin County Sheriffs Office will investigate the incident further. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Because the floodwaters in Harney County and on the Burns Paiute Reservation have created serious public health and environmental hazards, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a flood emergency for the southeastern part of the state. The declaration, announced Saturday, will stay in effect until April 30, the governors office said. The conditions are evolving rapidly, and my office is monitoring closely, Kotek said in a statement. I urge residents to check on your neighbors, follow the instructions and evacuation levels issued by emergency officials, subscribe to emergency alerts on ORAlert.gov, have an evacuation plan, prepare a go-kit, and stay aware of changing conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kotek: Feds holding up disaster money despite court orders Kotek earlier declared flood emergencies for other parts of the state and the Office of Emergency Management has been working with local authorities for support and sandbagging assistance. This past Monday, the governor called out the federal government. She said $129 million in FEMA funding is now out of reach because of pending orders from the Trump Administration. Oregons US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are demanding answers from FEMA about staff layoffs and grant freezes, which they said could hurt disaster recovery efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy shot a man Saturday evening near a busy intersection and shopping area in West Hollywood, prompting a large police response and street closures. The man was taken to a hospital after being shot in the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, near the intersection of La Brea Avenue, at 5:57 p.m. He is in stable condition, according to a department release. Deputy Veronica Fantom called the incident an "officer-involved shooting." She said all officers were accounted for, and there was no further additional information available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WeHo Times published video of a man on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance. The man appeared alert, yelling and craning his head as he was hoisted into the vehicle. The area is home to the West Hollywood Gateway mall, which houses a Target, Best Buy and other stores. Videos shared to social media showed helicopters hovering overhead and yellow police tape blocking off the intersection and portions of the mall's first-floor plaza. "Avoid the area of La Brea Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd for an active law enforcement investigation," the Sheriff's Department wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Our deputies are in the area and multiple streets are closed. There is no current threat to the community." The Sheriff's Department asked anyone with information about the incident to call the homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. 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. Sir Keir Starmer is poised to accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and align with EU rules to hit net zero. The Government wants to rejoin the EUs Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) carbon market, which it left when Brexit took effect at the end of 2020. But The Telegraph can reveal it will mean changing British rules to match EU laws, accepting decisions from a foreign court and pressure to stay in lockstep with Brussels net zero policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain set up its own UK ETS, which also aims to incentivise companies to pollute less, but its carbon price is much lower than the EUs larger and more successful market. Rejoining the EU ETS will increase the UK carbon price, making it more expensive to pollute and cutting emissions further and faster, which will help reach the net zero goal but could increase costs for consumers. It could also save UK companies from looming EU green tariffs, and stop Northern Ireland having to impose the new carbon border tax on British goods because of the regions Brexit deal. Olof Gill, European Commission spokesperson for EU-UK Relations, told The Telegraph that linking the market could have benefits for climate action. But he warned: The ambition and the scope of a potential linking would be assessed in light of the EUs climate ambition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prime minister has sought to forge closer economic, trade and defence ties with the EU. Senior EU sources have said alignment is the price for the veterinary and chemical deals that Sir Keir wants as part of his post-Brexit reset. A Government spokesperson said that the UK and EU had agreed to consider linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing in the Brexit trade deal. But Labour ministers and MPs have already made clear they will sacrifice hard-won Brexit freedoms and accept EU rules and regulations to reach net zero by 2050. Sir Keir Starmer has sought to forge closer economic, trade and defence ties with the EU - Getty Images/Benjamin Cremel Both carbon markets work by capping total emissions that can be released by polluting industries, which receive permits to emit greenhouse gases known as emissions allowances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allowances can be bought and sold on the market. The higher the carbon price, the greater incentive not to pollute and to sell the allowance instead. On Friday, the carbon price per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent in the UK ETS market was about 40.16, compared to 59.57 in the EU. Plans to link the markets were discussed at the last meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in Brussels this month. We do need to have closer alignment and a strong, stronger relationship in that space, Marsha de Cordova, the Labour MP for Battersea and head of the UK delegation, said after the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Livermore, a Treasury minister, recently told peers: We recognise that alignment with existing regimes can reduce administration burdens, so we will align where appropriate. We also continue to explore all options to improve trade and investment with the EU, which includes the UK and EU giving serious consideration to linking our emissions trading schemes. Experts told The Telegraph that the UK would have to accept that the ECJ was the final arbiter of questions related to EU law governing the ETS. I imagine that would be seen as a strong requirement or pre-requisite, especially if there is still regulatory divergence, said Sam Van den plas, policy director at Carbon Market Watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You need to ensure the maximum amount of regulatory alignment, or realignment, he said, adding it was important for market supervision and compliance. Parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement are subject to ECJ jurisdiction. However, the trade agreement and UK involvement in the Horizon programme resolve disputes through independent panels. Baron Duncan of Springbank, now a Tory peer, was the lead MEP on reforms to the EU ETS before Brexit. He told The Telegraph that the pressure to align with EU policies would be intense. Everybody is out of step. So when you come back into the fold, you have to adapt very quickly to these EU initiatives and also be bound by the European courts, which will agitate the Brexiteers, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that British businesses would not necessarily be ready for the judder of a steep increase to the EU prices if the UK rejoins. Pressure to stay aligned The UK and EU both have the same goal of net zero by 2050, although the jurisdictions have different staging posts in the timeline to reach that target. Simply linking the two markets will not tie a future governments hands over net zero, although there will be pressure to stay aligned. The UK ETS covers energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking, power generation and aviation. From 2027, the EU will also introduce carbon pricing on road transport and building, making 75 per cent of the blocs emissions covered by a carbon price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the UK ETS was set up on January 1 2021, it was basically a copy and paste of the EU system, but there has been divergence in the rules since. The UK offers more allowances in some industrial sectors than the EU, which would have to be removed. The British mechanism to remove surplus allowances to the market and protect it from financial shocks is also slightly different to the EUs and will have to change if the UK rejoins. There is another incentive for Sir Keir to align with Brussels; the EUs plans for a carbon tariff border wall, which will come into force in January. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposes tariffs on imports from outside the EU to prevent unfair competition with products made under lower and cheaper environmental standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British businesses risk finding themselves on the wrong side of the tariff wall and vulnerable to increased costs. A UK CBAM is not scheduled until 2027, a year later. Rejoining the EU ETS could help reduce costs and simplify compliance for British exporters of products including fertiliser, cement, aluminium and hydrogen. It will also help avoid another politically toxic headache over Northern Irelands Brexit deal. Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland would have to apply the EUs carbon border tariff to British imports even though it is also part of the UK. Formal negotiations on linking the two markets have not yet begun. EU governments must first give the Commission a mandate to start talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a UK-EU summit on May 19, which could pave the way for those negotiations, as well as trade talks, a possible youth mobility deal, and a defence pact. 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. FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Florence County sheriffs deputies are investigating a Lake City shooting that left one person dead, authorities said Sunday morning. No further information was immediately available about the Rae Street incident. * * * 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. As of 1:32 p.m. Saturday, the ice was declared officially out on Lake Minnetonka by the Freshwater Society and the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office Water Patrol. Ice out is observed on Lake Minnetonka when a patrol boat can safely navigate each bay and channel throughout the 14,528 acre lake," the Freshwater Societys press release says. The 2025 ice-out on Lake Minnetonka was declared on March 29.Hennepin County Sheriff's Office This marks two years in a row of a substantially early ice-out on Lake Minnetonka and all southern Minnesota lakes. Last year, the ice out was March 13, just two days shy of the all time record earliest ice-out of March 11 coming on the heels of by far the warmest winter on record in Minnesota. Lake Minnetonka ice-out dates. This years ice-out is in line with other ice-outs across southern and central Minnesota that are running 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. The median ice-out for Lake Minnetonka is April 14. MSCO If the pace keeps up, your favorite northern Minnesota lakes may be out in the next 10 days to two or three weeks. A number of factors play into ice-out, but temperatures are the number one factor, followed closely by sunlight and wind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This winters lack of snow pack allowed for the sun to penetrate ice and warm lake waters earlier than normal. Once ice is exposed to the sun it acts likes like a greenhouse with waters warming quickly underneath. This March has been averaging 6-8 degrees above normal. In the Twin Cities, were on track to be the 10th warmest March in 152 years of record keeping. According to climatologist Dr. Mark Seeley, we could also be headed for the 10th warmest March on a statewide basis. Midwestern Regional Climate Center Friday marked yet another very warm day this month with a new statewide record of 86 degrees set in Fairmont, and temperatures made it into the 70s up to the shores of Lake Minnetonka Friday afternoon Those conditions likely were the final push to confirm an ice-out of the big lake. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said he believes there should be an investigation into the Trump administrations use of a Signal chat for official business but stopped short of calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign, calling it overkill. Its entirely appropriate for the inspector general to be able to look at it and be able to ask two questions, Lankford said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. One is, obviously, how did a reporter get into this thread in the conversation, and the second part of the conversation is, when individuals in the administration are not sitting at their desk in a classified setting on a classified computer, how do they communicate to each other? he said, questioning if encrypted apps were the right way to communicate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Top Trump administration officials have received sharp scrutiny after it was revealed The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a Signal group chat where they were discussing an upcoming attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hegseth initially denied that any war plans were communicated via the app, but The Atlantic released a second round of screenshots from the chat that showed him detailing the time, location and weapons used in the strike. Democrats quickly called for investigations and for Hegseth to resign, though the administration has backed the secretary and others in the group chat amid the blowback. Lankford said he doesnt see the instance as much of an issue because the officials in the group chat believed it was a closed circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is normal communication on it. Whats not normal is having a reporter in the middle of it, he said. Host Dana Bash pressed the Oklahoma senator on whether he had doubts about Hegseths leadership. No I dont see this as an issue of leadership, he said. Ive heard some people calling for his resignation, I think thats way overkill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) on Sunday said an independent investigation into Trump administration officials' discussion of attack plans on the Signal messaging app is entirely appropriate making him only one of the few notable Republicans to publicly call for further probing into the incident. The accidental inclusion of Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, in a Signal group chat with top White House officials to discuss an airstrike on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen has rattled Washington over the past week, sparking bipartisan national security concerns. It's entirely appropriate for the inspector general to be able to look at it, Lankford said during an appearance on CNNs State of the Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two questions. One is obviously, how did a reporter get into this thread in the conversation? Lankford continued. And the second part of the conversation is when individuals from the administration are not sitting at their desk in a classified setting on a classified computer, how do they communicate to each other? Trump administration officials have largely downplayed the situation, touting the success of the attack and repeatedly insisting that none of the details discussed in the messaging chain were classified. But behind closed doors, top administration advisers have reportedly suggested President Donald Trump remove Waltz. Lankford isnt the only Republican pushing for an investigation. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the panels top Democrat, wrote a letter to the Pentagons acting inspector general last week requesting an independent investigation into the situation. But most other Republicans are urging their colleagues to move on from the scandal. Meanwhile, top Democrats have been calling for the resignations of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who shared details of the timing and types of aircraft for the attack, among other things and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lankford decried calls for Hegseth to resign, saying they are overkill. I think he just joined an encrypted app, he said. I don't see it as much of an issue because, again, they all believed that this was a closed circle of conversation. I don't see this as an issue of leadership. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Tactical officers from multiple agencies performed an operation at a nightclub by a shopping center in Antioch early Sunday morning. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and Tennessee Highway Patrol were seen speaking with at least 100 people who were detained in handcuffs. Around 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, some of the people were released while others appeared to be detained and placed in patrol cars. News 2 has since learned that three men were charged for their involvement in drug-related crimes following the raid. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Meanwhile, authorities were seen carrying boxes of evidence out of the Miami nightclub in the 2000 block of Antioch Pike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems that this was drug-related and also human trafficking-related, Metro Councilwoman Joy Styles told News 2. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) Two agents were spotted on the roof of a nearby building holding firearms pointed in the direction of the operation. Paramedics from the Nashville Fire Department were also present, assisting individuals as they were taken to ambulances. In a statement to News 2, the FBI confirmed federal court-authorized search and arrest warrants were executed but did not share further details about the circumstances behind those warrants. We do not need drug houses, we do not need brothels, we do not need any of these variety of facilities that are doing more than what they say theyre supposed to be doing, Styles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The councilwoman did commend law enforcement for doing their due diligence, adding that authorities had been keeping an eye on this club before deciding they had enough information to take action Sunday. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Most glass windows and doors were shattered at businesses around the strip mall. Its unclear whether thats because of vandals or law enforcement. I dont understand why people want to put these lounges in strip malls. Thats really not where theyre a good fit. It disturbs other tenants; its not conducive for a good quality of life, Styles explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Styles said this situation doesnt represent all of Antioch. Meanwhile, nearby business owners told News 2 that Miami nightclub hasnt been a problem for them in the past. Metro Council plans to have a meeting about recent crime in this area later this week. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. DENVER (KDVR) About 80 volunteers from across Denver turned up for the first Colfax Clean-up Day of 2025, hosted by the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District. The event focused on beautification efforts while supporting local businesses. My heart is full. Im so pleased with the turnout, said Denon Moore, Colfax Ave BID Business Support Director. We just couldnt have asked for anything better. Four hospitalized after crash in Lakewood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional support for the event came from the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project team. Its the reason for much of the construction along Colfax. The three-year infrastructure improvement project aims to build transportation that will move people more efficiently from Denver Union Station to Interstate 225 in Aurora. While the idea of project in itself will be an improvement for Colfax, CBID said the construction may also discourage people from exploring local businesses along the busy thoroughfare. BRT construction is very disruptive, but to just remind people, its here, its this street we talk about, its the street people want to come and visit, lets give it love as much as we can during this construction period, Moore said. Despite the uncertain weather in the morning, volunteers flocked to the street carrying trash bags and trash pickers. For volunteer Kristen Horner, helping out just made sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were looking for something to kind of give back around town where were living, Horner said. We were given like a section down Colfax that was like a few blocks that we could go up and down and kind of clean up and pick up whatevers out there, whatever trash, and they provided bags for us, the pincer things to like pick things up. This was the first of four clean-up events in 2025. The next three will take place on June 28, Sept. 20 and Dec. 13. Its huge. I think it says to our community, We love Colfax, were here for Colfax,' Moore said. Man found guilty of attempted murder in 2023 shooting of Adams County deputy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colfax Ave BID will provide supplies and complimentary refreshments for participants. For more information, you can check out the CBID website. With one clean-up day under their belt, Moore said she hopes this will encourage people to keep businesses on Colfax in their upcoming holiday plans. Colfax is a ton of fun. Come down, visit our businesses; Easters coming, Mothers Day is coming, come and support those businesses when you think you might need something unique and special for your gatherings, 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 FOX31 Denver. POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) has shared the latest information on the Black Cove Complex in Polk and Henderson County. As of March 29, there are over 490 personnel, both from North Carolina and out-of-state, that are assigned to the Black Cove Complex. The NCDA stated that firefighters from over 14 states have come over to assist. Black Cove Fire On March 29, the Black Cove Fire was reported to have reached up to 3,500 acres, and is now 35% contained. The fire burning on state-owner and private land, and is approximately 2 miles northeast of Saluda. Deep Woods Fire As of March 29, the Deep Woods Fire has reportedly burned almost 4,000 acres, and is 32% contained. The fire is burning 5 miles northwest of Columbus on state-owned and private land. Crews were reportedly able to secure containment lines in the Holbert Cove and Cove Mountain areas, and are hoping for further containment with the upcoming favorable weather. Fish Hook Fire As of March 29, the Fish Hook Fire is reported to be 100% contained. Almost 200 acres were burned in the process. The fire was 5 miles northwest of Mill Spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that, due to the recent humid weather conditions, the fire behavior has decreased as suppression and repair efforts continue to hold stead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) Saturday morning the Hotsinpiller Foundation gave K9 drug detection training kits to West Virginia police departments throughout the state. In each kit are TADDs, or Training Aid Delivery Devices, that samples just the smells of illicit drugs. These TADDs allow K9 handlers to train their dogs to identify smells of illicit drugs without running the risk of exposing canine or human to the substances themselves. The Hotsinpiller Foundation made it possible to provide 16 of these kits in total, each of them having a TADD for MDMA, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans Service Fair hosted in Shinnston One recipient of the kits was the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. Sergeant Ryan Harris is the K9 Team Coordinator for the Sheriffs Office and told 12 News that at times they will use the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) issued substances, but that the TADDs are a lot easier to manage. Im really excited about the kits honestly, Harris said. These are high-quality training aids and theyre a lot safer than using your standard training aids from the DEA which is real controlled dangerous substances. The Hotspinpiller Foundation was started with the goal of supporting law enforcement in memory of Derek Hotsinpiller, a US Marshal killed in the line of duty, as well as the late James William Hotsinpiller, who served the city of Bridgeport for 27 years. Their main fundraiser is their annual 5K which will be held on June 7 in Bridgeport City Park. 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 WBOY.com. MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (WTNH) State leaders and community members celebrated Herstory on Saturday at the Cross Street Ame Zion Church in Middletown. They gathered and held a Womens Herstory Month Brunch and Reception. We had so many women collaborating on different initiatives, projects across our state.. we had two women actually decide to run for office just because they were inspired from this event, said State Rep. Kai Belton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remarkable Women: Berlin woman helps others after experiencing loss This is the second year of the event and organizers hope to make it an annual tradition for women in Connecticut. My gosh, this is so great to be surrounded by wonderful women who are trying to pay it forward someone helped them along the way, so now theyre trying to pay it forward for wonderful young women to achieve her goals and dreams, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Middlesex County Cynthia Clegg 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 WTNH.com. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. Seventeen-year-old Martha Leanne Green's death rocked Dickson County, shattering the sense of peace. Dickson County Martha Leanne Green On April 15, 1987, Lawson Green went to pick up his twin sister Martha Leanne Green from her job at the Holiday Inn on Highway 46. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawsons car ran out of gas on the highway that rainy evening. Leanne, 17, opted to stay with the car while her brother went to get more gas. He was gone no more than 15 minutes, but it was enough time for his sister to vanish. Her purse and personal belongings remained. Martha Leanne Green, 17, was last seen along Highway 46 in Dickson County when her brother left her to get gas on April 15, 1987. The case rocked the county. "People just couldn't comprehend that a 17-year-old girl could be abducted in our town," former Sheriff Tom Wall said in 2008. Its likely her case died with the man detectives believe did it. There just wasnt any physical evidence tying him to the crime. Robert Richards confessed, then recanted, and confessed and recanted again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Shelby County detective told a reporter in 1995 that Richards looked me square in the eyes, raised his right hand and said, 'I swear on my mother's life that I killed Leanne Green.' Richards was strangled with an extension cord in his prison cell in 1991 while serving time on a rape conviction. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dickson County cold cases: Leanne Green still missing after 37 years A hospital for injured Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv was deliberately targeted in the latest Russian overnight attack that killed at least two people and injured 26 others across Ukraine, according to authorities. Russia launched a ballistic missile and 111 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's Air Force reported on March 30. Sixty-five of the drones were shot down across northern, southern, eastern and central Ukraine. Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk and Odesa oblasts were affected by the overnight attack, according to the Air Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A military hospital in Kharkiv was deliberately targeted by Russian forces overnight, according the the General Staff. Two people were killed and 25 people were injured in Kharkiv and the surrounding oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Among the injured is a 15 year-old girl who is now in serious condition. One person was injured in Rodynske in Donetsk Oblast, located to the north of Pokvrovsk, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. Four Shahed-type drones were shot down over Sumy Oblast, according to the local military administration. Ukraine's air defense has shot down 830 drones over the oblast in just the first three months of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No casualties as of yet have been reported for the attacks in Sumy or Odesa Oblast. Read also: You cant trust Russians Europes Ukraine peacekeeping plans face one obvious hurdle Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In New Mexico, police and prosecutors backed an effort to outlaw devices that convert pistols into machine guns. In Alabama, the governor made it a priority. Lawmakers in both states one led by Democrats, the other by Republicans responded this year with new laws making so-called Glock switches illegal. At least half of U.S. states now have similar laws prohibiting the possession of such devices, a list that has grown over the past decade as law enforcement officers have found more of the tiny yet powerful devices attached to guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States are mimicking federal law, which for decades has generally prohibited machine guns and any parts that can transform semiautomatic weapons into automatic ones. What does federal law say? U.S. law defines a machine gun as a weapon that automatically fires more than one shot with a single pull of a trigger. The definition also includes any parts designed to convert a weapon into a machine gun. Federal law prohibits possessing machine guns made after 1986, with some exceptions for law enforcement, the military and certain licensed dealers. Nearly all conversion devices are illegal because they were made more recently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People convicted of possessing machine guns and conversion devices can face up to 10 years in prison. What is a Glock switch? A Glock switch is one type of a machine gun conversion device. It's a metal or plastic piece, about the size of a coin, that attaches to the back of Glock pistol, a brand that is popular with both police and criminals. The switch interferes with a gun's internal trigger components so that it fires continuously when the trigger is pulled back and held. A gun outfitted with a switch can fire dozens of bullets in mere seconds, similar to a factory-made machine gun. Other brands of pistols that mimic Glocks also can be converted to machine guns. So can some semiautomatic rifles. Such conversion devices also are referred to as auto sears, selector switches or chips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does the data indicate? The use of auto sears spiked in the past decade, partly because they can be made inexpensively with 3D printers. From 2012 to 2016, just 814 machine gun conversion parts were taken into custody by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That swelled to 5,454 from 2017-2021. In January, former President Joe Biden's administration said 12,360 suspected machine gun conversion devices had been recovered in the U.S. and submitted to the ATF during a roughly 34-month period ending in October 2024. Five states including Florida, Illinois, Texas, Montana and North Dakota accounted for nearly half that total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What have states been doing? Alabama is the latest state to outlaw Glock switches. A law signed this month by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey makes possessing parts designed to convert pistols into machine guns a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The bipartisan push in Alabama came after police said they believed conversion devices had been used in fatal shootings, including one in September that killed four and injured 17 people outside a Birmingham lounge. Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a law in February making possession of a weapon conversion device a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar legislation passed the New Jersey General Assembly last week and now heads to the Senate. Bills also are pending in other states. Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a law last year making auto sears illegal. But Youngkin vetoed legislation this past week that would have broadened an existing ban on trigger activators to cover additional devices that increase firing rates of semiautomatic weapons. What do gun control advocates want? Groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety say state laws provide a sometimes easier alternative to federal prosecution for possessing Glock switches. But they want to go further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everytown for Gun Safety is backing legislation in California, Maryland and New York that would make it illegal to sell pistols that could be transformed into machine guns. That really puts the pressure where it belongs on the manufactures that are making money off of guns that they know can be readily turned into machine guns, said Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. Several cities and states including Baltimore, Chicago, Minnesota and New Jersey have sued Glock for making pistols that can be converted by others to automatic weapons. What do gun-rights groups say? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Rifle Association notes U.S. attorneys already can prosecute people for misusing gun conversion devices without the need for state laws. Gun Owners of America, another gun-rights group, contends people should have a Second Amendment right to own machine guns. State laws against machine gun conversation devices are duplicative and pure virtue signaling, said Aidan Johnston, federal affairs director for Gun Owners of America. He said guns converted to fire automatically can have practical uses like eliminating large groups of feral hogs that are destroying land. Just because you put that on your firearm doesnt mean that you are a violent criminal or that you necessarily are a dangerous person," Johnston said. New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander stormed out of a campaign event Saturday afternoon when a mob of protesters ambushed the stage and heckled him on climate change brandishing a sign calling the lefty politician Black Rock Brad. Lander was responding to a question about the Big Apples budget during a mayoral town hall hosted by climate advocacy group TREEage when a group of demonstrators interrupted and marched on stage with the white clothed banner. You guys told me this wasnt going to happen or I wasnt going to come again, a flustered Lander directed at the forums moderator. A group of demonstrators interrupted Landers remarks during a NYC mayoral forum Saturday. Georgette Roberts for New York Post OK, Im going to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lander then walked out of the auditorium as audience members and agitators shamed the mayoral hopeful for leaving calling him a punk and blasting him for running away like a little girl. The demonstrators chanted off fossil fuels Brad and BlackRock Brad as they were escorted out of the building. The agitators held a banner calling Lander Black Rock Brad. Georgette Roberts for New York Post Lander, who refused to comment on the disruption when approached by The Post, has become a target of climate activists who reportedly follow the citys chief financial officer to events and cause a similar ruckus over his handlings of Gothams pension fund. Anti-fossil fuel protestors have reportedly goaded Lander to divest the citys funds from BlackRock, one of the worlds leading asset management firms, and disburse the money toward environmentally friendly organizations. Lander refused to comment on the disruption when approached by The Post. Robert Miller Lander, who eventually returned to the forum, went on to criticize Mayor Eric Adams handling of the citys budget, describing it as shameless budget scapegoating and bashing the Hizzoner for being dishonest with cutting necessary funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It begins with just honesty, Lander said. Tell people what we are actually likely to spend on homelessness, on asylum seekers, on NYPD overtime. We do not have honest budgeting and we need it. Mayor candidates Michael Blake, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos and Whitney Tilson also attended the event. TREEage did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment. TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. (WBTW) Ralph King Anderson Jr., a former state lawmaker and judge who played a pivotal role in creating South Carolinas modern-day election laws, died Saturday at 88. Born Nov. 13, 1936, Anderson got a law degree from the University of South Carolina and was a partner at the Yarborough, Parrott and Anderson firm for 20 years, starting in 1959. The Timmonsville native served in the state House of Representatives from 1972 though 1979 on multiple committees that oversaw election laws, judicial reform and tax policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his time in the legislature, Anderson was elected as a circuit court judge in August 1979, serving through March 1996. Between 1996 and 2008, he sat on the states Court of Appeals and then presided as chief administrative judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit until February 2010. Former Gov. Mark Sanford in 2008 bestowed Anderson with an Order of the Palmetto, the states highest civilian honor. He was also recognized by the state House in a 2010 resolution recognizing his years of service. * * * 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. 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. On behalf of the communities within the Woods Cross Quiet Zone, we offer our deepest appreciation to our Utah senators, representatives, state legislators, city leaders, businesses and the many individuals who invested their time and effort to reinstate the quiet zone. Facing the prospect of two years of significant community disruption, our representatives demonstrated exceptional dedication to finding a solution. Senator John Curtiss direct engagement with the CEO of Union Pacific, Congresswoman Celeste Maloys advocacy with the Federal Railroad Administration and Speaker Mike Schultzs leadership with state railway officials were pivotal to reinstate the quiet zone. The combined advocacy of our entire delegation, moving forward with one voice, was decisive in bringing this issue to a successful conclusion. We are profoundly grateful to Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis; Reps. Blake Moore, Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy and Mike Kennedy; and Speaker Schultz for their public service, their commitment to addressing our citizens needs and their timely intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sincerely, Mayor Kendalyn Harris, Bountiful City Mayor Clark Wilkinson, Centerville City Mayor Brandon Stanger, Clinton City Mayor Mark Shepherd, Clearfield City Mayor Brett Anderson, Farmington City Mayor Tamara Tran, Kaysville City Mayor Joy Petro, Layton City Mayor Brian Horrocks, North Salt Lake City Mayor Benjamin Nadolski, Ogden City Mayor Robert Dandoy, Roy City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City Mayor Scott Wiggill, Sunset City Mayor Kenneth Romney, West Bountiful City Mayor Ryan Westergard, Woods Cross City Gretchen Sayre, who lives in Zanesville with her husband Kenneth, is proud of her maternal grandfather and has a good reason for doing so. A talented jack-of-all trades, William Taylor, born in Troy, New York, on June 13, 1883, served as an officer in various coal companies, steamship lines, railroad companies, barge lines and mining companies. He even helped start an airline company in Mexico. William Taylor and his wife, Rita Like the Eveready Bunny, he just kept chugging along, becoming a Methodist minister at the age of 78. However, perhaps the most interesting part of his life was the period in which he played an important role in building the Panama Canal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A world traveler, he lived more than a decade in Central America and four years in England. At one time or another he had residences in Colorado, Texas, New York City, Pittsburgh, Mexico City, and Cleveland. His final resting place is in Zanesville. By the early 1800s, the United States and other nations discussed building a waterway through Central America so goods could be shipped quicker and less expensively to and from the Atlantic and Pacific areas. In addition, the United States government believed such a shortcut would be vital in moving ships, material and men quickly in times of war. The French began work on a canal through Panama in 1880. After nine years dealing with tropical diseases such as yellow fever and malaria, as well as the loss of about 20,000 men, the bankrupt French company called it quits. President Theodore Roosevelt, never lacking in confidence, believed the U.S. could get the job done. Therefore, the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty was signed with Columbia, the country that owned Panama. In 1902 the U.S. Senate approved the building of the canal in Panama, but then the Colombian congress rejected the deal, hoping to renegotiate for more money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not to be deterred, Roosevelt wielded the big stick of his foreign policy. (He could speak softly but he could and did resort to using the country's military might.) He sent warships to the Atlantic and the Pacific sides of Panama to keep out Colombian troops. After declaring its independence on Nov. 3, 1903, the newly-formed nation of Panama signed a treaty giving Roosevelt and the U. S. the right to build a canal, according to information is from the Office of the Historian: Milestones in the History of U. S. Foreign Relations. Roosevelt believed the construction of the canal would be one of the nation's greatest achievements: To my mind this building of the canal through Panama will rank in kind, though not of course in degree, with the Louisiana Purchase and the acquisition of Texas. William Taylor spent 7 years in Panama helping to construct the canal. According to notes given to me from Gretchen and her nephew, Rick Emmert, his responsibilities included 2 years with the State Department at Panama as Secretary of the International Joint Commissionset as an International Court of Claims in connection with the depopulation of the Canal Zone. While living in El Paso, Texas, Taylor was interviewed by Melissa Griggs, a local newspaper reporter. The article was dated June 7, 1975. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that time there was talk of turning over the canal to Panama. Taylor wasn't buying the idea: I am opposed to giving Panama anything. We have given that country everything it has. When I read about giving them the canal, it makes me mad all over. In another part of the article, he commented: When we talk about giving the canal zone to Panama, we are not just talking about a canal. We have underground command posts and communication centers there too. The article continued: Looking back, Taylor recalls he left New York at the age of 22 on March 21, 1906, to go to Panama. 'I had read about the canal and thought I'd like to be part of building it,' he said. Taylor served in several areas of building the canal. He was a mechanical director in the division which repaired locomotive steam shovels and other equipment. He also had an administrative job as assistant to the director of the mechanical division. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1904, the average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 annually, so by comparison the wages for canal personnel were excellent: Taylor said mechanics on the canal made 65 cents an hour, the second level workers made 56 cents and the third made 42 cents an hour. After that, the workers were paid in Panamanian money. Teddy Roosevelt was correct, at least in the idea that in building the canal the money was well spent. However, during the American construction, more than 5,000 lives were lost. A ship can travel through the canal in 8 to 10 hours. A ship traveling around South America can take about two weeks. Between 13,000 and 14,000 ships go through the canal each year, generating more than $2 billion annually. William Taylor, who lived an exceptional life, died on June 5, 1982, just eight days short of his 99th birthday. Until his death, he continued to receive a pension for his work on the canal. He is buried with his wife Rita in Zanesville's Memorial Park. When contemplating Taylor's time on earth, the movie title, It's a Wonderful Life comes to mind, for he packed more adventures into his almost 99 years than 10 average people combined do in theirs. Lewis LeMaster is a retired teacher of the Zanesville area. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Zanesville woman's relative helped construct the Panama Canal VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Saturday morning, Lincoln High Schools JROTC held its 5th annual Flag Retirement Ceremony. The ceremony is a way to retire flags to are worn out, torn, or faded in a respectful and dignified way by burning them. JROTC instructor Brian Deckard said that this was started because there wasnt a ceremony in this area that allowed these flags to be retired properly. A lot of these flags dont get thrown away because they belong to veterans and they want to retire them the correct way but there wasnt a ceremony to do so, said Deckard. These cadets behind me, Colonel Baker, and myself worked hard with the other folks in town to put something like this together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Goodall performs at the Zorah Shrine Theater Deckard says that they receive flags from multiple veterans organization in the area along with the cadet who got them from a veteran family member. He hopes that powerful ceremonies like this one make these students understand the importance of the flag. I want that to permeate everywhere. I want kids to understand the meaning behind those stars and stripes, said Deckard. Deckard wanted to give thanks to the Indiana Military Museum, Sons of the American Revolution, Wreaths Across America, and Fred Schliker for making this a reality. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains the role of the Department of Education. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) There are 12 San Diego County elementary schools that have been selected for the 2025 California Distinguished Schools Program. Selected by officials with the California Department of Education (CDE), schools that are recognized were determined to have demonstrated exemplary achievements. Eligibility CDE said it uses a multiple measures accountability system to identify eligible schools based on their performance and progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Performance on these measures is reported through whats called the California School Dashboard, which helps to identify school strengths and areas of improvement. Health concerns arise as county plans to reopen South Bay campground Schools were selected based on the following indicators: demonstrating excellence and growth in academic achievement and ensuring a positive school climate. Additionally, CDE said schools recognized for closing the achievement gap enroll at least 40% of their students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and achieve accelerated academic growth for one or more historically underserved student groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elementary, middle and high schools are recognized in alternate years, so awardees hold the title for two years. Local schools selected A total of 336 elementary schools across the Golden State were selected this year. A full list of those selected can be found here. While announcing the winners, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said, Excellent elementary schools play a critical role in the life outcomes of our young people. This years California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our elementary educators and school staff who help our students discover passions and experiences that will propel them. Travelers at San Diego International Airport to enjoy live poetry experience Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following San Diego County elementary schools were deemed California Distinguished in 2025: Dehesa Elementary, The Heights Charter Escondido Union, Heritage K-8 Charter Fallbrook Union Elementary, La Paloma Elementary Fallbrook Union Elementary, Live Oak Elementary Lakeside Union Elementary, Riverview Elementary San Diego County Office of Education, Dual Language Immersion North County San Diego County Office of Education, JCS Manzanita San Diego Unified, Jonas Salk Elementary San Diego Unified, Benchley/Weinberger Elementary San Diego Unified, Doyle Elementary Solana Beach Elementary, Carmel Creek Elementary Solana Beach Elementary, Solana Pacific Elementary The 2025 California Distinguished Schools will be recognized at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 30, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. ANDERSON Among the flurry of executive orders President Donald Trump signed after returning to the White House were several directives aimed at curtailing government-backed diversity programs. Trump has spoken publicly of plans to pull federal funding from institutions of higher learning, as well as state and local governments that promote diversity, equity and inclusion programs. He has also taken several large, private companies including Apple, Walmart, Target and others to task for either being slow to shutter or refusing to modify their DEI programs. The administrations approach has alarmed local officials in government, education and business who say such programs not only ensure welcoming environments, but are vital for the communitys efforts to attract new businesses and residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line is that (DEI) is supposed to be about treating people like people, said Tamie Dixon-Tatum, civil and human rights director for the City of Anderson. Whats wrong with the word diversity? It shouldnt be threatening; its not derogatory by any means. Dixon-Tatum said the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis in 2020 brought about a national reckoning that prompted many companies and schools to prioritize DEI programming. Trumps actions, she said, risk compromising those efforts. Theres not (been) much time (that has passed) between 2020 and 2025, so how can we let one person or small group of people start to negatively affect something that was good and thats working? she said. Some local educators believe pushback against DEI flows from a misunderstanding of what the initiatives are all about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEI has sort of become this all-encompassing term that some people associate with critical race theory, said Joe Cronk, superintendent of Anderson Community Schools. We educate on what history is and what cultures are. Were not here to set opinions. Were not here to guide people in a direction. Were here to present history. Were here to present education. For some business leaders, the countrys polarized politics have distorted the meaning of DEI and led to uncertainty about whether to continue certain programs aimed at ensuring equality in hiring, promotions and other practices. Its real easy to try to use that as a scapegoat against one particular group or another group, said Clayton Whitson, president and CEO of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all actuality, thats not the reality that were living in. DEI is more about educating and helping make accommodations to make sure that everybody has the same playing field. Dixon-Tatum said she believes the push to scale back DEI programs comes, at least in part, from what she calls a false assertion that somehow diversity, equity and inclusion means that these people, they dont have a standard of excellence. These people dont believe in hard work. Her fear, she said, is that the rhetoric being heard in the national conversation about the topic could trickle down and trickle down really, really fast, affecting not only hiring practices, but also educational opportunities for young people. The same thing that can happen on the national level, can certainly happen here, she said. I think the effects would be worse here because this obviously directly affects each and every one of us in this community. ANDERSON Ashley Houston knows how important manufacturing is for a communitys economic standing. Houston, chief people officer for Perfecto Tool, grew up during the heyday of General Motors, a time in which Madison County, and particularly Anderson, thrived. She returned to Anderson in the summer of 2020 and noticed a difference in the state of her community. Houston is part of an effort to bolster the manufacturing industry in Madison County through a partnership among Perfecto Tool, D1 Mold and Tool, and the Alexandria and Anderson community school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students take classes starting their sophomore year, they come out and visit with us and then, during their senior year, theyre eligible for an internship rotating between us and D1, Houston said, explaining how the program works. After graduation, students can apply for a job at Perfecto or D1. So far, the program has its first senior and is expected to have 15 students next school year. The classes Houston mentioned are available through the advanced manufacturing program at Alexandria and the D26 Career Center in Anderson. They involve learning how to operate machines like laves and mills, as well as other items. Houston said the goal is to educate students about an alternative career path, one that doesnt involve attending a four-year college. Its a great career opportunity, she said. I love giving kids an opportunity they might not know exists. LIBERTY, Ohio (WKBN) The Muslim community gathered this morning for the final day of Ramadan, known as Eid al-Fitr. The day is greeted with joy and celebration as Muslims bid farewell to the holy month of Ramadan. The month is a time for increased worship and good deeds. Many will fast daily from sunrise to sunset. Eid al-Fitr means the breaking of the fast, which is why many community members gathered at the Metroplex to welcome in the new season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a time of celebration, a time of gratitude. Its a time of togetherness, Ramsey Ahmed of the Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown said. It is something thats very significant in both the communal sense, but also in a spiritual and religious sense. Throughout the US, it is typical for many to come together for Eid prayers and for festivals. Andrew Peterson 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. Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, started as a fun night in Los Angeles for architect Hilda Marcela Cabrales, 26, and her friend, 24-year-old model Christy Giles. The pair headed out to a nightclub in Hollywood and then to a warehouse party in East Los Angeles to see a DJ they both loved. Christy's husband, Jan Cilliers, was in San Francisco that weekend visiting his father. He says Christy and Hilda, who was new to Los Angeles, were becoming "fast friends." Christy Giles, left, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales photographed in the VIP section at the warehouse party where they went to see a favorite DJ. / Credit: Jan Cilliers But what started as a happy girls' night out took a sinister turn, Cilliers says, when he woke up that Saturday morning in San Francisco to see his wife's phone location at a Los Angeles address he didn't recognize. He and Christy always shared locations, he says, for safety reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cilliers says he texted Christy and didn't hear back. And, as the hours mounted without a word, Cilliers says, his fear began to grow. What happened that weekend and the tragic aftermath is investigated by "48 Hours" and contributor Jonathan Vigliotti in "Dead Girls Don't Talk," to be broadcast Saturday, March 29 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Cilliers says he experienced "raw panic" when, at around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, he says he saw Christy's phone had moved to a hospital about three miles from that strange address. Cilliers soon learned that Christy had been dropped there by two masked men in a black Prius without license plates. They said they found her unconscious on the street nearby and were being "good Samaritans." Doctors had declared Christy dead on arrival. A screenshot of Christy Giles' location at the Southern California Hospital at Culver City. / Credit: Jan Cilliers "So, in less than 24 hours, your world was turned upside down?" asks Vigliotti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Shattered, yes," Cilliers replies. Hilda also had a habit of sharing her phone location with a close friend who was also her emergency contact. That friend also became concerned on Saturday, when she saw Hilda's phone pinging at 8641 West Olympic Boulevard the same address where Cilliers had tracked Christy's phone. Hilda's friend soon learned that Hilda, like Christy, had been dropped off at a hospital by two masked men driving a black Prius with no plates, who said they had found Hilda passed out on the street. Hilda was still alive, but in critical condition. Two weeks later, with no sign of regaining consciousness, her family made the difficult decision to take Hilda off life support. Her sister, Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola, said she remembers telling Hilda it was OK to leave and that she told Hilda, "Thank you for being my sister." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hilda's family decided to donate her organs, and her mother, Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia, said she remembers the medical team lining the hallway and "clapping. To honor her for giving life." Because both Cilliers and Hilda's friend knew exactly where the two women had been all day, and because they knew the minute each woman was taken to each hospital, when LAPD detectives got the call about the two cases, they had a huge head start. Within hours of Hilda being dropped off at that second hospital, LAPD homicide detective Jonathan Vander Lee and his partner were on their way to 8641 West Olympic Boulevard. By the time they arrived, they knew it was the home of David Pearce and that he owned a black Prius. Pearce lived there with a roommate named Brandt Osborn. A month later, Pearce and Osborn were arrested in connection with the two women's deaths. Pearce was eventually charged with two counts of felony murder and Osborn, who was seen helping Pearce take both women out of their home and dropping them off at both hospitals, was charged with accessory to murder after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took a little more than three years for their cases to go to trial, but in the end, Pearce was convicted of murdering Christy and Hilda and of raping seven other women who came forward to testify at the trial. The jury deadlocked on a verdict for Osborn, and a mistrial was declared for his case. At a press conference after Pearce's conviction, Christy's mother, Dusty Giles, pleaded with the public to learn the safety lesson from her daughter's case, saying, "As much as it hurts to lose my baby girl ... her sharing her location technology told us where she was." Police say that information was critical to helping get Pearce, whom prosecutors say was a serial rapist, finally off the street. Dusty Giles begged the public to learn the lesson from their horrendous loss, "Please, within your own families ... share locations," she said, adding, "You'll never know when you're going to not be able to get in touch with somebody." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearce has not yet been sentenced, and the district attorney has not announced if Osborn will be retried. Musk says some will get more Social Security benefits after DOGE, but many worry about access Deadly earthquakes rock Myanmar, Thailand Hundreds of millions of bees mysteriously dying LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview Lobo Choir held a ceremony where they sang to local veterans in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Saturday. Remarkable Woman Susan Campbell works to save veteran lives The ceremony was the choirs way of honoring veterans after they couldnt make it out to an event they planned to attend in Hawaii. We decided that we still wanted to honor that commitment, to honor the Vietnam veterans, Longview Lobo Choir director Melody McMullen said. So we decided that lets do it locally instead of flying all the way to Hawaii to do it. Im really glad that were here doing this because we already have a pretty good turnout. Im excited to get to, to meet some of these men that fought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each veteran who attended the event was given a medal and then turkey legs were served. The event was held from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Longview High School parking lot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Heres a first look at meetings of our South Dakota state governments boards and commissions, as well as the Legislature, that are open to the public during the new week starting Monday, March 31, 2025. Click on the name (highlighted in blue) for meeting details. Please note that any could be postponed because of adverse weather or other reasons. Monday, March 31 Legislature, Joint Committee on Appropriations, 10 a.m. CT, room 362, Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economic Development Board, credit committee, 11 a.m. CT, teleconference and 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre. Cosmetology Commission, 1 p.m. CT, teleconference. Legislature, Veto Day, 1 p.m. CT, Capitol. Legislature, Executive Board, 3:00 p.m. CT, room 414, Capitol. Tuesday, April 1 Legislature, Government Operations and Audit Committee, 9 a.m. CT, room 464, Capitol. Barber Examiners Board, 10 a.m. CT, public hearing on proposed rule changes, teleconference. Wednesday, April 2 Project Prison Reset Committee, 8 a.m. CT, private tour of State Penitentiary, Sioux Falls; private tour of previously proposed site for new prison, Lincoln County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regents Board, 9 a.m. CT, executive session at 9:15 a.m. CT, Jewett Science Center, lecture room 133, located at the corner of Twelfth Avenue Southeast and South State Street, Northern State University, Aberdeen. America 250th South Dakota Commission, 3 p.m. CT, teleconference and 900 Governors Drive, Pierre. Indian Education Council, 5 p.m. CT, teleconference. Thursday, April 3 Project Prison Reset Committee, 8 a.m. CT, South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance building, 1600 W. Russell Street, Sioux Falls. Public comment period starts 12:30 p.m. CT. Regents Board, 9 a.m. CT, public business meeting, Jewett Science Center, lecture room 133, located at the corner of Twelfth Avenue Southeast and South State Street, Northern State University, Aberdeen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hagen-Harvey Memorial Scholarship Board, 10 a.m. CT, 800 Governors Drive, Pierre. Medical and Osteopathic Examiners Board, occupational therapy council, noon CT, teleconference. Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 1 p.m. CT, teleconference and 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre. Friday, April 4 Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 8 a.m. CT, teleconference and 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre. Psychologists Examiners Board, 7:30 a.m. MT / 8:30 a.m. CT, teleconference. Pharmacy Board, 9 a.m. CT, teleconference and 4001 W. Valhalla Boulevard, suite 202, Sioux Falls. Monday, April 7 Optometry Examiners Board, 8 a.m. CT, business meeting and public hearing on proposed rule changes, teleconference and 312 Island Drive, Fort Pierre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KELOLAND Capitol Bureau Reporter Bob Mercer in Pierre assembled this information on Friday, March 28, 2025. State law requires state government boards and commissions to post public meeting notices 72 hours in advance, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and official state holidays. The Legislature isnt subject to that public notice law. *Please check boardsandcommissions.sd.gov and sdlegislature.gov for any meetings of state boards and commissions and legislative meetings that were posted after this weekly listing was assembled. Livecasts of some meetings are available at sd.net. Many meetings are available by teleconference. Check agendas and sd.net for audio availability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LORIS, S.C. (WBTW) Clifton Lewis smelled smoke outside of his Spring Street home in Loris on Friday night, but couldnt pin down where it was coming from. It was around 9:30 p.m. and his family opened the front door to encounter a porch that was consumed by flames ones that quickly engulfed the 1,100-square-foot house. You just never think that anything like this is going to happen to you, Dana Scully-Lewis said. Fire trucks lined their street as crews from Loris, Horry County and even Tabor City, N.C. showed up to respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials told News13 Sunday the incident remains under investigation, but faulty wiring in the attic could be to blame after a breaker tripped. The familys vehicles are partially melted, and most of their clothes are gone as well. Scully said she recently put family photos in a plastic bin under the bed, which were saved. But a stuffed animal, school backpack, trophies and other mementoes are now part of the rubble. In our room, we still have some clothes. But they smell really bad. We washed them, but we cant get the smell out, Scully said. About 30 board games which the family loved playing together on weekends were also destroyed. One of them was so old, its no longer for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just certain things that you have that you cant replace. Thats the stuff that gets you the most, Lewis said. Her son, 15-year-old Mason, posted dramatic images of the fires wrath to a Loris Facebook group just hours after it happened and the Red Cross announced it was helping. As of Sunday afternoon, nearly 200 people replied offering clothes, appliances and bedding supplies. News13 submitted photo / Mason Scully News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick News13 photo / Skylar Musick We lost everything the cars are all melted and the house well its gone but only need to think of the positive. And that is we are all still Living, Mason wrote. Clifton Lewis said as the smell of smoke filled the house, he ran back inside to save Penny, their tabby cat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I did what just about anybody that has kids, a wife, a husband, pets, would do in that situation, he said. Penny who is diabetic and has missing ear cartilage ran way, but her owners believe shes still alive because food they left out for her is gone and they found a hairball. The familys dog, Max, is safe. Family, friends and neighbors who until just hours ago were strangers have taken up donations of supplies and money. Weve got good family. Weve got good friends. So well be OK, Clifton said. Everything else, we can replace. Start over. Make new memories. A GoFund page has been set up to help the family recover from the fire. 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. * * * 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. With President Trump signing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, how Niagara County school districts receive funding for certain types of programming is now up in the air. The administration has said funding the department is responsible for, such as Title I, Pell Grants, and funding for disabled children would instead be moved to other agencies and departments. The majority of school budgets, however, come from the state using a formula called Foundation Aid to determine how much funding a district gets. The March 20 executive order states that the Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all the necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the states and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits which Americans rely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order is part of the Trumps efforts to downsize and make the federal government more efficient. Trumps order does not close the $79 billion department completely, which has existed since 1979. That can only happen through an act of Congress. The situation has led to a lot of uncertainty, locally. A lot of it remains to be seen, said Niagara Falls City Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie, whose district received around $11 million through various federal funding streams this current school year. He and other county superintendents are monitoring the situation to see what changes could happen. Laurrie previously told the Gazette that the worst-case scenarios could see staff layoffs and some programs being discontinued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Title funding alone, which supplements education for children who are in high-poverty areas and funds such programs as learning English as a new language and help for low academic achievers, Niagara County public school districts and the charter school received nearly $12.5 million. Those districts are well into the presentation phases for next years school budgets with federal and state funding having already been allocated. The earliest any impact from potential cuts could be felt is the 2026/27 school year. Laurrie said that next years $202.4 million school budget is ready for a vote, due to happen on May 20. Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Dan Ljilianich, whose planned $91.1 million 2025/26 budget would increase the tax levy by 0.64%, expects around $2.91 million in federal funding like last year. That includes Title funding, IDEA Act funding, Medicaid, and Impact Aid for having the Tuscarora Nation in its area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a school district, we have a concern with the unknown, Ljilianich said, adding there would be no changes to the tax levy because of federal actions. Royalton-Hartland Central School District received $87,419 from the Department of Agricultures Patrick Leahy Farm to School Implementation Grant Program in 2021 for hands-on learning and to get students interested in the field. Having applied for it again this year, that program has been canceled. Its difficult to predict the impact of the unknown, said Superintendent Jill Heck, whose district received more than $300,000 in Title funding and $364,401 in IDEA Act funding. We expect that some of the funding will be channeled through a different federal program, but again, that remains to be determined. A streetcar rolls past a voting precinct in New Orleans. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) In a stunning rejection of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana voters turned down all four of his constitutional amendments Saturday, including the governors plan to overhaul the states tax and budget laws. Nearly two-thirds of voters rejected all of the amendments in an election that could have broader political implications for the rest of Landrys term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor, who has sometimes relied on strong-arm tactics to get his agenda through the Louisiana Legislature, could become more vulnerable to pushback after failing to pass his most ambitious policy proposal at the ballot box. Landrys priority for the election, Amendment 2, would have lowered the maximum income tax rate the state could enact and restricted annual state budget increases. It also would have made it more difficult to enact new tax breaks. The proposal was expected to produce a financial windfall for Landry and state legislators later this year. Amendment 2 would have moved hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from state savings accounts into Louisianas general fund, where Landry and state legislators could have spent it more easily. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landry had attempted to sweeten voters on Amendment 2 by tying it to compensation for public school teachers. Had it passed, temporary stipends worth $2,000 and $1,000 that teachers and school support staff have received for the past two years were expected to become permanent. Now, the educators are at risk of a pay cut since Landry hasnt included money for their stipend in his current budget proposal. In a statement after the outcome was certain, the governor attributed the defeat of Amendment 2 to billionaire George Soros, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who conservatives have targeted for several years for his support of liberal causes. Soros and far left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2, Landry said. Although we are disappointed in tonights results, we do not see this as a failure. We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure. This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed. The most recent tax records available show Soros Open Societies Foundations gave $1.25 million in 2023 to an affiliate of the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit with revenue totaling $260 million that put money into efforts to defeat Amendment 3. Its not clear whether any of the Soros foundations 2023 donation was spent in Louisiana on the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landry had support for Amendment 2 from another controversial billionaire. Conservative Republican Charles Koch is the founder of Americans for Prosperity, a group that knocked on doors, ran phone banks and sent out direct mail in favor of the proposal. Opponents of Amendment 2 celebrated its defeat Saturday night. They include William Most, an attorney who unsuccessfully sued to have the proposal removed from the ballot. He has argued that the language put before voters was convoluted and misleading, making it illegal. I think this is a full-throated rejection of attempts to trick Louisiana voters into voting for something they dont want, Most said. This sends a clear message that if state officials want to change our constitution, they cant do it through trickery or deceit. Landry and the Republican-dominated legislature might have inadvertently stirred up public opposition to Amendment 2 by putting it on the same ballot as Amendment 3, a juvenile justice measure that drew the ire of Democrats and national anti-incarceration groups. Amendment 3, which 66% of voters opposed, would have made it easier to send more minors to adult jails and prisons for longer sentences. It spurred national criminal justice reform organizations, such as the Vera Institute and Southern Poverty Law Center, to spend more than $500,000 to turn voters against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Omojola, Louisiana director for the Vera Institute, said the results for Amendment 3 show voters are starting to reject incarceration as the sole option for criminal justice. She added that high incarceration rates have only served to destabilize communities rather than reduce crime. In defeating Amendment 3, voters made clear their desire for the things that actually make our communities safer like quality education and opportunity, Omojola said in a statement. While those organizations focused on defeating Amendment 3, they also became the backbone of a No on All campaign working to vote down all four of the constitutional amendments Landry was pushing. Supporters of the tax proposal in Amendment 2 said they believed the criminal justice issue had a negative effect on their measure in interviews earlier this week. [Amendment 3] is a huge motivation of the groups that are saying no to everything. That seems to be the motivating factor, said Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute, a conservative think tank that helped push the tax and budget amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Landrys team started to see trouble during the early voting period for the election. John Couvillon, an independent Louisiana pollster who was not working on any of the amendment campaigns, said Democrats and Black voters showed up in far greater numbers than Republicans during the early voting period. I have just never seen an early vote this strong [for Democrats], Couvillon said. In addition to Amendment 3, Couvillon said left-leaning voters may also be motivated to vote against Republicans because of concerns about President Donald Trump. Landry is also closely aligned with the Trump administration. However, opposition to Amendment 2, and the budget and tax changes, also came from some conservative activists. Religious groups and nonprofits were unhappy the amendment would have weakened constitutional protections for property tax exemptions they enjoy. Woody Jenkins, chairman of the East Baton Rouge Republican Party and a former state representative, was among those who opposed the amendment. In an interview Saturday night, he noted that even though the entire political establishment of the state supported the proposals, voters had an especially hard time digesting Amendment 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the public dont want to vote on something they dont understand, Jenkins said. They dont want a massive revision of the constitution with everything but the kitchen sink in it. The defeat of Amendments 2 and 3 also likely led to the downfall of Amendment 1, which failed with 65% of voters against the proposal. It would have allowed the formation of specialty courts in Louisiana with jurisdiction outside current parish and judicial districts. Amendment 4 also failed, with 64% of voters. It would have adjusted the rules for special elections to fill vacant or new judgeships, primarily on the Louisiana Supreme Court. Turnout for the election was also higher than anticipated. There were no other statewide issues to decide, and only a limited number of local races. Projections called for 12% of state voters of cast ballots, but numbers from the Secretary of State placed turnout at 21%. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LOUISIANA (KLFY) Voters across Louisiana have decided not to pass the four proposed constitutional amendments during the Municipal Primary election on Saturday. The amendments address a wide range of issues such as specialty courts, tax reforms, juvenile prosecution, and judicial vacancies. Amendment #1 would have granted the Louisiana Supreme Court the authority to discipline out-of-state lawyers if they engage in unethical practices in Louisiana. Opponents of the amendment said the amendment was too vague and could potentially undermine the authority of some New Orleans judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment failed, with 65% of voters saying no. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Amendment #2 discussed advances in Louisianas tax reform effort. This amendment is seen as a sweeping effort to overhaul the states tax system and permanently cut income taxes. The amendment failed, with 65% of voters saying no. Amendment #3 would have allowed lawmakers to choose crimes for which minor could be tried as adults. Currently, Louisiana law allows for juveniles aged 14-16 to be tried as adults for 16 specific felony crimes, most of which are violent offenses. The Louisiana Legislature cannot add to that list without a constitutional amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment failed, with 66% of voters saying no. Amendment #4 proposed a change to ensure vacancies can be filled more efficiently. If a vacancy occurs within 12 months of a scheduled congressional or gubernatorial election, the governor would be required to call a special election on that date. The amendment failed, with 64% of voters saying no. With this amendment failed, such election is scheduled within a year, the governor would be required to select the next available election date. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. **Related Video Above: Cancer rates rising for young women PELICAN RAPIDS, Minn. (WJW) I am Alexa Elizabeth Bekkerus, AKA Alex, and this is my story. So begins the self-written obituary of a Minnesota woman who died of breast cancer at age 27 earlier this month. Since her death and subsequent funeral, Bekkerus words have been shared on social media by friends, family and many who did not know her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The obituary covers Bekkerus happy childhood growing up with her brother on her familys farm, time at Concordia College and pharmacy school only to learn of her cancer diagnosis in 2020. VIDEO: Cleveland teen rescues mom, children from burning home At 22 years of age I was given a death sentence, she wrote. The beginning of my grown-up life, yet the start of the end of my life. Up until this I had hardly ever been sick a day in my life. Now all of a sudden my life was on a ticking clock. Bekkerus said she made peace with the fact her life would be cut short. She spent the next years going on fun trips to the beach and mountains and to see historical monuments. She spent time with family and her horses and dog. She credited her doctors at the Mayo Clinic for helping her to stay healthy for so long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December, my oncologist told me the chemo was no longer working and that I was going to die in less than six months, Bekkerus said in the obituary. The cancer had moved to my lungs. Not a surprise as I felt something was happening. I finally have the smoking hot body I have always wanted: Children write hilarious obituary for their mother Bekkerus, who said she felt God had blessed her life, did not die alone. My momma promised me she would be with me to the very end and she was as she held me in her arms until I took my final breath, she said. And now Im in the arms of Jesus free of pain and able to breathe again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bekkerus said that death comes for us all and shared the main thing she learned through the years of being sick: Life is made up of moments, dont miss them because you will never get them back again. Treasure every day. She signed the obituary as she would a letter to someone she held close: Love, Alex. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (Nexstar) In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced plans to force a special session of the Texas Legislature if bail reform and a THC ban, two of his top 40 priorities, dont pass. The Texas Legislature only meets for 140 days every other year. The only time theyre allowed to meet outside of that window is during a special session. While the Texas constitution only gives Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session, Patrick could force his hand by withholding Abbotts key bills from the Senate floor. Of course the nuclear option would be to hold up something like the budget or [education savings account] vouchers, James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project, said. Whether the politics of doing that on those big issues in this political environment are there I think is somewhat questionable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bail reform is a priority for both Patrick and Abbott, with Abbott declaring it an emergency item at his state of the state address in February. On the other hand, THC restriction has not been listed as a priority for Abbott or the Texas House. There has been less interest in this issue in the House and there have been a lot more countervailing positions for a long time in the House, Henson said. In addition, restricting access to marijuana products isnt a top priority for Texans according to public opinion polls like the Texas Politics Project. Generally over the last decade weve seen a lot of support for decriminalizing THC, marijuana and cannabis-related possession and a lot of support for a general movement towards weakening the laws that limit the availability of these products particularly since theyve become more available in other states. However, in his Texas Tribune interview, Patrick said, There arent many things you go down that path for, but the life and health of people is one. Its no secret in political circles that this is an issue that the Lt. governor feels strongly about and has not been particularly afraid of public opinion on, Henson said. The question is how serious is this threat almost all legislative bargaining involves trade-offs and some degree of compromise. A classic bargaining position is to always ask for more than youre willing to settle for. The big question here is what is the Lt. governor willing to settle for and what price is he willing to pay? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Senate, which Patrick presides over, has already passed SB 3 banning THC sales and a package of bail reform legislation. On the other side of the Capitol, the Texas House has notoriously not voted on any bills so far this session, which ends on June 2. Abbott did not respond to comment for this story, while Patrick was not available to talk in time for this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Central Florida Fantasy 5 players check your tickets! The Florida Lottery announced that the winning ticket for the March 29th evening drawing had been sold to one lucky winner in Sumter County. The two additional evening draw prize money winners are from Boyton Beach and Tampa. The winning ticket matched the numbers in Saturdays draw for Fantasy 5. Those numbers are: 12-20-21-22-31. Lottery officials said the winning Quick Pick ticketworth $43,664.53was purchased at a local Publix located at 2135 Everglades Lane in The Villages. Community members and game enthusiasts, dont forget to check your tickets and play responsibly. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. Lydia Naomi Gutierrez's death remains unsolved. Her family still hopes for justice, with family members creating a Facebook page to draw attention to her case. Sumner County Lydia Naomi Gutierrez An eight-year-old boy returned home from school on Aug. 12, 2010 to find his mother covered in blood with multiple stab wounds to her neck and a plastic bag over her head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His two younger brothers, an infant and two-year-old, were inside the Gallatin family home when Lydia Naomi Gutierrez, 27, was killed. The boy ran to a neighbor for help, and the police were called. Investigators quickly arrested Hendersonville boat repairman Joshua Singletary, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with the single mom's death, but the charge wouldnt stick. It was dismissed in October 2010 due to insufficient evidence. District Attorney Ray Whitley said in 2014 there was no physical evidence connecting Singletary to the scene. Police reports detail what led up to Singletary's arrest, noting that he was treated for cuts on his hand and leg at Hendersonville Medical Center soon after Gutierrez's death. He gave a false name at the emergency room, claimed he didn't know Gutierrez, though investigators later learned they were involved in a sexual relationship, and admitted to being in Gallatin on the day she died, reports show. No other suspects have been named. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutierrezs family continues to advocate for justice. A Facebook page, R.I.P. Lydia Naomi Gutierrez, was created in her honor. It's been 10 years, and my family is still suffering. To whomever murdered my sister, you took more than one life that day Karma will remember your name even if nobody else knows it, reads a post from the page. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sumner County's Lydia Gutierrez death remains unsolved decade later The hit took place in the middle of town, on a busy road, just yards from one of Naples principal tourist attractions: the National Museum of Archaeology, a grand repository of treasures from the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Two men on a motorbike drew up alongside the car being driven by Emanuele Durante in Via Santa Teresa degli Scalzi, shot him at close range with a pistol, and then sped off into the traffic. The 20-year-olds terrified girlfriend could only scream for help and hold him close as blood seeped from his wounds. By the time he was taken to a nearby hospital, he was dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assassination was just the latest in a string of murders in Naples that have two key factors in common: they all involved young men, some of them in their early teens, and they all involved firearms. Experts say the rise in gun crime is the result of a toxic combination of factors: increased drug use among disaffected youth, the easy availability of firearms on the dark web, the social effects of the Covid pandemic, the corrosive influence of the citys Camorra mafia and the emergence of a strand of popular culture that glamorises the criminal underworld. The shootings have also revealed a brutal side to a city that in recent years has undergone a tourism boom. There has been an explosion in the number of Airbnb apartments. The port citys crumbling 18th-century palazzi, kasbah-like medieval quarters, street art and vast murals dedicated to local heroes Sophia Loren and Diego Maradona have proved irresistible to countless Instagram feeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But beneath the apparent renaissance, the problems that have long dogged the city remain: poverty, unemployment, neglect by the state and social exclusion. Murdered in cold blood Detectives from the Carabinieri police force have obtained surveillance camera footage from the spot where Emanuele Durante was murdered and have launched an investigation. It is thought the killing may have been linked to a vendetta between rival gangs of youths. In a tearful interview last week, his mother demanded that her sons killers be found and brought to justice. My son was murdered in cold blood. All I am asking for is justice for him. He shouldnt have died like that, said Valeria Brancaccio, speaking in front of a framed photograph of her son, which was flanked by flickering candles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today it happened to me. Tomorrow it could happen to you. My son must not be forgotten. My son must receive justice. Emanuele Durante was shot dead near the National Museum of Archaeology Valeria Brancaccio has demanded her sons killers are brought to justice His murder comes just a few months after the last round of bloodletting in Naples. In autumn, three teenagers were killed in the space of just 17 days. The youngest victim was 15-year-old Emanuele Tufano, who was shot dead in October during a turf war between rival gangs in Napless Mercato district. In another incident, 18-year-old Arcangelo Correra was shot dead, allegedly by a 19-year-old Renato Caiafa. Caiafa has claimed that the two of them were messing around with a pistol when it went off accidentally, hitting Correra. He told police he helped take the wounded man to the nearest hospital and said he was devastated by what happened. The shooting is still under investigation. Caiafas brother, Luigi, was shot dead at the age of 17 by a police officer during an attempted robbery in 2020. Historic centre fertile territory for baby gangs Some of the shootings have taken place in a district called Sanita, part of Naples historic centre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists who explore its narrow streets delight in taking photos of colourful fruit and vegetable stalls, admire baroque churches, try not to get hit by speeding mopeds and sip on glasses of Aperol Spritz in hole-in-the-wall bars. Sanita, part of Naples historic centre, is peppered with small street markets - Anadolu Police at the scene of a shootout in the Sanita district - Roberta Basile/KONTROLAB But Sanita is also fertile territory for what Neapolitans call, in a strange contortion of English, baby gangs. The phrase may sound comical, but the reality is anything but it means bands of young delinquents and aspiring mafiosi, usually armed with knives or firearms, dealing drugs and fighting each other for territorial control. Boys as young as 13 now routinely carry knives, experts say. Even kids from middle-class families, when they go out for the evening, will put in their pockets their house keys, their mobile phone and a knife or a knuckle duster, said Patrizia Imperato, a chief prosecutor in the citys tribunal for minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say its for protection. But if you get into a quarrel and you have a weapon in your pocket, youll use it. Patrizia Imperato said children have become accustomed to carrying weapons for protection Firearms have become easy to acquire in recent years: on the dark web or even social media. In addition to that, legal firearms such as blank pistols are bought and then modified to fire real bullets. We have seen an escalation in recent years in how disputes are settled, said Emilia Galante Sorrentino, an investigating magistrate. It used to be a headbutt or a punch. Then we saw knives being used. Now its guns. Nicola Gratteri, Italys most prominent anti-mafia investigator, said: As time goes by, we are seeing ever more young men dying and committing crimes and becoming involved in organised crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a trend that is affecting not only Naples and the surrounding region of Campania but also other parts of Italy, he said at the presentation of a report on the mafia. Mr Gratteri, who rose to prominence fighting the Ndrangheta mafia in the far southern region of Calabria but who is now the chief prosecutor in Naples, said the only way to combat the problem was with more police and more resources, including the installation of more CCTV cameras on the streets of the city. Childrens chilling responses Maria Luisa Iavarone, an education expert and the author of a book about youth violence in Naples, has first-hand experience of street violence. A few years ago, her son, Arturo, then aged 17, was stabbed 14 times by a gang of youths who wanted to steal his mobile phone. He was lucky to survive: a long slash wound to his neck came within just 2mm of his carotid artery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last two years weve seen a 30 per cent increase in gun crimes involving minors, she said. There are lots of weapons in circulation. Not just knives but firearms. The Camorra clans use these kids as scouts, as drug runners and as sentinels who keep watch on street corners. In Naples, you can rent a pistol. You pay 150 euros to have it for a day, which includes a 50 euro deposit when you return the gun, you get the deposit back. Thats for a dirty firearm, which has been used in previous crimes. If you want a clean weapon, you need to pay a lot more: maybe 500 or 1,000 euros. The danger posed by gun-toting youths is exacerbated by the fact that a lot of them are on drugs not just cocaine and cannabis but prescription drugs such as diazepam, as well as a new arrival on the market a mixture of ketamine and MDMA that is known as tusi or pink cocaine for its distinctive colour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With teenagers jacked up on drugs and alcohol, the smallest altercation can turn deadly. A recent study showed that 40 per cent of schoolchildren in Naples between the ages of 14 and 16 were afraid of being assaulted when they went out. When a secondary school in the Spanish Quarter, an inner city area of Naples, asked its pupils to write down how they felt about their safety, the responses were chilling. I count my fingers so as not to look up. I lower my eyes to avoid any hostile glances. Its only when I reach Via Toledo, where I know I will meet my friends, that I feel safe, wrote a 15-year-old girl, one of around 40 of the students at the Istituto Superiore Antonio Serra secondary school who expressed their fears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im afraid of being stabbed or shot, wrote a teenage boy. If you accidentally tread on someones designer shoes you might not survive until tomorrow. There is a dark side to Naples not seen on Instagram - Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB The desire for designer trainers, clothes and accessories is fuelled by homegrown rappers draped in gold chains and the depiction of the Camorra in film and TV. One popular television series, called Mare Fuori or The Sea Beyond, is based on a real-life juvenile detention centre located on the tiny island of Nisida, a few miles to the west of Naples. The drama showed a glamorised version of life behind bars, said Claudia De Luca, a criminal prosecutor. Some kids who are arrested for committing crimes actually ask to be sent to Nisida. They think its cool. And theyre seen as heroes by their peers. If you come from a difficult background where your parents dont see you, you want to be visible. So you resort to crime, for a sense of self-esteem. Youre looking to be someone in the community. Criminal behaviour by the young has also increased as a result of the pandemic, experts say. Many teenagers struggled with distance learning those from poorer families could not afford their own computers. Nor was there wifi at home. Covid was really tough on a lot of these kids, said Ms Sorrentino, the magistrate. Families were crammed together for months, often in situations in which the husband and wife were already fighting. Or there were five people living in a two-room apartment. A lot of kids abandoned school in this period. Theres been a huge increase in the number of youths with mental health issues, who closed themselves off in their rooms the so-called hikikomori syndrome or severe social withdrawal. Kids drift towards crime... for easy money With low education levels, many teenagers in Naples find they have limited opportunities. The tourism boom has created plenty of jobs in bars, restaurants and pizzerias, but the wages are abysmally low. Its all cash under the table, there are very few fixed contracts, said Giovanni, 21, a waiter in a bar in the city centre. If you are over 18 then you can expect to earn about 130 euros a week. Its a joke. If you are under 18, they can get away with paying you 60 or 80 euros a week. Its no wonder that kids drift towards crime. Theyre looking for easy money, he said. Naples has experienced a tourism boom in recent years - iStockphoto While the picture is bleak for many Neapolitans, tourists have little to worry about. Violence is rarely directed at visitors. Sure, criminality is a problem. But things have changed a lot in the last 30 years, said Antonio, a taxi driver who ferries tourists around the city. It used to be that the Spanish Quarter was off limits to visitors, for instance. These days, you can go there without any worries. Its no longer dangerous. If you are a tourist, youre not a target. Within limits of course if you walk around with a 10,000 euro watch on your wrist, theyll snatch it off you. The only way to tackle this complex matrix of problems is through early intervention, experts say. But successive Italian governments of all political stripes have failed to invest enough in Naples schools and social services. Its a chronic problem. It has never been adequately addressed, neither by the Right nor by the Left, said Ms Iavarone. We know exactly the areas of Naples where children will grow up to be criminals. Kids who are not even born yet are destined for a life of crime. It would be much better to intervene early, in an intelligent, targeted way, said the author, whose book on youth crime is called Ragazzi Che Sparano Kids Who Shoot. But investing in the prevention of all these problems is not popular with politicians because it takes 15 to 20 years to see the effects. They dont have that long-term vision. And as a result, theyve not managed to break this cycle of criminality. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Republican representative bit back at a constituent for confronting him about the Signal security breach in a viral video posted Friday. A young man wearing sunglasses approached Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, and filmed him as he walked toward the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Do you trust Trumps national security team to keep our war plans top secret? the man asked. Casually strolling with his hands in his pockets, Burchett snapped, Do you trust your mother every night to fix your Hot Pockets and make sure your Game Boy is turned on? My stalker/tracker almost got me yesterday. pic.twitter.com/zDT3355nt5 Tim Burchett (@timburchett) March 28, 2025 Surprised by the congressmans response, the interviewer stopped and retreated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not the first time the unidentified stranger has demanded answers. Burchett posted another video of his stalker/tracker who almost got him in a March 25 video. The individualclad in a plaid button-up and khaki pantsasked the same question about whether Burchett trusted President Donald Trumps national security team. I do, but I do not trust your wardrobe adviser, he sassed back. Burchetts videos have sparked online backlash, with several Democrats criticizing him for his tone and others laughing at his witty comebacks. Hes even posted a meme of the interaction recently with the words FAFO above it. FAFO is internet slang for f*** around and find out. I guess he found out Brother. https://t.co/MpqDbWfK6q Tim Burchett (@timburchett) March 29, 2025 The response indicates firm support for the Trump administration and the Department of Defense since The Atlantic revealed that National Security Adviser Michael Waltz added its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal group chat in which top members of the administrationincluding Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbarddiscussed plans to bomb Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of Signal-gate, Democrats have called on Hegseth, Waltz, or both to resign, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, to name just a few. WILLIMANTIC The Willimantic Fire Department hired its first in-house social worker when retired chief Marc Scrivener noticed that many 911 calls were coming from the same people, often with problems that could be resolved at a different level of an emergency. Gerald Jay Sisco has taken on this new role. Sisco has served the city of Hartford for 26 years, and currently holds the Hartford Fire Departments district chief position. Throughout his career, Sisco has witnessed cases of drug overdoses, child molestation, child abuse and home displacement due to fires. English should be the official language of the United States, says an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 1, 2025. The move followed the Trump administrations termination of the Spanish-language version of the White House website and its Spanish-language account on X, formerly Twitter. Both were abruptly shut down within hours of Trumps second presidential inauguration. Visitors to whitehouse.gov/espanol were met with page not found and a GO HOME button that sent the user to the English-language page. This button was later updated to read, GO TO HOME PAGE. In halting its Spanish-language communications, the White House is ignoring the demographic reality of the U.S. and rejecting a long-standing tradition in American government of making key civic information accessible to the public. These changes, while mostly symbolic, signal the Trump administrations unwelcoming stance toward Spanish specifically and multilingualism in general. US is a Spanish-speaking country This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish, Trump said in a 2015 debate during his first presidential run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, as a linguist specializing in Spanish and bilingualism, I know that this is simply not true. Historically, the U.S. has had no official language, and Spanish was spoken in the lands that now make up the U.S. well before the countrys founding. Spain founded its first permanent settlement in whats now Florida in 1565, nearly 50 years before English settlers established Jamestown and the colony of Virginia. Spanish settlements in the Southwest began in the early 1600s, and large numbers of English speakers did not arrive there until the mid-19th century. Today, approximately 43 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish as their primary language, representing roughly 14% of the entire population. If those who speak Spanish as their second language are included, then the U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico. Beyond population size, Spanish speakers help power the U.S. economy, contributing an estimated US$2.3 trillion. Thats more than the gross domestic product of any other Spanish-speaking country in the world. With the help of its Spanish-speaking population, Miami is the financial and commercial capital of Latin America. An inclusive communications strategy Responding to this demographic reality, the Spanish-language content was first included on the White House webpage in 2001 by the administration of George W. Bush, a Republican. CC BY-SA The Obama administration maintained the Spanish-language White House website launched under Bush. screenshot In a press release, the Bush White House said that the new WhiteHouse.gov website would now accomodate Spanish-speaking visitors. It included both Spanish-language translations of the English materials, as well as feature stories relevant to the Hispanic community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bush White Houses website was inclusive in other ways, too, with enhanced content for people who are hard of hearing or visually impaired and special content for kids. The Obama administration maintained WhiteHouse.gov/espanol from 2009 to 2017. Under the first Trump administration, however, the page was quickly removed. At the time, the White House said that the site would be restored shortly. That didnt happen. The page did not reappear until the Biden administration in 2021. Following the latest removal of whitehouse.gov/espanol, a White House spokesperson has again said that the administration is committed to bringing back the website, although no timeline was given. US has multilingual history The Trump administrations effort to limit White House communication in languages other than English breaks with not just the recent past but also with the earliest traditions of the republic. Since the inception of the country, there has been a concerted effort to provide information to the public in relevant languages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the U.S. Constitution was translated into German and Dutch in 1787 and 1788, languages that were widely spoken at the time, especially in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. These translations helped inform the public of the countrys foundational values and allowed for public engagement and participation during the ratification process. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the MexicanAmerican War and redrew the southern boundaries of the U.S., was written in both Spanish and English, ensuring that Spanish speakers in the territories newly claimed by the U.S. were informed about their citizenship and rights. Translators who spoke everything from Italian to Turkish to Albanian were stationed at Ellis Island in the early 20th century to help register and assist immigrants arriving to New York from across the globe. A few decades later, the U.S. government produced World War I propaganda posters in various languages, hoping to convince a culturally and linguistically diverse American public to support the war effort, buy war bonds and enlist in the military. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion and sex, also laid the legal foundation for multilingual services in federal assistance programs. In government programs such as Medicaid, people who speak a language other than English are entitled to treatment equal to that of English speakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has never embraced multilingualism. History is rife with campaigns to suppress foreign and Indigenous languages. But as these examples show, the U.S. has often taken a policy approach that acknowledges the linguistic needs of the U.S public. Spanish on the campaign trail, not in the White House Even Trump, who has made anti-immigrant and especially anti-Latino rhetoric a centerpiece of all his candidacies, released multiple Spanish-language advertisements during his 2024 presidential campaign, in hopes of improving his standing with Latino voters. Trump prays at a campaign event with the Latino community of Miami on Oct. 22, 2024. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images His campaign released several ads targeting swing states with large Spanish-speaking populations, such as Arizona and Nevada, and in October 2024 Trump even participated in a town hall meeting on the Spanish-language channel Univision, where audience members asked questions in Spanish. These voters helped put Trump into office: Exit polling data shows that Trump won 42% of the Latino vote in the 2024 race, the highest percentage for a GOP candidate in at least 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government continues to host Spanish-language information on a variety of agency websites and offers multilingual support for key civic processes, such as filing taxes and requesting passports. The shuttering of the Spanish-language White House website seems largely symbolic. His executive order making English the official language of the U.S. may end up being largely symbolic as well. It allows federal agencies to continue providing information in other languages, effectively separating Trumps public stance from its practical implementation. But for a president with a staunch anti-immigrant attitude, symbolism is politically advantageous. Trump, it seems, is willing to use Spanish on the campaign trail when it benefits him while reinforcing a public narrative of rejecting Spanish and Spanish speakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Daniel J. Olson, Purdue University Read more: Daniel J. Olson has previously received funding from the National Science Foundation. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man accused of shooting and killing the son of a former Nevada state senator threatened and asked a woman if she wanted to die the day before the deadly shooting at a North Las Vegas casino, NLVPD said in a video briefing Saturday night. Aerion Warmsley, 19, faces charges of open murder with a deadly weapon and robbery with deadly weapon and is expected to face additional charges through the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, police said. On Wednesday, March 26, North Las Vegas police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance where Warmsley allegedly sent a woman a threatening text message asking her if she wanted to die, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Nevada state senators son killed in shooting at North Las Vegas casino When officers arrived they found Warmsleys vehicle in the parking lot in front of the womans apartment. As officers attempted to speak to him, Warmsley drove away in a Mercedes sedan with unique markings, before officers could talk to him. Officers documented the encounter and forwarded the information to detectives. The next morning on Thursday, March 27 around 4:30 a.m., North Las Vegas police received a call from security at the Aliante Casino and Hotel reporting that a man had been shot on the casino floor, police said. When officers arrived, they found the victim, later identified by the Clark County Coroners office as Naonche Osborne, 23, of North Las Vegas, deceased with gunshot wounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said preliminary information showed that Warmsley and another man left the scene in a Mercedes sedan with unique markings and stolen license plates. A short time later the vehicle was involved in a crash near Spring Mountain Road and Procyon Street near Valley View Boulevard in Las Vegas. The two men ran from the crash scene and Warmsley then approached a nearby woman and stole her grey SUV Mercedes at gunpoint, police said. Both of the men drove away in the SUV however the other man got out of the vehicle before police pursued it. Over the span of several hours, Warmsley was involved in a series of dangerous crimes across multiple jurisdictions including additional car thefts, high-speed pursuits and reckless driving, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of its air unit, North Las Vegas police located and stopped Warmsleys vehicle near Boulder Highway and Sahara Avenue where he was arrested and taken to the North Las Vegas Detention Center. In 2022, Democratic State Sen. Pat Spearman identified Osborne as her son following his arrest for a shooting in her home. In the 2022 incident, Osborne shot his cousin, David Spearman, in Pat Spearmans home, records said. A prior shooting at the home involving Osborne on Sept. 1, 2022, went unreported until the October incident, according to North Las Vegas police. A judge later sentenced Osborne to a year in county jail and pay restitution, records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Senator Spearmans beloved son, a family spokesperson said in a statement to 8 News Now. This is an unimaginable loss for the senator and their family, and they are heartbroken. During this difficult time, the senator and their family ask for privacy as they grieve and support one another. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and condolences from friends, colleagues, and the community. Spearman, who served several terms in the Legislature, lost a bid for mayor of North Las Vegas in 2022. Voters first elected her to the Nevada Senate in 2012. On Oct. 20, 2022, police arrested Osborne, then 21, after the shooting near Elkhorn Road and Decatur Boulevard. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported the news Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALLIANCE, Ohio (WJW) A Salem man was arrested by Alliance police after he was observed allegedly trying to open car doors at the University of Mount Union. 1 killed, 1 hurt in fiery crash after driver fled traffic stop The interaction between police and 26-year-old Noah Bainbridge was captured on an officers body camera which the department shared on its Facebook page. In the video, an officer confronts Bainbridge in a parking lot, questioning his actions after he was observed touching several door handles. Photo: Stark County Jail According to the post, thefts from vehicles have been plaguing the area as of late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bainbridge denied touching the door handles, gave a fake name to the officer and then ran away, the police department said. Officers chased Bainbridge for several minutes. At one point a pursuing officer attempts to use his taser but it failed. Shortly after that, Bainbridge was apprehended in a backyard. Young woman who dies of cancer writes own moving obituary Bainbridge was charged with an outstanding arrest warrant, Obstructing Official Business, Resisting Arrest and Falsification. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 JORDAN, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested in connection to a hit-and-run in West Jordan that led to the hospitalization and death of a motorcyclist early last week. Sabino Lazaro, 46, was arrested on March 27 on two counts of obstruction of justice, both class A misdemeanors. Lazaro was identified as the registered owner of a 2002 GMC Yukon, which matched the description of the SUV seen on video at the scene of the hit-and-run, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: Motorcylist dies to injuries suffered in West Jordan hit-and-run On March 26, officers received a tip about a possible sighting of the suspect vehicle in a neighborhood, and Lazaro was identified as the registered owner after searching in law enforcement databases. Investigators observed that the Yukon exhibited extensive damage on the passenger side, consistent with the details of the collision, documents said. Officers recovered a portion of a motorcycle helmet from the passenger seat of the car, as well as fabric and a backpack strap from other damaged areas of the car. According to arrest documents, Lazaro was taken in for questioning on March 27 and originally told officials his car had been stolen on the day of the hit-and-run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after being read his Miranda rights, Lazaro reportedly told officers he knew about the incident, including the fact that the motorcyclist involved had died. He also said he knew the identity of the alleged driver, documents said. Lazaro told officers the driver his friend and co-worker, identified only as Ponciano had called him shortly after the incident and told him details of it. On the night of the incident, March 25, Lazaro said he called 911 and falsely reported his vehicle as stolen after speaking with the alleged driver. [Lazaro] also admitted to deleting phone call records from Ponciano that could have assisted detectives in their investigation, arrest documents said. Lazaro was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) The Rhode Island State Police said a man is in custody, and being charged with DUI with a child inside the vehicle. Warwick police said they arrested 39-year-old Frank Campagnone on Saturday night, after his vehicle description was distributed by the state police for being involved in a hit and run accident on Route 6 in the Providence/Johnston area. After Warwick police were able to stop him in the area of Narragansett Parkway and Post Road, they arrested Campagnone and charged him with Driving Under the Influence of Liquor with a Child Passenger under the Age of 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police are also charging Campagnone, of Foster, with Duty to Stop in Accidents Resulting in Damage to Attended Vehicle. Campagnone is being held at the ACI on these charges until he can be formally arraigned. 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. SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) A northern New Mexico man is facing charges after police say they found him and a 14-year-old in a stolen car with drugs and guns. According to a criminal complaint, deputies with the San Miguel County Sheriffs Office saw a man inside a car that was recently reported stolen and conducted a traffic stop. Deputies say inside was Joelouis Rivera, a 14-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old. After confirming the vehicle was stolen, deputies say they found a loaded gun on the 14-year-old, who would not say where he got it from. Another Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputy placed on leave in connection to DWI dismissal scandal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies say they also found cocaine, meth, and another gun. The 14-year-old was taken into CYFD custody and is facing stolen vehicle and unlawful possession of a handgun charges. Rivera was transported to the San Miguel County Detention Center and is facing several guna nd drug charges. The 17-year-old was 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to a vehicle accident that involved extraction in Sacramento County on Sunday morning. Video above: What happens when you call 911? Metro Fire stated that the incident happened off Ramsey Drive in North Highlands around 1:40 a.m. When crews arrived at the scene, they found one vehicle overturned on its roof, requiring the drivers extrication. Update: Standoff suspect pronounced dead on scene, said SCSO Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to officials, The crew was able to quickly remove the male driver from the vehicle and provide medical treatment. The driver was transported to a local hospital for future evaluation. Metro Fire said that he was unaware that the road had ended and accidentally drove through a fence, entering a private backyard. California Highway Patrol was at the scene investigating the incident. At this time, there have been no reports on the extent of the injuries. Image from Sac Metro Fire Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Police are investigating after a man was killed in a shooting late Saturday night in Kansas City, Kansas. According to the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, at about 11:00 p.m., officers were called to a home near Stewart Avenue on reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a man outside with gunshot wounds. Police said he was dead when they arrived on the scene. KCPD investigating after missing persons case turns double homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KCKPD said a person of interest was taken into custody and questioned by detectives. However, the shooting remains under investigation. If you or anyone you know has information about the deadly shooting, KCKPD asks that you call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 747-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. DENVER (KDVR) A man was found guilty on multiple charges, including attempted second-degree murder, for shooting an Adams County deputy in 2023. The shooting happened in August 2023. It started with a pursuit near 88th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard after a traffic stop turned into a chase. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The driver, identified as 36-year-old Danny Martinez, eventually crashed and ran away. He began firing shots and struck a deputys bulletproof vest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez was later arrested and the vehicle was found to be stolen. On Friday, Colorados 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office announced that Martinez was found guilty on all counts, including: 2nd degree attempted murder 1st degree assault of a peace officer Motor vehicle theft Eluding Leaving the scene of an accident Martinez is set to be sentenced on May 27 at 8:30 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 FOX31 Denver. Police are searching for a driver who killed a man in a hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles. The collision occurred on Feb. 24 as the victim, identified only as a man in his 60s, was crossing the road in the Vermont Vista neighborhood. In surveillance footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department, the man is seen pushing what appears to be a walker or a small cart as he crosses Figueroa Street near 104th Place at around 7 p.m. Surveillance footage showed the victim crossing Figueroa Street near 104th Place in South L.A. when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in a white sedan on Feb. 24, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) Surveillance footage showed the victim crossing Figueroa Street near 104th Place in South L.A. when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in a white sedan on Feb. 24, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) Surveillance footage showed the victim crossing Figueroa Street near 104th Place in South L.A. when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in a white sedan on Feb. 24, 2025. (Los Angeles Police Department) There was no crosswalk in the area. As vehicles drive by, he pauses in the middle of the road. The suspect, who had been waiting to make a left turn from 104th Place, drives forward and crashes into the pedestrian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact sent the man flying onto the vehicles hood before he fell onto the ground. The suspect continued driving away and never stopped to check on the victim. L.A. Fire Department paramedics transported the man to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. His name is being withheld pending next of kin notification. The suspect vehicle was only described as a white compact sedan. Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves, LAPD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reward of up to $25,000 is available to anyone who provides information leading to the suspects identification, apprehension, and conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD South Traffic Division Detective Chavarria at 213-924-3621. The public can also call the 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office is investigating after responding to a call that a man was shot in the arm on Mabel Drive around 1 a.m. on Saturday, March 29. According to EBRSO, the shooting happened in the 8800 block and stemmed from an attempted car burglary. Authorities said two unidentified males were trying to break into vehicles when a resident confronted them. The suspects ran away, but the resident and two others followed them to the end of Marionette Drive. One of the suspects allegedly fired a gun, and the group returned fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects fled and have not yet been identified. The victims injuries were non-life-threatening. Mississippi man wanted for stealing checks from mailboxes 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. A male was shot twice during a reported armed robbery on Friday night in east Wichita, police spokesperson Andrew Ford said Saturday. Police were called at 9:21 p.m. Friday after the victim drove himself to Wesley Medical Center. The man reported the shooting happened in the 700 block of South Hunter, which is near Kellogg and Woodlawn. The male was treated and released. The victim stated that he was approached by two unknown suspects wearing dark clothing and ski masks, Ford said in an email. One suspect was armed with an AR-15 style rifle, while the other was carrying a handgun. The suspects demanded the victims jewelry, and a struggle ensued when he refused to comply. As a result, the victim was shot twice once in the hand and once in the thigh. The suspects fled the scene with three gold necklaces. Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call detectives at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward through Crime Stoppers. A 70-year-old man was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly striking a counter-protester with his vehicle outside a Tesla dealership in Idaho, law enforcement said. About 30 people attended an anti-Tesla rally on Saturday outside a dealership in Meridian, a gathering that drew a counter-protest of about 200 others, the Meridian Police Department said in a press release. Tesla vehicles and dealerships have in recent weeks become targets for vandalism and protests, as the carmaker's chief executive, Elon Musk, has taken on a prominent and divisive role in President Donald Trump's second administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Attorney general calls Tesla arson attacks 'nothing short of domestic terrorism' An anti-Musk group had called for a series of "Tesla Takedown" protests to be held this weekend at dealerships and other Tesla facilities throughout the country, including the dealership in Meridian. As a 49-year-old man arrived at the Idaho rally, Christopher Talbot, 70, of Meridian, allegedly "made an obscene gesture" toward him and then struck him with his car, police said. Officials identified the man who was struck as a counter-protester, saying he had non-life-threatening injuries and that he drove himself to a nearby hospital. "Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car," police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police used the license plate from Talbot's vehicle to find his home, where he was later arrested. Talbot was booked into Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, a felony, according to the Ada County Sheriff's Office. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," the police department said in a statement. Man strikes Tesla counter-protester with vehicle in Idaho, police say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A man who walked up to the pulpit at the church hed grown up in, Holy Spirit Catholic Church in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, a few minutes before last Sundays 11 a.m. Mass was soon wrestled to the ground by four parishioners, including a deacon. Jimbo Gillcrist had just started to recite his own version of the Our Father, and to say how were all Gods children. He had intended to talk to his fellow Catholics about care for the migrant, but he didnt get to before being taken down, marched out and handcuffed by OP police. I thought the worst that could happen is maybe theyd try to shout me down and ask me to leave, Gillcrist told me in an interview on Friday. I in no way thought Id be tackled in a church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When one of those who removed him called the police, they reported, He has long hair and a beard. I know that because I listened to the 38-minute audio of the whole thing that was recorded on Gillcrists phone, which his removers took away from him but failed to stop from recording. So I can also say that the police who responded were a lot more chill than the church folk, one of whom asked the others, Is anybody armed? Mine is in my car, one responded. Mine is, too, said another. All the better to protect followers of Christ from someone quoting Christ? Some horrible things have happened in churches throughout history, actually, so I could understand safety being a concern. But the back-and-forth between Gillcrist and those who made him leave suggests they were more focused on propriety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Holy Spirits pastor, Fr. Justin Hamilton, nor Deacon John Williams, who Gillcrist said was among those who removed him, answered messages asking about what happened. If Gillcrists name sounds familiar, hes the theology teacher fired from Kansas Citys Rockhurst High School last November after telling his students that it would be their moral duty as Catholics to stand up against mass deportations. So here he is, doing that, or trying to. Holy Spirit Deacon John Williams Brother, you need to leave After he started his prayer, a priest approached him at the pulpit: Come with me. Turn the sound off! Brother, you need to leave. And then, after the sounds of a very quick takedown came this: Stay still. Were not going to hurt you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You already used violence against me in a church. Youre trespassing. Trespassing? Im a baptized Catholic. Its inappropriate. To pray? Theres an appropriate time. It is the appropriate time. No, you have to listen to your authorities, which is your pastor. As Gillcrist was taken out, he raised his voice for the first and only time, Love your neighbor as yourself! And who is my neighbor? When police arrived, an officer asked those who had marched him out, Did he do anything physical? He pushed our priest off the steps one answered, but he didnt fall or anything. A second officer arrived and said, Is he the one who pushed the priest? Put him in handcuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I didnt, Gillcrist insisted. Well figure it out, one of the officers said. And they did, while Gillcrist sat in the back of the patrol car in cuffs. Video shows the moments before Jimbo Gillcrist was taken down at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. So I see you mention Gaza and Ukraine Officers asked Gillcrist some questions as telling as his answers, so Im just going to let the recording play: Why are they saying you pushed a priest? They were trying to pull me away from the pulpit. I grabbed the pulpit and just held on. I didnt push anyone. They had four guys grabbing me and dragging me off there. What made you want to preach today? Im worried about human beings, our brothers and sisters who live within our midst and are being targeted by the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you consider to be targeted by the government? What class of people are you Undocumented immigrants. So you dont agree with deportations and things like that? Uh-huh. Did you say anything like that? I didnt even get there. Looking at a copy of Gillcrists prepared remarks, the officer said, So I see you mention Gaza and Ukraine in here. Whats your message with that? Theyre our brothers and sisters. When we stop seeing people that way its so easy to start making laws or enacting policies that harm them. In the end, another officer said he had talked to the pastor and there wouldnt be any charges for now, but if you do return here, you will be charged with trespassing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So was this a pointless provocation or an important disruption? I understand those who say church needs to be a refuge from politics. At the same time, I dont see how you could take Matthew Chapter 25 seriously for I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome and register no protest right now. Where is American Oscar Romero? Jesus spoke a lot about care for the stranger, who is these days being snatched off the street without any due process and used by smiling Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as a prop with a shaved head and few clothes, looking shamefully for us not unlike a prisoner in Dachau. If youre an actress from Canada, maybe things will eventually be made right, but if not, who knows? The danger everyone ought to see is that if you can be picked up and shipped out without any hearing for supporting Palestinians and without due process, we really dont know that its any more than that then you can also be sent away for supporting Israel, or Ukraine. Or Jesus, or even Donald Trump. Gillcrist belongs to a different, less conservative parish now. But what he was thinking in going to Holy Spirit, he said, is that those in his original faith home may not hear his point of view very often. If he could move even one person who doesnt like whats going on a little closer to speaking out about that, he had to try. Of course, his effort might also have had the opposite effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went, too, because he sees the Catholic Church in the U.S. as silent when it should be strong. Where is the American Romero? he asked, referring to Oscar Romero, the sainted Salvadoran archbishop assassinated in 1980 for standing up against a repressive regime. Gillcrist had just started speaking when he was stopped, so I dont know that he had the chance to change that one mind, or that he would have even if hed been allowed to finish. I do know, however, that many are wondering how to make this country a place where both people and the rule of law matter again. Theyre not sure how to stop our slide into autocracy. Im not, either, but we do know we have to try and then try some more. Whether or not Gillcrist went about it the right away, I give him credit for looking for different ways to express his straight-from-Jesus dissent. Because for those of us revulsed by whats going on, smiling along like were still in the before times is no longer possible. CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A Manchester man is facing charges for allegedly stealing and trying to burn copper wire along with electric motors. The Clay County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) posted on Facebook that on Friday, deputies got a call from 911 dispatchers saying that a man was burning copper on Lucy Lane. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, deputies found 53-year-old Randall Grubb of Manchester, who was allegedly burning copper wire and electric motors. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wire was stolen from different locations across the county and the motors were reported stolen from a local business, the CCSO wrote. Grubb had a large box of burned wire in his possession, along with cutters and different cutting tools. Randall Grubb, 53, was lodged in the Clay County Detention Center. (Clay County Sheriffs Office) Grubb was arrested and charged with failure to appear in court, theft of services of $10,000 or more, and theft by unlawful taking. He was lodged in the Clay County Detention Center. The theft investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. By Layli Foroudi FORT-DE-FRANCE (Reuters) - In Martinique, a French territory in the Caribbean, tourists flock to crystalline waterfalls nestling in the tropical rainforests. But the water that comes out of Christelle Marie-Sainte's tap at home runs yellow. I dont drink the tap water, she said, outside a supermarket where she was buying locally-bottled Lafort water. A relatively low-cost brand, Lafort is double the price of an equivalent product in parts of Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anger at Martiniques prices and poor services erupted in months of protests and unrest late last year that saw dozens of businesses targeted and burned. The protests have largely given way to a movement that has won concessions from Paris, including a promise last week of government-backed legislation to tackle grocery prices, which official data shows are on average 40% higher than on the mainland. Like many contentious issues in Martinique, water is intertwined with questions of class and race, including the prominence of a handful of families descended from white owners of enslaved people. Known locally as Bekes, the white creole families make up about 1% of the population but control swaths of the economy on the island of 350,000 people, the majority of whom are Afro-Caribbean, or descendants of Indian and Chinese indentured labourers. The government has promised to open up the economy, but activists remain sceptical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a visit to Martinique on March 17, Overseas Minister Manuel Valls met with local politicians and business leaders, including Stephane Hayot, son of Martiniques most successful businessman Bernard Hayot, whose supermarket-to-car dealerships company Groupe Bernard Hayot (GBH) has been a target of protesters ire. Valls called on the businessmen to be more transparent about profits, saying unfair supply chains and opacity stifled the economy. He said the government would soon pass a law to fight anti-competitive practices, building on two bills already in parliament. Activists, some of whom call for independence, say more must be done. They are planning new protests around a trial next week against three protesters. Valls words need to be followed by concrete, efficient and sustainable action, said Gwladys Roger, a leader of the movement, Gathering for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean People and Resources (RPPRAC), which has led the protests, where placards with images of water bottles and prices have featured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GBH recently published consolidated annual accounts for the first time after a lawsuit by activists. In reply to questions from Reuters, Nicolas Assier de Pompignan, a GBH director, said the company published accounts because "times had changed" and there was pressure for transparency. He said there was "healthy competition" in Martinique and that GBH was surprised by Valls' comments. The regional government led by Serge Letchimy is drawing up a wide-ranging bill to reduce reliance on imports by giving small farmers access to more land. It also seeks to centralise water management to lower prices and encourage investment, Letchimys office said. We need significant tax reforms, property reforms, Letchimy told Reuters. More than 80% of the food on Martinique is imported, mostly from France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmer Jerrick Venitus rears animals and grows fruit and vegetables for local markets. He called the current system a colonial pact. Almost half the farmland is planted with sugar for rum or bananas for export, a situation encouraged by European subsidies. The banana, sugarcane and rum industries in 2023 received 161.5 million euros in support, a Reuters tally of French government accounts shows, representing 80% of all agricultural subsidy programs for Martinique. Venitus has yet to receive a 145,000 euro subsidy he applied for three years ago. We need to redistribute the cards and prioritise those producing for the local market, Venitus said, in his banana fields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Discontent in French overseas territories is not unique to Martinique. In the Pacific Ocean archipelago New Caledonia, an attempt to reduce the voting weight of indigenous Kanak people brought deadly unrest in May. In December, a cyclone devastated the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, near East Africa, killing 39 and highlighting poor living conditions. In response to a request for comment, the French overseas ministry referred Reuters to Valls speeches. The Elysee did not respond to a request for comment. WATER POOR Martinique, which France colonised in 1635, became a department of the Republic in 1946. Its social indicators still trail the mainland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a quarter of people are poor, a higher rate than in many Caribbean islands and twice that of mainland France. Around half the households are water poor under U.N. guidelines, spending more than 3% of income on water bills, according to a 2017 report by Frances sustainable development body. Tap water costs on average 28% more per cubic metre than in mainland France, government data shows. They make us pay for tap water as if it is drinkable, when it is not, said Roger, one of the activists on trial for entering the governors residence in November at the height of the protests. Drinking water in most towns in Martinique is within bacterial and chemical norms, but does not always meet quality standards, with high chlorine levels and a bad smell and taste noted in some towns, a health ministry database shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benoit Vittecoq, director for the French geological survey in Martinique, blamed discoloured water on old piping and a lack of maintenance. Leaks also contribute to regular outages, he said. Water cuts, sometimes lasting for days, further increase costs for people by pushing them to buy bottled water. The distrust of mains water is compounded by fears related to 1980s and 1990s pesticide pollution from plantations that grew bananas for export. French health authorities found a "strong presumption of a link" between exposure to the pesticide and the risk of developing prostate cancer. Nearby Guadeloupe and Martinique had the world's first and third highest rates of prostate cancer in 2022, according to the World Cancer Research Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HIGH PRICES Some are satisfied with the status quo. Nicolas Etile, a restaurateur in Martiniques capital Fort-de-France, said prices were naturally high because of the distance from France, while benefits and subsidies helped living standards. Not all price differences can be explained by transport costs, however. Marie-Saintes packs of Lafort were bottled a few miles from the supermarket. Each pack of six 1.5 litre bottles cost 3.85 euros. An equivalent in the Paris region costs 1.50 euros at the same E.Leclerc supermarket, E.Leclercs website shows. A pack of imported Evian cost 11.99 euros at Carrefour, compared to 3.66 euros on the mainland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groupe Parfait, which has the local E.Leclerc franchise, did not respond to requests for comment. GBH, which has the Carrefour franchise, said local bottlers' small scale raised costs, along with the cost of imported plastic bottles, machinery and taxes. Evian was expensive because of transport costs, GBH said. The company that bottles Lafort, along with another water brand Chanflor, is run by Bertrand Clerc, whose family has a long history on the island. Clerc is descended from 19th-century enslaver Honore Marie Clerc, according to a review of birth registries, obituaries, French genealogy website Geneanet and France's publicly funded REPAIRS database. Like many Beke families, the Clercs were compensated for the abolition of slavery. Members of the family were awarded around 75,000 francs in 1849, a Reuters tally of archives on the REPAIRS database shows. Clerc declined an interview request and did not respond to questions. Many in Martinique link such payments to white creole families's success. Some are calling for reparations. Adelaide Marine-Gougeon, a researcher of white creoles in Martinique at Paris Sorbonne University, said compensation was among a range of economic advantages that gave settlers a head start over former enslaved people after abolition, along with their connections to Europe and the Americas and marriage alliances. Marcellin Nadeau, a national legislator, said there needed to be discussion about slavery reparations, possibly in the form of student bursaries or job opportunities. If not, tensions in society will get worse, he told Reuters. Emmanuel de Reynal, whose association Tous Creoles seeks to build bridges between Martiniques communities, estimated only 50 of roughly 3,000 white creoles were very rich. They are business people. It is not wealth from the heritage of slavery, said de Reynal, who is of Beke descent. GBH's Assier de Pompignan said Hayot was planning a monument to the crime of slavery and any reparations should be symbolic. He said the company's success was not related to "this history." BANANA TRAGEDY Bernard Hayots late brother Yves Hayot imported the toxic pesticide chlordecone, widely used to fight weevils on banana plantations in Martinique and Guadeloupe. France banned the chemical on the mainland in 1990 but allowed it on the islands until 1993, according to parliamentary documents. The United States banned it in the 1970s. The French government's human health research organisation concluded in 2017 that almost the entire population of Martinique and Guadeloupe had been contaminated by exposure to the pesticide through its presence in the soil and food. Yves Hayot died in 2017. GBH's Assier de Pompignan declined to comment. Hayot, who also used chlordecone on his own plantations, had been unaware of the dangers, one of his former executives told a parliamentary inquiry in 2019. The executive said the French government was at fault for allowing the chemical. In 2023, a French court outraged activists by throwing out a case seeking compensation for victims, after investigative judges said too much time had passed. Lawyer Christophe Leguevaques told Reuters he was preparing an appeal. A separate administrative court ruling in March ordered the state to compensate 11 individuals who developed prostate cancer or had multiple miscarriages after exposure to chlordecone. The low level of the compensation, set at between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, angered some. It mocks the people of Martinique and Guadeloupe, said Guilaine Sabine, an activist with the collective Zero Chlordecone, Zero Poison. Two of 35 water sources in Martinique present traces of chlordecone, the local health authority says. Soil, river water, the marine environment, and spring water are contaminated in areas where the pesticide was used, according to the French health and safety agency. Census agent Marie-Sainte, like many on the island, feels helpless about chlordecone pollution. Buying her bottled water, she said she preferred to put it out of her mind. I dont want to know, she said. (This story has been corrected to fix a typo in paragraph 10) (Reporting by Layli Foroudi in Martinique; Additional reporting by Lucien Libert in Paris; Editing by Kat Stafford and Frank Jack Daniel) GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) The Grafton Masonic Lodge conducted a formal cornerstone laying ceremony Saturday afternoon to commemorate the construction of the new Anna Jarvis Elementary School. A Cornerstone-laying ceremony is a time-honored Masonic tradition, symbolizing strength, stability, and dedication to education which brought together local officials, educators, community members, and Masonic representatives to celebrate the construction of the new school facility. The event highlighted the communitys dedication to providing students with a quality education and marked an important step forward in the development of the new school. Superintendent of Taylor County Schools Dr. John Stallings talked to 12 News about the future of the new school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We anticipate the opening of our building, the completion of the construction of this new site the Spring of 2027, in two years, Stallings said. This school will be fit with everything and equipped with all the newest and most appropriate technology and other instructional supports they will need. Its going to be state of the art from stem to stern, top to bottom, end to end, and we look forward to that. West Virginia bill would allow state to consolidate county school districts As part of the ceremony, speakers emphasized the significance of the new school and its role in shaping young minds for generations to come. School administrators and local leaders in attendance expressed gratitude for the communitys support. Principal of Anna Jarvis Elementary School Heather Sinclair is looking forward to the new space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new school is going to be such a nice opportunity for students, the staff, and the community, for Taylor County. We have had a lot of issues in the building just from it aging. One of the biggest things Ive had to deal with is if weve had leaking pipes in the building, Sinclair said. Were going to have adequate space for everything we need to do with the students, and it is going to be a very, very nice facility. Sinclair also stated that years from now, the children present at the cornerstone-laying ceremony will find it fascinating to show their grandchildren the contents of the time capsule hidden within the cornerstone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. A massive wildfire burning for more than a week in South Carolina jumped the border Saturday and was spreading Sunday into North Carolina, where firefighters were already battling multiple blazes, officials said. The Table Rock Fire, which started on March 21 in the Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, South Carolina, had burned 11,468 acres total as of Sunday morning in both South Carolina and North Carolina, charring more than 500 acres overnight, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The Table Rock Fire is now the highest-priority fire in the United States as fire crews responded from multiple states to help battle the blaze, which prompted the evacuations of more than 1,400 homes and businesses on Thursday. PHOTO: Timothy Demerski watches his tee shot at Rock Golf Club and Resort as smoke billows from the Table Rock complex fire, March 29, 2025, near Rocky Bottom, South Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) As the fire spread across the border into North Carolina, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said firefighters had upped containment of the fire from 0% on Saturday to 9% by Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Derrick Moore, operations section chief with the South Carolina Forestry Commission's Southern Area Blue Team, said fire crews are hoping that rain forecast for the area later Sunday and into Monday will help firefighters extinguish the flames. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said last week that investigators suspect the Table Rock Fire was started by four teenagers. He alleged that the negligent behavior of the teens caused the fire but declined to elaborate. They will be held accountable for their actions. I can promise you that," Blankenship said in a video posted to social media. PHOTO: Smoke rises from the Table Rock Complex Fire in the distance, March 29, 2025, near Pumpkintown, South Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Another fire, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire, spread Saturday from South Carolina's Pickens County into western North Carolina's Transylvania County, according to an update Sunday from Transylvania County officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rattlesnake Branch Fire in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County was burning close to the Transylvania County line but had not breached it, according to Transylvania County officials. The fire had burned nearly 1,900 acres and was 20% contained, according to the Sunday update. MORE: Video Thousands of acres scorched in Carolinas wildfires A third fire threatening to spread into Transylvania County is the Persimmon Ridge fire, which is burning in South Carolina near the Table Rock Fire and had grown to more than 2,000 acres as of Sunday afternoon. That fire also was threatening to jump the border into North Carolina, Transylvania County officials said. PHOTO: Smoke rises from the Table Rock Complex Fire in the distance, March 29, 2025, near Rocky Bottom, South Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Meanwhile, in Polk County, North Carolina, three wildfires continue to burn but authorities said firefighters who have been battling the blazes for days had made significant progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Black Cove Complex Fire comprised of three wildland blazes: the Black Cove Fire, the Deep Woods Fire and the Fish Hook Fire had reached a combined 7,670 acres as of Sunday, according to Polk County officials. MORE: 3 major wildfires prompt evacuations in North Carolina's Polk County The Black Cove fire, which was started March 19 by a downed powerline, was 35% contained after burning 3,501 acres, officials said. The Deep Woods fire, which also started on March 19, has burned 3,970 acres, authorities said Sunday. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Fish Hook Fire, which started March 20 by a downed powerline, was 100% contained on Sunday after burning 199 acres, according to officials. Massive South Carolina wildfire jumps border, spreads into North Carolina originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Its not often the people of Kansas get to hold a referendum on state legislation. In fact, they cant. At least not on their own. Under our states constitution, we operate a representative democracy electing legislators to make decisions on our behalf and ultimately hold them accountable every 2-4 years. This indirect democracy can be viewed as a paternalistic relationship between electeds and electorate a reassuring pat on the head from politicians that lawmaking is their province, and they will call us when needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So any time our Legislature agrees to offer us a chance at direct power on one issue, we should stand up and take note. And any time our Legislature agrees to offer us a chance at direct power forever, we should stand up, take note, and run as fast as we can to our polling place before they change their minds. Which is why we should really take notice of what the conservative-controlled Legislature did last week when the required two-thirds majority passed SCR 1611. Its a proposed constitutional amendment asking voters on Aug. 4, 2026, if we should elect (not just retain) our seven Supreme Court justices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only do we get invited to dinner, but its a permanent invite and we get to buy the groceries! That is not to say electing the Supreme Court is totally advisable. On its face, SCR 1611 is a de facto referendum on the current merit-based selection process controlled by bar-appointed lawyers and governor-appointed citizens. Passed by 70% of the electorate in 1958 after Gov. Fred Halls infamous triple-play scandal, the system was enacted to keep Supreme Court selections free of corruption, moneyed interests, and political bosses. But if you use your sunflower-colored glasses and squint through the Oz dust of debate, you might also see a glimmer of hope . . . direct democracy! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, 26 states provide for some form of direct, or pure, democracy that bypass legislatures with citizen-initiated ballot measures for new laws (initiatives) and/or vetoes (referendums) through collection of signatures (petitions). Laws without lawmakers. Sadly, Kansas does not allow that; Gov. Joan Finney was the last to earnestly push the issue in the early 1990s. Technically, SCR 1611 is not direct democracy either, but its close. It has no citizen-initiated lawmaking. But citizens gain a direct line to pick justices who enforce the biggest law (Kansas Constitution) and the weightiest legal question of our time (womens right to an abortion). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So why stop there? The Kansas Constitution already allows citizen-initiated ballot measures for cities, counties and school districts. All adjoining states Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma allow it. Sixty-four percent of states with part-time citizen legislatures, like Kansas, allow it. Most of all, big issues supported by a majority of Kansans but ignored by legislative leadership Medicaid expansion (72%), recreational marijuana (65%), a womens right to choose (65%), assault weapon bans (55%) could be put to a vote of the people, once and for all. Even Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican and expected 2026 gubernatorial candidate who led the charge for SCR 1611, believes its time to give the people the opportunity to assume that power and tear down firewalls and shine the light of democracy we all claim to support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldnt agree more. If legislative leaders are truly ingenuous about tearing down judiciary firewalls for the people, their own firewalls should be next. Bill Fiander is a lecturer at Washburn University specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka Tree roots are exposed on March 27, 2025, at McCook Lake. Floodwaters carved channels several feet deep in the community during the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Nine months after historic flooding in McCook Lake wreaked havoc on homes, roads, trees and infrastructure, government officials are widening their focus from recovery efforts to prevention. McCook Lake is a community of lakefront homes within North Sioux City in the southeastern corner of South Dakota, near the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri rivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raging floodwaters that hit McCook Lake in June cost the city an estimated total of $15 million in infrastructure repair, according to North Sioux City and Union County officials. Homeowners suffered millions in additional damage and received some assistance from federal disaster relief programs, although not enough in some cases to replace their losses. Some also lacked flood insurance. Local governments consider short-term, long-term mitigation plans North Sioux City Administrator Jeff Dooley said the city is considering building greenways, culverts and storm sewer pipes along affected roads capitalizing on some of the channels carved by the flood to better direct future floodwaters into McCook Lake. Mother Nature has already plowed through there, Dooley said. The city is also exploring how to better convey floodwaters from McCook Lake to the Missouri River where it doesnt harm anyone else. A damaged house at McCook Lake sits alongside now empty lots on March 27, 2025. In December, North Sioux City demolished 20 homes damaged by the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Dooley said a proposal will be presented to the public in late April for input from area residents and city commissioners. He plans to hit these concepts hard before applying for a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant program by the end of May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of damage has been done, and were doing our best to get out ahead of things, Dooley said. Any solution we come up with has to protect everybody. Dooley does not have a cost estimate prepared for the plan yet. Floodwaters carved channels several feet deep into the ground at McCook Lake during the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. A trees roots remain exposed on March 27, 2025, while keeping a pocket of land intact. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) In the long term, Dooley and other area officials are requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help reevaluate the current flood plan and develop new mitigation plans. The current plan, which uses levees to redirect floodwaters over Interstate 29 and into McCook Lake before they reach the rest of North Sioux City and nearby Dakota Dunes, was developed in 1976. Union County, North Sioux City and Sioux City wrote a letter to the Corps saying they will sponsor improvement projects recommended by the Corps. While Dooley said the Corps of Engineers likely recognizes a nearly 50-year-old mitigation plan is outdated, he warned itll probably take 10 to 15 years for a studys conclusions to come to reality. Thats because the project will have a large study scope and a long construction timeline, he said. Residents continue with recovery, lawmaker seeks to provide future relief More than 100 homes were damaged in the McCook Lake flood, and 20 homes were demolished by North Sioux City in December. Thats left pockets of empty lots around the north side of the lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morgan Speichinger lives on North Shore Drive, an outlet off the lakes main road. Before the flood, her family couldnt see the lake because of the houses lining its shore. Then the raging floodwaters carved a channel toward the river in her familys backyard and through her neighbors houses. We didnt have a lake view. Now, unfortunately, we do, she said. McCook Lake homeowner Morgan Speichinger watches volunteers fill neighboring lots with dirt and remove the stump of a tree on her property on March 28, 2025. Floodwaters carved channels several feet deep into the ground behind her house during the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. Speichinger said the trees root system diverted the raging waters away from her house, saving the property. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Speichinger and her husband rented a skid-steer loader at the end of March to move some of the 66 truckloads of dirt donated by RP Constructors and the Dakota County Fire District to fill holes in their property and in empty neighboring lots. Other volunteers, such as workers with Mitchell Electric, helped move dirt with vans and trailers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love the help and volunteers willing to step up and help other people, but its frustrating that we have to rely on our community to bring us back together, Speichinger said. You dont see the city, county or state leadership out here, but theyre the ones who should be helping. A sign set up outside a McCook Lake house requests dirt donations to fill holes left in the homeowners property because of the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Vermillion Republican Rep. Chris Kassin has visited McCook Lake several times, walking the lake and assessing damage done to his constituents homes. Kassin led a failed effort to establish a fund for the cleanup and restoration of McCook Lake this legislative session. Kassin plans to explore legislation to find a creative solution to offer state financial support to future natural disaster victims. He plans to work with the state Department of Public Safety, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Department of Game, Fish and Parks to understand what options are available. It showed some gaps in the way we deal with disasters in the state and some of the lack of funding triggers or mechanisms that we might have to help people in need, Kassin said during a legislative panel Thursday at the University of South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speichinger said she and her family plan to remain in their home because they cant afford to move elsewhere. She said any mitigation plan North Sioux City presents should include an overhaul of the 1976 plan. State analyzes prediction and modeling failures Tim Cowman is the state geologist and director of the South Dakota Geological Survey. In a meeting with the East Dakota Water Development District in late 2024, he said the Big Sioux River flooding came faster and harder than predicted by the National Weather Service. The flooding was caused by three days of rain June 20-22 in southeast South Dakota, surpassing 17 inches in some locations. Cowman said the water started flowing over I-29 a mile before the levee. The flood would have happened at McCook Lake whether or not that levee was there, Cowman said. An edited aerial photo outlines where a temporary levy was placed with the max flow path about a mile north of the levy during the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood in North Sioux City. (Courtesy of Tim Cowman) Some residents including Speichinger say the levee over I-29 made the flooding at McCook Lake worse, that they were not properly informed of the plan to install it, and were not sufficiently warned about the potential effects. She, a group of other residents and their attorney have since served the state of South Dakota with a notice of a potential lawsuit over its role in constructing the levee, although no lawsuit has yet been filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cowman said future mitigation measures should plan for flood events like this more often. These are 100 and 500 year floods, but they happen every five years now, Cowman said. A McCook Lake property owner lists an empty lot for sale on March 28, 2025, after a house was destroyed by the June 2024 Big Sioux River flood. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Experts say factors in that change may include more severe precipitation due to climate change, the conversion of sponge-like prairies to farm fields, the installation of drain tile under fields to dump excess moisture into creeks and rivers, and urban sprawl that sends more runoff into waterways. Cowman helps predict flooding impacts for the state with the South Dakota Flood Information System, which produces flood maps based on different scenarios, including peak flows and breached levees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cowman said predictions of the magnitude of flooding that struck McCook Lake should be more accurate in the future, because theyll include data from the 2024 flood. He and his team met with the National Weather Service Missouri Basin River Forecast Center in Kansas City twice to work out kinks and understand modeling and timing failures. From the states standpoint, Cowman said, were trying to make sure the river forecast center doesnt get fooled again on a flood of this magnitude down there. More McCook Lake flood coverage Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez Wisconsin Examiner As Congress mulls potentially massive cuts to federal Medicaid funding, health centers that serve Native American communities, such as the Oneida Community Health Center near Green Bay, Wisconsin, are bracing for catastrophe. Thats because more than 40% of the about 15,000 patients the center serves are enrolled in Medicaid. Cuts to the program would be detrimental to those patients and the facility, said Debra Danforth, the director of the Oneida Comprehensive Health Division and a citizen of the Oneida Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be a tremendous hit, she said. The facility provides a range of services to most of the Oneida Nations 17,000 people, including ambulatory care, internal medicine, family practice, and obstetrics. The tribe is one of two in Wisconsin that have an open-door policy, Danforth said, which means that the facility is open to members of any federally recognized tribe. But Danforth and many other tribal health officials say Medicaid cuts would cause service reductions at health facilities that serve Native Americans. Indian Country has a unique relationship to Medicaid, because the program helps tribes cover chronic funding shortfalls from the Indian Health Service, the federal agency responsible for providing health care to Native Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid has accounted for about two-thirds of third-party revenue for tribal health providers, creating financial stability and helping facilities pay operational costs. More than a million Native Americans enrolled in Medicaid or the closely related Childrens Health Insurance Program also rely on the insurance to pay for care outside of tribal health facilities without going into significant medical debt. Tribal leaders are calling on Congress to exempt tribes from cuts and are preparing to fight to preserve their access. Medicaid is one of the ways in which the federal government meets its trust and treaty obligations to provide health care to us, said Liz Malerba, director of policy and legislative affairs for the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund, a nonprofit policy advocacy organization for 33 tribes spanning from Texas to Maine. Malerba is a citizen of the Mohegan Tribe. So we view any disruption or cut to Medicaid as an abrogation of that responsibility, she said. Tribes face an arduous task in providing care to a population that experiences severe health disparities, a high incidence of chronic illness, and, at least in western states, a life expectancy of 64 years the lowest of any demographic group in the U.S. Yet, in recent years, some tribes have expanded access to care for their communities by adding health services and providers, enabled in part by Medicaid reimbursements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the last two fiscal years, five urban Indian organizations in Montana saw funding growth of nearly $3 million, said Lisa James, director of development for the Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health, during a webinar in February organized by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and the National Council of Urban Indian Health. The increased revenue was instrumental, James said, allowing clinics in the state to add services that previously had not been available unless referred out for, including behavioral health services. Clinics were also able to expand operating hours and staffing. Montanas five urban Indian clinics, in Missoula, Helena, Butte, Great Falls, and Billings, serve 30,000 people, including some who are not Native American or enrolled in a tribe. The clinics provide a wide range of services, including primary care, dental care, disease prevention, health education, and substance use prevention. James said Medicaid cuts would require Montanas urban Indian health organizations to cut services and limit their ability to address health disparities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Indian and Alaska Native people under age 65 are more likely to be uninsured than white people under 65, but 30% rely on Medicaid compared with 15% of their white counterparts, according to KFF data for 2017 to 2021. More than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native children are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, which provides health insurance to kids whose families are not eligible for Medicaid. KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. A Georgetown Center for Children and Families report from January found the share of residents enrolled in Medicaid was higher in counties with a significant Native American presence. The proportion on Medicaid in small-town or rural counties that are mostly within tribal statistical areas, tribal subdivisions, reservations, and other Native-designated lands was 28.7%, compared with 22.7% in other small-town or rural counties. About 50% of children in those Native areas were enrolled in Medicaid. The federal government has already exempted tribes from some of Trumps executive orders. In late February, Department of Health and Human Services acting general counsel Sean Keveney clarified that tribal health programs would not be affected by an executive order that diversity, equity, and inclusion government programs be terminated, but that the Indian Health Service is expected to discontinue diversity and inclusion hiring efforts established under an Obama-era rule. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also rescinded the layoffs of more than 900 IHS employees in February just hours after theyd received termination notices. During Kennedys Senate confirmation hearings, he said he would appoint a Native American as an assistant HHS secretary. The National Indian Health Board, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for tribes, in December endorsed elevating the director of the Indian Health Service to assistant secretary of HHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Schubel, a senior health care official in Joe Bidens White House, said exemptions wont be enough. Just because Native Americans are exempt doesnt mean that they wont feel the impact of cuts that are made throughout the rest of the program, she said. State leaders are also calling for federal Medicaid spending to be spared because cuts to the program would shift costs onto their budgets. Without sustained federal funding, which can cover more than 70% of costs, state lawmakers face decisions such as whether to change eligibility requirements to slim Medicaid rolls, which could cause some Native Americans to lose their health coverage. Tribal leaders noted that state governments do not have the same responsibility to them as the federal government, yet they face large variations in how they interact with Medicaid depending on their state programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has made seemingly conflicting statements about Medicaid cuts, saying in an interview on Fox News in February that Medicaid and Medicare wouldnt be touched. In a social media post the same week, Trump expressed strong support for a House budget resolution that would likely require Medicaid cuts. The budget proposal, which the House approved in late February, requires lawmakers to cut spending to offset tax breaks. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees spending on Medicaid and Medicare, is instructed to slash $880 billion over the next decade. The possibility of cuts to the program that, together with CHIP, provides insurance to 79 million people has drawn opposition from national and state organizations. The federal government reimburses IHS and tribal health facilities 100% of billed costs for American Indian and Alaska Native patients, shielding state budgets from the costs. Because Medicaid is already a stopgap fix for Native American health programs, tribal leaders said it wont be a matter of replacing the money but operating with less. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre talking about somewhere between 30% to 60% of a facilitys budget is made up by Medicaid dollars, thats a very difficult hole to try and backfill, said Winn Davis, congressional relations director for the National Indian Health Board. Congress isnt required to consult tribes during the budget process, Davis added. Only after changes are made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state agencies are tribes able to engage with them on implementation. The amount the federal government spends funding the Native American health system is a much smaller portion of its budget than Medicaid. The IHS projected billing Medicaid about $1.3 billion this fiscal year, which represents less than half of 1% of overall federal spending on Medicaid. We are saving more lives, Malerba said of the additional services Medicaid covers in tribal health care. It brings us closer to a level of 21st century care that we should all have access to but dont always. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article was published with the support of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, assisted by grants from The Commonwealth Fund. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Older adults participate in a falls prevention awareness day of action in Fort Worth, Texas, in September. Around the nation, doctors, lawmakers, advocates and patients are ringing alarm bells over congressional Republicans proposals to slash billions of dollars from federal Medicaid funding, which could especially hurt older Americans. (Rick Kern/Getty Images for National Council on Aging) Dr. Fred Levin has been watching with growing alarm the national debate around federal cuts to Medicaid. Hes responsible for the medical care of about 100 older adults at the Community PACE center in rural Newaygo, Michigan. For his patients, Medicaid isnt just a safety net its a matter of life or death. If left to see to their own needs, a lot of them would stay in their homes and would slowly die, he said. They wouldnt be able to get to their doctors appointments unless they had a family member to help. They wouldnt get social care. They wouldnt have people coming into their homes and seeing the bed bugs or the lice in their hair. They wouldnt get their medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The care at Community PACE is paid for by Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or certain disabilities, and Medicare, the federal insurance program for people 65 and older. The center is a one-stop shop that provides medical and social services to older adults during the day, allowing them to continue living safely in their homes. If Congress cuts funding to Medicaid, Levin expects his center would probably close. Unlike traditional nursing home care, which state Medicaid programs are required by federal law to cover, the services at PACE centers like his are an optional benefit that 33 states have opted to cover. Around the nation, doctors, lawmakers, advocates and patients are watching anxiously as Republicans in Congress consider proposals to slash billions of dollars from federal Medicaid funding as they look to offset trillions in proposed tax cuts. The specific nature of the funding cuts are still being hammered out. But any reductions to federal Medicaid spending would shift those costs to states. If you have an older adult in your life who has been in a nursing home or received help at home with cooking, bathing, dressing, chances are Medicaid was involved. Natalie Kean, director of federal health advocacy, Justice in Aging The additional financial burden could blow billion-dollar holes in state budgets, forcing state lawmakers to slash health benefits or restrict whos eligible for them. Nearly a fifth of Americans rely on Medicaid, and the percentage is even higher in some states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a lot of people who dont pay attention to this because they think it doesnt affect them personally, Levin said. But 1 in 4 people in Michigan are on Medicaid. Its very likely you have friends or family on Medicaid. Nearly all Americans over age 65 are covered by Medicare, which Republicans have pledged not to touch. Medicare doesnt cover most nursing home or other long-term care, however. Neither does most private insurance. But Medicaid does. If you have an older adult in your life who has been in a nursing home or received help at home with cooking, bathing, dressing, chances are Medicaid was involved, said Natalie Kean, director of federal health advocacy for Justice in Aging, an advocacy group focused on addressing poverty among older people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of us have a connection to the program or will one day, she said. A divided front Conservatives have long argued for reducing the reach of Medicaid. They say the program is too expensive and that its expansion under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, diverts too much money toward able-bodied adults and away from the more vulnerable populations it was originally intended to help. But policy experts say that reducing coverage for some Medicaid recipients, such as the working adults who got coverage under expansion programs, will have ripple effects on vulnerable groups such as children and older adults. Republicans arent united in a desire to see massive cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican governor in a purple state, publicly called on Congress not to slash Medicaid funding. Earlier this week, Washington Republican state Rep. Michelle Caldier wrote a letter to Trump asking him to reconsider cuts to Medicaid and expressing her concern about the large number of military retirees and senior citizens in her district. Caldier, a dentist who has worked with nursing home patients, told Stateline she believes the most likely cuts would be a reduction in the amount the federal government matches state spending for working adults who are covered under Medicaid expansion. That, she said, would have little impact on older adults. The only caveat is that I am very worried that the leadership in our state does not have a good relationship with our president, Caldier said. Democrats control the offices of governor and both legislative chambers in Washington state. Caldier worries that if Washington lawmakers defy the president over issues such as gender-affirming care for transgender youth, the feds could retaliate by slashing their Medicaid payments to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we got into a political match with the president, we would lose, no matter how you slice or dice it, she said. In Idaho, Republican state lawmakers shot down a bill that likely would have repealed Medicaid expansion, before passing one that will introduce sweeping policy changes in an effort to control costs. Even in Congress, some Republicans are balking, publicly defending Medicaid and warning about the consequences of deep cuts. Some who have high percentages of Medicaid recipients in their districts have urged party leaders not to cut funding for the program and have vowed to vote against any budget plan that does so. Medicaid covers 72 million Americans. A majority of American adults, including two-thirds of Republicans, say they want Congress to either maintain current Medicaid spending or increase it, according to a February 2025 poll from KFF, a health policy research group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has said in recent months that he wont touch Medicaid. But last month, U.S. House Republicans pushed through a budget plan, now under consideration in the Senate, that calls for about $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade to help counterbalance the Trump administrations desired $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. Facing cuts that large, states would have to figure out which benefits to chop in order to keep their budgets balanced, which is a constitutional requirement in most states. Older adults and people with disabilities already account for more than half of states Medicaid spending, on average. In some states, including Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi and North Dakota, those groups account for two-thirds of state Medicaid spending. Idaho state Sen. Melissa Wintrow, a Democrat on the state Senate Health & Welfare committee, said her biggest concern is Congress reducing the federal match rate. This is the amount of money the federal government chips in to help states pay for Medicaid. How much a state receives mainly depends on how wealthy its residents are. Richer states such as California and Connecticut get less help, while poorer states get more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Idaho, on the poorer end of the spectrum, the feds pay about 67% of traditional Medicaid costs and 90% of Medicaid expansion costs. It is all a domino effect, Wintrow said. The federal government covers about $3 billion of Idahos $4.2 billion Medicaid budget. If the feds start chopping that off, its going to impact everything. Cutting care at home All state Medicaid programs have opted to cover at least some home-based and community care, such as home health aides who assist people with bathing, toileting and other daily living activities, transportation and adult day care. Kean and other experts worry that because federal law doesnt require state Medicaid programs to cover home-based care, state lawmakers might sharply reduce spending on those services or even eliminate coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When states have budget shortfalls, they start to tighten eligibility for the home-based programs, said Kean. Were certain those would be the first to go if federal funding is cut for Medicaid. Paying for home-based services out of pocket would exhaust the median Medicare recipients savings in less than two years, according to KFF. The median cost of a year of a full-time aide to help is about $62,400, far above the median income for Americans over 65, which is about $36,000. The median life savings for Medicare beneficiaries was $103,800 in 2023. Home-based services are a popular benefit for state Medicaid programs, because most enrollees prefer to remain in their homes. And despite the expense, home care can be more cost effective than nursing homes about $38,000 vs. nearly $54,000 per year in 2021, according to a KFF analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cutting Medicaid also could make it harder to recruit and keep a workforce of nursing home and home health employees. Over the past two years, most states even those led by Republicans increased their Medicaid payment rates for those services, in an effort to combat the nationwide shortage of long-term care workers. But federal funding cuts could jeopardize what states are able to pay those workers. Theres already a direct-care workforce crisis, Kean said. Even if eligibility isnt directly cut or programs arent cut, there wouldnt be enough workers to provide that care. At home and in nursing facilities, the quality of care will go down. In rural Michigan, Levin said the PACE center where he works employs about 100 people. Its closure would impact not only those workers, but also would mean his patients would be left to find transportation and other health services on their own, even if those services are still covered by Medicaid. Without access in rural areas, how are these individuals going to get to the bigger cities where they can get to their health care? Its going to overwhelm other parts of the health care system, Levin said. Everybodys going to be responsible for taking care of the people who dont have health insurance, in some indirect way or another. Its going to affect us all. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. BANGKOK (AP) Emergency aid has streamed into Southeast Asia in the two days since a massive earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand. Relief efforts are focused on Myanmar, where the estimated death toll rose to 1,644 by Sunday afternoon. The number of dead from Fridays 7.7 magnitude quake is expected to increase, while the number of injured was 3,408 and 139 people were missing as of Sunday. The earthquake's epicenter was near Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city with 1.5 million people. In neighboring Thailand, the death toll rose to 17. While food, medicine and other vital supplies have reached Myanmar, a report issued Saturday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said rescue efforts have been hampered by a severe shortage of medical supplies including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicine and tents to house health workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake, said Mohammed Riyas, the IRCs Myanmar director. Here is a look at some of the contributions in supplies, personnel and monetary support and the nations and groups providing assistance: Direct assistance by nations On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay. China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits, generators, earthquake detectors and drones while pledging around $13.8 million in emergency aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hong Kong on Saturday dispatched 51 search-and-rescue personnel including firefighters and ambulance personnel as well as two search-and-rescue dogs. The group brought 9 tons (18,000 pounds) of equipment including life detectors and an automatic satellite tracking antenna system, according to a statement on the Hong Kong governments website. The Hong Kong government also will set aside HK$30 million ($3.9 million) from its Disaster Relief Fund to help Myanmar victims. Russias Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, Myanmars second-largest city, and Russias Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team that includes specialists in infectious diseases, resuscitation, traumatology and psychology, as well as search and rescue teams with canine units and devices that can search in rubble with depths as much as 4.5 meters (14.7 feet). Two Indian C-17 military transport aircraft on Saturday brought in a field hospital unit and some 120 personnel who traveled north to Mandalay to establish a 60-bed emergency treatment center, the countrys Foreign Ministry said. India previously said it planned to send five aircrafts and four ships with relief supplies including rescue team and medical teams. Malaysias foreign ministry said the country would send 50 personnel to help identify and provide aid to the worst-hit areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea said it will provide $2 million in humanitarian aid through international organizations. New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a post on X that his government would support relief efforts via the International Red Cross Movement. The European Commission said Friday it would release 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) in initial emergency assistance to assist with earthquake relief, bringing the European Union's total humanitarian aid for Myanmar to more than 35 million ($37.8 million) this year. Ireland announced Saturday the government would provide an aid package of 6 million ($6.49 million) with 3 million ($3.2 million) to support the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Myanmar Red Cross Society, 1.5 million ($1.6 million) each to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund and U.N. Refugee Agency Joint Response Plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. would help with the response, but some experts were concerned about the promised effort given his administrations deep cuts in foreign assistance. Aid agencies contributing The U.N. humanitarian affairs office said it has mobilized with other groups and $5 million has been allocated from a Central Emergency Response Fund for life-saving assistance. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released 2 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) in emergency funds to support the organization's work in Myanmar, Jagan Chapagain, the organization's secretary general and CEO, said in a social media post Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cara Bragg, the Yangon-based manager of Catholic Relief Services in Myanmar, said relief efforts have largely consisted of local volunteers trying to find loved ones. Despite the influx of countries sending search and rescue teams, "hospitals are really struggling to cope with the influx of injured people, theres a shortage of medical supplies, and people are struggling to find food and clean water, Bragg said. "Telecoms equipment vendor Nokia has won a deal to renew and expand the German National Research and Education Network's (DFN), IP core router network in Germany. The DFN Association operates the national research and education network and develops the communication infrastructure for universities, research institutes and R&D companies across Germany, connecting approximately 850 locations throughout the country. According to Nokia, its "green" IP router solution will give DFN access to higher bandwidth, increased network capacity, interface speeds up to 800 Gigabits per second, and reduce power consumption in its network up to 75%. "The DFN Association offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to meet the evolving needs of the scientific research community," says Nokia. "By providing high-throughput connectivity, DFN ensures that researchers can seamlessly access critical resources, such as supercomputers and large-scale data repositories, enabling faster and more efficient collaboration. "This is particularly vital for projects that require extensive data transfers or collaboration with international research institutions." DFN is considered one of the largest and most powerful non-commercial networks in the world with a total length of 10,250 km of optical fibre in the backbone and a multi-terabit core network spanning 65 core network locations. Under the agreement with DFN, Nokia will swap out existing equipment from an unnamed vendor and provide its 7750 IP core network routers to ten locations in Germany. "This upgrade will increase connectivity from DFNs current 100G interfaces to 400G, with runway to further upgrade to 800G as demand warrants," Nokia says. "All existing DFN applications were successfully migrated into Nokias service routers ahead of deployment." Dr Stefan Piger, Head of Network and Communication Services at DFN said Nokias solution offered the performance and scalability it needed for its IP core network in Germany. "With the implemented solution, we are already equipped for 800G and can now further scale and expand our services according to the requirements of our participants in research and higher education in Germany," Dr Piger said. "We are very satisfied with the collaboration with Nokia and the results achieved so far. Meghan Markle's 2017 Vanity Fair cover reportedly caused unease within the British royal family due to its focus on her romance with Prince Harry. Some insiders now claim the former actress used the feature to "solidify" their engagement, while others saw her as ambitious in leveraging royal connections. This report comes after Meghan Markle faced criticisms from two ex-Vanity Fair editors, with one of them, Graydon Carter, claiming the duchess is "adrift from reality." Meghan Markle's Vanity Fair Cover Reportedly Filled The Royal Family With 'Dread' MEGA In 2017, Meghan featured on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. However, when the issue was released with the headline "Meghan Markle, Wild About Harry!" she and the British royal family were reportedly taken aback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reaction behind palace doors was said to be one of unease, as the article offered insights into Meghan's personal life that broke from the traditional discretion expected of those entering the royal fold. British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the feature "was an eye-opener for the royal family." She explained: "A sense of dread and embarrassment engulfed them as Meghan's words and views were made public The feature and editorial certainly wasn't a usual protocol for someone joining the revered British royal family." Chard's remarks come after Graydon Carter, Vanity Fair's former editor-in-chief, implied that the Duchess of Sussex was concerned about her cover story and it being made "all about Prince Harry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many of us were surprised to hear that she was unhappy with the cover and editorial," Chard noted. "A feature on the cover of Vanity Fair is not accessible to most relatively unknown people. Hence, the world viewed this as an unexpected successful coup for the future wife of Prince Harry." However, she suggested that, in hindsight, Meghan's reaction makes more sense, noting, "[But] a few years later? Everything makes sense." The Duchess Was 'Booked Because Of Her Prince Harry Connection' MEGA British broadcaster Chard further suggested that Meghan had a vision for the feature, noting that the duchess wanted the focus entirely on her, even as her relationship with Prince Harry rapidly evolved behind the scenes. Chard also acknowledged that Meghan's rising profile was largely tied to her royal connection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was understandably booked because of her Prince Harry connection," Chard explained. "Meghan Markle was not a big name, especially in the U.K. Meghan Markle is an ambitious woman. She wants fame, positive notoriety, and all the glitz, glamour, and money that go hand-in-hand with this celebrated platform." Chard also referenced King Charles' reported nickname for Meghan, "Tungsten," a metal known for its strength. She noted that it was "an unusual yet complimentary nickname highlighting [Meghan's] tenacity." Meghan Markle Allegedly 'Solidified' Her Engagement To Prince Harry With The Vanity Fair Cover MEGA According to Kinsey Schofield, host of the To Di For Daily podcast, some within the royal household questioned the timing of Meghan's Vanity Fair feature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some within the palace have even suggested that it's how Meghan strategically solidified the engagement," Schofield told Fox News Digital. Schofield also claimed that certain royal insiders viewed Meghan's approach as self-serving. "It was also considered in poor taste for Meghan to use her connection to the monarchy to elevate herself," she explained. Schofield continued, "Meghan wanted to wear Harry's initials around her neck; she wanted to discuss their relationship and take advantage of all the attention she was finally receiving. This was a deep concern for the palace because they felt like her heart was not in the right place." What The Former Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Said About Meghan Markle MEGA In an interview with Page Six, Graydon Carter shared that his team was eager to spotlight the "Suits" alum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jane Sarkin, who booked our covers, came in and said, 'We should do a cover on Meghan Markle,'" Carter recalled. He continued, "I said: 'I have no idea what that is, why should we do a story on her?' So she said: 'Because she's going to marry Prince Harry.'" According to Carter, Meghan later expressed concern about the direction of the interview, saying, "Excuse me, Is this going to all be about Prince Harry? Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy." Carter remarked that her reaction suggested a disconnect from reality. "This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reflecting on the late Princess Diana, whom he had known personally, Carter speculated on how she might have felt about Meghan's impact on Harry. "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," he said. "Anytime someone comes between siblings, that's a disaster, horrible for a family." Royal Expert Argues The Duchess Didn't Use Her Vanity Fair Cover For 'Personal Gain' MEGA However, not everyone saw Meghan's Vanity Fair cover as a calculated move. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner offered a different perspective, arguing that Meghan's intentions were sincere. "At the time, Meghan really wanted to ensure that her dream romance would not, in any way, be affected by anything. She also didn't want to appear to use the situation for personal gain," Turner told Fox News Digital. "She upheld her philanthropic work and values. She was deeply in love with a man who she recognized had gone through the living hell of his mother's demise," Turner added. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) The Portsmouth-based nonprofit Mercy Chefs has announced they are deploying to southeast Asia following a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on Friday. Myanmars earthquake death toll jumps to 1,644 as more bodies are recovered from the rubble As of Saturday afternoon, the death toll had risen to 1,644, according to Myanmars ruling military. The country is currently in the midst of a civil war, complicating relief efforts in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mercy Chefs shared in a post on Facebook that they will work alongside local partners in order to deliver hot meals and essential aid to those in need. Having been serving in the area for over two years, Mercy Chefs said they are well-equipped to respond. Its a humanitarian crisis right now in Myanmar, said Gary LeBlanc, founder of Mercy Chefs. But thats where the need is. And Mercy Chefs always drives to the heart of the need. LeBlanc said theyre familiar with the region and its complications, but that they have partnerships and supplies to provide around 20,000 meals a day. He said they plan to stay for the foreseeable future. Folks are just going to live in the streets until its safe to return to their homes, he explained. Theyve lost homes, businesses, theyve lost loved ones. And theyre just wondering where their next meal is going to come from. And thats why Mercy Chefs is there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who would like to support Mercy Chefs efforts in southeast Asia can donate using the link here. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Imagine what your favorite restaurant might look like without immigrant workers. If the snap of your fingers vanished each foreign-born employee, what would you see? An eerily empty kitchen. Water left running by the dishwasher who spontaneously left his post. A shattered bottle dropped from the hands of the sommelier who disappeared while pouring your glass of Chardonnay and reservation pages flipped from the breeze that swept away the maitre d. Without the immigrant restaurant operators who share their culture with us through the language of food, we might have to travel thousands of miles for a taste of Filipino breads. Wed be without the first-generation Haitian Americans bringing heat to dishes with pikliz, a spicy pickled slaw. Lyndsay C. Green, restaurant and dining critic for the Detroit Free Press, talks to diners during the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 Takeover dining series at Midnight Temple in Eastern Market in Detroit on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Some will not have to use their imagination to envision the impact the loss of immigrants would have on the restaurant industry, because on Feb. 3, roughly 100 businesses across southeast Michigan participated in a Day Without Immigrants. Dozens of restaurants closed their doors and immigrant workers took the day off in protest of the federal government's hardline stance on immigration. It was the second protest of its kind, following a Day Without Immigrants in 2017 during President Donald Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact of losing immigrant culinarians is immense. What we gain from them is paramount to the depth of our food system. Metro Detroiters are proud to be a part of a melting pot of cultures and flavors. Theres a delight in our proximity to Canada and its exports like poutine. Our palates have been refined by the Levantine flavors of Dearborn and Yemeni and Bangladeshi staples in Hamtramck. Weve become fluent in the language of tacos from lessons in Mexicantown, and can distinguish the intricacies of noodle varieties across Asian traditions. And then there's the coney. The very dish that represents Detroit on a national stage was brought to the city by a Greek immigrant. The restaurants that have shone a spotlight on Detroit and contributed to the citys reputation for a flourishing food scene are largely operated by immigrant chef-owners. In 2003, the Japanese chef Takashi Yagihashi was the first metro Detroiter to take home a James Beard Foundation Award in nearly 20 years. Algerian pastry chef Warda Bouguettaya would be the next, almost 20 years later, followed by Japanese chef Hajime Sato of Sozai in 2024. Our own programs, the Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Restaurant of the Year and Top 10 New Restaurants and Dining Experiences list, are consistently topped with immigrant-led establishments and restaurants inspired by ethnic cuisines. In 2022, Baobab Fare took the No.1 spot. The East African restaurant is run by Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, the husband-and-wife duo who fled Burundi and sought asylum in Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Noori Pocha, the Korean gastropub slinging Korean fried chicken in Clawson came in at No. 2 and Alpino, with its dairy-forward menu inspired by The Alps, was named Restaurant of the Year., My friend and predecessor as Free Press restaurant critic Mark Kurlyandchik wrote about the immigrant communitys significance to metro Detroits food industry in 2020. So many of us were immigrants at some point along the way and it's our beautiful cultural tapestry that makes America great, he wrote. Let's celebrate it. Five years later, were still celebrating. Tomorrow, March 31, we will begin unveiling the 2025 Top 10 New Restaurants and Dining Experiences, culminating with the Restaurant of the Year on Wednesday, April 2. Of the 12 establishments being recognized, at least half are led by culinary artists who come from immigrant families. They cook with passion and generosity, each dish an act of hospitality for diners to fall in love, not only with their food, but their heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, what makes our food scene so bountiful is its diversity. Its the camaraderie between the Latin American restaurant and the Southeast Asian farmer growing its cabbage, the Caribbean restaurant and the retro diner that bring varying options to a single neighborhood. While diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are also subject to the White Houses chainsaw, our list honors diversity in leadership, format, price point and cuisine. The 2025 class of honorees is largely comprised of minority-operated food businesses. They're run by women, LGBTQ+ food professionals and Black and brown cooks. The list is a reflection of metro Detroits wonderfully diverse food scene and the countrys food scene at large. It represents what's always made America great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay tuned for the reveal of this year's Top 10 starting Monday, March 31. For a chance to win five $100 gift cards to dine at restaurants on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 New Restaurants & Dining Experiences list, visit chevydetroit.com/community/giveaways/roy25. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for extras and insider scoops on Detroit-area dining. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best restaurants of 2025 are led by immigrants and cultural foodways DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Miami Valley Military History Museum in Fairborn honored Vietnam veterans with a special ceremony Sunday. Saturday, March 29, marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, and multiple events throughout the weekend commemorated the date. Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica to be in Eaton this weekend The Miami Valley Military History Museum will host a pinning ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Fairborn Senior Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open to the public, it will honor anyone who served between 55 and 75 in the Vietnam War era, including vets and their spouses or widows, with a special lapel pin made by the Department of Defense (DOD). America began the 13-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War in 2012. At the time, then-President Barack Obama wrote a proclamation, which can be read in full here. We pay tribute to the more than 3 million servicemen and women who left their families to serve bravely, a world away from everything they knew and everyone they loved. From Ia Drang to Khe Sanh, from Hue to Saigon and countless villages in between, they pushed through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoon, fighting heroically to protect the ideals we hold dear as Americans. Through more than a decade of combat, over air, land, and sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of our Armed Forces, wrote President Obama. Mark Conrad, the museum president, spoke with 2 NEWS at the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to make sure that the veterans and spouses who severed during Vietnam get a thank you and a welcome home that they didnt get 50 years ago, said Conrad. He shared his thoughts about the publics reaction when the initial return happened 50 years ago. Of how servicemen and women were met with both indifference and protest. Its been a long time coming, but were going to make sure we thank as many veterans as possible, said Conrad. Its important to our family that we try to right what we feel is wrong. Even though the program will officially end this May, Conrad said the museum will continue to honor every Vietnam vet for as long as it can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Miami Valley Military History Museum collects military artifacts from across American military history and branches. It is on East Main Street in Fairborn, at the former Christian bookstore location, across from the library. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. Michelle Inmans story ends near a creek beside Interstate 24 West in Cheatham County, where her skeletal remains were found by a motorist experiencing car trouble in March 1985. Investigators believe the 23-year-old was murdered, but few details have been shared about her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inman's identity was a mystery for almost 40 years, until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation submitted a sample of her remains for forensic genealogical DNA testing in 2022 and found her family. TBI is still not certain who killed her, but a group of student profilers at Elizabethton High School thinks they know. Inman, they say, was the victim of a serial killer. Their years-long investigation led them to Jerry Leon Johns, a long-haul trucker who was convicted of the attempted murder of a woman hed strangled and dumped by the side of the road in the mid-1980s. Johns was also connected to the 1985 murder of Tina Farmer near Interstate 75 in Campbell County. He died in prison in 2015. The students believe Johns targeted young, often unidentified sex workers with red hair, strangled them and left their bodies by the side of the road between 1984-85. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a dozen cases across five states have been linked to a series dubbed, "The Red-Headed Murders". The students have six names: Farmer, Inman, Lisa Nichols, Lorie Ann Pennell, Tracy Sue Walker and Elizabeth Lamotte. The TBI disagrees. An agency spokesperson said last year there was no evidence indicating Johns is responsible for Lamotte or Walker's deaths. But Inman? That is a very active series of investigations, and we cannot comment on it at this time, the TBI said in 2023. The agency did, however, confirm that Inman had red hair. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Was Michele Lavone Inman the victim of a serial killer? PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) Protests in the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids areas Saturday joined the wave of Tesla Takedown demonstrations around the country. The protests are directed at Tesla CEO and Department of Government Efficiency lead Elon Musk. Despite the wind and the rain, more than 100 people gathered along S. Westnedge Avenue in Portage near the Tesla Superchargers in the Meijer parking lot. Protesters rebelling against Elon Musks purge of US government swarm Tesla showrooms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many carried signs critical of the Trump administration. Others rallied against efforts to cut federal jobs and funding spearheaded by Musk and DOGE. Protesters gather near Tesla Superchargers in Portage on March 29, 2025. One of the organizers, Richard Sorgen, said the demonstration was not initially planned with the national protests in mind. He said while the Tesla footprint in the Kalamazoo area is smaller than other cities, the groups goal remains the same. To bring down the price of Tesla so that affects financially Musks operations, Sorgen said. The only way that we can affect Musk is to hurt him financially, just as he is hurting us financially. Portage police and Meijer staff stood nearby, watching over the Tesla Superchargers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dealerships and chargers have been the target of fires and property damage in recent weeks in other states and overseas, according to law enforcement. In Grand Rapids, postal workers rally against privatization Sorgen said thats not what Saturdays demonstration was about. Theres no violence. We dont even go near the Tesla Superchargers. We are staying out here on the public roads. We are doing our First Amendment right to protest, he said. Near Grand Rapids, crowds protested outside of the Tesla showroom along 29th Street. Protesters gather outside the Tesla showroom in Kentwood on March 29, 2025. Ruth Wiley, a retired government worker, said major cuts to the government are a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, the government is big, but thats because we do awesome big things. America does awesome, big things and it takes a lot of people to do those big things, she said. Musk has criticized the boycotts online in recent posts, including one claiming protests are being funded by outside groups. Andrew Weener was at the Kentwood Tesla showroom to test drive a Cybertruck. He said he backs Musk and the work of DOGE. Tesla doesnt have anything to do with this. Hes helping with the government and stuff, he said. This is what, as a Republican, I voted for, because the government is taking way too much money and we are way too much in debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers say they anticipate more demonstrations 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 WOODTV.com. Migrants who have overstayed their visas account for nearly 40 per cent of all asylum claimants, the Home Office has revealed. Some 40,000 foreign nationals who came as overseas students, migrant workers or visitors last year sought asylum, raising fears that visas are being exploited as a backdoor route to permanent residency in the UK. Visas grant permission to stay in the UK for a set period, often for no more than a year. But by claiming asylum, applicants can remain in the country indefinitely because the Home Office faces huge obstacles to deporting them, including human rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visa overstayers now represent the biggest group of asylum claimants amongst the 108,000 who sought to stay in the UK last year. The numbers have more than doubled from less than 20,000 in only a year. They now outnumber the 35,000 migrants who crossed the Channel on small boats to claim asylum and of some 33,000 further migrants who entered the UK via lorries, planes or other routes. Of the 40,000 visa overstayers claiming asylum, 10,000 had lived in taxpayer-funded hotels or other state-backed accommodation despite entering the UK on the basis they would earn enough as workers to live without needing benefits, or as students with enough money to cover their tuition and living costs. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has ordered officials to investigate whether visas are being exploited as a backdoor route to the UK and to check the migrants eligibility for asylum accommodation when they previously claimed they would not be a burden on the UK state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the things that became clear as we examined this really rather chaotic system that we inherited is that we have people who are in the asylum accommodation system who arrived in the UK on a student visa or a work visa, and who only claimed asylum at the end of their visa, Ms Cooper said. They have gone into the asylum accommodation system even though when they arrived in the country, they said they had the funding to support themselves. The Home Secretary also confirmed she is considering restricting illegal migrants, including visa overstayers, from exploiting Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to block their deportations. Article 8, which protects rights to a family life, has been used by failed asylum seekers to prevent their removal as well as to bring relatives to the UK on the basis that it is a breach of their human rights to split up a family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Cooper said her review aimed to ensure the asylum system worked as Parliament intended it to do so and that there was a proper sense of control in the system. Yvette Cooper is considering restricting illegal migrants from exploiting Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to block their deportations. - Reuters/Jeff Overs The Home Office data showed that of the 40,000 visa overstayers seeking asylum, the biggest proportion 40 per cent or 16,000 had come to the UK on a study visa, including some who had applied for a graduate visa after studying for their first degree in the UK. Some 29 per cent or 11,500 had a work visa. The standard skilled visa minimum salary is 38,700 while students have to show they have the 25,000 to 35,000 that they need to cover living and tuition costs. An investigation by the National Audit Office, the spending watchdog, suggested there had been a 100-fold increase in migrants with skilled-worker visas claiming asylum in the UK. From just 53 asylum claims in 2022, it had risen to 5,300 in the first 10 months of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those asylum seekers who had originally entered on a visa and were living in asylum hotels or other state-funded accommodation, the most common nationalities were from the Commonwealth countries of Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. The Home Office estimated that more than 25,000 foreign nationals who entered on a visa had been provided with state-funded accommodation between 2022 and 2024. More than 38,000 migrants are in hotels, up 8,000 since Labour came to power, costing the Home Office as much as 5 million a day. A further 65,707 are in dispersal accommodation. Enver Solomon, the Refugee Councils chief executive, said: Its essential the Government works quickly and fairly to determine who is a refugee and who has no right to stay here. This is the most cost-effective way of dealing with asylum applications, as well as the most humane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Home Office data shows, people can claim asylum having come to the UK on a visa when their home countries become suddenly unsafe. We know from the experiences of the refugees we support that the level of risk of a country can change rapidly. People can no longer return home and have no choice but to seek safety here. This is by no means the case for all asylum applications. Many people make applications as soon as they reach safety on UK soil, having been forced from their homes on desperate journeys through no fault of their own. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A static display by Tower Solutions Inc. at the 2024 Border Expo in El Paso, Texas, shows off the companys mobile camera technology. (Photo by Dugan Meyer) Phoenix will be hosting a convention featuring President Donald Trumps border czar, as well as hundreds of military and tech companies bidding for government border contracts, including a company involved in the torture in Abu Ghraib. The Border Security Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center April 8 and 9 features panel discussions, as well as an expo floor where vendors can hawk their wares to government officials from around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is just a big marketplace of companies mostly tech companies trying to sell things to the government, Dave Maass, director of investigations for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told the Arizona Mirror about the event. The EFF has previously catalogued the vendors who attend the annual conference, with a focus on technologies such as AI, infrared cameras and more. The Trump administration has made border security a top priority after campaigning on immigration as a major issue. The administrations actions have faced scrutiny for their lack of due process and they have consistently tried to keep their mass deportation plans a secret. The Mirror attempted to get press credentials to the Border Security Expo but was told that the event is closed to the press this year. The event website lists media partners, which include online pro-law enforcement trade publications like Border Security Report, Homeland Security Today and Officer.com. Homeland Security Today is run by a group of CEOs whose companies are on the expo floor. The event will feature a number of high ranking officials from Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The most high profile is Trumps border czar, Tom Homan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan served as the acting director of ICE in Trumps first term. He backed the controversial zero tolerance policy at the southern border and has been connected to far-right extremist and conspiracy theorist groups. Homan is scheduled to give the opening remarks at the event as part of a State of the Border discussion. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels will also speak at the event on a panel to give local perspectives to border issues. While the event will feature a number of panel discussions and high profile speakers, it will also feature a litany of companies who will be aiming to impress government officials at the event in the hopes of securing a government contract or continuing an existing one. The Mirror examined the list of companies set to be in attendance to highlight some of the key trends as well as noteworthy companies seeking the attention of the government officials. The military industrial complex Many, if not most, of the vendors at the expo also serve the United States military and militaries overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Thales Defense and Security Inc. is a subsidiary of Thales Group, a French multinational aerospace and defense corporation. Its subsidiary has primarily done work on radio upgrades for the US Army and NATO forces and will be present on the expo floor. When it comes to immigration and border enforcement, the company has supplied the systems the United States uses at ports of entry that involve biometric data. Other companies known for their large military contracts, such as BAE Systems, also will be present. One particular military contracting company with a dark past also will have a booth on the expo floor. In November 2024, a jury found that Caci International shared liability with the U.S. Army for the torture of three Iraqi men at the Abu Graib prion in 2004, awarding the men $42 million. The Virginia-based defense contractor has long gotten a number of contracts from the Department of Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caci International is not the only government contractor with a controversial past. Journalists at ProPublica recently exposed how private prison company GEO Group, an ICE contractor, has been refusing to pay detainees more than $1 a day for cleaning the governmental facilities at which they live. GEO Groups stocks have skyrocketed under the Trump administration to $4 billion. Another group with ties to Trump and a controversial backstory that will be present on the expo floor is Constellis, part of the private security company known as Triple Canopy. Triple Canopy is a formation of what were once rival private security companies, Blackwater and Constellis. Guards from that company were spotted outside various federal agencies that were being taken over by billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also present will be Anduril Industries, which has ties to Palantir, and whose director of defense technology was nominated by Trump to serve as the Armys No. 2 official. Military grade equipment The expo floor will be full of vendors showing off their products which range from physical products like cameras and ground sensors to software that can be used to process data obtained by law enforcement. Much of that equipment is also military grade. Groups like ProTech Defense, Soal Marine Group and QuickSet Defense Technologies make military grade equipment that is marketed not just to federal agencies patrolling the border, but military customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other tech is similar, often showcased being used by armed forces in online literature or described with military jargon. Many of the surveillance camera platforms are similar or the same as those used on military aircraft, naval vessels or ground vehicles. Some firms, like Controp USA, boast about the capabilities of their surveillance platforms for both local law enforcement and military. The militarization of police and border enforcement has long been a point of debate among privacy advocates, with research suggesting that law enforcement that has more access to military grade equipment are more likely to have violent encounters with the public. Strongwatch will have a presence at the expo and it already has some of its tools in the hands of local Arizona law enforcement. The Phoenix Police Department has one of Strongwatchs Freedom on the Move surveillance truck platforms, which are frequently deployed at parades and protests. Anti/pro-drone This years expo also features a number of companies focused on anti-drone technology, something local lawmakers and Attorney General Kris Mayes have been focused on lately, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 2733 by Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake, would give local law enforcement immunity from liability for damage to personal property if they are shooting down a drone they believe is engaged in criminal activity. The bill comes amid an increase in drug cartel drones flying over the states southern border, GOP lawmakers and Mayes say that local police should be able to shoot them out of the sky without fear theyll be sued. A large number of tech companies at the expo this year are offering their own solutions to this problem. Fortem Technologies has provided its counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems, a technical term for drones) equipment to Ukrainian forces, leading to it being sanctioned by Russia in response. The company has already been attracting interest from DHS, but other competitors have been vying for what appears to be a burgeoning market. The Mirror found four other companies that will be on the expo floor selling anti-drone tech, with another that has sent one of its devices to frontline forces in Ukraine. But there are just as many companies, if not more, wanting to put eyes up in the sky as there are that want to remove them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aerial surveillance is a major strategy of CBP and DHS, who deploy aerial assets to the border daily to follow suspects or surveil areas where border crossers are known to frequent or smugglers are known to go. A number of companies focused on different forms of aerial surveillance are also present at this years expo including multiple manufacturers of aerostats, a type of blimp. Recently, one of CBPs blimps became untethered in Texas, leading to it flying miles away after being blown away by gusts of wind. QinetiQ, the UK firm behind the Zephyr pseudo satellite, a high flying unmanned aircraft that can stay aloft for months at a time, will also be at the expo. Ascent AeroSystems, a subsidiary of Robinson Helicopters, will be at the expo and is currently promoting a new drone that it says is advanced aerial surveillance in the palm of your hand. A number of new drone technologies appear to be on display at this years expo, including a hydrogen powered drone and a tethered drone as well. AI and more Another trend this year is the promotion of artificial intelligence. Many of the companies tout the use of AI either to boost already existing programs or to be used in new ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One such company is Overland AI, which recently raised $32 million in funding. The company aims to create fully autonomous ground vehicles for the military and Overland is partnered with L3 Harris, one of the largest defense contractors in the world, who will also be present at the expo. Other uses for AI are for surveillance gathering and analysis, such as with Australian-based FiveCast, which has previously signed contracts with DHS to use AI to look for open source intelligence threats. Social media monitoring tools that have alarmed privacy advocates, like ShadowDragon, will also be present at the expo. Other software companies that will be on the sales floor have faced controversy in the past. One company, Perceptics, which has gotten contracts with the federal government for biometric data collection and automatic license plate reader collection, was part of the reason for a major breach in biometric data related to a facial recognition pilot program. A subcontractor working on this effort, Perceptics, LLC, transferred copies of CBPs biometric data, such as traveler images, to its own company network. The subcontractor obtained access to this data between August 2018 and January 2019 without CBPs authorization or knowledge. Later in 2019, DHS experienced a major privacy incident, as the subcontractors network was subjected to a malicious cyber attack, the Office of the Inspector General wrote in a 2020 report. Sponsors While the event is closed to the press and largely to the public, those who can afford it can opt to pay $1,395 for the full conference. Those with government email or .edu email addresses can get in for free, and the expo offers a guide to those seeking to justify the events cost to their employer. Akima, who got nearly a billion dollars in contracts with the United States Space Force last year, is the expos top sponsor. However, under the Supporting Organizations banner of the event are some more notable organizations. The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a conservative think tank whose members have been promoted by Trump in the previous administration and have denied climate change, pushed school vouchers and received funding from both the GEO Group and Koch Industries. The Texas Public Policy Foundation was also on the advisory board of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025. Project 2025 is a collection of right-wing policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power under the Trump administration. The list of policy plans was largely created by former Trump aides and allies. Another supporting organization is the Border Patrol Foundation, whose president in 2018 garnered controversy for defending the use of pepper spray on migrants at the border by saying that a person could put it on nachos and eat it. That man, Ron Colburn, is on the advisory board for the expo. Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In 2023, Minnesota had a budget surplus of nearly $18 billion. The states current financial picture is less rosy with a $456 million surplus for 2026-27 and a shortfall of $6 billion for the following two years. The state has to have a balanced budget, so the Legislature will either have to make spending cuts or raise taxes. So far, spending cuts seem to be the governors and lawmakers favored method for reaching balance, but tax hikes remain on the table. What theyre saying on taxes Heres what state leaders are saying about taxes this session: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, recently said he isnt asking to balance this budget by increasing revenue, though his budget proposal does call for new taxes for services like legal advice and accounting. It also calls for a modest reduction in the state sales tax. Im asking to balance this budget by curbing long-term spending and continuing to invest in the things that grow our economy, he said after a negotiation session with Democratic-Farmer-Labor and GOP lawmakers earlier this month. Republican leaders in both the House and Senate oppose any new taxes in the budget. Any tax increases are off the table, Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth said in January after Walz presented his initial budget recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DFL lawmakers havent ruled out new taxes to help balance the budget. Some House DFLers are backing a proposal to create a new tax bracket for top earners to help the state with potential cuts to Medicaid, something that might happen under a Republican-controlled Congress and President Donald Trump. House Tax Committee Chair Aisha Gomez, DFL-Minneapolis, says theyre ready for conversations about finding ways to raise revenue. When the moments upon us, its like the real choices will just be right there, Gomez said at a press briefing on the new tax tier bill. Were not going to be able to go back into remote ideological bunkers and make absolute statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said the DFL-led Senates tax committee is weighing various proposals to raise revenue. The Senate DFLs budget targets rely on billions in cuts over the next four years to help address shortfalls. Asked if she thought Republican resistance to any new taxes was realistic, Murphy said DFLers want to see how Republicans would balance the budget without reductions to the Human Services and Education departments, which Walz and the Senate DFL had backed. If they dont want to raise revenue, then I want to see where theyre making their cuts, Murphy said, adding she is worried there will be tougher times for the state down the road. We know down the line that we could see some incredibly damaging cuts coming from the Republican Congress and Republican president. DFL House leader Melissa Hortman said shed have to wait to see what Republicans propose for the budget before she could make any serious calls on how her caucus will proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill be interesting to see what the GOP, what the Republicans, put on the table for their budget proposal, she said. Because so far, what we have seen Minnesota Republicans do is sit back and say, not this, not that. No, governor, we dont like this proposal. The states budget State budget officials warned earlier this month that uncertain economic conditions brought by the Trump administrations policies, such as tariffs and federal government cuts, could mean tougher times ahead. Related Articles Democratic-Farmer-Labor politicians used that to blame the president for the worsening budget forecast. However, the state was already spending more than it was taking in under a budget they had passed in 2023, when they grew spending by nearly 40% to over $70 billion a few billion of that one-time spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that last two-year budget, which had a significant amount of one-time spending, the DFL-controlled state government significantly expanded government spending to fund programs like paid family and medical leave, free school meals and free public college tuition for low-income students. The future deficit for 2028-29 of $6 billion is up a billion from the $5 billion forecast in December, according to Minnesota Management and Budget. The governors budget In his budget recommendations, Walz has already proposed cuts to long-term disability services and special education to keep costs from growing. Walz first presented his budget proposal back in January, as is typical for the governor, and he also asked for cuts and changes to state sales tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His proposal also calls for new taxes for services like legal advice and accounting. The governor is seeking the statewide sales tax to be cut from 6.875% to 6.8%, meaning Minnesotans would pay $7.5 cents less on every $100 they spend. That amounts to a $95 million cut to overall sales taxes. Power-sharing in the House Meanwhile, Republicans have a 67-67 tie with Democrats in the House and its the first time theyve had serious sway in budget talks for some time. Though under a power-sharing agreement with the DFL, they wont be able to get any partisan budget proposals to the House floor. Even if they could, Democrats still control the Senate. Lawmakers have until May 19 to finish their business. But if they dont, theyll have to come back for a special session to pass a budget before the end of June or risk a government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the DFL trifecta expanded state government spending by nearly 40 percent in 2023, Republicans decried what they called roughly $10 billion in new state taxes between 2023 and 2027 that came along with new programs and other adjustments. Related Articles One tax was for a new paid family and medical leave program, which will charge a new payroll tax of 0.88%, which will be split between employers and employees and has exceptions for smaller employers. The 2023 session also resulted in new fee increases for vehicle registrations and local sales tax increases. The DFL also created a 50-cent fee on all retail deliveries of $100 or more. The fee applies to sales of goods subject to state sales tax, as well as clothing, though prescription drugs, food, items purchased for resale and baby products are exempt. Republicans have opposed those increases while calling for broader long-term tax relief, including exemptions for Social Security income. The DFL expanded those exemptions, though Republicans want to fully eliminate Social Security taxes. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Officials in Minnesota are seeking answers in the case of a University of Minnesota graduate student whos being detained by U.S. immigration authorities for unknown reasons. University leadership said Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained the student Thursday at an off-campus residence. Officials said the school was not given advance notice about the detention and did not share information with federal authorities. The students name and nationality have not been released. As the case remained largely a mystery, state and local leaders called on federal authorities to explain their actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My office and I are doing all we can to get information about this concerning case, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a post on the social media site X. Were in contact with the University and understand they had no prior warning or information that led to this detainment. She said that international students are a major part of the fabric of life in the school and our community. The detained student is enrolled in business school at the universitys Twin Cities campus. University officials said the school is providing the student with legal aid and other support services. The universitys graduate labor union organized a protest Saturday outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown Minneapolis. Organizers said they stood in solidarity with international students facing uncertain futures as the new Trump administration pursues an immigration crackdown that has targeted people with ties to American colleges and universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An increasing number of international students are being detained without due process across the country, leaders of the University of Minnesota Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical Local 1105 said in a statement. These constitutional violations are part of a larger plan to continue stripping our rights away from us, starting with immigrants. It will not stop there. The Trump administration has cited a seldom-invoked statute authorizing the secretary of state to revoke visas of noncitizens who could be considered a threat to foreign policy interests. More than half a dozen people are known to have been taken into custody or deported in recent weeks. Most of the detainees have shown support for Palestinian causes during campus protests over the war in Gaza last year. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, the unions president, Abaki Beck, said in a statement. What prompted authorities to detain the University of Minnesota student is still unknown. ICE officials have not responded to an Associated Press email requesting comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on X that he is in touch with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research, Walz wrote. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also called the case deeply troubling. Educational environments must be places where all students can focus on learning and growing without fear, he wrote on X. Officials promised to release more information about the case once they have updates. International students are huge assets to the University of Minnesota, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota said in a Facebook post. They move thousands of miles away from their families and support systems to learn from the best and the brightest. I cant imagine how terrified they are after learning ICE has detained one of their classmates. Indian optical and digital solutions company STL Tech has partnered with Belgian fibre infrastructure provider Wyre to support the development of a multi-gigabit FTTH network. Wyre intends to team up with partners to deploy fibre across Flanders and Brussels in Belgium. According to STL, Wyre looked for a design and manufacturing partner that could deliver practical, effective solutions. "Wyre needed a compact, connectorized, and highly flexible connectivity solution tailored to its specific needs," STL says. "STL's team worked closely with Wyre to co-develop a bespoke solution that aligned perfectly with Wyre's needs." Under the agreement, STL will supply high-performance optical cables with high-fibre count and loose-tube designs, its OptoBlaze and OptoBolt products, and advanced solutions like 288F Closures. In addition, STL has partnered with Wirewave, a distributor of high-quality fibre-optic cables and infrastructure. "At Wyre, we focus on working with partners who share our commitment to practical, impactful solutions," said Philip Cauwel, Head of Technology and Strategy at Wyre. "STL's expertise and collaborative approach are important in helping us deploy fibre across Flanders and Brussels efficiently while keeping our impact on communities and the environment in mind. "This partnership is a great step in bringing high-speed connectivity to more people." Rahul Puri, CEO of STL's Optical Networking Business, said the company is confident that its partnership with Wyre will continue to thrive in the years ahead. "For us, our customers are at the heart of everything we do," Puri said. "By joining forces, we're able to deliver high-performance, future-ready networks that meet the ever-evolving demands of a digital-first world." JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) All bills in conference were supposed to be filed by Saturday evening, and any bills not filed by the deadline have died. Mississippi Senate lawmakers showed up to the State Capitol on March 29 to make sure conference reports were filed. They said House lawmakers did not show up, and they needed them at the State Capitol. Well have a special session, and tens of thousands of dollars will be spent because they took the weekend off, said Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R-Miss.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other option would be to file a suspension resolution, which some senators said they dont support. Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson III (R-District 23) said additional work couldnt be done because the House docket room is closed. They have to file appropriation bills in both the House and Senate docket rooms. Mississippi governor signs income tax elimination bill Unfortunately, we just ran into a roadblock yesterday (Friday). The House was going home, and we couldnt get conference reports filed. And so, thats where we are right now, Hopson stated. After the Senate convened on the floor Saturday morning, Hopson met with some senators to discuss conference reports on Senate-originated bills. He said theyre more than 100 bills that have to be handled, including bills that will impact the states budget for 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That process normally starts about five or six days before we conclude. And this year, the House was unwilling to meet with us until Thursday. So, it just didnt leave us enough time to get all the appropriations bills finished, said Hopson. There are other issued that couldnt be addressed without participation from the House. Child Protective Services didnt get there. Their deficit appropriation, the contracts for education teachers are trying to be signed now. We cant sign up teachers for next year because they dont know how much theyre going to get paid, said Hosemann. WJTV 12 News reached out to House Speaker Jason Whites (R-Miss.) office for a comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said in part, In January 2025, I communicated the House position concerning an orderly and transparent appropriations process The House will reconvene on Monday at 1:00 p.m. If the Senate wishes to engage in an open and transparent process, the House stands ready work and there is plenty of time to conclude our business. 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. (FOX40.COM) The Modesto Police Department recently conducted another round of compliance checks on eight smoke shops in the area and all of them failed. Video Above: Most commonly reported crimes in the U.S. The checks happened on Thursday, one week after several smoke shops were cited for violating California state law, according to MPD. During the first checks, officers said the shops were selling illegal flavored tobacco products. This time, each shop was cited for selling other illegal products including CBD items and drug paraphernalia which were confiscated during the operation. All smoke shops inspected in Modesto failed compliance checks, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, police said they seized 1,621 products, 129 hemp/CBD/delta items, and 349 drug paraphernalia items. Some of the cited shops were repeat offenders. Modesto smoke smoke shops AK Smoke Shop 710 Sutter Ave EZ Rock 436 Paradise Rd Pedros Smoke Shop 415 Burney St Circle T 401 Coffee Rd Habib Smoke Shop 1501 Coffee Rd Wallys Discount Cigarette 2419 Coffee Rd Dabber Vape & Smoke 2519 Coffee Rd, Unit 104 Smoke City 1532 Lakewood Ave, #3 This operation is part of our ongoing effort to keep harmful products out of the hands of minors and hold retailers accountable, MPD said. Modesto PD remains committed to proactive enforcement that protects our youth and our community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Business in southeast Fresno is on the brink of booming with long-anticipated plans nearing reality. Much of the shell structure of whats expected to be the largest Target in the central San Joaquin Valley is completed. The popular big box store remains on track to open in October, according to former Fresno City councilmember Luis Chavez, who represented the district for the past eight years. And while this new Target, which will be 150,000 square feet of retail space, will serve as arguably the most popular upcoming attraction to the Fancher Creek Town Center, theres much more happening around the intersection of Clovis and Tulare avenues, and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Including new construction occurring near the Target to build an In-N-Out Burger. An In-n-Out Burger sign was displayed on a chain-link fence earlier this month in the Fancher Creek Town Center, indicating the structure thats being built a few hundred yards from what appears to be the front entrance of the upcoming Target. Both Target and In-N-Out project to open around October. Its been a long time coming, Chavez said. Residents in southeast Fresno have patiently waited for this. And what youre starting to see is an explosion of interest in the area. An In-N-Out Burger sign was displayed on a chain-link fence earlier this month, indicating the structure thats being built a few hundred yards from what appears to be the front entrance of the upcoming Target. A few more hundred yards to the south, one can see the shell structure of the Sprouts Farmers Market finished. Like the Target, the In-N-Out and the Sprouts also are projected to open around October. An In-N-Out Burger is being built in southeast Fresno as part of the development of the Fancher Creek Town Center. The popular burger joint is located a few hundred feet from a Target thats also being built. Both project to open sometime this fall. Residential complexes open Some projects, which have been in the works since 2005, are already open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like new nearby residential complexes with the affordable family housing near the Target that creates a mixed use in the Fancher Creek development. Sarahs Court opened in February and the 180-unit Brandhaven senior housing a year ago. Residents at Brandhaven said theres a waiting list to move into the senior living place. Each complex also has its own parking garage for residents. Brandhaven, an affordable senior living in southeast Fresno, has a waitlist to become a resident at the complex. Some of the attraction to living there is the upcoming development of the Fancher Creek Town Center, including a Target thats supposed to open in October. Among the Fancher Creek Town Center projects completed is Sarahs Court, an affordable living complex for families with limited income. The complex opened in February. Roughly a half mile south of the Fancher Creek Town Center, a Ross Dress for Less opened March 8. The discount store takes over the 23,000-square foot location that once was occupied by an Orchard Supply Hardware. Everyone knows that once the big retailers come, other businesses flock to the area, Chavez said. Thats why getting Target to come here was big. And its not just going to be any Target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be the biggest in the Central Valley. And its going to be conveniently located for southeast Fresno residents so they dont have to drive north to go to Target. A Ross Dress of Less opened in southeast Fresno on March 8, located near the intersection of Clovis Avenue and Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Older businesses in the area also are stepping up to attract shoppers southeast Fresno. A program funded by the City of Fresno and headed by the Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association has helped some businesses improve and perhaps refresh their front structure or signs. That includes completed projects at: El Paso Furniture, Pro Check Auto Care, Classic Lady House of Beauty, Maggies Candies Store And Country Fare Cafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just new businesses thats bettering our community, said Jose Leon-Barraza, CEO of the Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association. Were beautifying those businesses that have been established so we help and dont forget those whove been around and were willing to invest early in southeast Fresno. A program funded by the City of Fresno and headed by the Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association has helped some businesses improve and perhaps refresh their front structure or signs, including Maggies Candies Store at 4531 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd. Future projects Several other projects and developments remain on horizon in Fancher Creek Town Center. On the Fancher Creek website from developer Lance-Kashian & Co., which is the same company that owns River Park, coming soon the east side of Clovis Avenue are the following businesses: PetSmart Michaels Chipotle Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chavez added that a Dutch Bros, Starbucks and a sit-down restaurant are also in the works. And theres a 7-Eleven under construction just south of Belmont Avenue along Fowler Avenue. A Sprouts grocery store is being built near the intersection of Clovis and Tulare avenues in southeast Fresno. Its part of the Fancher Creek Town Center development is projects to open in October. In addition, Chavez revealed there are plans for a portion of the 29-acre Fancher Creek development to be used to build a movie theater complex. This future theater is expected to be located on the northern side of the shopping center. One of the closest movie theaters currently to southeast Fresno residents is Regal Manchester, roughly seven miles away. Chavez said construction on the movie theater is expected to begin in about a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the time comes and everything is built and open, people from around the city and the surrounding communities like Parlier and Sanger will come, Chavez said. Its going to be a game changer for the community and its going to enhance the quality of life. Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. The family of Jennifer and Adrianna Wix is still impacted 21 years after the mother and daughter disappeared. Robertson County Jennifer and Adrianna Wix On March 25, 2004, Joey Benton told authorities his girlfriend, Jennifer Wix, 22, and her 2-year-old daughter Adrianna got into a white four-door sedan at a gas station in Cross Plains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two were never seen again. Family members say they don't believe a young mom with toddler in tow would leave of her own volition without a car seat, diapers or other supplies. A photograph of Jennifer and Adrianna Wix Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Springfield, Tenn. Their disappearance more than two decades ago is one of the most high-profile cases in Middle Tennessee that remains unsolved. Twenty one years later, they want answers. They need closure in a case that's already seen all hopes of a live reunion dashed. In 2013, the Wix case was reclassified as a homicide. Jennifer Wixs mother Kathy Nale told The Tennessean she believes the pair likely died on March 25, 2004, days after she last spoke to Wix. During that phone call, Nale says Wix told her she'd argued with Benton. Investigators later said Benton gave two accounts of what happened on March 25, 2004. At first, he said he last saw Wix when she left with a friend he didn't know. He then said he took the pair to a Cross Plains grocery store at Wixs request. He left them at a local Exxon afterward and watched as they got into the white car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous searches of properties tied to Benton and his family have taken place over the years. Always, there is nothing new to report. Tips have been sparse. And the trail went cold long ago, leaving more questions than answers. Meanwhile, Wix's family trudges on, determined to continue their fight for justice with the next generation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Robertson County's Jennifer and Adrianna Wix disappeared 21 years ago Ukrainian director and journalist Mstyslav Chernovs documentary 2,000 Meters to Andriivka received the F:ACT Award at Denmarks CPH:DOX documentary film festival, organizers announced on March 29. The jury praised the film as a powerful portrayal of war and a strong reflection on loss and resilience. The documentary follows Ukraines 2023 counteroffensive, as Chernov embeds with a platoon from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. Their mission was to liberate Andriivka, a strategically important village in Donetsk Oblast. Surrounded by mines, the village is accessible only through a narrow stretch of forest, making the battle particularly grueling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ultimately we give the F:ACT award to 2,000 Meters to Andriivka not just because its a conflict on our doorstep, but because its a masterpiece in filmmaking: a haunting, multi-layered portrayal of war comparable to All Quiet on the Western Front, the jury stated. But this is not the First World War, its today. An artist amid bloodshed brings the reality home, and makes an anti-war film that forces us to reflect on the dignity of each human life lost." Chernov, an acclaimed war correspondent and documentary filmmaker, worked on the project with Associated Press photographer Oleksandr Babienko. The film was produced by Michelle Misner and Rainey Aronson-Rath, both of whom won an Oscar for "20 Days in Mariupol." His previous film, 20 Days in Mariupol, won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the 96th Academy Awards last March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The film captures the Russian siege of Mariupol in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion, offering a firsthand account from Chernov and his team. It is the first Ukrainian-directed film to ever receive an Oscar. Read also: Kharkivs Faktor Druk printing house fully restored after Russian missile attack Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Lenovo has announced new hybrid Ai solutions built with Nvidia technology that it says will help organisations improve productivity and efficiency by accelerating deployment of agentic Ai. Unveiled at Nvidia GTC on March 25, the new offerings aim to address a range of enterprise use cases through a full-stack, validated approach that combines Lenovos hybrid infrastructure with the latest from Nvidias Blackwell platform. Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang said the partnership brings together Ai models, data and computing across devices, edge and cloud environments. Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage with Nvidia integrates services and Blackwell-accelerated infrastructure to help enterprises scale agentic AI, Yang said. This enables access to public and private models that improve efficiency, security and customisation. Ai Deployment Still Challenging While many organisations are eager to deploy Ai, Lenovo cited new IDC research showing return on investment remains a major obstacle. The report found Ai spending has tripled, but business leaders are still cautious. Lenovo is positioning its hybrid Ai approach as a way to simplify deployment and improve ROI by delivering agentic Ai that can perform multistep planning, code generation and reasoning. Organisations often struggle with fragmented AI adoption, a Lenovo spokesperson said. With this offering, we are simplifying that process, enabling Ai to work across devices, edge and cloud. The solutions use Nvidias RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs and new networking components to support a range of applications such as real-time video generation and agentic Ai. Use Cases Validated Internally Lenovo said its new platform has already been tested internally, showing measurable gains in productivity and automation. One example is content generation, where the company claims to have achieved up to an eightfold increase in speed. Customer service processes saw a 50 per cent improvement in efficiency, while internal knowledge assistants improved legal team productivity by 80 per cent and accuracy by 45 per cent. The Lenovo Ai Library forms part of the solution stack and includes a set of tested use cases that can be quickly customised by enterprises. These span personal devices, data centres and public cloud environments. The Lenovo Ai Knowledge Assistant was also showcased at the event, featuring a digital human interface designed to help attendees navigate GTC. It was built using Lenovos agentic Ai platform and Nvidias AI Blueprint and NIM microservices. Infrastructure Designed For Scale The company is promoting its hybrid Ai factory model as a key enabler for organisations looking to scale Ai deployments. This includes workstations, servers, storage and software built using Lenovo Validated Designs and Nvidia reference architectures. Key components include Lenovo ThinkSystem SR675, 680 and 685 servers, powered by Nvidia Hopper and Blackwell GPUs, as well as Nvidia Grace CPUs and BlueField DPUs. These platforms are intended to support both Ai training and inference workloads across a modular deployment model. One example is the ThinkSystem SR675 V3 server, which can operate as a standalone unit or scale to rack-level deployments. It uses Nvidia H200 NVL GPUs and the Nvidia Ai Enterprise software stack to manage high-performance computing and Ai workloads. Other offerings include liquid-cooled infrastructure via Lenovo Neptune, AI-ready ThinkStation PX workstations with Nvidia Blackwell GPUs, and a Fast Start service that promises business value within 90 days. Sector Adoption Expands Lenovo said hybrid Ai is already having an impact in several industries including healthcare, finance and manufacturing. In Germany, the company is working with the Technical University of Darmstadt on a project using the Lenovo ThinkSystem SC777 V4 Neptune system to support the Lichtenberg NHR-Stage 1 supercomputer. The deployment features Lenovos sixth generation direct water-cooling platform and aims to support scientific research using the next-generation Grace-Blackwell architecture. In healthcare, software firm AISHA has built a model that analyses full-body MRI scans in 30 minutes. Built on Lenovo and Nvidias hybrid Ai infrastructure, the system delivers insights more than 99 per cent faster than traditional methods. Without the power of the Lenovo and Nvidia solution, the model would simply not be able to exist, said Dr Juan Pablo Reyes Gonzalez, Head of AISHA. Lenovo and Nvidia are unmatched in the field of AI. Looking Ahead With 44 per cent of businesses in Australia and New Zealand planning to adopt Ai over the next year, Lenovo is aiming to position its offerings as a lower-risk way to deliver value. Jensen Huang, Nvidia founder and CEO, said the collaboration focuses on real-world deployment. AI agents that can reason and adapt are redefining how we work, Huang said. Nvidia and Lenovo are providing the infrastructure to bring these capabilities to enterprise environments. More information is available at: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/servers-storage/solutions/ai The Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday will put Elon Musks political and financial influence to the test after he poured millions of dollars in the race to support a conservative candidate. Musk has spent $12 million through his America PAC to support Brad Schimel over liberal candidate Susan Crawford in a race that will determine the partisan tilt on the state Supreme Court. Building Americas Future, a group that has previously received funding from Musk, has added $4.7 million to the race. On top of that, he will speak in Wisconsin on Sunday night, days before voters are set to head to the polls. The election has been seen as the first critical bellwether of President Trumps second term, as Democratic energy appears to be growing on the grassroots level. But much of the attention has centered on Musk, whose role in the administration has received outsized attention and whose presence in the race has given fodder to Democrats supporting Crawford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were seeing a test of how much impact can one man have on a race in terms of bringing these kinds of resources to bear, which are gargantuan and which will kind of set a new benchmark that weve never really seen in terms of, you know, a person like him with groups like his spending in ways that they are, said one Wisconsin GOP operative familiar with the strategy. Its also true in the other direction with the Democrats, given how much they stake on having their messaging be about him, he added. Democratic donors have also opened their pockets in the race, including most notably George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, underscoring the degree to which both sides see the election as critical. Its also not the only race on Tuesday Musk has gotten involved in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, he is supporting GOP candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, who are running to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, respectively, in the House. Both seats are Republican-leaning and the party expects to keep them, though some members of the party are warning it could be a closer-than-expected race for Fine in Floridas 6th Congressional District. But its the Wisconsin race that is seen as one of the first major tests for both parties. Democrats have looked to harness anger over Musk as a way to drive out their voters. And theyve argued that Musk, whose company has pending litigation over establishing Tesla dealerships in the state, stands to benefit if Schimel wins particularly if the litigation winds up before the states high court. First of all, in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, this is very troubling, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) told The Hill. He has a suit in the state of Wisconsin that could make its way up to the Supreme Court, and buying favor is obviously corrupt. Schimel has previously said hes looking for the support of Wisconsin voters and has no control over what outside groups do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested Democrats are being hypocritical about Musks involvement, noting that liberals like Pritzker and Soros are also wading into the race. The GOP is applauding Musks contributions in the spring races. I think if I was in an election, I would appreciate all contributions, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told The Hill. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is running for Florida governor, called Musks involvement a great thing. Experts on both sides caution not to read too much into what Tuesdays results might mean regarding Musks influence, noting theres a number of factors at play that could tilt the results one way or another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if the Crawford campaign saw the race as a bellwether for Musk and his influence, consultant Sam Roecker, whos working on the campaign, said its a tough question to answer, acknowledging the sheer amount of money Musk is spending. On the other hand, though, I mean, I do think its important to point out that, you know, the bulk of our paid advertising has not been about Elon Musk, Roecker said. There have been indications of Musks slipping popularity among voters amid the ongoing federal cuts under his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). An NBC News poll released earlier this month found that 51 percent of voters said they viewed Musk negatively while 39 percent said they viewed him positively. A separate Marquette University Law School poll showed 53 percent of registered voters in Wisconsin viewed Musk unfavorably while 41 percent said they viewed him favorably. There have also been signs of voter discontent with Musk in recent town halls Democrats have held in GOP districts, forcing the partys lawmakers to defend Musks role spearheading DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans push back on the criticism Musk is facing at town halls, arguing much of the backlash is manufactured by Democrats. You mean in the town halls where you have groups who are pushing people to town halls? Donalds said. We still have Democrats in Republican districts. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) acknowledged Musks popularity but warned that voters in states where he is spending money may not be aware of the extent of his involvement. The super PAC doesnt say Elon Musk super PAC. It says America super PAC, said Lee, who is introducing legislation banning super PACs by placing a contribution limit on donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time people actually realize whos putting the money in, its almost always too late. The damage has already been done, she continued. Some Republicans argue that Musks involvement in the Wisconsin race is not the best test case for his involvement, given the expected low turnout that special, off-year elections usually bring in. This is a race Democrats should win and if they dont, its a huge embarrassment, said one Republican official working on the race. The special elections in Floridas 1st and 6th districts are also in their own categories. The 1st Congressional District is the most conservative in the state and expected to be a cakewalk for Republicans. The 6th District is considered slightly more competitive, but some Republicans have pointed to Fine as a weak candidate while Democrats have insisted the race is more about narrowing the margins in a Trump district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One strategist whos done work in a dozen states suggested Musk could be helping pave the way for other individuals to get involved in elections. Weve seen this with the way that a lot of those big tech companies came around after Trump was elected, like, I think Elon is going to set a precedent that like, Hey, if you want to be good with the president, with the MAGA movement, open up your wallet, too, the strategist 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. From beneath a pile of wrangled metal and concrete debris, the cries kept coming. But after days of digging desperately through rubble with bare hands, rescuers were losing hope of reaching victims of Myanmars earthquake. The worst part is knowing theyre there but not being able to reach them in time, said Tay Zar Lin, scraping through the wreckage of a collapsed block of flats in Mandalay, the South-East Asian countrys former capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 28 year-old said rescue teams with little or no access to tools had been forced to rely on sheer determination to save some 90 people thought to be buried somewhere underneath him. And on Sunday there was finally a breakthrough, as 29 people were pulled alive from the rubble. That moment of joy was cut short when eight dead bodies shortly followed. People in Myanmar say they have not been given enough support by their military rulers to rescue survivors - Reuters/Stringer There is a crushing sense here in Myanmar that more could be done, if only the embattled ruling military junta would give better support. We want to do more, but we dont have the equipment or knowledge to save as many lives as we should, said Tay, who is volunteering with Myat Thadar, a charity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was already exhausted but vowed: We will keep digging, because if we dont, who will? It is now more than 48 hours since a magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocked Myanmar on Friday at lunchtime. But without heavy machinery to assist in the search, progress to reach the thousands buried when homes, schools and offices collapsed has been agonisingly slow. After four brutal years of civil war and decades of being run largely by kleptocratic and corrupt military regimes Myanmar was ill-prepared to deal with a disaster of this scale. Even before the earthquake hit, the economy and health system were in tatters, three million people were displaced and one third of the population was reliant on humanitarian aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays quake will compound this crisis. Already, its death toll has surpassed 1,600 and there are fears this is only the tip of the iceberg. Modelling by the US Geological Survey suggesting fatalities could top 10,000 and financial losses could exceed Myanmars annual economic output. Scenes emerging from the hard-to-reach country are devastating: one video showed a group of monks ducking as a building collapsed entirely nearby, while reports of deaths included 12 children buried alongside their teacher at pre-school. Hospitals are struggling with a severe lack of medical supplies, with the military regime calling for more blood donors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our capacity is extremely limited, Dr Aung Win, a doctor at Mandalay General Hospital, told The Telegraph on Saturday. We urgently need reinforcements. Its heartbreaking to see patients dying when they shouldnt be, and we desperately need first aid kits. We were never prepared for a disaster like this. The junta has made a rare plea for help and some aid is now flowing in. Teams from countries including Russia, China, Malaysia, South Korea and India have touched down this weekend, while the UK announced 10 million of funding and the EU committed an initial 2.5 million (2.1 million). But those on the ground especially outside the major cities said this was yet to reach them. In Sagaing, a town close to the quakes epicentre, residents said that there was no electricity, little drinking water and no help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we are seeing here is widespread destruction many buildings have collapsed into the ground, Han Zin said. We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight. NGOs and humanitarian agencies preparing to ramp up their response also face challenges. Airports, bridges and roads have been damaged, making it hard to reach many areas, while communication systems are down, and there are even limits on how much cash you can withdraw from an ATM. An excavator is used to clear rubble in the search for survivors in Mandalay on Sunday - Stringer/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Richard Horsey, of the Crisis Group think tank, said most peoples apartments were either destroyed or structurally unsound in the affected areas, meaning at least a few million people needed shelter, food, water and medical assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The logistics of this are hugely challenging given the destruction of transport and communications infrastructure, including the main airports of Naypyidaw and Mandalay, he said. This humanitarian assistance phase will last for many weeks or months, so will also require substantial funds. It is not clear where those resources will come from, despite generous initial allocations from donors. The humanitarian system has little cash in the kitty. But the ongoing civil war, triggered in 2021 when the junta overthrew a democratically elected government in a coup, is another major complication. Territory in the country is split between the military and a complex network of opposition groups, many parts of Myanmar are either very dangerous or simply impossible for aid groups to reach, and there is a gauntlet of problems to run to get aid to civilians. Joe Freeman, a Myanmar researcher at Amnesty International, said: It is a good sign that the military has appealed for international aid. The main issue with that is what happens to the aid once it is delivered to the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will they divert it to areas where they are engaged in armed conflict? You would hope so, but that seems unlikely, given their history of blocking aid to these areas. International aid groups must do the best they can to ensure that their aid is reaching people impartially. There is also a problem of trust. Why would a community that has been bombed by the military trust it to deliver humanitarian aid? Mr Horset added: The regime and its opponents are locked in an existential battle this makes the context particularly challenging. But it must not be an excuse for dithering and inaction. The people affected by this tragedy deserve more. 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. Opposition forces in Myanmar's years-long civil war have declared a ceasefire as the country struggles to rescue survivors from a devastating earthquake feared to have killed thousands. The country's democratic shadow government announced a two-week unilateral pause in its fighting with the ruling military junta on Sunday, noting that "defence operations" are excluded from this. Myanmar was hit by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, which has killed around 1,700 people and injured 3,400 so far according to state TV. At least 300 people are still missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, casualty figures could rise by thousands due to the proximity of populated areas and the vulnerability of many structures, officials fear. The National Unity Government (NUG) wrote on X that the "suspension of all offensive military operations" is to take place in the "earthquake-affected areas and related districts." The military junta continued its attacks against rebel groups shortly after the earthquake struck on Friday, according to media reports. In an interview with the BBC, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called on the junta to halt all military operations. The NUG has been fighting the junta since shortly after the military took power in a coup in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Friday's earthquake, some 3.5 million people had been forced to flee their homes during fighting between ethnic groups and the army since the military coup. Photos circulating online show several collapsed houses and bridges, while a hospital in the state of Shan appears to have been completely destroyed. In the capital Naypyidaw, an air traffic control tower at the international airport collapsed, killing at least six people. Even two days after the earthquake, numerous aftershocks were still occurring, with a 5.1-magnitude quake hitting north of Mandalay on Sunday at a depth of around 10 kilometres. Death toll in Bangkok rises to 17 Meanwhile in neighbouring Thailand, the death toll in Bangkok has risen to 17, Thai authorities said, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 83 people remain missing, authorities said, adding that 32 others have been reported injured. Rescue teams are concentrating on a collapsed 30-storey skyscraper in Bangkok, where more people are believed to be trapped. Ten deaths have been confirmed at the site so far, but more people are thought to be under the rubble. On Sunday, rescue crews recovered the body of a worker from the skyscraper, local media reported. They used a crane and metal basket to lift the body from the debris in the early hours of Sunday, according to the Khaosod newspaper. The quake has caused significant damage in the Thai capital and was also felt in parts of China and Vietnam. Travel safe again, Thai officials say Thailand says it is safe to travel to the country's many tourist destinations following the devastation in the region, with the tourism minister noting that no tourists have been injured and no tourist sights have been affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, he said that "travel, hotels, & events proceed normally. Inspections are ongoing for safety assurance. Tourist police monitor key sites. No travel cancellations." The international airports, for example in Bangkok and on the popular holiday island of Phuket, have also returned to normal operations, the operators announced. Previously, terminals and runways had been checked for damage. Tourism accounts for 12% of Thailand's gross national product (GDP) and employs more than 20% of the total workforce, according to a speech by the country's central bank governor last year. Following the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, the country's opposition democratic shadow government announced on Sunday a two-week unilateral pause in its fighting with the ruling military junta, though "defence operations" are excluded from this. The "suspension of all offensive military operations" is to take place in the "earthquake-affected areas and related districts," the National Unity Government (NUG) wrote on X. The military junta continued its attacks against rebel groups shortly after the earthquake struck on Friday, according to media reports. In an interview with the BBC, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, called on the junta to halt all military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NUG has been fighting the junta since shortly after the military took power in a coup in 2021. The death toll in Myanmar so far is 1,644, with more than 3,400 injured, but the casualty figures could rise by thousands due to the proximity of populated areas and the vulnerability of many structures. What happened to David Clary? Authorities hope the public can help solve the mystery after genetic technology recently identified remains found by hunters in Georgia woods in 1986 as the Charlotte resident. Clary grew up in Charlotte, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents said in a recent news release. At the time of his death, he made frequent trips to the Atlanta area and north Georgia, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His last known location was in Gwinnett County, according to the agency. An autopsy at the time revealed the manner of death as homicide, investigators said. Leads led nowhere, federal agents say The remains were found on Saturday, Aug. 9, 1986, south of Elijay in Gilmer County, GBI agents said. The GBI and the Gilmer County Sheriffs Office investigated numerous leads to identify the remains, but to no avail, according to the March 24 statement. In February 2024, the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland and GBI Cold Case Unit partnered with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and Texas-based Othram Inc. to conduct advanced DNA testing, GBI agents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Othram uses forensic-grade genome sequencing to develop comprehensive genealogical profiles, according to the GBI. Based on the DNA, a genealogical search by Othram, the GBI and FBI produced leads that led to Clarys identification. Reporting clues Investigators ask anyone with information about Clary to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland at 706-348-4866, the GBI Cold Case Unit at 404-239-2106 or the Gilmer County Sheriffs Office at 706-635-4646. Anonymous tips can be made on the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) and online, at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online SHELBYVILLE The trial of Harry Curtin, alias "Grey Eye," charged with the murder of William Funkhouser of Lerna, JG subscription solicitor, finally got underway in the Shelby Circuit Court today after two continuances. The case was called at 10:50 a.m. by Judge Dove. When "Grey Eye" was formally arraigned before the bar, he entered a plea of not guilty and the trial was ordered to proceed by the selection of a jury. The courtroom was not filled during the first session, but it is expected to be during the remainder of the trial, although the farmers of this section, who apparently are the most vitally interested, are busy in their fields ... MATTOON Following a personal investigation into conditions at Murphysboro and West Frankfort, after the devastations by the tornado, Pearl Smith, president of the Illinois State Firemen's Association made an appeal to all firemen to the state for funds with which to aid Fire Chief Albert Herring and two of his firemen, who lost all their earthly possessions in the disaster at Murphysboro. Upon receipt of this appeal by Fire Chief Weaver of the Mattoon department, $50 was appropriated by the firemen from their fund, and the amount dispatched immediately to the relief of their comrades. "We are soon to have a dance here," said Fire Chief Weaver today, "and the gift of $50 to the storm sufferers has about depleted our treasury. We are hoping that our ball will be well-attended, which will aid us materially in recuperating our loss." ... ASHMORE The bank of Ashmore was looted by two unmasked men shortly after 2 p.m., bout $3000 being secured. The two men drove up in front of the bank in an automobile and entered the building. J.P Mosley and Ed Hawkins, officials of the bank, were inside at their desks. With drawn revolvers, the two officials were forced into the vault by the bandits, who, gathering up all the available currency, hurried from the bank, jumped into their automobile and left the village at high speed ... MATTOON J.F. Osborn's touring car was wrecked Sunday evening about 7 p.m. when the steering gear refused to respond, but Osborne and his son Billie, who were the only passengers in the machine, escaped injury. The accident occurred about two miles south of the city on Route 25. Osborn was driving south and in attempting to avoid striking an automobile, his steering gear failed to function and the automobile ran off the slab and turned completely over. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A close-up of an unusual Martian rock made up of hundreds of dark, round spheres stuck together, taken with the Mars Perseverance rover's SuperCam Remote Micro Imager. The spheres that make up the rock are about 1 millimeter in diameter. Some are broken and slightly weathered, and some have tiny holes in them. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has spotted a strange object out of the corner of its "eye": a mysterious rock that resembles a cluster of hundreds of spider eggs. The rock, which was discovered on the slopes of Witch Hazel Hill on the rim of Jezero Crater, is lightly dusted with red sand and conspicuously out of place. The mysterious rock, named "St. Pauls Bay," is surrounded by lighter rocks and red-brown sand. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU This rock, which the Perseverance team named "St. Pauls Bay," is float rock, meaning it wasn't found where it formed. As a result, it's missing context clues that could explain its strange texture, according to NASA's statement . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isn't just the geologic context that's missing, either. Something caused the rock to move from its original location, and that movement could reveal insights about Martian geology. Maybe this rock formed when a meteorite struck Mars , vaporizing rock before it condensed into the little granules seen in the photo. If this was the case, the rock could have originated far from its current resting place, and it could reveal how meteor strikes transport materials on Mars, NASA noted. Related: 'Spiders on Mars' fully awakened on Earth for 1st time and scientists are shrieking with joy This map shows the approximate path Perseverance has taken to reach Witch Hazel Hill, with important landmarks labeled. Some of the landmarks are places where Perseverance took rock samples. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona It's also possible that the rock rolled down Witch Hazel Hill, according to NASA. It may have originated from one of the darker layers on the hill that scientists have detected from orbit. Closer study of Witch Hazel Hill could tell scientists what those darker layers are made of. If they're similar in composition to St. Pauls Bay, it could indicate a layer of volcanic activity, an old meteor strike, the presence of groundwater in the past, or something else entirely, NASA representatives wrote in the statement . RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mars rock samples may contain evidence of alien life, but can NASA get them back to Earth? Perseverance rover watches a solar eclipse on Mars 'Perfect' Mars rock sample drilled from the Red Planet in historic mission Rocks like St. Pauls Bay give scientists important clues about how the Red Planet has changed over time. Their formation and transportation reveal complex interactions between water, rock and geologic forces on Mars, which can help answer whether the planet could have harbored life in the past. High winds, rain, large hail and possible tornadoes are in the Sunday night forecast for Middle Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service. "Storms will form to our west late today then move our way this evening and overnight," the Weather Service said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes will be possible with the storms that impact Middle Tennessee. Get your safe places ready, then MOVE IT! MOVE IT! to that place if a warning is issued." The winds are expected to be 70 miles per hour, and the hail could be as large as two inches. What time will severe weather move into the Nashville area? In Nashville, the strong storm system could begin as early as 9 p.m. with the most severe winds, hail, rain and possible tornadoes happening 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. The winds and rain could last through 6 a.m. Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also an enhanced chance for tornadoes across Middle Tennessee. The National Weather Service said, "Tornadoes could be strong." The storm should hit Clarksville a little earlier with high winds expected by 8 p.m. on Sunday with the most severe part of the storm occurring between 9 p.m. and midnight. Nashville weather radar Nashville area weather forecast Scattered showers could continue through the day Monday with lessening chances of rain Tuesday and Wednesday. Here's the forecast from the National Weather Service: Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely tonight followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 p.m. Some could be severe. ow around 53. Rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 a.m. followed by a slight chance of showers between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Some storms could be severe. High near 65. Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a high near 70 and low around 57. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville weather: Storms could bring overnight strong winds, tornado A decade after the Boise Co-op opened its second store at The Village at Meridian, the local grocery cooperative is hoping to spread its organic, fair-trade products to even more people in the Treasure Valley. Expanding into a third store is on the horizon for the Boise business, according to the co-ops director of marketing but only at the right place, right time. We dont want to rush it, Tyler Schnur told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The marketing director said hes been hearing from customers that they want more of what the store has to offer, and that the co-op has been looking into ways to grow. Weve been getting that feedback for quite a few years now, more and more, especially in the last six months, that our Village store is kind of bursting at the seams, Schnur said. We have a lot of people that drive pretty long treks just to shop at the Village location, which is awesome ... It just seems like thats kind of like the most-natural next step for us. The co-op, which has more than 32,000 members, is setting its sights on a few different areas for expanding, including Southeast Boise, South Meridian, Kuna and Star, Schnur said. One location has stood out so far as potentially a really great fit. According to preliminary application documents filed with the city of Meridian, the co-op is considering developing a vacant 5-acre piece of land on the northwest corner of Black Cat Road and Chinden Boulevard. The Boise Co-ops second location at The Village at Meridian opened 10 years ago. Residents from across the Treasure Valley are flocking there and clamoring for another store perhaps a little closer to where they live, according to Tyler Schnur, the grocery chains senior director of marketing. Preliminary documents show three buildings that could go up on the site, including a roughly 25,000-square-foot building for a Boise Co-op store, as well as two other smaller buildings that Schnur said would be built to suit other potential tenants that would not be part of the co-op. The early-stage plans also show 211 parking spaces. Plans are subject to change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The preliminary plans were designed by Boise architecture firm Rodney Evans and Partners. According to the Ada County Assessors Office, the land the co-op is eyeing is owned by HBU Investments LLC, an Los Angeles-based home-building company, and is valued at nearly $657,000. Schnur emphasized that no lease has been signed and that nothings official. He said hes hopeful that a store on Black Cat could move forward, but that if it doesnt work out, we will be looking for other opportunities. Still, he said an extensive market analysis, site visits, and some good old-fashioned cold-calling have generated interest in the Black Cat location. Schnur said he hopes a new store would cut down on driving times for customers in the fast-growing Boise-area suburbs and provide more employment opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a lease is secured, the co-ops next step would be to submit an official application with the city. In addition to the Village location, the co-op also has its original grocery store at 888 W. Fort St. in Boise, as well as a wine shop and pet-supply store across the parking lot from the grocery store. The co-op is known for offering local and fair-trade ingredients and goods, membership discounts, and health-conscious prepared foods like sandwiches, salads, and pizza. According to a business-registration filing with the Idaho Secretary of States office, the co-op is incorporated as a nonprofit. But Schnur said in a text message to the Statesman that the co-op is taxed as a corporation and not as a tax-exempt organization. A parcel in Northwest Meridian, near Star, that could become another Boise Co-op location. Mural at Boise Co-ops Meridian store has a cool story. Local artist happy to share it 2 Idaho brothers to open Meridian store. A magazine calls their products the sports best Boise business responds to West Ada poster removal: One sign comes down, 1,000s go up This April 5, 2025, in Groton, Connecticut, our state will be honored with the commissioning of the Navy's newest Virginia class fast attack submarine USS IOWA (SSN-797). Known as The Ghost, it can operate in theater, anywhere in the world, undetected, with its lethal force prepared to defend our nation where necessary. Iowa's complement consists of 117 enlisted servicemembers -- both men and women, as well as 15 officers. In fact, Iowa will be the first submarine commissioned for sea duty to be specifically designed for men and women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average age of crew members is 24 years old, and several lowans are currently assigned to serve on her. Its nuclear reactor powers the submarine for the 30-plus-year life span of the boat. Its pump jet propulsion allows for maximum stealth. The Iowa can deliver Navy SEALs via underwater release anywhere in the world. She has four torpedo tubes and two Virginia payload tubes, the latter carrying tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,500 miles. Iowa's primary mission is defensive. It puts aggressors on notice of retaliation capabilities in order to deter them from first-strike action. The men and women of the Iowa will operate for up to three months at a time, underwater, in tight quarters in defense of our nation. The ship will carry with it habitability upgrades and furnishings of specialized significance to our state to include references to our state's fertile land, top-flight universities, agricultural and industry prowess, technologic and energy advances, food production, sporting success, education focus, and courageous citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa will project the kindness and protective capability of our people, backed up by resolve to act when the danger of an opponent's force requires a response. Business, industry, and individual lowans have volunteered time, talents, and resources in support of this new submarine carrying the name of our state. We can all be justifiably proud of this new warfighter, its crew, and their families as the Iowa is brought into service. Its mission, on watch as our silent guardian, is to deter, detect, and defend. As lowans, we can all celebrate this powerful, silent protector as she begins her 30-year journey putting to sea this April 5. Fred L. Dorr, Navy Officer Veteran Executive Director USS IOWA (SSN-797) Commissioning Committee Send us your stories Do you want to share good news thats happening in your community? This Register feature focuses on stories of thanks and local spirit, identifying people in Iowa who are making a difference. The Iowa Pride feature appears on our Inspiration page on Sundays. To contribute, try to keep your submission around 100 words. If possible, send a photo that we have permission to use, along with your contact information. Email your Iowa Pride submission to letters@dmreg.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: US Navy to commission the new USS Iowa this week | Letter Gov. Josh Steins Cabinet members are paid 12% more than his predecessors top officials, with some earning tens of thousands more. The Cabinet members have the top jobs in Steins administration, leading state agencies with thousands of state employees. And most though not all benefited from adjustments Stein has made in their pay. Everyone who works for Stein, as well as the governor himself, is paid with taxpayer money. The General Assembly sets the salaries for the governor and the rest of the Council of State, who are statewide elected officials. The Cabinet members, however, are appointed by the governor, and two of them were also secretaries under Steins Democratic predecessor, former Gov. Roy Cooper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welcome to the Sunday edition of our Under the Dome newsletter, which focuses on the governor. Im News & Observer Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan. Todays newsletter is a look at Steins Cabinet and their salaries, with help from N&O data reporter David Raynor. How Cabinet, Council of State salaries are determined Steins Cabinet secretaries all make one of two salaries: either $240,000 or $290,000, to lead their respective agencies. Cooper, on the other hand, had more of a range of salary amounts, varying from $177,000 to $289,000. I asked Steins office to explain his administrations two levels of salaries. The salaries were changed to be more consistent, spokesperson Morgan Hopkins told me in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current salaries for secretaries are dependent on the size and complexity of the agency, she said. Stein himself earns $203,073 a year, and hes in our state employee database, maintained on our website by Raynor, like other state employees. In the database, which comes from the Office of the State Controller, his salary adjustment was described as a transfer and promotion, which came from voters in 2024. Stein previously served two terms as attorney general. Current Attorney General Jeff Jackson is on the Council of State along with Stein, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Treasurer Brad Briner, Auditor Dave Boliek, Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley. Their salaries are all set by the legislature, with all Council of State members aside from the governor earning the same annual salary of $168,384. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein talks with Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, right, and Supt. Of Public Instruction Mo Green, prior to the Council of State meeting on Tuesday, February, 4, 2025 in Raleigh, N.C. Breakdown of state agency salaries While Stein is their boss, his Cabinet secretaries are paid more than he is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres the breakdown of who earns how much and what they do. Some secretaries served in different roles under Cooper, and a few kept their jobs and received raises under Stein. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Devdutta Sangvai: $290,000. This is about $1,000 more than the position under Cooper. Department of Information Technology Secretary and Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione: $290,000. Thats about $31,000 higher than the job under Cooper. Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins: $290,000. This is about $20,000 more than Hopkins was paid under Cooper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe Jr.: $240,000. Buffaloe was also public safety secretary under Cooper, when he earned about $224,000 a year. Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes: $240,000. This is nearly the same salary as Coopers secretary, who earned about $400 more. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley: $240,000. Lilley worked in the Cooper administration, but not as a Cabinet secretary. This salary is about $30,000 less a year than what Cooper paid his commerce secretary. Department of Environmental Quality Reid Wilson: $240,000. This salary is about $50,000 more than Wilsons predecessor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela Cashwell: $240,000. Thats over $50,000 more than her predecessor, who was Wilson. Department of Administration Secretary Gabriel Esparza: $240,000. Thats about a $49,000 higher salary than Coopers secretary, who was Cashwell. Department of Military & Veteran Affairs Secretary Jocelyn Mallette: $240,000. Thats about $63,000 more than the Cooper administration job. Department of Revenue Secretary McKinley Wooten Jr.: $240,000. Under Cooper, the job paid about $203,000. All of these salaries are likely to change with the new fiscal year in July, assuming that the General Assembly passes a budget and it becomes law. The budget bill will include raises for state employees, which Stein proposed should be 2% for most state employees, and separately, what the legislature wants for the Council of State salaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salaries for employees of the General Assembly are not part of the state employee salary database, but The N&O has obtained them previously through public records requests, most recently in late 2023. Stay informed about #ncpol Our Under the Dome podcast has moved to Tuesdays to bring you the most up to date news, so your Tuesday Under the Dome newsletter will be a preview of that new episode. This week my guest is a state lawmaker, N.C. Sen. Woodson Bradley, a Mecklenburg County Democrat. You can listen to the Under the Dome podcast on any podcast platform. Your Under the Dome newsletter on Mondays focuses on the impact of the Trump administration on North Carolina. Thanks for reading. Not a newsletter subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) An engineer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety was arrested Thursday on child pornography charges, warrants show. Derek Wesley Frohbieter, 38, of Raleigh is accused of distributing child sexual abuse material between Dec. 11 and Dec. 22, 2024., according to warrants filed by the Raleigh Police Department. The warrants show Frohbieter is charged with 14 counts of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor. 10 counts derive from the Dec. 11 incident and four counts derive from the Dec. 22 incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frohbieter is listed on the NCDPS website as an employee of the Division of Emergency Management. According to the North Carolina Association of Floodplain Managers, he is a flood warning management engineer for the North Carolina floodplain mapping program. According to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, Frohbieter is also a Marine captain and the commanding officer of the reserve Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines. He was named commander in December 2023. Frohbieter previously reported to the 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment in Camp Lejeune and trained at Fort Bragg, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. Marine Corps said Frohbieter is a volunteer with the Northern Wake Fire Department in Raleigh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, Frohbieter was given an $850,000 secured bond for the Dec. 11 charges and a $150,000 secured bond for the Dec. 22 charges. His total secured bond is $1 million. Frohbieter will make his first appearance in Wake County Court on Friday. CBS 17 has reached out to NCDPS for more information about Frohbieter and to learn if he is still employed by the 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 Queen City News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel's attacks on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be intensified. Only a combination of military and diplomatic pressure could bring back the hostages, Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Israel and Hamas are currently negotiating a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in indirect talks. One sticking point is how many hostages should be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The military pressure is working," said Netanyahu. "On the one hand, it is pounding Hamas's military and governing capabilities, and on the other it is creating the conditions for releasing our hostages." The Security Cabinet decided on Saturday evening to increase the already high pressure on Hamas, he said. Relatives of the hostages have repeatedly warned that the restart of the war would jeopardize the lives of their loved ones. Netanyahu sticking to Trump's controversial Gaza plan Netanyahu confirmed that negotiations on a new ceasefire are under way. If Hamas laid down its weapons, its leaders could leave the Gaza Strip, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the plan for voluntary emigration," he added. US President Donald Trump has proposed resettling 2 million Palestinians from the coastal strip. Trump wants the inhabitants of the war-ravaged area to be accommodated in other Arab states in the region. However, the plan was met with strong opposition from Arab states and internationally. STORY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday demanded Hamas disarm and its leaders depart Gaza as he promised to step up military operations against the group. His comments come after the Hamas leader in Gaza said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposed by mediators Egypt and Qatar that included the release of five Israeli hostages each week. Those efforts are aimed at renewing a two-month truce that saw the exchange of Israelis kidnapped by Palestinian militants for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel resumed strikes and ground incursions into Gaza on March 18. The Hamas leader said Israel's demands it lay down its arms was a "red line" the group would not cross. :: Israeli Military Netanyahu said he was conducting negotiations and military operations simultaneously, a strategy he said "creates the conditions for the release of our hostages." On Sunday, the first day of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, health authorities in Gaza said at least 24 people, including several children, had been killed in Israeli strikes. They said nine were killed in a single tent in the southern city of Khan Younis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after a devastating Hamas attack on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 that killed some 1,200 people, according to an Israeli tally, and saw 251 abducted as hostages. The Israeli campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, and devastated much of the coastal enclave, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in tents and makeshift shelters. Since Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza on March 18, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and tens of thousands have been forced to evacuate areas in northern Gaza where they had returned following the ceasefire agreement in January. Netanyahu also said his government would allow what he called the voluntary immigration of Palestinians who wished to leave Gaza, an idea proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump originally called for relocating the entire population of Gaza - 2.3 million people - to other countries including Egypt and Jordan, and developing the Gaza Strip as a U.S.-owned resort. However, no country has agreed to take in the population and Israel has since said that any departures by Palestinians would be voluntary. Trespassers on Britains railways are to be pursued by a squadron of drones under plans being drawn up by Network Rail. The track operator is planning to use the unmanned craft to cruise long stretches of track scanning for vandals, graffiti artists and thieves intent on stripping signalling cables and wires. There were more than 18,500 reported instances of trespass on the UK railway last year, close to one for each of the networks 20,000 miles of track. The incidents caused 1.5m minutes of delays last year and cost more than 70m in compensation and internal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominic Mottram, Network Rails head of drone strategy, said the technology will be revolutionary in tackling the problem. While Network Rail already has around 200 drones, comprising one of Europes biggest fleets, they must currently remain within visual range of the operator, limiting flights to about a third of a mile. That means they are of little use in locating and filming miscreants. However, under the new plans, which are expected to win Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval in the coming months, drones will be able to travel beyond the view of operators, allowing them to travel far from base to scan for trouble. Mr Mottram said: Were looking at being able to fly tens of miles from base, which is going to make a huge difference and send out a message that people must stay off the railway or they will be caught. Its the equivalent of having bobbies on the beat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unmanned craft will be able to quickly locate and follow offenders while British Transport Police or Network Rails own mobile crews head to the scene. They will also provide vital video evidence that will aid prosecutions. The drones will be capable of arriving on the scene within two minutes of a reported incident in an urban area, compared with minimum response times of about 10 minutes for the police and 20 minutes for Network Rails own staff. Mr Mottram said drones will be just as important in confirming that offenders have left the scene following reports of people on the track, allowing lines to reopen more quickly. Future plans could also see drones take over monitoring for collapsed trees, lineside fires and animals on the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Network Rail is working with two drone specialists to secure so-called beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capabilities. Dronecloud is conducting a trial in Birmingham providing aerial coverage of the railway within 6 miles of the city centre, together with another in rural south Wales. Meanwhile, Drone Major is testing its system in Wolverhampton and on the Severn Valley Railway. Both companies are deploying a combination of ground-based sensors and satellite positioning to control and communicate with the craft. Dronecloud said flying distances would be increased incrementally at a pace dictated by the CAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mottram said the drones will be able transmit real-time video and body heat-detecting infrared feeds to operators that could potentially be used in prosecutions. The craft also have the potential to undertake track-inspection tasks, reducing the risk of rail workers being struck by a passing train and trimming Network Rails 2bn annual monitoring bill. Alongside the drones, Network Rail plans keep using two helicopters to scan hundreds of miles of remote lines in the Scottish Highlands and locate trespassers in London, where the track operator has special permission to operate across the city. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Nevada man was arrested in Tennessee after police found his seven daughters in a U-Haul truck, according to the East Ridge Police Department. Brandon Blount, 39, of Nevada faces multiple charges of child endangerment and child neglect, police said. Brandon Blount, 39, arrested in East Ridge Tennessee on multiple counts of child endangerment and child neglect. (Courtesy of Hamilton County Sheriffs Office) On March 25, East Ridge police responded to a report of children being loaded into the back of a U-Haul. Police started to search the area and located the U-Haul on I-75 northbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police stopped the U-Haul, they found a total of seven children in the truck with Blount driving. Police said there were two girls in the front cab and five girls in the back storage compartment of the U-Haul. Blount was identified as the father of the children and was arrested. CPS was notified and the children were transported for medical evaluation, police said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger has quit an international force fighting armed Islamist groups in West Africa's Lake Chad region as it seeks to shore up security around oil assets at home, the government said in a bulletin on state television. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which also includes soldiers from Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, has been working to stem the insurgency since 2015, but progress has been hobbled by division and poor coordination, allowing armed groups to flourish across the region's sparsely populated scrublands. MNJTF has yet to comment on Niger's withdrawal, and it is unclear how the step will affect the mission's future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lake Chad region has been repeatedly attacked by militant groups, including Islamic State in West Africa and Boko Haram, whose insurgency erupted in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and has killed tens of thousands of people. Last year, Chad threatened to pull out of the MNJTF after about 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base. And Niger has become increasingly withdrawn since a military junta overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. Along with Burkina Faso and Mali - neighbouring states where juntas also snatched power in recent years - it withdrew from regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2024. Niger's junta, which last week announced a five-year transition to constitutional rule, has promised to restore security in the country, whose vast desert north is crossed by migrants and traffickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the army has little control over large parts of the country. Islamist militants killed at least 44 civilians and severely injured 13 others during an attack on a mosque in the southwest this month. Its energy infrastructure, including an oil pipeline that links the Agadem oilfield to Benin's coast, has come under attack. (Reporting by Boureima Balima; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Helen Popper) When Northern Kentucky defense attorney Chase Cox was sentenced last year for breaking into his ex-girlfriends apartment, he pleaded with the judge presiding over his case not to send him to jail. I will show you that I can be successful in the community because I know I can, Cox told Campbell County Circuit Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward at the time. Just eight days after Cox was released from jail last August with his six-month sentence suspended in favor of probation, his ex-girlfriend reported that her vehicle was vandalized while it was parked in the garage of her apartment complex, court filings show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a months-long investigation by the Newport Police Department, Cox was indicted in December on charges related to the vandalism, including complicity to criminal mischief and retaliating against a participant in a legal process. In a written ruling on Monday, a judge revoked 31-year-old Cox's probation after prosecutors with the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office sought to send Cox back to jail. "To say the very least, a licensed attorney such as (Cox), should and would know better than most, the importance of following the directives of the Court," Judge Jeffrey Schumacher wrote. Schumacher added that Cox's actions show he "is obviously not taking any of this seriously." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling means Cox must return to the Campbell County Detention Center to serve the remainder of his six-month sentence from his conviction in June. Investigators: Lawyer's 'felon friend' vandalized ex's car after she testified at trial Early in the morning of Aug. 23, Coxs ex-girlfriend went into the parking garage to get inside her car when she noticed a racial slur and other profanity scratched into the paint, and that both front tires were popped and deflated, according to a search warrant affidavit. The woman testified against Cox at his trial last year, leading to his conviction on misdemeanor criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges, and she told police that Cox was likely behind the damage. She said she saw a friend of Coxs, 38-year-old Joshua Baker, enter the apartment complex shortly after she arrived home but chose not to approach him, the document states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say Baker entered the building using an access code belonging to another of Coxs friends, who lives in the apartment complex, and headed straight for the garage. Surveillance video showed Baker was in the apartment complex for roughly 10 minutes before exiting through a side door and driving away toward Cox's home, according to police and prosecutors. The woman identified Baker in a photo lineup and told police shed previously seen him at Coxs apartment and that Cox had referred to Baker as his felon friend, the document states. Baker is likewise facing criminal charges in connection with the vandalism. Court records show Baker has an extensive criminal history, including prior convictions of drug trafficking, identity theft and burglary. Attorney represented alleged accomplice in earlier criminal case Baker is also facing charges in Kenton County Circuit Court related to a home invasion and subsequent high-speed chase in which he allegedly wedged himself underneath the Brent Spence Bridge. Police described it as an attempt to escape custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox represented Baker in a 2021 identity theft case and the attorneys father, Darrell Cox, is currently representing Baker in the ongoing Kenton County case, court records show. Cox's ex-girlfriend also told police Baker was a former client of his. Joshua Baker, 38, appears in Kenton County District Court in February after his arrest on allegations that he led police on a high-speed chase before wedging himself underneath the Brent Spence Bridge. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Coxs phone and found that Cox was sent a photo of the womans parking garage taken by the driver of a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle Baker drove, according to prosecutors. The photo was sent minutes before Baker was seen entering the building and the pair also exchanged calls and text messages, with Baker telling Cox in a text to call in a sec get money ready, prosecutors said, adding Baker later sent a screenshot of his CashApp account to Cox. Cox was on home incarceration with an ankle monitor when the incident occurred. Prosecutors say Cox commissioned Baker to vandalize the womans car in retaliation for her testimony in his earlier criminal trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attorney filed a motion this month seeking to have evidence from the search warrant thrown out, arguing there was insufficient probable cause to obtain such a warrant. "I feel that we're solid in our position, said Harry Hellings Jr., Coxs attorney, adding that this case will likely go to trial just like the last one. Reinhardt Ward, the judge who presided over Coxs trial last year, has recused herself from the proceedings. She previously told Cox she would have to recuse herself from any future cases he might have in her courtroom as hes lost credibility with her. Schumacher, a visiting judge from Mason County, was appointed to oversee the case going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky Bar Association records do not indicate that Cox has any disciplinary history and his status is currently listed as "active." His areas of practice include civil litigation, criminal law, domestic relations and family law. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Attorney Chase Cox accused of hiring 'felon friend' to damage ex's car Sir Keir Starmer is ready to deploy sharp teeth against the US if Donald Trump hits the UK with tariffs this week. The Prime Minister is understood to have plans in place to punish the US president if he includes Britain in his raid on global imports, planned to take effect on Wednesday. A Downing Street source said UK negotiators were approaching last-ditch talks to secure a carve-out for Britain with cool, calm heads, but were prepared to deploy sharp teeth if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump is planning to introduce sweeping tariffs on goods from all countries on April 2, which he has called Liberation Day for the US. He has said this will include a blanket 25 per cent on cars, which were Britains biggest single source of exports to the US in the first nine months of last year. On top of this, the UK could face a general 20 per cent levy on its products in response to the rate of VAT. Reciprocal tariffs coming into effect will also include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances, Mr Trump said on Sunday night. Youd start with all countries, he told reporters on board Air Force One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Presidents tariffs threaten to wipe out the narrow spending buffer the Chancellor scraped back at the Spring Statement, which would force her to find additional savings or raise taxes to stay within her fiscal rules. On Sunday, Sir Keir and Mr Trump discussed productive negotiations towards a UK-US economic prosperity deal. A Downing Street spokesman said the two had agreed that the negotiations will continue at pace this week. A No 10 source told The Telegraph: We are preparing for all eventualities. Theres lots of scenario planning. Everythings being done properly and thoroughly. But ultimately, the whole thing is entirely unpredictable. We reserve the right to a retaliation process if thats what we think would be in the national interest, and wed work with industry on doing that. Well be approaching this with cool calm heads, but sharp teeth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph understands that the UK has prepared a range of possible means to retaliate on Wednesday, which are said to be ready to go. However, it is understood that Sir Keir is unlikely to pull the trigger straight away, instead preferring a more measured approached to negotiations. Government sources have said daily talks with US counterparts until April 2 that will go right up until the last minute. There is still hope in No 10 that the UK could secure a carve-out before Wednesday. However, Mr Trumps Liberation Day is not being treated as a firm deadline, with officials expecting talks to continue beyond then. If the UK is unable to persuade Mr Trump to give Britain special treatment on April 2, it may try to agree exemptions from Wednesdays tariffs retrospectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the UKs perspective, it is understood that everything is on the table besides food standards, suggesting No 10 will draw the line at any demands from Mr Trump to relax rules on divisive items such as chlorine-treated chicken. There are also growing expectations that the UK will drop the digital services tax as part of an attempt to reach a deal. Asked whether Britain could retaliate by targeting specific products, such as Harley Davidson motorcycles or even the financial services sector, which has been touted as the nuclear option, No 10 refused to rule anything out. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, accused Labour of dropping the ball on a US trade deal, leaving Britons exposed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing for The Telegraph, he said: You would think, faced with such a prospect, Labour would have made securing a trade deal with our US ally their number one priority. Yet six months have passed since Kemi Badenoch, in her first PMQs, urged Keir Starmer to get that deal over the line, and still theres precious little sign of progress. Tariffs usually apply to goods, rather than services, meaning finance tends to be exempt. For example, a US company asking a British bank to help it sell shares would not expect to pay a tariff. However, some services, such as consultancy, can be linked to contracts to buy physical items, and therefore could be caught up. A City source close to the negotiations said: The relationship between the UK and US financial and related professional services industries is the strongest, deepest and widest of its kind anywhere in the world, and we expect that to continue. Indeed, there is appetite on both sides in the private sector to look at how we can deepen it further. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, also refused to rule out retaliatory measures on Sunday, telling Sky News: The Prime Minister has said that no option is off the table, and we will continue to approach this in the UK national interest. Thats the important thing. Labour have dropped the ball on US trade deal, leaving Brits exposed to painful tariffs By Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This April, we are facing a series of unprecedented economic horrors. Rachel Reevess jobs tax hike through national insurance, the misguided Employment Rights Bill and her damaging changes to business rates are all set to bite in April. Working people, families and business owners will pay the price through lower wages, higher prices and fewer opportunities. It will prove what weve known all along: Labour simply isnt working. And this reckoning comes even before the very real risk of Donald Trumps tariffs hitting our economy in the coming days. Last weeks emergency budget was a golden opportunity for Ms Reeves to change course and put Britain back on the path to fiscal stability. But predictably, she chose instead to point the finger at everyone but herself. Rather than shore up the economy or learn from her own past mistakes she left her government exposed again. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has now warned that incoming US tariffs could wipe out what little fiscal headroom shes given herself, plunging Britains fragile public finances back into the black hole of her own making. And if it wasnt tariffs it could equally be the impact of the 300-page of red tape Employment Bill which has also yet to be reflected by the OBR but which they admit will be material. Employers certainly think so as two-thirds of small businesses say it is already hitting hiring plans. Rising borrowing rates for the Governments burgeoning debt is yet another source of concern. The British public are already bracing for a squeeze on their household budgets. Tomorrow, in some twisted version of an April Fools day joke, eight separate household bills will rise. New Conservative Party analysis shows this will leave the average household more than 1,000 worse off every year. And thats before we even consider the looming spectre of tariffs. You would think, faced with such a prospect, Labour would have made securing a trade deal with our US ally their number one priority. Yet six months have passed since Kemi Badenoch, in her first PMQs, urged Keir Starmer to get that deal over the line, and still theres precious little sign of progress. Still time to act In a massive dropped ball, Labours Trade Secretary squandered five whole months from the US election on Nov 5 until March 18 before actually getting on a plane to meet the US trade secretary for face-to-face talks. There is still time for Starmer to act. We Conservatives made substantial progress towards a free trade agreement with President Trumps first administration, a deal that represented a big head start, left on the table for this Labour Government to pick up and sign. Every part of the UK could benefit from that deal: improved access to the US for British exporters, increased investment, better jobs and higher wages. It would be the ultimate Brexit dividend, empowering British businesses to seize opportunities in our single largest trading partner country and an economy growing much faster than our own. If Ms Reeves wont change course then Labour must at least protect the country from the consequences of their own failures. So, the question is simple: will Keir Starmer finally act to deliver this business and jobs-saving deal or will he once again dither and delay, leaving British families to pay the price for Labours inaction? 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. About 350 people filled The State Theatre on a warm Saturday afternoon to share their anger, frustration and hope during a Peoples Town Hall organized downtown by the Centre County Democratic Committee. A seven-person panel of politicians and local leaders was moderated by Ferguson Township Supervisor Omari Patterson, who fielded questions on a wide-ranging variety of topics. Panel members briefly offered their own introductions before taking written questions and then oral questions from a largely partisan audience that cheered on Ukraine and booed billionaire Elon Musk. Those who attended took away different thoughts from the two-hour event. But, for many, it helped reinforce why they wanted to be involved in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can no longer be silent, said Chris Rhine, of Walker Township, while her friend nodded beside her. Said her friend, Jonell Benzio: We feel so helpless all the time. I wish we had more of these because it gave people a chance to speak up. Attendees of the Peoples Town Hall line up for questions in The State Theatre while the seven-person panel (and moderator) sit on stage. The town hall was organized by the Centre County Democrats. One speaker in the audience took the microphone to explain how a cut to Medicaid could halt her life-saving care. Another spoke, with a steady conviction, about constantly being told as the child of an immigrant that she wasnt smart enough and how she still refuses to give up. Another choked back tears as she recalled the documented stories where international students were forcefully taken in public by officials who hid their faces and drove in unmarked vehicles. The list of grievances with the Trump Administration was long and detailed Saturday afternoon. There were controversial cuts and on-and-off tariffs, threats to Social Security and the potential dismantling of agencies such as the Department of Education. But Patterson, the moderator, noted that they seemed to receive one question above all the others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What can we do to stop this? Guys, this is it. This is it, right here in this room, said panelist Conor Lamb, an attorney and veteran who represented Pennsylvanias 17th/18th congressional districts from 2018-2023. It may not seem like it, but our government will only be effective if we have a democracy where people feel like they can stand up, speak out, tell the truth and insist on the rule of law. Those who took part in Saturdays Peoples Town Hall included, from left, Ferguson Township Supervisor Omari Patterson; attorney and former Congressman Conor Lamb; U.S. state Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township; Zach Womer, a candidate who ran against U.S. Rep Glenn Thompson, R-Howard; Centre County Commissioners Mark Higgins and Amber Concepcion; U.S. state Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township; and Ray Bilger, a combat veteran and former employee of the Department of States foreign service and intelligence community. The town hall at The State Theatre was organized by the Centre County Democrats. A few scattered groans permeated the crowd, but panelists largely doubled down on that message. It may appear unsatisfying because theres no instant cure, they intimated, but a slower positive change is still a positive change. Lamb pointed to evidence of that progress by sharing how Democrat James Malone just narrowly won a seat in the state Senate through a special election despite running in a district that Donald Trump won by 15 points in the presidential election. Lamb said he understood if people thought he was just preaching to the choir, but he promised the crowd their message wasnt confined to The State Theatre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trust me, they hear it, Lamb said, referring to D.C. politicians such as U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard. Ive been where they are. Ive sat in the seats they sit in. Ive had congressional offices that people protest outside of, from the left and the right. ... OK, it works. It influences them. And so youre not going to see the fruits of your action today or next week or next month, but you will see them when opportunities arrive, like the James Malone special election. Democratic organizers for Saturdays town hall invited politicians from both parties but, unsurprisingly, only Democrats attended. A cardboard cutout of Thompson briefly sat alone on stage before Saturdays town hall started, and it was brought back when Thompsons name was mentioned during a portion of the audience Q&A. A look at the cardboard cutout of U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard, just before the Peoples Town Hall in The State Theatre begins. Thompson did not attend the town hall organized by the Centre County Democrats. Earlier this month, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson encouraged Republican politicians to skip town halls due to the backlash against Trump and Musk. U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick recently held a tele-town hall that was announced 30 minutes beforehand and also screened questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Centre Daily Times did not receive a response from the Centre County Republican Committee when asked Friday if it intended to host any town halls. Thompsons office issued a written response to the CDT, but also did not directly answer about future town hall plans. The Republican Congressman from Pennsylvanias 15th District feels zero obligation to show up to events hosted by the Centre County Democratic Party, Thompsons Chief of Staff, Matthew Brennan, said in an email. While I heard the echo chamber at the event was nearly deafening, one thing remains clear, the voters overwhelmingly supported GT Thompson this past November. Thompson, who first assumed office in 2009, beat out Democratic challenger Zach Womer also a panelist Saturday by more than 40 points this past November. Thompson, who was born in Centre County, carried his home county by four points. Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins echoed Lamb by telling the crowd, For the love of God, vote. Higgins and others also encouraged voters to call and contact their politicians, show up to their offices, and take part in group efforts like Saturdays town hall. State Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, took it a step further by telling the crowd to remain focused on whats important without getting lost in all the noise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message is beginning to break through, Takac added. Were doing things. Were advancing legislation. Were focusing on issues. Among the seven panelists Saturday were Centre County Commissioners Higgins and Amber Concepcion; Lamb; state Reps. Takac and Scott Conklin, D-Rush Township; Womer and Ray Bilger, a combat veteran and former employee of the Department of States foreign service and intelligence community. More than a dozen attendees signed up to volunteer at future events for the Dems and, due to the high attendance, more than 60 people sat in the balcony. Its important to show up for one another, Abbey Carr, executive director of the Centre County Dems, said after the town hall. So thats what I was hoping that people see, that were all in this together. Every fight is a good fight. All politics are local. President Trump exclusively told NBCs Kristen Welker in a phone call today that hes very angry with Russian President Putin as Ukraine and Russia have yet to agree to a peace deal. Former CIA Chief of Operations in Europe and Eurasia Marc Polymeropoulos and New York Times White House Correspondent Tyler Pager join Alex Witt to discuss this and the continued fallout of the Signal group chat debacle. A judge challenging the outcome of his North Carolina Supreme Court race was photographed wearing Confederate military garb and posing before a Confederate battle flag when he was a member of a college fraternity that glorified the pre-Civil War South. The emergence of the photographs comes at a delicate time for Jefferson Griffin, a Republican appellate judge who is seeking a spot on North Carolinas highest court. Griffin, 44, is facing mounting criticism including from some Republicans as he seeks to invalidate over 60,000 votes cast in last Novembers election, a still undecided contest in which he is trailing the Democratic incumbent by over 700 votes. ALSO READ: Sen. Tillis continues to get death threats Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The photographs, which were obtained by The Associated Press, are from when Griffin was a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1999-2003 and a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, one of the oldest and largest fraternities in the U.S., with tens of thousands of alumni. Griffin said he regretted donning the Confederate uniform, which was customary during the fraternitys annual Old South ball. I attended a college fraternity event that, in hindsight, was inappropriate and does not reflect the person I am today, Griffin said in a statement. At that time, like many college students, I did not fully grasp such participations broader historical and social implications. Since then, I have grown, learned, and dedicated myself to values that promote unity, inclusivity, and respect for all people. One of the pictures, taken during the 2001 ball, shows Griffin and roughly two-dozen other fraternity members clad in Confederate uniforms. Another photograph from the spring of 2000 shows Griffin and other Kappa Alpha brothers in front of a large Confederate flag. He served in 2002 as his chapters president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Controversial fraternity Kappa Alpha has proven to be a lightning rod for controversy over the decades, often due to the racist or insensitive actions of some of its members. A number of politicians have been forced to apologize for having worn Confederate costumes at the fraternitys functions or for being photographed in front of a Confederate flag. Griffin said Friday he voted in favor of a resolution prohibiting Kappa Alpha members from displaying the rebel battle flag at the groups national convention in 2001. The fraternity didnt ban the wearing of the Confederate uniforms until nearly a decade later, long after Griffin graduated. We believe in cultural humility, we respect the best parts of our organizations history, and through education we challenge our members to work for a better future. These things are not mutually exclusive, said Jesse Lyons, a spokesman for Kappa Alphas national office in Lexington, Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a news tip? Contact APs global investigative team at investigative@ap.org. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604. The fraternity claims Robert E. Lee as its spiritual founder and long championed the Southern Lost Cause, a revisionist view of history that romanticizes the Confederacy and portrays the Civil War as a valiant struggle for states rights unrelated to the enslavement of Black people. In decades past, some Kappa Alpha chapters referred to themselves as a klan, a term that many viewed as an unsubtle wink to the Ku Klux Klan. The photographs featuring Griffin were taken at a time when many other Kappa Alpha chapters were reevaluating their celebration of the Confederacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Griffins time in the fraternity, some in his chapter questioned the appropriateness of dressing up in Confederate uniforms for the ball. Griffin opposed abandoning the tradition, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal. The uniforms stayed. Griffin said he would not respond to unsubstantiated comments based on memories of 20-plus years past. In high school Griffin also expressed an affinity for Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general who led southern forces during the Civil War. In a 1998 feature on high school scholars of the week in The News & Observer of Raleigh newspaper, Griffin said Lee was his No. 1 choice to include on an ideal guest list for a party. ALSO READ: North Carolina Senate votes to eliminate DEI initiatives in public schools Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinging to traditions The Kappa Alpha Order was founded in 1865, not long after Lee surrendered to the Union Army, at a Virginia college where Lee served as president. At least one of the first members was a former rebel soldier who had served under Lee, who is revered by the fraternity as the ideal of gentlemanly Southern chivalry. For more than a century, Kappa Alpha threw Old South parties. They were formal affairs where the Confederate battle flag was flown and fraternity brothers dressed in replica Confederate gray uniforms and their dates wore antebellum-style hoop skirts. Sometimes they would ride through campus on horseback. Some Kappa Alpha chapters, particularly in the South, clung to their traditions, including the wearing of blackface, even as they drew protests and public sentiment shifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Kappa Alpha Old South parade at Alabamas Auburn University in 1992 drew supporters waving Confederate battle flags, as well as counter protesters who burned them. In 1995, a group of Kappa Alpha members at the University of Memphis hurled racial slurs while beating a Black student who caused a disturbance outside a frat party, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported at the time. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was no exception to the turmoil. Under pressure from student groups, the schools Kappa Alpha chapter in 1985 canceled its annual Sharecroppers Ball, which some attended in blackface. Fraternity members said blackface was worn because the event needed both Black and white attendees, but promised to discontinue the practice, according to a news story in the Daily Tar Heel student newspaper. The Kappa Alpha chapter at North Carolinas Wake Forest University stopped allowing members to wear Confederate uniform and display the Confederate flag in 1987. But other chapters held on longer. It wasnt until Kappa Alpha members at the University of Alabama wore Confederate uniforms during a parade that paused in front of a Black sorority, which elicited intense blowback, that the national headquarters forbade them. Its unclear if the chapter at UNC banned the uniforms before the national organization did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public officials face criticism over ties to fraternity Griffin is not the first public official to draw unwanted attention for their college-age embrace of symbols drawn from the darker chapters of the Souths past. Virginias then-governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, came under intense criticism in 2019 over a racist photo that appeared on his yearbook page of his medical school. The incident led reporters to scour the college histories of other Southern leaders, forcing a number of politicians to publicly address their time as Kappa Alpha brothers. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, then the states Republican lieutenant governor, dodged questions in 2019 about photos showing him wearing a Confederate uniform while he was a Kappa Alpha member at Millsaps College in the early 1990s. While Reeves was enrolled there in October 1994, other members of the fraternity were disciplined for wearing afro wigs and Confederate battle flags and shouting racial slurs at Black students, the AP reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declined to comment after yearbooks listed him as the leader of the fraternitys chapter at the University of South Carolina in 1969, along with photos of members wearing Confederate uniforms and posing with a rebel flag. And Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, also a Republican, expressed regret for participating in Old South parties as a student at Auburn University in the 1970s. (WATCH BELOW: Lancaster County leaders plan to add referendum to ballot, again) We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient, which occurred several hours after her completed dental procedure. The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety. Throughout the procedure, she was continuously monitored by our dentist anesthesiologist, who is a Diplomate of the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology as well as a Fellow in Anesthesiology from American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and active member of the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists who has over 20 years of experience successfully administering general anesthesia on children, with no complications observed. Following the procedure, she was discharged in stable conditionawake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intactinto her mothers care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols. At this time, the cause of death has not been determined. The medical examiner is conducting a thorough investigation, with which we are fully cooperating. We are committed to ensuring all facts come to light. We cannot discuss specific details due to privacy laws and the active investigation. We respectfully ask for patience as the medical examiner completes their work, as premature speculation may cause additional pain to the family. The safety and well-being of our patients have always been and remain our highest priority. While we understand the concerns and questions surrounding this tragic event, we respectfully ask for patience as the investigation proceeds. For the sake of the family and the integrity of the process, we encourage restraint regarding speculation. Our hearts break for the family during this unimaginable time of grief, and we extend our deepest condolences as we maintain our focus on supporting the family and cooperating fully with the medical investigation. We will provide updates when appropriate. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has stated that Ukraine insists on strong and long-term security guarantees and will not accept any demands that would leave the country weak and defenceless. Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The minister noted that Russias demands and ultimatums have remained unchanged for many years. In particular, Russia seeks to limit Ukraines Armed Forces, its defence capabilities, military assistance from partners and block Ukraines accession to NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "All of these demands have one thing in common: Moscow wants a weak, defenceless Ukraine. This is not about NATO or security concerns. This is about Russias ability to destroy the Ukrainian state at a later stage, occupy its territories, seize its mineral resources and use its human and other potential for further aggression." More details: Sybiha stressed that Russias rhetoric has escalated to 2022 levels, and the Kremlin is trying to take advantage of the current geopolitical momentum. Quote: "We can see this Russian strategy and will never accept anything that leaves Ukraine weak or defenceless. To the contrary, a real and fair peace requires strong and long-term security guarantees to preserve it." Background: To establish a ceasefire at sea, Russia has put forward a list of demands, including the easing of certain sanctions on its agricultural sector. The US stated it would examine the demands, while European countries rejected any sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin demanded a halt to mobilisation in Ukraine, the rearmament of the Armed Forces and a complete suspension of foreign military aid to Kyiv in exchange for a full 30-day ceasefire. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (KRON) The Novato Police Department has located a missing 13-year-old. Emanuely Martins was last seen Friday night at around 6 p.m. Novato PD provided an update at 8:45 p.m. Saturday that she had been found. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Donald Trump expressed frustration with Vladimir putin over the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. 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 observance. 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, which 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 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. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State 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. What else is impacted by Eid al-Fitr? Alternate Side Parking is suspended across New York City. Drivers are reminded that parking within 15 feet of either side of a fire hydrant is illegal and that painted curbs at hydrant locations do not indicate where they can park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cars parked near fire hydrants will be ticketed. Parking meters will remain in effect citywide. Vehicle owners are encouraged to check online or dial 311 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Ukraine's southern counteroffensive on Melitopol in 2023 was sidelined by a push to retake Bakhmut, the New York Times reported on March 29. Melitopol, a strategically-located city in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has been under Russian occupation since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The Ukrainian military saw its capture as a decisive move one that could disrupt Russian supply lines and sever the land corridor sustaining Moscows grip on Crimea, according to the New York Times' extensive investigation into U.S.-Ukraine strategic planning throughout the full-scale war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who was later named Ukraines commander-in-chief, was serving as head of the countrys Ground Forces when he reportedly advocated for a shift in strategy one that prioritized regaining ground in and around Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast from Russian forces. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who was commander-in-chief at the time, reportedly aligned with the U.S.-backed plan of focusing on the main effort to push towards Melitopol, but the plan was objected to by Syrksyi, whom President Volodymyr Zelensky ultimately sided with. According to the unnamed U.S. officials cited by the New York Times, Syrskyi also called for only newly-trained brigades to be used on the Melitopol axis, while keeping the experienced brigades initially intended for the southern counteroffensive for his push on Bakhmut. Although Ukrainian forces did manage to progress around ten kilometers south on the Melitopol axis, they were stopped upon reaching the main line of Russia's network of fortifications built in prepareation for the offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bakhmut fell to Russian forces in late spring 2023. It would go on to be described as one of the bloodiest battles of the full-scale war. While Ukrainian forces did take back some territory around the destroyed city that summer, the offensive ran out of steam still far away from the goal of retaking Bakhmut. Ultimately, none of the three axes of the summer counteroffensive, which also included a push in southwestern Donetsk Oblast in the direction of occupied Mariupol, managed to achieve an operational breakthrough. Since then, apart from Ukraine's attempt to cross the river Dnipro in late 2023 and the surprise cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August 2024, both of which ended in withdrawal Kyiv has been in a strategic defensive posture, with prospects for a future counteroffensive slim to none. One Ukrainian official told the New York Times that seeing the decision made to attack Bakhmut was "like watching the demise of the Melitopol offensive even before it was launched," and a senior American official claimed that the U.S. "should have walked away" from advising Ukraine after the change in plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines pivotal liberation of most of Kharkiv Oblast in the fall of 2022 reportedly played a crucial role in shaping Syrskyis position. The successful operation not only shifted the course of the war but also reportedly bolstered his standing with President Volodymyr Zelensky, cementing his influence in military strategy. Read also: Russia preparing new offensive in coming weeks to strengthen negotiating position, AP reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian forces struck a major blow to Russia's Black Sea Fleet on 14 April 2022, sinking its flagship, the Moskva missile cruiser. This attack prompted a strong adverse reaction in the United States. Source: an article by The New York Times (NYT) Details: The article notes that in mid-April 2022, American and Ukrainian naval officers were carrying out routine reconnaissance when something unexpected appeared on their radar screens. A former high-ranking American officer recalls, "The Americans go: 'Oh, thats the Moskva!' The Ukrainians go: 'Oh my God. Thanks a lot. Bye'." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The Moskva was the flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet. The Ukrainians sank it. The sinking was a signal triumph a display of Ukrainian skill and Russian ineptitude. But the episode also reflected the disjointed state of the Ukrainian-American relationship in the first weeks of the war. For the Americans, there was anger, because the Ukrainians hadnt given so much as a heads-up; surprise, that Ukraine possessed missiles capable of reaching the ship; and panic, because the Biden administration hadnt intended to enable the Ukrainians to attack such a potent symbol of Russian power." Details: The NYT describes the complex relationship between the military commands of Ukraine and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When American generals proposed assistance after the invasion began, they encountered significant mistrust. "Were fighting the Russians. Youre not. Why should we listen to you?" Oleksandr Syrskyi, the then Commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, supposedly told the Americans during their first meeting. However, Syrskyi quickly changed his mind: the Americans could provide intelligence on the battlefield that his subordinates would never have obtained on their own. In those early days, US General Christopher Donahue and a few of his aides would relay information on Russian troop movements to Syrskyi and his staff via telephone. However, this informal arrangement highlighted a sensitive issue of rivalry within Ukraines military, particularly between General Syrskyi and his superior, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Supporters of Zaluzhnyi believed that Syrskyi was leveraging this connection to his own advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation was further complicated by the tense relationship between Zaluzhnyi and his American counterpart, General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read also: Sinking the Moskva: previously undisclosed details. How the Ukrainian Neptune destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet During telephone calls, General Milley would often question Ukraine's requests for arms or offer battlefield advice based on satellite intelligence available to him in his Pentagon office. These conversations were typically followed by an awkward silence, with Zaluzhnyi eventually cutting them short. At times, he would simply ignore the American's calls. To maintain dialogue, the Pentagon set up a convoluted phone chain: a Milley aide would contact Major General David S. Baldwin, head of the California National Guard, who would then call Ihor Pasternak, a wealthy blimp manufacturer based in Los Angeles. Pasternak, originally from Lviv, had ties to Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's Defence Minister at the time. Reznikov would then locate General Zaluzhnyi and, as General Baldwin recalled, tell him, "I know youre mad at Milley, but you have to call him". "Ragtag alliance coalesced into partnership in the quick cascade of events," the NYT writes. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The counteroffensive plan centred on the city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast was crucial for Ukraine. However, the strategy was changed when General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the then-Commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces, insisted on giving the war-torn town of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast priority, which ultimately led to disastrous results on both fronts. Source: an article by The New York Times (NYT) Details: The article noted that Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the then Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, and Kyiv's British partners supported directing the counteroffensive towards Melitopol. This manoeuvre, though ambitious, aimed to sever the land supply routes for Russian forces in Crimea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the Ukrainian military command opted for a two-stage attack to mislead Russian commanders, who, according to US intelligence reports, assumed Ukraine had sufficient forces and equipment for only a single offensive. The NYT article details how Zaluzhnyi, during a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff, decided that General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi would receive 12 brigades and the bulk of the ammunition for the main assault on Melitopol. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Yurii Sodol would advance towards Mariupol, while Syrskyi would lead a supporting strike in the east near Bakhmut. Quote: "Then General Syrskyi spoke. According to Ukrainian officials, the general said he wanted to break from the plan and execute a full-scale attack to drive the Russians from Bakhmut. He would then advance eastward toward Luhansk Oblast. He would, of course, need additional men and ammunition. The Americans were not told the meeting's outcome. But then US intelligence observed Ukrainian troops and ammunition moving in directions inconsistent with the agreed-upon plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after, at a hastily arranged meeting on the Polish border, General Zaluzhnyi admitted to Generals Cavoli and Aguto that the Ukrainians had in fact decided to mount assaults in three directions at once." Details: According to Ukrainian officials, during the meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directed that Western-supplied weapons be divided evenly between Syrskyi and Tarnavskyi. Syrskyi was also assigned five of the newly trained brigades, leaving seven for the Battle of Melitopol. General Sodol, who headed the Mariupol offensive, was eager to follow the advice of Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto, who had supported Ukraine during the counteroffensive. This cooperation resulted in one of the operation's most notable successes: after American intelligence spotted a vulnerability in Russian defences, Sodol's men recaptured more than 20 square kilometres of territory. This success prompted Ukrainians to question whether the battle for Mariupol held greater promise than the offensive on Melitopol. However, the advance was halted due to a shortage of personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue was clear on the battle map in General Aguto's office: Syrskyi's offensive on Bakhmut was depleting Ukraine's forces, the article notes. Aguto pressed Syrskyi to divert brigades and munitions to the southern front in preparation for the assault on Melitopol. However, according to US and Ukrainian officials, Syrskyi refused to back down. He stood his ground even after Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose Wagner Private Military Company enabled Russia in taking Bakhmut, rebelled against Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin and sent forces towards Moscow. US intelligence anticipated that the revolt would undermine Russian morale and cohesion. Intercepted communications suggested that Russian commanders questioned why Ukraine was not putting more pressure on the lightly defended Melitopol, a US intelligence official said But Syrskyi believed that the uprising confirmed his strategy of sowing division while wiping out the Russians in Bakhmut. Sending some forces to the South would only undermine it. "I was right, Aguto. You were wrong," the American official recalls Syrskyi saying, adding: "Were going to get to Luhansk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Though counts vary wildly, there is little question that the Russians casualties in the tens of thousands far outstripped the Ukrainians. Yet General Syrskyi never did recapture Bakhmut, never did advance toward Luhansk. Which left Melitopol." Details: The key advantage was speed minimising the time between target detection and a Ukrainian strike. However, both this advantage and the Melitopol offensive were compromised by a fundamental shift in the plan. Tarnavskyi had far less ammunition than expected, forcing him to rely on drones to verify intelligence before striking rather than launching immediate attacks. This cautious approach, driven by limited supplies and a lack of trust, culminated after weeks of slow advances through minefields and helicopter fire as Ukrainian forces neared the occupied village of Robotyne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American officials recounted the ensuing battle: Ukrainian troops engaged Russian forces with artillery, while US intelligence indicated that the Russians were retreating. "Take the ground now," Aguto urged Tarnavskyi. However, the Ukrainians spotted a group of Russian soldiers positioned on a hill. Satellite imagery indicated to the Americans that it was a Russian platoon of 20 to 50 troops, which Aguto did not see as a significant obstacle to the counterattack. However, Tarnavskyi held back until the threat was eliminated. His partners provided the coordinates and advised him to fire and advance simultaneously. Instead, Tarnavskyi deployed reconnaissance drones over the hill to verify the intelligence. Quote: "Which took time. Only then did he order his men to fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And after the strike, he once again dispatched his drones, to confirm the hilltop was indeed clear. Then he ordered his forces into Robotyne, which they seized on 28 August. The back-and-forth had cost between 24 and 48 hours, officers estimated. And in that time, south of Robotyne, the Russians had begun building new barriers, laying mines and sending reinforcements to halt Ukrainian progress." Details: General Aguto shouted at General Tarnavskyi, urging him to "press on". However, the Ukrainians had to pull troops from the front line to the rear, and with only seven brigades, they lacked the manpower to sustain the advance. The Ukrainian push slowed due to multiple factors, but frustrated American officials kept fixating on the platoon on the hill. "A damned platoon stopped the counteroffensive," one officer remarked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine never reached Melitopol and was forced to scale back its ambitions. The new objective became the small occupied town of Tokmak, about halfway to Melitopol, near key rail and road routes. General Aguto had given the Ukrainians more autonomy but later devised a detailed artillery plan, Operation Rolling Thunder, outlining what to fire, which weapons to use, and in what sequence, according to US and Ukrainian officials. However, General Tarnavskyi opposed some of the targets and insisted on using drones to verify key positions, bringing Rolling Thunder to a standstill. Desperate to salvage the counteroffensive, the White House secretly approved the transfer of a limited number of cluster munitions with a range of about 100 miles. Generals Aguto and Mykhailo Zabrodskyi then planned an operation targeting Russian attack helicopters that were threatening Tarnavskyis forces. At least 10 helicopters were destroyed, forcing Russia to withdraw all its aircraft to Crimea or the mainland. However, the Ukrainians still struggled to advance. Quote: "The Americans' last-ditch recommendation was to have General Syrskyi take over the Tokmak fight. That was rejected. They then proposed that General Sodol send his marines to Robotyne and have them break through the Russian line. But instead, General Zaluzhnyi ordered the marines to Kherson to open a new front in an operation the Americans counselled was doomed to fail trying to cross the Dnipro and advance toward Crimea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The marines made it across the river in early November but ran out of men and ammunition. The counteroffensive was supposed to deliver a knockout blow. Instead, it met an inglorious end." Read also: Ukraine's former Foreign Minister on how group of 31 soldiers made offensive on Robotyne possible The Times on bomb disposal experts near Robotyne: They clear passages through minefields on their knees Situation at front reaches stalemate, hopes for Russian exhaustion turns out to be mistake Ukraine's former Commander-in-Chief Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (KRON) The Oakland Police Department said a suspect was arrested after a completely unprovoked assault of an officer. Video shows Tesla CyberTruck smashed and slashed at private Novato home The incident happened at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the area of International Boulevard and 104th Avenue. Oakland PD said two officers were traveling westbound responding to an unrelated police call when they stopped at a traffic light. While they were waiting for a green light, a suspect ran up to their marked patrol vehicle and started punching one officer through the open window, said police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both officers were able to exit the vehicle and take the suspect into custody. The injured officer suffered swelling and lacerations during the incident. He was taken to a nearby hospital and released that same day, now recovering at home. Definitely a very concerning event for our members, said Huy Nguyen, President of the Oakland Police Officers Association, in an interview with KRON4. Its completely unprovoked. This showed the level of dangers that not only our community members are facing every day, but our police officers. Police have not identified the suspect. It is not yet known what charges the suspect faces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SCRANTON John George of Clarks Summit works remotely from home for a company in New York. But about once a week he goes in to an office workspace not in New York, but much closer to home at Urban Co-Works at 116 N. Washington Ave. in downtown Scranton. Co-working is a work model where people from different businesses and professions share an office workspace and amenities. Urban Co-Works offers such a flexible hybrid/remote type of professional office environment for companies and individuals who, for various reasons, find this sort of co-working workplace arrangement advantageous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement George has been using Urban Co-Works as a workspace option since it opened in late 2023. He likes the professional, yet casual, atmosphere of Urban Co-Works and the opportunity to meet people there and work remotely outside of his home. I like working from home but also there are those days where you just want to get out of the house, George said during a recent interview at a desk in a large, open common area at Urban Co-Works. This is a very cool place to be in downtown Scranton, and in Northeast Pennsylvania in general. Its really cool. John George of Clarks Summit works in a common workspace area at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Founded by Jeff Goronkin, Urban Co-Works in Scranton followed an Urban Co-Works he opened in Schenectady, New York in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, concepts of flexible, hybrid workspaces arose, where firms, entrepreneurs and professionals could pay membership fees to use small office, conference or desk spaces, without having to enter into typical long-term leases of traditional office spaces. I had a marketing company and heard about co-working at a place called the Electric City Innovation Center in Schenectady, Goronkin said. The name of that center in Schenectady was coincidental to Scrantons nickname as The Electric City that stemmed from electric street cars in the 1800s in Scranton. The situation in Schenectady worked well for Goronkin and others co-working there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was really being in the right place at the right time, and in a year I acquired it, he said. Right before COVID, we hit the capacity of that space in Schenectady. So, he moved the operation to a larger spot nearby and revamped it for co-working purposes and it has remained at 100% occupancy. He wanted to replicate Urban Co-Works elsewhere. We looked around at other areas going through redevelopment and came upon the city of Scranton, he said. The largest city Northeast Pennsylvania had ingredients that he believed would suit co-working well, including that the city has been undergoing an evolution with more people living downtown in apartments in retrofitted former office buildings and stores. And Scranton did not yet have a co-working option of the kind that he provides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the reasons we came to Scranton was there was a need for it here, Goronkin said. A large Scranton painting adorns one wall of Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Occupying the entire 19,200-square-foot, third floor of 116 N. Washington Ave., Urban Co-Works is not yet at full capacity and has room to add co-workers, Goronkin said. We have a lot of room to grow. We have capacity. Its a huge space, he said. The outlook is good. The third-floor space includes more than 60 private offices for up to 10 people; a large, open common area; a large kitchen; phone booths; a self-service snack area; a zen room; conference rooms and meeting spaces. The facility offers various membership options, including: flex coworking, five days per month ($150), 10 days per month ($250), or full-time 24/7 access ($350 per month); private offices, starting at $650 per month, day pass at $85 per day, and five-day pass at $325 per month; and $45 per hour for conference or training rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether professionals seek hybrid work models or full-time offices, Urban Co-Works can tailor packages to suit needs, the firms website says. Entities using Urban Co-Works include local companies and professionals, out-the-area companies with a presence locally, and individuals. People working remotely from home at times might need or want to be in a more-professional environment, such as to meet with clients or for networking, he said. Some people or firms temporarily use Urban Co-Works until they find their own office space elsewhere with a traditional lease. Some individuals come and go, and some of them have returned. They use the space in the way they need it, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, or for conference meetings or training sessions. I think what people really like is that its a professional environment, Goronkin said. I see the demand for what we have, as long as people know about it. Our community just kind of builds upon itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Others come from out of the region specifically looking for co-working space. Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) The city of Scranton, under the administration of Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, provided a total of $240,000 in grant and loan-to-grant funding to Urban Co-Works to help it open and find its footing in Scranton. In March of 2023, Urban Co-Works received $100,000 to create a new flexible office solution in downtown Scranton to adapt to workplace changes accelerated by the pandemic. That funding supported the purchase of furniture, technology and accessories for the coworking space. At that time, that grant was among $300,000 the city awarded to five businesses, to support the creation and expansion of small businesses, and with that money coming from the citys $68.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October of 2023, the citys Office of Economic and Community Development Loan-to-Grant Program gave Urban Co-Works $140,000 for the purchase of equipment and fixtures for the new space that also was creating four new jobs. At that time, the city described Urban Co-Works as a premier office environment for startups, non-profits and other companies with one or more employees, and where members make valuable connections, participate in events and stretch their dollars in an all-inclusive office setting, with Wi-Fi, utilities, conference rooms, printing and a host of other amenities included in monthly fees. That disbursement was among $339,000 awarded to three businesses. On March 10,2025 Urban Co-Works opened its third location, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Despite post-pandemic and more-recent returns to in-person work in some businesses and agencies, remote and hybrid work options likely are here to stay in certain professional sectors, said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. That is a data analysis, research and consulting partnership of several colleges and the business community in Northeast Pennsylvania, and with offices in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. I think its something thats never going to leave us now, Ooms said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teri Ooms at her home in Dupont on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Many companies now offer employees hybrid options where they can split time between working from home and an office. Generally, employers nationwide also are finding theyre getting better candidates for jobs by offering hybrid or remote schedules, and they often retain employees with such options, Ooms said. The 20-something generation is very different than their Baby Boomer parents and a lot of them want a remote or hybrid work environment, Ooms said. They enjoy the (traditional) in-office collaboration, they just dont want it five days a week. The Institute also has become a hybrid employer, with nine employees who work both locally and remotely, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have research analysts locally as well as in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey, Ooms said, adding that at times work also requires in-person attendance. The Institutes hybrid-work situation was spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw what was coming and a week before the shutdown, we made sure everybody had monitors, keyboards to work from home, she said. It takes a little more effort to ensure collaboration exists and she tries to have all nine employees meet in person at least once a month. Its been working for us, Ooms said of hybrid work. * Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A large Scranton painting adorns one wall of Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works at 116 North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A phone booth-style quiet room gives space for people to hold private conversations or meetings at Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * Local art hangs on the walls at Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * A sign for Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, in background, overlooks Scranton Tomorrows The Office: The Story of Us mural at 503 Lackawanna Ave., at left. The mural, which is based on the hit sitcom The Office that was set in Scranton, was created in 2023 by Hagopian Arts in Philadelphia. The photo was taken Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A sign for Urban Co-Works, 116 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, on a side wall of the building facing the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * One side of Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, faces the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue downtown. This window gives a view of Scranton Tomorrows The Office: The Story of Us mural at 503 Lackawanna Ave., at right. The mural, which is based on the hit sitcom The Office that was set in Scranton, was created in 2023 by Hagopian Arts in Philadelphia. The photo was taken Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Booths in a common workspace and kitchenette area at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * John George of Clarks Summit, seated at table in background, works in a common workspace area at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A sign for Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, in background, overlooks Scranton Tomorrows The Office: The Story of Us mural at 503 Lackawanna Ave., at left. The mural, which is based on the hit sitcom The Office that was set in Scranton, was created in 2023 by Hagopian Arts in Philadelphia. The photo was taken Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Jeff Goronkin, CEO and founder of Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, is reflected in the glass door of a phone booth, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * John George of Clarks Summit works in a common workspace area at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A sign for Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, in background, overlooks Scranton Tomorrows The Office: The Story of Us mural at 503 Lackawanna Ave., at left. The mural, which is based on the hit sitcom The Office that was set in Scranton, was created in 2023 by Hagopian Arts in Philadelphia. The photo was taken Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Jeff Goronkin, CEO and founder of Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, in a kitchenette area of the facility on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * A hallway area outside of a conference/training room at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * John George of Clarks Summit works in a common workspace area at Urban Co-Works, a center for co-working options of sharing space and amenities at 116 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton, on Feb. 27, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 19 Jeff Goronkin, CEO & Founder, Urban Co-Works on North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton, gives a tour of the facility. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Expand DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Montgomery County regional dispatch confirmed an officer shot a dog on Negley Place by Meredith Street at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Sunday. The dispatch sergeant confirmed that crews were out on a dog bite call and had to put down the dog. Dayton PD officials said crews on the scene met a 22-year-old man bitten by the dog. As they investigated the area, they found a loose dog on the porch of a home in the 600 block of Negley Place. The officers called Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (ARC) to respond. While waiting for ARC, the dog ran at an officer, who then shot it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dog died on the scene and was removed by the Animal Resource Center. This incident is under active investigation. This is a developing story. 2 NEWS will share more as it does. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Mar. 30ROCHESTER Olmsted County's future oversight of lower-potency hemp edible retailers could come with a few added restrictions. "There is a base level that we have to do for low-potency hemp products. ...We are also proposing some optional provisions to strengthen overall protections around this," said Sagar Chowdhury, Olmsted County Public Health associate director. Olmsted County commissioners will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday in board chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. Following the hearing, they will be asked to adopt the proposed changes to the county's ordinance regulating cannabis-derived products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State agencies have monitored age-compliance checks since sales started in 2022, but local entities are expected to take on that role later this year. Under the anticipated changes, the state will continue product-related compliance checks, ensuring they are made from plants with less than 0.3% levels of THC, the compound found in help and cannabis that deliver intoxicating effects. For Olmsted County Public Health, which already conducts similar tobacco-related checks, it will mean oversight of all businesses registered to sell the low-dose products outside of Byron and Pine Island, where city officials opted to maintain oversight responsibilities. While the key role is to make sure businesses are checking IDs with sales, county staff is proposing penalties for retailers found to sell edibles and beverages containing hemp products to anyone younger than 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The penalty would mirror those faced by Olmsted County tobacco retailers. The first offense would come with a $300 fine, which would increase to $600 for the second offense within 36 months. A third offense in the same period would spur a $1,000 fine, as well as a seven-day suspension of the ability to sell low-dose products. Any offenses after three would yield another $1,000 fine, but the suspension would increase to 30 days for each violation. Community health specialist Pa Houa Moua said the suspensions are key to ensuring retailers take the restrictions seriously. "When only fees are applied, they see it as a cost of doing business," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed ordinance changes will also reinforce the county's smoking ban in retail establishments, as well as provide limits to the consumption of lower-potency hemp edible products on the premises of a business that sells them. Under the proposed ordinance, the edibles will only be allowed to be consumed on site if they are purchased at the business, and the buyer is at least 21 years old. Additionally, retailers cannot sell to obviously impaired consumers If the ordinance changes are adopted, the county oversight is expected to start after the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management finalizes new guidelines for businesses selling low-dose hemp products. Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of March 31 include: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rochester Park Board, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 in City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE. Heritage Preservation Commission, 5 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. Olmsted County Physical Development Committee, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in conference room 2 of the Government Center. Board of County Commissioners, 11 a.m. Tuesday in the board chambers of the Government Center. Administrative Committee, 1 p.m. Tuesday in conference room 1 of the Government Center. Parks Commission, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Public Works conference room at 1188 50th St. SE. One man was injured in a shooting on Saturday evening in the Arlington neighborhood, according to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] JSO states that at around 5:30 p.m., officers responded to a person shot in the 6200 block of Arlington Expressway. Upon arrival, officers located an adult black male with a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was transported to a local hospital and is in non-life-threatening condition. According to the initial investigation, the victim had gotten into a dispute with a suspect, where a firearm was pulled. JSO states that any suspect involved in the incident is in police custody. JSO states that this is an isolated incident and there is no further danger to the community, however any information regarding this incident is asked to call us at 630-0500 or they can email us at JSOCRIMETIPS@Jaxsheriff.org or they can contact Crimestoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS [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. COURTESY STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES State conservation officers said 235 opihi were allegedly found in the possession of two men. COURTESY STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES State conservation officers said 235 opihi were allegedly found in the possession of two men. An anonymous tip to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement led to citations being issued to two opihi pickers for illegal activities in the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, located on Oahus North Shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservation officers on Wednesday responded to a report of two men collecting opihi at the southern end of the Pupukea MLCD. Upon arrival, officers approached the individuals, a 53-year-old Wahiawa resident and 65-year-old Ewa Beach man, and found them in possession of 235 pieces of opihi, according to a DLNR news release. The opihi were within legal size limits, but DLNR noted the collection of any mollusk, including seashells and opihi, is prohibited within the boundaries of the Pupukea MLCD. The district, established as a protected area, is subject to strict regulations aimed at preserving marine life and ensuring the sustainability of aquatic resources. Both men were issued citations for violating Hawaii Administrative Rules relating to prohibited activities within the Pupukea MLCD. They are scheduled to appear May 13 in Wahiawa District Court to face petty misdemeanor charges. Activities in marine protected areas throughout the state, including the Pupu kea MLCD, are highly restrictive to protect aquatic resources, DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said in the news release issued Friday. These areas have signs posted informing people of these restrictions. We remind everyone to follow the rules and restrictions to avoid being cited or arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pupukea MLCD was established in 1983 as part of the states Marine Life Conservation District Program to provide the highest level of protection for marine life, with regulations designed to allow fish and other aquatic species to grow larger and produce more offspring. This, in turn, can lead to a spillover effect that benefits adjacent areas, the release said. 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 boundary of the Pupukea MLCD stretches from the southern edge of Waimea Bay, extending northward past the popular Sharks Cove. A succession of American presidents since Richard Nixon aided Chinas rise, inadvertently spawning the greatest strategic adversary the U.S. has ever faced. It was President Trump who, in his first term, reversed the 45-year U.S. rapprochement with Beijing by identifying China in his national security strategy as an adversary and initiating a trade war with it by imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. This marked a significant shift towards a more confrontational approach. But does Trump now risk playing into Chinas hands by freezing much of U.S. foreign aid and upending decades-old alliances? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps critics argue that his assertive unilateralism on trade and foreign policy erodes American influence while potentially opening the door for Beijing to strengthen ties with nations traditionally in Washingtons orbit. The White Houses tariff plans against key trading partners, possibly raising duties to levels unseen in decades, could also weaken crucial alliances. Additionally, Trumps freeze on foreign aid creates a vacuum for China to expand its international footprint, particularly in Africa. At the same time, Trumps policies are increasingly focused on countering China. The new rounds of tariffs imposed since February reflect this shift, as does the presidents emphasis on ending the Ukraine war to shift U.S. strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. Over the years, various U.S. policies that aided Chinas rise were initially driven by strategic interests but ultimately produced unintended consequences. By coopting China in an informal anti-Soviet alliance during the latter half of the Cold War, Washington created a two-against-one competition that contributed to Soviet imperial overstretch and ultimately to the USSRs collapse. But in breaking Chinas isolation and granting it access to Western markets and technology, often by outsourcing manufacturing, Washington also facilitated Chinas rise as an economic and military powerhouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of spurring political liberalization, as many American policymakers had hoped, Chinas integration into the global economy spawned a more repressive state system. The Chinese Communist Party used economic growth to tighten political control and expand its military capabilities, turning economic strength into strategic leverage. Since the 1990s, U.S. sanctions against other countries have frequently played into Chinas hands, as Beijing has adeptly exploited opportunities arising from the isolation of sanctioned states. American-led sanctions, for instance, have pushed resource-rich Myanmar and Iran into Chinas arms. China has become the almost exclusive buyer of Iranian oil at steep discounts, while also emerging as Irans top investor and security partner, and U.S. sanctions are compelling Myanmar to deepen ties with Beijing. The Biden presidency illustrated how overuse of sanctions can accelerate Chinas global expansion. Unprecedented American-led Western sanctions against Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine, including the weaponization of international finance, have turned Beijing into Russias de facto banker. China has capitalized on this shift by expanding the international use of the yuan, with Russia generating much of its export earnings in Chinese currency and keeping the proceeds largely within China. By forcing Russia to pivot to China, Bidens sanctions inadvertently helped solidify a strategic Sino-Russian alliance against America. Trade between China and Russia surged from $108 billion in 2020 to $245 billion last year. In return for giving Russia an economic lifeline, Beijing has gained access to some of Moscows most advanced military technologies, previously sold only to India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American policymakers now face the urgent task of driving a wedge between China and Russia, whose historically complex relationship has oscillated between cooperation and conflict. More broadly, the global order is undergoing a profound transition, shifting away from the post-World War II, U.S.-led system toward an uncertain new reality. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya recently described the current period as a turning point in history while hosting trilateral discussions with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts. The very fact that two close U.S. allies Japan and South Korea are engaging in strategic dialogues with China underscores how nations are adopting hedging strategies amid geopolitical uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the unintended consequences of the Trump administrations policies particularly its war on multilateralism risk strengthening Chinas hand. Chinas ability to act as the worlds largest and most unforgiving government lender, combined with its aggressive carrots and sticks diplomacy, continues to expand its global influence. To counter Chinas accumulation of power, the Trump administration must adopt a multifaceted approach that blends economic, diplomatic, military and technological strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leveraging tariffs and trade policies to disrupt Chinas export-driven economy could compel Beijing to negotiate on fairer terms or risk shrinking market access. The administration could also incentivize American companies to reshore manufacturing through tax breaks or subsidies, further weakening Chinas role as the worlds factory. Tightening controls on technology and capital flows to China could hinder Beijings ability to innovate in key industries. Increased scrutiny of Chinese investments in U.S. technology sectors would limit its access to American intellectual property. Strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific particularly through closer ties with democracies such as Japan, India and Australia (key players in the Quad) would create a formidable counterbalance to Chinese expansion through geopolitical encirclement. Furthermore, expanded deployment of U.S. troops and advanced weaponry in the Indo-Pacific would strengthen deterrence against China. The recent American deployment of the 1,200-mile, land-based Typhon missile system in the northern Philippines exemplifies this approach by putting key Chinese military and commercial centers within striking range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration must ensure that short-term dealmaking does not undermine long-term American objectives. A coherent, sustained strategy rather than erratic policy shifts is critical to slowing Chinas rise without triggering a major conflict. Trump must resist transactional diplomacy and instead prioritize long-term strategic goals so that the U.S. can more effectively counterbalance Chinas growing influence while reinforcing its own global preeminence. Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist and the author of nine books, including the award-winning Water: Asias New Battleground. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Arizona was supposed to be a narrowly contested swing state in 2024, but President Trump carried it by a comfortable 5.5 percent margin. How, then, did Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) triumph in the states open Senate race against his Trump-aligned opponent? The answer lies in his appeal to Americas commonsense middle. These voters tilted toward Trump but remain open to Democrats who will listen and speak their language. Gallego shows the way. In his campaign and now in the Senate, Gallego has been both proudly Democratic and proudly independent in his style and message. He says he is not a repeat of his predecessor, Kyrsten Sinema, who won the seat as a Democrat but ultimately left the party. But he also isnt afraid to rethink Democratic orthodoxy and work with Republicans when priorities overlap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not going to just automatically knee-jerk and reject anything that comes from the White House, he said before taking office. Take immigration. Gallego, the son of Mexican and Colombian immigrants, has expressed willingness to collaborate with Republicans on increasing border personnel, constructing physical barriers where necessary and deporting individuals with criminal records policies the commonsense middle supports. But he has also opposed what he believes are excesses in the Trump administrations approach, such as family separations, the detention of children and disruptive mass deportations that put strain on law enforcement. Gallego believes security is a core concern of the voters Democrats need to win back. His message to those voters was, as he put it, We understand your security needs. You are unhappy about whats happening at the border. You are unhappy about crime in the streets. Those are areas where more Democrats need to admit their party has failed. Another pillar of his message to commonsense voters was centered on promoting prosperity. Here again, he challenged the Democratic Partys focus, criticizing its emphasis on the American Dream as a nebulous message about justice versus what most people care about: the chance to live well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets help people become richer, he told the Wall Street Journal last week. Theres this problem that does happen with Democrats where we somehow feel its wrong to help people be more prosperous. Indeed, the hostility of many Democrats toward financial success and capitalism itself has put the party at odds with the hopes and aspirations of millions, especially men. During my campaign, he said, I noticed when I was talking to men, especially Latino men, about the feeling of pride, bringing money home, being able to support your family, the feeling of bringing security they wanted to hear that someone understood that need. Gallegos willingness to speak common sense and work with both sides shouldnt be groundbreaking, but today it is. It is a model for both parties, especially his own as it finds itself out of power and looking for a path back. Leadership like Gallegos is more than just politically smart; it is a patriotic imperative. Our nation is in a tumultuous time with little reprieve in sight. Challenges will inevitably arise that cannot be solved by a single party, whether a debt crisis or foreign turmoil. We need leaders of good judgement in both parties to build trust now so that they can work together effectively when the time comes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats seeking a path forward should look to those in their party who outperformed with key voter groups in 2024, and Gallego is at the top of the list. He not only won commonsense voters but is now showing how to lead with them in mind. The question is whether others in the party will take his cue. Nancy Jacobson is a co-founder of No Labels. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With more than 117,000 members in 400 local associations throughout Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is a prominent and influential force in the commonwealth's public education system. For more than a decade, the MTA has allowed and promoted the dissemination of defamatory material maligning people of Jewish faith and the sovereign state of Israel. The Jewish War Veterans Department of Massachusetts condemns the MTAs distribution of biased pedagogical materials based on foreign-generated falsehoods and propaganda, its perpetuation of antisemitic bias in commonwealth schools, and its consistently inadequate responses to legitimate concerns of the Jewish community. Since being established in 1869, Jewish War Veterans of the USA has battled discrimination in all forms with the same vigor, commitment, motivation and selflessness demonstrated by the hundreds of thousands of Jewish Americans who have served and continue to serve in our nation's armed forces and conflicts dating back to the Revolutionary War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is in this spirit and to honor all military service members that JWV fights antisemitism, especially in its most insidious form: from institutions entrusted with educating our children. The MTA must be held accountable for using its prominence and influence as a bully pulpit to spread falsehoods, bias and antisemitic rhetoric. Examples of the MTAs perfidy are plentiful and troubling: The MTA endorsed and distributed in Newton Public Schools (20112019) a curriculum containing content sourced from Saudi and Qatari channels. The curriculum features false narratives about Israel and Islamic history, and cloaks virulent antisemitic propaganda in a veil of pedagogical content. Despite receiving numerous complaints about the biased curriculum, the MTA and the Newton School Committee repeatedly failed to acknowledge or address the serious and legitimate concerns raised by parents, students and community leaders. Recent findings of the American Jewish Committee reveal that the MTA continues to fuel anti-Israel sentiment by organizing workshops on anti-Palestinian racism and distributing antisemitic flyers thinly disguised as educational resources. MTA leaders pay lip service to calls for change: Most recently during President Max Pages dismissive testimony before the Massachusetts Legislatures Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism on Feb. 10 (Discussion on Countering Antisemitism in K-12 Education). Holding the MTA accountable for disseminating antisemitic propaganda in Massachusetts public schools isnt just a Jewish matter." Because it concerns the education of allour children, it demands a response by all Massachusetts residents and our elected officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We call upon our elected representatives in the commonwealth government to quickly and decisively address and correct the MTAs misconduct. Until the organization reverses its anti-Jewish policies, we urge legislators to sever formal ties with the MTA. Upon joining the military, every service member vows to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same. Bearing true faith and allegiance to the same demands that we identify and seek to fix injustices especially when an institution entrusted with educating our youth indoctrinates them instead. In demanding accountability for the MTAs deleterious dogma, members of the JWV Department of Massachusetts muster our fellow veterans and service members, community leaders and elected officials to join this important battle. Sydney L. Davis Jr., U.S. Navy retired, is commander of Jewish War Veterans Brookline-Newton Post 211. Bruce R. Mendelsohn, U.S. Army honorable discharge, is interim commander of the Col. Irving Yarock Jewish War Veterans Post 32 in Worcester. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Opinion/Guest column: MTA must stop antisemitic bias When Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18, Amna Asfour, a 36-year-old mother of four in Khan Younis, was jolted awake by a deafening explosion. My son clung to my arm and whispered, Mama, is it starting again? she recounted. During the brief pause in attacks following the January ceasefire, she had dared to hope that her children might sleep without fear. But reality set in quickly that night. I tell them again: Sleep in your shoes. Keep your bag by the door, though I dont know where else to go after weve already fled four times. For 15 months, Palestinians in Gaza have endured relentless bombardment, starvation and displacement. When a ceasefire finally arrived on Jan. 19, it merely offered a brief, fragile pause to bury the dead, tend to the wounded, and cling to the remnants of life before it was disrupted. In Gaza, the expectation of devastation is as constant as breathing. I covered the first phase of this war from the ground before I fled Gaza for my familys and my safety. Now, reporting from Cairo as airstrikes continue to fall with unimaginable intensity, I see that for those still on the ground, there is no safety or calm, only the certainty that every lull is merely the prelude to even more destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with reports of a new ceasefire deal on the horizon, this latest return of airstrikes has felt more like a confirmation that no pause will ever lead to lasting peace. And the deepening psychological toll a burden that now rests on the ashes of over a year of agony and terror means the fear of death or injury has become secondary to the slow erosion of hope. By the weekend, more than 750 people had been killed most of them women and children while hundreds more were wounded. After Israel broke the ceasefire, health officials reported the death toll in Gaza since the war began in October 2023 surpassed 50,000. For Palestinian journalists, reporting on this war is both a professional duty and an act of survival. On March 24, the IDF killed two more Palestinian journalists: Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hossam Shabat and Palestine Today reporter Mohammed Mansour. Shabat was killed when his car was targeted in Beit Lahiya, while Mansour died in a bombing that struck his apartment in Khan Younis. The IDF confirmed both killings, claiming both journalists were terrorists. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the deaths and denied that claim, a spokesperson stating, The deliberate and targeted killing of a journalist, of a civilian, is a war crime. Al Jazeera had denied earlier claims that Shabat was a terrorist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their deaths add to the staggering toll of journalists and media workers killed in the war more than 200 since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate as those who remain continue risking their lives to document the unfolding devastation. The targeting of media workers in Gaza has been routine. Press vehicles, clearly marked as such, have been struck by Israeli forces, and shelters housing displaced civilians and journalists have not been spared. Weve seen numerous reports of journalists being personally targeted and threatened by the Israeli military. Despite these relentless attacks, journalists in Gaza continue to do their job. Abdelhakim Abu Riash, a freelance photojournalist in northern Gaza, says he is running out of places to report from and of colleagues to report with. But stopping isnt an option, he says, because then there would be no one to tell the world whats happening. Sulaiman Hijjy, another photojournalist who has been reporting from Gaza, has grown accustomed to this grim reality. Since the airstrikes resumed less than two weeks ago, he found himself reliving the earliest days of the conflict. For 15 months, I have filmed mass graves, bombed-out neighborhoods, entire families erased in a single airstrike, he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the ceasefire came, I thought maybe I could breathe. But there was no relief. Now, Hijjy files stories between airstrikes, capturing what remains of lives and landscapes before they, too, are erased. The names of our fallen colleagues like Hossam, Mohammed and so many others before them should be voices that echo in newsrooms, not carved into gravestones. Even reporting from Cairo, the images of death dont haunt me as a distant horror; they are a daily reality for me and thousands who remain in Gaza. They remind me that even as I report, I am also mourning. Documenting all of this means standing at the edge of life and loss, and continuing to write even when the world reads our words yet refuses to act. Carrying out this work is to ask, time and again, whether anything we say will ever be enough to break the worlds indifference. Journalists arent the only ones fighting for life and dignity in Gaza. Dr. Yasser Shami, a surgeon at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, described the nearly impossible conditions of providing care in a hospital stripped of resources. For two months, we tried to prepare, he recalled. We had no real supplies, but at least patients werent pouring in every minute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current situation in his hospitals emergency room is even worse than before, he says. He recently had to amputate a 9-year-old boys leg with no anesthesia. He says the little boy screamed until he passed out, before he moved on to the next patient. I dont think were even allowed the time to grieve here, he said. Each day, Shami faces impossible choices: who receives the last dose of antibiotics, who gets the only available ventilator, who might have a chance with urgent care, and who is already beyond saving. There is no proper triage only a cruel calculus of survival dictated by scarcity. According to a United Nations report from last December, 136 Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza pushed the health care system to the brink of collapse. This dismantling of Gazas health infrastructure means that even those who survive the bombs may not survive their wounds. Medics, surgeons and journalists alike continue to press on, despite ongoing bombardments and the dimming prospect of lasting peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every day, those journalists who have managed somehow to survive pick up their cameras, notebooks and microphones, even when they know they could be next. We grieve for those weve lost, yet we dare not stop we owe it to them to keep telling the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Warning lights are flashing. Sirens are wailing. A historic perfect storm is bearing down on us. Perhaps were already in the eye of it, as highly classified war plans are hashed out with text messages and fist bump emojis while our commander-in-chief rants like a Tudor monarch about an unflattering portrait. Indeed, as the Trump administration staggers into its tenth weekthats right, were only 60-some days in to this second termthe ominous clouds on the horizon show were headed for disaster. The good news is: Im not talking about climate change. (Though its definitely true about climate change as well.) This brewing perfect storm is less meteorological, more political. Like World War I. Remember what they teach us about The War to End All Wars? So much had to go wrong. Europe was reconfiguring. Entangling alliances tied the hands of diplomats who were reporting to an unluckily large number of inept world leaders. Industrialization was making mass-killing easier. Disaster! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, I think we are failing miserably to batten down the hatches ahead of a moment historians will also look back on and say lots of things like, Oh man, if only that hadnt perfectly fed into that. (If there are still historians left, I suppose.) To flog the weather analogy a bit more, we are seeing a cold front of corruption, greed and downright stupidity collide with a tropically warm libertarian philosophy that argues for the end of democracy. A hard rains gonna fall. While we were understandably distracted by the maelstrom of incompetence in, to update Lin Manuel, the group chat where it happens, we missed a sinister development buried in President Trumps social calendar. Trumps White House is auctioning off branding opportunities at this years Easter Egg Roll to corporations for $75,000-$200,000. (Or roughly the cost of a couple dozen eggs.) Rest assured, the price includes VIP access to the White House during the event. As Im not the first person to point out, for Trump, its really all about the grift. Its the art of the deal. But this time around, Trumps not-very-subtle cloud of corruption is colliding with a new storm systembillionaires who seem to have genuinely deluded themselves into thinking that they could run the world perfectly if not for this pesky thing called democracy. No exaggeration. They want to bring it down. (I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible, the venture capitalist and Trump backer Peter Thiel infamously wrote.) DOGE is not about efficiency. Its about brewing skepticism of all democratic institutions to replace our current government with techno-libertarianism. Maybe its evil, maybe its hubris? These guys honestly think that because they created PayPal or a chat app, they know how to run the country better than the Constitution. Elon Musk at a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2025. / Carlos Barria / REUTERS The oligarchs want to be large in charge and they have the perfect president to make it happena guy whod rather make money than deal with the hassle of running a country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can see the pitch meeting in the Oval Office: Elon: We sell memberships to the White House Easter Egg thing. Trump: I like it. Keep talking. Elon: We used to give tickets to lucky winners. But now you can make money on the thing. Trump: Sold. Elon: Well make JD dress up as the bunny. Trump: Even better. Elon: Oh, and it will also gradually further my goal of turning all governance over to the private corporations that can afford to sponsor it. Trump: I already said sold, Elon. Now youre boring me. Let me know how much I cleared on my end, will you? A simple grift like this might not even make the front page, especially when the Defense Secretary is oversharing with magazine editors, but its just the beginning. Guess you cant make a plutocracy without cracking a few eggs. As Bruce Springsteen said, Old men wanna be rich. Rich men wanna be kings. Guess what? Those wannabe kings have found an old man who just wants to be rich. In the final days of the Biden administration, the Department of Energy rushed to finalize an onslaught of new regulations on a massive range of everyday consumer and commercial products such as water heaters, dishwashers and ceiling fans. One such regulation, finalized in the final hours of the Biden administration, would mandate new energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment, which includes commercial refrigerators and freezers. Under the guise of creating more energy efficient equipment, these unnecessary and costly standards burden manufacturers, small businesses and American consumers. As a result, these regulations pose serious food safety risks and increase costs for small businesses and consumers. Although the Department of Energy is authorized to set energy efficiency standards for commercial equipment, the law explicitly requires new regulations be technologically feasible and economically justified. This requirement ensures the government cannot implement new regulations that impose an undue requirement on our economy with no real benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administrations last-minute energy conservation standards completely fail to meet these reasonable requirements. The Biden rule places an unachievable burden on manufacturers, requiring them to create a technologically infeasible product at significant costs. To this point, manufacturers warn that complying with this regulation would require an impractical and costly redesign of their equipment. Moreover, the Department of Energys assumptions regarding this rule do not reflect real-world conditions. For example, the rule fails to account for how often a busy restaurant opens the doors of its refrigerators and freezers during peak business hours. As a result, under the new standards, an appliances interior temperature may rise above safe food-storage conditions. Clearly, the rule is not only not technologically infeasible, it also fails to fulfill the main purpose of refrigeration equipment: keeping food safe to consume. Additionally, according to the Department of Energys own projections, these standards will result in a significant economic burden, ultimately falling on small businesses and consumers. The Biden rule would significantly increase the costs of commercial refrigeration equipment as manufacturers are forced to redesign the technology of already expensive equipment. As always, higher manufacturing costs will hit small businesses first, forcing them to absorb the expense before inevitably passing it on to consumers who are already struggling with higher costs of living after the last four years under Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is far from economically justified. It is time to fully repeal these unnecessary energy standards on commercial equipment. In November, the American people voted to restore common sense and limited government in Washington, and thats exactly what Republicans are delivering. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order mandating a review of Bidens appliance regulations, to ensure they dont impose undue burdens. Alongside the White House, Congress is working to rein in the Biden administrations excessive standards. In February, the House of Representatives passed two Congressional Review Act resolutions, H.J. Res. 20 and H.J. Res. 42, to overturn Bidens last-minute attempts to impose heavy-handed Department of Energy appliance standards, led by my colleagues Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.). Continuing this campaign to roll back the Biden administrations most egregious regulations, I led a resolution, H.J. Res. 75, to repeal burdensome standards on commercial refrigerators and freezers. Thankfully, the House passed my resolution. It is critical that Congress act swiftly to ensure the outright repeal of this rule and close the book on the Biden administrations costly and unnecessary energy efficiency standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manufacturers, small businesses and the American people can now rest assured their federal government will not attempt to regulate certain appliances out of existence or pointlessly drive up the cost of living. I will remain committed to repealing burdensome government regulations and championing legislation to lower the cost of living for hardworking Americans, both in my district and across the nation. Craig Goldman represents Texass 12th Congressional District in the 119th U.S. House of Representatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Trump has exposed a reality that we have ignored for far too long: International trade is no longer just about economics it is also about national security. The U.S. faces a critical challenge in ensuring that the goods flowing into the country are not just cheap and efficient, but also safe and strategically sound. Our global supply chains, long built for maximum cost-effectiveness, are now potential liabilities, susceptible to exploitation by adversaries and prone to disruption. Nowhere is this risk more pronounced than in our economic competition with China. For decades now, we have recognized that financial institutions must exercise Know Your Customer policies. This helps to minimize the risks from money laundering and keeps funds out of the hands of terrorist organizations and organized crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a similar vein, as geopolitical tensions with China rise, we must ask whether we really know where our products come from, and more importantly, who controls them. The U.S. depends heavily on imports for many essential goods pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, medical devices and critical minerals, to name a few. This reliance is not inherently dangerous, but our inability to trace these goods to their origin leaves us vulnerable. This is the era of Know Your Product. During the years of peak globalization, American businesses prioritized efficiency, often sourcing materials and products from the lowest-cost supplier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem? Many of those suppliers operate in opaque networks, particularly in China, where state-owned enterprises and undisclosed subcontracting make it difficult to determine the true origin of products. A single semiconductor or medical device may pass through multiple unknown hands before arriving in the U.S., making it virtually impossible to verify its integrity. Whats more, China regularly sells products to third countries who then trans-ship the products on to the U.S., evading tariffs or sanctions. A recent case exposed a Chinese transshipment of oil through Thailand to evade more than a quarter million dollars in tariffs. As the Trump administration tries to reduce our exposure to Chinese goods, strengthen U.S. manufacturing and bring investment to America, this blind spot can no longer be tolerated. The consequences of a lack of transparency are serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider microchips embedded with vulnerabilities, counterfeit parts infiltrating our defense systems, or critical medications produced under unsafe conditions. Without stronger traceability measures, we are operating in the dark, exposing ourselves to supply chain disruptions, security breaches and economic coercion. China, the worlds largest manufacturer, wields its dominance in supply chains as a strategic tool. It has used trade as leverage in geopolitical disputes, cutting off exports of critical goods when politically convenient. It has also been accused of using forced labor in industries that feed into global markets, making it nearly impossible for American companies to ensure ethical sourcing without stronger oversight. The U.S. has responded with tariffs, domestic investment in key industries and restrictions on Chinese technology firms. But these measures will fall short if we do not address the fundamental problem: traceability. Without knowing where and how our goods are produced, even the most aggressive trade policies are like playing defense with a blindfold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we are serious about securing our economy and reducing our dependence on opaque supply chains, we need a bold approach to trade transparency. That means: Requiring companies to map their supply chains: Businesses that rely on foreign suppliers, especially in high-risk industries, must disclose their supply chain networks, ensuring traceability from raw materials to finished goods. Leveraging technology for greater oversight: Blockchain, artificial intelligence, and digital tracking systems can make supply chains more transparent and reduce the risk of compromised goods entering the U.S. market. Embedding traceability in trade agreements: Future trade deals should include enforceable transparency standards, requiring all signatories to maintain verifiable supply chains. This is about more than just national or regional content. It is a matter of being able to verify the origin and trace the journey of goods entering national territory. The Trump administrations March 26 announcement of auto sector tariffs and that Importers of automobiles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be given the opportunity to certify their U.S. content and systems to reduce the overall tariff suggests that the administration is certainly moving in this direction. Strengthening Border and Customs Enforcement. Agencies responsible for regulating imports must have the resources and legal authority to stop suspect goods before they enter the U.S. economy. The private sector must be a reliable partner in this regard they must employ new technologies in collaboration with our border and national security agencies. Again, President Trumps March 26 executive order on the automotive sector calls for the Commerce Department and Customs and Border Protection to establish a process to apply tariffs to non-U.S. auto part content under the USMCA. The stakes could not be higher. The next major national security crisis may not come from the battlefield, but from the vulnerabilities hidden in our supply chains. If the U.S. is to maintain its economic and strategic leadership, we must act now to ensure that what we buy, and where it comes from, is no longer a mystery. Duncan Wood is president of the Pacific Council on International Policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A German start-ups orbital rocket spun out and crashed seconds after take-off Sunday, in a rare European test flight that the makers said met its set goals. The flight, from a spaceport in northern Norway, marked the first time a rocket capable of reaching orbit was launched from continental Europe excluding Russia, manufacturer Isar Aerospace said. The rocket, called Spectrum, was airborne for only around half a minute before dramatically falling into the chilly Norwegian Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isar Aerospace and other European start-ups are scrambling to seize a segment of a rapidly expanding space race, currently dominated by companies and government-owned entities in the United States and China. And the company framed Sundays launch as a step toward that goal, saying in a statement: Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off for its first test flight lasting approximately 30 seconds. This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions. As a company with European roots, we are proud to have shown that Europe has an enduring capacity for bold thinking and grand achievements, Daniel Metzler, the companys CEO and co-founder, said in the statement. We will be able to serve customers from around the world to bring their satellites into space and to help Europe solve a major blind spot in its security architecture: access to space. The European Space Agency, which is made up of 23 member nations, has already launched rockets into orbit, as have companies such as the French-run ArianeGroup. But both have launched flights from outside Europe, mainly at spaceports in the Americas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders in the space industry include Elon Musks SpaceX, which has launched hundreds of rockets into orbit. Europe has historically lagged behind, both in the initial space race of the 1960s and 1970s and the subsequent rush by commercial companies to reach orbit. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Eric Philips has been an arctic explorer for much of his life so he knows tough conditions. He's spent days confined to a tent with fellow explorers as they waited out blizzards. When Philips launches as part of a privately funded SpaceX crew from Kennedy Space Center as early as Monday on a never-before-attempted orbit around Earth's polar regions, this first-time astronaut said he's expecting something like that. "As we orbit around the North and South poles for three to five days, it's kind of that same blizzard experience," he told journalists during a Friday briefing on X. "We've got four people locked inside this shell outside it, an incredibly harsh environment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philips is one of four astronauts on the Fram2 mission, which is scheduled for launch Monday from Kennedy Space Center Pad 39A. The launch window opens at 9:46 p.m. EDT, but opportunities exist at 11:20 p.m.,12:53 a.m. and 2:26 a.m. Tuesday morning. Launch and recovery weather play a large part in timing. This will be the first human spaceflight to orbit the poles. The crew will fly in their Dragon spacecraft on a 90-degree circular orbit. In the 64 years humans have been flying to space, this has never been attempted. Chance for good rocket views in south Florida In order to achieve this orbit, the Falcon 9 will fly straight south, right over Miami and Cuba, after liftoff. This means those south of Cape Canaveral could get amazing views as the rocket flies overhead. The mission will last three to five days then the Dragon will land off the coast of California. For this reason, not only launch weather but recovery weather forecast must be favorable. This will be the first crewed Dragon mission to splashdown on the West Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for this mission, it is named after a record-breaking ship from the early 20th century. The Fram ship sailed to the polar regions in the late 1800s/early 1900s, breaking records for traveling further north and south than any other vessel. Now Fram2 aims to break a human spaceflight record being the first to orbit over Earth's poles. The mission was bought and organized by Chun Wang, a cryptocurrency businessman, who is serving as the mission commander. In addition to Philips, who is the mission specialist and medical officer, the crew also includes two women: Jannicke Mikkelsen, the vehicle commander and Rabea Rogge, the spacecraft pilot. All four have explored in extreme regions. Wang said on X that he was inspired by Jared Isaacman flying Inspiration4. Isaacman is President Trump's nominee to head NASA. It's unknown how much Wang paid for this mission. Wang said he's always been curious with a desire to push boundaries of exploration. For example, while many people want to fly to the moon and Mars, not many think of looking back at the polar regions, Wang said and that's something not a single human has ever done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interesting note, Wang originally wanted to name his mission 'Polaris' as they were planning to fly over the poles but that name had already been taken by Isaacman. Meanwhile, Mikkelsen, who is a cinematographer who specializes in extreme environments, is looking forward to pointing her camera at Earth's poles from orbit. "Being a cinematographer in space is not easy. It is not like filming on planet Earth, and it's quite comparable to being a cinematographer in the North Pole region, where it is exceptionally hazardous to work," said Mikkelsen. "Battery life is extremely hard to maintain when you work in the cold in the polar regions, and now we actually have a limit for how much battery power we can safely bring with us in Dragon." The official mission patch of the Fram2 mission, which will be the first crew to orbit Earth's poles. The pose of the astronauts on the patch is a recreation of the 1911 photo of the first people to reach Earth's polar region. The crew will take imagery of Earth's poles from orbit. During the mission, they also plan to conduct some health experiments. This includes taking the first X-ray image of the human body off-planet called the SpaceXray study. Medical studies will also look at women's health, the health of astronauts with diabetes, motion sickness, blood flow in microgravity, brain health, and bone health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogge, who is a robotics researcher, told listeners during the pre-mission briefing on X that one of the goals is improving accessibility to space. "I think the stereotype of an astronaut is that you have to be this super human ... medically perfect," Rogge said. "But we should flip this question and be like 'Okay, how do we design living and working in space for everyone?'" The crew will also have a portable exercise device to workout while in orbit. Unlike being on a space station, room is limited inside the Dragon spacecraft, and SpaceX is testing ways to keep astronauts healthy in these tight quarters. SpaceX is also looking at team dynamics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the same pioneering spirit as early polar explorers, we aim to bring back new data and knowledge to advance the long-term goals of space exploration, Wang said in a press release. Much like Fridtjof Nansen, who led a groundbreaking logistical operation during his historic Fram expedition in the 1800s, the science and research projects onboard will inform how we prepare for future missions, ultimately helping make space more accessible to us all. Polar launches from Florida are rare When is the next Florida rocket launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral While humans have not flown into a polar orbit, imagery and weather satellites have. However, these launches rarely happen from Florida. The first time a SpaceX polar launch occurred from Florida was the launch of an Earth imaging satellite in August 2020. That launch marked the first time in 60 years that Cape Canaveral had seen a polar launch. During a polar launch, the rocket must fly extremely south over Cuba. After an accident during a satellite launch in late 1960 caused a Thor rocket to destruct over Cuba, polar launches were shifted to California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time a polar launch occurred from Cape Canaveral was for NASA's PACE mission in February 2024. That mission traveled south, directly over Florida and Cuba. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX astronaut mission, Fram2, to launch from Florida Monday night PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon is no stranger to wildfires. And Oregon is also no stranger to helping out other states when they need help battling their wildfires. Oregon firefighters are helping to fight three of the eight reported fires in North Carolina, including the two largest, Black Cove and Deep Woods, each around 35% containment. In the week we had two days of red flag warnings, which is obviously very problematic, you know, for dry fuels and gusty winds. However, those are gone, said Neal Bond, a protection unit forester with the Oregon Department of Forestry. They are predicting, you know, rain to come in on (Sunday) and Monday. You know, were hopeful thatll pan out. but then again, we got to make sure we get rain on the entire part of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN 6 News sister station in North Carolina reported downed power lines are the cause for the Black Cover and Deep Woods fires. Kotek declares flood emergency for Southeast Oregon Some of the things thats really causing problems out here is we had Hurricane Helene come through last September. So that put a lot of trees down on the ground, which create a lot of jackpots of fuel, Bond said. Theyve had all this time to dry out. And so the fire will kind of creep around, and then it will hit one of those jackpots and really start to flare up. 38 Oregon firefighters were deployed to North Carolina to battle wildfires, March 2025 (ODF) The ODF crews, 38 firefighters in all. deployed about a week ago and are ready to stay as long as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a return favor. Last summer dozens of North Carolina firefighters worked side-by-side in Oregon battling the 2024 wildfires that burned nearly 2 million acres. Were happy to return the favor here to North Carolina, Bond said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two Oregon state lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday to explore the possibility of building a new bridge across the Columbia River. State Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) and Sen. Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) introduced Senate Bill 1201, which would direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study to potentially build a new Columbia River bridge west of the Interstate 5 and 205 bridges. The senators said the bill marks a first step to assess whether this investment could ease congestion in the Portland metro area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An additional bridge over the Columbia River connecting Washington and Columbia counties to Clark County and I-5 west of Vancouver is exactly the investment that needs a full review, stated Sen. Starr, vice-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee. As leaders charged with developing transportation policy for the state, Senator Weber and I understand big challenges require forward thinking and addressing the future needs of our state. This bill is the first step in what will likely be a lengthy process. UnitedHealthcare, OHSU reach agreement that ensures patient access to care This bridge would not only ease traffic for millions of Oregonians, but it would provide a lasting, multi-generational solution that will benefit our families and economy for years to come, said Sen. Weber, who also serves on the Joint Transportation Committee. The bill requires ODOT to complete the feasibility study and submit a report to the Joint Committee on Transportation by September 15, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bridge would be an extension of State Route 127 (Cornelius Pass Road) across State Highway 30 and connect to I-5 in Washington, the senators said. Following the bills introduction on Thursday, SB 1201 has been referred to the Transportation 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 KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) has represented Oregons first Congressional District since 2012. It includes most of Portland, west of the Willamette River, most of Washington County and all of Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties. A member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Bonamici has rallied for workers and teachers. Further like her fellow congresspeople at recent town halls she has heard the frustrations of constituents about DOGE cuts and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Bonamici joined this weeks Eye on Northwest Politics to talk about the dismantling of the Department of Education, as well as how that and other DOGE cuts are causing real consequences for thousands of Oregonians. Watch the full interview in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. It was March 30, 1981, and Tim McCarthy approached what he called a pretty normal day, assigned with the Secret Service detail guarding then-President Ronald Reagan. McCarthy, who now lives in Orland Park where he was police chief from 1994 to 2022, retold his story in a recent Secret Service interview of the few seconds that left himself, the president and others wounded in an assassination attempt. The interview is posted at secretservice.gov and at the Secret Services YouTube channel. It was conducted with McCarthy at the Secret Services Chicago field office by Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the Secret Service said the posting of the interview was not an effort to burnish the agencys image in light of increased scrutiny since an attempt on Donald Trumps life last summer as he campaigned for, and ultimately won, the presidency. Its part of a series called Behind the Shades that highlights the work of Secret Service personnel and had been on a short hiatus, he said. The agencys director stepped down after the July 13 attempt on Trumps life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Thomas Crooks was shot and killed after he fired at Trump during the rally, and the Secret Service, in its final assessment of the assassination attempt, cited multiple operational and communications gaps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This included deficiency of established command and control, lapses in communication, and a lack of diligence by agency personnel, the agency said in its report last fall. Politics have also affected the agency. Earlier this month, Trump said he would immediately end Secret Service protection details assigned to Democrat Joe Bidens adult children. This past January, reported sighting of immigration agents attempting to enter an elementary school on Chicagos Southwest Side was actually Secret Service agents investigating a threat. Guglielmi told the Chicago Tribune it was their officers who were investigating a threat against a protectee in connection with TikTok. Pretty normal day McCarthy, 32 at the time, had been with the Secret Service for nine years when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire as Reagan left a Washington hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president had addressed the Building and Construction Workers Union of the AFL-CIO, speaking at a union convention at the Washington Hilton. It started out as a pretty normal day, McCarthy, 75, said in the interview. Reagans speech was well-received, McCarthy said, and walking out of the hotel at about 2:30 p.m., I didnt see anything out of the ordinary. McCarthy said standard protocols were being followed, including having the passenger side rear door of the presidents limousine open. In a previous interview with the Daily Southtown, McCarthy said he and other agents were not notified the president would briefly walk a rope line that separates the president and protectors from the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the hotel, McCarthy said in the Secret Service interview, everyones yelling Mr. President, and, of course, youre on pins and needles. Is the president going to go to the crowd or not? McCarthy said in the recent interview. Gunfire erupts He said Hinckley, armed with a .22-caliber pistol, was to his left, then pushed forward through the crowd and reeled off six rounds in about 1.6 seconds. Jim Brady, the presidents press secretary, was the first to be hit by gunfire, and then Washington police Officer Thomas Delahanty. McCarthy was hit in the right chest by the third bullet after putting himself between the shooter and the president, and a fifth bullet ricocheted off the limousine and hit Reagan under the arm, moments after Secret Service agent Jerry Parr pulled the president inside the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parr, who died in 2015 of congestive heart failure at 85, in a previous interview suggested that if not for McCarthy stopping the path of that third round from Hinckleys gun, Reagans wounds could have been much more serious. If (Tims) not there, Im sure that either I or the president would have been hit that day, he said. The only thing between the president and this guy was McCarthys big Irish body. McCarthy was on the ground after being struck and the limousine carrying the president sped away. Reagan was hit by gunfire, but the wound wasnt noticed until he began to cough up blood, and was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, according to the Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. McCarthy was also taken to the same hospital. Training rather than bravery In several interviews over the years, McCarthy has downplayed the notion that bravery had much to do with his actions. He credits the training he received as an agent, drilled into him through repetition and simulations of responding to a threat or attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I did that day was solely based on training, McCarthy, now 75, said in the Secret Service interview. McCarthy said he returned to the presidential protective detail three months after he was wounded. It was slightly uncomfortable to start with, he said. He worked eight years with the Secret Services Presidential Protective Division, and in addition to Reagan was also part of the protective details for presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. McCarthy spent 14 years as a criminal investigator with the Secret Service. In the interview with Guglielmi, McCarthy said he never regretted joining the Secret Service, but joked that he had wished hed taken off that particular March 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Secret Service gave me an awful lot, no two ways about it, McCarthy said in the interview. McCarthy retired from the Secret Service in October 1993 as the special agent in charge of the Chicago field office, and was named Orland Parks chief the following May. During his time heading the Orland Park department, McCarthy worked to establish and lead the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, which assists area departments with homicide investigations, and was also Orland Parks acting village manager for a time. In 2016, he was the recipient of the first Chief of Police of the Year award from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Retired, then not Although McCarthy retired Aug. 1, 2020, as Orland Parks chief, that was not the end to his career in law enforcement. In 2024, the Orland Park police station was named in his honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2020 he was brought on as interim police chief in Mokena, and stayed until a replacement was brought on in May 2021. McCarthy is president of Sentinel Security in Palos Heights, which provides armed an unarmed security guards and security consulting services. McCarthy said he kept in touch with the president and Nancy Reagan, exchanging occasional phone calls, cards and letters. McCarthy said he and his wife twice visited Nancy Reagan in California as the presidents health deteriorated, and they both attended the funerals of the president and Nancy Reagan. Hinckley was 25 at the time he shot Reagan, but was acquitted of any charges by reason of insanity. He lived under the supervision of mental health facilities for 35 years, then was granted unconditional release from court supervision in June 2022. BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV) Over 20 people are displaced in southern Wisconsin after an apartment building broke into flames on Saturday afternoon. The Beloit Fire Department said that crews responded around 1:30 p.m. to the 1900 block of Cleora Drive as people were self-rescuing and evacuating the property. Pink Flamingo Classic hosts Isaac Koltz Cancer Benefit with raffles, auctions galore A search of the building found no additional residents inside, and no injuries were reported; however, families and individuals in 10 units are currently displaced, with the Red Cross and property owner assisting everybody impacted. The cause and damage estimates are unknown at this time. No additional details were provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. This post contains graphic images and/or details. Reader discretion is advised. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) On Sunday, March 23, a dog died after biting a police officer and being shot. About a week later, Karen Baldwin is saying her dog, Sinatra, was not a vicious dog. Police were called to a convenience store in Salt Lake City around 3 a.m. that Sunday after receiving reports of trespassers. During that incident, Sinatra bit an officer and was later shot at several times after officers commanded for Baldwin and others to gain control of the dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on our initial assessment of everything that we know happened in this case, our officers acted appropriately, Brent Weisberg, communications director and public information officer for the Salt Lake City Police Department, told ABC4.com. PREVIOUSLY: Dog euthanized after getting shot, critically injured by police officer it had bitten Baldwin said her dog wasnt vicious, and said that many people knew him but she also said he was very protective of her. Baldwin told ABC4.com that Sinatra was just doing his job to protect her on March 23. I feel like I failed in [my job] because I didnt protect him, Baldwin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued: Sinatra was not a vicious dog. You know, I have videos of him, hes friendly, hes playful. Everybody knows him out there, Baldwin said. However, according to court documents, Baldwin had been cited before (in November 2024) for a misdemeanor charge of allowing a vicious animal to go at large. Weisberg also told ABC4.com that Baldwin had been given a warning to keep her dog on a leash earlier in March. Bodycam footage from that day, which was released on the day of the incident, shows Sinatra breaking free from another person who was handling him that night barking and moving toward police. Baldwin said she doesnt think the officer had to shoot him. He could have pepper sprayed him, pepper spray would have brought him down for sure, Baldwin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers are trained to create distance between themselves and aggressive dogs during encounters with those animals. SLCPD said the officers involved followed protocol during the situation. When we look at this situation in its totality our officer demonstrated a lot of restraint, Weisberg said. After being bitten that first time, the officer had he feared for his safety in that moment could have shot the dog right there. Weisberg said the officer who was bitten did suffer a significant injury to a lower extremity and it is fortunate that officer wasnt more critically injured. He said officers have to make a split-second decision to determine the appropriate use of force in these types of situations. Weisberg said the officer who shot Sinatra did so to protect himself and the other people at the scene, including the other officer and the other people who were at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of our officers ever want to be put in this type of situation, Weisberg said. But at the end of the day, our officers have to do everything they can to protect themselves and our community. Weisberg said both officers involved in the incident are dog owners, and said the situation has been hard on them as well. Even though our officers acted appropriately in this situation, we know the trauma and the impact for the dog owner and for the other people who witnessed the situation, Weisberg said. After Sinatra was shot, police said he was critically injured and was later euthanized by Salt Lake County Animal Services. SLCPD said Baldwin was given the opportunity for a private moment to be with her dog after evidence was collected at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baldwin told ABC4.com that she is heartbroken and lost after Sinatras death, and said he was the only one she could count on. She told ABC4.com that she doesnt know the person who had been holding Sinatras leash when he broke free, and as of March 29, neither police nor Baldwin know how the dog got free from his leash. Background On Sunday, March 23, officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department responded to a convenience store on North Temple Street just past 3 a.m., after receiving reports from an employee that people were trespassing. Two officers initially responded and encountered a large group in the parking lot, police said. Shortly after arriving, one officer was bitten by the dog after approaching some people from the group. After the officer was bitten, body camera footage released by police shows the officer drawing his gun and pointing it at the dog, telling the owner, Get your fing dog or Im going to shoot it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That officer called for backup, and another officer encountered the dog and commanded for someone to get control of it. Bodycam footage from the scene recorded verbal commands from both officers to get control of the dog, but after the dog charged at the second officer, the officer who was originally bitten and injured fired four shots. Police did not disclose how many times the dog was hit. The dogs owner ran toward the dog after it had been shot, and bodycam footage shows her being knocked down and restrained. SLCPD said officers temporarily detained her for safety and the preservation of evidence. ABC4.com is not sharing the unedited footage due to the graphic nature and language contained in the footage. The footage below has been edited to remove expletives and to blur out the dog after it was shot: 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. In the first clinical study of its kind, researchers at Tokyo's Keio University have developed a stem cell treatment that they say allowed a paralyzed man to stand on his own again following a spinal cord injury. As Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun reports, the man is now learning how to walk through rehabilitation. The stem cell treatment involved the injection of roughly two million reprogrammed or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are created by hacking adult cells back into an embryonic-like state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers turned these cells into neural precursor cells in a lab and then injected them into the site of patients' injuries. The goal is to have these cells then develop into neurons and glial cells, which support and protect neurons. In an announcement last week, the research team led by Keio University stem cell scientist Hideyuki Okano revealed that two out of four participants with a spinal cord injury saw improvements in their motor function. According to the researchers, no other serious adverse side effects were observed after a year of monitoring. But as experts told Science, it's too early to call the results definitive proof that the treatment works, let alone in all individuals with a spinal cord injury. For one, as Griffith University translational neuroscientist James St John told Science, it may be "very exciting for the field," but it'll take larger trials to establish whether the improvements were in fact the result of the treatment. There's also the possibility that the two patients recovered naturally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results of the research also have yet to be peer-reviewed. Okano and his colleagues performed the first of the surgeries in late 2021, with the other three following in 2022 and 2023. The patients received the surgery between two to four weeks following the injury. As Science reports, other iPS cell treatments are being tested, including trials to restore vision by reversing damage to the cornea, and even reversing type 1 diabetes through the use of reprogrammed stem cells that can produce insulin. While questions remain, reversing paralysis from a spinal cord injury could be a big deal. In the US, roughly 18,000 people experience a traumatic spinal cord injury each year and in addition to loss of motor control, they're also at risk of developing debilitating and even life-threatening secondary conditions. More on stem cell treatments: Woman's Own Stem Cells Appear to Reverse Her Type 1 Diabetes in First-Ever Procedure DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Shoppers braved the cold rain to visit the opening day of the Paris Flea Market on Sunday morning. The weekly flea market is held at the Dixie Twin Drive-In and opens at 6 a.m. Dixie Twin Drive-in celebrating 69th Anniversary this weekend Our 2 NEWS photographer spoke with a man who has been at the market for two years. Jeff Anderson sells household items and cleaning products; his wife sells oddities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked what stands out most to him about the flea market, he shared his thoughts. Its more fun than a yard sale. There are a lot of people who come by each week and theres a comradery there. Theres several vendors who line up beside us, we have our neighbors each week, said Anderson. We get to see the community and people all summer long. He said the weather caused fewer people to come out than normal. Its definitely turned it down; the flea market operates better on a sunny day. Its usually dark when you get here but it lightens up and everythings fine. The rain generally keeps the vendors and especially the costumers away, said Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He shared his closing thoughts. Come on out. Its a great place to get a deal and see your neighbors, said Anderson. The market will run until the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ukrainian partisans have destroyed an electronic warfare system in Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast, Ukraine's military intelligence reported on March 30. A video published online by Ukraine's military intelligence shows an anonymous partisan reportedly on the night of March 29, pouring gasoline over a vehicle on which the system was stationed, setting it on fire, and then quickly fleeing the scene. Russian occupants use such electronic warfare systems to "suppress radio communications and conduct electronic intelligence. The loss of such a system significantly weakens the capabilities of the aggressors army," Ukraine's military intelligence wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's southern Kherson Oblast was occupied by Russian forces at the start of the full-scale war. A counteroffensive launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the fall of 2022 led to the liberation of the region's capital. Russian forces were pushed back to the east bank of the Dnipro River, which they still occupy. From their position Russian forces continue to regularly launch attacks against the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson Oblast, killing civilians and destroying infrastructure. Read also: Investigation: Russians carry out systemic terror in occupied part of Kherson Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. It was a televised ambush that many in Europe hope will stop a war. Donald Trumps dressing-down of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House was a lightning strike to the transatlantic alliance, dispelling lingering illusions in Europe about whether their American cousin will stand with them to counter Russian aggression. Reeling, perhaps even fearful, Europe may have finally come to its senses over its self-defense needs in the era of Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is as if Roosevelt welcomed Churchill (to the White House) and started bullying him, European lawmaker Raphael Glucksmann told CNN. In a month when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Europe PATHETIC for free-loading on defense in a group chat with administration officials (which inadvertently included a journalist for The Atlantic), the continent has been shattering decades-old taboos on defense. Policies are on the table that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago. The biggest change came in Germany, Europes biggest economy. After the federal election, chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz won a vote in parliament to scrap Germanys constitutional debt brake a mechanism to limit government borrowing. In principle, the law change allows for unlimited spending on defense and security. Experts expect the move to unlock as much as 600 billion ($652 billion) in Germany over the next decade. Merz speaks at the Bundestag during its vote to remove the debt brake in Berlin, March 18, 2025. - Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images This is a game-changer in Europe, because Germany was the laggard especially among the big countries when it comes to defense, Piotr Buras, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, an international think tank, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In getting over its phobia of debt, Buras said that Germany has finally acted as though Europe really had passed a Zeitenwende or turning point as described by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February 2022, just three days after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Although the invasion jolted Germany, only the Trump shock made them take this really fundamental decision of suspending the debt brake, said Buras. This is the real, proper Zeitenwende. Taboos crumbling In neighboring France, President Emmanuel Macron who has long called for European strategic autonomy from the US has said he is considering extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to its allies, already ostensibly sheltered by American bombs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macrons comments earlier this month came after Merz advocated for talks with France and the United Kingdom Europes two nuclear powers over extending their nuclear protection. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the idea, and even called for Poland to consider getting nuclear weapons itself. Meanwhile, Poland and Baltic states Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia all neighbors to Russia have pulled out of the 1997 Ottawa treaty on landmines, long considered a key milestone in the end to mass warfare. Lithuania has already announced the purchase of 85,000 landmines; Poland is eyeing producing 1 million domestically. Lithuania also withdrew from the international treaty against cluster munitions this month, becoming the first signatory ever to do so. Military conscription has also made a comeback on the continent. Denmark made women eligible for obligatory conscription from 2026 and lowered health requirements for some roles, as part of a bolstering of the countrys armed forces. Poland has also announced plans for every adult male to undergo military training. Denmark is among the European countries making changes to laws on conscription. - Sean Gallup/Getty Images Even famously neutral countries are reconsidering their positions. Amid discussions about how to keep the peace in Ukraine in the event of a settlement, the government in Ireland a military minnow focused on peacekeeping operations put forward legislation to allow troops to be deployed without UN approval, skirting a possible Russian (or American) veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its long been the uncomfortable and often unspoken truth in Europe that its protection from invasion was ultimately dependent on the American cavalry riding over the horizon. That support no longer looks so sure. The pivot goes beyond who will do the fighting to who will provide the arms. Some have begun to question future purchases of the astronomically expensive US-made F-35 jets that several European air forces had planned to acquire. Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo said his country was re-evaluating the expected purchases of the jets in preference for European alternatives over concerns of the US-controlled supply of spare parts. Its the first time such concerns were aired publicly at such a high level, especially in favor of jets that, on paper, dont offer the same capabilities. European unity? But, although Europe seems to have gotten the message, talk of a unified approach is premature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to spend billions more on defense, called ReArm Europe, Spain and Italy balked. The plan has since been renamed Readiness 2030. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also ruled out sending Italian troops as part of a European contingent to keep the peace in Ukraine if a negotiated settlement another key issue on which the continent is split. The rebranding indicates a dividing line in Europe: The further away from Russia a country is, the less likely it is to put guns before butter. Von der Leyen's defense plan has faced pushback from certain EU member states. - John Thys/AFP/Getty Images Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this month that our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees. He called on Brussels to take into account that the challenges we face in the southern neighborhood are a bit different to the ones that the eastern flank faces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanias former foreign minister, told CNN he was upset by the Spanish statements, and that a recent trip to Kyiv where air raid sirens blast most nights made it all too easy to imagine similar scenes occurring in Vilnius in the future. The further west you go, the more difficult it is to imagine that sort of thing. All the problems, all the decisions, theyre relative, Landsbergis said. Although this geographical split could deepen divisions, Buras, of the ECFR, said total European unity would always be an illusion. What really matters is what the key countries do, he said, pointing to Germany, France, the UK and Poland. I want to be cautiously optimistic, but I think we are on the right track now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether March would be remembered as the month Europe woke up, Buras said: Yes, we have woken up but now we need to get dressed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com EDITORS NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series from El Paso Matters on issues defense attorneys might have raised if Patrick Crusius had gone to trial for the 2019 Walmart mass shooting. Coming Monday: Long-standing mental health issues preceded Walmart mass shooting, defense attorney says EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS) Patrick Crusius believed he was acting at the direction of President Donald Trump when he murdered 23 people and wounded 22 others at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, his defense lawyer told El Paso Matters. He thought he had to stop the invasion because thats what his president was telling him, which is just not rational, defense attorney Joe Spencer said in his first extended interview about the mass shooting that Crusius said was meant to stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He thought, if he doesnt do it, then nobodys going to do it. Hes got to start, Spencer said. The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment from El Paso Matters. On Aug. 5, 2019, two days after the El Paso shooting, Trump condemned the attack and the motives behind it: The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by racist hate. In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America. Trump visited El Paso on Aug. 7, ignoring pleas from much of El Pasos elected leadership that he stay away because they felt his rhetoric may have played a role in the shooting. Although numerous Trump critics said his constant anti-immigration rhetoric played a role in the El Paso shooting an accusation Trump supporters have denied Crusius and his defense team have not previously addressed whether Trumps words played a role in motivating the gunman. A volunteer lights a luminary in the Healing Garden, a tribute to those killed in the 2019 Walmart mass shooting, in preparation for a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the attack on Aug. 3, 2024. Corrie Boudreaux/El Matters Crusius, now 26, is expected to plead guilty April 21 to charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. District Attorney James Montoya announced on Tuesday that state prosecutors would no longer seek the death penalty, meaning Crusius will be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. He also has been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms after pleading guilty to federal weapons and hate crime charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer has not made extensive public comments on the case outside of the courtroom, in part because of directives issued by federal and state judges. He agreed to an interview with El Paso Matters on Tuesday, after 409th District Judge Sam Medrano dissolved a gag order he put in place in 2022. In the interview, Spencer detailed Crusius mental health history he repeatedly said his client had a broken brain and the gunmans deepening spiral into extremist white nationalist websites such as 4Chan and 8Chan in 2018 and 2019. He said Crusius has a history of mental illness dating to childhood and has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, an illness characterized by auditory and visual hallucinations. Spencer said Crusius told him that a key event leading to the murderous rampage in El Paso occurred in May 2019 in Panama City Beach, Florida, when Trump spoke at a rally. I mean, you have 15,000 people marching up and you have hundreds and hundreds of people and you have two or three border security people that are brave and great, Trump said, then added falsely that Border Patrol agents werent allowed to use weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But how do you stop these people? Trump said. Shoot them, someone in the audience shouted, drawing laughter from the crowd and a smile from the president. Thats only in the (Florida) Panhandle you can get away with that statement, Trump said while shaking his head. Only in the Panhandle. Crusius said he saw video of that Trump rally and was motivated to act, Spencer said. In June 2019, a month after the Florida Trump rally, Crusius purchased a semiautomatic rifle online and had it delivered to a gun dealer in his hometown of Allen, Texas, near Dallas, according to court records. The Crusius manifesto On Aug. 3, 2019, Crusius drove 10 hours from Allen to El Paso, and attacked the Walmart with the semiautomatic rifle, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When youre a person with a broken brain hearing comments like those from Trump, you think youre getting direction from your commander in chief that youve got to stop the invasion, Spencer said. Christine Reyna, a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago who researches white nationalist extremism, said desensitizing or dehumanizing rhetoric especially from authority figures can inspire violence in isolated, vulnerable young people undergoing radicalization online, regardless of their mental health. She said mental illness is not a contributor to most acts of extremist violence. Christine Reyna That vulnerability can make a person desperate for a last grand act or an act of glory or an act of heroism in their mind. And in the case of Crusius, if he feels like, I could be this noble warrior in this cause to save America that the president is calling for, he may be just vulnerable enough, Reyna said. In his manifesto posted on the extremist chat forum 8Chan shortly before the attack, Crusius said people would try to link Trump to the attack, but denied that was the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am putting this here because some people will blame the president or certain presidential candidates for the attack. This is not the case. I know that the media will probably call me a white supremacist anyway and blame Trumps rhetoric. The media is infamous for fake news. Their reaction to this attack will likely just confirm that, Crusius wrote. Spencer said he believes Crusius compiled the manifesto largely by copying and pasting text from other sources. But he said Crusius resisted answering his questions about the manifesto, including Trumps impact on his beliefs and actions. He was not comfortable going there. I remember at one point I even suggested, you know, we may have to subpoena Trump, and boy, he did not like that at all. So I left that subject matter alone. I said well deal with that at another time if we ever have to, he said. Spencer said Crusius sometimes shapes his statements out of concern for what people might think of him. For example, Crusius would answer mental health questions from clinicians at the El Paso County jail differently from what he told defense psychiatrists and psychologists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I said, Patrick, when they come and visit you from the jail and they ask you, are you seeing things, are you hearing things, and you say no, no, no. Why do you tell them no? Well, I dont want them to think Im crazy. The impact of words Spencer said the influence of extremist rhetoric, and Trumps frequent description of unauthorized border crossings as an invasion, dont excuse Crusius culpability in mass murder. But he said the El Paso shooting is a painful reminder that political speech can lead to violent consequences, and he believes Trump bears responsibility in the shooting. I absolutely believe that words matter, and especially someone whos a president of the United States. When he makes a statement like that, he should be very careful of how its going to be received, not only by those of us that are rational, but by those of us that are not, that think that this is a message from the president, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer is a longtime donor to Democratic political candidates, especially in El Paso judicial races. He said his views on Trumps responsibility arent shaped by partisan beliefs. I am a Democrat, but I just follow the evidence. My position on why Patrick did what he did is based on the review of all the evidence and the hundreds of hours that Ive had visiting with Patrick and all of the experts about his thoughts, he said. Reyna, the DePaul sociology professor who researches white nationalism, said what was viewed in 2019 as extremist rhetoric on immigration has become more mainstream in conservative politics and media. She pointed to the great replacement theory, which holds that malign forces are bringing immigrants into the United States and other Western countries to replace white people. Crusius invoked the great replacement a common trope in 2019 in the darkest corners of the internet in his manifesto. In the years since the attack, the conspiracy theory has been increasingly prominent among conservative media figures like Tucker Carlson, and among some right-wing politicians, Reyna said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of the great replacement becomes much more mainstream, and thats extremely dangerous, she said. Dehumanization of certain groups has long been a tool used by authoritarian governments, she said, and that approach resonates with white nationalist extremists. When you dehumanize the target, what you do is you exclude them from consideration. They do not deserve your moral care. And then, you harm them as existential threats, Reyna said. Increasing and normalizing anti-immigrant rhetoric that seemed extreme when used by Crusius before his attack increases the risk of further violence on immigrant and Hispanic communities, she said. Potential white nationalist terrorists are further emboldened by Trumps pardons for people who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to Reyna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because what that signal is, is that if you commit violence on my behalf, youre going to get a pass, Reyna said. As part of her research, Reyna monitors online conversations among white nationalists, where Crusius is frequently invoked. Hes one of the big heroes now. Crusius is one of the icons. Then the question is, whos going to be the next person to be the next hero. And thats whats frightening, Reyna 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. MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) Saturday marked the 52nd anniversary of U.S. troops withdrawing from the Vietnam War, and Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant honored those who served during a commemoration event. The museum welcomed veterans to the Vietnam Experience exhibit, now in its 10th year. The day began with a ceremony recognizing the service of over three million Americans, followed by a commemoration with the University of South Carolina Libraries, who presented visitors with archival films of marine combat footage and news broadcasts aboard the USS Yorktown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today is Vietnam Veterans Day, this is an incredibly important day for us on Patriots Point. So, were standing right now in Vietnam Experience which is recreation of a brown water navy site. We have the sounds down right now, but typically you can hear the sounds of helicopters and the experience of what people wouldve had in Vietnam, said Allison Hunt, Patriots Points executive director. The ceremony also included remarks from a Vietnam Veteran. It was an interesting time period for us because things picked up dramatically. The war had picked up dramatically, and so a lot more fire fights. We unfortunately lost five sailors, that doesnt sound like a lot but when you have 60 sailors a lot of them are maintenance. We had probably 30% wounded in some way shape or form, said John Smock, a Brown Water Navy Commander. The exhibit is open year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas central bank said has punished two internet users who spread false information about interest-rate cuts, and it vowed to step up efforts to crack down on such offenses. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peoples Bank of China said it investigated a 39-year-old woman surnamed Huang and a 42-year-old man surnamed Nie who were suspected of spreading rumors about rate cuts to gain attention and attract online followers, according to a statement posted on its official Wechat account Friday. The two offenders had conveyed the information under the guise of financial media and information-service institutions, the central bank said. The operation was carried out jointly with the network security department, and the suspects were dealt with by local public security organs, according to the statement. The Peoples Bank of China will strengthen cooperation with the public security agencies, and continue to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal activities such as malicious fabrications and spreading online rumors involving the financial field, the PBOC said. Chinas government investigated more than 42,000 cases of online misinformation last year with over 47,000 people being punished as part of the Clean Net campaign, according to the Ministry of Public Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Higher educations future seems bleak. The national decline in enrollment has forced countless colleges and universities to tighten belts and make hard choices. Penn State where enrollment is down 30% since 2010 recently announced plans to close several of its 20 campuses across the commonwealth. Naturally, Penn State faculty feel vulnerable. But their desperation may push them into the wrong hands. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of the nations most powerful government unions, is in the early stage of organizing these faculty members. The Centre Daily Times reported that Local 668, the Pennsylvania-based SEIU affiliate, will ask the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board to hold an election as soon as it convinces 30% of faculty to support the union. Local 668 took over a local group and is going by the name Penn State Faculty Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updated branding makes sense. SEIU doesnt traditionally represent higher education professionals. Instead, SEIU members work predominately in health care and other blue-collar professions, such as janitors, security guards and food service employees. Theres a reason behind SEIUs broader net: its ongoing hemorrhage of members and money. Since 2018, SEIUs national membership is down 4% the equivalent of more than $26 million in lost dues. SEIU knows beggars cant be choosers, and its not alone in this strategy. Increasingly, government unions have crept into unfamiliar workforces, including undergraduate and graduate students. Meanwhile, government unions specifically geared toward college faculty arent without shady records. In 2022, six City University of New York (CUNY) professors sued their union, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) (an American Federation of Teachers affiliate), for questionable political activity. The professors, many of whom are Jewish, vehemently disagreed with the unions public condemnation of Israel, calling PSCs stance anti-Semitic. Because of exclusive representation, unions political agenda doesnt necessarily reflect the opinions of employees. Government unions, like SEIU, funnel significant amounts of member dues toward politics and lobbying. Famously, SEIU was all in for former Vice President Kamala Harris, funding a seven-figure ad buy as part of a $200 million investment in Harriss campaign. From 2022 to 2024, SEIU directed $31.4 million toward national politics, with 99 percent going to Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the left questions SEIUs commitment to workers over politics. David Moberg, a former senior editor of the progressive magazine In These Times, dinged SEIU for its coziness with big employers, limits on internal democracy, excessive deference to Democratic party leaders and frequent clashes with other unions. Penn State faculty can expect to fund not only politics but also union overhead. According to its most recent reports filed with the federal government, SEIU Local 668 reported over $12.2 million in revenue. The union spent $3.6 million (just shy of 30%) on representational activities the bread-and-butter activities, such as collective bargaining and employee representation, commonly associated with labor unions. However, it recorded $7.8 million for general overhead, union administration, employee benefits and payments to its parent organization. Simply put, SEIU spends twice as much on overhead as it does on representing its members. Unfortunately, SEIU isnt setting professors up for success. In an apparent bid to collect dues from all 7,600 faculty members, SEIU wants to simultaneously represent tenured- and non-tenured faculty both full- and part-time. As faculty members well know, the interests of these groups do not necessarily align and, sometimes, conflict with one another. At nearby Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), this representational recipe hasnt produced anything for faculty members who voted to unionize in 2022. After nearly three years of collective bargaining, the union has yet to produce a contract with HACC, meaning the same financial position for faculty, as if the union had never shown up. Otherwise, faculty may even be worse off: Conflict between the union and the community college resulted in two arrests in 2023, and faculty members have put in extra time to attend union rallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone should have the right to join a union or to decide against union membership. But SEIUs takeover of faculty members local effort makes that decision difficult, even for those optimistic about unionization. The truth is Penn State faculty would be better off without SEIU. David R. Osborne is the senior fellow for labor policy with the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank. By Tim Kelly TOKYO (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Japan on Sunday as indispensable for tackling Chinese aggression and said implementing of a plan to upgrade the U.S military command in the country would get under way. "We share a warrior ethos that defines our forces," Hegseth told Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani at a meeting in Tokyo. "Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression," including across the Taiwan Strait, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling Japan a "cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific", he said President Donald Trump's government would continue to work closely with its key Asian ally. In July, then-President Joe Biden's White House announced a major revamp of the U.S. military command in Japan to deepen coordination with Tokyo's forces, as the two countries labelled China their "greatest strategic challenge". That change will place a combined operational commander in Japan, who would be a counterpart to the head of a joint operation command established by the Japan's Self-Defense Forces last week. TROOPS IN JAPAN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth's praise of Japan contrasts with the criticism he levelled at European allies in February, telling them they should not assume the U.S. presence there would last forever. Trump has complained that the bilateral defence treaty, in which Washington pledges to defend Tokyo, is not reciprocal. In his first term, he said Japan should pay more to host U.S. troops. Japan hosts 50,000 U.S. military personnel, squadrons of fighter jets and Washington's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group along a 3,000-km (1,900-mile) East Asian archipelago that hems in Chinese military power. It comes as Japan doubles military spending, including money to purchase longer-range missiles. The operational scope of its forces, however, is constrained by its U.S.-authored constitution, adopted after its World War Two defeat, which renounces the right to make war. Hegseth and Nakatani agreed to accelerate a plan to jointly produce beyond-visual-range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles and to consider collaborating on production of SM-6 surface-to-air defence missiles to help ease a shortage of munitions, Nakatani said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said he asked his counterpart for greater access to Japan's strategic southwest islands, along the edge of the contested East China Sea close to Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SIGNAL CHAT Hegseth, on his first official visit to Asia, travelled to Japan from the Philippines. On Saturday he attended a memorial service on Iwo Jima, the site 80 years ago of fierce fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces. His trip has been overshadowed by revelations he texted the details of imminent U.S. strikes on Yemen on a Signal messaging app group that included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, along with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth on Sunday did not respond to a shouted question about whether he had posted classified information to the group. Gabbard told Congress on Tuesday that the defence secretary would be the one to determine what defence information is classified. (Reporting by Tim Kelly and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Ethan Wang in Beijing Writing by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by William Mallard) PETROLIA (KFDX/KJTL) The town of Petrolia is rallying around its volunteer fire department to get them vital equipment. The rallying cry took the form of the Petrolia Spring Festival. Right in the center of town vendors gathered to celebrate the spring season. Proceeds raised from the festival will help pay for a response bed for Petrolia VFD to put on their new truck. the new bed can cost anywhere from $45-75 thousand and Petrolia business owners Anita and Rickey Myatt thought the Spring Festival was the best way to raise the funds. Theyre wanting to set it up as a rescue, which would allow them to be able to do extractions and provide services at car wrecks and things like that in this area a lot better, Rickey said. So, we felt the need to try to do our part with the community and help out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live music was another attraction at the festival put towards raising money for the fire department. Cynthia Anderson and Texas Brew Radio brought several musicians together to play and many musicians along with the rest of the town put forth admirable efforts to raise the necessary funds for the fire department. Daryl Perry is a charting Texas artist, Greg Strawn, Kim Hunter is the original founder of Texas Brew Radio and its really beautiful to see so many people just pulling together, Anderson said. Once the fire department can buy the new truck bed, it will assist them on medical calls which make up the majority of the Petrolia fire departments calls. In 2025 alone, medical calls have accounted for more than 75% of the Petrolia VFDs responses. If you missed the event but you still want to donate to the Petrolia VFD, you still can. Anderson recommended just making out a check to the fire department and sending it to their address in Petrolia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Sasha and Nikolai a pair of Amur tigers now share an enclosure at Utahs Hogle Zoo as zookeepers look to breed the animals. Through years of careful planning, dedication, and collaboration, our teams began introducing resident Amur tigers Sasha (5) and Nikolai (14) for the first time for breeding season earlier this year, a social media post from Hogle Zoo states. The pair reportedly came to Hogle Zoo on a breeding recommendation from The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, an initiative that looks to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse population of endangered species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UDOT is adding new lights on traffic signals at several intersections heres why Courtesy of Hogle Zoo Courtesy of Hogle Zoo Courtesy of Hogle Zoo Courtesy of Hogle Zoo Introductions began with howdys,' the post states, meeting through mesh barriersbefore sharing space in their outdoor habitat. Introducing any pair of animals requires thoughtful planning and preparation, but this is especially true for apex predators like Amur tigers. According to the zoo, tigers often have spats as they learn to share space with one another, exhibiting behaviors like swatting or roaring to establish boundaries. Hogle Zoos animal care team reportedly closely monitors these behaviors to ensure that any signs of aggression dont lead to injuries or even deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our teams are fully prepared with tools like CO2 canisters, air horns, and other deterrents to ensure safety, the post states. So far, Sasha and Nik show encouraging signsvocalizing to one another, resting near each other, and demonstrating positive behaviors that indicates comfort in shared space. The shared enclosure is a significant step towards breeding a process that takes months of planning and dedication, according to Hogle Zoo. You can learn more about Nikolai and Sasha, as well as breeding updates, 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 ABC4 Utah. Tesla is facing backlash as its CEO Elon Musk plays a very public-facing role in global politics. Protesters from the US, UK, Germany, and France demonstrated against Tesla on Saturday. Signs can be seen calling for a boycott of Tesla and accusing Musk of attacking democracy. Hundreds of protests at Tesla dealerships and showrooms around the world took place on Saturday, showcasing a brewing global resistance against the company's CEO, Elon Musk, as he continues to get involved in political affairs. The organizer of the protest, known as "Tesla Takedown," aimed to target more than 500 Tesla showrooms worldwide. About half of them were planned to take place at Tesla showrooms in the US, according to the organizer's social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters across multiple states, from blue-haven California to red-state Florida, were seen holding signs that urged passersby to "boycott Tesla" or called Musk a "fascist." Protesters in Pasadena, California, left, and Clermont, Florida, right, demonstrate against Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Frederic J. Brown; Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP via Getty Images Some of the unrest stems from Musk's involvement with the Trump administration which has been on a fast track to reduce the size of the government by cutting the federal workforce or eliminating entire agencies. Some of the moves made by DOGE, the White House office leading the cost-cutting efforts, are being challenged in court. Patty Hoyt, a resident of Marin County, California, who was protesting at a local Tesla dealership, told BI she disagreed with the administration's plan to cut jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Although Hoyt's not a veteran, she said in an interview that she had veteran friends who rely on the resources from the VA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These are people we made promises to," Hoyt said of veterans. A protester at the Tesla Takedown demonstration in Michigan. Nic Antaya for Business Insider In Michigan, attendees at protests in Ann Arbor and Troy largely leaned left on the political spectrum. Several were over the age of 65 and had seen the country through earlier periods of unrest, like the Vietnam War. Still, several described the current political moment as unprecedented. Patricia Bragg, 76, protests at the Tesla Takedown demonstration in Michigan. Nic Antaya for Business Insider "I don't recognize the country that I've lived in for over 65 years," said Debbie Rosenman, leader of the Ferndale chapter of Indivisible, a national grassroots organization for progressive causes that mobilized several protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The people are coming to the streets." Another protester in Troy told BI, "You know that saying, 'don't go gently into the night?' We're not going to go gently into the night." Protesters in Michigan were largely over 65 and leaned left on the political spectrum. Nic Antaya for Business Insider But the frustrations aren't just directed at Musk's increasing influence in US politics. Protests were spotted across Europe in France, Scotland, Germany, England, and the UK. During Trump's inauguration ceremony in January, Musk made a gesture to the audience that was interpreted by many to be a Nazi salute. Musk has denied that that was his intention. The Anti-Defamation League also defended the gesture, saying it was "awkward" but not a Nazi salute. Tesla Takedown protesters in Michigan. Nic Antaya for Business Insider The gesture inevitably struck a nerve with some in Europe, including lawmakers, as the continent has a long dark history of being under Nazi occupation during World War II. A protester in front of a Tesla Service Center in Berlin holds a sign that says "Elon Musk to the moon" in German. Ralf Hirschberger/AFP via Getty Images A protester in France held a sign declaring "No Nazi Cars." In London, demonstrators set up an inflatable tube man that depicted Musk's likeness and the infamous gesture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has made clear that his political interests go beyond the US. Last year, the CEO threw his support behind AfD, or Alternative for Germany, endorsing the far-right German political party to his millions of followers on X. In February, the Afd came in second place in Germany's national election, which represents Afd's best performance in the party's history. A protester and her dog at a Tesla dealership in Detroit. Nic Antaya for Business Insider Musk's involvement with domestic and global affairs may have come at a cost. After seeing a peak $1.54 trillion valuation in December, Tesla's stock in recent weeks came tumbling down amid underperforming global sales and increasing concerns from investors and Wall Street that Musk is too distracted from his work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's difficult to measure to what extent Musk's politics have impacted his EV company. Tesla sales in Europe for the months of January and February fell 42.6% compared to figures from the same period, last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, selling under 27,000 vehicles. A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Protesters at a Tesla showroom in New York City, New York, hold signs depicting Elon Musk. Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images Beyond protests, Tesla dealerships and vehicles also have become a recent target of vandalism incidents and violence. On March 24, the Austin Police Department told BI that officers found "incendiary" devices at a local Tesla dealership. Earlier that month, police in Oregon investigated gunshots directed at another Tesla building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Tesla Cybertruck owners previously told BI that they've been subjected to ridicule and harassment for the car they owned. "The Cybertruck just seems to send people over the edge a bit," one owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said. "It makes no sense, I'm not Elon!" A Cybertruck driver clashes with a protester at Tesla Takedown demonstration in Detroit. Nic Antaya for Business Insider The Trump administration, including the Department of Justice, has vowed to crack down on the attacks against Tesla, calling the recent spate of incidents "domestic terrorism." "The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement on March 20. "Let this be a warning: If you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars." A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Handwashing and sanitizing problems were among the reasons the Pinecrest Wayside Market got the lowest rating, Re-Inspection Required, on Tuesdays state inspection. Prior to that, Waysides most recent regular inspection was a Dec. 27, 2022 follow-up to a Dec. 8, 2022 inspection that ended Re-Inspection Required. Florida Department of Agriculture inspectors dont shut down an establishment for a failed inspection, although they can drop Stop Use Orders on enough areas and equipment that opening becomes impractical. That didnt happen to Wayside Market, however, but heres some of what Inspector Guisella Uribe found Tuesday. READ MORE: 100 tons of liquid egg products recalled, might contain bleach People working in the processing, food service and coffee station areas did not wash their hands between entering and exiting the food preparation area, handling unclean wiping cloths, unclean utensils, working at the register, and returning to handling food items to customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same areas, food employees wearing single-use gloves took customer orders at the register, handled food items, entered and exited the preparation areas without changing their gloves between tasks. Thats beyond the designed usage of single-use gloves. Still in the same areas, food employees were not wearing hair restraints while engaged in open food handling. Wayside Markets an open air facility, vulnerable to the effects of Miami outdoors Miamis often-chewy humidity, dirt and small, living things. An accumulation of dust and old food residue encrusted on the equipment, food preparation tables, and food shelves throughout the food establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, old food residue was found on the floor beneath shelving units, preparation tables and equipment throughout all areas of the food establishment. And, there was mold-like residue on walls and ceiling throughout all areas of the food establishment. Numerous black flies were observed in all processing areas, landing on numerous preparation tables, and food equipment. Wet wiping cloths should sit in a sanitizer solution when not in someones wiping hand, but multiple wet wiping cloths used to clean the equipment and counters were found not held in sanitizer when not in use. The espresso machines steam wand had been at work more than four hours without being washed, rinsed and sanitized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the food service area cups and utensils were not sanitized after being washed and rinsed. The inspection didnt say how many turkey sandwiches and chicken wraps measured 48 degrees, which is seven degrees above proper food safety limits, but those that were there got hit with Stop Sales. Basura. US President Donald Trump has stated that he was "very angry" after Russian leader Vladimir Putin criticised the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys leadership. Source: NBC News Details: Trump said Putins comments were "not going in the right location". "If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump said during an early morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday 30 March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said this would mean that if you buy oil from Russia, you wont be able to do business in the United States. A tariff of between 25% and 50% would be imposed on all Russian oil. He added that tariffs on Russia would be introduced within a month if no ceasefire agreement is reached. At the same time, the US president reiterated that he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and said that "the anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (KRON) The San Jose Police Department is investigating the citys fifth homicide of the year. The fatal shooting, according to the department, occurred at around 7:06 p.m. on Saturday near Locust and West Virginia streets. Oakland police officer punched by suspect at traffic stop light San Jose PD alerted in a social media post that Locust St. from West Virginia St. to Grant St. will be blocked off as police investigate. There is no estimated time for reopening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay tuned with KRON4 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) On Saturday, Vietnam veterans were honored at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial. March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a day where Americans unite to honor Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. It was the same day that in 1973, the US Military Assistance Command Vietnam was disestablished and the last combat troops departed the country. Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The day is intended to honor and recognize those who served in the war. Many of whom did not receive a proper welcome home. It was a pleasure to serve, I served with a lot of great guys, Vietnam veteran Charlie Miller said. I came back to the States and didnt get the welcome that we thought we shouldve had but now its different, our community accepts us for what we did. Miller spent 30 years in the Army, including 1970-1971 in Vietnam. I have 650 members in our chapter and all of those guys fought in Vietnam and they came back and like I said they didnt get the recognition that they deserve, Miller said. Today with our community, the community of Huntsville we getting the recognition that we deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fellow Vietnam veteran James Henderson spent 26 years in the Army. He said his time in Vietnam where he was the commander of a company with around 200 soldiers was the highlight of his career. What a distinction to be trusted to command soldiers in combat and I still think about what a responsibility that was, Henderson said. I did the best I could and took care of the mission and took care of the troops. Henderson said while he feels that Vietnam troops did not receive the welcome they deserved, he does believe progress has been made since they came home. I think our countrys done a great job of making up for it so to speak by passing into law Vietnam Veterans Day, Henderson said. We are grateful for that, we are grateful for the opportunity to be here today. 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 WHNT.com. Najla Shamo settled into the office chair, placed her right foot on the gas pedal and rested her hands on either side of the steering wheel. Staring at the computer screen in front of her, she began to drive. Over her shoulder, Tariq Qasim, an education specialist at Lutheran Family Services, gently gave her directions. Check your mirror, he said. This is the shoulder, you cannot drive on here." "This is the slower lane, this is the faster." Slow down, slow down, slow down, he said as Shamo approached an intersection. Now stop. The setup resembles a video game, Qasim said, but the driving simulator purchased by Lutheran Family Services will help change the lives of hundreds of refugees and immigrants living in Lincoln learning to drive just like Shamo, who moved to Lincoln from Iraq. In an effort to break a common barrier many refugees face during their first years in America, Lutheran Family Services in Lincoln is now helping refugees and immigrants get behind the wheel. The organization, which helps resettle refugees in Lincoln and Southeast Nebraska, recently purchased the simulator alongside curriculum for driving classes with the help of a $46,280 grant from the Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation. Now, the organization at 2301 O St. is helping a dozen refugees many of whom are single mothers learn to drive. Some of these ladies, they have never sat behind the wheel, Qasim said. The classes are only open to women for now, but there are plans to potentially expand it. Along with experiencing language barriers, employment challenges and difficulty accessing health care, many refugees also struggle with transportation and driving which can be their gateway to overcoming a wide variety of other obstacles, according to Qasim, who teaches the program. Many refugees, specifically women, arrive in Nebraska with little to no prior driving experience, often due to cultural reasons. In order to get a license in America, they are forced to battle language barriers and either learn on their own or pay for private driving instruction, which many of them cant afford to do. And without the ability to drive, many struggle to get to and from their jobs, take their children where they need to be and access basic needs like health care or grocery stores. For some of the women taking the free course, they spend hours on buses to get to and from work, while others are unable to get a job at all due to a lack of transportation, Qasim said. But the driving simulator will change everything for them. This is very important for our community here in Lincoln, for those ladies, single moms. They are in a very hard situation. They need our support, he said. Students in the driving course will likely take the classes for about three weeks, depending on their skills, before being referred to Lincoln's Road Ready Driver Training School to begin training in a real car to obtain their learners permit or drivers license. At Lutheran Family Services, the courses operate in three phases. First, Qasim goes over what a learning permit is, how to obtain one and all of the proper documentation needed. Then, they dive into the curriculum to learn everything they need to know to be ready for the road. From the meanings of varying traffic signs to right of ways, speeding limits and what to do if they get pulled over, Qasim teaches the women everything they need to know to be safe behind the wheel. When theyre ready, students will move on to the driving simulator, which features a steering wheel, blinkers and brake and gas pedals hooked up to a large computer monitor. While they drive, students have to buckle up, look both ways at intersections, stop at stoplights merge onto highways and avoid busy traffic. Additionally, the driving simulator also will help the women overcome their fear of driving by allowing them to learn the rules of the road and practice in a safe environment before even getting into the drivers seat. I believe that this can break the phobia, Qasim said. But the struggles the women in the driving course face are far from unique. During Qasims first months in America, he overcame a similar struggle. Despite having driven before, Qasim was overwhelmed by American driving laws when he first moved to Lincoln from Iraq on a special immigration visa in 2014. It was very hard because the road, the traffic light size and position, everything is different than the place I came from, he said. Lutheran Family Services has worked hard to make the driving courses as accessible for students as possible. Not only is the course and the following training completely free, but the organization also provides all transportation for the women to and from the class. Additionally, Qasim, who speaks four languages, translates for the women who are still learning English. In the current class, he speaks three languages, including Kurmanji and Arabic, in addition to English. While the simulator has only been up and running for a couple of weeks, Lutheran Family Services is already hoping to expand the program to serve even more refugees and immigrants throughout the community. And, when they do, the classes are likely to fill up. Already, Qasim has a waitlist of about 12 women hoping to join the course. But for now, Qasim is looking forward to watching his students grow and someday get behind the wheel for real. I'd be very proud if I saw one of my students say, I got my driver's license today, he said. I believe they would make not only my day, but my month. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Hundreds protested outside Tesla dealerships across Oregon and Southwest Washington on Saturday, joining an international movement combating Elon Musks purge of the U.S. government under President Donald Trump. From Tigard to Portland and Vancouver, people joined protesters at roughly 500 Tesla dealerships across the world, according to activist organizers. UPS to lay off 244 workers at Swan Island facility Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having an unelected billionaire, tasked through executive fiat, to make changes to our government is deeply alarming and anti-democratic, noted protester Matt Geiger. But there were mixed feelings among those in attendance. There has been a lot of news in the past about people attacking Tesla dealerships, causing damage, starting fires, firing guns. And I completely support the First Amendment and peoples right to free speech and express their opinions, said Micah Kaufmann, a counter-protester. I do not support the idea of character assassination and property destruction and putting other people in harms way. Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Beaverton on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Beaverton on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Beaverton on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Beaverton on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Vancouver on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Vancouver on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) Protesters gather outside a Tesla dealership in Vancouver on Mar. 29, 2025. (KOIN) After joining the Trump administration, Musk has gone forward with policies to eliminate what he calls, waste fraud and abuse. This has resulted in cuts to federal funding, tens of thousands of job losses and the dismantlement of government agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN 6 News has reached out to the Tesla media team. This story will be updated when we hear back. Around the world Earlier protests have been somewhat sporadic. But Saturday marked the first attempt to surround all 277 of the automakers showrooms and service centers in the U.S. in hopes of deepening a recent decline in the companys sales. The Tesla Takedown movement also hoped to rally protestors at more than 230 Tesla locations in other parts of the world. Although the turnouts in Europe werent as large as the crowds in the U.S., the anti-Musk sentiment was similar. A protester holds a placard during a Tesla Takedown Global Day protest in front of a Tesla dealership, in Berlin, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Protesters attend the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action in front of a Tesla dealership, in Berlin, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Protestors gather in front of a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md., on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Wesley Lapointe/The Baltimore Banner via AP) Protestors gather in front of a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md., on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Wesley Lapointe/The Baltimore Banner via AP) Protestors gather in front of a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md., on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Wesley Lapointe/The Baltimore Banner via AP) Protestors gather in front of a Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md., on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Wesley Lapointe/The Baltimore Banner via AP) Protesters hold placards as they take part in the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action near a Tesla dealership in London, Saturday, March 29, 2025.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych) Protesters hold placards as they take part in the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action near a Tesla dealership in London, Saturday, March 29, 2025.(AP Photo/Thomas Krych) A protester holds a placard as she takes part in the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action near a Tesla dealership in Paris, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla) A protester holds a placard as he takes part in the Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action near a Tesla dealership, in Paris, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla) Tesla Takedown was organized by a group of supporters that included disillusioned owners of the automakers vehicles, celebrities such as actor John Cusack and at least one Democratic Party lawmaker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people opposed to Musk have gone beyond protests and set the automakers vehicles on fire and committed other acts of vandalism that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried as domestic terrorism. Musk indicated he was dumbfounded by the attacks during a March 20 company meeting and said the vandals should stop acting psycho. Crockett and other Tesla Takedown supporters have been stressing the importance for Saturdays protests to remain peaceful. But police were investigating a fire that destroyed seven Tesla vehicles in northwestern Germany early Saturday morning. It was wasnt immediately clear if the blaze, which was extinguished by firefighters, was related to the Tesla Takedown protests. 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 KOIN.com. Poland is considering reinstating compulsory military service in response to escalating threats from Russia and Belarus, defense officials told the outlet Polish Radio on March 29. Situated on NATO's eastern flank, Poland shares borders with Belarus and Russia's heavily militarized Kaliningrad exclave. The country has taken several steps to expand and strengthen its military since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The return of mandatory military service is "inevitable," Major General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of Poland's Armed Forces, told Polish Radio. Klisz cited Finland as a model example, noting the country has nearly one million reservists out of a population of 5.5 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To match that ratio, Poland would need to have 7 million reserve soldiers, Klisz said. Currently, the country has just over 300,000 reservists. Polish General Jaroslaw Kraszewski also spoke in favor of mandatory military service, according to Polish Radio. Kraszewski argued that women should be included in conscription as well as men. Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans on March 7 to implement large-scale military training for all adult men to strengthen the country's reserve forces. The program, set to begin in 2026, does not amount to a reinstatement of mandatory military service. Instead, participants without prior military experience are expected to undergo multi-day trainings covering the basics of civil defense, first aid, and select military skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tusk also said he hopes to increase the size of Poland's army currently numbering about 200,000 regular soldiers to better match the Russian threat. Poland would likely be among the first targets in a potential NATO-Russia confrontation. In January, Tusk urged NATO allies to increase defense spending, arguing that if all European members matched Poland's budget, NATO's military expenditures would be 10 times greater than Russia's. Read also: You cant trust Russians Europes Ukraine peacekeeping plans face one obvious hurdle Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The investigation into a 2020 homicide has revealed little new information since a man was shot dead on the West Side. According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Columbus police continue to seek leads into the fatal shooting of James Johnson, who was found with gunshot wounds inside a Honda Element on Oct. 20, 2020. Man wanted in 20-year-old Connecticut murder arrested in Dublin Officers arrived at a Sunoco gas station on Sullivant Avenue, where several shell casings were found in the parking lot of the business. A few minutes later, they responded to a shooting call at a United Dairy Farmers on Hague Avenue, where they found Johnson inside his vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The preliminary investigation revealed that two suspects, who remain unnamed, were involved in the shooting at the Sunoco gas station, and they fled the scene in a red and gold Pontiac Montana, which included a woman driving the vehicle. Johnson then reportedly drove to the UDF before police were called. Police are searching for two suspects in connection to a 2020 homicide at a Sullivant Avenue Sunoco gas station. Johnson was taken to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. For an earlier report on this story view the video player above. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 21-year-old man is dead, and another man is in custody, after a shooting late Saturday night in Olathe, Kansas, according to law enforcement. The Olathe Police Department reported that just before 10 p.m., officers were dispatched to a neighborhood near East Mart-Way Circle and North Mart-Way Drive for an unknown call. Upon arrival, OPD said a 21-year-old man, later identified as Landen Roggenkamp of Olathe, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was then taken to a hospital, where he reportedly died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man found dead following overnight shooting in Kansas City, Kansas According to Olathe police, a 25-year-old man was taken into custody following the shooting. Law enforcement said charges against the man are pending as the investigation is ongoing. There is no current threat to the public, and OPD asks that if you or anyone you know has information about the deadly shooting, call the police department at (913) 971-6363 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at (816) 474-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. ST. LOUIS An 18-year-old man is recovering after being shot in the Baden neighborhood early Saturday morning. The shooting happened on Switzer Avenue off Christian Avenue. When officers arrived, they found the victim in the backyard of his home suffering from gunshot wounds to his lower body. The teen told police he was standing outside when he heard multiple gunshots then suddenly felt pain. He ran to the back of the house and called for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was taken to the hospital in critical, but stable condition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has stated that Ukraine aims to "accelerate certain processes" in the US-led diplomatic efforts to end the Russo-Ukrainian war. Source: Sikorski in an interview with Polish TV channel TVN24, as reported by European Pravda. Details: According to Sikorski, his Ukrainian sources have expressed gratitude to the United States for de-escalating the situation, which could pave the way for American negotiations with Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin. However, he noted that "this goes against the canons of diplomacy". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "According to the established canon, first, a confidential channel of communication is opened, the intentions of the other party are clarified, then some means of trust are built, and the leaders only bless the agreement that is almost ready," said the Polish foreign minister. US President Donald Trump, he added, has his own "personal style". "But Ukrainians tell me that this creates hope for the acceleration of certain processes that they hope will lead to a lasting peace. So they are giving Donald Trump the credit of trust here," Sikorski said. Background: Following the talks in Saudi Arabia on 23-25 March, the US, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ban on attacks on energy facilities, but this arrangement has had no practical effect. Russia continues to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will prepare evidence of Russia's violation of the energy ceasefire and provide it to the United States, expecting a response. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! ROME (AP) Pope Francis frailty was on full view as he left Romes Gemelli hospital last Sunday after five weeks battling pneumonia that nearly killed him. He could barely lift his arms to bless the crowd. His eyes were sunken, face bloated. And he visibly gasped for breath as he was wheeled back inside from the balcony. Throughout history, the powerful have concealed their weaknesses. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, the most photographed figure of his era, took pains to hide his lame arm. Franklin Delano Roosevelt concealed the use of a wheelchair. More recently, former U.S. President Joe Biden shook off concerns about his cognitive abilities. By contrast, Francis, a spiritual and not political leader, has never been shy about showing weakness. For many, his willingness to be seen in all his infirmity serves as an example to young and old alike that fragility is part of the human condition and should be embraced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who cares if he had sunken eyes, who cares if he looks bloated? It is part of his life story. He knows it is going to end. I saw him as living his life. He wants to keep doing what he does best, said S. Jay Olshansky, a gerontologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The 88-year-old pope, who wielded power from his hospital suite, is representative of "a dramatic shift in the number of people making it to extreme old age, and a lot of people can continue to function at an extremely high level,'' Olshansky said, citing crystalized intelligence,'' the accumulation of knowledge and experience that allows better decision-making. Francis says experience Lenten through healing For Catholics, Francis frailty is integral to his ministry of inclusion, which preaches against treating people on the margins as disposable, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for Life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fragility for us believers is not to be avoided or excluded. On the contrary it is a great teaching, Paglia said in an interview. It is in sharp contrast with an efficiency-oriented culture, with a performance culture.'' In his traditional Angelus on Sunday, the pontiff urged the faithful to experience the Lenten period leading up to Easter as a period of healing. "I too am experiencing it this way, in my soul and in my body,'' Francis said in written text, the seventh straight Sunday that his illness has prevented him from delivering the blessing from a window over St. Peter's Square as usual. He also offered prayers for global trouble spots, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, stricken by war, and for the earthquake victims in Myanmar part of the pope's regular rhythm running the 1.3.-billion strong Catholic Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lesson in fragility of life The church "is not a state, or a company, it is a community of the faithful, a family. And in a family it is possible to give an authoritative leadership, also if not up to full physical strength,'' Paglia said. He added that it was an important lesson also for young people who should understand that they too are fragile, otherwise they close themselves off. Paglia this week opened a longevity summit at the Vatican, during which he underlined that as the population of elderly grows, there must be an attitude shift so that the longer life span is lived to its fullest. We need to rethink the idea of retirement. These 20, 30 years more must have also a cultural, human and spiritual weight for all the other age groups. They are not disposable, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Francesco Vaia, an advocate of rights for the disabled, also said the popes message is especially crucial in an aging world. The theme is not only to get older, but to be active, that is to give more quality to our longer lives, he said. We are moving towards an inclusive society, which is in contrast with a "throw-away world in which the weak, the disabled, the elderly are pushed aside.'' Lets overcome the superman and superwoman theory. We are men and women with our fragility, and disabilities, Vaia said, adding: "This pope can continue being pope. Even images of Francis with the nasal breathing tubes as he was driven to the Vatican normalizes a fact of life for many elderly who live with oxygen tanks. We should not be ashamed of this, Vaia said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope John Paul II, too, was often praised for showing his suffering during his long bout with Parkinsons disease. But the Vatican also went to great lengths to conceal his frailty. He was never seen in a wheelchair, for example, instead he was pushed on a rolling wooden chair or upon a moving platform. Francis by contrast arrives at events in wheelchairs, and is seen lifted into a more formal seat for Masses or to address the faithful. The pontiff also did not shy away from showing his weakened state from the hospital. An audio recording of his barely audible, labored voice was played in St. Peters Square three weeks into his hospitalization as a first sign of life. It was followed by a photograph of him co-celebrating Mass, taken from behind in his personal hospital chapel with the crucifix and altar the focal points. While Francis appearance on the hospital balcony did not necessarily project vitality, the doctor who coordinated his hospital treatment saw it as a sign of his strength. You saw when he looked out, he is fragile. But his strength is that he could give, even with some difficulty, the blessing, Dr. Sergio Alfieri said. He looked at the square, and he welcomed the woman with the yellow flowers, as if to say, I am maintaining a good mood. He is strong in this sense, a strong spirit." NORTHERN MICHIGAN Large swaths of Northern Michigan are without power as the second day of icy weather downs power lines, tree branches and creates hazardous driving conditions. As of 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, Consumers Energy was reporting 695 outages with 43,948 people affected. Great Lakes Energy was reporting 406 outages affecting 43,926 customers. Cloverland Electric Cooperative reported at 7 a.m. that they had 1,257 outages across nine townships in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Ice damaged trees and power lines are seen in Gaylord on Sunday, March 30, 2025. According to a press release from Great Lakes Energy issued Sunday morning, customers in nine counties are without power, with the number of those affected rising significantly overnight after reports of falling trees and extensive damage to power lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people lost their power again after it had been restored once before on Saturday. Great Lakes Energy outage map, as of 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Great Lakes Energy officials expect the restoration effort to take multiple days. Damage to the cooperatives electric infrastructure is extensive with many broken poles and downed wires, according to the press release. Heavy ice has brought down trees both into power lines and in roadways making them impassable in some locations. GLE line crews are working in conjunction with contractors and neighboring cooperative utility assistance to restore power safely. Tree trimming crews have also been called in to aid in the effort. Downed wires have also created treacherous driving conditions. One example is at M-68 (Sturgeon Street) at Rotter Road in Cheboygan County, which was closed early Sunday morning due to downed power lines in the road. CCE Central Dispatch, covering Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties, issued a warning on Facebook urging people not to travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is strongly encouraged to stay off the roads today due to power lines and trees still in the road and more are continuing to fall, the post reads. CCE also noted that St. Matthews Church, 1303 Boyne Ave. in Boyne City, and Lighthouse Missionary Church, 7824 Rogers Road in East Jordan, are open as warming shelters for those in need. According to the National Weather Service Office in Gaylord, an ice storm warning remains in effect for Alpena, Montmorency, Otsego, Charlevoix, Alcona, Crawford, Oscoda, Cheboygan, Emmet and Presque Isle counties, and Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Beaver Island and surrounding islands until noon. Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Power outages sweep across Northern Michigan due to ice storm March 2025 A pilot parking project in downtown Lincoln is underway, part of city officials plans to update the downtown corridors and create dynamic parking along a portion of O Street. For 60 days, parking along the 1300 and 1400 blocks of O Street has changed from two-hour metered parking to short-term loading zones during key hours. Handicap-accessible spaces will remain unchanged. Before the pilot began, the city installed cameras on traffic signal arms and streetlight poles in the area to evaluate curbside and traffic activity. Now theyll try out the new parking strategy to see if or how they want to implement it on O Street from Ninth Street to Centennial Mall. The goal: to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and gather data that will help shape improvements to the safety and convenience of curb areas downtown, said Urban Development Director Peter Hind. Were looking at how we can make downtown more welcoming, more efficient and more enjoyable for everyone who lives, works, visits or does business here, he said. The downtown corridors project involves upgrades to the major downtown corridors to make them safer, more attractive and encourage people to linger there and includes a music district on 14th Street. It includes four corridors: Ninth Street from K to S streets; 10th Street from K to S streets; 11th Street from N to Q streets and 14th Street from O to P streets. The pilot program changes include: transitioning parking along that stretch of O Street to 30-minute loading zones from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and 15-minute pick-up/drop-off zones from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Renting space The city is leasing about 4.5 acres on the eastern half of the landfill site to NEBCO, a construction company that plans to submit a bid to build the new state prison nearby. A lease agreement approved by the City Council says NEBCO plans to submit bids for the work and, if it gets the bid, would use the city land as a staging area to assemble necessary structural components for the new $350 million, 1,500-bed prison. NEBCO will pay $12,000 a year to the city to use the land, which is across the street from where the prison will be built on 300 acres just north of Interstate 80 near 70th Street and McKelvie Road. The lease agreement will end no later than Dec. 31, 2027, the agreement says, and the work wont interfere with the operation of the landfill. The lease will become effective when NEBCO notifies the city. The state broke ground on the controversial new prison in August and at the time state officials said they wouldnt settle on a contractor until early this year. The prison wont be operational until at least 2027. The location of the prison created a furor in 2023, when Gov. Jim Pillen announced the state would build the prison on a 307-acre plot near 112th and Adams streets near one of the fastest growing parts of the city, which drew immediate backlash from residents and local officials. The city had initially declined the states offer to buy land near the landfill, but less than two weeks later Pillen and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird struck a deal to move the site to the city-owned site near the landfill. Taking a break The City Council took an abrupt and unplanned break at its last meeting when a woman who has become a regular at the weekly meetings to protest the war in Gaza began reading a letter from Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Anastasia Fenner began reading the letter during the consent agenda, where public comment is supposed to be limited to items on the agenda. Fenner has spoken during the consent agenda before but typically makes some loose connection to one of the items before launching into criticism of the war and the fact that the City Council hasnt taken a stand against General Dynamics, a weapons manufacturing plant in Lincoln. On Monday, she made no such connection and Council Chairwoman Sandra Washington asked her several times to pause, presumably to ask what agenda item she was speaking on. When she didnt respond, Washington called a break, the council and staff got up and left the room and the livestream was stopped and the microphones went silent. Fenner didnt. She kept reading, while a police officer approached and waited for her to finish then led her from the room. Washington said she defends anyones right to speak, but during the meeting's regular agenda wasnt the right time, and she worried such behavior would continue to happen if she didn't stop it. The only thing I could think of was a recess, she said. Thats the first time the council has resorted to a recess when a speaker hasn't follow the rules, though there has been at least one instance when the council routinely filled with speakers during the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests that the council recessed briefly when two different sides of an issue began to get agitated. As a result of those protests, the council began prohibiting people from carrying signs in the chamber. A couple of years ago, a speaker who ended his comment by lighting a joint didnt prompt a recess, though a police officer did lead him away and ticketed him for possession of marijuana and smoking in a prohibited place. Fenner wasnt ticketed. Washington said shes welcome to speak about whatever issues she wants during the open public comment period. I dont want her arrested, but I dont want to give her a platform to speak out of turn, she said. When she wants to speak at council during open public comment I will welcome her back. The letter Fenner was reading was written by Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University who played a prominent role in the universitys protests against Israel. A permanent resident with a green card, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents came to his apartment and took him into custody earlier this month. A small group of protesters of the war in Gaza have been regulars at City Council meetings for more than a year, speaking during the open comment period of council meetings. The size of the group has waned in recent months, but Fenner is there every week. Protesters initially wanted the City Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, as more than 100 cities did early on in the war. When it became clear the council would not do that, they turned their focus to General Dynamics, a weapons manufacturer in Lincoln. The company manufactures weapons used by Israel in the war. For months, protesters who showed up painted their palms red to indicate the city had blood on its hands for not taking some kind of stand against the company. "You're always discovering new things with Versailles, it's never-ending!" enthuses Martine at the start of our tour. The guide has been wandering the countless aisles of the chateau for 15 years now, but according to her, there are still many secrets to be revealed behind the thick walls. Among them, the Salle du Congres and the president's apartment, open to the public... But first things first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our visit begins under the gilding of the Royal Opera House, a place steeped in history and elegance. It was here that Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette celebrated their wedding in 1770. Related A century later, the parliamentarians of the Third French Republic (1870-1940) held their meetings here. As the popular uprising set France ablaze, the chateau of the kings became a refuge for the republicans. Quite a symbol. The Republican Guard in the Stone Gallery during a congress of Parliament - Chateau de Versailles/D. Saulnier A president in the king's home It is precisely this transition both architectural and political that is at the heart of a unique tour now available to the public to mark the 150th anniversary of the Wallon amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was the text that gave birth to the Senate and the National Assembly and introduced the election of the President by these two chambers. The Third Republic, until then a provisional regime, was then ratified. "This is a somewhat forgotten episode in our political history," explains Christophe Leribault, President of the Chateau. "This visit gives us an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the still little-known Versailles of the 19th century." The hemicycle known as the 'Congress Room' can seat 1,500 people - Chateau de Versailles/D. Saulnier The immense hemicycle known as the Salle du Congres, built in 1875 to accommodate this new parliament, contrasts sharply with the Versailles of the Sun King. Gone are the lilies on a blue background, replaced by red velvet armchairs. "We didn't expect to see this here at all," says Capucine. "It's a modern touch, and we look at the chateau differently," adds her mother, Florence. It is in this hemicycle that the President of the Republic convenes Parliament and that the Constitution can be amended - Chateau de Versailles/D. Saulnier For the first time, the flat of the president of the Congress was also unveiled. This is where the ballot papers for the presidential election were counted. Fifteen presidents were elected at Versailles until 1954. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This flat is now used on rare occasions by the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate. The President of Congress's apartment is now used by the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. - Chateau de Versailles/D. Saulnier Bringing the French back to Versailles Although MPs and senators eventually left Versailles to move back to Paris in 1879, the Third Republic left its lasting mark on the chateau. Versailles is not just the Hall of Mirrors, it is a high place of power and French history. It was only in the Versailles hemicycle that the French President could convene Parliament. It is here that the Constitution is enriched, as it was on 4 March 2024 when women's right to an abortion was enshrined in the constitution. "It was my first day as President of the Chateau, and the place was buzzing with MPs, senators and journalists. That convinced me that these rooms had to be opened, because Versailles is more than just the Hall of Mirrors; it's a mecca of power and French history", recalls Christophe Leribault. The appartement of the president of Congress - Chateau de Versailles/D. Saulnier Some 8.4 million people visited the chateau last year. Of these, 80% were foreign tourists, and the President of the chateau is on a mission to change that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's important to open other rooms so that French and Parisian visitors want to come back to Versailles," he says. "It's great that there are visitors from all over the world, but it's also important that this heritage remains ours". Could this also be an opportunity to reconcile the French with a controversial site? Last year more than eight million people visited the Palace of Versailles - Chateau de Versailles/T. Garnier A legacy of power Over the years, the Chateau de Versailles has become an invaluable tool and backdrop for French diplomacy. But it is also a politically dangerous place. President Emmanuel Macron regularly pays the price for using it, and has been criticised for receiving heads of state and multinational bosses there with great fanfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It can give off a rather blinged-out and haughty image, disconnected from reality," confides Denis, a regular visitor to the chateau. Related That's the paradox of Versailles: a symbol of monarchical and republican power alike, at once reviled for its opulence and admired for its magnificence. These fascinating and very French contradictions are brought to light in this original tour retracing 150 years of republican history. The exhibition is open to the public every weekend, with guided tours on weekdays until the end of September. A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2025. Credit - Saul LoebGetty Images Since President Donald Trump has returned to the Oval Office, Social Securitya program which sends retirement and disability benefits to over 70 million peoplehas been the subject of many conversations. Although Trump initially assured voters that Social Security wouldnt be touched, there have since been reports of potential staff and office cuts spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A new policy by the Social Security Administration (SSA) was announced on March 18, with a plan to enforce online and in-person identity proofing as opposed to that which can be done over the phone. This was an attempt to implement stronger identity verification procedures, the press release said. The changes were initially scheduled to go into effect on March 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after much confusion and backlash, the SSA backtracked on some of the new measures and also extended the timeline, allowing more time for the systemand Social Security recipientsto prepare for the new identity proofing requirements. Heres what you need to know ahead of the new Social Security identification policy. What are the new Social Security ID policies? The new SSA ID policy includes a transition to requiring stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changesidentity proofing that can no longer happen over the phone for most beneficiaries of Social Security. Recipients will instead have to verify their identity via an online account, but those who do not have an account will need to prove their identity in-person at an SSA field office. People can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the SSA, the updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits for millions of Americans against fraudulent activity. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is leading the charge with DOGE, previously characterized Social Security as the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time, claiming that the program is riddled with fraud and waste. Some experts have stated that the levels of fraud within the Social Security system are not as prominent as the Trump Administration says. During a March 29 interview on MSNBC, Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota who serves on the Senate Finance Committee, voiced concerns about the Trump Administration and DOGEs intentions regarding Social Security. Theyre creating so much chaos and havoc in this system, its causing so much anxiety for my constituents and people all over the country, she said. I will tell you, I could see my Republican colleagues on the Finance Committee this week, as we were clearing the nominee [Frank Bisignano] for Social Security Administration, reflecting back the anxiety theyre getting from their constituents. But at the same time, are they willing to do anything to stop this? Apparently not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Bisignanos hearing on March 25, Smith declined to ask a question and instead made a statement. This is a travesty. We can see whats going on here this is a wholesale effort to dismantle Social Security from the inside-out. This is not about rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, she said. Speaking on MSNBC, Smith said Bisignano was deflecting during his hearing, and cast doubt on his assurances that he would protect Social Security. Read More: What Is Happening to Social Security Under the Trump Administration and Should You Be Concerned About Yours? Who will be affected by these new policies and who is exempt? The new policy initially drew criticism from lawmakers and advocates who stated that it alienated those for whom it would be incredibly difficult to make in-person visits to SSA field officesincluding those in rural communities far away from offices, those with disabilities, and seniors. AARP, formerly the American Association for Retired Persons, posted a statement, requesting the SSA rethink these requirements, pointing out that requiring rural Americans to go into an office can mean having to take a day off of work and drive for hours merely to fill out paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Bisignanos hearing, he answered questions about these changes from lawmakers worried about the alienation of citizens. Sen. Elizabeth Warren posed a hypothetical scenario to Bisignano in which a senior with a disability has trouble with traveling to a field office and is eventually turned away. She asked him: Is that a benefit cut? To which he replied: I have no intent to have anything like that happen under my watch. On March 26, the SSA posted an update to these new changes, stating that some people will be exempt from these new rules, allowing people applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to complete their claim by other means. We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the countrys most vulnerable populations, Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, said in the update. 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. All other beneficiaries who are unable to use the online portal must still visit an in-person SSA office, that includes people applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits. However, the agency states that this will not be enforced in extreme dire-need situations. These extreme scenarios include terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenariosthough the agency says it is still working on a process that will allow for these cases to bypass the new policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: What Is SNAP and What Challenges Is It Facing Under the Trump Administration? When will the new Social Security ID policy go into effect? With the new shift in policy, the update from the SSA announced a delay in the timeline of the new identity proofing requirements, stating the changes will apply to all beneficiaries beginning April 14. This was in part due to an attempt to have more time to train employees. The changes come amid the SSA denying reports that they are closing multiple field offices. Since Jan. 1, 2025, the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office, the SSA statement read. From time to time, SSA must temporarily close a local field office for reasons such as weather, damage, or facilities issues, and it reopens when the issues are resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, experts worry that with planned staff cuts, it may be harder for beneficiaries to receive benefits. Pamela Herd, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, told TIME on March 26 that the effects are already being felt. People are waiting for hours to get through on the phone and then getting cut off before they can actually talk to a representative. The field offices, that honestly were already a bit overwhelmed [already], are now completely overwhelmed, she said. So there's a real disconnect between the statement, I'm not going to cut benefits, and in practice, what is going on in the agency. How to prepare for the new ID policy Those who are not applying for Medicare, Disability, and SSI should prepare for the new ID policy by creating a my Social Security account on the SSA website, if they do not already have one. That way, they will not have to provide identification in-person. This option is the easiest and most secure way to verify ones identity, according to the SSA. People can create their account through either one of two credential service providers: Login.gov or ID.me, and they must have a valid email address. For those who are unable to utilize the my Social Security account and therefore must go to a field office in-person, the SSA allows for several different kinds of primary and secondary proofs of identity, including a driver's license, passport, alien or voter registration card, or union card to verify your identity. The SSA has its own priority list of acceptable identification documents listed online. Contact us at letters@time.com. Prince Harry lost a venue hired for his African charity Sentebale because he wanted to bring a Netflix camera crew along with him, the chairperson of the charity has claimed. In an interview with the UKs Sky News Sunday morning, Dr Sophie Chandauka said an opportunity for Sentebale to do a charity Polo Challenge in Miami was ruined when Harry made the request to bring his Netflix camera crew along. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandauka said: About a month before the event was about to take place, Prince Harry called the team and said, Im doing a Netflix show, and I would love to bring a camera crew so that I can include some footage in this show,' she said. And so the team called me and told me, Oh, Prince Harrys made this request, so were doing the things. I said, You cant be doing the things without seeking consent from the property owners, the sponsors, all the guests. Nobody signed up to being on a Netflix show. She added: We come up with draft agreements and of course, the venue owner says this is now a commercial undertaking. So here are my terms. We couldnt afford it. So now we lost the venue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry was able to come up with another venue for the event in April 2024, after which there was much scrutiny of Meghan Markles presence and the choreography on stage, with Markle requesting Chandauka move to the other side of her, away from Harry, for photographs. Chandauka told Sky News about the replacement event: Were excited about it. We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time, but we didnt, Dr Chandauka said. And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage. The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Harry asked me to issue some sort of a statement in support of the Duchess, and I said I wouldnt. Not because I didnt care about the Duchess, but because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes. Harry and his co-founder quit the charity last week, issuing a statement slamming the operations of Chandauka and her colleagues. The chairperson remains in position, and she slammed this statement Sunday morning calling it: A damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors was an attack and an example of harassment and bullying at scale. The Daily Mail newspaper reached out to Prince Harrys team for comment, and quoted their response describing Dr Chandaukas claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was unleashed on her as completely baseless. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images On Thursday, March 27, it was revealed that King Charles had been hospitalized amid his ongoing cancer treatment. However, it's since been suggested that Buckingham Palace shared the news with the general public before Charles's son, Prince Harry, was informed. Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles had been "experiencing temporary side effects during cancer treatment," which led to his brief hospitalization, via the BBC. The monarch canceled several official engagements that had been set to take place on March 28, and instead returned home to Clarence House on Thursday night. The following day, he was photographed leaving London by car for his private home, Highgrove House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Sun, an insider claimed that Prince Harry wasn't told about his father's hospitalization prior to the public announcement because Buckingham Palace didn't want to "cause unnecessary alarm." "[I]t looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media when it was announced publicly to the rest of the world," the Express reported. King Charles waves from his car as he leaves Clarence House in London on March 28. | Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images On March 27, Buckingham Palace said in a statement, "Tomorrow, [King Charles] was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion." The statement continued, "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." "It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media." | Credit: Ken Goff/Getty Images As for the severity of King Charles's symptoms, which led to his hospitalization, Buckingham Palace said it was the "most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction." OSLO, Norway (AP) A rocket by a private European aerospace company launched from Norway on Sunday and crashed into the sea 30 seconds later. Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said that it successfully completed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle by launching its Spectrum rocket from the island of Andya in northern Norway. The 28-meter-long (92-foot-long) Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle specifically designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the pad at 12:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) Sunday and flew for about a half-minute before the flight was terminated, Isar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions, Isar said in a statement. After the flight was terminated at T+30 seconds, the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner. Video from the launch shows the rocket taking off from the pad, flying into the air and then coming back down to crash into the sea in a fiery explosion. The launch was subject to various factors, including weather and safety, and Sunday's liftoff followed a week of poor conditions, including a scrubbed launch on March 24 because of unfavorable winds, and on Saturday for weather restrictions. Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success, Daniel Metzler, Isars chief executive and co-founder, said in the statement. We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company had largely ruled out the possibility of the rocket reaching orbit on its first complete flight, saying that it would consider a 30-second flight a success. Isar Aerospace aims to collect as much data and experience as possible on the first integrated test of all the systems on its in-house-developed launch vehicle. Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 member states. Success to get off the pad, and lots of data already obtained. I am sure @isaraerospace will learn a lot," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher posted on X. "Rocket launch is hard. Never give up, move forward with even more energy! ESA has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana an overseas department of France in South America and from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Bernie Sanders has built one of the most durable movements in American politics. But many inside and outside of it are worrying what happens when he's gone. Sanders, at 83, is not interested in running for president for a third time . And while his barnstorming across the country with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looked to some Democrats like a straightforward case of anointing his successor for the 2028 presidential campaign, progressives who know both elected officials said Sanders' calculation and hers is far less clear. Sanders confidants said he is not the type of politician to hand-pick his next in line. People who know Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said she is non-committal or, as her friend former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) put it, if the spirit moves her, she'll do it but she has to be moved by the spirit. The result, to many progressives, is that for everything Sanders has done for the left, the independent senator from Vermont is also potentially leaving an agonizing vacuum behind him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saikat Chakrabarti, a former top aide to Ocasio-Cortez who has launched a campaign against Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), said that Sanders has been calling for people to run, and he's calling for some sort of political revolution. But, he added, I haven't seen anything that's indicating that he's setting up infrastructure for something bigger than calling for it. Its a significant challenge for a wing of the Democratic Party that won the runner-up spot in two consecutive presidential primaries and that has found renewed energy in President Donald Trumps second term . And Sanders alleged disinterest in succession-planning is hardly the only reason for the gap, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Sanders campaign alumni and other progressive operatives are fervently hoping that Ocasio-Cortez runs for the White House. With her star power, communication skills and fundraising prowess, they see her as uniquely qualified to pick up the mantle of the Sanders movement. But people close to Ocasio-Cortez said it isnt clear she wants to run. One thing could inspire Ocasio-Cortez to jump into the 2028 presidential contest, according to Bowman: if there is a void in the race. Other allies of hers agreed that she would be disinclined to jump in unless she sees that deficit. The only way she ends up running is if things continue the way they're going, where it's just going down this dark path and no one really steps up, said a person familiar with Ocasio-Cortezs thinking who was granted anonymity to speak frankly. And she kind of gets pressured into it, like she just feels it's her moral obligation to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, the person added, Shed love for someone to be leading the party. A second person familiar with Ocasio-Cortezs thinking cast her posture toward a potential run slightly differently, saying, Shes more not focused on running for president than she is uninterested in it. Still, people in Ocasio-Cortezs orbit said that she had to be persuaded to run for the House in the first place. They have described her experience of becoming famous overnight as, at times, taking a toll on her. And theyve insisted that she is not carefully plotting her exact moves. She doesn't think the same way that so many other people do. She's not thinking about, like, Oh, what's the next step on the ladder? said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She really thinks about what's right for the movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 35, Ocasio-Cortez has other paths available to her besides an imminent run for the White House, her allies say. She could continue building relationships in Congress and take a leadership role there. Some Democrats have encouraged her to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the New York primary in 2028 after he roiled his party by voting to advance a GOP funding bill that avoided a government shutdown. In a brief interview, Ocasio-Cortez declined to discuss a potential Senate bid, saying that her central focus is ensuring that the Democratic Party stands up for working Americans and works to stop GOP budget cuts. This is about the decisions that we made collectively and that we continue to make collectively as a party and a shift in strategy, Ocasio-Cortez said when asked about whether Schumer should stay on as leader. An Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up question about possible presidential ambitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders was the second-place finisher in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries, as well as a prolific small-dollar fundraiser. His friends and allies have said that he is not interested in running for president for a third time in 2028 . Any candidate who can win over his supporters would have a key advantage in the next Democratic primary. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are said to have a warm relationship and have been touring together for a series of rallies. Ari Rabin-Havt, Sanders former deputy campaign manager, said the Vermont senator has a tremendous amount of respect for her. Ocasio-Cortez served as a volunteer organizer for Sanders 2016 campaign, endorsed him in his 2020 presidential bid at a pivotal moment, and has headlined rallies and introduced bills with him over the years. She installed former top Sanders aide Mike Casca as her chief of staff. But Sanders is generally opposed to its-your-turn politics, his friends and allies said, though they did not outright dismiss the possibility of him offering an endorsement in an upcoming presidential race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He doesn't believe in nepotism or that form of power where you hand your power to somebody. He believes people should step up because it's the right thing, said Rabin-Havt. The truth is that it's not Bernie's job to hand his movement over. If another politician wants to take over that movement, it's their job to go out and show they deserve it. Some progressives have complained that Sanders takes that tendency to the extreme. People who have worked with Sanders said it can be extraordinarily difficult to convince him to endorse candidates for office. When his son, Levi Sanders, ran for Congress in 2018, he did not endorse him. Sanders aides have pushed back against such criticisms, saying he has endorsed numerous candidates, fundraised for them, and promoted liberal organizations. Theyve also argued that Sanders is unfairly expected to alone make up for the fact that the progressive left lacks the institutional infrastructure wielded by moderate Democrats. Sanders has also said that his current goal is to create an organization to find candidates to run as progressive Democrats and independents. But even if Sanders went so far as to say that Ocasio-Cortez is his heir apparent, progressives said, its not obvious that would clear things up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If AOC wants to take leadership in this moment, that's on her to take leadership, said Chakrabarti. The people who come to these rallies, theyre not into heir-based politics. Ocasio-Cortez is not the only progressive could potentially vie for Sanders mantle and endorsement in 2028. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Sanders 2020 campaign co-chair, has talked to Democrats about his potential interest in a presidential campaign. Khanna also has a relationship with Sanders, endorsed his 2020 campaign out of the gate, and was urged by some of Sanders former top advisers to launch a bid in 2024 in the event that then-President Joe Biden did not seek a second term. Khanna recently told CNN that there would be a lot of support for Ocasio-Cortez if she challenged Schumer. In a text to POLITICO, Khanna brushed aside a question about whether the Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez tour affected his future ambitions, saying I love what Bernie and AOC are doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crowds show people are angry at the cuts to Medicaid and education and concerned about their fellow citizens, he said. The Trump administration has awakened a sleeping giant ordinary Americans are shedding off their apathy. I have never been more hopeful for what we can build. Sanders is often visibly annoyed when asked about political calculations, which he is known to dismiss as Beltway gossip. In a recent interview with ABC, he said Ocasio-Cortez is extraordinary and inspires young people all over the country. Asked if hed like to see her in the Senate, he almost ended the interview. "You want to do nonsense, do nonsense," he said. "I don't want to talk about inside-the-Beltway stuff." Brakkton Booker and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report. What started as a lone man's mid-February protest against Elon Musk outside a Golden Valley Tesla dealership has ballooned into a weekly demonstration that on a blustery Saturday attracted more than 500 people. Protest songs played from speakers amid chants and cars honking in support of the peaceful, sign-waving protestors. Across the country, protests outside Tesla dealerships have become a weekly fixture, as Americans voice their displeasure with the companys CEO, Elon Musk, who has assumed a powerful role in the administration of President Donald Trump and is overseeing the slashing of tens of thousands of federal jobs and scything cuts to government programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest outside the Golden Valley started with a lone demonstrator braving the frigid cold on February 15, but has grown by the week to the point that hundreds are now protesting Musk's role in the U.S. government every Saturday morning. Protesters outside the Golden Valley Tesla showroom on Saturday, Mar. 29, 2025.Chad Davis Whats Musk got to do with our f***ing government? Why is he calling the shots? says Mike Johnson, a veteran of the Vietnam War and Minneapolis resident who held a large American flag across the street from the Golden Valley dealership. Like others present on Saturday, Johnson cites a litany of reasons for showing up. This is a broad level of corruption," he says. "They cut down VA spending. Im a veteran. I get all my healthcare through the VA. Its lower on staffing now. ICE is pulling people off the streets in f***ing masks, not even in uniform." Related: ICE agents detain University of Minnesota student in Twin Cities Others cite the thousands of government employees who have lost jobs at the hands of Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as well as the president hosting what many viewed as a car commercial for Tesla in front of the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like being quiet is accepting the horrible things that are going on in America, and I refuse to be silent, said Pam Dahlager of Burnsville, who added that shes new to protesting." The backlash against Musk and Tesla has manifested in criminality in some cases, with multiple reports of Tesla vehicles, chargers and showrooms being targets for vandalism and arson in recent weeks. But in Golden Valley, organizers promote the peaceful nature of the protest, telling those involved not to obstruct traffic in and around the showroom. Signs waved along the street called out a wide spectrum of issues that involve Musk's activities in the government, including his campaigning efforts around the Wisconsin state Supreme Court election. The first protester outside Tesla in Golden Valley, holding up a sign Chad Davis His actions there have come under scrutiny, with the purported richest man on the planet's Super PAC offering to pay prospective voters $100 if they sign a petition pledging to vote for conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went further this week, saying he would hold a rally in Wisconsin in which he would give away a $1 million to two people attending, with attendance limited to people who had already voted in the Supreme Court race. Musk deleted a tweet about the giveaway on Friday, with the Wisconsin Attorney General saying he would seek a court order to stop it. Musk later clarified that hes giving $2 million to people who would act as spokesmen for an online petition opposing "activist" judges. "These are not American values, says Alan Thometz, of St. Paul, at the Golden Valley rally. Meanwhile, Musk told FOX News' Brett Baier that the ongoing protests are the result of a propaganda campaign against the company, adding that the administration will go after the individuals behind the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre being fed propaganda by the far-left, and they believe it, Musk said. "The real problem is not, like, you know, the crazy guy that firebombs a Tesla dealership. Its the people pushing the propaganda that caused that guy to do it. Those are the real villains here, and were going to go after them. And the president has made it clear were going to go after them." In the background of those accusations, Tesla stock has struggled since the beginning of the year. While protests may have impacted the company, industry experts cite a string of other obstacles facing Tesla, including a growing negative view of its CEO. A CNN/SSRS poll says 53% of Americans have an "unfavorable opinion" of Musk, while 35% have a positive view. More importantly, the company has reportedly seen declining sales in Europe and China, where there is stiff competition in the electric vehicle market. The company has also recalled 46,000 Cybertrucks earlier this month, per Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla did not respond to a request for comment about the protests. Whatever the reason for Teslas stock decline, the protests have continued. And while many at the rally said they arent sure what effect these protests will ultimately have, they see it as an opportunity to have their voice heard. "Very hard to say if itll make a difference, but the more people that show up, the louder a message it sends, Thometz says. "Whether that message is received and acted on is a whole other issue. But weve got to send the message to start with." SAN FRANCISCO Crowds protesting billionaire Elon Musks purge of the U.S. government under President Donald Trump began amassing outside Tesla dealerships throughout the U.S. and in some cities in Europe on Saturday in the latest attempt to dent the fortune of the worlds richest man. The protesters are trying to escalate a movement targeting Tesla dealerships and vehicles in opposition to Musks role as the head of the newly created Department of of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, where he has gained access to sensitive data and shuttered entire agencies as he attempts to slash government spending. The biggest portion of Musks estimated $340 billion fortune consists of his stock in the electric vehicle company, which continues to run while also working alongside Trump. After earlier demonstrations that were somewhat sporadic, Saturday marked the first attempt to surround all 277 of the automakers showrooms and service centers in the U.S. in hopes of deepening a recent decline in the companys sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By early afternoon crowds ranging from a few dozen to hundreds of protesters had flocked to Tesla locations in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota and the automakers home state of Texas. Pictures posted on social media showed protesters brandishing signs such as Honk if you hate Elon and Fight the billionaire broligarchy. As the day progressed, the protests cascaded around the country outside Tesla locations in major cities such as Washington, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Seattle, as well as towns in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Smaller groups of counterprotesters also showed up at some sites. Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go! several dozen people chanted outside a showroom in Dublin, California, about 35 miles east of San Francisco, while a smaller cluster of Trump supporters waved American flags across the street. A much larger crowd circled another showroom in nearby Berkeley, chanting slogans to the beat of drums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were living in a fascist state, said Dennis Fagaly, a retired high school teacher from neighboring Oakland, and we need to stop this or well lose our whole country and everything that is good about the United States. The Tesla Takedown movement also hoped to rally protesters at more than 230 locations in other parts of the world. Although the turnouts in Europe were not as large, the anti-Musk sentiment was similar. About two dozen people held signs lambasting the billionaire outside a dealership in London as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support. One sign displayed depicted Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration. A person in a Tyrannosaurus rex costume held another sign with a picture of Musks straight-arm gesture that said, You thought the Nazis were extinct. Dont buy a Swasticar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just want to get loud, make noise, make people aware of the problems that were facing, said Cam Whitten, an American who showed up at the London protest. Tesla Takedown was organized by a group of supporters that included disillusioned owners of the automakers vehicles, celebrities such as actor John Cusack, and at least one Democratic Party lawmaker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Dallas. Im going to keep screaming in the halls of Congress. I just need you all to make sure you all keep screaming in the streets, Crockett said during an organizing call this month. Another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Pramila Jaypal, showed up at a protest in Seattle, which she represents in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people have gone beyond protest, setting Tesla vehicles on fire or committing other acts of vandalism that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried as domestic terrorism. In a March 20 company meeting, Musk indicated that he was dumbfounded by the attacks and said the vandals should stop acting psycho. Crockett and other Tesla Takedown supporters have been stressing the importance of Saturdays protests remaining peaceful. But police were investigating a fire that destroyed seven Teslas in northwestern Germany in the early morning. It was not immediately clear if the blaze, which was extinguished by firefighters, was related to the protests. In Watertown, Massachusetts, local police reported that the side mirror of a black pickup struck two people at a protest outside a Tesla service center, according to the Boston Herald. The suspect was promptly identified by police at the scene, who said there were no serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A growing number of consumers who bought Tesla vehicles before Musk took over DOGE have been looking to sell or trade them in, while others have slapped on bumper stickers seeking to distance themselves from him. But Musk did not appear concerned about an extended slump in new sales in the March meeting, during which he reassured the workers that the companys Model Y would remain the best-selling car on Earth again this year. He also predicted that Tesla will have sold more than 10 million cars worldwide by next year, up from about 7 million currently. There are times when there are rocky moments, where there is stormy weather, but what I am here to tell you is that the future is incredibly bright and exciting, Musk said. After Trump was elected last November, investors initially saw Musks alliance with the president as a positive development for Tesla and its long-running efforts to launch a network of self-driving cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That optimism helped lift Teslas stock by 70 percent between the election and Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration, creating an additional $560 billion in shareholder wealth. But virtually all those gains have evaporated amid investor worries about the backlash, lagging sales in the U.S., Europe and China, and Musk spending time overseeing DOGE. This continues to be a moment of truth for Musk to navigate this brand tornado crisis moment and get onto the other side of this dark chapter for Tesla, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a recent research note. BELCHERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) Protestors held signs across the state ahead of Karen Reads second murder trial. As jury selection for Karen Reads second trial starts on Tuesday, standouts took place across the country. A group of supporters held signs outside Hampshire County District Court on Sunday, demanding justice for the suspected murderer of Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. Karen Reads final pretrial hearing being held Tuesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denise Paquin of Barre is an advocate for Read. She expressed her disappointment with the outcome of the first trial, pointing to what she believed were inconsistencies in the states case. I dont understand why they didnt come back with a not guilty verdict, Paquin said. To me, there seemed to be an awful lot of discrepancies. Protests were also seen in other communities around the state. Reads second trial will also come with a change in her counsel. Victoria George, an alternate juror to Reads first trial, will now be added as one of her attorneys. Reads defense team claims shes being framed for the murder. Some supporters of the Free Karen Read movement believe the police are at the root of the framing and more should be done at the top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Colonel Noble really needs to restructure the State Police, Paquin said. Prosecutors argue that Read is the only person who could have killed OKeefe. 22News will provide updates on the Karen Read case on air and online. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Anti-Elon Musk protesters held a Global Day of Action on Saturday, with demonstrations happening around the world. In Las Vegas, around 100 people gathered outside an east valley Tesla dealership. People both for and against Musks Department of Government Efficiencys (DOGE) cuts to the federal government took to opposite sides of the entrance to the Tesla dealership near Sahara Avenue and Boulder Highway. Protestors against Musk took up the full length of sidewalk in between entrances to the dealership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exercising my First Amendment rights to express myself over an important issue, protestor Mark Martinsek said. Weve got an unelected foreigner taking care of the firing of thousands of federal employees. Anti-Elon Musk protesters held a Global Day of Action on Saturday, with demonstrations happening around the world. In the Las Vegas, around 100 people gathered outside an east valley Tesla dealership. (KLAS) Anti-Elon Musk protesters held a Global Day of Action on Saturday, with demonstrations happening around the world. In the Las Vegas, around 100 people gathered outside an east valley Tesla dealership. (KLAS) Anti-Elon Musk protesters held a Global Day of Action on Saturday, with demonstrations happening around the world. In the Las Vegas, around 100 people gathered outside an east valley Tesla dealership. (KLAS) Anti-Elon Musk protesters held a Global Day of Action on Saturday, with demonstrations happening around the world. In the Las Vegas, around 100 people gathered outside an east valley Tesla dealership. (KLAS) Across the sidewalk stood counter-protestors in support of Musk and President Donald Trump. The occasional shouting match took place between the two groups, but protests remained peaceful. A pro-Musk demonstrator named Anthony said those on the other side of the dealership need to wait and see. They believe that we are going to be destroyed. We are not going to be destroyed, OK? Anthony said. I know, and so, life is great for the United States going to be great for everybody. Just wait, be patient people. I have nothing against them, theyre American citizens like me, have nothing against them. But just wait for the results and see whats going on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Las Vegas police make arrest for targeted attack at Tesla center Las Vegas Metro Police officers were on scene at the protest as they continue to keep an eye on Tesla buildings in the valley after last weeks targeted attack at a service center. The protest lasted two hours. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. URBANDALE, Iowa As protests occur around the country on Saturday, protestors gathered outside the Tesla dealership in Urbandale. Around 100 protestors showed up at the Tesla dealership, located at 2601 104th Street in Urbandale. The group started by the dealership before eventually migrating closer to Hickman Road in an attempt to engage more people. The #TeslaTakedown has been trending on social media as various organizations planned a nationwide Tesla protest on March 29. In Iowa, groups planned to meet in Urbandale and Council Bluffs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Las Vegas police make arrest for targeted attack at Tesla center The Iowa Startling Line Facebook posted about the protest saying The #TeslaTakedown protests are coming to Iowa this weekend. Are you going? One protestor at the event said they came out of concern and to make sure their voice is heard. Concern for what is going on in this country, nobody voted for Elon Musk, the Trump administration is destroying our democracy. We are not paid to be here, the people here, who are proud Americans, want to see the right thing done with this county. Several protests have taken place outside the Urbandale dealership, protestors say they dont advertise or try and make people come, they just show up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past few months, a nationwide Tesla boycott has taken root across the country causing people to trade in vehicles and stock in the company to suffer. As vandalism and arson incidents on Tesla cars continues to pop up around the country, the FBI plans to launch a task force to investigate the attacks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO In Chicago and across the country, people are organizing protests against billionaire Elon Musk and his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Outside the Tesla showroom on Chicagos Rush Street, protesters urged Tesla vehicle and stock owners to sell. Im really upset about whats going on with the government and Elon Musks hand in it, and I think its important that we all show up and say something, protester Bob Whitby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Anti-Musk protests planned for seven Chicagoland locations on Saturday Saturday marked a global day of action in the Tesla Takedown movement, with demonstrations planned outside Tesla dealerships across the country against Musk and his role with DOGE. Seven of those demonstrations were held at locations across Chicagoland. Im very concerned that someone who was not elected to the federal government has this much power, protester Sam Blickhan said. Musks supporters are vowing to counter protest the movement and some even showed up to defend him in some cities. Musk is pushing to improve the image of DOGE. In a Thursday interview with Fox News, he said he is being careful and compassionate with his overhaul of the federal government, even as criticism has been mounting over his previous posts on social media platform X and emails demanding more information from federal workers continue to pour in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, there have been reports of Tesla vehicles being vandalized. Edmunds, a popular online automotive resource, said its data shows a potential shift in buyers feelings toward Tesla. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Protesters in Chicago said this movement is peaceful, with their goal being to put a dent in Musks wallet. People are upset about whats going on and things need to change and they need to listen, Whitby said. The demonstration in Chicago ended at around 2 p.m. Protesters handed out information to one another for another demonstration planned for Saturday, April 5, outside Daley Plaza. 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 WGN-TV. The publishing house Anagrama has announced that it is ceasing distribution of "El odio" (The hate), an epistolary novel based on a series of conversations between its author, Luis Garcia Martin, and Jose Breton, who was convicted of the murder of his two children. The Barcelona-based publisher has taken this decision just two days after a lower court refused to block the publication in the face of the precautionary measures requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Minors. The complaint was filed in Cordoba by Ruth Ortiz, Breton's ex-partner and mother of the children they had in common, who were murdered by him in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breton killed Ruth and Jose, aged 2 and 6, just one month after his then partner told him of her intention to divorce him, in a harsh example of vicarious violence. He was convicted in 2013 of double murder with aggravating circumstances due to kinship, premeditation and the ruthlessness demonstrated in the execution of the acts. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison; 20 years for each murdered child, although his total sentence was later reduced to 25 years. He is being held in a maximum security prison in the town of Herrera de la Mancha in Ciudad Real, La Mancha. In its press release, Anagrama says it respects the appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office against the recent court ruling and is suspending the book's distribution indefinitely. "The publishing house expresses the absolute respect that Ruth Ortiz deserves and regrets the pain that the information disclosed about the publication and distribution of the book may have caused her," the statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Anagrama believes that, in a democratic society, there must be a balance between creative freedom as a fundamental right and the protection of victims. Works that are inspired by real events, as is the case with 'El odio', require a double dose of responsibility and respect. "That is why, in an exercise of prudence and on a voluntary basis, the publisher has decided to maintain the suspension of the distribution of the work indefinitely". Out of the loop Ortiz, who learned of the book's contents from the media, was not contacted during the creative process to include her testimony or give her consent to it. The Andalusian Public Prosecutor's Office has reported that Ortiz's lawyer has denounced Breton for a possible breach of his sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawyer and her client argue that the comments made by the media about the content of the book could constitute this offence. Euronews has contacted Luis Garcia Martin, known as Luisge, to get his version of events following the publisher's announcement. The author referred all communication to Anagrama's spokespeople. Paige Gebhardt Cognetti Scranton mayor Tell us about your first job? When I was 16, I got a job as a bank teller at U.S. Bank in my hometown of Beaverton, Oregon. I worked there in high school and during college summers. It was a great deal of responsibility for a 16-year-old. I handled a large amount of cash and at the end of each day, I had to make sure my drawer balanced to the penny just like the citys budget every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I learned how a local economy works. I became familiar with local businesses, workers and residents, and gained valuable insights into community needs and concerns, which help inform my positions and approaches to this day. Working as a bank teller provided me with a valuable foundation for my current line of work. I used customer service and communication skills and had to have great attention to detail, while also gathering insight into community needs and financial trends, and remaining vigilant in a highly regulated environment. Dealing with customer issues and processing transactions required quick thinking and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for navigating the complexities of running a city. Working in a bank also provided firsthand experience with financial concepts, which has been incredibly useful for understanding complex economic policies and advocating for sound financial decisions. Working in a financial institution also required a strong commitment to ethical behavior, which formed my continued commitment to a high level of integrity and public trust. Ill never forget that job or the people who gave me that opportunity and how they helped me get to where I am today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What advice can you give to anyone entering the workforce? I would recommend considering your first job solely for the experience. Your first job may not be your dream job, but its an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and build your skills. For those interested in a career in finance or banking, for example, working as a bank teller can be a great way build a foundation for future roles. Developing crucial skills like customer service, communication and attention to detail are great foundations for any career. What should a job seeker look for in a potential employer? When evaluating a potential employer, I would recommend that job seekers should consider factors like organizational stability, growth opportunities, work-life balance and compensation, along with the companys culture and values to ensure its a good fit. A good fit will lead to greater job satisfaction and growth opportunities. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) spoke out against President Trumps imbalance on tariffs arguing that established levies have kept the world a stable place with a secure market. International trade since World War II has made us phenomenally rich. President Trump paints it another way, Paul said during a Sunday interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AMs The Cats Roundtable. He says, Weve been taken advantage of. But I really strongly disagree because trade has made us so rich and really has made the world a better place. The more we trade the less we fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump made headlines this week as he announced sweeping tariffs on foreign-made cars and auto parts striking counterparts in China, Japan and Canada. International leaders have promised to hit back with similar trade policies while bracing for the Republican administrations April 2 date slated for an announcement on reciprocal tariffs. Paul said his own constituents have opposed the encroaching tariff war citing the threat of skyrocketing prices for business owners and consumers as a reason for angst. I live in a state where we have three of the big automobile manufacturers. Theyre all opposed to the tariffs, and I think that it would hurt them. The bourbon industry in Kentucky, they dont like the tariffs, Paul said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got farmers, they dont like the tariffs. I really dont have any organized business interests in my state that think theyre a good idea. This is something that I just disagree with President Trump on, he added. Republican lawmakers have spoken out against the administrations new regulations for imports and exports as they seek to funnel change. The Canadian tariffs will definitely have a detrimental impact on the economy of Maine and on border communities in particular, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said. We have, for example, a major paper mill in northern Maine right on the border that gets its pulp from Canada. That mill alone, which is by far the biggest employer in the region, employs 510 people directly. Ive talked to the owner of that mill: The imposition of a 25-percent tariff could be devastating, she warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite disgruntled GOP members, Trump has argued his policies will provide financial benefits to all Americans in the long run. This will be the Golden Age of America! Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!), the president wrote on Truth Social last month. But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid, he continued at the time. We are a country that is now being run with common sense and the results will be spectacular!!! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Government departments will be asked to fund loss-making projects backed by Rachel Reevess National Wealth Fund even as the Chancellor demands deep cuts to Whitehall spending. Treasury documents reveal departments will be asked to pick up the tab for any projects supported by the sovereign wealth fund that are relevant to their brief and intentionally loss-making. Losses will be covered from day-to-day budgets, despite unprotected departments facing real terms cuts and looming redundancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demand is likely to put ministers who are affected on a collision course with the Chancellor. It comes after the Chancellor last week had to find 14bn to plug holes in the public finances. George Dibb at the Institute for Public Policy Research said: In a constrained fiscal environment with departments that have limited budgets, that means that some things wont happen. There are parts of the industrial strategy, which will be very capital-intensive. It is understood that ministers will have the power to veto investments if the projects rely on funding from their department, but this too is likely to inflame tensions given Ms Reeves has made the National Wealth Fund a key part of her growth plans. The Chancellor has said the 7.3bn sovereign wealth fund will help kickstart growth and revive Britains flatlining economy. It seeks to use public cash as an anchor to attract private investment into projects that otherwise would not get support across sectors like clean energy, transport, tech and advanced manufacturing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it is an arms length body, the Chancellor sets the funds strategic priorities, effectively directing where it should invest. Despite the billions in funding, government departments will be asked to contribute in cases where the projects being supported are unprofitable in order to help the wealth funds money stretch further. Mr Dibb said: There are some things where you might be comfortable making a loss because it makes a net positive elsewhere in the economy. If we want to be good at making electric vehicles, you might want a battery factory. You could make a loss-making loan to secure a battery manufacturing facility because it secures other profitable businesses in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Reeves will tell ministers where cuts to public spending will fall in June. Departments with unprotected budgets virtually all apart from health, defence and core schools funding will face a real-terms squeeze of 2.7pc over the next three years. Such pressures will force ministers to make difficult decisions within their departments, Bee Boileau from the Institute for Fiscal Studies said. Ms Boileau said: It will require public sector pay restraint or perhaps headcount cuts. She added that cuts may yet get deeper: One real risk is that defence spending needs to rise faster than has been set out. If that happens that will be a risk to the scale of cuts that unprotected areas might see. 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. Rent control wont fix affordability Affordability is a crisis, but the rent cap bill in Olympia is the wrong answer. Washington is already behind by 150,000 homes, yet this legislation would force developers to cancel thousands of planned rental units before theyre even built. Housing providers will be stuck with rising costs while being forced to cap rent increases, making it impossible to maintain buildings or keep up with repairs. In reality, policies like these have backfired in cities nationwide, discouraging construction, worsening housing conditions and leading to even higher costs in the long run. If lawmakers truly want to help renters, they should expand supply, streamline permitting and incentivize homebuilding not pass policies that shrink the housing market. Sheri Druckman, Puyallup A tribute to Miss Roxanne I recently learned that Roxanne is retiring from Metropolitan Market, effective April 1. For those who dont know, Miss Roxanne has been a shining light at that location since the mid-1990s. For nearly 30 years, she has greeted community members with care, enthusiasm and grace. She went out of her way to say hello and brighten others day. Sadly, we must now go about our shopping without her trademark, Hey, baby! and infectious smile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think I speak for the majority of Tacomans in wishing Roxanne a joyous and relaxing retirement. She is truly a local legend whose legacy will be one of profound kindness. Mike Malaier, Tacoma Dammeier gave good DEI model President Donald Trump is on a rampage to eliminate Diversity, Equity,and Inclusion programs. He wants employers to base hiring decisions exclusively on merit, not race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin. Former County Executive Bruce Dammeier did exactly that when he took office in 2017. No DEI department; no preferential treatment. He did, however, improve hiring practices. He imposed a competitive process on all hiring, including seasonal and part-time jobs. He discarded needlessly restrictive employment standards. Outsiders with a vested interest in hiring decisions were excluded from the process. He also recruited prospective employees with diverse attributes who might be unaware of job opportunities, that, or deterred by a perceived lack of fair consideration. Just as important, Dammeier offered County employees opportunities to learn about the cultures of the people they work with and the taxpayers they work for. Call it what you want, Dammeier embraced the true meaning of DEI: hiring the best-qualified employees; reaching out to those with diverse backgrounds; and treating everyone with fairness, civility, and respect. Its a prudent management practice the County should maintain and President Trump should emulate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Grimm, Puyallup Meetings must be accessible Hello, I tried to make my voice heard at the meeting Saturday. the meeting was at Stadium High school; and in order to attend I would have had to park a half a mile away and then walk back in the pouring rain. Being disabled it was untenable. Not to mention the extremely heavy traffic. Why is this even an issue? A hearing about who I can rent my house to? Why? Why can I decide myself? So someone else is going to decide (someone who is more qualified than me) though I have owned the house for nearly 50 years now and I have made a good living renting houses out for years. And when I had a series of strokes some years ago and I struggled with disability; where were they? They werent around helping me. I did the remodeling of the house to get it ready and rented. Though it was incredibly difficult. And when I first had about 20 strokes and was starving; where was the help I needed to get it done so I could keep my house? Nowhere to be found! And I was able to get it done, with no help from the hotels. Sterling B. Wirth, Tacoma LANSING, Mich.(WLNS)Residents of a mobile home park say theyve been given just a few days notice that they need to move. Residents at Kristana Mobile Home Park in DeWitt Township told 6 News they were given a notice Friday stating the park would be closing on April 1, this coming Tuesday. (WLNS) (WLNS) (WLNS) In the letter, management says the park will be closing due to declining occupancy rates and the inability to maintain the communitys infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Management did say they would provide temporary housing for 30 days. Neighbors say this notice was dated for the 24th but wasnt put on their doors until Friday. Jason Eldridge, a resident at the property, says thats not enough time to prepare for a move. In this notice. It gives us three to four days to vacate, said Eldridge. Linda Sinclair says shes lived at the park since the pandemic. Thursday, I got a note telling me to remind me to pay my rent, and then on Friday. I got a note telling me that we have to be out, said Sinclair. Tina Riggs, who has lived at the park for 6 years, doesnt know where she and her husband will go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive never been homeless, and I dont intend to be homeless. No, said Riggs. Residents told 6 News the notice told them they could begin staying at a hotel for 30 days starting March 31. Eldridge says thats not enough assistance. How do they expect us to do anything when weve got 800 or 900 square foot homes, and youre expecting us to pack that much stuff into a 300 or 400 square foot hotel room, said Eldridge. Some neighbors told 6 News theyve already paid next months rent. Sinclair says she was told certain things would get turned off. The guy who stuck this note on the door, hes the one who told me the water will be off on the first. He said You can stay here; you just wont have no water, said Sinclair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With such short notice, Sinclair says she doesnt know where shell go next. Ive already started packing, and Im like, I dont know what else to do. Im like throwing things out, said Sinclair. Tina Riggs says she has a lot of concerns. Are they going to pay for our storage units if we gotta store stuff? I just- and we have pets, and a lot of places dont take pets, said Riggs. So what are we supposed to do? Dan Riggs says what management is doing is illegal. In Michigan, mobile park homeowners must provide tenants with 18 months notice if the park is closing or changing its use, said Riggs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6News has reached out to the number and the email on the letter, along with the mobile home company itself, but have not yet heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Irans president said Sunday that Tehran had rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from President Donald Trump over its rapidly advancing nuclear program. The remarks from President Masoud Pezeshkian represented the first official acknowledgment of how Iran responded to Trumps letter. It also suggests that tensions may further rise between Tehran and Washington. Pezeshkian said: Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear, however, whether Trump would accept indirect negotiations. Indirect negotiations for years since Trump initially withdrew America from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 have been unsuccessful. Trumps overture comes as both Israel and the United States have warned they will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon, leading to fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium at near weapons-grade levels something only done by atomic-armed nations. Iran has long maintained its program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb as tensions are high with the U.S. over its sanctions and after the collapse of a ceasefire in Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. A report in February, however, by the U.N.s nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period in relations with Tehran. In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew the United States from Irans nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling Irans economy. Iran retaliated with attacks at sea including one that it likely carried out and that temporarily halved Saudi Arabias oil production. Trump also ordered the attack that killed Irans top general in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020. It was the most transcendental experience I had ever had in worship, says Nathanael Ginn, a 31-year-old from Indianapolis, recalling the first Eastern Orthodox service he attended at his local Antiochian Orthodox Church in 2017. This moment came during Ginns spiritual quest. Growing up, Ginns family bounced between Baptist, evangelical and nondenominational churches. At 16, after losing his uncle to suicide, Ginn experienced a spiritual crisis. He distanced himself from organized religion and focused on his career and hobbies, but eventually, he could no longer deny the growing emptiness and questions about lifes purpose and meaning. During his wandering years, he explored neo-paganism and the occult, but none of these paths felt satisfying. I wanted to know what life is beyond endless consumerism, said Ginn, an account manager at a tech company. In the modern age, stuff is constantly being delivered to our door, but life should be more than just what Im paying money to consume. So I think thats the big thing people are looking for something authentic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Ginn, Eastern Orthodoxy provided an action-oriented approach to faith, one that emphasized discipline, fasting and spiritual growth. There is this element of the call to action of going and living a holy life and participating in the energies of God that really draws men in, he told me. Ginns story is part of a larger trend. While women have historically been more religious than men, there is evidence this pattern is eroding. In the past several years, more men have been turning to faith, while more women have been disaffiliating from religion. Although women still report higher levels of religious affiliation, belief and practice than men, the gender gap in religiousness has been narrowing, according to the 2023-2024 Religious Landscape Study, conducted by the Pew Research Center, which surveyed about 37,000 Americans. For instance, in 2007, the percentage of women who reported praying daily was 17 points higher than men, but Pew found that this gap has narrowed to 13 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shrinking gap is especially evident among younger generations. Among the oldest respondents (74 and older), women pray daily at a rate 20 points higher than men, whereas among the youngest adults (18-24), the difference is much smaller 30% of women and 26% of men pray daily. And while the gender gap in religiosity is shrinking, young Christian men and women are increasingly divided on social and political issues, according to the report. Despite these shifts, the study notes that there are still no birth cohorts in which men are significantly more religious than women. In every age group, women are at least as religious as men, and in many birth cohorts, women are significantly more religious than men, the report says. Ginn, as well as many others, noted that a crisis of what it means to be a man in the modern era may be why men are increasingly joining communities of faith. With rising housing costs, you cant just get the American dream that used to be sold, he told me. The economic uncertainty and the broken promises of the social contract that Americans believed in is causing men, in particular young men, to look for something different. Why men and women perceive religion differently Scholars have observed for decades that women are generally more religious than men, with research dating back to the 1930s, according to Pew. However, it wasnt until the 1980s that academics began investigating why this gender gap exists. A cluster of theories have emerged, explaining the divide in terms of nature vs. nurture. For instance, nature-based theories suggest that biological factors such as hormones, genetics and physical predispositions contribute to womens greater religiosity. Nurture-based theories emphasize social and environmental factors, according to Pew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Cragun, professor of sociology at the University of Tampa, explained that particularly during the Cold War, adopting a nonreligious or atheist identity carried social risks. During the Cold War, when religion and especially Christianity was strongly associated with patriotism and national identity, identifying as atheist or nonreligious meant risking social status and being perceived as un-American. Because well-educated white men faced fewer social and economic consequences, they were more willing to openly identify as atheists, he said. Atheist women often chose to identify as spiritual but not religious to avoid potential social stigma, even if they were not spiritual, according to a 2017 paper by Penny Edgell, a professor at the University of Minnesota, and her colleagues. This dynamic shaped the historical trend of nonreligious identification being more common among men, Cragun said. Women who favored traditional roles in the family clashing with the norms of the broader society found affirmation of their values in more traditional churches, Cragun explained, which may partly explain higher religiosity among women. But this, too, has been changing. Women are getting educated in higher numbers, theyre not finding validation for the values that they hold in religion, so theyre leaving in higher numbers than men are, Cragun said. For similar reasons, men have turned to traditional churches recently, in part because these institutions affirm more conventional roles and a traditional vision of masculinity. A lot of men today feel marginalized, they feel emasculated, they feel like they have lost power and privilege in society, said Cragun. This aligns with broader cultural shifts, such as discussions around toxic masculinity and the masculinity crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But despite similar religious practices, young Christian men and women are increasingly divided on social and political issues. This divide is not due to differences in faith but rather broader cultural and social influences, according to Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life, who wrote about the gender gap between Christian men and women. Over the past decade, young Christian women have become more supportive of abortion rights, while young men have grown less supportive of LGBTQ issues, widening the ideological divide. Young Christian women are more progressive, with 61% supporting abortion rights (compared to 48% of men) and 75% believing homosexuality should be accepted (versus 49% of men), according to Pew. Women are also more likely to favor a larger government providing public services. What seems likely, Cox wrote, is that young Christians are being exposed to the same cultural divides afflicting secular young people. Even when attending the same church, the social context for young men and women differs significantly: Young Christian women are more likely to have close friends who identify as LGBTQ, which influences their views on policies related to these issues, he wrote. Declining marriage rates also reduce opportunities for cross-gender understanding. While shared religious experiences may help bridge the gap, they are unlikely to completely erase it, Cox wrote. Its not the only way to counteract the social and technological forces pushing men and women apart, but its a good place to start. Its not good for men to be alone A survey of Orthodox churches around the country found that in 2022, parishes around the country saw a 78% increase in converts compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some faith traditions in the U.S., men make up a larger proportion of the membership. For example, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, men make up 52% and women 47%, which is a subtle reversal from the last Religious Landscape Study study in 2014, in which men and women breakdown fell at 46% and 54% respectively. Among Orthodox Christians too, men comprise a larger group at 61%. The Rev. Jonathan Ivanoff, archpriest at St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church on Long Island also observed an uptick in membership in his parish between 20 and 30 converts in the past two to three years, which is a significant increase for a small congregation like his. Many of us theorized that Covid caused a lot of people to confront their own mortality and their relationship to God and fragileness of life and caused a lot of people to question those things and find meaning in life because of that, Ivanoff told me. Some young men in his parish have come from the Catholic Church, often after a stint of disaffiliation, he said. Others have atheist backgrounds. Coming to Orthodoxy, for many young men, is a rejection of nihilistic attitudes they had been facing, Ivanoff said. Its coming to something that has depth, a foundation on which they could stand on, tradition and unapologetic commitment to truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a Monday evening in January, four men sat around a long table in a room with a crucifix on the wall, discussing a medieval devotional classic, The Imitation of Christ. They were part of St. Josephs mens group which meets at St. Pauls Parish, a Catholic church located near Harvard University. The men meet every week, discussing theological readings.(I learned the about the group, because my son attends the parish school and sings in the church choir.) Going chapter by chapter, the men talked about freedom, selflessness and fasting, chiming in with references to writings by theologian David Bentley Hart and J.R.R. Tolkien. The group started with the goal of helping men become better role models and Christian disciples, and to better understand how to navigate spiritual battles in the world, Sung min Cho, a 24-year-old animator who leads the group, told me. He typically attends a Korean American Catholic church close to his home, but attends St. Pauls for special services. Its not just a glorified book club but also a way for us, old and new, to increase in fellowship, because, as its written, its not good for men to be alone, said Cho, who described himself a cradle Catholic who went through a period of disaffiliation. Were meant to be in a community, not just by ourselves. St. Pauls Church has also seen an influx of converts in the past three years, the parish priest told me; many among them are men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among Chos peers, there is lack of confidence in what truth and courage mean today, he told me. Modernity is always changing, Cho said. Youre like a mercenary you dont know what you want the next day and the day after that. Ginn echoes this sentiment. Much of modern American Christianity, Ginn argues, has lost this depth, whereas consumerist symbols of faith like curated social media aesthetics are prioritized over worship of God. In Eastern Orthodoxy, Ginn said he found a more masculine approach to faith. He contrasted the Orthodox chants with some Protestant worship songs, which to him seem overly emotional or romanticized, making it hard for him to relate to the spiritual experience. It makes me a little uncomfortable, Ginn said. Impact of new media A proliferation of podcasts on religion and theological questions has opened up more avenues for seeking answers to a wide range of theological questions. For Orthodoxy, there is an abundance of podcasts online, according to Ivanoff, whose own podcast The Transfigured Life soared to 8,000 subscribers recently. There is a rebuttal to the rebuttal there is a kind of ping-pong theology going back and forth and people have the opportunity to hear us in a crowded podcasting world, said Ivanoff. That has been huge in helping people who are searching for something to search for us as an option, which may not have existed 10 years ago. With the rise of artificial intelligence and amid online interactions, whats real is getting harder to discern, Cho told me. Christianity, and religion as a whole offers the truth that there is more than just what we see, he said. There is more to your soul than whats cost affective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ginn is open about his Eastern Orthodox faith at work, but without being pushy. He follows fasting guidelines, prays before meals and has even displayed religious icons at his desk. Ginn and other young male converts he knows are reclaiming their religious identity, rather than downplaying their Christian faith. In my case, I feel that I shouldnt have to hide my faith, Ginn said. For a lot of us converts, we want to live the faith out as much as possible. Rhode Island Current staff are, left to right, Reporter Christopher Shea, Senior Reporter Nancy Lavin, Editor-in-Chief Janine L. Weisman and Reporter Alexander Castro. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island Current took the regions top award for local election coverage by an online news outlet, and Senior Reporter Nancy Lavin received two first place awards in the annual New England Better Newspaper Competition on Saturday night. The morning newsletter Swell earned third place in the outstanding newsletter category among online news sites at the New England Newspaper Convention held at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa in Portland, Maine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The competition held by the New England Newspaper & Press Association is a chance for the regions news outlets to showcase the best efforts of their teams and share their achievements with readers. Work published between Aug. 1 2023, and July 31, 2024, was eligible. Rhode Island Current staff received a first place award for their work covering the November 2023 special election to fill the open 1st Congressional District seat, which was won by U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo. A total of 35 candidates turned in paperwork declaring their intention to run, but only 15 collected the minimum 500 validated and certified signatures from voters to run in the September primary. Thirteen candidates were Democrats, including the early frontrunner, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, whose campaign was ultimately derailed by a signature scandal involving her nomination forms. Rhode Island Currents election coverage also looked at what shapes this congressional district made up of 19 communities. While the Democratic race drew most of the attention, the teams coverage included why the two Republican primary candidates stayed quiet. A Primary Day blog was active with regular updates on the candidates as the team fanned out to cover the campaigns and the results that night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lavin won a first place award for Business/Economic reporting for her investigative profile of a solar panel company CEO accused of predatory sales tactics. Lavin outlined the loosely regulated legal and business environment that allowed the company to flourish before being sued by the Office of Attorney General and laying off a third of its staff. An in-depth story on a small but contentious oyster farm project proposed for Tivertons Sapowet Cove won Lavin another first place award for Environmental Reporting. Lavin examined how the proposed project illuminated the curious alliances and growing discontent surrounding Rhode Islands aquaculture industry more broadly. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KILLINGWORTH, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticut State Police, Troop F., said Route 148 between Roast meat Hill road and Reservoir Road are closed due to an accident. At about 4:42 Saturday afternoon, Troop F. personnel said they responded to a the scene of a car crashing into a utility pole. Injuries reported after car crashes in Cornwall, state police say Officers said Eversource was dispatched for an emergency pole repair, the Department of Transportation responded for road closures, and a wrecker was asked to go to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries have been reported, according to State Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. A test rocket aimed at building the ability to launch satellites from Europe crashed about 40 seconds after takeoff from a Norwegian spaceport on Sunday. The unmanned Spectrum rocket, an orbital rocket developed by German start-up Isar Aerospace, started smoking from its sides and then crashed back to Earth with a powerful explosion after launching from Norway's Andoya Spaceport in the Arctic. The company called the test flight a success. "Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success," Daniel Metzler, Isar's chief executive and co-founder, said in a news release. "We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said the two-stage rocket fell into the sea, adding that "the launch pad seems to be intact". Orbital rockets are designed to place loads such as satellites into or beyond Earth's orbit. In a photo provided by Isar Aerospace, Photo Wingmen Media, Isar Aerospace Launch Vehicle Spectrum's blast-off was the first of an orbital launch vehicle from the European continent, excluding Russia, and Europe's first financed almost exclusively by the private sector. The launch had been repeatedly postponed due to weather conditions, and Isar Aerospace had downplayed expectations. "Every second we fly is good because we collect data and experience. Thirty seconds would already be a great success," Metzler, said ahead of the launch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do not expect to reach orbit with this test. In fact, no company has yet managed to put its first orbital launch vehicle into orbit." The 92-foot two-stage rocket was not carrying any load for the test flight. Isar Aerospace is separate from the European Space Agency, or ESA, which is funded by its 23 member states, the Associated Press reported. ESA has been launching rockets and satellites into orbit for years, but mainly from French Guiana an overseas department of France in South America and from Cape Canaveral in Florida. A first European orbital launch attempt was made in 2023 by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit. It attempted to use a Boeing 747 to launch a rocket into orbit from southwest England, but failed, leading the company to fold. What is the future of the Kennedy Center? Freed Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas calls to end war, bring remaining Gaza hostages home Elton John, Brandi Carlile on their dream collaboration ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) On the morning of June 9, 1966, an unknown assailant carefully slipped out of a home in far-north Rockford and disappeared, leaving a woman dead inside. She had been beaten up pretty bad, said author and folklorist Kathi Kresol. And she had been strangled with the neckties. The victim was 46-year-old Lauretta Lyons. She was attacked inside the Latham Road home she owned with her husband, Edwin, after walking her three poodles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was supposed to meet him at noon to go to lunch, and she didnt show, Kresol said. At 7:30 a.m., Edwin left for Rockford Drop Forge Company, where he worked as a chemist. It was a drizzly day, and Lauretta left to walk the dogs about an hour later, planning to meet her husband at the business they owned together before grabbing a bite. Worried when Lauretta didnt show, Edwin returned home. There, hes greeted with the reason she did not kept their date. He walks in, and he finds her by the door, face down, Kresol said. And shes got blood around her and neckties. And the puppies are all laying on her. And theyre still wet from the walk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business Edwin and Lauretta owned together, a pet an accessory store called the Lyons Den, was located on Mulberry Street in downtown Rockford. She loved her pets, Kresol said. She loved her little puppies. As a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Rockford Womens Club and the Rockford chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Lauretta also spent a lot of her time volunteering throughout the city. She had no known enemies. Investigators learned that because nothing was taken from the house and the Lyons Den was not targeted, robbery was not the motive for the murder. They think that what happened [was] she didnt lock the door, Kresol added. They lived out on Latham Road. Nobody ever went out there. And this was in the 60s. Somebody snuck in her house and was waiting for her when she returned. They always look at the husband As in almost every murder investigation, police start with those close to the victim and work outward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Laurettas case, that meant the spotlight was on Edwin Lyons. At first, detectives werent ready to accept his claim that he left for work and came back and found his wife dead. After all, Lauretta was strangled with his neckties, and he was the one who found her. But, Edwin was cleared as a suspect when his alibi checked out. Based on the timeline of that day, police determined he wasnt involved. Edwin also had no reason to kill his wife. The couple was OK, Kresol added. Their relationship was good. So they dropped him as a suspect pretty quickly. But they always look at the husband. A trophy and a strange car A telephone repairman and neighbors reported seeing Lauretta walking her dogs the morning of June 9. Witnesses told police that it wasnt out of the ordinary to see her and her poodles, even on a rainy, dreary day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, there was something inside the home that had investigators puzzled. They noticed that one of the neckties clenched in Laurettas hand had a distinct feature. The tip of it had actually been cut off with a pair of scissors, Kresol said. And they never found that part. So, their theory was that somebody took it as a trophy. A dark red or maroon Ford Galaxie that was parked in Laurettas driveway was also something neighbors had never seen before. Neither she nor Edwin drove a Galaxie, and the couple almost never got visitors during the day. Because Edwin and Lauretta lived in a remote area during a time when there were no surveillance cameras or advanced security systems, it was likely easy for someone to commit murder without being detected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She got away from him and got to the door, Kresol said. And thats when he attacked her again. Thats when he killed her. There was furniture knocked over. There was evidence of a struggle. She fought her attacker. A suspect emerges When Edwin returned home and found his wifes lifeless body, he immediately called police an ambulance. But they were too late. Lauretta was already dead. In the days following the murder, detectives had dozens of leads, but none panned out. All they had was a theory that someone hid in Laurettas house and attacked her when she returned. But, it was just a theoryuntil it grew legs in the form of their prime suspect, a man who had already done time for killing his wife. They find him pretty quickly because of the second case, Kresol said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a month after Lauretta is killed, a Rockford woman named Charlene OBrien was abducted from the Colonial Village Mall. OBrien, 27, stopped to buy some undergarments and was eager to get home to her young family. [She] goes back out to her car, and it doesnt start, Kresol said. Thats when a man approaches and offers to help. Instead, he puts a gun to Charlenes side and kidnaps her. He dumps her in a field off of Perryville Road after severely beating and robbing her. And he leaves her for dead, Kresol said. But she wasnt dead. She lays out there for 40 hours. OBriens attacker was 43-year-old Sanford Harris, a man, who in 1941 killed his wife in Detroit and was paroled after serving 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Rockford, Harris was living with a woman he called his 20-year-old common-law wife. Police later learned she was only 15 years old. Investigators also uncovered another shocking piece of information. Sanford Harris owned a maroon 1957 Ford Galaxie, the same car witnesses saw in Lauretta Lyons driveway a few weeks earlier. Police appeared to have their man. But then the case hit a wall. They couldnt put him in there definitely, in that area, Kresol said. And for sure they didnt find other things that put him in that house. Twenty years too late Sanford Harris died while serving a 75 to 90-year prison sentence for kidnapping Charlene OBrien. He was never charged with the murder of Lauretta Lyons. The case remains cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say had Lauretta been killed today, technology would have provided police with better tools to preserve the crime scene and make an arrest. Nowadays they would do a lot of DNA collection and other evidence collection that maybe would have led to something if the person was arrested at a later time, said defense attorney Ela Granger. But DNA would not become a common tool in criminal cases until 1986, 20 years too late for Laurettas family. And even if evidence has survived, it may simply be too late to connect it to her killer. Because we have all this technology and DNA, Granger said, [it can be useful], whether its a fingerprint or DNA that was left over from six, seven, eight, sometimes 10 years ago. But into the 50s, 60s, 70s, not so much. Aftermath Kresol said its frustrating when a case like Laurettas goes unsolved because justice is expected to be served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We like to watch detective shows where in a half an hour or an hour the case is solved [and] the person is in jail where they belong, she said. But thats not this case. This has been going since 1966. Thats a long time for this family not to have their answers. After Laurettas murder, Edwin moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and remarried. He died in 1999. Anyone with information about the murder of Lauretta Lyons is urged to call the Winnebago County Sheriffs Office at 815-319-6400 or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kileys pathetic town hall Many constituents couldnt join Kileys packed tele-town hall, (sacbee.com, March 17) Im discouraged and alarmed after attending Congressman Kevin Kileys tightly controlled telephone town hall. He took questions on a range of policy issues but avoided addressing deeper concerns about lawless behavior by the Trump administration. Checks and balances are fundamental to our republic, yet this presidential administration appears to disregard federal court orders meant to constrain its actions and uphold the rule of law. If the Trump administration wont follow judicial orders, Congress is our last defense against autocracy. I fear that representatives like Kiley are not up to this solemn responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Boo Bishop Opinion Kileys defense Many constituents couldnt join Kileys packed tele-town hall, (sacbee.com, March 17) In a previous town hall hosted by Congressman Kevin Kiley, we polled and found that constituents overwhelmingly favored the virtual format. In his first term, Kiley held over a dozen town halls, with 53,698 constituents participating. On March 17, 25,104 people attended the town hall. Well continue to hold these events. Kiley has never voted to cut Medicaid and has been recognized for his commitment to protecting Medicare and Social Security. Michael Rauber Communications director, Congressman Kevin Kiley A new purpose for the zoo Sacramentos Front Street shelter overcrowded, outdated (sacbee.com, March 19) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new animal shelter is long overdue, but the city will likely never prioritize funding a new one. The Sacramento Zoo is moving soon, so how about a new shelter there? Its time that abandoned, neglected, and abused animals have a modern facility to be cared for until they find their forever homes. Jennifer Hale Sacramento Trumps disdain for democracy Inside look at El Salvadors mega-prison holding Venezuelan deportees with alleged gang ties, (sacbee.com, March 17) The presidential administration has trampled on congressional duties, such as the power of the purse, the establishment of federal agencies and the oversight of executive actions. All of this is being done with the spineless inaction of Republican majorities in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal rights of federal workers have been totally ignored. The completely chaotic slashing of staff and programs that have direct effects on the portion of the public least able to defend themselves is being done as quickly as possible so that the legal recourse to stop it will be moot by the time the courts act on the numerous lawsuits. Bob Eason Roseville Polluters must pay It isnt lack of water or DEI making LAs wildfires worse. Experts say its climate change, (sacbee.com, Jan. 11) Big Oil makes billions while all of us bear the costs in the form of worsening climate disasters. The loss of a loved one or a home is beyond any cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California legislators must be brave and pass the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (Senate Bill 684 and Assembly Bill 1423). Carol Weed Walnut Creek School choice is a myth California parents must have the right to educational choice, (sacbee.com, March 18) School choice is a myth. Rural students and urban students without transportation dont have so-called school choice. Moreover, schools of choice are under no obligation to educate English language learners or special education students. The real truth is that schools of choice pick the students, not the other way around. Once public schools are defunded, who will educate English language learners or special needs students? Every child deserves a neighborhood school that will educate them no matter their circumstances. Kate Lenox Sacramento Heads of state in Latin America and the Caribbean have long complained that the region is treated as an after-thought by most US administrations. But now that the Western Hemisphere is under the microscope from the Trump administration from everything from migration to drug smuggling to human trafficking, those same leaders may be missing the old days of relative benign neglect. US administration officials have taken to referring to the Caribbean as the US third border, another red line where the flow of drugs, illegal migration and Chinas growing influence need to be countered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When President Donald Trump came into office, he committed to ensuring our foreign policy aligned with our nations interests. To realize his vision, we are putting our region, the Americas, first, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in the Miami Herald on Saturday. Some Latin American diplomats privately grumble that the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on their countries at the same time it cuts billions of dollars in badly needed USAID funding to the region. The policy, they say, is more sticks and too few carrots and that the State Department under Rubio has become fixated on opposing Cuban and Venezuelan influence when other issues including the impacts of climate change, rising inequality and a gang-ravaged Haiti on the verge of collapse should take precedence. Even before Rubios trip to the Caribbean region last week, it was clear that his approach would be more bad cop than good cop as Washington threatens sanctions on foreign officials from countries that hire Cuban doctors and nurses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Punishments could include barring officials and their immediate family members from traveling to the US. It would also deprive Havana of badly needed hard currency. During a Wednesday press conference in Jamaica, Rubio called it forced labor, saying the Cuban regime does not pay these doctors, takes away their passports. But the threatened sanctions against Cubas medical programs led to a remarkable push back from several Caribbean and Latin American leaders. At the same news conference with Rubio, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said his government planned to keep using Cuban doctors and nurses in their hospitals while showing the US that the program in Jamaica operates according to international labor standards. Rubio and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness hold a joint press conference in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday. - Nathan Howard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images In terms of Cuban doctors in Jamaica, let us be clear, the Cuban doctors in Jamaica have been incredibly helpful to us he said as Rubio, who is Cuban-American and a staunch adversary to the government in Havana, looked on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Holness continued. Sanctions busting The other Trump administration focus has been Venezuela. Last week, it threatened to place 25% tariffs on products of countries that purchase Venezuelan oil, sparking concerns that all-ready high energy costs in much of the region could further rise. In February, the Trump administration canceled a Biden-era deal that allowed Venezuela to sell oil to Chevron, depriving the country of a badly needed economic lifeline. But some of the sanctions may already be backfiring or, at least, are having unintended consequences. If the US does succeed in closing oil markets off to Venezuela, the unlikely beneficiary could be Cuba, said energy analyst Jorge Pinon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than stopping production, which is ultimately more costly to restart, Venezuela is likely to send increased oil shipments to its ally Cuba, which has been in recent months enduring some of the worst power outages in years. Previously, the cash-strapped island has paid for the shipments by sending thousands of Cuban medical personnel to work in Venezuela. Even though Venezuela does not get hard currency from Cuba it provides them with an outlet to keep current production levels, Pinon told CNN. I will not be surprised if we see an increase of Venezuelan oil deliveries to Cuba in the following months as this would keep Venezuelas oil production flowing, he said. If that scenario does play out, it would have the exact opposite effect than what the White House or Rubio intended. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Four Lacey City Council members are up for re-election this year. They are Andy Ryder, Carolyn Cox, Michael Steadman and Robin Vazquez. In addition, the race has attracted two potential new candidates, according to state Public Disclosure Commission data. Maren Turner is exploring a run and so is Ryan Siu, although both have yet to identify an opponent, the information shows. When does it get real for these candidates? Filing week at the Thurston County Auditors Office is May 5-9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Olympia reached out to all about their plans, except for Siu who apparently is traveling in Japan, according to his campaign manager Rob Richards. Carolyn Cox Of all the incumbents, Cox was first out of the gates, announcing about mid-March that she was running for a third term. I feel like Ive got more to give, said Cox after a recent council work session. There are so many exciting things on the horizon that I really want to see to fruition, such as this Metropolitan Park District that were looking at. The MPD, if approved by voters in August, would levy a property tax to fund and maintain the citys parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lacey is also expected to grow, she said. Cox, originally from Florida, said growth was not handled well there in the 1980s. That is really seared into my brain how important it is to plan for smart growth, and weve seen some conflicts between residential and commercial light-industrial development in northeast Lacey, she said. Ive asked our planning department and Planning Commission to try to look down the line as were doing our comprehensive plan now, to do what we can to head off these conflicts. Housing and homelessness also are important issues for Cox. The housing and homeless situation has been, I guess, the biggest part of my work on the council and Regional Housing Council, and it still feels like theres an awful lot more that needs to be done there as well. Carolyn Cox Andy Ryder Ryder is one of the longest-serving council members and mayors in the citys history. He has decided to run for a fifth term. If elected, though, this will be his last term on the council, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also wasnt sure about running for a fifth term. This has been a decision that I have not taken lightly, he said. Before he made up his mind, there was his health to consider because he recently announced he was cancer free after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. But when he considered the uncertain times that we live in and heard from local and regional leaders urging him to run, he decided to seek re-election. In these uncertain times its really scary for a lot of communities, he said. Stability is so important and the leadership I bring now is really important for Lacey. Leadership is important to show that government still works, Ryder said. Andy Ryder Robin Vazquez Vazquez said Wednesday she has not decided on whether she will run for a second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a difficult decision for me, she said, adding that shes just started a new job, plus she has two small children. Include her duties on the council and it feels like having two, full-time jobs, Vazquez said. She currently is the acting HR director for Pierce County, a county that is three times the size of Thurston County. And because she is a public employee and an elected official, she is careful to avoid any conflicts of interest. But regularly making that effort can be work, too. It wears on you, she said. Robin Vazquez Michael Steadman The Olympian caught up with Cox after a recent council meeting and Michael Steadman, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But all he said then was that he was probably running again. If he decides to run again, it will be for a fourth term. He was first elected in 2013. Michael Steadman Maren Turner Turner, who is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, lived in several states before moving to Washington state a few years ago. She has lived in Lacey for about three years, Turner said. She works as a gerontologist. Although this would be her first run for elected office, she has been talking about doing it for decades, she said. I love living in Lacey, Turner said. There are a lot of great things here, but that doesnt mean there arent things that we cant do better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safe and affordable housing is an important topic for Maren. And not just to make homes more affordable, but also what housing means for our health and behavioral health. Health is so tied to our housing, she said. Other issues: aging and quality of life issues for the citys residents. But it doesnt stop there, she said. I would be interested in anything that comes before the council, Turner said. The number of casualties in the city of Dnipro following a Russian strike on 28 March has increased to 28. Dnipro has declared 30 March as a day of mourning for the four people killed in the attack. Source: Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration on Telegram Details: Nine people remain in hospital, with two in a serious condition. The information obtained by Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration indicates that the Russians struck the city of Nikopol with Grad multiple-launch rocket systems around midnight. A business and an out-of-school educational institution have sustained damage. Ukraine's air defence shot down two Russian drones over the oblast during the night. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Reuters) - Russian special forces shot and wounded a suspect who opened random fire from a roof of a building in the northern city of Murmansk, Russia's RIA state news agency reported early on Monday citing unnamed emergency services sources. Andrei Chibis, the governor of the Murmansk region of which the city of Murmansk is the administrative centre, said earlier on the Telegram massaging app that security forces were sent to a building after reports of an unknown person firing from the roof of a building. TASS state news agency reported, citing emergency services, that no one was injured in the shooting. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Chris Reese) Russian forces launched an attack on the border area of Sumy Oblast on Sunday 30 March during an evacuation of local residents, injuring a man. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) in Sumy Oblast Quote: "On 30 March, SES personnel once again helped to evacuate residents from border settlements. During the evacuation, the enemy launched another strike, injuring a man. SES medical personnel swiftly provided first aid to the injured man. Rescue workers then transported him to safety in a specially armoured vehicle and handed him over to an emergency medical team." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Part of ongoing protests in opposition to funding cuts and the actions of Trump and Musk, the Tesla Takedown movement once again organized rallies at Tesla dealerships on Saturday. Protests took place across the country and world, with at least three happening in San Diego County. Here in San Diego, the Tesla Takedown Action Network coordinated three separate protests across the county on Saturday outside the UTC Westfield Mall in La Jolla, at the Tesla Dealership in Encinitas and outside the Tesla Showroom in Carlsbad. Protesters rally outside Tesla dealership in San Diego County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protests were part of Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action where protests were planned at all 277 U.S Tesla dealerships and more than 500 around the world. Around 200 people were in attendance at the La Jolla protest Saturday afternoon. Protesters rebelling against Elon Musks purge of US government swarm Tesla showrooms San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diegans once again rally outside Tesla dealerships across San Diego County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, part of the Tesla Takedowns Global Day of Action (FOX 5/KUSI) Police vehicles could be seen nearby the San Diego protests to monitor as crowds held signs with various messages like make lying wrong again and boycott Tesla, while some had messages that were more vulgar. The Tesla Takedown website lists another protest at the Chula Vista Tesla Showroom set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5. 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. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) Three Santa Fe City Councilors are working on a package of ordinances that could reshape how dangerous driving behaviors are fined. I think a lot of us feel helpless a little bit because our community is dangerous, and it has never been dangerous before, said Pilar Faulkner, Santa Fe City Councilor. We are pushing to get the highest fines in the country, which would be $500. While careless and reckless driving are already charges drivers can face, councilors said aggressive driving would be added to that list. That includes running people off the road, hitting bicyclists, drag racing. Theres a list of things that are intentional things that people do with their vehicles that then make the vehicle like a weapon, said Faulkner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver of Santa Fe city vehicle hits and kills person sitting on bench And it can be deadly. We lost one of our city employees to a hit and run. And the part that broke, it was an Aha, moment for me in that I was like people are literally dying because we are not doing our job, said Faulkner. Councilors are also proposing the creation of a code enforcement office, which would handle nuisance complaints and civil violations. Were freeing up some of the time and resources for our police officers so that they could really focus on those high-priority calls, said Amanda Chavez, Santa Fe City Councilor. Councilors want to start doubling fines in designated safety zones, similar to construction zones. They also plan on introducing legislation addressing speed and noise from things like mufflers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We really do want to do things at the local level, but we do run into conflict at the state level because the state law has more jurisdiction than we do, said Faulkner. Santa Fe Downs teardown makes way for possibilities A frustration, councilors share as they try to find new ways to keep their communities safe. I think it is unfortunate that our state leadership did not address these issues in this last legislative session. Going back on that, you know, they say that all politics are local. We want to set the example we want to say hey you know what in our local communities we want this, said Lee Garcia, Santa Fe City Councilor. Councilor Garcia hopes for a special session to address crime further and said it would be disappointing to wait two more years for change. The hard part is to watch your community being held hostage by crime and not having the ability to do anything about it because our laws arent allowing for it, said Faulkner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To gain community feedback on the package, councilors say they will be hosting a town hall on April 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Teen Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Family physician Pamela Buchanan discusses her article, Why diversity in medicine saves lives. Pamela shares powerful stories from her career, like adjusting a biracial childs treatment for a scalp infection and saving a Black woman with sickle cell disease from misdiagnosis, to illustrate how diversity enhances patient care. She addresses systemic biasessuch as the undertreatment of Black womens pain and misdiagnosis of womens heart attack symptomsand backs her insights with research showing better outcomes with diverse physicians. Pamela urges health care professionals to embrace cultural competence and collaboration, offering a clear takeaway: Diverse perspectives in medicine are essential for reducing disparities and saving lives. 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: Id welcome you to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast today. We welcome back Pamela Buchanan. Shes a family physician, and todays KevinMD article is Why diversity in medicine saves lives. Pamela, welcome to the show. Pamela Buchanan: Thank you, Kevin. Thanks for having me. Kevin Pho: All right. Tell us what this article is about. ADVERTISEMENT Pamela Buchanan: Well, with this article, Im a diverse individual. Im an African American female physician. And there are just some times when familiarity and cultural awareness matter in medicine. And 20 years. I can give examples. Like, one in particular sticks out to me. I work in a predominantly white, rural area, and we were seeing an African American female who was having some hair loss. She was a little kid, and she also had what I recognized was a ringworm and a carrion. And my colleague was thinking about using a therapy that I knew wouldnt work. We have to do oral. Most of us should know that. I know that acutely because of where I trained, which was predominantly African American, and from having experienced that in my family and myself and how traumatic it is, you know, for a female to lose hair. So those types of things. Also, in OB-GYN practices, Im a female OB-GYN, and its been a game-changer in the difference because I feel more open with her. It gave her all the details, and I think shes better able to take care of my health. And so just a couple of instances like that, just where it matters now. Kevin Pho: It goes without saying that currently in the political climate, diversity is under attack in all areas of life. So, how do you feel about that? Pamela Buchanan: You know, when it comes to things that enrage you, that is one. I hate to hear that diversity is the scapegoat of the political climate because, in particular, there are recent posts by a news personality who said that when he sees a diverse or a Blackhe says specifically a Black female surgeonhe assumes that they are underqualified and may have gotten their place by DEI practices, which, you and I both know from being doctors, is ridiculous because when you become a doctor, theres a litany of tests you have to pass from the MCAT to the boards. And those tests have nothing to do with race. We have to all pass them before were qualified and board certified, and so no one gets to do this job without being qualified. Kevin Pho: Now, throughout your medical journey and your medical career, what are some of the things that youve done to focus on diversitys impact in your practice and what you see every day in medicine? Pamela Buchanan: Well, its been documented that specifically Black males who have a Black physician tend to have better health care. And thats because theres a distrust factor in particular in the African American community. We can trace this all the way back to the Tuskegee Airmen Experiment and other instances of racism in medicine. And so, with that being the case, many people in my culture, African American, do not trust doctors. They believe that doctors are in it for profit or theyre experimenting on them. So Ive been able to make inroads with the community because Im part of the community, and thereby, hey, you know, help them with things that we have put to the wayside, not coming to the doctor. Screening is important. And I post about that on my socials because I want to make sure that, in particular, people of color know that its important to prevent health issues when we can. Early detection matters because were getting to a climate where I feel like theres going to be the haves and have-nots. If you cant afford, we cant afford to get sick. If you dont have adequate health care, youre not going to be able to get the most appropriate treatment. And so, our country does not focus on prevention, and we need to start focusing on prevention. So, in particular, I get the privilege and the joy of speaking to African Americans about their health because they trust me. Kevin Pho: And you mentioned in your article that when it comes to undertreatment of pain, Black patients often feel a disproportionate undertreatment for pain. There are studies backing that up. Pamela Buchanan: There are. You know, that happens in Black people and happens in womenthe pain is not believed. And Ive seen it firsthand in my practice in the emergency room. A year ago, we had a patient who came in, and she had sickle cell crisis. Immediately, nurses and colleagues said, Oh, shes seeking. And I looked through her history, and she had sickle cell. And I said, But what if shes not? We have to just believe them. I know theres a big opioid problem, but we have to believe patients first, and try to use our discernment, but really. So I treated her appropriately, and she did have acute chest syndrome. And, you know, she wasnt believed, I believe, because shes Black, and were in a predominantly white area, and thats unfortunate. Kevin Pho: Now, you also mentioned about the role of implicit biases. So can you tell us some stories about some of the implicit biases that you faced either in training or in practicing medicine? Pamela Buchanan: Yes. You know, it goes without saying were all human. We all have implicit biases. Theres no way around that. But recognizing it and trying to be cognizant of it is what we all can do. I have my implicit biases because it comes from how you grew up. And so in my practice, again, in that case with the sickle cell patient, implicit biasesassuming that many of the people who come into our ER who dont look like the other people, which are usually Blacks, get treated as if drug seekers or, you know, not a real problem. Assuming that, oh, theyre just here for a work note, but what if theyre not? And I can tell you, I try not to make those assumptions about anybody. And even when theres such pressure from the nurses, just hurry up and get him out of here because hes not real. I worked up this patient, and guess what? He had a perforated ulcer. So he was not faking. I went through the tests, and I got moans and groans: Why are you going to all this work? Because I feel like somethings wrong, and I need to believe him. He was unkempt, he was an African American, and he was out of place because hes the only Black person in that ER that day. Kevin Pho: Now, what do you do to push back against these implicit biases? Like, in that example that you just shared, there was a lot of dismissal perhaps because of that patients race, and you went and did a full workup and obviously found real pathology. Now, do you do anything to push back against these implicit biases and maybe use this as a teaching moment? Pamela Buchanan: I love that question cause I always do, and I think my colleagues like that I do. And when I do, like that particular case is still fresh in my mind. I go, Now, heres a good example of why we dont judge a book by its cover. Heres a good example of why we take each patient each day with each complaint as if it were noon, and they were real. And heres an instance of why we treat each of our patients like our brother, mother, sister, and we just take care of them and we believe them at face value. I know there are some people who work in ER, and we have themrepeat offenders. We have people who come into the ER all the time and abuse our services. But even still, like they say, a broken clock is wrong twice each day, and even people who cry wolf all the timeeventually theres going to be a real problem. And so I try to face each patient, each visit, as if it were real. And its hard to do because I can say that I can have my biases and believe that theyre full of it, all while doing the appropriate workup. And sometimes, when I feel that bias come on, I will talk to my colleagues, the nurses, and another doctor if he or she is around, and say, This is the problem. Im blinded by this because I have some feelings. Is this workup appropriate for what this problem is? I just did that yesterday. Because there is one I have a particular bias from because he comes in all the time and cries, and cries more. But guess what? Yesterday he had a problem that wasnt real. Kevin Pho: Now, how do those conversations in general go? Are they uncomfortable in any way? Pamela Buchanan: Theyre actually not uncomfortable because of my personality type. I infuse humor into things. I say it in a relaxed I was like, I know this guy comes in all the time. I know, I know. And I know that hes oftentimes full of it, but lets just pretend for one minute that hes not and that he were, lets say, your brother. I bounced it off a nurse. He says he has abdominal pain, its been going on for this amount of time. The differential is this. OK. Im orderingand I was like, Im ordering a CBC, a CMP, and Im going to give him some fluids and get a CAT scan. Anything else you think I should do? And she said, Yeah, get a lipase. And, yeah, pancreatitis. Kevin Pho: Now, you mentioned that youre one of the few Black physicians in your area, and in the medical institutions in your area. So, have you been on the receiving end of any Pamela Buchanan: Yes. So, in particular, there are patients who say they dont want to see a Black doctor. And I run into that more often than not, over the last five years, its intensified. So well have that issue. Kevin Pho: And what do you do when that happens? Pamela Buchanan: Well, youre graceful when you say, That is your choice, and we have to respect it. In terms of how I feel, Ive learned to not take it personally. I think that person is flawed, and I take it as a time to educate them, and sometimes they have such a severe problem that Im their only choice. Ive been someones only choice when they were having an emergency, and they didnt care to see a Black doctor, and they had to. And at the end, they told me they thought it was a compliment, but it was a backhanded compliment, where they said that they didnt think I would know what I was doing, but I was right smart for a Black doctor. So, you know, its uncomfortable and its unfortunate, but I use it as a time to be excellent. Each time I come in contact with patients who dont know people like me and who have their biases, I show up as my most excellent self. Kevin Pho: So I want to get back to the current political climate where diversity is now a politically charged word, right? So how can we emphasize the importance of diversity, specifically in medicine, in the current political climate that clamps down against it? What are some things that physicians can do? Pamela Buchanan: Oh, well, listen, we all come from various backgrounds and various cultures, and there are different things that happen in all these cultures. Were in a melting pot. People from different backgrounds, races, religions, races will understand more than you in your narrow worldview. And when we come together and we collaboratewhen I have a colleague who is, say, from a Muslim culture, who can explain things about Ramadan to me, then I can better talk to this patient about how to take his medication. Its not an empty stomachthings that I dont understand. And when patients have such a bias and a fear of the doctor, particularly Im thinking about African American patients, especially if theyre older. My colleagues dont understand, but I completely understand. I understand. I grew up in this culture where it was talked about how we dont trust doctors unless theyre Black because the white doctors are out to get us. Now, in this politically charged climate, you know, we talk about DEI as if the people who benefit from itaffirmative action, which is now being called diversity, equity, inclusionare somehow substandard in medicine. Its just not possible. You and I know that the rigor of the testing and the way that we have to get through accounts for that. There are safeguards. And also, when you have people of diverse backgrounds, then medicine flourishes. For instance, we know that female physicians, who inherently have more words, which leads to better communication, have better outcomes with elderly patients because it requires an extensive amount of patience. Just by how gender is treated in this culture, women tend to be better listeners. I know that offends some, but its just factual, and there are studies in JAMA to support that. And its unfortunate that this climate, politically, is used as a scapegoat. But when you see a person who you think is a DEI hire, know this: They have probably worked twice as hard to get half as far, and they are probably more capable than your worldview because they have that knowledge. I know I have that knowledge that people think that Im substandard. So I go to conferences more. I study more. I do more CME than my colleagues do. I know different techniques. I had an instance at work a few weeks ago where a colleague came after me, and a patient was dying. I did multiple procedures on her and things that he didnt understand. I had to stay two hours explaining to him some techniques that I had done. And then he wasnt one who liked to use the ultrasound. She needed a central line. I had to stay and do that for him as well. And then all the while, Im leaving thinking, and Im viewed as the DEI hire. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Pamela Buchanan. Her KevinMD article is Why diversity in medicine saves lives. Pamela, as always, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Pamela Buchanan: Ill say that any time you see a diverse person in medicine, know that they are more than likely overqualified and more capable of taking care of you than any biases you have. And any of us who have implicit biaseswe all dolets recognize that. Lets be cognizant of it, and lets do our very best for each person the same each time. And you can reach me at Dr. Be Strong or text STRONG to 55444. Kevin Pho: Pamela, as always, thank you so much for sharing your story, time, and insight, and thanks again for coming back on the show. Pamela Buchanan: Thank you again. I appreciate you. Our democracy works best when every eligible voter, regardless of background, can make their voice heard. But the extreme SAVE Act threatens that right by imposing unnecessary and burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements, making it significantly harder for millions of Americans to register and vote. This bill would force every voter to present proof of citizenship, primarily through a passport or an original birth certificate, documents many Americans dont readily have, every time they register or update their registration in person. That means we, our loved ones and our neighbors could face insurmountable barriers. As it's written now, the bill creates particular problems for military service members, tribal citizens, married women, naturalized citizens, rural voters and seniors. The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem. Its already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and election officials already verify voter eligibility using secure state and federal data. This bill does nothing to improve election security, it only makes voting harder for law-abiding citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Trump might be overplaying his hand with onslaught of executive orders Congress should reject this dangerous bill and focus on ensuring that all eligible Americans have fair and equal access to the ballot box. Instead of erecting new barriers, we should be working to make voting more accessible for all eligible Americans. Nancy Stein, Cherry Grove This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: SAVE Act is a barrier to fair elections, not a solution | Letter Our democracy works best when every eligible voter can make their voice heard. But the SAVE Act threatens that right by imposing unnecessary and burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements, making it significantly harder for millions of Americans to register and vote. This bill would force every voter to present proof of citizenship, primarily through a passport or an original birth certificate, documents many Americans dont readily have, every time they register or update their registration in person. The bill creates particular problems for military service members, tribal citizens, married women, naturalized citizens, rural voters and seniors. The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem. Its already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and election officials already verify voter eligibility using secure state and federal data. Huston-Tillotson University student Myles Wilson, left, registers to vote last September with the help of volunteer Cliffton Styles, right. The SAVE Act would require people to present proof of U.S. citizenship anytime they register to vote or update their registration. Congress should reject this dangerous bill and focus on ensuring that all eligible Americans have fair and equal access to the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan Patrick Schweizer, Lakeway RFK's rhetoric on vaccines and autism does harm to Americans As a young autistic man in America, I am beyond distraught over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation as the secretary of Health and Human Services. We are now actively living in a country where the person who is in charge of the health care system believes that my mental disability is caused by vaccinations. This is especially terrible because that implies you are better off dead from the diseases you get vaccinated for rather than being autistic. This man is actively dismissing decades' worth of research in order to suit his own pseudoscientific beliefs, and he still has plenty of room during his term to continue his spree of misinformation about the spectrum and dismissive actions towards the lives and experiences of the people on it. May God help us all, if we even deserve it at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Mason, Austin If you're against DEI, what exactly are you for? Lets talk about DEI. Borrowing from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, to understand DEI, we need to talk about its opposite. The opposite of diversity is uniformity; the opposite of equity is inequity; the opposite of inclusion is exclusion. So what does opposing DEI really mean? Uniformity, inequity, exclusion, or in other words, the good ole days when white, straight males ruled, and everyone else was second class or in the closet. Equity in education has always been about helping children do their best and providing accommodations if needed. For instance, if youve ever been to other countries, you wont notice many wheelchair ramps or curb cutouts. We have them here because we valued equity. It doesnt hurt the physically able to ensure that a building is accessible to all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to ask Sen. Brandon Creighton and Gov. Greg Abbott: When you talk about DEI, what are you really saying? Sara Stevenson, Austin Love your libraries and museums? Fund these treasures locally Re: March 23 article, "Library funding agency's future in doubt" We love libraries and museums and use them all the time. However, if these programs are really desirable, how about they raise their own funds instead of asking all of us to pay? These are local issues. The Idaho teen mentoring program seems worthy, but the population of Idaho Falls is about 70,000. Raising $10,350 seems easy. Green Bay (pop. 105,000) and Door County (pop. 30,000) should easily be able to raise $25,000 to support rural libraries in Northeast Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in Austin, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which we have been to, is very nice. They get over 250,000 visitors per year. If half of those donated $1, they could replace the $115,000 federal grant for its seed bank. In other words, get off your butts and raise the money yourselves! Theres no need for all taxpayers to support these issues. Peter and Barbara Miles, Kyle A visitor to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin examines a bird guidebook. A $115,000 federal grant to the center could be lost to budget cuts by the Trump Administration. Federal cuts to library funding will hit small towns the hardest It seems now that the Trump Administration wants to cut federal funding to libraries and museums. These funds are used to provide internet access in libraries, fund interlibrary loan services, promote library and museum construction, and promote art exhibitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all libraries will be affected, small-town libraries will be hit the hardest. These funds provide access to books and materials that a small-town library simply cannot afford to provide on their own. It appears that the Trump Administration believes if you want books and art, a person must be able to buy them. It also appears that the Administration believes ignorance is bliss. Steven Rooks, Austin Perhaps Trump Highway would be an apt name for I-35 Re: March 21 article, "East Texas lawmaker wants to name I-35 after Trump" I want to thank state Rep. Joanne Shofner, R-Nacogdoches, for thinking of us in the Austin area. She has introduced a bill to rename the Travis County stretch of Interstate 35 to the Donald J. Trump Highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a perfect fit, as I-35 in Austin is dangerous, frequently slow and unpleasant. However, we don't want all the glory. Feel free to rename Nacogdoches to Trump City, as it will be easier to pronounce and spell. Jim Edrington, Georgetown How did that Ten Commandments display at the Capitol work out? Our state legislators are considering a bill to require schools to have the Ten Commandments posted in classrooms. Some of them strongly feel the children need this. A monument featuring the Ten Commandments was placed on the state Capitol grounds in 1961. So here is a question for the general public: Have you noticed any improvements in the speech, manners, ethics, or kindness vs. meanness in your state officials and legislators since then? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joanne Brininstool, Austin A granite monument with the Ten Commandments has stood outside the Texas Capitol since 1961. Tell us more about the problem of indoctrination in schools Re: March 27 article, "Legislator: No UT funds if LGBTQ studies continue" I just read the article in which Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, demands the Legislature defund the University of Texas if it doesnt shutter its Womens, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department and LGBTQ studies program. Harrison decried these fields of study as "liberal indoctrination." That's really rich considering that he and other Republicans want the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. I'm pretty sure they know that not every Texas family subscribes to their beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Gutentag, Austin If vouchers are for needy families, ensure they go to needy families Im coming around to the idea of school vouchers; this notion that our families in need would benefit from government handouts is quite progressive. Instead of merely prioritizing families of children with special needs and those making 200% below the poverty line, why not, as Democrats have suggested, cap the program for only those families? As Gov. Greg Abbott succinctly stated in his recent press conference, the wealthy already have choice. We dont need to use taxpayer money to enable them. Dessie Allen, Austin Natural gas must be part of the picture to keep energy prices low Re: March 24 article, "Wind energy doesn't drive up electricity rates in Texas, experts say" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The article says wind does not drive up the cost of electricity. This is true as long as natural gas is low cost and plentiful, and we continue to build quick-start natural gas plants to act as backup to wind and solar. The problem arises as we try to phase out fossil fuels, and the cost of energy storage needed to capture and hold wind and solar energy drives up the cost of electricity much higher. So the article is true only if you are not concerned about climate change or burning fossil fuels. I have run hourly simulation studies on this as well as other scenarios, and the cost of electricity does sharply rise if you try to get all the energy just from wind and solar. Eugene Preston, Austin Government agencies exist to serve, not to produce a profit Re: March 15 article, "USPS strikes deal with Musk team for reform aid" The article stated that USPS, an independent government agency, employs 635,000 workers and lost about $9.5 billion last year. This statement is a misclassification of a government agency; government agencies are not what business-focused individuals refer to as profit centers. The United States Postal Service has not lost about $9.5 billion but has incurred $9.5 billion more costs than the revenue it raised. One of the main purposes of our governments and the various agencies and departments created to fulfill these purposes is to provide service to the citizenry, not to achieve a profit. Does anyone expect the Department of Defense to provide a profit? Should Health and Human Services provide a profit? The National Transportation Safety Board? Should courts impose fees to cover all of their costs plus a profit? It seems apparent that many in our government do not support the notion that government should serve the people. How sad. Rick Landwehr, Austin Sen. John Cornyn, shown last year, repeatedly gave President Trump credit for the tax cuts he was seeking to extend and showered him with overall high marks for actions his administration has taken since returning to the presidency in January. No good reason for Sen. Cornyn to give Trump high marks Re: March 23 column, "Ahead of 2026 election, Cornyn counts on good policy also being good politics" The article said Sen. John Cornyn showers President Trump with overall high marks for actions his administration has taken since returning to the presidency in January." I can imagine only two reasons he would do so. One, Cornyn truly believes the Dear Leaders policies and totalitarian techniques are good. If this is true and typical of Cornyns Republican compatriots, the U.S. will likely not escape fascism. Two, Cornyn is sucking up to Trump, afraid The Donald will torpedo his campaign by coming out strong for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. If so, we have a political coward for a senator who places his own thirst for power ahead of honesty, decency, democracy and the Constitution. Option three: It is possible both one and two are true. How ever you look at it, it is a sad state of affairs. Mark Warren, Austin America needs Texas' senior senator to speak up Sen. John Cornyn, please hear this. History will not look kindly on the elected officials who were in positions of power and stood silently by and let President Donald Trump dismantle Americas government and destroy our democracy. Texans voting in 2026 will not look kindly on a senator who chose to continue to be silently subservient to the Elon Musk/Trump administration and their ego-driven, gaslighting-fueled, lying, incompetent, heartless and traitorous assault on this once great country. Sen. Cornyn, America needs you right now. Our allies need you right now. The world needs you right now. Be brave, be a leader, be a patriot, be a Texan and make it your legacy that you were The One, the senior Republican who first shouted The King has no clothes. Many others will shout with you. David Voss, Dallas This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: SAVE Act would make it harder for Americans to vote | Letters Democrats and their embattled Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have received a welcome change to rebound amid the controversy surrounding the Signal group chat that entangled a number of Trump Cabinet members over the past week. Signalgate, in which a journalist was inadvertently included in a Trump administration group chat that included sensitive information about a military strike against the Houthis in Yemen, effectively served as a reprieve for Schumer. Instead of being besieged by questions about Democratic divisions and Schumers vote to advance a GOP funding bill the week was dominated by queries of how The Atlantics editor-in-chief ended up getting invited by Trumps national security adviser to a group chat that included Vice President Vance and other top officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP senators were the ones fending off questions over why the Trump team, including officials traveling overseas, were discussing sensitive information on Signal, while Democrats were the ones going on offense. Whats more, the Signal story broke just hours before members of the Senate were returning from recess to a Washington ready to pounce on Schumer and their partys divide. Democrats were generally hiding any glee over their fortune, but some acknowledged the shifting winds. None of it makes me happy, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) said about the Signal chat. But it certainly has changed the tenor of the discussion, and it took the frustration and sense of loss that people in Colorado were feeling and given it more of a focus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumer, specifically, was expected to face tough questions after he surprised Democrats by deciding to advance the GOP spending bill and prevent a shutdown, even after vulnerable House Democrats stuck their necks out by voting against it. The New York Democrat spent much of the recess promoting a book aimed at combating antisemitism, but he was also forced to sell himself as still being the best person to lead Senate Democrats. Those queries had been few and far between since he took over the role from former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2017. Instead, the focus was on the uproar within the GOP, upending the news cycle and allowing Schumer to talk about somebody elses status instead of his own. Democrats were already hoping to put up a more unified front against major GOP legislation being crafted by Republicans to move Trumps agenda of tax cuts and energy and border provisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) acknowledged the Signal controversy gave something for Democrats to rally around, and to fight in a way that their base had been asking them to do. Its very helpful, Welch said. I also think it was some clarity and unity coming out of the division we had. That was a moment where the enormous frustration that we felt in our base felt that we have to stand up to Trump came together, and there was a demand that we do something. I think its internalized within our caucus that our base is right, he added. Weve got to find every way we can fight and fight harder, and I think theres unity in that. Democrats will get another change to unify and fight as the GOP brings a budget package including Trumps tax cuts to the floor. The package is already dividing Republicans on a few fronts, while Democrats are unified in opposition given the GOP is seeking to move the bill without any assistance from the minority party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By using budget reconciliation rules, the GOP is seeking to sidestep a filibuster in the Senate. A coming vote-a-rama on the package will allow Democrats to hold votes on as many amendments as possible, many of which are likely to make vulnerable GOP lawmakers uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Democrats are already taking full advantage of The Atlantics reporting. Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee peppered CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, both of whom were in the Signal group, at the annual Worldwide Threats hearing, about whether the information in the chat was classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard and Ratcliffes insistence that it wasnt along with Hegseth and President Trump saying the same prompted Goldberg to release the officials full text exchange. That, in turn, led to even more back-and-forth about the administrations actions and handling of sensitive information. Were standing in a sandstorm that the Trump administration has created, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said. But the key thing in a sandstorm is to keep your eye on where were headed. It all comes to the tax fight. It is critical that we respond to whats happening, but that we not get pulled off the central fight because the Republican effort to hand this government over to the billionaires is the existential fight for our democracy and our country. None of this is going to completely obliterate the real divisions in the Democratic Party, which for the first two and a half months of Trumps presidency has struggled to keep up. The tumult over the funding bill has raised the stakes further for the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lesson learned is when you see something coming at you, to be ready, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You could have seen the CR train coming at us a mile away, and in my view, we should have been much better prepared. Weve seen the Trump tax cuts for the rich coming at us 10 miles away, he said. So we do have time to lay the groundwork, which is part of what were doing here. Still, the Signal controversy has put the party in a different space than it was a week ago. Thank you, Pete Hegseth and Michael Waltz, Welch quipped, referring to the Defense secretary and national security adviser, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A new science of reading core literacy curriculum piloted in Kennewick elementary schools is likely to set a better foundation for students to read, write and learn. The Kennewick School Board on Wednesday unanimously approved the adoption of Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) at the recommendation of district staff and a materials committee. In September, with the start of the 2025-26 school year, all K-5 classes will use Amplify CKLA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes after the district piloted it in 25 classrooms across seven elementary schools. STAR test scores between fall and winter showed 18 classes had the equivalent academic growth of more than a year. Its the same curriculum adopted last year by the Richland School District. Pasco School District in 2022-23 adopted the American Reading Companys Core, which is informed by science of reading research. That means all 18,000 elementary students in the Tri-Cities region will soon be learning through a science of reading curriculum. What is the science of reading? Science of reading is a broad term that refers to a comprehensive body of empirical research spanning several decades detailing what matters and what works in the field of holistic literacy instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It narrows in on two component skills: decoding and linguistic comprehension. And it highlights five pillars of reading proficiency that students need: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Its approach in the classroom is known as structured literacy. Its different from the balanced literacy method thats been popular in classrooms for decades, which promotes a well-rounded and comprehensive education in reading and writing. Teachers in recent years have also moved away from three-cueing in favor of more scientifically sound and specific strategies to help students with reading roadblocks. That strategy, also known as MSV (meaning, syntax, visual), entails students drawing from context clues, visuals or sentence structure to guess at a words meaning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jilian Alfaro, a 4th grade teacher at Sage Crest Elementary, says it enhanced her students curiosity and comprehension of complex concepts. Every child has the right to a rigorous and meaningful learning experience in which they can naturally grow, inquire, discover their passions and succeed, she told parents at a community preview event. Early childhood literacy education is important because students begin to use reading and writing as a primary medium to learn other concepts by the time theyre in the third-grade. It can be a crucial indicator of a students future success in high school, college and the workforce. Colorful phonic signs are posted in Toni Cuellos kindergarten classroom to help her students learn the sounds of the letters of alphabet. Elementary schools report big gains Kennewick will purchase eight years of digital access and five years of print from Amplify, totaling $2 million a good price for K-5 reading curriculum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2016 its used Houghton Mifflin Harcourts Journeys, but district staff moved up curriculum adoption earlier because the publisher is sunsetting the curriculum. Alyssa St. Hilaire, Kennewicks assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, says the standout is that kids are excited and curious to learn with Amplify CKLA. We also feel its one of the best materials out there thats grounded in science of reading, and just really helping teach those skills in a systematic approach, she said. Just hearing the kids be excited about learning about history and science is kind of the Velcro that helps all of that reading stick, St. Hilaire said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students learn through shorter excerpts of learning with Journeys, while Amplify uses units to draw deeper learning of concepts. For example, science class might have a through line that goes from animals and habitats to eventually studying the plant cycle. Past curricula taught skills in isolation, St. Hilaire says. But CKLA allows students to develop skills holistically through subject background knowledge. Scarboroughs Reading Rope shows whats going on in student brains as they build reading comprehension, St. Hilaire said. Two strands language comprehension and word recognition are foundational for students to build skilled reading. But those strands are composed of several skills making up the strands fibers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For language comprehension, students need knowledge, vocabulary, sentence structure, reasoning and a mental model. For word recognition, they need to know sounds, letters and words. As those skills become more strategic and automatic, students develop a strong rope of reading comprehension that theyll use to learn for the rest of their lives. St. Hilaire says the body of research isnt an educational fad. This is how our kids need to learn how to read, she said. To hear kids excitement about reading, to hear teachers excited to be teaching reading this is how reading needs to be taught. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School board president Gabe Galbraith says hes heard students at all levels were staying engaged and are demonstrating strong understanding of the content. In addition to improving reading comprehension, it fosters critical thinking and problem-solving. Initial results are showing positive growth in our students testing, Galbraith said in a statement. The process has been very collaborative with staff doing a tremendous job with the initial discussions and piloting material in classrooms. The community provided very positive review feedback and the board has spent significant time collecting feedback and observing lessons in classrooms, he continued. HARTBEESPOORT, South Africa (AP) Dozens of tiny black weevils cling onto a fern plant as it is tossed onto a leafy green mat coating the surface of South Africa's Crocodile River. Those weevils aren't tossed into the river by accident: scientists hope that the insects and their larvae will munch their way through the green mat, which is made up of an unwanted, invasive South American aquatic plant called Salvinia minima. The plant is steadily taking over freshwater bodies in the northern region of South Africa, suffocating aquatic life, including on the Crocodile River and the Hartbeespoort Dam it flows into. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weevils, which have been used effectively elsewhere in the world to fight water weeds, are now leading South Africas charge against the life-sucking plants threatening ecosystems in at least three northern provinces and creeping into neighboring countries. After the weevils helped control the spread of salvinia in parts of the United States, scientists from both countries worked together on a project to gather a starter population in South Africa. The 1-millimeter-long (0.03 inches) insects were brought over 8,700 miles from Louisiana. Rearing stations are being set up near several dams to grow the weevil population. Once released at an infested site, the beetles make themselves at home on the salvinia, the only thing they eat, without damaging the local ecosystem, scientists say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They lay eggs on this plant, feed on this plant and die on this plant. If this plant dies, they will die as well, said professor Julie Coetzee, the principal scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. They damage certain tissues, those tissues become waterlogged and then those plants sink to the bottom. A floating menace Hartbeespoort Dam north of Johannesburg, the location for the pilot project, is an important source of irrigation for nearby farms and a popular recreation site. When we bought the property there was this beautiful little floating plant on the dam and I thought well thats quite nice, said 53-year-old resident and business operator Max Moller. Little did I realize this little floating fern was an absolute menace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moller, the owner of Mogis hiking trail, said the salvinia have clogged up and damaged boat engines and also hurt fishing communities over the nine years that he has lived in the area. South Africas already vulnerable freshwater systems face a significant threat from salvinia, scientists say. The plants have had two major growth spurts in 2021 and 2022, surviving on the high nitrate contents in the water. The plant initially surfaced more than a decade ago at the dam, which has also long been battling with a water hyacinth invasion, another problematic species. If you pull the hyacinth away, this plant is lurking, said Coetzee. The invasive plants block out the sunlight, which means no oxygen in the water, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If there is no oxygen, theres no fish, theres no crab, theres no insects and so you completely destroy or alter the aquatic ecosystem, she said. Salvinia has a rapid growth rate and its spread has been most notable across Gauteng province, where South Africa's biggest city of Johannesburg and its capital, Pretoria, are located. The plant is compounding existing water supply problems by depleting the oxygen and sapping the supply in a country that's already struggling with increasing demand and deteriorating water infrastructure. Concerns over the weevils' impact While releasing the weevils will help combat salvinia, experts warn that there could be unintended side-effects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Turton, a water expert and researcher at South Africas University of the Free State, cautioned that their introduction could turn rivers and dams into more suitable homes for bacteria and dangerous organisms. That includes poisonous blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, which flourish in nutrient-rich, contaminated waterways and already affect almost 60% of the nations dams. With more light and less competition for nutrients, those cyanobacteria will go into a condition known as a bloom, he said. This is exponential population growth that radically populates the entire water column. Turnton said simultaneous action to repair damaged sewage systems and limit agriculture fertilizer runoff are essential for a lasting solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless there are efforts to reduce the inflow of nutrients from sewage flows, then we are only creating space for cyanobacteria to grow without competition from floating weeds, he said. Threat of spreading to other countries The weevils aren't the first insects to be introduced to curb an invasive threat in South Africa. The country brought in a bug in the 1930s to control the spread of a hardy cactus native to Mexico that was hurting ecosystems. That project was viewed as a success. The speedy growth of the salvinia has put pressure on the government to act, particularly as researchers warn that neighboring countries also now face an invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coetzee said that salvinia was popping up on the confluence of the Crocodile and Limpopo rivers in the far north of South Africa. That now poses a huge threat to our neighbors because this plant has been transported by our rivers onto our borders, she said. It is likely to go all the way along the Limpopo, along Botswana and Zimbabwes borders and into Mozambique. We really have a responsibility to control this plant," she added. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa The deepest lake in North America is recovering its water level after it reached a record low in 2024. In February, Great Slave Lake in Canada's Northwest Territories was 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) higher than it was a year prior, as Cabin Radio reported. As of March 7, it had picked up another 5 cm to reach 9.8 inches. The province's Department of Environment and Climate Change said Great Slave Lake's water level has been "slowly rising since mid-December," per the outlet, though the spring melt will determine where it goes from here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lake is named after a group of the Indigenous Dene people. The Dene also call themselves the Slavey when speaking English, per The Canadian Encyclopedia. It's the second-largest lake in the country, fifth-largest on the continent, and 10th-largest in the world. Humans have lived around the lake, which reaches a maximum depth of 614 meters, for 7,000 years. It has a significant impact on the Mackenzie River and forms the basis of traditional livelihoods and economies, according to the Northwest Territories government. In 2020, the lake reached its highest level since 1930. But it had been "extremely low" the year before, Cabin Radio reported. Since 2022, the area has been in a drought. Both the water level fluctuations and dry conditions are common symptoms of the warming planet. The burning of dirty energy sources emits heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, which envelop Earth like a blanket and contribute to more frequent and severe extreme weather as well as rising global temperatures that disrupt the water cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Great Slave Lake basin, water levels are bouncing back but still low. That could again disrupt the barge resupply on the Mackenzie like last year, and higher-than-usual temperatures in January were cause for concern. Winter precipitation was average, and that was expected to continue for a few months for most of the NWT, Cabin Radio reported. To help stabilize the lake and other climate conditions, we can turn to clean energy sources that don't pollute the environment or lead to planetary warming. Use or install electric lawn equipment and energy-efficient appliances, which can also save you money. Even small steps such as eating plant-based meals, using less plastic, and taking alternatives to personal vehicles can make a big difference. 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. SNP ministers have handed Stonewall, the controversial gay rights charity, more than 400,000 of Scottish taxpayers money, it has emerged. The Scottish Government is under pressure to cut funding after it was revealed that it had given the charity around 100,000 a year since 2022 to run a programme aimed at advancing LGBTQ+ equality. Stonewall has faced growing criticism over its work on transgender rights, with some of its co-founders claiming it was extremist and had lost its way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charity has previously pushed companies to adopt gender-neutral language, encouraging organisations to use the term parent who has given birth in place of mother on forms to boost their ranking on its index of employers. Several organisations, including the BBC, the Scottish Parliament and Police Scotland, have now withdrawn from its diversity champions membership scheme. Stonewalls critics also accused it of being a shell charity in Scotland, arguing there was too little public-facing activity to justify the large sums of public money being handed over. They pointed to a lack of social media activity, with the most recent post on X by Stonewall Scotland dated Sept 6 last year. There have only been six posts from its accounts in the last 12 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Stonewall strongly denies allegations that it has become inactive in Scotland after it failed to replace its director north of the Border, who left more than a year ago. It is understood the charity has merged the previous heads of its operations in each home nation into a single role, while retaining staff in each country. The call for the Scottish Government to cut its funding comes as Stonewall faces a financial crisis triggered by Donald Trump. Elon Musk, the US presidents close aide, has gutted US overseas aid spending as part of his government efficiency drive. Stonewalls largest funder in recent years has been the US state department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Scottish Government has confirmed it will continue funding the charity in 2025/26. Ministers must ditch gender obsession But Tess White, the Scottish Tories equality spokesman, told the Sunday Times: Scots will ask serious questions as to why the SNP is squandering so much taxpayers money still funding this organisation that has been mired in controversy. Ministers must finally do the right thing and ditch their gender obsession as well as stopping giving a six-figure sum to an organisation that doesnt appear to be active in Scotland. Lucy Hunter Blackburn, a policy analyst and former Scottish Government civil servant responsible for funding external organisations, claimed Stonewall had become a shell company north of the Border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: Stonewall Scotlands social media accounts have been dormant for months and the programme Scottish Government funding is meant to support appears at first sight to have had little Scottish activity for some time. A spokesman for Stonewall Scotland said: As we see an increasing roll back of hard-won rights globally, the work to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality has never been more important. Stonewall remains committed to improving LGBTQ+ rights across the four nations, including Scotland. Stonewall has worked in partnership with other LGBTQ+ organisations and partners in Scotland for 25 years and we continue to do so. We support a significant number of workplaces in Scotland on their inclusion journey and have a proud record of supporting the Scottish Government on their policy and legislative ambitions. A Scottish Government spokesman said: We are committed to supporting LGBTQI+ people, including through funding for Stonewall to advance equality for this group. This is particularly important at a time when we are seeing a rise in attacks against the LGBTQI+ community. 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 Scioto County Public Library has entered 2025 not only with taxpayer support after the continuation of its tax levy but an extensive list of programs and events that are being shaped by ongoing evaluations of patron usage across a network of locations. Public libraries and library staff have such an impact on the community, Library Director Paige Williams said. Libraries are the gateways to literacy for babies and children as well as being an information highway for adults. Scioto County Public Library and our incredible staff have a commitment to excellence as shown in our 2024 statistics. The Scioto County Public Library is known for its extensive programming and events. Last year, programming witnessed a 28 percent increase as participation increased 23 percent over 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Circulation also saw an increase, at 1.3 percent, which translates to over 4,090 more items circulated than the previous year. The culmination of these increases was also drastically impacted by a 49 percent increase on patrons visiting the various library locations. With these increased attendance numbers, the library saw a jump of 29 percent in reference questions. These incredible numbers would not be possible without the support of the community in continuing to approve the librarys levy which provides 23% of our funding, Williams said. Although the library receives 68% of funding through the state of Ohio, that funding has decreased to the same amount we received 25 years ago in 2000. All the materials, programming and services would not be possible without the support of Scioto County! Thank you, Scioto County! The vote landed at 15,965 in support and 10,435 in opposition, ensuring the 1-mill levy would stand for another 5 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county libraries have depended on community support in the form of the 1-mill levy for over a decade now, according to Williams. Williams has been with the library since 1998, when she started as a youth services coordinator, and has watched a lot of different things change in the county, across the state, and in the local library system. Literacy is one of the things Ive noticed a change in. There is a lot of low literacy and illiteracy amongst families. When I wrote a grant several years ago, about 20-25 percent of the county were at low or no literacy levels. So, the library is very important, Williams explained. However, since 1998, Ive noticed a lot of changes in how libraries impact communities and how materials are distributed and made more accessible. Williams explained that expansions in digital services, shifting heavily from books to including an equal number of e-books and digital resources, has really helped improve access to information and other library materials. However, the traditional services and physical locations are still incredibly important and continue to be supported, which is vital since they saw a large increase in physical circulation in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The library has rolled with those changes, and we have a lot of digital changes now where you dont even have to come into the library, which is perfect for those with transportation barriers, Williams said. In the end, however, the library is still very important. When weve had times of crisis, such as the ice storm a few years ago, our libraries were one of the main places could go and get warm. We had running water, internet to contact family members, and more. The library is, basically, the center of the community. Since Williams started, the library has become much more of a focal point in the community, where they have access to hundreds of thousands of books digitally, offer more events than any other institution each year, has a stocked computer lab with professional resources, a growing local history department and other unique lending services, such as the newly expanded seed library. We have something for everyone. Over our Portsmouth doors is a sign that says, open to all. We take that seriously, Williams said. Whether youre needing somewhere to get out of the cold, looking for a job or using our lab to sign up for benefits, looking for reading materials or a movie, bringing a child in for an event and socialization, or a teenager looking for something to do, we take our role in the community seriously and want to offer something for everyone who walks through those doors. Multiple authorities are in search of a missing Glastonbury woman in the area of Glastonbury Boathouse on Sunday morning. Glastonbury Police responded to 252 Welles Street following a report of Mary Colasanto, a missing 72-year-old at around 6 a.m., according to the Glastonbury Police Department. Glastonbury Police Department Patrol and Investigations Divisions, Connecticut State Police K-9 teams, Capital Region Emergency Services Team and Hartford Dive Teams also responded. This remains an active investigation, and no other details were released at this time, according to the Glastonbury Police Department. Police ask any witnesses or anyone with information about Colasanto where abouts are asked to call Officer Famularo at (860) 633-8301. In his book Cross Pollinations: The Marriage of Science and Poetry, Nabhan illustrates the interconnection between thinking across varied fields and how one specifically might inform the other. He is by no means the first or only thinker to harness looking across disciplines. This approach has certainly also informed the world of psychotherapy. The unifying glue, however, is time and space for reflection, to consider leisurely, to let the mind wander. It is to notice rather than direct thoughts, perhaps an extension of dreaming, in letting some connection find its way forward instead of serving as director. So, in a willingness to suspend assumptions, connections between desert food and disease may arise in contemplation of poetry disguised as what would otherwise be an afterthought. As an anesthesiologist and, more recently in my career, psychotherapist, this resonates deeply with my experiences. In one role I am a director of physiologic safety, in the other I am a knowledgeable guide in helping to draw edges around some of the more ephemeral considerations of self. And while there are so many approaches to this latter work, there are just a couple of frameworks that I lean into. How do interpersonal relationships define who we are in psychodynamic thinking? How does letting the brain follow its implicit and disparate record of experience lead down a path to explicit connection and emotional insight in Shapiros theory? And what does standing back to observe the overarching system contribute? These are not simple questions, of course, but lets think about the last as it applies to professional life. A systemic lens for psychotherapy As a member-at-large on the board of the Rocky Mountain Family Therapy Network (RMFTN), our local chapter of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), I would be remiss in not sharing reasons for my enthusiasm about a systemic approach to psychotherapy. There are so many frameworks for therapy it can feel overwhelming when you are looking for someone to work with. Differing perspectives also tend to be favored by different licensure groups, another area of confusion. While licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists both provide psychotherapy, they engage very different training. It matters because framework is what maintains coherence in an approach to the messy, complex world of human relations, emotions, assumptions, decisions, and choices that we try to corral into some sense when showing up as helpers. The legacy of Freud and the evolution of understanding relationships It helps to know that contemporary theories originated from Freuds pioneering work over a hundred years ago, and this continues to inform much of Western thinking. Psychoanalysis first gave clinicians a way to conceptualize and understand seemingly random or nonsensical behaviors, decisions, and patterns in relationship. It provided a means to access the logic of the other person, their unwritten rules or underlying language, to share hypotheses, increase understanding, and reveal new choices toward mitigating struggle and suffering. Understanding relationship has come a long way since then and has, remarkably, underpinned the accuracy of observations Freud made prior to sophisticated brain imaging techniques, elucidation of early brain development, and findings in current infant research. Thinking systemically in family dynamics Marriage and family therapists are trained to think about the overarching system in which people functionmost importantly the family system, both that into which we are born and the family we choose with our intimate partners and our children. This gives us an outline from which to proceed. It informs clinical understanding for unhappy exchanges in relationship, and how to foster change. It recognizes that change in one part of the system inevitably leads to change in the system as a whole. For example, when someone first stops drinking, a new equilibrium in the family system must be achieved. It is helpful to discuss this before everyone is taken by surprise when the discontinuation of drinking does not actually solve all of the problems. Or when a partner reticent to share their needs first learns to speak up, the system is impacted, and change is not always smooth because both or all partners have accommodated a way of being together. What happens when that is perturbed? When a partner dedicated to work to the exclusion of relationship decides they want to be more present, it is not just a matter of showing up but also learning to integrate into a system that evolved to function without their presence. While change is sought, it might not always be actually welcome, and this too is a challenge to both anticipate and work through. Systemic thinking looks at the possible impacts of change as well as observing how change is received to better help individuals, couples, or families to navigate this effectively toward healthier, richer, and more connected relationships. Extending systems thinking to medicine But systemic thinking is not limited to the psychotherapy of family. Identifying features in an overarching system that lead to poor outcomes was long ago harnessed to improve safety in the airline industry, and later, to some extent, in medicine. In navigating those issues in the physician work environment contributing to high rates of burnout and compassion fatigue, systemic thinking is highly relevant toward finding and implementing solutions. Immersion in these environments and changes over the last several decades has informed some of my perspective for our predicament as physicians providing complex and thoughtful care in increasingly challenging situations. Burnout and the medical system Contributing factors to burnout specifically have been identified in studies as lack of support, inadequate staff, and dwindling resources, compared to systems that function well for doctors and therefore patient care. Just as in family systems, relationships at work are crucial to a make-it-or-break-it environment. When complications of patient care occur, a system in which clinicians feel supported, in which decision making and understanding for the nuances of physiologic derangement can be discussed without fear of punishment, the overarching patient care system improves. This has been robustly demonstrated in the field of anesthesia in which safety improvements have over time converted a high-risk endeavor to one that is frequently considered routine. This came about in part from an ability to systematically deconstruct critical events. Any serious talk of well-being in the field has to consider a systems approach: What is wrong in the system that is amenable to change? A call to align values and agency As physicians we are trained to focus on the best interests of the patient, which contributes to deceptively sophisticated decision making. After all, the eight years minimum of training it takes to become a doctor is indicative of the enormous informational foundation plus the requisite skills to synthesize and deliver an appropriate treatment plan. Most people become doctors with a desire to help. But most doctors did not predict the changes in our work environments that value profit over patient safety or clinician work satisfaction. Doing more with less, turns out, has a breaking point. When a system fails to align with ones values, there is no shame in recognizing a call to change. What that change might look like depends on each individuals unique circumstances; there is no one-size-fits-all solution, unfortunately. And the courage to enact change requires both the feeling that one is deserving of a healthy work environment and a strong sense of personal agency. And is not this always the case, for so many reasons. These latter are some of the things that present in therapya journey, hopefully, in defining your change. ADVERTISEMENT Maire Daugharty is an anesthesiologist who expanded her expertise by earning a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling, merging her long-standing interest in mental health with her medical background. As a licensed professional counselor, licensed addiction counselor, and licensed marriage and family therapist, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her private practice, where she works with adult individuals and couples on a wide range of concerns. In addition to her counseling practice, she continues to work part-time as an anesthesiologist and has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by clinicians in todays medical landscape. To learn more about her practice, visit Physician Vitality Services. Thank you for the editorial Despicable disinformation and other articles about Elon Musk in the March 23 Ideas Lab. We live in precarious times, with the presidency, both Houses and the Supreme Court being controlled by one party. In addition, that party has been extremely successful in controlling the media along with numerous podcasts and extreme right-wing radio spewing out disinformation and conspiracy theories. Recently, The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a White House Signal app communication (using it in itself a security violation) that allowed him to hear war plans about the attack on Houthis in Yemen. When Goldberg exposed this serious security breach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth immediately attacked The Atlantic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Local governments to face deficits if union bill repealed by WI Supreme Court Editorial: Elon Musks despicable disinformation tampers with WI Supreme Court election With President Donald Trump surrounding himself with incompetent loyalists, and tearing apart our democratic institutions, there will surely be many more incidents as least as serious as this one. Its imperative that our traditional media continue to write editorials, fact check those in power and call out the lies from other extreme media sources. Thats why I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads, Support a Robust Free Press. Jerry Fredrickson, Greenfield Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Media needs to call out lies coming from those in power | Letters HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Have you seen a post on Facebook recently, asking you to be on the lookout for a missing police officer? Chances are, youre actually seeing a scam post, authorities say. The post includes a photo of a female police officer, apparently named Katie Cunningham, 28, who went missing yesterday morning. It goes on to claim her daughter was found in her car, but the 59, 163-pound officer had not been located. In the midst of her purported disappearance, the post says a silver alert has been issued. Thankfully, none of the information in the post is true almost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US at risk of losing health designation its had for 25 years Police in Evansville, Indiana, warned its residents that the post has been shared in multiple cities nationwide, often claiming the officer is from the local community. But as Evansville police and others note, they dont have an officer Katie Cunningham. Courtesy: Chambers County Sheriffs Office In Texas, the Chambers County Sheriffs Office said the post is a hoax and it appears to be part of a wider scam designed to go viral. Part of the post is, technically, accurate. Police in Great Falls, Montana, noted that the photo is a real officer: their own Sergeant Katie Cunningham. In a Friday post to Facebook, the department noted that Cunningham is alive and well at Great Falls High, working as the SRO supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Love, Alex: Young woman who dies of cancer writes own moving obituary They also noted several other signs the post is fake, including the 10-year-old photo with an incorrect rank and Cunningham being very petite at 53. Plus, a Silver Alert refers to a missing elderly person, which Cunningham is not. Were not sure what the scammers hope to gain by making posts like this, Great Falls police said. Authorities are asking the public not to share the post and to always verify information through official local law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Senator Mark Warner hosted two Community Conversation town halls in Hampton Roads on Saturday. The first town hall took place in Virginia Beach at Kempsville High School. While there, Warner was joined by Delegate Michael Feggans, local school board members and city officials. Warner addressed concerns about federal funding cuts, economic challenges and foreign policy decisions. Warner stated that he believes burning U.S. relations with American allies will only make our nation weaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are upset, Warner said. They are frustrated. And they got a right to be frustrated as the President seemed to keep ignoring law. We are headed towards a constitutional crisis when he actually defaults on a court order. And will that be finally the time that Republicans will say this is going too far? This should not be a partisan issue, this should be whos for the rule of law, whos for American national security? I believe we can put America first, but that shouldnt mean America alone. Following the event in Virginia Beach, Warner went to First Baptist Church South Hill in Chesapeake for another Community Conversation. He was joined alongside Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Cliff Hayes. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., on Sunday said the Democratic Partys brand is problematic and that the party is associated with the educated elites and not anymore with working people in this country. Bennet called on his party to center working-class and middle-class people again, saying it has lost touch with working people in our country at a time when 50 years of trickle-down economics has meant that most Americans feel like no matter how hard they work, their kids are not going to live a life better than the life they led. I think the Democratic Party needs to use this moment of having been repudiated at the national level to figure out a creative and imaginative agenda for the 21st century thats going to lift the fortunes of working people and the middle class all across this country, Bennet added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments come days after Californias Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom told Bill Maher on HBO that the Democratic brand is toxic right now. Asked to respond on Sunday, Bennet told NBC News Meet the Press, I do agree that the Democratic Party brand is really problematic, and I think it is a brand that is with all respect to my colleague from California is associated with New York and with California, is associated with the educated elites in this country and not anymore with working people in this country. Newsom and Bennet are part of a growing chorus of elected Democrats who are urging the party to change and try new tactics to win back votes. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., told Meet the Press earlier this month that Americans want the Democratic Party to stand up and fight and to take risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, I think Democrats in this country, but I think the broad middle of the public as well, want to see our party fighting in exceptional ways. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have also criticized the party during their Fighting Oligarchy tour. This isnt just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us too, Ocasio-Cortez said during a Las Vegas rally. But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class. On Sunday, Bennet went on to list a set of policy areas, including on education, health care and the economy, where he argued Democrats could be more effective in leading than Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Democratic Party would show up with some imagination, I think not only would we do better, the American people would do better, Bennet added. The senator, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, has been serving in his seat for over 15 years and confirmed reports on Sunday that hes eyeing a run for governor of Colorado next year. I am considering where the best place to have this fight is and where the best place to reinvent the Democratic Party is, and what I can do ... where I can fight best for the people of Colorado who have given me the privilege to represent them in Washington, D.C., Bennet told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker. And as soon as I have a final answer to that, Ill let you know. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com 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. For your weekend reading list, our editors compiled seven stories. Spend time with articles about what ketamine does to the human brain, the political fight of the century, and more. One Word Describes Trump A century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world. By Jonathan Rauch Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His Daughter Was Americas First Measles Death in a Decade A visit with a family in mourning By Tom Bartlett What Ketamine Does to the Human Brain Excessive use of the drug can make anyone feel like they rule the world. By Shayla Love The Exciting Business Opportunity That Ruined Our Lives Amway sold my family a life built on delusion. By Andrea Pitzer Where Jeff Bezos Went Wrong With The Washington Post The billionaire handled his ownership admirably for more than a decade. But his courage failed him when he needed it most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Martin Baron The Political Fight of the Century For the first time in decades, America has a chance to define its next political order. Trump offers fear, retribution, and scarcity. Liberals can stand for abundance. By Derek Thompson Private Schools Have Become Truly Obscene Elite schools breed entitlement, entrench inequalityand then pretend to be engines of social change. By Caitlin Flanagan (From 2021) Catch Up on The Atlantic This week, The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that the Trump administration inadvertently added him to a discussion of a military strike on Houthi militias in Yemen, conducted over the encrypted messaging app Signal. Catch up on the story and some of our writers analysis here: The Week Ahead A Minecraft Movie, a live-action film based on the best-selling video game (in theaters Friday) The Bondsman, a horror-action show starring Kevin Bacon as a resurrected bounty hunter who must find the demons that escaped hell (premieres Thursday on Prime Video) Pathemata, or, the Story of My Mouth, a book by Maggie Nelson detailing her diaries about a decade of dreams and jaw pain (out Tuesday) Essay The Paradox of Hard Work Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By Alex Hutchinson To say that long-distance runners embrace difficulty is to say the obvious. When you watch many thousands of people happily push themselves through a race that they might not even be allowed to finish, though, you start to get the hint that something deeply human is going on. People like things that are really hard. In fact, the enormity of a task often is why people pursue it in the first place. Read the full article. More in Culture Photo Album An aircraft sits on the flooded tarmac at Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International Airport, in Brazil. (Anselmo Cunha / Agence France-Presse) Take a look at some of the global and regional winning entries of this years World Press Photo Contest. Stephanie Bai contributed to this newsletter. Explore all of our newsletters. 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 SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A round of weakening showers and thunderstorms is moving into East Texas this morning. New storms will likely develop over the NW half of the area early Sunday evening. Frequent updates throughout the day and evening can be found here! Storms where & when: The very latest model run from the HRRR model that updates hourly shows storms developing over the NW half of the area very late Sunday afternoon or early Sunday evening. They will gradually move east and southeast through the rest of the area during the evening and overnight hours. Latest 18hr forecast from the HRRR model that updates every hour. SPC outlook: Below is a loop latest outlook on todays severe weather threats from the Storm Prediction Center. They classify todays threat as a level 2 or 3 on the 1 to 5 scale. It appears as though large hail (up to half dollars in our area) will probably be our biggest threat, followed by damaging winds and a tornado or two. Futurcast outlooks: Here is a look at where the chances of rotating storms could be highest, followed by where and when large hail could occur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check back for frequent updates once the storms develop later today. Get daily forecasts and exclusive severe weather details on storms as they approach your area by downloading the Your Weather Authority app now available in the App Store and Google Play Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 29SFC Robert C. Perez Robert Perez, 59, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for six years. He was born on February 13, 1966, in Austin, Texas, to Robert and Cynthia Perez. Robert dedicated 37 years of service to the Army National Guard before retiring. While serving in the Guard, he also worked for the New Mexico Corrections Department for the last 10 years. A man of many talents and passions, he loved hunting, woodworking, carpentry, and campingfinding true joy in the great outdoors. He is survived by his loving wife, Veronica Perez, with whom he shared 12 wonderful years of marriage. He also leaves behind his children, Rob, Indio, and Elena, as well as his stepchildren, Nicolas and Miquela Romero. He is also survived by many beloved family members in Texas and New Mexico. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Cynthia Perez. Robert was a devoted Christian who was deeply loved by those who knew him. He was at peace and ready to be with the Lord. His presence will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those he touched. Visitation will be held March 31, 2025 at 12pm in the Kiva Chapel of Light (Rivera Funeral Home 417 East Rodeo Rd Santa Fe, NM 87505) Service at 1:00pm (On-line Live Stream for those who cant attend) Live stream will be up the day of the service at 12:00pm Followed by the burial at 2:30pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery (501 N. Guadalupe St Santa Fe, NM 87501) She asked to be identified only as Ambo, out of fear of being recognized back in her home country. Life is very difficult for me, she told CNN from a school-turned-shelter on a humidly hot day in Panama City, Panama. Over the ambient noise of blade fans attempting to cool the large room, she explained she left her native country of Cameroon due to political issues, fearing that she would either be sentenced dead or spend the rest of her life in prison if she stayed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She remembers arriving at the US-Mexico border on January 23 three days after US President Trumps inauguration after trekking through Central America and the dangerous Darien jungle. She turned herself in to United States Customs and Border Protection in hopes of making her case for asylum. By her count she spent 19 days in US custody, then finally got that chance or so she thought. Just after midnight on February 13, by her recollection, she and other migrants were loaded onto a bus where they drove for hours. We were so happy thinking that they were going to transfer us to a camp where we are going to meet an immigration officer, she recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She still thought that when she was loaded onto a plane, believing they were headed to another facility in the United States. But when they landed, they were in Panama. Were asking them why are they bringing us to Panama? Why are we in Panama? she said, People started crying. Even still, she was optimistic. Were like thinking maybe the camp in the US is full. That is why they are bringing us here. When it will be our turn, they will come and take us to give us a listening ear, she said. But the Panamanian government took them to a hotel in Panama City, guarded tightly by security, no phones, and limited access to the outside world, according to multiple migrants CNN spoke to. Panamas Security Minister Frank Abrego previously told a local radio program the deportees were held at the hotel, in part, because officials needed to effectively verify who these people are who are arriving in our country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even in a new country, under a new government authority, she held out hope someone from the United States government would step in and fix the situation. We were somehow happy that maybe the immigration from the US would come to Panama to listen to our stories, she told CNN, now fighting back tears. It wasnt the case. Her voice cracked, recalling the moment her optimism shattered. A migrant from Cameroon speaks with CNN in Panama City. - Omar Jimenez/CNN Everyone is in a bad situation This is the downstream reality of an increased immigration crackdown in the United States, which the Trump administration has pressured Latin American countries like Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador to help with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just days before she arrived at the border, Trump had signed an executive order effectively shutting down the US-Mexico border to migrants seeking asylum in the United States. Weeks later, the Panamanian government agreed to receive some of those migrants, at least temporarily, and took in nearly 300. Many are asylum-seekers from places like Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, China, Sri Lanka. They are now are caught in limbo expelled from the United States, but unable to go back to their home countries out of fear of being persecuted or killed. They shouldnt just like abandon us like that without telling us what we have done wrong. It become very, very difficult and confusing to us. Ive left my children back home, Ambo said through tears. Another woman from Ethiopia, was on a similar flight. She too requested not to use her name for fear of retaliation in her home country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am so shocked. Im saying this is Texas or Panama? she recalled. She told CNN she too had trekked through Central America, injuring her leg in the Darien jungle, to reach the US-Mexico border. She said she too had left Ethiopia due to political issues and feared returning. I dont have family. They died already, she told CNN. And a fellow asylum-seeker migrant Afghanistan, who did not want to share his identity, told CNN en Espanols Elizabeth Gonzalez that if he were to return to Afghanistan, he would be killed by the Taliban. They all now live in a humble shelter, one of multiple places in Panama where these migrants are trying to navigate life, in a country where they dont speak the language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost all of us are from different countries, but here we are like family, you know? said the woman from Ethiopia. As she sat with CNN, mattresses on the floor lining the edges of the room, she said, We are together. Everyone is in distress. Everyone is in a bad situation. Are you going to kill us? Days after they were initially brought to a Panamanian hotel, the migrants were loaded onto buses again. They expected to be moved to another hotel, Ambo says. But the drive stretched on for hours, until they arrived at a facility over a hundred miles outside of Panama City on the outskirts of the Darien jungle near the border with Colombia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are you going to kill us? Why are you bringing us here? she recalled asking in fear, Bringing us in this place, a forest. What is going to happen to us? Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an English teacher from Iran, remembers crying after being expelled from the United States on her February birthday. Asylum seeker Artemis Ghasemzadeh in Panama City. - Omar Jimenez/CNN I changed my religion in Iran and the punishment of that is may be a long prison or at the end is death, she told CNN. They took two of my friends from the underground church, so I understand its time to go. The next is me, she added. In February she was seen in a window of the migrant hotel with the words Help Us written across the window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days later she was at this Panamanian jungle camp, known as the San Vicente shelter, with over 100 other migrants who were in the same situation as hers. The food was really disgusting, said Ghasemzadeh. The bathroom was really dirty, no privacy, no door, she added. Salam said the water for bathing was not clean, causing hives to break out on her skin. She pulled up a pant leg to show the marks on her skin. All my body is like this, she said. Panamas President Jose Raul Mulino has repeatedly denied that authorities have violated the deportees rights. Reached for comment about conditions at the camp, a spokesperson from the Panamanian Security Ministers office deferred to the International Office for Migration (IOM), which assists migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson at IOM stressed, however, that handling the deportees is a government-led operation, telling CNN we did not have direct involvement in the detention or restriction of movement of individuals. Through every step of the way, attorneys for these migrants argue their rights were violated. Our claim is that America violated the right to seek asylum and by extension, by receiving them, the Panamanian government did the same thing, said Silvia Serna Roman, regional litigator for Mexico and Central America for the Global Strategic Litigation Council. Even though they all claim to be to be asylum seekers, they have never had their right to be heard, she added. Serna Roman is part of a group of international lawyers that filed a lawsuit against Panama on these alleged violations in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Ian Kysel, who is also part of that group, has previously said they are exploring a range of further legal actions, including against US-specific entities and other countries that might be taking in deported or expelled US migrants. Panama has denied any wrongdoing in this saga. In early March, the Panamanian government released the over 100 migrants from the remote jungle camp, but gave them 30-day humanitarian permits, extendable up to 90 days, to find another place to go or risk deportation from Panama. Were also trying to navigate the terms of those permits, Serna Roman explained. If theyre only given 90 days and the 90 days come up then they might be forcibly removed and they might be like involuntarily be taken back to their countries and thats our concern, she added. A migrant reception center in Panama. - Omar Jimenez/CNN If I come back to my country, my government will kill me All the migrants CNN and CNN en Espanol spoke to said going back to their countries simply was not an option. Asylum means Im not safe in my country, I need help. Just that. Im not criminal. Im educated person and just need help, Ghasemzadeh explained. If I come back to my country, my government will kill me, so in Panama they are free to kill me, she added. Aurelio Martinez, a spokesperson in Panamas security ministry, told CNN that after the 90-day period it would be studied whether to grant another extension or if their status would become illegal. When CNN pressed on whether that could trigger forcible repatriation, Martinez simply said they will review each case individually, that Panama always supports migrants and human rights, and that they intend to maintain that support and commitment. Ambo, her life now in a demoralizing standstill, still dreams about the United States, even though she has no idea when this nightmare will end. America has always been a country that received people from all over the whole world. I believe that is why many people are going towards the USA for to seek for asylum, she said. They should listen to us and see if they can permit us to stay or not because when you dont listen to somebody, it means that human rights does not exist again in America. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com All lanes on the 101 Freeway have reopened after a shooting prompted the closure of the northbound lanes near downtown Los Angeles for several hours. Officials with the California Highway Patrol told KTLA that officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 101 Freeway at Alameda Street at about 1:51 p.m. One person was transported to a local hospital in unknown condition. Their age and gender are yet to be revealed publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 4:38 p.m., the Sigalert was canceled and all lanes on the 101 were reopened. No additional details were immediately made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The owner of an authentic Greek restaurant for 28 years has passed away in Greece; his son has created a GoFundMe campaign to help bring him home. Yeero-Yeero has been a beloved gem in Shreveport for nearly three decades. Tom Willis and his family have owned the restaurant and served authentic Greek cuisine, creating a warm and welcoming space for the community to come together. On March 26, 2025, his son, David Willis, posted on social media, R.I.P. Dad, with a photo of his fathers fedora on their restaurant dining table. David shared that his father tragically passed during his visit to Greece to see his family and friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David wrote on GoFundMe, saying he never thought hed be in this situation, While traveling back to Greece to connect with family, he sadly and unexpectedly passed in the country of his birth. With mounting expenses to return him to us, we are humbly asking for an outpouring of love, wrote his son via GoFundMe. (Courtesy of Yeero-Yeero, David Willis) I never thought I would be in a situation like this. First, I would like to say thank you for all of your support through the years. As many of you know, we are shaken with the loss of my father, Tom, who proudly served our community for 28 years. Serving with passion and heart, he blessed us with the best Greek food in Shreveport! We have felt your love and prayers throughout this difficult time as we extend gratitude and love to honor this great man, says Toms son, David. Yeero-Yeero is located at 4511 Youree Drive, Shreveport. Residents cannot miss the restaurant, known for their striking electric blue and ivory white double drive-through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His goal is to raise $15,000 to help bring Tom Willis back home to Shreveport, Louisiana, from Athens, Greece. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON As losses mount in lower federal courts, President Donald Trump returned to a tactic that he employed at the Supreme Court with remarkable success in his first term. Three times last week, and six since Trump took office a little more than two months ago, the Justice Department asked the conservative-majority high court to step into cases much earlier than usual. The administration's use of the emergency appeals, or a shadow docket, comes as it faces more than 130 lawsuits over the Republican president's executive orders. Many of the lawsuits were filed in liberal-leaning parts of the country as the court system becomes ground zero for pushback to his policies. Federal judges ruled against the administration more than 40 times, issuing temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, the Justice Department said Friday in a Supreme Court filing. The issues include birthright citizenship changes, federal spending, transgender rights and deportations under a rarely used 18th-century law. The administration increasingly asks the Supreme Court, which Trump helped shape by nominating three justices, to step in not only to rule in its favor but also to send a message to federal judges, who Trump and his allies claim are overstepping their authority. "Only this Court can stop rule-by-TRO from further upending the separation of powers the sooner, the better," acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote Friday in the deportations case, referring to the temporary restraining orders. Stephen Vladeck, the Georgetown University law professor who chronicled the rise of emergency appeals in his book, "The Shadow Docket," wrote on the Substack platform that "these cases, especially together, reflect the inevitable reckoning just how much is the Supreme Court going to stand up to Trump?" In the first Trump administration, the Justice Department made emergency appeals to the Supreme Court 41 times and won all or part of what it wanted in 28 cases, Vladeck found. Before that, the Obama and George W. Bush administrations asked the court for emergency relief in just eight cases in 16 years. Supreme Court cases generally unfold over many months. Emergency action more often occurs over weeks, or even a few days, with truncated briefing and decisions that are usually issued without the elaborate legal reasoning that typically accompanies high court rulings. So far this year, the justices effectively sidestepped the administration's requests. That could get harder as the number of appeals increase, including in high-profile deportation cases where an extraordinary call from the president to impeach a judge prompted a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump's deportation order will be a critical test Immigration and the promise of mass deportations were at the center of Trump's winning presidential campaign, and he recently invoked a 1798 wartime law to speed deportations of Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang. Lawyers for the migrants, several of whom say they are not gang members, sued to block the deportations without due process. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge at the federal courthouse in Washington, agreed. He ordered deportation flights to be temporarily halted and planes already making their way to a prison in El Salvador be turned around. Two planes still landed, and a court fight over whether the administration defied his order continued to play out even as the administration unsuccessfully asked the appeals court in the nation's capital to lift his order. In an appeal to the Supreme Court filed Friday, the Justice Department argued that the deportations should be allowed to resume and the migrants detained in Texas should make their case in a federal court in that state. Mass firings of federal workers generated lawsuits As the Trump administration seeks to dramatically downsize the federal government, the firings of probationary workers who usually have less time on the job and fewer protections prompted lawsuits. Two judges found the administration broke federal laws in its handling of the layoffs and ordered workers reinstated. The government went to the Supreme Court after a California-based judge said about 16,000 workers must be restored to their positions. The judge said it appeared the administration lied in its reasons for firing the workers. The administration said he overstepped his authority by trying to force hiring and firing decisions on the executive branch. Anti-DEI teacher training cuts have been blocked, at least temporarily Trump also moved quickly to try to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the government and in education. Eight Democratic-led states argued in a lawsuit that the push was at the root of a decision to cut hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher training. A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the cuts, finding they affected training programs aimed at addressing a nationwide teacher shortage. After an appeals court kept that order in place, the Justice Department went to the Supreme Court. The administration argues that judges can't force it to keep paying out money that it decided to cancel. Trump wants to end birthright citizenship Trump wants to end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the Constitution, but his order quickly was blocked nationwide. Three appeals court also rejected pleas to let it go in effect while lawsuits play out. The Justice Department didn't appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn those rulings right away, but asked the justices to narrow the court orders to only the people who filed the lawsuits. The government argued that individual judges lack the power to give nationwide effect to their rulings, touching on a legal issue that's concerned some justices before. Senate Intelligence ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Sunday slammed the White House officials involved in the Signal breach scandal, saying they risked American lives and calling into question their use of the communications app in the first place. "If you had been a traditional military officer or a CIA caseworker and you were this sloppy and careless with this classified information, you would be fired," Warner told host Martha Raddatz on ABC's "This Week." "No doubt about it." On Monday, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg published the bombshell report, revealing he'd been included in a Signal group chat in which the nation's top defense officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz, discussed plans for a military strike in Yemen. Waltz later acknowledged it was he who had inadvertently added Goldberg into the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public backlash has been swift. But despite calls for Waltz's firing, including from inside the White House, Trump has stuck by the national security adviser, calling the brouhaha "a witch hunt." Most Republicans though not all have rallied around the White House, dismissing the incident. Warner told Raddatz about two town halls he hosted yesterday in southeastern Virginia, home to America's largest naval base. He met friends and relatives of the military members aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, the aircraft carrier currently stationed in the Mediterranean from which the attacks took place. "Those folks were saying, if their friends or loved ones were flying those jets and that information had been released and the Houthis were able to change their defensive posture, we could have lost American lives." Lawmakers and experts have also complained about the officials' use of Signal to divulge the war plans. The platform which boasts end-to-end encryption of messages and voice calls is safer than texting. But it's far less secure than government-classified communications systems, built specifically to discuss sensitive information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I use Signal to talk to someone because it is safer," Warner said. "I actually encourage people to use Signal. But that still doesn't mean, because it's safer, you can put classified information." Signal "is a platform that can be compromised," said Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Sunday. But the former House intelligence chair told Raddatz that he still has confidence in Hegseth and Waltz to shepherd the country through a tumultuous moment in foreign policy. "It was a great operation and I think they're doing an excellent job," Turner said. "I do think though that both the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committees are taking up this issue. And I think there will be a review going forward as to whether or not Signal should be used and whether or not these types of conversations should occur." White House national security adviser Mike Waltz listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, March 7, 2025. Pool via AP WASHINGTON Just five days after taking the oath of office in 2017, making him commander-in-chief of the most powerful armed forces in human history, President Donald Trump held a social dinner at the White House with, among others, son-in-law Jared Kushner and aide Steve Bannon. One of the topics that came up that evening was a proposed raid on a terrorist cell in Yemen. It was risky in fact, it had been nixed by predecessor Barack Obama because he believed the risk outweighed the potential rewards. But the fact that Obama had refused to green light it was, in Trumps mind, proof that it was worth doing. Three days later, Navy SEAL William Ryan Owens was killed and four others wounded when their team encountered far more resistance than expected in their assault on the village of al-Ghayil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight years later, Trumps decision-making on another Yemen-related matter has added more evidence to the voluminous and growing trove demonstrating his carelessness with service members lives. No, this time Trump was not directly to blame for the screwup. Rather, it was the people he chose for key roles in the national security apparatus who exhibited a lack of seriousness on a deadly serious issue. Pete Hegseth, whom Trump plucked off the Fox News weekend set to manage the sprawling and complex Defense Department, sent to a group text chain a detailed timeline of an imminent military strike against Iran-backed Houthi militants. Mike Waltz, who had been a Florida congressman when Trump made him national security adviser because he liked how Waltz defended him in TV interviews, gave the group-chat participants real-time results from the raid, including the death of a top target who was seen walking into his girlfriends apartment building before it was successfully flattened. That we know about any of this is only because journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally invited to the chat by Waltz, and many Trump defenders and critics alike have focused on Waltzs error as the sole miscue of the entire episode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is a mistake. American taxpayers spend many millions of dollars every year to ensure that top government officials at the National Security Council, the CIA, the Pentagon, the State Department and so forth can communicate without worrying about getting hacked or overheard. Waltz, Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and a dozen others opted not to bother with that existing and expensive system and instead went with the free Signal app, which, while encrypted, is specifically not approved for discussing classified material. This choice was apparently made for the sake of their convenience, notwithstanding the sensitivity of the topic. Had Hegseths timeline been known to Iranian intelligence, for example, it could have resulted in the deaths of American Navy fighter crews flying that night over Sanaa. As for Waltzs boast of their positive identification of that top target, it turns out that may have endangered the life of an Israeli spy on the ground there. More worrisome, we really do not know whether others including foreign intelligence agencies were also getting real-time access to the Houthi attack plans chat or any other Signal text chat that Trump administration officials have held. There is a reason national security experts advise against using Signal, or any other commercially available app, for sharing classified material. Malign actors have no incentive to advertise whose personal phones they may have hacked and what they might have learned. So far at least, Trump has continued to claim that his people did nothing wrong, apart from mistakenly inviting Goldberg into the discussion. Trump, Hegseth and others argue absurdly that nothing classified was discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That Trump would do this probably should come as no surprise, coming from someone who famously used the excuse of bone spurs on his heels to avoid military service. Since he first ran for president in 2016, Trump has regularly denigrated and disrespected the military, starting with his claim that Sen. John McCain, who as a Navy pilot spent nearly six years getting tortured in a Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp, was not a war hero because he was captured, and Trump preferred people who werent captured. After Ryan Owens father berated Trump for recklessly sending his son into harms way at the ceremony for his bodys return to Dover Air Force Base, Trump did not attend another dignified transfer for two years. When he did start going to them again, he turned them into a sort of MAGA field trip, inviting pro-Trump actor Jon Voight on one occasion and participants at one of his rallies on another. When a Republican-run Congress refused to fund the border wall that Trump had repeatedly claimed he would force Mexico to finance, Trump raided a Pentagon account that pays for service members housing and schools for their children. In France for the commemoration of Armistice Day, he refused to go out in the rain to an American cemetery for World War I soldiers because, according to his then-chief of staff, those who died for their country were suckers and losers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout those first-term years, though, Trump had a national security team that was largely competent. Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis would have been a respected defense secretary in any mainstream administration, Republican or Democratic. John Bolton, Trumps second national security adviser, actually had served in top roles in previous GOP administrations. It would have been unimaginable for either of them to have taken part in something as casually careless as the recent Signal attack plan chat. With Trumps return to the White House, however, personal loyalty to him far outweighs experience, knowledge, competence and, as we have just seen, common sense. This is the reason both Waltz and Hegseth got their jobs. It is the reason they are likely to make it through what would have been an unsurvivable scandal in a normal presidential administration. Which means we can likely expect to see more of these episodes in the months and years to come. The war plans group chat uncovered by a journalist at The Atlantic exposed some daylight between Vice President Vance and others in the administration, showing Vances hesitance about launching a military strike that President Trump has hailed this week as necessary and successful. It did little to stymie the relationship between the president and his second-in-command. In fact, Trump trotted Vance out to Greenland on Friday to visit the only U.S. military base there as part of his efforts to push for control of the territory. Still, the text chain gave a window into the vice presidents isolationist approach to foreign policy publicly and behind closed doors. Vance, who once opposed Trump and his MAGA agenda, appeared in the group chat to be concerned that the message of launching strikes into Yemen on March 15 isnt consistent with Trumps goals in not wanting to bail out Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does shine a light on some daylight between Vance and the rest of the team. Whats interesting is that its not full-blown opposition, but you can clearly see Vance leaning into a more classically isolationist, America First worldview, a former Trump administration official said. Vance on Friday, while taking questions in Greenland in the wake of Trumps aggressive eying of the territory, said he ultimately supported the decision to strike the Houthis but that Americans are best served when the team has the argument about how to do that. Sometimes we all agree and sometimes we all disagree but its important that we all have an honest conversation amongst ourselves and with the president of the United States about what we think is in the best interest of the United States of America, Vance said. Vance acknowledged in Greenland that the Signal chat revealed his willingness to ensure that strategic questions are asked, as he stressed that the U.S. has to be careful and make sure the timing is right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also expressed similar sentiments about U.S. allies much like he did in the chat, telling reporters, as China and Russia has taken greater and greater interest in Greenland, in this base, in the activities of the brave Americans right here, we know that too often our allies in Europe havent kept pace. The president and vice president had lunch on Tuesday, the day after the Atlantic report was published. Trump later agreed with his No. 2s assessment on Europe when asked about it by reporters. Yeah, I think theyve been freeloading, Trump said. The Europe Unions been absolutely terrible to us on trade, terrible. And as you know NATO, I got them to pay hundreds of billions of dollars, they were way behind. And if you look even, if you look at Ukraine, so were in for $350 billion because of Biden. The rare behind-the-scenes glimpse that The Atlantic article prompted no firings by Trump thus far. The former official maintained that the disagreement Vance could actually prove a positive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though not ideal by any means, I think this actually works in Vances favor because we are getting a glimpse of him trying to nudge the conversation in a direction that feels more ideologically consistent with the MAGA base avoiding needless foreign entanglements unless theres a super clear benefit to the U.S. economy or security, the former official said. According to The Atlantic, the morning before the strikes began, an account labeled JD Vance told the group, I think we are making a mistake, according Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic, who was added to a Signal chat by national security adviser Mike Waltz. 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message, Vance said, according to the report. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. A source familiar with the situation described Vances stance on Signal as him soliciting input on his concern about the potential trade impacts and on if the president was briefed on what strikes on Yemen mean for the U.S. posture towards Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the group chat, the vice president outlined the risks of striking the Houthis, including a possible spike in oil prices, arguing for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc. Another official said the strike isnt time sensitive. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was part of the chat, replied that he supports Vance raising his issues with Trump and expressed his own anti-Europe sentiment. I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what nobody knows who the Houthis are which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded, Hegseth said, outlining what he argued were risks of waiting, like leaks and Israel taking action first. If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again, Vance replied and Hegseth responded, VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. Its PATHETIC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vances former colleague, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), said the vice president is the type of politician who will ask the necessary questions. JD is inquisitive, he asks questions but its not he doesnt ask questions in a way this is what I believe, hell or high water Im not changing my view. Like, theres a lot of elected officials do, he said. He has an ability to ask questions and then come to a conclusion that he may not have started at, which I think is kind of unique for him. Trump has not named Vance his successor to the MAGA movement in 2028 and has said it is too soon to pick the next in line as he has flirted with the idea of attempting to run for a third term. The vice president has defended the president, agreeing that its too soon to think about 2028. Meanwhile, Trump has also tasked Vance with an increasing number of responsibilities like visiting Greenland, overseeing the sale of TikTok, and spearheading the push last month to get GOP senators to vote for top Cabinet nominees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will represent us well, Trump said on Friday when Vance and second lady Usha Vance touched down in Greenland. The former Trump administration official argued though that the leaked conversation is a view into what Vance would be like as president. It gives us a small window into how Vance might operate if he were ever in the top job more hesitant, more skeptical, and more focused on aligning action with the message, especially when it comes to anything that looks like helping Europe without a clear upside for the U.S, the former official said. Al Weaver 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. The second Trump era is something of an exercise in natural consequences. What happens if you put the most flamboyantly stupid goons in charge of everything? The results will neither surprise nor confound you: It is an absolute omnishambles. Trumps not nearly through his first 100 days, and weve seen markets buffeted by the administrations trade war whiplashing, allies abandoning us as our foreign policy lapses into nihilism, and everywhere the previously well-calibrated work of the federal government is coming undoneand killing peopleas Elon Musk rampages across the city. In short, mayhem and nonsense are not in short supply, and town halls across the country are filling up with people who are pissed about Trumpian misrule. Despite all this, it wasnt until this bizarre natsec group chat fiascowhich one social media quipster appropriately named New phone, Houthis?that the Trump administration has been made to bleed in public. Its worth exploring why that is, and what Democrats can learn from this folderol to confront a far more pressing and destructive problem: the aforementioned pillage of the civil service at the hands of DOGE. To begin with, it should be obvious that there are some things about this flap that simply arent replicableand Im not just talking about the part where key figures on the Trump national security team accidentally loop in the editor of a major national magazine on their plans to drop bombs in Yemen. One of the biggest reasons this particular scandal has dominated the news cycle for days is simply the fact that a media organization ended up at the center of it. But after a day of the Trump administration alternating between public prevarication and slagging inadvertent Signal chat participant Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic was forced to take something other than a neutral position by publishing screenshots of the chat to provecontra the inveterate liars in the White Housethat Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had indeed revealed precise plans for airstrikes on Houthi rebels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, by and large, believe that this is how it should always go with the political press: that some sort of civic impulse might stir in the medias breast, pushing them in the direction of critical thinking and coverage that comes down against irresponsible and immoral actors. This might be the news industry we deserve, but its not the one we have, and Democrats will continue to suffer dismay as long as they harbor the illusion that the press will reform itself and align itself with the cause of keeping our civic fabric intact. That said, this weeks contretemps over the group chat did engender something that can be replicated: Angry Democrats are now in the public eye, eviscerating the GOP. This is one of the big rules in the current information landscape in which were forced to live: Conflict creates content. The media beast may be cynical, but it is reliableand if you feed it enough antagonism, it will hand over the headlines. Given the opportunity to get down to some good old-fashioned battering of Republicans, the outrage of Democrats got, and held, the medias attention. Democrats need to scheme up ways to do this kind of thing every day. It shouldnt be hard: DOGEs destruction is handing Democrats daily fodder. Now they need to take it and muster the same sort of passion thats been on display as they torched Trumps natsec nimrods. That means finding regular opportunities to sound off in front of whatever reporters, television cameras, and microphones are at hand. It also means thinking unconventionally. One of the most appealing aspects of The New Republic editor Michael Tomaskys idea of putting together a shadow Cabinet is the way it can be fashioned into a dagger aimed squarely at the heart of Elon Musks enterprise, by combining expert argument (heres where an army of pissed-off federal employees fired by Musk can help a lot) with combat-ready liberal figures. Such an enterprise would pile up the pressure on Trump while taking it off the Democrats respective minority leaders in the House and Senate, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, who just arent built for political fisticuffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, there are lots of current operations underway that also provide ammunition for the content creation wars. Bernie Sanderss Fighting Oligarchy tour, as Ive previously noted, has been an attention-getting boon for the forces of anti-Trumpism. The Democrats are also making great hay staging their own empty chair town halls, invading red districts to talk to disaffected voters in places where DOGE cuts hit hardest. And those hits keep on coming: The fact that Elon Musk is damaging the lives of people in places like Osage County, Oklahoma, is opening the doors for Democrats in parts of the country where theyve had little political luck. This week, as Democrats grilled the members of the Trump administration whod perpetuated the group chat flap, they did so with the palpable sense that they enjoyed the taste of blood in their teethwhile uncharacteristically staying on message. While the administration has attempted to wave away criticism, Democrats havent budged from the central idea that the group chat was uniquely destructive and disqualifying. This is exactly how they need to characterize DOGE, because otherwise Musks rabid crusade could become cemented in the public eye as a legitimate part of the overall debate about government spending. This is exactly what the GOP is hoping for: Even as public approval of Musk plummets, Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune are trying to pass off DOGEs sabotage as part of their broader attempt to cut spending (to fund taxes for the rich, of course). Democratic pushback on DOGE can build on previous successes in fending off the Trump administrations rapaciousness. When Obamacare was under attack, Democratic unity was key to saving the program from the predations of GOP legislative majorities. Then, it was Hands off my health care; now, its Hands off my Social Security and Hands off my private data. These are especially potent rallying cries because they show how every community will be touched by DOGEs corruption. Suddenly, Democrats have a thousand different ways to reach millions of different voters. That kind of opportunity doesnt come along all too often. This article first appeared in Power Mad, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by deputy editor Jason Linkins. Sign up here. OH FOR GODS SAKE, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. That was Fox News mandarin Brit Hume on Monday evening, fed up with the absurd denials Trump administration officials were offering to explain away Signalgate, the epic national security fuckup exposed in the Atlantic by editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. One of the tired old truisms of post-Watergate Washington is Its not the crime, its the coverup. In fact, usually its bothbut this coverup reflects the cult-like insistence on unreality as a sign of tribal loyalty that flows down from President Donald Trump. Tone always comes from the top. Lies are the instinctive official defense from this administration. As Andrew Egger noted this week, Its all there in the three rules Trump learned from his mentor, Roy Cohn: always attack, always deny everything, always declare victory. At this point, those tactics have just become a habit of mindtheyre second nature for Team Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, when caught red-handed sharing classified information on a public messaging app, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did what Trump would have done: lie loudly. Share Hegseth was hardly alone. On Tuesday we saw Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence and the director of the CIA, claim under oath during a Senate hearing that they could not recall whether war plans, details about specific weapons systems, or other classified information had been shared as part of the Signal conversationeven though they themselves had been part of the Signal conversation. These denials compelled Goldberg to publish most of the Signal chat on Wednesday, conclusively proving that yes, in fact, war plans had been shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House press secretary then joined in the pile-on by offering a Baghdad Bob-esque declaration of victory, tweeting that the Atlantic has conceded: these were not war plans when, in fact, they had done the exact opposite and proven the Trump teams lies. Join now The sloppy operational security among top administration officials is a serious issue. But Signalgate reveals another deeper problem likely to have even longer-term consequences: Lying has metastasized into official policy for this administration. It shows contempt for the ability to reason together at the highest levels of our government. This is what happens when lies become litmus tests for party loyaltybeginning with backing Trumps 2020 election denialism. And the louder the lie, the more it is seen as a signal that someone is truly a team player, dedicated to defending President Trump, as opposed to a stalwart defender of the truth or of the Constitution they swore an oath to uphold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This reflexive dissembling and dishonesty, the hallmark of cowardice and careerism among Trumps supporters, undermines our ability to reason together over a common set of facts and makes a mockery of our democracy. To their credit, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) requested the acting inspector general of the Department of Defense conduct an expedited inquiry into Signalgate. This is how a system of checks and balances between coequal branches of government is supposed to function with bipartisan support. The fact that they had to make the request of the acting inspector general because Trump illegally fired the DOD inspector general back in January indicates how dangerous the administrations assault on accountability really is. Signalgate is an egregious act of incompetence that risked national security and flouted laws that try to ensure government accountability. But its the corrosiveness of the coverupthe insistence on lying rather than admitting obvious factsthat is perhaps the most sinister aspect of this scandal. We cannot let these kinds of lies be normalized or it will doom our ability to reason together as a democratic republic. Take a minute to post this article to social media or share it with a friend: Share BERKELEY, Calif. Over 1,000 demonstrators filled the street in front of a Tesla dealership Saturday in this Bay Area city synonymous with the free speech movement of the late 1960s, to voice their displeasure with Elon Musks efforts to dramatically scale down the federal workforce. This whole thing about an unelected person doing so much damage to the federal government... I really wanted to come out, Esther Hill, 66, a retired former employee of the Environmental Protection Agency, told Yahoo News. I know how much good is being done by these so-called federal bureaucrats." A week ago, just 200 people turned out for Berkeleys Tesla Takedown protest, where a Trump supporter brandished a taser at demonstrators before being arrested. At this weeks protest, which was part of what organizers dubbed a Global Day of Action, police closed off traffic on the block of Fourth Street where the Tesla showroom is located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe in the peoples right to express themselves, an officer, who declined to be interviewed for this article, was heard telling a protester. The Tesla dealership locked its doors shortly before noon, as hundreds of protesters, most of whom appeared to be over the age of 55, began gathering on the sidewalk. Soon, they overflowed into the street, carrying signs showing Musk giving what appeared to be a Nazi salute and encouraging people to stop buying Teslas. A similar scene played out at Tesla protests at 253 locations around the world, a marked increase from the number of demonstrations in previous weeks, organizers said. In the U.S., that meant bigger crowds at dealership demonstrations in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Palm Beach County, Fla., and dozens more. Protesters gather at a Tesla dealership in Berkeley, Calif. (David Knowles/Yahoo News) If you got a CyberTruck, youre an a**hole, Michael Wong, 59, told Yahoo News. You knew what he was by the time that came out. I know that people bought Teslas for a reason to be ecologically beneficial and I dont begrudge them that, but I think if youre still buying one and helping to line his pockets then youre really being unconscionable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, a spate of vandalism and sometimes violent protests of Musks role in President Trumps government has occurred nationwide. Two weeks ago, the FBI issued an alert warning that acts of vandalism, including gunfire, have occurred at Tesla dealerships in at least nine states. The FBI warned citizens to exercise vigilance and to look out for suspicious activity on or around dealership locations. Last week, the agency announced it was creating a task force to investigate recent attacks on the company. Musk himself vowed this week to go after those who he blames for pushing the propaganda that he says has led to violence against his company. But Saturdays demonstration in Berkeley was decidedly peaceful. Id like to see 5,000 people here. We need a swell of people and action, or were going to lose everything, Wayne Bendell, 62, told Yahoo News. While Musk has justified federal job cuts as a way to try to address the national debt, Bendell sees another motivation. Protesters in Berkeley, Calif., with their homemade signs, at the Tesla dealership. (David Knowles/Yahoo News) I am 100% against what is going on in Washington, and I believe that Elon Musk is primarily responsible for most of whats going on, he said. His intent is to erode the underpinnings of democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That sentiment was repeated by many people that Yahoo News spoke with in Berkeley. Ive been protesting for about 40 years, said Joyce Rybandt, 81. I never imagined that we could lose our country, and now Im not so sure. I hope these protests grow. Now in their sixth week, the Tesla Takedown protests will give way next week to nationwide demonstrations planned on April 5, titled Hands Off! The question is whether any of the protests will grow so large that the Trump administration is unable to ignore them. Its definitely bigger today than it has been, Wong said of Saturdays rally, adding that he is frustrated that Congress is giving away their power willingly. Whos going to stop him at this point? We dont want to see violent conflict happening, but that may be what it comes to, he added. Every morning for months, Dawn Marie Anderson started her day the same. She woke up and got ready, then she fixed a green ribbon onto her collar. Its like brushing my teeth, she said. The green ribbon represents mental health awareness an issue Anderson is far too familiar with, beginning when her son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2007. In later years, other diagnoses would follow, including one that has been particularly damaging: anosognosia, a symptom of severe mental illness in which someone does not believe they are sick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now 41, hes been in and out of jail and the mental health services for almost three decades. Once Anderson was ready for the day, she checked the San Luis Obispo County Jail website to see if her son had been picked up by police. If he wasnt in custody, she drove to his usual spots in Los Osos for the most basic of welfare checks to ensure he was still alive. She would check behind a church, then behind the Los Osos Community Center. Sometimes she would see him walking on the sidewalk or sitting on a bench. If she saw him, shed try to give him a blanket, water or socks. Sometimes he wouldnt take it, so shed leave it nearby. Dawn Marie Anderson drives her car on Sept. 9, 2024, on the route she usually took to check for her son while he lived unhoused in Los Osos. Her son, who has severe mental illness, was arrested on Aug. 4, 2024. Because of her sons illness and the limited resources here, his housing options have narrowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its jail or the streets. Theyre not even options. Its forced on them, Anderson said. Theyre being punished consistently for having an illness that they have no control over. Her son was last arrested on Aug. 4 for at least the 24th time since 2005, and hes now in custody for at least his eighth jail stay. According to Anderson, his arrests reflect a severe mental health illness that has escalated over time amid a shortage of assistance in San Luis Obispo County. But at the same time, she noted, her son is receiving treatment in jail something he refuses to accept outside of it. Its a cruel part of the disease that a lot of people struggle with because their experience is so real, San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health access and crisis care division manager Samantha Parker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andersons story is not an unusual one. Some of the countys most vulnerable residents living with severe mental illness have limited options for help and bounce between the stability provided in jail and the instability of being homeless, despite the work done by mental health professionals to plug gaps in the system. The Tribune is not naming Andersons son to protect his privacy. Son showed signs of mental illness in late teens Andersons son was born in March 1984. His birth was complicated, and he was in the NICU for eight days before she could take him home. As a child, he was quiet and shy, but he beat to his own drum, Anderson said. He enjoyed being alone and did not like loud noises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A doctor eventually diagnosed her son with attention deficit disorder and prescribed ritalin, Anderson said. The doctor also said her son had autistic markers, she added. Her son didnt socialize much, Anderson said, but he loved being outside and creating art. He made fishing hooks and flies, sculptures and drawings. Those hobbies persisted into his adult years, and he even creates art during each of his jail stays. Some of it was beautiful like the bell peppers hanging in Andersons kitchen or the wire dragonfly hanging from her blinds while others showed more telling signs that her son was struggling with his psychosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of pages Anderson has kept from her sons jail stays, for example, show repetitive scribbles of various phrases, sometimes overlapping in a cross-hatched pattern. Dawn Marie Anderson has folders written on by her son. He has struggled with schizoaffective disorder and been in treatment or jail for over the last decade. Andersons sons symptoms began to escalate as he entered his late teens. Just before his senior year at Morro Bay High School, he moved out to work and live on a ranch in Los Osos, Anderson said. He rode his bike to school and became distant with his mother. He kind of got edgy with me. Didnt want anything to do with me, she said. Not knowing anything about mental illness, I thought, Well, hes doing OK in school. Hes working and stuff. But is he drinking? Is he doing drugs? Because hes just a little off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point after he graduated high school, Anderson said she received a call from his landlord who said her son had torn out the walls from inside the studio he was staying in. The ranch owner had to fire her son, and he found another apartment to live in, Anderson said. But now, her son was 18 an adult under California law. The first couple of times he got in trouble, I didnt know about it, Anderson said. I just found out through the grapevine that hes been having law enforcement come into his life. Anderson then went to her sons apartment, where she saw flyers from San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health alongside medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had no clue what they were for, because they were just dumped out on his dresser top. All different colors, moved around in different lines. Anderson said she called Behavioral Health, which was able to give her information about her sons diagnosis: bipolar disorder. Dawn Marie Anderson has artwork by her son and worked with him on many parts of her garden. He has struggled with schizoaffective disorder and been in treatment or jail for over the last decade. Anosognosia incredibly difficult to treat, behavioral health says At the time, Anderson didnt know what bipolar disorder was or how any severe mental illness might affect her sons life. But she was determined to learn. For the next two decades, her son cycled in and out of jail while Anderson learned everything she could about mental illness. She became involved in Transitions Mental Health Association, known as THMA, and went to their family-to-family class to connect with other people who were going through the same thing with their loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hearing their cases and then understanding my sons differences, that helped and told me different avenues that needed to be explored, Anderson said. Thats also when she learned her son had anosognosia, and his belief that he is not sick actively works against him getting help. Hes had this symptom since his illness began, Anderson said. Eventually, he was also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and grandiose personality disorder, which causes him to experience delusions. Parker with Behavioral Health told the Tribune that treating people with anosognosia is one of the toughest parts of the job. Mental Health Diversion Court, a program where someones criminal charges could be dropped in lieu of succeeding in mental health treatment, may not be the best setting for someone living with the a more severe mental illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People must be able to live in a congregate setting and participate in group therapy. If someone doesnt believe they are sick or need treatment, it makes giving them treatment that much more difficult. How does someone fit in a group therapy session whos saying, Im not sick, I want to be out of here, Parker said. Theres got to be buy-in of the person too. For these, we could offer treatment courts until were blue in the face. If that anogsognosia is so strong ... then the treatment court is not going to do anything for them. She said Care Court, a new program that creates treatment plans for people with severe mental illness without the need for law enforcement, could be another option for people with severe mental illness, but the problem is that the treatment is voluntary. Care court (is) very exciting in many ways, but when you hear that a civil court order into mental health treatment heavily relies on volunteer participation thats, in and of itself, like a contradiction, she said. Were doing the best that we can with the tools we have, but were always looking for the next creative solution. San Luis Obispo County Behavorial Health program supervisor for justice services Samantha Parker talked about the new Care Court planning on April 10, 2024. She said the countys Community Action Teams, which are a partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health, have seen a lot of success in creating enough rapport with individuals to finally get them to accept treatment. A last resort for those with anosognosia could be a public guardian conservatorship, Parker said. The challenging thing, she said, is that a conservatorship takes away peoples civil liberties, so situations have to reach an incredibly emergent point to even be considered. Only a judge or a psychiatrist with Crestwood Behavioral Health, the psychiatric health facility that helps provide acute care and mental health rehabilitation for a maximum of two weeks, can recommend the Public Guardians Office initiate an investigation to see if someone should be conserved. For it to even get to that point, Parker said, a judge or psychiatrist would have to find that someone has tried every avenue to receive mental health treatment without any success. Its a very difficult process and its a huge deal to take peoples rights, but at some point if theres no other box to check, theres no other opportunity in my opinion, its important that the Public Guardian then look at those (cases), she said. Dawn Marie Anderson has boxes of paperwork related to her son, seen here on Sept. 3, 2024. He has struggled with schizoaffective disorder and been in treatment or jail for over the last decade. Son lost care during COVID, mother says Andersons son was doing well before COVID-19 hit. He had received treatment at Atascadero State Hospital when he needed to get his competency restored to face misdemeanor vandalism and unauthorized entry charges in 2017. According to court records, his competency was restored and he pleaded no contest to the misdemeanors. He was released on a probation order and kept up with his treatment. He got his landscaping contract license and opened a business. He had regular clients and would study and do paperwork at the home of Andersons other neighbor, Mike Segor. Segors wife had hired Andersons son to do odd jobs on their property since 2014. Segor told the Tribune he knew Andersons son had problems, but never asked too many questions about it because our relationship was pretty good. He was helpful and reliable, and we kept asking him back, Segor added. I know he had ups and downs, so we often saw him when he was on an upward swing in his cycle or when he was not working his own jobs on a regular basis and needed some cash to keep going. He would call, and Id find work for him to do. Segor said Andersons son was really good on a smartphone and learned how to use business support software to do his accounting and advertising. He even created and printed his own brochures to promote his business and bought a white van with his companys logo painted on it. And his business was successful, Segor said. He said Andersons son charged $40 per hour and was able to be completely self-sufficient, paying rent to live in an apartment with roommates. Dawn Marie Anderson holds dragonfly artwork by her son on Sept. 3, 2024. He has struggled with schizoaffective disorder and been in treatment or jail for over the last decade. But then, the pandemic hit. Her son lost his access to his monthly anti-psychotic injection, his mother said, and in-person visits with therapists and psychiatrists halted. He started drinking, his mother said. Then he got in trouble with the law. In 2021, he was charged with burglary, battery, vandalism and dissuading a witness. After two competency court treatments, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vandalism, unauthorized entry, battery and preventing the use of a cell phone. In April 2023, he was sentenced to one year of probation after already being incarcerated for two years. Before his most recent August arrest, her son had been charged with drug- and alcohol-related crimes, such as public intoxication and being under the influence of a controlled substance. During that time, his mother said, he was living unhoused, the majority of the time in Los Osos. He lost his business and all the equipment he had purchased to make it successful. Thats when Anderson spent each morning looking for her son, she said. She just needed to make sure he was alive, even if he refused to accept her help. Its one of the hardest things shes had to do as a mother. I cant abandon him when hes this sick and hes homeless, Anderson said. People are saying, Well, you gotta let him live. Just dont feed him, dont this, dont that. How do you not do that? Dawn Marie Anderson has worked with her son on many parts of her Los Osos garden, seen here on Sept. 3, 2024. He has struggled with schizoaffective disorder and been in treatment or jail for over the last decade. Mother: Jail conditions and care improvement can be seen first-hand The more Anderson attempted to get her son help, the more she realized the county didnt have the resources he needed to succeed without being arrested. Its a double-edged sword, she said. I cant decide in my head if living out in this cold rainy now place is where I would want him to be, or do I want him in that jail cell? Anderson said one September morning. At least when her son is in jail, she said, she knows he is in a safe location where he is being regularly fed and receiving health care. Anderson has seen improvements in the jails mental health care firsthand over the past two decades. Her son was incarcerated around the same time as the 2017 death of Andrew Holland, an inmate who died naked on the flood in restraints as deputies watched for 46 hours. The death prompted a DOJ investigation, which eventually found in 2021 that the jail violated the rights of prisoners in several ways, including failing to provide adequate health care and subjecting some prisoners to excessive force. Since then, the jail has made massive improvements to its mental health care and use of force, with the DOJ finding the issues from their 2021 report settled in January. The jail now has comprehensive healthcare specifically for mental health and has expanded its competency treatment program. Anderson said in her sons previous jail stays, hes been horrified and fearful of being in jail. Now, despite his mental illness, he talks positively about the jail and the care hes received. Dawn Marie Anderson shows the green ribbon she places on her shirt every day on Sept. 9, 2024. The green ribbon symbolizes mental health awareness, an issue close to her heart as her son lives with schizoaffective disorder. He seems comfortable, she said. Anderson also noted that the jail staff has been more communicative with her than in the past. While they cant tell her details of her sons care he has not signed an information release they have answered the questions they could and shes been able to give the jail her sons medical background to help his care be more comprehensive. She believes her son has been receiving the care he needs in the jail, but she knows that same type of care is not available when he leaves. The jail is the largest provider for inpatient mental health care services in San Luis Obispo County other than Atascadero State Hospital. But in order to receive care at the jail or the state hospital, a person must become involved with the criminal justice system first. As of January, 28% of inmates at the jail were deemed severely mentally ill, according to San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla. Cipolla added that treatment is based on a persons needs rather than diagnosis. The jail also has an eight-bed program for inmates designated incompetent to stand trial. Its a Department of State Hospitals program for inmates like Andersons son. The program helps restore competency and can be a faster avenue to competency than waiting for a bed to open at a state hospital. If someone needs inpatient involuntary crisis care without the justice system involvement, Crestwood Behavioral Health can provide care for 16 beds for up to two weeks. What happens now? Anderson continues to advocate for anosognosia awareness with the countys leaders. Shes dropped off Xaviar Amadors book on the topic, Im Not Sick, I Dont Need Help, to the District Attorneys Office, representatives of Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-San Luis Obispo, and several members of the countys Behavioral Health department. She believes more education is the first step to create a mental health system that can better help people like her son, but sometimes it gets tiring. Then, shell have a win, like when she was able to help a neighbor whos son was in a mental health crisis. That just told me that I wasnt supposed to quit, she said. Thats what keeps me going. Thats my fuel. While this has been the most comfortable her son has seemed in jail, Anderson said, its also the worst his psychosis has ever been. His competency was declared restored on March 12, but to be considered competent under the law, a defendant only has to understand the charges against them and be able to help an attorney with their defense. Competency does not necessarily require someone to not have psychotic symptoms. Nor does it mean theyre equipped to live on their own. Meanwhile, Anderson continues to visit her son in the jail. Sometimes he accepts her visit, sometimes he doesnt. Still, she goes. She puts money on his books. She continues to love him. In the latest development on Wednesday, her son received disappointing news: He was denied eligibility from mental health diversion court. Anderson hopes that if her son is released at his next court hearing on April 2, he can be put on a path toward treatment, and that perhaps he could be reconsidered for diversion court. She said hes in a better place and may succeed more than he has in past years. He can only stay on his medication with people helping him with his medication, she said. If they just let him go on the street, hes going to do it all over again. This is scaring me like crazy. I know theres really nothing else anyone can do for him. Most of all, she worries that once her son is released, she will be back to driving around Los Osos wondering if she was going to find him dead or alive. Because he still doesnt believe he is ill. Without care, she believes, the cycle will repeat itself just as it has for the past 20 years. A small aircraft traveling from Iowa to Minnesota crashed into a home in a Minneapolis suburb early Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The incident happened around 12:20 p.m. Central Time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The single-engine turboprop aircraft, a SOCATA TBM7, was flying from Des Moines International Airport and headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis when it crashed in a residential area of Brooklyn Park, the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooklyn Park Fire Department members were dispatched to the area at 12:22 for reports of an aircraft incident, Fire Chief Shawn Conway said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. On arrival, there was a large column of smoke, which our incident commander upgraded to a house fire, Conway said. Dramatic footage shot by a witness shows a home engulfed in flames with thick black smoke rising into the air. Even though the house was fully involved in flames, firefighters initially saw no sign of an aircraft in or around the area. Crews only spotted airplane debris after cleaning up the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the homes residents are safe, Conway said. However, he added of the plane, We do not believe [there were] any survivors. The FAA said it was unclear how many people were on board. The incident is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent agency charged with investigating U.S. civil aviation accidents. SOMERSET, N.J. (PIX11) A small airplane crashed in Somerset, New Jersey, Sunday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The crash happened around 10:35 a.m. in a wooded area. More Local News The FAA confirmed that a Cirrus SR22 had departed Princeton Airport en route to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. The pilot was the only person on board, officials say. The FAA did not state the pilots condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash is under investigation. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. 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. MANDALAY, Myanmar The smell of decaying bodies permeated the streets of Myanmars second-largest city on Sunday as people worked frantically by hand to clear rubble in the hope of finding someone still alive, two days after a massive earthquake struck that killed more than 1,600 people and left countless others buried. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit midday Friday with an epicenter near Mandalay, bringing down scores of buildings and damaging other infrastructure like the citys airport. Relief efforts have been hampered by buckled roads, downed bridges, spotty communications and the challenges of operating in a country in the midst of a civil war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search for survivors has been primarily conducted by the local residents without the aid of heavy equipment, moving rubble by hand and with shovels in 41-degree Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) heat, with only the occasional tracked excavator to be seen. A 5.1 magnitude aftershock Sunday afternoon prompted screams from those in the streets, and then the work continued. Many of Mandalays 1.5 million people spent the night sleeping on the streets, either left homeless by the quake, which also shook neighboring Thailand and killed at least 18 people there, or worried that the continuing aftershocks might cause structures left unstable to collapse. So far 1,644 people have been reported killed in Myanmar and 3,408 injured, but many areas have not yet been reached, and many rescue efforts so far have been undertaken by people working by hand to try and clear rubble, said Cara Bragg, the Yangon-based manager of Catholic Relief Services in Myanmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its mainly been local volunteers, local people who are just trying to find their loved ones, Bragg said after bring briefed by her colleague in Mandalay. Ive also seen reports that now some countries are sending search and rescue teams up to Mandalay to support the efforts, but hospitals are really struggling to cope with the influx of injured people, theres a shortage of medical supplies, and people are struggling to find food and clean water, Bragg added. The organization was sending a team by road on Sunday to assess peoples most pressing needs so that it could target its own response. With the Mandalay airport damaged and the control tower toppled in the capital Naypitaws airport, all commercial flights into the cities have been shut down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Official relief efforts in Naypitaw were prioritizing government offices and staff housing, leaving locals and aid groups to dig through the rubble by hand in residential areas, the hot sun beating down and the smell of death in the air. A team sent from neighboring China rescued an older man who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours beneath the rubble of a Naypitaw hospital, and many others are believed to still be buried under, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Myanmar sits on the Sagaing Fault, a major north-south fault that separates the India plate and the Sunda plate. The earthquake occurred when a 200-kilometer (125-mile) section of the fault ruptured, causing widespread damage along a wide swath of territory down the middle of the country, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway and Bago regions and Shan State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With widespread telecommunication outages, few details have come out so far from areas other than the main urban areas of Mandalay and Naypitaw. Still, two Indian C-17 military transport aircraft were able to land late Saturday at Naypitaw with a field hospital unit and some 120 personnel who were then to travel north to Mandalay to establish a 60-bed emergency treatment center, according to the countrys Foreign Ministry. Other Indian supplies were flown into Yangon, Myanmars biggest city, which has been the hub of other foreign relief efforts. On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay, after making the arduous journey by road from Yangon. The 650-kilometer (400-mile) journey has been taking 14 hours or longer, with clogged roads and traffic diverted from the main highway to skirt damage from the earthquake. At the same time, the window of opportunity to find anyone alive is rapidly closing. Most rescues occur within the first 24 hours after a disaster, and then survival chances drop as each day passes. In last nights Saturday Night Live cold open, three teenage girls chatted over Signal. They gossiped (Did you guys see what Jessica wore at school today? Oh my God, she is such a pick-me girl). They teased one another (Hey, it takes one to know one, Bannessa!). They did what teenage girls do. And then: FYI: Green light on Yemen raid. Yep, SNL entered the Signalgate chat. In SNLs version of events, it wasnt (just) Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantics editor in chiefplayed by Mikey Daywho was added to the now-infamous text chain known as the Houthi PC small group. This time it was also three teenage girls, played by Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, and the episodes host, the recent Oscar winner Mikey Madison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans] In this scenario, Pete Hegseth, played by Andrew Dismukes, was the wayward texter. Tomahawks airborne 15 minutes ago, he announced. Whos ready to glass some Houthi rebels? Flag emoji, flag emoji, flag emoji, fire emoji, eggplant. Soon, more members of the Trump administration joined the chain. Marco Rubio (played by Marcello Hernandez) chimed in from a bedroom. A parka-clad J. D. Vance (Bowen Yang) popped in from the tundra in Greenland. The men congratulated themselves. They sent many, many emoji. They discussed sensitive military information in roughly the same way that Bannessa talked about her classmates sartorial choices. Throughout the chat, the girls repeatedly told the men that theyd made a mistake. Um, do we know you, bro? Madisons character said as Hegseth kept typing away (God bless the troops eggplant). This is Jennabelle. Oh, nice! Hegseth replied. Jennabelle from Defense, right? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nwodims character tried a more direct tack: Hey, I think you have the wrong group chat. Lololol! Hegseth replied. Could you imagine if that actually happened? Homer disappear into bush GIF. Hey, while I got everyone, sending a PDF with updated locations of all our nuclear submarines. In 2017, in an SNL parody that has become a classic, Melissa McCarthy made a surprise appearance as Sean Spicer, Donald Trumps first press secretary. McCarthy turned Spicers anti-press antics against him, pounding her fists, flaring her nostrils, and twisting belligerence into a full-body schtick. The performance allegedly angered Trumpnot only because of the mockery but more specifically because the mockery had involved a gender swap. Trump, a presidential donor told Politico at the time, doesnt like his people to look weak. But last nights cold open brought a new dimension to the satire. The gender-swapping was also a matter of age-swappingadults became teenagers and men became girls. The comparison wasnt direct, as it had been with Spicer. But it still played as a rebuke: The teen girls were the ones who read, throughout the sketch, as the adults in the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Here are the attack plans that Trumps advisers shared on Signal] In SNLs portrayal, the men seemed to fancy themselves stars in a classic war epic: swaggering, serious, men being men. But the sketch genre-swapped too: The behavior of the men in charge, the show suggested, found them acting like extras in Mean Girls. Hegseth and his fellow officials, as they congratulated themselves with their GIFs and fire emoji, went on to share the specific location of a nuclear submarine (right outside Shanghai), a PDF of all deep-cover CIA agents, and the real JFK filesnot those fake ones we released. Even after Nwodim piped up (Weve been trying to tell youwere in high school) the officials, ignoring the girls warnings, proceeded with adolescent recklessness. Their behavior was rash. It was emotional. It was self-conscious. The men, discussing war, preened for one another. At the outset of the sketch, one of the girls praised a joke that Jennabelle had made. This is exactly why youre the Queen Bee, Shermans character said, and I totally defer to you. The line didnt land too well as a joke. But it did establish the stakes of the satire. It was likely a reference to the book that Mean Girls was famously based on, Rosalind Wisemans Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescenceand a nod to the willingness that grown men have shown to serve the queen bee in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before long, Vance was signing in to the chat from his diplomatic visit to Greenland. Nobody knows why Im here, especially me, he said. But praise Trumpour work here is mysterious and important. The joke suggested that it was Vances boss, rather than SNL, that had brought the logic of the gender swap to the workings of the U.S. government. For all their eggplant emoji and their high-fived acts of war, the show suggested, the chatters of Signalgate were mean girls in disguisegovernment officials remade as pick-me men. Article originally published at The Atlantic I think we are making a mistake, wrote Vice President J.D. Vance in the now-infamous chat group discussing plans to carry out military strikes in Yemen. To his credit, Vance has been consistent in his skepticism about the use of American military power to solve the worlds problems. It is disheartening that, once attaining power, even a cadre of neoreactionary revolutionaries who swore to remake U.S. foreign policy around a no-frills America First pragmatism are blind to the fact that they are reverting to the same strategic errors that led to the U.S. bungling most of the War on Terror in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That it is a problem to allow a designated terrorist organization to indiscriminately launch anti-ship missiles against vessels navigating one of the worlds most critical trade routes is a reasonable assertion. That the United States can solve that problem with the liberal application of cruise missiles and bombs is not. The nations chattering class has been largely mesmerized by the fallout from the scandal, which saw National Security Adviser Mike Waltz apparently add The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Houthi PC [principals committee] Small Group chat on the Signal messaging app. The subsequent recriminations have devolved into comical partisan gaslighting and a focus on pedantic minutiae such as whether attack plans are war plans, or if obviously sensitive information qualifies as classified but the focus on the chat and its attendant hubbub obscures a more basic question. Why are we doing this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only two days after taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14175, which directed the State Department to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, stating that it is U.S. policy to eliminate Ansar Allahs capabilities and operations, deprive it of resources, and thereby end its attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea. The United States is not at war with Yemen, nor even Ansar Allah, or Partisans of God the official name of the group generally called the Houthis by Western officials and media. And yet the U.S. has been bombing the Houthis for more than a year now. The Trump administration rightly sees Iran as a key influence on Houthi behavior, and apparently believes that a maximum pressure campaign will force Tehran to bend to its will. Across the region, in Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories, Irans Axis of Resistance has been decimated and degraded. But Israels campaign against Hamas hasnt eradicated Hamas, its campaign against Hezbollah didnt eradicate Hezbollah, and the U.S. campaign against the Houthis wont eradicate the Houthis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis began their fight against Israeli interests in November 2023, targeting commercial vessels transiting through the Suez Canal. As part of the Axis of Resistance, they were nominally fighting in support of the Palestinians, who have faced an unprecedented Israeli offensive since Hamas carried out its deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They also began launching long-range drones and missiles against Israel proper. In response, the Biden administration keen to demonstrate its support for Israel against Iran began carrying out strikes against the Houthis in January 2024. Nevertheless, traffic through the Suez Canal dropped by two-thirds as a result of the conflict, erasing $2 billion in revenue for Egypt and significantly increasing costs for international shipping globally as vessels rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. Fast forward a year since the U.S. first started bombing, and the Houthis have demonstrated both their resolve and their ability to keep fighting. Lloyds of London a key player in the maritime insurance market tracks incidents involving commercial shipping, and it has cataloged 92 attacks against merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since this all began. The White House says that there have been 145 attacks on commercial shipping and 174 attacks on U.S. warships; American sailors have described the Houthi campaign as the most intense naval combat since 1945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the Houthis said they would stand down their campaign in response to the ceasefire reached on Jan. 19 between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there actually hadnt been any documented attacks on commercial or American military vessels since Trump took office, according to a separate database maintained by Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, or ACLED, an independent research nonprofit that tracks violent conflict. That changed after the March 15 attack ordered by Trump, when on March 16 the USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group intercepted a barrage of 18 drones and missiles fired by the Houthis in response. Since then, of course, Israel walked away from negotiations to continue the ceasefire in Gaza and resumed the war. Trump has pinned the inability to effectively stop the Houthis on former President Joe Bidens weakness, arguing that what is needed is more bombing and bigger bombs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that worked, it wouldve worked already, observes Colin P. Clarke, the director of research at the Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security consultancy. Since the attacks began, there have been reports of multiple airstrikes likely U.S. in origin in various locations across Yemen almost every day. This seems to me indicative of an inchoate foreign policy. It just shows how mercurial this administration is, Clarke says, adding that with all of the negative attention, the optics now seem intended as much for a domestic audience as they are for Iran. As a result, he sees escalation as inevitable. They just want to post a win. Indeed, Strategic Command has confirmed deployment of a group of B-2 stealth bombers to the region, the only aircraft capable of carrying the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a bunker buster bomb that was previously used in strikes on Yemen in October, under Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We struck exactly what we intended, said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, who at the time was the Pentagon press secretary. Indeed, the U.S. likely destroyed underground weapons storage facilities and command bunkers in those October strikes. But it didnt stop the Houthis from continuing their attacks. MOP-laden B-2s would be useful if the U.S. decided to take military action against Irans nuclear program which is also part of the message from America. But Iran shows little interest in bowing to the Trump administration over Yemen a proxy is a proxy for a reason explicitly saying, Our policy remains to not negotiate directly under conditions of maximum pressure and military threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So that strategy isnt working. But perhaps the U.S. can deter the Houthis through military force alone? Theres reason to think it cant. Vance, like me, is a former enlisted Marine noncommissioned officer with a bit of G.I. Bill-funded education. He probably knows that despite to the shores of Tripoli being memorialized in the Marine Corps Hymn, the reign of plunder and mayhem of the Barbary Pirates in modern day Libya was not brought to a halt through the military prowess of Lt. Presley OBannon in capturing Derna during the First Barbary War. No, Americas first foreign military adventure ended in 1805 with a negotiated peace treaty, and a payment of $60,000 in cold hard cash about $1.7 million in todays dollars, a paltry sum for ending a conflict. Then-President Thomas Jefferson was careful to characterize the payment as a politically palatable ransom for the release of American prisoners, rather than as an unacceptable tribute a protection payment to an international extortion racket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, that was 220 years ago, and today the U.S. does not negotiate with pirates, or terrorists, or Iranian-backed Shia Islamist politico-military movements. What it does do is kill civilians. There isnt a lot of verified information about what happened on the other end of the group-chat strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserts in the thread that an apartment building was flattened. The Houthis claim 53 people were killed. Maybe all of this is true. Maybe none of it is. What is true is that every sustained air campaign in modern history has killed innocents and destroyed civil infrastructure, regardless of whether that campaign achieved its strategic goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That reality, in connection with decades of continuous U.S. global airstrikes in the War on Terror, became a serious enough concern that in 2018, Congress at long last told the Pentagon to submit an Annual Report on Civilian Casualties in Connection With United States Military Operations, under a section included in the annual National Defense Authorization Act. Last year, that requirement was extended to 2030, but the report on this years civilian casualties wont be released until May 1, 2026. In any case, independent researchers have long asserted that there are significant discrepancies between the Pentagons accounting and their own data. For now, the Pentagon refuses to provide specifics. Central Command, responsible for Yemen, also refuses to comment. Certainly the current Pentagon has little interest in hand-wringing about whether America is killing civilians in its campaign to eliminate a terror group. One of Hegseths first moves upon confirmation was to dismantle the two Pentagon offices charged with reducing and accounting for civilian harm. The munitions fly, administration officials send each other celebratory emojis, and the American public doesnt know what has just been done in its name. If the chat hadnt been leaked, it is unlikely strikes on Yemen wouldve risen anywhere near the top of the news cycle. The grim carnage of the War on Terror rarely made the top of the news cycle after the first few years, either. Its unquestioned strategic assumptions most evident in Afghanistan were a replica of the flawed thinking that drove continuous escalation through nearly 20 years of involvement in Vietnam: that body counts indicate progress. Only in total war, of the type rarely seen since World War II, can you kill your way to victory. Is that what this administration is asking of the American people? To commit to total war in Yemen? Boots on the ground? Carpet-bombing of cities? If so, then someone ought to have to make the case. For all the talk of Trumps imaginary mandate, the American people have had no say in whether their country should be at war with Yemen. No one has even tried to enlist the thoughtless rabble of right-wing cable news to bang on the war drums and manufacture consent. Trumps rubber-stamp legislature has not authorized military action under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly gives Congress not the president, not his Cabinet secretaries, and certainly not a Signal chat group the power to declare war. But Congress continues to give the chief executive whatever his or her party a blank check to carry out military strikes around the world whenever and wherever he wishes, under the broad powers granted by the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). This was passed by both houses of Congress only a week after the attacks of Sept. 11, with a single dissenting vote, and has been used to justify American military action around the globe 41 times in at least 22 countries for more than two decades. There are actually four AUMF laws still on the books, the oldest dating to 1957, despite multiple legislative efforts to repeal them. The most recent example was in June 2023, when then-senator J.D. Vance was one of three Republicans who added his name to the End Endless Wars Act, which passed in the Senate, but died in committee in the House. Congress has also specifically tried to stop the president from going to war in Yemen. During Trumps first term, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a bill prohibiting the U.S. from military action in Yemen, which managed to pass in both the Senate and the House and was then vetoed by Trump. And so, under both Biden and Trump, the cruise missiles fly, the bombs fall, and people die. Success is always another airstrike away. Group-chat members Vance, Hegseth, Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and National Counterterrorism Center chief nominee Joe Kent all served in the War on Terror, albeit with a range of different roles and experiences. They are the first generation of American leaders who did so, not as generals, but on the ground as junior and mid-level personnel. They have each, in their own way, been highly critical of the national security establishment that brought us the forever wars. The old order changeth, yielding place to new, Alfred Tennyson writes in Idylls of the King. And God fulfills Himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the world. Hegseth, especially, has tried to embrace an identity as a kind of Rambo-Galahad a perfect warrior of pure faith and unrestrained violence whose hypermasculine MAGA lethality is an antidote to the sprawling, effete ineptitude of woke Pentagon bureaucracy. Now, target package in hand, the secretary of defense walks in the same footsteps as those before him, playing Whac-a-Mole with cruise missiles when its clear that regional diplomacy and a political compromise with Iran is the most viable solution. America spent decades building an unaccountable imperial executive infrastructure to fight terrorists. Now that the revolutionaries have grasped the reins of power, they are no longer content to simply cosplay as operators, sending rounds down range for the cameras while raging against the deep state. Are you even a hardcore D.C. power player if youre not ordering airstrikes against apartment buildings in an urban area on actionable intel, collateral damage be damned? Do you even drone-strike, bro? The Whos Pete Townshend adds an important corollary to Tennysons verse about the inevitably of change: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Not even coolly intellectual Barack Obama could resist the allure of such raw power, the sexy ruthlessness of giving the order and watching an MQ-9 Reaper take out a high-value target. He even executed an American citizen by Hellfire missile without due process when the chance came up, for all the former presidents expertise in constitutional law. The precedent ought to give pause, at a time when keying a Tesla is being called an act of terrorism. This is not about the Houthis, Hegseth noted in the group chat. I see it as about two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish[ing] deterrence, which Biden cratered. Its the old rule of the hammer. To the man with a kill list, everything looks like a terrorist. To the man without a clear strategic goal, every casus belli is an abstraction. Perhaps in another group chat, one not shared with a journalist or archived for future accountability as required by law a Small Group of principals can reflect on Americas actual track record in the first War on Terror, before embarking on another version of it again. Because thats what America is doing in Yemen. Identify targets; confirm; execute. No further thought required. When the president names an enemy, America goes to war on autopilot. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A federal prosecutor in Los Angeles was fired Friday at the behest of the White House, after lawyers for a fast-food executive he was prosecuting pushed officials in Washington to drop all charges against him, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Adam Schleifer was terminated Friday morning, receiving an email informing him that the dismissal was "on behalf of President Donald J. Trump," according to two of the sources, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals from federal officials. Joseph T. McNally, the acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California who is Schleifer's boss, was not involved in the decision, the sources said. Carley Palmer, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles who is now a partner at Halpern May Ybarra Gelberg LLP, said Schleifer was fired via a "one line e-mail, and it came from a White House staff account." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles declined to comment. Schleifer declined a request to be interviewed. The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to inquiries. Read more: Top FDA vaccine official resigns, criticizes Kennedy for promoting 'misinformation and lies' The sources who spoke to The Times suspected the firing was motivated, in part, by a case Schleifer was assigned involving Andrew Wiederhorn, former chief executive of the company that owns fast-food chains Fatburger and Johnny Rockets. Last May, a grand jury indicted Wiederhorn on charges that he hid taxable income from the federal government by dispersing "shareholder loans" from the company to himself and his family. Wiederhorn allegedly used the funds for personal benefits, according to the indictment, including payments for private jet travel, vacations, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, other luxury automobiles, jewelry and a piano. He has pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wiederhorn's lawyers have aggressively pushed Justice Department officials to drop the case, according to two sources familiar with those conversations who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. The defense team has attacked the legal theory of the case and alleged Schleifer was biased, the sources said. Wiederhorns defense attorney, Nicola Hanna, previously told The Times that prosecutors had exceeded the law in charging his client. This is an unfortunate example of government overreach and a case with no victims, no losses and no crimes, Hanna said in a statement last year. McNally was ordered to meet with Hanna and during the conversation Wiederhorn's attorneys criticized Schleifer,the two sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanna, the former U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, and other members of Wiederhorn's defense team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Two of the sources familiar with the matter said Schleifer received an email around 11:15 a.m. informing him of the termination. After Schleifer's work phone was wiped remotely and his computer locked him out, fellow prosecutors helped him box up family photos and personal effects before he left. Read more: Trump executive order targets the Smithsonian over 'divisive, race-centered ideology' Schleifer is a registered Democrat who made several unflattering remarks about Trump when he ran for an open congressional seat in New York's 17th District in 2020. Schleifer's father is the co-founder and chief executive of the pharmaceutical company Regeneron, and he faced criticism during his bid for office for refusing to pledge to divest himself from such holdings if elected, according to a column published in the Rockland/Westchester Journal News. Schleifer holds nearly $25 million in stock in the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schleifer started with the U.S. attorney's office in 2016. He prosecuted drug trafficking and fraud cases before quitting in 2019 for his congressional bid. He finished second in the Democratic primary and returned to his job as a federal prosecutor. Though U.S. attorneys are political appointees who often ally with the agenda of the current presidential administration, line prosecutors like Schleifer are normally considered career employees. But since taking office, the Trump administration has made a point to drive those seen as political enemies from all levels of the federal government. This is the most overtly political firing Ive seen in my time at the Department of Justice," said Palmer, the former federal prosecutor. I could absolutely see it having kind of a chilling effect. I also think current prosecutors are concerned about the ability to have free speech. An AUSA [assistant U.S. attorney] who I spoke to said they are concerned that the only people who will be allowed to stay are Republicans or very quiet Democrats. In January, Gregory Bernstein, who worked in the Major Frauds Section of the U.S. attorney's office in L.A., was among more than a dozen lawyers fired across the Justice Department after working on special counsel Jack Smiths prosecutions of Trump. Bernstein declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In several social media posts during his political campaign, Schleifer attacked the president's tax policies and Trump's behavior toward federal agencies that have investigated him for a wide range of state and federal crimes. In one 2020 tweet, Schleifer accused Trump of eroding constitutional integrity "every day with every lie and every act of heedless, narcissistic corruption." Read more: Trump's DOJ to investigate L.A. County Sheriff's Department over long waits for gun permits "Its hard to imagine a President doing more to demoralize line prosecutors, law-enforcement partners, and faith in rule of law than he already has," Schleifer tweeted in February 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur who has at times served as an advisor to Trump, shared one of Schleifer's prior critical tweets on X and called for the prosecutor to be fired. "We need to purge the US Attorneys office of all leftist Trump haters," Loomer wrote. Although Loomer referred to Schleifer as a "Biden holdover," he was hired back to the office ahead of Biden's inauguration in 2021. According to sources, he was assigned the Fatburger case after his return. One source inside the U.S. attorney's office, who requested anonymity over concerns about retaliation, said "people are obviously very pissed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Schleifer's family might be wealthy, the source said, the firing seemed politically motivated and meant to scare prosecutors who might pursue defendants who curry favor with Trump. "No one feels particularly scared for his livelihood, but I do think it's bull," the source said. Another source, a former prosecutor who handled fraud cases in the U.S. attorney's office and sought anonymity over concerns about facing professional backlash, said he believes Schleifer's firing is "going to have an incredible chilling effect on any line federal prosecutor who is thinking about criminally investigating or prosecuting an executive of any company of any significance." "The message from Adam's case is that if you're going to indict some run-of-the-mill CEO of a company, you need to check if he's a Trump supporter first," the former prosecutor said. "It's going to cause line prosecutors to be considerably more careful about pursuing anyone who has even tenuous connections to the president, which is not good for the DOJ." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Federal Election Commission records, Wiederhorn has donated approximately $40,000 to Trump political action committees and the Republican National Committee since 2023. The recent federal case comes nearly two decades after Wiederhorn was first ensnared in financial crimes. In 2004, he pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Oregon to charges of paying an illegal gratuity to an associate and to filing a false tax return. He spent 15 months in federal prison in Sheridan, Ore., and paid a $2-million fine. Trump repeatedly complained about the "weaponization of the federal government" while facing investigations for improper handling of classified documents and fostering an insurrection with lies about election fraud, but since returning to office he has taken steps to bend the Department of Justice to his agenda. Earlier this year, Trump appointees pushed for federal prosecutors in Manhattan to dismiss corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, accused of accepting more than $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish government official. Several high-ranking prosecutors refused the order to drop charges against Adams and resigned in protest, with some alleging Trump is trying to force Adams to help deport record numbers of undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Trump named one of his personal attorneys and counselors, Alina Habba, as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba has no experience as a prosecutor, but represented Trump in several civil cases and served as an advisor to his political action committee. Four current and former federal law enforcement sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, told The Times that Trump is strongly considering naming Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Riverside) as U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. Essayli is a devoted Trump supporter who has staked out positions in lockstep with the president in the California Legislature, including pushing a bill in 2023 that would force schools to notify parents if their children were identifying with a gender that does not align with the sex on their birth certificate. The bill died in committee. Representatives for Essayli did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday. Times staff writer Seema Mehta and the Associated Press 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 Table Rock Complex Fire continues to rage on in South Carolina with thousands of acres of land burned and just 9% containment as of Sunday afternoon. Is the Table Rock Complex Fire the largest wildfire in South Carolina history? Yes, the Table Rock Complex Fire was declared the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina's history, surpassing the 2016 Pinnacle Mountain Fire, which was 10,623 acres. Table Rock has grown to more than 12,000 acres by Saturday. As of Sunday afternoon, an 2,078-acre fire in Greenville County was 24% contained. The fire on 240 Persimmon Ridge road in Greenville County was also 24% contained. Below are some of the other major fires in South Carolina's history: Great Fire of 1898 A series of wildfires swept through South Carolina February 16-17, according to South Carolina Fire Commission. Unconfirmed reports indicate 14 people died, many homes burned, and up to 3 million acres of forest land were scorched from South Carolina's Aiken County to North Carolina's Chatham County, and east to South Carolina's Marlboro County. The Bombing Range Fire of 1954 This nine-day fire was likely started from a cigarette. It happened during an extremely hot, dry period with the temperature reaching 107 degrees on June 27 and remaining in triple digits for several days. By the time it was controlled 9 days later, 10,162 acres had burned. Gaston Fire of 1966 The fire broke out near Gaston and another near Edmund. It burned a total of 7,400 acres including 21 Boy Scouts cabins. It took 25 Forestry Commission firefighters, 225 volunteers, and an eventual shower of rain to control the Gaston Fire after a day and a half. Clear Pond Fires of 1976 Before Table Rock, Clear Pond was the largest forest fire ever recorded in South Carolina. It burned 30,000 acres in Horry County. The fire spanned 14 miles long. An unattended campfire started the burn on April 10. Highway 31 Fire of 2009 The Highway 31 fires was the state's worst wildland urban interface fires, according to the fire commission. More than 700 individuals from more than 20 different agencies responded. Over 19,000 acres were burned with 76 houses destroyed and another 97 damaged. There were no injuries or fatalities, but it caused $50 million in damages. Pinnacle Mountain Fire of 2016 Pinnacle was the longest and costliest wild fire at the time starting on Nov. 9, 2016. With an average of 200 personnel on scene each day, personnel from all over South Carolina and surrounding states and as far west as Oregon, California and Washington traveled to Pickens to fight the fire. While no lives or property was lost, by the time the fire was controlled on Dec. 16, 2016, the blaze had lit 10,623 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com. Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Table Rock Complex: How it compares to South Carolina's major wildfires Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A crew of four passengers led by a cryptocurrency billionaire is set to launch aboard a SpaceX capsule that will carry them over the Earths poles, marking the first time humans have flown such a mission. The group is slated to lift off from a launchpad in Florida during a 4.5-hour window that opens at 9:46 p.m. ET Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malta-based investor Chun Wang is financing the mission, which was dubbed Fram2 after a Norwegian ship that carried key expeditions to the North and South poles around the turn of the 20th century. Wang made his fortune with bitcoin mining operations, and he paid SpaceX an undisclosed sum of money to conduct this mission. Joining him are three polar explorers whom Wang met through his Earth-bound travels: Norwegian film director Jannicke Mikkelsen, German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge and Australian adventurer Eric Philips. No one on the crew has ever traveled to space. My own journey has been shaped by lifelong curiosity and the fascination with pushing boundaries, Chun said Friday during an audio-only Spaces event on X, the social media platform owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aim of Fram2 is to conduct a unique mission that also pays homage to the quartets fascination with polar exploration, following in the footsteps of other unique space tourism trips such as SpaceXs 2021 Inspiration4 mission. Fram2 stands out because no humans have traveled directly over the Earths poles from space, which requires a flight path thats far more fuel-intensive than chasing orbits closer to the equator. The frigid caps of our home planet are invisible to humans on board the International Space Station, for example, which orbits near Earths equatorial line. The crewed mission that traveled closest to the planets poles to date was a Soviet-era spaceflight called Vostok 6 in 1963. However, Vostok 6 was flown at a 65-degree inclination, whereas Fram2 will aim for a 90-degree orientation, meaning it will fly perfectly perpendicular to the equator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the mission, crew members will offer up their own bodies for research. They are expected to give scientists insight into how they react to weightlessness and adapt to motion sickness a common symptom reported by astronauts. Fram2 is expected to spend three to five days in space before returning home with a splashdown landing off the coast of California. The Fram2 crew poses in this image provided by SpaceX. The group includes, from left, Eric Philips, a polar guide from Australia; Rabea Rogge, a robotics researcher from Germany; Norwegian filmmaker Jannicke Mikkelsen; and Chun Wang, a Chinese-born bitcoin investor who is paying for the whole spaceflight. - SpaceX via AP A notch above gimmick While a human spaceflight mission has never passed so close to Earths poles, experts who spoke with CNN said that there may not be a huge scientific draw to such an effort. Dr. John Prussing, professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, openly wondered if the mission plan was an April Fools joke noting that SpaceXs projected launch window stretches into April 1 in Coordinated Universal Time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres nothing unique to a polar orbit, (and) the science advantages are kind of overblown, Prussing noted as evidence for his skepticism about this flight. (CNN verified the authenticity of SpaceXs flight plans with the Federal Aviation Administration, which licenses commercial rocket launches.) Ultimately, the value of Fram2 may be more about the thrill of the endeavor, gathering health data, and taking a step forward in making private space missions more common, other experts noted. In addition to being first-time space travelers, the Fram2 crew members all come from backgrounds that are atypical for astronauts. This is a private mission. You need something to say thats different and exciting about it, said Dr. Christopher Combs, associate dean of research at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its interesting that nobodys ever actually done a true polar orbit, Combs added, and its great that weve got commercial providers that are making space travel increasingly routine. In his mind, Combs said, flying a human spaceflight mission around the poles is a notch above gimmick, but not exactly a groundbreaking milestone. Evolving research Every mission that carries people into space offers a chance to observe how the journey affects human physiology. And the Fram2 crew will seek to expand on some research spearheaded by academics and the private sector during previous commercial missions to orbit including the 2024 Polaris Dawn mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All four Fram2 passengers will undergo the same MRI scans that the Polaris Dawn crew did. This research aims to expand scientists understanding of how stints in microgravity, which is known to shift fluids in the brain, affect astronauts. The team behind the MRI study is not ready to reveal findings from the Polaris Dawn mission last fall, according to Dr. Mark Rosenberg, a neurologist at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. But an overarching goal of the analysis is to learn whether brain changes can occur for people who spend days rather than months in space. Rosenberg is also part of a team collecting data about astronauts sleep patterns in collaboration with Oura Ring, which developed a wellness-tracking device that can be worn on a finger. The work will build on extensive research NASA has conducted with its astronauts on the ISS. I certainly think that REM (sleep) is going to be disrupted, as well as certain deep sleep phases, in the Fram2 crew, Rosenberg told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a couple reasons why: One, your body isnt used to being in microgravity. And so for that reason, it probably is challenging for it to get comfortable at first, Rosenberg said. The second reason is that constant bombardment of visual stimuli from the orbit. A day in orbit is 90 minutes, and so that circadian dysregulation is definitely going to play a role with how youre able to sleep. The day Rosenberg refers to is how often astronauts experience a sunrise and sunset. From the vantage point inside a space capsule whisking around in Earths orbit, the phenomenon can occur more than a dozen times in a 24-hour period. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft set to carry the Fram2 mission are rolled out to the launchpad in Florida. - From SpaceX Motion sickness Also among Fram2s health-related investigations will be a look at how the crew might respond to space adaptation syndrome a potentially debilitating form of motion sickness that has affected more than 60% of astronauts. The nausea can set in almost immediately after reaching orbit, where astronauts remain weightless, and can take days to dissipate, a troubling proposition for short-term spaceflights such as Fram2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could impact their ability to perform as well as they otherwise would, said Torin Clark, an associate professor of aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, who is leading the motion sickness research. Astronauts experiencing extreme nausea may inject themselves with anti-motion sickness drugs, but the medications can leave them tired and groggy for hours, potentially affecting how well they can use their short time in space. Clark also led similar research during the Polaris Dawn mission. He noted that half of the crew experienced symptoms of space adaptation syndrome during that journey. The goal with expanding data collection on this flight, he said, is to better understand the ailment perhaps leading to superior treatments. Closing the gender gap Separately, the Fram2 crew will be involved in novel research spearheaded by a British tech startup, Hormona. The company said it has developed a urine testing strip that can monitor a womans hormone levels with the help of a phone app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mikkelsen and Rogge, the female crew members aboard Fram2, will use the strips to evaluate how spaceflight affects their endocrine system. Its part of an effort to close the gender data gap that exists in medicine, Jasmine Tagesson, Hormonas chief operating officer and cofounder, told CNN. Only about 15% of the more than 700 people who have traveled to space have been women, limiting how much research has been collected about their experiences. Hormona is currently running pilot tests of its products, according to Tagesson and Karolina Lofqvist, Hormona CEO and cofounder. But Mikkelsen and Rogge will use Hormonas test strips tucked inside diapers they will wear in orbit. SpaceXs Crew Dragon capsule does have a commode designed for use in microgravity, but astronauts also sometimes wear special undergarments. Dr. Jerilynn Prior, a professor of medicine specializing in endocrinology at the University of British Columbia, who is not involved in the Hormona research, told CNN that urine analysis is not a perfect method for testing hormone levels because the metabolic process can alter results. But such in-space hormone research could yield interesting findings, Prior noted. I would not expect that ovulation would be normal for those women who are in space, Prior said via email. At the very least, the stressors involved would likely shorten the luteal phase, she said, referring to the stretch of time after ovulation and before the start of a womans menstruation. Exercise, mushrooms and Steve The Fram2 crew will be involved in a total of 22 science and research experiments. During the brief jaunt through orbit, the group will attempt to exercise marking the first time such an experiment has been carried out within the confines of a 13-foot-wide (4-meter-wide) SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Theyll complete the exercises wearing restrictive bands designed to control blood flow and enhance the benefits of exercise, according to a news release about the experiment. Such blood flow restriction tools for exercise are gaining popularity for workouts on Earth, but they can be controversial because of potential safety risks associated with improper use. The Fram2 crew will also attempt to grow mushrooms in space in an effort to further the extensive agricultural research that NASA has conducted on the International Space Station. That experiment is designed to help researchers understand how astronauts might meet their nutritional needs on long-duration space missions, according to a news release. And finally, the crew will attempt to observe polar light shows from space perhaps the piece of research that most hinges on Fram2s chosen orbital path. Called SolarMaX, the research will focus on aurora-like shows such as Steve, a light phenomenon that was only named in 2016 after an effort to document the phenomenon by citizen scientists in Canada. Mikkelsen said she will use her camera equipment to capture the colorful light displays while in space and people on Earth are invited to lend their own observations. Anyone can join. Where you go outside, if there is aurora where you live you will take a photo of the aurora at the same time as we on the Fram2 flight fly over the aurora, she said. Dr. Eric Donovan, a space physics expert with the University of Calgarys department of physics and astronomy, is pictured with his girlfriend during an auroral event on October 7, 2024. - David Knudsen/University of Calgary People can register to participate on the SolarMaX website. The webpage notes that the goal of the SolarMaX project is to capture unexplained, aurora-related phenomena and better understand their origins and evolution. Dr. Eric Donovan, an aurora and Steve expert with the University of Calgarys department of physics and astronomy, told CNN that the prospect of gathering a new database of observations is invigorating. Taking photographs of aurora and other polar light shows has not been done extensively from space, as astronauts on the ISS can typically only attempt to capture such photographs in their spare time, he noted. Thats one of the things that maybe is a good thing in self-funded spaceflight: because its self-funded, you can do whatever you want, Donovan said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) One person has died after being shot while outside an apartment complex in Gaffney. According to Cherokee County Coroners Office, at around 10:50 p.m. Javlin Everette DeAngelo Dawkins, 18, of Spartanburg, was standing in the parking lot of Limestone Courts apartments on North Limestone Street when he was shot. Dawkins was taken to Cherokee Medical Center in Gaffney where he was later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coroners office said an autopsy will be performed as part of the investigation into the shooting. Gaffney Police Department said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no danger to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WHTM) Lancaster County was the center of Pennsylvania politics this week after Democrat James Malone won a State Senate special election, flipping the seat for Democrats in a ruby-red district. Malone, the Mayor of East Petersburg, joined Dennis Owens on This Week in Pennsylvania to discuss his victory. Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the weeks biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Check your local listings for weekly air times. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A celebration was held in Brevard County honoring American heroes from the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of primarily African American fighter and bomber military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. Florida is one of the first states in the nation to honor the Tuskegee airmen with their own holiday and on Saturday, Channel 9s Melonie Holt hosted the special event held by General Daniel Chappie James Jr. Chapter Of the Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated. Their unmatched combat record reshaped stereotypes and challenged the notion that African American Soldiers were inferior in battle. Between 1941 and 1946, roughly 1,000 Black pilots were trained at a segregated air base in Tuskegee, Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group became part of the 15th Air Force, escorting American bombers as they flew over Italy. As escorts later known as the Red Tails, flying P-47s and later P-51s, they protected larger bombers from German fighter planes. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day into law in 2024 in recognition of the first black pilots in the U.S. military. Since then, the Orlando International Airport has honored Tuskegee Airmen with an exhibit that was revealed on March 27th, which marked the first official Tuskegee Airmen commemoration day in the state of Florida. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) This week on The Spectrum: Former Senator Sherrod Brown is dipping his toe back into public policy. Learn about the new initiative he launched in an effort to put workers issues at the forefront in Washington. Ohio is getting its own version of DOGE. Hear about whos involved and what theyll be doing. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is accused of violating civil rights. See what a federal court found the group and its director liable for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nations top security officials go on an on-line app to detail a planned military assault. Is that classified information? Our strategist, Republican Mark Weaver and former Democratic Ohio State Senator Lou Gentile weigh in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) A man was arrested Saturday after troopers say he fled from a traffic stop, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. According to the affidavit, Emanuel McKinnie, 32, was driving a black 2009 Nissan north on Interstate 275 in the right lane. The affidavit said that near the entrance ramp to I-275 North from 54th Avenue, a trooper noticed McKinnie was driving without a headlight and attempted to pull him over for a routine traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinnie then fled from the trooper at speeds reaching over 100 mph, running three red lights, despite the troopers emergency lights and sirens being activated. According to the trooper, McKinnie then proceeded to park in a driveway on 94th Avenue N and fled on foot before being apprehended by an SPPD K9. Florida Highway Patrol arrested McKinnie, and he is facing multiple charges. FHP also said that McKinnie already had an outstanding warrant in Pinellas County for failure to appear and three warrants in Hillsborough County for aggravated stalking, threatening and harassing phone calls, and sexual cyber harassment. 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 University of Michigans decision to shutter its diversity, equity and inclusion programs was the latest in a series of shock waves rolling through higher education as the Trump administration continues its efforts to stamp out DEI in government and in business and academia. In a letter announcing how its approach to DEI is evolving, the schools leadership said Thursday that it would close its DEI office, as well as its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion. The letter cited intensifying federal action against DEI initiatives, including two executive orders by President Donald Trump, and the trickle-down effects of the 2023 Supreme Court decision that ended affirmative action in college admissions. While just one of hundreds of DEI changes in higher education since Trump took office 10 weeks ago, the news was momentous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan decision is a big, big deal, said John Sailer, director of higher education policy and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute who has been at the forefront of efforts to rein in DEI over the past few years. Michigan was one of those universities that set the tone for the entire country. Other universities looked to what Michigan did and modeled what they themselves should do. Michigan was one of the first universities to require diversity statements from job candidates. It had more than 163 employees working in DEI, The Detroit News reported. The school was also the subject of a New York Times Magazine investigation published last fall that found the school had spent a quarter of a billion dollars on DEI. According to that report, by Nicholas Confessore, Most students must take at least one class addressing racial and ethnic intolerance and resulting inequality. Doctoral students in educational studies must take an equity lab and a racial-justice seminar. Computer-science students are quizzed on microaggressions. The Times report said that while some other universities were starting to retreat from aspects of DEI, Michigan had redoubled its efforts. But the month after Trump was reelected, the school announced that it would no longer require diversity statements a description of how job candidates will advance diversity efforts in hiring. The University of California, which pioneered the practice, did the same last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcements have rocked higher education, and offered further evidence that universities, even while decrying the administrations actions, are taking the president seriously. Americans, however, remain divided over the issue. NBC reported this week that Americans are roughly split along party lines on the subject of DEI, with 49% of people surveyed the first week of March saying DEI should be eliminated and 48% saying they should continue. And in a February Deseret News/Harris X poll about Trumps most popular and least popular executive orders, DEI fell into the least popular tally, with 44% of respondents strongly or somewhat supporting banning federal DEI initiatives, and 46% strongly or somewhat opposing. Scenes from the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018. | Rod Sanford Changes to DEI are mounting The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking changes to DEI policies across the U.S., and as of this week, noted changes at 270 colleges in 38 states, including eight in Utah. While some positions are being eliminated and some offices are being shut down, others involve the renaming and mission change of DEI offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of California at Los Angeles, for example, replaced its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion with an Office of Inclusive Excellence, while the University of Colorado now has an Office of Collaboration, and Northeastern University, an Office of Belonging. The University of Utah ended diversity statements a year ago, and Utah was one of the first states to ban discriminatory DEI practices, replacing them with student success centers to help all students succeed. Rapid changes in DEI are also occurring in business, with Forbes tracking changes since Trump took office. Among the changes reported by Forbes: Warner Bros. Discovery has renamed its DEI program Inclusion, Bank of America changed a reference to diversity in an annual report to talent and opportunity, and Pepsi reassigned its chief DEI officer to work on employee development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps first executive order on DEI, issued Jan. 21, ended DEI programs within the federal government, and encouraged the private sector to end illegal DEI discrimination and preferences. The administration maintains that such measures violate existing civil rights laws that protect Americans from discrimination and also undermine our national unity, as they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system. The second order mandated the termination of DEI positions, contracts and grants and requested an accounting of such programs within the government. Why are universities ending DEI? While Trumps executive orders did not directly address higher education, elite universities have been in the crosshairs of the administration for other reasons, including their handling of student protests related to the war between Israel and Hamas. Earlier this month, the administration announced that it would be canceling $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University because of what it called the schools continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. Faced with the prospect of significant cuts, universities that rely on federal funding have snapped to attention, Sailer told me. While DOGE and culture-war issues such as DEI grab most of the headlines, a lesser-known cut the National Institutes of Health capping the supplemental funding added onto grants to help pay for indirect costs, or overhead stands to strip colleges and universities of millions of dollars in funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Universities are kind of recognizing that this is an existential event for them. On one hand, they are, across the board, extremely upset about it. ... But they are also taking it very seriously, Sailer said. While some schools that have ample private resources and have flown under the administrations radar might be able to risk losing funding, others cant. (Certainly not Columbia, but maybe Princeton, Sailer said.) And, in fact, Columbia quickly made concessions to the administration in hopes of having its funding restored, although its still unclear if that will happen. The threatened cuts are coming at a time when public trust in higher education is historically low, with the percentage of Americans expressing high trust in higher ed falling from 60% to 30% over a decade, Sailer said. The future of DEI As DEI expanded over the past decade, it became a battle in the culture wars even though most Americans champion diversity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Derek Monson of the Sutherland Institute wrote for the Deseret News, The majority of Americans of all races recognize the value of diversity in American life. A plurality of Americans of all races believe it is important for businesses to promote racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace. But a majority of Americans of all races also believe hiring and promotion at work should be based only on qualifications, even if this produces less diversity, and they do not believe race and ethnicity should be a factor in such workplace decisions. DEI also became synonymous with progressive policies, even though its broadest applications extended to diversity of faith. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, said this week that Democrats should have doubled-down on both immigration and DEI. Speaking at a town hall in Texas, Walz said: Weve been talking about this for years as a country of immigrants, and we let (Republicans) define the issue on immigration. We let them define the issue on DEI, and we let them define what woke is. We got ourselves in this mess because we werent bold enough to stand up and say you damn right were proud of these policies. Were going to put them in, and were going to execute them. University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono and other university leaders said in their statement, These decisions have not been made lightly. 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. We are deeply grateful for the meaningful contributions of leaders, faculty and staff who have advanced our ongoing efforts to create an ever-more inclusive and respectful community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some faculty members also spoke out strongly against the changes. Derek Peterson, a history professor at the University of Michigan, told the Detroit News, Its a capitulation, an embarrassment, a departure from our mission as a university. It turns the universitys back on what we thought were core values of this institution in the name of expediency. Sailer said the future of DEI will largely depend on the political will of future candidates to advocate for these programs, as Walz wants them to do. Behind a lot of really staunch denunciations of what the Trump administration is doing, a lot of people, even progressives, are saying there were problems (with DEI), so on one hand, it doesnt seem like there is political will to reinstate a lot of the things that might be pulled back over the next four years and certainly not with diversity statements. A lot of people agree that this was a bad policy. Also, he said, some of these programs took decades develop, and if DOGE-type efforts take hold at universities, its unlikely these programs will ever be rebuilt to the scale that they had reached. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Legislation to mandate Texas sheriffs participate in immigration law enforcement is moving closer to a vote at the Texas Capitol. Senate Bill 8 is on the chambers intent calendar for Monday. The bill filed by State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, would require all Texas counties with 100,000 or more people to join Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) 287(g) program. Schwertner described the program as a partnership between local law enforcement and federal ICE in the identification and detainment of criminal aliens. People overwhelmingly saw the policies of an open border and how it affects communities, and they overwhelmingly warrant stronger enforcement of criminal aliens to make sure they are identified, detained, prosecuted and deported, Schwertner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Schwertner has discussed the ideas in Senate Bill 8 in previous sessions. He said this year, the ideas are getting more traction at the Capitol. The current genesis of the bill is the people overwhelmingly voicing their opinion last November, on November 5, that we need stronger border enforcement and enforcement of our immigration laws, Schwertner said. Some opponents of the legislation have raised concern that it could create discourage some people from reporting crimes, potentially putting public safety at risk. As SB 8 is discussed, it is my sincere hope that public safety is carefully considered. When people are afraid, they hide in the shadows. Victims dont report crime and witnesses dont come forward with information. Criminals win as they take advantage of the vulnerable among us, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez wrote in a statement on SB 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have you been impacted by the heightened deportation efforts in Texas? Share your story: The impact of that reaches beyond immigration to our humanity. I want victims of crime to run to law enforcement, not away from us, Hernandez added. Schwertner emphasized that the goal of the legislation is to protect Texans by getting criminals out of the community. I ask them if they want criminal aliens running around and and causing violence and and crime against citizens that they know, Texans they know, and I would hope their answer would be no, Schwertner said, referring to opponents of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to again, identify, detain, prosecute and deport criminal aliens. The 287(g) program goes a long ways of helping us identify those aliens that are in custody already for a crime they committed, and making sure that theyre held accountable, Schwertner said. During the committee hearing for SB 8, detractors of the program highlighted how expensive the program could be to enter, with Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne saying it would cost $10,000 for each officer in his program. SB 8 would partially take the financial burden off most counties by starting a grant program. Counties would be granted money proportionally based on their population and how many counties applied for the grant. However, SB 8 would force counties with more than a million people Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis and Collin as of the 2020 census to pay their own way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From (the Sheriffs Association of Texas) were really worried about unfunded mandates, Hawthorne, who also acts as the Legislative Chairman for the Sheriffs Association of Texas, said while testifying in support of the bill. We think that financial relief portion shouldnt be in a grant program, it should just be a part of the program. And it should cover all 254 counties that get into the program. There is a cost associated with it, but its defrayed by this grant program, Schwertner said, He acknowldeged the concerns, while maintaining the cost should not derail the bill. In my opinion, its an obligation of local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws and detain criminal aliens. That is what our citizens want. That is what is necessary to make Texas safe and our community safe, and it is absolutely vital that we identify, detain, prosecute and deport criminal aliens that are in this country illegally, Schwertner said. The senator said he expects the process to be contentious, but he believes the legislation will become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bottom line is, the people of the United States, the people of Texas, has spoken very clearly in the national election on November 5, Schwertner said. Its time for Texas take a very bold and powerful stance against criminal aliens and illegal immigration by passing Senate Bill 8. Appalled and disgusted, Insurance CEO grilled after emails reveal efforts to investigate customers and lawmakers A health insurance company managing the care of sick and disabled children in Texas faces accusations of spying on state lawmakers and private citizens. On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Superior HealthPlan, one day after a heated public hearing at the Capitol. Lawmakers on the House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, grilled the companys CEO over surveillance practices, they say, crossed a line. During Wednesdays hearing, committee chairman Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, revealed emails showing Superior hired private investigators to get information on lawmakers and customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think what any of us expected was for a health insurance company that is funded mostly by Texas taxpayer dollars, that they would use some of those monies to hire private investigators, that they would hire a private investigator to follow a mom whose child was being denied medical care, Capriglione said, referencing the emails. KXAN investigators have been working to verify and gain context about copies of emails they obtained, which showed similar exchanges between Superior CEO Mark Sanders and a personnel group known for background investigations. The emails, sent in 2017 and 2019, revealed Sanders asking for in-depth reports about certain lawmakers and various health care providers. Mr. Sanders, have you ever tasked a private investigator firm to dig into the background and financial or personal records of any state government official or their wife? Capriglione asked during the hearing. I have, Sanders replied. Weve done what I would call general research, anything thats publicly available, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would you go and and run a background check, hire a private investigator to follow, to to dig into the records of people who are your customers? Capriglione asked. First of all, I will say we no longer use that practice, and havent for several years, Sanders answered. At the time, we really just wanted to have information on those individuals, and really nothing beyond that of what was publicly available to us. In another exchange, a representative for the group confirms they would not be able to obtain another specific lawmakers divorce proceeding documents. KXAN has reached out to Superior HealthPlan multiple times for comment and context about these exchanges since last year but has yet to receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN also reached out to the lawmakers mentioned in the exchanges for context or response. Rep. Caprigliones office noted he was disappointed and dismayed about an apparent attempt to influence legislation. Many others refused to comment on the record until Wednesdays committee hearing, when Capriglione provided copies of the emails to other lawmakers on the dais. There was a time when I asked a lot of questions, Capriglione said, and I didnt know that you could be penalized for asking questions for trying to find out for the taxpayers and the constituents how their money was being spent. Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, told Sanders he was appalled and disgusted when he saw the emails. I had to lean over and ask him, Im like, Is this real? Im not joking. Ive been doing this 10 years, Representative Tinderholt said. Its emails with your name on it, and you investigated people that are on this dais for doing their job for Texans. What do you have to say for that? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders replied, I think going back in time, I think it was just understanding what interests and information we could have knowledgeable of be knowledgeable of when were meeting with different individuals. Throughout the hearing, Sanders insisted the company only sought publicly accessible information on people they were dealing with in their work. Tinderholt fired back: I disagree. You wanted leverage and you thought that you were going to use it. He and other lawmakers expressed concern the company sought leverage to win future state contracts or to discredit their own customers seeking payment on legitimate insurance claims. Im embarrassed that you would be sitting in front of us and that you would try to pretend like you were gathering information just to have it. You dont gather that kind of information to not use it, Tinderholt added. Superior HealthPlan is one of several private companies that operate Texas various Medicaid programs, under a system known as managed care. The state funnels public dollars to the private sector to manage care for many low-income, elderly, or disabled Texans and foster children. One of those programs, known as STAR Kids, provides Medicaid benefits to young people with disabilities. The state turned it over to the managed care system in 2016. Since then, some families in the program say theyve noticed changes in the availability and quality of care, according to the founder of advocacy group Protect Texas Fragile Kids. Hannah Mehta, a mom-turned-advocate, has spent hours at the Capitol since then, on behalf of these families. Its a constant daily battle for families to try to maintain the care that their child needs, she said. A 2018 investigative series by the Dallas Morning News profiled Mehtas work. It also detailed the profits made by some companies operating the managed care system in the state, while denying or delaying vital medications and treatment to thousands of sick and disabled Texans. Dozens of bills were introduced in the legislative session that followed, aimed at addressing problems exposed in the series. In an interview last year, Mehta told KXAN she believes more oversight is necessary. I think that many policymakers would be extremely alarmed to see the extent of influence and the dirty tactics that go on behind the scenes that families experience on a daily basis. KXAN also obtained and reviewed a copy of a fraud, waste and abuse report prepared for Superior HealthPlan in 2018. It detailed personal information of some healthcare workers and private citizens featured in the Dallas Morning News investigation including social security numbers, personal histories and even an aerial photos of the property of a mother featured in the series, whose foster child had been denied care and suffered. In the DOGE hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Capriglione went on to accuse Sanders and the company of going after the journalists who worked on the series. Central Texas Rep. Ellen Troxclair joined in, accusing the company of misusing taxpayer dollars while potentially failing to provide the best care for Texas kids. Now were up here talking to a company who has received millions, billions of dollars in taxpayer funds through Medicaid contracts who have used that money to then hire private investigators to follow around patients and legislators that are asking questions about what the heck is going on, Troxclair said. She went on to say, We are all just trying to do our best to, you know, take care of our kids and pay the insurance and run the errands and do all the things that we have to do, and were paying into insurance, and we expect to see receive good medical care. And its a constant run around. Its a constant hamster wheel. Texans continue to be sick. Sanders again stated that the emails reference investigations from several years ago. We have not used that practice since then, Sanders said in response to Troxclair. Why would we believe that? Troxclair asked. I dont know. Im just saying that, Sanders responded. One day after the hearing, the Dallas Morning News reported that Sanders had been fired by Centene, the parent company to Superior HealthPlan. In that interview last year, Mehta told KXAN she wanted to see an investigation into exactly how public dollars were being used by the companies managing the program and whether or not theyre going to the children who theyre intended for. In his announcement Thursday, Attorney General Paxton said the investigation into potentially unlawful actions would begin immediately. I will get to the bottom of this, uncover any illegal activity, and hold bad actors responsible. Justice will be served, the release read. Bill to expand medical examiner access in Texas closer to law Texas lawmakers moved one step closer to lowering the population threshold for requiring a county to switch from a justice of the peace system for death investigations to a medical examiners office, according to a vote Tuesday at the Capitol. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston, co-authored Senate Bill 1370, which would require a county to create a medical examiners office if its population reaches 1 million people that would be a decrease from the current trigger point of 2.5 million. The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice voted 6-0 to pass the bill on for the full Senate to consider. people in chairs facing a dias of lawmakers The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met March 25, 2025, and passed a bill that would lower the population threshold for requiring counties to create a medical examiner office from 2.5 million to 1 million people. The measure now goes to the full Senate for approval. (KXAN Photo/David Barer) Lowering that threshold would ensure more counties are equipped to provide timely and thorough forensic services, according to Parkers office. The bill would also clarify that any two or more neighboring counties can join resources to form a medical examiner district and share facilities, costs and resources. By expanding the pool of counties required or able to create an office or a district, S.B. 1370 aims to strengthen investigative capacity statewide, enhance public health and safety, and improve the consistency and reliability of death investigations, according to Parkers statement of intent on the bill. No one spoke against the bill in the hearing. Dr. Stephen Pustilnik, Fort Bend Countys chief medical examiner, spoke in favor of it, saying the best service a population can get is from a physician investigating deaths. The compassion of every society is measured by how they treat their dead. So we need to be respectful of the decisions, and we need to be able to properly certify their deaths, Pustilnik told KXAN. Texas currently has a two-tiered system for performing death inquests and making determinations on cause and manner of deaths. Fourteen counties, some of the most populated in the state, have medical examiner offices run by appointed medical doctors with years of training in death investigation and autopsy. All of Texas other 254 counties rely on their justices of the peace offices, overseen by elected judges, to certify manner and cause in unattended deaths. They can also send bodies for an autopsy, if they deem it necessary. As patchwork of U.S. death investigations evolves, Texas justice of the peace system remains unique Justices of the peace are not required to have any experience in death investigations to be elected. They are required to undergo some training on inquests after taking office. But, while medical examiner offices focus specifically on death investigations, justices of the peace have an array of additional duties. They oversee small claims courts and truancy cases, perform marriages and handle low-level misdemeanor tickets. Senate Bill 1370 follows an extensive KXAN investigation of Texas death investigation system. Explore: A Hanging on Backbone Creek KXAN detailed the long history of Texas justice of the peace offices, which began in the state two centuries ago. The bill is one in a long line of similar pieces of legislation filed over decades that have raised and lowered the threshold for counties to open a medical examiner office. A 1955 law enabled counties with over 250,000 people to establish a medical examiner office. Six years later, that threshold was moved down to 120,000; then legislators raised the bar to 500,000 people two years later. Most Texas counties rely on elected justices of the peace to conduct death inquests. While those justices may contract with other entities for autopsy services, SB 1370 would require some of those counties to soon switch systems and instead establish and maintain their own medical examiner offices for that purpose. The measure aims to lower the population threshold triggering that requirement in statute from the current 2.5 million to 1 million people. This interactive map shows counties at a million in 2025, others that will hit that mark by 2060 according to the Texas Demographic Center and those that have proactively either established or made plans to establish an office before reaching that proposed threshold. Source: Texas Demographic Center, county websites, Texas Legislature (KXAN Interactive/Dalton Huey) Most recently, the threshold was set at 2.5 million in 2023. Pustilnik said 2.5 million essentially the population of Dallas County was too high. Justices of the peace in Williamson County, which has about 700,000 people, asked the county to fund hiring professional death investigators to buttress their offices. With fewer than 1 million people in the county, they were already struggling to handle the countys growing death investigation duties on top of their legal dockets and other tasks. Hospital bollard bill, sparked by KXAN, heads to Texas Senate floor County Commissioners in 2024 approved using over $450,000 to hire four death investigators to support those judges and take death investigation calls. They also recently purchased property for a future medical examiner office, anticipating the growing need. There is one medical examiner district, with Tarrant Countys medical examiner office serving as the base for a handful of surrounding counties, where three of the seven members of the Senate panel that considered SB 1370 reside. Pustilnik said another district could be forming in South Texas, which he supports. The Botox party bill moving forward in legislature The state could be better served by medical examiners, but there are practical challenges to making that widespread reality, said Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin. For one, medical examiner offices are more expensive to operate. Secondly, with a lack of medical examiners nationwide, it could be tough to staff offices, if Texas had the will and wherewithal to implement a statewide system. Our JPs are really struggling, she told KXAN earlier this legislative session. Weve seen way too many errors, relying on individuals who God love them theyre not equipped to make these calls. This is leading to unjust results in the criminal justice context. The benefits of a medical examiner extend beyond better death investigations, said Pustilnik, who helped draft Parkers legislation. He described getting more counties under a medical examiner as a moral imperative. Judge says extreme heat in Texas prisons is unconstitutional but doesnt order they install AC A federal judge on Wednesday found the extreme heat in Texas prisons is plainly unconstitutional, but declined to order the state to immediately start installing air conditioning, which could cost billions. The judge affirmed claims brought by advocates of people incarcerated in the state, where summer heat routinely soars above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). But they will have to continue pressing their lawsuit later in a trial. The lawsuit was initially filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, the former mortician serving a life sentence whose murder case inspired the movie Bernie. Several prisoners rights groups then asked to join his legal fight and expand it. The lawsuit argues the heat in the state facilities amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, and seeks to force the state to install air conditioning. Jeff Edwards, lead attorney for prisoners and advocates, called the judges order a victory, even if it didnt require an immediate fix. We proved our case, Edwards said. The court made it very clear what the state is doing is unconstitutional and endangering the lives of those they are supposed to be protecting This is step one in changing the Texas prison system. Edwards said advocates will push for relief for prisoners as quickly as possible. Im regretful we cant protect them with temporary relief this summer, but we will move as fast as we can, he said. Texas has more than than 130,000 people serving time in prisons, more than any state in the U.S. Only about a third of roughly 100 prison units are fully air conditioned and the rest have either partial or no electrical cooling. This case concerns the plainly unconstitutional treatment of some of the most vulnerable, marginalized members of our society, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman wrote in his ruling on a a temporary injunction request. The Court is of the view that excessive heat is likely serving as a form of unconstitutional punishment. But the judge said that ordering the state to spend hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars to install permanent air conditioning in every (prison), could not be accomplished before it expired in 90 days. It would take months to install temporary air conditioning, and could even delay a permanent solution, the judge wrote. Pitman said he expects the case will proceed to trial, where advocates for prisoners can continue to argue their case. He also issued a warning to the state that they will likely win at trial, and that the state could face an order to install air conditioning. The judge also noted that the state Legislature, which is in session through May and writes the two-year state budget, is also considering bills that would require air conditioning to be installed in prisons. But the Republican-majority Legislature has been hearing complaints about extreme heat in prisons for years and has not addressed the issue. In 2018, the state was ordered to install air conditioning at a unit for older prisoners and those that are medically vulnerable. Officials at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Texas is not alone in facing lawsuits over dangerously hot prisons. Cases also have been filed in Louisiana and New Mexico. One filed in July in Georgia alleged a man died in July 2023 after he was left in an outdoor cell for hours without water, shade or ice. A November 2022 study by researchers at Brown, Boston and Harvard universities found that 13% or 271 of the deaths in Texas prisons without universal AC between 2001 and 2019 may be attributed to extreme heat. Prisoner advocates say those numbers are only likely to increase as the state faces more extreme weather and heat due to climate change. Last year in a hearing, people who were formerly incarcerated testified about their experiences in hot prison buildings where they said temperatures reach above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 Celsius). They testified some inmates would splash toilet water on themselves to cool off, fake suicide attempts to be moved to cooler medical areas, or even deliberately set fires so that guards would be forced to hose down cells. Its sad it takes a federal court to come in and change things, Edwards said Wednesday. This is not a Spanish galley in the 1600s, this is 2025. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Director Bryan Collier has acknowledged that heat was a factor in three deaths from multiple causes in 2023, and that prison staff and inmates sometimes fall ill from high temperatures. But the state disputed the hundreds of deaths in recent years alleged by the prisoner advocates, and argues Texas has implemented effective heat mitigation measures, such as providing fans, towels and access to cooler respite areas. Collier also insisted he would like to have air conditioning installed across the prison system, but that state lawmakers have never agreed to spend enough money to do that. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). This unique retreat a converted lighthouse on the southernmost tip of Giglio island comes with its own helipad. But for your average traveller, making pilgrimage to its remote setting is integral to its charm. Travel out to the Tuscan isthmus of Argentario for the ferry from Porto Santo Stefano, an hour across the turquoise Tyrrhenian to arrive in Giglio Port. Follow the islands coastal road until it turns to a red sandy trail at Punta di Capel Rosso, where its a steep hike down through groves of cliff-clinging cactus to reach your quarry: a striking red-and-white-striped beacon atop terracotta cliffs. The lighthouse starred in 2013 Italian film, The Great Beauty, and its cinematic beams can be seen from Romes Cinecitta movie studios, some 23 miles away. The scene Around an hour from Tuscanys coast, northwest of Rome, rising from the deep turquoise of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Giglio is a green, serene island just five miles long and three miles wide. It has been self-sufficient for centuries, has steep coastal cliffs and a mountainous interior lined with the vestiges of the ancient drystone terraces that once divided the island into plots of vegetables and grains, olives and vines. A web of red, sandy donkey tracks traverses the rocky terrain, linking the islands three hamlets, which are home to communities traditionally fed by trammel fishermen, whose floating nets bring in everything from red mullet and bream to lobster and squid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, there are fewer fishermen and a few more paved roads, and those rocky tracks see traffic from hikers rather than donkeys. Trails weave through protected woodland and dense groves of holm oak, chestnut and olive trees, which cling tenaciously to cliffs. They lead down to deep coves where staggeringly clear waters attract swimmers, kayakers and yachtsmen, along with pods of passing cetaceans. Castle-like fari (lighthouses) guard the rugged, largely undeveloped coastline, which, in a handful of secluded bays, opens onto half-moons of sunshine-yellow sand. Giglio Porto is the islands main town and sole port. Photograph by arkanto, Alamy The lighthouse The last of Giglios functioning fari, on the islands largely uninhabited southernmost tip, is a red-and-white-striped beacon that doubles as one of Tuscanys most unusual guesthouses. Built in 1883, Faro Capel Rosso sits in exquisite solitude on a promontory of protected woodland. This remote retreat is accessed by a 20-minute hike along a steep, boulder-strewn sandy trail (backpacks only) or a flight to the cliffside heliport. The lighthouse, which was part-converted into a guesthouse that opened in 2023, has granite steps that descend to deep coves secluded by boulders, via sculptural groves of prickly pear cactus and Mediterranean scrub fragrant with wild thyme and oregano. Turquoise water beckons, and several species of whale and dolphin come to feed here at the confluence of two water currents. Summer on this Tuscan island is busiest, but with a hot, dry microclimate, Giglio enjoys swimming weather well into November. May to September is the peak season for boating, sailing and diving with most activities bookable from the lighthouses small dock. Hiking the islands network of trails, which lead out from the doorstep, is best in shoulder season, and October coincides with the olive harvest. For the past few years, local producer Olio Goffo has been restoring Giglios centuries-old groves, which had run wild across the hillsides. The company organises tastings of its rich, green extra virgin olive oil at a spot above Campese Beach to the northwest. One of Faro Capel Rossos four suites that have been converted from lodgings for the lighthouse keeper. Photograph by Viola Mura, Faro Capel Rosso The stay Expect spellbinding seclusion at this Wes Anderson-style edifice. The four rooms that housed keepers families until the lighthouses automation in the 1980s are now capacious suites, with free-standing tubs and windows framing sea and sky; its as if youve set sail from your bed. Cleverly converted bits of seafaring kit double as lamps and tables all interspersed with local art, including jelly fish-like bronze ceiling pendants by Florentine artist Matteo Pierozzi, which scatter light like sunbeams over water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charming resident housekeepers Davide and Carla Moglie host simple breakfasts and communal home-cooked dinners. They can pack picnics on request and days are spent hiking, swimming and staring at the immense blue until the lighthouse springs to life at dusk, sending its steady beams into the night. With a 23-mile range, its visible from Rome. Theres virtually zero light pollution elsewhere on the island, and stargazing takes on an almost cinematic scope from the roof terrace, directly under the slow strobe of the rotating optic. Published in the March 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) predicted on Sunday the new acting president of Columbia University wont last after the prestigious institution lost its second leader in recent months to scrutiny of its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism on campus. Columbias former interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned Friday amid a tussle with the Trump administration over federal funding and its response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Claire Shipman was appointed to replace Armstrong, who was the second Columbia leader to step down in less than a year. In an interview on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures, Stefanik signaled she was not optimistic about Shipmans tenure in her new post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have seen six high-profile university presidents resign, two of which are from Columbia, because these university presidents have failed to show moral strong leadership, Stefanik said, praising President Trump for holding them accountable. These universities have failed to make sure that they are following their own rules, she added. They have failed to protect Jewish students, and we will continue to highlight a spotlight. But the fact that were on the third Columbia University president, and this one, lets be honest is not going to last, as well, Stefanik said. Stefanik who has led the fight on Capitol Hill to hold higher education accountable for what she describes as antisemitic policies and practices pointed to reporting that Shipman called the December 2023 congressional hearing on antisemitism Capitol Hill nonsense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is what this latest Columbia University president said, Stefanik said in the interview. Thats why its untenable for her to be in this position. And I think it is only going to be a matter of weeks before she is forced to step down as well. They still dont get it. The faculty doesnt get it. These radical, far-left students [dont] get it, she continued. Stefanik, whose nomination to serve as ambassador to the United Nations was withdrawn this week, said she would continue to lead the effort against antisemitism on college campuses from her perch on Capitol Hill. This is strong leadership from President Trump. Im going to continue to lead this effort in holding higher ed accountable, standing up to be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and combating the rot and the scourge of antisemitism in higher ed, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Columbia University spokesperson said the school is focused on doing the right thing for its students. We are focused on doing what is right and honoring our commitments to create a Columbia community where students are safe and able to flourish. This will secure Columbias future, a spokesperson for the university said in a statement to The Hill. Updated at 4:12 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. (FOX40.COM) The Stockton Police Department announced developments for two new substations aimed at enhancing public safety and bringing community members closer to their local law enforcement. The item was discussed during a meeting with City Hall officials on March 18. Back in the day we had a substation in North Stockton, we had two substations in Southeast Stockton in Weston Ranch and they went away over time and now were bringing them back, said Vice Mayor Jason Lee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPD said that the two substations are to be in the Weston Ranch and Sierra Vista areas. Trump administration to cut California school funding over LGBT+ policies Lee is an advocate for the substations and says he and the Stockton Police chief, after hearing community concerns, came together to make it happen. Were going to go back to having a better presence in our communities. Especially where we know that there has been lots of crime, Lee said. During the meeting, Deputy Chief Antonio Sajar outlined their objectives. A substation would be a place where PD staff and officers can meet with the community, with our members to discuss issues, take reports, be a visible deterrent and to be a beacon of safety, to be that light in the dark sometimes, and that place for someone just to go to when they feel the need to be heard, Sajar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials stated that all residents will be invited to visit the substations to share ideas on community policing and reducing crime in the city. The exact locations are pending while officials continue to discuss budgets and resources. I asked the department to have these functional by the end of July this year as we know the parks are opening in May, Lee said. SPD stated this would also help provide community education on emergencies and recruit efforts to encourage more locals and youth to join the force. Lee says that next on his agenda is finding more police officers to increase staff and implementing proposals to focus on crime prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. An essential tenet of todays land access movement is that landowners are villainous and the larger their holdings, the worse they are. Its an attractive idea but it doesnt withstand all that much scrutiny. Last year, the Right to Roam campaign published a collection of curious essays titled Wild Service. The premise is that farmers and landowners have ruined English and the public need to make the countryside great again. Its an argument I sort of like, except Id go in for doing it in a less antagonistic way. Turning up uninvited on somebodys farm with a JCB and a plan to create a wetland habitat is quite likely to end in tears and prosecution. Team Right to Roam, in the introduction, single out Richard Benyons Englefield Estate for a bit of a kicking. His vast domain is, according to Wild Service, shut, at all times, to the public. A clumsy comparison with the church on the estate is made, which is apparently, open to all. The grace of God, it goes on, and the meanness of man, side by side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can imagine my shock when, as part of the research I was doing for my own forthcoming book, Uncommon Ground, I turned up at Englefield to find that the front gate was in fact open. I wandered up the drive and happened to meet David, a lovely Ghanaian man. He told me he was just so thankful that people open their property to the public in Britain because in Ghana there is nothing like this. Curiously, over the next couple of hours, I had half a dozen similar experiences. A month later I wrote to Richard Benyon and he invited me to talk. He too had read Wild Service and his take would be best summed up as bemusement. Not only are 1,700 acres of Englefield accessible but the public being able to enjoy the countryside is something hes championed all his life and, as for that church, his 91-year-old mother opens it every morning. The narrative that large landowners are hell-bent on keeping the common man off their acres is juicy but it simply is not true. In fact, generally, the larger the holding the greater the access. Take the Holkham Estate, for instance, where Jake Fiennes the conservation manager told me proudly that over 20 per cent of Lord Leicesters 25,000 acres can be enjoyed by joggers and picnickers. Conversely and quite understandably, I discovered too that the smaller the holding, the less good the access often is. Sure, lets break up large estates but will there be rambling after the revolution? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I met a young activist who had been sent down to the Arundel Estate to bear witness to the ecological destruction that goes on behind those hedges. Funnily enough, on a place famed for wildlife conservation, she had found it anticlimactic. Not only was it teeming with birds but nobody chased her away. She concluded, resignedly, that her adventure had been a symbolic thing. Last week, the news broke that Clan MacDonalds 20,000 acre estate on the Isle of Skye has gone up for sale. Some cheered but not apparently the tenant farmers and crofters whove benefited from centuries of ownership. The Scottish government continues to give landowners a kicking and tenants suffer its like hammering a CEO while ignoring the impact on everybody who relies on the company. Benyon is a thoughtful man life is too short, he told me, to care about people writing nonsense. What matters to him more apparently is the happy sound of schoolchildren visiting his estate. The week I was there, theyd had 1,700 of them through the gate. I want young people to understand, he told me, that the countryside doesnt just happen. There are skilled people who make it happen. I want them to understand where food comes from. We desperately need to rethink our relationship with the countryside, but if we allow half-baked narratives to foment, we will all lose. Patrick Galbraiths Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship With the Countryside will be published on April 24 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Russian strike drone hit a military hospital in Kharkiv on the evening of 29 March, injuring patients and staff and damaging several buildings. But by the next day the hospital had resumed performing operations. Source: The Military Medical Clinical Centre of the Northern Region on Facebook Quote: "As a result of the overnight strike by a Shahed drone, patients and medical staff at the hospital were injured, and several buildings were damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But surgeries have already resumed in the operating theatres that were damaged by the blast wave. The hospital cannot stop providing care and treatment to patients for even a moment." Details: Eduard Khoroshun, Head of the Military Medical Clinical Centre of the Northern Region, said this was not the first time Russian forces had targeted the hospital. He described the 29 March attack as an act of terrorism. Background: On the evening of 29 March, Russian troops attacked the military hospital in Kharkiv in violation of international humanitarian law. Overall, two people were killed and 30 injured in the drone attack on Kharkiv, including five children. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! British police have helped to capture a submarine carrying 6.5 tons of cocaine to Europe, in one of the biggest drug busts of its kind. The vessel had departed from Brazil when it was captured by Portuguese police in the Atlantic Ocean, 500 nautical miles south of the Azores islands. Five crew members from Brazil, Colombia and Spain were arrested and transferred to the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the submarine contained 530 million worth of cocaine, while a Portuguese newspaper said it was one of the largest semi-submersibles ever built to transport the drug from South America to Europe. The traffickers planned to collect the drugs near the coast using high-speed vessels and smuggle them ashore, read a statement by Spains Guardia Civil. Several tons of cocaine were seized on a submarine in the Atlantic - Pen News Spanish authorities, which tipped off the Portuguese, said it was the first time a drug-running semi-submersible had been intercepted in the open sea. The transatlantic movement of semi-submersibles is increasingly frequent, with several cases in recent years, Spains Guardia Civil said. These types of vessels are difficult to detect and often carry a large amount of cocaine the crew can easily sink them if caught, making it more difficult to recover the drugs as evidence of the crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe is the biggest cocaine market after the US, with hundreds of homemade submarines launched to the continent since the practice took off two decades ago. In 2019, the discovery of a submarine carrying 3.3 tons of cocaine off the coast of Spain was described by police as the first narco-submarine to be intercepted in Europe. The latest bust, dubbed operation Nautilus, also involved the Portuguese air force, the UKs National Crime Agency, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, of which Britain is a part. Luis Neves, a Portuguese police chief, said the operation had dealt a hard blow to a very powerful organisation. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A pride flag flies at the Salt Lake City & County Building on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch) SALT LAKE CITY Saying Utahns are tired of culture war bills that dont solve the problems they intend to fix, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will allow a bill aimed at banning many flags including pride or LGBTQ+ flags from schools and all government buildings to become law without his signature. Cox explained his reasoning in a letter to legislative leaders issued with just over an hour to spare before his midnight deadline Thursday to sign or veto bills passed by the 2025 Utah Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB77 has been one of the most divisive bills of the session, and I am deeply disappointed that it did not land in a better place, wrote Cox, who also explained he agreed with the intent behind the legislation. My understanding is that there was a deal on a compromise that would have removed problematic portions of the bill while retaining others that would support political neutrality in the classroom. Sadly the sponsors did not move that deal forward. Supporters of HB77, sponsored by Rep. Trevor Lee, R-Layton, argued it was meant to promote political neutrality in government spaces. But critics argued a broad ban that extended to all government properties would invite free speech litigation while also leaving some Utahns, especially the LGBTQ+ community, feeling unwelcome and erased. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Now slated to take effect on May 7, HB77 will ban almost all flags from being displayed on or in public buildings, except for flags explicitly allowed in a prescriptive list included in the bill, such as the U.S. flag, the state flag, military flags, Olympic flags, college or university flags, or others. Pride flags or other LGBTQ+ flags which Utah lawmakers in recent years have repeatedly tried to bar from schools in various ways would be prohibited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its slated to make Utah the first state in the nation to enact such sweeping flag restrictions in government-owned buildings. The Idaho Legislature recently passed a similar bill, HB41, which Gov. Brad Little signed last week, but that legislation wont take effect until July 1 and it only applies to schools. Idaho lawmakers are also advancing a separate bill to restrict government entities from displaying certain types of flags. Utahs largest LGBTQ+ rights group, Equality Utah, had negotiated with lawmakers on the bill, which originally focused the flag ban on school classrooms. However, in a House committee last month, Lee changed the legislation to broaden the flag ban to all government property, leading Equality Utah to oppose the bill even though it was prepared to take a neutral position on its earlier version. Cox faced numerous calls to veto HB77 from advocacy groups including Equality Utah and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, as well as from Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, whose city hosts the annual Utah Pride Festival. He could have vetoed the bill but he indicated in his letter that it would likely just be overridden by the GOP-supermajority Utah Legislature. Instead, hes urging lawmakers to work to fix it. I continue to have serious concerns with this bill, Cox said. However, because a veto would be overridden, I have decided to allow the bill to go into law without my signature, and urge lawmakers to consider commonsense solutions that address the bills numerous flaws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox encouraged lawmakers to consider allowing the Utah State Board of Education to go further in ensuring the political neutrality of our classrooms, while also considering repealing the local government piece of this legislation and allowing elected representatives to answer to their own constituents. If you are willing to pursue this kind of solution, you will have an open door in the executive branch, Cox wrote. Coxs comments on the flag ban came after the bill cast final-hour drama over Utahs multimillion-dollar bid to entice the Sundance Film Festival to stay, with some saying it could impact Utahs chances. Earlier Thursday, festival organizers announced theyd opted to move the event to Colorado to help the festival grow. By the time theyd reached their decision, Cox had not yet acted on HB77, but a veto was looking unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Cox told reporters last week Sundance organizers had told state leaders very clearly that political issues have nothing to do with the decision, others, including Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, worried that HB77 could indeed be harmful to our effort to retain Sundance. In the end, Utah lost its bid. Cox who earlier Thursday called Sundances decision a mistake also included a note in his letter that hell be calling a special session to address, among other issues, what the Legislature should instead do with the $3.5 million it had set aside as part of Utahs bid to keep Sundance. Lets reappropriate that money to efforts in Utah to create a new festival and a world-class film economy right here in our state, he said. Cox says he agrees with underlying intent but HB77 has flaws Cox, in his letter, dove deeper into why he had misgivings with HB77 but said he agreed with the underlying intent of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I deeply believe that our classrooms need to be a place where everyone feels welcome free from the politics that are fracturing our country, Cox wrote. Parents are rightly upset when they bring their kids to publicly funded schools and see culture-war symbols in a place that should be apolitical. In an attempt to make some kids feel more welcome, other kids feel less welcome. Cox also said he appreciated that the bill is neutral on the types of flags in question, while adding that I find it strange that no headline reads MAGA flags banned from classrooms. I agree with the underlying intent of those legislators who supported this bill in an attempt to bring political neutrality to the classroom, he said, though he added, Unfortunately, this bill does not do that. He said because its aimed at only flags, there is little preventing countless other displays posters, signs, drawings, furniture from entering the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To those legislators who supported this bill, Im sure it will not fix what you are trying to fix, Cox said. He noted that many schools have already enacted their own political neutrality policies in classrooms, and he argued we have a better place to make regulations: the Utah State Board of Education. While he said the board has already set expectations for political neutrality in teacher code of conduct, I believe more needs to be done by USBE to provide direction in this regard. I have asked the Board of Education to continue their work to find ways to make our classrooms both more politically neutral and more welcoming to every student to exercise their own individual freedom of expression, Cox said. The idea that kids can only feel welcome in a school if a teacher puts up a rainbow flag is just wrong. Lets do everything possible to make our classrooms one of the last remaining politically neutral places in our state. Cox says bill goes too far The governor added that the flag ban goes too far by extending the ban to local governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While I think its wrong for city and county officials to fly divisive flags, I believe that election have consequences and the best way to stop that behavior is to elect people who believe differently, Cox said. All this bill does is add more fuel to the fire, and I suspect it will only ratchet up the creative use of political symbolism. Ultimately, Cox urged legislators to focus on solutions rather than legislation that deepens divides. Let us know what you think... As tired as Utahns are of politically divisive symbols, I think they are also tired of culture war bills that dont solve the problems they intend to fix, he said. The governor urged lawmakers to work with the LGBTQ+ community, as they have in the past, to find common ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah has always had a reputation of trying to find a way to work together and solve issues between sides that have strongly-held, opposing points of view, Cox said. There are so many examples of the LGBTQ community and the conservative community coming together to find helpful and hopeful compromise. I hope we can retain this as our model and North Star. The governor also shared a message directly to LGBTQ+ Utahns, acknowledging that recent legislation has been difficult. Politics can be a bit of a blood sport at times and I know we have had our disagreements, he said. I want you to know that I love and appreciate you and I am grateful that you are part of our state. I know these words may ring hollow to many of you, but please know that I mean them sincerely. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This report was first published by the Utah News Dispatch, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A Mira Mesa man was shocked to discover that his car had been stolennot once, but twicebefore being returned both times by the same suspect, surveillance footage shows. San Nguyen, the owner of a 2006 Honda Civic, said he was unaware his vehicle had been taken on March 23. Surveillance video shows an unidentified man getting into the car and driving away, only to return it hours later. This video, you just see the guy walking thats when he returned the car, Nguyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nguyen initially didnt notice anything unusual, aside from his electronic key fob failing to unlock the vehicle. Luxury boxing gym, the BXNG Club, closes all locations amid bankruptcy I thought maybe the car had some battery problems, he said. I was in a rush, so I didnt think more about it and I took our other car to work. Later that day, the same surveillance camera captured the suspect approaching the car again. The video shows him holding an object in his right hand and pointing it at the Honda. Immediately, the doors unlocked, and the alarm was disabled. He then got in and drove away. I think its a radio frequency jammer of some sort, Nguyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The car was once again returned. When Nguyen got home, he started to realize something was off the car wasnt parked in its usual spot, and the drivers seat had been adjusted for someone taller. San Diego auto dealers brace for impact of new 25% import tariffs After watching the security footage, Nguyen was stunned. Is this the craziest thing thats ever happened to you? he was asked. Oh yes, he replied. Nguyen reported the incident to San Diego Police, who responded but did not investigate further. They said it hasnt really been a crime, because our property got returned to us. So they didnt actually investigate, but they took down our information just in case, Nguyen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police suggested the car may have been used in another crime. Homeowners in very high fire hazard zones brace for higher insurance premiums A neighbor has since given Nguyen a steering wheel lock, which he hopes will prevent any future incidents. He also had a message for the mystery car thief. Theres more than one way to get a ride. You dont need to steal it, Nguyen said. Nguyen added that his car was not damaged and didnt appear to have been driven far, as it still had plenty of gas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In November 2021, Detectives Jonathan Vander Lee and Calvin You had to figure out why a lifeless woman was left at a Los Angeles emergency room. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: For a fresh case it's all on you. No one else is gonna solve this thing for you. It's you and your partner, that's it. A still from video shows Christy Giles being lifted onto a stretcher outside Southern California Hospital at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2021. She was dropped off there by two masked men (seen to the left and right of the stretcher in baseball caps) in a black Prius without license plates. / Credit: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Video from Southern California Hospital shows staff pulling a woman out of a black Prius and helping her onto a stretcher while two men look on. When the stretcher moves into the ER, it becomes clear, the car has no license plates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vander Lee would later learn that the two men told the staff they found the woman "passed out on the curb somewhere nearby " and they were trying to be "good Samaritans." They left without giving their names or phone numbers. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: They were masked, disguised. Jonathan Vigliotti: This must be adding up to something that sounds very sketchy to you. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Very sketchy But then you still have to figure out if an actual crime occurred. The woman was Christy Giles, and her mother Dusty Giles will never forget the call that came from the hospital, telling her that her 24-year-old daughter was dead from a drug overdose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dusty Giles: And I said, "what do you mean she didn't make it?" and then I hung up and I fell apart. A still from video shows Hilda Marcela Cabrales being dropped off by two men in baseball caps outside the ICU at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles two hours later. / Credit: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Two hours later, at a hospital just two miles away, a second woman was left at another emergency room by the same two men also in a black Prius and wearing masks. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: They never give their names, never leave their phone numbers, license plates, anything like that. That was Hilda Marcela Cabrales. The 26-year-old architect was still alive in the ICU and fighting for her life. And in Durango, Mexico, her mother Hilda Marcela Plascencia was getting the news about her eldest daughter and namesake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Placencia: She was very bad, she was intubated. Jonathan Vigliotti: You are a doctor, what was going on in your mind at the time? Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Placencia: What happened? What happened to her? Why is she that bad? CHRISTY GILES AND HILDA MARCELA CABRALES And in the earliest hours of the investigation, there were only questions. How could this happen to Christy? It was an unimaginable ending to a life bursting with exuberance. Christy was an adventurer, traveling the world as a high fashion model for Wilhelmina. She ultimately made L.A. her home. At 21, her life took a dramatic turn. Christy met Jan Cillers, a South African-born artist, photographer, and special effects editor 17 years her senior. They'd been together seven months when the couple went to Burning Man an arts festival in the Nevada desert where, impulsively, they took a big leap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan Cilliers: We just decided to elope. We just got married right there. we said to each other that, you know, life's very short So we kind of really just proposed to each other and the next day we got married. Christy GiIes, left, Christy Giles, 24, a fashion model from Alabama studied interior design. Hilda Marcela Cabrales, 26, was an architect from Mexico who had just moved to L.A to start her dream job in interior design. / Credit: Jan Cilliers/Fernanda Cantisani After they got married, Christy started studying interior design in Los Angeles which led to a new friendship with Hilda Marcela. Hilda had just moved there to start her dream job, recalls her father. Luis Cabrales: I feel very happy for her, but very sad for me, because we are we are very close. No one was surprised that the cum laude graduate of the prestigious university in Monterrey Mexico was thriving in LA, especially her sister, Fernanda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola: She was always making a lot of friends. Talkative, outgoing. just having a good time and meeting people that they also like the music, that they are also enjoying dancing. Dancing is what the two friends were doing that night. Christy's husband Jan Cilliers was out of town visiting his father. He knew she and Hilda had planned a girl's night out starting at Soho House, and then on to a warehouse party after midnight to see a favorite DJ. A friend who was with them said they did ketamine a popular club drug. But by the next day, Cilliers was on his way home knowing Christy was gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Vigliotti: In less than 24 hours, your world was turned upside down. Jan Cilliers: Shattered, yeah. Hilda's father and mother rushed to be by her side; when they arrived, they found their daughter on life support. Luis Cabrales: My heart broke in thousand pieces. Because I saw my my baby, unconscious, and fighting for her life. Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Placencia: I said, is this real? Am I dreaming? I took her hand and I said "Mom's here with you. You're not alone." Christy's autopsy revealed that in addition to ketamine, she had cocaine, fentanyl and GHBknown as the date rape drugin her system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Vigliotti: Are these drugs that Christy would take willingly? Jan Cilliers: I mean that combination of drugs sounds deadly to me. So, like, no. Cilliers needed answers so he began to build a timeline based on the digital trail Christy left behind information gathered from her messages and phone, which he was able to track. Jan Cilliers: I wanted to get to the bottom of exactly what happened that night He already knew what she had been doing before she went out for the evening. Jan Cilliers: She was enjoying a lovely sunset. She took our cat for a walk on the beach Jan Cilliers: Those were the last pictures she sent me of this herself. And she said, "I wish you were here," and I will forever wish that I was there, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cilliers was able to track Christy's phone to a residence located at 8641 West Olympic Boulevard. The last text messages between Hilda Marcelas Cabrales and Christy Giles at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2021. / Credit: Jan Cilliers At 5:30 a.m., Christy sends Hilda a wide-eyed emoji and says, "let's go." Hilda replies: "I'll call an Uber" "10 min away." Jan Cilliers: The fact that they're both in the same house text messaging each other they need to leave is very worrying. That was the last text message that Christy or Hilda ever sent. That Uber arrived, waited five minutes, and drove away empty. Jonathan Vigliotti: How did you process that? Jan Cilliers: I mean it's just confirming my worst fears again that they were there at that place against their will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DIGITAL EVIDENCE LEADS TO DAVID PEARCE Jonathan Vigliotti: What's going on in your mind from that detective standpoint when you're about to arrive at a scene? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: You don't want to form an opinion prior to getting there, but you are kind of mulling over the evidence you're thinking about it, you're thinking about what questions you want to ask. Acting on information supplied by Cilliers, Vander Lee and his partner headed to 8641 West Olympic Boulevard a little after midnight on Nov. 14 only a few hours after getting that call from the second hospital. Jonathan Vigliotti: And this is where the Uber that Christy and Hilda called that night would have waited? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Right out front, yep. Jonathan Vigliotti: Ten minutes between life and death. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: That's all it takes. Christy Giles, left, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales photographed at the warehouse party where they met David Pearce. / Credit: Jan Cilliers It was the home of 39-year-old David Pearce. Police would learn Christy and Hilda had met him for the first time at that warehouse party. Police also discovered Pearce had a registration for a black Prius and found it parked behind the building. It matched the car seen at both hospitals down to the black rims. Pearce lived on the second floor with a roommate Brandt Osborn, 42. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: There was a light on in the upstairs where the two men live. so I just went up, knocked on the door. Immediately, the lights go out. Jonathan Vigliotti: You identified yourself? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Yes, completelyLAPD, open the door. And then it's just complete silence. After about 15 minutes, he says, Pearce and Osborn came out. Pearce denied owning a Prius. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: So I immediately get a lie. Jonathan Vigliotti: Do you leave? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: No. I interviewed Mr. Osborn. At first, he says, Osborn denied seeing Christy and Hilda at all. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: He changes his stories numerous times. At first, there's no girls had been on that location whatsoever. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: I tell him on the interview, listen, I know you're lying. It's extremely obvious. You're very nervous. Vander Lee says Osborn eventually admitted the women had been at their apartment, but said he'd been asleep and when he woke up realized Christy and Hilda were in distress. He said he and Pearce chose to go to two separate hospitals because quote "we didn't know how it would look." Pearce, police say, did later admit he owned the Prius, but lied again, saying his license plates had been stolen. Vander Lee says he saw those plates on the ground by the vehicle. Then, the men agreed to let detectives inside. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Two beds had been stripped. There was a washing machine that had been recently used. It was still wet. Jonathan Vigliotti: Anything else that stands out to you? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: There was a safe in his room with, uh, baggies, which was indicative of narcotics he said they're for crafts for arts and crafts. David Pearce, who police say had a history of assaulting women and lying about his profession. They say he was never a By now, Vander Lee says he knew Pearce and Osborn had dropped Hilda and Christy off, and believed Pearce had drugged them, but he didn't have enough evidence to make an arrest. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: He thought he'd beat us that night, for sure. And he was happy. Jonathan Vigliotti: He smiled and said goodbye? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Yeah. Jonathan Vigliotti: "Thanks, detectives"? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Yep. Jonathan Vigliotti: But that wasn't where it ended for you? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: No, not by a long shot. Vander Lee knew he needed more evidence and turned to his colleague, Detective Calvin You. Jonathan Vigliotti: You hear the name, David Pearce. What goes on in your mind? Lt. Calvin You: Well, the first thing is Who did he sexually assault this time? Detective You had investigated Pearce in 2020 for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old. Lt. Calvin You: She was raped while she was unconscious. The victim said Pearce had given her drugs to knock her out during a date. But the investigation had stalled and wasn't prosecuted at the time. Detective You knew Pearce had other prior charges, including another rape charge from 2014 that was also not prosecuted. Lt. Calvin You: He has a pattern. His first step is trying to find his victim. So that could be through a dating app through online listings or meeting them at bars or events. When he picks his victim, he goes to step two, which is bragging about himself. Pearce relies on lies, detectives say, to set his trap. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: He'd introduce himself as a producer, as doctor, all these different things. He's none of these things He might have been an intern at the time or something at a production company. Jonathan Vigliotti: An intern? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Yeah. They say his next step is to drug his victims and incapacitate them, often with a drink. Lt. Calvin You: After they take this drink, he goes to step four, which is the sexual assault. Police would learn both Christy and Hilda showed signs of sexual assault, but they feared they would face challenges making the case. Jonathan Vigliotti: How difficult is it to prove a crime took place when the victims were recreationally using drugs? Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: it makes the case extremely hard. I had told Jan early on that this was gonna be a near impossible case to prove. FATAL ENCOUNTER Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: At first, it's a whodunit. But it just became what actually happened and that's what was difficult in this case. Detective Vander Lee says the pressure was on to locate any evidence of what happened after Christy and Hilda met David Pearce that night. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Video starts expiring. these DVRs, it's a constant you gotta get this evidence before it disappears. Surveillance video screenshot highlighting Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales leaving the warehouse party on the night of Nov. 12, 2021. / Credit: Jan Cilliers Police did have some luck, starting with footage from outside that warehouse party. They say it shows the women leaving with Pearce, Osborn, and a friend of theirs 47-year-old Michael Ansbach on their way to Pearce's apartment. Police also uncovered this text exchange from moments earlier, when the women were still inside that party. "Do you want coke," asks Hilda. "Yes," replies Christy. Hilda texted back, "I'm in the kitchen. Let's do a line." Witnesses say Pearce supplied that cocaine, which Cilliers says was not a common choice for Christy. Jan Cilliers: Maybe it was late at night and she wanted to get less tired it's not something that she would do regularly. Police determined the group arrived at Pearce's apartment a little after 5 a.m. The women aren't seen again until 11 hours later, when, at 4:30 p.m. a security camera recorded the grainy image showing Pearce with Christy over his shoulder at the top of the stairs. Police say Osborn is carrying her bag. 35 minutes later, at the hospital, Pearce, wearing a black sweatshirt, helps take Christy's body out of the car. Osborn looks on. A full hour-and-a-half later, a dark image shows the men leaving the apartment again, with Hilda. Police say Pearce is carrying her and Osborn has her boots and coat. Half-an-hour later, the Prius arrives at that second hospital where the men take Hilda out of the car together. It had been more than 13 hours since Christy texted Hilda: "let's go." Hilda Marcela Cabrales / Credit: Fernanda Cantisani For two weeks Hilda was on life support. With no hope of regaining consciousness, her family gathered to say their goodbyes. Jonathan Vigliotti: Hilda, what were your final moments with your daughter? Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: Oh, they were so hard you know and I just was asking God to not let her suffer more. Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola: I remember telling her that you can leave and just thanking her for being my sister. Luis Cabrales: I told her baby when I pass away I will see you again. and I give you a big hug, a kiss. The family decided to donate Hilda's organs. Her mom remembers the medical staff lining the halls as the family accompanied Hilda to the OR. Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: The medical team was clapping to honor her, to say thank you for giving life to others. Like Christy, Hilda had suffered a drug overdose. Toxicology reports would later reveal that she had cocaine, MDMA or ecstasy, and elevated levels of fentanyl in her system. Police would also learn that while the women were in that apartment, the downstairs neighbor heard someone "in pain and moaning on-and-off" for six hours. Police believe that was Hilda. Neither Pearce, nor Osborn, nor Ansbach called for help. Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: It makes me get angry because she was suffering and nobody, nobody helped her. Jonathan Vigliotti: How hard is it to prove this narrative when the victims can't even testify on their own behalf? Lt. Calvin You: If we were just investigating Christy and Hilda's alone, very difficult. But the district attorney at the time went public asking other women who knew Pearce to call in, so police could better understand what he did to Hilda and Christy. D.A. GEORGE GASCON (to reporters): If you feel comfortable moving forward so that we can evaluate your case and charge it we're here for you. Lt. Calvin You: We started getting a lot of calls. As police continued building their case, Cilliers received a call that Pearce and Osborn were on the move. He recorded video of the men loading up a moving van the day after Hilda died. Police say Pearce had also changed his phone number, and it took them a week to locate him again. Jonathan Vigliotti: So the pressure is on. You gotta get this guy. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: I gotta come up with something quick, yes. From left, David Pearce, Brandt Osborn and Michael Ansbach. On Dec. 15, 2021, David Pearce, Brandt Osborn, and Michael Ansbach were arrested in connection with Hilda and Christy's deaths. The detectives still knew next to nothing about what had happened inside that apartment. Vander Lee says they decided to take a gamble and bring the men in. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: This is the only way we're going to get the info we need. Once the men were in custody, police conducted interviews with them one by one. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: We kind of played with a rotation and it worked out exceedingly well. They secretly recorded Pearce and Osborn while Ansbach was talking to police. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Pearce says, "I hope Ansbach is not up there telling him I gave them drugs and wine." When it was his turn, Pearce denied giving the women drugs. DAVID PEARCE (police interview): I was told there was like a very bad batch of fentanyl that was going around. This was suspicious because information that the women had likely died from fentanyl had not been released. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: I knew these girls died from fentanyl but nobody else knew. Two months after his arrest, Ansbach reached out to police with details of what he says he witnessed that night. He says Pearce had offered the women a ride to an after party, and then said he needed to make a quick stop at his house. Ansbach says Pearce was "very insistent they stay and have a drink," and, after the women talked about leaving, Pearce gave all three of them so-called "special cocaine." Ansbach says he, Christy and Hilda got sick immediately, and... when he woke up hours later, he saw Christy without any signs of life. Ansbach says he told Pearce to take Christy and Hilda to the hospital and says Pearce then said repeatedly, "dead girls don't talk." Jackie | Jane Doe No. 2: I wouldn't say survivor. I'm a fighter. That's what I am. But police had at least one woman who could talk about David Pearce at his upcoming trial. Jackie: He asked me if I wanted a drink but it tasted really funny And then I don't remember the next several hours after that. SURVIVORS SPEAK OUT AT TRIAL On Jan. 9 2025, opening arguments begin in the trial of David Pearce, charged with felony murder, and Brandt Osborn, charged with accessory after the fact. CATHERINE MARIANO (in court): The evidence will show that the defendant knowingly gave Hilda and Christy GHB and fentanyl, knowing that it was dangerous to their lives, knowing that it could kill them, but he just didn't care. Defendant Osborn helped him get rid of any evidence to implicate defendant Pearce in the deaths of Christy and Hilda. David Pearce, left, and Brandt Osborn, seen at trial. Pearce, who was masked in court when cameras were present, looked so different during his trial that some witnesses struggled to identify him. / Credit: CBS News Prosecutor Catherine Mariano has marshalled the forensic evidence to make her case: the toxicology results that found fentanyl in both women and the date rape drug GHB in Christy. Also, Pearce's DNA discovered on Christy's body and under Hilda's fingernails. CATHERINE MARIANO (in court): This is no accident. This is no mistake. But in order to prove felony murder, she must show that Pearce incapacitated Christy and Hilda to rape them. Without their testimony, she needs to establish he had a history of doing this to other women: putting drugs in their drinks and then sexually assaulting them. CATHERINE MARIANO (in court): He didn't care whether they lived or died, all he cared about taking advantage of them. JEFF VOLL (in court): Here's where there's a problem But defense attorney Jeff Voll says the fact that Christy and Hilda were using drugs before meeting Pearce that night means there is no case for murder. JEFF VOLL (in court): these young ladies unfortunately ingested fentanyl and they died it's a shame but Mr. Pearce didn't kill them. Voll is sixth in a long line of lawyers who have represented Pearce in this case. He knows his client is problematic. Jeff Voll: he's very demanding he's very sure of himself. what David Pearce wants David Pearce gets. Mariano has her own version of who David Pearce is based on the accounts of the women who talked to investigators and chose to be anonymous. Jackie is Jane Doe No. 2. Jackie: It was important for me to come forward and, you know, get any information I could regarding this vile man. No cameras were allowed in the courtroom for any of the testimony, but Jackie agreed to talk with "48 Hours" about her experience with Pearce in 2010 when she was a 24-year-old law student looking for a room to rent. She testified about her meeting with Pearce at his apartment on West Olympic Boulevard, where he gave her a tour and offered a drink. Jackie: I started to spin and, you know, I I just became, like, disoriented. Jonathan Vigliotti: You drink this drink, you start to feel dizzy, I'm sure confused. What happens next? Jackie: So the next thing I know, um, he was, you know, basically trying, I would say, trying to rape me So I started fighting him back. According to Jackie he continued to assault her. Jackie: He threw me onto the floor. he punched me in the face. When she tried to take her phone out, he grabbed her arm so hard the phone flew and smashed into the wall. Unsteady on her feet and unable to call for help, she did everything she could to escape. Jackie: I had to crawl down the stairs I was so disoriented and crawled down West Olympic Boulevard to my car screaming for help. Though seriously injured and traumatized, she did not report it. Jackie: There's a huge stigma that surrounds women that come forward with sexual assault. But when she heard about Christy and Hilda, she decided to act. In all, 20 women came forward. Pearce was charged with seven sexual assaults. Detective Calvin You thinks that's just a fraction of those who suffered at the hands of David Pearce. Jonathan Vigliotti: Are there more Jane Does out there? Lt. Calvin You: Yes. I would definitely say so. Jonathan Vigliotti: How many do you believe? Lt. Calvin You: I'd say a hundred. Jonathan Vigliotti: A hundred. That's incredible. And that's just based on the people that you have spoken with directly? Lt. Calvin You: Yes. Jan Cilliers: I'm just so grateful that they came forward I can't even imagine how the level of bravery that you have to have in order to testify to a room of strangers that you were so intimately violated. And as the women testified one by one, defense attorney Voll could see what was happening; the prosecution strategy was working. Jeff Voll: The victims coming to court testifying, some who broke down in tears, all gave the same testimony and I am watching the jury. Jeff Voll: They're looking at him and the expression on the juror's faces are like, how could you? How could you do this? After the Jane Does testified, the prosecution called Pearce's friend Michael Ansbach, who was in the apartment that night and later arrested along with Pearce and Osborn. In a still from video taken by Michael Ansbach, Christy Giles, left, and Hilda Marcela Cabrales are seen on a sofa in David Pearce's apartment. / Credit: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Ansbach took video of Christy and Hilda minutes after Pearce gave them wine and cocaine at the apartment. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: Christy's lying on the couch. It looks like she's on her way to becoming unconscious. In his testimony, Ansbach again said he also used the same cocaine, got violently ill and then passed out. When he woke up, he said, Pearce asked him to check on Christy and when he did, Ansbach said, it looked like she was not breathing. Hilda, he said, was in Pearce's bedroom. According to Ansbach, this is when Pearce told him "dead girls don't talk." Like Pearce and Osborn, Ansbach never called for help. His charges were later dropped. On day 11 and against the advice of his attorney David Pearce, who pleaded not guilty, was sworn in and testified. Lt. Calvin You: So he got on the stand and he did his best to try to say everybody was wrong and he was right. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: He was apparently the only one telling the truth at the entire trial. On the 12th day, Pearce's roommate Brandt Osborn, who also pleaded not guilty, takes the stand. Det. Jonathan Vander Lee: So, Osborn's role was to help get rid of the bodies, first and foremost. He helped carry the girls at first He helped formulate the plan in terms of what they're gonna tell the security guards. Osborn testified he was "dumbfounded" by Pearce's behavior and was emotional crying more than once on the stand saying he played no part in a cover-up because he didn't have a complete picture of what was really going on. Cilliers, for one, was not buying it. Jan Cilliers: He's basically claiming to be an innocent bystander in the situation and that he's also a victim in the situation. but there are facts that prove that he helped David Pearce cover it up. Christy Giles / Credit: Dusty Giles The question is whether the jury will believe either man. After three weeks, the trial took a toll on Christy's family. Dusty Giles: We sat and had to hold our mouth closed while they battered, and I feel like they destroyed my daughter's reputation. Jan Cilliers: It was definitely difficult being in the same room as them. did I have an overwhelming urge to throw something really hard at their heads? Yeah. In closing, Prosecutor Mariano hits back at the defense just because Christy and Hilda did drugs on their own that night doesn't make them responsible for their own deaths. David Pearce took care of that, Mariano argued. CATHERINE MARIANO (in court): He didn't care about violating them in the most awful way. He didn't care that by drugging Christy and Hilda, that they could die. And she repeats the words of Ansbach attributed to David Pearce the words that rang in the ears of everyone who loved Christy and Hilda. CATHERINE MARIANO (in court): He wanted them to die because "dead girls don't talk." Attorneys for Osborn and Pearce told jurors there simply was not enough direct evidence linking them to the crime and that there's a strong case for reasonable doubt. Now it's up to the jury to draw its own conclusion about Brandt Osborn and David Pearce. Dusty Giles made her decision about that a long time ago. Dusty Giles: Pearce is a sick, slimy lizard that sits and preys and sneaks and his bite is deadly. THE VERDICT AND A MOTHER'S PLEA Jan Cilliers: As we're sitting here waiting on the verdict for the case, I just want to I'm here for her until the end. For Christy's family, it's been a long and wrenching road to get here. Jonathan Vigliotti: For you, what does justice for Christy look like? Jan Cilliers: I mean (sigh) there's no justice for Christy There is only preventing him from doing it again, I think. That's the only justice we can get. And for Hilda's mother, who could not travel to be in court, the last three years without her daughter have been its own trial. Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: Nothing can bring her back again. But the hole she leaves in our lives will be always there. On Feb. 4, 2025, after two days of deliberations, the jury is back. JURY FOREMAN: We the jury find the defendant, David Brian Pearce, guilty of the crime of first-degree murder upon Christy Giles. David Pearce is found guilty. Lt. Calvin You: We get that guilty on the first one and a sigh of relief. JURY FOREMAN: guilty of the crime of first-degree murder upon Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola. Lt. Calvin You: Hilda comes up, guilty again, another sigh of relief. And then guilty of all the sexual assaults of seven Jane Does. Lt. Calvin You: I don't think I breathed at all until I heard a guilty on every single one. CATHERINE MARIANO (to reporters following verdict): A lot of relief, not just for my sake but definitely for all of the victims. DUSTY GILES (to reporters following verdict): Jane Does finally had their day in court and were believed. Jackie: I felt this huge weight released off me. It was almost like a euphoric feeling. we showed the jury what kind of man this is. But the jury is deadlocked when it comes to Brandt Osborn and a mistrial is declared. PROSECUTOR MARIANO (to reporters following verdict): I was surprised, definitely disappointed at at the hung jury. I thought the trial made clear that he had definitely a hand in their deaths. DUSTY GILES (to reporters following verdict): What is there to question? he was aware of Christy's and Hilda's condition. He's a grown man that stands on his own his two feet he withheld medical help from Hilda and Christy until they were dead. Dr. Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia: I'm not happy They perfectly could save her life and they chose to not do it For me, that's not justice, at least in that part. DUSTY GILES (to reporters following verdict): I am here standing for me and Hilda's mom, Marcela. Now there's an unbreakable bond between the mothers who must live without their daughters. DUSTY GILES (to reporters following verdict): Our daughters, individually, were like soul sisters both of them lost their souls at the hands of the same man, same way and that it would be forever intwined. And before she leaves the courthouse, there is a final plea from Dusty Giles. DUSTY GILES (to reporters following verdict): As much as it hurts to lose my baby girl her body was able to tell the story and her sharing her location technology told us where she was, how long she was so please, within your own families share locations you never know when you're gonna not be able to can't get in touch with somebody. Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales / Credit: Jan Cilliers/Fernanda Cantisani Jonathan Vigliotti: When you look at photos of Christy and Hilda, what do you see? Jackie: I see beauty. I see myself when I was 24 I will remember them as strong, independent women. I'll remember them as beautiful souls, free spirits women that were coming to LA to pursue their dreams. Two young women who loved their families, their animals, and their lives. Jan Cilliers: I want to remember her as the bright beautiful soul that she was. Jonathan Vigliotti: Fernanda, how do you hope your big sister is remembered? Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola: As someone who had a lot of dreams, ambitions, very intelligent, funny She was happy to be alive. David Pearce is awaiting sentencing. He faces a minimum of 148 years in prison. The District Attorney has not announced if Brandt Osborn will be retried. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault help is available. Call 800-656-4673 or visit RAINN.org. Produced by Mary Murphy, Sarah Prior and Liza Finley. Alicia Tejada is the coordinating producer. Michelle Fanucci and Greg Fisher are the development producers. Doreen Schechter, Gregory Kaplan, Phil Tangel, George Baluzy and Marlon Disla are the editors. Lauren Turner Dunn is the associate producer. Danielle Austen is the associate development producer. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Musk says some will get more Social Security benefits after DOGE, but many worry about access Deadly earthquakes rock Myanmar, Thailand Hundreds of millions of bees mysteriously dying BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) A suspect is now in custody following an armed robbery on Sunday morning in Washington. At 7:03 AM on March 30, 2025, the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office received a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Handy Mart on River Road in Washington, NC. According to a store employee, they say a black male entered the store wearing a mask covering his face while holding what was described as a rifle or shotgun. The employee told deputies the male subject stated he was robbing her and demanded the money from the cash register. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrol deputies responded to the area and began searching for the suspect based on the description they received. Detectives were able to identify a suspect vehicle. Deputies with the Patrol Division located a car matching the description and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was taken into custody without incident. The driver is identified as 30-year-old Sonny Ray Cobb Jr. He was charged with one count of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and was placed in the Beaufort County Detention Center without bond. Sheriff Hammonds says there is no threat to the community at this time, and are investigating this as an isolated 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 WNCT. A suspect was shot by deputies at a busy intersection near a West Hollywood shopping mall, prompting a large street closure Saturday night. Shortly before 6 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies responded to a domestic violence incident on the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Although details remain limited, a woman at the scene told KTLAs Rachel Menitoff that her ex-boyfriend had allegedly attacked her and then followed her into a nearby alley. Thats when a bystander called the police. A suspect was shot by deputies near a busy intersection in the heart of West Hollywood, prompting a large street closure on Santa Monica Boulevard. (KTLA) A suspect was shot by deputies near a busy intersection in the heart of West Hollywood, prompting a large street closure on Santa Monica Boulevard. (KTLA) A suspect was shot by deputies near a busy intersection in the heart of West Hollywood, prompting a large street closure on Santa Monica Boulevard. (KTLA) A suspect was shot by deputies near a busy intersection in the heart of West Hollywood, prompting a large street closure on Santa Monica Boulevard. (KTLA) A suspect was shot by deputies near a busy intersection in the heart of West Hollywood, prompting a large street closure of Santa Monica Boulevard. (KTLA) Authorities arrived at the scene and while speaking to the victim, spotted the suspect near Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. They approached the man and tried to detain him, but he allegedly resisted and a physical altercation ensued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the confrontation, the suspect was shot by deputies. He was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso and remains in stable condition. LASD did not provide more details on the circumstances leading up to the shooting. Roads near the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard, which is home to the West Hollywood Gateway mall, were shut down to traffic and pedestrians for over six hours as a large law enforcement presence surrounded the area to investigate. I just heard a bunch of helicopters and sirens and then I decided to come out and see what was going on, said Ryan Edler, a West Hollywood resident. Its a huge thoroughfare for walking and public transportation. Itll be dramatically affected by this. No deputies were injured in the shooting. LASD officials are asking the public to avoid the area as the roads remain closed late Saturday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever a deputy-involved shooting occurs involving Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies, and a person is struck by gunfire, multiple independent investigations immediately begin at the scene, LASD said in a statement. No further details were released as the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident can call LASDs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An investigation initiated by Chester County deputies led to the arrest of a suspect wanted for serious and violent charges, officials say. Saturday morning, deputies were able to arrest Laurkeia Montgomery on outstanding arrest warrants from three separate law enforcement agencies. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here Montgomery was wanted for the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weapons violations by the United States Marshals Service Criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree by the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office Assault and battery 2nd degree by the Lancaster Police Department Deputies say Montgomery attempted to evade arrest by giving officers fake identification. He was allegedly also found in possession of illegal substances believed to be cocaine, ecstasy and THC wax. In addition to his existing warrants, Chester County deputies charged Montgomery with providing false information to a law enforcement officer, with additional charges related to the suspected illegal narcotics. Those charges are still pending. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sweden has allocated 80 million Swedish kronor ($7.6 million) to support Ukraine's drone and demining efforts as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the Swedish government announced in a press release on March 28. The funding will be split evenly between the capability coalitions for drones and mine clearance, and forms part of Swedens 18th military aid package to Ukraine. "This support ensures that Ukraine can develop its drone technology and mine clearance capabilities. It will help the Ukrainian army and the Ukrainian society," said Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UDCG, comprising over 50 countries, coordinates international military assistance for Ukraine. Sweden has been an active contributor to the group, which includes specific coalitions focused on strengthening Ukraines capacity in areas such as air defense, demining, and drones. Ukraine remains the most mined country in the world. Despite ongoing hostilities, Ukraine has reduced the area considered as potentially hazardous by over 35,000 square kilometers (13,500 square miles). Some 399 civilians have been killed, and 915 have been injured by mines since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, according to U.N. monitors. Multiple countries have been assisting Ukraine with demining efforts and providing training and equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Sweden has continued to provide Ukraine with various aid packages. On March 8 the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine announced the country will provide 22.5 million Swedish kronor ($2.2 million) to support Ukrainian women. And on Jan. 30, the country announced a military aid package to Ukraine worth over $1.2 billion Sweden's largest tranche of military assistance since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Read also: IMF approves $400 million in funding for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Kurdish-led administration in Syria's north-east on Sunday criticized the newly formed transitional government, saying the line-up failed to heed the country's diversity. On Saturday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa unveiled the new government and pledged to rebuild a "strong, stable state" in war-shattered Syria. Two officials from the previous interim government, Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shaibani, retained their positions as defence and foreign ministers, respectively, in the new 22-member Cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the autonomous administration of north-eastern Syria said the new government failed to "provide fair and genuine representation" of all Syrians, and signalled non-compliance with its decisions. "These policies, which the Damascus government insists on pursuing, take us back to square one, with one party monopolizing power and excluding Syrian components and groups from the political process and the management of the country's affairs," the administration said in an online statement. "Any government that does not reflect the diversity and pluralism present in Syria will not be able to properly manage the country and extricate it from the crisis it is suffering from," it added. The administration said "it will not be concerned with implementing and executing" the decisions issued by that government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharaa commanded an Islamist-led rebel alliance that toppled Syria's long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa has since been trying to reunite the fractured country after more than a decade of civil war. Earlier this month, he and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed a landmark agreement to fully integrate the militia into Syria's state institutions. The pact came after years of conflict, particularly over Kurdish autonomy, and is seen as a crucial step towards healing the wounds of Syria's long civil war. Swathes of northern Syria are controlled by SDF forces, who spearheaded the fight that helped oust Islamic State extremists from the remaining territory they held in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the SDF as an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and therefore considers it a terrorist organization. Kurdish groups in Syria's north-east on Sunday criticized the newly formed transitional government, saying the line-up failed to heed the country's diversity. On Saturday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa unveiled the new government and pledged to rebuild a "strong, stable state" in war-shattered Syria. Two officials from the previous interim government, Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shaibani, retained their positions as defence and foreign ministers, respectively, in the new 22-member Cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the Kurdish-led autonomous administration of north-eastern Syria on Sunday said the new government failed to "provide fair and genuine representation" of all Syrians, and signalled non-compliance with its decisions. "These policies, which the Damascus government insists on pursuing, take us back to square one, with one party monopolizing power and excluding Syrian components and groups from the political process and the management of the country's affairs," the administration said in an online statement. "Any government that does not reflect the diversity and pluralism present in Syria will not be able to properly manage the country and extricate it from the crisis it is suffering from," it added. The administration said "it will not be concerned with implementing and executing" the decisions issued by that government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Kurdish-led group said the new government announcement "fell short of meeting national aspirations." The self-styled Syrian Democratic Council, a political wing of the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), added that the new government was a "reproduction" of an approach that previously proved useless for Syria. "Likewise, this government has not taken into consideration the true representation of women, who constitute the largest social segment and have suffered more than others in recent years, whether in terms of displacement, loss, violence or political marginalization," the council said in a statement. Hind Kabawat, a Christian woman, was named minister of social affairs and labour in the new government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharaa commanded an Islamist-led rebel alliance that toppled Syria's long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa has since been trying to reunite the fractured country after more than a decade of civil war. Earlier this month, he and Mazloum Abdi, the SDF commander, signed a landmark agreement to fully integrate the militia into Syria's state institutions. The pact came after years of conflict, particularly over Kurdish autonomy, and is seen as a crucial step towards healing the wounds of Syria's long civil war. Swathes of northern Syria are controlled by SDF forces, who spearheaded the fight that helped oust Islamic State extremists from the remaining territory they held in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the SDF as an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and therefore considers it a terrorist organization. PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Officials said the Table Rock Complex Fire has now crossed the state line into North Carolina. The Table Rock Complex fire, made up of both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge Fires, has become the largest wildfire the upstate has ever seen. One thing I was briefed on this morning, is weve had the largest chemical water drops in state history for this fire, said Pamela Evette, the Lt. Governor for the State of South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, state and local officials met to give an update on their ongoing containment efforts. Fire officials said they are continuing to strengthen containment lines to the east and west of the fire while conducting burn out operations. Our guys and ladies are working extremely hard out there. Its very difficult working conditions. Anyone who has hiked around Table Rocks knows this is a very steep hilly country. It will wear you out on a normal day, much less when youre fighting fires, but the morale of our folks is incredible, said Scott Phillips with South Carolina Forestry Commission. Officials said that this years fire season has been unprecedented because of another natural disaster. This is not an easy task, as we have a lot of fuel on the ground from Hurricane Helene which has posed extra challenges that they didnt have to fight before, Evette said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evette added the blaze is also a high priority for the federal government saying that right now Table Rock is the number one fire in the country, thats why you are seeing such an increase in federal resources, because we moved up to the number one fire. A statewide burn ban is still in effect in South Carolina. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A 24-year-old Venezuelan who escaped from an ICE facility in Tacoma was arrested in Beaverton, the Washington County Sheriffs Office told KOIN 6 News. Alvaro Flores-Barboza escaped from the Northwest Detention Center on March 26, a spokesperson for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. He was taken into custody at some point after March 10, when he was stopped in Washington County for driving with a suspended license and giving false information to a police officer. Flores-Barboza was taken into custody by a Washington County deputy around 5:30 a.m. Saturday at 170th and Tualatin Valley Hwy, officials said. The details of this arrest are not yet available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leader of burglary ring that impacted 100 Portland businesses sentenced 9 years Its also not clear how he managed to escape the ICE Processing Center in Tacoma and make his way back to Oregon. Previous convictions In 2024, court documents obtained by KOIN 6 News revealed Alvaro Flores-Barboza was arrested two separate times in Washington County. Alvaro Flores-Barboza, 24, of Venezuela escaped from an ICE detention center in Tacoma and was recaptured on Mar. 29, 2025. (ICE) In May, he was arrested on 5 separate charges, including a misdemeanor assault he admitted. Then in July, he was arrested on 5 different charges. He was convicted on two, a reckless driving misdemeanor and a felony use of a weapon. UPS launching online tool to show tariff costs to customers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then in December, both of his arrest cases were resolved. In the May cases, Flores-Barboza was given 2 years of supervised probation and fined $100. In the July cases, he was sentenced to time already served, ordered not to have any contact with any of the victims, and had his license suspended for a year. He was also ordered to obey all laws. ICE became aware of his arrest in mid-March and he was taken into custody in Portland, ICE officials said in a statement. KOIN 6 News is working to learn more details about this case and will update this story as developments become known. Wednesdays incident follows a growing list of escapes from immigration facilities, including two in Colorado just a week prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. An American woman who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been freed, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said Saturday. American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home, Khalilzad said in a post on X. His post featured a photo of Hall smiling and sitting between two men. It was not clear who the two men are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Taliban spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that a female U.S. citizen was freed Saturday. The spokesperson said she was handed over to a group who negotiated her release with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Khalilzad did not give further details on the circumstances of Halls release. The U.S. State Department did not immediately reply to NBC News request for confirmation. Hall had been detained in Afghanistan since February on charges of using a drone without authorization, The Associated Press reported. President Donald Trump shared a video of Hall on his Truth Social account Saturday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the video, Hall said she voted for Trump twice and that she is so happy he is in office, calling this the new era. Thank you for bringing me home, and Ive never been so proud to be an American citizen, Hall said in the video posted by Trump. Earlier this month, American George Glezmann, who had been held by the Taliban for two years, was released in a separate deal brokered by Qatar. Officials from the Trump administration had been engaged with Taliban representatives to secure Glezmanns release. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people, Khalilzad said of Glezmann in a March 20 post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was not part of a prisoner exchange. Glezmann was in the country in December 2022 on a five-day trip to explore the cultural landscape and rich history of the country, according to a bill filed in the Senate calling for his release. He was arrested by the Taliban and held without charge. Taliban officials in the intelligence department told NBC News they believed he was a spy. Afghanistans Foreign Affairs Ministry also said the move was a goodwill gesture in a post on X at the time. In a statement, the Taliban said the meeting between the U.S. and Afghan officials was a significant step in rebuilding diplomatic engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Taliban has been in control of Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, since August 2021, when it ousted U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani shortly after the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. Continued discussions could pave the way for broader political and economic cooperation between the two countries, the Taliban statement from earlier this month added. The group has been eager to re-engage with foreign entities. Two other Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, were released from Afghanistan this year in a deal struck during the final days of the Biden administration in exchange for a member of the Taliban being held in U.S. custody. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BOSTON (SHNS) A pair of western Massachusetts lawmakers made an urgent plea to their colleagues Tuesday to allow smaller farms to access property tax benefits currently available only to their larger peers. The state constitution allows farmland to be taxed based on its value for agricultural or horticultural purposes, not for residential or commercial use, effectively providing lower rates to eligible farmers. But the provision is limited only to areas of five acres or more, a threshold that forces many farmers to pay much higher commercial rates for their land, Sen. Jo Comerford said. As a result, Comerford told the Legislatures Revenue Committee, that state constitutional measure now has the opposite effect of its intent to protect farmland and is instead contributing to farmland loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Urban farmers cant find parcels of land larger than five acres. New farmers cant afford to purchase a large farm parcel. Even long-standing farms like Barstows Longview Farm in Hadley are impeded, Comerford said. The Northampton Democrat visited with the family that operates Barstows over the weekend, and said they told her that they pay more in taxes for two acres that do not qualify for the property tax provision than they do on hundreds of other eligible acres combined. Comerford and other lawmakers filed a proposed constitutional amendment (H 71 / S 11) that would eliminate the five-acre requirement and allow any farmland to be taxed based on its agricultural or horticultural value, as long as it has been devoted to those uses for at least two years. The Revenue Committee gave a favorable report to a similar measure two years ago, but top Democrats opted against putting the measure to a vote during the joint House-Senate known as a Constitutional Convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the amendment to take effect, the measure would need to be approved at a Constitutional Convention in two consecutive legislative sessions, then ratified by a majority of voters. I do not take amending the Constitution of Massachusetts lightly, said Rep. Natalie Blais, who filed the House version. I would not have proposed this piece of legislation with Rep. [Hannah] Kane and Senator Comerford if I did not believe it was necessary. And quite frankly, theres never been a more important time for us to take this step, as our local food system is really in crisis. Blais, a Deerfield Democrat, cited statistics from the American Farmland Trust project that estimated nearly 15% of Massachusetts agricultural land will be converted to other uses by 2040 under the status quo the third-highest percentage of any state. High home and farmland prices, combined with climate change threats and the prospect of federal funding cuts, continue to inflict pressure on the states aging agricultural workforce, Blais said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there was ever a time for Massachusetts to step up and say that we believe in our farmers, we believe in the local food system that we have fought to strengthen and build over the last decade or more, this is really the time to do it, she said. The proposal won the support of Mass. Food System Collaborative Policy Director Rebecca Miller, who told the committee access to the tax benefit is a rural issue, a suburban issue and an urban issue. Miller was the only other person besides Comerford and Blais to testify at Tuesdays hearing, which committee co-chairs pointed out was the first non-budgetary joint committee hearing of the 2025-2026 term that began Jan. 1. The panel faces an April 30 deadline to report on proposed constitutional amendments. Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Marlborough (left) speaks at a Revenue Committee hearing on March 25, 2025, flanked by fellow co-chair Rep. Adrian Madaro of Boston (right). (SHNS) Neither of the committees new chairs, Rep. Adrian Madaro of Boston and Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Marlborough, indicated Tuesday whether they would mirror their predecessors and support the farmland tax rate measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both lawmakers are new atop the Revenue Committee. Madaro last term co-led the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Committee, while Eldridge co-chaired the Judiciary Committee. Their panel could be pushed to make difficult decisions this term if federal spending cuts materialize and reshape the state budget. I think the work of all committees is going to be increasingly more challenging given what is going on in Washington, D.C., Madaro replied when asked if he expects the Revenue Committee to consider any tax code changes to make up for decreased federal funding. So I look forward to working with Senator Eldridge and committee members to thoroughly review each and every proposal before us, and I know many of our fellow chairs are feeling the same way. Eldridge added, The financial picture is still uncertain will there be serious Medicaid cuts? Will there be other cuts to, say, the Department of Education? I think its still uncertain how that will impact the budget and therefore the work of the Revenue Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 10 of the committees 17 members attended the 20-minute hearing. Madaro said at the start of the event that all members of the committee are expected to participate in person, and that remote access was only available to the public and to lawmakers who are not on the Revenue Committee but wanted to testify. He also announced that the committee would make any written testimony available at the discretion of the chairs, with any limitations and redactions of sensitive information per committee rules. Remote participation and publishing written testimony are two areas of disagreement as House and Senate negotiators work to iron out a final package of joint rules governing committee operations this term. The House joint rules proposal (H 2026) would require committee members to be physically present at hearings, while the Senate plan (S 18) would allow lawmakers to participate virtually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On written testimony, the House proposal leaves any redactions up to individual committees, and the Senate measure would instruct the Rules Committee with crafting overarching guidance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Taxpayers in South Dakota stumped up a massive $150,000 to help finance then-Governor Kristi Noems cross-country flights last year, new analysis has show. The bills, accrued during her time as governor and during President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, include almost $8,000 for plane tickets to a right-wing conference in Paris, a book tour through New York and a bear-hunting trip to Canada, according to the Associated Press, which collated the data. Noem also went on numerous trips to Trumps then-home in Palm Beach, Florida as she continued to rise up the MAGA movements ranks. The news agency also reported Noem spent roughly $2,200 on a visit to a Texas dental clinic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She refused to say what the trips were costing taxpayers but, in the weeks since Noem became Trump's Homeland Security secretary, that mystery has been solved. An Associated Press analysis of recently released travel records found more than $150,000 in expenses tied to Noem's political and personal activity and not South Dakota business. Most of those costs covered the state-provided security that accompanied Noem, irrespective of the reason for her travel. Over her six years as governor, the AP's analysis shows, South Dakota covered more than $640,000 in travel-related costs incurred by the governor's office. Taxpayers footed the bill for one of Noems several visits to Palm Beach during Trumps campaign (AP) The expenses, released last month following a lawsuit by The Dakota Scout, have incensed Republicans in the deep-red state, with several GOP lawmakers accusing Noem of tapping state funds to fuel her own political ascendancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revelations come at a time when federal spending is under the spotlight, with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency making mass cuts. The spending "offends a lot of people," said Dennis Daugaard, a former Republican South Dakota governor, who added that costs generated by Noem's ambition for higher office could've been paid with campaign funds. Taffy Howard, a GOP state senator who clashed with Noem over her refusal to disclose her travel expenses, expressed shock at the price tag. "It seems like an incredible amount of money," Howard said. A spokesman for Noem, Tim Murtaugh, declined to answer detailed questions about the expenses but did not dispute that some of the travel lacked an apparent connection to state business. There's no indication the former governor broke any laws having the state foot the bill for security expenses even on trips that critics said benefited her more than South Dakota taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, bad guys tend to make threats against high-profile public officials," Murtaugh said. "When it was a political or personal trip, she paid for her own travel out of her political or personal funds." Murtaugh then questioned why Democratic governors were not being scrutinized for their travel on behalf of former Vice President Kamala Harris. "They maintained aggressive political schedules on behalf of Kamala Harris but somehow escape media attention for costs associated with that, while Kristi Noem is being held to a different standard?" Murtaugh wrote in an email. Josie Harms, a spokesperson for Noem's gubernatorial successor, said security requirements were "a matter of state business no matter where the governor may be." Noem visited a notorious prison in El Salvador last week, where her choice to where a Rolex drew sharp criticism (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) "The scope of that security is not up to the governor," Harms added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her years in office, Noem frequently said that releasing the travel expenses would jeopardize her safety. This is not the first time Noem's travel and finances have come under the microscope. A state government accountability board in 2022 had requested an investigation into her use of the state plane to attend political events, but a prosecutor found no grounds for charges. Back in 2021, she came under fire for allegedly using underpaid prison labor to create a hand-carved wooden desk worth $9,000, according to The Daily Beast. Additional reporting by the Associated Press When an Alta High School student reached out to the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation to donate $2,500 to help relieve students school lunch debt, DJ Bracken was in disbelief. "That was the most incredible thing I'd ever heard," said Bracken, the nonprofit's founder and executive director. High school junior David "Van" Hafner used his savings, combined with funds from the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation, to help pay off Butler Elementary School's over $6,000 school lunch debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bracken and Hafner presented the school with the check on Friday, March 21, marking the 12th school the foundation has helped make debt-free. Now, Hafner is planning to continue working with the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation to help raise the funds necessary to erase three more schools' school lunch debt by the end of the summer. "We certainly hope, going forward, that if more students want to come and help their community thrive, and help their fellow students pay down this debt, that is something we can facilitate and would love to do," Bracken said. Bracken created the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation in July 2024 and has since raised about $50,000 to address Utah's $2.8 million school lunch debt. He said it all began when he first learned about the state's school lunch debt in a news article and couldn't believe it was true. "I called my local school district to verify that debt, and they said, 'Not only is it true that there is that much debt in state; just in your school district, just the elementary schools, there's $88,000 in debt,'" said Bracken. "And I said, 'OK, great; send me a list of the schools, and I'm just gonna start paying them off one by one.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He began by using his own money to pay Bluffdale Elementary School's $835 school lunch debt. Bracken then started the nonprofit in hopes others would feel inspired to help the cause. At first, he was worried the issue wouldn't gain traction in the community, but he was pleasantly surprised when the foundation raised $5,000 on Day 1. Since then, it has continued to gather donations to relieve schools of their lunch debt one by one. However, the foundation does not only intend to pay off school lunch debt; its goal is to eliminate the problem as a whole by advocating for policy change. The Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation worked with advocates and state representatives during the recent legislative session to introduce HB100, a bill that would allow students who are currently eligible for reduced-price lunch to receive free lunch and breakfast at school. "The number is just so significant that even if I had a corporate donor come in today and say, 'I'll give you $2.8 million,' it would just be back next year," Bracken said. "So we can get things like this passed and still help kids at the same time. That's how I know the organization is doing what it needs to do." Sponsored by Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, the bill also includes provisions that would prevent students from being publicly stigmatized due to having a meal debt. According to Bracken, some school districts will send students' meal debt to collections in order to receive payment and then send students home with a collections notice to give to their parents. But this bill requires schools to communicate with parents directly rather than through students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB100 gained favor from both the Senate and the House during the legislative session and was signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox on Tuesday. "It's just really significant; I'm really proud to have been a part of the process," Bracken said. While he feels significant progress has been made in the last year, he says Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation will continue to work as long as there is even $1 of student lunch debt. He expressed that the support the foundation has received is evidence to him that members of the community can work together to make change. "I think, right now, there's a lot of cynicism out there just the current environment we live in and founding (Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation) really showed me that one person can make a difference with the power of other people, too," Bracken said. "Sometimes, you just take one step in the right direction, and everybody decides to come with you, and it's really been the case here." More information about the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation can be found at utldr.org. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A Terre Haute man is now behind bars after a police pursuit that ended with the man being tazed on Friday night. According to Indiana State Police (ISP) Sgt. Matt Ames, authorities stopped a passenger vehicle on Maple Avenue near 19th Street for a driver not wearing a seatbelt. The driver was identified as Edwin B. Phillips (69) of Terre Haute. ISP Trooper Tyler Turchi detected an odor of alcohol coming from Phillips. The 69-year-old then failed several field sobriety tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the trooper was retrieving an article from his vehicle, Phillips returned to his vehicle and fled from the officer. After a short pursuit, the driver came to a stop and exited his vehicle. According to the press release, the suspect disregarded commands and fled on foot. ISP Trooper Turchi then deployed his taser, striking the suspect and taking him into custody. After being placed into custody and placed on his feet, Phillips then lunged and kicked the officer. Edwin B. Phillips (69) of Terre Haute was arrested and charged with the following: Operating a vehicle while intoxicated prior conviction, Class 6 Felony Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, Class 6 Felony Battery Against a Public Safety Official, Class 6 Felony Resisting law enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillips was taken to the Vigo County Jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Dozens of people gathered outside the Tesla showroom in Savannah Saturday taking part in a nationwide stint of protests. The protesters had a lot to say about Elon Musks position in the White House. Sharon McCallie-Steller said, If we dont speak up, its not going to be a country where we can do this much longer. And John Fetter said, Make no mistake: we are entering into dystopian times here. If hes allowed to continue on this track, God save the USA. Protesters told WSAV News 3s Eden Hodges there was no single organizer that rallied they to come out. They heard about the protest online and met Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our country was founded on protest, McCallie-Steller said. I think I want to show young people and other people that are sitting at home not knowing what to do that we have a voice. Cristy Baker said, I believe in America. I believe in equality, justice and the unyeilding pursuit of freedom. Protesters said the moves made by the White House and Musks new government department have made them worried about the fate of their country. Fetter said, Every week theres something different going on. And McCallie-Steller added, We have a constitution for a reason. Theyre not following it. Theyre not respecting the three branches of government. If you want to find waste, do it the right way. Demonstrators said they hope their display could draw more supporters to their cause and encourage a boycott on Tesla sales. Dalton Peppers said, You cant make them change their mind. You can only speak out and tell them exactly whats the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group told WSAV News 3 they have plans to protest in Forsyth Park next Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) Another week of Tesla takedown protests around the world have now reached here in central Illinois. Demonstrators gathered at the Tesla dealership in Bloomington Saturday morning. Some protestors held signs opposing Elon Musk and DOGE. They are calling for people to boycott the electric vehicle manufacturer and dump their stocks. Its a way to push back against Elon Musks Doges purge of government workers and entire agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By tanking Teslas stock, demonstrators hope to hit Musk where it hurts. The weekly protests do seem to be making an impact. Tesla stock has been down 35% in the last two months. Organizer Ed Cherlin said Musk has no one else to blame but himself. We have several themes that all center on Elon Musk, trying to destroy the government and largely succeeding in destroying his brand. Hes wrecking his car company, and hes wrecking his rocket company, he said. Thousands of protestors gathered at Tesla dealerships all over the world. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sick abuse Thank you, jurors, for giving an individual accused of the rotten, sick act of killing so many kittens a long sentence. (March 21, 2A, Former Parker County animal shelter employee gets 40 years for torturing, killing kittens) It is beyond anyones imagination how a person could purposely do a dastardly deed to a defenseless animal. - Ken Angya, Arlington Vances right Ryan Rusak makes valid points in his column about Vice President JD Vances views on the attack on the Houthis. (March 25, star-telegram.com, Trump officials war-plan goof was scary. What it revealed about Vance might be worse) Americas interests have, to an extent, been threatened by the Houthis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, I dont fault Vance for calling out Europes freeloading. He speaks the truth. Europe needs to defend its own interests and not rely on the United States to protect all Western concerns. - Steve Huddleston, Trophy Club Speak, Cornyn History will not look kindly on the elected officials who were in positions of power but stood silently by while President Donald Trump dismantled Americas government and destroyed our democracy. Texans voting in 2026 will not look kindly on a senator who chose to be silently subservient to Trump and Elon Musks ego-driven, incompetent and heartless assault on this once-great country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America needs Sen. John Cornyn to step up now. He should be brave, be a leader, be a patriot, be a Texan and make it his legacy to be the first senior Republican to shout: The emperor has no clothes. - David E. Voss, Dallas Not a business I dont think the president understands how government works. There are equal branches designed by the founders to provide a system of checks and balances: no king, no emperor, no single authority to govern. The actions of the new Department of Government Efficiency are an example of poor management. Elon Musk must go, along with his crew of tech employees. Government provides services to people. This is not a money-making business Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The election was no landslide. Many people are being hurt by the practices and policies endorsed by the administration. Stop the chaos and listen to the people. - Marilyn Joyce Kepner, Fort Worth Vouchers, voice Gov. Greg Abbott has made it clear he supports school vouchers. (March 23, 10A, Texas Sen. Cruz responds to GOP opposition, calls school vouchers a civil rights issue) Its taxpayers money, and we should have a voice in whats done with it. I do not support my tax dollars paying for the private education for children of wealthy families. It should be decided by the ballot. Have a special election so we who will pay for it have a say in who gets it. Otherwise, if Abbott gets his way, there should be a simple process for taxpayers to opt out. Its our money, after all. - Linda Carlow, Alvarado CASS COUNTY, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) A woman was arrested for homicide on Friday after an incident that police are still investigating. On Saturday, March 29, at 6:31 a.m., the Atlanta Texas Police Department received an emergency call from a residence in Bloomburg off FM 74. A neighbor made the 911 call on behalf of an injured woman identified as Jacki Kubin, who ran to the neighbor asking for help. The neighbor was able to alert law enforcement to a description of a fleeing suspect vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, an ATPD officer saw a female child who had suffered severe trauma and transported the child to a nearby hospital. The suspect, identified as Allison French, abandoned the vehicle off FM 74 and Cass County ESD #3. French was located with the help of a drone, and she was detained and brought to a hospital for treatment of self-inflicted injuries. Frenchs 9-year-old daughter, Abigail French, was pronounced dead at the hospital, and the childs grandmother, Jacki Kubin, was treated for wounds she suffered defending herself. French was arrested on a capital murder warrant for the death of Abigail French. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and the Cass County Sheriffs Office has said there is no additional information to release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) Thousands of people are without power in Central Illinois after damaging storms swept through on Sunday afternoon. In Champaign County, over 2,400 customers are without service, according to Ameren Illinois outage map. Multiple crashes shut down part of I-57 in Champaign Co. In Homer, Ameren is showing that over 700 are without power, in Sidney, around 1,200 are without power, and in St. Joseph over 1,700 are without power. Multiple smaller outages are also appearing throughout the rest of the county. On Amerens outage map, the cause is listed as undetermined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coles County is also experiencing multiple outages at this time. In Charleston, nearly 1,000 customers are without power. And around Mattoon, that number jumps to over 1,400. Vermilion County is also experiencing multiple outages. In Hoopeston, around 600 are without power. Multiple smaller outages are also appearing throughout the rest of the county. The City of Sullivan, located in Moultrie County is experiencing downed wires, trees and broken power poles, according to the citys Facebook page. The city is warning residents not to approach any downed power lines, and to report the downed lines and other hazards to the city immediately. WCIA reached out to Ameren Illinois for more information and is waiting to hear back. 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. Three-quarters of U.S. scientists say theyre considering leaving the country following moves to slash scientific programs by the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency, a poll has found. In recent days, the administration has laid off researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to lay off 10,000 workers. The agency oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. There have also been major cuts to funding. NASA is terminating $420 million in contracts not aligned with the White Houses priorities. The National Institutes of Health are cutting grants for Covid research and the Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly targeting environmental grants, according to The Los Angeles Times. Last week, the government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions, totaling nearly $40 million, according to a government website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These actions, and more, have left people in scientific fields feeling uncertain, and sparked protests across the country. A recent survey of scientists found that three-quarters are considering leaving the U.S. Their dilemma comes amid the Trump administrations continuous cuts and layoffs across scientific fields (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty) The survey conducted by the journal Nature said worry among scientists was particularly pronounced among early-career researchers. More than 1,200 scientists responded to the poll. Of the 690 postgraduate researchers who replied, 548 said they were considering leaving. More than 250 of the 340 Ph.D. students surveyed said the same. Dont want to leave, but whats the alternative? one postgraduate researcher in a biomedical field responded. This is my home I really love my country, a graduate student at a top U.S. university who works in plant genomics and agriculture told Nature. But a lot of my mentors have been telling me to get out, right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She lost her research support and her stipend following the Trump administrations decision to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her adviser was able to secure emergency funds to support her in the short term. Scientists included in the poll told Nature that they did not see an alternative. One said people had told them to leave (AFP via Getty Images) The Trump administration has made it very clear that her area of interest, global food systems, is not going to be a priority or a focus, she said. If I want to work in that space, Im going to have to find somewhere else that prioritizes that. Some international respondents who had moved to the U.S. to work planned to return home. One researcher noted that international universities were seeing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recruit. For others, the future is not as clear, but anywhere that supports science is the goal. Many felt like they didnt have a choice in the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am faculty and want to stay as long as I can [to] support my lab and students, but if the NIH is dramatically cut we may not have a choice to stay in the U.S., one person wrote. I am transgender, and the one-two punch makes it improbable that the life I want to live is a viable option in this country, another person said. But, there are some holdouts. U.S. academia has the best research facilities, wrote one person. I wont go anywhere, this is ridiculous, wrote another. With reporting from The Associated Press AUSTIN (KXAN) A severe weather outbreak is underway, as millions of people are expected to see the potential for damaging wind, large hail, and large tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has issued an elevated risk for severe weather for multiple days across the next week. April is set to start off stormy, as well as icy & snowy for some. This forecast covers the period from March 23 to March 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, a huge swath of the country is under a level 3/5 risk for severe weather, ranging from Detroit, Michigan, to Dallas, Texas. Cities at this risk include Monroe, Memphis, Tuscaloosa, Indianapolis, and Chicago. On the back end of this mid-latitude cyclone, cold air and gusty winds are creating white out, snowy conditions, for states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. By Monday, the level 3/5 risk will shift east toward the coast, including cities such as Savannah, Charleston, and New Bern. As we close out March and begin the month of April, there are a few more big storm systems on the way. The Pacific Northwest and the Rockies will see over a foot of snow, as severe weather is set to return on Wednesday and Thursday for portions of the Plains, Midwest, and Deep South. Additional ice accretion and areas of heavy snow create hazardous travel conditions midweek. Beyond the next 5-7 days, a wetter than normal trend is likely for the majority of CONUS, so keep an umbrella and rain jacket nearby and make sure you have ways to receive severe weather alerts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community. Here are this week's professional standouts: Community Foundation announces retirements of two volunteers Debbie and Anson M. Beard Jr. The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties recently announced that after 15 years of service, Anson M. Beard, Jr. and Roy J. Zuckerberg are stepping down from their volunteer roles with the organization. Beard, a resident of West Palm Beach, has made significant contributions through his service on the board of governors, board of directors, investment committee, executive committee, and finance committee. Palm Beach resident Zuckerberg has also played a pivotal role through his service on the board of governors, board of directors, investment committee, and executive committee. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that leads partnerships with donors, nonprofit organizations, and community members to solve the regions chronic and emerging issues. Since 1972, the foundation has distributed nearly $250 million in grants and scholarships aimed at closing the areas opportunity gaps. Tara Kelleher and Roy J. Zuckerberg Oxbridge Academy welcomes alumni to board Oxbridge Academy has announced the appointment of attorney and Oxbridge alum Alison Gomez de la Vega to its board of trustees. As a former student, Gomez de la Vega brings a personal commitment to the schools continued growth and success. As a client-focused attorney, she specializes in commercial and construction litigation. Oxbridge Academy is a premier independent, coeducational college preparatory school for grades 6-12 in West Palm Beach. Alison Gomez de la Vega Firm specializing in spinal implants names VP of U.S. sales Accelus, a privately held medical technology company committed to becoming the global market leader in expandable spinal implant technologies, recently announced the promotion of Jim Fox to vice president of U.S. Sales. Fox joined Accelus, formerly Integrity Implants, as an area sales director in 2019. Accelus, a worldwide leader in expandable spinal implant technology, is dedicated to enhancing surgical procedures and patient outcomes through innovative spinal solutions. Jim Fox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County cultural council adds five members to its board Barbara Cheives The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, has announced five additions to its board of directors: Barbara Cheives, Willem Erwich, Todd Kolich, Hector Rubio and Greg E. Silpe. Cheives is the president and CEO of Converge & Associates Consulting, a firm that specializes in race and ethnic relations consulting, employee relations and community engagement. Erwich is a senior vice president and senior managing director of the North Palm Beach office of Northern Trust. Kolich is president and founder of KO-MAR Productions, the largest video production company in Palm Beach County. Rubio is executive director of creative and programming for The Boca Raton, South Floridas iconic resort and private members club. Silpe was a treasure diver for the legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher in Key West, then later worked in the food industry and acquired a meat importing business with retail distribution in over 30 countries. Headquartered in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in downtown Lake Worth Beach, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in the Palm Beaches. Willem Erwich Todd Kolich Hector Rubio Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boca Raton IT firm adds proven leader in strategy, cybersecurity Flagler Technologies reaffirms its commitment to helping organizations maximize technology investments with the addition of Clive Whittaker, a proven leader in IT strategy, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. Born in Zimbabwe, Whittaker has dedicated 30 years to working alongside CIOs and business leaders, ensuring that every technology decision delivers measurable business value. Flagler Technologies helps clients tackle disruption due to digital challenges. Clive Whittaker Hilton West Palm Beach adds senior marketing manager Hilton West Palm Beach has announced that Alexandra Wood has been named senior marketing manager for the AAA Four Diamond hotel, located in bustling downtown West Palm Beach. Wood brings several years of marketing experience working with Marriott and Hilton properties and played a key role in elevating the Cavalier Resort in Virginia Beach into a top vacation and dining destination. Alexandra Wood Gunster law firm announces leadership for new specialty group Gunster, one of Florida's oldest and largest full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce that shareholder William P. Dillon has been named the practice group leader of the firms newly formed regulated industries and professions group. William P. Dillon Boca Raton firm, Sachs Sax Caplan, adds two associates Brandon DellaBella Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sachs Sax Caplan P.L. in Boca Raton recently announced two new associates have joined the firm. Brandon DellaBella is an associate attorney in the firms estate planning & probate practice group. Andrew Ganz is an associate attorney in the firm's commercial litigation & appeals practice group. Ganz focuses his practice on complex commercial, construction, real property, and community association litigation. Andrew Ganz If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com. Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The Two Mississippi Museums honored the Tougaloo Nine during an annual ceremony on March 29. Saturday marked 64 years since the nine students from Tougaloo College decided to sit in an all-white library in downtown Jackson in protest of Jim Crow laws. They were arrested after refusing to leave. Jerry Keahey, who took an infamous photo of the Tougaloo Nine, was an honorary speaker during Saturdays event. He hopes the younger generations will remember the sacrifice of those during the Civil Rights Movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im hoping that the young people will take advantage of what they have started and use that to better themselves, he said. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the museums is free every Sunday. The Two Mississippi Museums are located at 222 North St. in Jackson. 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. MISSOURI MoDOT is asking drivers in Stone County to give themselves extra time for their commute. Starting Monday morning, crews will begin a washing project on two bridges over Table Rock Lake. Thats Highway 13 south of Kimberling City and Highway 39 north of Shell Knob. Lanes will close as needed, and flaggers will be present to direct traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MoDOT says delays are expected. There will be no signed detour, so drivers should find alternate routes. The project should be done by May 23 with a price tag of just over $247,000. 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A few weeks ago, New York immigration lawyer Pouyan Darian sought to reassure lawful permanent residents that it was safe to travel outside the United States without jeopardizing their status under the Trump administration. With rare exceptions, he said in a viral YouTube video, those with green cards have the absolute right to reenter the country. Darian is rethinking his advice. Several recent federal enforcement actions against green-card holders have gained widespread notoriety and cast a cloud of fear and anxiety over many of the nations estimated 12.8 million lawful permanent residents whose legal rights to live and work in the country once gave them confidence that they were immune from President Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of confirmed detentions appears limited to a handful of highly publicized incidents, including the arrests of a pair of campus activists in New York, a German national returning to New England from an overseas trip, and a Filipina woman in Seattle who has lived in the United States for three decades. But those apprehensions along with reports - including a viral Tik Tok video - of legal permanent residents being interrogated at U.S. airport checkpoints and pressured to sign forms renouncing their status have fanned rumors on social media, prompted green-card holders to cancel travel plans and generated a flood of frantic calls to immigration attorneys. Darian says his counsel to clients has absolutely changed and he is now telling them to consider holding off on traveling because you are subjecting yourself to scrutiny when you attempt to reenter the United States. I didnt expect them to go after green-card holders, he said in an interview. He posted a new video on Wednesday warning that the Trump administration is going to begin focusing on permanent residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those concerns come as the Trump administration, frustrated that the pace of deportations is falling short of his ambitious quotas, has taken more aggressive action in recent weeks, including deporting 238 migrants to a mega-prison in El Salvador without legal due process. The administrations apparent willingness to expand its deportation campaign to immigrants who are in the country legally highlights a new phase in Trumps immigration crackdown, legal analysts said. Asked whether the administration is enacting stricter vetting, Hilton Beckham, an assistant commissioner at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement: The Trump Administration is enforcing immigration laws - something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained, and removed as required. Green-card holders who have not broken any U.S. laws, committed application fraud, or failed to apply for a reentry permit after a long period of travel have nothing to fear about entering and exiting the country. Next to U.S. citizens, green-card holders have traditionally enjoyed the most expansive legal rights, and lawful permanent residency has long been a stepping stone for migrants to pursue naturalization. Under federal immigration law, green-card holders cannot vote but are allowed to live and work in the U.S. They also may travel abroad provided they are not facing criminal charges and do not remain outside the U.S. for extended periods. Concerns among some green-card holders grew in late February when a woman posted a TikTok video warning that her niece, a 23-year-old nursing student with a green card, had been arrested and deported after attempting to reenter the country at Los Angeles International Airport, after attending the funeral of her mother in Laos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-March, two highly publicized arrests of green-card holders further inflamed fears. Federal authorities detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian protest leader at Columbia University, accusing him of supporting Hamas. Khalil, whose wife is due to give birth next month, is being held at a federal immigration facility in Louisiana. His lawyer has called his detention an unlawful act from the Trump administration targeting Khalils political beliefs. Days later, customs agents at Bostons Logan International Airport detained Fabian Schmidt, a lawful permanent U.S. resident since 2008 who was returning to New Hampshire from a trip to his native Germany. Schmidts mother told reporters that he had been violently interrogated and pressured to sign an I-407 document renouncing his green-card status. He is being detained in Rhode Island, awaiting an immigration court hearing in June. DHS officials have disputed accounts of Schmidts mistreatment and pointed to reports that he faced a misdemeanor marijuana charge in 2015, which was later dismissed, and a conviction for driving while intoxicated. People are terrified, completely freaked out, said Joshua Goldstein, a Los Angeles immigration lawyer. Im even getting questions from U.S. citizens asking, Can I travel? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldstein pointed to Vice President JD Vances March 13 appearance on Fox News in which, asked about Khalils arrest, he asserted that green-card holders do not have an indefinite right to be in the United States of America. Vance said the issue, at its core, is not about free speech or national security, but rather represents a fundamental debate about who is allowed to be part of American society. If the secretary of state and the president decide this person shouldnt be in America, and they have no legal right to stay here, its as simple as that, the vice president said. Goldstein said the Trump administration is clearly signaling that the mass deportation effort is far larger than only going after immigrants who entered the country illegally. If they are making permanent residents and U.S. citizens with immigrant backgrounds fearful, thats quite different than actually going after people with criminal records, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration lawyers interviewed by The Washington Post said their offices have been inundated with calls from green-card holders seeking advice. They said many have decided to cancel or postpone vacations, honeymoons or visits to relatives abroad, including for funerals of family members. Similar accounts have been posted in the comments sections of social media sites, including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit. But green-card holders have been reluctant to speak publicly over concern that they could become targets of the Trump administration, according to conversations with more than half a dozen immigration attorneys and several lawful permanent residents contacted by The Post. A Venezuelan man who works in the medical industry in Ohio said in an interview that he sought refugee status in the United States in 2019 and was awarded a green card in 2022. Last summer, he married an American woman, and they were hoping to plan a honeymoon in Spain as they awaited his refugee travel documents that some green-card holders use in lieu of a passport. The couple initially agreed to allow The Post to identify them but later requested anonymity out of fear that doing so could invite more scrutiny from the government. After Trump was elected, they decided to take their honeymoon this month in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, out of an abundance of caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a really scary thought that he could be forced to go somewhere - forced to go somewhere without me, the wife said of the prospect that her husband could be detained or deported. Yeah, its emotional. Another man, from South America, who got a green card a decade ago after being sponsored by his American spouse and works in communications on the West Coast, said that his anxiety has increased in the past several months. Am I scared? I think the more precise word is to say that Im worried, he said. I feel kind of, in my day-to-day life, pretty safe Its more that Im uncertain, and I have a lot of questions of what to do with my life: Should I apply for citizenship? Should I leave the country? Should I have plans? Some legal experts cautioned that it is too early to assess how broadly the Trump administration is planning to go after green-card holders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaToya McBean Pompy, an immigration lawyer in White Plains, New York, said she routinely handled cases before Trump took office from clients whose immigration status was flagged at airport checkpoints. The anxiety of some green-card holders, she suggested, has been accentuated by the sheer aggression of the Trump administrations overall immigration enforcement tactics. McBean Pompy pointed to a spate of cellphone videos captured by bystanders that have been posted to social media depicting federal immigration agents conducting enforcement actions in local communities. When you see those things, you think, Oh, wow, this is getting closer to me, she said. Legal analysts said it should be no surprise that the Trump administration would be willing to target green-card holders. In his first term, Trumps administration sharply cut the number of green cards the U.S. government issued over four years by more than 418,000 compared with President Barack Obamas second term, according to an analysis from the libertarian Cato Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New efforts are underway to slow down some green-card processing. The Trump administration is reportedly enacting a measure to pause applications from immigrants who have been granted refugee or asylum status, which authorities called an effort to implement stricter security vetting, according to a CBS News report. Directionally, this is where theyve wanted to go the whole time. Now, they are much clearer about their intent, said David J. Bier, Catos director of immigration studies. They are crystal clear that they dont see a distinction between one noncitizen category and another. They will arrest and deport you if you run contrary to their goals. Thats what were seeing. Related Content VIP bettors say sportsbooks keep them playing, no matter the cost Every year, they picnic under the cherry blossoms. This is their story. Two veteran coaches moved with the times and kept winning big (The Hill) Nikola founder Trevor Milton, convicted by a New York jury in 2022 for misleading investors about the electric vehicle (EV) makers technology, was pardoned Friday by President Trump, according to a White House official. Milton said Thursday in a post on social platform X that he spoke to Trump over the phone and that he signed his pardon of innocence. The prosecutors can no longer hurt me; they cant destroy my family; they cant rip everything away from me; they cant ruin my life, Milton said in a video accompanying the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milton, a major Republican Party donor, was convicted in October 2022 on securities and wire fraud charges. Prosecutors said he was overstating the claims about the companys production of zero-emission trucks. Investors lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The businessman was sentenced to four years in prison and was fined $1 million in late 2022. He has been free on bail while appealing the case, where he has denied wrongdoing. Miltons pardon comes just over a month after Nikola, an EV start-up, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company lost hundreds of millions over the scandal around Milton. During the trial, prosecutors zeroed in on the companys video, produced by Milton, of a prototype truck that looked like it was going downhill, appearing like the company created a working vehicle. The prosecutors said it was actually a General Motors unit that had a Nikola logo stamp, The Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milton resigned from Nikola in 2020 after investment fund Hindenburg Research released a lengthy report, accusing the companys founder of making substantial false statements. We have never seen this level of deception at a public company, especially of this size, the fund wrote in the report that was published in September 2022. When asked about the pardon on Friday, Trump contended that Milton was persecuted because he was supportive of the president and that the Utah entrepreneur was highly recommended by lots of people. They say the thing that he did wrong was he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president, Trump told reporters at the White House. He supported Trump. He liked Trump. I didnt know him, but he liked him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many people like that, he added. They support Trump, and they went after him. Milton has given nearly $3 million in contributions to various GOP lawmakers campaigns, PACs and GOP state-level committees since July 2016, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show. He gave $920,000 to Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising committee that split money between Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, the Republican Nation Commitee (RNC) and state party groups, on Oct. 10, just over a month before the president won the last years election. The same month, separately, he dished out $284,000 to the RNC, the records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milton also supported the MAHA Alliance, a Super PAC that worked to convince Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s supporters to back Trump after the ex-independent presidential candidate dropped out of the race and endorsed the then-GOP nominee, with a $750,000 in mid-September last year, according to the FEC filing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Norfolk Southern wants two other companies to help pay for the $600 million class-action settlement it agreed to over its disastrous 2023 train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and the toxic chemicals that were released and burned. The railroad filed the motion that is set to go to trial starting Monday to force the railcar owner GATX and the chemical manufacturer OxyVinyls to share the cost of the settlement because Norfolk Southern believes those companies are partly responsible for what happened in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 2023. This lawsuit won't change anything about how much money residents will receive from the settlement or any payments the village or anyone else is set to receive because those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case will only affect which company has to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals, although some payments have started to go out. An assortment of chemicals spilled and caught fire after the train derailed in East Palestine. Three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the town and forced evacuations. Many residents still worry today about potential health consequences from those chemicals. The derailment was the worst rail disaster since a crude oil train devastated the small Canadian town of Lac-Megantic and killed 47 people in 2013. It prompted the U.S. to focus on rail safety and reforms, which were proposed in Congress before stalling without passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Southern says companies share the responsibility Norfolk Southern already lost a similar lawsuit last year when it tried to force GATX and OxyVinyls to help pay for the environmental cleanup after the derailment that has cost the Atlanta-based railroad more than $1 billion. It is making similar arguments again to try to get help paying for the class-action settlement. Norfolk Southern alone has paid the costs relating to the derailment despite ample evidence that other parties share in the responsibility. This trial is about reinforcing the role shippers and railcar owners play in transportation safety and ensuring everyone responsible pays their fair share," the railroad said in a statement. Norfolk Southern, like most railroads, doesnt own most of the cars it hauls, and the railroad says everyone involved in shipping hazardous chemicals bears some responsibility for ensuring their safety under federal regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Southern argues GATX bears some responsibility for the derailment because it owned the railcar filled with plastic pellets that caused the derailment when its bearing overheated, caught fire and failed that night, sending 38 cars off the rails. Norfolk Southern also said it believes OxyVinyls should pay because the railroad says chemical manufacturer provided inconsistent and inaccurate information about its vinyl chloride before officials decided to release and burn it. Companies say Norfolk Southern was responsible for safety Both GATX and OxyVinyls say it would be ridiculous to hold them responsible for the derailment when Norfolk Southern operated and inspected the train and all the cars and was responsible for delivering the cargo safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Southerns claims against GATX are baseless," the railcar owner said in a statement. GATX said it complied with all the relevant regulations for taking care of its railcars. The company said that even if the car was damaged six years earlier by standing parked in the middle of floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey, the railroad should have spotted the problem and repaired it, sending GATX the bill for the repairs. The National Transportation Safety Board said the crash was caused by the failure of an overheating bearing on GATX's railcar. The railroads sensors spotted the bearing starting to heat up in the miles before the derailment, but it didnt reach a critical temperature and trigger an alarm until just before the derailment. That left the crew scant time to stop the train. Norfolk Southern recommended the vent-and-burn operation to release the vinyl chloride based partly on information about the chemical that OxyVinyls had published beforehand suggesting a chemical reaction could happen and cause the tank cars to explode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the NTSB confirmed in its investigation that was unnecessary because the tank cars were starting to cool off and the railroad failed to listen to the advice from OxyVinyls' experts or share their opinions with the officials who made the decision. This trial is nothing more than Norfolk Southerns continued attempt to shift the blame, attention, and financial responsibility for its train derailment, response, and vent and burn decision to anyone other than itself, the Texas-based company said. OxyVinyls did not cause the derailment, its tank cars did not breach, and it did not make the decision to vent and burn the VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) cars. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks. Stephanie Russo Carroll, an associate professor of public health at the University of Arizona, co-founded the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network and directs the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance. American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are fighting for equal governance and sovereignty over their own health data. (Kris Hanning/University of Arizona) When Stephanie Russo Carroll, a citizen of the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah in Alaska, set out to earn her doctorate in tribal health 15 years ago, she focused her research on tribal cultural and health programs within six tribes. She needed vital statistics data, such as birth and death rates, for each of them. But getting that data from the state, which houses vital statistics, was difficult and in some cases, the data she needed was missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health outcomes data were unobtainable, Carroll recalled. In one case, her team had to try using breastfeeding rates as a proxy to estimate birth rates. But even getting those for all six tribes was impossible. For the next two decades, Carroll would continue to push for U.S. tribes which are sovereign nations to own and maintain control over their data, including health statistics. The concept, known as data sovereignty, is important amid the harrowing health disparities seen in tribal people, rooted in forced assimilation dating back more than a century. Often, data gathered by and about tribes has been shared with state and federal agencies; but those same agencies havent always shared their tribal-related statistics in return. The reasons vary, from systemic issues within the health care system to mistaken assumptions by some federal officials about what data be securely sent to tribes without risking privacy violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of tribe-specific data has hindered tribes from fully taking care of their members and clouded their work on public health responses to disease outbreaks such as syphilis and COVID-19, on maternal and infant health outcomes, and on chronic issues such as diabetes, heart disease and substance use. Data sovereignty is especially relevant now, as the Trump administration scrubs federal health websites of data that recognizes and tracks metrics among the countrys various racial and ethnic groups, including what little data there is on tribal members. States govern their own health data systems. But the same isnt true for the nations 574 federally recognized tribes. Now an associate professor of public health at the University of Arizona, Carroll co-founded the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network and directs the Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance. Both are groups that work to research and strengthen Indigenous data governance, accuracy and data-driven policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you dont know who has been sick or hospitalized, Carroll said, how can you make sure you have the right care systems for your community? Withholding tribes data As part of its slashing of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, the Trump administration removed numerous racial, ethnic, adolescent and maternal health datasets from the websites of several federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While some of the data has been reinstated, the swift deletions raised alarms in tribal communities. Abigail Echo-Hawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, said the youth behavioral risk surveys were reinstated, but were missing key race and ethnicity search features that tribes use to track mental health conditions in American Indian and Alaska Native teens. Now, we cant search, disaggregate by Native youth, she said. That information is about our children, and it is the legal right of both now the tribal epidemiology centers and the tribes to have access to that previously gathered information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite their public health authority, tribes and tribal epidemiology centers, which support tribes with health data tracking, say federal and state health officials have long withheld or denied requests to direct access of health data related to their tribes, including coronavirus data during the pandemic. Such data is tied to treaty rights obligations and shouldnt be lumped together with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives currently under attack by the Trump administration, Echo-Hawk said. Our treaty rights are tied to having information around tribal people. So, if youre going to uphold our treaty rights, you need to say: This number of Native people are experiencing this issue, or This number of Native people exist, she said. It wasnt until 2021 that the CDC conducted its first comprehensive life expectancy profile of American Indians and Alaska Natives; it showed that in 2019, their life expectancy was seven years lower than that of white people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the data is a story. Its a grandmother, its a son, its a story of a communitys well-being, Echo-Hawk said. When tribes receive federal grants whether for transportation, housing or education initiatives there are grant reporting requirements. Under those rules, tribes send raw data to federal agencies, but they often dont get that data back, said social demographer Desi Small-Rodriguez, an assistant professor of sociology and American Indian studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, who co-founded the data sovereignty network with Carroll. Its a one-way data highway coming from tribal governments leaving tribal governments and going into the feds and its not coming back, said Small-Rodriguez. She also directs the Data Warriors Lab, working with tribes including her own Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana to develop legal mechanisms to ensure data ownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the federal government should provide funding, as part of its treaty obligations, to pay for expensive data support such as secure storage systems, high-performance computers and analytics staff. As part of our treaty rights, we have a right to health care and education. We have a right to clean water and air and data form the basis for all of that, she said. State data agreements In January, the Tulalip Tribes in northwest Washington state secured a data-sharing agreement with the state department of health. It gives the tribes access to the states disease reporting system, allowing them to extract some data directly. Tulalip plans to eventually secure access to more datasets. Its the first agreement of its kind in the state, said Summer Hammons, legislative policy analyst in the Treaty Rights and Governmental Affairs Department of the Tulalip Tribes, which has at least 5,000 members. Hammons grew up on the reservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She hopes it will help the tribe direct resources and funds where theyre needed whether its more cancer screenings or vaccinations against diseases such as measles, as other states grapple with outbreaks of the virus. It allows us to collaborate and lead on outbreak investigations related to tribal members, Hammons said. Its a clear outline that tribes own their data in partnership with the state, because the states the one thats collecting it. But we want to tell our story, and we want to be able to work with DOH [department of health] to be mindful of our stories and to also get better access to the statistics. A few other states Alaska, Arizona, Oregon and South Dakota also have limited-scope agreements with tribes. Gary Ferguson, Unangax (Aleut), is the director of integrative medicine at Tulalip Health Clinic. He said he hopes the data will help the tribe track health care interventions over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont know whats working. We dont know whats not working, he said. We want to celebrate our wins. Tracking disease In recent years, the nation has seen alarming surges in congenital syphilis, a preventable infection passed through pregnancy to newborns. Nearly 40% can be stillborn or die as a newborn. Babies can also suffer lifelong blindness or deafness. Tribal babies suffer the highest rate. Officials at the Great Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center, which tracks tribal public health across four states, were denied syphilis data from local public health departments for years until the group leaned on the CDC for assistance. It wasnt until then that, finally, last year, one state South Dakota agreed to share American Indian and Alaska Native syphilis cases as soon as theyre reported, said Sarah Shewbrooks, the groups lead tribal epidemiologist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shewbrooks hopes the access in South Dakota will pave the way for more agreements in the other Great Plains states. We needed this yesterday During COVID-19, American Indian and Alaska Native people were more likely to be infected and compared with white people, had double the risk of in-hospital death and three times the rate of severe infection, research shows. Yet even then, data werent telling the whole story. Echo-Hawks organization published a report card in 2021 that scored each states collection of Natives COVID-19 cases. In total, the nation averaged a D+. This year, she published a follow-up for epidemiologists on addressing the misclassification of Native people, who often are listed as white or Hispanic in health settings and death certificates. Many states also inconsistently or dont report tribal affiliation on death certificates, which can make tribe-specific death rates elusive. A report in 2021 from the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office found that some officials from the CDC and the Indian Health Services agency didnt recognize that they were required by law to share data with tribal epidemiology centers, the centers told investigators. In the GAO report, investigators detailed logistical barriers, including federal agencies reluctance to share COVID-19 data because of concerns around privacy and security in data transmission. This is one of the best examples of what structural racism looks like, said Shewbrooks. Because when you look at the infrastructure for public health systems and public health data, tribes and [tribal epidemiology centers] were never included in that infrastructure. COVID really put it up there as: No, we needed this yesterday. Shewbrooks said that as part of her work shed go to funeral directors, who may fill out death certificates, throughout the region to educate them on proper classification of American Indian people. I even had one say to me once, I just always code them by how they look. I never ask what their race is. A lot of them didnt know that this is data that gets really used, she said. Vital records data is just super important, foundational work in a lot of epidemiological work. There is no national standard for tribal health data, explained Cheryl Ellenwood, who is a citizen of the Nez Perce Nation and also Dine (Navajo). Ellenwood, an assistant professor in Washington State Universitys School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, experienced firsthand the data disconnect when both her parents died of COVID-19. Four years ago this month, her mother, Annie Benally Ellenwood, an enrolled Navajo tribal member from New Mexico, died at age 71 in a hospital in Idaho. Annie Ellenwoods death, however, wouldnt show up in primary statistics of COVID-19 deaths in Navajo people her tribe isnt listed on her death certificate. I was very hurt by this, because my mother died because of COVID-19, and I wanted her death to count and mean something, Ellenwood said. It still feels very life and death, like we are fighting to demonstrate the impact of so many things on our people, she said. Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. It is entirely possible that newly appointed Indiana Public Access Counselor Jennifer Ruby could exercise independence to ensure Hoosiers know they have an advocate if their elected officials are not acting with openness and transparency. That would be the refreshing, best-case scenario. After all, the public access counselor is understood to be the citizens go-to outlet for help when a government entity refuses to provide a public record or entry into a public meeting. Unfortunately, Ruby is taking on a job that was reshaped by elected officials Indiana General Assembly members to diminish that offices independence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, those state legislators did their reshaping of the public access counselors duties with an utter disregard for transparency. Rubys comment Friday, in Gov. Mike Brauns announcement of her appointment, offers hope. Public access is essential for effective governance, she said. And I look forward to serving our state in this role. Brauns words also seem promising. Transparency for Hoosiers is important for a healthy state government, and Jennifer Ruby brings decades of legal experience to serve Hoosiers as public access counselor. She will do a great job promoting public trust through transparency and accountability, Braun said. In reality, reaching that goal is more than a noble achievement. It is, in fact, the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indianas public records law states, It is the public policy of the state that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. But when the General Assembly weakened the public access counselors office last year, the legislators made sure citizens and, yes, journalists had no chance to mount an objection. The change did not come through a bill on that specific topic or after hearings and debate on the performance of the sitting public access counselor at the time Luke Britt, who had been appointed by former Gov. Mike Pence in 2013 and then reappointed twice by Gov. Eric Holcomb. No, such openness, deliberation and public awareness did not happen. Instead, the language that weakened the public access counselors office was slipped into a bill about meeting decorum and trespass issues, as the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. As a result, the lawmakers sneaky tactic left the public access counselors office to mostly serve the intentions of the governor. In 1999, a different era, the General Assembly crafted the public access counselor to serve four-year terms. The counselor also could only be fired for cause. Under the new stipulations, a governor can fire the counselor at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means if a governor does not like a public access counselors opinion on a public records or open meeting issue, the counselor can be ousted. And those opinions were already non-binding under Indiana law. On top of that, the Legislature also restricted the public access counselor to only consider the laws plain text and official court orders. So, if it is not obvious, there is little point in a citizen seeking the counselors help. Britt stepped down after 12 years as public access counselor later in 2024. In a comment to WFYI, he said the role was fundamentally changed, adding, Id always said that if I found that my voice was getting ineffective, it was time to leave. And that might have been my sign, with that legislation. Let us hope that Ruby who heads her own Indianapolis law firm and hold degrees from Indiana and Purdue universities takes on the public access counselors role to indeed be the go-to for citizens, journalists and anyone feeling powerless. And let us hope she does so without concern over whether her opinions clash with a governor or the party in power. PERRY, Iowa It has been more than a year since the deadly shooting at Perry High School. It claimed the lives of sixth-grade student Ahmir Joliff and longtime principal Dan Marburger. The community continues to heal, and one way is through music. The Iowa Bandmasters will debut the Perry Commission Project on Monday, April 7. It will feature a song composed by Michele Fernandez called A Mere Moment Bolero in Remembrance. The premiere performance will feature Perry band students and the Central College Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fernandez describes the song as poignant and inspiring, with cultural diversity and rhythmic sounds. Grannies ball up for Granny Basketball League tournament Perry Commission Project leaders Steve Cook and Tony Garmoe joined WHO 13s Cinthia Naranjo about the upcoming event. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. at the Perry Performing Arts Center. It is free to attend. Reserved seating is required, and you can reserve your spot here. Garmoe and Cook shared a statement on the involvement of the Iowa Bandmasters Association with the Perry Commission Project: The Perry Commission Project is an outreach of the Iowa Bandmasters Association. President Kyle Engelhardt and the Board of Directors provided important support and guidance throughout the project. The Iowa Bandmasters Association is the standard-bearing professional organization for Iowas band directors with a ninety-eight-year history of delivering professional development, performance opportunities, advocacy, and mentorship for Iowas band directors and band programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fight for Air Climb raises over $200,000 The IBA Organizational Committee for the Perry Commission Project included Steven Cook, Tony Garmoe, Patrick Kearny, and Steve Shanley. Advisory Committee members Samantha Beeman, Lisa Christensen, Alexa Gibbs, Brad Lampe, Aaron Ottmar, Courtney Ridge, Blaine Schmidt, Roxianne Scott, Pat Toben, and Kelly Weber provided state-wide representation and support. The Iowa Bandmasters Association Perry Commission Project is honored to have received support from many individual donors, organizations, and consortium members. We extend our most sincere thanks to all who gave so generously. We recognize three such sponsors for their early and significant commitments: The Iowa Arts Council/Iowa Economic Development Authority for its grant award of $10,000.00; the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, Past-President Samantha Beeman, and President Christian Baughman; Jane Blair and Family in honor of Donald Guy Blair, IBA Past-President and wonderfully respected Pella Community Schools band director, who passed away March 29, 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Trout are coming, if they havent already arrived, to a waterhole near you as well as to waterholes not so near. Some 85,000 hatchery-raised rainbows in the convenient catching size of 10 to 13 inches are scheduled to be spit out of Ohio Division of Wildlife tanker trucks at 90 accessible fishing sites before the stocking program ends in mid-May. The first of two trout infusions was scheduled on Friday at five park ponds in Columbus Westgate, Linden, Franklin, Schiller and Goodale. A second stocking is scheduled April 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Cenci Park Lake and the small-fry fishing pond at Delaware State Park were on the stocking schedule for Friday. Special rules at the Delaware pond stipulate that only youngsters may fish for the first seven days post-stocking, after which adults may join in the pursuit. Adult participation extends, however, only through the last day of April, when the kids-only condition returns. A youth event is planned as part of an April 5 release at Mirror Lake in Granville. Some 85,000 hatchery-raised rainbows in the convenient catching size of 10 to 13 inches are scheduled to be spit out of Ohio Division of Wildlife tanker trucks at 90 accessible fishing sites before the stocking program ends in mid-May. A trout release is scheduled at Antrim Lake in Columbus on April 18, a traditional Good Friday date that allows youngsters off from school to participate immediately after the stocking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final spring trout infusion in Columbus will take place at Krumm Park Pond on April 23. Two later stockings are scheduled in Delaware County: Ashley Upground Reservoir on April 26 and Sunbury Upground Reservoir No. 2 on May 3. Youth activities are planned to coincide with both releases. The stocked rainbows dont seem to be especially particular about fishing methods or bait. The daily limit is five, and anglers age 16 and older must have a valid fishing license. The trout released into the cool water of late winter and early spring are meant to be caught. Cool-water fish generally dont survive the summer heat of Ohio. Stamps for sale Legal waterfowl hunting wont be on the menu for months, though an appetizer is available now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, a required buy for anyone who wants to hunt waterfowl in the state, can be purchased for $15. For details and ordering information, visit the website, wildohio.gov. Revenues generated by sales of the stamp go toward wetlands restoration projects, which is a benefit to a large number of plant and animal species. Stamp sales to hunters, birders and collectors have raised more than $11 million since 1982. Depicted on this years stamp is a solitary bufflehead plowing a wake while casting a reflection of its topside image on a calm pond against a backdrop of warm orange hues. The painting by New York resident Ray Easton was chosen as winner of the 2024 Ohio wetlands stamp competition. This years honor went to the depiction of three resting hooded mergansers, two males and a female, painted by Gerald Putt of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Putts rendering, which topped 22 entries judged by a panel of five, will appear on the 2026 stamp. Parting shots An open house is scheduled April 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Hebron State Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Rd SE, at Hebron. Visitors can view fish eggs and fry, and observe older fish in raceways. Four Ohio men and six Michigan men in separate cases were found guilty in Huron Municipal Court of charges related to taking in December more than the legal daily limit of six walleyes from Lake Erie. The Michigan six, two of whom had been snagged for overbagging previously, were each fined $310 and court costs. The Ohio four each paid $210 and costs. outdoors@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio trout fishing: Hatchery-raised rainbows arriving in waterholes This story is from an installment of The Oeno Files, our weekly insider newsletter to the world of fine wine. Sign up here. In the latest fallout from a tit-for-tat trade war that has markets reeling, the United States wine industry is bracing for the effects of 200 percent tariffs on European wine and spirits imports. In short, the U.S. placed a 25 percent tariff on metal imported from other countries; the E.U. struck back by implementing 50 percent tariffs on a variety of goods from the U.S. that includes bourbon; and on March 13 President Trump posted on Truth Social that if the tariff were not removed immediately, the U.S. would place a 200 percent tariff on all wine, Champagne, and spirits coming from the E.U. While both sides have paused their tariffs until the middle of April, which may allow for some negotiation, the threat still looms, leaving uncertainty on both sides of the Atlantic. More from Robb Report U.S. Trade Alliance Warns Members On March 18, the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance (USWTA), an industry group that represents thousands of family-owned businesses across the United States, posted a statement on Facebook and sent an email to its members to halt all shipments of wine, spirits, & beer from the E.U., because the risk of tariffs was currently too high. Signed by alliance founder Ben Aneff, who is a partner at New York Citys Tribeca Wine Merchants, the letter explained that there was no guarantee of an exception for goods in transit. Previously, the USWTA had distributed a letter for members to send to commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, treasury secretary Scott Bessent, and trade representative Jamieson Greer, asking them to consider the destruction that increased wine tariffs would cause across the entire wine sector. Aneff tells Robb Report that although tens of thousands of letters have been sent, there has not yet been a hearing or open comment portal to allow normal businesses to comment on a tariff issue. However, members of the alliance have been meeting with members of Congress every week, and Aneff states that once Congress members learn about the downstream businesses supported by wine, they always understand how bad wine tariffs are for our country. An Importers View We reached out to a wide network of owners and CEOs at wine importers across the country, almost all of whom declined to respond to questions about tariffs, citing the sensitive political nature and the need to communicate with employees, suppliers, and customers before commenting publicly. However, Don Opici, CEO of Opici Wines & Spirits, said the proposed tariffs would destroy business in the U.S. for the affected brands, who would have to seek alternative markets for their wine. While he has no intention of firing or laying off employees, Opici says, I can imagine companies being forced to do that if their business collapses. Wine shops and restaurants would have to adjust their inventory, and European wines would come off wine lists and lose shelf placement and floor space at retail, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenny Lefcourt, president and cofounder of Jenny & Francois Selections, an importer specializing in natural wine, wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times in January 2020 about the wine tariffs that had been implemented late in the previous year; the article has been heavily re-shared on social media in the past two weeks. Citing the domino effect of wine distributors (the middlemen between importers and retailers) being unable to supply their customers with affordable wine, she wrote, Trucking, warehouse, and shipping companies will all be affected. Office assistants, truck drivers, forklift operators, logistics coordinators, bookkeepers, and restaurant chefs and servers could all see their jobs in peril. French wine displayed in Liquor Store, New York City Retailers and Wine Bars Would Be Hard Hit There is no evidence to suggest that American wine drinkers who enjoy glasses from France, Italy, Spain, Austria, or Germany are suddenly going to switch their preference to nothing but American wine. We are not talking about widgets being stamped out in factories that could operate anywhere on Earth. The worlds greatest wines are inherently tied to their origins, whether a singular parcel in Burgundy or an iconic Napa hillside, each bottle tells a story that cannot be replicated elsewhere, says Lauren McPhate, another partner at Tribeca Wine Merchants. With an inventory that boasts 75 percent European wine, McPhate says the distributors who represent the best U.S. domestic wines all rely on the sale of imported wines, too, so tariffs would affect her suppliers as well. A 200 percent tariff would be devastating to any business in the U.S. wine industry, and it would fundamentally alter the landscape of great restaurants and fine wine retail, she says. Heidi Turzyn, co-owner of retail shop Beaupierre Wine & Spirits, has begun stockpiling some customer favorites from France, which she realizes is not a long-term strategy. Were a very small store, so we dont have the finances to stock up on a lot, she says. With a clientele that is heavily into European wine, Turzyn doesnt see an alternative business model if those wines are out of the price range for her shop or her customers. Peter Cecere and Marni Halasa, proprietors of the Purple Tongue wine bar in Hells Kitchen, are actively sourcing a variety of wines from domestic and new world producers, but they are both living with a constant feeling of unease in the current news cycle. The sudden imposition of these tariffs has left us feeling as though weve lost some control over our businesss direction. Were committed to weathering this storm, but its undeniably a challenging situation, Cecere tells Robb Report. Wont Tariffs on Imports Help American Winemakers? Despite the presidents claim to the contrary, tariffs will also hurt many of the people who grow grapes and make wine within the United States. We have a very successful distributor in the middle part of the country who sells our wines but also sells a good bit of imported wine, says Adam Lee, owner and winemaker at Clarice Wine Company in California. That distributor currently has three containers of European wine en route to our shores. If the tariffs were implemented today at the 200 percent level, then they would owe an additional $600,000 in taxes, Lee says, which would make it impossible for the distributor to buy any of his or another American winerys bottles. He also worries about tariffs on other products from Europe such as oak barrels, bottles, or cork. French oak is a different species of oak than American oak, he says. A vintner cannot simply replace one with the other without changing the entire profile of his or her wine. Who Will Benefit Is it all bad news if 200 percent tariffs on European wine are put into place? Every cloud has a silver lining. Aneff corrected himself after saying there is no benefit whatsoever to the tariffs. I guess thats not entirely true. U.S. tariffs on E.U. wines would be great for Canada and China, who could then buy E.U. wines for less money. But they are terrible for the United States, he said. Pretty much the entire United States wine industry agrees. Do you want access to rare and outstanding reds from Napa Valley? Join the Robb Report 672 Wine Club today. Best of Robb Report Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Trump administration is now pressuring European companies to comply with its anti-DEI order. CNBC reports that U.S. officials have sent letters to companies in the European Union with government contracts. The warnings demanded that the companies must certify that none of their programs support DEI measures. Department of State contractors must certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws and agree that such certification is material for purposes of the governments payment decision and therefore subject to the False Claims Act, detailed the statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French business publication Les Echos first reported the release of the statements, which the American Embassies across the E.U distributed. The letters also included a questionnaire to ensure their compliance with the federal laws. Diplomats in the eastern U.S. states and Belgium additionally delivered the letters. The French businesses impacted include those within the aviation, defense, and infrastructure sectors, as well as consulting firms. Trump has been adamant about eliminating all DEI programming and departments across the federal government. His anti-DEI push has bled into the corporate sector as well. In line with Trumps policy, U.S-based businesses, from Amazon to Target, have scaled back their inclusive initiatives. However, the orders have faced pushback from other countries, especially France. The nations finance ministry stated that the aggressive approach does not reflect French values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, the warnings come at a time of tension between the U.S. and its longtime allies, including France and the E.U. at large. At a time when Trump warns of unleashing tariffs on European exports, the DEI issue adds more fuel to the growing division. While foreign companies are now facing pressure from the U.S. governments internal shifts, U.S. companies are also facing similar warnings. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will investigate DEI concerns under the Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit. RELATED CONTENT: FCC Chair Targets Disney: Investigation Launched Into Companys DEI Practices Fresh off J.D. Vances embarrassingly truncated visit to Greenland, President Donald Trump said that using military force to seize the semi-autonomous territory from Denmark is not off the table. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100%, Trump told NBC News Kristen Welker in a Saturday phone call. No, I never take military force off the table, the president said when Welker asked if he would forcibly seize Greenland. But I think theres a good possibility that we could do it without military force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has previously said that using force is an option not only in Greenland but also Panama. Trump in his March 5 joint address to Congress said that the U.S. need[s] Greenland for national security and even international security. Many international shipping routes pass by Greenland, and it contains natural resources, including largely untapped reserves of natural gas, oil and highly desired minerals. In responding to Trumps joint address, Greenlands prime minister said, We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Vance visited Greenland last week, although the White House cut his planned three-day visit short after Greenland officials said the timing of the visit conflicted with coalition negotiations and was perceived as potentially interfering in domestic politics, Axios reported. In a speech at Pituffik Space Base, the U.S.s northernmost military outpost, Vance said the U.S. would not use military force to take Greenland which Trump seemingly contradicted Saturday. Vance also claimed that Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark. Residents of Greenland, however, overwhelmingly do not want the U.S. to take over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland, Vance said. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. This prompted the Danish foreign minister, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, to clap back in a video posted on social media. Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course, we are open to criticism, Rasmussen said. But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies. Rasmussen went on to say that Denmark respects that the United States needs a greater military presence in Greenland, adding, We Denmark and Greenland are very much open to discussing this with you, with an open mind. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico On a hot summer evening the lights in Old San Juan suddenly powered off, darkening the cobblestone streets of this historic neighborhood. Luckily this dog-friendly bar had its own generator so the power kicked back on, making it attractive to the tourists and residents wandering by. The friendly bartender came over and urged us to order another round before the crowd flooded in. For a visitor to this beautiful island, it was a bit disorienting to be plunged into darkness. The locals were unfazed. Theyre used to apagones blackouts in Spanish. Hurricane-induced outages are always a risk for islands in the Caribbean, but this was something else: Hardware and power line failures in the troubled energy system were to blame. About 350,000 of Puerto Ricos 1.5 million electricity customers were left without power for hours that night. Two even bigger power outages would follow over the next several months. Tropical storm Ernesto mostly passed north of the island but still managed to knock out the islands fragile electrical system. On New Years Eve, an old cable failed, triggering a near-total blackout . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Puerto Rico has the least reliable energy system of any place in the U.S. Puerto Ricans experience about 15 percent more service interruptions and about 21 percent longer outages than their fellow Americans on the mainland. Aside from the widespread New Years Eve and storm-related blackouts, the island is prone to regional and local outages when equipment fails, as it did in early June in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The territory also suffers from frequent power losses due to shortfalls in available energy the grid manager reported supply shortages caused the power to be turned off to certain areas 115 times last year. These shutoffs are done to avoid a catastrophic failure of Puerto Ricos fragile system. But for Puerto Ricans living on the island, those constant power outages are the catastrophe. Puerto Ricos power failures affect every aspect of life for the 3.2 million American citizens living in the territory. It interrupts their ability to work and support their families. It disrupts their access to health care and education. It wreaks havoc on efforts to build more affordable housing and expand farming programs so Puerto Rico is less dependent on imported food. Its not supposed to be this way. After Hurricane Maria hit in 2017 the second deadliest in U.S. history Congress allocated billions to Puerto Ricos grid to repair energy plants and power lines damaged by the storm and upgrade aging equipment that failed. Then, in 2019, the territory launched an ambitious plan to overhaul its power system, with Puerto Rican lawmakers passing a law mandating 100-percent renewable energy by 2050. The Biden administration, along with local clean energy groups, sought to leverage Puerto Ricos sunny locale to meet these goals, focusing on rooftop solar and storage systems that can run independently from the grid when it fails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many advocates and experts, the answer is not to repair the existing grid but to wean Puerto Ricans off the fragile energy system entirely. Transitioning to mostly solar energy, they argue, is the best way to ensure islanders have the power they need to continue with their daily lives. The fact right now is that solar energy is the best way, the easiest way and the cheapest way to provide energy to Puerto Rican communities, said Jonathan Castillo Polanco, director of green energy for the Hispanic Federation in Puerto Rico. But so far, despite some success stories, that plan is falling far short of its goals, leaving Puerto Ricans in the dark. The territory is nowhere near the laws interim goal of 40 percent by 2025, with renewable energy generation still in the single digits. Most of the billions from Congress remain unspent, thanks to inaction and bureaucratic obstacles by the first Trump administration not to mention corruption among Puerto Rican officials. Former President Joe Biden pushed hard to start spending the stalled federal dollars, but he sometimes frustrated Puerto Ricans with a seemingly contradictory approach: One of his agencies focused on renewable energy while another spent money rebuilding a constantly failing fossil fuel-based system. Thats a disconnect that clean energy advocates argue undermined Puerto Ricos renewable energy mandates. Meanwhile, LUMA Energy, the U.S.- and Canadian-owned private grid operator, has become a villain in the story native son Bad Bunny, a Grammy Award-winning reggaeton star, regularly lambasts LUMA for its inability to stop the power outages even though the systems problems started well before the company took over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2024 elections further complicated Puerto Ricos quest for a cleaner energy system. The new governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, a Trump ally critical of the Biden administrations focus on solar energy, is trying to delay or outright eliminate the territorys interim clean energy mandates and insists natural gas should play a critical role in providing reliable energy to Puerto Rico. The governors approach reflects the position of those who want a reliable grid and are willing to continue Puerto Ricos dependence on fossil fuels to get it while others like Castillo Polanco argue Puerto Rico just needs to move to renewable energy, primarily solar and the batteries needed to store the power it generates, as quickly as possible. And now that Trump is back in the White House, Puerto Ricans fear the billions of dollars in unspent federal money will disappear, given his history of disparaging comments about the territory and the fact that island residents voted nearly 3-1 in favor of Kamala Harris. Thats what worries me, that some of those monies wont be forthcoming, said Andres Cordova Phelps, a professor in Puerto Rico and chair of the Puerto Rico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He could take it personally. The prospect of Trumpian vengeance doesnt concern Gonzalez-Colon. Still, she said, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot afford to lose that money. It means having the whole island shut down. As the right and the left fight over the U.S. energy system, Puerto Rico could be an example for clean energy for the rest of the country. But its troubles reflect the challenges of building a cleaner, more reliable energy system in a territory that ultimately has no control over its own destiny. Which means the power outages will likely continue. And Puerto Ricans will continue to suffer or leave the island in droves. Puerto Ricos energy problems have been decades in the making. And theres plenty of blame to cast around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the government-owned local utility, which locals call PREPA, ignored the dire need for repairs to its dilapidated power system that relies on plants and substations well past their prime leaving the territorys power system on life support. An equipment failure in one part of the aging system can cascade throughout, causing power losses to regions and residents far from the initial failure point. The public utility has also been caught up in corruption scandals that have plagued Puerto Rico for decades, leading to significant leadership turnover as governors and other officials were charged with crimes or forced out of office. Congress probed allegations that PREPA officials received bribes to prioritize restoring power to certain businesses and areas after Maria. But the energy systems problems were also caused by local leaders just making bad financial decisions to plug budget holes and delaying necessary plant and grid maintenance. Decisions like these went well beyond the public utility and eventually bankrupted Puerto Rico. In response, Congress put control over the territorys finances including the bankrupt utility into the hands of an unelected oversight board in 2016. On Sept. 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma slammed Puerto Rico, killing three and causing an estimated $1 billion in damages. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The category four hurricane struck Puerto Rico head on, decimating its energy grid and triggering the longest blackouts in U.S. history lasting nearly a year in some areas. Nearly 3,000 Puerto Ricans lost their lives because of Maria and its aftermath, making it the nations second deadliest hurricane . The memories of Hurricane Maria haunt Puerto Ricans: the months and months their grandmothers didnt have dialysis treatments or insulin and their kids couldnt get meals because the schools were closed and the grocery stores were empty. The energy, health care and educational infrastructure was decimated first by Maria, then by earthquakes, followed by a pandemic that left people living in remote areas feeling even more isolated. Ivonne Rodriguez-Wiewall, a lawyer who leads the nonprofit Direct Reliefs efforts in Puerto Rico, said the aftermath of Maria was like waking up on Sept. 20th of the 1950s. There was nothing, nothing. The one-two punch of Irma and Maria rendered the grid inoperable. The grid became so fragile that today, Puerto Ricans are constantly one power line, one bird, one tree branch and one iguana true story away from a blackout, according to Charlotte Gossett Navarro, chief director of the Hispanic Federations Puerto Rico team, a nonprofit that was one of the first responders post-Maria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress responded over the next five years by allocating billions of dollars to rebuild Puerto Ricos infrastructure, including about $20 billion for the energy system through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Energy Department. But spending those billions has been a painfully slow process. The Trump administrations inaction and administrative hurdles meant the vast majority of billions of dollars Congress earmarked for Hurricane Maria recovery in 2017 sat unused for years. President Trump and his administration are working to unleash domestic energy production and reduce energy costs for all Americans, a spokesperson for the Energy Department said in a statement. Energy Secretary Chris Wright met with Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon to discuss opportunities to help strengthen Puerto Ricos energy infrastructure and increase grid reliability. By mid-2019, neither FEMA nor HUD had funded long-term grid recovery projects. Thats partly because of unclear guidance from FEMA about which projects were eligible for funding and a lack of coordination among the different government agencies involved in grid recovery, according to a Government Accountability Office report . Bidens FEMA, which was essentially starting from zero, began moving some of its $17 billion earmarked for the power system more quickly, partly by offering unheard-of flexibility to send money to post-disaster projects that had not yet begun construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, by the time Biden left office, FEMA had only disbursed about 19 percent of the hurricane recovery money earmarked for the energy system. And some critics, such as environmental nonprofit Earthjustice acting on behalf of local clean energy and community groups, sued the Biden administration arguing FEMA was using too much of the money it had to rebuild the failing fossil fuel-based power system. They wanted FEMA to take the same approach as Bidens Energy Department, which dedicated the $1 billion it had been given by Congress to bring 30,000 to 40,000 solar power and storage systems to low-income Puerto Ricans and those with disabilities. According to Chris Currie of the U.S. GAO, Puerto Ricos financial problems also meant that, unlike states that suffer disasters, the territory could not afford to front the money for recovery efforts after Maria leaving the island completely dependent on federal funding. Currie, who directs the GAOS Homeland Security and Justice team, said Puerto Rico also did not initially have the government agency and personnel to accept a massive influx of funds. And PREPAs problems didnt help, given it wasnt in a good position to manage the system it had, let alone upgrade the entire grid, he said. The blame cant be placed all on FEMA, Currie said. PREPA has a role to play in this too. For her part, Gonzalez-Colon places the blame squarely on the federal permitting process, which she said has stalled energy projects in the island because it takes years to get approval from federal regulators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Puerto Rico, she said, is constrained because of the federal permitting process. she said. After the devastation of Maria, Puerto Rican lawmakers devised a plan to create an energy system that would not fail as spectacularly as the existing power grid did under the weight of the historic storm. In 2019, they passed a law to convert a system that depended on fossil fuels for more than 95 percent of its power to a grid completely powered by renewable energy by mid-century an ambitious goal given that renewables made up such a minute share of the power mix. That law included firm mandates designed to ensure the effort didnt stall on the way to 2050, including ceasing all coal-fired energy generation by 2028. It also included interim goals for ramping up renewable energy generation. But the law left it up to the territorys independent energy regulator to decide how much of that mix should be met by renewable energy systems on individual homes and businesses and how much of that power should be provided by large wind and solar farms that would still be tied to a fragile grid. The plan took years to get off the ground to mixed results, with rooftop solar installations soaring. But none of the large-scale renewable energy projects approved by the energy regulator in 2020 had started operations by mid-2023. And the plan hasnt stopped the problems caused by the outages. Even when the power is mostly restored after a major outage, electricity disruptions can continue for days and weeks. Thats the case for people living in the Santa Isabel, Coamo and Aibonito municipalities ever since the transformer failed in early June. The few exceptions: those lucky enough to have solar power systems on their homes, businesses or through community microgrids. On a drive through some of these hard-hit areas with Jorge Gaskins, board president of nonprofit Barrio Electrico, we talked about his efforts to put solar and battery systems on hundreds of individual homes. He took me to the Coamo home of Jose Rivera Espada, a retired member of the Puerto Rican Army National Guard. After directing us where to park on this narrow back country road, Rivera Espada talked about how grateful he was for the solar and battery system especially as his neighbors dealt with yet another power loss. With pride, he showed me the rectangular white system anchored against an orange wall, pointing to the blue and green lights that show it is up and running and the battery is charged. Solar panels and batteries such as these, Gaskins said, are critical to help ensure Puerto Ricans are not at the mercy of their weak grid, which he described as a bottomless pit. The benefits of transitioning to clean energy becomes obvious on visits to nearby Santa Isabel, one of the municipalities hit hardest by a succession of disasters, which has a population of about 20,000 people and a median household income of $22,680. In 2022, a glancing blow by Hurricane Fiona dropped more than 30 inches of rain here, overwhelming the energy infrastructure and causing power losses that lasted nearly two weeks. All of this was underwater, locals told me repeatedly on drives through the streets of Santa Isabel. Just a few minutes away from an I Heart SI (Santa Isabel) sculpture is a grey building with blue trim, white fencing and multiple crosses on its exterior walls. Thats where I met Keila M. Torres Mendez, a pastor with the Iglesia Evangelica Unida de Puerto Congregacion Jauca Santa Isabel. This isnt just a church. Its become a refuge for residents of this small, poor and aging community as they contend with the frustrations of frequent power outages. On the night the transformer outage began in June, upset congregants crammed into the church, which has enough solar power to meet the needs of its congregants during an emergency. When the power goes out, Mendez is at the church handing out bottled water and coffee and cooking arroz con pollo and salmon so people can have a hot meal. Congregants can store their insulin in the refrigerator and have a relatively cool place to sleep. When someone comes in asking for help, they never leave empty handed, she said, sitting a few feet away from a table stacked with cans of beans ready to be cooked and another table scattered with shoes and books, waiting to be taken by whoever needs them. Another way to boost renewable energy is visible near the church entrance, where I could see the massive wind towers of Pattern Energys Santa Isabel Wind Farm in the distance. It is an awe-inspiring and neck-craning sight. The towers share space with trees birthing plantains, bananas and a countless number of mangoes. Renewable energy farms could play a major role in helping Puerto Rico achieve its clean energy mandates if more of them can finally get off the ground. Aside from the Santa Isabel wind farm, the Punta de Lima Wind Farm damaged during Hurricane Maria was finally restored and is back to providing renewable power after being offline for more than six years. But these farms raise critical, and very controversial, questions about the energy transition: Can more megafarms be built without sacrificing the agricultural land needed for food security in a territory that imports more than 85 percent of its food? And should Puerto Rico even try to do that given that fragile power lines would still be needed to transport the power they generate to the more populated urban areas? Or should it instead focus more on putting rooftop solar and storage on homes so people are not dependent on the grid? Puerto Rico has seen significant growth in rooftop solar installations, quadrupling to providing almost 600 megawatts over a five-year period, thanks to an incentive program whose future is in doubt. Amid this debate, Puerto Ricos energy transition continues to creep along too slowly, many would say. Meanwhile, Gonzalez-Colon, the new governor, and other leaders are moving legislation to delay or outright eliminate those interim requirements. Clean energy advocates worry the fossil fuel interests that have dominated Puerto Ricos energy sector will slow the transition by continuing to push for more natural gas in the mix instead of wind and solar. One big reason for the concern: much of Puerto Ricos energy infrastructure is now being managed by private companies. As I rode in an Uber on the highway in San Juan, I passed graffiti with a very clear message: Fuck LUMA. Puerto Ricans may disagree on a wide range of issues, including whether Puerto Rico should be a U.S. state or not but on LUMA, the company responsible for disseminating Puerto Ricos electricity on behalf of grid owner PREPA, they are in agreement: They hate the power outages. And they hate their sky-high electric bills . This is an issue that has to be fixed, said Charles A. Rodriguez, former president of Puerto Ricos Senate and former chair of the territorys Democratic Party. We are not happy with LUMA. When the lights went out in Old San Juan during my visit last summer, social media was rife with angry and frustrated tweets , including from one of the biggest musical stars in the world : Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, AKA Bad Bunny. In 2022, the rapper released a music video/mini documentary, El Apagon , or the Power Outage, lambasting the energy instability and gentrification Puerto Ricans face each day. And he hasnt let up. Seeing the pro-statehood party of power as part of the problem, he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a billboard campaign to convince fellow Puerto Ricans to oust them. (His campaign fell short , with the Trump-backed Gonzalez-Colon winning the governors chair in a crowded race with 41 percent of the vote .) Then, right after the November election, Bad Bunny took to X, declaring, LUMA HAS TO GO. And after the lights went out on New Years Eve, he posted on his Instagram stories , This is how you spend New Years Eve in Puerto Rico, without electricity. Normal. LUMA officials say they understand the frustration. Alejandro Figueroa Ramirez, the companys chief regulatory officer, said their heads are down and focused on fixing the power grid. (As the operator of the power grid, LUMA will have a role to play in the 2050 clean-energy plan by continuing to ramp up renewable energy connections.) But, Figueroa said, the company inherited an old system with a lot of vulnerabilities and needs time to fix all of the weak spots. You cant fix everything and get to where we all want to be in a small amount of time, he said. But there is hope in the sense that we know what needs to get done. LUMA is warning Puerto Ricans could have a tough year ahead of them. Puerto Ricans experienced 34 days over a six-month period in 2024 where LUMA had to turn off power to certain areas of the island due to supply shortages. The company is now predicting there could be as many as 93 days over the same period this year where it will be forced to take that action to prevent widespread grid failure. That number could be worse if a major hurricane hits or power shortages are more severe than projected. LUMA has argued these particular outages are not its fault, blaming a lack of available supply to meet increasing demand. Responsibility for managing Puerto Ricos older power plants belongs to another private company called Genera, a subsidiary of natural gas company New Fortress Energy. Genera has been roundly criticized over fears that it will perpetuate the territorys dependence on fossil fuels by continuing to operate the existing fossil fuel plants. Genera spokesperson Ivan Baez said the company is committed to shutting down the plants, but needs to keep them operating for the time being to ensure the stability of fuel supplies. Local leaders fare no better than these private companies when it comes to anger over the mess Puerto Ricos energy system is in right now. The anger is driven in large part by the corruption that has plagued Puerto Rico and which has been blamed for contributing to the delayed flow of federal funding following the disasters. Meanwhile, Gonzalez-Colon and her party, the pro-statehood Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party), have been subject to public attacks over the power outages; theyve also been accused of corruption . Two months into the job, she is trying to convey that she's taking charge of the unstable energy grid, appointing an energy czar and creating an energy committee. The unstable power system, she told POLITICO Magazine, is my main challenge. She believes in an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes hydroelectric, solar and wind power and storage although many of the specific projects she mentioned were natural gas projects. My concern is there are going to be blackouts and brownouts because of the lack of [power] generation, she said. But Gonzalez-Colon does not have final say over financial matters for the territory. In 2016, Congress responded to Puerto Rico's $72 billion bankruptcy by handing control of the territorys finances to the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico, commonly referred to as La Junta. When I asked Robert Mujica Jr., executive director of the board, if La Junta has too much power, he called it an interesting question. But he said the board supports Puerto Ricos renewable energy goals even though it is fighting to overturn a law extending solar incentives in the territory and is working hard to resolve the public utilitys bankruptcy so the energy resilience effort can fully move forward. If you want to grow the economy, you need to have an energy system that works, he said. In Puerto Rico, Trump is never too far away from the conversations. The image of him throwing paper towels into a crowd during his post-Maria visit is seared into the minds of Puerto Ricans, crystalizing what they see as his disdain for their homeland. In a symbolic exercise since their presidential votes are non binding given Puerto Ricos territory status 73 percent of Puerto Ricans voted in favor of Kamala Harris in November even as the pro-statehood, pro-Trump candidate for governor prevailed. (This reflects the complicated dynamics of Puerto Ricos politics, which do not align with the mainland U.S. Republican-Democratic breakdown.) Now comes the fear Trump will punish them for that pro-Harris vote by withholding the billions of dollars in unspent federal funds. When asked about potential retaliation from Trump, the governor said shes not concerned about a clawback so much as shes very worried that the money just hasnt been spent and she has directly conveyed the urgency of the energy situation in Puerto Rico to the president. Pablo Jose Hernandez Rivera, who replaced Gonzalez-Colon as Puerto Ricos representative in Congress and caucuses with Democrats in Congress, is among those hoping Gonzalez-Colons ties to Trump come in handy. After all, Trump congratulated Gonzalez-Colon on her victory and she attended his inauguration. The governor has pledged to work with the Trump-Vance administration, touting her friendships with top Trump officials such as EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Having a Republican governor seriously reduces the possibility of [Trump] lashing out against Puerto Rico, said Hernandez, a member of Puerto Ricos pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party (Partido Popular Democratico) who opposes statehood. And unlike climate hawks in the Democratic Party, Hernandez doesnt see the upside of going to battle with a Trump administration hostile to clean energy. He supports adding more renewable energy into the mix, but is willing to tolerate the inclusion of less desirable fossil fuels if it means stabilizing the grid and making power more affordable for Puerto Ricans. Before I left Puerto Rico, I visited La Biblioteca Comunitaria de Villa del Mar en Santa Isabel, a library run by director Jacklyne Ortiz Velez. Ortiz Velez has seen the fallout from Puerto Ricos energy challenges up close. She and a couple of volunteers have been doing their best to read to and educate the children and young adults, ages 5 to 21, who have lost too much school time, partly because their schools keep losing power. Sitting in front of rows and rows of books in the compact library, she tearfully talked about the kids she educates, who dont understand why their families are struggling with a lack of power and so many other problems. They are depressed, she said, some to the brink of suicide. And its not just the kids. Adults come to her crying when they are overwhelmed, when the lack of power means they cant work and dont have money to pay for food or pay their bills. That breaks my heart, she said. These kids will have many more power outages in their immediate future. As the island barrels toward yet another hurricane season, the number of days when power is cut off could quadruple starting in May leaving Puerto Ricans in the dark, once again. This story was reported with financial support from the Society of Environmental Journalists Fund for Environmental Journalism. The U.S. Department of Education is swamp politics at its finest: create a bureaucracy without a clear purpose, let it grow unchecked, and then stir up panic at the suggestion of reining it in. What began as a political bribe by President Jimmy Carter has ballooned into a federal agency meddling in decisions best left to states and local communities. President Donald Trump cant end the federal education bureaucracy on his own, so Democrats and Republicans in Congress should help him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department spent the last four decades inflating its budget and broadening its authority without ever truly justifying its existence. While states and communities invest 90% of the money in public education and shoulder nearly all the responsibility, the Department of Education lingers in the background, writing rules, tying strings, and expanding its reach in classrooms from Tennessee to California. Jimmy Carter, who had NEA's endorsement, signed education department into law Lets be clear about the need for a federal education bureau. President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act in 1979 in exchange for the National Education Associations (NEA) first ever presidential endorsement ahead of the 1980 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While President Ronald Reagan absolutely decimated Carter, the NEA secured its top priority and permanently aligned itself with the Democratic Party. Since Carter, the NEA has never endorsed a Republican for president. But for Carters unpopularity and the NEAs bargain, the Department of Education wouldnt exist. Its understandable that Republicans might question its necessity. Ironically, Carters comments in creating the Department of Education explain why it isnt necessary: "Primary responsibility for education should rest with those states, localities, and private institutions that have made our Nation's educational system the best in the world.but the Federal Government has for too long failed to play its own supporting role in education.Instead of setting a strong administrative model, the Federal structure has contributed to bureaucratic buck passing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter knew exactly where education governance belonged, but he reasoned that the most effective way of dealing with Washingtons bureaucratic inefficiency was creating a new federal agency. Opinion: Trump is abusing his power. Is this a 'constitutional crisis' or something more? | Since then, the department has grown into a sprawling apparatus that accounted for nearly $250 billion in federal spending in fiscal year 2024. The majority of those dollars are formula grants and student loans that simply dont require a bloated federal bureaucracy to administer. The agency uses roughly $80 billion in discretionary funding to run its various functions. Despite his efforts, Reagan couldn't nix the department That may sound like a lot of money, but the federal government only provides about 10% of all K-12 education funding in the United States. The rest comes from state and local governments, which are far better positioned to address the unique needs of their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That relatively small contribution comes with an outsized influence. From the arcane requirements of No Child Left Behind to the slippery tentacles of Common Core, the Department of Education has repeatedly leveraged its checkbook to set education policy across the country. Opinion: As student performance in most other states fell, here's how Tennessee improved Reagan campaigned on dismantling the department, calling it a bureaucratic boondoggle. While Reagan ultimately failed to achieve his goal, the argument that education is best handled locally resonates as strongly today as it did in the 1980s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether Democrat or Republican, the National Assessment of Education Progress, the nations own report card, indicates that weve spent billions of dollars for academic results that are largely flat. Trump should work with Congress, but it's dysfunctional Enter Trump. On March 20, the president signed an executive order attempting to close the Department of Education to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law. The first step to actually shuttering a federal bureaucracy is to begin shutting it down. While Trump certainly could have lobbied Congress to initiate the process, the House and Senate have proven largely incapable of doing just about anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So he took action. Make no mistake: the problems in American education are complex and multifaceted. But those problems will not be solved by another edict from the marble halls of Washington. Instead, it will require empowering local educators, engaging parents, and trusting communities to make decisions for their own children. We can do that effectively while moving the Department of Educations useful and legitimate functions to other agencies. The Department of Defense should compensate school districts which encompass military bases because the federal government does not pay property tax. Opinion: Take a chainsaw to the federal government. It's inelegant but might just work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given Americas negative history with Native Americans and our existing treaty obligations, the Department of the Interior should absolutely assist with educational support on tribal lands. The federal government should also prevent unconstitutional discrimination by state and local governments, a function properly housed within the Department of Justice. The Trump administration plans to move the federal student loan portfolio to the U.S. Small Business Administration within the Department of Commerce. Is there a better place to house the debts of students as they pursue gainful employment? Cameron Smith, columnist for The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network Tennessee The U.S. Department of Education has long been a bureaucracy in search of a purpose content to exist, expand, and entangle itself in matters better handled at the statehouse than the Capitol. President Trumps executive order was a reminder that the American experiment was built on the idea that government functions best when it is closest to the people it serves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps its time we leave education to those who know our students best. USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tenn., with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: U.S. Department of Education should never been created | Opinion The White House dismissed nearly all staff at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) headquarters in Washington, D.C. on March 29, the Washington Post (WP) reported. The institute plays an active role in mediating conflicts and assisting with peace negotiations in war-torn countries, including Ukraine. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency created by U.S. President Donald Trump, terminated between 200 and 300 employees at the institute's headquarters, staff members told the WP on the condition of anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the institute's overseas staff remain in place, the WP reports. Trump has granted DOGE broad latitude to slash budgets and fire federal workers in the name of eliminating waste. Headed by billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, DOGE has ordered mass firings and funding cuts despite ongoing legal challenges. DOGE has previously targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S.-funded media outlets in Ukraine, and an initiative that tracked Russia's forced deportation of Ukrainian children. The USIP has a staff of around 600 people worldwide. Employees told the WP that the sudden dismissals would have an immediate effect on conflict zones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We put mediators in place to help stitch these communities back together," one employee said. "So it does have a dramatic effect on violence on the ground immediately by just pulling these assets out." The terminations come as the Trump administration continues its efforts to negotiate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Recent talks in Saudia Arabia resulted in a partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks and operations in the Black Sea, though Kyiv has already accused Moscow of resuming strikes against energy facilities. Thus far, only Ukraine has agreed to a U.S. proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire on all hostilities. Russia continues to refuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: You cant trust Russians Europes Ukraine peacekeeping plans face one obvious hurdle Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Donald Trump doesnt like lawyers or judges who take action against him. Hes made that very clear in his second term. The President has issued executive orders against four law firms to suspend security clearances for their lawyers as well as restrict their access to government buildings, officials and federal contracting work. Thats because some of their lawyers were involved in legal cases against the President. A federal judge already declared one of them unconstitutional. However, the President lifted one of the orders when the law firm agreed to provide $40 million worth of legal services in exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now to the judges. The Trump Administration is pushing the limits by ignoring court orders specifically involving the mass deportations. The President has called for impeaching federal judges, and this week, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson threatened to close some federal courts. Host Jim Niedelman brings back Bill Bloom and Mark Schwiebert to discuss. I think there was plenty of weaponizing by the Democrats during the previous administration, above and beyond Senator Menendez, Bloom said. Theres apparently been no screening, Schwiebert said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been deported, at Trumps behest, to both Venezuela and to Haiti which have terrible, terrible legal problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To hear more, click on the video. And now we want to hear from you, too, with our question of the week: How do you feel about President Trumps executive orders targeting law firms and Republican threats to shut down federal courts? Please share your thoughts at 4therecord@whbf.com. Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. Its a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on whats happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Late last week, President Trump issued an executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution, the worlds largest museum, education, and research complex. The EO accused the organization of promoting a divisive, race-centered ideology and aims to restore it as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness. Heres a closer look at the presidents order, what it could mean for the cultural institution, and why its put historians on high alert. What does the executive order say about the Smithsonian? In his executive order, Trump attacked the Smithsonian, calling the organization complicit in furthering a revisionist movement that portrays American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive. The broadside aligns with the Trump administrations crusade against what it considers woke policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order specifically mentions the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which posted an infographic on its website back in 2020 that listed aspects and assumptions about white culture like rugged individualism and hard work. The chart was removed after criticism from Trump and others and does not appear at the museum or on its site today. The order also singled out the American Womens History Museum, specifically prohibiting the upcoming cultural center from recognizing any transgender women. The order, called Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, directs Vice President JD Vance to work with Congress to prohibit funding for exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law. It also calls for the restoration of any monuments or memorials removed or altered since 2020, when the reckoning against Confederate icons began. How will the executive order impact the Smithsonian? The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 with funds from James Smithson, a British scientist, per the New York Times. It now has 21 museums, libraries, and research centers, including the National Museum of Natural History and National Air and Space Museum, which last year drew nearly 17 million visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its overseen by a 17-member board, which includes Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, three senators and three members of the House, along with nine others from the private sector. The order directs Vance to work with Congress to appoint members committed to fulfilling Trumps vision for the institution. Still, its not clear how much influence the administration can exert over the Smithsonian, and the organization has not commented on the EO. However, as a public-private partnership, the Smithsonian does receive a significant amount of money from the federal government. About two-thirds of its $1 billion budget is appropriated by Congress, per the Times. Some historians have expressed shock by the order. David Blight, the president of the Organization of American Historians and a professor of history and African American studies at Yale, told The Guardian it felt like a frontal assault against historians, curators and on the Smithsonian. Many also made the point that it would be doing Americans a disservice to present a white-washed version of our countrys past: It seems to suggest that if we allow anyone to hear the whole story of challenges that Americans have overcome, our nation will shatter. The American people are not so fragile as all that, Chandra Manning, an American history professor at Georgetown, told the Washington Post. Have politics affected the Smithsonian before? Yes. In 1994, the institution planned an exhibit about the Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima during World War II, but it was harshly criticized by veterans groups and some politicians who believed it was disrespectful to American troops and focused too much on the Japanese victims. As a result, the museum scrapped the exhibition and instead had a much smaller display of the B-29 bomber, the Times reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently, the National Museum of the American Latino has come under fire. In 2023, a group of Republican Latino members of Congress threatened to withhold funding from the museum, which isnt planned to open for several years, because they thought its inaugural exhibition was unbalanced and depicted Latinos solely as victims of oppression. After a meeting with the museums director, in which he agreed to make a correction, they dropped their complaint. The post What Trumps Latest Executive Order Means for the Smithsonian appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Donald Trump has warned Iran there would be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before if it rejects his nuclear weapons deal. The threat comes after the US president sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader, giving him a deadline of two months to come to an agreement over the countrys nuclear programme. Last week, Mr Trump deployed stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base, which the US shares with Britain, in what was thought to be a warning to Iran and its proxies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, he told NBC in a phone call: If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. While Mr Trump has said that a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear problem is preferable, military means are still on the table. Donald Trump sent a letter to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans Supreme Leader, saying that you have to make a decision - Reuters On Friday, speaking at the Oval Office, he warned: I sent them a letter just recently, and I said you have to make a decision, one way or the other, and we either have to talk it out, or very bad things are going to happen to Iran. I dont want that to happen. My big preference and I dont say this through strength or weakness is we work it out with Iran. But if we dont work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Masoud Pezeshkian, the president, said that Islamic Republic rejected the option of direct talks with the US, offering Tehrans first response to Mr Trumps letter via mediators in Oman. During his first term, Mr Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, which had imposed strict limits on Tehrans nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. He also reimposed severe sanctions on Iran. Despite this, Tehran has surpassed the agreed limits of its nuclear programme, particularly in uranium enrichment. According to a confidential United Nations report, the increase in Irans holdings of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, or nearly weapons grade, gives it enough to produce six nuclear weapons, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said Iran was now producing enough fissile material in a month for one nuclear weapon, but Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful. It comes as the US continues its bombing of the Iran-backed Houthi militias facilities in Yemen amid the maritime blockade in the Red Sea region, in which the terror group has targeted commercial shipping with attacks on US vessels. Mr Trump has told Iran that any Houthi attacks will be treated as direct Iranian attacks, promising tough consequences. There has been no official comment from White House or the State Department following the comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump is pushing for multiple deals that could reshape global security. On Saturday, The Washington Post published parts of a secret document outlining priorities, which says the US would leave Europe to defend itself if invaded by Russia. It added that Americas sole priority is stopping China from taking over Taiwan. China is the Departments sole pacing threat, and denial of a Chinese fait accompli seizure of Taiwan while simultaneously defending the U.S. homeland is the Departments sole pacing scenario, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, wrote in the memo. Referring to the document, the Washington Post said: Its force planning construct a concept of how the Pentagon will build and resource the armed services to take on perceived threats will consider conflict only with Beijing when planning contingencies for a major power war, it says, leaving the threat from Moscow largely attended by European allies. 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. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said on Sunday that if information had been leaked from top Trump national security officials' Signal chat discussing plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen, American lives could have been lost. "I was, yesterday, down in Hampton Roads. I did two big town halls, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. There are people in the town hall who are either friends or relatives of folks who are on the [aircraft carrier USS Harry S.] Truman. Those folks were saying if their friends or loved ones were flying those jets and that information had been released and the Houthis were able to change their defensive posture, we could have lost American lives," Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in an interview with co-anchor Martha Raddatz on ABC News' "This Week." On Monday, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief revealed that national security adviser Mike Waltz had inadvertently included him in the chat with top Trump officials discussing plans for the Yemen attack. The Trump administration has pushed back against claims that the information included in the chat was classified information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump administration live updates Warner said, "There is no question, regardless of agency, that this was classified ... and those folks who are obfuscating and giving them the benefit of the doubt, I think they're lying about they should know this is classified." PHOTO: Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks on ABC's 'This Week,' March 30, 2025, about the Signal chat controversy involving top Trump administration officials. (ABC News) Republican Rep. Mike Turner, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis also weighed in on the Signal chat on "This Week." Here are highlights from Warner, Turner and Stavridis' interviews: Warner on whether the information in the chat was classified Raddatz: "There have been very strong denials from the administration that there was anything classified. So quite simply, was this classified information or not?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner: "Absolutely. It was of such a nature when you were doing the actual battle plans and the timing, what type of aircraft were being sent out. If you had been a traditional military officer or a CIA caseworker, and you were this sloppy and careless with this classified information, you would be fired, no doubt about it." Warner on Bondi's response Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that she believes Signal is a secure way to communicate and cannot be hacked by foreign adversaries. Raddatz: "Is that true?" Warner: "Signal is safer than your normal cell phones. It is encrypted. But if Ms. Bondi had looked at any of the guidance from the intelligence community which states explicitly do not use Signal for classified information." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raddatz: "Do you use Signal?" Warner: "I use Signal to talk to someone because it is safer. I actually encourage people to use Signal, but that still doesn't mean because it's safer, you can put classified information. Matter of fact, again, if Ms. Bondi knew anything about her job, she would know that we have reports of China and Russia both trying to break in to Signal." PHOTO: Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Adm. James Stavridis appears on ABC's 'This Week,' March 30, 2025. (This Week) Turner on whether the information in the chat was classified Raddatz: "So let me ask you specifically what I asked Senator Warner. Do you think this -- that some of those messages, particularly ones Pete Hegseth sent, were classified?" Turner: "Well, clearly, the subject matter that's being discussed, the status of ongoing military operations, should be and considered classified information. And the -- and it's surprising to find it in an unclassified manner, to find it in this way is -- is surprising. It is not however war plans and at The Atlantic and -- and Goldberg certainly --" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raddatz: "But, is that sort of a word game in a way? They were attack plans. I mean, they said when the -- he said when the F-18s would launch, so is that, you know, war plans, attack plans?" Turner: "They weren't really attack plans. You know they were -- they were on discussions of ongoing military operations. But in that, The Atlantic and Goldberg really did oversell. They really did lose some -- some credibility. But beyond that, it does go to the issue of whether or not, you know, the White House has said that there was no, classified information being discussed. And I think it is surprising, people are struggling with the information that's there because this information really has at its roots, you know, classified content." Raddatz: "So you say that's possible -- so you're saying it is possible that Pete Hegseth says, when he wrote those messages, it was classified, and then since he said, 'Oh, it's not classified,' and everyone else, it had been declassified?" Turner: "It -- he would have been within his authority. It's something the inspector general will look at." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: What key Trump players in Signal chat flap are saying Turner on Hegseth's ability to declassify information Raddatz: "So -- so you would say it is classified? Or not?" Turner: "I would say that the White House perhaps it is being legalistic and that the -- the individuals that are discussing this information, certainly, have the ability to declassify the information. And as they made the decision to enter into a declassified conversation, it was perhaps declassified. And that's something I think that goes to --" Raddatz: "By -- by Hegseth?" Turner: "Perhaps. And that goes to the issue of the -- of perhaps what we're going to see in this inspector general investigation that the Senate Armed Services Committee has requested. They've actually asked both the -- to look into the -- the use of Signal across agencies, but also the source of this information. Was this information, when it was given to the individuals, classified in its -- in its nature? How was it given to them? And then what decisions were made? Because it also goes to the issue of judgment. Was it classified when it was given to them? Did they declassify it? But also, what decisions were made, should it have been used in the Signal?" Turner on Mike Waltz and Pete Hegseth Raddatz: "Do you think there should be some accountability? And do you have confidence in Secretary Hegseth and Mike Waltz going forward?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner: "Absolutely. Absolutely. I think they're doing an excellent job. They're incredibly important to our -- our national security. And certainly, there were no -- there was no impact on this operation. It was a great operation and I think they're doing an -- an excellent job." PHOTO: Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, appears on ABC's 'This Week,' March 30, 2025, discussing the Signal chat controversy involving top Trump administration officials. (This Week) Stavridis on foreign implications on Signal app Raddatz: "Admiral, you've had so many important jobs over the years, including senior military assistant to [former Secretary of Defense] Donald Rumsfeld. So, when you look at what happened with that Signal app, do you think that could have put lives at risk?" Stavridis: "I have no doubt that it could have. Anytime you reveal tactical information, you don't know where it ends up. Potentially, Russia, China, could they talk to Iran, which could talk to the Houthis -- absolutely, it would put lives at risk." Raddatz: "Do you think there should be accountability?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stavridis: "I believe that's up to the commander in chief himself, the president. I think what there should be immediately is a thorough public and transparent investigation. Where are those cell phones now? What other information, what other conversations were conducted upon them?" Trump officials' Signal chat 'could have ended with lost American lives': Sen. Warner originally appeared on abcnews.go.com As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I have served my country with honor, standing alongside fellow service members who took an oath to protect this nation from enemies, both foreign and domestic. That same oath was taken by the members of the current administration, yet their actions over the past 65 days have shown anything but a commitment to those who serve. This administration seems determined to do the most damage in the shortest amount of time to the men and women in uniform both active duty and retired. The reckless breach of security we are witnessing is only the latest in a series of disturbing decisions that put our military community at risk. More: The Trump administration's haphazard approach to cost-cutting makes no sense | Opinion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planned elimination of 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs threatens the very support systems that our veterans rely on. The erasure of the accomplishments of service members from diverse backgrounds undermines the principles of unity and strength that define our armed forces. And now, we face a blatant disregard for the safety of those who have pledged their lives to defend this country. When President Donald Trump was on the campaign trail, he spoke of unwavering support for the military. But words are cheap. What we are seeing now is not support it is betrayal. It is up to us to demand better. Veterans, active-duty service members and civilians alike must stand together and hold our elected officials accountable. We must write to our legislators, call their offices and show up to peaceful protests to remind them that the White House is the peoples house not a playground for recklessness and performative patriotism. No amount of flag-hugging or military-themed photo ops will erase the damage done. The careless handling of our nations security puts lives at risk, and we will not stand idly by. We swore an oath to defend this country. Its time for our leaders to honor theirs. Rita Maxwell Rita Maxwell is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and president of the Oklahoma Democratic Veterans Federation. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Our leaders need to honor veterans who defended us | Opinion By Jeff Mason, Steve Holland and Gram Slattery WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he plans to visit Saudi Arabia as early as May to sign an investment agreement in what will be the first foreign trip of his second term, with stops also planned in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. "It could be next month, maybe a little later," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four sources briefed on the matter said mid-May was being looked at as the timing for the trip. Trump made Saudi Arabia and Israel the initial stops on his inaugural foreign trip during his first term in 2017. Trump, reiterating remarks he made in early March, said his trip to Saudi Arabia would be to seal an agreement to invest upwards of $1 trillion in the U.S. economy, including purchases of military equipment. He suggested similar agreements would be signed in Qatar and the UAE. "Tremendous jobs will be created in those two or three days," Trump said. The president did not elaborate on the specifics of the deals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other topics likely to be discussed include Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza, one source said. Saudi Arabia has played a prominent role in U.S. foreign policy, including hosting U.S. ceasefire talks with Russia and Ukraine. "An opportunity for international travel for the president is something that is being looked at. We dont yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," a White House official said ahead of Trump's remarks. Last week, Trump vowed to add more countries to the Abraham Accords, the series of normalization agreements his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said more countries want to join the accords. While the White House has singled out Saudi Arabia as a possible participant in the accords, the Saudis have qualms about Israel due to the Gaza war. (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Daphne Psaledakis, Steve Holland, Gram Slattery and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Susan Heavey, Colleen Jenkins, Howard Goller and Nia Williams) We have come together to stay together: Uddhav > < 21:31 Woman killed as IED planted by Naxalites goes off in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Representative image A 40-year-old tribal woman was killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, police said.The blast occurred around 5.30 pm on Bottamarka Hills under the Usoor police station limits, where the victim had gone to... Read more > 20:52 'One Earth One Health': Modi reveals Yoga Day theme Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced Yoga for One Earth, One Health as the theme of this year's International Day of Yoga and said the day had taken the shape of a grand festival. The United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga with an aim to raise... Read more > 20:09 HP: 6 killed as tree falls on vehicles after landslide Six people died after a huge tree fell on several vehicles following a landslide near Gurudwara Manikarn Sahib in Himachal's Kullu district on Sunday, officials said. A tree on the mountain opposite the gurudwara got uprooted following a storm and landslide. It fell on some vehicles parked... Read more > 19:58 Mentally ill man kills neighbour, lynched by locals A 40-year-old mentally ill person was lynched by angry locals after he bludgeoned a neighbour to death in a village in South Tripura district on Sunday, a police officer said.Asish Debnath of Kalacherra village under Manubazar police station is a known mental patient who has gone berserk on... Read more > 19:50 Moon sighted, Eid to be celebrated in India tomorrow Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan, will be celebrated in the country on Monday as the moon was sighted this evening. Fatehpuri Masjid Imam Mufti Mukarram Ahmad said that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of the mosque contacted many places and was informed that... Read more > 19:34 Maha mosque blast accused shot reel with explosives Gelatin sticks kept allegedly by a man at a mosque triggered a blast in Maharashtra's Beed district early on Sunday, police said.The police have arrested two persons in connection with the explosion that occurred around 2.30 am at the mosque in Ardha Masla village in Georai tehsil, an official... Read more > 18:44 ChatGPT faces outage amid Ghibli art frenzy Sachin Tendulkar's Ghibli-style AI image ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, was down for several users on Sunday with its servers overwhelmed by a surge in demand for its new Studio Ghibli-style image generation feature. However, the developer soon updated saying all impacted services have been fully... Read more > 18:38 Cong's policies encouraged Naxalism for decades: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Naxalism got encouragement for decades in Chhattisgarh and other states due to policies of Congress.Addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district, Modi said the situation is rapidly changing and a new era of peace is setting in... Read more > 18:24 Surat diamond workers stage protest demanding pay hike Hundreds of diamond workers took out a rally in Gujarat's Surat on Sunday, with some of them going on an indefinite strike to press for a relief package and pay hike amid a slowdown in the sector, which has led to a 50 per cent salary cut.Diamond cutters and polishers held a peaceful march from... Read more > 18:00 Myanmar quake: India delivers relief materials, rescue teams in 5 military planes India has sent relief materials, rescue teams and medical equipment in five military aircraft to Myanmar to help victims of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed over 1,600 people and injured nearly 3,000. India mounted its relief mission -- named 'Operation Brahma' as a swift... Read more > 17:23 Those who had eaten up fodder...: Shah slams Lalu Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday slammed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for his alleged involvement in various scams and alleged that those who had eaten up fodder cannot think about the welfare of people in Bihar.He also accused the RJD chief of ignoring the development of Bihar and working only... Read more > 16:58 Modi inaugurates Rs 33,700 crore projects in Chhattisgarh Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on Sunday and inaugurated multiple development projects of more than Rs 33,700 crore related to various sectors in Chhattisgarh.Modi inaugurated projects, laid foundation stones, and commenced various works during a function held in... Read more > 16:36 AFSPA extended in parts of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers and immunity from prosecution unless approved by the Centre, was on Sunday extended for six months in entire Manipur, except the jurisdictions of 13 police stations, in view of the law and... Read more > 16:05 Pakistan's Balochistan govt bans night travel on key highways The government in Pakistan's Balochistan province has banned night-time travel across several key national highways amid a worsening law and order situation in the area where multiple terrorist attacks occurred on vehicles in recent weeks.The volatile province faced several targeted attacks on... Read more > 16:00 Hours ahead of PM's Chhattisgarh visit, 50 Naxalites surrender Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, a police official said. They laid down arms in front of senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he... Read more > 15:56 Never again, Nitish tells Shah on break-ups with BJP Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday that he would never again ditch the Bharatiya Janata Party, having done so twice by mistake.With assembly elections barely a few months away, the Janata Dal-United president's averment came at a function in Patna... Read more > 15:29 Kerala CM hails 'Empuraan' amid row, accuses RSS of... Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday extended support to the Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan and accused Sangh Parivar of creating an atmosphere of fear regarding the stand adopted by its makers against communalism.In a hard-hitting Facebook post, the Left veteran said the movie has... Read more > 15:12 Rebirth: Allahbadia shares 1st post after 'Latent' row After this full stop, I'm trying to write a new story, said social media influencer Ranveer Allahbadia on Sunday as he returned to social media a month after his comments on India's Got Latent sparked a major controversy.In a new video, titled Let's Talk and posted on his official YouTube page,... Read more > 14:50 Mohanlal apologises amid row over 'Empuraan' Malayalam superstar Mohanlal on Sunday expressed regret over the raging row surrounding his recently released film L2: Empuraan and assured that the controversial portions would be removed from the movie. Amidst the intense criticism unleashed by Sangh Parivar against some portions of the... Read more > 14:29 11 coaches of Kamakhya Superfast Express derail An express train derailed in Odisha's Cuttack district on Sunday, an official said.Eleven coaches of the SMVT Bengaluru-Kamakhya AC Express derailed at Nirgundi near Manguli at 11.54 am, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Coast Railway Ashok Kumar Mishra said.There is no injury or... Read more > 13:46 Our festivals show unity in diversity in country: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that various festivals being celebrated today and to be observed in the coming days are a pointer to the spirit of unity pervading India's diversity and asked people to continue to strengthen this feeling. Speaking in his monthly Mann ki Baat... Read more > 13:17 I-T Dept slaps Rs 944 cr penalty on IndiGo The Income Tax Department has slapped a penalty of Rs 944.20 crore on IndiGo, which said it will contest the order that is erroneous and frivolous. The order was received by InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of the country's largest airline IndiGo, on Saturday. In a regulatory... Read more > 12:53 nstitutionalised extraction: Stalin on ATM charges hike Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday flayed the RBI's decision allowing banks to charge for ATM withdrawals beyond the monthly limit and said this will make people withdraw more than they need and alleged this is not digitisation, it is institutionalised extraction. Stalin said... Read more > 12:25 2 killed as SUV heading to PM's event falls off bridge Two persons were killed and seven sustained injuries after an SUV ferrying people to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur fell off a bridge and plunged into a river in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district on Sunday, police said.The accident occurred around 9 am near Kotmi... Read more > 12:11 Modi visits Deekshabhoomi, pays tributes to Ambedkar Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where the chief architect of the Indian Constitution embraced Buddhism along with his followers in 1956. In a message written in the visitors' diary at the memorial, Modi said building a... Read more > 11:14 Thane teen ends life after fight with girlfriend An 18-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide at his home in Maharashtra's Thane district after a quarrel with his girlfriend, police said on Sunday.The incident took place at Amrut Nagar in Mumbra area on Friday.The boy was speaking to his girlfriend on a mobile phone when they both had a... Read more > 11:12 India to grow at 6.5% in FY26: EY Report The Indian economy is likely to grow at 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year starting April 1, EY Economy Watch said, emphasising that a well-calibrated fiscal strategy that supports human capital development while maintaining fiscal prudence could significantly enhance long-term growth prospects.The... Read more > 10:39 Israel launches new operation in Gaza The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) said that Saturday afternoon, its forces began ground operations in the Al-Jenina neighborhood of Rafah in Gaza, with the aim of expanding the security zone in the southern Gaza Strip.As part of the operation, the forces destroyed terrorist infrastructure belonging... Read more > 09:45 Hamas agrees to Egyptian proposal for hostage release, ceasefire Hamas has accepted a new proposal put forward by Egypt to release five hostages, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire, CNN reported, citing a Hamas source statement.The Egyptian proposal is similar to one presented earlier by US Special Envoy Steve... Read more > 09:25 Modi visits RSS founder's memorial, pays tribute Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Nagpur and paid tributes at memorials dedicated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, and second sarsanghchalak (chief) M S Golwalkar.RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was present during Modi's... Read more > 09:07 RSS chief reaches Smruti Mandir ahead of Modi's visit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday arrived at Smruti Mandir in Maharashtra's Nagpur ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.The RSS is preparing to celebrate its centenary year.Prime Minister Modi will visit the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at... Read more > 09:00 Special educator manhandles boy with autism in Noida school A 10-year-old boy with autism was allegedly manhandled by a special educator of a private school in Noida's Sector 55, a video of which became widely circulated on social media on Saturday.Acting on a complaint by the boy's family, the accused special educator was arrested and the school... Read more > US President Donald Trump intends to hold a new conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin next week to discuss Ukraine. Source: Trump during a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday 30 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: In his conversation with the broadcaster, the US President expressed anger over the Kremlin leaders calls to impose temporary external governance in Ukraine. Trump threatened to introduce new tariffs on Russian oil. However, he also said that if Putin does "the right thing", his anger could subside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this context, Trump revealed his plans to speak with Putin again this week. Background: Trump and Putin previously spoke on 18 March. European Pravda covered the outcome of those talks in detail in an article titled Trump loses round one: behind the US-Russia talks and the changes they bring for Ukraine. Following their conversation, several rounds of negotiations took place between 23-25 March, during which the US, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure. However, this agreement has not been upheld in practice, as Russia continues to attack Ukraines energy facilities. President Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine will prepare evidence of Russia violating the energy ceasefire and submit it to the United States, expecting a proper response. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Donald Trump has been contemplating resurrecting his most famous catchphrase: Youre fired. The president has reportedly been privately considering booting national security adviser Mike Waltz over the Signal leak scandal, despite publicly standing by him, according to The New York Times. Amid the fallout from the Signal text chain fiasco, in which Waltz accidentally added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat where top Trump aides were discussing a strike on terrorists in Yemen, the president has allegedly posed a question to his most trusted advisers: Should I fire him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This discussion continued to play out even after Trump said on Tuesday, one day after the story broke, that Waltz was a good man who had learned a lesson, the Times reported based on inside sources. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump and American ambassadors in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2025. / MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images Trumps main point of contention was not that Waltz had carelessly discussed sensitive military information. Rather, it was the fact that Waltz had Goldbergs number in his phone at all, which would seem to imply a connection between the two. Trump despises Goldberg, who has broken embarrassing stories about the president, including that he once praised Hitlers generals (a claim Trump denies). The White House did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment on the Times report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the Signal scandal broke, Waltz denied even knowing Goldbergalthough this claim was called into question after a resurfaced photo showed the two posing side-by-side at an event in 2021. French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy speaks to the audienceincluding National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldbergduring the 2021 launch of his documentary. / Twitter Waltz did, however, hold himself fully accountable for the incident. A staffer wasnt responsible, and I take full responsibility, he told Fox News Laura Ingraham on Tuesday. I built the group. My job is to make sure everything is coordinated. Nevertheless, Trump did not want to cave to the critical media coverage of the debacle several people familiar with Trumps thinking told the Times. They also said he did not like the appearance of firing a senior official so early into his term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday evening, Trump is said to have met with Vice President J.D. Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House personnel chief Sergio Gor, and others to deliberate Waltzs future, the Times reported. The following day, Trump met with Waltz in the Oval Office. By the next morning, the national security adviser was in the clear: the president had indicated to those close to him that he planned to stick by Waltz. The insiders said that Waltz was able to hang around because of persisting support from people within the administration and because Trump wants to avoid the high administration turnover rate of his first term. The Times reported that Waltz had already been on shaky footing within the administration. Some view him as too hawkish and quick to advocate for military action in Irana stance that contrasts Wiles and Vances opinions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when Waltz joined Vance on a trip to Greenland on Friday, the vice president became indignant as he fired back at the press over calls for Waltz to be removed from his office. Vice President JD Vance, with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, speaks at the U.S. military's Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025 in Pituffik, Greenland. / Pool / Getty Images That is not honest behavior from the American media, he told reporters. And if you think youre going to force the president of the United States to fire anybody, youve got another thing coming. UPDATE, 5:48 PM: Donald Trump seemed to joke around with gallows humor before about never leaving the White House now hes back in power. Today, with some new math deployed, the current President of the United States started sounding like a President for life, for real. Phoning in to Meet the Press earlier Sunday to tell host Kristen Welker that he wasnt joking about busting the two-term Constitutional limit, Trump declared there are methods to the 45th and 47th POTUS staying in office past January 20, 2029. Later, as his remarks were picked up all over the world as he knew they would be, Trump both doubled down and skated around the topic this evening on Air Force One. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not looking at that but Ill tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged, so its actually sort of a fourth term, Trump told reporters when asked on the plane late Sunday on his way back to DC from another weekend golfing in Florida if he was intending to leave office at the end of this term or not. I just dont want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad, he did such a bad job, and I think thats one of the reasons that Im popular, if you want to know the truth, he added, with more his greatest hits of grievance against his predecessor and how he is right about everything, according to the White House Pool report. Never denying his intention to stay in power, but insisting again and again he didnt want to talk about it, Trump kept talking about it Sunday. I dont even want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, youve got a long time to go, the 78-year-old POTUS said, noting to the media that he had been speaking with some very important people today about the success he believes his latest administration has had since coming into office on January 20. We have a long time. We have almost four years to go and thats a long time but despite that so many people are saying youve got to run again. They love the job were doing. Most importantly they love the job were doing. As a part of that, Trump has been calling April 2 Liberation Day in reference to the wide-spread tariffs he is imposing on Canada, Mexico, the EU, UK, China, and basically everyone else around the Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY, 3:10 PM: Fighting court orders left, right and center plus economically battling longtime allies all over the globe, Donald Trump believes he can get a third term as President and that he has the poll numbers to back that currently unconstitutional ambition. No, Im not joking, Trump chillingly and bluntly told NBC News Kristen Welker Sunday of his desire to stay in office past January 20, 2029. Im not joking. Well, let me put it this way, you have to start by saying, I have the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years, Trump told NBC News Kristen Welker Sunday of the impetuous for a third term. Were in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls, and you see that, and, and you know, were very popular, the Republican added on the phone from another weekend in Florida. And you know, a lot of people would like me to do that. But, I mean, I basically tell them, we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. Trump, unlike his rivals and other politicians, often says exactly what he will do before he really does it. In that context, the 45th and 47th POTUS was on a roll today. Trump tells NBC News hes angry and pissed off at Putin https://t.co/KYMzrIHAq4 Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 30, 2025 Expressing a rare stint of being pissed off at Russias Vladimir Putin over no ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump then told Welker more about his third term designs: There are plans. There are not plans. There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know. Responding with specifics from the 22nd Amendment, the Meet the Press host sidestepped the obvious authoritarian nature of what Trump was saying and got into the Constitutional weeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the transcript shows: KRISTEN WELKER: Well, let me throw out one where President Vance would run for office and then would, basically, if, if you if he won, at the top of the ticket, would then pass the baton to you. DONALD TRUMP: Well, thats one. But there are others too. There are others. KRISTEN WELKER: There are others? Can you tell me another? DONALD TRUMP: No. Tossing the very ambitious and audience of one focused Vance under the succession bus again, Trump went on to say he may let his VP take over when this second term is up. Its too early to think about it. Since returning to office on January 20, and during last years election, Trump has riffed again and again on seeking a third term. However, todays interview with the Comcast-owned network is the most serious he has seemed on the very brittle matter. The other issue for others is that besides Trump becoming VP himself in 2029 and then Vance or another POTUS resigning to let him take back the Oval Office for a maximum of another two years, the Constitution has no plausible remedies for someone who wants to serve more than two full terms as president and two years of another presidents term as their successor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only way to legally alter a Constitutional amendment is with a two-thirds approval vote in Congress, followed by ratification by 38, or three-fourths, of the states. Being that aint happening in any way anytime soon, there are national emergency measures that in theory could suspend election and the constitution. Yet, ballots were cast even during the Civil War and WWII so the MAGA crowd would have to pull a pretty big rabbit, like the Insurrection Act, out of the hat to break precedent and award Trump a third term. Almost always speaking the quiet thing out loud, Trump today went on to say to Welker, I hope youre going to mention, I have the highest ratings of any Republican in 100 years. The assumption is the 78-year-old Trump was referring to approval ratings, the most common way politicians are gauged beyond the ballot box, and not TV ratings (though you never know with Trump). With that, the NBC News host did not challenge the former Celebrity Apprentice hosts popularity claim and instead returned to the third term topic. However, and we all know now how obsessed Trump is with being the best and biggest ever, POTUS claims are simply false by a lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shattering norms, locking up Green Card holders, tariffing everyone and running roughshod over Congressional oversight, Trumps efforts could come to a halt if the GOPs sliver thin three-vote lead in the House of Representatives is lost in next years midterms or even before Up against some special elections in Florida and Wisconsin on April 1, a massive backlash and a potential economic down turn Trump is starting to feel the political heat as scandals and the threat of a recession loom. Still, the pitchman man for his own shortcoming, political and otherwise, Trumps statement about his sky-high ratings (once a Reality TV host always a Reality TV host) forgets the facts of even recent history. Trumps approval ratings (which we assume he was talking about when he said ratings to NBC News Welker this morning are at 45% according to a recent poll from Reuters/Ipso. A CBS poll this week had Trump at 50% approval and 50% disapproval a telling sign for a divided America. At this point in his second term, Trump is up a notch from where he was back in 2017. Sunday the White House said in a statement that Americans overwhelmingly approve and support President Trump and his America First policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, compared to Joe Biden (57%) and Barack Obama (69%) from this point in their first terms, Trump is down. Far from having the highest ratings of any Republican in 100 years. Trump doesnt even have the best approval rating among GOP POTUS for the last 50 years The stratospheric top spot goes to the 90% approval rating George W. Bush had right after the 9/11 attack. POTUS 43 was just ahead of George H.W. Bush, his father and POTUS 41. The elder Bush had an 89% approval rating in the days after the completion of Operation Desert Storm in early 1991, according to Gallup. Ronald Reagans popularity hit 68% twice. It was once for the Great Communicator in May 1981, just after he was shot, and in May 1986 in the wake of the treacherous accident at the USSRs Chernobyl nuclear power plant in what is now Ukraine. In typical Democrats fashion, the opposition was relatively mum on Trumps alarming comments today. The exception being newly voted in DNC boss Ken Martin: This is what dictators do. In three months, Trump has crashed the stock market and spiked costs. Now, he's scheming for a third term instead of doing anything to make Americans' lives better. https://t.co/MWCwIzS9JQ Ken Martin (@kenmartin73) March 30, 2025 Democrats, it should be added, are a record low of around 29% approval rating with the American public. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON (AP) The executive order against one of the country's most prestigious law firms followed a well-worn template as President Donald Trump roared down the road to retribution. Reaching far beyond government, Trump has set out to impose his will across a broad swath of American life, from individuals who have been targeted to institutions known for their own flexes of power and intimidation. Paul Weiss, a New York law firm born in 1875, got the word that it was in trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump ordered that federal security clearances of Paul Weiss attorneys be reviewed for suspension, federal contracts terminated and employee access to federal buildings restricted. One of its former lawyers once investigated Trump as a Manhattan prosecutor. The decree was averted in the most Trumpian of ways with a deal. After a White House meeting with the firm's chairman yielded various commitments, including $40 million worth of legal work to support the administration's causes, the order was rescinded. The episode showed not only Trump's aggressive use of the power of the presidency to police dissent and punish adversaries but also his success in extracting concessions from law firms, academia, Silicon Valley, corporate boardrooms and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just one day after Paul Weiss' deal, Columbia University disclosed major policy changes at the risk of losing billions in federal money. Before that, ABC News and Meta reached multimillion-dollar settlements to resolve lawsuits from Trump. The more of them that cave, the more extortion that that invites, said Ty Cobb, a White House lawyer in Trumps first term and now a critic. Youll see other universities and other law firms and other enemies of Trump assaulted and attacked into submission because of that." Some within the conservative legal community, by contrast, think Trump is operating within his rights. Other targets have taken the opposite tack, with two different law firms since the Paul Weiss deal suing over the executive orders. Judges on Friday temporarily blocked enforcement of key sections of those orders against Jenner & Block and WilmerHale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the submissions have been surprising, then Trump's interest in reprisal was less so, telegraphed as it was during the campaign. I am your retribution, he told supporters in March 2023. But retribution for what, exactly? Against whom? How? The answers would come soon. An Existential Crisis Fresh off four federal and state indictments that threatened his political career, Trump came immediately for the prosecutors who investigated him and the law firms he saw as sheltering them. Out went members of special counsel Jack Smith's team and some prosecutors who handled cases arising from the Jan. 6 riot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then an executive order stripped security clearances from lawyers from Covington & Burling who provided legal representation for Smith himself during the threat of government investigations. A subsequent order punished Perkins Coie for representing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign Its business in the balance, Perkins Coie hired Williams Connolly, a firm with an aggressive litigation style, to contest the order. A federal judge said the administrations action sent chills down my spine" and blocked portions of it. The decision could have been a precedent for other firms to rely on. The Paul Weiss chairman said it, too, initially intended to sue over the order that targeted the firm in part because former partner Mark Pomerantz had several years earlier overseen an investigation into Trumps finances for the Manhattan district attorney. But even a courtroom victory wouldn't erase clients' perception that it was persona non grata with the administration, according to an internal email from the firm's chairman, Brad Karp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support from fellow firms never materialized and some even sought to exploit Paul Weiss' woes, Karp said. When the opportunity came to cut a deal in a White House meeting, he took it, pledging free legal services for causes Trump supports, like the fight against antisemitism. The outcry was swift. Lawyers outside the firm ridiculed what they saw as a weak-kneed response. More than 140 alumni of the firm assailed the capitulation in a letter. Within days, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, were hit with executive orders over their affiliation with prosecutors on Robert Muellers special counsel team that investigated him during his first term. Both sued and got orders blocking sections of the edicts. Trump, meanwhile, has unleashed a new directive to sanction any lawyer who brings frivolous litigation against the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just think, Trump said, that law firms need to behave themselves. Inside the ivory tower Another New York institution was facing its own crucible. Trump had taken office against the backdrop of protests at Columbia University tied to Israel's war with Hamas. The protests prompted its president to resign and made the Ivy League school a target of critics who said an overly permission campus environment had let antisemitic rhetoric flourish. The Trump administration in March arrested a Palestinian activist and legal permanent resident in his university-owned apartment building and began investigating whether Columbia hid students sought by the U.S. over their involvement in the demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration also canceled $400 million in grants and contracts for the school and demanded changes as a condition for restoring the money. Two weeks later, then- university President Katrina Armstrong said she would implement nearly everything sought by the White House. Columbia on Friday announced Armstrong's exit from the position. He went after media, too ABC News agreed to pay $15 million toward Trumps presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos inaccurate on-air assertion that Trump had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump after it suspended his Facebook accounts after the 2021 attack on the Capitol. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has taken action against news organizations it disagrees with. The White House last month removed Associated Press reporters and photographers from the small group of journalists who follow the president in the pool and other events after the news agency declined to follow Trumps order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. AP sued. On Friday, a federal judge in New York halted the administrations efforts to dismantle Voice of America, a U.S. government-funded international news service. President Donald Trump shrugged off concerns that his auto tariffs will cause carmakers to raise prices, saying he couldnt care less if they do. In an interview with NBC News, he added, I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. But even cars assembled in the U.S. have foreign-made parts. President Donald Trump said his new auto tariffs are permanent and shrugged off concerns that they will cause carmakers to raise prices. In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, he was asked about a recent Wall Street Journal report that said he warned auto CEOs not to hike prices while discussing tariffs with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, I never said that. I couldnt care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars, Trump replied. He added, I couldnt care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty. Trump later said if prices on foreign cars go up, then consumers will buy American cars. He also confirmed the tariffs are here to stay, saying, Absolutely, theyre permanent, sure. The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all were doing is being fair, and frankly, Im being very generous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign-made auto parts would also be hit with a 25% tariff, but vehicles and parts imported under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal will not see duties until the government establishes a process for imposing them, the White House has said. While more than half the value of imported auto parts came from Mexico and Canada last year, over $70 billion came from areas not covered by the USMCA pact, including Asia and Europe, according to data from the International Trade Administration cited by the Associated Press. U.S. and foreign automakers have closely integrated supply chains that span North America. During the manufacturing process, cars and parts can cross between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada multiple times. Even Trump ally Elon Musk has warned that Tesla, which manufactures all of its cars sold in the U.S. domestically, will be affected by the auto tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has estimated that car prices could go up by $5,000 to $10,000 because of the auto tariffs, depending on whether a vehicle is a mass-market or premium brand. Every automaker in the world will have to raise prices in some form selling into the U.S., and the supply-chain logistics of this tariff announcement heard around the world is hard to even put our arms around at this moment, he wrote in a research note on Friday. While the White House has said tariffs are meant to revitalize the U.S. industrial base, Ives is skeptical that car manufacturing can be completely reshored. Thats because even cars built in America come equipped with foreign-made parts and components that constitute 40% to 50% of their value. A U.S. car with all U.S. parts made in the U.S. is a fictional tale not even possible today, he added. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com President Donald Trump said the 25 percent tariffs he imposed on imported cars are permanent and he couldnt care less if auto company CEOs raise prices on vehicles to account for them. The new import tax on vehicles will be felt the most at the lower-price end of the market and could disproportionately hit Trumps working class and rural base, according to Reuters. In a phone interview with Kristen Welker of NBC News, the Meet the Press moderator asked if the tariffs were truly permanent, to which the president replied: Absolutely, theyre permanent, sure. The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all we're doing is being fair, and frankly, I'm being very generous Very generous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about what his message is to auto CEOs, Trump said: The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you're going to make a lot of money. If you don't, you're going to have to probably come to the United States, because if you make your car in the United States, there is no tariff. Welker noted there had been reporting that Trump warned auto CEOs not to raise prices. The president said: No, I never said that. I couldn't care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars. He added: I couldn't care less. I hope they raise their prices because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty. Welker asked Trump to confirm the point, to which he replied: No, I couldn't care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they're going to buy American cars. US flags fly outside a Toyota dealership in Alhambra, California (AFP via Getty Images) However, Reuters reports that nearly all low-cost new cars and trucks sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, meaning that the greatest impact of the presidents new tariffs will be on lower-income working-class car buyers, many of whom voted for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will face an additional setback from anticipated increases in used-car prices due to rising demand and dwindling supply as people turn away from higher-priced new vehicles. New cars priced under $30,000 are becoming increasingly rare as the average new vehicle price nears $50,000. The only way automakers can make a profit on economy cars is by manufacturing them in countries with lower production costs so they will be hit harder by any new import tax. Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis have phased out most entry-level models in recent years to concentrate on highly profitable, higher-end trucks and SUVs. This shift has nearly left the economy vehicle market entirely to Asian manufacturers. A Reuters review of data from two auto research firms found only 16 models with an average sticker price below $30,000, and just one, Toyota's Corolla, is assembled in the United States. All others are manufactured in Mexico, South Korea, or Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The under-$30,000 models built by Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Subaru, and Volkswagen are almost all built in Mexico or South Korea, while Honda builds the Civic in Canada and the U.S. Ford makes its least expensive models, the compact Maverick truck and mid-sized Bronco Sport, in Mexico. The same is true for Jeep's most affordable model, the Compass. Three vehicles from GM priced under $30,000 the Buick Envista, Chevrolet Trax, and Trailblazer are produced in South Korea. GM also manufactures hundreds of thousands of its best-selling full-sized trucks in Mexico. Imposing a 25 percent tariff on these lower-cost cars may lead to price increases that render them unaffordable for their target market or prompt some automakers to abandon them altogether, industry analysts predict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rising cost of new vehicles will then push buyers into the used-car market, driving up prices there. Given that many parts are also manufactured overseas, even repairing, maintaining, or insuring an existing vehicle will get more expensive. As a large proportion of the MAGA political base is tilted toward lower-income, rural supporters predicated toward more affordable cars and trucks, they may feel a disproportionate impact. Approximately half of voters with household incomes below $50,000 annually supported Trump's 2024 election, along with 56% of voters who do not have college degrees, according to an Edison Research exit poll. Trumps argument is that he is looking at the longer term and that the tariffs will spark a boom in the U.S. auto industry despite the profitability of many lower-end vehicles being predicated on being manufactured in places where labor is cheaper. Further, some experts contend that high import taxes may lead to the opposite effect on the auto industry, as people delay large purchases or reduce unnecessary spending in the face of higher prices of both new and used vehicles. President Donald Trump spoke with NBC News on Saturday about impending auto tariffs and the Signal leak. Trump said he "couldn't care less" if foreign carmakers raise prices after his tariffs hit. He also suggested that he would not be firing anyone over the Signal group chat scandal. President Donald Trump has said that he "couldn't care less" if foreign carmakers raise prices after his impending tariffs take effect and suggested that he has no plans to fire any officials linked to the Signal group chat scandal. Speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump denied that he had warned foreign automaker CEOs not to raise prices after levies on imported automobiles come into effect early next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No, I never said that. I couldn't care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars," Trump said. "If you make your car in the United States, you're going to make a lot of money. If you don't, you're going to have to probably come to the United States, because if you make your car in the United States, there is no tariff," he added. Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs since returning to the White House, largely targeting Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as the steel and aluminum industries. But on Wednesday, the president turned his attention to the auto sector, announcing a new 25% tariff on all imported vehicles and certain automobile parts set to come into effect on April 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This will continue to spur growth like you haven't seen before," Trump said in the Oval Office before signing the executive order, which said that cars and car parts were being imported into the US "in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States." The announcement has fueled warnings of retaliation from some US trading partners. "We must consider steps to respond appropriately. We have all possible options on the table," Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the country's parliament this week. Elsewhere in the interview, Trump addressed the Signal texting scandal that dominated headlines after The Atlantic's editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had been mistakenly added to a group chat where senior US officials including Defense secretary Pete Hegseth discussed plans to carry out military strikes on Yemen's Houthi rebels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident sparked concern among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, with some calling for Michael Waltz, the national security adviser who added Goldberg to the group, to be fired. But Trump appears to have come down on Waltz's side, telling NBC: "I don't fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts." Trump added that he still had confidence in Waltz and Hegseth and said the strikes were "tremendously successful." Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "pissed off" and "very angry" regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's fixation over President Volodymyr Zelensky, NBC News reported on March 30. In a call with NBC News journalist Kristen Welker, Trump said Putin's latest demand for a transitional government that would replace Zelensky suggests that peace talks are not going in the right location." Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Russian oil if he deems that Russia is preventing peace talks from progressing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump told NBC News. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. However, Trump also reiterated that he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and "anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing. The U.S. president added that he plans to speak with his Russian counterpart again in the near future. Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11 unless it included conditions undermining Ukraine's ability to defend itself, including a full halt on foreign military aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the U.S. brokered a partial ceasefire in March, Russia has only stepped up its attacks against Ukraine, including deliberately targeting a military hospital in Kharkiv in its latest overnight attack on March 30. Despite occasionally floating measures such as extra sanctions and tariffs on Russia, Trump has so far not taken concrete measures to put pressure on Moscow, which shows little intention of stopping on the battlefield. Instead, the president has largely focused his leverage on Ukraine and Zelensky, already once cutting off U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing, and pressing Kyiv to sign different versions of an exploitative deal to hand to Washington revenue from Ukraine's mineral wealth. Read also: John Bolton on how Putin plays Trump and why separating Russia from China is almost impossible Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Trump said Sunday hes not joking about serving a possible third term, marking the second time in less than three weeks that hes floated the idea. Im hearing you dont sound like youre joking. Ive heard you joke about this a number of times, NBC Newss Kristen Welker said during a phone call with the president, discussing a third term for Trump. No, no, Im not joking, Trump responded, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also said that he has the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years. Were in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls, and you see that. And, and you know, were very popular. And you know, a lot of people would like me to do that, Trump said of a third term. But, I mean, I basically tell them, we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. Trump previously floated the idea of running for a third term during a St. Patricks Day event on March 12 that featured House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Irelands leader, Taoiseach Micheal Martin; and other lawmakers. Trump is constitutionally restricted to two terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When pressed on how he would make it into the White House a third time, Trump told Welker, There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know. Welker then pitched him a hypothetical: Well, let me throw out one where President Vance would run for office and then would, basically, if, if you if he won, at the top of the ticket, would then pass the baton to you. Trump replied, Well, thats one. But there are others, too. There are others. He would not offer other examples. The president said that he enjoys working in his call with Welker after she stated that the presidency is the toughest job there is, according to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would you, would you you wouldnt want to pass the baton to Vice President Vance? Welker asked Trump, to which Trump responded that its too early to even think about it. In an emailed statement to The Hill, White House communications director Steven Cheung said, Americans overwhelmingly approve and support President Trump and his America First policies. As the President said, its far too early to think about it and he is focused on undoing all the hurt Biden has caused and Making America Great Again, Cheung added. Updated at 3:53 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. Despite being prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment from standing for election again, President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House during an interview with NBC News. Trump said that there were methods for doing so, even clarifying that he was not joking in his conversation with Kristen Welker, moderator of Meet the Press. A lot of people want me to do it, the president said, referring to his allies. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im focused on the current, Trump added. President Donald Trump waves to supporters from his limousine as he arrives at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach (AP) When asked whether he really wanted another term, the president responded: I like working. Im not joking, Trump said when asked to clarify by Welker, who even began her line of questioning with the assumption that he was. But Im not it is far too early to think about it. Asked how he might go about seeking a third term and whether he has been presented with plans to allow him to do so, the president replied: There are methods [by] which you could do it. Welker asked about a possible scenario in which Vice President JD Vance ran for the presidency with Trump as his running mate and then passed the role over to him. The president responded, Thats one method, adding: But there are others too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked to share another method, he responded: No. Amending the Constitution to eliminate the two-term limit would be extremely challenging, requiring either a two-thirds vote in Congress or two-thirds of the states to agree to convene a constitutional convention to propose changes. Either option would then need ratification from three-quarters of the states. Trump maintains that a lot of people would like me to hold office for a third term. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One as he flew back to Washington, D.C. after a weekend in Florida, he was asked about whether he was serious about serving a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said: I'm not looking at that but I'll tell you, I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged, so it's actually sort of a fourth term. I just don't want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad, he did such a bad job, and I think that's one of the reasons that I'm popular, if you want to know the truth. I think I'm popular because we've done a great job. I think we've had the best hundred days of almost any president. Most people are saying that and it's an honor, bringing back our country. We're respected as a country again. We're strongly respected and people are amazed. Asked about the constitutional limits he faced, he said: I don't even want to talk about it. I'm just telling you I have had more people saying, please run again. We have a long way to go before we even think about that but I've had a lot of people. Trump departs for Washington, from West Palm Beach, Florida. He said many people were asking him to serve a third term but that he still had nearly four years of his second term to get through (REUTERS) These were his most extensive comments on the matter. Previous remarks have often been dismissed as jokes or the president trolling his critics and opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 22nd Amendment says no person shall be elected as president more than twice. While the first president, George Washington, set an example of serving a maximum of two terms, Franklin D Roosevelt was beginning his fourth when he died in office in 1945. Six years later Congress passed the 22nd Amendment to constitutionally limit presidents to two full terms. The main body of the amendment reads: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term. Trump has previously jokingly referred to himself as a king on social media (White House X) As to the idea of running as vice president in a Vance campaign and having power handed to him, the 12th Amendment says: No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a plan would depend on Vance being elected in his own right and then choosing to give up power to Trump, who would by then be in his 80s. Those supporting this theory could argue that it does not flout the terms of the 22nd Amendment, which talks about limits on how many terms a president can be elected to, not how many they can serve. However, such a move would be sure to trigger a constitutional dispute, with others arguing that it flew in the face of the principles of the amendment, and was hardly a proper way for the United States to choose a leader. President Donald Trump escalated his criticism towards Russia on Sunday after weeks of being accused of taking Vladimir Putins side in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The US president called up NBCs Kristen Welker prior to her Sunday appearance as host of Meet the Press, according to Welker. He told her that he was p***ed off after the Russian president called for elections in Ukraine and once again questioned the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskys government comments the U.S. president said were unhelpful. Even though U.S. negotiators are currently engaged in moderating peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, Donald Trump put the blame squarely on Putins shoulders, adding that he was very angry at the Russian president. Putins recent comments about Zelensky, he said, were not going in the right location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president further threatened to raise tariffs on Russian energy exports if a deal was not reached due to interference or delays at Moscows end. The U.S. has recently levied tariffs on a number of countries including Canada and Mexico as the Trump administration seeks to force international policy concessions through trade action. Donald Trump speaks at a press conference in the White House. On Sunday, he shifted the blame to Moscow for delays in the Ukraine peace process. (AP) If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump told NBC News. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, he continued. There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine come three years after the Putins full-scale invasion began in earnest, and with hundreds of thousands now dead in the conflict, including more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians. Trump has shifted the blame for the protracted nature of the ceasefire deal onto Putin. (Ap) State Department officials told reporters this past week that funding had resumed for a program operated by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab aimed at documenting and tracking nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children believed to have been abducted by Russian forces during the invasion. The program had initially lost funding due to Elon Musk-led DOGE spending cuts, but was restarted after a bipartisan outcry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans for a broader peace agreement ending the three-year period of open warfare are still far on the horizon, and U.S. officials have cautioned that both Ukraine and Russia will need to make concessions for a deal to be inked. It still remains unclear if the Trump administration plans to force Ukrainian recognition of Russias control of Crimea, though it seems likely that Ukraine will be forced to drop its bid to join NATO a goal which had been supported by the last U.S. president. Trump touted his relationship with Putin and his dealmaking abilities as reasons why he could end the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 24 hours were he to be elected president throughout the 2024 campaign. The reality of the slow pace of peace talks seems to have frustrated the Republican president, whose ire was previously apparent when he and Vice President JD Vance angrily berated Zelensky in the White House in an ambush-style showdown in front of news cameras. He would also refer to Zelensky as a dictator on Truth Social. That blowup of U.S.-Ukraine relations led to the termination of talks around Kyiv granting access to rare earth mineral deposits to American buyers, which the Trump administration has portrayed as its own kind of security guarantee for Ukraines future on the assumption that Russian officials would think twice about threatening US economic assets. It was reported this past week that a new push by Trump aims at securing a deal to repay Ukrainian war debt through royalties on Ukrainian energy sales, including oil and gas. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he was very angry and pissed off when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys leadership, adding that the comments were not going in the right location. Agence France-Presse reported that Putin on Friday called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Zelenskyy. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump said in an early-morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, Trump said. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Trump had criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was sick of his handling of the war and falsely calling him a dictator. President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the amount of Russian oil imported to the United States has plummeted, to only 10,000 barrels of Russian crude oil and petroleum products in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Trump similarly announced "secondary tariffs" on Venezuela, saying on Truth Social that the tariffs would be placed on countries that bought oil and gas from Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few of the top importers of Russian oil products include China, Turkey, Brazil and India, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. If Trump uses the same definition of secondary tariffs he used with Venezuela, they could be among the countries seeing impacts of secondary tariffs. Trump had made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy promise on the campaign trail, leading to meetings among U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials in the first few months of his second term. Last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed on a partial and limited ceasefire that would allow safe navigation in the Black Sea and halt attacks on each others energy facilities. There will be a 25% tariff on oil and other products sold in the United States, secondary tariffs, Trump said, saying the tariffs on Russia would come within a month without a ceasefire deal. Trump said Putin knows he is angry but said he has a very good relationship with him and the anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing. The two men plan to speak again this week, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He made the comments after a separate phone interview with NBC News on Saturday evening, when he threatened bombing and secondary tariffs on Iran if it did not make a deal with the United States to ensure it did not develop a nuclear weapon. If they dont make a deal, Trump said about Iran, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. U.S. and Iranian officials are talking, Trump said. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program in a statement Sunday, Irans first response to a letter Trump sent to its supreme leader. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Related video: In mid-March, Trump spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a ceasefire. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he was very angry and pissed off when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys leadership, adding that the comments were not going in the right location. Agence France-Presse reported that Putin on Friday called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Zelenskyy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What could Trumps promised Liberation Day of tariffs mean for you? If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump said in an early-morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday. That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, Trump said. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Read the full story on NBCNews.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 WFLA. Donald Trump played the strongman in a Saturday interview. The president said he is growing increasingly frustrated with Russia and its refusal to sign a Ukraine ceasefire agreement as well as with Iran for not reaching a nuclear deal with the U.S. Trump said he is very angry and pissed off at President Vladimir Putin so much so he is considering imposing tariffs if Putin does not agree to a deal that would end the war. This could represent a shift in the presidents relationship with Putin which previously had been one of adoration. As recently as last month, Trump bashed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a social media post, calling him a dictator and threatening that if he doesnt agree to a peace deal, he is not going to have a Country left. But this weekend, Trump turned his anger toward Putin after Putin demanded the U.S. lift sanctions Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia, he told NBCs Kristen Welker in a phone call on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president added, That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States. There will be a 25% tariff on all on all oil, a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil. Russia and Ukraine peace negotiations took place last week over three days in Saudi Arabia. Trump told Welker he became very angry and pissed off when Putin attacked Zelenskys credibility and discussed new leadership for Ukraine. Putin on Friday called for the installation of a transitional administration in Ukraine and promised the Russian army would finish off Ukraines armed forces. While speaking in a sidebar at an Atlantic forum, Putin said the purpose of a transitional government would be to organize a democratic presidential election that would result in the coming to power of a competent government that would have the confidence of the people, and then begin negotiations with these authorities on a peace agreement and sign legitimate documents. Trump said he plans to talk to Putin this week. But former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell questioned whether the deal would be good for the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unless we change course, the outcome were headed for today is the one we can least afford: a headline that reads Russia wins, America loses, he said on Thursday at a pro-Ukraine event. Discussing the peace negotiations, Zelensky said that Putin is not ready for direct talks. Ive never been afraid; its just Putin wanting war. What can a man who wants war say at peace talks? Zelensky said. Putin isnt the only one at risk of drawing the presidents ire. Trump said he is eyeing tariffs for Iran if they wont agree to a nuclear deal: If they dont make a deal there will be bombing. And it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump added, But theres a chance that if they dont make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago. During Trumps first term, he withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran negotiated by the Barack Obama administration. That deal imposed strict limitations on the countrys nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions. It also required Iran to dismantle large portions of its nuclear program and allow inspections. In a strange reversal, Trump last month expanded sanctions on Iran and said he hoped to reach a nuclear deal. But Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in response, The maximum pressure [policy] is a failed experience, and trying it again will lead to another failure, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Trump last week said that bad things will happen to Iran if it doesnt reach a nuclear agreement with the U.S., but his Saturday remarks are the most specific and threatening comments he has made toward the country. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with military action if it does not agree to a deal to limit its nuclear programme. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," Trump said in comments to the US broadcaster NBC on Sunday. The US president also said he was considering imposing tariffs on countries that buy oil from Iran as a means of exerting pressure on Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday again rejected direct negotiations over the country's nuclear programme with the Trump administration, saying instead that Tehran was open to indirect negotiations. Iran is not opposed to negotiations, he said, but the United States must first correct its past "misconduct" and create a new basis for trust, the ISNA news agency cited Pezeshkian as saying. In a letter delivered to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month, Trump said Tehran must either negotiate a new nuclear deal or face a military solution. Khamenei firmly rejected this at the time, saying that Iran is only willing to negotiate indirectly through third countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We responded to the US president's letter via Oman and rejected the option of direct talks, but we are open to indirect negotiations," Pezeshkian said at a Cabinet meeting in Tehran on Sunday. In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal which was intended to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Since then, Tehran has also stopped adhering to the terms of the agreement. At the end of February, the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna reported that Iran had greatly accelerated the production of uranium almost suitable for producing nuclear weapons, despite previous talks about limiting production. Iran is facing the worst economic crisis in its history as a result of international sanctions. According to observers, only direct negotiations between the oil-rich state and the Trump administration could lead to a lifting of the sanctions. Tehran is also facing political troubles, with its self-proclaimed "axis of resistance" against its arch-enemy Israel - consisting of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah militia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen - significantly weakened. (NewsNation) Iran will deal out a strong blow against the United States if attacked, the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday, according to Iranian state media. The threat comes days after President Donald Trump warned Iran he would bomb their country should they not agree to a nuclear weapons deal to restrain the countrys nuclear program. The Middle Eastern country said Sunday it rejected direct negotiations with the U.S. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before, Trump said in a comment aired Sunday on NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump threatens Russia with tariffs, says he is pissed off at Putin But, Irans president says the country has no plans to directly negotiate with the U.S., writing, We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far. They must prove that they can build trust. Trump also threatens secondary tariffs on Iranian oil Trump also warned that an imposition of secondary tariffs on Iranian oil would be possible, meaning that countries that buy Iranian oil would be faced with U.S. tariffs. Elon Musk says he is giving out $1M checks to get attention from legacy media Theres a chance if they dont make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago, Trump said. Trumps first term: US pulled out of Iran nuclear program deal During his first term, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a deal that put strict limits on Irans nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations nuclear watchdog has since raised alarms about Iran developing nuclear weapons. The president is attempting to curtail Irans rapidly advancing nuclear program, issuing a letter that arrived in Iran on March 12. What did Trumps letter to Iran say? NBC News reported that Trumps letter urged Iran to enter negotiations on the nuclear program, offering a two-month window for Iranian leaders to make a decision. Iran did respond to the letter, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian explaining that Tehran would not enter negotiations but would talk indirectly. According to Politico, Pezeshkian said, Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alien Enemies Act controversy: A timeline It is not clear if Trump will accept these indirect negotiations. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported earlier this year that Tehran has accelerated its production of near-weapons-grade uranium, though Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if the country does not come to an agreement with his administration about its nuclear program. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, Trump said during a phone call with NBC News' Kristen Welker on Sunday. He added: There's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago that brought them to a position that they very much wanted to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Iran had rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from Trump over its nuclear program. Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open, Pezeshkian said. Tensions have escalated between Iran and the U.S. since Trump returned to the White House, with his administration repeatedly insisting that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon. During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the United States from a treaty with Iran that was meant to end its nuclear ambitions and then repeatedly accused Iran of not upholding its end of the bargain. China, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and the European Union were also part of that 2015 treaty. Earlier this month, the president threatened military action against Iran over its backing of Yemens Houthis, saying further strikes from the militant group will be viewed as a direct attack from Iran and be met with great force. Donald Trump on Sunday explicitly threatened Iran with war unless Tehran comes to the table and hammers out a new agreement on nuclear weapons with Washington. The president spoke with NBCs Kristen Welker in an early-morning phone call and told the host of Meet the Press that there would be bombing if Iran did not negotiate with the US, or if a deal was not reached as a result of those talks. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, said the US president. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His remark comes as the Trump administration has stated publicly its goal of reaching a new agreement with Tehran that would lead to the total shutdown of Irans nuclear weapons program. The president sent a letter to Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, reportedly urging the Iranian government to begin negotiations with the prospect of significant sanctions relief and international cooperation on the table. But Iran formally declined to begin those direct negotiations on Saturday, according to the countrys president. Masoud Pezeshkian said the message was delivered to US negotiators through the Omani government. He said that the official response from Iran left open the possibility for continued indirect negotiations, but added that the US must regain trust with Iran in order for formal diplomacy to resume. We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Pezeshkian said at a televised Cabinet meeting, according to the AP. They must prove that they can build trust. Donald Trump said on Sunday that there would be bombing if Iranian negotiators refused to come to the table (AP) The State Department previously issued a response early Sunday warning of very bad consequences should Iran refuse to negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons program. Development of nuclear materials has accelerated in Iran within recent months, according to a February report from the UNs nuclear watchdog agency. The first Trump administration pulled out of a deal reached between the Obama administration, Iran and a number of European countries with that same goal in 2017, calling it ineffective and blaming Iran for repeatedly violating it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The president expressed his willingness to discuss a deal with Iran, it added. If the Iranian regime does not want a deal, the president is clear, he will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high for more than a year now as the US and its ally Israel have clashed with several groups the two countries accuse the Iranian government of funding and supporting through intelligence sharing and other cooperation. Conflict against one of those groups, the Houthis, resumed last weekend with a US strike in Yemen while Houthi forces target US military vessels and trade ships in the Red Sea. Iran also launched a direct missile ballistic strike against Israel, causing minimal damage, in October of 2024 after a Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While military operations have resumed against the Houthis in Yemen, the State Department on Monday moved to up the pressure on Irans neighbor, Iraq, to combat Tehrans influence over militant groups within its borders. In recent months, the Iraqi government has considered new national security legislation aimed at curbing the strength of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a Shia militant group with dozens of battalions around the country. Those forces include the Kataib Hezbollah, which traces its origins back to militant groups that fought US forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and still clash with US forces today. To strengthen Iraq's sovereignty, the government of Iraq must ensure it has command and control of all security forces within its borders, to include the PMF, press secretary Tammy Bruce said at her Monday briefing. These forces must respond to Iraq's commander-in-chief, and not to Iran. By Andrea Shalal ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin and will impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump told NBC News he was very angry after Putin last week criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's leadership, the television network reported, citing a telephone interview early on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office in January, Trump has adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Russia that has left Western allies wary as he tries to broker an end to Moscow's three-year-old war in Ukraine. His sharp comments about Putin on Sunday reflect his growing frustration about the lack of movement on a ceasefire. "If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault ... I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump said. That would be, that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States, Trump said. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump later reiterated to reporters he was disappointed with Putin but added: "I think we are making progress, step by step." Trump said he could impose the new trade measures within a month. There was no immediate reaction from Moscow. Russia has called numerous Western sanctions and restrictions illegal and designed for the West to take economic advantage in its rivalry with Russia. Trump, who spent the weekend at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, told NBC News he planned to speak with Putin this week. The two leaders have had two publicly announced telephone calls in recent months but may have had more contacts, the Kremlin said in video footage last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House had no immediate comment on when the call would take place, or if Trump would also speak with Zelenskiy. Trump has focused heavily on ending what he calls a "ridiculous" war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but has made little progress. Putin on Friday suggested Ukraine could be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections that could push out Zelenskiy. Trump, who himself has called for new elections in Ukraine and denounced Zelenskiy as a dictator, said Putin knows he is angry with him. But Trump added he had a very good relationship with him and the anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GROWING PRESSURE TO END WAR Trump's comments followed a day of meetings and golf with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Saturday, during Stubb's surprise visit to Florida. Stubb's office on Sunday said he told Trump a deadline needs to be set for establishing a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire to make it happen and suggested April 20 since Trump would have been in office then for three months. U.S. officials have been separately pushing Kyiv to accept a critical minerals agreement, a summary of which suggested the U.S. was demanding all Ukraine's natural resources income for years. Zelenskiy has said Kyiv's lawyers need to review the draft before he can say more about the U.S. offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump told reporters on Air Force One he thought Zelenskiy was "trying to back out of the rare earth deal.... if he's looking to renegotiate the deal, he's got big problems." Trump also told reporters that Ukraine would never be part of NATO. Trump's latest tariff threats would add to the pain already facing China, India and other countries through trade measures imposed during his first two months in office, including duties on steel, aluminum and cars. More duties on imports from the countries with the largest trade surpluses are slated to be announced on Wednesday. William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce Department official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the haphazard way Trump was announcing and threatening tariffs leaves many questions unanswered, including how U.S. officials could trace and prove which countries were buying Russian oil. Trump set the stage for Sunday's news with a 25% secondary tariff imposed last week on U.S. imports from any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His remarks to NBC suggest he could take similar action against U.S. imports from countries that buy oil from Russia, a move that could hit China and India particularly hard. The U.S. has not imported any Russian barrels of crude oil since April 2022, according to U.S. government data. Before that, U.S. refiners bought inconsistent volumes of Russian oil, with a high of 98.1 million barrels in 2010 and low of 6.6 million in 2014, according to a review of EIA data since 2000. India has surpassed China to become the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian crude, which comprised about 35% of India's total crude imports in 2024. Trump on Sunday also said he could hit buyers of Iranian oil with secondary sanctions if Tehran did not reach an agreement to end their nuclear weapons program. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia, David Shepardson in Washington and Moscow bureau; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Rod Nickel, Chris Reese and Michael Perry) Today's military conflicts look vastly different than when I joined the Tennessee National Guard in 1990. Back then, we trained for traditional combat missions. Now, our biggest fights happen in cyberspace where hostile nations wage round-the-clock attacks against American targets. Adversaries of the United States have invested billions in sophisticated hacking operations targeting our military and civilian infrastructure from power plants to water systems to hospitals. These attacks aim not just to steal sensitive information, but to compromise critical systems and gain advantages that could give them the upper hand in future conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a retired Army Brigadier General who served for 30 years, including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I have seen how American technological supremacy helped protect our national security. But the challenges we face in 2025 and beyond are more complex and dangerous than ever before. Thankfully, President Trump is addressing the challenge head on by bringing tech leaders together with the new Stargate Program, which will turbocharge AI development in America and ensure we protect emerging technologies and maintain our dominance. Tech companies have rushed to get a foothold in China at a high price President Trumps decisive action on AI is not a moment too soon. Chinese tech companies have rapidly developed and unveiled competing AI models like DeepSeek, despite technology export bans preventing the export of advanced chipmaking tools to China. Illustration of hacked elections This raises troubling questions: How did these developments emerge so quickly, and are American companies operating in China inadvertently aiding Chinese AI development? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. tech companies have rushed to gain a foothold in China. It makes sense China's massive population and appetite for American tech makes it an irresistible market. But working in China comes with its own rules thanks to the iron grip of the Chinese Communist Party. One of the American companies with the largest footprints in China is Microsoft. They maintain over 9,000 employees in China, with 80% working as software engineers who develop source code for products used throughout our government. This arrangement might make business sense, but the risks to our national security are significant. Chinese law requires Microsoft to provide Communist government authorities access to this source code, encryption keys, and even backdoor access to their products. Even more concerning, Microsoft must report software vulnerabilities to Chinese regulators before notifying American customers or authorities, giving potential adversaries advance notice of weaknesses they could exploit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The consequences of these arrangements became painfully clear in the summer of 2023 when Chinese state-backed hackers breached Microsoft's systems and accessed over 60,000 emails from high-ranking officials, including our Commerce Secretary and Ambassador to China. Months later, Russian hackers penetrated Microsoft's defenses again, stealing correspondence between U.S. federal agencies and the company itself. Plain and simple: the Chinese Communist Party is using American technology to threaten our national security. Opinion: Taiwan shows how Tennessee with TVA support will be at forefront of innovation. The scale of this threat becomes even clearer when you understand just how dependent our government has become on Microsoft's products. Approximately 85% of federal employees use Microsoft software for their daily work. Foreign adversaries must not compromise sensitive government data A core military principle is to never rely on a tool with a single point of failure always maintain backup systems and alternate capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet we have abandoned this wisdom in our digital infrastructure, allowing our agencies to become dangerously reliant on a single provider that maintains deep ties with an adversary. Microsoft has also worked to stifle competition by locking these agencies into restrictive contracts and charging them significantly more to use their software with other providers. The federal and military apparatus of our country is massive, yet we accept occasional security breaches of poorly secured software by China as inevitable. Thats why I am encouraged by the Trump Administration and the Federal Trade Commission continuing to look at these concerning business practices. Along with this investigation, Congress must examine American tech development in China and establish new requirements ensuring companies that handle sensitive government data are not compromised by foreign adversaries. We must also promote competition in government procurement to reduce our vulnerability to any single provider. Kurt Winstead The oath I took to protect and defend the Constitution did not end when I retired from military service. Congress and the executive branch must act now to close this dangerous gap in our cyber defenses before more damage is done to our national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our enemies are already inside the wire it is time to strengthen our digital fortifications and ensure American technology serves American interests first. Kurt Winstead is a retired U.S. Army Brigadier General and a practicing attorney in Nashville. He has served on the board of directors for numerous Middle Tennessee nonprofits and as an adjunct instructor for undergraduate Business Law at Belmont University. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Chinese state interference in U.S. businesses is a danger | Opinion President Trump said he is very angry and pissed off at remarks Russian President Vladimir Putin made Friday about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting he is not a legitimate leader. The president threatened to slap a new tariff on Russia if it is at fault for stalling an end to bloodshed. If I feel, if were in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskys credibility, because thats not going in the right location, you understand? Trump told NBC Newss Kristen Welker during a phone interview on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian president said Friday that his Ukrainian counterpart does not have the legitimacy required for a peace deal signature and suggested an interim government is needed, The Associated Press reported. Ukraines 2024 presidential elections were postponed due to martial law amid the war with Russia. Putin said any agreement signed on to by Ukraines government could receive pushback. Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine, he said Friday, according to the AP, later saying that democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty would be able to happen via the temporary governance. Trump said he feared the call for a new leader would delay a peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But new leadership means youre not gonna have a deal for a long time, right? the president asked Welker. He then said if the Kremlins stance hampered peace negotiations, Russia would be hit with another round of sanctions. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump told NBC News. In the first months of his second term, Trump and his administration have made a big push to end the war in Ukraine, meeting with people from both sides of the war even in the face of controversy about the countries actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Trump said he also was pissed off about Putins comments about temporary governance and that his anger about Putins comments had been made known to Moscow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Video above: Coverage of Trump, Putin high stakes phone call on March 18, 2025. (The Hill) President Donald Trump said he is very angry, pissed off at remarks Russian President Vladimir Putin made Friday about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting he is not a legitimate leader. The president threatened to slap a new tariff on Russia if it is at fault for stalling an end to bloodshed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I feel, if were in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskys credibility, because thats not going in the right location, you understand? Trump told NBC Newss Kristen Welker during a phone interview on Sunday. The Russian president said Friday that his Ukrainian counterpart does not have the legitimacy required for a peace deal signature and suggested an interim government is needed, The Associated Press reported. Ukraines 2024 presidential elections were postponed due to martial law amid the war with Russia. What could Trumps promised Liberation Day of tariffs mean for you? Putin said any agreement signed by Ukraines government could receive pushback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine, he said Friday, according to the AP, later saying that democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty would be able to happen via the temporary governance. Trump said he feared the call for a new leader would delay a peace deal. But new leadership means youre not gonna have a deal for a long time, right? the president asked Welker. He then said if the Kremlins stance hampered peace negotiations, Russia would be hit with another round of sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US at risk of losing health designation its had for 25 years If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, Trump told NBC News. In the first months of his second term, Trump and his administration have made a big push to end the war in Ukraine, meeting with people from both sides of the war even in the face of controversy about the countries actions. On Sunday, Trump said he also was pissed off about Putins comments about temporary governance and that his anger about Putins comments had been made known to Moscow. 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. A company will return to address unanswered questions before a vote is taken by the Henry County Board of Zoning Appeals regarding a special use permit for construction of the countys ninth proposed solar farm. Henry County employs a saturation limit to prevent excessive solar farm construction in a specific community. The Axton area has been the most popular among solar companies seeking approval. So much so, that Planning, Zoning and Inspections Director Lee Clark says only 17 acres remain before the limit is reached. Ameresco Inc. is applying for 16.5 acres of what is left. Headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, Ameresco was founded in 2000. The company now has more than 60 regional offices located throughout North America and Europe, employs 1,500-plus people, and has constructed more than 148 projects, according to the companys website. It is proposing to build a Large Scale Solar Energy Facility on property on the north side of Jones Ridge Road, approximately 1.2 miles east of Stoney Mountain Road, in the Iriswood District. When complete, the project would produce 4.98 megawatts on 16.5 acres of a 154-acre tract. Twenty-eight people live in 16 houses located on Jones Ridge Road and several of them spoke against the project at a public hearing on Wednesday. My family has owned land in this community for over a century and many of us like to hunt, said Gary Williams. These solar farms ruin the hunt. Sonny Wade and his wife said their property line is 1,200 feet from the proposed solar farm and Benny Dobson said its been his lifelong goal to retire and live his remaining days in the community, but a proposed solar farm has caused him to rethink his plans. We are not influenced by money at all, said Mary Thompson who said she will be celebrating her 80th birthday this year. These solar farms want to locate in Axton because the land is cheap and flat. Lisa Eskew said her home was located closest to the proposed project. I have absolutely been lied to about the noise level of the inverters, Clark said. Some of these other companies who have received approval have not been honest. An inverter in a solar energy system converts direct current electricity, which is what a solar panel generates, to alternating current electricity, which the electrical grid uses. Clark said it would be helpful if Ameresco would provide definitive proof as to how much noise could be heard from the inverters on adjoining properties. Some of these other companies have created havoc on our roads with their construction, coming in at all hours of the night, leaving tractor-trailers lined up at the gate and blocking the highway, Clark said. Its been very difficult dealing with these solar projects. According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, active permits are held in Henry County by Axton Solar for a 66 megawatt site on 600 acres; Green Acres Solar, LLC with 5 megawatts on 36 acres; Shifting Sands Solar with an 18.8 megawatt facility on 251 acres, Sol Leatherwood Solar, LLC with a 20 megawatt site on 322 acres, and Sunny Rock Solar Project with 20 megawatts on 180 acres. Michaux Solar Center, LLC, SolUnesco Leatherwood, and White Stripe Solar LLC are listed as having withdrawn from the permitting process. SolUnesco Leatherwood withdrew in May 2018, and resubmitted as Sol Leatherwood Solar, LLC in October 2018 and has been operational since 2021, according to the DEQ. Michaux Solar Center, LLC pursued permitting with the State Corporation Commission and was approved. After hearing the complaints and objections raised, Ameresco Solar Project Development Director Tom Holt asked that the special use permit request be deferred, giving his company more time to address the concerns raised at the hearing. The request was accepted and a decision on the matter will be made by the Board of Zoning Appeals at its next regular meeting on April 23. In other matters, the board: Approved a request for a special use permit that will allow for the establishment of a Substance Abuse Disorder organizations expansion in Bassett. Sobrius at Bassett LLC intends to be licensed for up to eight residents in each of two dwellings it has purchased at 9940 and 9890 Virginia Ave. in the Reed Creek District. The expansion is located adjacent to their existing facility that is already licensed for 16 residents at 9850 Virginia Ave. We wont operate it right away, said Sobrius CEO Matt Feehey. We intend to make a campus with the three properties. Feehey said his company has also operated a facility in Galax for the past three years and Clark said Feehey and his company have been good partners with the county for a much needed facility. The board unanimously approved the request. (This story was updated on June 23, 2025 to include developments in the permitting process.) US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with military action if it does not agree to a deal to limit its nuclear programme. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," Trump said in comments to the US broadcaster NBC on Sunday. The US president also said he was considering imposing tariffs on countries that buy oil from Iran as a means of exerting pressure on Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday again rejected direct negotiations over the country's nuclear programme with the Trump administration, saying instead that Tehran was open to indirect negotiations. In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Vienna nuclear deal which was intended to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Since then, Tehran has also stopped adhering to the terms of the agreement. At the end of February, the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna reported that Iran had greatly accelerated the production of uranium almost suitable for producing nuclear weapons, despite previous talks about limiting production. Republican national security hawks in the House are not making the White Houses efforts to move on from the Signalgate scandal any easier. As Donald Trumps team trades blame and battles its critics, members of the House Republican caucus are facing their voters after The Atlantic published proof this past week that editor Jeffrey Goldberg had been mistakenly included in a group chat of Trump administration principals discussing plans for an imminent US strike on Houthi forces. The entire chat played out over Signal, an encrypted (but public) messaging app. Some members are making it clear that they are not toeing the White House line on the narrative, and disagree with the assertion from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and others claiming that information sent by Hegseth to others in the chat during the deliberations was not or did not need to be classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths messages to observers in the chat from the White House, including Vice President JD Vance, included precise attack timings, information about a confidential CIA source, and details about weapons packages used in the attack. That list includes Mike Turner, former chair of the House Intelligence Committee and one of a limited number of members who had access regularly to classified information and briefings. Turner, on Sunday, told ABCs This Week: Clearly the subject matter thats being discussed, the status of ongoing military operations, should be considered classified information. And its surprising to find it in an unclassified manner, he added. To find it in this way is surprising. GOP Rep. Mike Turner, former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said clearly subject of military details discussed in the Signal group chat should be considered classified information and it's surprising to find it in an unclassified manner. https://t.co/oPQ2UURqhG pic.twitter.com/73aXHApjw1 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 30, 2025 Hed go on to quibble with how the media had described the text calling it a description of ongoing military operations, rather than plans. The chat did include deliberations, however, over whether to even launch the attacks at all, with Vance writing to other principals in the chat: "I think we are making a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Republican who is breaking with the administrations line is Victoria Spartz, who served on the Helsinki Commission monitoring European military cooperation. The Indiana congresswoman faced a raucous town hall over the weekend in her district where attendees shouted at her to demand the resignation of Hegseth and Michael Waltz, the White House national security adviser who set up the text chain and inadvertantly included Goldberg when he did so. She declined to call for their resignations but did, according to reports, tell her constituents that the information included in Hegseths texts was or should have been classified. Mike Turner, former Intelligence committee chair, discusses Signalgate on ABC's This Week. (ABC News) As the White House has tried and failed for several days to move on from the story without a formal investigation of the text chain or resignations for anyone involved, its become clear that the Signal controversy has broken through to voters nearly overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In State College, Pennsylvania on Saturday residents of a red district represented by Congressman Glenn Thompson angrily ranted to former congressman Conor Lamb, a Democrat, and other members of local government at a town hall meeting put on by the Centre County Democrats. Thompson did not attend, though he was supposedly invited; a cardboard cutout took his place. Ray Bilger, a Democrat and veteran of the State Department foreign service, told attendees: Number one, everything they said there was classified. Number two, they violated national security by putting this in an unapproved and unsecure, unsecure application. It was reported that Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles pushed the president on Wednesday evening to oust Waltz, but were rebuffed. Trump, fuming at Goldberg, is said to revile the idea of giving the Atlantics editor and Democrats a scalp. Vance, then repairing his image after his actions were reported, told reporters on his trip to Greenland: If you think youre going to force the president of the United States to fire anybody youve got another thing coming. Im the vice president saying it here on Friday: We are standing behind our entire national security team. In the Trump administrations latest assertion of power over the press corps, the White House intends to take over the seating assignments in the press briefing room, according to a senior official. The plan may cause a tug-of-war with the White House Correspondents Association, the independent group that currently assigns seats and manages the relationship between the White House and the press corps. When Axios reported on the potential seating chart changes on Sunday morning, some Trump allies cheered the news as yet another way to constrict the mainstream media establishment and elevate explicitly pro-Trump opinion outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes to this keep it going @PressSec, the first press secretary from Trumps first term, Sean Spicer, wrote on X to his counterpart Karoline Leavitt. A senior White House official confirmed the plan to CNN but did not add any details. Several correspondents said a shakeup to the seating chart has been expected since the changes would be full of symbolism and would be celebrated by pro-Trump media outlets. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by their employers to speak publicly. It doesnt really matter where people sit, a White House correspondent said. But it does matter when the White House tries to impact what questions are asked, and how stories are covered, by taking control away from an elected group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That group is the correspondents association, which is governed by a rotating group of journalists who are elected by their peers. The current president of the group, Eugene Daniels, did not respond to a request for comment about the status of the seating chart. The association is said to be considering a range of possible responses. One big unknown is whether the administration intends to remove some big news outlets from assigned seats or merely rearrange who sits where. Even a seemingly minor reordering, though, could change the dynamic during Leavitts briefings. Right now, under the associations seating chart, journalists from the countrys biggest TV networks, newswires, newspapers, and radio networks sit toward the front. A wide range of other well-established news outlets also have assigned seats, with some taking turns in order to fit more than 60 outlets into 49 seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every few years the association updates the seating chart to reflect changes across the media landscape. It also assigns all booths and desks in the news medias White House workspace, its website notes. The Trump White House has been sharply critical of the association since Trump retook office in January. Some correspondents believe Trump wants to eliminate the group altogether. In February Trump banned The Associated Press, a foundational part of White House coverage for more than one hundred years, from press conferences and other events. Then Leavitt said the White House would pick the press pool reporters who travel with the president and attend small-scale events with him, thereby stripping the association of its historic role organizing the pool. In recent weeks, the White House has invited hyperpartisan pro-Trump websites and relatively low-rated TV networks into the pool. I love this guy, Trump gushed on Friday when an employee of the far-right channel One America News offered a compliment disguised as a question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt has also promoted right-wing podcasters and heterodox writers at her press briefings by turning a seat formerly occupied by a White House aide into a new media seat. Longtime correspondents have girded for further changes, especially in light of the Defense Departments so-called rotation program, which removed big news outlets like NPR and CNN from their Pentagon workspaces and replaced them with smaller, ardently pro-Trump media outlets. All of the disruptions have pointed in the same predictable direction: Toward media coverage that supports rather than scrutinizes the administrations agenda. A Trump-controlled seating chart at briefings would likely add right-wing podcasters and online content creators, though the White House may run into some practical constraints. Many of the pro-Trump personalities who command big online audiences with conservative opinion shows dont live in Washington, DC, and have little desire to drop in for press briefings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when briefing room capacity was reduced for health reasons, CNNs Kaitlan Collins was told to move out of her first-row seat and switch with a reporter in the back row. Both reporters refused, and the White House backed down. The president of the association at the time, Jonathan Karl, said there is a decades-long bipartisan tradition of the WHCA determining the seating assignments in the briefing room, so we will challenge any effort to pick and choose what outlets are there or the manner in which they are in there. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On Monday, March 24, Dr. Gerhardt Konig and his wife, Arielle Konig, were walking along a hiking trail just off of Oahus famed Pali Lookout when Gerhardt suggested they take a picture near the edge of the cliff. When Arielle refused, her husband allegedly attacked her and attempted to push her off the cliff. When another hiker stumbled upon the scene, Dr. Konig fled, leading to a six-hour manhunt that fortunately ended in the doctors arrest. On Thursday, Konig appeared in court for the first time, where new details about the bizarre incident were revealed. Related: Husband Charged With Grotesque Valentine's Day Murder of Wife As Hawaii News Now reports, Dr. Konig showed up to court alongside attorney Thomas Otake, a high-profile defense lawyer based in Honolulu. Initially, Konig was charged with attempted murder and the judge set his bail at $5 million. But according to a KITV Island News report from Friday, Dr. Konig has since been moved to the O'ahu Community Correctional Center without bail following his wifes petition for a restraining order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the original story seemed terrifyinga husband attempting to kill his wife for refusing to smile for a selfieit has only gotten more bizarre as new details have emerged. Hawaii News Now reported that the struggle between the couple did indeed begin when Arielle refused to move toward the edge of Pali Lookout, a popular spot for photos as it offers panoramic views of the ocean below. Arielle, a 36-year-old nuclear engineer, claimed in court documents that when she declined to take a photo, Gerhardt attacked her. He first attempted to poke her with two syringes (what drug, if any, was inside the needles is not known). When that didnt work, he attempted to smash his wife in the head with a rock (she estimated he did this about 10 times), grabbed her hair, smashed her face into the ground, and attempted to throw her off the cliff. When the attack was interrupted by another hiker, Arielle reportedly begged for help, noting: Hes trying to kill me. Hes hitting me in the head with a rock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple was traversing the Pali Puka Trail at the time, which is officially closed to the public but still used by the many adventure-seekers who find themselves in this Hawaii hotspot. When asked to comment on the situation, Konigs housekeeper and friend Christina Ferguson swore she Never saw this coming. Never in a million years would I think this would happen. Ferguson set up a GoFundMe for Arielle and her children, to help offset some of the health and legal costs. Im just so sad that this happened, Ferguson added. When health workers stopped visiting her home in Pakistan to administer tuberculosis medication, Ratna Jamni began dragging herself to a clinic step by painful step, when even standing feels impossible. The 40-year-old had been receiving treatment and mental health support for months at home after contracting drug-resistant TB, but those visits have all stopped. Every trip is painful, exhausting and humiliating. I dont know how much longer I can do this, she told CNN via the Dopasi Foundation, a Pakistan-based NGO whose USAID-funded programs helped provide her health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The journey is long, my body is weak, and every breath feels heavier than the last. I wonder if its even worth it. I wish this suffering would end either the help returns or I no longer have to endure this pain. Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection usually found in the lungs, remains the worlds top infectious killer, causing 1.25 million deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). With the right health care and drugs, TB is treatable and preventable. Without treatment, it has a death rate of close to 50%. Like that of millions of other TB patients across the world, Jamnis treatment was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It has now been interrupted by the Trump administrations sudden freezing, and subsequent cutting, of vast swathes of the agencys funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid groups and doctors warn that these cuts are likely to cause thousands of unnecessary deaths and a rise in TB infections worldwide, including in the US itself; and create the conditions for an extremely drug-resistant form of the disease to spread. Tuberculosis remains the world's top infectious killer. - Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Getty Images Already, more than 11,000 additional TB patients are estimated to have died in the two months since almost all USAID funding froze on January 24, according to a model built by UN-affiliated organization Stop TB Partnership. TB infections are also expected to increase by 28-32% globally this year as a result of the cuts, according to a memo issued by a top USAID official, Nicholas Enrich, who was placed on administrative leave. The State Department, which now handles queries for USAID, told CNN that certain TB programs are active today in more than a dozen countries, in line with Secretary (of State Marco) Rubios exemption for life-saving humanitarian assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These programs are helping to find and cure hundreds of thousands of cases of tuberculosis by providing access to low-cost, life-saving testing and medicine. Crippling breakdowns in their TB responses US funding was an integral part of the global TB response, distributing grants both directly to 24 national governments whose countries have high rates of the disease and via international or local non-governmental organizations. USAID was deeply enmeshed in global HIV/AIDS health care too, and TB is the leading cause of death for people with HIV, according to WHO. Unlike previous changes in funding flows, which came with prior warning, this freeze is unprecedented in both its scale and abruptness, meaning that its very difficult for these countries overnight to find the resources to plug the gap, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, CEO of the UN-affiliated Stop TB Partnership, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while local aid groups call for a shift to domestic funding, the situation right now is deteriorating. For the 27 countries worst affected by the cuts, that funding gap is leading to crippling breakdowns in their TB response with devastating consequences, WHO said in a statement on March 20. The precise nature of the impact has varied worldwide, depending on the role USAID played in the network of funding streams contributing to each countrys TB program. In almost half of Mozambique, for example, no one can currently be diagnosed with TB, since US funding supported its lab networks and system that transported samples of spit and mucus, Ditiu said. Some programs, like Stop TB Partnerships Global Drug Facility, which facilitates global access to relatively cheap drugs, have had some funding restored by temporary waivers, Ditiu said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But more have not, and nine countries are struggling to procure TB drugs, threatening patients access to them, WHO said. A biomedical and laboratory technician is pictured carrying out a TB test in Maputo, Mozambique. - Alfredo Zuniga/AFP/Getty Images Health workers based in Cambodia, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa and Eswatini told CNN the biggest cuts to their programs were mostly in active case-finding, which allows for earlier diagnosis to stem the spread of disease, and in community outreach. One such USAID-funded program in Cambodia, run by local HIV and TB organization KHANA, had screened more than 780,000 people for TB in remote areas, traced more than 16,000 close contacts of TB patients and supported more than 800 patients with multi-drug-resistant TB during the past five years, according to its executive director, Choub Sok Chamreun. All that work has now stopped. As a result, the number of new TB cases reported in the region has dropped from about 650-850 per month to just 250 in February, meaning that hundreds are going undiagnosed and without care, Chamreun told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that people dont come to services. It means that the infection continues to spread over the community it means that the aim to end TB by 2030 is impossible, he said, referencing the UNs goal to largely eliminate the disease by the end of the decade. Similarly, another case-finding program supported by USAID in 27 of Pakistans districts has ceased, along with the means of transporting sputum samples, and community monitoring that aims to identify any barriers to TB treatment, Kinz ul Eman, CEO of the Dopasi Foundation, told CNN. Sudden cuts also mean immediately laying off field health workers who actually risked their life to support your project activity, to support their community, she added. TB disproportionately affects marginalised communities and people living in poverty for whom government health care is less accessible, making such outreach even more important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One such program, overseen by Dr. Steven John, an official at the Ministry of Health in Adamawa State, Nigeria, was implementing TB health care for nomadic populations there. With the funding freeze, his program can no longer reach the 60-70% of the community who have yet to access its services, even as people there approach the organization (saying) When are you coming? he told CNN. Virtually resistant to what we have Suddenly restricting access to drugs and treatment also creates the conditions for a mutated, multi-drug-resistant strain of TB to thrive as patients partway through a four- or six-month treatment regimen may be forced to stop taking them, aid groups and doctors say. Anytime you cease a treatment in the middle of the course of therapy, you promote the selection of drug resistance and people then become contagious again to others in their community, explained Dr. Kenneth Castro, a professor at Emory University who previously served as director of the division for tuberculosis elimination at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very few drugs can treat such an extreme form of TB. You create, basically, a bug which is virtually resistant to what we have, said Ditiu. That risk is magnified since a lot of USAIDs funding, especially in Africa, focused on supporting people living with multi-drug-resistant TB, she added. Two patients pictured waiting for a consultation for drug-resistant TB at a hospital in the Philippines. - Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images And anecdotal reports of patients stopping their courses of medication are already emerging. One patient in Uganda started sharing her medication with her husband, meaning they are both taking half the prescribed amount, Bruce Tushabe, an official at advocacy group the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa, told CNN. Another person who used to get medication from a specialist, now-closed clinic cant stand in the queues at the general clinics due to the stigma TB patients still face, Tushabe added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As TB rates rise globally, they are likely to increase in the US as well, said Castro, while pointing out that the country still has one of the worlds lowest rates of the disease at 2.9 cases per 100,000 people. Nonetheless, warning signs are lighting up in January, the Kansas City metro area was hit by a wave of TB, causing dozens of illnesses and at least two deaths. And childhood TB cases in Europe rose by 10% in 2023, showing that transmission of the disease is still ongoing, WHO said on Monday. The irony, Castro added, is that these disinvestments end up resulting at higher cost to recover and mitigate the damage done. CNNs Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Two people were arrested after separate drug investigations in Iberville Parish. Catina Vaughn, 51, of St. Gabriel, and Juan Banks, 44, of Baton Rouge, were arrested by the Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office. IPSO said that both have long criminal records. Banks is also on felony probation. On March 26, narcotics agents searched a home on Bayou Paul Road in St. Gabriel to investigate a methamphetamine distribution. Inside, they found methamphetamine packaged for sale along with drug paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaughn was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Agents have also been investigating the Banks Drug Trafficking Organization. IPSO said it is responsible for selling large amounts of illegal drugs in the region. Authorities said they had arrested several of Juan Banks associates, including John Banks, Donald Nelson and Donovan Griffin. On March 27, agents stopped Juan Banks in a traffic stop. IPSO said they found four pounds and seven ounces of crystal meth, worth about $80,000. Multi-vehicle crash in Central leaves 3 people hurt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banks was arrested on outstanding warrants for principal to distribution of crack cocaine and principal to violation of a drug-free zone. He was also charged with: Expired vehicle registration. No insurance. Operating a vehicle with a suspended license. Possession of marijuana. Possession of methamphetamine (400 grams or more). Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 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. The Brookline Fire Department, alongside mutual aid from Boston, Cambridge, and Newton, battled a three-alarm fire that injured two firefighters. Around 3:15 P.M. on March 28, the Brookline Fire Department was dispatched to 223 Freeman Street for reports of a fire. Upon arrival, crews noticed that the fire was behind the address that they were dispatched to at 7-9 Craig Place. Crews began to fight the fire, while the residents of Craig Place had evacuated the building without injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While crews worked on the fire, two firefighters were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Due to the damage to the residence, the residents were displaced, with the Red Cross assisting them. State Police Fire Investigators and Brookline Fire Investigators continue their on-scene investigation to determine the cause of the fire. 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 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: Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae bacteria, which infect the digestive system. Credit: Ronald Taylor, Tom Kirn, Louisa Howard/Wikipedia Angola's cholera outbreak has now claimed 329 lives, the World Health Organization said Saturday, warning that the risk of further transmission in the country and surrounding areas was "very high." The resource-rich African nation has been experiencing a substantial cholera outbreak since January, with a total of 8,543 cases as of March 23. Angola struggles with high poverty rates and poor sanitation despite its oil wealth. The WHO said the outbreak had rapidly spread to 16 out of Angola's 21 provinces, affecting individuals of all age groups, with the highest burden among those aged under 20. "The Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, is managing the cholera outbreak response through case detection, deployment of rapid response teams, community engagement and a vaccination campaign," the UN health agency said. "Given the rapidly evolving outbreak, ongoing rainy season, and cross-border movement with neighboring countries, WHO assesses the risk of further transmission in Angola and surrounding areas as very high." Namibia, Angola's southern neighbor, recorded its first case of cholera in nearly a decade, the African Union's health agency said earlier this month. The 55-year-old woman recovered and was discharged from hospital. Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, often from feces. It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps. Cholera can kill within hours when not attended to, though it can be treated with simple oral rehydration, and antibiotics for more severe cases. There has been a global increase in cholera cases, and their geographical spread, since 2021. Between January 1 and March 23 this year, a total of 93,172 cases and 1,197 deaths were reported across 24 countries, with 60% of the cases in Africa, the WHO said. 2025 AFP Editors note: The Clark County coroners office has identified the 64-year-old man as Glenn Abbott and the 67-year-old as Bennett Loomis. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two men were killed in separate hit-and-run crashes Saturday night in Las Vegas. The first crash occurred just after 7:45 p.m. Saturday at McLeod and the Pecos-McLeod Interconnect in south Las Vegas. An unidentified 64-year-old man using what police described as a personal mobility device was struck while crossing McLeod Drive by a vehicle in a crosswalk. Investigators believe the driver fled the scene, traveling north on the Pecos-McLeod Interconnect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Cleopatra Clemons who lives nearby recalls the horrific moment she noticed a man on the side of the road. My son and I found the body. We were coming from the store and the man was lying on the side of the curb and his scooter was on the sidewalk, Clemons told 8 News Now. Clemons sharing that by the time they got to him, he was struggling to breathe. As we were talking and trying to make him hang in there. He was gasping for air, and then other civilians came over to help. We did all we could to keep him with us, but it was too late, Clemons added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, just after 8:30 p.m., a 67-year-old man was struck while crossing Boulder Highway at Tropicana Avenue in a marked crosswalk. A compact vehicle struck the man before an unidentified vehicle, believed by investigators to be a white Volkswagen Passat, drove over the man who was lying in the roadway. That victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. The driver of the compact vehicle stopped and stayed at the scene, and did not show signs of impairment. The Volkswagen driver, however, continued south on Boulder Highway. Police provided a photo of that vehicle, which investigators believe would have damage to its lower front bumper and undercarriage. Photo of vehicle involved in a crash on Boulder Highway at Tropicana Avenue provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Both crashes remain under investigation, and anyone with information on the deadly incidents is asked to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments Collision Investigation Section at 702-828-4088. Additionally, those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or via the organizations website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadly crashes represent the 41st and 42nd traffic-related fatalities in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments jurisdiction 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 KLAS. (Reuters) - A plane registered to U.S. Bancorp's Vice Chair Terry Dolan crashed in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Saturday, the bank said in a statement on Sunday. The Minnesota-based lender said the medical examiner's office has not been able to confirm whether Dolan was on board, but "we believe he was." In addition to vice chair, Dolan became the lender's chief administration officer in 2023, according to the company's website Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the crash of a Socata TBM 700 airplane on Saturday near Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The NTSB said preliminary information indicated only one person was on board, but it does not release the identities of those involved in crashes. The plane had departed Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was bound for Anoka County-Blaine Airport when the crash occurred, CBS News reported, citing the Federal Aviation Administration. (Reporting by Pretish M J in Bengaluru and Carolina Mandl; Editing by Chris Reese) United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain said he supports President Trumps tariffs on autos, calling them a tool, but noted that the unions other stances dont go out the window. Fain joined CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday, where he highlighted how he hopes Trumps tariffs on car imports will bring more auto manufacturing back to the United States and provide people with good-paying jobs. Tariffs are a tool in the toolbox, he said. Theyre not the end-all solution. We have to fix the broken trade system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Fain called the tariffs a motivator, he cautioned that like for other administrations, he wont throw out his other values. Theres been no change in where we stand politically as a union and what our stance is, Fain said. Look, weve been very clear since day one of my administration we have expectations. Endorsements are earned, but at the end of the day were not partisan to any one party here, he said. Just because we find common ground on tariffs or on trade doesnt mean that everything else goes out the window. Fain was a supporter of former President Biden after he visited the picket line with striking autoworkers and his efforts to strengthen the middle class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on foreign made cars and auto parts. They will go into effect on Wednesday. While Fain celebrated the news, highlighting how he hopes manufacturing will tick up domestically, theres concern that prices are going to rise for Americans and end up hurting the U.S. industry. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ukraine has accused Russia of committing a war crime after a Russian drone struck a military hospital in Kharkiv overnight. Ukraine's General Staff said the strikes were a "deliberate, targeted striking" of the hospital and that it appeared soldiers being treated there were injured. It said the medical center and nearby residential buildings were damaged as a result of a "defeat of" a Russian Shahed drone. Photos from the scene appear to show damage to the hospital, with an entrance way demolished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian drones also hit apartment blocks and a shopping mall in the center of Ukraine's second largest city, killing at least two people and wounding 25, according to Kharkiv's governor. "War crimes have no statute of limitations. The relevant evidence will be transferred to the bodies of international criminal justice," the General Staff wrote in a statement on the hospital attack. PHOTO: Firefighters manning a hoses to put out a fire following a drone attack in Kharkiv on March 29, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images) Ukrainian cites are bombed by dozens of Russian drones every night, and this weekend has seen a particularly intense wave of attacks in civilian areas of major cities. Dnipro in southeast Ukraine suffered on Friday night heavy strikes that started major fires. MORE: Russia launches 'hellish' overnight drone bombardment of Ukraine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday said over the past week Russia had launched over 1,000 drones, nine missiles and over 1,300 guided aerial bombs, with most of Ukraine's regions coming under attack. He said Ukraine had shot down a "significant number" of the drones and missiles. "Russia is dragging out the war," Zelenskyy wrote in a statement on X, saying Ukraine had shared information on Russia's strikes with its allies and that it expects a "response from the United States, Europe and all our allies to this terror against our people." Russia has also intensified its ground offensive operations in recent days amid, according to Ukraine's military, amid the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to end the war. Ukraine's General Staff as well as Ukrainian military analysts report in the past few days Russia has launched some of the largest number of ground assaults since the start of the year. PHOTO: A man looks at a car destroyed in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) "The number of enemy assaults has exceeded 200 times per day for the last three days," Deep State, a blog account that tracks the war and is close to Ukraine's military, wrote Friday. This is the highest three-day intensity of the year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It follows warnings this week by Zelenskyy that Russia is preparing to launch a major spring offensive, even as it tries to drag out negotiations with the Trump administration. MORE: Zelenskyy claims Russia violated partial ceasefire after energy facility damaged The Russian attacks are focused most of all in eastern Ukraine, in the direction of Pokrovsk, an important defensive hub that Russia has been trying to seize for more than 6 months. Russian forces had scaled back their attacks in recent weeks in part due to poor ground conditions and apparently also worn down by extremely heavy losses. But it appears they are now renewing their offensive operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian and western officials warned that President Vladimir Putin of Russia will try to use protracted negotiations as an opportunity to also advance on the battlefield, hoping to crack Ukraine's defenses as the Trump administration weakens western support for Kyiv. Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime for 'deliberate' strike on hospital originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The American side has viewed Ukraine's operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast as a breach of trust, yet they chose not to halt their support in order to prevent the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers who were already on Russian territory. Source: The New York Times, as reported by European Pravda Details: The NYT says that Ukrainian forces were stretched dangerously thin on the northern and eastern fronts in the summer of 2024. However, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, kept telling the Americans "I need a win". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, the Americans discovered that Ukrainian military intelligence was secretly planning a ground operation in the southwest of Russia. The CIAs chief in Kyiv then confronted Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), with the fact that if Ukrainians crossed the border into Russia, they would have to do so without American weapons and intelligence support. In early August, the Ukrainians made a cryptic suggestion that something was happening in the north. It was then that General Syrskyi made his move sending troops across the southwestern Russian border into Kursk Oblast. "For the Americans, the incursions unfolding was a significant breach of trust. It wasnt just that the Ukrainians had again kept them in the dark; they had secretly crossed a mutually agreed-upon line, taking coalition-supplied equipment into Russian territory," the article states. Earlier, Ukraine and the US had agreed on a zone in Russia where Ukrainians could fire American weapons, with the Wiesbaden command supporting their strikes with intelligence. This was done, in part, to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Kharkiv Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It wasnt almost blackmail, it was blackmail," a Pentagon official said. After the start of the Kursk operation, Americans could have halted their support, but they knew, as a US administration official explained, that this "could lead to a catastrophe": Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk Oblast would have died if they had not been protected by HIMARS rockets and American intelligence. The Americans concluded that the Kursk operation was the victory the Ukrainian leadership had long been hinting at and seeking. One of the goals of the operation, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained to the Americans, was to gain leverage seizing and holding Russian land that could later be exchanged for Ukrainian territory in future negotiations. Background: In mid-March, Estonias intelligence reported that Ukraine was gradually withdrawing its military contingent from Russias Kursk Oblast. Recently, Zelenskyy stated that the pause in US intelligence sharing did not contribute to the worsening position of Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Donald Trump said he was p---ed off with Vladimir Putin and threatened new sanctions against Russia as attempts to negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire stalled. The US president voiced his frustration during an interview in which he also threatened to bomb Iran if Tehran did not reach a nuclear deal with Washington. Mr Trumps remarks came as he prepared to accelerate his global trade war on Wednesday Liberation Day when he will implement sweeping tariffs on imports. Sir Keir Starmer has drawn up retaliatory tariffs, The Telegraph understands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump is growing frustrated with efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which he promised to do within 24 hours of entering office. He said said he was very angry, p---ed off with his Putin demanding that Volodymyr Zelensky be replaced with a transitional government as the price for peace negotiations. Donald Trump, pictured with Alexander Stubb, Finlands president, on Saturday, has hit out at Vladimir Putin - via Reuters The US president threatened to introduce secondary tariffs on Russian energy exports, targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas with sanctions, if talks did not progress. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he planned to talk to Putin this week, with the comments coming after Grigory Karasin, the Russian negotiator, warned on Sunday that a ceasefire may not be implemented until 2026. It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting, Mr Karasin, the chairman of Russias Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and a former ambassador to Britain, said on state television. However, Mr Trump reiterated that he and Putin have a very good relationship, and later on Sunday he shifted some of his criticism to Mr Zelensky. Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Mr Trump told reporters on board Air Force One, referring to an agreement that would provide the US with access to Ukraines rare earth minerals. If he does that, hes got some problems. Big, big problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: We made a deal on rare earth. And now hes saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. He wants to be a member of Nato. He was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that. The ruins of a house in the village of Borova, in the Kharkiv region, shelled by Russian forces Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry claimed to have captured two Ukrainian villages Shchebraki, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and Panteleimonivka, in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine also accused Russia of committing a war crime after it attacked a military hospital in the city of Kharkiv. Mr Trump has been pushing for a quick end to the war in Ukraine, but has also acknowledged that Russia could be trying to delay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be theyre dragging their feet, he said last week in a rare sign of frustration with Putin. Ukraine, meanwhile, has accused Russia of prolonging talks with no intention of halting its offensive. For too long now, Americas proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia, Mr Zelensky said in his evening address on Saturday. Volodymyr Zelensky gave his nightly video address on Saturday Britain and France are planning to send a joint team to Kyiv to discuss how to establish a reassurance force for Ukraine once a ceasefire agreement is in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns over European security were amplified over the weekend by a secret Pentagon strategy document showing that the US would not come to Europes aid if Russia invaded. A memo from Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, obtained by the Washington Post, suggested Washington would be unlikely to provide substantial or any support while the US prepares for a potential war with China. Mr Trump is aggressively seeking multiple deals on Ukraine, trade, Gaza and Iran, saying on Sunday that he would launch military strikes on Tehran if the country did not engage in talks to limit its nuclear programme. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before, he said. Last week, he deployed stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base, which the US shares with Britain, in what was thought to be a warning to Iran and its proxies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours earlier, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, said the Islamic Republic rejected the option of direct talks with the US, offering Tehrans first response to Mr Trumps letter via mediators in Oman. 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. As Ukraine struggles to reform its tainted judiciary, investigators and top officials are allegedly helping controversial judges to keep their seats. As part of the judicial reform, the High Qualification Commission was scheduled to vet 41 judges, including those from Ukraine's two most dubious courts the Pechersk Court and the now defunct Kyiv District Administrative Court, on March 17. The courts have a long record of corruption allegations and politically motivated prosecutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vetting of judges of the two controversial courts at the center of Ukraines corrupt judiciary is crucial to the countrys stalled judicial reform, which has proceeded intermittently since 2019. The purpose of the reform a key condition for Ukraines European integration is to cleanse the judiciary by firing tainted judges and hire new ones who meet integrity and professionalism standards. The judges who were supposed to be vetted, however, did not show up for the March 17 screening, while the State Investigation Bureau intensified criminal proceedings against members of the High Qualification Commission in an alleged attempt to derail the vetting. Two additional controversial cases against commission members were opened on March 19-21. Some of the cases were initiated by the judges who were supposed to be vetted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission accused the State Investigation Bureau of applying pressure and attempting to block the vetting of controversial judges. Anti-corruption activists say the bureau is acting in the interests of the judges and of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Oleh Tatarov. Tatarov is officially responsible for the law enforcement portfolio at the President's Office. Judicial experts have accused him of unlawfully influencing law enforcement agencies and courts and derailing the judicial reform to prevent judges from becoming independent. "If we're talking about the part of the government that wants to maintain the status quo especially in order to keep direct control over the judiciary then, of course, it's crucial for them to keep these judges in place," Mykhailo Zhernakov, head of judicial think tank Dejure, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's why the whole reform process is moving so slowly and with such resistance." Tatarov told the Kyiv Independent that the information about the alleged pressure on the High Qualification Commission "raises serious concern and deep apprehension." "I am convinced that it is our shared duty to prevent such arbitrary actions by the relevant actors and that a legal assessment of their conduct should be provided, within the limits of their competence, by the authorized law enforcement bodies," he added. Tatarov did not respond to the accusation that he was himself behind the pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For anti-corruption activists, Tatarov has become a symbol of the President's Office's tolerance for graft, while Zelensky has dismissed the accusations against Tatarov as baseless. Tatarov was charged in 2020 with giving a bribe to an official before he joined the President's Office. Prosecutors and courts obstructed the case, and it was eventually closed in 2022. The State Investigation Bureau and judges of the Pechersk and Kyiv District Administrative courts did not respond to requests for comment. Read also: Court orders closure of bribery case against top member of Zelenskys administration Vetting and searches The alleged pressure on the High Qualification Commission came as only eight of the 41 judges showed up for psychological and general skills tests as part of the vetting process on March 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vetting coincided with the escalation of several criminal cases involving the High Qualification Commission. The investigations concern allegations of illegal interference in tests taken by judges, failure to implement a court ruling, and false testimony. The State Investigation Bureau searched the High Qualification Commission's premises on March 10 and the house of Oleksiy Omelyan, deputy head of the commission, on March 14. The Anti-Corruption Action Center and anti-corruption watchdog AutoMaidan argue that some of the cases were opened a year ago but the State Investigation Bureau had taken little action before and is stepping up the cases only now in order to pressure the commission. Search warrants in criminal cases were issued by judges of the Pechersk Court who were supposed to be vetted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources in the judiciary told the Kyiv Independent that, by issuing the warrants, judges of the Pechersk Court could be trying to create artificial conflicts of interest for members of the High Qualification Commission. According to the sources, these conflicts of interest could be used to block the vetting of the judges. "The State Investigation Bureau has its own interests because it relies on the Pechersk Court, which approves most of its investigative actions, making these courts important stakeholders for them," Zhernakov said. "They have built a working relationship with them." Since its creation in 2016, the State Investigation Bureau has faced the accusations of being a political tool of the President's Office. Its current head, Oleksiy Sukhachov, was appointed in 2022 as a result of a non-transparent contest that anti-corruption activists described as fake and politicized. If none of the controversial judges undergoes vetting, they will keep their jobs and will be able to work despite the accusations of corruption and political subservience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The High Qualification Commission said on March 14 that it "considers the actions of the State Investigation Bureau to be an encroachment on the institutional independence of the commission as a judicial governance body, with the intent to destabilize its work and obstruct the fulfillment of its assigned tasks." "Such actions could disrupt appointments for the High Anti-Corruption Court, appellate courts, and local courts, as well as hinder vetting, thereby jeopardizing Ukraine's European integration aspirations," the commission added. Read also: Ukraines judicial reform relaunch shows mixed results so far Ukraines biggest corruption scandal Anti-corruption activists argue that the judges and the State Investigation Bureau are using these cases to obstruct the commission's work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of the cases involving the High Qualification Commission, the State Investigation Bureau is investigating alleged illegal interference in tests taken by judges in July 2024. Pavlo Vovk, former head of the liquidated Kyiv District Administrative Court, participated in the tests as part of vetting procedures. The tests were disrupted because mistakes were found in them, and Vovk avoided being vetted. Vovk and other judges of his court were also supposed to be vetted on March 17, but only two of them showed up. Head of the Kyiv District Administrative Court Pavlo Vovk (L) and President Volodymyr Zelenskys Deputy Chief of Staff Oleh Tatarov. (adm.ki.court.gov.ua/credence.com.ua) Vovk's Kyiv District Administrative Court played an outsized role in Ukraine because it handled administrative issues linked to government bodies based in Kyiv. The court has been accused of acting in the interests of oligarchs and corrupt officials, as well as obstructing reforms. Vovk himself has become a symbol of injustice, lawlessness, and impunity in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019 and 2020, he and other judges of the Kyiv District Administrative Court were charged with usurpation of power, obstruction of justice, organized crime, and abuse of authority. Vovk has been on trial since 2022. In 2022, the U.S. sanctioned Vovk "for soliciting bribes in return for interfering in judicial and other public processes." Soon after, Zelensky signed a bill to liquidate the Kyiv District Administrative Court. Despite the liquidation of the court, Vovk and other judges of his court kept their official jobs as judges and received salaries for years. Vovk was finally fired by the High Council of Justice, the judiciary's top governing body, on March 18, 2025, but other judges of the court kept their jobs. Read also: Ukraines anti-corruption bureau makes progress yet doesnt take on top presidential allies Politically useful judges Another case involving the High Qualification Commission was initiated by Oksana Tsarevych, a controversial judge of Kyiv's Pechersk Court. Judges of the court were also supposed to be vetted on March 17 but none of them showed up. Tsarevych is accusing the commission of failing to implement a court ruling on her vetting procedure. She was fired in 2016 for violating her oath by unlawfully stripping protesters of driver's licenses during the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, which ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Investigators found that the police reports on which Tsarevych's rulings were based were forged, and an appellate court canceled them as unlawful. However, Tsarevych was acquitted in 2020 in a case over her allegedly unlawful rulings against EuroMaidan activists. In 2021, a Kyiv court reinstated Tsarevych as a judge of the Pechersk Court. In 2023, the High Qualification Commission started a new vetting procedure for Tsarevych. She filed a lawsuit to make the commission resume the 2016 vetting procedure instead, and in 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the commission to do so. The old vetting procedure would give her a better chance of being successfully vetted, Kateryna Butko, head of anti-corruption watchdog AutoMaidan, told the Kyiv Independent. Tsarevych's Pechersk Court, whose district includes the government quarter, has been accused of routinely making politically motivated decisions in favor of different governments, both pro-Russian and pro-Western. Tsarevych and other judges of the court took part in the criminal and administrative cases against EuroMaidan protesters and Yanukovych's political opponents Yulia Tymoshenko and Yury Lutsenko. Read also: Judicial reform in limbo as only few tainted judges are fired or convicted Other cases against the commission Another State Investigation Bureau case was initiated by Maksym Buzhansky, a lawmaker from Zelensky's Servant of the People party. Buzhansky has sparked controversy by making pro-Russian statements and promoting Kremlin narratives. He accused Omelyan of giving false testimony in the case against Oleksiy Tandyr, head of Kyiv Oblast's Makariv District Court. In 2023, a car driven by Tandyr hit a serviceman of the National Guard at a checkpoint in Kyiv. The guardsman died on the spot as a result of his injuries. Tandyr was fired in 2024 due to the accident, and is currently on trial. Omelyan is acquainted with Tandyr and went on a fishing trip with him and other people not long before the car accident. Omelyan testified that he was not aware of Tandyr consuming alcohol on that day, according to Buzhansky. According to a forensic assessment ordered by the State Investigation Bureau, alcohol was found in Tandyr's biological samples. On March 19, the State Investigation Bureau also opened a case against High Qualification Commission member Volodymyr Luhansky, accusing him of forging a diploma. Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is already investigating a case into Luhansky allegedly getting illegal bonuses based on an unaccredited and unrecognized diploma. Yet another case involving commission members was opened on March 21. Specifically, High Qualification Commission members Ruslan Melnyk and Roman Sabodash are being investigated on suspicion of entering false data in the commission's information system in the interests of their relatives who are seeking jobs in the judiciary. Andriy Sotnyk, a lawyer at the Anti-Corruption Action Center, told the Kyiv Independent that he does not see any merit in the case because the commission members have already resolved conflict of interest issues related to the relatives. Zhernakov believes that the Ukrainian authorities should decide whether they want to disrupt the country's European aspirations by pressuring the commission and blocking judicial reform. "The government has the task of leading the country into the EU and building a capable state that can repel the Russian invasion," he said. "The government must finally decide whether we are, after all, in favor of Vovk's justice (a reference to ex-Judge Pavlo Vovk) because it's convenient or in favor of a kind of justice that would allow us to develop as a democratic state."` Read also: EuroMaidan murders case: Why is the verdict criticized, and why is it about Russia? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. 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 Chinese woman is the third person in the world living with a gene-edited pig kidney, and nearly three weeks after surgery, doctors say she's doing well. The woman, reportedly 69 years old, had kidney failure for eight years before receiving the pig kidney. The operation took place at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an. Lin Wang, part of the transplant team, said the kidney is working well and the patient is still being monitored in the hospital, a report from NBC News says. This surgery is part of a growing effort to use genetically altered pig organs to help deal with a shortage of human organs for transplant. So far, four people have received pig kidneys and two received a pig heart. Some of those early surgeries didn't last long, but two other recent kidney recipientsone woman in Alabama and a man in New Hampshireare both doing well, NBC News reported. Wang and his team are also testing pig livers. In a study published March 26 in the journal Nature, they reported implanting a pig liver into a brain-dead person. The liver survived for 10 days and showed early signs of working. What's more, it made bile and albumin, which are important for liver function, although in smaller amounts than an actual human liver. In theory, Wang said, that could still help support someone with liver failure. U.S. scientists have tested a similar idea by hooking up a pig liver outside the body to help filter blood, much like a dialysis machine. "It's hopefully a first step, but it's still a lot like any good research, more questions than answers," said Dr. Parsia Vagefi, a liver transplant surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center who wasn't involved with the work. Wang said his team has also tried replacing a human liver completely with a pig liver in another brain-dead person and is now studying the results. More information: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on xenotransplantation. Journal information: Nature 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has emphasised that Ukraine's military is the strongest guarantee of the country's security once a ceasefire with Russia is reached. Source: Sikorski in an interview with Polish TV channel TVN24, as reported by European Pravda Details: Sikorski was commenting on the meeting of the leaders of the coalition of the willing held in Paris on Thursday. The coalition is considering the possible deployment of a deterrence force in Ukraine in the future. "Poland will be in this coalition, although not physically in Ukraine itself," Sikorski said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are various echoes of these talks, both at the level of staff representatives in the UK and at the political level in Paris. These concepts are still being agreed upon," he said. Meanwhile, Sikorski stated that "the biggest, best guarantee of Ukraine's security is the brave and well-equipped Ukrainian military". "We have the largest army in Europe on our side... and it has experience in this new type of warfare involving millions of drones," he stressed. Background: Earlier, it was reported that France is considering the deployment of a European contingent in Ukraine, positioned away from the front line, with one potential location being along the Dnipro River in Ukraine's centre. After the coalition of the willing summit on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that forces from some EU member states could be deployed in "certain strategic locations" in Ukraine, though he emphasised that the concept for such a deployment is still being developed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk has denied a report by The New York Times claiming that Ukraine received the coordinates of the cruiser Moskva from the United States and was expected to coordinate such strikes in advance. Source: Pletenchuk on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "The information youve just mentioned is not true. First and foremost, we did not receive any coordinates regarding the location of the cruiser Moskva, and the operation to destroy this flagship of the Black Sea Fleet was planned and executed entirely by the Navy alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, we coordinated the decision to deliver a strike with the top leadership in accordance with the chain of command, having received the appropriate authorisation. And naturally, that leadership was Ukrainian. We carried out the strike. So the claims about coordination and the provision of exact coordinates and location are not true just like the claim that such actions had to be coordinated in advance." Background: On 30 March, The New York Times published a piece describing the negative reaction in the US following Ukraines strike on the Russian guided missile cruiser Moskva on 14 April 2022. The article stated that in mid-April 2022, US and Ukrainian naval officers noticed "something unexpected" on radar and US representatives informed the Ukrainians that it was the Moskva. It also alleged that after the strike, "for the Americans, there was anger, because the Ukrainians hadnt given so much as a heads-up; surprise, that Ukraine possessed missiles capable of reaching the ship; and panic, because the Biden administration hadnt intended to enable the Ukrainians to attack such a potent symbol of Russian power". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Russian military vehicle equipped with an electronic warfare system was destroyed by the Ukrainian resistance movement in Kherson Oblast on the night of 28-29 March. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Details: Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that a Lorandit electronic warfare system was destroyed during the operation. Quote from Defence Intelligence: "The invaders use Lorandit to suppress radio communications and conduct electronic reconnaissance. The loss of such a system significantly degrades the aggressors military capabilities." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! On my way to meet Prof Alice Sullivan it occurs to me that if Marvel were dreaming up a new franchise, it probably wouldnt alight on a quantitative data scientist as its new superhero. And that would be a terrible miscalculation. Her recently published Sullivan Review reveals that when it comes to liberating public bodies from institutional capture by trans activists and highlighting the dangerous lunacy of conflating sex with gender, our doughtiest defence is data. Sullivan, a professor of sociology and a quantitative data scientist at University College London, was commissioned by the previous Conservative government to investigate how data on biological sex is collected by public bodies after deep concerns were raised about the stranglehold of gender ideology in our key organisations. She was chosen to do the review because of her specialist work on the topic and well-publicised views on the need to record accurate data on sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sex and gender identity are distinct characteristics and are not interchangeable, has always been her message. But unfortunately people in a great many organisations dont understand data collection as a discipline and have been taking advice from other people who dont understand it either; the result is a mess. We need we have a responsibility to record both sex and gender identity. She and her team carried out interviews, collated evidence and heard from whistleblowers too fearful of reprisals to speak out. What they uncovered was shocking; across key organisations like the NHS, schools, the police and civil service, factual information on biological sex has been replaced by subjective (and highly contested) feedback on gender identity since 2015. As a consequence robust accurate data has been lost, the review concluded. Criminals including sex offenders are being permitted to choose a self-identified gender rather than be identified by their biological sex, and the police and courts are complying. Then there are the schools that immediately change childrens gender on IT systems if they self-identify as the opposite sex often without consulting the parents and civil servants hounded out for perfectly ordinary opinions on biological sex. Its absurd. Enter the Sullivan Review. For those longing to turn the tide on aggressive gender politics, this detailed 226-page document has drawn a long-overdue line in the sand. Maya Forstater, CEO of pressure group Sex Matters welcomed its findings: This review is devastatingly clear about the harms caused by carelessness with sex data and a decade-long failure of the Civil Service to maintain impartiality and uphold data standards. The destruction of data about sex has caused real harm to individuals and research, and undermined the integrity of policy-making. Conflating sex and gender identity is not a harmless act of kindness but a damaging dereliction of duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or, as transgender lobbyists TransActual put it on their website; This review is providing an academic gloss on what is a political call to strip trans people of our hard-won rights to privacy, dignity, and respect in public spaces. We are beyond the point where we can be silenced Its the sort of binary response that has landed Britain in such a nonsensical quagmire in the first place. Sullivan has, in fact, called on organisations to record gender preference as well as sex when gathering data but nuance has gone the same way as common sense. Thankfully cometh the hour cometh the quantitative data scientist in the shape of Prof Alice Sullivan, who is as far from a Gradgrindian number-cruncher as you can imagine. To my mind it all feels terribly bleak. But when we meet, in her corner of north London, where the magnolia trees are in full creamy bloom and the local coffee shop is so vegan I almost cause a riot when I unwittingly ask for real milk, Sullivan is in surprisingly high spirits. Im optimistic. I think this review marks a watershed. It has taken a long time but I really do believe we are beyond the point where we can be silenced. Its the beginning of the end for no debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wouldnt that be nice? I cant help suggesting that Donald Trump of all people may have had a part to play in changing the proverbial mood music surrounding gender issues. As a life-long Leftie, it feels uncomfortable to be put in the position of agreeing with Donald Trump. But the fact is that he is simply saying that there are two sexes and that this matters, for example in prisons and sports. If Donald Trump says that the earth is round, should Leftists claim it is flat just to avoid being on the same side as him? This kind of tribal thinking has been horribly damaging to the Left. The idiotic positions that the Democrats took on these issues helped to gift the election to Trump. Mainstream politicians of all stripes need to learn from this that denying observable facts about the world is dangerous. Above: Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from female sport in February For years now Sullivan has refused to be silenced by gender militants who have bullied and threatened her online. Instead she has continued to focus on biological truth and has striven not always successfully to staunch the tide of ideological capture, which has seen LGBTQ+ networks within our key organisations mount successful, sustained campaigns to change the culture within them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, an atmosphere of fear has been created making people scared to speak out against or even discuss issues surrounding gender, she says. Bad decisions have been made by management because they have erroneously assumed these highly vocal activists represent far greater numbers than they do. Later, Sullivan happily confides she hasnt had any death threats recently, which tells us everything we need to know about the toxic tactics employed by some trans militants who have somehow managed to weaponise hurt feelings and bully public servants into accepting a parallel reality. We meet in the week that the University of Sussex was handed a record fine of 585,000 by the Office for Students (OfS) for failing to uphold freedom of speech. It came following a lengthy investigation into the universitys handling of the case of Kathleen Stock, a philosophy professor who resigned after being targeted by protests over her views on gender. Kathleen Stock had a horrific level of abuse, and Ive received nothing like that. By and large my peers have been very supportive but there have been exceptions and it is totally unacceptable that women are being horribly intimidated just for believing in biological sex. A Left-wing upbringing But back to Sullivan. Five feet tall with bleached pixie-cut hair, when we meet at her north London home she is wearing a teal-coloured dress that matches the extravagant Designers Guild wallpaper in her straight-from-the-pages-of-Living etc dining room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She takes me through the hallway hung with interesting art to the bold moderniste kitchen where on the breakfast table there are two lovely patterned plates, the sort most of us would keep for visitors, and a recipe for linguine with fresh crab is open on a book stand and its not even midweek! She laughs at my chippy indignation. But it later transpires shes half Spanish (hence the good food) and has never wanted children (hence the glamorous colour supplement interiors) so I am forced to retract my remarks about her being a member of the metropolitan elite. Sullivan, who lives with her mathematician husband John Armstrong, an academic at Kings College London laughs a surprising amount. I find myself wondering aloud if thats because its physically, or indeed metaphysically impossible to be cancelled twice? She was famously no-platformed in late 2019 when a research methods seminar where she was due to speak, held by the National Centre for Social Research was axed on the grounds the topic was of too much public interest. Sullivan rolls her eyes at the ridiculousness. That is what I was initially told, although Id never heard of something being called off because it was deemed too interesting, she says. Her perceived misdemeanour was that of having anti-trans views because she had raised her head above the parapet and criticised the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for failing to collect data on biological sex. When she was bluntly told she was the reason for the cancellation she broke down. I cried, she says. Im normally Captain Calm but I felt utterly bewildered that this was happening in my world, a world of sober data science. Data is about trust and once you lose trust, democracy itself is at risk. That way lies authoritarianism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sullivan was born and raised in Bristol. Her late Glaswegian father left school at 14 but became involved in the Trades Union movement. He took opportunities offered by the Workers Educational Association and moved to London, where he took five A levels he had no idea that three was the norm and later completed a degree and then a PhD as a mature student, during which time he met Sullivans mother, who was from the Basque region. My parents were both socialists, she says. But my dad, who died twenty years ago, also had a built-in bulls--t detector which I think he passed on to me. He also had a mischievous sense of humour and there have been times when I would really have appreciated him being around so he could help me find the funny side of the more stressful things that have happened. After reading PPE (politics, philosophy and economics) at Balliol College, Oxford, Sullivan undertook a masters in sociology and then a PhD in the sociology of education. She took a job at the Institute of Education which became part of University College London and worked her way up from research officer to professor. And from 2010 to 2020 she was also director of the hugely important ongoing 1970 British Cohort Study, which followed the lives of around 17,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales in a single week of 1970. Sullivans cancellation Her involvement with gender issues began, as is so often the case, on a personal note. Both she and her husband are keen runners and often use the track at Hampstead Heath. In 2018, Sullivan discovered that moves were afoot to allow individuals to access areas such as the Womens Pond and other facilities based on self identification. This gave her pause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I use the changing rooms there and I thought thats a bit much, you cant just ID yourself into a womans space. Then I saw the consultation document which was a really badly written questionnaire and I care a lot about questionnaires. Having thought long and hard about going public, she felt it was important, so she contacted the local paper in Camden who ran a story. But despite her best efforts, self identification was introduced, giving transgender women the right to use the Ladies Pond and other facilities, a policy that still persists today. Meanwhile as she became more familiar with grassroots feminist movements who were taking a stance against the eradication of sex in officialdom, the ONS announced that it was rolling out a new, inclusive version of the sex question on the 2021 national census. This would allow respondents to answer according to their self-identified gender rather than their physical sex thereby making a nonsense of its data collection. Sullivan took a stand and garnered hate mail when she criticised this bias in an open letter she organised in 2019. It was signed by more than 80 eminent academics from Oxbridge and Russell Group universities, pointing out that it would undermine data reliability on a key demographic variable and damage our ability to capture and remedy sex-based discrimination and inequality. The ONS refused to back down and in 2021 was taken to court by the feminist group Fair Play for Women and the judge found in the groups favour, ordering changes to the census only this week the ONS admitted that the number of trans people was incorrectly recorded in the latest census Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case highlighted just how tightly gender ideology had taken hold. I was so young and naive, she laughs, ruefully. I genuinely thought that getting eminent data scientists and academics to sign an open letter would sort everything out. Surely everyone would agree? Then came the backlash. When its someone from the academic world amplifying the voices of abusive trolls, its disappointing says Sullivan - Geoff Pugh Cue a volley of unpleasant messages on what was then Twitter, intimations of violence and death threats on Facebook. Its easy to ignore random strangers online but when its someone from the academic world, or professional people who should know better, amplifying the voices of abusive trolls, its disappointing. Throughout all this, Sullivan had no regrets. In 2023 she co-edited a book, Sex and Gender: a Contemporary Reader with the Oxford historian Selina Todd and has organised events on the subject which other academics have sought to cancel, giving a lie to notions of free speech. But her commitment is undiminished. As a sociologist she is fascinated, among other aspects, by the sex divide when it comes to gender identity; at present there seems to be a spike in the number of biological girls choosing to identify as male. But without accurate data this cant be understood. Similarly, without reliable data on sex, the world would have no idea about the gender imbalances in some societies where female babies are aborted. One of the recommendations in the review is that the nonsensical expression [sex] assigned at birth should no longer be used, she says, which will have a great many punching the air in jubilation, myself included. Its a term that comes from the postmodern philosophical idea that sex is a purely social construct and is not real but assigned at birth. This is just bonkers. Sex is determined at conception and the fact it is observable in-utero is why there were so many sex-selective abortions in China under the one child policy. Gender gerrymandering But here in the West there are those who stubbornly insist on denying biology. Of all the outrageous instances of gender gerrymandering, one in particular stands out for Sullivan. During research for her eponymous review a paediatrician cited a mother who changed the sex of her child when it was still a baby. Within weeks of the birth she decided she wanted to bring up her newborn as the opposite sex and went to her GP to request a new NHS number and have it officially recognised in the sex she had chosen. The GP complied. When childrens social care was alerted, they denied there was any safeguarding issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I heard about that case, I felt physically sick, admits Sullivan. I was appalled that an infant could simply be erased from NHS records and given a new identity with a new NHS number. Its unbelievable, but it happened. The vast majority of parents are loving and responsible but its inevitable there will always be some who are attention-seeking and abusive the scandal is that our institutions are not protecting children, because somewhere along the line it became taboo to challenge gender-identity theory. Sullivan wasnt the only one to react with visceral horror. The day after publication, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that from now on, no-one under the age of 18 will be given a new NHS record. Its completely wrong that childrens NHS numbers can be changed if they change gender, and Ive made it clear this must not happen, he said. We must deliver safe and holistic care for both adults and children when it comes to gender, and that also means accurately recording biological sex not just for research and insight, but also for patient safety. He acted swiftly but many commentators feel the rest of the Government has a long way to go when it comes to stamping out this extraordinary bias towards gender self-identification. Im delighted with the strong leadership that Wes Streeting has shown. Its important that the Government as a whole tackles this issue systematically, as the need for accurate data doesnt only apply to health. But damningly disappointingly Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has refused to issue an order compelling all police forces in England and Wales to collect data specifically on sex. Sex is a powerful predictor of both offending and victimisation, urges Sullivan. This is particularly obvious when it comes to violent and sexual crime. Its vital that the home secretary acts to issue a mandatory requirement for all police forces to record data on sex. Sullivan wont be drawn on whether a Tory government would have adopted all her review recommendations wholesale. The fact is that this problem was apparent under the previous Conservative government, and the likes of Teresa May and Boris Johnson facilitated it. Michelle Donelan [former secretary of state for science, innovation and technology] deserves great credit for commissioning the review, but this isnt a Left-Right issue, its a matter of common sense. Accurate data benefits us all. How many times will she have to say it? A great many more, I expect. But the mere fact the Sullivan Review was commissioned spurs her on. Ive been working in this area for years so being given the opportunity to undertake research in this way was almost like an answer to a prayer; Ive been over the moon with the reception for it. It was even written about in The Sun. For now, her focus is on the forthcoming second part of her review which looks at barriers to research on sex and gender, primarily in universities. The quantitative data scientists may not inherit the earth, but it seems we desperately need them to make sense of 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. (NewsNation) Two undocumented migrants reportedly were taken into custody this week after they used fake IDs to try to get into a secured work site at a county jail in southwest Ohio. You cant make this up, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said on X. This shows you the gall. They dont care. The father-son migrant duo tried to use fake identification documents, including passports and drivers licenses, to access a construction site at the jail on Wednesday, Jones said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is hooning? Ohios new law aimed at reckless driving Best fakes I ever seen, but they came to the wrong place, he said. Theyre actually living now, less than 20 yards [from] where they were working. Jones said his stance against illegal immigration is well-known in the region. He said theres even an Illegal Aliens Here sign with an arrow pointing to the jail, which includes office space for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). One of the migrants had previously been deported from the U.S. three times, Jones said. Further information about the arrested migrants was not available from his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. COLDWATER, Mich. (WOOD) A Union City Community Schools employee has been arrested and charged for sexually abusing a minor. On Friday, Ray Zierle was arrested and charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct first degree, three counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree, accosting a minor for immoral purposes, delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a short-barreled rifle, felony firearms, dangerous weapon (miscellaneous) and maintaining a drug house. He is being held at the Branch County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drugs, guns, stolen property found north of Coldwater In December, his home was searched and multiple electronic devices were seized. While searching the devices, deputies discovered explicit conversations between Zierle and a minor. The Branch County Sheriffs Office said a further investigation revealed that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with the child. Zierle was arrested at his place of employment, Union City High School, during non-school hours when no students were present due to weapons at his home, the sheriffs office said. Union City Community Schools said in a release that the minor is not a student in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zierle will be put on administrative leave until an investigation is complete, the district said. The district released the following statement: The District wants to reiterate its commitment to the school community by providing a safe environment for its students. Consistent with its objective, the District encourages all students, staff members, and community members ot report any potential harm or criminal acts directed toward students, school employees, or school property to the Districts administration. As we move forward, we are guided by our fiduciary responsibilty to protect students as they pursue their edicuation at the District. If there are further develoments concerning this matter, the school community will be updated accordingly. A statement released by Union City Community Schools read in part Anyone with information is asked to contact the Branch County Sheriffs Office at 517.278.2325 or submit an anonymous tip at sheriffbc@branchcounty.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A University of Minnesota international student is being detained by U.S. immigration authorities, school leaders said in a statement this week. University leadership said Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained the graduate student Thursday at an off-campus residence. They described the situation as deeply concerning. The student is enrolled in business school at the universitys Twin Cities campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What prompted the students detention is not yet known. An Associated Press email requesting comment from ICE was not immediately returned Saturday. University officials said the school is providing the student with legal aid and other support services. University of Minnesota leaders said school officials did not share information with federal authorities and were not given advance notice about the detention. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in a post on the social media site X said he is in touch with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research, Walz wrote. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers. A graduate student at the University of Minnesota was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents Thursday at an off-campus residence, the school said in a statement. Fridays statement signed by President Rebecca Cunningham, Vice President for Student Affairs Calvin Phillips and Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramirez Fernandez called the situation deeply concerning. The international student is enrolled in the Twin Cities campus, the school said. The student attends the Carlson School of Management, according to a Carlson school email sent to students and faculty and staff members and obtained by NBC News on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university said it did not have further information or more details about the situation. It also said it had no prior knowledge that the detention was happening and did not share any information with federal agents beforehand. The school did not release the students name. The students nationality, visa type and status were unavailable. Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to requests for comment Saturday evening. It is important to note that our campus departments of public safety, including UMPD, do not enforce federal immigration laws, and our officers do not inquire about an individuals immigration status, the UMN statement said. Their focus remains on public safety, fostering trust and maintaining strong relationships across the University community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Friday that he had been in touch with DHS to get information and that he would share more when he could. The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers, Walz said on X. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the students detainment deeply troubling on X. Educational environments must be places where all students can focus on learning and growing without fear, Frey said. The latest arrest comes on the heels of other arrests of international students at American universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University who led student protests at the New York school last spring, was arrested by federal immigration agents this month and was told his student visa was being revoked. Khalil, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was accused of supporting Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. A lawyer of his rejected the claim, saying there is no evidence Khalil provided support of any kind to a terrorist organization. Khalil is being held in federal custody in Louisiana after U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman ruled he cannot be deported in order to preserve the courts jurisdiction as it weighs a filing challenging his arrest and planned deportation. Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University, near Boston, who is a Turkish national in the United States on what her attorney said was a valid student visa, was similarly arrested by federal immigration agents Tuesday and is also being held in Louisiana. Her arrest was caught on video, with Ozturks lawyer saying she was on her way to meet friends for iftar, a meal that breaks the daytime fast observed by Muslims during Ramadan, when she was arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court order Friday blocked Ozturks deportation while U.S. District Judge Denise Casper determines whether she has jurisdiction over the case. An Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama, Alireza Doroudi, and a Russian medical researcher at Harvard University, Kseniia Petrova, were both detained by immigration agents this week, as well. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The "morning-after" pill, a form of emergency contraception, will be made available over the counter for free in pharmacies in England this year, the UK government said Sunday. Currently, women can get the pill for free from sexual health clinics run by the National Health Service (NHS) and most GP surgeries. But it can cost up to 30 ($38) to get the emergency contraceptive over the counter at pharmacies. Starting later this year, the pill will be available for free at pharmacies, aiming to "reduce inequalities," according to a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) statement. The move will also help free up GPs by reducing the need for women to make appointments to access the pill, the DHSC said. "Equal access to safe and effective contraception is crucial to women's health care and a cornerstone of a fair society," Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said. "Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live," Kinnock added. The government will announce additional details on Monday as part of a "package of investment and reform" for community and retail pharmacies. 2025 AFP (NEXSTAR) Measles was officially declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. If things keep going the way theyve been going in 2025, that designation could soon change. Measles elimination status is achieved in a country or region when there hasnt been sustained transmission of the virus for a period of 12 months or longer, explained Dr. William Moss, an epidemiology professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the schools International Vaccine Access Center, in a media briefing this month. A country will lose that elimination status once an outbreak extends longer than a year, he said. We recently came close to crossing that threshold, but barely avoided it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disappointed but not surprised: Measles cases explode in 19 states, new outbreak confirmed Weve gone a quarter of a century with our measles elimination status, Moss said. We almost lost that in 2019 when this large outbreak in New York state and New York City almost extended beyond 12 months. It was just shy of 12 months. More than 1,200 measles cases were reported that year, largely in area without widespread vaccination, including Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. So far this year, nearly 500 cases have been confirmed, and the number has been rising every week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces its new tally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The largest outbreak of 2025 is in West Texas, where the virus has largely spread in undervaccinated Mennonite communities. Studies of past measles outbreaks in Amish communities indicate this wave of new cases could last many months or a year. Like a forest fire: Where large measles outbreaks will occur, according to an epidemiologist Moss said its hard to say whether this years outbreak, which started in January, will last longer than 12 months, but its possible. I hope that is not the case and we can get a handle on this through increasing vaccination coverage but it does remain a threat and we could potentially lose our measles elimination status if this continues the way it has. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1978, the CDC announced a goal of eliminating the highly contagious virus. The agency set a deadline for 1982. The U.S. missed that deadline by quite a few years, but finally achieved elimination by 2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination program in the United States, as well as better measles control in the Americas region, the CDC says. Vaccine skepticism has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are early signs more people are getting vaccinated with against measles since the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico began, the Associated Press reports. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In 2013, Laura Khalil logged in to 23andMe to submit a sample to the DNA testing service to learn more about her Middle Eastern heritage unaware it would eventually change her life forever. 23andMe was a really great way to discover a part of myself, a part of my family, Khalil told The Independent. Khalil, who lives in Detroit, said the data initially was not very good and at first she didnt get much relevant information. But five years later, she got a shocking notification: A woman messaged her through the service claiming to be her half-sibling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when Khalils parents admitted for the first time that theyd used a sperm donor to conceive her. That message snowballed into several others, and Khalil discovered through 23andMe that she had nine half-siblings: eight sisters and one brother. Their parents had visited the same doctor in the late 1970s and 1980s, and ended up using the same donor. But on Tuesday, Khalil found herself logging onto the site for a very different reason: To permanently delete her genetic information from their database. Laura Khalil pictured with five of her step-siblings. Khalil wants to delete her 23andMe data after finding out the company is up for sale after the DNA testing service helped her find nine step-siblings (Laura Khalil) I just deleted my data this morning, Khalil said. Thats because 23andMe announced it is filing for bankruptcy and looking for a buyer to purchase the company which means anyone could soon have access to their trove of genetic data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't know what's going to happen here, and I don't know who could get their hands on what, Khalil added. She isnt alone, either. The 23andMe login website crashed on Monday night as users rushed to delete their data, The Wall Street Journal reports. Some users want to delete their 23andMe data now that the company has filed for bankruptcy and announced it is up for sale (EPA) Others are waiting to see what happens with the sale, including Jackie Vadurro, whose own DNA in the 23andMe system helped police crack open a decades-old cold case. Two years ago, a San Diego detective called Vadurro. She and another family member who used 23andMe matched with an unidentified 43-year-old woman who was killed and abandoned on the side of the road in 1986. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks in part to Vadurros DNA, police finally identified the woman last year as Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo. While police still dont know who might have killed her, Vadurro told The Independent shes grateful her genetic data was able to help give her family some answers. They were able to give her her name back, and they were able to exhume her ashes, and her family was able to bury her, Vadurro said of her distant relative. I feel like that's something just so incredible that happened through, you know, just having my DNA up there. Police identified Maria Pilar Del Gadillo Carrillo, pictured, in part thanks to Vadurro's 23andMe DNA sample (San Diego County Sheriff's Office) Vadurro said shes impartial to the issue of her data potentially being sold and plans to wait and see who buys 23andMe before making a final decision on deleting her information. Meanwhile, Linda Ketchum of Glendale, California, has used several DNA testing services, including AncestryDNA and 23andMe. The service helped her discover her biological fathers ancestry after he died when she was 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ketchum told The Independent shes not concerned about another company having access to her genetic data if 23andMe finds a buyer. I know there are potential privacy issues with DNA, but there are privacy issues with most everything we submit to in this modern society, from cell phones right down to online medical record keeping in the health care system, Ketchum said. Im hopeful it will work itself out in the future. AI and other future technologies give me much more pause than DNA technology. Experts across the U.S. are warning 23andMe users to delete their data as soon as possible. I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University, told ABC News users need to get their data out of there. When this company declared bankruptcy, the buyer who comes in doesnt have to honor any promises that the company made to you or anyone else who mightve used the site that theyre going to keep your information private, Caplan said. A 23andMe saliva collection kit. Attorneys general across the country are warning users to delete their genetic data (AP) 23andMe said in a statement there have been no changes to their data storage or protection. The company also said any buyer of its assets would have to observe applicable privacy laws for customer data. Our users privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction, and we remain committed to our users privacy and to being transparent with our customers about how their data is managed, the company said in an open letter to customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil told The Independent she also uses other online DNA services, so shes not worried that deleting her data could prevent her from finding even more half-siblings. So even if there was another long lost sibling that showed up, we figure theyll find us on Ancestry, she said. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) When she first got her cancer diagnosis years ago, 84-year-old Dukhi Hong couldnt have imagined coming this far. It feels like a dream, Dukhi said in Korean, while reminiscing about the past six years shes spent coming to the cancer center. The doctor said that with her diagnosis, patients have six to nine months left to live. However, on Friday, Dukhi exceeded all expectations: She came to Utah Cancer Specialists to receive her 100th dose of immunotherapy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah loses bid to keep Sundance Film Festival after 40 years of history Alarms first started to ring for Dukhis health in June of 2019. According to Dukhis daughter, Dukhi collapsed in a seizure, so the family rushed her to the emergency room. Thats when the doctors found small cell lung cancer in her body. The form of cancer that they found was notorious for being aggressive and for spreading quickly. At the time, the cancer had already metastasized to the brain, explained Dr. Stephan Kendall, the medical oncologist at Utah Cancer Specialists. Our whole world crashed, Dukhis daughter, Mitzi Maughan, said while tears flooded to her eyes. The pain of when she first received the news is still fresh to Mitzi. Courtesy: Family of Dukhi Hong Courtesy: Family of Dukhi Hong Courtesy: Family of Dukhi Hong Courtesy: Family of Dukhi Hong Courtesy: Family of Dukhi Hong Dukhi first came to Utah in 1965 from Seoul, South Korea. She had followed her then-husband to live in a land that was 6,000 miles away from her home. Sixty years later, she still remembers the exact date: It was May 16th, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt know how to speak English. I had just learned the ABCs. Dukhi said. She was pregnant at the time, and about seven years after coming to the country, she became a single mother, raising three daughters and a son on her own. It was tough But somehow, I just lived on, she said. Shes our hero, Mitzi told ABC4.com. She said her mothers strength and positivity continue to inspire her. The family had to squeeze their lives in between doctor appointments, as Dukhi had to come in every three to four weeks to receive her dose of immunotherapy. What started out as a bleak affair has now become a happy family occasion, as the whole family gathers to be with Dukhi during her immunotherapy sessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We make it an outing and we just know that the treatment that she just received is going to buy us more time with her, Mitzi said. Balloons, cakes, daughters, sons-in-law, and laughter filled the treatment room as Dukhi awaited the end of her infusion. Ive never had a patient receive 100 doses of any kind of treatment honestly, Dr. Kendall said while explaining Dukhis case. Dukhis recovery has reportedly perplexed doctors. We certainly dont understand everything, Dr. Kendall said, but he added that it might be something within her immune system that helped her to respond really well to the drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dukhis latest scans showed no signs of cancer in the lungs. However, this doesnt mean shes completely out of the woods. Small cell lung cancer can come back, and when it does, its harder to treat, according to Dr. Kendall. Also, her prognosis showed some of the cancerous cells in her brain coming back, although at a very minimal stage. Overall, Shes doing really well, Dr. Kendall said. On Friday, Dukhi left the center in a cheerful gait as if to flaunt her remarkable triumph over a deadly cancer. Her family tagged along, eager to spend the precious time that their mother and immunotherapy had been able to pave. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 (AP) Her political death. That's how French far-right leader Marine Le Pen described what's at stake in a verdict expected Monday that could derail her plans to run in the next presidential election scheduled for 2027. A judge is set to rule on whether Le Pen and her National Rally party embezzled European Parliament funds. She and 24 other party officials are accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to instead pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation blocs regulations. Le Pen, 56, and other co-defendants denied wrongdoing during the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pens greatest concern is that she could be declared ineligible to seek public office, if found guilty. How could the verdict affect Le Pens political career? In case of conviction, the court could impose a period where she is ineligible to run for office with immediate effect even if she files an appeal. The court would also decide whether to give Le Pen a prison sentence which would be suspended during any appeal. That could prompt another possible headache for the far-right leader. If she appeals, she will automatically be granted a new trial, but it will likely take place in 2026, just months before the presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen appears to be anticipating a guilty verdict, telling the panel of three judges: I feel we didnt succeed in convincing you. During the trial, prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence for Le Pen and a five-year period of ineligibility. They want my political death, Le Pen then said. What does the Constitutional Council say? In a key decision on Friday, the Constitutional Council ruled that a period of ineligibility with immediate effect is in line with the French Constitution. But it also stressed that its up to the judges to assess the consequences of imposing such a ban right away and make sure the ruling is proportionate and takes into consideration the preservation of voters freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constitutional Council rendered its ruling in a separate case that has no direct link with Le Pen's. Yet its conclusions have been scrutinized as they provide legal guidance that judges are likely to take into consideration. The Constitutional Council also underlined that the court can decide to not impose any period of ineligibility immediately. In that case, the ban would be suspended pending appeal. What makes Le Pen a key presidential contender? For over a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. She led the National Rally from 2011 to 2021. She changed its name from the National Front, as part of her efforts to distance it from the period when her father ran it and it carried a heavy stigma of racism and antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now a lawmaker in the National Assembly, the French parliament's powerful lower house, she has already positioned herself as a candidate to succeed President Emmanuel Macron, having twice finished runner-up to him. In 2022, Macron won with 58.5% of the vote to Le Pens 41.5% significantly closer than when they first faced off in 2017 and the best score ever of the French far right in a presidential bid. Ineligibility would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate," she pleaded during the trial. "Behind that, there are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent. So tomorrow, potentially, millions and millions of French people would see themselves deprived of their candidate in the election. Who could replace her? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan Bardella, 29, succeeded Le Pen in 2021 at the helm of the party. He would likely be her prime minister if she were to become president. That makes him widely perceived as her natural successor if she were barred from running. Yet observers say there's no guarantee he would be able to convince as many voters as she does. In recent months, some inside the party have criticized his management as too focused on his personal career. Since joining the party at age 17, Bardella has risen quickly through the ranks, serving as spokesperson and president of its youth wing, before being appointed vice president and becoming the second-youngest member of the European Parliament in history, in 2019. Two Vermont men are due in court in May after a Vermont State Police trooper caught them traveling at 104 MPH on southbound I-89. A trooper from the Williston Barracks was monitoring traffic on I-89 Interstate 89 in Milton on Saturday when he saw the two vehicles traveling together and passing other drivers. He pulled both vehicles over just before 6:30 p.m. Norman Mack, 30, of Shelburne, VT and Connor Chevalier, 21, of Swanton, face charges of negligent operation. They were issued citations to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court on May 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 ABC22 & FOX44. The community in Volusia County and across Central Florida is invited to visit the fairgrounds in DeLand for the Volusia Valor Days. The event showcases World War 2 tanks, artillery, and wheeled vehicles. By coming to this event, the community gets to see how we operated the tanks, how we operated the vehicles, how the structure of the military wouldve operated during WW2, said Sargent Skips Inge, with the WW2 Armor. The event is back for a second year, bringing thousands of visitors on a journey through American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very educational. We home school, so this is cool just for them to see things, said a visitor with her two children at the event. This is an unusual and incredible Collection. These things dont exist anymore. There were 43,000 Sherman tanks built in World War Two; we have five of them here, another visitor said. All around, there were real trucks, guns, and uniforms, all from World War II. The event also offers a first responder touch-a-truck display and many historic vehicles from different decades. Whats the coolest thing youve seen so far? Channel 9s Geovany Dias asked 10-year-old Eli, who was visiting from Jacksonville. Probably these big ol tanks, he said. I heard about this in Jacksonville. This was the second festival theyve ever had. Its the largest private collection of WW2 tanks. So, I thought it would be interesting, said Tanya Thomas, who attended the event with her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Volusia Valor Days, youll also find historians, authors, and actors teaching about the battles and characters that shaped the history of our country and the world. Im a descendant of a woman who worked during World War Two, said Angie Morthland with the American Rosie Riveter Association. So, were going to keep history alive and remember the service members and the home front during World War II. The event is free and ends at 5 pm on Sunday. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SHINNSTON, W.Va. (WBOY) At the American Legion the Veterans Outreach Coalition put on a resource fair for veterans on Saturday to further explain the programs and benefits available to them. Cliff Shingleton, program facilitator for the Veterans Outreach Coalition, explained further. This is where we bring any agency in the county that has a service for veterans and set them up a table and let veterans come and see what they have to offer. Todays fair was the seventh one in the past two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What changes are coming to SNAP in West Virginia? The Veterans Outreach Coalition said that two of the biggest issues for veterans that they hope to address in the area are drug addiction and veteran suicide. Shingleton said that a key part of addressing these issues is assimilating veterans back into the community. Among the healthcare resources at fairs like today, there were also community programs, such as Guitars for Vets and the American Legion Riders, to possibly attract veterans into engaging with the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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: Josh Willink from Pexels On March 26, NSW Health issued an alert advising people to be vigilant for signs of measles after an infectious person visited Sydney Airport and two locations in western New South Wales. The person recently returned from Southeast Asia, where there are active measles outbreaks in several countries, including Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The NSW alert follows a string of similar alerts issued around Australia in recent days and weeks. If you're traveling overseas soon, you could be at risk of measles. Here's what to know to ensure you're protected. First, what is measles? Measles is one of the most contagious viral illnesses. It spreads through the air when a person breathes, coughs or sneezes. On average, one person can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune. Initial symptoms include fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis. Then a non-itchy rash usually starts around the hairline before spreading around the body. Measles is most common in children, and they're also most vulnerable to getting very sick with the virus. Measles is severe in around one in ten children. Complications can include ear infection, diarrhea and pneumonia, and, more rarely, encephalitis (brain swelling). However, adults can also catch and spread the disease, making up 1020% of measles cases during outbreaks. Vaccination has saved millions of lives The first measles vaccine was licensed for public use in 1963, and it changed the trajectory of this disease. In the 21st century alone, measles vaccination is thought to have saved more than 60 million lives globally. The measles vaccine is free through Australia's National Immunization Program. It's routinely given at 12 and 18 months of age. The first dose is combined with mumps and rubella (the MMR vaccine) and the second adds protection against chickenpox, or varicella (MMRV). False suggestions the measles vaccination is linked with disorders such as autism have been thoroughly disproven. The vaccine is very safe and highly effective. However, because the vaccine is made from a live virus, people with weakened immune systems (for example, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer or pregnant women) cannot have the vaccine even though they're at higher risk of severe measles. Their safety depends on high community immunization rates to reduce the spread of the virus. Because measles is so infectious, at least 95% of the population needs to be immune to prevent its spread. Immunity occurs from either two doses of measles vaccine or past infection. Measles vaccination was introduced in Australia in 1968. Most adults born before the mid-1960s would still be immune from a past infection. But vaccination is recommended for everyone else who is not immune. Immunity gaps are opening up Gaps in immunity to measles have opened up around the world due to challenges in delivering routine immunizations during the COVID pandemic, and, in some cases, reduced acceptance of vaccination. In 2023, only 83% of the world's children received at least one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday, down from 86% in 2019. This is not enough to halt spread. The withdrawal of US government funding from many global health programs, including a measles surveillance network that supports testing and outbreak responses, is throwing fuel on the fire. In Australia, small but progressive declines in the uptake of childhood vaccines over the past five years and immunity gaps in other age groups means our risk of outbreaks in increasing. For example, coverage of the MMR vaccine at 24 months declined 0.4 percentage points between 2022 and 2023 (from 95.3% to 94.9% in Indigenous children and 95.1% to 94.7% in children overall). On-time vaccination rateswithin 30 days of the recommended ageare also falling. The proportion of children who had their MMR vaccine on time dropped from 75.3% to 67.2% for non-Indigenous children and 64.7% to 56% for Indigenous children between 2020 and 2023. Measles outbreaks are increasing in Australia and across the world Measles cases are rapidly rising across the globe and more cases are arriving from overseas into Australia. So far in 2025, 37 cases have been reported compared to 57 in all of 2024, 26 in 2023 and seven in 2022. Most cases have been imported from overseas, but we've ascertained eight cases so far in 2025 were locally acquired. Many of the countries experiencing the largest measles outbreaks are popular travel destinations for Australians, including India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. But few countries are free of measles. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and various countries in Europe are all tackling outbreaks. As the incubation periodthe gap between exposure and symptomsis around seven to ten days, travelers may enter the country without knowing they're about to become ill and potentially spread the virus to others. Protecting yourself and your family Although the usual age for the first measles dose is 12 months, the MMR vaccine can be given to babies as young as six months who are traveling to measles hotspots or during outbreaks. This early measles vaccine dose does not replace those given at 12 and 18 months, but will help protect the infant in the interim. It's important all adults, particularly those planning overseas travel, know their vaccination or infection history. If you don't, talk to your health-care provider about being vaccinated. Everyone who doesn't have immunity from an infection should have two lifetime doses. Some adults, including those who have migrated from overseas, may have had none or only one dose when they were younger. If you're unsure, there's no harm in receiving a vaccine if you've had measles or have been fully vaccinated already. If you come back from overseas and need medical care, inform your health-care provider about your symptoms and recent travel before attending a clinic in person. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A large crowd of veterans, union members, healthcare workers and several high-ranking Michigan Democrats gathered across the street from the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday. The demonstration was held to protest DOGE-related job cuts at VA offices and a recent move from President Donald Trump to invalidate bargaining agreements with the union that represents VA employees. Some of the most powerful Democrats in the state of Michigan joined the rally. Lt. Gov. and gubernatorial hopeful Garlin Gilchrist; U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit; U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor; and former Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate stood in solidarity with the protesters. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order that terminated collective bargaining agreements between dozens of government agencies and their unions. Later that day, the departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs filed suit in Waco, Texas, alleging that the executive order should allow them to cancel their contracts with the American Federation of Government Employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AFGE is the largest federal employees' union, consisting of more than 800,000 members. Nearly 30% of federal employees belong to a labor union, making them more difficult to fire in the sweeping job cuts that have defined the first two months of the Trump administration. Unions promise to fight together The protest, which lasted for a few hours despite a consistent sprinkle of rain, drew a wide array of people concerned with the Trump administration and labor issues. Unions like the AFGE; the United Auto Workers; the American Federation of Teachers; and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees had members in attendance. Larry Barton, the legislative political council chairperson of AFGE Local 2092, said his union chose to protest because they fear the Trump administration is attempting to privatize the VA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The VA serves millions of veterans a year with 172 medical centers across the country," Barton said. "The private sector does not have the experience, expertise or resources to serve our vets." Barton said that VAs like the Kettles Center in Ann Arbor contribute to cutting edge research in fields like PTSD treatment, reconstructive surgeries and prosthetics. "Across the street, we have some of the great doctors of the world with U of M," Barton said. "We can't lose that." Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO, told the crowd that his union will join the fight to help AFGE preserve their contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bieber said he had been texting Jason Anderson, the national vice president of AFGE District 7, which covers Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. "I sent (Anderson) a text and that text said, 'Whatever you need, whatever it takes,'" Bieber said. "That's where I'm at." The labor protest in Ann Arbor comes amid an uptick in protest demonstrations across the state many of them led by federal employees affected by mass job cuts. On March 20, unionized postal workers in Detroit also protested over fears of the privatization of the United States Postal Service. Top Dems in Michigan join rally Gilchrist, who is mounting a campaign to become the next governor of Michigan, launched into a fiery speech before the crowd on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before his speech, Glichrist told the Free Press that threats from the Trump administration have to be taken seriously. "This commitment to cut 80,000 people out of the Veterans Administration means veterans' health care can be cut, veterans' access to services and benefits are going to be cut," Gilchrist said. "The fundamental promise of being a servicewoman or a serviceman, that's being broken." More: Protesters in Detroit and Canada unify across river, rally against Trump presidency Dingell, who represents Ann Arbor in the U.S. House, also spoke to the crowd and said she was concerned that stripping the VA would put veterans' wellbeing and access to timely care at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tlaib was also expected to speak at the protests, but organizers announced she wouldn't make it in time. In her place, Yousef Rabhi, a former Michigan state representative who now serves as a Washtenaw County commissioner, spoke. Shortly after Rabhi's speech, Tlaib arrived and received a roar from the crowd. Over four minutes, Tlaib railed against the effects that Trump's executive order would have on VA medical facilities. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, shares her contact information with Steve Evans, a 65-year-old disabled veteran. Evans has been copying Tlaib on emails he sends to the the federal government reporting five tasks he completed the previous week, per DOGE orders. "In an instant, they would make our veterans wait another three months for that appointment. In an instant, they would allow people to take their lives when mental health services is at its bare minimum," Tlaib said. "And now they want to eliminate it altogether." Tlaib asked the crowd to share their stories and tell their elected officials about their concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tell those stories, that's so important," Tlaib said. "Tell them the pain that would be inflicted on your family if they continue to do this." Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Veterans, unions, Michigan Dems protest Trump VA order in Ann Arbor NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) March 29, 1973 marks the day the United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam was disestablished. Many veterans call Eastern North Carolina home and come together each year on Mar. 29th to remember their service, share stories, and teach the community about what they have done. Bobby Edwards is a Vietnam Veteran and he bought a camera in 1969 and has countless photos of his time in service. He shared them with the community to tell the story of what happened to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was able to capture the scenery around me, the things that were going on there, and I was a history major at Old Dominion, so I knew that what we were doing there would probably, in years later, be of importance, Edwards said. Click the video above 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 WNCT. MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Saturday marked 50 years since U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam, and veterans were honored in Milford. The Milford Green was packed with community members who gave proper recognition to those who fought for freedom. A field of flags honored all veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Vietnam veterans honored statewide Thursday, commemorating 50 years since end of war Veterans said Saturday served as the welcome home they never got. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam veterans were never welcomed home or given a homecoming, said Vietnam veteran Richard Iannucci. I was one of them. Veterans from out of the state traveled to Connecticut for the event. It means welcome home, said Vietnam veteran Dennis Neeley. If the reunion is here, its for all veterans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Saturday marks the National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 101 invited all who served during the Vietnam War to join them for a special recognition ceremony. On March 29, 1973, the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam was disbanded and the last U.S. combat troops left the Republic of Vietnam, after sending more than two-point-seven million men and women into combat. Saturday marked the 52nd anniversary of that day, many of those veterans are still alive today, and FOX21 was able to hear the story of thirty-one of them on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason I am here today is because of my peace, said one veteran speaking at the event. Emotions were high on Saturday afternoon; the thirty-one veterans who began their day as strangers left with an unbreakable bond. I think the most important part for me was because of supply issues, There were times when we couldnt help the wounded because we didnt have bandages or we didnt have blood, said John Barlett, a Vietnam veteran. He says Saturdays event brought up some hard memories. Its stayed with me all these years, Im 76. For instance, when we ran out of blood and we needed blood for them, that was going to be the only thing that saved them. He said that was one of the most memorable parts of the war he experienced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veterans spent the afternoon sharing stories and remembering those who never made it home. The next was coming home and for Vietnam vets that was quite tough and we suffered, said Barlett. Barlett served in the war for one year in 1969. On Saturday his family joined him in support including his granddaughter who has yet to hear his story. I havent communicated enough with her about it. Thats a lesson Ill take away from here, were going to have to work on that a little bit harder, he said. Another veteran, John Armstrong, served in the Vietnam War with his brother in 1967. One of the reasons I signed up both of us up today is because he passed away in 2015, said Armstrong. At the event, he accepted awards on behalf of his brother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had some alcoholism and drug problems from his time in service, said Armstrong, referring to his brother. Unlike hero welcomes given to veterans of other wars, many who served in Vietnam did not receive any recognition for their service. We learned that lesson in America, its really important for the veteran coming home. Now, maybe they dont know or understand that because a lot of them dont know what happened to us as vets, they hear stories here and there, but they didnt really know about it, said Barlett. However, on Saturday the veterans finally received their recognition with a special pin and letters from members of the community. While we honor the veterans who served in the war, thousands of people across the world are victims of Agent Orange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effect it has on veterans, but even more so the effects that it had on the children in Vietnam, some are born without limbs, and some with an extra limb, said Armstrong. One of those victims is Andersons nephew, causing his head to grow too fast at a young age. My brothers son had that condition when he was one, two years old. so Im going to try to get him some help. He said he plans on giving some of the letters he received today to his nephew, who lost his father in the war. If there was one last thing Anderson could tell his brother, what would it be? Welcome home, he said, crying. I dont know if anybody ever told him welcome home. So, welcome home, Bob. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All veterans left the event with one message: never forget, and value the life you have. We can fix the scars of Vietnam. We can build this nation back up if we get behind each other, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, back to back, and make it work, said Barlett. If you are a veteran who is struggling, you can click on the link above for resources. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A group of volunteer climbers gathered in Mount Washington to clean up trash at one of Pittsburghs parks. Saturday marked the 32nd Annual Emerald View Park Cleanup. A group of rock climbers, mountaineers and community volunteers rappelled down steep slopes to clean litter at the park and throughout some of the neighborhood. The cleanup was the result of joint efforts from groups like the Mount Washington Community Development Corporation, the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual cleanup is considered a Pittsburgh tradition to some. We are thrilled to bring back this decades-old Mount Washington tradition, said Kathryn Hunninen, Senior Manager of Special Initiatives at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Thanks to the dedication of the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and incredible volunteers from the Club and surrounding community, we can keep Emerald View Park clean and enjoyable for everyone. City officials are thankful for the climbers efforts and said it makes all the difference for park and community visitors. Each year, more than 2 million people visit Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights for the cherished views of our Downtown skyline and to explore all that these neighborhoods have to offer, said Theresa Kail-Smith, District 2 City Council. It is critical that we protect the hillsides that make this community so special. I am proud to support this annual event led by the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to remove litter and ensure that Grandview Avenue and Emerald View Park remain beautiful. I also thank our Department of Public Works crews for their tireless efforts every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group said some unusual items found during this years cleanup included a bowling ball, a shopping cart and a Pikachu. A group of volunteer climbers gathered in Mount Washington to clean up trash at one of Pittsburghs parks. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Youve heard that children are our future. On April 8, Kansas City has an opportunity to express this sentiment in a very real and tangible way. I am a mother and educator, and I proudly serve as superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. But most important, I wholeheartedly believe in and love children seeing their optimism, their brilliance and the potential of their future. Its in our hands as our community makes a critical decision regarding the general obligation bond issue on the April 8 ballot. I want to share a few pertinent points of fact that all in our community should know in order to make an informed decision. Kansas City Public Schools serves roughly 15,000 students, and employs a host of amazing teachers, administrators and other staff members who have worked diligently to bring our district to full accreditation status. Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in our Annual Performance Report score, increase in enrollment, increase of the graduation rate to nearly 90%, band and orchestra offered in all elementary schools, as well as other programming tailored to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen national recognition in science, technology, engineering and math, as we were named the 2024 Discovery Channel Education District of the Year. Our students engage in real-world learning as they develop apps that boost energy efficiency, make prosthetic limbs and run their own in-school restaurants. Additionally, we have almost two dozen state medalists in band, orchestra and vocals. A yes vote April 8 would mean a $474 million general obligation bond for KCPS and nine local charter schools. While wed love to see extravagant additions, these funds would primarily address some of the critical deficiencies and decades worth of deferred maintenance in our buildings, including upgrades to safety and security systems, secure entry points and fixes to elevators, heating and cooling, roofs, windows, electrical systems, plumbing and bathrooms. Deferred maintenance costs more in long run School districts in Missouri tackle these issues with bonds, passing them every three to seven years. KCPS is the only school district in the region without a bond. In fact, Kansas City hasnt passed a school bond since 1967. Lets consider this fact in context. In 1967, the Chiefs were in Super Bowl I. The Royals didnt exist yet, and putting a man on the moon was still a dream unrealized. Speaking of dreams, we werent far removed from Dr. Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech. Theres been a lot of history since 1967 and no bond funding for Kansas Citys children during that entire time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every child deserves a quality education, from pre-kindergarten through high school. We believe that. We believe it so much that we are welcoming nine Kansas City charter schools to join us in this monumental, historical pursuit. These funds would go a long way toward ensuring Kansas Citys children are able to learn in educational environments that are not only warm, safe and dry, but ones that also inspire creativity, critical thinking and a passion for learning. Weve reached a defining moment in the life of Kansas City, and on April 8 our community will decide what history will say of our commitment and care for our children, and thus the hopes and future of our city. The health and well-being of any community is inextricably tied to how well it takes care of its children. One decision leads to educational spaces that match the achievements of our students. It communicates to our children that they matter and that we believe in them and their future. The other decision leads to classrooms and hallways that continue to degrade, that send a message to our children that they are not important. The spaces we expect you to learn in every day dont matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One decision costs the average homeowner a cup of coffee a week 64 cents a day, an equivalent of approximately $20 a month. The other decision might yield no immediate cost, but would inevitably cost a lot more in the long run. A strong city cant exist without strong schools. No local economy has ever thrived in the shadow of crumbling schools. We are at a proverbial fork in the road, with a grand opportunity to usher this city into a new era. Which path will you choose? As you cast your ballot, I want to make one request: Imagine one of Kansas Citys children in that voting booth with you. What do they deserve? What message are you going to send to them? Dr. Jennifer Collier is superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Voters in San Diego Countys District 1 can now cast their ballots for the supervisor special election at a handful of designated vote centers. Early in-person voting officially began on Saturday. The vote centers, seven in total, will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from now until Monday, April 7. The vote centers are located throughout the district and include the following locations: Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library Community Room 4375 Bonita Rd., Bonita, 91902 Chula Vista City Hall 276 4th Ave., Chula Vista, 91910 County of San Diego HHSA Conference Room 690 Oxford St., Chula Vista, 91911 West View Elementary Auditorium 525 3rd St., Imperial Beach, 91932 Mountain View Community Center Back Meeting Room 641 S Boundary St., San Diego, 92113 San Ysidro Senior Center 125 E Park Ave., San Ysidro, 92173 Spring Valley Community Center Olsen Room 8735 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley, 91977 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: District 1 Supervisor special election On April 8, the final day of voting, six additional vote centers will open, bringing the total to 13 locations. Voting hours on that day will extend to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can find more details on vote center locations or official ballot drop box sites through their voter information pamphlets or by using the View Voter Information Pamphlet (Sample Ballot) tool at sdvote.com. This special primary election is for residents of District 1 only. The district spans from the Pacific Ocean to the Otay and San Miguel mountains in the east, and from Barrio Logan in the north to the U.S./Mexico international border to the south. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district includes the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City, and parts of San Diego, including Barrio Logan, East Village and Golden Hill, as well as the unincorporated areas of Bonita, East Otay Mesa, Lincoln Acres, Sunnyside and La Presa. The candidate who secures the most votes on April 8 will serve the remainder of the current term, which ends in January 2029. However, if no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will proceed to the special general election on 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News. 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 Play should be a core feature of children's health care in forthcoming plans for the future of the NHS, according to a new report which argues that play "humanizes" the experiences of child patients. The report, by University of Cambridge academics for the charity "Starlight," calls for play, games and playful approaches to be integrated into a "holistic" model of children's health careone that acknowledges the emotional and psychological dimensions of good health, alongside its physical aspects. The report, Playing with children's health? is published on the Starlight website. Both internationally and in the UK, health systems have, in recent decades, increasingly promoted play in pediatric health care. There is a growing understanding that making health care more child-friendly can reduce stress and positively improve younger patients' experiences. Despite this recognition, play often remains undervalued and inconsistently integrated across health care contexts. For the first time, the report compiles evidence from over 120 studies to make the case for its more systematic incorporation. In the case of the UK, the authors argue that the Government's forthcoming 10-year health plan for the NHS offers an important opportunity to embed play within a more holistic vision for childhood health. The report was produced by academics at the Center for Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. Starlight, which commissioned the review, is a national charity advocating reducing trauma through play in children's health care. Dr. Kelsey Graber, the report's lead author, said, "Play and child-centered activities have a unique capacity to support the emotional and mental aspects of children's health care experiences, whether in hospital or during a routine treatment at the GP. "It won't directly change the course of an illness, but it can humanize the experience by reducing stress and anxiety and enhancing understanding and comfort. Hospital-based play opens up a far more complete understanding of what it means for a child to be healthy or well." Adrian Voce, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Starlight, said, "With the government promising to create the healthiest generation of children ever as part of its new long-term health plan, this compelling evidence of the benefits of play to children's health care is very timely. We encourage ministers and NHS leaders to make health play teams an integral part of pediatric care." The report synthesized evidence from 127 studies in 29 countries. Most were published after 2020, reflecting intensified interest in children's health care interventions following the COVID-19 outbreak. Some studies focused on medically-relevant play. For example, hospital staff sometimes use role-play, or games and toys like Playmobil Hospital to familiarize children with medical procedures and ease anxiety. Other studies focused on non-medical play: the use of activities like social games, video games, arts and crafts, music therapy and storytelling to help make patients more comfortable. Some hospitals and surgeries even provide "distraction kits" to help children relax. In its survey of all these studies, the report finds strong evidence that play benefits children's psychological health and well-being. Play is also sometimes associated with positive physical health; one study, for example, found that children who played an online game about dentistry had lower heart rates during a subsequent dental procedure, probably because they felt more prepared. The authors identify five main ways in which play enhances children's health care based on the available body of evidence: Reducing stress and discomfort during medical procedures: Play is sometimes associated with physiological markers of reduced distress, such as lower heart rates and blood pressure. Therapeutic play can also ease pain and anxiety. Helping children express and manage emotions. Play can help to alleviate fear, anxiety, boredom and loneliness in health care settings. It also provides an outlet for emotional expression among all age groups. Fostering dignity and agency. In an environment where children often feel powerless and a lack of personal choice, play provides a sense of control which supports mental and emotional well-being. Building connection and belonging. Play can strengthen children's relationships with other patients, family members and health care staff, easing their experiences in a potentially overwhelming environment. This may be particularly important for children in longer-term or palliative care. Preserving a sense of childhood. Play helps children feel like children, and not just patients, the report suggests, by providing "essential moments of happiness, respite and emotional release." While play is widely beneficial, the report stresses that its impact will vary from child to child. This variability highlights a need, the authors note, for informed, child-centered approaches to play in health care settings. Unfortunately, play expertise in these settings may often be lacking: only 13% of the studies reviewed covered the work of health play specialists, and most of the reported activities were directed and defined by adults, rather than by children themselves. The report also highlights a major gap in research on the use of play in mental health care. Just three of the 127 studies focused on this area, even though 86% emphasized play's psychological benefits. The report calls for greater professional and academic attention to the use of play in mental health support, particularly in light of escalating rates of mental health challenges among children and young people. More work is also needed, it adds, to understand the benefits of play-based activities in health care for infants and adolescents, both of which groups were under-represented in the research literature. Embedding play more fully in health care as part of wider government reforms, the authors suggest, could reduce health-care-related trauma and improve long-term outcomes for children. "It is not just health care professionals, but also policy leaders who need to recognize the value of play," Graber said. "That recognition is foundational to ensuring that children's developmental, psychological, and emotional health needs are met, alongside their physical health." Editors note: This story is one of 11 Middle Tennessee cold cases profiled by The Tennessean. There are hundreds across the region, their families waiting for justice that may never come. Find more cases featured here. The Metro Nashville Police Departments Cold Case Unit will likely never see a conviction in Wanda June Anderson's 1965 death. In the late hours of July 15, 1965, Wanda, 11, put her nieces and nephews to bed before falling asleep waiting for her sister and brother-in-law to return from a night out. Someone broke into the home on 16th Avenue South and attacked her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's because in most cases before 1975, the department doesn't have the evidence, Lt. Jill Weaver said during a recent interview. The assailant carried her out the backdoor, where she was raped, beaten again and left to die. Wandas sister found her near an alley still breathing. She died two days later. Police questioned several men in Wandas death, two of whom were charged in other rape cases. Many signs point to Joseph Edward McGee, a teenager who lived nearby. A year after Wanda was killed, McGee sexually assaulted two girls in Shelbyville and beat them to death. He died in 2014 in Tennessee Department of Corrections custody. "Theres some pretty good evidence that suggests hes the one that killed her, Cold Case Unit Detective Matthew Filter said. It was just never enough to bring charges against him. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wanda Anderson's 1965 rape, killing remains Nashville's coldest case Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there is no question that the information shared on the Signal group chat with high-level defense officials was classified. Absolutely, Warner said in an interview on ABC Newss This Week when asked whether the information in the group chat, which inadvertently included The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, was classified. It was of such a nature, when you were doing the actual battle plans and the timing, what type of aircraft were being sent out, Warner continued. If you had been a traditional military officer or a CIA caseworker, and you were this sloppy and careless with this classified information, you would be fired. No doubt about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg first reported on the Signal group chat noting that the military attack plans on Houthi rebels in Yemen, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent around in the chat, included details about the weapons used, timeline of the attacks and the aircraft involved. The journalist, however, said he would not quote from the messages or publish them in full because they contained information that would be considered classified. After the Trump administration repeatedly insisted the information was not classified, Goldberg and his colleagues at The Atlantic decided to publish subsequent reporting containing the messages. Warner was asked to clarify how Hegseth and other administration officials could continue to insist no classified information was shared in the chat. They keep saying it was not classified. And what is the confusion there? Could Pete Hegseth have since made it unclassified? anchor Martha Raddatz asked in the interview. Do different agencies have different classifications? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no question, regardless of agency, that this was classified. And the point, what I wish Hegseth and those folks who are obfuscating as giving them the benefit of the doubt, I think theyre lying about they should know this is classified, Warner said. Pressed on whether he thinks every person insisting the information is not classified is lying, Warner said, I think there is no question, when you put out time and place. It insults the intelligence of the American people when somebody says, Oh, no, nothing classified here, he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A warrant has been issued for a man accused of abusing a dog at a local Dodges Chicken. Justin Johnson, 34, is wanted for aggravated animal cruelty, stemming from an incident that occurred on Mar. 27. Warrant issued for Justin Johnson. (MPD) Police said that at 11:30 p.m., a man was captured on camera at Dodges Chicken located on South Third Street striking a dog in the backseat of a vehicle. The video showed the man abusing the dog and the dog crying out in pain. The suspect left the scene with the dog in a white Kia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next day, the Memphis Police Department launched an investigation in conjunction with the Memphis Animal Shelter. Popeyes worker punched with brass knuckles over food order, police say On Mar. 29, an investigator was able to determine that the man responsible was Justin Johnson. The dog, named Brixleigh, was taken to Raines Station and given to the police. Police said she is safe and receiving treatment for injuries she sustained during the abuse. She is expected to recover. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAY, Tenn. (WJHL)On Saturday morning, the Washington County Republican Party gathered to vote on the members who will lead their group for the next two years. The vote took place at the partys biennial reorganization meeting, which allowed the group to elect the people they felt would best represent them. Over 400 people were in attendance, all happy to be surrounded by those on the same page. Most republicans, I think, are on the same level that we share the same ideals and values, member Paul Miller said. And so Im really excited and looking forward to see whats going to happen in the next two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, the party elected Danielle Goodrich chair. She received 223 votes, beating her opponent, Todd Fowler, by five votes. Miller said he felt confident in Goodrichs ability to lead. I think shes going to be a good voice for us, a good chair, Miller said. Because shes trying to be kind of, take the state politics that were seeing from Trump into the local with his transparency. Goodrich is the first female chair elected in at least eight years. But she said winning this position is about more than her gender. I mean, as a role model for my daughter, I think thats great, Goodrich said. But I really think it comes down to, you know, whos the best for the job and who do the people have confidence to put in. And I dont think it really has to do with gender as much as who the people have confidence in. And Im just elated that the people have confidence in me, and I will do my very best and work my tail off to get everything done that we said that we would. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in her position, Goodrich said she aims to be open and honest with the party. We want people to be informed, she said. So we want people to know all the republican candidates are on the ballot, and we want the people to know what they stand for. Both Goodrich and Miller said being active in local politics, like the Republican party, is just as important as being active in state and national elections. I mean, this is our community, Goodrich said. This is where Im raising three of my children. And I want to be able to hand down freedom for them to do the same. Of course, the presidential elections are important, Miller said. But our local stuff is very important. So I think our voice is really the loudest here at the local level. 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Authorities have released body camera video that shows the moments a Columbus Division of Police SWAT officer shot a man wanted for the murder of his teen daughter. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The shooting took place in the Victorian Village area on Tuesday morning, according to our media partners, WBNS-10 TV. Columbus Division of Police Sgt. James Fuqua said they got information that Darnell Jones, described as a wanted felon, was in the area. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SWAT team approached Jones in the area of Dennison and West 2nd avenues around 10 a.m. The body camera video shows a SWAT officer walk up to Jones, who is wearing dark clothes, and ask him to come here. >>RELATED: Father charged with murder of 13-year-old daughter in Toledo shot by SWAT officer in Columbus The officer then pulls out a gun and points it at Jones. They are heard asking Jones to show his hands several times. Jones is heard repeatedly saying, Just kill me. Police said the SWAT officer shot at Jones after he fired a weapon that was hidden in his clothes, according to WBNS-10 TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body camera video captures the voice of another officer yelling Shots fired, shots fired over the radio. A handful of officers surround Jones, who was lying on the sidewalk. One officer who approached Jones said he had a gun and a walkie-talkie in his hand. Dont you move or youre going to get shot, okay? one officer said. Jones sustained a gunshot wound to his side and arm, according to WBNS-10. Body camera video shows that there were about eight seconds between the officer approaching Jones and the shots being fired. No officers were injured in this shooting, and the Ohio BCI is investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WBNS-10 reported that Jones was charged with felonious assault in this shooting. Jones was wanted by the Toledo Police Department for the murder and abduction of his 13-year-old daughter, Kei-Mani Latigue. As News Center 7 reported, Latigue was reported missing on March 18 and police found her body in an abandoned building on March 24. The Lucas County Coroners Office said her cause of death was multiple deep cuts to her neck, according to our CBS affiliate in Toledo, WTOL-11. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] This week brings a great opportunity to see some of the most well-known constellations and get a peak and Mars, Jupiter and the moon. Here's our guide to the night sky as we head into the first week in April, according to NASA and earthsky.org. When To See The Stars, Planets And Moon Monday : Any clear night this month is a perfect time to look for the Big Dipper. Fun fact: It's not really a constellation, but it is part of one. This type of familiar collection of stars is called an asterism. The Big Dipper makes up part of the familiar bear-shaped constellation called Ursa Major. Tuesday : Jupiter hangs next to the moon in the western sky. Wednesday and Thursday : The bright star Betelgeuse joins the Jupiter party. Friday : Jupiter moves out and Mars moves in. To see the moon and Mars look to the southwest. Saturday : The Mars and the moon pairing continues, along with the stars Pollux and Castor, part of the constellation Gemini. Next week: Watch for the full pink moon. What The Weather Might Look Like From weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April will be living up to its reputation for storminess this week, and that means clouds will be fairly widespread across the country on any given day. Of course, there will be breaks between systems that offer views of the sky, so check your forecast on weather.com to make your plans for what day is best in your area. For example, the Northeast ought to have decently clear views on Tuesday night. The Florida Peninsula ought to be okay for viewing as well, given the storm track stays north of there. MORE ON WEATHER.COM -Don't Miss These Top Celestial Events Of 2025 -'The Aurora Guy' Chases Northern Lights -The 2025 Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse In Photos Weather.com senior writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between. (KRON) The San Jose Fire Department (SJFD) said firefighters are at the scene of a flooding incident at an apartment building on Vista Montana. Please avoid the area: SJPD investigates shooting The incident happened at 7:46 p.m. Saturday. San Jose Fire confirmed in a social media post that a municipal water pipe burst on the fourth floor. Officials said that approximately 30 apartments in the complex are impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SJFD said a restoration company is headed to the area and residents are being helped with relocating. Stay with KRON4 for more on this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Mar. 29WATERVILLE They held signs that read "Cut Waste, Cut Fraud, Cut Musk," "Musk Must Go!" and "Deport Musk, Fire Dastardly Oligarchs Grifting Everything." More than 60 men and women from around central Maine stood Saturday in 30-degree temperatures and about 3 inches of snow that had fallen overnight at the Tesla charging station off Main Street. They greeted motorists at the busy intersection who honked horns and gave the protesters a thumbs up. At least one man, driving a pickup truck, gave them the finger and yelled. The demonstration was one of hundreds held worldwide Saturday as part of "Tesla Takedown," a planned, peaceful event organizers say is intended to highlight President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's gutting of democracy. The protesters criticized Musk's firing of thousands of federal workers, decimating departments, eliminating agencies and his public demonstration of what he called a fascist salute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I feel like I can't sit around at home and watch it all happening," said Richard Smith, 77, of Belgrade Lakes. "You have to do something, and this is something." Standing next to Smith on Saturday was Waterville native Eric Hooglund, 81, now a resident of Belgrade Lakes. He held a sign that said, "Swasticar, The Facist Thing on Four Wheels," which depicted a red Tesla pickup truck with a swastika on the door. "This feels a lot like 1933 Germany because that's when Hitler came to power," Hooglund said. A former U.S. foreign policy and Middle East politics instructor at Bates College in Lewiston, Hooglund said he is in shock about what is happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's illegal to just abolish government and fire people," he said. Hooglund said his son-in-law works for the U.S. State Department and got a letter saying he and others were being let go. They were removed from their positions, but learned after a few days that they could return. They live with the uncertainty that it could happen again. Hooglund himself works with the senior college at the University of Maine at Farmington, and was going to organize a trip in June to Frances Perkins' home, a national monument in Newcastle, but was told he couldn't do so because of federal cuts. "This is happening all over the country," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site of Saturday's protest, the Tesla charging station, was where the first known Tesla-related protest was held Feb. 5. Elizabeth Leonard, author, historian and professor emeritus of history at Colby College in Waterville, organized that event, which went viral on both social media and in the news after the Morning Sentinel published a story about it. After the protest, demonstrations were held at Tesla dealerships all over the country and world and Leonard was interviewed by several news organizations. Leonard also helped with Saturday's event, which was hosted by Mid Maine Indivisible, a group organized by former Waterville Mayor Karen Heck. Mid Maine officials said they believe the Waterville protest was the only one held in Maine that was connected with the worldwide Tesla event. "This is a good turnout and it shows to me that the revulsion is building and building and building all over the country, even in little towns like Waterville, Maine," Leonard, 68, said. "You don't have to go to the big cities to see how upset people are about this unelected, super-rich person tearing down the government, when he was not elected to do so." Leonard said Tesla is the underpinning of Musk's wealth and reputation and a huge part of why he has money to buy a presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It also represents the illusion of his great business sense," she said. "If he was to run the country like a business, beware, because he's running his business into the ground." Heck held a sign bearing a likeness of Musk that said, "I am Stealing from You." "I think it's important for those of us who love the U.S. to stand up and say so and not let the bullies destroy our democracy," Heck said, when asked why she was there Saturday. Waving a small American flag, Heck, 72, said millions of people in the U.S need the government services that are being cut, and they will understand that when it is all gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm so full of anger and frustration and fear," she said. "I don't see our Maine delegation, other than Rep. Chellie Pingree, conducting town halls. I've asked Sen. Angus King's office many times. I've talked to staff to have him speak to us in a town hall. I don't even care if it's on Zoom. Why aren't they speaking to us, telling us the truth, because conservative media and social media is surrounding us. There is no liberal bias in the press." Heck said what makes her crazy is that Congress knew what was going to happen in advance with the Project 2025 document, yet members continue to pretend its business as usual in governing. "They've given up their power," she said. Wearing all black, Joanna Linden, 67, of Waterville, said she was dressed in mourning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Elon Musk donated millions to the Trump campaign," she said, "and he's been set free inside the government to wreck everything that provides services to regular people, and we're losing our democracy because of him." Retired educator Linda Woods, 73 and also from Waterville, held a sign that read, "This Musk Stop." "Our forefathers set up this whole separation of powers system with checks and balances, thoroughly outlined," Woods said. "He's trampling all over it as if it doesn't exist. I don't understand why someone is not doing something to stop him." Copy the Story Link BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) On This Week in Louisiana Politics, Gov. Jeff Landry joined President Donald Trump at the White House to announce a nearly $6 billion Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish. The major announcement will mean improvements to infrastructure and education in the area are in the pipeline. Hyundai to build $5.8 billion first North American steel plant in Louisiana, creating 5,400 jobs Also, with the March 29 election coming, the early voting numbers could be a sign of things taking a shift in the states election interests. Shannon Heckt sits down with pollster John Couvillon to go over the data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of Louisianas congressional map that is being challenged as racially gerrymandered. Hear from the attorney general and attorneys in the case regarding their arguments. Supreme Court will weigh in on new mostly Black Louisiana congressional district, after election 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The family of a woman who died in a North Las Vegas rollover crash continues to mourn her loss. Brittany Sanchez, 39, left behind six children when she died Feb. 24 after her car flipped over near Alexander Road and Simmons Street. PREVIOUS STORY: Woman killed in rollover crash in North Las Vegas We were all devastated. It was very devastating, Tiffany Sanchez said of her sisters death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany remembered her little sister as someone who tried to provide the best life for her children, but a fatal car crash cut that life short. Its really hard because she had so much life to live, and she brought a lot of laughter to the house. She joked a lot. To think about her kids not having their mom, Sanchez said. According to the North Las Vegas Police Department, Brittany was ejected from the vehicle, and a passenger in that car was taken to the hospital. Tiffany told 8 News Now she is taking care of her sisters children for the moment, but it has been far from easy. The children ask about their mom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She would make me laugh. She would play with us, 8-year-old Nesta said of her mother. 8 News Now has requested a copy of the crash report from the North Las Vegas Police Department. In a release from NLVPD on the day of the crash, police said speed was a factor in the crash, which occurred when the vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed before it left the roadway and rolled over. Heres a link to a GoFundMe page for the family: Fundraiser by Tiffany Sanchez : Help us lay Brittany to rest Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said President Trumps order looking to control the divisive narratives at Smithsonian museums and federal sites is deeply disrespectful. Moore joined CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, where host Dana Bash asked about Trumps recent order, which cites an exhibit at the American Art Museum titled Stories of Race and American Sculpture and references the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I just find it deeply disrespectful that their definition of making America great again is actually challenging some of the things that makes America great in the first place, Moore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore said America is a place that was created by inviting people in from all around the world to be part of its journey. And loving your country does not mean lying about its history, he said. Loving your country does not mean dismantling those who have helped to make this country so powerful and make America so unique in world history in the first place. Trumps executive order claims the Smithsonian Institution, which operates many museums in Washington, has come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology in recent years. Museums in our nations capital should be places where individuals go to learn not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history, the order said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives Vice President Vance the ability to eliminate content from the museums that does not align with the Trump administrations vision. It will also give Interior Secretary Doug Burgum the power to determine if public monuments, memorials or statues removed during the Biden administration give a false construction of American history. Moore, the first Black governor of Maryland and third Black governor of any state, said history should not be erased, but lifted up and celebrated. He said that his being elected to lead the state of Maryland is not indoctrination, its history. Its a joint collective history and its one that we should be celebrating, talking about the history of this country, all parts of it, flaws and all, because thats what gives America strength and thats what makes us move forward, Moore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MOSHEIM, Tenn. (WJHL) The Tennessee Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association has named its state president for 2025-2026, and he happens to be from Greene County. Photo (West Greene FFA) Weston Brown was elected as the Tennessee FFA state president on Wednesday after undergoing rigorous interviews and testing to earn his position. Brown has been involved in the FFA since he was 14 years old. His passion for agriculture started early, as he is an active 5th-generation worker on his familys beef cattle farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Channel 11 spoke with Brown on Saturday to ask about his presidential duties. Traveling around Tennessee, hosting workshops, facilitating, and working with members. I will actually spend a few weeks at FFA camp in Middle Tennessee. Going to different conferences and speaking, greeting on behalf of Tennessee FFA, Brown said. During the conversation, Brown said that the FFA welcomes everyone interested, regardless of their agricultural background. Kids think they can not be involved if they cant be involved in the traditional farming background, but regardless of how you were brought up, regardless of your future endeavors, you have a place with the FFA, Brown said. Get involved in any capacity, you certainly have a place in FFA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Channel 11 also spoke with Browns agriculture teacher, Robert Meadows, who said Brown deserved his title after the impressive amount of work he had done. Weston has prepared for this the last four years, definitely, Meadows said. For the last year, he has really amped it up and started reading and comprehending different agricultural issues, interviewed almost daily, traveled all across Tennessee to prep for courses, and met with industry professionals who have helped him prepare. In a school with roughly 500 students annually, Brown is one of a few West Greene High School students to serve as a state officer. Below is a picture showing the 2025-2026 Tennessee FFA State Officer Team: Photo courtesy of Tennessee FFA Association social media Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A home in west Vancouver was damaged after a fire broke out Sunday morning. Just before 6:30 a.m., crews responded to the 200 block of Northeast 45th Street after a bystander reported flames coming from inside a home. Crews knock down NE Portland warehouse fire started by pile of clothes Authorities said the bystander had knocked on the door to alert the homeowners, but no one answered. (Vancouver Fire Dept.) When firefighters arrived on scene, they worked to put out flames coming from the basement and main floor of the house. Crews also saw a hole in the floor and the stairs leading down to the basement had collapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaotic scene: 1 dead, 1 arrested after NE Hwy 99 crash in Vancouver Firefighters knocked down the blaze from the outside and officials said the fire was under control within 45 minutes. Nobody was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, authorities said. The cause of the fire has not been released 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 KOIN.com. Springfield school board candidates were asked Saturday where they stood on the issue of annualized pay, a practice the district ended in 2023 for hourly workers. Their answers were strikingly similar. Kelly Byrne, Sarah Hough and Gail Smart were asked about it by an audience member attending a candidate forum hosted by the Springfield NAACP. The News-Leader also reached out to David Myers, who was not present due to a military obligation. All four candidates on the April 8 ballot, vying for two open seats, support reinstating the payroll distribution method as an option for support staff. All four Springfield school board candidates are pictured at an earlier, March 5 forum hosted by the Springfield Council of PTAs. They included Kelly Byrne, Sarah Hough, David Myers and Gail Smart. Ended in mid-2023, the longstanding practice of annualized pay allowed hourly workers including paraprofessionals, bus drivers and nutrition service workers to spread pay earned during the nine-month school year into fairly even paychecks over a 12-month period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employee groups fought the change unsuccessfully and have remained vocal in their opposition, submitting a petition and speaking out repeatedly at board meetings. The change affected roughly a third of district employees, including those at the lowest end of the pay scale. They are paid for hours worked each month, which can vary, but no longer have the ability to divvy up their pay to cover months when they are not working. Byrne, managing partner of Say You Can, is the only incumbent on the ballot. Elected in 2022, he has advocated for "a return, as an option, to annualized pay." "This is a really good example of the importance of having strong leadership on the board because sometimes what you think needs to be done is in opposition of what the administration wants to do," he said. Kelly Byrne The administration ended the practice after employee complaints were filed with the Missouri State Auditors Office and the U.S. Department of Labor. Officials said they sought legal advice, consulted with auditors and reviewed payroll best practices in making the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byrne cited a survey of 25 districts that showed 14 still offered annualized pay for hourly workers in questioning the move away from it. "There's more schools out there doing it than not." "Regardless of issues or what you think about a candidate or their political affiliations, if any, or assumptions, whatever that may be, what's most important is that we have strong leadership who can navigate these decisions and, ultimately if needed provide leadership in the form of a hard vote that might be against what the administration and all of their team are pushing for," he said. More: After latest round of pleas, SPS' Grenita Lathan stands ground on ending annualized pay The administrative decision to end the practice was previously affirmed by the board. A board vote to modify or reverse that decision has not taken place. Sarah Hough Hough, senior manager for community and outfitter engagement at Bass Pro Shops, said her experience in human resources provided insight into "how a small change in income can make a large impact for some of our most vulnerable employees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said after listening to employees affected by the loss of annualized pay, she believes it should be an option. "We should allow people to opt in or opt out of that annualized pay process," Hough said. "If you want to get paid for all the hours that you work this week, you're going to get paid and if you'd rather spread it out, you can do that." Smart, an attorney and community volunteer, said while she was not privy to earlier board discussions surrounding the decision, she believes "there should be a choice." Gail Smart She said in the months she has attended and watched meetings, employees have repeatedly spoken out about how this change affected their lives. "We're talking about our lowest-paid employees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smart said she understands that the district received advice from its auditors and attorneys. "I used to practice law so I certainly don't like to go against what attorneys advise but they're not decision-makers. They analyze the risk," she said. Smart added: "We need to start looking for a way to have a choice for these people because it really affects their lives." More: Makoski alleges superintendent, not members, 'running' the Springfield school board The News-Leader reached out to Myers, an aircraft paint technician with Ozarks Aeroworks and staff sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard. He was fulfilling his military duty and was not able to attend the forum. David Myers "Bottom line, I think (employees) ought to have the option of annualized pay," he said, especially if it will improve retention and "not negatively impact the budget, and I can't see how it would, then it should be a slam dunk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the issue has been repeatedly brought up by district employees, and the groups that represent them, and change "should absolutely be on the table." The Springfield chapter of the Missouri State Teachers Association and Teamsters Local No. 245 have endorsed Byrne, Hough and Smart. Springfield National Education Association have endorsed Byrne and Hough. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield school board candidates detail stances on annualized pay The comedian who was set to perform at the White House Correspondents Dinner in April was fired from the gig on Saturdayafter the Trump administration took offense at what she said on The Daily Beast Podcast. On Thursday, Amber Ruffin sparked MAGA outrage when she said that she wouldnt try to make sure that her jokes targeted both sides of the political spectrum during her set, as she had been instructed to do by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). She told hosts comedian Samantha Bee and Beast Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles that the Trump administration are kind of a bunch of murderers, adding that playing to both sides makes them feel like human beings, but they shouldnt get to feel that way, cause theyre not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Saturday letter from Eugene Daniels, the president of the WHCA, to its members announced that he had been re-envisioning the April 26 dinner for the past couple of weeks. The WHCA is independent from the White House. As a first step, I wanted to share that the WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year, wrote Daniels, who is also a political correspondent for MSNBC. At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists. The Daily Beast has reached out to the WHCA and Ruffin for comment. Ruffin previously hosted a late-night talk show on Peacock and has since written for comedian Seth Meyers show. She was announced as the dinners headliner in February. At the time, Daniels lavished praise on Ruffin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I began to think about what entertainer would be a perfect fit for the dinner this year, Amber was immediately at the top of my list, he wrote in a statement announcing her appearance. She has the ability to walk the line between blistering commentary and humor all while provoking her audience to think about the important issues of the day. Im thrilled and honored she said yes. The two even appeared together on MSNBC to publicize Ruffins appearance, with Daniels calling her fabulous. Was so excited to announce that @ambermruffin is going to be the featured enterainer for the WHCD this year! The countdown has begun! pic.twitter.com/2uLd07DLMm Eugene Daniels (@EugeneDaniels2) February 4, 2025 On Friday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich lashed out at Ruffin over her comments on the Beasts podcast, calling her a 2nd rate comedian. What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? he wrote. More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such as hate-filled and violence-inspiring event? This years @whca dinner will be hosted by a 2nd rate comedian who is previewing the event by calling this administration murderers who want to feel like human beings, but they shouldnt get to feel that way, because youre not What kind of responsible, sensible journalist pic.twitter.com/tZCJS9fNOT Taylor Budowich (@Taylor47) March 29, 2025 On Saturday, Budowich called the WHCA statement removing Ruffin a cop out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many WHCA members are privately pointing the finger at Eugene for making the unilateral decision to recruit and sign this garbage, hate-filled comedian, he claimed. Yet, they are all turning a blind eye to it publicly. Its an indictment on how broken and useless this organization has become so sad that such a storied and consequential group has been so quickly driven into irrelevancy. First held in 1921, the White House Correspondents Dinner traditionally brings together the press and members of the presidential administration, including the president and vice president. Since 1983, it has typically featured a comedian who cracks jokes at the presidents expense. Recent featured entertainers have included Colin Jost, Trevor Noah, and Hasan Minhaj. Joe Biden listens to comedian Colin Jost during the White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Washington Hilton, in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2024. / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images During his first term, Donald Trump became the first U.S. president not to attend a single one of the annual dinners. In 2019, he disparaged it as so boring and so negative. Since Trump entered office in January, tensions have run high between the WHCA and the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the White House announced that the WHCA would no longer be allowed to decide which journalists were assigned to cover the president on a given day. The White House itself now assigns reporters to the pool, which has raised concerns about the opportunity for the press to cover the administration without fear of retribution. Daniels said at the time that the decision tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. Donald Trump takes questions during a briefing about the mid-air crash between American Airlines flight 5342 and a military helicopter, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. / ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images The same month, Trump moved to exclude the Associated Press from press events after the international news agency decided to stick with the name the Gulf of Mexico rather than, as Trump has tried to rename it, the Gulf of America. Daniels, speaking for the WHCA, said in February that body stands with the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news, nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors decisions, he wrote in a statement. The crisis has led to internal turmoil at the WHCA and questions about Daniels leadership. A closed-door virtual meeting of the association this month became contentious even as he insisted that its board was doing everything it could, according to Status, a media newsletter. There were a lot of pointed questions, a person familiar with the meeting told the newsletter. You could tell there was a lot of frustration with Eugene and the board. Many of the journalists in attendance were pushing for a more aggressive response from the WHCA beyond just issuing statements. Neither Trump nor Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will attend this years Correspondents Dinner. Right now, the administration is reportedly in the process of creating its own event to rival the WHCA event, according to Politico. (The Hill) Mr. President! You talked about some of the violence thats been going on at dealerships, a reporter yelled to President Trump as he stood next to Elon Musk and a Tesla parked near the White House lawn earlier this month. Some say they should be labeled domestic terrorists. Ill do that, Trump interjected. Were going to stop it if we catch anybody doing it because theyre harming a great American company. Days later, Trumps FBI would launch a task force dedicated to investigating and referring for prosecution suspects in a string of incidents protesting Musk at Tesla dealerships across the country. It was one of several instances during the first three months of Trumps second term in which a shouted question or suggestion from a media member has resulted in direct action from the president. Its a trend several reporters in the Washington press corps and national political insiders told The Hill this week underscores Trumps intense focus on press coverage and how the coverage can lead to new efforts by Trump to take actions that will create additional headlines and new news cycles. Its getting to the point where a reporter can just offhandedly mention something to him on camera and start an entire news cycle off of it, said one White House correspondent. Its unclear if Trump is actually unaware of some of this stuff beforehand or is just professing ignorance for tactical reasons. Trump, a news junkie, regularly shares feedback on cable news segments and front page stories in public statements, social media posts and on-camera conversations with top aides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president in recent weeks has made a habit of asking which outlet a reporter works for before deciding whether to accept the question. If the reporter works for an outlet Trump feels has treated him unfairly, get ready to be ignored or insulted. But increasingly, questions from friendlier outlets that get shouted in Trumps direction have more than just caught the presidents eye theyve led him to act. The astronauts that you just helped save from space, they didnt get any overtime pay, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy told the president during an Oval Office gaggle last week. Is there anything the administration can do to make them whole? Trump, seemingly amused by Doocy, responded with a smirk and said, nobodys ever mentioned this to me! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I have to, Ill pay it out of my own pocket, okay? he told Doocy. Ill get it for them I like that. Ill get it done. It was unclear as of Friday afternoon if Trump had made good on his promise to pay the astronauts. The White House did not immediately respond to The Hills inquiry seeking confirmation. The Trump administration also earlier this month pulled Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden, the former presidents son, after Trump was asked if former government officials and their families needed such security privileges. What he sees on television and what hes asked by the press definitely influences how he responds to things and how he makes decisions, said Peter Loge, a political scientist at George Washington University. Hes defined himself by his own television and popular persona for decades. He thinks in media terms first, like a television producer who translates television into policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Media outlets hoping to capitalize on a Trump bump in ratings and audience to dedicating more resources and airtime to the new administration. Some of the new media faces on the White House grounds have made regular habit of asking out-of-the-box or partisan questions to get a response from Trump. Many of these reporters, journalists at more mainstream outlets say, are eager to create a soundbite or video clip of themselves posing a question to the commander in chief and eliciting a response or promise to act. It kind of seems like theyre testing the limits of what hell respond to, one national Republican strategist told The Hill. And on Trumps side, hes using the answer to the shouted question as a sort of testing ground for some of these decisions might land in terms of reaction form the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other observers suggested West Wing staff could be planting or at least suggesting questions to members of the press pool in an attempt to get an issue to the front of Trumps mind. Doocy, during an interview earlier this year, noted background conversations with Bidens White House staff was essential to his reporting, which he said sought to pose different questions than the singular focus of some press briefings. The White House declined to comment. Ive always found if you put on a smile and ask politely, youre going to get a response from him, another White House correspondent told The Hill. It seems a lot of reporters are taking that approach given the access drama that is unfolding in the middle of all of this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House is locked in a legal battle with the Associated Press over its decision to ban the wire service from key West Wing spaces over its Gulf of America stylebook policy. Getting Trumps attention can be a fickle game, those who have worked around the president say, and sometimes the best way to get him to listen is through the mouth of a reporter. He tends to react quickly to anything that touches on his brand, or legacy especially now that hes in his second term, the Republican strategist said. Especially if the framing is somewhat critical or casts doubt on his authority or popularity those tend to rise to the top of his radar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Uniquely is a Fresno Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Fresno area so special. The statue of Benito Juarez Garcia, a Zapotec Indian who later became President of Mexico, has stood in the heart of the city of Fresno for more than two decades. But why is the bronze statue of Mexicos first indigenous president in Fresno? The statue of Juarez in Fresnos Courthouse Park was unveiled by the Oaxacan community in 2003, according to Vida en el Valle. A statue of Benito Juarez erected in 2003 stands in Courthouse Park in downtown Fresno. Photographed, Friday, March 21, 2025. Oralia Maceda and her late husband Rufino Dominguez, then coordinator of the Frente Indigena de Organizaciones Binacionales (Indigenous Front of Binational Organizations) partnered with leaders of the Centro Binacional para El Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno (Binational Center for Oaxacan Indigenous Development), or CBDIO, to secure the funding and permits for the installation of the statue in Fresno. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Fresno County Supervisor Juan Arambula submitted a proposal to his colleagues for the statue to be placed in Courthouse Park next to the Hall of Justice. The proposal passed unanimously, according to a March 2003 Vida en el Valle article. In a recent interview, Arambula said he was approached by the Oaxacan community and believed it was important to recognize Juarez for his accomplishments and his leadership in Mexico during a critical time in history. Juarez was a Mexican politician, military commander, and lawyer who served as governor of Oaxaca state and was the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in office in 1872 at age 66. A Zapotec, he was the first democratically elected Indigenous president in the postcolonial Americas. A statue of Benito Juarez stands in downtowns Courthouse Park as the Consulate of Mexico prepares to celebrate the 219th Anniversary of the birth of Juarez with the first of two planned ceremonies in front of the statue Friday morning, March 21, 2025 in downtown Fresno. Juarez was the first indigenous president of Mexico from 1858 through his death in 1872. Maceda said the statue of Juarez, which was donated by then Oaxaca Governor Jose Murat Casab, represents an example of the struggle and perseverance that a Zapotec indigenous person endured in his time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A symbol of struggle, of resistance, and we as indigenous people outside our communities have to continue those examples or legacies, that we can do it, said Maceda, who is of Mixtec origin. It doesnt matter if one doesnt speak Spanish or English. We have the strength and knowledge to fight for the rights we have as individuals and as a community. Arambula said the Courthouse Park is a place to recognize important contributions made by people from all the communities living in Fresno County. The Oaxacan community in the Central Valley is big, especially in Madera and Kern counties, according to the Mexican Consulate in Fresno. The consulate estimates about 30,000 Oaxacans live in the Central Valley, with approximately 150,000 across California. The indigenous community is mainly Mixtecos, Zapotecos, or Triquis, with a smaller number from another indigenous groups like Mixes or Chatinos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I continue to believe that its important to respect all people, no matter where they come from, and Benito Juarez is an excellent example to our youth today, Arambula said. Juarezs famous phrase is written at the foot of the Fresno statue. It reads, Entre las naciones como entre los individuos, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz (Between nations, as between individuals, respect for anothers rights will result in peace.) Jesus Martinez, a former Fresno State University professor who was present at the unveiling of the statue more than 20 years ago, said Oaxacan immigrants play an important role in Fresno and the Central Valley. Martinez said Juarez is considered the greatest and most popular Mexican president of all time and having the statue of the Benemerito de las Americas in Fresno is a very inspiring symbol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a symbol of the belonging of Oaxacan immigrants here in the Central Valley and in Fresno, Martinez said. He noted that when the French invaded Mexico, Juarez was forced to flee the country, first to Cuba then to the United States, living in New Orleans where he organized with other Mexican leaders to fight back against the French. Martinez said during that period, Juarez was able to establish cordial bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States and serves as a historical point to help historians analyze the difficulties that we may be finding nowadays or in recent periods. The fact that Benito Juarez, himself, was someone who had to flee and became a political refugee further adds to the dimensions of his presence and his relation with the U.S. The Mexican Consulate and the Centro Binacional highlighted the legacy of Juarez during two separate ceremonies at Courthouse Park earlier this month. The ceremonies commemorated the 219th anniversary of the birth of Juarez. Head Consul of Mexico Nuria P. Zuniga Alaniz leads an event marking the 219th nnniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez, with the statue of Juarez in the background in Fresnos Courthouse Park, Friday morning, March 21, 2025 in downtown Fresno. In the US there are more or less 10 statues of Juarez, and we are very fortunate to be among those places, said Nuria Zuniga, Fresnos head consul. On a personal level, Juarez is also a role model for public servants, Zuniga said. He was honest, austere and with an unquestionable vocation of service. Benito Juarez also represents something that under the circumstances, we need to reflect on: temperance during adversity. A statue of Benito Juarez stands in downtowns Courthouse Park as the Consulate of Mexico prepares to celebrate the 219th Anniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez with the first of two planned ceremonies in front of a his statue Friday, March 21, 2025 in downtown Fresno. Juarez was the first indigenous president of Mexico from 1858 through his death in 1872. A wreath is placed in front of a statue of Benito Juarez following the Consulate of Mexico celebrating the 219th Anniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez in a ceremony in Fresnos Courthouse Park, Friday morning, March 21, 2025 in downtown Fresno. Juarez was the first indigenous president of Mexico from 1858 through his death in 1872. Advertisement Advertisement WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A new city manager is set to be announced this coming Tuesday. According to the Tuesday Wichita Falls City Council agenda, Jeffery Jenkins is set to receive the appointment. The council will meet on Tuesday, April 1, for a regular session meeting. Councilors narrowed their pick down after meeting in a special session on Tuesday, March 25. The seven-member council interviewed the five finalists and debriefed in executive session for six and a half hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution marks a pivotal moment in leadership within the city. If approved, Mayor Tim Short will negotiate an agreement with Jenkins with a base salary of $278,000. Jenkins is a Midwestern State University graduate. He currently is the deputy city manager in Taylor, Texas a position he has held since 20-17. He has worked previously as either city manager or assistant city manager in various cities in Texas and Oklahoma, including Henrietta. The meeting begins at 8:30 on Tuesday morning at the MPEC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. The odds are five to one that Donald Trump will reshape the US constitution and win the presidency for a third time, according to William Hill. The high street bookie has begun taking bets that Mr Trump will once again take the White House in 2028, an outcome that would require a fundamental overhaul of the modern US political system. Presidents have been bound to serving no more than two four-year terms under the Twenty-Second Amendment of the Constitution, which was brought into force in 1951. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Mr Trump has repeatedly joked about running a third time, telling his supporters last November: I suspect I wont be running again unless you say Hes so good, we have to figure it out. He added that his successful 2024 campaign would be his last unless they do something. William Hill is so far the only British bookmaker offering odds on a possible third Trump term. The company sees Mr Trump as the second favourite to win the next election, behind only current vice president JD Vance who is given odds of five to two. Donald Trump Jr has a nine to one chance of entering the White House, while the most favoured Democratic contender is Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, who is also seen as a nine to one shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for William Hill declined to comment. Polymarket, an online crypto exchange that lets people bet on real world events, is also currently offering markets on a third term for Mr Trump, though traders there see a far lower chance. The market is currently pricing just a 4pc chance of Mr Trump repealing the presidential term limit. The US crypto betting market was thrust into the spotlight after traders correctly placed wagers on a comfortable victory in last years election for Mr Trump, in defiance of mainstream polls. Previously a niche concern, political betting has exploded in popularity in the last decade. Andrew Tottenham, a gambling industry consultant, said this was a result of the increased accessibility of online gambling and the growing polarisation in society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: Bookmakers will quote odds on anything, really. In the UK you can bet on anything, any future event, whether its snow falling on the post office tower on Christmas Day, or whatever else it might be. Political betting has been at the heart of scandals in the past. In the run up to the 2024 General Election, it emerged that Craig Williams, the Parliamentary private secretary to then-prime minister Rishi Sunak, had placed a 100 bet on the date of the election. This led to calls for a ban on bets by politicians from campaigners and MPs, including the former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and the former defence secretary Tobias Ellwood. While William Hill is the only UK bookmaker accepting bets on a third Trump term, rival bookmaker BoyleSports is offering thirty-three to one odds on Elon Musk becomes the next president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for BoyleSports said: Were erring on the side of caution with our price. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Wisconsin judge on Saturday declined the state attorney generals request for an emergency injunction to prevent Elon Musk from paying two voters $1 million for opposing activist judges in the upcoming Supreme Court election. The billionaire has voiced his support for Republican candidate Brad Schimel, whos running against liberal opponent Susan Crawford. Musk is slated to give a Sunday speech in the Badger State to urge local residents to cast their ballot for Schimel while delivering $1 million paychecks to two spokespeople who spread the word on the ground and $100 to voters who sign a petition against activist judges. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, argued Musks move is illegal and filed a lawsuit against his intended actions on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was originally assigned to Crawford, who recused herself and then reassigned the case to Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Andrew Voight, who decided to forego blocking the Tesla CEOs payments. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that elections in Wisconsin are safe, secure, free, and fair. We are aware of the offer recently posted by Elon Musk to award a million dollars to two people at an event in Wisconsin this weekend, Kaul said in a Friday statement to The Hill. Based on our understanding of applicable Wisconsin law, we intend to take legal action today to seek a court order to stop this from happening. The Wisconsin attorney general has now vowed to appeal Voights ruling on his request for an emergency injunction regarding Musks posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for now, the tech giant is still slated to host his Sunday rally where he will financially support voters in favor of Schimel over Crawford, despite Democratic opposition. The two are competing for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently has a 3-3 ideological split. On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. Entrance is limited to those who have voted in the Supreme Court election, Musk said in a deleted Friday post on his social platform X. I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in the day, he made a separate post clarifying his intentions. On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. To clarify a previous post, entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges, Musk wrote online. I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition. Wisconsin state law says that that anyone who Offers, gives, lends or promises to give or lend, or endeavors to procure, anything of value, or any office or employment or any privilege or immunity to, or for, any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to go or not go to the polls, or vote or not vote, is illegal. During the presidential election, Musk used his America PAC to make similar payments to voters who supported President Trump. The Department of Justice did issue a warning letter to the tech giant, but did not stop him from doling out money. 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. FITCHBURG, Wis. (WFRV) A 47-year-old Wisconsin man will spend seven years in federal prison after being sentenced on Thursday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson for cocaine possession with intent to deliver. According to Timothy M. OShea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, David Junius of Fitchburg was charged with possessing over 500 grams of cocaine with distribution intent, and pled guilty to the charge on December 19, 2024. Cash bond set for former Neenah police officer charged with possessing child porn Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation started working a case in late 2022 regarding a cocaine and meth trafficking organization in Portage, Madison and La Crosse. Officials intercepted communications in April 2023 and surveyed a distribution of four kilograms of cocaine from Junius to others, and further investigation led agents to locate about 1.5 kilos of cocaine and $20,000 in a Madison storage unit accessed by Junius. Woman arrested for alleged sexual contact with inmate at Wisconsin detention center Judge Peterson expressed concern over Junius history as a criminal with nine prior drug-related convictions, and he deemed the sentence necessary because of the significant role he played. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-defendant Angel Flores pled guilty to drug charges and will be sentenced 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Wisconsins attorney general is suing Elon Musk in order to stop his $2 million payout to voters who participated in the states Supreme Court election. Democratic attorney general Josh Kaul filed the lawsuit on Friday and released a statement on Musks own X, writing, We are aware of the offer recently posted by Elon Musk to award a million dollars to two people at an event in Wisconsin this weekend. Based on our understanding of applicable Wisconsin law, we intend to take legal action today to seek a court order to stop this from happening. On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin. To clarify a previous post, entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges. I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 28, 2025 Ahead of an event he will be holding in Wisconsin on Sunday, Musk announced that he would be giving away $1 million each to two people who had voted in the states Supreme Court election, in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. He quickly backtracked in the face of suggestions that his offer may be illegal, deleting that post and replacing it with an offer to give $1 million to two people to be spokesmen for his super PACs petition against activist judges. Attendance to the event will be limited to those who have signed the petition. PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO ACTIVIST JUDGES: Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas Wisconsin registered voters receive $100 for signing the petition & $100 for each signer they refer SIGN: https://t.co/PgHAgrlTFA pic.twitter.com/uMnpe4kc6s America (@america) March 21, 2025 Musks super PAC, America PAC, has spent more than $12 million on the race, in addition to Musk personally giving $3 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party. The super PAC has also made posts on social media offering $100 to registered Wisconsin voters who sign the petition which reads, in part, By signing below, Im rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its roleinterpreting, not legislating." Earlier this week, Musk announced that he was awarding $1 million to one Green Bay resident who signed the petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a similar legal challenge in Pennsylvania last year, a state judge ruled that Musks $1 million-a-day giveaways to the states voters could proceed, with Musks super PAC using the defense that it was awarding the money to those who would make the best spokespeople for its agenda. Wisconsins Supreme Court election pits conservative Brad Schimel against liberal Susan Crawford for an empty seat that will determine partisan control of the states highest court. More than $81 million has been spent on the race, making it the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. WOBURN, Mass. (WWLP) A father and son from Woburn were sentenced to prison last week in connection with a conspiracy to smuggle migrants from Brazil into the United States. Jesse James Moraes, 67, and Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 45, are the owners of two Woburn restaurants, Taste of Brazil/Tudo Na Brasa and The Dog House Bar and Grill. Charging documents stated that the mens conspiracy involved recruiting undocumented Brazilian migrants to come to the U.S. through Mexico without authorization. The co-conspirators allegedly recruited them in exchange for fees between $12,000 and $22,000 per person. New Latino restaurant Boricua Bites comes to Springfield Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men reportedly encouraged the migrants to make fraudulent claims of asylum and familial relationship in the U.S., and gave them fraudulent information about points of contact they could give to authorities if they were caught. When the migrants arrived in the United States, the co-conspirators aided them in securing long-term housing, including apartments that Hugos relatives owned. Some of the migrants were arranged to work at the Woburn restaurants that the men owned. Jesse and Hugo Moraes reportedly told the migrants that they employed to obtain false identification documents, referring them to co-defendant Marcos Chacon Gil to do so. The men allowed some of the migrants to pay off some of their smuggling fee by direct payment, withheld wages, or collection by relatives or associates in or outside the U.S. Charging documents further stated that Jesse Moraes transferred funds in and out of the U.S. to promote the migrant smuggling conspiracy and to conduct transactions with the smuggling proceeds with the intent to conceal the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men were charged with conspiring to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law, for commercial advantage or private financial gain. Jesse Moraes was also charged with money laundering conspiracy. On Friday, Jesse Moraes was sentenced to eight months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hugo Moraes was sentenced to five months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, with the first five months in home confinement. He was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. 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. ST. LOUIS A woman was robbed at gunpoint Friday evening in St. Louis after rejecting a mans romantic advances, police say. The robbery occurred around 6 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of a Walgreens in the 1500 block of Lafayette Avenue, just east of St. Louis Lafayette Square neighborhood. According to a St. Louis police crime summary report, the victim had just left the store when she was getting into her car and an unknown man approached her and attempted to make romantic advances. She rejected the advances, and after she got into the car, the man allegedly knocked on her passenger window with a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middle school student hospitalized after attack at Rockwood South The man took off with the victims purse and keys before he ran away. The victim told police that she briefly followed him, at which point he reportedly placed her purse over his gun and fired a shot at her. The victim was not shot, but she ran back to her vehicle for cover before calling police. Anyone with relevant information in this case is asked to contact St. Louis police at 314-444-2500 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A woman had to be rushed to a local hospital after she was found lying in the Los Angeles River on Sunday. The Los Angeles Fire Department originally stated that rescue calls were received around 9:30 a.m. in the 2700 block of Washington Boulevard in East L.A.s Boyle Heights neighborhood. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters located the woman lying supine in approximately three to four inches of water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The patient reported to be moving her extremities, but her condition and circumstances [were not immediately known], LAFD said. This years NHRA Winternationals could be fastest ever Crews quickly determined that there would need to be a hoist operation due to the location, which had limited ground access due to a bridge. LAFD Air Ops lowered a rescuer for a patient assessment, the department said in a later alert. The approximately 55-year-old female was in serious condition. No other identifying information regarding the woman was released, and officials would not disclose any more details surrounding the 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. TYLER, Texas (KETK) In honor of March being Womens History Month, KETK News had the opportunity to meet with four East Texas business owners who have proven that grit and determination can lead to success. From sweets to drinks, these women have turned their dreams of opening up their own business into a reality: The Apple Gal first started in the small personal kitchen of Van native and former fourth-grade teacher, Morgan Francis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, the demand for apples outgrew the capacity of Francis home kitchen, and The Apple Gal Candy Co. opened their doors to a brick-and-mortar shop in May 2023. Although The Apple Gal quickly blossomed into a booming business, Francis said she has many goals to reach for the business in the coming years. East Texas Women: Two women open a store where women, teen girls can find the perfect look My goal would be multiple locations throughout the country, shipping out of a huge warehouse and my apples in a department store, Francis said. I just want everyone to have an Apple Gal apple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People can find the signature hand-dipped granny smith apples at 2459 Mosaic Way in Tyler or by ordering on The Apple Gal website. Owner of The Headless Librarian, Katy Perez created a dark academia and cottage core themed book boutique in Tyler to offer a welcoming space for East Texas book lovers. The Headless Librarian includes a wide-range of books for all ages and various items that are from women-owned businesses. When it comes to the types of books that Perez chooses, she puts in a lot of research for every product. Perez was blown away by the amount of support from Tyler and the surrounding East Texas communities. The best part about this is the people, the connections and the community, that has really been whats been able to fuel me to continue on, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Texas Women: Meet the woman leading East Texas American Red Cross chapter Perez plans on expanding her small business into a brick-and-mortar store in the future with the goal of creating a space for the community to gather for book clubs and live poetry readings. People can find The Headless Librarian inside the Bluebird Antique Mall on 1718 West Gentry Parkway in Tyler or by purchasing on their website. Owner of Just Pies, Denise Weaver, uses her childhood recipes to create delicious and showstopping pies for East Texans and beyond. Just Pies first started when Weavers sister, Tammy Harden, opened the business in 2018, but after four years, Harden decided it was time to retire, and thats when Weaver took over the shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only has Weavers family made an impact on Just Pies, but also the employees that have become the heart of the bakery, crafting pies that make East Texans come back to the business again and again. Remarkable Woman Susan Campbell works to save veteran lives I just try to put my whole heart into everything we bake so that someone that comes in will make them enjoy it as much as we do, Assistant Manager of Just Pies Mandy Robinson said. Weavers childhood recipes have been perfected by three generations of women who have dedicated their lives to upholding their familys baking standards just like grandmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People can purchase their pies at 2970 Old Henderson Highway in Tyler or by making an order online. Owner of Cup O Joy, Blanca Villanueva, offers a wide variety of boba teas to ensure each East Texan can find a drink they love. Cup O Joy started when Villanueva and her husband began thinking of business ideas and originally thought of opening a Mexican restaurant, but that all changed when they took a trip to California. During the trip, they both felt inspired by the boba shop they visited, leaving them ready to bring the idea to Tyler. The boba shop opened its doors in October 2019 during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Villanueva explained that the only way the business thrived through tough times was the Tyler community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Texas woman creating a place for nonprofits to connect, flourish When people come here, we try to have a smile; we want people to come in and feel the joy, Villanueva said. We love the feeling of people enjoying the drinks, so we want to make sure everyone enjoys what they get here with us. Cup O Joy has various drink options ranging from fruit tea, milk tea, smoothies and frappes with the option to add toppings. People can find their boba tea and so much more at the Cup O Joy shop located at 105 E Eighth St., Unit #105, in Tyler. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. From introducing students and educators to business leaders, to providing firms with funding to grow and excel, to highlighting job opportunities, several local organizations work together to improve the job picture in the region. Through Skills in Scranton, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerces workforce program, chamber officials partnered with Discover NEPA to produce short resource videos focused on in-demand occupations including nursing, engineering, carpentry, welding, logistics and truck driving. Weve identified specific jobs and tried to personalize that so students and other job seekers can see and learn what jobs are available and what jobs are emerging, said Bob Durkin, president and CEO of the chamber. Its important for us as a community to come together around the workforce issue. We need to strengthen the collaborative opportunities among the organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chambers Educator in the Workplace program connects business and industry leaders with local school districts, the career and technical center, and the local intermediate unit. Officials guide educators through their business environment, highlighting vital skills needed, knowledge of the structure of the organization as well as the profile of the workplace, such as employment opportunities, educational background, salary ranges, training needs and ongoing professional development. The program exposes educators to careers facing workforce shortages and challenges facing the industry. Topics of discussion include the impact of technology, diversity in the workplace, employee benefits and work ethic. The Hanover Twp.- based Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center launched its Manufacturing Ambassador Dream Team initiative two years ago to enlighten high school and college students about job opportunities in the manufacturing field. Dream Team ambassadors representing more than 20 regional manufacturing companies share their career journeys with students during in-school presentations and Career Day events. Through the program, ambassadors have interacted with more than 21,000 students from many schools throughout NEPIRCS 11-county footprint from Scranton to Forest City and Hazleton to Hawley, said Chelsey Coslett-Traver, manager of marketing and stakeholder engagement for NEPIRC. The Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerces Luzerne Learns to Work program exposes high school juniors and seniors to potential careers through free access to LinkedIn Learning video courses, Metrix Learning video courses, Luzerne County Library courses, workforce and career development tools, and work-based learning experiences with local companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jocelyn Sterenchock, director of economic development for the Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization (CANDO), added the organization also puts a big emphasis on educating the younger population about quality jobs in the area. Were trying to expose as many students as possible to careers in manufacturing and industry, she said. The Hazleton Area School District is an amazing feeder and pipeline to those industries we just have to work on our retention of those students. * Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners northeast division, poses for a photograph in his office at the Scranton Enterprise Center in Scranton Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * The inside of the Scranton Enterprise Center Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 2 Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners northeast division, poses for a photograph in his office at the Scranton Enterprise Center in Scranton Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Expand Ben Franklin Technology Partners invests in early-stage technology companies, funds innovation in established manufacturers, and supports clients with in-house experts and a network of technical and business resources. Ken Okrepkie, regional manager for Ben Franklins northeast division, credits the interconnectedness of many local workforce groups for the success of area firms. The economic development organizations are collaborating better now than they ever have before, in a variety of different ways, Okrepkie said. There is a nice network of early-stage technology companies and the business incubators supporting that entrepreneurial ecosystem. Collectively, the chambers (Scranton, Wyoming Valley, Pittston and Hazleton) have seen an opportunity to come together from a legislative perspective and identify the priorities of northeastern Pennsylvania, instead of the priorities for any one entity. I serve on SLIBCOs board, the CAN DO board, the Wyoming Valley chambers board of directors, and its commonplace for the CEOs of these organizations to communicate with one another on strategically how were positioning northeastern Pennsylvania and how we can work together for the betterment of creating jobs and attracting business. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) During a celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility on Saturday, Utahns gathered at the State Capitol to help unfurl what a local organization has called the worlds largest transgender flag. According to the Utah Pride Center, the flag is 200 feet long and 30 feet wide. In a video on Instagram which calls the flag the worlds largest of its kind the organization said the flag is made up of 600 yards of fabric and 10,800 feet of thread, taking local stitchers about five weeks to complete. People gather at the Utah State Capitol to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on March 29, 2025. According to the Utah Pride Center, the flag is believed to be one of the largest of its kind. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan) We are thrilled to unfurl what we believe to be the largest trans flag in the country, celebrating our community and creating a space of empowerment, visibility, and support, said Chad Call, executive director of the Utah Pride Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox allows flag ban to go into effect without signature, acts on remaining bills The Utah Pride Center partnered with The Glitter Foundation for Saturdays events, which included a rally at the capitol, a march to Washington Square, and a sharing circle at Washington Square. Our partnership with the Utah Pride Center for TDoV reflects our shared mission to uplift and support the trans community, ensuring their voices, stories, and experiences are seen and celebrated, said Dallas Rivas, co-founder of the Glitter Foundation. Together, we stand for visibility, inclusivity, and the right to live unapologetically. Utahns celebrate Trans Day of Visibility at the Utah State Capitol on March 29, 2025. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan) Utahns celebrate Trans Day of Visibility at the Utah State Capitol on March 29, 2025. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan) Utahns celebrate Trans Day of Visibility at the Utah State Capitol on March 29, 2025. (KTVX/Dennis Dolan) Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) which annually falls on March 31 was established in 2010 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall. Crandall created the day in response to stories of violence against transgender individuals, according to GLAAD. Background Saturdays events took place two days after a controversial bill banning flags in schools and other government property passed into law without the governors signature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Transgender Day of Visibility follows a particularly harmful legislative session in Utah, with several bills targeting our trans communityincluding the recent passage of HB 77, which bans pride flags on government property, Call said. While H.B. 77 does not name specific types of flags that would not be allowed in those spaces, opponents have been outspoken about the implications of the bill against the LGBTQ+ community. Bill sponsor Rep. Trevor Lee (R West Jordan) previously posted on social media to say that the bill would ban Pride flags from Utah schools. In a letter to members of the legislature, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wrote that he did not veto or sign H.B. 77 because he believed his veto would have been overridden by lawmakers. I continue to have serious concerns with this bill, Cox wrote. However, because a veto would be overridden, I have decided to allow the bill to go into law without my signature, and urge lawmakers to consider commonsense solutions that address the bills numerous flaws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox also said in his letter that the sponsors of the bill did not move forward with a deal on a compromise that would have removed problematic portions of the bill. After the bills passing, the Utah Pride Center said in a statement it was deeply saddened to see the bill move forward into law. Previously, Senate leaders said the bill would not block people from parading with flags on certain property (for example, during the Pride Festival at Library Square), but would ban the flags from being put on display in or on certain buildings. The language in the bill doesnt ban the flags for the United States of America, the state flag for Utah, flags for other countries, military flags, tribal flags, college flags, or Olympic flags, among others. Aubree B. Jennings contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. LONDON The second Trump administration may have ruffled the feathers of Americas allies, but there is also evidence it has boosted world leaders scrambling to deal with the White Houses norm-busting approach. Some have gained plaudits for meeting Trump head-on, while others have taken a more nuanced line between flattering the president and trying to shore up their own interests against the headwinds blowing from Washington. Canadas Mark Carney is poised to win next months election by volubly rejecting President Donald Trumps hostile advances to make his country the 51st state. On the flip side, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has earned accolades for becoming something of a Trump whisperer, deftly responding to his tariff threats and seeing her own popularity rise accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Europe, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have received polling boosts following their widely praised Trump strategies. And the embattled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has seen his numbers rise as he has tried to cope with Washingtons brusque approach. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The standing of politicians who are having to deal with the crisis engendered by Trumps presidency is leading to a rise in their popularity, if they seem to be doing this in a reasoned and proper way, said Dominic Grieve, the former British attorney general and an ex-senior lawmaker for the Conservative Party. To be clear, Trump is no panacea for leaders. Macron and Starmer are still relatively unpopular and face harsh criticisms on domestic issues that will likely decide future elections. Likewise, good polling numbers will be of limited cheer for Zelenskyy while the future of his entire country is in doubt. Other analysts debate the extent to which this popularity boost is solely because of Trump, rather than the general climate of global instability and uncertainty of which Washington is a part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure so how much its a Trump bounce or more of a international crisis bounce, said Anand Menon, director of the think tank U.K. in a Changing Europe. Insecurity means that, initially at least, trust in the government goes up. Still, the abrupt change of tone and policy from the White House is an undeniable factor. Trumps attacks on Canada have seen a remarkable turnaround for Carneys Liberals. They were headed for historic losses, but Trumps onslaught has seen them ride a wave of renewed Canadian nationalism and lead the polls at 45% ahead of April 28s election. The old relationship we had with the United States, Carney told a news conference Thursday, is over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexicos Sheinbaum has chosen a different tack, taking action on immigration and fentanyl trafficking including sending 10,000 National Guard troops to the border. That earned a delay on Trumps tariffs, as well as praise from the U.S. president, who called her a wonderful woman. At home, she has mixed this strategy with a cerebral nationalism, telling voters that this is about coordination, yes submission, never. Her already high ratings have risen to 85%, according to the El Financiero newspaper in February. In the United Kingdom, Starmers ratings have gone up 8.5 percentage points from February, according to the British pollster Ipsos. That followed an Oval Office meeting with Trump in which he mixed compliments with candor: talking up a potential trade deal while refusing to budge from a commitment to Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Feb. 27. He has promised to hike British defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, part of the wider nervousness in Europe about Trumps commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economy and health care will likely decide the next election. But defense is now the third most important issue for British voters, most polls show. And it is defense and international trade on which voters think Starmer is performing best, according to the Ipsos poll taken between March 14 and 17. Pretty much all of his readings have become somewhat less unpopular in the wake of his trip to Washington, said John Curtice, one of Britains most respected polling experts and a professor at Scotlands University of Strathclyde. I think its fair to say the public have noticed that hes risen to the challenge. Another man banging the drum on European defense is Frances Macron. He and Starmer are leading an informal coalition of the willing a group of countries prepared to send troops to Ukraine to uphold any eventual ceasefire. Likewise, the current international upheaval has seen Macrons popularity jump to 31% in March, up 7 points from the previous month, according to an Ifop poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These numbers are still relatively low, however, and they may well be fleeting. Macron cant run again in the next election, in 2027, but his centrist heirs risk losing the presidency to the far-right National Rally, the current favorite. The same is true for Starmer, whose Labour Party has slid from a landslide victory last year to near parity with the Conservatives and hard-right Reform U.K. Most voters are worried about high prices for food, energy and housing, rather than their leaders Oval Office repartee. For any leader enjoying a momentary upside, Menon, of U.K. in a Changing Europe, has a word of warning: I wouldnt get complacent on the back of the fact that, right at the moment, things are looking a little bit better because Trump uncertainty. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A local union honored its firefighters Saturday evening. The Youngstown Professional Fire Fighters Union honored its crews who responded to the Realty Building explosion last year, giving out awards with valor. A medal of honor was awarded to Capt. Thomas Gibbs, who led Ladder 22 that day and was the first to respond. Also on Saturday, two firefighters retired and were honored. Capt. Leslie retired after 25 years with the department and Capt. Gene Cook, born and raised in Youngstown, retired after 27 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill honestly say that not one day was a chore to go to. I loved every second of my job. Not that every minute was a great thing, but it was by far the greatest job in the world, just a total privilege. Im so humbled to have been a firefighter these years for the city. Theres not one regret I have besides having to retire, Cook said. Youngstown State President Bill Johnson spoke at the event. Wilson Corbisello contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. EXCLUSIVE: YouTube has stopped two major fake movie trailer channels from being able to monetize their AI-fueled videos. The Google-owned video-hosting giant has turned off ad revenue on Screen Culture and KH Studio trailers after a Deadline investigation chronicled the scale and sophistication of their output. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadline analyzed how Screen Culture is creating trailers that closely imitate official marketing material for franchises like The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman, but splices in AI imagery to tease irresistible details about a movie that appeal to their giant fandoms. KH Studio, meanwhile, imagines outlandish versions of major films and series, including a James Bond movie starring Henry Cavill and Margot Robbie, and a Squid Game season with Leonardo DiCaprio. Our deep dive revealed that instead of protecting copyright on these videos, a handful of Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony, are secretly asking YouTube to ensure that the ad revenue from the AI-heavy videos flows in their direction. The studios declined to comment. Now YouTube has suspended Screen Culture and KH Studio from its partner program for violating monetization policies, meaning they cant earn ad revenue from the videos they produce. They can appeal YouTubes decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YouTubes monetization policies state that if creators are borrowing material from others, you need to change it significantly to make it your own. It adds that videos must not be duplicative or repetitive and should not be made for the sole purpose of getting views. Furthermore, YouTube misinformation policies prohibit content that has been technically manipulated or doctored in a way that misleads viewers. Screen Culture has been approached for comment. KH Studios founder said the intention of the channel is to entertain with what if ideas rather than mislead viewers. Ive been running KH Studio full-time for over three years now, putting everything into it. Its tough to see it grouped under misleading content in the demonetization decision, when my goal has always been to explore creative possibilities not to misrepresent real releases, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadline asked YouTube a series of questions about how its algorithm boosts fake movie trailers, as well as how Screen Culture videos outrank official trailers in search results. YouTube declined to comment. In an interview with Deadline, Screen Culture founder Nikhil P. Chaudhari said he oversees a team of a dozen editors, who create as many as 12 videos a week based on his instructions. Screen Cultures views and subscribers have more than doubled in the past two years to 1.4B and 1.4M respectively. The success has translated into millions of dollars of ad revenue, though India-based Chaudhari was coy about exactly how much he is earning. He said most YouTube users understand that Screen Culture is not stocked with official videos and that people can find the legitimate trailer by searching for the official channel. For those who are fooled by his trailers, Chaudhari said: Whats the harm? Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may hold elections as early as this summer, and he intends to run for a second term, The Economist reports. Source: The Economist, citing Ukrainian government sources Details: Ukrainian officials have told the outlet that Zelenskyy convened a meeting last week, instructing his team to prepare for an election to take place after a full ceasefire which, according to US estimates, could be achieved by the end of April. The report names Easter Sunday, 20 April, as a possible date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The article also notes that Ukraines parliament is scheduled to vote on 5 May on whether to extend martial law, which is currently set to expire on 8 May. Lifting martial law is a necessary first step to launching an electoral process. Quote: "The sources differ on the exact timeline, but most say Mr Zelenskyy is aiming for summer. The law requires at least 60 days for campaigning, so the earliest possibility would be early July. But some sources say the campaign would have to last three months: this is the time election authorities have reportedly told parliament that they require to reconstitute voter lists in the middle of war." Details: The Economist suggests that both US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin "were irritated by Mr Zelenskyys stubbornness" and "pushed him to hold elections in the middle of the war, believing no doubt that Ukrainian voters would do them the favour of unseating him". Just two months ago, the report says, Zelenskyy was believed to be firmly opposed to holding a vote. However, Trumps humiliating treatment of him during the first week of March boosted Zelenskyys ratings and appears to have changed his calculus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Serious preparations are now underway for Mr Zelenskyy to go before the electorate for a second time, and quite soon," the article says. Petro Poroshenko, leader of Ukraines largest opposition party, European Solidarity, predicts the elections could take place "any time from August to October". He claims the campaign has already begun with Zelenskyys controversial decision to impose sanctions against him in February. A senior government source told The Economist that Poroshenko "both overestimates and underestimates his importance". While he is reportedly not seen as a serious threat, Zelenskyys dislike of Poroshenko is said to have accelerated the sanctions decision. The official believes Zelenskyy may try to catch his rivals off guard with a July election, hoping that the short timeline will allow him to run without major opponents. The source also says such a move might benefit more than just Zelenskyy, since "a long campaign would tear the country apart". Still, the report warns that a rushed vote risks further damaging already strained relations between the powerful, centralised presidential office and the rest of Ukraines political sphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Economist adds that both Putin and Trump may now prefer to avoid snap elections. Quote: "Both presumably demanded one believing it would lead to Mr Zelenskyys exit. Given that the calculation has flipped upside-down, they might not sit quiet while he fast-tracks his progress to a second term. Mr Putin holds many of the cards here. His drones and missiles could make cancelling martial law let alone holding a vote impossible. But many think elections could help Mr Putin destabilise Ukraine even if Mr Zelenskyy wins. An intelligence officer predicts internal instability will be a bigger risk to Ukraine in 2025 than battles on the front line. An election campaign would let the Russians turn up their influence campaign: They will use opinion leaders, soldiers and the opposition to do their bidding." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Kyiv is providing full information on the strikes carried out by the Russian army and expects a response from the United States, Europe and all allies to Russias terror against Ukrainians. Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy noted that yesterdays Russian strike on the city of Kharkiv killed 2 people and injured around 30 others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president added that most oblasts of Ukraine have come under attack over the week, Russia launched 1,310 guided aerial bombs, more than 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and 9 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones. Quote: "Russia is dragging out the war, and we are providing our partners with full information on the strikes the Russian army is carrying out and the actions it is preparing for. We expect a response from the United States, Europe and all our allies to this terror against our people." Background: Earlier, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would prepare evidence of Russias violations of the ceasefire in the energy sector and present it to the United States, expecting an appropriate response. Zelenskyy also previously stated that if Russia violates the ceasefire, Ukraine expects action from the Trump administration, as the agreements were reached with it. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Josh Watson, a forestry technician and lead for a trail crew that does maintenance for the U.S. Forest Service, hikes along the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in February. Watson was among the thousands of Forest Service staffers fired in mid-February, but he confirmed this week that he has been rehired. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times) New Delhi: Salman Khan's Sikandar has finally hit the big screen, marking the superstar's grand return after two years. The film's hight-octane action, gripping drama and heartfelt romance have audiences going gaga. Since its trailer release the action scenes have become the talk of the town. Salman Khan recently opened up about performing action scene despite multiple injuries, He reveals that he has endured multiple injuries over the years including a rib fracture sustained during the shoot of the film last September. However he returned to set the very next day to shoot through the pain with determination. He also mentiond about the film has no body shot of him. Salman Khan On Action Scenes When asked about finding it difficult to do action film, Salman Khan adresses the press and said, ''Every bone of my body has been broken twice or thrice. Every ligament has been torn 2-3 times. We didnt even get to rest then. There were no body shots in this film. If there were, Id have gotten lean in a couple of weeks. Thats not a big deal. He dismisses concerns about his physique, saying ''I have a six-pack even when Im not lean. My muscle is so huge that even if I get some fat, it starts protruding. People make an issue out of this, but its not an issue for me. If you get a six-pack but weight only 55 kg, then whats the point?" Salman Khan Surprising Revelation Earlier, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan joined director A.R. Murugadoss for a special Q&A session titled as 'Sikandar Meets Ghajini.' In the surprise collaboration video, director A.R. Murugadoss answered questions like, "Who is the better actor or dancer?" During the fun banter, Salman Khan made a surprising revelation about a hook step from a song. Recalling the incident, he revealed a backstroy of an accidental hookstep, he shared, "There are four songs in the film. In one of the songs, I broke my ribs and shot for it the next day. I couldnt sit, stand, cough, or even laugh. In one of the steps, I am holding my ribs. We made that into a step, and all the dancers then followed the same step.'' Sikandar also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Anjini Dhawan, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar and Sathyaraj. The action thriller is released in cinemas on March 30. The month of April holds great significance for followers of Hinduism. Several major and sacred festivals are observed during this time, carrying religious and spiritual importance. Prominent festivals such as Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, and Akshaya Tritiya are celebrated with great devotion. Alongside these, many fasts and auspicious dates fall in this month. Devotees observe these festivals with rituals like worship, havan (fire rituals), community feasts (bhandara), and charity. In this article, we provide detailed insights into the auspicious dates, rituals, and significance of key Hindu festivals in April 2025 so that you can make the most of these sacred occasions. Major Hindu Festivals and Dates in April 2025 April will witness several significant religious festivals. The month begins with Yamuna Shashthi and continues with major celebrations like Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Mahavir Jayanti, and Akshaya Tritiya by the end of the month. April 3, 2025 Yamuna Shashthi April 5, 2025 Durga Ashtami & Ashoka Ashtami April 6, 2025 Ram Navami April 10, 2025 Mahavir Jayanti April 12, 2025 Hanuman Jayanti April 14, 2025 Baisakhi April 30, 2025 Akshaya Tritiya Lets explore these festivals in detail: 1. Durga Ashtami & Ashoka Ashtami (April 5, 2025, Saturday) Durga Ashtami is the eighth day of Chaitra Navratri, dedicated to Goddess Durga. On this day, devotees observe fasts, perform havan, and conduct Kanya Pujan (worshipping young girls as forms of the Goddess). Auspicious Timing: Ashtami Tithi starts: April 4, 2025, at 8:12 PM Ashtami Tithi ends: April 5, 2025, at 7:26 AM Best time for havan: 6:00 PM 8:00 PM (April 5) Rituals: Clean the house and set up an idol or picture of Goddess Durga. Light a lamp and offer red flowers, coconut, and sweets. Recite Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa. Perform havan and Kanya Pujan, offering food and gifts to young girls. Ashoka Ashtami: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this day is considered auspicious for worship and is believed to remove sorrows. Placing Ashoka tree leaves at home is considered beneficial. Best time for worship: 9:00 AM 11:15 AM (April 5) 2. Ram Navami (April 6, 2025, Sunday) Ram Navami marks the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. Devotees celebrate this day with special prayers, bhajans, and community feasts. Auspicious Timing: 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Rituals: Take a holy bath and wear new clothes. Set up an idol or image of Lord Ram in the puja area. Offer fruits, flowers, sweets, and Panchamrit (a mix of five sacred ingredients). Recite Ramayana, perform aarti, and organize a community feast (Bhandara). 3. Mahavir Jayanti (April 10, 2025, Thursday) Mahavir Jayanti is a significant festival for Jains, celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara. Auspicious Timing: 7:00 AM 12:00 PM Rituals: Perform Abhishek (holy bath) of Lord Mahavirs idol. Offer flowers, fruits, rice, and sweets. Read Mahavir Vani (teachings of Lord Mahavir) and donate to the needy. 4. Hanuman Jayanti (April 12, 2025, Saturday) Hanuman Jayanti marks the birth of Lord Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Rama. Devotees recite Hanuman Chalisa, Sundarkand, and organize Bhandaras. Auspicious Timing: Morning: 5:30 AM 7:00 AM Evening: 7:30 PM 9:30 PM Rituals: Wear red clothes after taking a holy bath. Light a lamp before Lord Hanumans idol and recite Hanuman Chalisa. Read Sundarkand in the evening. Offer laddoos, boondi, or roasted black grams. 5. Akshaya Tritiya (April 30, 2025, Wednesday) Akshaya Tritiya is an extremely auspicious day, ideal for new beginnings, wealth accumulation, and charity. Auspicious Timing: The entire day is auspicious. Rituals: Wear yellow or red clothes after taking a bath. Decorate the main entrance with lotus flowers. Worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi with black sesame seeds, basil leaves, and sacred offerings. Buying gold, silver, or new items is considered highly auspicious. Donate food, clothes, and money to the needy. Religious and Spiritual Importance of April Festivals 1. Religious Benefits: Worship and fasting on these auspicious days help in purifying karma and attracting prosperity. Performing havan and charity removes negativity and brings positive results. 2. Spiritual Benefits: Engaging in charity and good deeds brings peace and positive energy. Initiating new ventures during these festivals ensures success and progress in life. 3. Social Importance: Community feasts and festive gatherings strengthen bonds of love and unity. These celebrations promote cultural traditions and social harmony. Celebrate These Festivals at Home with Devotion As we celebrate Hindu Nav Varsh 2025 all across India, it's time to seek blessings of the almighty, celebrate, welcome new beginnings, and rejoice with family, friends, and loved ones. Hindu Nav Varsh is observed as the traditional New Year in many parts of India and has a deeply rooted religious and cultural significance. The Hindu New Year, or Vikram Samvat 2082, is celebrated with prayers, rituals, and festivities that echo the richness of Indian tradition. It is widely celebrated in parts of India with great fervor under different namesGudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, Navreh in Kashmir, and Cheti Chand by Sindhi people. To make this moment even more special, we have gathered warm wishes, messages, greetings, and pictures that you can send to your loved ones to share happiness and good luck. Hindu Nav Varsh 2025 Wishes and Greetings to Share 1. Wishing you a prosperous and joyful Hindu New Year filled with success and happiness. 2. May this New Year bring new hopes, new opportunities, and boundless joy into your life. 3. Happy Hindu Nav Varsh! May your year be filled with peace, prosperity, and good health. 4. Let this year bring you closer to your dreams and fill your heart with positivity. 5. May the divine blessings of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi be with you this New Year. 6. Wishing you endless success and happiness in the coming year. Shubh Nav Varsh! 7. May this year be full of love, laughter, and all things wonderful. 8. As we embrace the New Year, may it bring harmony, good fortune, and prosperity to you. 9. A fresh start, a new chaptermay this year be brighter than ever! 10. Hindu Nav Varsh 2025 Mubarak! May your days be filled with happiness and success. 11. May this year bring positive energy, new achievements, and divine blessings into your life. 12. Start the year with new aspirations and let the divine guide you towards success. 13. May this New Year fill your home with peace and your heart with contentment. 14. Celebrate this sacred occasion with devotion, love, and gratitude. 15. On this holy day, may you be blessed with wisdom, wealth, and well-being. 16. May your path be illuminated with happiness and fortune this Hindu New Year. 17. Step into the New Year with faith and positivity, leaving behind all worries. 18. May your family be blessed with togetherness, joy, and endless celebrations. 19. Lets welcome the New Year with enthusiasm, positivity, and a heart full of gratitude. 20. Celebrate this divine festival with love and embrace a year of opportunities. 21. Hindu Nav Varsh is a time to reflect, renew, and rejoicewishing you a blessed year ahead. 22. May Lord Brahma bless you with wisdom and success in all your endeavors. 23. This New Year, may you overcome all obstacles and reach new heights. 24. Welcome a year of peace, love, and positivity with open arms. 25. May your home be filled with joy, your heart with love, and your life with success. 26. Lets celebrate this festival with devotion, laughter, and a spirit of togetherness. 27. Wishing you divine blessings and a year filled with prosperity and good fortune. 28. May you have the strength to turn challenges into opportunities this New Year. 29. Embrace the new beginnings and make the most of every moment. 30. Happy Hindu Nav Varsh! May this year bring you closer to your dreams. Hindu Nav Varsh 2025: Images To share Hindu Nav Varsh is not just the beginning of a new calendar year but a time to embrace positivity, seek divine blessings, and spread love. Take this opportunity to connect with your loved ones and share your heartfelt wishes, messages, and beautiful images to make their day even brighter. Zee News wishes you a very Happy Hindu Nav Varsh 2025! May this year be filled with peace, prosperity, and joy for all! New Delhi: The government on Saturday said it aims to achieve Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production by 2029, reinforcing the countrys position as a global defence manufacturing hub. About 65 per cent of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, a significant shift from the earlier 65-70 per cent import dependency. A robust defence industrial base includes 16 DPSUs, over 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16,000 MSMEs, strengthening indigenous production capabilities, according to a statement by Ministry of Defence. The private sector plays a crucial role, contributing 21 per cent to total defence production, fostering innovation and efficiency, it added. The government said it aims to reach Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, reinforcing India's role as a global defence manufacturing hub while boosting economic growth. Defence exports surged by 32.5 per cent year-on-year, rising from Rs 15,920 crore in FY 2022-23 to Rs 21,083 crore in FY 2023-24. Defence exports have grown 21 times, from Rs 4,312 crore in the 2004-14 decade to Rs 88,319 crore in the 2014-24 decade, highlighting Indias expanding role in the global defence sector. India now exports defence equipment to over 100 countries, with the US, France and Armenia emerging as the top buyers in 2023-24. Moreover, the Ministry of Defence said it has signed a record 193 contracts in 2024-25, with the total contract value surpassing Rs 2,09,050 crore, nearly double the previous highest figure. Of these, 177 contracts, accounting for 92 per cent, have been awarded to the domestic industry, amounting to Rs 1,68,922 crore, which is 81 per cent of the total contract value. This significant focus on indigenous manufacturing aligns with the vision of self-reliance in defence production, boosting local industries and generating employment across the sector. In FY24, the value of defence production surged to a record high of Rs 1,27,434 crore, marking an impressive 174 per cent increase from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15, according to data from all Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), other public sector units manufacturing defence items, and private companies. Six people were killed and five injured after trees were uprooted near the Manikaran Gurudwara parking in Kullu. The police and rescue teams have shifted the injured to a hospital. "Police and rescue teams of the district administration have shifted five injured to the local community hospital at Jari," ANI quoted ADM Kullu Ashwani Kumar as saying. Himachal Pradesh | Six people died, and five were injured after trees were uprooted near Manikaran Gurudwara parking in Kullu. Police and rescue teams of the district administration have shifted five injured to the local community hospital at Jari: ADM Kullu, Ashwani Kumar ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 The accident happened when trees feel near the Gurudwara. As per IANS, the incident occurred around 5 pm when debris from a hill caused the tree to collapse, trapping bystanders. Furthermore, the deceased include a roadside hawker, a Sumo driver, and three tourists. In the video, people can be seen trying to remove fallen branches of the trees from on and around the cars that were hit. Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: An accident occurred where a large tree fell near the Gurudwara, killing six people and injuring several others. The incident took place around 5 PM when debris from a hill caused the tree to collapse, trapping bystanders. Among the deceased are a pic.twitter.com/Np9h8lVmvc IANS (@ians_india) March 30, 2025 Talking to ANI, MLA Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur clarified that as of now it seems that the accident happened when a hollow tree fell near the Gurudwara. "Bodies are being brought to the hospital, and the four injured are also being brought here," he said. #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | MLA Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur says, "This incident took place near Manikaran Gurudwara where a tree uprooted... Bodies are being brought to the hospital, and the four injured are also being brought here...A police team and the administration are https://t.co/Df6VZ8Xmri pic.twitter.com/Nj4QVIWbUA ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 The injured have been sent to Jari Hospital for treatment, PTI quoted officials. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur have expressed deep grief over the incident. According to PTI, CM Sukhu has directed the district administration to extend all possible assistance to the victims and their families. He has also instructed officers to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. (with agencies' inputs) Fifty Naxalites, including 14 with a cumulative reward of Rs 68 lakh on their heads, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Sunday, a police official said. They laid down arms in front of senior officials of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he added. "They surrendered, citing the hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology, exploitation of tribals by senior cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), as well as differences brewing within the movement. They are also impressed by security forces setting up camps and the 'Niya Nellanar' (your good village) scheme under which forces and the administration are providing basic amenities in remote areas," Bijapur Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said. "Of the 50 who surrendered, six carry rewards of Rs 8 lakh each, and three have bounties of Rs 5 lakh each. Five have rewards of Rs 1 lakh each on their heads. The District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), CRPF, and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) played a key role in their surrender," Yadav said. They will be rehabilitated as per the government's policy for Naxalites leaving the movement and joining the mainstream, the SP added. The surrender comes hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state. He will lay the foundation stone, initiate the commencement of work, and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects of more than Rs 33,700 crore. Incidentally, security forces gunned down 18 Naxals, including 11 women, in twin encounters in Chhattisgarh's Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region on Saturday, recording a major success in the mission to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026. With the latest successes, 134 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in the state so far this year. Of them, 118 were eliminated in the Bastar division. In 2024, a total of 792 Naxalites had surrendered in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, as per police. IMPHAL: The Indian Army and Assam Rifles launched information-based operations in the Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Senapati, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts of Manipur between 26 March and 29 March, as per an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Twenty-nine weapons, Improvised Devices, grenades, ammunition, and other war-like stores have been recovered in the operations, the statement said. The operations were conducted in coordination with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF and ITBP. Acting on specific intelligence of presence of arms and ammunition in general area NP Kholen in Kangpokpi district, Indian Army and Manipur Police launched a joint operation on 26 March 2025 and recovered four weapons comprising two AK series weapons, one Carbine and one 7.62 mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR), ammunition and war like stores, said Ministry of Defence in its statement. On 27 March 2025, acting upon suspicious movement of individuals in Parbung, Tengnoupal district, troops swiftly established a cordon and sanitized the area and in ensuing search operation discovered freshly dug earth camouflaged with stones and leaves. A detailed search using a Deep Search Metal Detector (DSMD) confirmed the presence of buried metal. Upon excavation, three Improvised Mortars (Pompis) and three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered. In Chingdong Leikai in Jiribam district, Assam Rifles, CRPF and Manipur Police launched a joint operation on 27 March 2025 and recovered three INSAS rifles and two 7.62 mm SLRs, ammunition and war-like stores, the statement added. On 28 March 2025, the Army recovered one rifle, one Carbine, two sniper rifles, two Pistols, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), grenades, ammunition and war-like stores from Naranseina, Bishnupur district. Similarly, in Molnom of Chandel district, Army and Assam Rifles recovered three improvised mortars and two pistols on 29 March 2025 whereas in Senapati district Assam Rifles recovered four Single Barrel Bolt Action Rifles, one Pistol with magazine, 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, an improvised projectile launcher, and three live grenades with fuses from Changobung. The recovered items have been handed over to the Manipur Police. These coordinated efforts by security forces highlight their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Manipur. Lauding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that they had contributed selflessly to humanitarian efforts including disaster relief. "Their selfless service has been evident in times of floods, earthquakes, and most recently, at the Maha Kumbh," the Prime Minister said. He said, 'Jahan seva kaarya, wahan swayamsevak'. Commending the service of the RSS volunteers, PM Modi said that people have seen, whether it is Mahakumbh or any other occasion, the 'swayamsevaks' were there to help people. '...Hum Dev se desh aur Ram se rashtra ke jeevan mantra ko lekar ke chale hain, hum apna kartavya nibhaate chalte hain'... That is why no matter how big or small the work is, no matter what the field is... the volunteers of the Sangh work selflessly. We have seen in Maha Kumbh how the swayamsevak helped the people. 'Jahan seva kaarya, wahan swayamsevak'. Where there are problems and difficulties, swayamsevak is there to help people. They don't see their own personal problems and work selflessly with the spirit of service," PM Modi said in his address to the public in Nagpur. With RSS celebrating its centenary year this year, PM Modi stated that the ideas that were sown a hundred years back, today have grown into this 'vat vriksh' big tree in front of the world. symbolising longevity and immortality. Prime Minister Modi said, "... The ideas that were sown a hundred years back have today grown into this 'vat vriksh' in front of the world. The principles and ideologies give height to this tree. The lakhs and crores of kar sevals are the branches of it. This is not a common tree, it is RSS, the modern 'akshay vat vriksh' of India's immortal culture... Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the modern Akshay Vat of the immortal culture of India. Today, this Akshay Vat is constantly energizing the Indian culture... the consciousness of our nation." The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of India's cultural expansion and national conscience, highlighting the global recognition of Yog and Ayurveda. He noted that despite attempts to eliminate India's national conscience throughout history, the country's rich cultural heritage has persevered. The Prime Minister attributed this resilience to the numerous social movements that have taken place in India, even during the most challenging times. He cited the example of the Bhakti movement. "Our Yog and Ayurveda have got a new identity in the world. A nation's existence depends on its cultural expansion and the expansion of national conscience. If we look at the history of our country, such cruel attempts were made to eliminate our national conscience, but no one succeeded. It all happened because even in the difficult times, many social movements took place. Even during the most difficult times, new social movements kept taking place in India to keep consciousness awakened. We all know the example of the Bhakti movement. In that difficult period of the medieval period, our saints gave new energy to our national consciousness with the ideas of devotion," he said. He highlighted the involvement of RSS workers in initiatives like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams, Ekal Vidyalayas for tribal children, cultural awakening missions, and Seva Bharati's efforts to serve the underprivileged. Lauding the exemplary work of volunteers during the Prayag Mahakumbh, where they assisted millions through the Netra Kumbh initiative, he emphasized that wherever there is a need for service, volunteers are present. He remarked on the disciplined response of volunteers during disasters like floods and earthquakes, highlighting their selflessness and dedication to service. "Seva is a sacrificial fire, and we burn like offerings, merging into the ocean of purpose", PM Modi said. The Prime Minister today laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra. A sharpshooter of the Mukhtar Ansari gang was killed in a police encounter that unfolded late on Saturday during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Jharkhand Police in Jamshedpur, an official said. The sharpshooter was identified as Anuj Kannaujia, 50. During the encounter, STF Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) DK Shahi sustained injuries. "STF and Jharkhand police tried to capture Anuj Kannaujia on the basis of information received, but they started firing towards the security forces. Anuj Kannaujia was killed in cross-firing," said Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (ADG) of Uttar Pradesh STF, as quoted by news agency IANS. Kannaujia, who was on the run for more than five years, was wanted in 23 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, land grabbing, and arms smuggling. The Uttar Pradesh DGP, Prashant Kumar, recently increased his bounty from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh for any information leading to his arrest in an effort to track him down. "The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs regarding Kannaujia's movement in Jamshedpur. As the police team attempted to apprehend him, Kannaujia opened fire, shooting nearly 20 rounds and even hurling a bomb in a bid to escape. This forced the security forces to retaliate, leading to a high-intensity gunfight. During the exchange of fire, DySP DK Shahi sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder but continued leading the operation. Eventually, Kannaujia was neutralised after sustaining multiple bullet injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival," Uttar Pradesh STF ADG added. Following the encounter, police recovered two pistols, a large cache of live cartridges, and mobile phones from the site. The mobile phones are now being examined for possible leads on his criminal network, an officer privy to the probe said. Kannaujia, a resident of Bahlolpur village in Chiraiyakot, Mau, had a long history of violent crimes and was one of the most feared operatives of the Mukhtar Ansari gang. His criminal record spanned multiple districts, with six cases registered against him in Mau's Kotwali police station, five in Rani Ki Sarai, two in Dakshin Tola, and three in Chiraiyakot, apart from several others in Ghazipur and Azamgarh, the official added. In recent years, police intensified efforts to crack down on Kannaujia and his associates. As part of the statewide anti-mafia drive, authorities demolished his house in Azamgarh using a bulldozer, while his family members were booked under the Gangster Act and sent to jail, the officer said. (With IANS Inputs) Gopalganj: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday slammed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for his alleged involvement in various scams and alleged that "those who had eaten up fodder cannot think about the welfare of people in Bihar. He also accused the RJD chief of ignoring the development of Bihar and working only for the betterment of his family. Addressing a rally in Gopalganj, Shah claimed, "The NDA governments, both at the Centre and in Bihar, have been working for the overall development of Bihar. Those who had eaten up fodder meant for cattle cannot think about the welfare of the people of the state." Prasad was "involved in the bitumen scam, flood relief material supply scam, 'Charwaha Vidyalaya' (school for cattle grazers) scam, and he had also eaten up fodder", the BJP leader alleged. The fodder scam, in which crores of rupees were fraudulently withdrawn from treasuries such as Doranda, Deoghar, Dumka and Chaibasa, was exposed in the 1990s when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. Prasad, the former Bihar chief minister, is one of the high-profile politicians who was convicted in the case. Lalu-Rabri regime here and Sonia-Manmohan government at the Centre did nothing for Bihar. Lalu Prasad worked for his family only. He tried to make both his sons CM, made his wife Bihar chief minister, sent his daughter to Rajya Sabha, but did nothing for the people," Shah alleged. He also asserted that Bihar would be made flood-free in the next five years. "Flood will soon become a thing of the past in Bihar," he said. The NDA government is also constructing a massive temple at the birthplace of goddess Sita in Bihar, he said. Shah said the state government is developing 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir', a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district that is considered the birthplace of the goddess Sita. A large number of pilgrims visit the 'Punaura Dham' every year. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had, in December 2023, laid the foundation stone for the overall development of the 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir'. The state cabinet had approved Rs 72.47 crore for the overall development of the 'Punaura Dham'. Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 30-03-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "AKSHAYA AK-695" Lucky Draw Result today Akshaya AK-695, March 30, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Akshaya AK-695" 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 Akshaya AK-693 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Akshaya AK-695 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 23-03-2025 March: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-695 Draw LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AE 422035 LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AG 496757 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AA 489146 AB 906710 AC 159686 AD 262014 AE 906452 AF 905520 AG 545437 AH 849180 AJ 616760 AK 195415 AL 484546 AM 335948 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AA 422035 AB 422035 AC 422035 AD 422035 AF 422035 AG 422035 AH 422035 AJ 422035 AK 422035 AL 422035 AM 422035 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0026 0314 0723 1159 2257 2310 2390 2569 5298 6379 6970 7233 7621 8279 8576 9267 9402 9574 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 1861 2739 3519 4018 4324 4701 4973 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0060 0136 0256 1131 1468 2244 2581 2991 3209 3366 3550 3794 4593 5600 6005 7254 7599 7618 7788 7826 9148 9246 9273 9303 9529 9873 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0035 0039 0149 0237 0263 0690 0920 1203 1238 1604 1706 1747 2177 2188 2196 2223 2242 2629 3006 3074 3186 3211 3330 3682 3854 3876 4039 4059 4154 4183 4423 4432 4691 4948 5174 5241 5388 5436 5556 5619 5692 5879 5906 5907 5948 6137 6140 6347 6355 6403 6615 6680 6833 7160 7428 7464 7664 7912 8009 8292 8353 8357 8370 8401 8462 8519 8561 8578 8933 9067 9131 9155 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0010 0053 0131 0268 0291 0330 0429 0479 0651 0695 0725 0793 0798 0800 0870 1064 1114 1246 1302 1326 1424 1454 1501 1544 1579 1592 1620 1712 1771 1796 1824 1960 2026 2047 2115 2221 2416 2454 2472 2475 2504 2631 2643 2650 2697 2707 2731 2889 2900 2940 2970 3054 3164 3208 3435 3524 3554 3594 3613 3614 3696 3740 3861 3971 4230 4537 4697 4732 4737 4839 4877 4886 4898 4907 5015 5042 5111 5176 5234 5469 5520 5545 5578 5860 5875 6051 6175 6578 6653 6698 6748 6765 6972 7170 7375 7663 7715 7842 8022 8231 8249 8310 8376 8398 8435 8589 8737 8742 8829 8866 8930 8950 9056 9156 9172 9209 9269 9334 9571 9668 9886 9968 9984 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 30-03-2025 March TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-695 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Maharashtras Nagpur on Sunday, laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre. During the project launch, the Prime Minister said that Madhav Netralaya is an institution serving people for decades. While addressing a gathering during the event, PM Modi mentioned Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the beginning of Navratri, and Gudi Padwa. "Madhav Netralaya is an institution that has been in the service of lakhs of people for decades, following the vision of Guruji (MS Golwalkar)," he said. During the address, the Prime Minister also mentioned Myanmar, which was jolted by multiple tremors on Friday, and said that whenever there is an incident of natural calamity, India is ready to offer help. "Our mantra of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is reaching the entire world... Myanmar was hit by a tragic earthquake a day before yesterday; India was the first to reach there and launched Operation Brahma. India does not take time to extend help," PM Modi said. #WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra | PM Narendra Modi says, "Our mantra of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is reaching the entire world... Myanmar was hit by a tragic earthquake a day before yesterday; India was the first to reach there and launched Operation Brahma. India does not take time pic.twitter.com/HGD1FNJDU8 ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 Myanmar was struck with an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude on Friday, tremors of which were also felt in Thailand. On Saturday, the death toll from the quake in Myanmar rose to 1,644, with 3,408 people injured and 139 still missing, the Information Team of the State Administration Council said. After arriving in Nagpur on Sunday, PM Modi paid floral tribute to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh. After this, he paid tributes to Dr. B R Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, where the father of the Indian Constitution embraced Buddhism along with his followers in 1956. (with agencies' inputs) PM Modi Nagpur Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Maharashtras Nagpur on Sunday, paid floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh. He was accomapnied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. #WATCH | Maharashtra | PM Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS' Smruti Mandir in Nagpur RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is also present (Source -ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/6gV2kfXyrK ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 PM Modi arrived in Nagpur at around 9 am and was received by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and other ministers of the Maharashtra cabinet at Nagpur airport. Ahead of PM Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived at Smruti Mandir. PM Modi will also pay respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the architect of the Indian constitution converted to Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956. PM Modi will undertake darshan at Smruti Mandir and thereafter visit Deekshabhoomi. At around 10 am, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre at Nagpur and address a public meeting. At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. "Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-specialty ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur," the PMO said. During his visit, the Prime Minister will visit the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited's ammunition facility in Nagpur. He will inaugurate the newly built 1250m-long and 25mwide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions. Later in the day, PM Modi will also visit Chhattisgarh today to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects. "In Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone, initiate commencement of work, and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education, and housing sectors worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur," the release read. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on Sunday flayed by the RJD for placing his arm around the shoulders of a woman at a public function where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present. The opposition party shared a video clip of the event held at the sprawling Bapu Sabhagar auditorium in the city, where the two leaders launched central and state projects worth more than Rs 800 crore. Shah also gave away "dummy cheques" to beneficiaries of schemes under the Union Ministry for Cooperation, another portfolio that he holds. One such recipient, a middle-aged rural woman, apparently failed to understand that Shah was requesting her to pose for a photograph. At this juncture, the 74-year-old chief minister tugged at her arm and made her stand facing the posse of journalists and photographers, with his arm around her shoulders. The RJD wrote on its X handle, in Hindi, "Just see how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is pulling towards himself a woman in an objectionable manner with Home Minister Amit Shah looking on". "Bihar is being shamed by the chief minister, who is unwell, and the BJP, which is helpless", alleged the opposition party, which has been claiming that the longest-serving CM has grown physically and mentally unsound. Mimicking the style of the JD(U) supremo, whom the opposition party accuses of believing "the world came to exist after he became the chief minister", the RJD added, "Had any chief minister acted like this before 2005? It happened only after I came to power". Washington: Former US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned of possible military action and economic sanctions against Iran if it does not agree to a nuclear deal with Washington. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Reuters quoted Trump as saying in a telephonic interview with NBC News on Sunday. Trump further said, "there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago." Trumps statement comes on a day Iran firmly rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in an official response to Trumps letter, reiterated Tehran's stance against direct talks while keeping the door open for indirect negotiations. "Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides has been rejected in this response, it has been emphasized that the path for indirect negotiations remains open," Pezeshkian said, according to AP. India's software export industry continues to thrive, with exports reaching an impressive over $200 billion in 2023-24, driven largely by demand from the US, its biggest market. While the sector benefits from strong business ties and increasing global demand for IT and BPO services, India is also expanding its reach into new markets like Europe and the Middle East. Experts shared that while US President Donald Trump's policies are creating chaos, the Indian software industry may remain largely unaffected. US Tariffs "The recent counter-tariffs announced by the US, under the Trump administration, are unlikely to significantly affect Indias software services in the immediate future. These tariffs mainly target physical goods, while IT services, which are a key strength of Indian companies, are less likely to be impacted," Rohit Sampat Ugale, Founder & CEO, Satmat Technologies said adding "However, if the situation changes and tariffs on services are introduced, it could disrupt the cost-saving model Indian firms depend on. The key to overcoming this potential challenge lies in innovation, particularly by focusing on AI and automation to streamline operations." Indias Software Export "Indias software export sector has seen steady growth, with total exports reaching $205.2 billion in 2023-24, a solid rise from the previous year. The US continues to be the biggest market for Indias software services, making up around 54% of exports. This growth is primarily driven by the demand for IT and BPO services, with the US being a consistent partner due to long-standing business ties. Having said that, India is also looking to broaden its reach by focusing on new markets, especially in Europe and the Middle East, which could further boost its exports," he added. Indias Software Sector The Indian software sector continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, driven by increasing domestic demand and a focus on emerging technologies. The domestic software market is projected to quintuple, reaching $100 billion by 2035, with digital-native businesses' software spending expected to rise from $4.6 billion in 2025 to $26 billion by 2035. Additionally, the artificial intelligence (AI) market in India is anticipated to reach $8 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 40% from 2020 to 2025, said Rohit Ugale, Founder & CEO, Satmat Technologies, a Pune-based firm that provides software solutions for the BFSI sector tailored to the needs of banking, financial services, and insurance industries. Rise Of AI And Impact On The Sector AI is definitely set to play a central role in Indias software sector, and its more than just an add-on. With the rapid advancements in automation, AI is transforming how services are deliveredenhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and enabling more sophisticated solutions for clients. Indian IT firms are already integrating AI into their offerings, and its expected to drive new business models and innovations. As AI becomes a core part of service delivery, companies that adopt these technologies will be better positioned to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge, Rohit Ugale said. Trumps Visa Policy The changes to the H1B visa policy under Trump have definitely created challenges for Indian tech professionals. With fewer approvals and stricter regulations, Indian IT firms are increasingly hiring local talent in the US to reduce their reliance on foreign workers. While this shift could cause some short-term hurdles, it might also lead to better localization in the long run. As for the Golden Visa, it could be an attractive alternative for skilled workers seeking long-term residency, said Ugale. However, Indian companies need to balance these regulatory changes with their evolving business needs and the broader global landscape, he added. In a momentous achievement, several Indian students have secured their place as winners of Apple's Swift Student Challenge 2025. Selected from thousands of entries worldwide, the winners are among just 350 winners globally. Apple's Swift Student Challenge 2025 has provided hundreds of student developers with the chance to demonstrate their coding prowess and inventiveness through app playgrounds, as well as acquire practical skills that they can use in their future jobs, according to the information provided on the website of Apple developers. The Swift Student Challenge, organized annually by Apple, is a highly competitive global platform that encourages young developers to build innovative projects using Swift Playgrounds. It recognises students who exhibit exceptional creativity, technical skill, and a passion for solving real-world problems through technology. Winning this challenge not only grants international recognition but also opens doors to exclusive learning experiences and insights into Apple's cutting-edge ecosystem. The Swift Student Challenge, an annual competition by Apple, celebrates young developers who showcase creativity, technical skill, and a passion for solving real-world problems through Swift Playgrounds. This accomplishment offers winners international recognition and exclusive learning opportunities within Apple's innovative ecosystem. Galgotias University in a release said that ten of its iOS Development Centre have emerged as winners of Apple's prestigious challenge. In the realm of education, projects such as Tide Explorer visualized the gravitational pull of the moon on tides, while AlgoMaze transformed algorithm learning into an interactive maze experience. MorseCode modernized a classic communication system into a gamified learning app, PronounceRight offered real-time pronunciation feedback, and Elementum reimagined the periodic table as an immersive digital journey through chemical elements and their bonds. Health and wellness solutions were also at the core of the students' innovations, the university added. In other demonstrations, Stress Relief Companion provided guided relaxation tools for individuals coping with anxiety. Svaraa addressed a critical gap in reproductive health education by using gamification to raise awareness of conditions such as PCOS and UTIs. MotionEase offered real-time relief for motion sickness using a combination of breathing exercises, horizon-gazing, and acupressure-based techniques. Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, lauded the students' exceptional performance, said, "This landmark success not only brings global attention to the individual winners but also strengthens the university's reputation as a premier institution for emerging technologies." Expressing their gratitude, one of the winning students described the recognition from Apple as a life-changing experience that has motivated them to continue building solutions with a positive societal impact. A senior faculty member noted that the students were trained to meet global standards and encouraged to think beyond the classroom, applying their learning to solve real-world problems. (ANI) Mumbai: Bollywood actor Amrita Arora Ladak on Saturday deposed as a witness before a court here in the case concerning Saif Ali Khan, who was accused of attacking an NRI businessman and his father-in-law at a five-star hotel in 2012. The actor was part of the group that had gone for dinner with Khan at the hotel when the alleged incident took place on February 22, 2012. She told the court that the hotel had allotted a separate enclosure to them, and they were dining there and having a good time. In the meantime, the complainant came there and began shouting and abusing them, she said. We saw someone barging into our enclosure and, in a very loud, aggressive voice, told us to shut up and keep quiet. We all got shocked at what was happening, she said, adding that actor Khan immediately stood up and apologised. The man then left and they continued with their dinner, she said. After a while, when Khan excused himself to go to the washroom, they heard loud voices, one of them being that of the Bollywood actor, Ladak told the court. Moments later, they saw the man barging into their enclosure and hitting Khan, Ladak deposed. Everyone then intervened and separated the two. Thats when the man started abusing them and threatening them with dire consequences, she added. Khan was with Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak and a few male friends at the hotel when the brawl broke out with NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma. According to police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif allegedly threatened him and subsequently punched Sharma in the nose, fracturing it. The NRI businessman also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel. However, Saif had maintained that Sharma made provocative statements or rather used abusive language against women with him and this led to the ruckus. Saif and his two friends Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi have been charge-sheeted under section 325 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code. Washington: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) issued a statement to its 11,000 members following massive criticisms over its lack of support for Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal after he was detained by Israeli police earlier this week in the West Bank, reported Variety. According to the outlet, the Academy released a statement on Wednesday condemning "harming artists," but did not name Palestinian director Ballal in it who was detained by the Israeli forces. By Thursday morning, a letter began circulating among AMPAS members, criticizing leadership's failure to defend Ballal publicly. In response to this, on Friday, the Academy issued a follow-up letter explicitly naming Ballal and apologising for omitting both him and the film from a statement sent earlier in the week. "On Wednesday, we sent a letter in response to reports of violence against Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, connected to his artistic expression. We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the Academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world. We abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances," wrote AMPAS, as quoted by Variety. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang signed the message, which demonstrated the organization's acknowledgment of the magnitude of the members' outcry. Earlier, around 600 Oscar voters, including Ava DuVernay, Olivia Colman, and Javier Bardem, signed an open letter criticizing the Academy's lack of support. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the letter, updated on Friday, read: "It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later." The reaction comes after AMPAS leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang issued a statement on Wednesday suggesting that Ballal's attack involved "many unique viewpoints." Other celebs who signed the letter include Mark Ruffalo, Oscar-winning director Jonathan Glazer, Emma Thompson, Tony Kushner, Richard Gere, Andrea Riseborough, and Todd Haynes. Hamdan Ballal, who co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary, 'No Other Land', was assaulted and arrested by the Israeli military earlier this week. The incident occurred in the West Bank village of Susiya, Ballal's hometown, during a confrontation with settlers. According to co-director Yuval Abraham, Ballal suffered injuries to his head and stomach, was zip-tied and blindfolded, and was released the following day, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The letter accused the Academy of failing to support a filmmaker whose work shed light on difficult truths. "The targeting of Ballal is not just an attack on one filmmaker -- it is an attack on all those who dare to bear witness and tell inconvenient truths. We will continue to watch over this film team. Winning an Oscar has put their lives in increasing danger, and we will not mince words when the safety of fellow artists is at stake," the open letter stated. '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. Thiruvananthapuram: Superstar Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan is set to undergo some changes amid controversy over some of the scenes. According to the movie production team, 17 changes are likely to be made, including edits to riot sequences and scenes relating violence against women. The movie was released in theatres on March 27. Empuraan has become the first Malayalam film to register a worldwide opening gross of Rs 80 crore. BJP leader V Muraleedharan stated that the party had already "clarified its stand". "The party has already clarified its stand, and the State President has very clearly mentioned the BJP's position. As a film lover and someone who enjoys cinema, each individual can have their own opinion. I have not yet seen the film. As for the party's stance, the state president has made it very clear. I don't think I should go beyond that or contradict him because he is the final authority on matters related to the state," Muraleedharan told the media. Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BYJM) state general secretary K Ganesh, in a Facebook post, called for an investigation into the filmmaker's "foreign connections," claiming that Prithviraj's films have followed an "entirely anti-national" pattern. "Director and actor of the film Empuraan, Prithviraj's foreign connections should be investigated. After the filming of Aadujeevitham, the ideas propagated through his movies have been entirely anti-national. From Kuruthi to Jana Gana Mana and now Empuraan, his films have consistently featured narratives that whitewash extremist ideologies," the post read. Ganesh said alleged that the movie's director Prithviraj Sukumaran's stay in Jordan during the filming of Aadujeevitham should be probed. "During the shooting of Aadujeevitham, he was stranded in Jordan. It is important to investigate whom he was in contact with during his time there," he added. ChatGPT Down: OpenAI's ChatGPT is facing a global outage, affecting users attempting to create Studio Ghibli-styled animated avatars and causing widespread errors across its app and API services. Meanwhile, the OpenAI has acknowledged the issue, stating, Were currently experiencing issues, and confirmed that it is actively working on a resolution. The company, backed by Microsoft, is addressing the disruption to restore normal functionality. According to DownDetector, a platform that tracks online service outages, hundreds of users reported issues with OpenAI's services, with most complaints focused on ChatGPT. Whether its Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), feeds are flooded with stunning Studio Ghibli-style portraits. In just 48 hours, people have turned everythingfrom classic Bollywood scenes to viral memesinto Japanese anime-inspired art. The outage also prompted a response from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In a post on X, Altman asked users to "chill" on generating these images, citing the strain on the company's resources: can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep. can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 This viral trend took off after OpenAIs ChatGPT-4o introduced a new feature that allows users to not only create images but also transform their own pictures into anime-style masterpieces. However, this feature is only available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Team, and Select subscribers. Free users can generate up to three animated images. However, since OpenAI restricts ChatGPT's image generation for both free and paid users, the expected output is a short video, better suited for a GIF format. How To Create Unlimited Ghibli-Style Images For Free Using ChatGPT Step 1: Open the OpenAI ChatGPT website or app. Step 2: Upload your preferred image or generate a new one by providing context to ChatGPT. Step 3: Ask ChatGPT to Ghiblify the image or transform it into a Studio Ghibli-style theme. Step 4: Wait a few seconds to get the desired Ghibli-styled image. Using an appropriate chopper streamlines the vegetable-cutting process and makes the task enjoyable while it runs. Household kitchens will benefit greatly from basic hand-press choppers and simple electric versions. We here analyze some of the top vegetable choppers in the market, their main features, advantages, and a small disadvantage for each. 1. Roposo Clout Food Chopper Steel Large Manual Hand-Press Vegetable Chopper Mixer Image Source- Marvelof.com Order Now The Roposo Clout Food Chopper serves as a durable manual chopper that uses steel blades through an efficient steel blade mechanism. The device enables fast and effortless splitting of vegetables along with fruits. Harvest time reduces in kitchen work because of the hand-press design and the equipment delivers uniform cuts smoothly. Key Features: Heavy-duty steel blades for delicate chopping Capacity for precise chopping in bulk Non-slip base for steady use The hand-press mechanism for convenience Small size and easy-to-store Needs manual effort, which might not be what people seeking electric convenience would want. 2. La' Forte Mini String Manual Chopper 500 ml Image Source- Marvelof.com Order Now A portable La' Forte Mini String Manual Chopper operates through simple hand motion to perform cutting tasks. The 500ml capacity unit features a durable pull-string mechanism that allows fast cutting of vegetables nuts and fruits. Food preparation becomes more convenient and efficient because this device uses precise stainless steel blades. Key Features: String-based pull mechanism for effortless chopping 500 ml capacity, perfect for small portions Stainless steel blades to ensure durability BPA-free plastic body for food safety Easy to clean and maintain Not ideal for chopping large amounts at one time. 3. Slursh Electric Mini Vegetable Chopper Image Source- Marvelof.com Order Now The Slursh Electric Mini Vegetable Chopper represents a state-of-the-art small powerful device designed to make chopping simple. With a one-touch operation, it efficiently dices vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The kitchen essential features stainless steel blades together with a rechargeable battery power which makes this tool needed for every home cook. Key Features: One-touch operation for quick chopping Rechargeable battery for cordless convenience Sharp stainless steel blades for fine chopping Light compact design Durable with removable parts, easy to clean Battery life has to be constantly recharged through continuous use. 4. Crest Innovate Crest Apache Chopper Image Source- Marvelof.com Order Now The Crest Apache Chopper provides users with a stylish tool which performs efficient food-chopping tasks through rapid operations. This tool utilizes its sharp stainless steel blades to perform quick and easy vegetable and nut chopping duties because of its friendly design. This device offers simple and precise vegetable and nut cutting for salads and curries as well as meal preparation. Key Features: Stainless steel and plastic built that is sturdy Ergonomic design to make it comfortable to handle Pull-string system for effortless chopping High capacity to chop more amounts Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning The string mechanism can wear out if overused. A good veggie chopper is a must-have in the kitchen, saving effort and time. A manual or electric one, it doesn't matter, each of these tools has a different feature suitable to different kitchen requirements. Users seeking automatic chopping performance should select the Slursh Electric Mini Chopper whereas those who require durable hand-choppers should choose the Roposo Clout Steel Large Chopper. Use the chopper type that matches your culinary approach to obtain daily simplified food preparation. Disclaimer: At IDPL, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. It should not be construed as an endorsement to buy. IDPL may make a very small commission from its sale if one chooses to buy the product from any of the links in this article. Earthquake: The search and rescue operations are underway outside the JJ Mall Chatuchak in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday after a 30-storey under-construction building collapsed following the massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Friday. The earthquake jolted Myanmar, and the tremors were felt in the Thai capital as well. CNN reported that the deputy governor of the Thai capital said that at least 10 people have died in Bangkok. Meanwhile, as rescuers in Bangkok continue to search for survivors in the collapsed 30-storey building, Al Jazeera reported that Thailand has sent 55 military personnel, six rescue dogs, and essential equipment like cranes and diggers, to help in the continuous relief efforts in Myanmar. Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, addressed an emergency meeting on Friday and informed that the nation has returned to "normalcy". PM said, "The country has returned to normalcy," and noted that only the under-construction tower collapsed, sparing other buildings in Bangkok, ANI quoted CNN. However, over 2,000 reports of structural cracks have prompted inspections of 700 buildings across the city. Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll An earthquake of 7.7 magnitude, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar's Mandalay region on Friday. The epicentre was only about 20 km from Mandalay, the country's second-largest city with a population of 1.5 million. In response, the National Disaster Management Committee declared a state of emergency across the Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, the northeastern part of Shan State, the capital of Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago Region, according to IANS. As per IANS, the Information Team of the State Administration Council on Saturday said that a total of 1,644 people died and 3,408 were injured, and 139 remained missing due to the powerful earthquake in Myanmar. Rescue operations are underway, while international relief efforts are being mobilised. (with agencies' inputs) In the 120th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi highlighted the track's role in showcasing Indian martial arts globally. "Our traditional games are increasingly becoming integrated into mainstream culture. The latest track by the famous rapper Hanumankind, 'Run It Up', is gaining significant popularity at the moment," the Prime Minister said. He further praised the 33-year-old rapper, for integrating traditional Indian martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, Gatka, and Thang-Ta into the song, noting, "I congratulate Hanumankind that due to his efforts, people of the world are getting to know about our traditional martial arts." The Prime Minister also shared his appreciation on social media, writing, "Be it Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago, our cultural linkages are thriving! #MannKiBaat." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1906248199091966283? Additionally, a post from the official PMO X handle stated, "Renowned rapper Hanumankind's new song has become quite popular these days. Our traditional Martial Arts like Kalaripayattu, Gatka, and Thang-Ta have been included in it." https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1906222194226581956? Hanumankind's 'Run It Up' has continued to dominate the music scene, securing the top spot on the Official Asian Music Chart for three consecutive weeks. The song follows the success of his previous hit 'Big Dawgs' The music video for 'Run It Up' pays tribute to India's rich cultural diversity by blending elements of folk traditions with martial arts, adding a visual dimension to the celebration of the country's heritage. (ANI) Veteran actor Raza Murad, known for his stellar roles in Indian cinema, has shared his experiences of working with one of the most revered filmmakers in the industry, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In a candid interview with ANI, Murad opened up about Bhansali's unique filmmaking process, his perfectionist nature, and why actors need to give their absolute best to meet the director's high standards. Murad recalled how Bhansali, an admirer of the legendary Raj Kapoor, first approached him for 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela' in 2013. "Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a big fan of Raj Kapoor. He is also my junior from the institute, but he is much younger than me," Murad shared. The actor fondly remembered their first meeting for the film, where they spent most of their time discussing the classic 'Prem Rog' and Raj Kapoor's approach to filmmaking. Bhansali's admiration for Raj Kapoor was evident in their conversations. "He was very fascinated by Raj Kapoor and the movie Prem Rog," Murad said, adding, "His favorite film is Ram Teri Ganga Maili. He said that when it comes on, he leaves everything and watches it till the end. It touches his heart." Murad also spoke about Bhansali's perfectionism and the high standards he sets on set. "He is a workaholic and a perfectionist. He is a very hard taskmaster. As an actor, if you satisfy him, you can work with any director in the world," Murad said. "On set, he has an eye for every detail--from the clothes to the makeup, to the colors of the background. He is a visualizer. He wants exactly what he envisions, and there is no compromise in that," Murad added during a conversation with ANI. Describing Bhansali as a "genius," Murad highlighted how the director's keen attention to every minute aspect of filmmaking contributes to his films' immense visual appeal. "I would call him a genius. He has a huge team that ensures no flaw, however small, goes unnoticed," Murad added. He also recalled the meticulous care Bhansali took in selecting the right look for his character in 'Padmaavat'--even the smallest detail, such as the style of his beard, was scrutinised, with Bhansali personally approving the final choice. On his continued collaboration with Bhansali, Murad revealed that he is working with the director again for an upcoming project, marking their fifth collaboration. "Yes, the invitation has come for a new project. I think I am the only actor he has repeated five times," Murad said, pleased with the director's trust in his abilities, adding, "He calls me his lucky mascot." Raza Murad has worked with Bhansali in his iconic films, including 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela' (2013), where he played the role of the sarpanch; 'Bajirao Mastani' (2015), where he portrayed the Nizam of Hyderabad; 'Padmaavat' (2017), in which he played Jalaluddin Khilji; and 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' (2022), where he had a smaller role. (ANI) A man has been arrested for allegedly opening fire into the air during an altercation at the "Dawat-e-Ramzan" exhibition in Hyderabad. The incident, which occurred under the Gudi Malkapur police station limits, saw the accused fire two rounds during a dispute between two individuals. The police quickly responded to the situation, apprehending the accused and seizing the weapon used in the incident. An investigation is currently underway. According to the Inspector of Gudimalkapur police station, a minor altercation took place between the owner of a perfume shop and a toy shop at the exhibition. "A small fight broke out at an exhibition Dawat E Ramzan between a perfume shop and a toy shop owner, and it was compromised. In between, he (accused hassebuddin) unnecessarily fired two rounds in the air with his licensed pistol. So we registered a case under the Arms Act and are investigating why the firing was carried out," the inspector said. The police further said that the person who fired the bullets was not related to either of the shop owners involved in the altercation. The accused, Haseebuddin alias Hyder, was a former Sarpanch and a resident of AC Guards Paramount Colony, is reported to have a licensed gun from Nampally. "The Gun license he is holding is from Nampally. We received a police complaint. The accused is saying that everyone tried to attack him, so he fired in the air. We found the shells. Weapon has been seized," the police added. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances behind the incident. (ANI) "The State-Level District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting for the financial year 2024-25 was held today under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tripura at the State Secretariat," as per a Tripura Chief Minister's office release. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of various centrally sponsored schemes and development programs across the state. Senior government officials, district administrators, and representatives from different departments participated in the discussions to ensure the effective implementation and coordination of projects. "During the session, the Hon'ble Chief Minister emphasized the need for the timely execution of welfare schemes and directed officials to address any challenges faced at the grassroots level. Key issues such as infrastructure development, rural employment, health services, and social welfare initiatives were thoroughly reviewed," the release read. The DISHA Committee serves as a crucial platform to enhance accountability and streamline the delivery of public services. The government reiterated its commitment to transparent governance and people-centric development. The meeting concluded with a roadmap for the upcoming year, setting targets for improved efficiency in implementing development schemes across Tripura. On March 21, the Tripura government tabled a Rs 32,423.44 crore budget proposal on the first day of the Assembly session. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha expressed strong support for the state's budget for the financial year 2025-26, calling it a 'people-oriented' budget designed to benefit all sections of society. "This budget is for the welfare of women, students, youth, Divyangjan, tribals, Scheduled Castes, OBCs, minorities, employees, pensioners, ex-servicemen, and above all, the general public. I sincerely thank the entire team of the Finance Department, including the State Finance Minister, for presenting a people-oriented budget," he said. (ANI) Anuj Kannaujia, a shooter associated with the Mukhtar Ansari gang, was killed in an encounter on Saturday during a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Jharkhand Police, an official said. According to officials, the security forces had received information about Kannaujia's whereabouts and attempted to capture him. However, as they approached him, Kannaujia opened fire on them, leading to a gunfight. Anuj Kannaujia was killed in the crossfire. "STF and Jharkhand police tried to capture Anuj Kannaujia on the basis of information received, but they started firing towards the security forces. Anuj Kannaujia was killed in cross-firing," said Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (ADG) of UP STF. (ANI) The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has announced the results for the Class 10 (matric) board examinations, with Sakshi Kumari, the daughter of a laborer, being one of three students to jointly secure the top rank in the state. Speaking to ANI, Sakshi expressed her surprise over securing the first rank, saying that she had hoped to be in the top 10 but never imagined that she would secure the top position. "I've just cleared my 10th standard, now I'll clear my 12th and aim to achieve the highest positions. My father is a laborer. Right from the beginning, I had decided to study hard to be among the top ten, but I never imagined that I would secure the first rank," she said. Sakshi, along with Anshi Kumari and Ranjan Verma, jointly achieved the first position with an impressive 489 out of 500 marks, which equates to 97.8 percent. Another standout performer, Punit Kumar Singh, secured the second rank in the state. He achieved this feat by studying in a government school. Speaking to ANI, he said that government schools also have good teachers and urged students to work hard and attend school daily. He aspires to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. "We should always work hard. We should set our goals high and keep aiming higher. We should attend school daily, listen attentively to our teachers, and work hard. Government schools have very good teachers. I want to become an IAS officer," he said. A total of 123 students have made it to the top 10 ranks this year, including 63 boys and 60 girls, showcasing a nearly equal representation of both genders among the high achievers. The results reflect the hard work of students across the state and mark another milestone for the Bihar board in conducting smooth and transparent examinations. Further details on the overall pass percentage, district-wise performance, and next steps for students seeking revaluation or further education options are expected to be released soon on the BSEB's official website. The Bihar School Examination Board's (BSEB) class 10 Matric final examinations began on February 17 and continued till February 25. The matriculation exam took place in two sessions, beginning at 9:30 am and 2 pm. The first shift ran from 9:30 am to 12:45 pm, while the second shift ran from 2 pm to 5:15 pm. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday extended hearty congratulations to all the candidates who passed the Matriculation examination. In a post on X, CM Nitish Kumar said, "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the candidates who have passed the Matriculation examination. This time, a total of 15 lakh 58 thousand 77 candidates had appeared in the Matriculation examination, out of which 12 lakh 79 thousand 294 candidates have passed in the examination results declared today." https://x.com/NitishKumar/status/1905953283098763575 He wished for the bright future of all successful students and congratulated the Bihar School Examination Board and the Education Department for publishing the examination results in a very short time. "Two girl students and one boy student have jointly become toppers. Along with the children, their parents also deserve congratulations for this success. The confidence of girls has also increased and they are making continuous progress in every field. I wish a bright future for all the successful students. Congratulations to the Bihar School Examination Board and the Education Department for publishing the examination results in a very short time," CM Nitish Kumar said. (ANI) One person has been arrested in connection with the vandalism of the statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj, a revered folk deity in Rajasthan, police said. Speaking to ANI, Jaipur Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Tejaswani Gautam said, "More than 10 teams of our worked and arrested the accused Siddharth Singh. He runs a cafe in Raja Park." "He said that he was mentally disturbed because his work was not going well, so when he saw the temple and offered prayer there, he got angry in frustration and vandalised the statue. The accused was immediately traced out and arrested within a few hours," DCP Gautam said. Meanwhile, a wave of unrest swept through Jaipur's Pratap Nagar area after a statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj, a revered folk deity in Rajasthan, was allegedly vandalised by unidentified miscreants late Friday night. The incident sparked outrage among locals, who took to the streets on Saturday, hampering the vehicular movement on the busy Tonk Road as a mark of dissent. In response to the rising tensions, Jaipur Police deployed forces across sensitive zones. Additional Police Commissioner Rameshwar Choudhary confirmed that the situation was under control and peaceful as of Saturday afternoon. "The condition is peaceful here now and some miscreants were arrested. The matter is being investigated. I appeal to the public to maintain peace and the accused will soon be arrested," Choudhary said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Tejaswini Gautam added that police teams responded immediately upon receiving information about the incident. "Police reached the spot immediately after the information about the incident was received. FIR was registered, and multiple teams have been deployed to investigate who is responsible. Some miscreants tried to spread fire into the petrol pump (nearby) and were removed using some force. Some of them have been detained, and the action is being taken as per law," he said. The act of desecration drew strong political condemnation. Rajasthan Minister Sumit Godara condemned the incident and said, "I condemn this incident. Some anti-social elements are trying to disturb social harmony, but I appeal to everyone to maintain peace, and the government will take strict action against the culprits..." In addition, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot issued a statement, calling the vandalism "extremely condemnable." In a post on X, he wrote, "The incident of breaking the statue of Veer Tejaji Maharaj in Pratap Nagar, Jaipur, is extremely condemnable. This kind of tampering with public sentiments and faith is unacceptable." "There is a demand from the government that the culprits of this case should be identified immediately and strict action should be taken against them. Also, effective and strong arrangements should be made to ensure the safety of religious places so that such incidents do not recur in future," read the statement further. Veer Tejaji Maharaj is deeply respected in Rajasthan, especially among the farming community, and any perceived disrespect to his legacy is seen as an insult to cultural sentiments. (ANI) The security forces conducted search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts in Manipur on Saturday. During the search operations, the security forces also recovered several arms and ammunitions. The official press note from Imphal Police, reads, "During the last 24 hours, the situation in the state was tense but under control. Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During the operation, the following items were recovered. One country made Rifle, One Bolt Action Rifle, One .22 Pistol, One country made Mortar (Pompi-6 ft.), One country made Mortar (Pompi-5 ft.), One country made Mortar (Pompi-4 ft.), One local made Hand Grenade, One Helmet, One Wireless Set, One Wireless Set Charger, One HE Bomb, Ten nos. of 5.56 mm live round, Twelve nos. of 7.62x39 mm empty case, Four nos. of 7.62x45 mm empty case and 500 gm of Gun Powder from Thangjing hill forest under Churachandpur Police Station, Churachandpur District." "One country made 9 mm Pistol, Four country made Single Barrel Bolt Action Rifle, Twenty 12 Bore Cartridge live ammunition, 20, 7.62 mm. live round, One local made Canon (Pumpi) and Three Hand Grenade from the general area of Chagoubung under Kangpokpi-PS, Kangpokpi District, were also recovered" said the police. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order in to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles. A total of 112 Nakas/Checkpoints were also installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley districts of the state. The state government had also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any informant who provides credible information leading to safe return of the missing person, Luwangthem Mukesh (20), who still remains untraceable, the release stated. On March 29, the Manipur Police arrested one person, namely Wahengbam Ajit Meetei @ Apa (32), a resident of Imphal West District for selling SIM Cards by using the credentials of other persons without their consent or knowledge. The SIM Cards are suspected to be sold to anti-social elements who use them for various illegal activities like extortion. Several sim cards, one mobile handset and an Aadhar Card were recovered from his possession, the release added. The security forces also arrested one active cadre of PREPAK (Pro), namely, Ningthoujam Boboy Singh (37). One mobile phone and one Aadhaar Card were seized from his possession. An active member of KCP (PWG) namely, Sanasam Sonamit Singh (27), a resident of Imphal East District was also arrested by security forces, as per the release. On March 28, the Manipur Police arrested one active member of KCP (City Meitei), namely, Sharungbam Thoiba Singh (43). He was involved in extortion activities from the general public of Kakching and Imphal West Districts. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with BJP leaders including Giriraj Singh, Ajay Alok, Sanjay Singh in Patna on Saturday. BJP leader Giriraj Singh said that the meeting with Amit Shah was very good and he gave his guidance to everyone ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. "It was a very good meeting and I got his guidance", Giriraj Singh told reporters after the meeting. BJP leader Ajay Alok stated that the meeting was regarding the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 and heaped praise on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that he works for 18 to 20 hours in a day and came to Patna. "Amit Shah ji is our guide and works at least 18 to 20 hours daily. He came here to bring the energetic momentum in the energies of party workers here in Bihar, which he did really well. The discussions were only about the elections and nothing else. We discussed about how will we go among the people and what we will do so that we are re-elected.", Ajay Alok said to ANI. BJP MLA Sanjay Singh said that Amit Shah gave the 'mantra' to win more than 225 seats in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. He stated that the BJP has formed a committee at the booth level and the party has a large army of active members. "Amit Shah has given the basic mantra that we have to win more than 225 seats in 2025. We have formed a committee at the booth level, we have a large army of active members. We have achieved more than the target we set and in 2025 NDA will return to power with a huge majority", Sanjay Singh said to ANI. Speaking after the meeting, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that the party needs to be strengthened in the state and stated that the NDA will form government in Bihar with huge majority. "We have to strengthen the party. In the upcoming elections, NDA will form a government in Bihar with a huge majority. We prepared a strategy for this...", Samrat Chaudhary said to ANI on Saturday. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dharmashila Gupta spoke regarding the key points discussed in the meeting and stated that NDA will form government will tremendous majority in the state. She was asked regarding the CM face in the upcoming assembly polls. "It is our election year and we are in election mood every day. Our senior leader and country's Home Minister Amit Shah has given us complete guidance and we will follow our party's policies and win 225 seats in 2025 and NDA government will be formed with a huge majority. Our Chief Minister is Honorable Nitish Kumar", Dharmashila Gupta said. The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in the month of October and November this year wherein the NDA which consists of BJP, JD(U) and LJP will be once again looking forward to return to power for the second consecutive time whereas on the other end, INDIA alliance will be giving competition to the incumbent Nitish Kumar government. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the RSS Headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday. Sangh Member Seshadri Chari has dubbed the Prime Minister's visit a "very important and historic" one. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member said that there is "no difference of opinion" between the RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "People talk a lot about the relationship between RSS and BJP, before also they talked about it...there is no difference in opinion between the BJP and the RSS. The people who don't know anything about the Sangh and the BJP, these people say that there is a difference in opinion between the BJP and the RSS. The people who spread these false things say it for their political benefit," the RSS member told ANI on Saturday. PM Modi first pays his respects to the founding father of the organisation, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir at Nagpur. This will be the Prime Minister's first visit to the temple since he assumed charge as the head of the union government in 2014, the RSS member said. "This will be the first time that he will be going there after becoming the PM, and this is a very important and historic visit. The second this that this is a celebration of 100 years of RSS, there will be a lot of programs on it. Sangh also has a lot of opinions on the issues of the country, and on those, PM will take those issues forward, he has been doing before too. The government's job is to make India a strong country, make it a Viksit Bharat," RSS' Chari said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal hit out at the Congress party, while highlighting the PM's visit, saying that the Prime Minister was able to accomplish more in 10 years of governance than Congress could in 70 years. "In 10 years, PM Modi has done what the Congress party could not do in 70 years. Congress is losing ground, so it has nothing to say," Khandelwal told ANI. BJP's origins lie with the formation of Jana Sangh in 1951, started by former union minister Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The Jana Sangh merged with the Janata Party after the end of the Emergency in 1977, with the aim to defeat Congress. Later on, the question of 'dual membership' was raised between the RSS members and the Jana Sangh, with the ask that either the Jana Sangh members should leave the Janata Party or their membership of RSS. Regarding the issue, the Jana Sangh members left the Janata Party and officially founded the BJP on April 6, 1980. PM Modi will be visiting four places during his visit, including Smruti Mandir of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Deekshaboomi, Madhav Netralaya, and Solar Industrial Explosives. He will also lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre at Nagpur and address a public meeting, according to a release issued by the Prime Minister's Office. The PM will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a key meeting on the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in Patna with big party leaders of the state on Saturday night. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the strategies and party's agenda in the assembly polls. Speaking after the meeting, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that the party needs to be strengthened in the state and stated that the NDA will form government in Bihar with huge majority. "We have to strengthen the party. In the upcoming elections, NDA will form a government in Bihar with a huge majority. We prepared a strategy for this...", Samrat Chaudhary said to ANI on Saturday. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dharmashila Gupta spoke regarding the key points discussed in the meeting and stated that NDA will form government will tremendous majority in the state. She was asked regarding the CM face in the upcoming assembly polls. "It is our election year and we are in election mood every day. Our senior leader and country's Home Minister Amit Shah has given us complete guidance and we will follow our party's policies and win 225 seats in 2025 and NDA government will be formed with a huge majority. Our Chief Minister is Honorable Nitish Kumar", Dharmashila Gupta said. The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in the month of October and November this year wherein the NDA which consists of BJP, JD(U) and LJP will be once again looking forward to return to power for the second consecutive time whereas on the other end, INDIA alliance will be giving competition to the incumbent Nitish Kumar government. The NDA alliance won 125 seats out of 243 in the previous 2020 assembly elections and Nitish Kumar became the chief minister of Bihar for the seventh time. (ANI) As part of its sustained community-centric efforts for mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) and facilitating coexistence in HEC-affected areas, premier biodiversity conservation organization Aaranyak has recently installed 25 solar street lights (SSL) in certain HEC hotspots in Goalpara district of Assam and West Garo Hills (WGH) district of Meghalaya. These solar streetlights are expected to help villagers residing in HEC hotspots in Goalpara and WGH landscapes to sight wild elephants at night from a safe distance so that they can either avoid coming too close to these animals or retreat to safer places in time. Installation of solar street lights with cooperation from the HEC-affected communities has been one of the measures taken by Aaranyak in the contiguous Goalpara-WGH landscape over the last few years for mitigation of the conflict. The HEC-affected landscape is spread across Assam-Meghalaya state boundary in the geographical area. Twenty-five solar street lights were installed at various HEC-affected villages in the landscape with active community cooperation. Out of these 20 solar street lights were installed in 13 villages located in Goalpara district of Assam. The beneficiary villages in the district are Jalapara (2 SSL), Belpara (1 SSL), Pachim Matia (2 SSL) under Ranjuli Forest Range; Dahikata (2 SSL), Dakurbhita (1 SSL), Rangagarha (2 SSL), Mamakata (2 SSL), Amtola (2 SSL), Nichinta (1 SSL) under Goalpara Sadar Forest Range; Sapleng (1 SSL) under Krishnai Forest Range; Thahurbilla (1 SSL), Borjhora (1 SSL), Dhamor (2 SSL) under Lakhipur Forest Range. Five more solar street lights were installed with support from Darwin Initiative in three villages - two SSL at Khokapara (Lahapara), two SSL at Chisikgre (Belguri) and one SSL at Photamati under Holaidonga Forest Range of West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. It may be mentioned that Aaranyak in partnership with British Asian Trust and the Goalpara Forest Division has been working with local communities and other stakeholders to mitigate HEC and promote coexistence in the Garo Hills-Goalpara landscape in the region. (ANI) Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav took to the social media platform X to announce the dismantling of the trans-border drug smuggling network. The post stated, "Acting swiftly on forward and backward linkages, Tarn Taran Police dismantles a trans-border narco-smuggling network and arrests two drug smugglers, Hardeep Singh @ Deep & Harjeet Singh, both residents of Thathi Sohal, #TarnTaran, and recovers 6 Kg of Heroin. Preliminary investigation reveals role of #Pakistan-based smugglers who sent the contrabands." The arrested smugglers, Hardeep Singh alias Deep and Harjeet Singh, are residents of Thathi Sohal and have prior criminal records. An FIR under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered, and further investigations are ongoing. Meanhwile, Amritsar Commissionerate Police on March 23 busted a cross-border drug cartel with the arrest of a woman kingpin and her three operatives after recovering 5.2 kg heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav. She has been identified as Mandeep Kaur (27), a resident of village Ibban Kalan in Amritsar The other arrested operatives have been identified as Alam Arora (23) and Manmeet alias Golu (21), both residents of Janta Colony in Chheharta, Amritsar; and an 18-years-old boy (name withheld) of Tarn Taran. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that accused Mandeep Kaur was in a relationship with a person, who introduced her to Pakistan-based smugglers. Accused Mandeep's ancestral house is located in border village Khalra in Tarn Taran, which is approximately 2 kilometres from the fencing of the Indo-Pak border, he said. The DGP said that the probe has also uncovered evidence that the accused Mandeep, would occasionally don a police uniform to impersonate a police officer to carry out nefarious activities. Further investigations are on to establish backwards and forward linkages in this case, he added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur for the first time after he became the PM of India. PM Modi paid a floral tribute to the RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in Nagpur. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders. BJP leader and spokesperson CR Kesavan spoke on PM Modi's Nagpur visit to the RSS headquarters. Kesawan said that PM's visit is very significant as it is the centenary year of the RSS and stated that he is the first-ever PM to pay homage at the Smruti Mandir. Kesawan added that the nation comes first for BJP and RSS whereas the RSS has staunchly promoted patriotism and they have preserved India's culture, tradition and ethos. "Prime Minister Modi's visit to Smruti Mandir today is very significant because this is the centenary year of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh inception. He is the first ever Indian PM to pay homage at the Smruti Mandir. PM's visit today is indeed a true testimony and tribute to how the RSS has selflessly sacrificed and contributed to nation building how the RSS has staunchly promoted patriotism and they have preserved India's culture, tradition and ethos. For the BJP and RSS, the nation comes first and the nation unity is paramount", CR Kesavan said to ANI on Sunday. PM Modi paid respects to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi, where the architect of the Indian constitution converted to Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956. PM Modi arrived Nagpur at around 9 am and was received by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other ministers of Maharashtra cabinet at Nagpur airport. Ahead of Prime Minister Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived at Smruti Mandir. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Deekshbhoomi in Nagpur, the place where the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar converted to Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956. The Prime Minister also offered prayers at the Buddha statue in Deekshbhoomi. The monks of Deekshbhoomi presented a flower bouquet and shawl to the Prime Minister. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders are also present with PM Modi. PM Modi will address a public meeting shortly. Earlier, PM Modi paid floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in Nagpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the visitor's book after paying tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS' Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. The signed text reads, "My heartfelt regards to the most revered Hedgewar Ji and revered Guruji. I am overwhelmed to be here in this Smruti Mandir, cherishing their memories. This place dedicated to Indian culture, nationalism and the values of the organization inspires us to move ahead in the service of the nation. This place of these two strong pillars of the Sangh is a source of energy for lakhs of volunteers dedicated to the service of the country. May the glory of Maa Aarti always increase with our efforts." During his visit to Smruti Mandir, PM Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. "Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur," the PMO said. RSS ideologue Ashutosh Adoni described Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nagpur on March 30 as "very important and historic." He expressed that the PM's visit to the Smruti Mandir and his stay in Nagpur would mark a historic moment. Speaking to ANI, Adoni said, "This is a very important and historic visit. It is historic because a volunteer, who is today in the post of Prime Minister of India, is coming to Smriti Mandir on such a special day, which is considered an important day in the entire journey of the Sangh." RSS member Seshadri Chari said this would be the first time PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir after becoming the Prime Minister. "This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM, and this is a very important and historic visit. This is a celebration of 100 years of RSS. There will be a lot of programs on it. Sangh also has a lot of opinions on the issues of the country, and on those, the PM will take those issues forward, as he has been doing before too. The government's job is to make India a strong country, make it a Viksit Bharat," RSS' Chari said. Prime Minister Modi will visit the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited's ammunition facility in Nagpur. He will inaugurate the newly built 1250m long and 25m wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions. The Prime Minister will also visit Chhattisgarh today to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects. "In Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone, initiate commencement of work and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur," the release read. (ANI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday extended greetings on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh. Deputy CM Shinde also took part in the procession organised by Kopineshwar Mandir in Thane on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh. Speaking to ANI, Shinde stated that Thane is a cultural city and this procession has been carried out for the last 25 years. "Today, Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh are being celebrated, I congratulate and extend my best wishes to the people of Maharashtra. Everyone lives with healthy, happy, joyous in this year... This procession has been carried out for the last 25 years. Thane is a cultural city, and we all take part in it... This 'Gudi' is of the development of Maharashtra..." the Deputy CM said. In the meanwhile, celebrations also began in Nagpur on the occasion of 'Gudi Padwa' which marks the first day of the Marathi New Year. Children played the traditional lezim as the party of Gudi Padwa celebrations on Sunday. Earlier, President Droupadi President conveyed her greetings to her fellow citizens on the eve of multiple festivals, according to the President's secretariat. In a message, the President has said, "On the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens." "These festivals, celebrated at the onset of spring season, symbolize the beginning of Indian New Year. These festivals showcase our cultural diversity and promote social cohesion. During these festivals, we celebrate the joy of new harvest and express our gratitude to nature," Murmu said. The statement added, "On these pious occasions, let us strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity and work with renewed energy to take our nation to new heights." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also wished the Indian citizens on the occasion of Ugadi, Chetichand, Vikram Samvat (Hindu New Year), Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, highlighting in separate posts on X how the different festivals symbolise peace, togetherness, prosperity and more. "Heartiest greetings to all the sisters and brothers of Sindhi community on the birth anniversary of Lord Jhulelal ji and 'Chetichand' festival. Bhagwan Jhulelal Ji, who gave the message of mutual brotherhood and love, showed the way to put humanity first. I wish that Bhagwan Jhulelal Ji brings happiness, prosperity and well-being in everyone's life," he said in a post on X. On the occassion of Vikram Samvat, Shah's posted on X, "Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on 'Hindu New Year - Vikram Samvat 2082'. This New Year is a new beginning of rituals, resolutions and cultural consciousness. May this year, full of new enthusiasm and new opportunities, infuse new energy in everyone's life and bring success and prosperity, this is my best wish." (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offered prayers at Dutta Akhara Ghat on the occasion of Hindu New Year, Vikram Samvat 2082. Addressing the media, he emphasized the significance of the Vikram Samvat calendar and the state-wide celebrations marking the occasion. Yadav said, "Our Vikram Samvat is inspired by Emperor Veer Vikramaditya, and its 2082nd year has begun. Through your medium, I would like to share that across Maa Shipra's banks and the entire state, all our honorable ministers, MPs, MLAs, local leaders, mayors, municipal corporation representatives, district panchayat presidents, and respected members of various councils are coming together to grandly celebrate this New Year festival throughout the state." He further expressed his admiration for Emperor Vikramaditya's legacy, stating, "May the flag of Emperor Vikramaditya always remain high! Under the leadership of our esteemed Prime Minister, we are all committed to taking India and our state forward. May the Almighty bless us, and undoubtedly, India will achieve great heights. The progress of our nation and state will contribute to the welfare of the entire world." Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri and Hindu New Year - Vikram Samvat 2082 on Sunday. Sharing a post on X on Hindu New Year, Amit Shah said, "Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on 'Hindu New Year - Vikram Samvat 2082'! This New Year marks a fresh beginning of values, resolutions, and cultural consciousness. May this year, filled with new enthusiasm and opportunities, bring new energy into everyone's lives and usher in success and prosperity. Best wishes!" He also extended wishes on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri."Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on Chaitra Navratri! I pray to Maa Bhagwati that this sacred festival, symbolizing the worship of divine energy and spiritual strength, brings peace, devotion, and inner growth into your lives," he said in a post on X. (ANI) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday visited Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur to pay respects to Mahatma Buddha and Babasaheb Ambedkar, who embraced Buddhism with thousands of his followers here in 1956. He accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "Visited Deekshabhoomi today with PM Narendra Modi and paid homage to Lord Gautam Buddha and Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," Gadkari posted on X. Gadkari also paid homage to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Golwalkar. "In the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the most revered Sarsanghchalak Mohanrao Bhagwat, today at the Hedgewar Smriti Mandir, I paid homage to the memory of the most revered first Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and the second Sarsanghchalak, the most revered Golwalkar Guruji," he said. This comes as Prime Minister Modi visited Nagpur today and paid floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in Nagpur. Prime Minister Modi signed the visitor's book after paying tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS' Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. The signed text reads, "My heartfelt regards to the most revered Hedgewar Ji and revered Guruji. I am overwhelmed to be here in this Smruti Mandir, cherishing their memories. This place dedicated to Indian culture, nationalism and the values of the organisation inspires us to move ahead in the service of the nation. This place of these two strong pillars of the Sangh is a source of energy for lakhs of volunteers dedicated to the service of the country. May the glory of Maa Aarti always increase with our efforts." During his visit to Smruti Mandir, PM Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur. He will inaugurate the newly built 1250m long and 25m wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions. "Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur," the PMO said. RSS ideologue Ashutosh Adoni described Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nagpur on March 30 as "very important and historic." He expressed that the PM's visit to the Smruti Mandir and his stay in Nagpur would mark a historic moment. Speaking to ANI, Adoni said, "This is a very important and historic visit. It is historic because a volunteer, who is today in the post of Prime Minister of India, is coming to Smriti Mandir on such a special day, which is considered an important day in the entire journey of the Sangh." RSS member Seshadri Chari said this would be the first time PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir after becoming the Prime Minister. "This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM, and this is a very important and historic visit. This is a celebration of 100 years of RSS. There will be a lot of programs on it. Sangh also has a lot of opinions on the issues of the country, and on those, the PM will take those issues forward, as he has been doing before too. The government's job is to make India a strong country, make it a Viksit Bharat," RSS' Chari said. The Prime Minister will also visit Chhattisgarh today to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects. "In Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone, initiate commencement of work and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur," the release read. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia extended his greetings on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri. On this occasion, Sisodia extended wishes at the ancient Maa Kali Temple in Patiala and shared the glimpses of his visit on his official 'X' handle. "Happy Navratri to all of you. It is not just a festival... It is nine days when we feel the all forces of existence within us in different forms, and connect with the depths of the soul through devotion to them", Sisodia wrote in his 'X' post. "Today, on the first day of Navratri, I bowed my head at the feet of Maa Kali in the ancient Maa Kali Mata Mandir in Patiala. Visiting this temple is a supernatural experience - the mind becomes stable, and a wonderful energy awakens within. Standing here, I felt as if Maa herself is giving strength to her devotees", the post added. "I prayed to Maa- May there be happiness, peace, health and prosperity in all your lives. May every child get good education, May there be food in every home and love in every heart. May Punjab progress, may the country move ahead", Manish Sisodia's post read. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu extended her wishes on occasion of Hindu Nav Varsha being celebrated with different names in various regions of the country."Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on Chaitra Shukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba," the President said. President Murmu said that these festivals, which are celebrated to welcome the advent of the spring season, were a symbol of unity. "These festivals celebrated to welcome the spring season and the advent of the New Year, are a symbol of unity in the rich cultural diversity of India. These festivals infuse new energy and enthusiasm in the countrymen. On this occasion, I wish happiness and prosperity for all," she added. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday extended his warm wishes to people celebrating the Ugadi festival. In his message, Stalin called for unity among the southern states. The Chief Minister also wished that the spirit of Ugadi would inspire people to stand together in resistance and solidarity. Taking to social media, X, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote, "I wish a joyful #Ugadi to all my Telugu and Kannada speaking Dravidian sisters and brothers as you welcome the New Year with hope and celebration." https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1906194770520838537 "In the face of growing linguistic and political threats like #HindiImposition and #Delimitation, the need for southern unity has never been greater. We must come together and defeat every attempt to undermine our rights and identity. May this Ugadi kindle the spirit of resistance and solidarity that binds us together," he further said. Stalin called out about the imposition of Hindi and changes to political boundaries through Delimitation. He stressed that these issues threaten the region's identity and rights. President Droupadi Murmu also conveyed her greetings to her fellow citizens on the eve of multiple festivals. In a message, the President has said, "On the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi,Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens." "These festivals, celebrated at the onset of spring season, symbolize the beginning of Indian New Year. These festivals showcase our cultural diversity and promote social cohesion. During these festivals, we celebrate the joy of new harvest and express our gratitude to nature," Murmu said. "On these pious occasions, let us strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity and work with renewed energy to take our nation to new heights," she said. (ANI) Congress MP Gaurav has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing the need for an inquiry into the financial irregularities at Assam Cooperative Apex Bank. Gogoi stated that an inquiry is needed into the matter because the State government is busy arresting people and is intimidating the Assamese media. Gaurav Gogoi shared a post on his official 'X' handle and informed about the development. "I have written a letter to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji about the need for an inquiry into the financial irregularities at Assam Cooperative Apex Bank because the state government is busy arresting and intimidating the Assamese media", Gogoi's 'X' post read. Yesterday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scathing attack on the opposition and stated that the NDA government in the state has shed "baggage of corruption", chaos, and "criminal appeasement". The Chief Minister was speaking at a campaign rally in Boko for the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) elections. "Under NDA's stewardship, Assam has shed the baggage of corruption, chaos, and criminal appeasement. The opposition thrives on deception and division, while the NDA builds, protects, and empowers. The Rabha people will no longer be silenced by vested interests who thrive on underdevelopment. This election is about reclaiming our destiny--with NDA leading from the front," Sarma said. "With an indomitable track record of zero-tolerance against corruption, uncompromising indigenous empowerment, and a transformative governance model, the mandate is crystal clear--Rabha Hasong's future belongs with NDA," he added. BJP Assam President Dilip Saikia, alongside Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, led a massive campaign blitz in Boko and Dudhnoi, rallying support for the NDA and the Rabha Hasong Joint Struggle Committee candidates. "The Congress and its ilk have thrived on betrayal and tokenism, treating the indigenous communities as mere vote banks. Those days are over. The people of Rabha Hasong deserve leaders who work, not puppets who pander. NDA has set an unassailable benchmark in governance--be it infrastructure, education, health, or the protection of cultural identity. This election is a battle between resurgence and regression, between dynamic leadership and the relics of misrule," Saikia said. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday extended greetings to the people of Rajasthan on the occasion of its statehood day. The President wished for the happy and prosperous life for the residents of Rajasthan. Taking to social media post on X, the President wrote, "Hearty congratulations to all the residents of the state on Rajasthan Day. This state is famous for its glorious traditions, hospitality and diversity. The enterprising people here have created their special identity across the world. The glorious history of this state is filled with countless tales of bravery. A large number of tourists from India and abroad come here. I wish the residents of Rajasthan a happy and prosperous life." https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1906176283794383161 Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended greetings on the occasion of Rajasthan statehood day and hoped that the state would make invaluable contribution to the prosperity of the country. "Many many good wishes on Rajasthan Day to all my brothers and sisters of Rajasthan, a state symbolizing amazing courage and valor. It is my wish that with the participation of hardworking and talented people of this state, this state keeps setting new standards of development and keeps making invaluable contribution to the prosperity of the country," PM Modi posted on X. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1906183206837047786 Extending greetings, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma prayed to God that the state continues to move on the path of development and prosperity. In a post on X, Sharma wrote, "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the state on Rajasthan Day, the holy land of rich cultural heritage, captivating natural beauty and indomitable courageous heroes and heroines. On this special day, I pray to God that our state continues to move on the path of development and prosperity and that the life of all the people of the state be filled with happiness, peace and prosperity." https://x.com/BhajanlalBjp/status/1906171328581025924 Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to mark the formation of the state of Rajasthan. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced on social media platform X that he will be visiting Nagaon to dedicate a library and several connectivity projects, including one that has been a long-standing demand of the people for 50 years. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1906194675490324643 His post read, "I will be in Nagaon today to dedicate a library and a host of connectivity projects in the town including one which has been demanded by the people for the past 50 years! I also look forward to interacting with the people of Kampur in the afternoon." Meanwhile, Sarma on Saturday highlighted the progress made by the BJP government in Assam since 2016, particularly in North-Eastern India. Speaking at the TV9 Bharatvarsh Satta Sammelan, CM Biswa emphasised that the state has become a better place to live, with indigenous people regaining control over land, politics, and government jobs. CM Biswa said, "The BJP government came to power in Assam in 2016. Modi ji sarkar came in 2014. Today, Assam is a much better place to live. You used the word "Khilonjia, "which translates to Indigenous. Today, our people dominate Assam," CM Biswa said. Sarma also addressed concerns about immigration, deportation, and identification, acknowledging the complexity of these issues. He reassured that the government has made significant strides in reclaiming lost spaces. "These issues, if you talk about the numbers, are very tough jobs. If you talk about the numbers in Assam, it can go to lakhs, it can go to crores. But I can only say this, that today in Assam, our people, they have recaptured everything that had gone out of our hands; today, we have reclaimed everything. From land to political space to government jobs, whatever space had gone out of our hands, we have reclaimed everything," said the Assam CM. When asked about being called the "Hindu Hriday Samrat," Sarma humbly corrected that it's not about being a king but rather taking pride in being a Hindu. He explained that the term "Hindu" encompasses a broader definition, allowing for the coexistence of Muslims and Christians in India. "See, it is not Samrat. I feel proud to be called a Hindu," said Sarma. He also emphasised that the presence of Hindus in India allows for the coexistence of other religions like Islam and Christianity. "There are Hindus in this country, and that is why there are Muslims here. There were Muslims in Pakistan, and today, there are no Hindus in Pakistan. There are Hindus in this country, and therefore, there are Muslims and Christians in this country. This is the definition of Hindu, and I feel proud about it," CM Biswa said. Sarma also expressed concerns about the shrinking political and cultural space for indigenous people in North-Eastern India, citing demographic changes and the growth of madrassas since 1951. He emphasised the need to address these issues to preserve the region's culture and identity. "See, the situation with Jharkhand is worse than that with Assam. It will take time. In northeastern India, we have a problem: our culture, the culture of our country, and the political space of our people are getting squeezed. You see the demographic change since 1951, how many madrassas were there in 1951, and how many are there today. What was the population of a particular religion in 1951, and what is its population today? If you do a complete assessment, you will find that the space for people of Bharat is getting squeezed. And for those who were not in Bharat, their space is increasing. This is a reality," he added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Smruti Mandir in Nagpur on the occasion of Varsha Pratipada, which also marks the birth anniversary of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The Prime Minsiter was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among other leaders. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi stated, "Visiting Smruti Mandir in Nagpur is a very special experience. Making today's visit even more special is the fact that it has happened on Varsha Pratipada, which is also the Jayanti of Param Pujya Doctor Sahab." He further acknowledged the influence of Dr. Hedgewar and MS Golwalkar, saying, "Countless people like me derive inspiration and strength from the thoughts of Param Pujya Doctor Sahab and Pujya Guruji. It was an honour to pay homage to these two greats, who envisioned a strong, prosperous and culturally proud Bharat." The Prime Minister received a warm welcome on arrival in Nagpur. He was greeted by Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the airport. Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule was also present to receive the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi signed the visitor's book after paying tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Nagpur. The signed text reads, "My heartfelt regards to the most revered Hedgewar Ji and revered Guruji. I am overwhelmed to be here in this Smruti Mandir, cherishing their memories. This place dedicated to Indian culture, nationalism and the values of the organisation inspires us to move ahead in the service of the nation. This place of these two strong pillars of the Sangh is a source of energy for lakhs of volunteers dedicated to the service of the country. May the glory of Maa Aarti always increase with our efforts." The PM also visited Deekshabhoomi and paid homage to Babasaheb Ambedkar, who embraced Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956. (ANI) Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav extended Navratri wishes to the people and prayed for happiness and welfare of the entire world. In a post on X, CM Yadav said, "I pray to Goddess Maa to bring happiness and welfare to the entire world, to bestow happiness, peace and prosperity in every home." Meanwhile, he also offered prayers at Dutta Akhara Ghat on the occasion of Hindu Nav Varsh in Ujjain. "Today, the 2082nd year of Vikram Samvat proposed by Veer Vikramaditya has started... On this occasion, I wish and congratulate the people of the state. I wish that the coming year is celebrated with great pomp and show... Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we are all eager to take India forward... India will definitely go very far," MP CM told reporters in Ujjain. PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended their greetings to the nation on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri. "Best wishes to the countrymen on Navratri. May this holy festival of Shakti-sadhana fill everyone's life with courage, restraint and strength. Jai Mata Di," PM Modi posted on X. Sharing a post on X on Hindu New Year, Amit Shah said, "Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on 'Hindu New Year - Vikram Samvat 2082'! This New Year marks a fresh beginning of values, resolutions, and cultural consciousness. May this year, filled with new enthusiasm and opportunities, bring new energy into everyone's lives and usher in success and prosperity. Best wishes!" (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation during his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' program, extended his greetings as the country starts its vibrant month of multiple festivals. The Prime Minister highlighted how such festivals underline the country's unity in diversity Extending his greetings for the upcoming festivals, the PM added, "These festivals happen at different parts of the country, but these show how unity is woven in the diversity of India, we must keep strengthening this feeling of unity." "Today is the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha of the month of Chaitra, today marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, also beginning Indian New Year, Vikram Samvat is starting. I have many of your letters in front of me, some of which are from Bihar,some from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat , people have sent their mann ki baat in various ways. I wish to read some of the messages," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister read the multiple letters in various languages addressed to him wishing him on the occasion of Ugadi, Sansar Padwa, Gudi Padwa, Hindu New year among other festivals. "You must have understood that these messages are in different languages, but do you know the reason for it? That is what I want to talk to you about. Today and in the next few days new year is starting in different states across the country, so people have sent me wishes in different languages," he added. Ugadi is being celebrated today in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana. Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. PM Modi also highlighted how Baisakhi Bihu will be celebrated in Assam, Poila Baisakh in Bengal, Navrekha in Jammu and Kashmir. "Also, from April 13-15, there will be grand celebrations in different parts of the country, there is excitement for that. The festival of Eid is also coming, this whole month is filled with festivals," he added. Speaking about his interactions with students during Pariksha pe Charcha, PM Modi continued, "I talk with students in Pariksha pe charcha during exams, and now exams are finished, and schools have started preparations for the new session, and summer vacations are also coming, which students really look forward to." Remembering his childhood days, PM said that while he used to indulge in fun and mischief during summer holidays with his friends, he also made sure that also did something constructive. "I remember my childhood days, when my friends and I used to indulge in some mischief or the other, but at the same time we used to do something constructive and also learn. The days in summer are long, children have a lot to do, this is the time to adopt a new hobby and hone your skills," he said. Highlighting how there are multiple science, technology, drama, art programs which are being organised by various institutions of the country, he encouraged students to enrol in them and share their experiences. "Childern don't have any dearth of platforms where they can learn, some organisation might be having a technology camp where children canlearn about making apps as well as open source software. Speech and drama schools can be useful for children too. Apart from this you will also have many places during these holidays to join volunteer activity," PM said during Mann ki Baat. Urging students to share their experiences with the hashtag #MyHolidays, he added, "Summer days are long and children have a lot to do during the time. This is the time to inculcate a new hobby as well as hone your skills. You also have the opportunity to join volunteer activities and service endeavours during these holidays. If any organization, school or social institution or science centre is organising such summer activities, do share it with #MyHolidays." The Prime Minister also announced the launch of a calendar "MY-Bharat" designed for students to make their summer vacations productive. (ANI) Dr S Raja Sabapathy, chairman of the Department of Plastic, Hand, and Microsurgery and Director of Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, took over the Presidency of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) on 28 March. He took over at the closing ceremony of the Federation's triennial congress in Washington, DC, USA. IFSSH is a Federation of 62 member nations and is the world's largest body of hand surgeons. It was formed in 1966 to coordinate the activities of the various Societies for Surgery of the Hand across the globe and, in this way, to increase and spread knowledge of hand surgery. It holds congresses once every three years to discuss the latest advances and lay out the best practices. In its 59-year history, this is the first time an Indian surgeon has taken over the Presidency of the organisation. In his address to the delegates on taking over as President, Dr Raja Sabapathy accepted the honour and said that the theme of the term would be to help 'Provide Quality Hand Surgery care to the millions who are less privileged.' In his role, he is responsible for steering the organisation toward achieving its goals. An executive committee of representatives from the USA, UK, China, Japan, Belgium, Columbia, and Ecuador will assist him. Dr S Raja Sabapathy was the President of the Asian Pacific Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand and has been the President of the Indian Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Microsurgery, Burns, Brachial Plexus Association. The Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery department of Ganga Hospital is considered one of the preferred centres for teaching and training across the world. Formed in 1991, over the years, it has attracted 3,300 surgeons from 83 countries, which is a record for any surgical unit in the country. Dr Raja Sabapathy had earlier been conferred the Honorary fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow and England and the American College of Surgeons. The recognition by the American College of Surgeons is a singular honour since only about 15 Plastic Surgeons from around the world have been so recognized in the college's 135-year history. In addition, he has been conferred Honorary Membership of the British and South African Societies for Surgery of the Hand and the Serbian Microsurgery Society. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak listened to the 120th episode of PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio program in Lucknow along with other BJP leaders. Other than Brajesh Pathak, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta listened to the program in Delhi while MP Bansuri Swaraj did so in Bhopal. Jharkhand leader of Opposition and state BJP president listened to the Prime Minister's monthly radio programme in Ranchi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation during his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' program, extended his greetings as the country starts its vibrant month of multiple festivals. The Prime Minister highlighted how such festivals underline the country's unity in diversity. Extending his greetings for the upcoming festivals, the PM added, "These festivals happen at different parts of the country, but these show how unity is woven in the diversity of India, we must keep strengthening this feeling of unity." "Today is the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha of the month of Chaitra, today marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, also beginning Indian New Year, Vikram Samvat is starting. I have many of your letters in front of me, some of which are from Bihar,some from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat , people have sent their mann ki baat in various ways. I wish to read some of the messages," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister read the multiple letters in various languages addressed to him wishing him on the occasion of Ugadi, Sansar Padwa, Gudi Padwa, Hindu New year among other festivals. "You must have understood that these messages are in different languages, but do you know the reason for it? That is what I want to talk to you about. Today and in the next few days new year is starting in different states across the country, so people have sent me wishes in different languages," he added. Ugadi is being celebrated today in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana. Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. PM Modi also highlighted how Baisakhi Bihu will be celebrated in Assam, Poila Baisakh in Bengal, Navrekha in Jammu and Kashmir. "Also, from April 13-15, there will be grand celebrations in different parts of the country, there is excitement for that. The festival of Eid is also coming, this whole month is filled with festivals," he added. (ANI) Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for various developmental projects under the cooperation and related departments in Patna, Bihar on Sunday, and challenging Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in showing if he has a "blueprint for Bihar" to show the people. "Within the last ten years (PM) Narendra Modi has done this for the 60 crore poor people of this country, Today I want to ask the leader of UPA and especially Lalu Yadav if he has done something for the poor of Bihar and the country, then take a blueprint and come in front of the people of Bihar, they did not do anything," Shah said while addressing a public meeting in Patna. Highlighting the fodder scam in the state, Shah continued, "What did Lalu Yadav's government do in Bihar from 1990 to 2005? Lalu Yadav's government defamed Bihar in the country and the world by doing a fodder scam in the entire state. His government will always be known as 'Jungle Raj' in the history of Bihar." Shah contrasted that with the work PM Modi has done for the state, claiming that the union government has given electricity, gas, water, toilets, medicines and other things to the people. "Modi ji has done the work of providing electricity, gas, water, toilets, medicines and five kilos of free grains to 10 crore Five kilos of food per person per month were given free of cost. Four crore people were given homes. Gas cylinders were given to more than 1 crore people," he said. Shah is on a two-day visit to Bihar, a significant visit as the BJP gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections. After his arrival, Shah proceeded to the BJP office in Patna, where he held a meeting with local leaders, including with Giriraj Singh, Ajay Alok and Sanjay Singh. BJP leader Giriraj Singh said that the meeting with Amit Shah was very good and he gave his guidance to everyone ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. BJP leader Ajay Alok stated that the meeting was regarding the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 and heaped praise on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that he works for 18 to 20 hours in a day. Ajay Alok told ANI, "Amit Shah ji is our guide and works at least 18 to 20 hours daily. He came here to bring the energetic momentum in the energies of party workers here in Bihar, which he did really well. The discussions were only about the elections and nothing else. We discussed about how will we go among the people and what we will do so that we are re-elected." (ANI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday extended greetings on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri, wishing peace and prosperity in the state. "Heartiest greetings on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri. Wishing happiness, peace and prosperity in the state," Kumar posted on X. The devotees on Sunday offer prayers at the Mahamaya Devi temple, located at Puranibasti in Raipur, on the first day of Chaitra Navratri. Devotees were also seen offering prayers at Maa Mahakali Mandir at Akashvani Chowk in Raipur. Devotees also gathered in large numbers to take part in the Mangala aarti at the Ambaji temple in Banaskantha, Gujarat, on day one of Chaitra Navratri. As per tradition, Mata Shailputri is worshipped on the first day of Chaitra Navratri and marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other prominent political faces extended their wishes on the Chaitra Navaratri. The nine-day festival, also known as Ram Navratri, concludes on Ram Navami, which marks the birthday of Lord Ram. Throughout the festival, all nine days are devoted to honoring the nine incarnations of goddess 'Shakti.' The festival is celebrated with great devotion across India, with rituals and prayers honouring the goddess in her various forms. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended their greetings on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi and Gudi Padwa. "Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on Chaitra Shukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh, and Sajibu Cheiraoba," President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X. President Murmu said that these festivals, which are celebrated to welcome the advent of the spring season, were a symbol of unity. "These festivals, celebrated to welcome the spring season and the advent of the New Year, are a symbol of unity in the rich cultural diversity of India. These festivals infuse new energy and enthusiasm in the countrymen. On this occasion, I wish happiness and prosperity for all," she added. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a huge roadshow in Nagpur following his visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters earlier in the day. People were seen lining up in large numbers on the sides of the roads in the city to greet him. Prior to the roadshow, PM Modi visited the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited facility centre accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Earlier in the day the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and other RSS leaders at the Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in the city. PM Modi also laid the foundation of the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre and stated that the goal of the government is to serve the people of the nation by ensuring that qualified doctors are available to the people. Hailing the government' decision to provide medical education in regional languages, the Prime Minister said that the government made this bold decision and this has happened for the first time after Independence. "We have not only doubled the number of medical colleges but also tripled the number of operational AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in the country. Additionally, the number of medical seats has also been doubled. Our goal is to serve the community by ensuring that qualified doctors are available to the people", PM Modi said while addressing the gathering. "We made a bold decision to provide medical education in the students' mother tongue, which ensures that even children from underprivileged backgrounds can pursue a career in medicine. It has happened for the first time after independence. The country is moving forward their modern medical knowledge with traditional knowledge. Our Yoga and Ayurveda is creating its new identity in the world", PM Modi further said. Praising the government's schemes like Ayushmann Bharat, Jan Ausadhi Kendras and Ayushmann Arogya Mandir, PM Modi stated that due to these schemes people of poor and middle class families are receiving free treatment and cheaper medicines. (ANI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program and termed it a unifying force for the country. He shared his views on social media platform X, stating that he listened to the program at the Chief Minister's residence and found it inspiring. "I listened to the Mann Ki Baat programme of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, who has bound India in the thread of unity and integrity, at the Chief Minister's residence and received his dynamic guidance," Sharma wrote. He highlighted that PM Modi, through 'Mann Ki Baat', amplifies the voices of common citizens and promotes national unity. "In this inspiring episode of Mann Ki Baat, the powerful voice of the common man, the Hon'ble Prime Minister highlighted the importance of national unity and social harmony. He called for maintaining our culture of unity in diversity and urged citizens to contribute to the development of the country," he added. Earlier, in his address on 'Mann ki Baat', the Prime Minister highlighted how such festivals underline the country's unity in diversity. Extending his greetings for the upcoming festivals, the PM added, "These festivals happen at different parts of the country, but these show how unity is woven in the diversity of India, we must keep strengthening this feeling of unity." "Today is the Pratipada date of Shukla Paksha of the month of Chaitra, today marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, also beginning Indian New Year, Vikram Samvat is starting. I have many of your letters in front of me, some of which are from Bihar,some from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat , people have sent their mann ki baat in various ways. I wish to read some of the messages," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister read the multiple letters in various languages addressed to him wishing him on the occasion of Ugadi, Sansar Padwa, Gudi Padwa, Hindu New year among other festivals. (ANI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 31 March 2025 to 11 April 2025. The IAF contingent will include Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft, according to the Defence Ministry. INIOCHOS is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from fifteen countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges, the ministry's statement said on Sunday. "The IAF looks forward to participating in Exercise INIOCHOS 25, a platform to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among participating Air Forces," the statement read. This exercise will provide an opportunity to train in planning and executing Combined Air operations, refine tactics in complex air warfare scenarios, and gain insights into operational best practices. With all operations conducted from Andravida, IAF's participation will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also contribute to mutual learning and enhanced coordination among participating countries. "IAF's participation in INIOCHOS-25 reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence. The exercise will further reinforce India's strategic partnerships-and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations," the statement concluded. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis extended his wishes on the occasion of Gudi Padwa on Sunday, as the festival was celebrated at the CM's official Nagpur residence. "The Gudi is a new resolution, Gudi welcomes the Hindu New Year...On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, the Hindu New Year was welcomed by worshipping the Gudi at the government residence in Nagpur. On this occasion, the resolve to build a developed Maharashtra by preserving our culture got new energy," Fadnavis wrote on X. Fadnavis, in a separate post also extended his wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Nagpur. "On behalf of the people of Maharashtra, I extend my warm wishes for Gudhi Padwa and Hindu New Year. Heartfelt gratitude to you Prime Minister Narendra Modi!" Fadnavis' post read. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde also extended his greeting on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh. Deputy CM Shinde also took part in the procession organised by Kopineshwar Mandir in Thane on the occasion of Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh. Speaking to ANI, Shinde stated that Thane is a cultural city and this procession has been carried out for the last 25 years. "Today, Gudi Padwa and Hindu Nav Varsh are being celebrated, I congratulate and extend my best wishes to the people of Maharashtra. Everyone lives with healthy, happy, joyous in this year... This procession has been carried out for the last 25 years. Thane is a cultural city, and we all take part in it... This 'Gudi' is of the development of Maharashtra..." the Deputy CM said. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre in Nagpur. PM Modi was accompanied by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among other leaders. Madhav Netralaya is an eye institute and research centre, which aims to provide "world-class Tertiary Ophthalmic services with compassion, precision and innovation." (ANI) The Cyber Police Station of the Delhi Police has filed an FIR on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ministry of Rural Development, where it has alleged that a fake recruitment drive is being conducted that fraudulently claims to be under this Ministry. According to the FIR filed by the representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development, they found fake Advertisements of a recruitment drive issued in the name of the CEO and Secretary of the National Rural Development & Recreation (NRDR) Mission, which is fraudulently mentioned to be under this Ministry. Further, while going through the NRDRM website (nrdrmvacancy.com), it was observed that several pictures have been uploaded to its website that features photos of the minister and senior officers. It also features the demand for registration fees for the recruitment process. In this connection, the Ministry of Rural Development also informed that there is no such organisation under the name of NRDRM under the Ministry of Rural Development, and no such advertisement for these posts has been issued by this Department. The Department also issued a public notice last month through the Press Information Bureau, cautioning the general public against the said fraudulent website/agency and its fake recruitment drive. Now, the Delhi Police has registered an FIR under sections 318(4) and 319(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, on March 23 and appointed an investigating officer to investigate the matter. (ANI) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) spokesperson Kovai Sathyan attacked DMK for critising Eddapadi K Palaniswami over meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this week. Kovai Sathyan stated that it showcased on how 'rattled' DMK is and said that it was not an alliance meet. Sathyan spoke about the agenda of the meeting and said that Palaniswami raised several state issues in front of Amit Shah which includes the proposed delimitation, NEET, and the scams that are happening under the incumbent DMK government. "It clearly indicates how rattled DMK are. It was not a meet for alliance. It was a meet which clearly exposes MK Stalin's incompetence and their government failures to protect the state rights of Tamil Nadu as well as the thousands and thousands of crores of corruption that is there. So our leader has visited Amit Shah and sought central government's intervention in retrieving state rights such as delimitation, language, NEET, and as well as the most important is the thousands and thousands of crores that has happened in different departments under this incompetent MK Stalin's rule. So having caught off guard, Stalin again wants to paint a picture. It is towards alliance, if it is for any other reason, why is DMK so rattled? They can mind their own business", Kovai Sathyan said to ANI on Sunday. Earlier, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AlADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that a decision on alliance will be made when elections comes near. This comes after Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Tuesday evening. Edappadi K Palaniswami said, "On alliance, I have already spoken several times. Is any party firm on alliance? Are parties in DMK alliance firm? We can't tell. This is politics, as per the political situation, changes will happen. How can we tell now itself? When did we form an alliance at the time of 2019 elections? It was February when we made the announcement. Similarly, we will have talks with like-minded parties and make a decision on alliance when elections come near. If you ask now, how can I tell you about it? We will let you know you know our alliance status." (ANI) The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, Atifa and Asma, both 24, who had allegedly been living in India illegally for years. They were found to be residing in the national capital without valid documents or permits. According to the police, the two individuals had entered India illegally via river routes near the India-Bangladesh border. They traveled to Delhi via local trains and had been staying in various locations to evade detection. The police have initiated the deportation process with the assistance of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), in New Delhi. This operation is part of a broader drive launched by the East District Police on November 19, 2024, to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Since the commencement of the drive, nine illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been identified and deported, police said adding that they are continuing their efforts to detect more illegal immigrants residing in the district. Earlier, the Delhi Police's Foreign Cell team apprehended six illegal Bangladeshi nationals who were working in and around the Jahangirpuri and Mahindra Park area, posing as transgenders. In a post on X, DCP North-West Delhi said, "Six Illegal Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by the Foreign Cell team. Six mobile phones with the banned IMO app, used for communication with Bangladesh, were recovered from their possession." According to the police, these individuals engaged in activities such as begging at traffic signals. Acting on a confidential tip-off, the police conducted an investigation and, after gathering concrete evidence, apprehended six transgender people near Jahangirpuri Metro Station. The police also recovered mobile phones from their possession, which they were using to communicate with their families in Bangladesh. Authorities received information that a significant number of Bangladeshi infiltrators were residing in these areas with fake identities and forged documents. The Special Staff team also received a tip-off regarding this issue, but the informant requested anonymity. The information revealed that six Bangladeshis, disguised as transgenders, were earning money at traffic signals and were involved in other activities. (ANI) According to the police, the incident took place on March 25, 2025, when the complainant, Krishan Gupta, was attacked and robbed while returning home from his office in Pitampura. The assailants used sticks to assault him and his servant before fleeing with the cash. Following the complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the law and formed a joint team to investigate. The team analysed CCTV footage, gathered local intelligence, and conducted raids at suspected hideouts, leading to the arrest of four accused--Sanchit, Shival, Rustam, and Anil. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime. The police recovered Rs 16.94 lakh in cash and seized the motorcycle used in the robbery. Anil, one of the accused, was identified as a habitual offender with multiple cases registered against him, including violations under the Arms Act, dowry-related offenses, the Excise Act, and cheating. The police are continuing their investigation to recover the remaining Rs 13.06 lakh. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday visited Government Medical College Hospital Jammu to enquire about the health of J&K police personnel, who sustained injuries during an encounter with terrorists in Kathua, an official statement said. The release added that a team of senior doctors briefed the LG Sinha on the health condition of SDPO Border, Kathua, Dheeraj Katoch and SPO Bharat Jalhotra and medical procedures being followed. LG also met the family members of the injured and assured all possible assistance. He directed the hospital administration to ensure the best possible medical care for the speedy recovery of the brave police personnel, It added. Four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives in the operation, while two terrorists were gunned down. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated Saturday that terrorism should be controlled in such a way that the mourning ends forever in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that incidents of terrorism have been witnessed in many areas of Jammu for the last few years, remarks coming in the wake of the Kathua encounter. CM Abdullah told reporters, "... We should try to prevent such incidents. We should control terrorism in such a way that such mourning in Jammu and Kashmir ends forever... Our four brave police personnel sacrificed their lives, but many innocent lives were saved... For the last 3-4 years, everyone has seen such incidents in many areas of Jammu..." The operation began on March 23, when locals reported the sighting of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal. Security forces, including the J&K Police, Army, BSF, and CRPF, launched a search operation, leading to an initial exchange of fire. (ANI). Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that his ultimate goal is to create a society free of poverty. As part of this vision, he is launching the P4 initiative, according to an official statement. CM wished that the Sri Vishwavasu Nama Samvatsara Ugadi festival would bring new hope and happiness into people's lives. The state government organized Ugadi celebrations at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, where CM Naidu participated. The release also stated that the CM had offered special prayers and attended the Panchanga Sravanam (astrological predictions for the year) conducted by Padma Shri awardee Madugula Nagaphani Sharma. The CM also released almanacs from TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams), the Agriculture Department, and the Horticulture Department. Additionally, he unveiled the State Cultural Department's annual events calendar. CM pointed out that Indian culture and traditions are unique and must be preserved. Forgetting history means losing our identity. Ugadi reminds us of Pachadi (a traditional festive dish) and Panchanga Sravanam, the statement added. Naidu recalled that, in his childhood, villagers used to sit together and listen to the Panchanga recitation. To promote the Telugu language and culture, his previous government established Avadhana Kendram (Literary Center) near Hitech City, Hyderabad, Annamayya Kshetram (Cultural Center), and Shilpakala Vedika (Art & Cultural Auditorium). The state government now conducts Ugadi celebrations at Delhi Andhra Bhavan and Chennai's Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust. "The world is changing rapidly, and innovation is the key to progress. People must focus on smart work, not just hard work," said CM Naidu. He expressed pride that Telugu people have doubled their income compared to Americans within just 25 years. Naidu shares the same vision as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan--to strengthen Andhra Pradesh and India. He prays that India becomes a global leader, with the Telugu people playing a crucial role in the country's progress. CM Naidu criticized the previous government, saying that Andhra Pradesh suffered heavily in the last five years. He claimed that problems created by the past administration were unprecedented in his long political career. He assured that his government would resolve these issues step by step. A Rs3.22 lakh crore budget has been introduced this year to boost the state's economy and improve people's standard of living, ensuring better income, healthcare, and happiness for all. He recalled how, during his previous tenure, he built Hitech City, promoted Information Technology (IT), which created thousands of IT professionals, and encouraged mobile phone adoption, despite initial skepticism. Now, he is focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Valley. He warned that while mobile phones can transform lives, misuse can lead to problems. CM Chandrababu Naidu also emphasized that wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a few. A just society is possible when everyone has access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. He launched the Margadarshi - Bangaru Kutumbam Zero Poverty (P4) initiative on Ugadi. His vision is that wealthy individuals should support the poor, and 10% of society's elite should voluntarily uplift the bottom 20%. He called on the Telugu people to become global role models for philanthropy. In the last nine months, the NDA government has made all its decisions using the "People First" approach. While focusing on welfare and development, the government is also attracting investments. He introduced WhatsApp Governance, making government services accessible to citizens without the need to visit offices. CM Chandrababu Naidu praised Nagaphani Sharma, saying he had known him for 30 years and admired his dedication. He said the Padma Shri award to Sharma was a proud moment for Telugu people. During the Ugadi celebrations, the CM presented awards to individuals who contributed to various fields. 86 individuals received Kala Ratna awards, and 116 individuals received Ugadi awards. (ANI) Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in the Cheti Chand celebrations in Ahmedabad, connecting with Sindhi families. On this occasion, he also flagged off the grand Cheti Chand Shobha Yatra, according to an official statement. As the chief guest at the cultural event organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation for the Cheti Chand festival, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel extended his heartfelt wishes to the entire Sindhi community. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister noted that Cheti Chand also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, symbolizing new beginnings and prosperity. He highlighted the Sindhi community's generosity and resilience, praising their ability to turn challenges into opportunities. He emphasized that the community has made significant contributions to Gujarat's development, embodying the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.' Furthermore, he acknowledged that the Sindhi community has excelled in every field, achieving remarkable success across various domains. Speaking about the Sindhi community, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated that although Sindhi remains their identity and language, the Sindhi community, having migrated from Sindh and made Gujarat their motherland and workplace, has seamlessly integrated into the state's rich and diverse culture, just like sugar dissolving in milk. He further highlighted that collective celebrations of religious festivals provide the younger generation with an opportunity to connect with history and traditions. Additionally, the release stated that the Prime Minister has initiated campaigns such as 'Catch the Rain,' 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' and 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' to preserve heritage and plan for the future. The Chief Minister urged the Sindhi community to take an active role in these initiatives. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel once again flagged off the Cheti Chand Shobha Yatra. State MLA Payal Kukrani expressed confidence that the Sindhi community would continue to contribute to Gujarat's development and commended the Chief Minister's leadership. The event witnessed the presence of Pratibha Jain, Mayor of Ahmedabad; Hasmukh Patel, MP of Ahmedabad East; several MLAs, councilors, and a large number of members from the Sindhi community. (ANI) According to Delhi Police, the accident occurred around 2:45 AM when a Ciaz car, carrying four individuals, lost control and collided with a tree. Emergency services rushed all four occupants to the hospital, where two were declared dead on arrival. The deceased have been identified as Lakshit Negi (22), a resident of Hari Nagar, who was engaged in his family business, and Yash Verma (21), also from Hari Nagar, who was involved in his family's steel business. The injured individuals have been identified as Yash Gupta (22), son of Arjun Gupta, a resident of Hari Nagar who works in a cloth factory, and Himanshu (23), a resident of Tihar Village, Hari Nagar. (ANI) Delhi Police have arrested an extortionist from Dehradun who had escaped from the custody of the Goa Police in June 2024, DCP (Crime) Aditya Gautam said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Imad Khan (33), a resident of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, along with his associates, had extorted Rs30 lakh from a complainant by threatening to leak his video on social media. According to DCP Gautam, Khan was initially arrested in a case registered under Sections 342, 170, 232, 506, 389, and 34 of the IPC at Mapusa Police Station, Goa. However, while being transported to Goa, he managed to escape from the custody of the Goa Police at Mumbai's Sahar Airport. Following his escape, another case under Sections 323 and 224 of the IPC was registered at Sahar Police Station, Mumbai. As per police reports, Khan and a female accomplice approached the victim in a hotel room in Mapusa, Goa, posing as officers from the Delhi Narcotics Cell. Khan introduced himself as "Inspector Imad Khan, In-Charge of the IT Department, Narcotics, Delhi," and confiscated the victim's mobile phone, documents, laptop password, digital media access, and wallet. Threatening to tarnish the victim's reputation by releasing an obscene video on social media, Khan and his accomplice extorted Rs20 lakh from him in exchange for his release and for not filing an FIR. Later, they continued to blackmail the victim, demanding an additional Rs10 lakh, which was transferred via RTGS. As the demands persisted, the victim finally lodged a legal complaint on February 26, 2024, leading to the registration of a case at Mapusa Police Station. During the investigation, the Goa Police arrested two suspects along with Khan on June 19, 2024. However, on the same day, Khan escaped from custody at Mumbai Airport after a brief scuffle with the police team. Since then, he had been on the run. On March 26, Delhi Police received intelligence regarding Khan's whereabouts. It was revealed that he was hiding near Shimla Bypass Road, near ISBT, Dehradun. A police team reached Dehradun on March 27 and, based on a tip-off, apprehended Khan on March 28. During interrogation, Khan admitted to extorting Rs30 lakh from the victim by impersonating a police officer. He also confessed to evading capture by frequently changing locations after his escape. After verifying the facts and collecting sufficient evidence, police arrested him under Section 35(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Born in 1991, Khan holds a B.Com degree from Kurukshetra University, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana. He previously worked as an accountant in Yamuna Nagar. In 2023, his cousin started working as a chef in a Delhi club owned by an individual referred to as "X" (name withheld). Through this connection, Khan met Ms. X, who introduced him to Basit, Faizan, Bhuvan, Yasir, and Salman. Ms. X informed Khan about a businessman from Mumbai who could be targeted for extortion. On August 20, 2023, Khan and his associates traveled to Mapusa, Goa, where Ms. X booked two villas and the extortion scheme was executed. While several associates, including Basit, Faizan, Bhuvan, and Yasir, had already been arrested, Khan had remained at large until his recent capture. The concerned authorities have been informed of Khan's arrest, and further legal proceedings are underway. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday appealed to the people of Bihar to form the NDA government for another five years and said they will work to make Bihar flood free. The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to take place later in the year. Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Bihar beginning on Saturday, also highlighted the financial assistance of the Central government provided for the Western Kosi Canal. "I request you all to form the NDA government for another five years, and we assure you that we will make Bihar flood-free. Floods will become a past in Bihar. We have provided financial assistance for the Western Kosi Canal. Under the leadership of PM Modi, cultural development will be done, and the heritage of Bihar will be respected," Shah said while addressing a rally in Bihar's Gopalganj. Amit Shah also slammed former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling his 1990-2005 tenure an era of "Jungle Raj" and accusing his government of corruption and misgovernance, particularly citing the fodder scam. "What did Lalu Yadav's government do in Bihar from 1990 to 2005? Lalu Yadav's government defamed Bihar in the country and the world by doing a fodder scam in the entire state. His government will always be known as 'Jungle Raj' in the history of Bihar," the Home Minister said. Ahead of his address, Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Bihar. During his address, Shah also contrasted the previous administration with the governance of Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "During Nitish Kumar's tenure, roads, electricity, and tap water have reached every village. Today, PM Modi has worked to take Bihar's poor forward by giving them houses, toilets, water, medicines, and ration," he added. Shah also outlined the BJP's initiatives in the agricultural sector, particularly through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), highlighting efforts to boost maize farming and revive closed industries. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has undertaken numerous efforts to strengthen PACS. We have established a maize processing center and revived it with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore to support maize farmers," he said. In addition to agriculture, Shah spoke about the BJP's commitment to reviving sugar mills and enhancing production in the pulses and oilseeds sectors. He also highlighted PACS' expansion into new business areas. "We are putting in full effort to restart closed sugar mills. We have also done extensive work in the pulses and oilseeds sectors. Today, all PACS presidents are present here. PACS are now opening pharmacy stores and petrol pumps as well," he stated. (ANI) On this occasion, the Governor expressed his happiness in celebrating Rajasthan's foundation day. He highlighted the state's unique features, including its beautifully color-coordinated cities, its historical and geographical significance as the home of the Aravalli range--the oldest mountains in the Indian subcontinent--and Kalibangan, an important site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. The governor also praised Rajasthan's famous forts and palaces. The Governor acknowledged the Government of India's 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' initiative, which honors the country's cultural diversity and seeks to enhance connections among individuals from various regions. He expressed optimism that this program would significantly contribute to promoting national unity. M. Dana Kishore, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to the Governor, along with other Raj Bhavan officials and staff, attended the event. Many members of the Rajasthani community in Hyderabad also participated enthusiastically in the celebrations, as stated in the release. (ANI) BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt on Sunday praised the Uttarakhand government for its strict action against illegal mining, saying it has helped increase the state's mining revenue from Rs 300 crore to over Rs 1,000 crore. Speaking about the rise in revenue, Bhatt said, "Our revenue from mining in Uttarakhand has increased significantly. Earlier, it was around Rs 300 crore, but today, it has exceeded Rs 1,000 crore. What does this mean? It means that when theft stops and illegal activities are curbed, revenue naturally rises. I congratulate the Chief Minister for this achievement." He also slammed the previous Congress government, suggesting that illegal mining was rampant under its rule. "Just imagine how much theft must have occurred during Congress rule when revenue never crossed Rs300 crore. Today, due to the firm measures taken by the Chief Minister to regulate mining and curb illegal practices, revenue has soared, and this effort is truly commendable," he added. On Thursday, as per the State Mining Secretary Brijesh Kumar Sant's statement, Uttarakhand achieved its highest-ever mining revenue since the state's formation in 2002, marking a significant milestone for the sector. Revenue increased nearly 2.25 times compared to the previous year, and a surplus of over Rs 200 crore was recorded. "Since the formation of Uttarakhand, from 2002 to 2025, never was such mining revenue generated in the state. Compared to last year, the revenue is almost 2.25 times. This is the first time that we have met the target given by Finance (Department) and even generated surplus revenue of more than Rs 200 Crores. This can be called an achievement by the Mining Department." Further, the Mining Secretary refuted claims that illegal mining is rising in the state, calling such allegations "baseless, false, and misleading." "I believe that saying that illegal mining is rising in the state is completely baseless, false and misleading. The biggest evidence of this is that mining revenue rapidly grew in FY 2023-24," he added. This proves that there has been impactful control on illegal mining. Sant detailed the measures taken to regulate the mining sector. The government has simplified rules while increasing penalties for violations. (ANI) On the occasion of Ugadi on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu decided to extend a helping hand to the poor. After the TDP-led NDA came to power till now Rs 281.38 cr has been released to benefit 23,418 persons under CMRF. CM Naidu stated that his ultimate goal is to create a society free of poverty. As part of this vision, he is launching the P4 initiative, according to an official statement. CM wished that the Sri Vishwavasu Nama Samvatsara Ugadi festival would bring new hope and happiness into people's lives. The state government organized Ugadi celebrations at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, where CM Naidu participated, the statement added. CM offered special prayers and attended the Panchanga Sravanam (astrological predictions for the year) conducted by Padma Shri awardee Madugula Nagaphani Sharma. The CM also released almanacs from TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams), the Agriculture Department, and the Horticulture Department. Additionally, he unveiled the State Cultural Department's annual events calendar. CM pointed out that Indian culture and traditions are unique and must be preserved. Forgetting history means losing our identity. Ugadi reminds us of Pachadi (a traditional festive dish) and Panchanga Sravanam, the statement added. Naidu recalled that, in his childhood, villagers used to sit together and listen to the Panchanga recitation. To promote the Telugu language and culture, his previous government established Avadhana Kendram (Literary Center) near Hitech City, Hyderabad, Annamayya Kshetram (Cultural Center), and Shilpakala Vedika (Art & Cultural Auditorium). The state government now conducts Ugadi celebrations at Delhi Andhra Bhavan and Chennai's Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust. (ANI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh Sunday visited the residence of Selection Grade Constable (SgCT) Balvinder Singh in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, who lost his life in an anti-terror operation. Minister Singh said that government jobs will be arranged for the families of the deceased. Jitendra Singh told reporters, "The families of the two martyrs (SGCT Balvinder Singh and SGCT Jaswant Singh) have been protecting the nation for generations... It is our responsibility to support them... detailed discussions have been held with the authorities and the government jobs will be arranged for both families... Ex gratia will be provided to the families, and a memorial will be made for each of the two security personnel who lost their lives... " Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday visited Government Medical College Hospital Jammu to enquire about the health of J&K police personnel, who sustained injuries during an encounter with terrorists in Kathua, an official statement said. The release added that a team of senior doctors briefed the LG Sinha on the health condition of SDPO Border, Kathua, Dheeraj Katoch and SPO Bharat Jalhotra and medical procedures being followed.LG also met the family members of the injured and assured all possible assistance. He directed the hospital administration to ensure the best possible medical care for the speedy recovery of the brave police personnel, It added. Four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives in the operation, while two terrorists were gunned down. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated Saturday that terrorism should be controlled in such a way that the mourning ends forever in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that incidents of terrorism have been witnessed in many areas of Jammu for the last few years, remarks coming in the wake of the Kathua encounter. CM Abdullah told reporters, "... We should try to prevent such incidents. We should control terrorism in such a way that such mourning in Jammu and Kashmir ends forever... Our four brave police personnel sacrificed their lives, but many innocent lives were saved... For the last 3-4 years, everyone has seen such incidents in many areas of Jammu..." The operation began on March 23, when locals reported the sighting of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal. Security forces, including the J&K Police, Army, BSF, and CRPF, launched a search operation, leading to an initial exchange of fire. (ANI). Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday admitted that joining the Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) twice was a mistake and assured that it would never happen again. The Bihar CM also credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his political rise and reaffirmed his commitment to the NDA, highlighting the state government's efforts in development and women's empowerment. Speaking at a public event in Patna, Kumar said, "We made a mistake by going there (Mahagathbandhan) twice. Now we have decided that this will never happen again. This is wrong. Who made me the Chief Minister? Atal Bihari Vajpayee made me the Chief Minister. How can we forget?" He said that in Panchayat Raj in 2006 and civic bodies in 2007, the state government started the polls, and in that, they worked for women's empowerment. "Four elections have been over, and in many places, the representation of women is more than 50 percent. Earlier, nothing was done for women. We took a loan from World Bank and expanded the Self Help Group and named it as Jeevika. We have decided that in urban areas, Jeevika would be introduced. We are working for all sections of the society," he said. Kumar also acknowledged the central government's role in Bihar's development. "In the budget, special financial assistance has been given to Bihar in the sector of infrastructure, industry, flood control, health, and tourism and in 2025, the establishment of Makhana Board and the development of airports have been announced. Two big projects, the Kosi river project and Patna-Ara-Sasaram four lane corridor project have been approved," he said. "Before 2005, no one used to get out of their houses after evening, and there used to be communal violence. No work on education was done. There were no proper health facilities," he said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at the residence of CM Nitish Kumar for the NDA meeting on Sunday. Amit Shah attended the Inauguration and foundation stone laying of various schemes of the central government and state government of the corporation department in Patna. Shah, on Sunday, slammed former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, calling his 1990-2005 tenure an era of "Jungle Raj" and accusing his government of corruption and misgovernance, particularly citing the fodder scam. "What did Lalu Yadav's government do in Bihar from 1990 to 2005? Lalu Yadav's government defamed Bihar in the country and the world by doing a fodder scam in the entire state. His government will always be known as 'Jungle Raj' in the history of Bihar," the Home Minister said. Ahead of his address, Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Bihar. (ANI) At least six people died, and five were injured after a hollow tree was uprooted near the Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib parking area in Kullu on Sunday. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kullu, Ashwani Kumar, said, "Six people died, and five were injured after trees were uprooted near Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara parking in Kullu. Police and rescue teams of the district administration have shifted five injured to the local community hospital at Jari." Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur stated that three victims have been identified. He said, "Two people were locals, and four were from outside. A few others have also been affected by the incident. Near the Manikaran Gurudwara, a tree was uprooted. Dead bodies are being brought to the district hospital. Four injured have been brought to the district hospital. Police administration is present at the site." Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep grief over the incident, said an official statement from the Himachal CMO. The Chief Minister directed the district administration to extend all possible assistance to the victims and their families. He also instructed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. Expressing his condolences, the Chief Minister prayed for the peace of the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. He also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the incident. CM Sukhu also assured the people that the state government stands firmly with the affected people in this hour of grief. (ANI) The Indian Army and Assam Rifles launched information-based operations in the Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Senapati, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts of Manipur between 26 March and 29 March, as per an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Twenty-nine weapons, Improvised Devices, grenades, ammunition, and other war-like stores have been recovered in the operations, the statement said. The operations were conducted in coordination with Manipur Police, CRPF, BSF and ITBP. Acting on specific intelligence of presence of arms and ammunition in general area NP Kholen in Kangpokpi district, Indian Army and Manipur Police launched a joint operation on 26 March 2025 and recovered four weapons comprising two AK series weapons, one Carbine and one 7.62 mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR), ammunition and war like stores, said Ministry of Defence in its statement On 27 March 2025, acting upon suspicious movement of individuals in Parbung, Tengnoupal district, troops swiftly established a cordon and sanitized the area and in ensuing search operation discovered freshly dug earth camouflaged with stones and leaves. A detailed search using a Deep Search Metal Detector (DSMD) confirmed the presence of buried metal. Upon excavation, three Improvised Mortars (Pompis) and three Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered. In Chingdong Leikai in Jiribam district, Assam Rifles, CRPF and Manipur Police launched a joint operation on 27 March 2025 and recovered three INSAS rifles and two 7.62 mm SLRs, ammunition and war-like stores, the statement added. On 28 March 2025, the Army recovered one rifle, one Carbine, two sniper rifles, two Pistols, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), grenades, ammunition and war-like stores from Naranseina, Bishnupur district. Similarly, in Molnom of Chandel district, Army and Assam Rifles recovered three improvised mortars and two pistols on 29 March 2025 whereas in Senapati district Assam Rifles recovered four Single Barrel Bolt Action Rifles, one Pistol with magazine, 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, an improvised projectile launcher, and three live grenades with fuses from Changobung. The recovered items have been handed over to the Manipur Police. These coordinated efforts by security forces highlight their unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security in Manipur. (ANI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday expressed concern over the growing drug problem in India, particularly in Kerala, describing it as "spiralling out of control." She called it a major threat to the nation and emphasized the need for urgent action. "India is facing a drug crisis. Over 2.3 crore people are trapped in opioid addiction, and 1 crore struggle with inhalant abuse--a threat to an entire generation. In Kerala, the drug menace is spiraling out of control, destroying young lives, fueling crime, and tearing families apart. We cannot stay silent," the Wayanad MP wrote in a post on X. She expressed her support for the "Nammal Jayikkum Lahari Tholkkum" movement, which aims to spread awareness, set up de-addiction centers, and provide counseling. "I stand with #NammalJayikkumLahariTholkkum--a movement to spread awareness, set up de-addiction centers and provide counseling. Together, we will fight this battle and reclaim our future!" she added. Earlier this month, Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala also expressed concerns over the Kerala government's handling of drug-related issues in the state. Speaking out on the matter, Chennithala said, "The state government is sleeping on the issue of drugs. I wonder why it is giving political patronage to the drug mafia in the state and not eradicating it." He pointed out the increasing violence and unrest, adding, "Such a progressive state of Kerala is witnessing killings and arson, is the government not taking any action?" Chennithala further accused the CPI(M)'s student wing, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), of being the primary organization responsible for spreading drugs in colleges and universities, stating, "The student wing of the CPI(M), known as SFI, is the main culprit in spreading drugs in colleges and universities." The MLA criticized the government's silence on the issue, stating that the lack of action is concerning and that urgent steps need to be taken. "The government must take action to dismantle the organization that spreads drugs," he concluded. (ANI) According to officials, a 36-year-old man, identified as Aziz Molla, son of the late Foju Molla, from Pandua, Kaji Mohalla, Hooghly district, was arrested on Nonadanga Road under the jurisdiction of Anandapur Police Station on Sunday, based on credible intelligence inputs. During a search, authorities recovered 10 improvised single-barrel firearms from a bag in his possession. In the same operation, a 32-year-old woman, Moyana Majhi, daughter of Sukhdeb Majhi, from Ketugram, Katwa, Burdwan district, who was accompanying Aziz Molla, was also detained at the location. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a single-shooter firearm from her possession, they said. According to sources in the STF Kolkata, a case will be registered under relevant sections of the law at the STF Police Station, Kolkata Police (KP). The detained individuals are scheduled to be produced in court on Monday, officials said. Further investigations are underway to determine possible connections behind the possession of these illegal firearms, they added. (ANI) Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of decades of neglect towards tribal communities, including indigenous Rabha people. Sonowal was campaigning for the BJP candidate Ajit Rabha, who is contesting from the 30 No. Bamunigaon Constituency in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) elections. Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "For decades, Congress misled the poor with empty slogans like 'Garibi Hatao' while failing to take real action. Tribal communities faced neglect and oppression whenever they asserted their rights. Corruption and inefficiency plagued Congress-led governments, depriving people of essential welfare benefits." "Instead of governance, they fostered misrule, denying the common people the fruits of development. In contrast, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India is witnessing inclusive growth, transparent governance, and true empowerment of the marginalised. Under the BJP government, there is peace, progress and prosperity. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, we have witnessed what is possibly the golden decade of development," he added. Highlighting Assam's transformation under the BJP-led governance, Sarbananda Sonowal pointed out improvements in agriculture, youth employment, and women's empowerment. He noted that India's rise to the world's fifth-largest economy is fueling aspirations to become a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. "Under Modi Ji's visionary leadership, Northeast India is emerging as a powerhouse of self-reliance and economic growth. Congress left this region behind with insurgency, corruption, and misrule, but BJP's double-engine government has revolutionised connectivity, reduced travel time, and integrated the Northeast with the national economy," Sonowal said. He urged voters to support the BJP and its allies for continued progress, emphasising that the Modi government's commitment to the Northeast is "unwavering and built on trust, not tokenism." "Congress is a breeding ground for corruption, with nepotism and mis-governance running through its veins. In contrast, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's leadership, our government has redefined nation-building through good governance and inclusive development. Today, Modiji's government ensures free food for 80 crore people. Under Congress, India's economy was ranked 11th; now, under Modi, we have risen and become the 5th largest economy in the world," he said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has also directed central ministers to visit the Northeast every 15 days, emphasising the region's importance. Despite ruling for decades, Congress failed to uplift the poor and instead looted their wealth. In contrast, the Narendra Modi-led government has improved the living standards of 25 crore people below the poverty line. The BJP Government in Assam has accelerated the state's development, attracting significant investment through Advantage Assam, opening new avenues for industries and employment. To continue this momentum and ensure good governance, I urge the people to vote overwhelmingly for the BJP-led alliance in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council elections. I am here to campaign for BJP's Ajit Rabha, a dynamic young leader. With your support, Bamunigaon's development will accelerate," Sonowal added. (ANI) "The PM's gift will take the state towards development... 10 lakh homes were already approved, and 3 lakh homes have already been allotted," Choudhary told ANI. Earlier today, during his visit to Bilaspur, PM Modi launched several major development projects in, worth over Rs 33,700 crore, spanning sectors such as power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing. PM Modi also distributed keys to beneficiaries under the PM Awas Yojana. The Prime Minister also flagged off the MEMU train service on the Abhanpur-Raipur rail section and dedicated the complete electrification of the Indian Railways network in the state. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of NTPC's Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1x800MW) in Bilaspur, worth over Rs 9,790 crore. He also dedicated three power transmission projects of POWERGRID under the Western Region Expansion Scheme (WRES) worth over Rs 560 crore. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)'s City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in the Korea, Surajpur, Balrampur, and Surguja districts. He also laid the foundation stone of the Visakh-Raipur Pipeline (VRPL) project of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), spanning 540 km and worth over Rs 2210 crore. He also announced the upgrading of the Kondagaon-Narayanpur section of NH-130D (47.5 km) to two lanes with a paved shoulder. The Prime Minister also dedicated two flagship educational initiatives: 130 PM SHRI schools across 29 districts in the state and the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) at Raipur. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai felicitated PM Modi with a traditional shawl of the state and an idol of Maa Bilasa made of bell metal, after whom Bilaspur City is named. (ANI) The Crime Branch of, Delhi police has arrested a notorious criminal wanted in two cases of Arms act and theft cases from Jahagirpuri, and he was also involved in 50 cases of attempt to murder, robbery, snatching and NDPS, Delhi police said. The notorious criminal Rajan alias Rahul (40 years) is a resident of Jahagirpuri, Delhi. According to Delhi Police, on 29 March, secret information was received that accused Rajan alias Rahul, who is wanted and declared a proclaimed offender in two cases of Uttam Nagar police station and Janakpuri police station, is residing in the Jahagirpuri area and could be apprehended from there. Accordingly, a raid was conducted and Rajan was apprehended from the area of Jahagirpuri, Delhi. To evade his arrest, the accused was frequently changed his place of stay and shifted on rent in Jahagirpuri, Delhi, along with his family members. Delhi police further said that on September 5 at about 9.30 am, the complainant was going to her home from a medical shop. When the complainant parked her Scooty in front of a school, suddenly two persons came from behind on a motorcycle and stole her bag containing some important documents, i.e., voter card, ATM card, Doctor slip and gold chain of 15 gms and Rs 300 cash and ran away. In this regard case U/s 379/34 IPC was registered at Janakpuri PS, Delhi and the main accused was arrested in this case and released on bail. The accused was declared proclaimed offender vide order dated March 27 by the lower court, when he did not appear in Court. On September 7, 2013, at about 8 pm, a trap was laid down a lane near the metro station West Uttam Nagar by the Police and the accused was apprehended on a motorcycle. A country-made pistol (315 bore) along with 1 live cartridge were recovered from his possession. In this regard, FIR was registered in PS Uttam Nagar, Delhi. Proceeding U/s 82 Cr.P.C. has been initiated against the accused vide order dated November 25, 2024, by the Lower Court, when he did not appear in Court. The accused has studied up to 10th class from Jahagirpuri, Delhi. Due to the poor financial condition of his family, he left his studies and started working in transport line along with his father. Thereafter, he came into contact with habitual criminals in the area and started committing armed robbery and snatching. (ANI) In a move to strengthen the connectivity across the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday dedicated a restored and repurposed bridge over the Kopili river at Kampur at a function held at Kampur in Nagaon district. It may be noted that, Government of Assam restored and repurposed the bridge, which was built in 1958-59, into a pedestrian bridge and walking zone. CMSarma dedicated the bridge to the public, thereby enhancing pedestrian safety and creating a vibrant recreational space for the area. He also inaugurated a newly constructed bridge nearby, further strengthening connectivity. Sarma, during his visit to the district, also laid the foundation stone for police stations in Kampur, Kachua, Jamunamukh, Samaguri and Khatowal with a total project cost of Rs 18.33 crore. Moreover, the Chief Minister announced an additional sanction of Rs. 10 crore for the under-construction stadium in Kampur. Sarma also dedicated the Kampur Railway over bridge involving Rs. 63 crore. It may be noted that the Kampur Kopili bridge, measuring 160 metres, was constructed by Gammon India and it was inaugurated by the then Minister of Town and Country Planning, Motiram Bor, connecting north and south of Kampur in 1958-59. The bridge was shown in one of the scenes of the film "Kokadeuta Nati aur Hati", featuring Himanta Biswa Sarma, then a student of Class VI. However, with time, the bridge became inefficient in handling the increasing number of vehicles. Therefore, the State government under the SOPD fund of the financial year 2018-19 decided to construct another bridge parallel to the earlier bridge. The Chief Minister inaugurated the restored and repurposed bridge, conceding the long demand of the people, as he could not help but recreate the cult scene when he rode on the back of an elephant to cross the river using the bridge. Speaking at a programme held at Barhampur, Sarma said that the inauguration and laying foundation of infrastructure projects have brought about a new momentum of development in Barhampur. "We are connecting Assam with one bridge at a time. We are building 1,000 bridges across the state, cutting across geographic hurdles, to provide last-mile connectivity to the people. Kampur Kopili Bridge brings a wave of nostalgia as it is in this very location, I rode an elephant years back for the film Kokadeuta Nati aur Hati," he said. The Chief Minister also said that, State government is also exploring new ventures on the land of the defunct sugar mill and very soon the government would come up with a concrete plan. The Chief Minister said that as per its commitment, the State government has been working to establish medical college, universities, bridges, etc, in every district of the state. "In every field, Assam has treaded a new path of development. People living below the poverty line are seeing the ray of hope as unemployed youth have found a sense of purpose in their lives," the Chief Minister said. Water Resources, Minister Pijush Hazarika, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MLA Jitu Goswami, CEM KAAC Tuliram Ronghang, CEM Tiwa Autonomous Council Jiban Chandra Konwar and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Earlier, Sarma also visited the Nonoi Sariyatholi Baregoyan Samaj Mandir and offered his prayers to Gurujona for the well-being of all. Considering the important role played by the Baregoyan Samaj in promoting art, culture and spirituality in the State, Sarma announced Rs 1 crore to support Bhaona and further enhancement of the cultural and spiritual activities in the area. Moreover, as a part of the celebration of 2025 as the Year of Books, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also dedicated the renovated Bapuji Hall and Library in Nagaon today. This library was originally established in 1948 and has been a centre of learning for over seven decades. To support its further development, the Assam Government will provide Rs 1 crore to complete the remaining works, the Chief Minister added. Earlier on Sunday, Sarma, on his way to Nagaon, joined the fellow karyakartas in Nij Demow to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat. He said it was an enlightening episode, as he thoroughly enjoyed the episode. (ANI) Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and Navratri, the Delhi Police launched a special drive against errant motorists across the South District of the national capital, seizing 579 vehicles and catching 1,217 motorists for various traffic rule violations, officials said on Sunday. As part of strict security measures across the South District, the police also removed illegal black films from 76 four-wheelers, DCP South Ankit Chauhan told ANI. To ensure heightened security, Delhi Police set up 116 pickets, deployed 580 personnel, and stationed 85 patrolling bikes in the last 24 hours. Surprise checks are ongoing, officials said. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar held a review meeting on Thursday with senior state officers regarding security measures for the upcoming Eid and Ram Navami festivals. The meeting, conducted via video conferencing, led to instructions for officials to divide the district into sectors and zones, with magistrates and equivalent police officers assigned to each. According to a release, the DGP asserted that on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and Ram Navami festivals, the district should be divided into sectors and zones, with magistrates and equivalent police officers assigned duties in each sector and zone. An adequate police force, along with police pickets, static magistrates, and gazetted officers, should be deployed at highly sensitive locations. He also said that rooftop duties should be assigned at sensitive locations with the necessary equipment, and employees should be provided with vernacular handsets as required. All hot spots should be identified to ensure proper police arrangements. Foot patrolling should be conducted in markets, crowded areas, and important commercial establishments. Regular anti-sabotage checks should be carried out by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and sniffer dogs. Adequate fire safety arrangements should be ensured in markets, the release stated. (ANI) Punjab Police has arrested one more accused in connection with the case of an attack on a YouTuber's house in Jalandhar, taking the total arrests in this case to seven. According to a release, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that acting on credible intelligence, Jalandhar Rural Police apprehended the accused, identified as Maninder alias Bobby, a resident of Alichak in Jalandhar, from Chandigarh Airport. As per the information, some individuals had attacked YouTuber and social media influencer Roger Sandhu's house located in Raipur Rasoolpur village in Jalandhar on the intervening night of March 15 and 16, 2025. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that accused Maninder had arranged weapons and handed over to accused Rohit Basra, who further provided to Amritpreet and Dheeraj on March 8 at Jandu Singha. The arrested accused Maninder has been facing multiple cases under the Arms Act, he added. The DGP said that further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full network. The development came days after Jalandhar Rural Police arrested six accused persons involved in this case, including Amritpreet Singh alias Sukha, Hardik Kamboj, Dheeraj Kumar, Santosh Kumar alias Panday, Lachhmi and Rohit Basra. Police teams have also recovered one hand grenade, two .32 bore pistols, along with ammunition and three motorcycles from their possession. Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jalandhar Rural Gurmeet Singh said that following reliable inputs that the accused Maninder was expected to arrive at Chandigarh Airport, police teams from Jalandhar Rural were immediately dispatched to Chandigarh and successfully arrested the accused upon his arrival. He said that further investigations are ongoing in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days, he added. (ANI) A peace meeting was held in Malda at the district level on Sunday ahead of Eid festivities as well as Ram Navami festivities following the recent violence between two groups in Mothabari area of West Bengal. Public representatives and all stakeholders were invited to attend the meeting. SP Malda Pradeep Kumar Yadav said, "Today we held a peace meeting at the district level in which public representatives and all stakeholders were invited. Religious and financial institutions, as well as social personalities, were asked to participate and all stakeholders readily participated in this and everyone committed to discuss and resolve the issues. We had a very fruitful meeting where everyone committed that they will take care of the Eid festivities as well as Ram Navami festivities." He further said that their would be further meetings ahead of Ram Navami festival. "We already had block level meetings, gram panchayat level meetings and micro-level meeting for both the festivals. At present we have made 63 arrests in the cases, police patrolling is going on. We have two CEO rank officers, 4 additional SPs, 12 DSPs. Situation is under control. We are conducting route marches and countering fake messages," he added. Earlier BJP state President and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar was stopped by police while he was on his way to the violence-affected Mothabari (Malda). On Saturday Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Jawed Shamim said that the situation is completely under control and 61 people have been arrested. Speaking to ANI, ADG Jawed Shamim said, "The situation in Mothabari is completely under control. Till now, 19 cases have been registered, and 61 people have been arrested in this matter...Soon, the situation will be completely normal. Today, there have been no incidents (of violence) in the region." IGP North Bengal Region, Rajesh Kumar Yadav said that more than three companies of the forces have been deployed. Rajesh Kumar Yadav said, "The situation in Mothabari is now peaceful. We have deployed more than 3 companies of the forces. The specialised forces from the state headquarters are deployed, and they are patrolling the area. We have already made more than 50 arrests in this case, and the investigation is proceeding. Shops have started opening." Sukanta Majumdar blamed the administration and the police for the clashes. Sukanta Majumdar said, "If they (the state govt) will stop us from visiting Mothabari (Malda), we will protest. If they have imposed section 163 there - we will follow that, we have this democratic right with us that we can visit there; a group of over five people are prohibited, and hence, two of us can go. The administration here is very weak; otherwise, no one dares to commit such a crime in the BJP-ruled states." BJP held a protest against Mothabari (Malda) incident on Friday. BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said, "This is Mamata Banerjee's failure. She has reached the peak of appeasement politics. Such incidents have been regularized over Hindu festivals. Mamata Banerjee instilled courage in people to say Hindus would not be allowed to stay in India. She praises British rule when in England. Till this dictatorship is removed from the state, Hindus cannot survive in the state. Police should understand that this will not go on for long, if such incidents are not taken cognizance of, people's dissatisfaction will rise." Internet was suspended in three areas after the clashes, which broke out on March 27. (ANI) Following the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting held at the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, minister and son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, Santosh Kumar Suman, stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the need for the NDA to fight the upcoming Bihar elections unitedly. Santosh Kumar Suman said, "CM Nitish Kumar is the face of the government and the top leaders of the NDA have also said that we will fight the elections under his leadership. It is natural that if we fight the elections under his leadership and we get a majority, he will become the CM. Union Home Minister came to Bihar and all the top leaders of Bihar NDA held a meeting under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar." He further said that the visit by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah was a courtesy call. "There was a discussion on the development of Bihar, strengthening the organization and the unity of the NDA. The Home Minister had only one mantra, that we all should fight together as NDA. All workers should work as NDA workers. There was a discussion on how to win the maximum number of seats," he further added. Earlier, CM Nitish Kumar admitted that joining the Mahagathbandhan (INDIA bloc) twice was a mistake and assured that it would never happen again. The Bihar CM also credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his political rise and reaffirmed his commitment to the NDA, highlighting the state government's efforts in development and women's empowerment. Speaking at a public event in Patna, Kumar said, "We made a mistake by going there (Mahagathbandhan) twice. Now we have decided that this will never happen again. This is wrong. Who made me the Chief Minister? Atal Bihari Vajpayee made me the Chief Minister. How can we forget?" He said that in Panchayat Raj in 2006 and civic bodies in 2007, the state government started the polls, and in that, they worked for women's empowerment. "Four elections have been over, and in many places, the representation of women is more than 50 percent. Earlier, nothing was done for women. We took a loan from World Bank and expanded the Self Help Group and named it as Jeevika. We have decided that in urban areas, Jeevika would be introduced. We are working for all sections of the society," he said. Kumar also acknowledged the central government's role in Bihar's development. "In the budget, special financial assistance has been given to Bihar in the sector of infrastructure, industry, flood control, health, and tourism and in 2025, the establishment of Makhana Board and the development of airports have been announced. Two big projects, the Kosi river project and Patna-Ara-Sasaram four lane corridor project have been approved," he said." Before 2005, no one used to go out of their houses after evening, and there used to be communal violence. No work on education was done. There were no proper health facilities," he said. Union Home Amit Shah attended the inauguration and foundation stone laying of various schemes of the central government and state government of the corporation department in Patna. (ANI) The Crime Branch of Delhi Police successfully apprehended Rajan alias Rahul, a notorious criminal from the Jahagirpuri area, Delhi, on Sunday. The 40-year-old Rajan had been absconding and was wanted in connection with two cases under the Arms Act and theft at Police Station (PS) Uttam Nagar and Janakpuri, according to a statement from the Delhi Police. Additionally, he has been involved in over 50 other cases, including an attempt to murder, robbery, snatching, and offenses related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS). According to Delhi police, the arrest followed a tip-off received on March 29 regarding Rajan's whereabouts in Jahagirpuri. Upon receiving the information, the police quickly launched a raid and apprehended him. Rajan had been evading arrest for a long time by frequently changing his place of residence. He had recently taken up residence in Jahagirpuri with his family and was renting a place to stay. Rajan's criminal history dates back to multiple incidents. On September 5, 2013, a woman became the victim of a theft near a school in Janakpuri, Delhi. She was targeted by two men on a motorcycle who snatched her purse containing a voter card, an ATM card, a doctor's prescription, a 15-gram gold chain, and Rs 300 in cash. The case was registered under Section 379/34 Indian Penal Code (IPC) at PS Janakpuri, and Rajan was later arrested after the stolen items were recovered from him. In another case, on September 7, 2013, a trap was set by the police near the West Uttam Nagar metro station. Rajan, riding a motorcycle, was arrested after a country-made pistol and a live cartridge were found in his possession. This led to the registration of FIR No.493/13 under Section 25 of the Arms Act at PS Uttam Nagar. When Rajan failed to appear in court, the court declared him a proclaimed offender in both cases. Rajan alias Rahul, a resident of Jahagirpuri, has studied up to the 10th grade. Due to his family's financial struggles, he left school and worked in the transport industry alongside his father. However, he later became involved in criminal activities, committing armed robbery and snatching. Currently, Rajan is reported to be working as an auto driver in the Jahagirpuri area. (ANI) Hamas has accepted a new proposal put forward by Egypt to release five hostages, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire, CNN reported, citing a Hamas source statement. The Egyptian proposal is similar to one presented earlier by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. However, it is unclear whether this new proposal also includes the release of additional bodies of deceased hostages. In exchange for the release of the five hostages, Hamas expects a return to phase 1 ceasefire conditions, including the entry of humanitarian aid, as well as an agreement to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, the source said. Israel responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States," the office said. According to Israeli media reports, the initiative would allow for a truce in Gaza in exchange for releasing five Israeli captives. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Hamas earlier this week that Israel would maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza unless the hostages are released, CNN reported. The wobbly ceasefire collapsed on Tuesday when Israel bombarded Gaza, shattering two months of calm that also saw dozens of hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, as per CNN. On Friday, Katz said that he'd instructed the Israeli military "to seize additional areas in Gaza, while evacuating the population, and to expand the security zones around Gaza in order to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel." "The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel," he added, CNN reported. Earlier this month, Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza, enforcing a complete blockade on humanitarian aid entering the region. The Israeli government has warned that its forces will maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of 24 hostages believed to be alive. According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 50,277 Palestinians have been killed and another 114,095 injured since Israel's military offensive began in the enclave, following deadly terror attacks launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023. (ANI) Faye Hall, an American woman detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since February, has been released and is reported to be in "good health," CNN reported, citing a source statement. Hall was detained for allegedly operating a drone without authorization. According to the source, Faye Hall was released Thursday "following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar," which has been mediating on behalf of the United States. The source further added, "Hall was received at the Qatari Embassy in Kabul and has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks. Arrangements are currently underway for her return to the United States." https://x.com/realZalmayMK/status/1906021314013347843 Sharing a picture of Hall on X, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US' former ambassador to Afghanistan, wrote, "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home. Thank you, #Qatar, for your ongoing and steadfast partnership." This development comes after a diplomatic push by Trump envoy Adam Boehler and Khalilzad, who traveled to Kabul to secure the release of American citizen George Glezmann, which was also mediated by the Qataris. According to CNN, the US does not have a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, having closed its embassy there after the Taliban takeover in August 2022. Instead, Qatar represents the US in Afghanistan, acting as its "protective power." On Saturday, President Donald Trump shared a video on social media of Hall, who expressed her gratitude and said she was "so glad" he was in office. "Thank you for bringing me home. I've never been so proud to be an American citizen," Hall said in the video posted by Trump. "Thank you, Faye -- So honored by your words!" Trump's post read. (ANI) Protesters across the United States and Europe have gathered outside Tesla dealerships to express their opposition to billionaire Elon Musk's involvement in the US government, Al Jazeera reported. Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has faced criticism for his efforts to cut government spending and access sensitive data. The protests, organised by a group including disgruntled Tesla owners, celebrities, and a Democratic lawmaker, aim to pressure Musk to resign from his government position. Saturday's demonstrations marked the first coordinated effort to target all 277 Tesla locations in the US, as per Al Jazeera. In New York City, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Manhattan Tesla store, demanding Musk's resignation. These demonstrations coincide with a decline in Tesla sales, which the organizers hope to exacerbate further. The protesters were gathered at the call of environmentalists from Planet Over Profit, who believe that "stopping Musk will save lives and protect our democracy." According to Al Jazeera, for Amy Neifeld, a 70-year-old American psychologist who had not taken to the streets since the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1970s, Elon Musk is leading the United States towards "fascism." "I'm Jewish, and I grew up with a deep awareness of what fascism is. And it's only gotten worse since the election" of Donald Trump," she told the AFP news agency. "We have to do something very quickly because he's moving very quickly," Neifeld added. In London, about two dozen protesters held signs lambasting Musk outside a Tesla dealership as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support. One of the signs displayed at the London protest showed a photo of Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute -- a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump's January 20 inauguration. Some people opposed to Musk have gone beyond protests and set Tesla vehicles on fire and committed other acts of vandalism that US Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried as "domestic terrorism". Musk indicated he was dumbfounded by the attacks during a March 20 company meeting and said the vandals should "stop acting psycho". (ANI) Taiwan detected one sortie of Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese vessels until 6 am (local time) on Sunday, a statement by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said. As per the MND, the sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone). https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1906149378768945533 In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, "1 sortie of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1905787515300385196 Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan detected one sortie of Chinese aircraft, eight Chinese vessels and one official ship. "1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and one official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie entered Taiwan's eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan MND wrote on X. In recent weeks, China has been visibly boosting its ability to invade Taiwan with innovative new naval equipment. This includes the formal launching of an enormous landing helicopter assault (LHA) vessel, the likes of which no other navy in the world possesses, and the mass production of floating bridge docks to assist the unloading of ships during beach landings. Both types of equipment are strong indications that China is serious about one day invading Taiwan. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence. (ANI) American citizen Faye Hall, who was recently freed from Taliban captivity, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to US President Donald Trump in a message released on Saturday (local time). In a video message shared by The White House on X, Hall said that she was "glad" that Trump was president and thanked him for bringing her back "home". "I'm glad you're the President, and thank you for bringing me home. I have never been so proud to be an American citizen. Thank you, Mr President," Hall said, crediting Trump for her release. Reflecting on her time as a captive under the Taliban, she said that the women who were present with her in the Afghan jail saw Trump as a "saviour" and that they were waiting for him to come and release them from the Taliban's captivity. "And I just want you to know that all the women in the Afghan jail, they always ask me, 'When is Trump coming?' They treat you like their saviour. They are waiting for you to come and set them free," Hall added. Faye Hall, an American woman detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since February, was released and is reported to be in "good health", CNN reported, citing a source statement. According to CNN, citing sources, Hall was detained for allegedly operating a drone without authorization and was released on Thursday "following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar", which has been mediating on behalf of the United States. The source further added, "Hall was received at the Qatari Embassy in Kabul and has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks. Arrangements are currently underway for her return to the United States." Sharing a picture of Hall on X, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US' former ambassador to Afghanistan, wrote, "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home. Thank you, #Qatar, for your ongoing and steadfast partnership." This development comes after a diplomatic push by Trump envoy Adam Boehler and Khalilzad, who travelled to Kabul to secure the release of American citizen George Glezmann, which was also mediated by the Qataris. According to CNN, the US does not have a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, having closed its embassy there after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Instead, Qatar represents the US in Afghanistan, acting as its "protective power". (ANI) The Warring tribes in the Kurram district of Pakistan have reached an eight-month peace agreement, ARY News reported on Saturday. This agreement marks a significant milestone for peace just before Eid-ul-Fitr 2025. According to ARY News, the agreement, brokered by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, aims to establish a lasting ceasefire and reopen the Tull-Parachinar main highway, which had been closed for a long time, connecting Peshawar and Kurram. Both sides have agreed to resolve their issues through dialogue and negotiations, ensuring peace and maintaining law and order. They also committed to cooperating fully with the government and security forces. ARY News reported that Chief Minister Gandapur praised the agreement as an important step toward peace and stability in the province. He assured that the provincial government will continue to work with the parties to ensure long-term peace while also focusing on development projects to improve travel and economic opportunities for the local population. In a related incident in February, a convoy of 100 vehicles carrying relief goods was attacked in Kurram. Unknown assailants opened fire on the convoy in the Bagan Ochat area, though no injuries were reported, as per ARY News, citing local police. Security forces responded swiftly, and the convoy continued its journey under tight security. Additionally, security forces took control of Bagan Bazaar in the region to restore order in the area. During this operation, several bunkers belonging to the Watezai and Tori tribes in Irfani Kalay were vacated. A search operation has been launched to capture those responsible for the attack on the convoy. Earlier in February, Gandapur claimed that the ongoing conflict in the Kurram tribal district is being fuelled by foreign elements rather than a simple land dispute. He alleged that external forces were supplying weapons and explosives to intensify sectarian tensions in the region, as reported by Dawn. According to him, these forces were investing in the conflict with the intention of spreading it beyond Kurram. The Chief Minister said the government was taking active measures to control the situation and had recently approved PKR 2 billion to install CCTV cameras and establish security pickets along the Peshawar-Kurram route. Additionally, he announced head money for individuals involved in the violence and assured strict action against them. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also reported that over 150 bunkers had been demolished in Kurram as part of an ongoing effort to dismantle militant positions, as reported by Dawn. (ANI) Taiwan on Friday received the first of its long-awaited 66 F-16C/D Block 70 jets from the US during a delivery ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's factory in the US's Greenville, South Carolina, Taipei Times reported on Sunday. According to Taipei Times, Taiwan's Deputy Minister of National Defence Po Horng-huei and Representative to the US Alexander Yui attended the event. US Representative William Timmons also expressed pride in supporting Taiwan's air defence capabilities, sharing a photo of the ceremony on X. "We are so proud to be the global home of the F-16 and to support Taiwan's air defence capabilities," he said, taking to X as quoted by Taipei Times. The F-16C/D Block 70 jets delivered to Taiwan have similar capabilities to those of the F-16Vs after upgrades, as per the Taipei Times. The jets will be assigned to Taiwan's newly formed 7th Tactical Fighter Wing, which will focus on defending the eastern region of the island. In January, Taiwanese President William Lai noted that two of the three tactical groups in the wing had already been staffed and were awaiting the jets' arrival. Taipei Times reported that the F-16C/D Block 70 is expected to be the last version of Lockheed Martin's F-16, as the US and its allies transition to F-35 stealth fighters. Key features of the F-16C/D Block 70 jets include AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned arrays, AN/ALQ-254(V)1 all-digital electronic warfare suites, conformal fuel tanks, and upgraded mission computers, cockpits, and interface systems. The aircraft are capable of firing AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles and various ground attack munitions, such as anti-radiation missiles, GPS-guided bombs, and the long-range AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon glide bombs recently acquired by Taiwan. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence expressed gratitude to US government agencies for making the delivery possible and highlighted Washington's commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and the "six assurances". These assurances, set in 1982, ensure that the US will not set a date to end arms sales to Taiwan or consult with China on such sales. The Ministry also stated that it is working with the US to ensure the jets are delivered on time, addressing concerns over production delays that have affected the procurement process. According to the Taipei Times, citing Defence expert Mei Fu-hsing, while the jets are expected to be equipped with the advanced AN/ALQ-254(V)1 electronic warfare suite, the first jet delivered may lack this feature. Taiwan may need to retrofit the jet with the older ALQ-184(V) electronic warfare system as a substitute. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 30 (ANI/WAM): The 24th evacuation flight has arrived in the United Arab Emirates at dawn on Friday - in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) - carrying 81 injured people and cancer patients from the Gaza Strip, half of whom are children. The patients departed from Ramon airport in Israel via Karam Abu Salam crossing to receive medical treatment in the country's hospitals, accompanied by approximately 107 family members. The urgent evacuation is in line with the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide medical treatment for 1,000 Palestinian children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip in the UAE's hospitals. Upon the plane's arrival, medical teams initiated the process of transferring the critically wounded and injured patients whose cases required immediate medical attention. The remaining cases and family members were transferred to the Emirates Humanitarian City, where they will be staying. This initiative is part of the UAE's historic support of the Palestinian people, reflecting the UAE's commitment to assist the people of Gaza during the ongoing crisis. The UAE's humanitarian initiatives contribute to mitigating the catastrophic repercussions endured by the residents of the Strip, particularly children, women, and the elderly. Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Vice Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, said, "The UAE's efforts to continuously conduct medical evacuations demonstrate the country's unwavering commitment to supplying advanced medical treatment for injured Palestinians and contributing humanitarian support during the critical conditions endured by residents in the Strip." Al Shamsi reaffirmed that, "The UAE will continue to work extensively alongside international partners and the UN to intensify efforts aimed at alleviating this disaster and humanitarian suffering." The UAE has been keen - since the onset of the crisis - on facilitating medical treatment for the injured people and all residents of Gaza through the establishment of the UAE field hospital in the southern Gaza Strip and the floating hospital ship anchored in Egypt's Al-Arish Port, in addition to supporting hospitals in Gaza by providing medical equipment, medication, and supplies. Since the outbreak of the crisis, the UAE immediately provided humanitarian assistance and supplies, as well as urgent relief aid to the Gaza Strip. These initiatives demonstrate the UAE's continued efforts to mitigate the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip at a swift pace and in a coordinated manner to alleviate the negative repercussions of the worsening humanitarian crisis. (ANI/WAM) Manzoor Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist, delivered a powerful speech urging the council to address the dire human rights violations occurring in Balochistan during the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. In a post on X, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) stated, "During the 58th Human Rights Council session, Manzoor Baloch urged the council to take notice of human rights violations being perpetrated by Pakistan in Balochistan." Manzoor highlighted the ongoing suffering of displaced Baloch refugees and internally displaced persons who have fled from the region due to systemic oppression and violence. Baloch began his address by shedding light on the difficult conditions faced by thousands of Baloch people who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. According to Baloch, instead of finding safety, these refugees have been subjected to harassment, violence, and targeted attacks. He pointed out that these abuses often occur in cooperation with Pakistani authorities, further trapping refugees in a cycle of hostility and intimidation, as highlighted by BNM. "Instead of finding refuge, they are treated with hostility and intimidation and denied basic protection," Baloch said, emphasising the helplessness of Baloch refugees who are caught between the oppression in their homeland and the mistreatment they face in host countries. Many refugees, he argued, are denied basic rights and are unregistered with international organisations, leaving them without critical assistance. Baloch also criticised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for failing to acknowledge the plight of Baloch refugees. He pointed out that the UNHCR has yet to conduct a mission to Balochistan, a region where widespread displacement is a result of military oppression, enforced disappearances, and violent crackdowns. According to Baloch, the UNHCR's lack of intervention has left the affected populations without the necessary support. Baloch revealed that families displaced by military operations and violence are living in squalid conditions without access to proper food, shelter, and healthcare. The ongoing abuses, including forced disappearances, further contribute to the suffering of these vulnerable populations. In his closing remarks, Baloch called on the Human Rights Council to urge the UNHCR to recognise Baloch refugees and take immediate action to address their dire needs. He emphasised the importance of conducting a mission to Balochistan to better understand the scale of the displacement and to provide much-needed support to the victims of the ongoing crisis. "We urge this council to call on the UNHCR to recognise Baloch refugees, conduct a mission to Balochistan, and take immediate action to address the needs of displaced people," Baloch stated. The call for international attention to the Balochistan crisis comes amid growing concerns over human rights abuses in the region, where many Baloch activists and civilians have been subjected to violence and persecution. (ANI) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) criticised China for launching a new online reporting system targeting individuals who advocate for "Taiwan independence" and their supporters, calling it a "comprehensive interference in Taiwan's internal affairs", as reported by Focus Taiwan. Liang Wen-chieh, Deputy Head and Spokesperson for the MAC, condemned the move, stating that China's actions aimed to meddle in Taiwan's politics and judicial processes. He stressed the importance of Taiwan remaining vigilant across all areas, Focus Taiwan cited. The criticism followed the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) in China after it introduced the reporting section on its official website on Wednesday. The section allows individuals to report those engaging in what China terms as "vile acts" related to advocating for Taiwan's independence and persecuting "Taiwan compatriots". According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the TAO accused certain organisations, officials, and online influencers of promoting Taiwan's independence and aiding aggressive actions against China. As of the evening, the TAO reported receiving 323 emails detailing alleged incidents such as threatening pro-unification groups and violating the rights of Chinese spouses in Taiwan, Focus Taiwan reported. Among those reportedly targeted were Taiwan's Interior Minister, Liu Shyh-fang, Taipei District Prosecutor, Lin Ta, and YouTubers Pa Chiung and Chen Po-yuan. The MAC's Liang noted potential connections between these individuals and the reported "vile acts". He suggested that Lin's involvement in national security cases might be a reason for his inclusion, while Liu's threat to dissolve pro-unification groups could explain her mention. The YouTubers had previously called for the deportation of Chinese spouses linked to pro-unification views, as reported by Focus Taiwan. Liang also pointed out that the TAO's list aimed to present the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a defender of pro-unification factions in Taiwan, expanding its influence from politicians and intellectuals to everyday citizens and media influencers. This new reporting initiative aligns with earlier statements by Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who called for greater support for pro-unification forces in Taiwan, as reported by Focus Taiwan. The criticism also follows the case of Fu Cha, a Taiwan publisher sentenced by Chinese authorities for promoting secession, highlighting China's broader crackdown on individuals opposing its stance on Taiwan. (ANI) The Pakistani government has finalised its plans to detain and deport Afghan citizens as the March 31 deadline for their voluntary return to Afghanistan approaches, Khaama Press reported on Saturday. According to Khaama Press, the move is part of Pakistan's strategy to address concerns about the growing presence of Afghan migrants in the country. A high-level meeting chaired by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday reviewed the arrangements for the repatriation of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. The meeting focused on ensuring the timely execution of the deadline and the logistics involved in the return process, as reported by Khaama Press. Despite appeals from the Afghan government and human rights organisations, Pakistan has refused to extend the deadline for the ACC holders' return and the Pakistani government had set the end of March as the deadline, and the expulsion will proceed as planned. Naqvi also mentioned that Talal Chaudhry, the State Minister for Interior in Pakistan, would visit provinces to address any potential challenges in the repatriation process, Khaama Press reported. As the deadline nears, Pakistani security forces have detained at least 932 Afghan migrants in Rawalpindi, further escalating the pressure surrounding the expulsion of Afghan migrants with ACC cards. According to Khaama Press, human rights groups have condemned Pakistan's decision to expel Afghan refugees, calling it a breach of international law and warning of a potential humanitarian crisis. They argue that many of these refugees, including human rights activists, political dissidents, and victims of gender-based violence, fled Afghanistan to escape persecution, and deportation could expose them to further harm. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concerns over the government's deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave by March 31, warning of a humanitarian disaster, Khaama Press reported. The commission highlighted that such forced repatriation violates international customary law and could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, such as women, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to halt the detentions and deportations, stressing that these actions violate the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face persecution. Deporting Afghan refugees, particularly women and girls, could deprive them of safety, education, and livelihood opportunities. In response to these developments, international organisations and advocacy groups are urging Pakistan to reconsider its deportation plans and honour its commitments to refugee protection, emphasising the importance of ensuring the safety and rights of Afghan refugees to avoid exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis. According to Khaama Press, Pakistan has set the deadline of March 31 for Afghan migrants, including those with ACC cards, to voluntarily leave the country. However, Afghan migrants holding "PoR" cards are not at risk of expulsion until June 30. This decision to handle the return of Afghan migrants, including the different categories of migrants, has sparked significant debate. It also underscores the challenges both countries face in managing cross-border migration while addressing the humanitarian concerns tied to the issue. (ANI) South Korean authorities on Sunday confirmed that the massive wildfires that devastated the North and South Gyeongsang provinces of the country last week have now been fully contained, Yonhap News Agency reported. According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong made the announcement during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), stating that the main fires in both provinces had been completely extinguished. "The wildfires are estimated to have caused the greatest loss of lives and property in our history," Ko said, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency. The wildfires began on March 21 in South Gyeongsang and on March 22 in North Gyeongsang, with the latter fully contained by Friday and the former controlled by Sunday. The devastating fires resulted in 75 casualties, including 30 deaths, and scorched approximately 48,000 hectares of land. Over 3,000 homes, 30 cultural heritage sites, and around 2,000 agricultural facilities were destroyed, Yonhap News Agency reported. To assist displaced residents and help them return to normal life, the South Korean government plans to establish temporary shelters at training centres and private facilities. Victims will also receive emergency relief funds and access to psychological and medical support. By Sunday afternoon, the fire in South Gyeongsang had been largely controlled, with military assistance in the form of 600 soldiers and 49 helicopters deployed to extinguish any remaining embers and provide aid, Yonhap News Agency reported. Authorities also reported that a 56-year-old man had been booked for allegedly starting the fire in North Gyeongsang on March 22 while performing an ancestral ritual at a family grave in Uiseong County. The fire spread rapidly across nearby regions, fuelled by gusty winds and dry conditions. The wildfires caused extensive damage, destroying around 4,000 structures, including the UNESCO World Heritage Goun Temple, homes, factories, and other facilities. The suspect has denied the charges. By Friday, the wildfires in North Gyeongsang were officially under control, though they reignited over the weekend. The fires, which burnt 48,000 hectares--roughly 80 per cent of the capital city Seoul's size--are considered the worst wildfire disaster in South Korea's history. The final remnants of the fire, still burning in a 200-metre stretch near Mount Jiri National Park, were largely contained by Sunday, with authorities using helicopters and personnel to extinguish the remaining flames. A joint investigation into the fires is set to begin next week, involving the National Institute of Forest Science, the National Forensic Service, and fire authorities. (ANI) Lawmakers from the Opposition and the ruling parties in Nepal's lower house, the House of Representatives, squabbled on Sunday over the issue of monarchy and the deposition of the electricity authority chief. A parliamentary meeting that started two hours late from the scheduled time of 11 am (local time) was disrupted by lawmakers debating over the two issues. House Speaker Devraj Ghimire requested that the lawmakers take their seats to continue the session, which the opposition lawmakers did not heed. Later, lawmakers from the ruling parties rose from their seats, alleging that the opposition lawmakers were hindering the session, fearing that incidents of violence on Friday might be raised in the Parliament. In a pool video released by the Parliament secretariat, which was partially muted, ruling party lawmakers demanded punishment for those who used the word "monarchy" in the meeting. Opposition lawmaker and Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RPP) Rajendra Lingden is seen in the video gesturing to come and arrest him. RPP has been at the forefront of the pro-monarchy protest, organising multiple shows of power, at times demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy. Sunday's session was not broadcast live. The Parliament Secretariat has cited "technical issues" for the failure in broadcasting the session, which has been adjourned following the squabble. The disturbance in the parliament follows Friday's violent protest, which claimed the lives of two people - a protestor and an on-duty video journalist. Dozens of others were injured, including the security forces, following the clash, which lasted for hours. Local authorities imposed a curfew in the area, after the violence which later spread across the capital, resulting in damage to vehicles, houses, businesses, and public properties. An investigation into the issue has been demanded by both the ruling and the opposition parties. Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for a meeting with parties present in the parliament at 6 pm (local time) today to discuss recent political developments. According to officials from the prime minister's secretariat, the right-wing Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) hasn't been invited to the meeting. According to Nepal Congress Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire, "the meeting has been convened to discuss recent political developments and matters related to the functioning of Parliament and the government." The meeting follows a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the leader of the main opposition. Opposition parties, including the Maoist Centre, have been obstructing the House of Representatives and the National Assembly since Wednesday over Kulman Ghising's dismissal as managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. The meeting is also expected to address Friday's pro-monarchy protests, which turned violent, leaving two people dead and several injured. Protesters were engaged in arson and vandalism in Kathmandu, demanding the restoration of the monarchy and Nepal's status as a Hindu state. The demonstrations were led by pro-royalist figures, including Nawaraj Subedi, controversial medical entrepreneur Durga Prasai, and senior leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Pro-republican forces have strongly condemned the violence, calling for strict action against those responsible and urging the government to form a high-level committee to investigate the incident. (ANI) India has launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar in the wake of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with Indian Navy ships carrying relief material sailing for Yangon, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Sunday. Under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs, the HADR efforts are being progressed in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF, the MoD statement added. Indian Navy ships Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, have sailed for Yangon on Saturday, as part of the Indian Navy's immediate response towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), as per the statement. In addition, Indian Navy Ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on Sunday, to assist in the HADR operations. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, India launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar, the MoD said. As per the Defence Ministry, approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. The Indian Navy remains committed to India's resolve to remain the 'First Responder' in the region. Earlier, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) noted that the latest earthquake in Myanmar occurred at a shallow depth of 10km. "EQ of M: 4.6, On: 30/03/2025 12:38:02 IST, Lat: 22.14 N, Long: 95.88 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Myanmar," NCS said in a post on X. https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1906244354647433510 Meanwhile, rescuers are desperately searching for survivors more than two days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, toppling buildings as far away as the Thai capital Bangkok and sending tremors through nearby Chinese provinces, CNN reported. This was the largest earthquake to hit the war-ravaged country in more than a century, authorities say. Experts fear the true death toll could take weeks to emerge, as per CNN. However, as of now, at least 1,700 people are dead and around 3,400 injured, according to the country's military government. Nearly 300 others remain missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people, according to early modeling, as per CNN. (ANI) US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised the strong alliance between the United States and Japan in addressing Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait, as reported by Al Jazeera. US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, stated that both the United States and Japan share a "warrior ethos" in addressing China's aggression in the Taiwan Strait. During a meeting in Tokyo with Japan's Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Sunday, Hegseth highlighted Japan as a key partner in countering China's military expansion. He reaffirmed America's commitment to maintaining credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait, Al Jazeera cited. "America is committed to sustaining robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait," Hegseth stated. China has increasingly bolstered its military presence near Taiwan, conducting frequent air incursions and leaving open the possibility of using force to assert control over Taiwan. In response, the US has ramped up military cooperation with Japan, with an emphasis on countering what both nations view as China's growing threat. Last year, the Biden administration unveiled plans to enhance coordination between US and Japanese forces in light of Beijing's actions, Al Jazeera reported. Despite this, former President Donald Trump's "America First" rhetoric has raised concerns about the future of US security commitments in the region. Currently, around 50,000 US troops are stationed in Japan, with many located in Okinawa, near Taiwan. Earlier this month, Trump criticized the US-Japan security alliance, questioning the balance of protection between the two countries and stating that while the US defends Japan, Japan does not offer the same support to the US, as cited by Al Jazeera. China's military aggression in the Indo-Pacific has escalated in recent years, with increased naval and air operations near Taiwan and the South China Sea. Beijing's assertiveness includes frequent military drills, territorial expansion, and direct challenges to regional security, raising concerns among neighboring countries and global powers. (ANI) The first Relief and Rescue Detachment of 10 personnel landed at Mandalay International Airport, Myanmar, at 5:45 pm MST on Sunday, according to the Indian Army. The team has begun site reconnaissance for establishing the Field Hospital and is currently undergoing orientation of the Area of Operations, the Indian Army said. The main body of the team, along with heavy equipment and supplies, is scheduled to travel by road on Monday morning. India has launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar in the aftermath of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with Indian Navy ships carrying relief material sailing for Yangon, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Sunday. Under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs, the HADR efforts are being progressed in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF, the MoD statement added. Indian Navy ships Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, have sailed for Yangon on Saturday, as part of the Indian Navy's immediate response towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), as per the statement. In addition, Indian Navy Ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on Sunday, to assist in the HADR operations. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, India launched Operation Brahma to assist Myanmar, the MoD said. As per the Defence Ministry, approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including HADR pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. The Indian Navy remains committed to India's resolve to remain the 'First Responder' in the region. Meanwhile, rescuers are desperately searching for survivors more than two days after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, toppling buildings as far away as the Thai capital Bangkok and sending tremors through nearby Chinese provinces, CNN reported. This was the largest earthquake to hit the war-ravaged country in more than a century, authorities say. Experts fear the true death toll could take weeks to emerge, as per CNN. However, as of now, at least 1,700 people are dead and around 3,400 injured, according to the country's military government. Nearly 300 others remain missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people, according to early modeling, as per CNN. (ANI) Responding to the immediate health needs of the thousands of people injured in the strong earthquakes that rocked Myanmar, the World Health Organization has provided nearly three tons of medical supplies to hospitals in the worst-hit Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay, an official statement said. The supplies, comprising trauma kits and multipurpose tents, have reached a 1,000-bed hospital in Nay Pyi Taw and are soon reaching the Mandalay General Hospital and the two main hospitals treating the injured in these areas, as per the statement. https://x.com/WHOSEARO/status/1906350776718668147 https://x.com/WHO/status/1906274309292630220 These supplies were rushed from the emergency stockpile in Yangon to the earthquake affected areas within 24 hours of two strong earthquakes of 7.7 magnitude and 6.4 magnitude hitting central Myanmar on Friday. Rescue operations are ongoing. Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Shan South and East and Sagaing are among the worst hit. Hospitals are overwhelmed with thousands of injured in need of medical care. There is huge need for trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anesthetics, essential medicines, management of mass causality, safe water and sanitation, mental health and psychosocial support among others, an official statement said. The supplies that reached the hospitals today comprised of multipurpose tents to also create space for the increasing number of injured; and trauma kits to treat severe wounds and fractures. WHO is preparing the second dispatch comprising of Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits tomorrow morning, with each kit having supplies to treat 10,000 people for three months. WHO is providing operational support to the rapid response teams deployed in the hospitals of the affected areas. Preparations are on for WHO and partners to roll out a rapid needs assessment to better understand needs and gaps in the affected areas for a tailored response. The scale of deaths, injuries and damage to health facilities are not yet fully understood The casualties are likely to be highest in urban areas of Mandalay, Sagaing and Nay Pyi Taw where the earthquakes caused largescale destruction of structures and building. As per initial reports, in Nay Pyi Taw some public and private health facilities including a large polyclinic have been damaged. Information from Sagaing is limited as electricity and communication is largely disrupted. WHO has reached out to the global Emergency Medical Teams Network to identify teams willing to be deployed with field hospitals in Myanmar. So far 26 EMTs have expressed interest. The situation in Myanmar is concerning in view of the huge demand on the already fragile healthcare in conflict-hit areas. Prior to these earthquake, 12.9 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian health interventions in Myanmar in 2025. Experts fear the true death toll could take weeks to emerge, as per CNN. However, as of now, at least 1,700 people are dead and around 3,400 injured, according to the country's military government. Nearly 300 others remain missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people, according to early modeling, as per CNN. (ANI) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Sunday jested that netizens must stop generating AI images, as his team was losing on sleep! Altman said that people must 'chill' on generating images. In a post on X, he said, "can y'all please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep". https://x.com/sama/status/1906210479695126886 Earlier on Thursday, he said in a hyperbole that the AI-generated images are in so much of a trend that the Graphics Processing Units in their office were melting! In a post on X, he said, "it's super fun seeing people love images in chatgpt. but our GPUs are melting. we are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won't be long! chatgpt free tier will get 3 generations per day soon." https://x.com/sama/status/1905296867145154688 Just days after OpenAI launched its most advanced AI image generator to date, a social media trend imitating the work of Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli is demonstrating both the technology's power and the copyright concerns it raises, CNN reported. The latest update to GPT-4o, released Tuesday, features many practical advancements, including more accurate text rendering and the ability to follow more detailed, complex prompts. But it has also been trained at length on a "vast variety of image styles," according to a post on OpenAI's website, stunning users with its ability to generate still images and videos reminiscent of their favorite animations, from "South Park" to classic claymation. But one style quickly flooded X and Instagram, as users of ChatGPT (and OpenAI's text-to-video service, Sora) began emulating the work of beloved animation studio behind movies like "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle," as per CNN. Some recreated scenes from pop culture or politics in the Japanese company's iconic style, including a reworked trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," scenes from "The Sopranos," and Donald Trump and JD Vance's heated real-life White House exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (ANI) A Nepal court on Sunday granted police permission to detain 42 pro-monarchists, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shamsher Rana, for five days for further investigation following Friday's violent protest in Kathmandu. Mishra is the Vice-chair of the right-wing pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), while Rana is a sitting MP from the same party. Along with the two senior leaders, 40 other pro-monarchists have also been sent into custody for the same period. A bench led by Taradevi Maharjan extended the custody of all arrested pro-monarchists till Tuesday for further investigation. Police have filed cases of Crime against the state to Mishra Rana along with 9 others along with organized crime and other cases. Other 31 arrested since Friday and Saturday has been charged with organized criminal nuisance. "The preliminary investigation has found them to be involved in crimes against the state, which is why the custody period has been extended," Ramhari Sharma Kafle, Chief of the District Public Prosecutor's Office, Kathmandu, told ANI over the phone. Those in custody also include Durga Prasai's RTF Commander Munindra Rajbhandari and royalist supporter Santosh. The arrests were made after a violent protest on Friday in Kathmandu's Tinkune, which resulted in two deaths. Police have registered cases against the accused. Other detained RPP leaders, including Swagat Nepal and Pushkar Khatiwada, were also presented before the court for an extension of their custody. Khatiwada, described as a religious leader, was arrested from his residence in Imadol on Saturday for allegedly throwing stones at police during the protest. Meanwhile, Durga Prasai, who was seen fleeing from Tinkune after Friday's events, initially went to his residence before going underground. Nepal abolished its centuries-old constitutional monarchy in 2006 after King Gyanendra seized power and imposed an emergency, placing all political leaders under house arrest. The movement, referred to as "People's Movement II," resulted in bloodshed, with dozens killed in a crackdown on protestors by the government. After weeks of violent protests and increasing international pressure, Gyanendra ceded and reinstated the dissolved parliament, marking the dawn of a new democracy, referred to as Lokantantra (People's Rule). Formed in the 1990s after the lifting of a ban on political parties by the then-monarchical system, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has consistently supported the monarchy. It has participated in periodic elections and presented its demands. In 2008, following the overthrow of the monarchy, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) secured eight seats in the Constituent Assembly out of the 575 seats in the parliament. In the 2013 election, it won 13 seats, but in the 2017 election, it fell to just one seat. However, it bounced back in the 2022 election, securing 14 seats. Since its inception, the RPP has advocated for a Hindu state and the interdependence of monarchy and the state in the small nation nestled between two giants, India and China. According to the 2022 census, Nepal has a population of 30.55 million, with 81.19 percent identifying as Hindu. (ANI) According to the rescue officials, the accident took place near Head Naubahar where a mini truck collided with a pickup carrying commuters, as per ARY News. Five injured identified as Nasir (25), Aqeel Ahmed (26), Jahangir (16), Zahid (31) and Jind Wada (19) were shifted to the Nishtar Hospital after first aid. While four others who sustained minor injuries were treated on the spot. Earlier, at least three, including two brothers, were killed in a road accident that took place near Daraban Road, near the Tekin Adda area of Dera Ismail Khan. According to details, a rashly driven truck hit a motorbike crossing the Daraban Road area near Tekin Adda. As a result of accident, three people, including two brothers riding on bike died on the spot who were identified as Irfan son of Ismatullah resident of Kotla Habib, Saifullah son of Ismatullah resident of Kotla Habib while third person could not be identified. Before this, at least one person died, and 25 others sustained injuries after a passenger van carrying devotees to the Shah Noorani Shrine met with an accident near Hub, ARY News reported. The accident occurred when the bus, en route to the shrine, faced a mishap close to Weirab Naddi. The rescue officials rushed to the accident site to swiftly transport the injured to nearby hospitals for immediate medical attention. Earlier on March 24, Pakistan's Rawalpindi witnessed a surge in violent crime, with over 100 incidents, including 17 robberies that left two dead, leaving residents feeling increasingly unsafe, Dawn reported. This alarming rise in crime has sparked widespread concern among residents of the garrison city. The victims of these robberies included individuals from various walks of life, Dawn reported. Multiple cases of robbery, theft, and assault have been reported in the city. (ANI) There is now one day remaining in the deadline announced for the eviction of illegal migrants in the country and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, ARY News. The number of illegal Afghan nationals repatriated from Pakistan has reached to 8,84,261 on March 29, ARY News reported. Food and healthcare arrangements were made for Afghans returning to home. The authorities have warned of strict punitive action against them after the deadline. Pakistan's Ministry of Interior has asked Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, staying in Pakistan, to leave the country by March 31. The Afghan nationals will be deported from April 1, the ministry said in an earlier statement. "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) is being implemented since November 1, 2023. In continuation of the government's decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, national leadership has now decided to also repatriate ACC holders," the interior ministry said in an earlier official handout. "All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence from April 1, 2025," the statement added, as per ARY News. Pakistan's interior ministry said that sufficient time had already been granted for their dignified return. "It is emphasised that no one will be maltreated during the repatriation process, and arrangements for food and healthcare for returning foreigners have also been put in place." "Pakistan has been a gracious host and continues to fulfill its commitments and obligations as a responsible state. It is reiterated that Individuals staying in Pakistan will have to fulfill all legal formalities and abide by Pakistan's constitution," it said. Over 8,00,000 Afghans living in Pakistan illegally were repatriated to their country since Pakistan launched the campaign in November 2023. It is estimated that around 3 million Afghans still reside in Pakistan, ARY News. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 30 (ANI/WAM): To mark the conclusion of Reading Month 2025, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) concluded the National Reading Month 2025 with the launch of the Reading Ambassadors Initiative, in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and the Federal Youth Authority. This initiative aims to cultivate a culture of reading by identifying influential figures as mentors and literacy advocates. Through their efforts, MOC seeks to empower communities, encouraging all segments of society to integrate reading into their daily lives. The inaugural edition of the initiative features Reading Ambassadors carefully selected across four main categories: writers and pioneers, youth, volunteers, and children. These ambassadors will play a crucial role in fostering reading habits within the community by launching and implementing impactful initiatives across various channels. Additionally, they will actively promote best practices and share success stories that inspire a culture of habitual reading. To further embed reading as a daily practice, the ambassadors will propose innovative projects and take an active role in their implementation at MOC-affiliated libraries and centres. The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood's participation in this initiative follows its announcement of Emirati Children's Day 2025 theme 'The Right to Identity and National Culture'. The theme reflects the importance of instilling the principles of national identity among children and youth, enhancing their ability to engage with, contribute to, and express their cultural heritage, while bolstering their proficiency in the Arabic language, which is a cornerstone of their identity. By advancing this theme, the Council also seeks to encourage Arabic reading, strengthening children's connection to their native language while fostering local cultural and knowledge exchange across different groups of society. This effort also supports the preservation of the UAE's key cultural artefacts like poetry, proverbs, wisdom, and traditional arts, aligning closely with the vision and goals of the Reading Ambassadors Initiative. Commenting on the initiative, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, reaffirmed the MOC's unwavering commitment to promoting reading through the continuous development and implementation of creative, sustainable initiatives. These efforts align with the UAE's vision of positioning reading as a catalyst for progress and sustainable development. He emphasised that such initiatives reflect the wise leadership's steadfast belief that reading is the cornerstone of knowledge acquisition and scientific advancement, as well as a key driver of the nation's competitiveness and productivity. He added that MOC firmly believes that fostering a culture of reading is a shared responsibility, requiring active support and participation from all sectors of society. Encouraging reading as a daily habit is not only an individual endeavour but also a collective duty of institutions and communities. Through this initiative, the Ministry aims to cultivate role models who lead by example, celebrate the ongoing efforts of influential figures dedicated to promoting reading, and showcase the ambassadors' success stories and best practices in integrating reading everyday life. The ministry, in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority, will provide full support to the Reading Ambassadors and highlight their efforts across various media channels. In addition, the ministry will designate creative areas within its Cultural Centres and libraries, offering ambassadors a platform to present their projects and share their experiences in fostering a culture of reading. An annual forum will also be held at the end of each year to showcase the achievements of the Reading Ambassadors. The inaugural edition of the initiative features distinguished figures in the Writers and Pioneers category, including Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, Sultan Al Ameemi, writer, poet, Executive Director of the Poetry and Heritage Department at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Writers Union, Asma Seddiq Al Mutawaa, Founder and Chair of Al Multaqa Literary Salon, Aisha Belkhair, Research Advisor at the National Library and Archives, Fahad Al Memari, writer, researcher, and Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Library and Information Association, Maitha Al Khayat, an internationally acclaimed author, illustrator, and trainer in children's and young adult literature, and Mohammed Al Hebsi, writer, novelist, Director of the Literature Department at the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. The volunteer category includes Hashem Al Wali, a trainer, writer, and social content creator, and Fatima Al Hammadi, a certified trainer and head of the volunteer team "Al Dhafra Testahel." In the youth category, the initiative includes Shareena Al Suwaidi, member of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council; Hazza Al Shehhi, member of Ras Al Khaimah Youth Council; Ahmed Matar, member of Dubai Youth Council; Yaqoub Al Baloushi, member of Sharjah Youth Council; Mohammed Ali Al Ali, member of Umm Al Qaiwain Youth Council; Nasser Khalid Al Harmoudi, member of Ajman Youth Council; and Mohammed Abdulla Al Abdouli, member of Fujairah Youth Council. Additionally, this category features Amna Al Mansouri, a school student and the champion of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge of 2023, and Ahmed Faisal Ali, the champion of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge of 2024. The children's category features several members of the Emirati Children's Parliament, including Rowdah bint Nehayan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nahyan bin Diab bin Saif Al Nahyan, Shamsa bint Faisal Almualla, Khaled bin Hussain Alhammadi, Salem bin Mohammed Binham Alameri, Nouf Yasser Mohammed, Matra Ibrahim, and Fatima Al Kaabi. In her remarks, Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan expressed her delight in being part of the initiative and reflected on how her early love of reading was inspired by her late father, Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan. She highlighted the profound impact of critical and interactive reading on creativity and thought development, emphasising the importance of fostering reading as a natural and integral part of society. She also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Culture in advancing the wise leadership's vision by strengthening the cultural and intellectual foundations of future generations. Sultan Al Ameemi, a writer and poet, emphasised that reading is no longer merely a recreational activity or hobby but a key fundamental pillar in shaping knowledgeable individuals who appreciate the value of science and culture, particularly in an era of rapid change and expanding knowledge. (ANI/WAM) The Lynchburg joint city council and school board committee passed motions recommending a plan to convert T.C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation into a pre-K center and that the division not build a new school within the next five years. Interim Superintendent Ben Copelands plan to convert T.C. Miller was approved March 18 by the school boards Finance & Facilities Committee. It has not yet been presented to the school board for approval. The proposal that was put forward by the Facilities & Finance Committee of the school board would achieve more efficiency in our operations by means of some rearrangements and repurposing of the T.C. Miller building, School Board Vice Chair Martin Day said at the joint meeting Thursday. He said as of fall 2025, T.C. Miller would cease operation as a K-5 elementary and innovation school and instead become a center for the divisions pre-K programs. The plan will begin consolidation of the divisions alternative education program by bringing the transition program currently at William Marvin Bass Elementary School to gather with the elementary restorative academy at T.C. Miller, Day said. Hutcherson Early Learning Center would remain open under the plan, while the other three LCS elementary schools that offer pre-K programming, Paul Munro, Perrymont and R.S. Payne, would be consolidated at T.C. Miller. Since T.C. Miller is a magnet school, students from across the city attend. Under the plan, those students will go to their base schools, while students zoned for T.C. Miller will likely be sent to Perrymont or R.S. Payne, Copeland said at the Finance & Facilities meeting. Im building the airplane as Im flying it Copeland said his plan would result in about $1 million in operational cost savings for the division, and he does not expect it to result in a reduction of teachers. Its also the first phase of a long-term division plan, which Copeland described in the joint meeting as a multi-year phased approach that will use $60 million from the citys capital improvement program funding. He said this approach gives the division time to study the problem and look at where money for the most significant renovations is needed. It leads you towards the path of greater efficiency further along the timeline, Copeland said. Not jumping into the water before you know if theres a chunk of concrete underneath it. I built this thing as a phased approach, with the T.C. Miller repurposing as phase one of a multi-phase initiative. Between 2025 and 2028 the second phase will take place, which includes renovating certain elementary schools and choosing a second elementary school to close. Phase three will occur during the 28-29 school year, and it will complete the closure of the second elementary school and convert the building into a consolidated secondary alternative education school. Phase four, which will be implemented in the 29-30 school year, includes converting Fort Hill Community School into an elementary alternative education site. Copeland said hes trying to get some capital improvement back on the map so the division has facilities that are the best they can be for students. Its not an immediate thing, he said. Im building the airplane as Im flying it here. Board votes on two recommendations District 1 School Board member Daryl Conner made a motion in the joint meeting to recommend approval of Copelands four-phase plan by the school board. Day said although he didnt have a vote, he was uncomfortable with the motion because he thought the committee should let the school board act on the plan first without pressure. The motion passed 4-1. Ward II Councilmember Sterling Wilder, who was named co-chair of the joint committee Thursday in response to Ward IV Councilman Chris Faraldis resignation, voted against it. Its the job of the school board, Wilder said. To me, thats kind of overstepping our bounds. Ward I Councilwoman Jacqueline Timmer said she supported the motion. I think that the purpose of this ad hoc committee is to get a general feel of where we can find common ground as two separate bodies, and I do think that Dr. Copeland put together an excellent plan that can be recommended as a far as a way to start moving forward, Timmer said. Conner also introduced a motion against recommending the construction of a new school over the next five years within the 2026-2030 capital improvement program cycle. District 2 School Board member Letitia Lowery said she supported the motion because the money will be spread among all the divisions schools. To me, what Dr. Copeland presented is perfect, Lowery said. Its done in phases, it gets us moving. The motion passed 4-1, with as Wilder the only committee member to vote against it. Future recommendations Day told the committee members to submit written recommendations to him that the committee can discuss at its next meeting and possibly give to city council and the school board in its final report. The committee will meet again 5 p.m. on April 3 in City Halls second floor conference room. The meeting will be available to view online. To kick off Randolph Colleges annual science festival SciFest, NASA planetary protection engineer Moogega Cooper urged attendees Thursday to persevere, stay curious and question rules in their own lives. SciFest is a collaboration of multiple campus departments, presenters and outside vendors for a weekend of scientific activities. It started as a science day for children in 2005 and expanded in 2009 into the full festival the college holds today, the RC website said. Guardian of the galaxy Kate Kelly, director of space and emerging programs for BWX Technologies, introduced the events keynote speaker. Cooper said her goal for the evening was to take attendees on a journey through space. While it is vast and distant, its my goal to make it just a little bit closer to home to show you that a lot of the problems that we solve in outer space is very similar to many of the issues that we face on a daily basis, she said. Cooper, who nicknamed herself a guardian of the galaxy, currently works as a NASA planetary protection engineer, aiming to keep Mars safe from Earths contaminants on spacecrafts. She said when she was young, her parents divorced and her father died, but she didnt see school as a solution for making her home life better. Many of you may have the perception that, Oh, a NASA person who works in space, she probably was born a genius and knew exactly what she wanted, was always great in her math and science classes, Cooper said. I want to tell you that that is a myth. It wasnt until she went to the public library and rented a VHS of Carl Sagans Cosmos: A Personal Voyage that her passion for space was sparked. She learned if the entirety of the universes existence was on a calendar with the big bang happening on Jan. 1, humankind would only start eight minutes before midnight on Dec. 31. Cooper said when she heard that, she saw her life as a blip in the cosmic calendar of time. And that, actually, instead of making me feel smaller, it made me feel like I was part of this bigger purpose, she said. That I could pay attention to my math and science classes and try to be the next Carl Sagan and contribute to the field, because theres just so much happening that I want to be part of that big story. She said once she understood the why behind paying attention in her classes, her grades turned around. To this day, as an adult, when I struggle to care about something, its mostly because I dont understand why its relevant, she said. Cooper graduated from high school at age 16 and earned her bachelors, masters and Ph.D., which focused on spacecraft materials, by the time she was 24 years old. She said she was rejected from college at 15 years old, but she used the rejection letter as a roadmap to a yes. She was accepted into college the next year, where she studied physics. That was my first lesson in turning a failure into a success, she said. Cooper has since received numerous awards, including the NASA Early Career Public Achievement Medal, the Charles Elachi Award for Exceptional Early Career Achievement and the JPL Voyager Awards for Technical Leadership, according to the RC website. She has also appeared on Because Space and Bill Nye Saves the World, and has various science outreach initiatives with K-12 students from underrepresented communities. We couldnt have thought of a better name Cooper served as the planetary protection lead on NASAs 2020 mission to Mars. On the mission, a rover named Perseverance landed on Mars in February 2021 to search for signs of ancient life and collect samples to return to Earth. She said she spent seven years of her career on this mission, and that her favorite part was the rover naming competition. She said rovers get their names from a K-12 essay competition, and Perseverance got its name in late 2019 from an essay written by a high school junior in Virginia. At first, many NASA employees didnt like the name, Cooper said. We thought, Of course, its so difficult to build the spacecraft, but what did we persevere through? she said. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. And by the time we got to the launch pad, we all loved the name Perseverance, and we couldnt have thought of a better name that is more fitting for what we had to persevere through just to get to the finish line, Cooper said. She said on launch day, no one sees the years of hard work, trials and tribulations. When you peel back the curtains, you realize that, both personally and professionally, the success that you have in your life truly depends on how you handle your failures, Cooper said. She said the Perseverance mission had several near failures, but what mattered was the teams resilience. Rules are meant to be questioned She shared five lessons she learned from sending a rover to Mars. The first was to maintain your childlike curiosity and not let anyone stomp it out. Many of you are going through school now, Cooper said. This is the best time to challenge yourself and to learn. Her second lesson was rules are meant to be questioned. That is part of, I believe, our success, she said. To be able to question the rules, not break them, but question the extent of why it was made so you can push those limits. The others were to trust your team, take calculated risks, and have a common goal. She said on the Perseverance landing, one team member thought it would be cool to put cameras on the rover, even though there are rules about what can be flown in space because it could behave in an unexpected way. She said her team questioned the rule by putting the cameras in places that wouldnt harm the rest of the spacecraft. We took a few calculated risks, but ultimately somebody said, Wouldnt it be cool? and had that childlike curiosity that said, Lets put cameras everywhere. So we did, she said. She said the footage had had no scientific benefit at first, but it was eventually used to validate models that showed where Martian dust went upon landing. Coopers closing remarks She finished her presentation by sharing a timelapse she took in Patagonia. Just to remind those around me, especially talking to college students, things are going to get stressful, Cooper said. Dont forget wherever your happy place is. Tap into that, remember that. Check in with yourselves, be kind to yourselves and take care of yourself and one another. She then showed another photo taken by a rover on Mars that showed Earth. I love switching the perspective on the audience because Mars is very similar, she said. If you squint one eye at many of the pictures that were taking, it almost looks like our own backyard, but its not. And I really want to highlight how precious our planet is and how we should really take care of what we have on this Earth. Heritage teacher wins STAR award Prior to Coopers presentation, Heritage High School teacher Alex Drumheller was awarded the 2025 Science Teaching Award from Randolph (STAR). Tony Robinson, CEO and president of Framatome Inc., presented the award. Framatome employs more than 1,600 people in the Lynchburg area, he said. Robinson said the award honors a high school science teacher who has contributed significantly to the lives of students and exhibits excellence in teaching science. Drumheller is an environmental science teacher committed to experiential learning, organizing annual field trips to conduct water quality testing on the James River and leading student trips to the Galapagos Islands, Robinson said. Drumheller has been a department chair for more than 23 years and recently served on the curriculum committee for the Virginia Department of Education. The award came with a $1,500 stipend and $1,000 unrestricted classroom grant. A public hearing on Bedford Countys proposed tax rates for the 2025-26 budget, which are the same as the current fiscal year, will be held April 14 at the county administration office in Bedford. The proposal for the upcoming budget that starts July 1 proposes a real estate tax rate of 41 cents per $100 of assessed value. The tax rates for mobile homes and public service corporation tax rates are 41 cents per $100 of assessed value, the machinery tools tax will stay at $1.20, business personal property at $1.70 and personal property for vehicles at $2.35. The countys budget proposal includes $4.2 million in new growth, a 3% pay raise for employees and boosts the local funding to Bedford County Public Schools by $1 million, and the projected revenue is $132.8 million, according to data distributed to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors in recent budget work sessions. The countys projected expenditures total $131.2 million and a balance of just more than $565,000 in excess revenue remains, figures presented to the board earlier this month show. The board is expected to adopt the budget proposal in May and is in the process of still making decisions. The boards personnel committee recently discussed several new proposed positions and is recommending adjustments. One is to use nearly $24,000 proposed to make a communications and marketing coordinator a full-time role from part-time is targeted to be filled through contract work, according to discussion at a March 24 work session. A building inspection position that was not recommended previously is proposed to move forward at a cost of $32,560 following the committees discussion, County Administrator Robert Hiss said. The county is not seeing any slowdown in development and homebuilding, and the new position will allow the building departments head inspector to be in the field less and have more time for managerial duties, Hiss said. An animal shelter operator position for the Bedford County Animal Shelter on Falling Creek Road, projected at just more than $49,000, is now proposed to be temporarily filed by contracted work to give the county more time to assess the need for that position and fill it permanently. The animal shelter is undergoing an expansion project that will double the amount of kennel spaces. Ashley Anderson, the countys director of finance, said the county likely will have savings on animal boarding costs due to more kennels that is expected to offset much of position costs. A new building and grounds position proposed would have a roughly $29,000 impact to the budget, which Hiss said is needed with five employees currently seeing to needs of just more than 40 buildings and properties owned by the county. Several board members also have said they favor keeping an accreditation specialist position in the Bedford County Sheriffs Office, a roughly $35,000 effect to the budget that staff initially did not recommend adding. Anderson said money within current figures can allow that position to remain without any new funding approved in the budget through vacancy savings. Supervisor Charla Bansley said she has been knocking on doors and talking to residents. What always comes up is their concern about safety, Bansley said. I think because of four years of what we saw in the Biden administration and open borders, I dont know we need to cut the sheriffs office. Bansley said the position ensuring the sheriffs office continues to meet its accreditation benchmarks is important. Supervisor Mickey Johnson said he would like to keep that position going as well. It serves a good purpose, Johnson said. Id like to make sure we dont lose the accreditation specialist. Tommy Scott, the boards chair, said the money is in place to keep it going without adding new funding to the overall budget. Supervisor Bob Davis said a little here, a little there adds up for the countys bottom line in adding positions. Weve got a tight budget to work with this year, Davis said. We dont know what the year is going to hold. Bansley said she doesnt want to cut the sheriffs department. I dont think its what our constituents want us to do, Bansley said. They want to know theyre going to be safe. Supervisor John Sharp said however funded the accreditation position should remain intact. You have a skilled person there now, Sharp said. I dont want to lose that. Thats my priority. Scott said the accreditation position wont be lost. I think we can work within the existing dollars, Anderson said. The public hearing on the tax rates starts at 7 p.m. April 14 at the county administration building meeting room, 122 East Main St. in Bedford. Nursing home rate changes proposed The board of supervisors will also hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. April 14 on rate changes proposed for the Bedford County Nursing Home on Falling Creek Road. Previous private pay room rate adjustments typically have been $5 per day, according to a county staff report. The last private pay rate adjustment was in August 2023. Staff is recommending a $10 increase to private pay daily room rates that would be effective July 1 if approved. The total fiscal impact for the room rate adjustment would increase revenue by $41,150, a figure based on average of 11 private pay residents, according to the report. A shared room with a shared room bathroom is set to go from $264 to $274; from $269 to $279 for a private room with a shared bathroom and $274 to $284 for a private room with its own bathroom. Contracts OKd for road work, opioid funds The board at its March 24 meeting approved a contract with Rinker Design Associates for the design of improvements to Meade Road in the Forest area. The Virginia Department of Transportation approved a $200,000 grant with a $50,000 match from the Bedford County Economic Development Authority for the road within the New London Business and Technology Center just off U.S. 460. The project design includes an extension to serve a future phase 3, a roundabout reconfiguration to accommodate larger truck movements and entrance improvements on U.S. 460, a staff report states. Rinker Design Associates anticipates completing entrance design work in time for the 2026 round of Smart Scale, a funding program within VDOT. The project cost is just more than $248,200. In a separate matter, the board awarded a contract to a firm for professional services related to developing a strategic plan for using funds from the countys share of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund. In March 2024, the board approved a resolution that enables a planning grant application to the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA). The county was awarded a $45,000 state grant and the board at its March 24 meeting selected Rulo Strategies to aid in the plan out of six firms that proposed services. To date the county has received $605,934 from the OAA in direct distribution funds from ongoing settlements, according to a county report. The county is projected to receive $1.7 million by 2039 in direct distribution funds from known settlements. Bedford County attorney Patrick Skelley has said the settlement money will help offset costs that departments such as the Bedford County Sheriffs Office and the Bedford County Fire and Rescue Department incur in their efforts responding to situations where opioid and substance abuse are factors. Bedford Countys Family Treatment Drug Court could also benefit from the countys share from settlement funds the state is sending to localities. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering regional integration through the development of key infrastructure corridors across the continent. AfDB chief Akinwumi Adesina has recently emphasized the critical role these corridors play in reducing transport costs, improving market access, and stimulating economic growth. During a meeting with Kenyas Ambassador to Cote dIvoire, Adesina highlighted several ongoing projects that exemplify the AfDBs efforts, including the transformation of the Kenol-Sagana-Marua Road and the Central Corridor Standard Gauge Railway, which links Tanzania, Burundi, and the DRC. Major investment in Africas regional corridors will also be the focus of discussions at the AfDBs 2025 Annual Meetings, scheduled to take place in Abidjan from 26 to 30 May under the theme Making Africas Capital Work Better for Africas Development. AfDBs investments in cross-border infrastructure have surpassed $50 billion over the past decade, cementing its position as the leading multilateral infrastructure financier in Africa. These projects span road, rail, and port developments, such as the Trans-Sahara Highway, linking the Maghreb and Sahel regions, and the Abidjan-Lagos Coastal Motorway, which will connect key West African cities. These corridors are vital to unlocking Africas natural resources and boosting regional economies by facilitating trade across borders. The AfDBs infrastructure investments are central to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a unified market. It is only via regional corridors that we will be able to move goods and services easily across the continent, reduce transport costs, encourage integration and achieve effective economic development, Adesina said recently. His call for further investment in transport networks, such as the Nairobi to Western Kenya road, reflects the ongoing need to enhance connectivity across the continent, enabling Africa to leverage its geographical position and resources for greater economic prosperity. The first edition of the International Congress on Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems in Africa will take place on April 4-5 in Fez. This congress will bring together experts, researchers, and entrepreneurs to discuss entrepreneurial dynamics and innovation ecosystems in Africa. The program features plenary conferences, debates, and a series of thematic workshops on topics such as entrepreneurial support, the impact of artificial intelligence, startup financing, as well as innovation and clean technologies. This event, which will welcome institutions from Cote dIvoire, Senegal, Niger, and Cameroon, aims to foster synergies between academic and economic actors to promote sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurial growth across the continent. The event, organized by the National School of Business and Management of Fez (ENCG Fez) and the Higher School of Economic and Commercial Sciences of Tunis (ESSECT), in collaboration with the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres and several African and international academic partners, aims to foster exchanges and collaborations for sustainable and innovative growth in Africa. The Republic of Guinea has joined the ranks of countries commending Moroccos innovation capacity and diplomatic dexterity following the Kingdoms initiative to convene informal consultations with Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Mali, Niger, and Sudan as part of Moroccos Chairmanship of the African Unions Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC). In an official letter addressed to Moroccos Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, Guineas Foreign Minister, Morissanda Kouyate, emphasized that this initiative represents a significant step forward in managing political transitions in Africa and further demonstrates Moroccos capacity for innovation and diplomatic dexterity. As chair of the AU-PSC for the month of March, Morocco convened informal consultations with the six African countries on March 18 in Addis Ababa. The letter from the Guinean minister follows those from the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, and Mali, who have also praised the noble initiative and the crucial role played by Morocco as chair of the AU-PSC in making these informal consultations a reality. In their letters, they also commended Moroccos new leadership at the head of the Council, particularly the Kingdom of Moroccos approach based on the promotion of constructive dialogue, enlightened by realism and mutual listening, confirming the importance and position of the Kingdom on the African political stage, thanks to the enlightened vision of King Mohammed VI. Moroccos initiative to convene informal consultations with countries in transition stems from its commitment to supporting the concerned States, particularly in accelerating their political transition processes through concrete projects, with the objective of helping them address challenges related to development, food and health security, counterterrorism, and violent extremism, as well as accelerating their return to constitutional order. The initiative is anchored in the royal vision of joint African action, based on the fundamental principle of active solidarity, particularly toward these States, to help them reclaim their places within the AU and contribute, in turn, to the promotion of the Pan-African agenda on peace, security, and development. Morocco, proud of its African roots, cannot afford to see these countries left behind and continues to act out of solidarity to support them and accelerate their return to constitutional order and the Pan-African institution. Thus, the Kingdom has always demonstrated active and supportive engagement with these six countries to help accelerate their respective transition processes, based on the foundations of democratic institutionalism advocated by the AU, and ultimately, to speed up their full reintegration within the African fold. Regular informal consultations have been initiated with the PSC, allowing for the identification of the challenges these countries face during their transition processes, as well as those related to development, such as climate change, food security, and public health, among others. They have also enabled the exploration of ways to overcome these specific challenges to the transition process while involving the relevant technical departments of the Commission and specialized institutions of the African Union to assess the scope of these issues and implement necessary measures to address them. These informal consultations are also in line with Moroccos broader initiatives and efforts to promote peace, stability, and socio-economic development in Africa, notably the Royal Initiative to promote the access of Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean and the Process of Atlantic African States. They also reflect the Kingdoms active solidarity with African countries and its unwavering commitment to strengthening intra-African cooperation for the progress of the continents populations, with the ultimate goal of fostering a prosperous and stable Africa capable of addressing the many challenges it faces. Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has established itself as an essential actor in mediating multiple African crises. This approach aligns with the Royal Vision, which reflects the Kingdoms constant commitment to addressing the complex challenges hindering Africas development and stability, advocating a proactive and holistic approach based on the principles of support and active solidarity. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer Amazon would like the world and its investors to know its trying a few new things with generative AI. Weve got about 1,000 different generative AI applications weve either built or are in the process of building right now, said CEO Andy Jassy on an earnings call in February. Most of these will affect internal tools and processes, but regular customers might have noticed a few recent changes to the Amazon they see and use. In addition to its AI-summarized reviews, last month Amazon debuted Rufus, a chatbot alternative to search, on its site and apps. And last week, it started testing Interests, which turns descriptive requests I am looking for feminine energy and aesthetic in home decor under $100 or travel-friendly skin-care products from premium brands, to borrow Amazons examples into auto-updating widgets you can come back to and check. These are all AI features in that they rely on LLM-based technology to summarize review text, to layer a chat interface on top of search, and to, as Amazon puts it, automatically translate everyday language into queries and attributes that traditional search engines can process and turn into product recommendations. Theyre also responses to things going on outside Amazon that it would either like to co-opt or compete with. Automatic review summaries approximate SEO e-commerce publishing, in which review sites (and quasi-review sites) read and summarize Amazon users feedback. As for AI-generated moodboarding, Amazon has long had an interest in Pinterest, which is a quiet but major force in online shopping, in part because it provides a way to organize Amazons chaos. Maybe Interests captures some of that? Rufus, the most visible of the bunch, is both a chatbot, why not? AI-boom feature-add and a response to people using services like ChatGPT for shopping advice, which is a marginal but fast-growing trend. At first glance, these are just slightly different ways to use Amazon, alternate paths to the same Buy Nowbutton destination, and new enticements to spend money in basically the same way. But they also offer a way to see Amazon and to understand how strange its business has become. When Microsoft and Google first teased AI-powered search back in early 2023, their pitches were similar to Amazons. With LLMs, you could submit queries in plain English and get plain English back. You could have a conversation of sorts with results to refine your search. You could get not just results but context for those results. These AI interfaces were simple and clean. There were no ads, and while there was conversational text and the chatbots offered more than just links, the links were still at the center of the experience, and were sensibly selected and ordered. This all-new Google was, mostly, a lot like Google used to be; it was AI Google, sure, but more than that, it was unmonetized Google, which at least looked pretty appealing. Similarly, Amazons new interfaces, while superficially novel, are most appealing for what they lack: disorienting layers of interface junk, abundant but redundant options, and, of course, all those ads. For fairly obvious reasons that have now been borne out with extensive reporting, Google didnt end up replacing Search, one of the most popular and well-monetized products on the internet, with a stripped-down, ad-free AI alternative. Instead, it bolted AI-generated summaries to its results pages, a controversial half-measure that has so far amounted to more, not less, bloat. In the meantime, newer AI firms, for now content to lose money in a race for market share, have started adding basic search features to their core products. More recently, Google started testing AI Mode, which looks a lot like its 2023 demo but with a more capable underlying model. This demo too is clean and ad free, available first to paid users and now to anyone who wants to test it. This would seem like less of a problem for Amazon, which we tend to think of as an e-commerce operation, but thats not quite right. Amazons encroaching shabbiness is a consequence of its success in the advertising business; analysts expect Googles share of the search-advertising market to dip below 50 percent this year, in large part due to gains by Amazon, whose share is approaching 25 percent. Advertising isnt just a $50 billion business for the company along with AWS, its one of its most profitable businesses, squeezing massive amounts of money from (mostly) sellers and brands in exchange for visibility on Amazons own properties. Its a pretty good business, provided youre in a position to unilaterally establish and control it. Amazon has, in this sense, a lot in common with Google, which is still struggling to resolve the tensions between its advertising business and its barely monetized AI products. Meanwhile, as Joanna Stern writes in The Wall Street Journal, one of the things money-losing AI search alternatives are pretty good at is basic product recommendations, and data from Adobe suggests that people are increasingly asking ChatGPT, and others, for buying advice. Rufus, like Googles early chat-search half-steps, isnt especially useful, except to draw attention to just how extractive and inefficient the Amazon experience has become. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. 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. lol how many ~dark, gothic weddings is this man going to have, just sing your heart song and open an alt event planning company already Reply Thread Link This is his version of David Tennant's wedding at the beginning of The Decoy Bride. Reply Parent Thread Link I would hire him. He has a lot of experience at this point. Reply Parent Thread Link It is so 2000's Hot Topic/Evanescence song used for a Final Fantasy AMV look Reply Parent Thread Link to be fair to me, i didn't call it creative, lol Reply Parent Thread Link *Sidenote but Im learning how Trixie is getting hate because she dares to be a successful drag queen and cant save a queer bar that shes been saving. *really need to stop walking and typing Edited at 2025-03-30 08:24 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link the way people randomly decide someone should solve a problem they have no obligation to Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah she saved them from going under during Covid but theres only so much she can do! If she could have saved it again she would have. Also, while she is successful, shes not made of money. Even with the motels success its still a lot to keep it maintained! Plus she just split with her longtime partner so Im sure she had to buy him out of the house and such. Shes also been stepping back from work to protect her mental/emotional/physical health and to give herself more work/life balance. She cant just be throwing more money at the bar. She did everything she could including doing free DJ sets there. I get why people are sad to see it close but this has been a reality for so many businesses all over the country! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Theyre hating on her when shes the reason the bar stayed open for a few more years. You know whose fault it is? Those people mourning the closure now but never making an effort to go there while it was in business Reply Parent Thread Expand Link appropriate, as he looks like he's wearing about as much black eyeliner as trixie in those wedding photos lmao Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she's over 30 that's not that.... The couple first met 8 years ago oh Reply Thread Link Yeah that was my thought process Reply Parent Thread Link Yuppppp, and that he saw her in a trailer and reached out to her? They didn't even meet organically Reply Parent Thread Link how tacky Reply Thread Link his 'breathing cherub.' Reply Thread Link do cherubs not typically breathe? are angels like vampires? are angels undead or unalive? angelology majors from the ontd divinity school program, we need your expertise! Reply Parent Thread Link He never left the 00s pseudo-goth era. Hes so dark and mysterious, on the brink of utter madness and despair. Hes reaching midlife at 49, and can feel death grasping at his guylinered face. And in walks this *check math* 23 year old cherub of light, an old soul who keeps death at bay, and reminds him to enjoy life again. *ps love the icon. Reply Parent Thread Link on the brink of utter madness and despair I mean he did get attacked by Perry F on stage at the Jane's Addiction tour! Reply Parent Thread Link His mother was murdered by her ex when he was 15. He was going to stay at the house that night,but went to his father's house instead. He went well beyond the brink. he produced a documentary called " "Mourning son" I was concerned about his appearance and have read he suffers from long covid and his wife has been taking care of him for a few years now. Reply Parent Thread Link this is reminding about the post of that breaking bad guy who calls his wife some variant of birdie iirc? lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it's no "alive girl" but it'll do I guess. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link 8 years ago they met?! Eww!!! Another childhood crush banished to the gross realm. Reply Thread Link Ok. This tracks for Dave, so congrats, I guess. Reply Thread Link He legit said "Goddammit I DO believe in love!" Reply Thread Link What little money he has girl. Reply Thread Link clicking through to the source to look at the pictures was the right call. Reply Thread Link it's exactly what you'd expect, lol Reply Parent Thread Link I don't know if I could have expected the patent leather outfit in the woods, but maybe I should have! (reposting this because I replied to the wrong comment, oop ) Reply Parent Thread Link Scrolling down her dress had me going "of COURSE" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Clicking the link on fashion designer is also a correct choice. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Seeing her wedding dress made me roll my eyes Reply Parent Thread Link i honestly feel like this is exactly the image AI would make for you when asked "what would dave navarro's fourth marriage look like" Reply Thread Link Its giving Hot Topic Mall Goth you know what, at least she was born pre 9/11! I'll give him that! So congrats or whatever, idc Edited at 2025-03-30 08:32 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link 9/11: once a day of tragedy, now the measuring stick used to judge if she's too young for you Reply Parent Thread Link bold of you to assume they can do math! Still very much a tragedy though Reply Parent Thread Link this just made me remember galadarling. Reply Thread Link omgyes Reply Parent Thread Link yoooooo, talk about things i haven't heard in a while Reply Parent Thread Link What is she up to now? Reply Parent Thread Link i want to see pictures, i like that aesthetic in general Reply Thread Link Ever since BP admitted that its attempt to go green had ended in a disaster, the flow of news from the energy industry has been in one single direction: back to oil and gas, which make money. Indeed, Big Oil has finally accepted it will not transform into Big Green Power and has gone back to what it does best: hydrocarbons. In late February, when it made its very unsurprising admission, BP said it would boost spending on oil and gas production by 25% annually while slashing investments in transition-related business by 70%. The new strategy did not come easily to BPs leadership, by the way. It came as the result of a pressure campaign from activist investor Elliot Management, which called BP out on its unrealistic expectations from the transition gamble. As part of turnaround plans, the supermajor eyes launching an impressive 27 new oil and gas projects over the next five years, the FT reported in an overview of the companys midterm strategy, noting, however, that even with these projects, BPs 2030 oil and gas production will be slightly lower than its 2019 productionper plans. The important bit, however, is that it will not be reducing this production as it previously intended to do amid its green pivot. Related: Russias Far East Crude Price Slumps as Chinas State Refiners Cut Imports Now, while BP has made no special mention of natural gas as a focus for its strategy, the overall shift in targets to refocus on the core business speaks volumes, and these volumes are not in favor of switching from hydrocarbons to electricity. The supermajor just announced the final investment decision on a Trinidad and Tobago gas project, due to start producing in two years with a peak output of 62,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily. It also got an approval from the Iraqi government to start the development of two oil fields in the north. BP is very much back. Meanwhile, Shell is acting like it never left. Another troubled European supermajor, the Anglo-Dutch company has had a less winding path to the realization that any massive bets on an energy transition from hydrocarbons to the weather are high-risk. Shell was ordered by a court to cut its oil and gas production to reduce emissions, but it got lucky with its appeal, and the second court struck down that order right about the time it was becoming clear investments in wind and solar were not living up to expectations. Now, Shell is focusing on gas. The company recently updated its immediate plans, reducing its spending target for the next three years and prioritizing natural gas. Between 2025 and 2028, the supermajor plans to spend between $20 and $22 billion, which is down from a 2023 annual spending plan of between $22 and 25 billion per year. For its production targets, Shell is eyeing a 4-5% increase in annual LNG sales in the years until 2030. Despite this return to business as usualwhich the U.S. supermajors never departed fromsome commentators continue to argue that the days of the oil and gas industry are numbered. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, arguments are being put forward that the energy transition is unstoppable, that it is successfully displacing oil and gas, and that the traditional energy business is doomed, despite the right short-term outlook. In this context, short term actually refers to at least two decades. In truth, the fact that Exxon, Chevron, and the rest of the big U.S. oil and gas players have been consistently outperforming their European peers is evidence enough that the above arguments are questionable, to put it mildly. The supermajors that continued to focus on their core business while making some concessions to the transition camp but without overexerting themselves financially have done a lot better than the green pivoters in Europe. Exxon is planning to boost its oil and gas production by 18% over the next five yearsto which end it will increase spending, defying the argument that Big Oil is cutting spending because it knows oil is doomed. Chevron is in the process of buying Hess Corp. and its prolific assets in Guyana, and it just started a major expansion at the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan that will add 260,000 bpd to the mammoth fields production. American Big Oil does not seem to be buying the peak oil scare. Neither does the company that may be the one exception to the rule that the transition doesnt work for Big Oil. TotalEnergies has been an enthusiastic adopter of a diversification away from oil and gas, and into low-carbon electricity. However, while doing this, the French supermajor has somehow managed to keep focused on its core business. In a recent update, TotalEnergies boasted substantial emission reductions while booking the highest return on average capital employed among its peers, at 14.8%. As luck and reality would have it, TotalEnergies EACOP project in Uganda just got the first tranche of much-needed financing. Peak oil is still not on the horizon if the biggest in the business and their plans are any indication. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com While the partnership with China offers economic and environmental benefits, Azerbaijan faces risks of dependence and seeks to diversify its EV suppliers to ensure a balanced and sustainable market. Major Chinese companies like BYD are investing heavily in Azerbaijan to establish local electric bus production and supply chains, aiming to make Azerbaijan a regional hub for EV distribution. China has carved out a dominating role in Central Asias electronic vehicle market. Now, Beijing is looking to replicate its success in the Caucasus. Azerbaijan is emerging as Beijings point of entry for the region. During the first 10 months of 2024, Azerbaijan imported 2,592 electric vehicles, with Chinese-manufactured models accounting for a 77 percent share. The trend toward electrification is clear: last year, Azerbaijan imported 15,471 hybrid and electric vehicles from China valued at $396 million, a vast increase over the 4,636 vehicles worth $154 million delivered in 2023. The growing presence of EVs is not limited to passenger vehicles: Baku has also imported electric buses from Chinese manufacturers Yutong and BYD. The rise in exports to Azerbaijan is a reflection of Chinas increasing dominance in the global EV market; Chinese models now command a staggering 76 percent share of worldwide EV and plug-in hybrid sales, thanks to aggressive expansion into new markets. In Azerbaijan, favorable policies have encouraged EV adoption. Since 2019, imported electric vehicles have been exempt from value-added tax, and since 2022, customs duties on batteries and charging equipment imports have been eliminated. These policies have encouraged consumers to shift their focus from conventional cars to Chinese electric vehicles. The pace of Azerbaijans importation of Chinese EVs is ready to accelerate. Last July, Electrify Azerbaijan LLC, a subsidiary of Baku-based SARDA Group, signed an agreement with Chinas BYD covering the purchase of electric buses and the establishment of electric bus production in Azerbaijan. Under the agreement, 160 electric buses equipped with BYD motors were brought to Azerbaijan to launch a pilot program, with some buses in operation during last Novembers COP29 environmental conference. The BYD deal involves an overall investment of $60 million, with an initial $17.1 million used to establish a joint venture for electric bus production at the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, creating 600 jobs. BYD is also expected to begin local production of spare parts in Azerbaijan this year, with locally made components projected to cover 40 percent of the total bus-assembly costs by 2030. Ultimately, the company plans to increase annual production capacity at the Sumgayit facility to 500 buses. On the sidelines of COP29, another Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Nio, made a deal with Azerbaijan-based Green Car LLC. Under that agreement, Green Car will serve as Nios distributor in Azerbaijan, and the Chinese automaker is expected to start delivering vehicles during the second quarter of 2025. China is counting on Azerbaijan to serve as a beachhead, enabling the expansion of Chinese-made EV sales in neighboring markets across the region. For Azerbaijan, the growing presence of Chinas EVs offers multiple benefits, helping to diminish its carbon footprint and meet its target for the reduction of harmful emissions. EVs also fit nicely into the governments plans to ramp up renewable-energy power generation. Economically, Chinese EVs are more affordable for Azerbaijani consumers than competing Western-made models. In addition, it is approximately five times cheaper for an EV to operate than a gasoline-powered vehicle. Reductions in domestic demand, in turn, can potentially help Azerbaijan export additional volumes of energy. The growing partnership with China in the EV sector entails risk for Baku. Primarily, the increasing importation of Chinese EVs could leave China with a stranglehold on the Azerbaijani market that could be potentially leveraged in a variety of ways to Azerbaijans disadvantage, as well as create a trade-deficit trap. Some industry observers point out there is a chance that Azerbaijan may end up serving as an assembly and distribution hub without significantly developing high-value-added manufacturing capabilities of its own, producing advanced battery systems and other electronic components. To guard against this possibility, Azerbaijan needs to press China at this comparatively early stage to expand the localization of production for EV components and secure partial technology transfers. Officials in Baku also should establish local research centers to facilitate knowledge sharing and building local capacity. Most of all, Azerbaijan should promote the diversification of its EV market. Cultivating bilateral relationships with different EV producers in Europe and South Korea could reduce the risk of dependence on China and establish more balanced EV market conditions in the long term. By Yunis Sharifli via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com India has been investing heavily in the development of its renewable energy sector in recent years to support a green transition. While the government has repeatedly called on the international community to support its transition with funding to little avail, the state has financed a wide range of renewable energy and clean tech projects. However, the South Asian country is still heavily dependent on coal, oil, and gas, and its power demand is growing larger every year, suggesting that more needs to be done to accelerate the deployment of new green energy capacity. In 2023, India generated 22 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, which, although an improvement, was still below the global average of 39 percent. The growth in Indias solar energy capacity allowed it to overtake Japan as the worlds third-largest solar power generator, contributing 5.9 percent of global solar power growth. Hydropower remains Indias largest clean energy source, at around 8 percent, while solar and wind power together provide 10 percent of Indias power mix. However, India continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels for its energy mix, with coal, oil, and gas contributing to 78 percent of its electricity generation in 2023. Coal accounts for nearly 50 percent of Indias installed power capacity and over 70 percent of power generation. According to Indias Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, In 2024, the country made significant strides in solar and wind energy installations, policy advancements, and infrastructural improvements, setting the stage for ambitious targets in 2025. With a commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, India is emerging as a global leader in clean energy. As of 20th Jan 2025, Indias total non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity has reached 217.62 GW. Approximately 24.5 GW of solar capacity and 3.4 GW of wind capacity were added last year. Despite significant progress in recent years, India still has a long way to go to decarbonize its power sector. While Indias per capita emissions are much lower than those of many other countries, it has become the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses annually. The South Asian country has the largest population in the world, and while it is currently considered a lower-middle-income country, it is the worlds fastest-growing large economy. India must act now if it hopes to decarbonize over the coming decades toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. The government has made several ambitious energy targets to encourage this shift, including achieving a power mix with at least 50 percent renewables by 2030 and energy independence by 2047. However, with the power demand expected to quadruple by 2050, India faces an uphill battle in achieving these aims. Climate change is becoming an increasingly bigger threat to India with over 75 percent of Indian districts at risk of extreme weather, with cyclones, floods and drought becoming more commonplace. Therefore, India is seeing the direct threat of not carrying out a green transition fast enough. To help decarbonize its power sector, India must invest more heavily not only in the deployment of more wind and solar energy capacity but also in battery storage. This will help it to provide a more stable supply of clean electricity to the grid and transition away from fossil fuels. The government must also significantly improve the countrys transmission infrastructure to prepare for new clean energy capacity to be added and avoid losses in power transmission, a challenge that plagues most states in India. In addition, the development of mini- and microgrids could also help improve power access in rural regions of the country and reduce the burden on the grid. Approximately 4.59 GW of new rooftop solar capacity was installed in 2024, marking a 53 percent increase from the previous year. However, the deployment of this technology has been limited due to a lack of affordability, consumer awareness, and the professional expertise required to install rooftop panels. The government can take a number of steps to support Indias decarbonization aims, primarily by investing in the deployment of more clean energy and battery technology, as well as improving the countrys grid system. However, to do this, India will likely need to attract higher levels of foreign investment. Current estimates suggest that India will have to spend roughly $100 billion a year, or 2.8 percent of its GDP, to achieve its net-zero target by 2070. In 2021, Indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, called on developed countries to set a target of contributing at least 1 percent of their GDP to green projects in the developing world. Yet, Indias green transition roadmap remains highly underfunded. Despite promises of greater investment to support low-income countries in achieving their decarbonization goals at each years COP climate summit, not enough funding has been designated to support a global green transition. This suggests that while India is ambitious in its green transition aims, without the necessary funding, it will be extremely difficult to achieve them, which would be detrimental to global climate aspirations. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com BLOOMINGTON A Bloomington-based art festival has wrapped up a weekend of live painting and fundraising for a Normal arts nonprofit. The second annual DerpFest hosted 20 artists for 48 hours of creating visual arts in acrylic, oil water, soft pastel and collage at the Hangar Art Co. Creators were tasked with making a new piece of art in 48 hours, beginning at 10 a.m. Friday and ending at 10 a.m. Sunday. Finished pieces will be made available for purchase through an online auction running Monday through Friday, hosted at the Illinois Art Stations website, illinoisartstation.org/derpfest. Proceeds of each piece will be halfway split between artists and the Illinois Art Station, a nonprofit thats committed to providing transformative art experiences for young artists and families form all neighborhoods and backgrounds. Items will also be displayed at The Hangar Art Co. gallery through Aprils First Fridays event. In an interview at the end of the event, The Hangar Art Co. owner, Santino Lamancusa, said hes constantly surprised by the talent the festival brings in. He also said the creative setting of the event in his art gallery is full immersion for participating artists. Lamancusa compared it to a restaurant that places seating by a small kitchen area to help show the work that goes on. A lot of people dont always get to this side of the art process, a chance to see how it actually transforms and talk to artist while theyre doing it, Lamancusa said. He said it also changes the creative process for artists, who have to reappropriate their workspace outside of their usual studios. Lamancusa said it can energize creators while getting them outside of their comfort zone. Hannah Johnson, executive director of IAS, said collaborating with artists of all kinds and ages is always exciting. She said seeing artists get excited about showcasing their process, while helping IAS provide transformative experiences for other artists, is a significant thing. After 48 hours, Johnson said DerpFest artists have created something totally new and unique and inspiring. Kids are making quick (artwork) all the time, but to place value in that quick work its not just a doodle on a piece of paper. Its a work of art, said Johnson. I hope that theres a little connection made there as young artists are walking around seeing all that can happen in a really short period of time and help them understand what theyre capable of, too. Last year, the festival raised over $3,000. Organizers said while theyre hopeful to exceed last years proceeds, the primary emphasis is to help support artists in covering supplies and bills, as well as supporting the mission of the Illinois Art Station. Founding organizer Daniel DeJarld, who makes arts and performs music under the artist name Derp, said he hopes to continue holding the festival in future years. Powerful auras Finishing touches were still being added to several pieces during the festivals final hour, from 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday. Canvases that the artists worked on include frames sized 20 inches by 20 inches or 36 inches by 36 inches. They also worked on skateboard decks. Several artists were offered to paint a skateboard in advance of the festival, or during the event as their live-painting piece. One of the latter artists was Jenna Germano (Jenna Su), who is a senior at Illinois State University studying art education. Germano said 2025s DerpFest was her first live painting experience and it was really fun. She added there were some funny moments, too. The first day saw a completely different board because I basically redid it on Saturday, Germano said. Her skate deck was named Hidden Beneath, which references the earlier rendition hidden under the final paint layer. At least three works depicted some form of cats. One was by Mikiya Jones of Bloomington, who painted her self-portrait beside a panther. She titled the work Her. She is kind of coming out of the black panther. I did their eyes the same, here, to correlate the two, said Jones. Circular shades of red and white served as the portraits backdrop. It like the powerful aura that I hope it gives off, she said. Another cat-themed piece was by returning Derpfest artist Sean-Thomas Gunnell. He said Golden Cat is part of a series inspired by origami sculptures he folded out of gold foil sheets. Gunnell, of Bloomington, noted the background to his piece is pyrol red, which is a fiery shade developed by the auto industry. Other pieces showcased colorful scenes of nature, including Sheila Lambersons painting of red flowers. Lamberson said she liked meeting with other artists at the festival, which created a sense of community to her. If you look around the room, its like everybodys got very unique vision and style, and even material that they use," Lamberson said. There was also The Handrail, by Lori Laughlin of Bloomington. She said she sketched a natural scene from a friends property in Massachusetts, and then took it to the festival. Its been a whole evolution, she said. Laughlin said she first studied art in high school, but took time away from the practice while she was working full time, got married and had two kids. She said she started painting again two years ago. It all came back, Laughlin said, while adding that she forgot how much she enjoyed it. Now, she said she tries to paint every day. I was all in, she said. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Artist impression of ESA's Gaia satellite observing the Milky Way. The background image of the sky is compiled from data from more than 1.8 billion stars. It shows the total brightness and colour of stars observed by Gaia released as part of Gaias Early Data Release 3 (Gaia EDR3) in December 2020. Credit: Spacecraft: ESA/ATG medialab; Milky Way: ESA/Gaia/DPAC; CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. Acknowledgement: A. Moitinho. The European Space Agency (ESA) has powered down its Gaia spacecraft after more than a decade spent gathering data that are now being used to unravel the secrets of our home galaxy. On 27 March 2025, Gaia's control team at ESA's European Space Operations Center carefully switched off the spacecraft's subsystems and sent it into a "retirement orbit" around the sun. Though the spacecraft's operations are now over, the scientific exploitation of Gaia's data has just begun. Gaia's stellar contributions Launched in 2013, Gaia has transformed our understanding of the cosmos by precisely mapping the positions, distances, motions, and properties of nearly 2 billion stars and other celestial objects. It has provided the largest, most precise multi-dimensional map of our galaxy ever created, revealing its structure and evolution in unprecedented detail. The mission uncovered evidence of past galactic mergers, identified new star clusters, contributed to the discovery of exoplanets and black holes, mapped millions of quasars and galaxies, and tracked hundreds of thousands of asteroids and comets. It also enabled the creation of the best visualization of how our galaxy might look to an outside observer. "Gaia's extensive data releases are a unique treasure trove for astrophysical research, and influence almost all disciplines in astronomy," says Gaia Project Scientist Johannes Sahlmann. "Data release 4, planned for 2026, and the final Gaia legacy catalogs, planned for release no earlier than the end of 2030, will continue shaping our scientific understanding of the cosmos for decades to come." In the month after its launch on 1 July, Euclid has travelled 1.5 million kilometres from Earth towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, meaning it has arrived at its destination orbit. This animation showcases the orbits of Euclid (green), the James Webb Space Telescope (blue), and the Gaia mission (yellow) around this unique position in space. The positions of the spacecraft in this animation dont correspond to their current positions in space. Credit: European Space Agency Saying goodbye is never easy Gaia far exceeded its planned lifetime of five years, and its fuel reserves are dwindling. The Gaia team carefully considered how best to dispose of the spacecraft in line with ESA's efforts to responsibly dispose of its missions. They wanted to find a way to prevent Gaia from drifting back toward its former home near the scientifically valuable second Lagrange point (L2) of the sun-Earth system and minimize any potential interference with other missions in the region. "Switching off a spacecraft at the end of its mission sounds like a simple enough job," says Gaia Spacecraft Operator Tiago Nogueira. "But spacecraft really don't want to be switched off." "Gaia was designed to withstand failures such as radiation storms, micrometeorite impacts or a loss of communication with Earth. It has multiple redundant systems that ensure it could always reboot and resume operations in the event of disruption." "We had to design a decommissioning strategy that involved systematically picking apart and disabling the layers of redundancy that have safeguarded Gaia for so long, because we don't want it to reactivate in the future and begin transmitting again if its solar panels find sunlight." On 27 March 2025, the Gaia control team ran through this series of passivation activities. One final use of Gaia's thrusters moved the spacecraft away from L2 and into a stable retirement orbit around the sun that will minimize the chance that it comes within 10 million km of Earth for at least the next century. The team then safely deactivated and switched off the spacecraft's instruments and subsystems one by one, before deliberately corrupting its onboard software. The communication subsystem and the central computer were the last to be deactivated. "Today, I was in charge of corrupting Gaia's processor modules to make sure that the onboard software will never restart again once we have switched off the spacecraft," says Spacecraft Operations Engineer, Julia Fortuno. "I have mixed feelings between the excitement for these important end-of-life operations and the sadness of saying goodbye to a spacecraft I have worked on for more than five years. I am very happy to have been part of this incredible mission." Gaia's final transmission to ESOC mission control marked the conclusion of an intentional and carefully orchestrated farewell to a spacecraft that has tirelessly mapped the sky for over a decade. ESAs Gaia spacecraft leaves for retirement orbit. Credit: European Space Agency 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. A lasting legacy Though Gaia itself has now gone silent, its contributions to astronomy will continue to shape research for decades. Its vast and expanding data archive remains a treasure trove for scientists, refining knowledge of galactic archaeology, stellar evolution, exoplanets and much more. A workhorse of galactic exploration, Gaia has charted the maps that future explorers will rely on to make new discoveries. The star trackers on ESA's Euclid spacecraft uses Gaia data to precisely orient the spacecraft. ESA's upcoming Plato mission will explore exoplanets around stars characterized by Gaia and may follow up on new exoplanetary systems discovered by Gaia. The Gaia control team also used the spacecraft's final weeks to run through a series of technology tests. The team tested Gaia's micro-propulsion system under different challenging conditions to examine how it had aged over more than ten years in the harsh environment of space. The results may benefit the development of future ESA missions relying on similar propulsion systems, such as the LISA mission. Forever in Gaia's memory The Gaia spacecraft holds a deep emotional significance for those who worked on it. As part of its decommissioning, the names of about 1,500 team members who contributed to its mission were used to overwrite some of the back-up software stored in Gaia's onboard memory. Personal farewell messages were also written into the spacecraft's memory, ensuring that Gaia will forever carry a piece of its team with it as it drifts through space. As Gaia Mission Manager Uwe Lammers put it: "We will never forget Gaia, and Gaia will never forget us." 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: Morocco has built a diversion dam on one of its biggest rivers to redirect its flow as part of a $728 million project to avert a water crisis. Morocco is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on tapping northern rivers to supply water to parched cities farther south but experts question the sustainability of the project in the face of climate change. The North African kingdom has spent $728 million so far on what it dubs a "water highway" to redirect the surplus flow of the Sebou River to meet the drinking water needs of capital Rabat and economic hub Casablanca, according to official figures. In the future, it plans to tap other northern rivers to extend the project to the southern city of Marrakesh. Officials say the project has been a success in heading off the immediate threat to the water supply of the country's most populous region. "Transferring surplus water from the Sebou basin in the north allowed us to prevent about 12 million people from running out of water," said senior agriculture ministry official Mahjoub Lahrache. In late 2023, the capital Rabat and its surrounding region came perilously close to running out of water when the main reservoir supplying the city ran dry. Morocco has long suffered from extreme disparities in rainfall between the Atlas mountain ranges and the semi-arid and desert regions farther south. "Fifty-three percent of rainfall occurs in just 7% of the national territory," Water Minister Nizar Baraka told AFP. In the past, rainfall in the Atlas ranges has created sufficient surplus flow on most northern rivers for them to reach the ocean even in the driest months of the year. The river water is treated in sedimentation tanks before being transported by underground canal to Casablanca and Rabat. It is those surpluses that the "water highway" project seeks to tap. A diversion dam has been built in the city of Kenitra, just inland from the Atlantic coast, to hold back the flow of the Sebou River before it enters the ocean. The water is then treated and transported along a 67-kilometer (42-mile) underground canal to supply residents of Rabat and Casablanca. Inaugurated last August, the "water highway" had supplied more than 700 million cubic meters (24.7 billion cubic feet) of drinking water to the two urban areas by early March, according to official figures. But experts question how long the Sebou and other northern rivers will continue to generate water surpluses that can be tapped. Six-year drought The kingdom already suffers from significant water stress after six straight years of drought. Annual water supply has dropped from an average of 18 billion cubic meters in the 1980s to just five billion today, according to official figures. Despite heavy rains in the northwest in early March, Morocco remains in the grip of drought with rainfall 75% below historical averages. A security guard patrols the pipes at the pumping station which taps the surplus flow of the Sebou River. The dry spell has been "the longest in the country's history," the water minister said, noting that previous dry cycles typically lasted three years at most. Rising temperaturesup 1.8 degrees Celsius last year alonehave intensified evaporation. Experts say that climate change is likely to see further reductions in rainfall, concentrated in the very areas from which the "water highway" is designed to tap surplus flows. "Future scenarios indicate that northern water basins will be significantly more affected by climate change than those in the south over the next 60 years," said water and climate researcher Nabil El Mocayd. "What is considered surplus today may no longer exist in the future due to this growing deficit," he added, referencing a 2020 study in which he recommended scaling back the "water highway." Demand for water for irrigation also remains high in Morocco, where the farm sector employs nearly a third of the workforce. Researcher Abderrahim Handouf said more needed to be done to help farmers adopt water-efficient irrigation techniques. Handouf said the "water highway" was "an effective solution in the absence of alternatives" but warned that climate challenges will inevitably "create problems even in the north." "We must remain cautious," he said, calling for greater investment in desalination plants to provide drinking water to the big cities. 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: Dozens of tiny black weevils cling onto Salvinia minima ferns held in a container at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Dozens of tiny black weevils cling onto a fern plant as it is tossed onto a leafy green mat coating the surface of South Africa's Crocodile River. Those weevils aren't tossed into the river by accident: scientists hope that the insects and their larvae will munch their way through the green mat, which is made up of an unwanted, invasive South American aquatic plant called Salvinia minima. The plant is steadily taking over freshwater bodies in the northern region of South Africa, suffocating aquatic life, including on the Crocodile River and the Hartbeespoort Dam it flows into. The weevils, which have been used effectively elsewhere in the world to fight water weeds, are now leading South Africa's charge against the life-sucking plants threatening ecosystems in at least three northern provinces and creeping into neighboring countries. After the weevils helped control the spread of salvinia in parts of the United States, scientists from both countries worked together on a project to gather a starter population in South Africa. The 1-millimeter-long (0.03 inches) insects were brought over 8,700 miles from Louisiana. Rearing stations are being set up near several dams to grow the weevil population. Community members fish along the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025, near Hyacinth plants in the water. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Once released at an infested site, the beetles make themselves at home on the salvinia, the only thing they eat, without damaging the local ecosystem, scientists say. "They lay eggs on this plant, feed on this plant and die on this plant. If this plant dies, they will die as well," said professor Julie Coetzee, the principal scientist at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. "They damage certain tissues, those tissues become waterlogged and then those plants sink to the bottom." A floating menace Hartbeespoort Dam north of Johannesburg, the location for the pilot project, is an important source of irrigation for nearby farms and a popular recreation site. "When we bought the property there was this beautiful little floating plant on the dam and I thought well that's quite nice," said 53-year-old resident and business operator Max Moller. "Little did I realize this little floating fern was an absolute menace." Hyacinth plants grow at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Moller, the owner of Mogi's hiking trail, said the salvinia have clogged up and damaged boat engines and also hurt fishing communities over the nine years that he has lived in the area. South Africa's already vulnerable freshwater systems face a significant threat from salvinia, scientists say. The plants have had two major growth spurts in 2021 and 2022, surviving on the high nitrate contents in the water. The plant initially surfaced more than a decade ago at the dam, which has also long been battling with a water hyacinth invasion, another problematic species. "If you pull the hyacinth away, this plant is lurking," said Coetzee. The invasive plants block out the sunlight, which means no oxygen in the water, she said. "If there is no oxygen, there's no fish, there's no crab, there's no insects and so you completely destroy or alter the aquatic ecosystem," she said. Salvinia has a rapid growth rate and its spread has been most notable across Gauteng province, where South Africa's biggest city of Johannesburg and its capital, Pretoria, are located. The plant is compounding existing water supply problems by depleting the oxygen and sapping the supply in a country that's already struggling with increasing demand and deteriorating water infrastructure. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Isaac Sello Seitlholo tosses out samples of Salvinia minima ferns infected with black weevils onto a carpet of the ferns growing at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe 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. Concerns over the weevils' impact While releasing the weevils will help combat salvinia, experts warn that there could be unintended side-effects. Anthony Turton, a water expert and researcher at South Africa's University of the Free State, cautioned that their introduction could turn rivers and dams into more suitable homes for bacteria and dangerous organisms. That includes poisonous blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, which flourish in nutrient-rich, contaminated waterways and already affect almost 60% of the nation's dams. "With more light and less competition for nutrients, those cyanobacteria will go into a condition known as a bloom," he said. "This is exponential population growth that radically populates the entire water column." Turnton said simultaneous action to repair damaged sewage systems and limit agriculture fertilizer runoff are essential for a lasting solution. "Unless there are efforts to reduce the inflow of nutrients from sewage flows, then we are only creating space for cyanobacteria to grow without competition from floating weeds," he said. Community members fish along the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe A carpet of Salvinia minima ferns grows at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Hyacinth grows at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Hyacinth grows at the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe A community member fishing along the Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa, on March 17, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe Threat of spreading to other countries The weevils aren't the first insects to be introduced to curb an invasive threat in South Africa. The country brought in a bug in the 1930s to control the spread of a hardy cactus native to Mexico that was hurting ecosystems. That project was viewed as a success. The speedy growth of the salvinia has put pressure on the government to act, particularly as researchers warn that neighboring countries also now face an invasion. Coetzee said that salvinia was popping up on the confluence of the Crocodile and Limpopo rivers in the far north of South Africa. "That now poses a huge threat to our neighbors because this plant has been transported by our rivers onto our borders," she said. "It is likely to go all the way along the Limpopo, along Botswana and Zimbabwe's borders and into Mozambique." "We really have a responsibility to control this plant," she added. 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For nearly 15 years, almost no information was available on the population status of Uganda's large carnivores, including those in its largest national park, Murchison Falls. These species represent a critical part of Uganda's growing tourism economy. The country is home to the famed tree-climbing lions, which are much sought after for this unique behavior. Together, lions and leopards generate tens of thousands of dollars annually from safari viewing and allied activities. Keeping an eye on the proverbial prize could not be more critical for the country. When wildlife isn't monitored rigorously, populations can disappear within just a few years, as tigers did in India's Sariska tiger reserve. But many people working in conservation discourage monitoring. They argue that a "bean counter" approach to conservation overlooks the funds and actions that save animals. Others simply say that it is a hard thing to do at scale and particularly for animals that are naturally shy, have big home ranges (sometimes over multiple countries), and occur in very low numbers. Even in a comparatively small African countryUganda ranks 32nd in size out of 54 countries how does one cover enough ground to see how populations of carnivores are faring? This has been the challenge of our work in Uganda for nearly a decade now, monitoring African lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. Our two recent studies in Murchison Falls and six protected areas across the country sought to address the problem by drawing on a wide range of local and international experts who live and work in Uganda. Working with the Ugandan government's Uganda Wildlife Authority research and monitoring team, we set out to identify and bring together independent scientists, government rangers, university students, lodge owners and conservation managers in the country's major savanna parks. We hoped to cover more ground with people and organizations that wouldn't traditionally work together. Doing so exposed many of these individuals for the first time to the science and field skills needed to build robust, long-term monitoring programs for threatened wildlife. The result is the largest, most comprehensive count of African lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. We found spotted hyenas to be doing far better than we expected. But lions are in worrying decline, indicating where conservation efforts need to be focused. Beyond that, our count proved the value of collaborating when it comes to generating data that could help save animals. Our unique approach Inspired by Kenya's first nationwide, science-based survey of lions and other carnivores in key reserves, the first important step of this study was to secure the collaboration of the Uganda Wildlife Authority's office of research and monitoring. Together, we identified the critical conservation stakeholders in and around six protected areas. These are Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Kidepo Valley, Toro Semliki, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls. Leopards and hyenas occur in some other parks (such as Mount Elgon and Rwenzori National Park) but resource constraints prevented us from surveying these sites. We had no predisposed notions of who could or would participate in our carnivore surveys, only that we wanted people living closest to these species in the room. We shortlisted lodge owners, government rangers, independent scientists, university students from Kampala, NGO staff and even trophy hunters. All came together for a few days to learn about how to find carnivores in each landscape, build detection histories and analyze data. We delivered five technical workshops showing participants how to search for African lions in the landscapes together with mapping exactly where they drove. We also taught participants: how to identify lions by their whisker spots in high-definition photographsthese are the small spots where a cat's whiskers originate on their cheeks how to determine identity in camera trap images of leopard and spotted hyena body flanks post data collection analysis techniques a technique to estimate population densities and abundance. More than 100 Ugandan and international collaborators joined in the "all hands on deck" survey, driving over 26,000km and recording 7,516 camera trap nights from 232 locations spanning a year from January 2022 to January 2023. Our scientific approach focused on how to achieve the best possible counts of carnivores. In the process we identified some of the biggest shortcomings of previous surveys. These included double counting individual animals and failing to incorporate detection probability. Even worse was simply adding all individual sighted animals and not generating any local-level estimates. 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. What our results tell us As expected, our results painted a grim picture in some areas, but marked hope for others. In the majestic Murchison Falls national park, through which the River Nile runs east-west, we estimated that approximately 240 lions still remained across some 3,200km of sampled area. This is the highest number in Uganda and at least five to 10 times higher than in the Kidepo and Queen Elizabeth parks. In Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to the tree-climbing lions, we found a marked decline of over 40% (just 39 individuals left in 2,400km) since our last survey in 2018. In the country's north, Kidepo Valley, the best estimate is just 12 individual lions across 1,430km, in stark contrast with the previous estimate of 132 lions implemented nearly 15 years ago. In contrast, leopards appeared to continue to occur at high densities in select areas, with Lake Mburo and Murchison Falls exhibiting strong populations. Pian Upe and Queen Elizabeth's Ishasha sector recorded the lowest densities. Spotted hyenas have proven far more resilient. They occur at densities ranging from 6.15 to 45.31 individuals/100km across surveyed sites. In Queen Elizabeth, their numbers could be rising as lion populations decline, likely due to reduced competition and ongoing poaching pressure targeting lions. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation interventions, particularly for lions in Uganda's struggling populations. Value beyond numbers Our approach shared the load of data collection, and gave people an opportunity and skills to engage in wildlife science. For many emerging conservationists in the country, this was their first chance to be authors on a scientific paper (an increasingly important component of postgraduate degree applications). Even if many of the people we worked with disagree on how to save large carnivores in Uganda, they could at least agree on how many there are as they had a hand in collecting the data and scrutinizing it. Since we have embraced a fully science-based approach, we recognize that our surveys too should improve over time. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. After Republicans removed gender identity from Iowa's Civil Rights Act this year, at least one Democratic lawmaker is worried legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation could be next. Ross Wilburn, a Democratic representative from Ames and a member of the Iowa Legislative Black Caucus, spoke at a legislative forum on the subject of civil rights Saturday at the TMBC Lincoln Resource Center in Davenport. The forum was hosted by Metrocom NAACP Branch No. 4019, Quad Cities Ministers Association, One Human Family and Progressive Action for the Common Good. About 50 people came to hear legislators all Democrats discuss bills that have advanced in the Legislature that attempt to further curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, among other topics. In addition to Wilburn, Rep. Ken Croken, Rep. Dan Gosa, and Sen. Cindy Winckler, all of Davenport, and Sen. Mike Zimmer, of DeWitt, attended. Wilburn said four or five years ago, he and others said Republicans would open up the civil rights code and remove gender identity and sexual orientation. "We've all filled out job applications, you can't be discriminated based on race, sex, gender, used to be gender identity in Iowa, your age, and a few other categories," Wilburn said. "That's the legal hook. That's how we know from the Constitution that your rights have been violated, that you've been denied justice, the benefits of citizenship in our country." Wilburn warned that he believes some Republicans want to go further. "(People say), 'Oh, they're not going to do it,' he said. "Well, they did gender identity this year, and before the hearing was over, a member of the group that's been pushing some of the legislators to do this said sexual orientation is next." Representatives for Republican House and Senate leadership did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Depending on the outcome of the fall 2026 elections, Wilburn said he believed that Republicans may make a greater push for restoring the death penalty in Iowa, too. And, he said, he believed Republicans would attempt to stop collecting data on minority groups and health and education outcomes. "Then, how will you know that there's a disproportionate number of young Black males on special education? There's no problem if you don't collect the data," Wilburn said. "The biggest beneficiaries of the Civil Rights Act are, yes, people of color, but also women, people with disabilities, people with low income." Republicans in the Legislature this year have continued to make a push to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from schools, local governments and private colleges and universities. Republicans say diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts threaten merit-based hiring and achievement and are discriminatory against majority groups. Similar bills passed by the House and Senate would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion offices in local governments. Croken said he received a letter from the Scott County Health Department regarding the legislation. The health department was concerned that the bill could adversely impact the public health department's work to reach different populations who are disproportionately at risk of certain health problems or its efforts to provide translation services or assistance for disabled people, Croken said. "Trying to erase that is not only foolish, but the unintended consequences are downright harmful," Croken said. House Republicans passed House File 856, which was amended to also expand the diversity, equity, and inclusion ban to community colleges and make the lack of a diversity, equity, and inclusion office a prerequisite for Iowa private colleges eligibility for the Iowa Tuition Grant program. The House also passed bills that would establish a School of Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa and would further bar topics of identity politics, systemic racism, sexism, oppression or that privilege is inherent in the institutions of the United States and the state of Iowa from being part of required courses in public universities. Wilburn, who is a member of the newly formed higher education committee, said some bills scratch through definitions of racial diversity, systemic racism and implicit bias. Zimmer pointed to a bipartisan coalition called 50/50 in 2020, which encouraged women to run for the legislature. Zimmer said programs that promote representation allow others to see themselves in a certain position or to get involved in civic leadership. Matt Trimble, a former Democratic candidate for county auditor, expressed concern about recent actions at the federal level regarding voting and registering to vote. A slate of election-related bills are being considered in the statehouse this month. One provision Winckler noted is causing her some concern would allow a precinct election official to challenge an individual coming to vote on the basis of citizenship status. Winckler said that could present an extra barrier for immigrants who have become citizens and are eligible to vote. The Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said earlier this month that 35 Iowans who are not full U.S. citizens were able to cast votes in the state in the 2024 election. Wilburn encouraged the audience not to lose hope. "Anytime there's an advancement of civil rights, there's a pushback," Wilburn said. "It does go back, but the way that it happens is people like us get together, we make sure everybody knows what's going on, we get people registered, we vote in every election and we push back." Quad-Cities higher education and K-12 leaders face ongoing uncertainty in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order to close the U.S. Education Department. The executive order, issued March 20, calls on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the (department's) closure and return authority over education to the States and local communities." While both she and Trump say they plan to retain critical services such as federal student aid, special education and supplemental funding for low-income school communities under Title I, the executive order lacks detail regarding how this will be carried out and which Education Department functions face cuts. Officially abolishing the Department of Education would require Congress, which created the department in 1979. Trump's order also faces lawsuits. "While I cannot speak officially for the district, I can say this announcement is not surprising," said Andrew Waeyeart, president of the Moline-Coal Valley School Board. "President Trump's administration has been characterized by chaotic directives and hastily conceived policies, often aimed at masking the significant deficit resulting from tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthy." While he said government waste, fraud and abuse "undoubtedly" exist, Waeyeart calls it "misguided" to target Education Department programs like special education services and Title I. East Moline Superintendent Kristin Humphries has similar, "profound" apprehensions. His biggest concern lies with the welfare of vulnerable students, such as those with Individualized Education Programs, second language learners and those facing generational poverty. According to 2024 Illinois Report Card data, 97% of East Moline students are classified as low-income. "Federal oversight has historically provided indispensable safeguards, ensuring that states adhere to essential standards and protect the rights of these children," Humphries said. "Without federal guidelines, we risk a fragmented system where educational quality and access vary drastically (by state), potentially leaving our most marginalized students behind." Waiting for more information Right now, most local schools are awaiting further clarity. "We know things will likely change, but for now we need to wait for final (state, federal-level) guidance on what comes next," said Heather Larson, spokeswoman for Pleasant Valley schools. United Township Superintendent Jay Morrow said the school is facing a similar "holding pattern," but he wonders how and if schools will receive long-term federal appropriations. Since the federal budget year starts Oct. 1, it may be a while before Congress reveals its plan for annual education funding. "If that money is not in the next budget, we'll have the answer," Morrow said. Beyond the immediate impact of an Education Department dismantling, Humphries said hes deeply concerned about the executive order's broader implications on public education. "This action feels like a significant step in a larger, overt erosion of the fundamental principles of accessible and equitable public education," he said, calling public education a bedrock principle of any functioning democracy. "I fear this move will further exacerbate existing inequalities and undermine the very foundation of our commitment to educating all children, regardless of their background or circumstances." Impact for Quad-Cities colleges In higher education, the Education Department's chief role lies in administering federal student aid, though it also supports career and technical education initiatives and other workforce development programs. Most students attending one of the Quad-Cities' five undergraduate institutions rely on federal or state aid to pay for tuition. But like their K-12 counterparts, local higher education leaders are still assessing how the Education Department's shutdown will impact their campuses. "Western Illinois University (WIU) is closely monitoring the changes in the federal landscape and will continue to evaluate developments with an eye towards student impact," said Zach Messersmith, director of government relations. "We will continue to work with our partners in the federal and state government and commit to continued advocacy for our students." He said WIU students receive nearly $40 million in federal grants, loans and direct aid annually. "We don't have sufficient clarity, really, to be able to make any judgment calls," said Amy Novak, president of St. Ambrose University. "We have been assured, at least in the messaging we've received so far, that students will continue to be able to access (federal student aid)." The Trump Administration plans to reassign managing the nation's $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio and other student financial aid functions to the Small Business Administration. Novak said this could change the federal student aid application or distribution process, but she hasn't noticed any impact on Free Application for Federal Student Aid completion at SAU so far. "I don't expect this to have a negative impact on our enrollment," she said, so long as students are assured they'll have access to federal aid. Novak said SAU's FAFSA completion rate is up from last spring, so she's encouraged despite the uncertainty. "We're working really hard to reassure (students) that the systems are in place," she said. "It's just that whoever administers those systems might change, (as) we understand it now." Officials from both Black Hawk College and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges say they don't have enough information to know how the executive order might impact their students. Still, EICC spokeswoman Johnna Kerres emphasized the importance of federal support in areas like CTE, Pell Grants and other financial aid programs. This fall, approximately 53% of EICC students received Pell Grants. Augustana, SAU and WIU totaled 3,359 Pell recipients as of December. "Any changes to the (Education) Department could have an impact on these programs, so we will be closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds," Kerres said. "Regardless of any policy changes, we remain dedicated to (providing) high-quality, accessible education and supporting student success." Andrea Talentino, president of Augustana College, similarly said the college will remain stable with an "unwavering focus on student success" amid ongoing federal changes and "unknowns." Novak has similar plans. "My goal is to keep initiatives that are important to our students moving forward," she said. "And not create any unnecessary angst among our student populations (until) we have more definitive answers." That includes SAU's strategic combination with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Novak said, noting the first phase, tentatively slated for June, "does have some activity" tied to the Education Department. "We're keeping a very close eye on whether or not anything slows down (our) combination work with Mount Mercy," she said. "At this juncture, we are moving all speed ahead and have been securing all the (required) regulatory approvals." As an education leader, Novak said, it's important to avoid jumping to conclusions until legislation actually passes while staying attentive to the changing socio-political landscape. "We're very aware that much of this is tied up in the court systems right now, (and requires) particular congressional action, and so we're just doing what we can to monitor (federal, state) policies," she said. Understanding the impacts of the order has taken time from the college's administration, she added. Still, she said SAU will keep the focus on students. When it comes to education policy changes, Novak urges lawmakers to do the same. "I think all of us could acknowledge, regardless of who's in power, (there) are probably opportunities to increase efficiency," she said. "I'm just very sensitive to making sure (we're) attentive to the students who might be impacted by the decisions we make whatever those decisions are and whatever changes may come about as a result." CHADRON, Neb. Though April 1 is commonly known as April Fools Day, its no joke that it also marks Donna Bieganskis 80th birthday this year. Born in Chadron, Bieganski wasnt here too long after her birth. Her father, Don Rickenbach, was in the Army Air Corps. He and Donnas mother, Jean Rickenbach, were at Marana Air Base north of Tucson, Arizona. When [Mom] realized it wouldnt be too long before I would be arriving, Donna said, Dad wanted to get her back up here where her parents [Vern and Cecil Roberts] were. Speaking at the home she shares with her husband, Gary, east of Chadron, Donna noted the area has been the home place. The Roberts home was at the corner of Bordeaux Road and Pine View, Donna added, and her parents were married in the living room of their home. Donnas grandparents on her fathers side were also nearby, living in Oelrichs, S.D. Don was able to get leave to come up from Arizona for training. Gary explained in the Army Air Corps all pilots had to do a minimum of flying every month, and Don was at the point where the Army wanted him to take a cross-country navigational test. After arriving in Rapid City, Dons father got him and brought him back to Chadron. After Donnas birth, a storm hit, marooning Don in Chadron while his plane was up in Rapid City. I arrived, and he was able to see me before he had to go back, Donna said. He wasnt supposed to have been here, but here he was. Don returned to Arizona, with Donna and Jean following, and the family remained there until the war was over. After that, they returned and settled east of Chadron, which became their home until she married Gary on June 5, 1966. We chased the cows out and built a house, Donna said, laughing. As to the return to the home place, Donna said when she and Gary were dating they were working cattle, and really liked the spot and felt theyd like to build here. Gary joked that this was if they decided they liked each other enough to get married. Donna started school at Lockett School, just up the road from where she now lives, in a small country school which is now at the Dawes County Museum. In high school, she became an unofficial bus driver. Having earned her learners permit, she drove many of the neighbor kids to school. I cant believe the grown-ups arranged for that, but it worked. Later in her educational career, Donna went to college at Chadron State, earned her teaching degree, and taught in Trunk Butte for two years before teaching at North Ward. She and Gary were married before they graduated college. Gary became the hospital administrator for five years, from 1973-78, in Atkinson, so the family moved there. From Atkinson, they moved to McCook for 30 years. Their two boys, Allen and Mark, went to school there, and Donna was a substitute teacher. She did some substituting for elementary classes, Gary said, but when she said shed take on junior high she was called nearly every day. Donna said it worked well, as many students she first met as kindergartners, she was able to teach again as they got older. Gary said the first few years upon returning to Chadron in 2006, his wife was approached by college students who would call her Mrs. B and hug her, because shed taught them in McCook. Donna said they still enjoy being at the home place, and even though they dont run cattle anymore theres still plenty to do around the place. She also noted her son Allen travelled to Africa for six months when he was 14, with a missionary family with whom he was friends. Gary and Donna went to pick him up and did some travelling in Senegal area while there for a couple weeks. We enjoy travelling, Donna said. Weve taken a number of trips. As for the community, Donna said Chadron is a special place and theyve enjoyed finding out the genealogy of theirs and other local families. Those who would like to wish Donna a happy birthday are encouraged to stop by Country Kitchen on Saturday, April 5, from 2-4 p.m. to share memories, laughter and well wishes. Its difficult to get a 100% record on bills in the General Assembly unless its an election year for the House of Delegates, and youre in the minority party and represent a swing district. Two Republican legislators from Chesterfield County who represent competitive districts Del. Carrie Coyner, who has a record of successes on consumer protection and housing issues even when shes not in the majority, and first-term member Mark Earley struck out on pretty much everything this year, a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of the regional delegations results found. Democrats hold a 51-49 edge in the House of Delegates and are likely to target the Coyner and Earley districts when all 100 House seats are up for election in November. Republicans did it to Democrats, Democrats do it to Republicans, said Steve Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. But when youre in the minority party, youre never going to have a Ted Williams year, especially in these partisan times, he said, referring to the last major leaguer to hit .400. Its not clear that voters look closely at legislators successes with their bills, said Olusoji Akomolafe, chair of the political science department at Norfolk State University. Still, he said, This dynamic is simply part of the political game. Legislators return to Richmond on Wednesday to take up the governors proposed amendments and vetoes. If the legislature rejects the governors suggestions, he would have the option of signing the bills into law or vetoing them. Heres a look at how Richmond-area lawmakers fared in the session. Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond 15 bills introduced, 11 passed, four failed Carr, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, saw Gov. Glenn Youngkin propose big changes to four of her 11 successful bills, including one to House Bill 2161 that would end the president of Virginia Commonwealth Universitys voting status on the VCU Health System Authority board. This is the body that oversees VCUs Medical Center and its extensive network of practices and clinics. Youngkin wants to amend Carrs effort to make it easier for nonprofit groups, particularly religious ones, to develop affordable housing (House Bill 2153). Youngkin is proposing that the state, rather than localities, set guidelines. Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights 15 bills, 2 passed, 13 failed Cherry, an Air Force veteran and headmaster of a Christian school, won a second look last year at funding for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program. This year, he took a lead in pushing for two Youngkin priorities. One was a scholarship program to enable children to attend private schools (House Bill 2231). The other is a measure that would let special conservators of the peace take custody of people in a mental health crisis (House Bill 2228). Neither bill got a hearing. (One of Youngkins budget amendments would add $25 million in vouchers to pay for private school tuition.) But Cherry won unanimous support for House Bill 2226 that would allow schools to redact foster parents addresses from school records if a childs parent requests. Del. Rae Cousins, D-Richmond 15 bills, 11 approved (three vetoed), four failed Cousins, a first-term delegate, focuses much of her attention on criminal justice and housing issues. Her House Bill 2222 to restrict shackling of young defendants when they go to court won nearly unanimous support. Youngkin vetoed three of her bills, including House Bill 2229, under which tenants disputing unsafe conditions with a landlord could pay rent into an escrow account instead of to the landlord. Del. Carrie Coyner R-Chesterfield 13 bills, nine failed, four incorporated into identical bills The election-year session was tough for Coyner, who got 11 bills passed in 2024. She represents a competitive district where Democrat Kamala Harris won 52% of votes in the presidential race and Youngkin got 54% in the 2021 election for governor. Among her failed bills was one with funding for youth in foster care that a gatekeeper House subcommittee approved but the full committee killed. The Senate version of the same bill sailed through that body and the House (House Bill 2282). House Democrats merged four of her proposals dealing with reporting school overdoses, prisoner medical records, school textbooks and homeowner association records into identical measures, filed after hers, all of which passed. Fortunately, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle knew good policy when they saw it and borrowed it from me, Coyner said. Regardless, Im glad many of these bills became law, and I look forward to bringing the rest back next year. Del. Mark Earley, R-Chesterfield 14 bills, 14 failed Earley, is serving his first term from a competitive district in which Harris received 49.3% of the vote to Donald Trumps 48.7%. Earley had a hard time even getting a hearing for some of his measures: eight died without any action by a subcommittee, the critical first step in the House of Delegates process. I have no doubt at all that my efforts were frustrated because my seat is competitive, Earley said. Among his bills that got no hearing were House Bill 2294, under which parents would have to consent for minors to have a social media account, House Bill 2305 to provide a tax credit when a woman is pregnant and gives birth the following year, and House Bill 2761 that would let a state employee take up to 24 hours of paid leave per month to accompany a parent to medical appointments or procedures at Veterans Affairs facilities. Del. Buddy Fowler, R-Hanover Nine bills, two passed, six failed, one incorporated Fowler, co-chair of the Legislative Sportsmen Caucus, couldnt get the House to go along with his House Bill 2629 to increase the number of days people can fish without a license from three to six. He did not get a hearing for his House Bill 2623 that would bar localities from invoking sovereign immunity as a defense against lawsuits if the enacted ordinances had rules impeding cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement service. The governor signed Fowlers House Bill 2525. It requires health insurers online processes to include a link to provide patients with real-time out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield 11 bills, four passed, six failed, one incorporated First-term delegate Gardner said she made a point this year of lining up support from all sides for her successful House Bill 1955 to end the state law distinction between powder and crack cocaine. She said she wanted to prevent what she considers unreasonably long sentences that make prisons more dangerous. Even losing can sometimes be winning, she says. Her House Bill 1709 that would bar landlords from charging for broadband services died in a House subcommittee. She believes she still got a win for some constituents because a series of meetings with lobbyists from broadband and cable firms and large landlords convinced them to support a study by the Virginia Housing Commission. She said that should ensure buy-in next year for whatever the commission recommends. Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond 14 bills, five passed (one vetoed), nine failed Legislators and Youngkin backed Jones House Bill 1663 directing the Board of Education to set guidelines to protect student-athletes from heatstroke and heat exhaustion. He won legislators support, but not the governors, for House Bill 1660 to ban trigger activators kits or devices that speed the rate of fire of semi-automatic firearms. And he couldnt convince House gatekeepers to go along with House Bill 1662, his proposal to ban supermarkets from giving out plastic bags, or his House Bill 1666 to expand the use of cameras to enforce speed limits. Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico 10 bills, eight passed (two vetoed), two failed Lawmakers unanimously passed Levere Bollings House Bill 1933 under which Virginias workers compensation insurers cover treatment for throat cancer that firefighters and other first responders who deal with hazardous material suffer, by presuming the cancer, like several others, was caused at work. Youngkin vetoed her House Bill 1932 that would require real estate appraisers take a course on bias. Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Henrico 12 bills, five passed, seven failed Lawmakers unanimously passed McQuinns House Bill 2195 under which people providing mold remediation services need to be certified by a national or international body. She also won support for House Bill 2500, which sets up a fund to support research into causes of and cures for sickle cell anemia. Del. David Owen, R-Goochland Five bills, four failed, one incorporated First-time legislator Owen, a construction and homebuilder businessman, focused much of his attention on land-use issues. His House Bill 2279 died without a hearing. It would have authorized the Attorney General to prosecute human and sex trafficking offenses in connection as racketeering. A House panel killed his House Bill 2480, under which a locality could not require traffic studies as a condition for approval of a rezoning that involves developments with fewer than 50 residential units. Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie 11 bills, nine failed, two incorporated Taylor is another Republican in a highly competitive House seat. She represents a Petersburg-anchored district in which Harris received 51% in 2024 and Youngkin got 51% in 2021. Of her nine failed bills, six died without a hearing. These included House Bill 2562, a measure saying criminal penalties would do not apply to the treatment of a nonviable pregnancy; and House Bill 2563, under which the laws governing abortion would not be construed to prohibit or limit in vitro fertilization. A House panel rolled her House Bill 2518 that would require emergency rooms to have standardized protocols for obstetric emergencies into a measure a Democratic legislator introduced nine days later. That measure passed the House and Senate unanimously. Del. Lee Ware, R-Powhatan Seven bills, two enacted, five failed Ware, a 14-term legislator who has pushed hard for tighter regulation of utilities, could not get a hearing on his House Bill 2607 to ban Virginias two big electric monopolies, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power, from giving money to candidates campaign funds. The retired teachers House Bill 2606 to let school officials dismiss repetitive complaints about special education passed. But he could not get a hearing on his House Bill 1548, under which students would be required to pass the same test naturalized citizens do, in order to graduate from high school. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico 15 bills, 12 enacted, three failed Willett, chair of the House Select Committee on Advancing Rural Health Care, won passage for a series of seven bills related to health care. These included House Bill 1905 to let hospitals compound drugs and House Bill 1904 to let nurse midwives be on call for newborn nursery care. Del. Scott Wyatt, R-Hanover Eight bills, three enacted, five failed Youngkin signed Wyatts House Bill 1799 that says the Virginia Lottery cannot release the names of people who win more than $1 million without their permission. It lowers the threshold from the current $10 million trigger. But his House Bill 1652 failed. It would have shortened the early voting period from 45 days to 14, and limited same-day registration to active-duty military and people temporarily outside the United States. Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Henrico 20 bills, 13 passed (one vetoed), seven failed The Senate and House unanimously passed Airds Senate Bill 1383 detailing penalties when nursing homes dont properly care for residents. But Youngkin vetoed her Senate Bill 1234 on permits for new wells, and the Senate Finance Committee killed her Senate Bill 1378 that proposed a $300 tax credit for each child under 13. Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico 18 bills, 15 passed (four vetoed), three failed Youngkin vetoed Bagbys Senate Bill 1252, a measure to ban some of the new ways lenders utilize to say their loans are not really disguised payday loan offers. Youngkin said the measure could unintentionally capture some legitimate financial activities. But the governor signed Bagbys Senate Bill 1261. It requires fingerprints of juveniles charged with a delinquent act that is, something that would not be a crime if an adult did it. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield 26 bills, nine passed, 17 failed Hashmi, who is seeking the Democratic Partys nomination for lieutenant governor, tried again this year for legislation to ensure Virginians have a right to birth control. The legislature passed Senate Bill 1105, but Youngkin wants changes. His version would allow providers to opt out for reasons of religious belief and remove Hashmis language on enforcement. Advocates say the governors rewrite would gut the bill. Youngkin, who blames school closings during the pandemic for sliding test scores and learning loss, signed Hashmis Senate Bill 1380 calling for the state Department of Education to develop guidelines for virtual or online learning. The Senate backed Hashmis Senate Bill 1098, which would block extradition of someone who violates another states abortion restrictions that are not violations of Virginia law. The bill never got a hearing in the House, which is up for election in November. Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover 18 bills, eight passed, seven failed, three incorporated Senate Minority Leader McDougle has sought for three years to allow felony homicide charges against drug dealers who sell fatal overdoses. His effort resumes Wednesday. Democrats rewrote McDougles Senate Bill 746 to say selling a fatal overdose should be involuntary manslaughter, subject to far shorter prison stays. Youngkin is asking the General Assembly to revise the bill to again make the offense a felony homicide. McDougles Senate Bill 803, an effort to break an impasse over whether workers compensation should cover injuries caused by repeated stress by setting standards for when repeated stress makes someone eligible for compensation, was rolled into another bill that died. Virginia is the only state that doesnt allow this. A four-decade standoff continues. Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield 19 bills, six enacted, 12 failed, one incorporated The Senate General Laws Committee rolled Sturtevants Senate Bill 1140, a proposed ban on hedge funds and other large investors from buying single family homes, into a similar measure, Senate Bill 1424, that Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico filed days later. That measure died in the Senate Finance Committee. Sturtevant won unanimous support for Senate Bill 761 that gives defendants 90 days to respond to claims in a civil lawsuit, up from 60 days. But the Senate Local Government Committee killed his Senate Bill 1429 to bar localities from moving war memorials efforts that have been aimed at Confederate monuments. Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico 17 bills, 10 passed (one vetoed), five failed, two incorporated VanValkenburgs Senate Bill 1223 was an effort to address a hot local issue. It would have pushed the owner of a Rosies historical horse racing gaming facility on Staples Mill Road to allow a local voter referendum on the facility, or else lose some of the revenue it would earn there. The measure won a nod from the Senate General Laws Committee but died in the Finance Committee. The Senate Local Government committee killed two of VanValkenburgs bills to boost affordable housing. It rejected Senate Bill 839 to increase multi-family units and Senate Bill 975 that would have forced localities to work harder to increase housing units. VanValkenburg, a teacher, did win General Assembly approval of Senate Bill 955 to bring more high-quality instructional material into classrooms. Youngkin is asking for some changes to give the state Department of Education time to weigh in on the matter. An enormous cache of recently discovered Civil War letters and other 19th century documents has been donated to Virginia Tech by a descendant of a Confederate general who later played a key role in founding the land-grant university. The officer was Gen. Gabriel Colvin Wharton, a native of Culpeper County and a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. In 1863 in the middle of the Civil War Wharton married Anne Nannie Radford, whose family helped found the independent city of the same name. Wharton surrendered at Lynchburg on June 21, 1865. After the war, the couple built Radfords Glencoe Mansion, which is now a history museum. And Wharton won election to Virginias legislature. In that position he played a key role in establishing Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, as a land-grant institution in 1872. (Earlier, the Blacksburg campus had been a Methodist boys school founded in 1852.) The donor is the Whartons great-great-granddaughter, Sue H. Bell, of Wellesley, Massachusetts. In all, Bell has donated 1,233 documents to the university, with more to come. The items were buried in steamer trunks, foot lockers and boxes that Wharton left in Glencoe Mansion when he died in 1906. This is really an important collection for Virginia Tech, said Aaron Purcell, director of Special Collections and University Archives. One of the amazing things about the discovery is, it was never supposed to see the light of day, Purcell noted. In fact, near the end of his life, Gabriel Wharton put a note on (the cache) that read: Please burn, Purcell told me. This kind of complete collection 1,200 items and letters that snap-shotted the Civil War period, is amazing, Purcell added. This is going to be a showpiece, top of the list certainly, for Civil War collectors. The donation was announced Saturday, during the universitys Civil War Weekend 2025 Bell is in town for that. The universitys Special Collections and University Archives will catalog and preserve the donated material to ensure its accessible to students, researchers and history enthusiasts. Some of the documents will be digitized and available for perusal online. Bell, and her brother, and their uncle, and their father and their grandfather are all Virginia Tech grads. Thats one reason why the Wharton collection is now at Virginia Tech. The other reason is, Wharton fought hard as a legislator to have Virginia Tech established as a land-grant college, after Virginia was readmitted to the union, Bell said. Saturday night, she and retired Tech professor William C. Jack Davis, a noted Civil War historian, gave a presentation titled Gabe and Nanny The Love Letters of a Confederate General and his Wife. It was based on a 2022 book that Davis and Bell co-authored, The Whartons War: The Civil War Correspondence of General Gabriel C. Wharton and Anne Radford Wharton, 18631865. The 463-page book examines 500 letters between the couple over a two-year period following their marriage. All the papers were up in the attic of the house, which is now the Glencoe Museum, Bell told me. After the family sold Glencoe in the early 1980s, Bells mother moved to Winter Park in central Florida and took the unexamined boxes with her. She stored them in her two-car garage, Bell said. The boxes, trunks and footlockers were stacked floor to ceiling, Bell added. They took up the entire front wall. They were not cared for; they were forgotten about. When Bell asked her mom about the items, her mother replied: Oh, those are all just family papers from Radford. Bell added: She didnt want to throw them out, but she hadnt read them, either, in 30 years. In 2012, I started to go through them. Thats when Bell realized shed hit a historical jackpot. Literally, one of the first boxes I opened they were not dated or organized about one-third of the way down, was a stack of Civil War letters that were sewn together with a needle and thread. Letters werent the only things in those boxes, Bell added. She also found newspapers from 1900; playing cards; clothing hairbrushes; purses; Confederate currency (in $1 and $5 denominations) and Confederate war bonds with unredeemed interest coupons still attached. She discovered signed orders of the day from Gens. Jubal Early and John C. Breckinridge, both of whom Wharton fought alongside, and documents reflecting Confederate roll calls of troops and sick calls. It took me seven or eight years to go through all the stuff, Bell told me. Partly, thats because Bell decided to experience the letters like her great-great grandmother had. For example, if a letter was dated Jan. 10, 1864, Bell read it on Jan. 10, 2018, and later letters on their corresponding dates, too. That forced Bell to live with the uncertainty her ancestors faced back during the Civil War, when letters were the chief means of communication, and they usually arrived days or weeks after theyd been sent. Among the letters between Wharton and his wife, some explicitly detailed Confederate troop movements. Interception of those could have spelled disaster for the Confederacy, Bell said. But not everything was related to the Civil War. Among the documents she discovered were a 1783 land grant of 46 acres to the Radford family; other deeds dating in the early 1800s; and an account of Georgetown College in Washington, D.C., from a friend in 1840, when it was a relatively new institution. Many of the letters are humdrum matters between a husband and wife, and werent meant for anyone else to see. One of the missives to his Nannie describes Whartons costs of boarding in Richmond. His hotel charged $2.50 for Wharton (including meals) and an additional $1.50 to board Whartons horse and slave-servant, Bell said. As a whole, (the cache) provides insight into the life of people in Southwest Virginia in the 1800s, Bell said. She called it a picture of history that hasnt been painted in memoirs and official documents. Some of the documents describe hair-raising episodes in American history. One was the December 1859 hanging of abolitionist John Brown, who was found guilty of treason against the commonwealth of Virginia for inciting a slave rebellion at Harpers Ferry the previous October. It was a key precis to the Civil War. Still other letters recount battlefield tragedies. In one, Wharton breaks the news to Nannie that her brother had been shot and wounded. A later letter noted Col. John Taylor Radford had died of his injuries. And some of the letters Bell unearthed were written long before or long after the war. One is the earliest known letter from future Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill, Bell said. Hill, who died in the Third Battle of Petersburg in April 1965, was a close boyhood pal of Whartons from Culpeper. Like Gen. Robert E. Lee, Hill attended West Point before the Civil War. While there, he wrote his old friend encouraging Wharton to join him. But Wharton attended VMI instead, earning a degree as a mining engineer. One of the post-war letters is from then-Ohio Gov. Rutherford B. Hayes, Bell told me. Hayes had fought for the Union against Wharton in the Civil Wars early years, and wrote Wharton requesting a photo. Im collecting photos of those I fought with and against, the future U.S. president wrote in the letter, Bell said. Other letters were from fellow Confederates decades after the war had ended. In the early 1890s, they were starting to write their memoirs, Bell said. But their memories were fading. They wrote Wharton seeking to clarify battle details, such as Okay, Im thinking about the Battle of New Market where were you standing when this happened? Bell said. NORTH SIOUX CITY -- A proposed residential and commercial development in North Sioux City is moving forward in spite of public discontent over the project and the form of public financing used to help defray its costs. The 86-acre development, called Union Crossing, has now survived two attempted petition drives that sought to put its $10 million Tax Increment Financing district before voters. Had the funding been voted down, officials say it would have sunk the development. The most recent petition effort, spearheaded by a group that included City Councilmen Greg Meyer and Bob Davis, failed when the city rejected the petition due to a paperwork issue. The petition, submitted on March 17, had gathered 281 signatures, Meyer said. The issue came up again a week later, at a forum for candidates for North Sioux City's municipal election on April 8. At the March 24 forum, Davis warned the city is being taken over by real estate agents, contractors and developers. "We need to give this community back to the citizens," he told the audience. Union Crossing supporters contend the development is desperately needed in North Sioux City, where housing construction has failed to meet demand for years. During the first phase of development, 116 homes duplexes and single-family would be built not far from McCook Lake. By contrast, last year North Sioux City added only eight new units of housing. "Right now, the average (home) price in North Sioux City's around $600,000," City Administrator Jeff Dooley said. "That's why it's hard for us to get anybody to live here, because we just don't have enough affordable housing stock." Under the TIF -- a primary source of controversy over the project -- the city continues to collect tax revenues based on the value of the bare, unimproved property, as Union Crossing is now. The taxable value of the property will go up considerably once the property is improved with homes, streets, infrastructure and businesses. The much higher property tax revenues generated from the improved property are used to pay off, over a period of years, the public infrastructure added to the property as a result of the development (roads, sewer and water lines, and the like). "TIFs have been proven to work all over the place, all over the state, there's hundreds that have been used -- there's been almost 500 TIFs placed on developments in South Dakota," said Kyle Peters, a partner in A1 Development Solutions, a South Dakota consultancy advocating for the developers on the project. At the candidates' forum, a North Sioux City resident who said he's lived in town 20 years asked Meyer and Davis what alternative there is to allowing the TIF, given that "there has never been affordable housing" there. "My alternative is to let the developers develop their projects without contributions from the city taxpayer, unless the taxpayers vote to support that project," said Meyer, who is dubious of the assurances given by Union Crossing supporters that the TIF poses no fiscal risk to the city or the school district. Peters said, unequivocally, that Union Crossing would never have gone forward had the TIF gone down to defeat. The developers behind Union Crossing are a consortium of five local individuals, which includes contractor Rick Wegher. The group refers to itself as PBR Capital. It was the city that originally approached the developers about the project, which has been in the works more than two years. Dooley and others said the petition circulators and signatories likely have very confused ideas about what a tax-increment financing district is and how it works. "I know there's some talk out there about how this is going to increase everybody's property taxes, and that's just not true," Dooley said. "And so -- I think that's one of the ways they were getting these petitions signed, is telling people their property taxes were going to go up. And really, it's the exact opposite. In North Sioux City's case, we need the development that this TIF is generating, to help us service debt on other improvements that we've had." Peters likewise cited misinformation circulating on Facebook, to the effect that existing residents will see their property taxes go up due to the TIF. "Not true, that's not how it works," he said. "There is only upside to the community if this development happens," Peters added. "So, I don't know exactly if they don't understand, or they're choosing not to understand, or what the rub is here." Union Crossing's home prices are capped at $385,000, and are thus considered workforce housing by the South Dakota Housing Authority, which awarded a $2.7 million grant to the project. Meyer has disputed the notion that a house in that price range is attainable for a working family. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in March for the development, though construction did not begin at that time. The site, currently farm ground, is west of Interstate 29, along Sioux Point Road and north of the Shay Road, about a half mile from McCook Lake. (The developers and supporters say that because the Union Crossing site is not in the flood plain, it's significantly less vulnerable to flooding than the existing McCook Lake neighborhood, which was the victim of catastrophic flooding last June.) "This property has been part of the city's comprehensive plan for years, and it was always going to be developed at some point, according to that plan," Peters said. Chris Bogenrief, a real estate agent and a mayoral candidate running on an economic growth-oriented platform, characterized the petition's circulators as opponents of growth. Meyer disputed that characterization, and said he only wanted to give voters a chance to weigh in on the TIF. "They're basically stopping all growth in North Sioux City," Bogenrief told The Journal before the petition was rejected. "That's not true at all," Meyer responded. "That's mislabeling, at best." Meyer said he and others in his faction were concerned about some aspects of Union Crossing, particularly the lot sizes, which he said were too small and not in keeping with lot dimensions in the rest of the city. Opposition to dense housing, common throughout the U.S., has become controversial in recent years due to accusations that it's contributed to spiraling housing costs and delayed or killed housing developments. "Most of us in the Midwest like to have some buffer space between us and our neighbors," Meyer said. "And we would choose a property that had that larger buffer space over a property that did not have adequate buffer space." Peters said the developers have done a lot to try to placate the opposition within city government, including cutting the number of lots from 136 to 116, making the lots somewhat larger but reducing the overall number of homes that will be built. For the same reason, the developers eliminated their plans to build three- and four-plexes. "(They said) it's too dense, there's too many lots, we need to have less density," said Peters, who added of the opposition, given all the concessions the developers have made: "I don't know what the angst from a couple council members is on this." In an unusual gesture, the developers also voluntarily agreed to return 15% of the TIF revenue -- $1.5 million -- to the city. "And they can use those funds to help with redevelopment -- however they want, those funds come with no strings attached," Peters said. "I've never seen a TIF in the history of South Dakota ever offer to give part of their TIF money back to the city -- and these guys are giving 15% of their TIF money, of the $10 million in TIF, to the city," Bogenrief said. Make no mistake: When the Going Was Good, legendary Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carters memoir about the last golden age of magazines, is an elegy. The newly released book, co-authored with James Fox, may have the pluckiness of a rags-to-richesOK, fine, Ontario-to-Manhattanfairy tale. It may be part resume, part time capsule, part gossip trove, part Rolodex. But in between the recountings of droll exploits and copious name-dropping, theres a ghost casting a pall from beginning to end: the death of American magazines as a source of power, taste, and money. Glossy magazines published by the likes of Conde Nast, Time Inc., and Hearst were once flush with cash. The 80s and the 90sdecades during which Carter decamped from Time and then Life to found Spy; edited the New York Observer; and inherited the Vanity Fair crown from Tina Brown, who claimed the New Yorker for herselfwere the peak of the industrys abundance. This is described by Carteras well as his peer in people who had it good writing now that things are bad Brown, who published 2017s The Vanity Fair Diariesin exquisite, excruciating detail. A page of advertising in Vanity Fair cost upward of $100,000; per Carter, We were hugely profitable in those days, and as hard as it is to believe now, it was all worth it. At Time, Carter recalls, most meals and drinks were expensed; medical professionals were on call; cars chauffeured staffers home every Friday night. Vanity Fair had that beat: five-star hotels! Flights on the Concorde! Interest-free loans to buy homes (plus moving costs)! Petty cash! A lady who came into the office just to do everyones eyebrows! Younger people would never understand the expense-account stories of the time, because that all disappeared with the Great Recession, Carter writes matter-of-factly, in a passage that has surely been shared in countless journalist group chats with a healthy dose of fuck me. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Writers at Vanity Fair were treated and compensated like the stars they were back then, an admirable but despair-inducing sentiment to read in a time when 50 cents per word is generally considered a not-bad freelance rate. Bryan Burrough, a business journalist and one of Carters first hires at the magazine in 1992, confided in a recent piece for the Yale Review that he was paid a peak of $498,141 for three 10,000-word articles a year, which works out to more than $16.60 per word. (Yes, I realized it was obscene, he acknowledges. I took it with a grin.) Carter also didnt believe in kill feestraditionally 25 percent of an assignment feeinstead paying a writer in full no matter what, a level of generosity that was rare enough in the olden days and is basically unheard of now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book works as an object of fascination and envy only if the world it describes no longer exists. But it wasnt just the extravagant perks and the pay that will induce jealousy among todays digital scribes. Crucially, magazines could afford to dedicate bottomless resources into chasing, producing, and verifying newsworthy stories: like John D. OConnors expose on the identity of Deep Throat, or Dominick Dunnes dispatches covering the O.J. Simpson trial. Our articles were bolstered by on-the-spot reportingwe flew correspondents to wherever they needed to be, Carter writes. Fact-checking, a luxury now reserved primarily for deep-pocketed publications or for one-off projects elsewhere, was de rigueur, as he recounts: We had about two dozen checkers on full-time staff and then wed bring in more for a big issueno small expenditure. The kind of freedom that this spending purchased sounds like a writers dream. It was glorious, Burrough recalls in his Yale Review piece. Not because I felt the work was important but because the work was so enormously exciting. I was crafting narratives that I was genuinely curious to exploreand I had unlimited resources to do so. Advertisement Related From Slate The One Book That Explains Our Current Era Was Written 40 Years Ago Read More Then, in the aughts, the internet decimated the print advertising business that had kept magazines thick and their staffs well-fed; websites, followed by social media, apps, videos, and anything that could fit on a cellphone screen, further supplanted legacy print publications as objects worth spending time, attention, or money on. The rest, as you probably know, scrolling past these words on your phone in between glancing up at some brain-dead streaming show, is history: publications shuttered, livelihoods lost, cheap clickbait pumped out, public trust eroded, media literacy in the toilet, rinse and repeat. Its a glum history thats curiously absent from Carters glamorous memoir, even in brief. He alludes to the bleak contemporary media landscape rarelyreferring to Time as the digital husk that it is now, and noting that the magazine startups of 1980s New York are all pretty much gone nowand nearly always in passing, as if the specter haunting this tale were too painful, or more likely too boring, to let linger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not until the end of the book that Carter confronts the wraith, and even then, his look is sidelong. In 2016, he writes, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour informed him that Vanity Fairs art department, photo department, and copy and research departments would be restructured to sit centrally under her, a strategic decision that had been discussed with people in Silicon Valley (never a good sign). From there, things began a slow decline, Carter laments. I could see the shape of things to come. You never know when youre in a golden age. You only realize it was a golden age when its gone. And the magazine business, brutalized not just by the recession of 2008 but also by the relentless appetite of the internet, was in the beginning of a period of rapid decline. Slow decline, rapid declineor, as Carter expertly covers his bases in the subsequent paragraph, it would happen slowly, then all at onceeither way, it was the end of the ride. Carters 25-year reign at Vanity Fair had drawn to a close, and coincidentally, the golden age of magazines had too. Advertisement Thats not quite the conclusion of Carters story, however. Between his restaurant the Waverly Inn, his various undertakings as a documentary producer, and his rumored annual salary of $2 million to $3 million toward the end of his Vanity Fair tenure, you would think that he could peacefully retire to the south of France, having successfully gotten out when the going was good. But, like Brown, who went on to found the digital news site the Daily Beast a decade after her editorship at the New Yorker ended, Carter just couldnt let well enough alone. For the past six years, he has been the co-proprietor of the publication Air Mail, a weekly newsletter for the world citizen that goes for $80 a year. So how does he like it here in the digital trenches with the rest of us? He doesnt really say, an omission that is annoying, if to be expected for the denouement of his placid swan song. (One self-deprecating line about approaching friends with a tin cup for funding, though, coupled with a New York Times report last fall that Air Mail was supposedly exploring a sale, suggests that its a long way down from hosting the Vanity Fair Oscar party.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact is, Carter writes in his final paragraph, there are people who have money and people who should have money. Whos who, precisely, in this equation? A writer interested more in truth-telling than in burnishing his own legacy might answer. Carter is not that writer, and therein lies the conundrum of When the Going Was Good. Theres a dissonance between who Carter imagines his audience to be and who actually is his audience. I doubt the primary readership of this title is, as Chris Vognar suggests for the Los Angeles Times, those of us still addicted to magazines. (What, all two dozen of them?) No, this memoirand that of Browns, and of other editorial leaders in their mold already drafting their postretirement copycatswill be thumbed primarily by fellow scribblers. For them, the book really works as an object of fascination and envy only if the world it describes no longer exists. Its certainly not Carters fault that media went belly-up, but there is something slightly sleazy about this growing subgenre of memoirs by industry titans who held rarefied positionsof the kind that will likely never be known again by any working journalistgoing out on top, then turning around and trading in wistfulness predicated on dearth, without even giving an honest accounting of how we got here, who won, and who lost. Then again, perhaps its smarter not to get into it. After all, you never know to whom you might need to hold out your tin cup one of these days. Few American writers have spent as much time trying to make sense of political violence in the Middle East as Lawrence Wright. The Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and author of The Looming Tower, Wright has spent decades reporting on the violent forces that have shaped the modern Middle East. His new novel, The Human Scale, he says, is an attempt to tell the story of Israel and Palestine in a way that his reporting never could, following a Palestinian American FBI agent investigating a murder in Hebron, a city that Wright visited and describes as a microcosm of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. But in the months before the books release, the real-world events of Oct. 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza forced Wright to revisit his manuscript and wrestle with how his story fits into a rapidly shifting reality. I spoke with Wright about the challenges of writing fiction about an ongoing war, the ways reporting can flatten or obscure the moral complexity at play, and the difficulty of humanizing a conflict when even acknowledging certain perspectives can feel dangerous. We also discussed his own experiences in Gaza and whether fiction can get us closer to the truth than journalism can. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Aymann Ismail: How did the idea for The Human Scale come about? Lawrence Wright: I wrote a screenplay with this idea 20 years ago. I was working with a Hollywood producer, Robert Court, but we couldnt get any response. So I put it aside, but I never forgot about it. Then, in late 2021 or 2022, I found myself without a project and thought, Theres one story I never succeeded in telling properly. I wanted to go back to the original idea and see if I could solve the artistic problems I had when I was writing it as a script. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a reporter in the Middle East, I was always frustrated that I couldnt adequately explain why this conflict was so durable, why it kept going, year after year. Im the same age as Israel, and this conflict has lasted my whole life. And this is at a time when apartheid in South Africa ended, the Soviet Union dissolved, America elected a Black man presidentall things that were never expected to happen, but they did. We had Vietnam, Iraq war I, Iraq war II, Afghanistan, and they all ended. But this just keeps going and going. So I wanted to enter the problem through the eyes and minds of characters who represent opposite perspectives, and a novel seemed like the best way to do it. So the book begins in America, following a character who is Palestinian American. Why did you start there? Advertisement It helps to have a naive narrator who can address the gaps in understanding the reader would naturally have. But hes also inspired by real-life FBI agents I knew, especially Arab agents navigating their own particular quandary, especially coming out of the war on terror. I knew a lot of these people. Ali Soufan was a major source for me when I was researching my book The Looming Tower right after 9/11. Before that, I wrote The Siege with Denzel Washington, Bruce Willis, and Tony Shalhoub, who played an FBI agent. I had gone to the FBI and talked to agents, and I heard about this Lebanese American FBI agent. He was one of only seven in the bureau at the time who spoke Arabic. I wasnt allowed to talk to him because he was undercover, but he became the model for Tony Shalhoubs character. Advertisement Advertisement After 9/11, I finally got to talk to Ali Soufan, the guy who identified the hijackers, arguably one of the most important agents in FBI history. Over time, I was able to speak with more intelligence officers who had an ethnic connection to the conflict. Their perspective isnt one you normally encounter, and thats where the character Tony Malik came from. Advertisement You spent years reporting in the Middle East, but youve said it was frustrating because you couldnt tell the full story. What was it that led you to fiction? My reporting always felt incomplete. I started my career covering race relations in Nashville, then taught at the American University in Cairo from 1969 to 71, where I developed a deep fondness for the region. My students were bright, ambitious kids living under a tyrannical Arab government. When I returned as a reporter, it was dismaying to see how entrenched these regimes remained. Every time I left, I felt relief going back to a country where people could realize their opportunities. In the Middle East, that frustration often boiled over into violence, which I explored in The Siege. It was my first attempt at dramatizing what I had been reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That film asked, What would happen if terrorism came to America, as it already had in London, Paris, Tel Aviv? How would our country react? It was speculation, but it was fueled by my anxiety about the rising radicalism in the Middle East. The movie experience was in some ways a bitter experience for me because it was attacked by Muslims for stereotyping Arabs as being terrorists. I had consulted with lots of human rights organizations, and when I asked, Well, if you dont want them to be Arab terrorists, what ethnic group would you like me to settle on? they said, Oh, just make it a generic terrorist. But there are no generic terrorists. There are specific people with specific goals, and then it happens that this is the region in the world that I have some expertise and anxiety about. The theaters were picketed. It was a box-office failure. Then, after 9/11, it became the most rented movie in America, along with The Prophecies of Nostradamus. It was very strange. It became a success in the most awful way imaginable. Advertisement Advertisement Does continuing to make work about the Middle East challenge you in similar ways? Do you find it difficult to reach an audience that sees your work as a creative endeavor rather than something with an agenda? Advertisement Well, you report on that part of the world. You know that its difficult to get people to widen their perspective and see the other as a fully realized human being with a history and with ambitions that deserve respect. It made me reflect on my first days as a reporter, covering civil rights in the 60s. This country was torn apart. The cities were flamed. People were getting beaten on buses and at lunch-counter sit-ins, and it seemed like an insolvable problem, but it is one of those problems that America addressed. Its not perfect, but its not what it was. And the question is: Why couldnt that happen in the Middle East? Its not as if the Arabs and Jews are doomed to be antagonists. You go to Brooklyn, you can see the same people living together quite comfortably. So its the context, its the region, its the history. But its not that theyre different people. Theyre basically the same people divided by religion, but religion doesnt need to be a divider between people. Advertisement Well, the way I understand it is that its not really a failure of finding peace. Its a failure of justice. When either side sees justice as coming at the expense of the other, peace becomes impossible. Thats what I find interesting about the partnership between Tony and Yossi in The Human Scale. Can you talk about how you plotted out that dynamic? Advertisement Advertisement To start with Yossi, like a lot of professional army, intelligence, or police officers in Israel, hes a tough guy. Hes been through the wars. Hes got blood on his hands, but he justifies it because he believes Israel is the only true safe harbor for Jews, and hell do whatever it takes to ensure that that remains true. His parents were Holocaust survivors who made it to Israel. There are a lot of people with that same background who feel exactly as he does: threatened and angry at Palestinians. They blame them for the need to enforce security, even brutally. In their minds, its because of the Palestinians that Israel has to treat them this way. Advertisement Advertisement Tony Malik comes at it differently. As you pointed out, hes an American. And theres some narrative utility in making him half American, a man who had never been to Palestine, though he had worked in the region. Hes not particularly religious, but hes still part of the Palestinian tribe. Thats something he doesnt fully realize about himself until he gets to Hebron and meets relatives hes never known before. He suddenly sees that theres an entire clan of Maliks stretching across the Middle East and hes one of them. Its a moment of identity for him. At the same time, he doesnt understand why the conflict has to go on. Thats part of the education he undergoes through his relationship with Yossi. Advertisement Hebron is incredibly fraught because of how militarized the checkpoints are. Is that why you chose Hebron? Advertisement I chose Hebron because its often seen as a microcosm of the whole situation. It was one of the first settlements and home to some of the most radical settlers. No other city in the West Bank has settlements right in the heart of town, so the stress is right in the center of the city. I first went to Hebron in 1997 on a State Department tour of Cairo and Jerusalem, presenting the American model of publishing. My agent, an editor, a poet, and I were going around explaining how books are published in America. But I heard there was a disturbance in Hebron and was naturally curious. Palestinian kids were throwing rocks at Israeli troops, and I wanted to see it for myself. When I got there, I saw that the rocks werent even making it over the building separating them from the soldiers. It was one of the most feckless protests Id ever seen. Advertisement Advertisement What struck me more was what wasnt being reported. Al-Shuhada Street, the main market street in the old city, was still open then. School had just let out, and Palestinian schoolgirls were walking down the narrow street. Above them was a settlement, and Jewish boys were throwing rocks down at them. It was appalling. Then one of them threw a rock at me, and it really pissed me off. I had to fight the urge to throw it back. But what stopped me was seeing an Israeli soldier with an M16 standing there, protecting those boys as they tried to hurt these girls. Thats the mission of the Israeli army in Hebronto protect a few hundred settlers with thousands of soldiers in a city of about 200,000 Palestinians. Its densely populated, incredibly intense. When I went back to this story, I set it in Hebron because it exemplifies the conflict more fully than any other place Ive been in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why do you think the Palestinian kids throwing rocks was seen as a disturbance but not the settler kids doing the same? I dont know. It was a revelation to me. News crews were there, showing images of Palestinian kids throwing rocks. But they werent showing that those rocks were just hitting a building. The whole thing seemed absurd to me. It was a wild contradiction, especially as a reporter. One picture was being sent out to the world, and it was nothing. A nonevent. Meanwhile, there was this appalling scene of an Israeli soldier protecting Jewish boys as they stoned Arab girls, and it wasnt being covered. It reminded me of my days as a race-relations reporter. That position was created to cover the Civil Rights Movement in places where local papers werent reporting what was happening. In the Deep South, news outlets would essentially cover things up. The race-relations reporters mission was to provide unbiased news to local papers that might otherwise feel threatened by covering it themselves. Advertisement Advertisement How do you show balance when one set of kids is throwing stones in the direction of soldiers and hitting a building and another set of kids is raining stones on other kids from above with the backing of a militarized state? Advertisement Its a quandary that always plagues our profession. Are you excusing? Are you ignoring? Are you engaging in If this, then that reporting, where everything has to be made equal? My response is to use my own judgment about whats important to cover while acknowledging the backdrop against which these actions occur. That way, the reader at least sees where it comes from and why people might react the way they do. Its better to address it than to simply stand on neutrality. For instance, with Kiryat Arba, I went there and got a tour from their community spokesperson. In the novel, settlers are characters. Some are part of the violent extremism that radiates out of Kiryat Arba, while others are more reasonable. I tried to balance it based on what I understood about the settlements. Its not as simple as it seems when youre just reading about it from a distance. Advertisement And how did that balance play into how you approached writing this book? There are always two sides to a conflict, and as reporters, we can talk to people and look in their eyes. But we cant look behind their eyes into their minds. A novel is the only way to do that. Its the only artistic way to explore a persons intellect and how their history has shaped their behavior. Advertisement Advertisement That was my motivation for writing this as a novel. Ive struggled with why this conflict endures decade after decade, so I wanted to present two characters whose experiences and histories put them in direct opposition. And yet, they have a problem they need to solve. Who killed the chief of police, and why? The reader wonders if they can work together and trust each other. Neither Yossi nor Tony Malik can solve the crime alone; they have to do it together. And if they can find a way to work together, then maybe theres hope. But you see how difficult it is because history, ethnicity, and religion have pulled them apart. Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the novel, you weave in the real-world event of Oct. 7. I assume that happened after you had already started drafting. How far along were you when that happened, and how did you decide to add it into the book? There were a couple of inflection points in the final drafts. One was in February 2023, when I went back to the region mainly for fact-checking. By then, I had more or less written the book, but I wanted to verify details, describe buildings, check scenes with people who resembled my characters. I visited Hebron, met with settlers, spoke with a member of the Shin Bet and police officers. Basically, I sought out real-life equivalents to my characters. Advertisement One of the people who showed me around was Issa Amro. Hes, as far as I know, the only remaining peace activist in Hebron. He reminded me of civil rights figures in the U.S., the kind of people who were beaten at lunch counters or on buses in the South. I was struck by him. One of my characters is, in some ways, modeled on him, though my character makes choices Issa never would. Advertisement We were walking through the old city with a Belgian photographer named Barbara. Al-Shuhada Street, where I had witnessed the stoning of Palestinian schoolgirls years ago, was almost entirely shut down. No shops. Arabs forbidden to walk there. Issa had to take a parallel route through a Muslim graveyard. At one point, Barbara and I reached a checkpoint manned by a young Israeli soldier, maybe 18 or 19, fresh out of high school. A handsome kid, but clearly policing a very tense environment without the maturity to handle it. He checked our IDs, saw we were Westerners, and realized Issa was with us on the other side of the wall. When Issa caught up, the soldier rushed toward him. Barbara filmed the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Issa knew the rules and kept insisting, Call your commander. Hell tell you this is legal. The soldier radioed in and said, I got a bunch of liberals here. I joked, Wait, Im from Texas, but that didnt matter. He shoved Issa onto a bench, stood over him knee to knee with his M4 hanging inches from his lap. It was extremely menacing. Other soldiers were watching from a barracks across the street. I went over and said, This is going south. You have to pull this guy back. They didnt move. I could tell they were afraid of him. He was hotheaded. Not long before, a Palestinian had been shot or beaten unconscious nearby, and an Israeli soldier walked up and executed him right there. Wow. Advertisement I was worried how this would end. Then, out of nowhere, the soldier grabbed Issa by the neck, lifted him off the bench, threw him to the ground. His head missed a curb by an inch. Then he wound up and kicked him so hard he almost fell over himself. No one intervened. But then a man in a red sweatshirt, whom I took to be intelligence, stepped in and shooed the soldier away. Even then, the kid kept circling, like he wanted to go back and finish it. Im pretty sure that if Barbara and I hadnt been there filming, he wouldve killed Issa. And what shocked me most was that it didnt matter that we were witnesses. Advertisement It made me rethink my manuscript. Id turned in my first draft in August 2023. Then, two months later, came Oct. 7. That was a quandary. It was such a deep wound in Israel, and I knew it would be sensitive to write about. Id felt the same when writing about 9/11. It was such a tragedy, with so much grief and anger, that even addressing it felt like exploitation. The first draft of my book ended with a warone of those Israeli military campaigns where they go into Gaza, level some buildings, then retreat and let Hamas rearm and rebuild until it happens again. Thats what I expected. But the real thing, what actually happened, was so much bigger and more tragic. Advertisement Advertisement At that point, I had choices: I could set my story earlier in history or imagine a future scenario. But I felt I had to address it head-on. Id been writing around this conflict for so long, and I thought the real challenge was to go right into it and make it more real to the reader than news reports or TV clips. To set it in the lives of two characters the reader has come to care about. That felt like the only honest way to handle it. Advertisement Advertisement One thing Im sensitive to as an Arab American reader is how often we pause to analyze why the most extreme Israeli actions happen and why militarized apartheid exists as it does, while the same level of empathy is rarely extended to militant Palestinians, who unquestionably experience immense trauma and cruelty, like the example of the handsome hotheaded soldier you just pointed out. Especially in todays political climate, where humanizing armed Palestinians feels like it could get someone deported, I was curious to see how youd approach it. Yet, in your book, you describe Israeli soldiers as kids and Hamas as terrorists. Since your goal is to humanize the conflict, how did you navigate that balance in portraying everyone involved? Advertisement I had an experience with Hamas. Its kind of embarrassing. I was in Gaza in 2009, right after Operation Cast Lead. This was when Hamas had kidnapped Gilad Shalit and held him for five years. The Israelis never found him, and eventually, they traded him for a thousand Palestinian prisoners. To me, that was the origin of this story, which revolves around the question of how one life can equal a thousand. That trade suggests an unbalanced valuation of human lives in this conflict, which is at the heart of why this war feels so impossible to resolve. Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Gaza looked utterly destroyedthough, of course, not like what were seeing now. I had an appointment with Khalil al-Hayya. It was July, and it was sweltering, and there were all these kids in Hamas summer camp in a schoolyard wearing these little green beanies and handkerchiefs in Hamas green, and the leaders of Hamas were sitting in folding chairs watching these kids sing. But while I was sitting with them, I started feeling ill. The night before, I had gone to a restaurant on top of my hotel. Looking out at the Mediterranean, I saw the waves were thickly green because the sewage treatment plant had been bombed and wasnt working. So I thought, Well, Im not ordering fish. So I ordered a steak. Im thinking of the cattle that they were bringing through the tunnels at the time. The waiter asked if I wanted it well done or very well done, and somehow I missed the hint. The next day, it had caught up with me. Advertisement I was trying to put on a brave front through this interview with al-Hayya, but I wasnt doing a very good job. Im interviewing him in front of a group of his colleagues and subordinates. It felt kind of Oprah-ish. He was a forthright, interesting interview. He had already lost one child to Israeli bombing, though that wasnt what led him to Hamas. Shortly into the interview, I realized I was going to faint, and I kind of fell. Out of nowhere, they brought out a mattresswho knows why there was a mattress in a schooland covered it with prayer mats. I crawled onto it and kept the interview going, flat on my back, surrounded by the dusty boots of Hamas fighters. As humiliating as that was, he was very kind to me. He left an impression. And now? Hes the leader of Hamas. He replaced Sinwar. The man I was talking to while lying on my back was one of the key planners of Oct. 7. So how do you reconcile that? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That became a real challenge because, as a reporterbut especially as a novelistyou have to paint your characters in dark and light colors, and this was a vivid example of that. I dont know if I succeeded from your perspective, but having been in Gaza and seeing how Hamas treats its own people, thats something that doesnt get reported much. In some ways, its not much different from other forms of tyranny in the Arab world, but it is a terrible government. The West also tends to take a broad brush with Hamas, assuming that everyone holding a position in the government is a full-fledged member of Hamas, when in reality, membership is almost required for many public roles. For example, in Operation Cast Lead, the first thing the Israelis did was bomb the police academy during a graduation ceremony. Were the graduates Hamas members? Technically yes, but only because you had to be if you wanted to be a policeman. Theres a lack of distinction in how the conflict is viewed, a kind of blindness to the nuances of the environment. For instance, its often said that Hamas hides among civilians. Thats true. But its also true that Gaza is 20 miles long, 7 miles wide, and home to 2 million people. Where else can they be? Failing to make these distinctions excuses behavior that might otherwise be moderated. Advertisement Its difficult for me, especially as an Arab American, because I cant help but humanize people who look like me, speak the same language as me, and have kids with the same names as mine. I have this hang-up where, if someone describes the barbarism of Hamas, I also hope theyd acknowledge that a policy of mowing the lawn in a densely packed, closed-off enclave is also barbaric, especially when civilian infrastructures like sewage treatment plants are deliberately bombed. Advertisement I realize were moving a bit beyond the book, but it seems as if youd agree that one of the challenges of writing about this conflict is how deeply personal it is for so many. How do you account for readers coming to this from drastically different perspectives from your own while drafting? Thats actually the whole point. In some ways, you as a reader are my object. My hope is that something in this novel opens your eyes to a different perspective and maybe pulls you away from automatic reactions, even if only a little. I am sure that I havent succeeded in this regard, but to try to appeal to a reader like you by presenting the Israeli perspective in a way that might be more digestible, thats a big part of my goal. And it works the other way too. I know that Oct. 7 is an incredibly deep wound in Israeli society, and for some itll be too painful to read about. Just as, for you, its frustrating when the trauma in Palestine isnt given the same attention as the trauma in Israel. But anyway, however much Ive succeeded or failed, that was my objective. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/pentagon-chief-calls-japan-cornerstone-of-peace-as-us-turns-region-into-powder-keg-1121711101.html Pentagon Chief Calls Japan Cornerstone of Peace as US Turns Region into Powder Keg Pentagon Chief Calls Japan Cornerstone of Peace as US Turns Region into Powder Keg Sputnik International Pete Hegseth, who arrived in Japan as part of his debut Asia tour, rehashed the go-to narrative that Chinas actions were allegedly "aggressive and coercive. 2025-03-30T06:14+0000 2025-03-30T06:14+0000 2025-03-30T06:14+0000 world us japan pentagon indo-pacific china uss ronald reagan taiwan strait gen nakatani https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1e/1121711523_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ddf882d4ec45b68b2d6633874ec764c5.jpg The US will ensure "robust, ready and credible deterrence" across the Taiwan Strait, the Pentagon chief underscored on Sunday when meeting with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani. Hegseth also vowed that "America is committed to sustaining robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait."In effect, Washington continues to push to make Japan a frontline force in the region, with its key Asian ally already hosting around 50,000 US military personnel, squadrons of fighter squadrons and Americas only forward deployed aircraft carrier strike group. The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is homeported at Yokosuka Naval Base and operates under the US 7th Fleet. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250321/what-is-japans-new-joint-operations-command-and-what-does-taiwan-have-to-do-with-it-1121663809.html japan indo-pacific china taiwan strait Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko pete hegseth visits japan, why is pete hegseth visiting japan, how us is militarizing asia-pacific region https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/pentagons-playbook-leaked-memo-names-new-potential-threats---1121713853.html Pentagons Playbook: Leaked Memo Names New Potential Threats Pentagons Playbook: Leaked Memo Names New Potential Threats Sputnik International A new nine-page document outlines priorities for senior Pentagon officials and a vision for achieving them, according to The Washington Post. 2025-03-30T13:07+0000 2025-03-30T13:07+0000 2025-03-30T13:07+0000 pentagon us peter hegseth military & intelligence donald trump indo-pacific taiwan nato russia iran https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1e/1121713679_0:168:3045:1881_1920x0_80_0_0_6f3f85383c6f4136e5bb82e5c6947cdf.jpg Besides homeland defense, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths guidance, provided to congressional national security committees:: Hegseths interim guidance added that NATO must take on far greater burden sharing now that the US will be reorienting its priorities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250226/trumps-defense-budget-proposal-to-russia--china-aims-to-give-us-military-edge--ex-us-marine-1121601199.html indo-pacific taiwan russia iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko us interim national defense strategic guidance, what is contained in the interim national defense strategic guidance, does interim national defense strategic guidance single out china as main pacing threat https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/ukrainian-special-operations-forces-master-the-art-of-retreat-1121714203.html Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Master the Art of Retreat Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Master the Art of Retreat Sputnik International In a stunning display of strategic planning, the elite 6th Regiment of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SDF) has reportedly escaped from the Guyevo settlement in Russia's Kursk region, leaving infantry units to fend for themselves. 2025-03-30T14:04+0000 2025-03-30T14:04+0000 2025-03-30T14:04+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia ukrainian armed forces special operations forces kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/08/1121379597_0:116:3232:1934_1920x0_80_0_0_9450325e5775d3d2651ba21ac9221b27.jpg The Ukrainian Armed Forces command has now perfected the art of pulling back their elite units, carefully avoiding direct confrontation with the advancing Russian army. That is another chapter in the ongoing saga of Ukrainian forces withdrawing their top-tier units from the front linesleaving less experienced troops to bear the brunt. In December 2024 nearly a thousand soldiers from the Ukrainian 155th Mechanized Brigade reportedly deserted as soon as they arrived at their combat positions. More recently, in February of this year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew an elite Marine battalion from the Sudzha district of Kursk region after it lost more than half its troops. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250329/ukraine-learns-the-hard-way-that-us-never-gives-weapons-for-free-1121710341.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian special operations, ukraine's special operations forces, russia's kursk region https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/us-cuts-funding---who-cuts-staff--1121713003.html US Cuts Funding - WHO Cuts Staff US Cuts Funding - WHO Cuts Staff Sputnik International The World Health Organization (WHO) is cutting its budget by over 20%, leading to staff reductions and a smaller scope of work, following the US withdrawal of funding, which previously made up 18% of its budget under President Trumps administration. 2025-03-30T11:24+0000 2025-03-30T11:24+0000 2025-03-30T11:24+0000 world donald trump world health organization (who) us funding us funding https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107941/18/1079411802_0:128:1281:848_1920x0_80_0_0_7bab440805bdf017fcb58a9baef9ab6f.jpg The US had been the largest financial backer of the global health agency, contributing 18% of its funding. The withdrawal has worsened the WHOs financial situation, which is already under strain due to reductions in official development assistance by other countries. The WHO has long faced criticism for its slow and ineffective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its close ties with certain governments, leading to accusations of a lack of accountability and transparency. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241224/big-pharma-influence-corruption-and-rape-allegations-the-hidden-scandals-of-the-whos-history-1121259671.html 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 world health organization, us withdrawal of funding, president trumps administration https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/zelensky-cornered-by-us-resource-deal-1121712403.html Zelensky Cornered by US Resource Deal Zelensky Cornered by US Resource Deal Sputnik International A new US agreement on resource extraction revenues in Ukraine has put Volodymyr Zelensky in a tough spot, offering a choice of becoming a vassal state or risking losing US support, a French newspaper writes. 2025-03-30T10:49+0000 2025-03-30T10:49+0000 2025-03-30T10:49+0000 world volodymyr zelensky ukraine delaware washington us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/0e/1120885313_0:68:2816:1652_1920x0_80_0_0_be4876cca6532eef925e711339d7ae3d.jpg According to the publication, initially the US demanded $500 billion, but the latest proposal leaves the total sum to be calculated later. The deal also covers all infrastructure projects and offers no security guarantees. The agreement grants US control over half of Ukraines oil, gas, metals, and infrastructure through a joint investment fund, with three members appointed by Washington. The US would receive all profits until Ukraine repays $100 billion with 4% interest, after which Ukraine gets 50% of the profits. The fund will be registered in Delaware, but operate under New York jurisdiction, with the US gaining veto power over resource sales and the ability to inspect Ukrainian agency accounts. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250328/three-ways-how-expired-zelensky-can-be-ousted-as-chief-obstacle-to-peace-in-ukraine-1121705984.html ukraine delaware washington 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 new us agreement, volodymyr zelensky, us support, resource extraction Maxim Hanovers driver wouldnt have minded trying to win on the front end, but in the end, a two-hole trip did the trick as the Robert Cleary trainee took the Saturday, March 29 feature at The Meadowlands, a $25,000 high-end conditioned pace. He didnt show a lot of gate speed last week, said winning driver Andy McCarthy. I tried to get him involved a little better [this time around]. I put his mind on the job and that was ideal for us. He was quite focused on the front, but was just as happy with a two-hole trip. Primary Colors and Jason Bartlett fired away from post two in the 10-horse field as Maxim Hanover was forced to race wide in the first turn after leaving from post five. McCarthy kept Maxim Hanover, a four-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous-Mean Lean, in motion, looping the leader after Primary Colors hit the quarter in :27.2. Primary Colors then quickly retook the top, passing the half in :55.3. They continued 1-2 around the far turn and past three-quarters, which was timed in 1:24. Primary Colors was determined through the stretch, but couldnt deal with Maxim Hanover, who vacated the pocket with less than an eighth to go and sailed right by to record a three-quarter-length win in 1:50.3. Hes got a big engine, a big set of lungs, said McCarthy, who has driven the pacer on and off since he was a two-year-old when they won the Matron Stakes together. If his mind is on the job, hes a pretty talented horse. Its time [for him] to step up. I think hell become a really nice Open horse. As the 3-1 third choice in the betting, Maxim Hanover returned $8.40 to win while recording his ninth victory in 27 lifetime tries. He now has earnings of $294,451 for owner Royal Wire Products Inc. The fourth race on the card was the Hunter Myers Memorial Race, and patrons were encouraged to watch and wager on the event as both The Meadowlands and Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey pledged to donate their net revenue share to Myers' family. In addition, Meadowlands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Gural will personally match the total share. The charitable pursuit motivated wagering that was just a hair under $250,000. A crowd of horsepeople and other harness racing officials and media gathered in the winners circle after the fourth race at The Meadowlands on Saturday night in memory of Hunter Myers. Todd McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners on the card while Maria Reid and Jeff Cullipher led the trainers with two victories apiece. A $5,029 carryover led to just over $25,000 in new money wagered on the 20-cent Pick-6. After a sequence that had the winners' odds of 1-2, 19-1, 3-1, 9-1, 3-5 and 9-1, winning tickets were exchanged for $9,887.44. All-source betting on the 14-race card totalled $3,204,938 USD. Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) The Scotts Bluff County attorney is facing a recall for an unusual reason doing his job during proceedings for a jury trial earlier this month. Alan AJ Moore, of Gering, filed a recall petition seeking the removal of County Attorney Dave Eubanks on Monday, March 17, according to a copy of the petition obtained from the County Clerks Office. Moore had been among potential jurors being questioned as part of the voir dire, or jury selection process for the trial of a Scottsbluff man charged with sexual assault. In his petition outlining his reason for recall, Moore said, During jury selection on 3/17/25, Dave Eubanks asked potential jurors if they were victims of sexual assault or had family members that were victims of sexual assault. Heather Guerreros father, holding back tears, stated his daughter was murdered by (Jeffrey) Hessler. Eubanks lacks awareness and revictimized people by having them, under oath, recount their past traumas in front of strangers. Eubanks said in his response to the petition, Jurors were asked if they had friends/family members who had been victims and, if they preferred to discuss in private, they could. Several people requested that option and were excused. Mr. Guerrero explained his situation in open court. I apologized, and he was excused. His connection to the homicide 23 years ago never occurred to me. State statute limits petition responses to 60 words. The voir dire process and the questions that Eubanks asked are a routine part of the jury process. Jurors can request to answer sensitive questions in private or in the presence of other jurors. If prosecution or defense attorneys are concerned that answers may prejudice others in the jury pool, potential jurors may also be asked to answer questions after others have been excused. In this case, Eubanks said, some of the jurors did advise that they wanted to discuss their personal situations in private and did so. Seven jurors responded affirmatively that they or others close to them had been victims of sexual assault and were asked whether they felt comfortable sharing it or preferred privacy, he said. Anthony Guerrero was one of three jurors who disclosed information openly in front of the rest of the jury panel. Four jurors asked for privacy and shared their information in chambers with the judge and attorneys. Eubanks was not a prosecutor for the county attorneys office at the time that authorities investigated the disappearance of Heather Guerrero, 15, who was delivering newspapers when Hessler abducted her and killed her to cover up his crime. Former Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner handled the prosecution of the case when it was tried in December 2004. Later, after Warner went to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office where he served as an assistant attorney general, he handled many of Hesslers subsequent filings. The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office is expected to handle any other matters Hessler may file in the case due to its nature as Hessler sits on death row. The case being tried on March 17 involved sexual assault allegations against a Scottsbluff man, Jacob Left Hand. The jury convicted Left Hand of the charges. The prosecution of Jacob Left Hand was a textbook sexual assault prosecution from beginning to end, from jury selection through closing argument, Eubanks said. Jurors who felt comfortable answering in front of the rest of the panel were allowed to; those that wanted privacy were given privacy. This is the same procedure followed in sexual assault trials every day across the country. Eubanks told the Star-Herald that he has no way of knowing the backgrounds of potential jurors, aside from their name, address and occupation. The Scotts Bluff County Attorneys Office doesnt have the time or resources to do a deep dive of all potential jurors, extended family, social media accounts or other information, he said. And unless a juror has been convicted of a crime, they wouldnt be in any database available to the county attorneys office. The Star-Herald inquired with Scotts Bluff County District Court Clerk Darla Simpson, who regularly sits in during voir dire and oversees the jury selection process. There were no irregularities in Daves voir dire process in questioning the jurors for this type of case, Simpson told the Star-Herald in response to its question whether any irregularities were observed or if potential jurors had complained about the proceedings. Each juror was treated with respect and professionalism during the jury selection process, which is standard for Scotts Bluff County. There were no objections by defense counsel (public defender) to any question asked by Dave. Anthony Guerrero told the Star-Herald he is not part of the recall effort and declined further comment. Nebraska statute allows for elected officials to be subject to recall for any reason outlined by a person seeking recall. At least 35% of voters must sign the petition seeking recall for it to be brought to a vote of Scotts Bluff County voters. Moore has 30 days to circulate that petition to get 2,899 valid signatures. That 30-day time period began Monday, Scotts Bluff County Clerk Kelly Sides said. The Star-Herald also reached out to Moore, who has commented on social media about his petition and Eubanks. However, Moore did not respond to any of the Star-Heralds attempts to contact him via social media or by telephone. 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: Mission parameters for lightsail mission to Alpha Centauri. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57749-y In a potential step toward sending small spacecraft to the stars, researchers have developed an ultra-thin, ultra-reflective membrane designed to ride a column of laser light to incredible speeds. Since its launch in 1977, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has traveled over 15 billion miles into deep space. That's a long waybut it's not even 1% of the distance to Alpha Centauri, the nearest star to the sun. If humans are going to send ships to the stars, space travel will have to get a lot faster. One promising way to pick up that kind of speed is a "lightsail"a thin, reflective membrane that can be pushed by light much the same way that wind pushes a sailboat. Lightsails have the potential to reduce flight time to nearby stars from several thousand years using current propulsion systems to perhaps just a decade or two. Now, a team of researchers from Brown University and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands has developed a new way of designing and fabricating ultra-thin, ultra-reflective membranes for lightsails. In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers describe a lightsail membrane that's 60 millimeters (about 2.4 inches) wide by 60 millimeters long, but with a thickness of just 200 nanometersa tiny fraction of a human hair. The surface is intricately patterned with billions of nanoscale holes, which help to reduce the material's weight and increase its reflectivity, giving it more acceleration potential. "This work was a joint effort between theorists at Brown University and experimentalists at TU Delft, making it possible to design, fabricate and test a highly reflective lightsail with the largest aspect ratio recorded to date," said Miguel Bessa, an associate professor in Brown's School of Engineering who co-led the research with Richard Norte, an associate professor at TU Delft. "The experimental breakthrough of Richard's team proves their fabrication process is scalable to the dimensions needed for interstellar travel and can be done in a cost-effective manner. Simultaneously, my team is very enthusiastic to see the essential role of our latest optimization method guided by machine learning in solving such an interesting and difficult engineering problem." The research is a significant step toward realizing goals like those of the Starshot Breakthrough Initiative, founded by entrepreneur Yuri Milner and the late physicist Stephen Hawking. The goal is to use ground-based lasers to power hundreds of meter-scale lightsails carrying microchip-sized spacecraft. This new lightsail design could be scaled up to meter scale fairly easily, the researchers say, and with a manageable price tag. For their design, the team used single-layer silicon nitride, a lightweight and high-strength material that's well-suited for lightsail design. The researchers then worked to maximize its reflectivity while minimizing its weight. The reflectivity of the surface determines how much light pressure is created behind the sail, which in turn determines how fast it can accelerate. At the same time, a lighter material requires less force to accelerate, so less mass equals more speed. The optimization process involved designing a pattern of nanoscale holesbillions of them across the material's surface with diameters smaller than the wavelength of light. Bessa's team, including Brown Ph.D. student Shunyu Yin, used a new artificial intelligence method they developed to optimize the shape and placement of the holes for increased reflectivity and decreased weight. Once they had an optimized design, a team led by Norte at TU Delft went to work fabricating it in the lab. "We have developed a new gas-based etch that allows us to delicately remove the material under the sails, leaving only the sail," Norte said. "If the sails break, it's most likely during manufacturing. Once the sails are suspended, they are actually quite robust. These techniques have been uniquely developed at TU Delft." Fabricating this design with traditional methods would have been expensive and taken as long as 15 years, the researchers say. But using Norte's techniques, fabrication took about a day and is thousands of times less expensive. The result is a membrane that the researchers believe has the highest aspect ratiocentimeter-scale length but with nanoscale thicknessof any lightsail design to date. The researchers hope that their methods will not only help humans reach the stars, but also push the limits of nanoscale engineering. "The new machine learning and optimization techniques we used here are very general," Bessa said. "We could use them to create lots of different things for different purposes. This is really just the beginning. We might be on the verge of solving engineering problems that have remained unsolvable up to now." More information: Lucas Norder et al, Pentagonal photonic crystal mirrors: scalable lightsails with enhanced acceleration via neural topology optimization, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57749-y Journal information: Nature Communications Throughout our lives in the great County of Orangeburg, there have been many women who have fulfilled vital roles and positions. From slavery to integration, both the white and Black women have moved parallel within their communities to serve our people. Dr. Irene Harvey Myers was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to Virgil Harvey and Van Ray Kenney Harvey. She was a graduate of Limestone College and the University of South Carolina, with a master's degree and, later on, a PhD. Irene began her career in the late 1940s as an English and history teacher in Fairfield Countys Jenkinsville School. Sometime in the early 1950s, she took a position in Bowman as an elementary and then high school teacher during the years of segregation. She was married to Jerome Loree Myers of Bowman. He was a farmer and hotel manager. Myers played a vital role in the education of his children and the youth living in the Bowman School District Two. Also, Myers served on the Bowman Board of Trustees and was a director of the South Carolina School Boards Association. Working her way to the top, she became a judge of many social events that would happen along school lines in the community. Also, she took the role of recording secretary of the Citizens Consulting Committee. In all of her work, Myers was very highly respected in the field of education. During the early 1970s, Myers had worked her way up to being promoted to assistant superintendent. Indeed, she was an extraordinary leader in the world of education. Later on, the School District Superintendent, W. J. Clark, selected Myers to direct the federal projects for the Emergency School Assistance Program under Title 44. The program was set up to promote community understanding, acceptance and support of desegregated schools; for special services for students in the schools; to develop new instructional techniques for student development; and to alleviate miscellaneous problems related to desegregation in Orangeburg School District 5. While in her position as an assistant superintendent, she was involved in a number of programs for the district in order to promote the betterment of our schools. In 1980, Myers was presented the Distinguished Service Award to outstanding educators at the Delta Kappa Banquet. Then, in 1983, Myers set forth a program using the technology to bring computers into the Orangeburg Schools. She said, Computer programming is teaching the machine how to perform a specified task. Learning by computer is the new way for learning by rote. On July 5, 1986, The T&D printed the obituary of her husband. It noted, Jerome Loree Myers departed this world at the Orangeburg-Calhoun Regional Hospital following an extended illness. He was the son of Loree and Lottie Murphy Myers. "He was a retired farmer, hotel manager, a Mason, a member of the board of trustees for Bowman School District Two for 12 years, a former director of the South Carolina School Boards Association, and a U. S. Navy veteran of World War II. "He was survived by his wife Irene and three daughters, Mrs. Jan D. (Vann Beth) Shuler, Mrs. Steve (Pamela) Canady and Mrs. Francis W. (Andrea) Shealy Jr. The death of her husband was such a heavy loss to Myers and the family. But, through her commitment to her position as an assistant superintendent, she pushed on to her best to provide the school district with a top person to make the district strong. In October of 1987, she moved from the position of veteran assistant superintendent to associate superintendent for finance and business in Orangeburg School District Five. In 1997, Myers and Margaret Williams (former Sen. Marshall Williamss wife) went on the excursion of a lifetime, traveling to India to see the architecture of the Taj Mahal. Her last position in the district was that of the director of adult education. Dr. Myers said, It is not unusual that we find across this county there are many who need to develop basic skills. When she retired, The T & D wrote on August 13, 1999, an article by Dionne Gleaton, District 5 retirees have over 100 years of school serviceAfter having served more than 100 years in the public school system combined, four retirees in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 were honored by the State Board of Education Wednesday. "Dr. Irene Myers, director of adult education for District 5, has a public education career spanning 45 years. 'I always liked a challenge, and I had a lot of those over the years,' said Myers, who began her career in the late 1940s as an English and history teacher in Fairfield Countys Jenkinsville School District. "Her tenure in District 5 began in 1967 as a member of its education development staff. She soon moved up to serve as assistant superintendent of instruction from 1972 to 1987 and as associate superintendent for finance until 1992. 'All along the way, its been a good experience for me. Ive enjoyed my work over the years. I think it was the opportunity to work with students and generate programs that benefited the students, teachers and even parents, Myers said.' "She said the challenge many teachers face today is having to keep up with changing education legislation, particularly with the 1998 Education Accountability Act. "She plans to continue working with county schools and volunteering her time in other facets of the community. 'I enjoy people, and I promised myself I would volunteer at the hospital.' And that, she did. Myers began voluntary service with the RMC Auxiliary. In 2007, she served as the president of the organization. Myers put together a six-week Summer Enrichment Program where 26 college and technical school students would be able to get a first-hand experience of the health care setting. On Thursday, February 28, 2008, our Lord and Savior called Myers home to be with Him. This woman of very high standards pushed herself up the ladder of education from elementary to high school all of the way to assistant superintendent, associate superintendent, and director for adult education for Orangeburg School District 5. Her leadership and talent surely have been a most valuable asset to the growth and development of our school community. Myers played a most vital role in the establishment of the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Foundation. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. Dr. Irene Harvey Myers was a trailblazer in the world of life and education the county for 45 years. Her hard work and deeds in Orangeburg County will never be forgotten. ON Thursday night, when hosted at the Diplomatic Centre, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an experience that has been preserved by the nations diaspora for 180 years. In images that have since gone viral, Modi was seen eating on the leaves of the sohari (Calathea lutea). In a social media post to Angelo Bissessarsinghs Virtual Museum of Trinidad and Tobago Facebook page, Patricia Bissessar said the serving of food on the leaves of the sohari is a practice rooted in Indo-Trinidadian cultural heritage, particularly among the Hindu community. 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. We already had to start figuring out whether its a good idea to have a federal strategic crypto reserve. President Trump ordered March 6 that this reserve be established, but most people dont get what that means or why its controversial. And now we have to decipher whether its a good idea for the state to have its own crypto fund?! Yes, we do. We can blame Rep. Jeff Weninger for that, along with a couple of state senators. In fact, Arizona appears to be leading the race to become the first state with its very own crypto reserve. One bill-tracking website, bitcoinlaws.io, puts Arizonas crypto-reserve bills as being closer to law than the similar bills in about 20 other state Legislatures. That isnt necessarily a good thing, nor necessarily bad. I would call myself a crypto skeptic and worried about too many Americans putting too much money in valueless digital coins. But Im not so much of a skeptic that I discount any effort to liberalize how the state handles these digital currencies. Its all a question of what you do and how you do it. Weninger, a Republican and chair of the House commerce committee, is gung-ho about crypto but has written relatively narrowly drawn bills, different from the herky-jerky federal effort. Arizona is on the brink of becoming a national hub for blockchain and digital asset innovation, he asserted in a press release. These bills represent our commitment to fostering an environment that not only embraces modern technology but also drives economic benefits across the state. One bill, HB 2324, allows the state to seize bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in any other criminal or civil case in which forfeiture of assets is permitted. Then it lays down rules for where the crypto goes: The first $300,000 worth goes to the Arizona attorney generals office, which may distribute it to other law-enforcement entities. Of any remainder, 50% also goes to the AGs office, 25% to the states general fund and 25% to a new Bitcoin and Digital Assets Reserve Fund. Its that last bit, the establishment of the reserve fund, that would be groundbreaking for Arizona. Thats because it allows the state treasurer to keep the crypto in its existing form, not necessarily liquidate it for dollars. But in this case, the Legislature could appropriate whatever is in the reserve fund as it sees fit, which is key. A little wonky Weninger referred to another of his bills, HB 2749, as a little wonky but a good and important bill in an interview with me. It would require the state to keep unclaimed crypto in its native form rather than selling it and keeping it as dollars. You may know that the state ends up with unclaimed property bank accounts, stocks, tax refunds and must hold onto it for years in case someone claims it. In the case of cryptocurrency, the state has been converting it to dollars. This bill would have the state keep cryptocurrency in its native form, meaning it could increase or decrease in value while waiting to be claimed. It would go further though, and allow the state to make money off the unclaimed crypto by staking it, a move that locks the cryptocurrency in digital wallets, for a period and earns returns. These returns would then go into the states new Bitcoin and Digital Assets Reserve Fund. Another Weninger bill, HB 2325, would allocate $1 million to have the state begin a pilot project of putting spending in one department, the Arizona Department of Administration, on a blockchain distributed ledger, theoretically allowing for nearly real-time transparency into state spending. Finally, his HB 2654 would establish the Arizona Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Commission to advice on future policies. A digital spoils system? Going through those technical bills is less fun, and more sober, than reviewing Donald Trumps posts about cryptocurrency on social media. Trump has proclaimed himself the crypto president but surprised that industry by posting March 2 that he would establish a federal crypto reserve containing a variety of cryptocurrencies, not just the most defensible one, bitcoin. For many, it was a signal that he would treat the industry as part of a spoils system, the same frivolous way that he did when he launched a memecoin in his own name days before becoming president. That pump-and-dump effort made apparent insiders millions and cost many retail investors equivalent millions. It was, in a word, another Trump scam. He also framed the decision to establish a federal crypto reserve as an effort to boost the industry, rather than to benefit American citizens, saying his order will elevate this critical industry after years of corrupt attacks by the Biden administration. (What he called corrupt attacks were the Biden administrations efforts to regulate an industry rife with fraud and protect consumers.) When Trump finally issued his executive order, though, it was much more limited than expected. He established a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a United States Digital Assets Stockpile. Both will consist only of seized assets, the latter stockpile containing everything but bitcoin. Thats good theres no reason to spend taxpayer money on any cryptocurrency. It would just be a direct financial reward to an industry that massively supported Trump in his campaign, and it would put that money at risk. As Dennis Kelleher wrote in a Barrons piece, titled Trumps Crypto Plan is Neither Strategic nor a Reserve: Strategic reserves are an accumulation of additional supply in non-emergency times to be released to move prices down for a vital product in an emergency. However, crypto holders generally want the price to go up. The pressure will be on the government to add to the reserve, not to release it (which would depress prices). Future taxpayer bailouts of the crypto industry are a real concern. Indeed, David Sacks, Trumps top crypto adviser, said on social media: The U.S. will not sell any bitcoin deposited into the Reserve. It will be kept as a store of value. Our newly elected U.S. senator, Ruben Gallego, has become a relatively important figure in crypto thanks to his position as the top Democrat on the Digital Assets Subcommittee of the Senate Banking Committee. It didnt hurt that crypto helped get him elected: The industry put $10 million toward his election. Still, Gallego told me he opposes the strategic crypto reserve idea. I think we have to study the full extent of what happens when you inject crypto into the economy, before you do something that drastic. I also think because crypto is still not as prevalent, it can easily be manipulated by massive holders of different crypto coins. So putting in a reserve could actually give someone a lot of power over, the fluctuation of our dollar, as well as potentially the economy. Some rules of the road Over months, Ive read books and articles, and listened to podcasts about crypto, because Im worried about and fascinated by this phenomenon. Its easy to dismiss much of it because there are so many frauds and pump-and-dump scams, such as Trumps coin, and so many other cryptocurrencies that have no solid basis for their value. Ive come away skeptical, as I said, but not wanting to stifle the potential good of some of these innovations. So my idea is to stick with a few principles in deciding whether the governments, state and federal, should get involved with crypto beyond their roles as regulators: 1. Dont invest any public money in buying any cryptocurrency, even bitcoin. There simply is no need and far too much opportunity for corruption, as well as volatility in prices. 2. The only cryptocurrency that the state should consider possessing in its original form, now, is bitcoin, because it is the most resistant to manipulation. 3. There should be no limitation on a government entity that possesses bitcoin or any other currency from liquidating it and spending it. Any proposal that adheres to these principles, I think, ought not to be dismissed outright. But we need to keep a watchful eye on every strategic reserve proposal because they pose such a big threat of losses and corruption. PHOENIX A half century ago, the rallying cry was old enough to fight, old enough to vote. Now, some Republican Arizona lawmakers are making the same arguments about smoking in opposing efforts to raise the minimum age to buy or possess tobacco products in Arizona to 21 from 18. That would bring the state into conformity with a 2019 federal law. The lack of a state law, however, precludes the Attorney Generals Office, which has done enforcement and sting operations on retailers, from taking action on those selling to customers who are 18, 19 or 20. SB 1247, which got preliminary approval this past week in the House, would change that. But not everyone is on board. Rep. Nick Kupper said he has never smoked and sees absolutely zero benefit to cigarettes. However, I do acknowledge, obviously, that God has given us free will to make both good and bad decisions, said the Surprise Republican. And the Constitution has enshrined that we have a responsibility to protect those rights. Kupper pointed out the language in the measure is absolute. This bill currently as written would not allow members of the military who can die for their country to smoke, he said. Kupper said the only way he would change his mind is if an exception were created to those actively serving in the military or National Guard. Rep. Alexander Kolodin said his objections to the legislation were more philosophical. And it starts, he said, with the argument by proponents that if the state doesnt bring its statutes into conformity with federal law there would be a loss of federal dollars. That could be imminent. Richie Taylor of the Arizona Attorney Generals Office said that 2019 law has a five-year grace period for the state to enact similar statutes. That, he said, ended in December. And Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, who is sponsoring SB 1247, said that means an immediate loss of $5 million a year, with other federal dollars at risk. But Kolodin told colleagues they shouldnt make that part of their consideration. One thing that we conservatives strongly dislike is to give in to federal funds blackmail, he said. Beyond that, Kolodin said that one of the lessons from the COVID pandemic was that states each have the power to decide its own policies when it comes to public health. Well, if thats the case, we get to set our own age for tobacco and vaping products, he said. And then theres that argument about being old enough to serve in the military. But Kolodin said that tells only part of the story. In fact, an 18-year-old is apparently in our society considered to be mature enough to decide who holds the nuclear launch codes, who governs the states and, thus, matters of war and peace and matters that affect the lives of every Arizonan, he said. And Kolodin said if those who are 18 are not considered to have enough ability to decide what to smoke, then perhaps the age of voting, lowered nationally with a constitutional amendment in 1971, should be raised back to 21. Gress, for his part, scoffed at the arguments foes of the bill were making, like whether being in the military should be an exception. I dont know that I would want our fighting force to be smoking and messing up their lungs while theyre defending America either, he said. Nor was Gress persuaded by the fact that 18-year-olds can vote, pointing out that it took an amendment to enshrine that right in the U.S. Constitution. There is not a constitutional amendment that protects Americans rights to smoke cigarettes, he said. Gress acknowledged that there are inconsistencies like this in Arizona laws. But he said that doesnt mean that just because people can do some things at 18 doesnt mean they should be able to do all things. I dont believe in lowering the drinking age to 18, Gress said. But Gress has shown he does believe that there should be some rights and privileges for those who are 18, rights and privileges now reserved for those who are older. Two years ago, shortly after being elected to the Legislature, he crafted a measure to set the minimum age for legislators at 18. Individuals now have to be 25. In promoting the measure, Gress, who first ran for town council in Cyril, Okla., at 18, said he doesnt believe that his ideas at the time, like how to deal with a money-losing ambulance service, did not have merit because of his age. And he said that also must have been the belief of the 124 people who voted for him, though he lost. His proposal to lower the age for legislative qualification never even got a hearing. Gress told Capitol Media Services he blames that on the political reality of trying to get such a measure through a Legislature where everyone who would get to vote on it was at least 25 if not a lot older. Incumbent members of safe districts are worried about young whippersnappers running against them, Gress said. And by safe, he means legislative districts where one party has such a voter registration edge that it is almost impossible for a candidate from another party to oust an incumbent. And its on both sides of the aisle, Gress said. Still, that leaves a question: If Gress believes 18-year-olds are mature enough to make decisions about setting state policy and dividing up an $18 billion budget, why does he want to deny them the right to make a decision about smoking or, for that matter, drinking? Gress conceded it comes down to his own personal beliefs. I think running to serve the people is a good and healthy thing, he said. I think pumping tar and chemicals into your body is a bad thing. The measure now needs a roll-call vote in the House before going to the Senate, which has never voted on this version of the legislation. None of this affects marijuana and similar products. The voter-approved laws making the use of that drug legal include a requirement for people to be 21. Denzel Washington was moved to tears while watching Black Panther in the cinema. Denzel Washington was moved to tears while watching Black Panther in the cinema The 70-year-old actor is known for playing strong, stoic characters, but revealed in reality he has a softer side admitting he was overcome with emotion while watching the superhero film during its 2018 premiere. He was quoted by People saying: I cried a little bit when I saw Black Panther. I was on Broadway (performing in The Iceman Cometh), in fact, and I went to the premiere, and I wasnt interested in the red carpet and all that. So I went backstage and I saw (actor) Chad (Boseman) and (director) Ryan (Coogler.) I spoke to them and then I sat down and watched the movie. And I felt like the baton had been passed. I was like, Wow, these young boys are gone. Black Panther, which also starred Michael B. Jordan, has been hailed as groundbreaking due to its representation of black superheroes. Denzel added: You know, I didnt know then they were gonna make a billion dollars, but they did. So that, uh, that was a special moment for me. I felt, I dont know if the word is relieved, but I was proud to see what they had done and seeing where they were headed. In an upcoming appearance in Number One on the Call Sheet, the two-part Apple TV+ documentary that aired on 28 March, Denzel tells of his experiences in Hollywood. The first episode, directed by Reginald Hudlin, examines black male actors, featuring interviews with Denzel, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Will Smith and Jamie Foxx. Episode two, directed by Shola Lynch, focuses on black women in Hollywood, with appearances from Halle Berry, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union and more. Oscar-winning Denzel is set to appear in the next Black Panther film, with Ryan Coogler writing a role for him. The Apple documentary also celebrates the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 43 after a cancer battle, and highlights the continued cultural relevance of Black Panther. PHOENIX Defeated state Sen. Justine Wadsack is making a federal case out of being stopped for criminal speeding last year by Tucson police, accusing multiple officers and unnamed city officials of violating her civil rights by stopping her in the first place and then later giving her a citation. It was all part of a conspiracy to silence her politically, Wadsack claims in the lawsuit filed in federal court. It also alleges the whole incident, with Wadsack being stopped near the University of Arizona campus in March 2024, was designed to target her for prosecution on trumped up and phony charges, chill Ms. Wadsacks political free speech, and knowingly and wrongfully interfere with her right to hold public office and pursue her chosen occupations. The negative publicity surrounding all of this amounted to a $9 million gift in free media for Vince Leach, says Dennis Wilenchik, her attorney. After Wadsack was stopped and later cited, Leach defeated Wadsack in the Republican primary last August in LD 17, which covers portions of eastern and northern Pima County and spills into Pinal County. Leach then went on to win the general election. In her lawsuit, Wadsack claims she is able to show more than $8 million in damages directly caused by the city and its officers, not inclusive of emotional distress, psychic trauma and other general damages incurred. A police spokesman said Sunday the agency could not comment on litigation. There was no immediate response from the city attorneys office. All this stems from an incident a year ago when she was pulled over on East Speedway by officer Ryder Schrage, who said he caught her on radar going 71 miles an hour in a 35 mph zone. Wadsack said she was racing to get home because the battery in her all-electric Tesla was about to run out of charge. I was not doing 70, she is heard telling the officer who recorded the interaction on his body camera. Yes you were, he responded. I was behind you. I had my radar on. Wadsack also identified herself as a state lawmaker. A few minutes later, the audio on the officers body camera goes mute, presumably when he was checking with superiors. She was not ticketed immediately based on a provision in the Arizona Constitution saying that legislators shall be privileged from arrests in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace starting from 15 days ahead of the legislative session and running until lawmakers adjourn for the year. Wadsack eventually was cited for criminal speeding it is a misdemeanor to drive more than 20 miles over the limit in a business or residential district as well as failure to provide proof of insurance. The case was dismissed in January after Wadsack completed a defensive driving course and proved she had the legally required coverage. In the new lawsuit, Wilenchik contends its irrelevant even if Wadsack were speeding, a point he does not concede. She should never have been stopped, he wrote, presumably because of the legislative identification placard attached to her license plate. And Wilenchik said Wadsack never believed she would be ticketed after the legislative session ended. And then, he said, police never provided any evidence she was speeding, whether in the form of body camera footage or radar. All that goes to the heart of the claim that Wadsack was singled out in being stopped and then charged with a misdemeanor after the session ended. It is believed that this was all part of a plan of members of the Tucson Police Department to act in concert with not yet known city officials to ruin plaintiffs good reputation because she was introducing legislation these members of TPD felt were adverse to their interests, Wilenchik wrote. All that, he said, comes because she was investigating Tucson police, was an outspoken critic of city government, was a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, and because she is a woman and her primary opponent was a man who TPD officials felt could be better controlled than plaintiff. As to the citys problems with her, Wilenchik said they were upset because she was pushing two bills. One would have scrapped voting centers where anyone can cast a ballot and instead returned to when people could vote only at their local precincts. The other sought a constitutional amendment to wipe out the ability of cities like Tucson to have home rule through their own charters. Neither measure was approved. But all that, her attorney charged, was to harm Wadsack and her legislative position by charging her with the bogus traffic crimes, and publicizing it, knowing that by revealing it to media outlets, adverse publicity would ensure and cause her to either drop out, or lose her primary race she otherwise would have won, thus seriously harming her future occupation as a legislator and harming her career as a real estate agent. Then there was an incident in June after she was stopped but before she was issued the citation where Wilenchik said his client was trying to help a constituent who said she had been harassed by Tucson police. Shortly thereafter, the Tucson PD endorsed Sen. Wadsacks opponent in the Republican primary, and sue to their efforts in besmirching plaintiffs reputation, he wrote. More likely, he meant the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police as the department does not do endorsements. Wadsack also took exception to a report filed by Lt. Lauren Pettey who said that the senator, in a conversation with her, claimed she was the victim of political persecution. Wadsack said she did not say that but that the comment, put in a police report, became part of news reports. Aside from claiming her civil rights were violated and that she is the victim of law enforcement retaliatory conduct, Wadsack also is complaining that the city has a policy of inaction in ensuring and being able to prove the scientific reliability of patrol car radar readouts and such inaction amounts to a failure to protect constitutional rights. Jason Collington Tulsa World Executive Editor Follow Jason Collington Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today If you can avoid a cyberattack, I would recommend it. As I have told you in columns published previously, on Feb. 3 we had a cyberattack that shut down most of the systems at Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Tulsa World. The Tulsa World was among 72 Lee newspapers in 25 states affected by the attack, which impacted business applications and sparked operational disruptions we have never experienced before in 120 years of publishing. Im happy to report that we have made more progress on getting back most of the things in the newspaper that were interrupted because of the attack. We still have a few more to go, but we are getting closer. Please know we are still working with content partners on a few features that still arent back yet. Tulsa World subscribers are lucky that Presentation Editor Tim Chamberlin and his team oversee the production of our print edition each day. By working countless hours, they delivered to Tulsa World subscribers the local content and advertising scheduled to go into each days paper during this cyberattack. Our team was on a mission to put together everything we would need to make the pages, place the ads and design the content without the help of the Lee departments that usually assist us. Thankfully, the cyberattack has less of an effect on the website than some other newsrooms because of our local efforts. But I get it. I am just like many of you, who support our print and digital editions with loyal subscriptions. I start my day grabbing the print paper thrown to my driveway and checking the latest on our website. Thanks goes to our printing press operators. Sorry about being late on deadline so many nights as we learned how to do everything. Thanks to our carriers, who continued to hand deliver those papers. The only days we missed were during the snowstorm in and around Tulsa and the wildfires in Stillwater and Mannford when roads closed. I want to thank you, dear subscriber. Youve shown patience and grace once I returned your emails and phone calls. I know you have been frustrated. Me, too. Thank you for hearing me out and telling me to keep going. I also want to thank Tyler Moore, who is the chair of cyber studies and the Tandy endowed chair in cyber security and information assurance at the University of Tulsa. He was able to explain to me, so I could explain to our staff and subscribers, what happened to us and what was ahead. As he told me, cyberattacks happen more than you might realize, and these criminal organizations can find creative ways to get into your computer systems. Thats why its important to have safety measures in place and to keep up with the latest tricks. We live in a world of when you get hit with a cyberattack, not if. I also didnt know there was such a thing as comprehensive cyber insurance coverage. Luckily we had it. I hope your business does, too. There is not a single thing we can do without the support of our subscribers and advertisers, so thank you for sticking with us. Every department worked hard, and I thank all the employees at our office on Third Street and Boulder Avenue who kept showing up to put the paper out. Thank you for believing in local journalism by local journalists at the Tulsa World. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Pedro Pascal has revealed the role that opened a new chapter in his life. Pedro Pascal has revealed the role that opened a new chapter in his life The actor, 49, is on a career high after his role in Gladiator II, but he shot to stardom after he starred as Joel Miller in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us and has now acknowledged how it turned things around for him in a deep way. People reported he said during a virtual critics press conference for the second season of The Last of Us: This job definitely created a new chapter in my life in a profound way. Chilean-American Pedro, who also played Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, was first seen on screens in The Last of Us when it debuted on HBO in January 2023. It follows the emotional journey of his character Joel and the teenage Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, as they navigate a ravaged world where Ellies immunity to a deadly infection may hold the key to humanitys survival. Pedro added about the profound impact the role has had on his life: I think because of the personal experience I had making the show. And then, of course, the way the show was received in a way that is in measure with, like, how deeply important it means to all of us is a rare thing. It will never happen again. Pedro, who has also starred in The Mandalorian, starred in the show with Gabriel Luna, Kaitlyn Dever and Isabela Merced. The second season of the hit series is set to premiere on April 13, and will continue to follow Joel and Ellies journey adapting plotlines from the 2020 video game The Last of Us Part II. This season will also introduce new characters, including Kaitlyn Devers soldier Abby. During the press event, Pedro shared his admiration for actress Kaitlyn, 28, who also took part telling her: It was like, I admired have admired your work for so many years and was just like, I couldn't believe I got to be in scenes with you. Kaitlyn responded with a simple, Same, before affectionately rubbing her co-stars shoulder. The Last of Us earned 24 nominations at the 2023 Emmys, with eight wins including outstanding guest actor for Nick Offerman and outstanding guest actress for Storm Reid. Creative Types with Virginia Trioli returns to ABC this week, spending quality time with artists in their own environment. First subject is director George Miller, with a zoom interview by Chris Hemsworth and Tilda Swinton. I never tire of being allowed access to the inner sanctum of these wonderful Australian artists, said Trioli. Their generosity and vulnerability with me are a privilege and something I am so happy to share with ABC audiences. No matter the obstacles personal, professional these artists are continually driven to make: they cant live without their creativity and I know how inspiring that is for all of us to witness. The audiences for Creative Types season 2 are going to learn so much about this brilliant creative nation, and I hope will feel compelled to seek out their work for themselves. George Miller waits by the Silverton Hotel the town he put on the map by shooting two of his five iconic Mad Max films here. Virginia rolls up in a Rover V8 to take George for a spin and a chat, talking about the importance of landscape, the visual rock and roll of his cinema, the influence of silent films and kinetic energy of a young Mel Gibson as they visit the Mundi Mundi lookout (where MMII was shot) the Mad Max Museum and the hotel itself, which is filled with memorabilia. In his office in Sydney, George says his films begin with his daydreaming before he storyboards every shot; celebrated cinematographer John Seale says Miller writes visual scripts. Actor Chris Hemsworth says Miller reinvented the action universe, particularly with Fury Road. George discusses working with great actors like Charlize Theron. His other great film relationship has been with actor Jack Nicholson, from whom he filmed The Witches of Eastwick. George Miller insists that technology keeps developing to allow more film innovation, so he could make penguins dance in Happy Feet but the greatest development hes used is Toybox: which allows him to create an animated storyboard in extraordinary detail. Chris Hemsworth says George allows his actors to explore and George says he is working on another Mad Max film, because creative possibilities are still infinite. 8:30pm Tuesday 1 on ABC. Sally McIlhone, 39, from Hampshire, is married with two sons, aged seven and one. As part of Yahoo Life UK's accounts of motherhood to mark Mother's Day, Sally tells how attending therapy in her 30s saved her relationship with her mum. Sally Mcllhone spent most of her life clashing with her mum, then finally at 34 therapy healed their rift. (Supplied) I wasnt the easiest child. I insisted on calling my first doll Beethoven and wouldnt let my mum choose any of my outfits, ever. I was smart, headstrong and argumentative the poor woman had no idea what to do with me. Despite there being an obvious resemblance between us, that unshakeable mother-daughter bond I had read about in books seemed non-existent. I didnt understand how a person who was my complete opposite could have made me. Werent mothers and daughters meant to have this deep-rooted understanding of who the other is? If that was true, then why was my mum constantly annoyed and exasperated by me? Why didnt she 'get' me like my friends' mums seemed to get them? ADVERTISEMENT It probably didnt help that I was a miniature version of my dad, who my mum had separated from when I was four. Dad had problems with alcohol (fortunately, hes been sober ever since) and Mum met someone else. As a child, I felt hurt and betrayed on my dads behalf. When my dad went on to find love and my mum became terminally single, I was very much Team Dad. I put him on a pedestal and dismissed my mums stay-at-home single parent lifestyle 'choices' as lazy. She wasn't a role model for me. If anything, my goal in life was to avoid following in her footsteps. Distance between us It wasnt until I became a mother, a single parent, and a wife (in that order) that I began to understand how she might have felt. My eldest sons dad left when he was just eight months old and two years later I was engaged to my separation lawyers brother but thats another story As I got older, our already shaky relationship became even more fragile. ADVERTISEMENT I cant imagine that having a living reminder of your ex, who points out how rubbish you are on a regular basis, is particularly good for your self-esteem. I also dont remember her ever exploding at me about it, which shows a level of self-control I can only marvel at. Sally Mcllhone on her wedding day to husband Paul. (Avalon Corbishley) As I got older, our already shaky relationship became even more fragile. Yes, ok, she frequently played the 'cool mum', having an open door policy with mine and my brothers friends and staying up to make bacon sandwiches when I came home from clubbing with my mates, but she was rubbish when it came to talking about sex and relationships. It wasnt her fault. My mum grew up in 1960s Northern Ireland, where she was taught by nuns in a convent school. Our chats about sex were awkward and stunted at best. But I was part of the American Pie generation: I couldnt wait to go to uni and embark on lots of sexy, hedonistic adventures. My mum was (rightly) petrified and kept telling me to 'value' myself. Sally Mcllhone, pictured in her twenties. (Supplied) Distressing incident So when I was 20 and an adult, male family friend abused my trust, I genuinely thought my mum would be on my side. Im a gut instinct type of person and whenever the vibes were off with friends, at the pub or even once at Thorpe Park, I would call mum to come to the rescue. She was my safety net. ADVERTISEMENT The night, I was physically abused by a man who felt like family, then forced to spend a petrifying 90-minute drive home in his company before bursting through the door of my mums house in a cold sweat. When I told her what had happened, it was like a knife to the heart to hear that she didnt believe me. This man said he needed a shoulder to cry on and I was naive enough to believe him. I thought we would be meeting mutual friends in a pub, not swinging by his house for a drink that suddenly made me feel very tired and unwell. Feeling so hurt and abandoned by my mother, things between us went from bad to worse. I tried to explain in detail what had happened, desperate to understand why she thought I would lie and my mum just couldnt show any empathy. She was angry I had put myself in that situation and couldnt face talking about it, let alone support me in speaking to the police. I was floored. If my own mother didnt believe me, what hope did I have of getting a police officer, a lawyer, a judge or a jury to believe me? ADVERTISEMENT So I buried it all deep inside me. Feeling so hurt and abandoned by my mother, things between us went from bad to worse. We argued more frequently in my 20s as I increasingly kept her at arms length, often not speaking for months after an argument. Sally suffered with perinatal OCD after giving birth to her first son and clashed with her mum over parenting decisions. (Supplied) Falling out After I gave birth to my eldest son at 32, the problems escalated even further. I suffered with perinatal OCD, and reasoned that if I couldnt trust my mum to keep me safe, I certainly couldnt trust her with my precious baby. We clashed over parenting decisions and before long we werent speaking again and this time it felt like the final nail in the coffin. I was exhausted by what felt like a constant cycle of anger and resentment and I decided that it was make or break. I was exhausted by what felt like a constant cycle of anger and resentment and I decided that it was make or break. We needed to learn how to communicate better and we needed to unpack her reaction to that awful situation once and for all. I was willing to give it one more chance if my mum was willing to go to family therapy. At first, mum was apoplectic. There was no way in hell she was going to therapy It was my dad who got her to see sense. I dont know exactly what was said between them, but soon afterwards my mum agreed to give therapy a try. In August 2019, when I was 34, we had our first joint session. We arrived separately and barely spoke to one another in the waiting room. I remember reaching for the box of nearby tissues and leaving feeling like we would need years to rectify our problems. Processing the painful events of the past was our focus, but we also spoke to our counsellor separately so she could build up a picture of who we were individually and of our relationship timeline. Sally says exploring their past in therapy helped her and her mum to reconnect. (Supplied) Facing the past We spent one session talking about our family, what it was like for my mum growing up and her approaches to men and sex. Back when I was about 12, my mum had begun telling me the story of when she was flashed at in the sweet shop where she worked when she was a similar age. At first, I thought it was funny, but as I got older, the deeper implications of the event became apparent and I began to see that my mum had never really recovered from that incident either. How was she meant to help me through my own trauma when she hadnt fully processed hers? We both recalled our personal accounts of what happened that awful night. Over the course of six weeks, we worked up to the session where we both recalled our personal accounts of what happened that awful night. It made me realise that I was so caught up in my experience that I had never even asked about my mums. She reminded me that I had called her from this mans house before the drive home, clearly wanting to alert her that something was wrong but still being in earshot of him so having to feign relaxed indifference. So she had 90 excruciating minutes of worrying about what had happened before I burst through the door. When I recounted my side and told mum how awful her reaction made me feel, she broke down and apologised, for the first time, for not believing me. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it, her voice trembling. I knew she meant it. In that moment, something at the core of our relationship shifted and things have felt lighter ever since. Two months of therapy finally allowed me to understand my mum, and where her thoughts, opinions and reactions come from. Its also made my mum respect me more as a grown-up. Sally's mum is now closely involved in her grandsons' lives. (Supplied) A new closeness Things have only got better from there. Now, I speak to my mum every day. I trust her implicitly with my kids and I involve her more in our lives. Dont get me wrong, she can still wind me up but we are both quick to address our issues now and not let them fester. When we went back to Ireland a few years ago, she pointed out the shop where her flasher lived and worked for many years. I held her hand and gave her a hug as she breathed deeply, staring at the shop, lost in thought. How brave she was to share that with me, to come to therapy and to help us heal together. Now, finally, shes the role model I always wanted. Read more on Mother's Day: Running HA NOI Thousands of runners took part in the third Francophonie Run at the Thong Nhat Park, as part of the Balade en France, the largest food and sporting event for the French speaking community, on March 29 in Ha Noi. Athletes competed in three distance categories of 2.5km, 5km and 10km for men and women of under-18-and over-18-year-old age groups. According to organisers, the annual event created an opportunity for people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender or sporting ability, to come together and share their passion for the French language and Francophone culture. The light rain and cooler weather encouraged the runners to put in some hard racing, inspired too for the chance to win 35 prizes, including top-three places for each categories, youngest and oldest runners and club with most members. The running event is one of three parts of the Francophone community festival, jointly organised by the Embassy of France in Viet Nam, the International Organisation of La Francophonie and the Francophone University Agency. French Ambassador to Viet Nam Olivier Brochet said this year event was special as it combined the French festival event with that of the Francophone community. So it was an opportunity to introduce French agricultural products, cuisine and culture, as well as include the Francophone community. Through the Balade en France Hanoians and visitors enjoyed learning more about the cuisine and culture, not only of France, but also of the Francophone community here in Viet Nam. Over three days there were thousands of happy visitors, enjoying the chance to experience French gastronomy with almost of 80 booths of large brands including Taste France, La Table Hanoia, Blue Whale, the Metropole, Saint Honore and Andros. They had the chance to try many French delicacies including bread, cheese, cold cuts, chocolate and, of course, wine. They were also treated to agricultural and food heritage news from France and other French-speaking countries including watching a cooking show from professional chefs. Students wanting to study French could also find out more about internships, scholarships and training programmes from Francophone educational establishments in Ha Noi. Younger students from some of the French-speaking schools across the capital city also put on some special performances on a large stage in the park. OVIETNAM.VN/VNS BRUSSELS The state visit by Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Viet Nam from March 31 to April 4 is expected to usher in a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of sustainable development. According to a release of the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, the state visit is a historic moment, as it is the first to Viet Nam since their diplomatic relations were established in 1973. As a major player in the region and one of the most dynamic economies in Asia, Viet Nam is an indispensable partner for Belgium. The meetings with the various Vietnamese authorities will therefore offer an excellent opportunity to further deepen and enrich this diverse partnership, it wrote. According to the release, Viet Nam offers Belgium an important opportunity to play its role as a sustainability ambassador. The state visit will be an opportunity to confirm this role and to enter into a dialogue on the promotion of environmental and social standards in business. Belgian investors, NGOs, universities, training institutions and research centres are collaborating increasingly closely with Vietnam. Belgian companies are active in various sectors, ranging from the green economy to the health and biotech industry and the agri-food industry. During the state visit, attention will be paid to the consequences of the war in Viet Nam and solidarity will be shown with the victims of the Agent Orange. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam-Belgium ties are growing, driven by dynamic and promising cooperation across multiple sectors, Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Karl Van den Bossche told Vietnam News Agency ahead of the first-ever state visit to Viet Nam by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium from March 31 to April 4. Ambassador Karl Van den Bossche described the visit as a landmark in over five decades of bilateral ties. King Philippe, visiting Viet Nam for the fourth time since 1994, has fostered a deep connection with the country, while Queen Mathilde made a working trip in May 2023 as Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium. The visit reaffirms Viet Nams role as a trusted and stable partner amid global uncertainties and underscores the need for close collaboration among Belgium, Viet Nam, ASEAN, and the European Union (EU) to strengthen regional ties, he said. Reflecting on the journey of bilateral ties, he said since establishing diplomatic ties on March 22, 1973, Belgium has been one of the first western countries to sign a development cooperation agreement with Viet Nam. Over time, this partnership has evolved from development cooperation to an equal, mutually beneficial collaboration addressing global challenges, spanning agriculture, culture, education, climate change response, energy development, and green logistics. The 2018 Strategic Partnership on Agriculture has made agri-food a cornerstone of ties, while the Belgian-operated DEEP C industrial and port complex in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh exemplifies Belgiums investment role, catalysing foreign capital inflows. Both nations shared a commitment to green growth, with Belgian firms partnering on hydrogen energy and logistics projects. During the visit, key agreements in this sector are expected to advance Viet Nams transition to a green and sustainable economy. Culturally, Belgium showcases its heritage through food festivals, film screenings by the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation, and performances by the Royal Stilt Walkers of Merchtem at the annual Hue Festival. The 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023 saw the second Belgian Culture and Food Festival in Hai Phong grow into a major event, fostering people-to-people bonds. Now an annual tradition after successful runs in 2022-2024, it strengthens cultural exchange. On Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, the ambassador hailed the Belgian Chamber of Representatives unanimous resolution on October 5, 2023, saying that it is the worlds only such legislative act supporting Vietnamese victims. He expressed his hope for both countries to explore different approaches to addressing AOs lingering effects. In the Francophone community, the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation, established in Viet Nam in 1996, remains its sole Asian office. Over nearly three decades, it has delivered over 800 win-win joint projects. At the 12th session of the Permanent Joint Committee among the Vietnamese Government and the French-speaking community of Belgium, and the French Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region in November 2024 in Brussels, both sides agreed on a cooperation programme for the 2025-2027 period, with a focus on 17 practical and effective projects across mental health and family medicine, environmental protection, logistics, human resource training, sustainable agriculture, French language education, climate change adaptation, research and innovation. During this state visit, the Belgian Queen will visit the Vietnam National Children's Hospital in Ha Noi, as part of a mental health cooperation project, a field of her particular interest and priority. The ambassador also noted Viet Nams hosting of the Asia-Pacific headquarters of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and Pierre Du Villes leadership of the Group of Francophone Embassies, Delegations, and Institutions (GADIF) in Viet Nam, saying that such provides an advantage for Francophone cooperation, not only between the French-speaking Belgian community and Viet Nam but also across the entire Asia-Pacific. Asked about what opportunities will open following the visit, the diplomat said 30 business leaders and some 12 university rectors will accompany the King and Queen. A number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between Belgian and Vietnamese universities, paving the way for new academic collaboration. The ambassador will also accompany the King and Queen to the War Remnants Museum in HCM City, where they will tour an exhibit on AO/dioxin consequences and meet with Vietnamese victims affected by it. On the occasion, Belgium will introduce soil decontamination technology to Agent Orange-affected areas. With its expertise, Belgium can gradually transfer this technology to Vietnamese partners for long-term remediation, he added. VNS Catherine, Princess of Wales wants to "celebrate nature" on Mother's Day. Catherine, Princess of Wales wants to 'celebrate nature' on Mother's Day The 43-year-old royal - who stepped back from official duties in 2024 as she underwent a course of preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a form of cancer - has Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, as well as six-year-old Prince Louis with husband Prince William and took to social media on Sunday (30.03.25) to post a message on the day that honours female parents. She wrote on Instagram: "Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary. This Mothers Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognise how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life. C" Earlier this month,the Prince and Princess of Wales explained that they were joined by their eldest child on a tour Down Under when he was just eight months old, and they are now keen to take her brood there again now that they are old enough to remember the trip. Catherine paid a visit to the Irish Guards - of which she is Colonel - in honour of St. Patrick's Day on Monday (17.03.25) and while chatting to the soldiers and their families, she revealed her hopes for family travel. According to Britain's HELLO! magazine, she told Corporal Adam Hamilton, an Australian reservist: "George finds it fascinating that he has been to Australia and New Zealand. "I would like to go back there with them now. It's finding time to do that. But I love to travel yes, it's a long flight. But I love the Middle East because that's familiar to me [from] growing up. There are so many opportunities now to travel, I think it's brilliant to experience it." The princess explained it is key to be able to balance "a bit of work" with the children's needs and a desire to explore the countries when she and William make such trips. She added: "We tend to go further afield when its official visits, it's being able to carve out time to experience these countries in a more private capacity. "Because otherwise you end up seeing lots of insides of amazing buildings but you don't get to meet that many people. Its making sure that you can combine a bit of work with the children. I might see you down there!" HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the entire nation to push beyond its limits in order to develop a robust railway industry while chairing the first meeting of the steering committee for key national railway projects on March 29. The committee, headed by the PM, was established following Decision No.609/QD-TTg issued by the PM earlier this month, aims to oversee key railway projects, including the North-South high-speed railway and rail lines connecting Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong, Ha Noi - Lang Son, and Mong Cai - Ha Long (Quang Ninh), as well as urban railway projects in Ha Noi and HCM City. The North-South high-speed railway was approved under the National Assembly's Resolution No. 172/2024/QH15 and will span 1,541 km from Ha Noi to HCM City. It is designed for speeds of up to 350km/h, with an estimated cost of VN1.71 quadrillion (approximately US$67.34 billion). The implementation period is planned from 2025 to 2035. Meanwhile, the Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong railway project will have a standard gauge of 1,435 mm, serving both passenger and freight transport. The main line will span 390.9km and branch lines will cover an additional 27.9km. The estimated cost for the project is $8.36 billion. Its first phase will involve the construction of a single-track railway and site clearance for a future double-track upgrade. The project is scheduled to be implemented between 2025 and 2030. At the same time, the Ha Noi - Lang Son railway connecting Ha Noi with Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Lang Son provinces and providing an international rail link to China, will have an estimated length of 156 km. The Hai Phong - Ha Long - Mong Cai railway will connect Hai Phong City with Quang Ninh Province and link with China's rail network. The estimated length of the railway is 187km. Under the National Assembly's Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15, Ha Noi plans to build 15 metro lines, while HCM City aims for 10. PM Chinh underlined the significance of the projects and the development of the railway industry, stressing that achieving these ambitious goals requires a shift in mindsetmoving away from outdated thinking and embracing self-reliance, national pride, and resilience. He emphasised the need to establish a full-fledged railway industry, mastering technology, producing rolling stock, and developing an integrated railway ecosystem. He also highlighted the opportunity for Viet Nam to harness this challenge as a catalyst for national growth and innovation. To build a skilled workforce, he directed the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Education and Training to design a comprehensive human resources development plan for the industry. This plan includes domestic and international training, setting specific targets for each level and specialty, and establishing railway engineering faculties at universities, particularly for training chief engineers. Furthermore, he called for the formation of major corporations, including private ones, to drive railway industry development. The Government leader also underlined the importance of diversifying resources, including State funds, loans, infrastructure bonds, public-private partnerships (PPP), and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) models, while ensuring strict financial oversight to prevent wastefulness and losses. He assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Construction to establish technical standards, implement modern technology, and facilitate the transfer of advanced expertise. He also instructed the Ministry of Construction to review and propose necessary policy adjustments for submission to the National Assembly. There must be a clear understanding of the importance of railway projects, he said, emphasising that efforts should be made to remove obstacles and expedite project execution, particularly in land clearance, which should be handled as a separate project, allowing local authorities to secure land while investors develop stations. Intersectoral cooperation and accountability must be enhanced to ensure that responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables are clearly defined and strictly monitored. Strict penalties should be enforced for delays and inefficiencies, while those excelling in their duties should receive recognition, he stated. Emphasising that railway projects must prioritise the public interest, improving transport services, reducing congestion, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable development, the PM assigned specific tasks to ministries and agencies. Particularly, he directed the the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to develop regulations on the temporary use of forests for railway construction within September. The Ministry of Construction is tasked with developing a decree outlining the criteria for selecting state-owned organisations or enterprises assigned with tasks, or Vietnamese organisations and enterprises contracted to provide railway industrial services and goods. The leader approved the commencement of construction of the Lao Cai station and resettlement areas of the Lao Cai - Ha Noi - Hai Phong railway in 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance were instructed to engage China in negotiations over project agreements. For the North-South high-speed railway, the PM ordered groundbreaking in December 2026. The Ministry of Justice will streamline approval procedures for a decree on railway design in early April 2025, while relevant ministries will promptly provide feedback, he asked. For urban rail projects in Ha Noi and HCM City, local authorities must reassess progress. The Ministry of Finance must review and approve adjustments to financing, including halting the use of official development assistance (ODA) and foreign concessional loans for HCM City's Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong), the PM said. VNA/VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association marked its 50th anniversary on Sunday in Ha Noi, during which the association was awarded the States first-class Labour Order in recognition of its contributions to Viet Nams development and the enhancement of bilateral relations. On this occasion, Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man sent floral congratulations to the association. Samdech Men Sam An, Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Association, also cabled her congratulatory letter. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son remarked that the two nations share deep-rooted solidarity, friendship, and cooperation, forged through their years of struggle for independence and freedom. He described this bond as a priceless asset that must be preserved and passed down to future generations. The Vietnamese Party, State, and people always prioritise the development of the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive collaboration with their Cambodian counterparts, the official affirmed. Son highlighted contributions of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association to fostering bilateral ties over the past five decades. With over 60,000 members across 41 provinces and cities nationwide, it is one of Viet Nams largest bilateral friendship organisations, reflecting widespread public support for stronger Viet Nam-Cambodia relationship. The Deputy PM expressed his confidence that the association will continue to serve as a crucial bridge between the two nations. He called for closer cooperation between the two friendship associations in organising investment and business networking events and programmes for expanded partnerships in tourism, science and technology, environmental protection, and disaster and disease prevention. Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Cambodia-Viet Nam Friendship Association Vann Phal hoped that joint work between the two associations will help strengthen bilateral friendship and solidarity and cooperation in the long run. He also expressed gratitude for the Vietnamese associations humanitarian assistance to Cambodia. VNS YANGON A 106-member Vietnamese rescue delegation from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security arrived in Yangon airport in Myanmar on March 30 afternoon to assist in earthquake relief efforts. The military force is led by Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defence's Search and Rescue Department, while the public security team is headed by Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, Deputy Director of the Police Department of Fire Fighting, Fire Prevention and Rescue under the Ministry of Public Security. The Vietnamese delegation was welcomed at the airport by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, along with Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar Ly Quoc Tuan, Defence Attache Colonel ao Van Duy, and staff members from the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar. In response to Myanmars request for assistance, Viet Nam has offered an emergency aid package worth US$300,000 to support earthquake recovery efforts. From March 31, the Vietnamese forces will commence search and rescue operations in the affected areas, while relief supplies will be distributed to communities in need. The move reflects the Vietnamese Party, State and people's solidarity with Myanmar, a fellow ASEAN member, in overcoming and mitigating the aftermath of the natural disaster. It embodies Viet Nams tradition of love others like we love ourselves, international responsibility, and the country's humanitarian commitment. The deployment also affirms the credibility and capabilities of Viet Nams rescue forces in international humanitarian missions. On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with the Viet Nam-Myanmar Friendship Association, sent sympathy to the people of Myanmar. The Myanmar State Administration Council said that the death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday has risen to about 1,700, with 3,400 people injured and 300 still missing. VNS The higher education system must revise its curriculum, teaching methods and learning approaches to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and attract talented individuals to these fields in the years ahead. This aligns with the goals set out in a resolution issued on December 22, 2024 by Politburo of the Viet Nam Communist Party on making breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. The Ministry of Education and Training has also set a target for Viet Nam to establish an increasing number of prestigious regional and global universities in STEM fields in the future. Nguyen Anh Dung, deputy director of the Higher Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, said that to realise these goals, investments must be targeted and focused. According to Dung, the ministry will launch talent development programmes linked with research, innovation and creativity at key universities to create an attractive learning and research environment. Scholarships, favourable tuition fees and supportive credit policies will also be introduced to attract outstanding students. In terms of institutional reform, he said that there is still much to be done, including developing faculty capacity, enhancing training programmes, and building stronger links with businesses. The ministry is also encouraging universities to learn from one another, form alliances and establish networks for STEM education, enabling more effective use of State investment through both domestic and international collaborations. Fundamental shift required ang Hoai Bac, director of the Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), one of five technical universities designated as national key institutions, shared that many universities still focused on transmitting knowledge and explaining existing technologies. However, students must be taught how to absorb, apply and build upon technology, enabling them to become innovators and creators. This is a long-term effort that requires a fundamental shift in higher education, Bac said. Students today are assessed not only on knowledge, skills and behaviour, but also on their sense of responsibility to work and society, according to Bac. In terms of knowledge, Vietnamese students typically reach 8090 per cent of the level of their peers in top international institutions. However, their practical skills remain limited, which is why universities should enable hands-on experience from the first or second year. To do that, we must create a real-world learning environment that encourages creativity from the outset, he said. Regarding attitudes and social responsibility, Bac stressed the importance of mentoring by major companies committed to national development. "University lecturers also play a critical role," he said. They must inject life into their teaching, staying up-to-date with new knowledge while gaining practical experience to drive innovation and offer relevant solutions. He emphasised the need for integration between training, research and business production, saying the three elements must be tightly linked. Chu uc Trinh, rector of the University of Engineering and Technology under Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, said major technical universities including Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, the University of Engineering and Technology, and PTIT should establish strong foundations in AI to support the industrys growth. We must train a high-quality workforce to build AI tools. If our universities and scientific community cannot master AI to some extent, we will always be left behind, dependent on foreign products, Trinh said. In addition to public institutions, private universities are also playing an important role in training high-quality human resources in sci-tech. Nguyen Phu Khanh, vice rector of Phenikaa University, said that while innovation ecosystems might differ between public and private institutions, their objectives remained aligned. Both, he said, should have strategies to familiarise students with technology from an early stage. On the topic of AI, he noted that a period of structured training and development is essential. Phenikaa University has already begun working with secondary and high schools to introduce AI to students early and support their development, aiming to nurture a spirit of experimentation and critical thinking over the next decade. Low STEM enrolment According to Dung, in 2024, over 180,000 students enrolled in STEM-related fields. On average, STEM enrolments have grown by 17 per cent per year over the past four years. Currently, Viet Nam has around 55 STEM students per 10,000 people, accounting for roughly 30 per cent of all higher education enrolment. However, compared to developed countries with strong sci-tech sectors, this figure remains modest, he said. For instance, in Singapore, 46 per cent of students pursue STEM fields, while the figure is 40 per cent in Germany, 36 per cent in Finland, and 35 per cent in South Korea. Le Truong Tung, chairman of the Board of Directors at FPT University, also expressed concern about low STEM enrolment, calling for policies to better encourage students to choose these fields. He noted that while entry standards for semiconductor microchip training had been developed, the focus should be on managing quality at the output stage, rather than limiting access at the start. If we restrict entry when a large workforce is needed, the policy will be counterproductive, he said. Theres a difference between producing elite talent and training enough people for an expanding industry. Tung emphasised that training high-quality human resources would require not just knowledge, but also strong research capabilities and practical creativity. As AI evolves, the content, methods and approaches to education must adapt, he said. VNS KUALA LUMPUR The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on March 29 that it stands ready to support relief and recovery efforts following the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28. "ASEAN reaffirms its solidarity with the families and communities affected by the earthquake and its impact," ASEAN said in a statement, extending its deepest sympathies and condolences to the people of Myanmar and Thailand. Recognising the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, ASEAN said its relief and recovery efforts include deploying the ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team, utilising the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN, and providing Urban Search and Rescue support, based on the priorities identified by Myanmar and Thailand. Furthermore, ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to closely coordinating humanitarian assistance efforts. With the support of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management, ASEAN will facilitate relief operations and ensure a timely and effective humanitarian response. The devastating earthquake in Myanmar has claimed 1,002 lives, left 2,376 injured, and 30 people reported missing, according to the Information Team of the country's State Administration Council in a report at around 11:20 am (local time) on March 29. Meanwhile, Thai authorities said on March 29 that nine people were dead, nine injured and 101 others remained missing in the capital Bangkok after the powerful earthquake sending strong tremors across Thailand. VNA/VNS Call for improved cancer strategy after 9,000 left waiting too long for treatment This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 30th, 2025 Cancer charities joined forces to call for a longer-term national strategy to improve services after 9,000 people waited too long for treatment last year. Mark Isherwood raised an Audit Wales report which found cancer services have consistently failed to hit a 75% target for patients to start treatment within 62 days. Mr Isherwood, who chairs the Senedds public accounts committee, asked witnesses for their reflections on the issues identified by the auditor general for Wales. Lowri Griffiths, chair of the Wales Cancer Alliance, a coalition of charities established nearly 20 years ago, said she was saddened and disappointed by the findings. The director of policy at Tenovus told the committee: Weve long held the view that some of the governance arrangements around cancer services, especially since the development of the quality statement, have not been fit for purpose. Not good enough Hannah Buckingham, of Macmillan Cancer Support, a vice-chair of the alliance, said performance against the 62-day target shows the system cannot keep up with demand. It isnt working for far too many people across Wales, she told the committee, describing the impact of delays in diagnosis as devastating for cancer patients and their families. Not just on their physical health but their mental and emotional health as well. Ms Buckingham said: In 2024, we saw, for example, 9,000 people across Wales wait too long to start treatment on that 62-day pathway which is just not good enough quite frankly. She added that it is distressing for staff not being able to deliver timely care for patients, calling for a strategic approach to tackling workforce shortages. Ms Buckingham warned of a lack of robust governance mechanisms to enforce, track and evaluate actions in the three-year NHS cancer improvement plan. Profound impact Simon Scheeres, a fellow vice-chair of the alliance representing Cancer Research UK, said the report underlined the need for a longer-term, more cohesive strategy, raising concerns about a confusing plethora of quality statements, improvement plans and other initiatives. Mr Scheeres pointed to Denmark as an example of best practice, with evidence showing countries with long-term cancer plans have seen greater improvements in outcomes. Warning deprivation has a profound impact in Wales, he told Senedd members that death rates are 50% higher in the most deprived groups compared with the least. Mr Scheeres said lung cancer is by far the biggest cancer killer in Wales as he raised a life-saving pilot of targeted lung health checks in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board. Ms Griffiths voiced concerns about the Welsh Governments response to the Audit Wales recommendation of a national lung screening programme which took an age. Overlooked She said: It talks about a decision to deliver so [the] Welsh Government is not committing to deliver, its committed to making a decision to whether or not to deliver. Lauren Marks, of Young Lives vs Cancer, described the cancer improvement plan as lacking detail on the specific needs of children and young people. Systematically, children and young people are being overlooked in the detail, she said. Ms Marks warned the 62-day target, which measures the time between first being suspected of having cancer and starting treatment, does not capture young peoples experiences. She said the delay that young people experience is between thinking something is wrong and getting their diagnosis, with most attending their GP more times than adults do. Thank you Ms Marks added that children and young people get different types of cancer to adults that are not routinely addressed by screening programmes. She highlighted travelling to treatment as a big issue for children and young people in Wales who travel longer distances than anywhere else in the UK to access care and support. Ms Marks put the average cost of travel at 280 a month, with one in ten reporting missing or delaying treatment due to unaffordable transport. Mr Isherwood, the committee chair who has long campaigned on disability rights, put on record his thanks for the work the charities do during the meeting on March 26. Two of my children when they were younger received diagnoses, he said. The first one, there wasnt a referral to yourselves, now youre in most hospitals. with the second, it was Young Lives vs Cancer or CLIC Sargent that got my other daughter through, so thank you. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Moneypenny Staff Walk 8,023 Miles in Transatlantic Well-Being Challenge This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 30th, 2025 Moneypenny staff on both sides of the pond have been stepping up for a new challenge aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being. To mark the 25th anniversary since the launch of the leading call-handling service, employees at its Wrexham headquarters and its office in Atlanta, Georgia have been walking the equivalent of the 4,110 miles between the two bases. Race Across the Pond is one of several events and initiatives to celebrate Moneypennys clients and team. The challenge ran for four weeks (February 10 to March 9) with participants logging their weekly miles every Monday to contribute to a collective company total. Andy Royle, a Team Leader on the Property team at Moneypenny commented: Walking has always been one of my go-to strategies to clear my mind and find balance and we were keen to arrange a regular event that was easily accessible for people, should they want to get out with like-minded people in our beautiful, local surroundings. Race Across the Pond, as we called it has been really successful and brought even more of us together, getting active and strengthening connections across the business and helping everyone get lots of fresh air. The results saw Moneypenny colleagues from both sides of the Atlantic collectively walk an incredible 8,023 miles over the four weeks, the equivalent of travelling from Wrexham to Atlanta and nearly all the way back. Andrew Collis, CFO at Moneypenny and a passionate advocate for mental well-being, shares the inspiration behind the challenge: Well-being is at the heart of everything we do at Moneypenny both in the UK and the US . Initiatives like this are a fun, energising way to support both mental and physical health across the business and help to create a happy working environment. Over in the US, Abigail Blomgren, Working Life Specialist, led the challenge with a focus on both logging miles and raising awareness of heart health: February is also Heart Health Awareness Month, so we wanted to explore ways to support our amazing peoplenot just in their jobs, but in their overall well-being and we realised that getting our step count up was a no-brainer! Joining our UK colleagues in this challenge made us feel more connected than ever. Residents urged to remain vigilant following courier fraud posing as police officers This article is old - Published: Sunday, Mar 30th, 2025 Just over the border in Cheshire, real police officers are urging residents to remain vigilant following a number of reports of courier frauds. Yesterday alone Cheshire Police say they had received three reports of courier fraud whereby victims have been contacted by fraudsters posing as police officers. They say that suggests a fraudster is currently active in the area. Police added, If you are contacted by anyone claiming to be police officer who asks you to hand over money, bank details or purchase anything to pass across to them, please contact us immediately. Do not wait to report the fraud to police. The quicker we are told, the more likely officers can identify those responsible. Courier fraud is where a victim is contacted by fraudsters who pretend to be police officers or bank officials. This can be over the phone or in person. The victims are then told to withdraw or hand over cash or valuable items, to purchase EUROs or provide bank cards or pin numbers. These can then be collected from their home address or at another meeting place by a courier. Officers in Cheshire have seen an increase in this type of fraud offence and are reminding people that police officers would never ask anyone for money or to hand over valuable items as a result of a fraud they are investigating, to help with an ongoing investigation, or any other reason. Detective Inspector David Jarvis said: It is important to note that the fraudsters can be extremely convincing. They are persistent and often target elderly or vulnerable people. Many people may think they would never be a victim to this kind of crime, however this really can happen to anyone. We react very differently when under stress and these criminals are very sophisticated and use a whole host of tactics to persuade people to follow their instructions. Please remember that police officers and bank officials will never ask you to withdraw money, purchase goods, hand over valuable items or disclose private banking details, for any reason. Help us to raise awareness by sharing this with your friends and family, especially if they are vulnerable or elderly. If you believe that you have been a victim of courier fraud, please contact Police on 101, using a different phone to the one used to communicate with the fraudsters. You can report to Action Fraud via actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Call 999 immediately in an emergency or if you suspect a fraud is currently in progress. Please see some crime prevention advice: The Reno Police Department is thrilled to welcome the newest member aboard their law enforcement team. BAK is a 2-year-old Bohemian German Shepherd who hails all the way from the Czech Republic and was transported to the United States. RPD purchased this handsome K-9 from a facility in Banning, CA that specializes in working police and military dogs. Before joining the Reno Police Department, BAK went through a six-week extensive and costly training program, centered around explosives and patrol work, in order to begin his new working mission with RPD. Joshua Nickel, his handler was required to pair up with BAK and undergo a series of training courses alongside his new partner. Officer Nickel says, "He's actually one of the few dogs in the region that does patrol work and explosives, because most of the explosive dogs just stick to explosives. The reasoning for him doing both is that he can be readily deployable, while I'm working on shift and if something happens right now and they need me, I can go." The out-of-pocket cost to purchase a working dog like BAK typically runs $20,000 and that includes the six-week training course. A larger percentage of funds that cover this cost are raised through donations made to the Reno Police Department. German Shepherds are specifically chosen for police work, based on their extremely high level of intelligence, strength, trainability, skill tactics, loyalty and efficiency in law enforcement. A small plane flying from Iowa to Minnesota crashed into a suburban home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday, sparking a fire and leaving no survivors among the plane's passengers, officials said. The plane had taken off from Iowa around 12:20 p.m. local time (5:20 p.m. BST) before crashing in the residential area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and stated that investigations were underway to determine the cause. Authorities said that the number of people on board remains unclear, though Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway confirmed there were no survivors among the passengers. Miraculously, no one inside the house was reported to have been killed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced that it would be investigating the crash, though the cause remains unknown. The agency confirmed that it was en route to the scene in Brooklyn Park and expected to be on the ground by Sunday. Once on-site, investigators will document the scene, examine the aircraft, and recover it for further analysis. Videos circulating on social media showed the house engulfed in flames as fire crews worked to control the blaze. Chief Conway reported that by the time the fire department arrived, the fire had developed into a "fully involved structure fire." Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, is home to about 82,000 residents and is located roughly 11 miles north of the state's capital. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to the incident, saying his team was in contact with local officials and closely monitoring the situation. "Grateful to the first responders answering the call," he added. This incident follows a series of recent plane crashes and near misses that have raised concerns about air safety in the U.S. The attention has grown since President Donald Trump encouraged cuts to federal agencies, resulting in the firing of hundreds of employees responsible for ensuring air safety, according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump's administration is proposing cuts to the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the Community Food Pantry of Reno/Sparks is worried it could drain their food supply. Barbara Monroy, Director of the Community Food Pantry of Reno/Sparks, says, "60%-about of what we take in is federal food, and it's good food. It's potatoes, and it's fruits, and it's veggies, and its protein and without that we're going to have to obviously cut back." Just last year, the food pantry fed over 85,000 people. And they're seeing a 21% increase in the total number of clients visiting compared to this same time last year. If the program is cut, Monroy says the pantry will have to buy food using the money they get from donations and fundraisers. She tells us they're applying to multiple grants right now. However, nothing is promised as federal cuts remain in the air leaving both the pantry and its clients in a vulnerable state. Linda, a food pantry client, says, "Without it, it would be very difficult. I get $23 a month for me and my wife. That's it. So, without this; we'd be very, very, very skinny." Greg, another client, adds, "It would impact me greatly because too much would be cut and it would hurt everybody else too, you know, because a lot of people depend on these food banks." The community food pantry is asking for donations in the event these cuts do happen. To donate, check out the Community Food Pantry of Reno/Sparks' website. Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly what Hollywood insiders had long known, that he was gay. He made the revelation in his autobiography, Shattered Love. The actor became known as king of the TV miniseries in 1978 when he landed the starring role in Centennial, an epic production 24 hours long and based on James Micheners sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with Shogun, another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavells period piece about an American visitor to Japan. Members only He scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, The Thorn Birds, based on Colleen McCulloughs bestseller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with beautiful Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers. Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in Shogun and The Thorn Birds. Years earlier, he received one for Dr. Kildare. When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice. He appeared as Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway revival of My Fair Lady and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of The Sound of Music. He reprised his role of de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years. Chamberlain also appeared in numerous films, including The Music Lovers (as Tchaikovsky), The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Towering Inferno and The Three Musketeers and its sequels. The Kildare series was based on a string of successful 1930s and 40s films that had starred Lew Ayres in the title role. Chamberlains hunky, All-American appearance made him an overnight star. Another medical show that debuted the same season, Ben Casey, also was a smash and made its leading man, the darkly handsome Vince Edwards, a star, too. The Ben Casey shirt became a fashion item, both shows theme songs made the pop Top 40 (the Kildare song performed by Chamberlain himself) and there was even a pop song called Dr. Kildare! Dr. Casey! You Are Wanted for Consultation. But in his book, Chamberlain recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: Getting married would be great, but Im awfully busy now. When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten, he said in an NBC interview. I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it. The book also described a troubled childhood and an alcoholic father, and Chamberlain said that writing it finally lifted a heavy emotional burden. He also expressed relief that he was no longer hiding his sexuality. I played a cat-and-mouse game with the press. Game over, said Chamberlain, who for years was involved with fellow actor Martin Rabbett. Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, the actor originally studied at Pomona College to be a painter. But after returning from the Army, where he had served as an infantry clerk in the Korean War, Chamberlain decided to try acting. In 1969, Chamberlain played the title role in Hamlet at Englands Birmingham Repertory Company and repeated it in a TV adaptation that appeared on NBC in the United States. He also appeared as Octavius in a film version of Julius Caesar, which co-starred Charlton Heston and Jason Robards. He continued to act well into the 21st century, appearing on such television shows as Will & Grace, The Drew Carey Show and Touched by an Angel. He studied voice and drama, and after appearing in guest roles in a handful of TV shows and in the 1960 film The Secret of the Purple Reef, he won the Dr. Kildare role. When Dr. Kildare was canceled, he initially found it difficult to shake the image of the handsome young physician. He moved to England for a time to find work and hone his acting skills. While there, he appeared in three of director Richard Lesters films, Petulia (1968), The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974). He reunited with Lester in 1989 for The Return of the Musketeers, once more playing Aramis. Lisa Kimbrell, who survived both a devastating car crash and a dog attack, shows off her children and grandchildren. Photo courtesy Lisa Kimbrell She stands 5 feet tall and weighs 108 pounds. Shes small in stature but big in believing. Huntsville, Alabamas Lisa Kimbrell shouldnt be with us today, but by the grace of God and the grit of some of the worlds most talented doctors, Lisa is walking, talking and eating again. Shes the 44-year-old widow and mother who is the Rocket City Miracle. Lisa Kimbrell knows a thing or two about hard work and resolve. She married young and had four children in 7 years. Lisa worked as the manager of an auto repair shop -- she lost her husband Alan in 2018 when cancer took him at the age of 45. Then, about two and a half years ago, she pulled her vehicle out of a gas station parking lot and into her incredible journey of beating the odds. Lisa Kimbrell had to be cut out of this car after it was struck by a drunk driver in August 2022. Courtesy Lisa Kimbrell It was Aug. 27, 2022 when another driver hit her vehicle at a high rate of speed and demolished her car, Lisa told me. First responders took over an hour to cut Lisa out of the vehicle -- she was rushed to Huntsville Hospital with a broken leg, a broken ankle, a fractured pelvis, a brain bleed, a lacerated spleen and a collapsed lung. Her backbone was severed from her tailbone. And she suffered the most frightening of all injuries, a torn aorta -- the human bodys largest artery that sends blood to organs. Lisa Kimbrell is not sure how she survived that horrible crash. Doctors at Huntsville Hospital were a big reason. They slowed the bleeding in Lisas chest by placing a graft -- a synthetic tube covered with fabric -- to replace part of Lisas aorta. Still, it was touch-and-go for months, as numerous surgeries and visits to rehab began to help Lisa walk and function again. It was nearly a year after the accident, and Lisa was making progress. Lisa felt blessed to have an in-home nurse, a nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist and a physical therapist available to visit her at her Huntsville home. I was still in a wheelchair on July 12, 2023, and one of my therapists thought she would take me outside to get some fresh air. I hadnt been outside since the accident, whispered Lisa. It happened so fast. I was right behind my house when two dogs ran toward me, Lisa told me. One of the pit bulls seemed friendly at first. But once that dog jumped on me, the other pit bull attacked me, too. Lisas physical therapist called 9-1-1 as Lisa fought off the dogs as best she could. I never lost consciousness, Lisa told me. To this day I remember it all. The dogs finally let go and ran off. Lisa was rushed to Huntsville Hospital with wounds everywhere. I took 372 stiches, said Lisa. The long days and nights continued for Lisa Kimbrell. On the fourth day in the hospital Lisa coded. She was brought back, only to become septic. I went into septic shock, said Lisa. Thats when my graft from the car accident became infected, as did my esophagus. I was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Lisa Kimbrell celebrates with Dr. Caitlin Demarest of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Courtesy Lisa Kimbrell Dr. Caitlin Demarest is a thoracic and lung transplant surgeon at VUMC, an assistant professor of thoracic surgery who is also an expert in esophageal cancer and disease. When Lisa came in, things did not look good, Dr. Demarest told me. Lisas graft was infected and the infection had eroded her esophagus, so we had two issues -- the aorta and the esophagus. Rebecca Bickerton visits with Lisa Kimbrell during Kimbrell's recorvery from surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Courtesy Rebecca Bickerton VUMC doctors were honest and open with Lisas sister Rebecca Bickerton. They told us that without surgery, Lisa would not survive, Rebecca said. With surgery, they gave Lisa a 25% chance. Said Dr. Demarest, We always try to stay positive, but we didnt think Lisa could survive. We were told that Lisas insides looked as if a bomb went off, but there was no hesitation, said Rebecca as she talked about the family decision for Lisa to undergo surgery. We knew it was unlikely that Lisa would live through such a complex procedure, but we told the Vandy doctors to go for it. Go for it, they did. Vascular surgeon Dr Christine Deyholos, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Photo courtesy Vanderbilt University Medical Center Baby steps. The expert staff at VUMC took it hour by hour. Dr. Christine Deyholos of vascular surgery inserted a stent to stop much of the internal bleeding. Dr Asish Shah is the chair of Cardiac Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Photo courtesy Vanderbilt University Medical Center Later, Dr. Demarest teamed with Dr. Ashish Shah, the head of cardiac surgery, to remove Lisas aorta. They placed a new graft where Lisas old graft had burst. It was a complex descending aortic surgery. And in an amazing and creative procedure, Dr. Demarest removed Lisas eroded esophagus, after which she rebuilt an esophagus by routing it through a hole in Lisas neck. Lisas saliva dripped into a little bag that was attached to her neck, said Dr. Demarest. (Think of it as a mini colostomy bag). I wondered how rare something like this is, so I asked Dr. Demarest. Oh, we do about one a year, she said, her voice steady and confident. Again touch-and-go, but Lisa survived the surgery. Dr Kaitlyn Brennan is an assistant professor in anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Photo courtesy Vanderbilt University Medical Center We put Lisa on a cardiopulmonary bypass (machine), which is a heart-lung machine, said Dr. Demarest. A CPM performs the functions of the heart and the lungs during complex surgeries and recoveries. Dr. Kait Brennan, an assistant professor in anesthesiology, was in charge of seeing that Lisa was cared for in the ICU. Late 2023 dragged into 2024, and Lisa Kimbrell was down and depressed. Lisa knew she had to continue to get better so she could return to Nashville for her esophageal reconstruction surgery -- she had lost weight and she was very weak, said sister Rebecca. Said Dr. Demarest, I had seen Lisa in my office numerous times, and I didnt think she was ready for such a complex procedure. It was time for Rebecca to come to the rescue. I really got on Lisa hard last spring, Rebecca told me. I knew Lisa was not in a good place, so we worked hard to get her in better shape. Last summer, Lisa walked into my office, and I thought, wow, said Dr. Demarest. She was ready for the procedure! Lisa Kimbrell enjoys a hearty fast-food lunch in the days just after a doctor rebuilt her esophagus. Courtesy Rebecca Bickerton It was Aug. 18, 2024, and the esophageal surgery was on. Somehow they put me back together, said Lisa, her voice sounding a bit froggy. My feeding tube came out last November, and Im eating well and enjoying life. Lisa Kimbrell continues to work hard to get back to 100%. Shes staying at her sisters place in Berry, Alabama, where both Lisa and Rebecca feel grateful for great doctors and a great God. Its definitely a God thing, said Rebecca. Its the only way to explain why my sister is still here. Oh, and that froggy voice? I have one final surgery in the coming weeks, and that surgery will repair my vocal cords that were damaged by my ventilator, Lisa said, sounding upbeat and cheery. Lisa Kimbrell says she is enjoying life after surviving both a near-fatal car accident and a dog attack. Courtesy Lisa Kimbrell And so goes the story of 5-foot, 108-pound woman who is small in stature but big in believing. I know that God has a plan for me, and I have a purpose, whispered Lisa. Im not sure what that purpose is, but Im going to keep on searching. In the meantime, Huntsvilles Lisa Kimbrell will continue to count her blessings. After all, shes the Rocket City Miracle. Rick Karle, who writes a weekly Good News story, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: RickKarleGoodNews@Gmail.com This is part of a series examining nonprofits that receive funding from the city of Huntsville. Find previous stories here, here, here and here. As Huntsville flourished, two residents saw a need to mentor at-risk youths and get them plugged into the economic system. Beth Boyer and Garrett Coyne founded Hatch in 2020 and admitted the first students, called hatchlings, a year later. Boyer worked as the general manager at Huntsville country club, and Coyne was a business development and political consultant before they started the nonprofit. Boyer continues to work as the general manager at the club while Coyne has added real estate development to his portfolio. Hatchs 8-week life skills and culinary training program serves youths between 18 and 24, who receive $1,250 stipends, modelling what happens in the workplace. Financial literacy, therapy sessions, communications skills, conflict resolution, vehicle management, and field trips to different community locations are also part of the programming. Our term is opportunity youths young adults who have either missed opportunities or not been able to take advantage of some opportunities throughout their life and they also are filled with a ton of potential and opportunity, Coyne told AL.com. Our number one focus is to train them in life skills, Coyne added. How to lead a self-sufficient life, how to grow a life and a career in a way that they become responsible citizens, contributing to our community. Graduate Joshua Farmer, 20, said a Grissom High School counselor introduced him to the program. Students also come from the juvenile justice system, churches, Harris Home for Children a foster care organization, halfway homes, the Boys and Girls Club, and recommendations from graduates. I had no idea what I was going to do after high school, said Farmer, It was either sit around for a little bit or go to the military. He benefited from the transportation support the nonprofit provides during the school. And the nonprofit connected him with Huntsville Hospital where he works at a kitchen there as a hospitality assistant. Another former student, Ollie Mockensturm, fought back tears as she shared her transformative journey with the workforce development program. From left: Hatch graduates Joshua Farmer and Ollie Mockensturm. Kayode Crown I wont be here without them, she said. Hatch is big on counseling and therapy, Mockensturm said. She explained how it made a big difference in her life. Before joining the program, she felt her life had no direction and said she battled severe depression and anxiety, struggling to envision a future beyond each day. You cant really see past the day-to-day, she said. She said coming into the program changed her life and gave her a purpose she didnt have before. Now, she works as a full-time baker at the Hatch Cafe, which the nonprofit owns. I also do all of their posters; I help with their advertisements, said Mockensturm. I literally have my dream job after not being able to find a future for myself for a really long time. The mental health resources do not stop at the end of the eight weeks. They still help us with counseling services, and just being able to give that one-on-one care to a person that really needs it is probably the biggest thing for me, she said. And Im now at a point in the Hatch program where Im helping to mentor students and Im able to be part of the same group that helped me so much and go out and help others in the same way. Coyne is surprised about how significant a licensed therapist as part of the team having would be. He said that they have given that part of the programming more emphasis since the school began. We didnt know that the therapy was going to be as critical as it is, he said. But it really is. So we have more one-on-one time and after-graduation time with the therapist. Coyne is proud of how the youths improve economically, whether it was a homeless young father who now rents an apartment and has regained child custody or another graduate who went from earning $16,500 a year to $80,000 at Mazda Toyota. The founders derive no compensation from the nonprofit to have a lean operation, he said. We have a team of folks who do work with the students and of course theyre paid, but Beth and I are not paid, the cofounder said. So we really wanted to make sure that we were doing it for the right reasons and that the right impact was going to be had. The city supported Hatch from the beginning and has contributed $360,000. An additional $490,000 has come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant the city administers. Hatch qualifies for the yearly grant as a nonprofit that provides financial and workforce development for low to moderate-income individuals. This year, the nonprofit gets $90,000 from the city, which constitutes one quarter of its total funding needs, according to city data. We are grateful that the city believes in the program, Coyne said. So theyre a partner of ours. He said the organization had received funding from other organizations like the Hilton Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation and private fundraising from local community friends and family. In May, when the program had 70 graduates, Coyne told the Huntsville City Council that 12 people were homeless before participating in the program, with 10 having stable housing afterwards. About 13% of the students employed before joining the program, while 93% were employed afterward. Participants get ServSafe certification, which the restaurant and food service industry recognizes. And the nonprofit facilitates employment with Huntsville establishments, including with hospitality businesses, Huntsville Hospital, and Mazda Toyota. Hatch had its 100th graduate this month. Volunteer opportunities with Hatch include on field trips or as a guest speaker, and those interested can reach out via info@hatchhsv.com This is a guest opinion column Antisemitism is real, and it is terrifying. As Jewish people living in Alabama, we have both experienced it firsthand: being told we should die; being accused of controlling the media, the banks, and the weather; even being physically assaulted just for being Jewish. True antisemitism must be condemned and fought. But in recent months, we have seen something deeply troubling: accusations of antisemitism being weaponized to silence criticism of Israels political decisions and to punish those who stand up for Palestinians. That does not serve to protect Jewish people. Instead, it suppresses necessary political discourse. A growing number of people including students and everyday community members are speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Many do so, not out of hatred for Israel, but out of a deep concern for Palestinian lives. Yet, they are being painted as antisemitic, pro-Hamas, or anti-Jew. Some are even facing life-altering consequences for their speech. We do not know why the University of Alabama doctoral student, Alireza Doroudi, who has not been charged with a crime or even connected with a protest movement, was detained this week. But in recent weeks, we have seen former and current students across America like Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and Yunseo Chung detained for their involvement in speaking up for Palestinians. The official reason given for their detentions is that they were spreading antisemitism in a way that is contrary to the foreign policy of the U.S. Over the same few weeks, we have also seen institutions of higher education lose hundreds of millions of federal dollars in research funding because of alleged failures to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, usually in response to student demonstrations of solidarity with the people of Gaza, and against Israeli politics. This should alarm all of us. The federal government has no business deporting people, or defunding universities, based on its objections to their viewpoints. These anti-Constitutional, un-American actions are purportedly being undertaken in the name of protecting people like us on college campuses. And so, we are compelled to speak out. Judaism is a religion. Israel is a country. The two are not interchangeable. Contrary to the working definition of antisemitism adopted both federally and here in Alabama, criticizing and protesting the political choices of Israels government choices that have led to the deaths of approximately 50,000 Palestinians in the past year and a half is not inherently antisemitic. We would not claim that criticizing U.S. foreign policy, even stridently, makes someone anti- American. Despite Secretary of State Marco Rubios comments to the contrary, raising a ruckus is a proud American tradition, protected by the First Amendment. For Jews, talking about all this can be challenging. Many American Jews, including us, come from families traumatized by generations of persecution and genocide. We grew up at the knees of elders who told us about their experiences being terrorized and forced to leave homes in Europe, and who often wove undying gratitude for Israel as a safe place for Jews into the telling. This can make the complexity of Middle East politics hard to talk about, even as we see Palestinians in Gaza demonstrating against Hamas and Israelis in Tel Aviv protesting Israels government. But the fact is that American Jews opinions on Israel and its government are diverse and nuanced. While research shows most identify as Zionists and feel a strong connection to Israel, a significant number also express concerns about its policies towards Palestinians. Under the definition of antisemitism being used by the current administration, some of these views might be considered antisemitic. When a definition of antisemitism includes features that would mark many American Jews as antisemites, the problem is the definition, not the Jews. If Americans truly care about protecting Jewish people, we must ensure the term antisemitism retains its meaning. We must call out real hatred when it occurs, but we must also reject attempts to manipulate fear for political ends. Deporting people and defunding education because of political views is not just an attack on free speech, it is a betrayal of the very values this country claims to uphold. As Martin Niemmoller warned in his famous poem, First They Came, when freedoms are eroded for one group, they are at risk for all of us. As Jews, we will not stand for anyone to be come for in our name. Nuance is hard. Especially right now when each new day brings an onslaught of painful, complicated news stories. But American Jews, and all Americans, must demand and demonstrate clarity, nuance, and integrity in these conversations. The stakes are too high to allow fear mongering to dictate our national discourse or erode anyones right to speak freely. Allison Berkowitz is an assistant professor in Alabama and Leah Nelson is an independent researcher in Montgomery. While numerous federal district court judges have issued ill-conceived restraining orders against the administration, I have long believed that it will prevail in its efforts to place control of the state in the hands of the elected executive, away from the deep state bureaucracy and its black-robed judicial allies. As the litigation of these matters proceeds, I think my belief will be justified. We will return to a constitutional republican form of government. For a day-to-day look at the progress of these multiple cases, I urge you to go to X and follow Professor Margot Cleveland, who is (bless her) keeping track of them and providing links to the pleadings and orders. Three of these cases were appealed to the federal circuit courts. In one, the Fourth Circuit ruled that the President acted within his powers in dismissing members of independent agencies -- the NLRB and the Merit Systems Protection Board. That same circuit stayed the district court injunction banning Musk and others from working with USAID. In D.C., the Circuit Court in a 2-1 decision (in which each member filed a separate statement) ignored the fact that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and improperly certified the class of Tren de Aragua members residing anywhere in the U.S. (District Judge James Boasberg did this to justify issuance of a nationwide injunction challenging the legality of the Alien Enemies Act.) In a sign that the Administration was prepared for this eventuality, the next day, the Solicitor General filed a motion to vacate the order in the Supreme Court. I concur with Bill Shipleys take: This is the third case this week where DOJ has raised this issue before the Supreme Court. Earlier it asked SCOTUS to vacate the Injunction issued by the federal judge in San Francisco ordering the reinstatement of approximately 16,000 employees who were terminated while still in their probationary period. The Court has ordered the plaintiffs in that case to respond to the DOJ motion by today. Yesterday DOJ filed a motion seeking to vacate the order by a Judge in Massachusetts that the Administration restore $65 million in grants to states to address teacher shortages because the grants expressly required that DEI be used in the decision-making for hiring new teachers. The Administration demanded that the DEI conditions be removed, and the states refused. At first glance these three cases may not seem to have much in common beyond the fact that single district judges in three different locations -- Washington D.C., Boston, and San Francisco -- have used their positions to obstruct the efforts of the Administration [snip] The California case, where it was ordered by a federal judge to reinstate 16,000 terminated employees, goes to its power over the Executive branch in making efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce and make it operate in a more efficient manner. Taking up the case involving the grants for hiring teachers goes to its authority to reverse policies -- not laws -- of the Biden Administration requiring the consideration of DEI issues in hiring. The Trump Administration policy is the opposite -- if a state wants federal money, it must accept the strings that come attached. Now taking up the Venezuelan TdA removal case is an expression of Executive power under Article II to deal with national security threats within our borders, involving citizens of quasi-hostile foreign countries who have been identified based on their dangerousness, not their nationality. The district judge has rushed in to assert that their individual rights -- to the extent alien enemies sent to unlawfully enter the United States by a hostile foreign government have any rights -- are elevated above the power of the Executive Branch to deal with the threat they pose. The Executives default position is Weve identified them as alien enemies who pose a threat to the peace and safety of U.S. citizens and must be removed. In sum, as Shipley writes, the Department of Justice is telling the Supreme Court that these rulings by district courts have become so commonplace that the Executive Branchs basic functions are in peril, and the Supreme Court needs to act, the sooner, the better. A key component of the Trump plan to restore the separation of powers away from the deep state has been the creation of DOGE. If you havent yet seen it, heres the remarkable video of Bret Baiers interview with Musk and members of his team, all of whom are sacrificing so much to reduce federal waste and fraud and update archaic computer and accounting schemes that have made it near impossible for cabinet members and the president to see where the money allocated has been going and why. We have been living, it seems, in a make-believe world where the president we elect and the cabinet members hes chosen are mere placeholders operating under a system where the bureaucracy controls relevant information and may or may not share it with those at the top. Jeff Childers says now that USAID has been transferred to Rubios Department of State and all but the statutory employees removed, the next target of DOGE is the CIA. Was it purely coincidental that Rubio unexpectedly shuttered USAID on Friday and Ratcliffe unexpectedly invited DOGE into CIA the following Monday? Behold the timeline of just what we can see: On his first day in office, Trump created DOGE. DOGEs first project was to wood-chip the CIAs global laundromat, USAID. Weird legal fights erupted over the obscure independent agency. DOGE -- solely under Trumps control -- continued penetrating most of the government. The Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA Director. Ratcliffe immediately fired an unknown number of CIA staff. (Battlefield preparation?) The JFK disclosures were body blows against the CIA. (More battlefield preparation?) Trump declassified (not yet produced) Crossfire Hurricane. (Even more?) Yesterday, Rubio officially ended USAID by Congressional notice. Yesterday, Ratcliffe publicly invited Musk into the CIA. So many questions! Why Musk, and not a regular DOGE team? Why announce it? Why is the media pretending this story is a nothing burger? [snip] Imagine a new, AI-powered, top-secret, digital DOGE dashboard at Langley that can show Ratcliffe everything in real-time: every dollar, every operation, every contract, every overseas asset being paid -- and only Trumps team will hold the keys. Once such a dashboard were installed, the Agencys permanent staff couldnt play their covert games anymore. No more secret drug ops. No more unauthorized coups. No more backchannel slush funds. No more resist Trump operations. If DOGE can pull this off, the Agency will properly become an extension of the White House, rather than the other way around. In other words, DOGE at CIA is the nuclear option. It is a breathtaking vision of a brand-new reality that could dismantle the entire postwar geopolitical model. Now, permanent, unelected bureaucrats and spies hold the real power, because they control the money, secrets, and the levers of influence, while manipulated elected officials come and go like figure skaters blissfully unaware of all the busy little crustaceans teeming right below the ice. If CIA-DOGE integration is real, and it sticks, then the Deep State will evaporate into a shallow pond. The DOGE dashboard would collapse the financial hydra into a one-necked money chokepoint. It would move the levers of control back into the White House. No more shadow government. No more covert meetings between resisters discussing how to undermine the elected President and thwart his agenda. To be perfectly clear: DOGE in intelligence suggests, not just draining the swamp, but the engineered desertification of the swamp. Finally, scrolling through social media, Im seeing clearly disturbed people attacking Teslas and Tesla owners, along with many young women and people of indiscernible sex filming loony threats from their cars or bedrooms. I cant explain the widespread psychosis that motivates these people. (Its different from the aged lefties attending Bernie rallies who remind me of the nutters on P.J. ORourkes hilarious account of his Nation subscribers cruise through the former USSR in Ship of Fools.) Many seem far more dangerous and will likely become even more so as we go through the process of righting the ship of state. Be prepared and stay vigilant. And if you live in Wisconsin, get off the couch and vote for Schimel and voter ID. Image: Michael Ramirez The 'About Us' section on the Associated Press (AP) website declares the following: "Since 1846, we have been breaking news and covering the worlds biggest stories, always committed to the highest standards of accurate, unbiased journalism. We were founded as an independent news cooperative whose members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters, steadfast in our mission to inform the world. To this day, AP remains independent, beholden only to the facts. "From delivering the news via pony express in 1846 to working with artificial intelligence today, we are always innovating to provide fast and factual news and information." As always, there is a chasm of difference between what is proclaimed and what is done. The AP recently carried a story titled Gabbard Says Trump and Putin Are Very Good Friends Focused On Strengthening Ties. This is a continuation of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax and a spurious claim made by Hillary Clinton that U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian asset. It gives the mainstream media ammunition to claim that Trump is compromised. Roughly a day after the article was published, the AP added an editor's note at the base of the article with the following text: "This story was updated on Mar. 17, 2025, to delete erroneous reporting that U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are very good friends. Gabbard was talking about Trump and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi." Gabbard's actual statement during an interview with the Indian news outlet NDTV is as follows: With President Trumps leadership in the United States, of course, Prime Minister Modis longstanding leadership here in India, we have two leaders of our two great countries who are very good friends and who are very focused on how we can strengthen those shared objectives and those shared interests. The AP is a wire service, which means other outlets, particularly smaller news outlets that cannot afford to send reporters to a location or hire experts to write op-eds, use articles from the AP. Consequently, despite the AP's correction and admission, sites such as MSN are still carrying the story with the erroneous headline of "Trump and Putin are 'very good friends' focused on strengthening ties" more than a week after the source article was corrected. The falsehood continues to fly around the world while the truth is getting its boots on. This is usually how the cycle of fake news works. First, a major outlet such as the AP publishes a lie. Then, the lie is amplified by the mainstream media. Next, the article is carried in print, which means the correction is reflected in the next day, which few may read. There are also op-eds and panel discussions about the lie. The major outlet may correct the lie by adding a small note to their article and amending the content, but the amplifiers of the lie from other outlets don't bother. They are hoping to influence casual consumers of news. They already have their brainwashed liberal consumers believing all they claim. To err once is regarded as a mistake, to err twice looks like carelessness, but to err more than 40 times is proof of pure and unrepentant maliciousness. Brietbart's John Nolte highlighted 41 other occasions when the AP was caught blatantly fabricating stories about President Trump and his allies. Among them we find: The AP also carried the stories with the following headlines Liberal bias or Democrat bias are deeply inadequate to describe the attitude among members of the mainstream media. Bias means a preference or inclination toward a particular group, but it doesn't imply loathing toward other groups. The current mainstream media, of which the AP is a leading exemplar, doesn't have a Democrat bias; they are the Democrats. Their LinkedIn profiles may have the AP, NYT, WaPo, MSNBC, NBC News, or ABC News as their current organization, but their real place of work is the Democrat party. This explains why they not only have similar opinions, epithets, and buzzwords for any given occurrence, but identical ones. The late great Rush Limbaugh frequently presented a montage of pundits from various news outlets using the identical keywords for any given occurrence. The term used usually isn't part of common parlance; hence, it's unlikely that it gained momentum naturally. An adept wordsmith in the Democrat party provided it to push a narrative. The propagandists and Democrat politicians assiduously repeated them till even Trump officials used them while defending themselves. The usage of the word places the individual on the defensive. It means that they are accepting the premise set up by the Democrats. The word 'collusion' became the de facto term to describe the Trump-Russia hoax, painting a picture of shady criminals plotting covertly and hatching a sinister plot. The word 'insurrection' became the de facto term to describe the January 6th protests that went overboard, painting a picture of violent and armed thugs taking over the capital and seizing power by force. It wasn't coincidental that pundits across organizations and Democrat politicians repeatedly used the collusion or insurrection. The mainstream news media is the equivalent of a department within the Democrat party, existing to promote the party's agenda. At times, the media leads, and the Democrats follow; at times, the opposite occurs. But there is perfect synchronicity. The only time the media cover a Democrat factually is when they favor a different Democrat. Biden was covered fairly only when the Democrats wanted to dethrone him from the 2024 Democrat nomination. The good news is that these outlets don't have the regard or the trust among the public they once had. Despite the mainstream media waging a war against President Trump since 2017, he won the electoral college, the popular vote, all the swing states, and 2,552 out of 3144 counties. However, the fact that Biden's giggling, bumbling word salad chef received around 75 million votes proves they still manage to deceive people. This is why the propagandists must always be exposed. Consumers have two choices: The first and easiest choice is total abandonment of propagandists. This may not be such a bad idea; it's better to be uninformed than misinformed. The second choice is to presume all that you consume is false until proven factual, hence, to consume news from myriad outlets and then decide what is factual. Trump was right, again, when he called these propagandists the enemy of the people. Image: AP Utilitarianism is a philosophy that throws overboard all religiously-based moral values in favor of a strictly bottom-line accounting system: If the outcomes are good, the action has value. If theyre not, the action must be rejected. This approach to problem-solving has its place (e.g., the best way to clean a kitchen). However, when applied to the costs of abortion, the resulting immorality is so heinous that only a Nazi could be pleased. Now that the Dobbs decision has returned abortion to the states, Colorado is moving on from merely making abortion a constitutional right to making it a taxpayer-funded program. To this end, the Democrats have proposed a bill that would make abortion a Medicaid-funded procedure. The justification is that this will improve Medicaids bottom line because abortion is a cheaper procedure than childbirth. One of the bills co-sponsors is Julie McCluskie, who is also the Speaker of the House. In other words, in Colorado politics, she isnt a fringe figure. She sits at the very heart of the Democrat party. Here, McCluskie carefully and clearly explains that an averted birth is more cost-effective than having a woman go to the hospital to have a baby. Preventing those births will be a real savings for the taxpayers: Colorado House Speaker advocates for abortion because giving birth apparently costs more than killing a baby. This is absolutely sickening.pic.twitter.com/EFlB09nTp9 Media Research Center (@theMRC) March 27, 2025 That savings comes from the averted births that will not occur because abortions happened instead. So, a birth is more expensive than an abortion, so the savings comes in Medicaid births that will not occur. This bill will actually decrease costs for our healthcare policy and financing department. Our Medicaid expenditures in both this year and out year -- out years as the savings from averted births outweigh the cost of covering reproductive healthcare for all Coloradans. This bill requires all abortion services to be state-funded. The bill requires an increase to the general fund of 1.5 million to cover the cost for care. But again, a reminder that, ultimately, the state will see a cost savings and, ultimately, it is truly an honor to be here carrying this bill alongside Rep Garcia, and I ask for your support of Senate Bill 183. This is utilitarianism with a vengeance. For Rep. McCluskie, there is no value whatsoever to human life. The spreadsheet rules all, and the spreadsheet favors mass infant death. Dont expect McCluskies utilitarian outlook to end here. Soon, shell notice that old people use healthcare services more than young people do, so they should be cut off or euthanized. And then, of course, shell realize that people with cancer or mental disabilities are disproportionately expensive. Off with their heads. And lest you think Im exaggerating, just look to Canada or Europe, where euthanasia is becoming the treatment of choice for the sick, aged, and mentally ill. Ultimately, of course, it ends in the gulags or gas chambers. Nobody hears the siren song of money more strongly than a leftist because leftists have no moral value other than money. After all, their Bible is Das Kapital (Capital). For someone like McCluskie, with her utilitarian outlook that has no room for something as old-fashioned as the Bible, that which advances the states best interests, especially with cost-savings attached, is the greatest moral good. Horrific as McCluskies attitude is, whats even more horrifying is that shes not an outlier. Democrats across America agree completely. Otherwise, the horrified outcry from the right would be met with an equal outcry from the left. Image: X screen grab. As Beth Brelje recently reported in The Federalist, Five of the fifteen judges sitting on the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia were born outside the United States. All five of those foreign-born judges somehow managed to get selected to rule on controversial Trump cases. All five of those judges had zero experience as a judge before being appointed to one of the most influential courts in the land. The recently infamous James Boasberg, chief judge of the D.C. District Court, is one of the 15 principal judges on that court. There are an additional 10 older, senior judges who occasionally hear cases, all of whom were born in the U.S. This seeding of foreign-born judges to the D.C. court is another transformational innovation that can be traced back to Barack Obama, who in 2014 appointed Judge Tanya Sue Churkan, born in Kingston, Jamaica. Before sitting on federal court, she had no experience as a judge. Chutkan is overseeing the legal challenge to DOGEs work to slash excess government spending. Obama also appointed Judge Amit P. Mehta to the D.C. court. Mehta also had no previous experience as a judge. Mehta was born in Patan, Gujarat, India. ... He was raised in Maryland. Mehta will oversee four January 6 civil cases that aim to blame Trump for injuries and squeeze money, court time, and political embarrassment out of him. Joe Biden picked up where Obama left off when he nominated Judge Ana Cecilia Reyes, born in Montevideo, Uruguay, yet another appointee with no prior experience as a judge. She is the first openly LGBT Latina to be appointed to this court. Reyes presided over an objection to Trumps executive order declaring gender dysphoria as inconsistent with the high standards for troop readiness, as The Federalists Shawn Fleetwood reported. Reyes blocked Trumps order with a preliminary injunction. Judge Amir Hatem Mahdy Ali was born in Canada to Egyptian parents. Educated in Canada, he earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 2011 and became a citizen in 2019. Ali worked for the Biden campaign and nonprofits but never served as a judge until Biden appointed him in 2024. In his writing, he [Ali] said, prejudice and intolerance were the very hallmark of [Trumps] campaign against Muslims. ... Ali single handedly restored $2 billion in USAID spending to foreign nonprofit contractors that the Trump Administration had paused for 90 days, in a stunning overreach of authority last month. Before slipping out the back door, Biden (or his autopen?) got Judge Sparkle Sooknanan confirmed on Jan. 2, 2025. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1983, came to the U.S. in 1999, and earned a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2010. She [Sooknanan] was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and during the Biden Administration she was the principal deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division for the Department of Justice before Biden tapped her for her first ever judge gig in the D.C. Court, according to her Questionnaire for Judicial Nominees. Last week, Sooknanan dutifully did her part to slow Trumps agenda, ordering the reinstatement of Democrat Susan Grundmann to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, a move that keeps the board in a Democrat majority. Theres nothing inherently wrong with appointing a foreign-born judge, but someone not born and raised in the U.S. may have less regard for traditional American values than a native-born individual. In any case, its obvious that these five judges were chosen for their ideological purity, certainly not their wealth of experience and reputations as actual judges. Theres a lot riding on how Chief Justice Roberts will act, or fail to act, in the coming months not only for his legacy, but for the integrity of the constitutional republic in which we are reputed to reside. Lets hope he gets his mind right, so to speak. Image via Picryl. In a publicity stunt that highlights their own stupidity, Columbia's pro-Hamas protestors ripped up their own diplomas for the cameras, supposedly to protest the expected repatriation of a pro-Hamas alumnus, saying the university didn't do enough for him. According to NBC News: Instead of joining in Columbia Universitys annual Alumni Day celebrations for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the school by ripping up their diplomas in protest. The protest follows the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Palestinian activist and a green card holder. Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his university-owned apartment on March 8. The demonstration was organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine and began with a group of alumni and current student speakers, a few dozen people chanting and then a collective ripping of diplomas. Its not easy to do this, with none of us doing this lightly. Theres no joy in this, said Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate who spoke at the protest. Actually, they were having a grand old time if this video is any indication -- get a load of those smiles: Free Palestine Columbia Uni grads SHRED diplomas in protest pic.twitter.com/j2MaIJGbqr RT (@RT_com) March 29, 2025 Like that was the school's job, somehow, to interfere with federal immigration enforcement matters in the case of an alumni who supported Hamas terrorists, helped disrupt school operations for those who wanted to study, and spread antisemitic venom throughout the campus. He was so close to Hamas he might have been one or at least known some, given that he had worked for UNRWA. UNRWA was home to about a dozen verified participants in the Oct. 7 massacre on some 1,200 Israelis. So instead of taking their protest to Washington, they blamed Columbia University, and in line with their ridiculous logic, ripped up their own diplomas for the cameras, like any of us are going to care if they go without their own diplomas. Given Columbia's weak leadership (I think they are on their third president since the pro-Hamas protests laid that university low) and Washington's strong leadership, they saw where the caving to their agenda might occur, and wanted to get some attention, same way John Kerry once did by throwing his own medals over the White House fence. Like Kerry's act, it was an empty gesture. What the pro-Hamas alumni did was not a renunciation of their actual degrees, which they'll keep, thank you very much, for their resume purposes, the better to burrow into America's institutions in time. It was just a rip-up of their piece of paper. They can just call up the university alumni office and have them print them up a new one. Kerry got his replaced, too. In other words, they didn't give anything up. They just figured out a way to cause more work for the university to print more out and I hope the university charges them big for it when they come crawling back eventually to ask the school to print them a new one. Many have commented that their cheap stunt highlighted how worthless the degrees were. I'm not entirely sure about that, though it could be that the school has gone downhill in the wokester era. Given that these were School for International and Public Affairs degrees, they probably took some work to get the diploma if the school is anything like what it was when I took classes there 20-some years ago. No, this was just a cheap publicity stunt. They still have their degrees. They just wanted to blame the school and do all they could to make prospective students avoid the place like a bad smell, not because of the school, but because of them. How stupid can you get? I'll be happy if the university refused to print up any new diplomas for them, and as an additional favor, revoked their degrees for them, too. Since that won't happen, the best thing to do now is laugh and point at these boobs, cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Everyone can see that what they are doing is gesture politics of no significance whatsoever. Image: Screen shot from X video Texas, the Lone Star State, a bastion of freedom, faith, and rugged individualism, is facing a threat that should worry all Texans and, indeed, all Americans. Reports are mounting \that Islamic influence is creeping into our state, not through open conquest, but through an insidious, calculated expansion that threatens the very soul of Texas. The latest flashpoint? The Texas State Securities Board is investigating the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and its sprawling 402-acre EPIC City project in Collin County for potential fraud and violations of state law. This isnt just about one development, though. Its a wake-up call to a broader, more sinister agenda that demands our attention. Governor Greg Abbott didnt mince words when he declared on February 24, 2025, after reviewing a video (no longer available) of the proposed development, that it would not work as the planning implied: 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. https://t.co/5Sw5VdXD31 Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 24, 2025 To that end, hes launched the above-mentioned investigation into a massive compound complete with a mosque, Islamic school, and residential community. Critics, including the fearless Amy Mek of the RAIR Foundation, have sounded the alarm, calling it a walled-off Islamic community that is built around Sharia law and that rejects American values. Importantly, Texas is taking seriously the push to plant Islam deep into Texas. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on March 25, 2025, that his office is probing EPIC for potential violations of consumer protection laws. Just a day later, the Texas Funeral Service Commission slapped EPIC with a cease-and-desist order for running unlicensed funeral operations. Twelve state agencies are now circling this project, sniffing out illegal activity tied to what Abbott calls a controversial Islamic housing development. This isnt a neighborhood; its a fortress, a self-contained bubble that critics fear could operate outside Texas law, thumbing its nose at our Constitution. And its not just Plano. In Frisco, the Islamic Center of Quad Cities (ICQC) is flexing its muscle, snapping up 5.7 acres at a prime intersection and raising $2.4 million in mere months to build a mega-mosque. Constructions already underway, with keynote speakers like Mohamad Baajour from EPIC stoking the flames at fundraisers. RAIR Foundation warns this is part of a nationwide Hijrah strategy; that is, migration to establish Islamic dominance in non-Muslim lands. Sound far-fetched? Tell that to the folks in Josephine, Texas, where EPICs Yasir Qadhi envisions EPIC Ranches, peddling a utopian Muslim community with clinics, stores, and maybe even a university, all financed by Islamic loans. Whos footing the bill for this takeover? Texans deserve to know! The numbers dont lie. Texas had over 300,000 Muslims in 2020, a number that has surely grown since then, making them 1.1% of the population. (And making it the fifth largest Muslim population in America.) Dallas has been dubbed the Medina of America by some Islamic leaders, a reference to the Prophet Muhammads stronghold. Over 60 Sunni and five Shia mosques are spread across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex alone, with organizations like the Islamic Association of North Texas and the Muslim Legal Fund of America establishing their presence in Richardson. Houston boasts over 130 mosques, making it the area with the largest Muslim population in the South. This isnt assimilation; its colonization, plain and simple. To date, its significant that no Muslims in Texas have spoken out against these massive projects. The Texas Muslim community is on board with growing sharia enclaves in Texas. When projects like EPIC City flaunt Sharia vibes and dodge state laws, it is a slap in the face to all Texans who cherish our way of life. Governor Abbott is right that All entities in Texas must follow state law, not Sharia law. And while the EPIC crowd claims its a diverse community open to all, that seems like an empty platitude when compared to the secrecy, fraud probes, and funeral violations. This is a fight for Texass soul. Our states history is forged in blood and defiance: think San Jacinto, think the Texas Rangers. We dont bow to foreign creeds or let our laws be trampled. The left will cry Islamophobia, but this isnt about hate; its about survival. When Islamic centers skirt regulations, hoard land and push for a parallel society, its not bigotry to call it out; its patriotism. X posts are buzzing with outrage, with users like KamVTV thanking Paxton for stepping up and warning of Islamic compounds led by those who dont like the West. Theyre not wrong to worry. We cant allow Texas to become a testing ground for Sharia. Our leadersAbbott, Paxton, and every red-blooded lawmakermust combat this stealth invasion with every tool available to them. Investigations are a starting point, but we need action: shut down these projects, enforce our laws, and send a message that Texas will never bend the knee. This is our land, our heritage, our fight. Rise up, Texans, before its too late! AI image by Grok. What is a high-capacity magazine? Circa 2025, its a firearm magazine anti-liberty/gun cracktivists think they can get away with banning. At the moment, they're limiting capacity to ten rounds and the usual blue state suspects are trying to ban evil high-capacity magazines. The standard magazines of many guns exceed ten rounds. The Glock 19 holds 15, the Glock 17 seventeen, and the AR-15 family, 30. There is no public safety benefit in limiting magazine capacity because even a novice can change magazines within seconds. As one might expect, California enacted a ban on magazines of over ten rounds, and the Ninth CircuitCalifornia, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, upheld it, rewriting history in the process. In so doing, the 9th Circuit, the most reversed in America, overturned the decision of the trial court, which held the ban unconstitutional. Bans of this kind are possible because the Supreme Courts Second Amendment decisions, most recently in Bruen (2022), did not specify magazine capacity or many other elements of firearm nomenclature, function or law relating to carrying guns. The court badly misread Bruen and warped history: The appellate court provided two independent reasons for its conclusion. First, it determined that the text of the Second Amendment does not encompass the right to possess large-capacity magazines because they are neither arms nor protected accessories. Large-capacity magazines are optional accessories to firearms, and firearms operate as intended without a large-capacity magazine, the court explained. Possession of a large-capacity magazine therefore falls outside the text of the Second Amendment. Second, the court reasoned that even if the Second Amendment did cover such accessories, Californias ban falls within the Nations tradition of protecting innocent persons by prohibiting especially dangerous uses of weapons and by regulating components necessary to the firing of a firearm. The magazines in question arent optional accessories. While its possible to feed most semiautos with a ten or fewer round magazine, for guns like the Glock 17 and 19, it is those smaller magazines that are specially made, non-standard, accessories. Even the original, 1970s, magazines for the AR-15 and its military, M-16 variant were 20 rounds. Thirty round magazines have been standard for decades. The courts second piece of reasoning is even more specious. It could reasonably allow the banning of such things as barrels, firing pins, even frames necessary to the firing of a firearm. Their decision also reveals an all too common, lack of understanding of not only the Second Amendment and history, but of guns. Of the 11-member en banc panel, four dissented: Californias magazine ban is presumptively unconstitutional because the plain text of the Second Amendment protects the possession of magazines capable of feeding more than 10 rounds, Bumatay said. Nothing in the text, or the countrys historical understanding of the Second Amendment, warrants Californias magazine ban. Among the dissenters is Judge Lawrence VanDyke, who produced an 18-minute video, demonstrating conclusively why the majority is badly wrong: Graphic: X Screenshot VanDykes dissent included a controversial video showing him handling handguns and explaining their mechanics, which U.S. Senior Circuit Judge Marsha Berzon criticized in her concurring opinion. The Bill Clinton appointee argued that VanDyke had in essence appointed himself as an expert witness in this case, providing a factual presentation with the express aim of convincing the readers of his view of the facts without complying with any of the procedural safeguards that usually apply to experts and their testimony. But in a deft move, Judge VanDyke, in the written portion of his dissent, explained why the video was entirely proper: Finally, I must respond to Judge Berzons concurrence attacking at some length the video portion of this dissent as wildly improper. Take the article link to read the rest, but VanDyke neatly eviscerated Berzons complaint: We have long included links to videos in our courts opinions, as well as pictures, timelines, and diagrams. Nobody thought that was a problem until now, and Judge Berzon even defends that practice in her concurrence. In short, Judge Berzons overreading of General Order 4.5(a) is just thatan overreading. Graphic: NRA Screenshot Judge Berzons complaint is likely not over arcane court practice but over the truth and effectiveness of Judge VanDykes video. For the time being, the 9th Circuits decision applies only to those states and territories over which it has jurisdiction, and states like Montana and Idaho are unlikely to enact similar bans. Because there is uncertainty over this issue in the lower courts, and because the Supreme Court is more than aware that just about anything relating to the 9th Circuit needs to be overturned, its likely the Supreme Court will grant cert and equally likely theyll overturn this egregious and purposeful misreading of Bruen and American history relating to guns. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. As a Pakistani teenager growing up in London, I bore witness to the radicalization of Muslims in the UK. In 1997, after escaping the Jihadi proselytizers in Saudi Arabia, I moved to the USA to live my life as a free American. Once here, I bore witness to the most egregious attack on America by al-Qaeda. As al-Qaeda is motivated by the same ideology as the Muslim Brotherhood, I have no choice but to reclaim my religion from Islamists. The biggest threat to Americas national security is Islamism, which is not the same as Islam. In the late 1940s, a Lenin and Trotsky-like figure, the scholar Sayyid Qutb, rose to prominence in Egypt. Qutb brought Islamism to America after receiving a scholarship to study in Colorado from 1948 to 1950. Instead of learning about democracy, he wrote a thesis and foundational paper on jihadi Islam, Al-Adala al-Ijtimaiyya, calling for all Muslims to globalize jihad. Of course, this manifested itself in the September 11 attacks led by al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and Ayman al-Zawahiri. YouTube screen grab. Islamists yearn for sharia to be the established constitution of the entire world. Qutb preached that Muslims who live in the West have a moral obligation to establish sharia as the law of the land. He stated that a Muslim has no country except that part of the earth where sharia of God is established. Since September 11, Islamists have strengthened their foothold in America, threatening to undermine our national identity and the future of moderate Muslims in America. Like a Trojan Horse, its organizations appear benign but harbor destructive intentions. The toxic ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and Sayyid Qutb has burrowed into America with the help of various proxy groups. One of these Islamist groups is the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), led by its chief, Nihad Awad. CAIR has disguised its existence as an advocate for civil rights for American Muslims. But beneath that veneer, CAIR espouses toxic anti-Semitism, corroding the very principles of mutual respect and coexistence that America was built upon. Publicly available information shows that its leadership has dehumanized Jews by minimizing and even justifying Hamas October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, and encouraging Muslims not to socialize with Zionists. Many imams in America also peddle this propaganda, and some even outright support Hamas. A Maryland imam stated that the October 7 attack was a great victory and compared it to the Viet Congs victory in the Tet Offensive. A Muslim professor in Kansas City called the attack amazing and a miracle and later said it was just a drill for what is going to come next. And a San Francisco area Islamic scholar denied the attack ever happened, calling it a big lie. Other imams propagate blood libels against the Jewish people. One imam in Dearborn, Michigan, accused Israelis of skinning Palestinians and harvesting their organs. A North Miami, Florida, imam accused Israel of organ trafficking and being the brothers of apes and pigs. An imam in Orlando, Florida, accused the Jews of resembling Satan, treachery, and poisoning the Muslim community. An American Islamic scholar accused Israel of creating COVID, World War I, and World War II, and of currently creating disorder in the world through the manipulation of bankers. Another Orlando imam claimed that Israels counter-attack against Hamas following October 7 was a planned genocide. And others are actively calling for the genocide of Jews. An imam in Madison, Wisconsin, stated that Jews will all most definitely be killed... by Muslims. An imam in Lafayette, Louisiana, called for Allah to annihilate the Jews and their helperskill them one by one And an imam in Warren, Michigan, proclaimed that [o]ne day will come, and we will slaughter you [Jews] like a sheep. As American Muslims, we should speak up when those within our community call for hatred and separation. If Islamism is unchallenged, the future of our country is at stake. As a patriotic American and a devout Muslim, I call on Muslim leaders to hold CAIR accountable both for its abuses and for its failure to call out the most extreme members of the Muslim community. I also call on the Trump administration to investigate CAIR. As an immigrant to this country, I pray for my childrens future, and as a grandmother, I want my grandkids to inherit this country: a safe haven that I chose to live in, built on liberty, respect, and solidarity, that we all must tirelessly protect for posterity. Anila Ali is an author, a faith leader, and a retired California public school teacher. Motorists driving along Highway 5, about 30 km north of the small town of Suomussalmi, in north-eastern Finland, are greeted by a peculiar sight. A crowd of almost a thousand figures stand silently on a field near the road. In the morning with light behind them, this motionless army appears morose, even menacing. But when a light breeze picks up their colorful dresses and blows them around their still bodies, they appear to have sprung into life. This army of scarecrow-like figures called the Silent People or Hiljainen kansa in Finnish, were the creation of local artist Reijo Kela. They were first displayed in 1988 in a field in Lassila, a neighbourhood of Helsinki. Later in 1994 these were on display in the Market Place of Helsinki's Senate Square, then on the banks of the river Jalonuoma, Ammansaari and finally moved to this location in 1994 itself. Photo credit The peat-headed, wooden-framed effigies are maintained by the Suomussalmi Youth Workshop who change their clothing twice a year using clothes collected through donations. Passing motorists always wonder what precisely is the artist's idea behind the Silent People. But Reijo Kela refuses to provide any explanation, forcing people to form their own interpretation. Some view it as a state of psychological withdrawal, others believe it represents some forgotten people. A popular theory is that they represent those lost during a brutal battle that took place nearby during the Winter War of 1939-1940 between the Finns and Soviet Russia. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Atlas Obscura / Travelogue of an Armchair Traveller / www.suomussalmi.fi Also see Nurse Ahmed Dababish, who was held incommunicado for 13 months without being charged, and his two surviving children, Aisha and Muadh. Photograph: Enas Tantesh/The Observer For six months after it became impossible, Ahmed Wael Dababish still dreamed of a simple reunion: the day he could once again hug his wife, Asma, his two daughters and his young son. A nurse from Gaza, Dababish last saw his family in the early hours of one night in December 2023, when Israeli troops attacked a school where they had sought shelter. Soldiers ordered men into the courtyard, then detained many of them, including Dababish. He was held incommunicado for 13 months without charge, trial, access to a lawyer, or any communication with his family. So when an Israeli shell killed Asma, 29, and their youngest daughter, three-year-old Ghina, in August 2024, there was no way to send news to him. He was released in February under the ceasefire deal after turning 33 in prison, and was briefly overwhelmed when he saw his father and cousins waiting to welcome him home. It was amazing to see someone I knew, he said. The joy at being surrounded by familiar, beloved faces, after a year of hunger, torture and isolation from everyone he knew, lasted until he asked about his wife and children. Dababishs father called up a photo on his phone to help break the unbearable news. It showed Ghina, his baby, laid out for burial beside her young cousin. This is the moment I still cannot believe, Dababish said, breaking down again at the memory. It never crossed my mind that they could be killed. As he sobbed, his two surviving children, six-year-old Muadh and eight-year-old Aisha, tried to comfort him with hugs. His tragedy is not unique. The Observer spoke to three Palestinians from Gaza whose immediate family were killed while they were held by the Israeli military or in Israeli civilian prisons without charge or trial. They only learned about their losses when they were released months later. The three men are civilians a nurse, a civil servant and a headteacher of a primary school who say they have never taken up arms. They had no access to a lawyer in jail and were not allowed to communicate with their families. Legal rights groups say there are likely to be many other detainees from Gaza who have lost close family in Israeli attacks, but have not been told of their deaths. Family visits, letters or calls have been banned for Palestinians held by Israel since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, and televisions and radios have been removed from cells. They are enforcing this isolation on prisoners. They do not want them to know anything about their families and their loved ones, said Tala Nasir of the Palestinian prisoners rights organisation Addameer. Prisoners who are able to secure legal representation can sometimes get news from their lawyers, but there are certainly hundreds and probably thousands of detainees from Gaza who do not have a lawyer. Related: No rules: Gazas doctors say they were tortured, beaten and humiliated in Israeli detention Most are held under Israels unlawful combatants law, which allows indefinite detention without producing evidence. The state can hold someone for 45 days before allowing access to a lawyer or bringing them in front of a judge to authorise the detention. At the start of the war, those periods were extended to 180 and 75 days respectively. Amnesty International said the system legalises incommunicado detention, enables enforced disappearance and must be repealed. Despite thousands of detentions, there have been no known trials of anyone captured in Gaza since 7 October 2023. There is no government provision of lawyers to Palestinian detainees and it is impossible for legal aid groups to support prisoners on the scale now needed, said Jessica Montell, executive director of HaMoked, an Israeli group with decades of experience fighting for Palestinian rights through the Israeli courts. Im sure it is the case that the vast majority of Gaza detainees have not seen a lawyer, said Montell, adding that HaMokeds teams have visited a few dozen detainees from Gaza, out of thousands held inside Israel. Theres nothing like a public defenders office that is going to meet with all of them. There is no obligation on the state to provide lawyers. Bureaucratic obstacles and the remoteness of many detention camps and prisons further limit visits. When lawyers do manage to meet detainees from Gaza, breaking painful news is a regular part of their discussions, according to Nasir. Many of the prisoners we were following had one or two of their family members killed in Gaza and they did not know at all. Its so heartbreaking, and its really hard for the lawyer to tell this information to the prisoner. In December, the Israeli state said it was holding more than 3,400 Palestinians from Gaza under the unlawful combatants law, in response to a high court petition from campaign group the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI). At least 1,000 people detained in Gaza after 7 October 2023 were released under the ceasefire agreement that broke down this month, but thousands are still in jail. Tal Steiner, director of PCATI, said Israeli prisons were holding about 1,500 detainees from Gaza and that it would be reasonable to estimate that several hundred [Palestinian] detainees are still being held in military camps. The Israeli military declined to say how many Palestinians from Gaza it holds, or how many have met lawyers, but said it did not limit the content of legal meetings held with prisoners or what documents lawyers could bring to them. Many detainees have already exercised their right to meet with a lawyer, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. Israel rejects claims that there is a policy of isolating Palestinian detainees from the outside world. The Israeli military, the statement added, respected national and international law in its treatment of detainees and rejected all allegations concerning systemic abuse. Civil servant Ibrahim Dawood is among those freed during the ceasefire. He said he never had access to a lawyer and was physically attacked when he asked for a chance to prove his innocence. My friends taught me some words in Hebrew, how to ask the soldiers politely for a meeting with the officer, asking only for justice. They would beat me on the way there and back, he said. I kept telling them that they should listen to me and not accuse me of things I didnt do. He spent 13 months in prison in the Negev desert, arriving there badly injured after an Israeli attack on the school where he was sheltering with his family. Ill health, hunger and the beatings weighed on him, but just as bad was the mental pain of being separated from his family, he said. I didnt know anything about their fate and knew they had no information about what was happening to me. The relief of release, when it came, was very fleeting. He found out that the family home in al-Fakhura, near Jabaliya, had been destroyed in an Israeli airstrike that killed his father, sister, his sister-in-law and her three children. The moment when he heard the news and collapsed in grief was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The people who should have welcomed me home had been taken from me by the [Israeli] army. On top of the pain of injury and captivity came the pain of losing beloved relatives who I will never see again. His surviving family is fragmented between the north and south, and he cannot find space to bring his wife, children and widowed mother together under one roof. The Israel Prison Service (IPS), which runs civilian jails, said all prisoners are detained according to the law. Asked about the abuse and isolation described by Dababish and Dawood, a spokesperson said: We are not aware of the claims you described and as far as we know, no such events have occurred under IPS responsibility. Dababish said he also never saw a lawyer and that Israeli officials had accused him of being a Hamas member because he was a nurse in a state-run hospital. Hamas has governed Gaza for nearly two decades. I responded that I was a displaced person with my wife and children in an evacuation school, in an area the army had designated as safe. The lack of contact with the outside world, or any due process, violates the Geneva conventions, rights groups say. Dababish said it added to the agonies of detention, deepening prisoners despair. Related: He insisted we take him to the graves: the Palestinian hostages coming home to catastrophe It felt like we were living in a grave. You couldnt know anything about what was happening outside, where your family was, what was going on. His home was bombed, so he is living with his parents and two surviving children in a school turned shelter which sparks painful memories of the night he was detained and has little sense of security. All his familys worst tragedies have played out in similarly repurposed schools meant to be places of relative safety for civilians fleeing Israels war on Hamas. His wife and daughter were killed in another school, when a shell hit a classroom in the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza City. They were displaced in an evacuation shelter. They did nothing wrong, he said. Haunted by loss and memories of detention, he is trying to keep going for his children. I went to the hospital, registered my name again for work and am waiting for them to call me. Donald Trump has sent the King his best wishes in a phone call with Sir Keir Starmer, Downing Street has said. Opening the conversation on Sunday evening, which covered the war in Ukraine and a trade deal between the UK and the US, the president wished Charles good health, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Charles, 76, spent a brief time in hospital this week after experiencing temporary side effects from his cancer treatment. He postponed his engagements on Thursday afternoon after visiting the London Clinic in the morning for his weekly treatment session. The King and Queen at Clarence House (Chris Jackson/PA) He also rescheduled four public events in Birmingham on Friday after medical advice to prioritise his recovery, Buckingham Palace said. On Friday, Charles was pictured smiling and waving to well-wishers as he left his Clarence House home in central London on his way to Highgrove, his Gloucestershire residence. At the end of February, the King invited Mr Trump to make a second state visit to the UK in an unprecedented gesture towards a US leader after he was hosted by the late Queen during a state visit in 2019. Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama. Sir Keir presented Mr Trump with a letter from the King as the Prime Minister invited him for the visit during a meeting at the White House. After reading it, the president said it was a great, great honour. The King was diagnosed in February last year with an undisclosed form of cancer 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 state visit to Italy in 10 days. The overseas tour with the Queen from April 7 to 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. Gina Rinehart has long had strong views on government overreach and she is now pushing for a Maga-like crusade in Australia. Illustration: Guardian Design The founder of a key support group for the US president has praised Gina Rinehart as a female Donald Trump and backed a push by the mining magnate to bring Trumps policy ideas to Australia. Toni Holt Kramer, the president and founder of The Trumpettes USA, told Guardian Australia she had been friends with Rinehart since the first Trump presidency in 2016, describing her as an extremely brilliant woman. She has also thrown her support behind Rinehart to be a future Australian ambassador to Washington under a Dutton government. Shes an incredible woman She does so much good. Im so impressed with her through the years. To me, shes sort of like a female Donald Trump, Holt Kramer said of Australias richest person. Related: Friends with benefits: Gina Rinehart and Peter Duttons ideological love-in She has the right values for me She thinks so normally, so intelligently, and shes only for the betterment of Australia. She loves Australia with her heart and soul. I have no doubt shed be a great ambassador. I wish she would be an ambassador to Washington from Australia. The praise from Holt Kramer comes after Rinehart, who has described herself as a Trumpette, revealed to her staff last month that a renovation of her Perth company headquarters would be inspired in part by the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement. The redevelopment will include a silver sculpture of Peanut the squirrel, an American pet squirrel that has become a cause celebre of the Maga movement in the US after it was euthanised by authorities. The plans also include a plaque etched with a quote from Elon Musk on freedom. Rinehart has long had strong views on government overreach and she is now pushing for a Maga-like crusade in Australia, calling on the countrys leaders to follow in the US presidents footsteps. She has been openly cultivating her relationship with the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, since the 2022 election, and has also hosted multiple fundraisers for his campaign. Her company, Hancock Prospecting, is now the Coalitions second-largest donor. At an event at her national mining day last November, Rinehart said Australia should learn from the success of Trump. As I have repeatedly stated, we need to cut government tape, regulations, governments wastage and tax burdens across Australia, Rinehart said. We need a USA-style Doge [Department of Government Efficiency] that delivers action, one that helps to return dollars to our pockets and investment back to Australia. Dont be frightened to call for make our bank accounts great again, she said. Related: Gina: Becoming Mrs Rinehart episode 1 - podcast Rinehart said she wanted to cut the company tax rate and abandon and end subsidies for green energy. Holt Kramer, who describes the Trumpettes as an awareness group that has campaigned for Trump over the past decade, said she believed Rinehart would be successful in her campaign to bring similar policies to Australia. The pair sat together on the night of the US election in Mar-a-Lago last November, and were pictured alongside Nigel Farage. They also celebrated Trumps inauguration together at an event in January. I think she has her own great ideas. I think shes inspired by Trump, but I think Gina herself has a lot of great ideas, Kramer said. She too has that force that Trump has. Her belief is part of her blood. Its part of her brain. She didnt all of a sudden become a believer in the better things for Australia. Rineharts ties to Trump and the US have deepened since he was first elected in 2016, when she first met with his campaign team in Washington. At this years inauguration, Rinehart appeared at several official events attended by the new president and took out full-page ads in US papers congratulating him on his victory. One event was a candlelight dinner with Trump, which she attended with Hancock Prospecting chief executive, Garry Korte. Amazons Jeff Bezos and Xs Elon Musk whom Rinehart has also met and expressed admiration for were also there. Rinehart also attended the Starlight Ball the night after the inauguration, at which many major donors were present. Trump thanked attenders at the ball for their support, saying: You believed in us very early. Australias richest person has also increased her investments in the US, with the Australian Financial Review reporting she now owns a $1.3bn portfolio in US stocks. This includes shares in Murdochs Fox Corp, Musks Tesla and the presidents Trump Media & Technology Group, which runs Truth Social. She has also flagged other potential investments under the Trump administration, including in mining, oil and gas and agriculture. Rinehart has spoken personally with Trump since he assumed office. In a speech to her staff at Hancock Prospecting last month to mark her birthday and to acknowledge long-serving staff, Rinehart said she spoke to the new president in early February. By the time I was able to chat to President Trump [on] Friday night almost two weeks after his inauguration, the president told me more than $3tn dollars had flowed into the USA, she said. It will take much more than a tiny tinkering around a few edges to start bank accounts opening and returning the investment flow to Australia. Somehow, we need to get this message to the out-of-touch Canberra cocoon. She also spoke about her inspiring attendance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (Cpac) in Maryland in February and included a 15-minute extract of a speech from the Argentinian president, Javier Milei. She said the sculpture of Peanut the squirrel and the plaque with the etched quote from Elon Musk would hang in a new teppan-yaki area at her Perth company headquarters. The quote from Musk selected by Rinehart was: The larger government gets, the less individual freedoms you have Your freedoms have just been eroded year after year with more and more government, laws and regulations and regulatory authorities. Rineharts speech also referenced an image of a kangaroo wearing a Driza-Bone an Australian fashion brand acquired by Rinehart in 2023 with a sign saying drain the billabong. She said she was borrowing from President Trumps successful policy, much welcomed by American taxpayers, to drain the swamp. Listen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: Gina Do you know more? Email sarah.martin@theguardian.com Alaa Abu Zeids wife, Hala, and all five of the couples children had been killed in an Israeli airstrike last summer. Clockwise from top left: Hala, Nour, Alaa, Walaa, Riyad and Mohammed. Photograph: Family Handouts More than a year after his abduction by Israeli soldiers, the first thing Alaa Abu Zeid wanted to do on his return to Gaza was hold his wife and children. He didnt know that Ali, his brother, would be the only person waiting when he arrived in Khan Younis earlier this month: Alaas wife, Hala, and all five of the couples children had been killed in an Israeli airstrike last summer. Abu Zeid, 48, the headteacher of a primary school funded by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) in Bureij in central Gaza, was arrested along with dozens of other men when Israeli troops raided the school turned shelter in December 2023. He would never see his family again. We had no idea where he was the entire time, we were so afraid for his safety, said Ali, speaking on Alaas behalf, as the UN employee is not authorised to speak to media. Waiting for him was very difficult. We were happy but it was mixed with deep sorrow. I didnt know how to tell him his wife and children had been killed. Abu Zeids family Hala, 49, a teacher; Nour, 25, an engineer; Alaa, 22, a dentistry student; Riyad, 20, a science student; Walaa, 15, and Mohammed, 13 were killed in an airstrike on their house in Bureij overnight on 20 August, eight months after he was abducted. Ali and his sons tried to rescue their loved ones from the rubble, but there were no survivors: just ripped-up body parts. When morning broke, they recovered more remains and, as is Muslim tradition, buried them the same day. This horrific story is repeated all over the Gaza Strip, where according to the local health ministry, 1,400 families have been entirely wiped out by Israeli bombing, numbers deemed accurate by UN agencies. The arrival of the ceasefire and hostage detainee swaps in January has brought joy as abducted Palestinians return home to Gaza, but also the painful process of returning home to search for missing loved ones, and grappling with the scale of the territorys collective loss. He insisted we take him immediately to the graves, Ali said. He was very quiet, he didnt cry. I think he was in shock. Abu Zeid was released on 15 February as part of the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that paused 15 months of fighting. He maintains he had nothing to do with Hamas; like thousands of other civilian men from Gaza, he appears to have been caught up in the huge Israel Defence Forces (IDF) dragnet. Emergency legislation introduced after the Palestinian militant groups attack on Israel in October 2023 that ignited the war allows for the detention of Palestinians from the territory without charge or trial, classing them as unlawful combatants. The IDF says the measure complies with international law. A Guardian investigation last year documented extreme and systemic mistreatment of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons since the conflict broke out findings corroborated by Abu Zeids experience in detention. At least 60 people have died in Israeli custody since October 2023. The headteacher said he was severely beaten on several occasions and his eyesight is now impaired, necessitating surgery. The prison in the Negev desert was overcrowded and often freezing, and prisoners were not allowed to seek medical treatment or wash, leading to outbreaks of scabies and other skin problems. Related: They dont want them to know anything: Gaza civilians held in Israel not told families had been killed Abu Zeid was given just enough food to stay alive: he lost 25kg in weight and his gaunt appearance upon release shocked his surviving family. He looked like a skeleton. At every moment in detention, he said he felt like he was staring death in the face, Ali said. The Israel Prison Service has previously told the Guardian that it operates according to the law, and under the oversight of the state comptroller. Abu Zeid had no access to legal representation or news during his imprisonment. On his return, he knew immediately something was deeply wrong when Hala and the children were not waiting to greet him. Ali was forced to confirm his brothers deepest fears. He is recovering from his ordeal at Alis damaged home in Bureij, and says he will return to teaching when fit enough. He has changed, Ali says: he is quiet and finds it hard to talk to people. He has grown closer to God, spending time reading the Quran. With his home destroyed, there are no pictures of his killed loved ones to look at. He imagined holding [his family] in his arms again, his children, and returning to live a decent life, Ali said. Instead, he found a catastrophe. Justin Welby said he wants total obscurity following his first interview since resigning over the handling of abuse allegations in the Church of England, but added that he might ask permission to preach in future. The former archbishop of Canterbury also indicated he could see the Anglican Communion a global community of 85 million Anglicans split but said this would be a total tragedy if it happened. Mr Welby, in his first television interview since standing down, also responded why not? when asked about his successor being a woman and from another country. The former archbishop resigned last year and stepped down officially in early January after the Makin review concluded he had not done enough to deal with allegations of abuse by the now notorious Christian camp leader John Smyth. In the lengthy interview with the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said he hopes never to appear on television again and wants to focus on mediation and reconciliation. Asked about his future plans, Mr Welby told the BBC programme: I suppose in my ideal world, I would like to focus very much on mediation and reconciliation in this country and abroad, which Ive done for over 20 years. I would love to be more involved in that and never, after today, to be on telly again. In other words, disappear. Im looking for total obscurity. While he resigned from his role as the most senior bishop in the Church, Mr Welby remains a bishop but does not currently have permission to officiate. Asked if he would want to preach again, he said: I have to ask permission and that will be up to the Church. He said he would obey it and not grumble no matter what decision a request might lead to. Justin Welby said he hopes for total obscurity after resigning as archbishop of Canterbury (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) Pressed on whether he would like to be back at a pulpit, he said: Probably. But if Im not, Im perfectly content. It was revealed in February that Mr Welby was given permission to live at Lambeth Palace with his family until early summer, despite quitting as archbishop of Canterbury. Papers released ahead of the General Synod showed that while his last official day as the most senior bishop in the Church of England was January 6, he was being allowed to stay at the London palaces private quarters for up to six months. Asked about what he would be doing next, he told the BBC he would be moving house as soon as we get through the process and downsize as we throw away 45 years of married clutter. Meanwhile, Mr Welby said he could see the wider Anglican Communion, of which the archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader, split in future over differences in opinion around same-sex relationships and women in the Church. It was put to him that it could become impossible to keep a community of 85 million people with such wide-ranging views together and that some believe the Anglican Communion should split. He replied: I can see it happening. I think it would be a total tragedy because when families split, it always leaves huge damage for everyone. He said the richness of the Anglican Communion is its incredible impact in places of conflict and war and its extraordinary diversity. Asked if the future archbishop of Canterbury should come from somewhere such as Cairo or Kenya, he said: Why not? But thats nothing to do with me. I have no involvement at all. Asked about a future holder of the role being a woman, he replied: Why not? Thats perfectly proper. The process to select the 106th appointment to the role is underway, with a public consultation on views on the gifts, qualities and skills needed for the role having closed on Friday. Historically, candidates have been people who already have senior leadership roles in ministry in the Church or elsewhere in the Anglican Communion. The Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) is the body charged with nominating the new archbishop. It is usual that the name of the CNCs recommended candidate is given to the prime minister who passes it to the monarch and it is expected there could be an announcement on Mr Welbys successor by autumn. Leonard Leigh was appalled at the financial restrictions imposed on the CCRCs resources in recent years. Photograph: none requested Among the first cases investigated by Leonard Leigh when he joined the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) were the hanging of Mahmood Hussein Mattan and the imprisonment for life of Patrick Nicholls. Neither, he helped reveal, had committed the murders for which they had been sentenced. As a driving force behind the organisation created to examine claims of miscarriage of justice, Leigh, who has died aged 89 after a stroke, may have been modest and mild-mannered, but his enthusiasm, high principles and meticulous, case by case examinations resulted in the overturning of numerous wrongful convictions. Mattan, a British Somali seaman, had been executed in 1952 despite there being no forensic evidence and his having alibi witnesses. Nicholls was convicted in 1975 of killing an elderly woman whom the court of appeal eventually found had probably died of natural causes. Related: Letter: Leonard Leigh obituary Their supporters challenges were not, however, taken seriously until Leigh and his team began scrutinising evidence in 1997. Although a commissioner supervising investigations, he met and interviewed claimants, their lawyers and relatives. He also popularised the CCRCs work, explaining to the media that the commission had inherited a backlog of 260 cases and was gathering fresh applications in its first year at the rate of five to six per day. Other high profile cases Leigh reviewed were those of Derek Bentley, executed in 1953 but subsequently posthumously pardoned; Winston Silcott; James Hanratty; and Ruth Ellis the last woman to be hanged in Britain. Not all referrals to the court of appeal resulted in convictions being quashed. He was appalled at the financial restrictions imposed on the CCRCs resources in recent years, which has resulted in its failure to carry out routine DNA testing. Leonard was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1935. His father, also Leonard Leigh, was descended from a family that included a Southampton solicitor and the crime writer Dorothy L Sayers. His mother, Lillian Mavis Hayman, was from a Ukrainian Jewish family who had fled tsarist pogroms in the 1900s. Leonard senior was a mercurial character variously a salesman, chef, fisherman and smuggler of alcohol across the border to prohibition-era America, until his van was shot up by US border guards. His son was often farmed out to relatives and attended 13 different schools sometimes suffering antisemitic bullying as his parents shuttled around western Canada in search of jobs. Leonard attended the University of Alberta, initially aiming to study history, but switching to law to improve his employment prospects. He paid his way through university by serving in the Canadian infantry during holidays. After graduating in 1957, he joined a law firm and in 1959 was admitted to the Alberta bar. Specialising in criminal work, he was involved early on in a trial concerning a killing in the Inuit community in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. At a party in Calgary, Leigh met his wife, Jill Gale, a British librarian who had trained at the Ashmolean in Oxford and moved to Canada to work for Imperial Oil. They married in 1960. That year he joined the countrys Department of Justice. Keen to return to academia, he won a Leverhulme Foundation award to study at the LSE in 1962, and four years later gained a doctorate. It became his professional home as he was successively appointed lecturer, reader and then in 1982 professor of criminal law. As head of department, he encouraged women in their academic careers. A Europhile, he taught himself French and Spanish while establishing LSEs first degree in French law His first book was The Criminal Liability of Corporations in English Law (1969). Other publications included Police Powers in England and Wales (1975), The Control of Commercial Fraud (1982) and Criminal Procedure in English Public Law (2005). A Europhile, he taught himself French and Spanish while establishing LSEs first degree in French law, which gave students a year abroad in Strasbourg. He also developed legal initiatives on combating fraud in the European Union. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Leigh was sent by the Council of Europe to Hungary, Poland and Albania to advise on post-communist legal systems. He failed to persuade Russia to remove a clause in its penal code criminalising insults of representatives of power effectively protecting officials and the head of state from criticism. Following the quashing of the Birmingham Six convictions in 1991, a royal commission on criminal justice was established to investigate miscarriages of justice. Leigh co-wrote its report on comparative pre-trial procedures in France and Germany, concluding that although continental systems were highly effective, introducing an inquisitorial approach into British justice would not work. When the CCRC was created, he was chosen as one of the founding commissioners. He resigned his LSE chair in 1997 to concentrate on cases that cast a shadow over England and Wales vaunted justice system. Leonard was very committed to righting injustice, one fellow CCRC commissioner recalled, but very robust in dealing with applicants whose grounds he considered spurious. Always smartly turned out, he had a dry sense of humour and could be forthright when required. Described by one academic colleague as possibly the brightest person I have ever met, he was known by some friends affectionately as Yoda small but extremely wise. He retired from the CCRC aged 70 in 2005 but continued publishing legal articles, remaining an honorary fellow at Birmingham University until 2010. Moving to Oxfordshire, he became chair of Bloxham village parish council. He enjoyed choral singing and walking, latterly with Angus, his cairn terrier. Jill died in 2015. Leigh is survived by his son, Matthew, his daughter, Jane, and three grandchildren, Alex, Charlotte and Anya. Leonard Herschel Leigh, barrister and academic, born 19 September 1935; died 13 March 2025 We all have dreams, even dogs. Some dogs dream of chasing squirrels. Others dream of chasing cars or eating unlimited amounts of cheese or bacon. And then there's dogs like Beatrix the pug. All she wants is the chance to prove that she can be a top-notch guard dog. The problem is that she never gets a chance to prove herself because she lives in a high-rise. But that all changed when a window washer appeared outside the apartment window. And boy, did Beatrix ever seize her opportunity to prove that she has what it takes to be a grade A guard dog. As you can see from the video, Beatrix was more than up to the task of letting that window washer know that she is the boss. After this encounter, we seriously doubt that guy will ever consider coming near Beatrix's apartment ever again, LOL. Who says that little dogs can't have big dreams? Hey, we would let little Beatrix be our guard dog anytime. Just like her dedication and tenacity. Once she realizes that this window washer is outside the window she doesn't relent. Related: Precious Senior Pug Waiting for Mom to Get Off Work Has Everyone in Their Feelings If she could break through the glass and chase this guy down the side of the building, she probably would, LOL. Thankfully for her, that glass looks pretty safe. There won't be any daredevil stunts for Beatrix anytime soon. But did you know that pugs actually have a proud history as guard dogs? In fact, a pug even thwarted an assassination attempt to save a prince's life. Yes, a Pug Really Did Save a Prince When the Dutch were resisting the Spanish in the 1500s under the leadership of Prince William of Orange, the Spaniards sent assassins to kill him. Fortunately for Prince William, when Spanish soldiers attempted to assassinate him, his pug, Pompey, alerted him, thwarting the assassination attempt in saving his life. Afterward, pugs were recognized as the official dog breed of the House of Orange. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Lefties The centre-right is a sideshow at present: Kemi is invisible and Nigel splits the vote. Unless their division ends, Labour can govern till the ice-caps melt, which is why we have to pay attention to the arguments and anguish within its ranks. There, a parallel civil war is brewing. For 14 years, Labour MPs said austerity was cruel and a choice. Now they have to explain why their leadership has chosen to do it. I can hear readers shout, but the state is still growing! and it is. But Starmer has also chosen to cut spending on the old, the disabled and sun-parched African herdsmen, while splashing more cash on the military. There is precedent. A Labour PM cut the dole to improve the finances during the Great Depression. Clement Attlee introduced NHS prescription charges; Harold Wilson abolished them, then brought them back. Jim Callaghan implemented the cuts recommended by the IMF. One of Tony Blairs first moves was to reduce benefits to lone parents, a measure he opposed in opposition, arguing it would help said parents back into work (a familiar tune). New Labour gave independence to the Bank of England. Rachel Reeves worships the Office for Budget Responsibility. Labour defers to beancounters. In 1968, Judith Hart a Lefty minister nicknamed trendy Judith by the papers was persuaded to crack down on dole cheats, expressing her concern at the growing number of youngsters who say they are writers or disc jockeys and refuse to look for work. Her quid pro quo was that the means tested benefits still available to the poor would be better advertised. The savings went ahead; the advertising did not. Observers concluded that reform, all along, was motivated by cost-cutting much as Liz Kendalls thrilling pathways to work shaves money off Universal Credit and tips the disabled off the rolls (meanwhile, suicide is being legalised: what a time to be alive!) There is a historic tension between Labour activists who seek to transform capitalism v those who wish to manage it better, the latter more 19th century Liberals than they are socialists. Attlee expanded NHS charges and dipped into the National Insurance Fund to bankroll rearmament during the Korean War causing Nye Bevan to resign, in 1951, and a government to fall. The drama foreshadows Starmers preference for tanks over motability cars. The Left believes the party elite isnt pursuing austerity 2.0 out of necessity but choice, either because they are immoral or they imagine it to be clever. The Left has a point. A perverse consensus exists in UK politics that the way to win is to hammer your own base politically, even economically. The Tories do best when they fling open the borders, or Labour when it starves the poor, because floating voters regard it as brave and proof a minister is acting in the national interest. This theory, insofar as it was ever true, died in the last decade. The Tories did particularly badly in 2024 because their core voters stayed at home, and by the logic of win the middle by attacking the extremes, Labour ought now to be polling in the 40s but its not. Its struggling to beat Farage. If anything, Starmer suffers from a lack of definition, from a sense that hed impoverish his own grandmother to win, at a time when TikTok culture puts a premium on authenticity. Who is polling well? Reform. The Greens. Muslim independents, who just won a council seat near Wes Streeting (the minister most admired by centrist dads sits on a whopping majority of 528). Labour lacks clarity on Gaza more than anything, but Islamic voters also care about uncollected rubbish or the xenophobic vibe coming out of Westminster. One can see the basis for a fresh, hard Left party emerging from this confusion, with opposition to Kendalls bill as a revolutionary spark. Put yourself in the shoes of a left-wing Labour MP. The situation is going to get worse, as tax hikes kill business, reducing state income and justifying further cuts later. You know you were elected by accident on a third of the vote and will likely lose your seat. Starmer will never put you on the government payroll, so youve nowt to lose. Might as well rebel. Go down with dignity. Of course, rebellion means expulsion from the whip and here, too, Starmer has been too clever by half. By being so authoritarian, offering no space for dissent, he persuades the Left there is zero future in his party and the costs of forming a new one thus diminish. Reform suggests that start-ups can return MPs. It is estimated that an undivided Gaza independent campaign would have gained six extra seats in 2024, making it bigger than the SNP. Or perhaps some socialist backbenchers might consider joining the Tories? I only half joke. Many examples of Starmer turning to the right are a rejection of Conservative policy. It was the Conservatives who ran down defence and parked millions on welfare; Liz Truss wanted to ignore the OBR, cut taxes and cover heating costs. With the exception of the Thatcher experiment a Calvinist interlude the Tories have nationalised, bailed-out and bribed the voters for decades, with scant concern for good book-keeping. Labour has often inherited vast deficits its been forced to pay for. The true nasty party is not the Tories, as Theresa May said (the same lady who encouraged the trans nonsense Streeting is now tempering). It is Labour. Always hypocritical and mean. Alison Perry, 46, from Bromley, was so excited to be pregnant but after having her first child, she was hit by debilitating postnatal depression. She then spent three years trying for her second child, but when twins came along, she felt so overwhelmed she could barely go out. As part of Yahoo Life UK's accounts of motherhood to mark Mother's Day, Alison shares her story. Alison Perry struggled with her mental health after both her first child and then having twins. (Supplied) (Supplied) When my children were small Mother's Day used to make me feel guilty because I was barely coping. But now it feels like a celebration of how far I've come. I remember one day back in 2021 when my heart was pounding and I felt sick. Fighting back tears, I forced a smile and added 'Alison day with twins' in my phones calendar. I couldnt believe that simply planning on spending a day alone with my children would cause such a huge eruption of anxiety inside me. My husband Mark was a stay-at-home-dad back then and he looked after our toddler twins while I worked as a freelance writer and our eldest child was at school. We had decided that once a week, Id take the twins and give him a day off. It was fine in theory, but the reality of solo parenting was enough to send me into a panicked spin. I didnt have the confidence to take them out to the park or to a toddler class or soft play on my own. What if they ran in opposite directions? What if one or both had a meltdown and I couldnt deal with it? But also, with it being 2021 and the pandemic lockdowns being so fresh, the idea of staying indoors with them all day was just as awful. I felt like a total failure. Everyone else could cope with being a mum, why couldnt I? In that moment, I decided that enough was enough. I needed to get help. So I picked up my laptop and typed 'mental health support' into the search engine. Alison was so excited to be pregnant with the twins, but struggled with anxiety after they were born. (Supplied) (Supplied) Expecting magical times Motherhood was so different from how Id pictured it to be. Back when my husband Mark and I were discussing starting a family, blissful images filled my head. After being diagnosed with endometriosis in my 20s, I thought that getting pregnant would be difficult. So when my period was late just three months after coming off the Pill and a pregnancy test confirmed the news, Mark and I were over the moon. After our eldest daughter was born, instead of the blissful experience of motherhood I was expecting, I slipped into postnatal depression and anxiety. Our eldest daughter was born in 2010 but instead of the joyful experience of motherhood I was expecting, I developed postnatal depression and anxiety. Unable to bear being home alone with her all day, Id wrap my baby up, put her in the pram and just walk around for hours on end, only stopping to feed and change her. Heartbreakingly, I didnt seek help because it didnt even occur to me that anything was wrong. I was just convinced I was a terrible mother, unable to cope with the basics of this new life. After three years of saying Id never be able to face having another baby, life started to feel easier and I told Mark that perhaps I was strong enough and perhaps it might be different second time around. "Ill get help if I feel myself struggling again," I promised him. So we started trying for another baby. But two years later, I still wasnt pregnant. Secondary infertility I went for scans and the doctors told me it was likely my endometriosis was causing secondary infertility. After unsuccessfully trying fertility drugs, Tamoxifen and Clomid, the only option left was IVF. Despite how hard life had felt when I was a new mum, I was now desperate to have another baby. I couldnt bear the thought of my daughter being an only child. I also, perhaps weirdly, wanted to prove to myself that I could be a good mum from the start. So we spent a year and our savings on injections, scans and countless hour-long round trips to the hospital, doing two cycles of IVF. Our joy turned to shock when, at our 12-week scan, we were told it was twins. The relief and joy I felt when I took a pregnancy test and it showed as positive was huge. However that joy turned to shock when, at our 12-week scan, we were told it was twins. Mark and I looked at each other and burst into uncontrollable nervous giggling. As the birth approached, we mentally prepared ourselves for a challenging time and made decisions like Mark leaving work, while I carried on working from home, to ensure we were parenting as a team and formed a solid support network. Alison recalls being in a cafe with her twins and feeling unable to cope when they both started crying. (Supplied) (Supplied) Paralysed by anxiety Thankfully, I didnt have a repeat experience of postnatal depression. But it soon became obvious that anxiety still had its hold over me. We were sitting in a cafe with the babies one day when they both started crying. People at nearby tables stared and in my head judged us. Anxiety was stopping me from doing everyday things like going to the park with the twins. It was too much for me to handle and I found myself disassociating from what was going on, going completely numb, as if I wasnt really there at all. I later discovered this is a common response to trauma, but at the time, it was just an uncontrollable reaction. When I realised that anxiety was stopping me from doing everyday things like going to the park with the twins, I knew it was time to seek help. Walking into the therapy room, for my first session, I felt so nervous. Id never done anything like this before. But my therapist soon put me at ease. I told her that I thought Id suffered trauma when my eldest daughter was born, which was causing mental health issues today. Gradually, through many sessions, we unravelled childhood trauma which was at the root of my beliefs about being a terrible mum. Finding support Alison finally sought help and says therapy gave her the tools she needed. (Supplied) (Supplied) The therapy sessions armed me with a range of techniques to deal with tricky situations breathing techniques, tuning into my body when I felt anxiety and even having conversations with my younger self. Combined with my twins getting a bit older theyre now aged six making things feel easier, its made the world of difference. My eldest daughter is now 14 so the baby days are long behind me. I feel so relieved that I sought help and didnt keep battling on. I knew things had changed for me when, one day, last summer I took my twins on the train into London by myself, for the day. We went to the theatre and out for lunch before heading home. It was exhausting but I managed it. I feel so relieved that I sought help and didnt keep battling on. Therapy taught me that Im not a bad mother, just one that needed a bit of extra support. This Mother's Day, I won't feel ashamed of that. I'm proud of how far I've come. Help and support If you are feeling low, remember you are not alone and you can contact The Samaritans any time, day or night on 116 123. You can also email the charity on jo@samaritans.org. For help with postnatal depression visit the Association for Post Natal Illness on Apni.org. Read more on Mother's Day: A building that collapsed during the earthquake in Mandalay - bgnmmo Myanmars military regime has been accused of launching airstrikes in its war with rebel forces just days after a devastating earthquake killed at least 1,600 people. The initial 7.7-magnitude quake that struck near the central city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon brought down buildings and bridges and buckled roads, and thousands are injured or missing. As rescuers scrambled to extract people from the rubble on Sunday, local media reported that two women were killed and seven others injured in a strike on Pakokku Township in the Magway region, roughly 160 miles from the quakes epicentre. The BBC reported that seven people died in an air strike on the northern state of Shan on Friday, less than three hours after the earthquake first hit. Rebel groups have also reported attacks in Sagaing region, which has been hit by the natural disaster, and near the Thai border. The attacks are consistent with how the junta has been fighting armed rebels since it toppled the government in 2021 and sparked a civil war. David Eubank, the leader of the Free Burma Rangers, told The Telegraph he had seen jets go over us in the eastern state of Karenni, and heard mortar fire in the distance. According to a tally by the local outlet The Irrawaddy published before the quake hit, strikes had already killed 100 people in March. Myanmars junta said in a statement on Sunday afternoon that about 1,700 people had been confirmed dead so far, with 3,400 injured and around 300 more missing. But the true scale of the disaster remains unclear in the isolated military-ruled state, and the toll is expected to rise significantly. Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur, told the BBC that it was completely outrageous and unacceptable that the military had not paused the fighting in the wake of the earthquake. Anyone who has influence on the military needs to step up the pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable, he said. Im calling upon the junta to just stop, stop any of its military operations. Tom Andrews called on the regime to stop its military operations after the quake - SALVATORE DI NOLFI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock The exiled National Unity Government that was toppled in the coup, meanwhile, ordered the armed Peoples Defence Force it works with to abide by a two-week pause on any offensive in earthquake affected zones, starting immediately. It added that it would collaborate with the UN and non-governmental organisations to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps. Shortly after the earthquake struck, the military made an unprecedented appeal to aid groups to help with rescue efforts. China and Russia two of Myanmars closest allies are among those who have so far sent rescue teams, as have Malaysia and India. The UK announced 10 million of funding and the EU committed an initial 2.5 million. Yet despite its appeal, there are concerns the junta may prevent aid from reaching opposition areas. Throughout its conflict with resistance groups, the junta has cut supply lines for medicines and vaccines for doctors working in opposition-held territory. The main issue with that is what happens to the aid once it is delivered to the military, said Joe Freeman, a Myanmar researcher at Amnesty International. International aid groups must do the best they can to ensure that their aid is reaching people impartially. He added: The military could also seize this opportunity to attack and we are already hearing reports of attacks in earthquake-affected areas. All that said, the military is so stretched at the moment that this is another problem they have to attend to. They really have no choice. Tahir Ali has posted on X that the absence of an airport in Kashmir is an issue for a number of my constituents - Laurie Noble A Labour MP whose city is being plagued by bin strikes, rats and mounds of rubbish has come under fire for supporting a new airport in Kashmir. Tahir Ali, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, prompted a backlash after he called for an international airport to be built in the disputed territory on the Indian subcontinent. Mr Alis support for an airport was criticised by Tory frontbenchers and social media users who believe he should focus on the UK. The bin strike crisis in the West Midlands city is beginning to spiral, showing no signs of a resolution after three weeks. The dispute centres on a row between Birminghams bankrupt Labour council and the Unite union. Residents have complained that rats are running rampant. The bin strike crisis in Birmingham is showing no signs of a resolution after three weeks - Jacob King/PA Wire Mr Ali sparked anger when he took to social media to announce his backing for the airport project in the district of Mirpur. There has been a long-standing promise for an international airport in Mirpur, which has yet to be met, Mr Ali said. This causes significant issues to a number of my constituents, who are having to drive over three hours to get to the nearest airport in Pakistan. I will continue to push for this cause, and pursue this issue until permission is granted for a new airport. However, his post was criticised by Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, who told him to focus on the UK. He said: It is a damning failure of integration that MPs are spending their time doing the bidding of other countries. Their loyalty should solely be to the UK. Labour MPs think we shouldnt expand our airports for environmental reasons, but other countries should. Their rank hypocrisy is subverting the UKs interests. You're an MP for Birmingham, not Mirpur. The streets of your city are literally piled high in rubbish thanks to your Labour council. Focus on the UK. https://t.co/VXTdr0CV9e Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) March 29, 2025 In his post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Ali revealed that a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, calling for the airport to be built had been signed off by 19 other cross-party MPs some of whom had opposed the proposed expansion of Heathrow. Social media users in Birmingham called Mr Ali a disgrace for focusing on the Mirpur airport rather than addressing the disgusting mess in the city. On Saturday two senior Tory frontbenchers wrote to Angela Rayner, urging her to call an emergency Cobra meeting over the worsening conditions in Birmingham, but their call was rejected. West Midlands Police said two people had been arrested as tensions in Birmingham have risen. Unite has claimed the city council could end the dispute by agreeing to pay a decent rate. But the council said the escalation of industrial action would mean greater disruption to residents, despite a fair and reasonable offer to Unite members. The council also disputed the unions claims that 150 workers could lose 8,000 per year in a proposed restructuring, and insisted the plans were a crucial part of the authoritys efforts to become financially sustainable. Mr Ali was contacted for comment. A Watchkeeper drone used by the British Army for reconnaissance - Ministry of Defence Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has been accused of blocking the production of drones for the British Army to save money. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, warned that Britains security and defence was being undermined after discovering that just three reconnaissance drones had been ordered for the military since Labour won the general election last year. After submitting a question in Parliament, he was also told that not a single attack drone had been ordered. In contrast, Ukraine produces around 200,000 a month, of which 10,000 are shot down by the Russian military over the front line. Mr Cartlidge said the financial squeeze had meant the Ministry of Defence (MoD) appeared to have ignored a drone strategy which he set out a year ago when he was a defence minister. The strategy proposed that Britain should develop its military drone capability and training while providing a significant number of the devices to Ukraine. Mr Cartlidge said: When the war in Ukraine and our experience in the Red Sea shows drones are now critical to achieving mass in modern warfare, Labours failure to purchase a single attack drone for our own forces is a damning indictment of a Government talking tough on defence but not delivering in reality. This proves what Ive argued for months for all Labours promises to raise defence spending, forced on them by circumstance, the practical reality since the election is that theyve chosen to prioritise penny-pinching over actual procurement. Instead of ordering capabilities for the British Armed Forces, the Treasury has used an invented black hole to stall rearmament and undermine our defence. He added: Labour must now get on with the job of ramping up production, placing orders with British defence companies, who have had a track record producing cutting edge drones for Ukraine and are champing at the bit to do the same for our own military. The alleged block on drones comes despite plans by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP with an ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next parliament. The lack of attack drone orders was revealed after Mr Cartlidge asked the MoD to detail how many military drones had been purchased for strikes, logistics and reconnaissance since July 5 last year. Maria Eagle, a defence minister, replied: An order for three aircraft delivering intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UK capability was placed at the end of January 2025, through an urgent capability requirement project. Separately, as previously announced, working on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine and the international Drone Capability Coalition, the UK has placed contracts for a significant number of drones for use by the armed forces of Ukraine. The drone strategy, published last February, said the Ukraine war provided no clearer example of how the deployment of low-cost drones was increasingly defeating more exquisite capabilities and delivering disproportionate impact on the battlefield. The UK must learn from the Ukrainian experience, amongst other lessons, to position ourselves as a world leader in uncrewed systems, it said. Backed by investment from its European and US allies, Ukraines ministry of defence issued contracts for the domestic manufacture of 1.6 million drones, of various types, for about 1.8 billion by October 2024. The aircraft produced has included long-range kamikaze drones, conventional configuration reconnaissance drones and single-wing reconnaissance drones. A spokesman for the MoD said: The UK has thousands of cutting-edge drones that are designed to make our Armed Forces more lethal and effective and just last week the Government set out a minimum 10 per cent ringfence for equipment spending on emerging technologies like drones. A new UK defence innovation unit within the MoD will spearhead efforts to identify promising technology and get these to the frontline at speed, while also bolstering the UK tech sector and crowding in private investment. The new SME [small and medium-sized enterprises] hub announced earlier this month will also fast-track the technologies of the future, like drones, into the hands of our Armed Forces. Prince Harry and the chair of the charity, Sophie Chandauka, at a Sentebale panel discussion in Florida last April. Photograph: Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Sentebale Prince Harry stepped down this week from a charity he began 20 years ago, after an ugly media row. The Duke of Sussex was one of a number of trustees of the Lesotho-based HIV and Aids charity Sentebale to resign over what he called untenable leadership. Here is what we know about what occurred. What happened? On Tuesday night, Harry issued a joint statement saying he was in shock and truly heartbroken to be resigning as a trustee of the charity he founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, with his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, over a dispute with the organisations chair, Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwean lawyer. In response, Chandauka hit back, saying they had unsuccessfully tried to oust her because she 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. Who else resigned? The trustees Timothy Boucher, Harrys former aide Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, who runs Botswana-based public health organisations, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, who was responsible for local funding, and Damian West, a schoolmate of Seeisos from Ampleforth college in North Yorkshire who has worked as a consultant in Africa. What is the row about? It appears a division emerged in the board when Chandauka wanted to modernise Sentebale and diversify its income away from being dependent on the prince and the trustees wealthy friends. While the charity was successful, it was a kind of pet project for Harry, relying on the annual Sentebale polo cup and surviving the Covid pandemic largely through a pro bono performance by the pop star James Blunt, a friend of the previous chair Johnny Hornby, according to one account. Chandauka, who said decisions were made collectively with the board, hired the expensive strategy firm Lebec to shift the charitys fundraising focus away from what a source described as a bunch of white blokes. When donations were reportedly weaker than expected, Harry and other board members asked Chandauka to step down. She refused, taking legal action to stay in her post and reporting them to the Charity Commission. She blamed the drop in donations on the Duke of Sussexs toxic brand, as a result of his public spat with the royal family, and said there was a significant correlation with when he left the UK. How did it escalate? After the princes statement, Chandauka accused Harry of an unleashing of the Sussex machine in other words, engaging his powerful PR team without telling the charity he had resigned. In a statement, she said: There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct. She accused the prince and the former trustees of making moves against her because they felt a loss of power and control and influence Oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over. She said she had previously had a great relationship with Harry, whose involvement she said she welcomed, but he had caused problems such as inviting a Netflix crew to a polo tournament in Miami last year without clearing it properly, which led to a new venue needing to be found, and bringing his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, along with no notice, resulting in negative press the charity was unprepared for. What is Harry saying? The prince has stayed tight-lipped about the allegations and has not responded to any specific claims. A source close to the resigned trustees and patrons said they fully expected this publicity stunt and reached their collective decision with this in mind. What happens next? Appearing on Sky News with a current board member, the investment banker Iain Rawlinson, Chandauka said she had documentation relating to months of bullying and harassment. An investigation by the Charity Commission will be carried out. A commission spokesperson said: We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps. On the future of the charity, Chandauka pointed to the 500-plus staff who worked there, mostly in Lesotho, saying: Sentebale will live, Sentebale will live on because of the people. Josh Weil, a Democrat, is running for the Florida seat in the House vacated by Trumps national security adviser Mike Waltz. Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters Several elections on Tuesday will be a crucial test of the popularity of the chaotic and extremist first two months of Donald Trumps second term and the clout of his close ally, Elon Musk, the worlds richest man who has been tasked with radically reforming the US federal government. They could also offer a glimmer of hope to Democrats fresh off a surprise upset win in a local race in Pennsylvania last week that their divided political party could be seeing a resurgence in its fortunes. Or, if they fail to land further blows on Republicans, it will be yet another sign that the party is destined for a long period in the wilderness amid historic lows of its popularity in recent polls. Many eyes are focused on two previously Republican-held congressional seats in Florida, where its sixth and first congressional districts are vacant and up for grabs. Mike Waltz left to take up a cabinet job for Trump and Matt Gaetz resigned to pursue a failed bid to become attorney general. Related: Elon Musk hands out $1m checks to voters amid Wisconsin supreme court election race House Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority over Democrats, 218 to 213, with four seats vacant, in the lower chamber of Congress. Republican nerves about how tight the House could become were emphasized last week after Trump pulled the nomination of New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be United Nations ambassador a move widely seen as admitting that marginal Republican districts are at risk of being lost. It is the old district of Waltz, Trumps embattled national security adviser, that is most at risk. State senator Randy Fine has lagged behind his Democratic opponent, Josh Weil, in fundraising amid concerns that he could lose the district though such a defeat is far from certain. Last week Trump held a tele-rally for Fine, speaking to voters over the phone. Randy will always have a very open door to the Oval Office. 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, the president said. The other district is seen as less of a risk. Floridas chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, is bidding to take over Gaetzs seat, with Trump holding a similar rally for the Republican candidate. The 1st Congressional District is special, and I won it by a lot, and Jimmy is going to win it by a lot, Trump said. Patroniss opponent is Gay Valimont, a gun violence prevention activist. The two other vacant House seats are in Texas, where Republican governor Greg Abbott appears in no rush to call a special election to replace deceased Democrat Sylvester Turner; and in Arizona, where Democrat Raul Grijalva died two weeks ago. Democrats were buoyed by last weeks unexpected capture of a Republican state senate seat in Pennsylvania. There, candidate James Malone triumphed in the 36th senatorial district, which voted for Trump over Kamala Harris by more than 15 points in last Novembers presidential election. Its only March, and Democrats have defied the odds again with another upset victory in Republican territory, Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic legislative campaign committee, said in a statement after the win. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, Musks political influence will be tested on Tuesday in a crucial race for a seat on the states supreme court, where liberals are defending a 4-3 majority. The billionaire has been actively backing Republican Brad Schimel, both vocally and financially, funding advertisements against his opponent Susan Crawford and spending an estimated $10m on the race through a political action committee. Schimel also has Trumps backing. The courts ideological balance is seen as crucial with major cases on abortion, union rights, election law and congressional redistricting already under consideration, or expected to be argued soon. Crawford, who holds a narrow polling advantage, told supporters this month: Elon Musk is trying to buy a seat on our supreme court so Brad Schimel can rubber-stamp his extreme agenda. Related: Democrats have never been so angry. Who will step up and lead them? Democrats have also spent freely on Wisconsin race, an estimated $32m to Schimels $41m, including sizable donations from the liberal philanthropist George Soros and the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker. Nationally, however, Democrats continue to struggle with historically unfavorable ratings since Harriss November defeat, with the party riven by infighting over a perceived failing by leadership to stand up to Trumps extremism. A CNN poll earlier this month revealed only 29% of respondents, an all-time low in the more than three decades of the survey, viewed the party favorably. Meanwhile, 57% said they wanted Democrats to oppose the Republican agenda rather than working with the majority to pass legislation that included Democratic ideas and priorities. The poll was taken before 10 Democratic senators, including minority leader Chuck Schumer, joined Republicans to pass a spending bill this month that averted a government shutdown. Joe Longo, chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, has called on the superannuation industry to flex their muscle to fix the failings. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP An unnamed superannuation fund took more than 500 days to approve a death benefit payment to an Indigenous woman grieving the loss of her husband and ignored her concerns about financial hardship and a confusing claims process. The distressing case has been highlighted by the financial regulator as one of many poor industry practices by funds that have had devastating impacts on members experiencing deep grief, vulnerability, frustration and genuine suffering. A landmark report released by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) on Monday has made 34 recommendations to overhaul the superannuation sector. The report investigated the conduct of 10 trustees, which are responsible for 38% of all member benefits in Australia. Asics chair, Joe Longo, said the report identified a range of issues including excessive delays, poor customer service and ineffective claims handling procedures. He called on the industry to take ownership of the problems and flex their muscle to fix the failings. At the heart of this issue is leadership that doesnt have a grip on the funds data, systems and processes and ultimately it is the customers who suffer for it, Longo said. Related: Donald Trumps tariffs are disrupting markets around the world heres why it could be hurting your super This kind of disconnect is unacceptable in any area of corporate Australia, but in the superannuation sector it is particularly serious, because super affects everyone from the boardroom to the living room. A death benefit is the amount of superannuation a person has remaining in their account after they die. This can be transferred to a family member to ensure bills and expenses can be covered. This payment may also include life insurance payments. The review of 10 superannuation funds comes after Asic lodged federal court proceedings alleging Cbus failed to process more than 10,000 claims for death and disability payments within 90 days. More than 6,000 members were forced to wait more than 12 months for payments. Cbus has apologised and promised to overhaul its processes. The 10 reviewed funds include Australian Retirement Trust, Avanteos (Colonial First State), Brighter Super, Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, Hesta, Hostplus, NM Super (AMP), Nulis (MLC), Rest and UniSuper. The report found some funds had performed better than others, but all needed to improve. The review found communication with First Nations claimant was often not culturally sensitive and that their death benefits often took longer to deliver. The report highlighted the case of a First Nations woman who lodged a claim for a death benefit after her husband died. He had a death benefit of around $100,000. According to Asic, she repeatedly told an unnamed fund she was suffering financial distress and struggling to navigate the claims process. The trustee did not respond to the wifes concerns about financial hardship, the Asic report said. The woman had already raised concerns about lacking standard identification documents for her deceased husband. Asic allege the fund took more than a year to offer the wife alternative identification options. The trustee finally decided to pay the wife after more than 500 days, the report said. However, as of the date we collected the claim file, the wife still had not received payment. Asic commissioner Simone Constant said grieving Australians should not have to suffer further stress because of the failure of superannuation trustees to approach claims in a timely, clear and respectful manner. Many of the complaints we read were distressing. We saw deep grief, vulnerability, frustration and genuine suffering, Constant said. The money from a death benefit can make a huge difference and each day a trustee delays that payment causes real harm to families. Trustees need to do better. The 10 superannuation funds examined by Asic are yet to respond to the regulators findings but have previously outlined measures to improve their performance. In November, several of the funds mentioned in the Asic report said they had overhauled their internal processes to improve customer outcomes. Donald Trump also threatened to introduce secondary tariffs on Russian energy exports - Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump said he was p---ed off with Vladimir Putin and threatened new sanctions against Russia as attempts to negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire stalled. The US president voiced his frustration during an interview in which he also threatened to bomb Iran if Tehran did not reach a nuclear deal with Washington. Mr Trumps remarks came as he prepared to accelerate his global trade war on Wednesday Liberation Day when he will implement sweeping tariffs on imports. Sir Keir Starmer has drawn up retaliatory tariffs, The Telegraph understands. Mr Trump is growing frustrated with efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which he promised to do within 24 hours of entering office. He said said he was very angry, p---ed off with his Putin demanding that Volodymyr Zelensky be replaced with a transitional government as the price for peace negotiations. Donald Trump, pictured with Alexander Stubb, Finlands president, on Saturday, has hit out at Vladimir Putin - via Reuters The US president threatened to introduce secondary tariffs on Russian energy exports, targeting countries that buy Russian oil and gas with sanctions, if talks did not progress. If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russias fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russias fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia, he added. He said he planned to talk to Putin this week, with the comments coming after Grigory Karasin, the Russian negotiator, warned on Sunday that a ceasefire may not be implemented until 2026. It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting, Mr Karasin, the chairman of Russias Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and a former ambassador to Britain, said on state television. However, Mr Trump reiterated that he and Putin have a very good relationship, and later on Sunday he shifted some of his criticism to Mr Zelensky. Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Mr Trump told reporters on board Air Force One, referring to an agreement that would provide the US with access to Ukraines rare earth minerals. If he does that, hes got some problems. Big, big problems. He added: We made a deal on rare earth. And now hes saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. He wants to be a member of Nato. He was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that. The ruins of a house in the village of Borova, in the Kharkiv region, shelled by Russian forces Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry claimed to have captured two Ukrainian villages Shchebraki, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, and Panteleimonivka, in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukraine also accused Russia of committing a war crime after it attacked a military hospital in the city of Kharkiv. Mr Trump has been pushing for a quick end to the war in Ukraine, but has also acknowledged that Russia could be trying to delay. I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be theyre dragging their feet, he said last week in a rare sign of frustration with Putin. Ukraine, meanwhile, has accused Russia of prolonging talks with no intention of halting its offensive. For too long now, Americas proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia, Mr Zelensky said in his evening address on Saturday. Volodymyr Zelensky gave his nightly video address on Saturday Britain and France are planning to send a joint team to Kyiv to discuss how to establish a reassurance force for Ukraine once a ceasefire agreement is in place. Concerns over European security were amplified over the weekend by a secret Pentagon strategy document showing that the US would not come to Europes aid if Russia invaded. A memo from Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, obtained by the Washington Post, suggested Washington would be unlikely to provide substantial or any support while the US prepares for a potential war with China. Mr Trump is aggressively seeking multiple deals on Ukraine, trade, Gaza and Iran, saying on Sunday that he would launch military strikes on Tehran if the country did not engage in talks to limit its nuclear programme. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before, he said. Last week, he deployed stealth bombers to the Diego Garcia base, which the US shares with Britain, in what was thought to be a warning to Iran and its proxies. Just hours earlier, Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, said the Islamic Republic rejected the option of direct talks with the US, offering Tehrans first response to Mr Trumps letter via mediators in Oman. Left to right, Doreen Mills, 96, Gilbert Clarke, 99, Ruth Bourne, 98, Bernard Morgan, 100, Joe Mines, 100, and Joyce Wilding, 100, have high tea organised by the Royal British Legion - Matt Alexander/ Royal British Legion Amongst the polite mingling, finger sandwiches and Union flag-themed slices of cake was the serious feeling that this would be one of the last gatherings of Second World War veterans to ever take place. Six decorated attendees, aged 96 to 100 years old, convened at Londons glamorous Ritz hotel on Friday, marking almost 80 years since the famous VE Day outing of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in the same hotel. The tea party, organised by the Royal British Legion (RBL), was the official launch of the charitys commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. It brought together Bletchley Park Enigma machine operator Ruth Bourne, 98, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) transmitter hut attendant Joyce Wilding, 100, Private Joe Mines, 100, codebreaker Bernard Morgan, 100, RAF soldier Gilbert Clarke, 99, and former child evacuee Doreen Mills, 96. The high tea was billed as one of the last opportunities to come together and say thank you to those who served the country from 1939 to 1945, ahead of the RBLs formal VE Day celebrations on May 8. This is one of the last major opportunities for the whole nation to pay tribute, to say thank you, to those that served, and to pay tribute to their courage and fortitude, Mark Atkinson, director general of the RBL, told The Telegraph ahead of the poignant anniversary. Theres not so many of us that are with it [any more] in a way, Ms Wilding, who enlisted as a FANY aged 18 in Surrey, said over bites of The Ritzs Victoria sponge cake. The centenarian, whose role as a transmitter hut attendant involved tuning powerful radios to receive messages from agents in occupied Europe, added that they formed a wonderful camaraderie at the time. A beer delivery van passing through Piccadilly Circus on VE Day with the statue of Eros, protected by advertising hoardings, in the background - Keystone/Hulton Archive I must say it was a wonderful time of my life, [even] with all the tragedies and the terrible things that went on, but VE Day was just joyous, it was unbelievable, she said. We danced the hokey cokey all the way down Piccadilly and ended up in front of the Palace. Ms Wilding was one of two veterans at the high tea event and among an estimated 100,000 people in 1945 who decided to celebrate the historic moment outside Buckingham Palace. There was an electric feeling going through the crowd, said Ms Bourne, who was a Bombe machine operator and checker at Bletchley Park during the war. She was awarded the Legion dhonneur in recognition of her service in 2018. Ms Bourne, who was only 17 when she joined the Womens Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1944, added: In the end, we all broke out. We started shouting: We want the King, we want the King! And believe it or not, they came out, the King and the Queen, Princess Elizabeth in her khaki uniform and Princess Margaret. Of course, we went wild. People were climbing up lamp posts, there wasnt an empty lamp post to be seen. We had a scarf, hat, whatever we had, we waved. I think that was the most exciting moment of my WRNS career, seeing the Royal family. Similarly to Ms Wilding, she spent the evening dancing down Piccadilly Circus, while a few miles down the road the two princesses were famously given permission by their father, King George VI, to go incognito among the revellers and to celebrate at the Ritz. The story is they did a dance through the Ritz Hotel, Ms Wilding said of the now infamous tale, which has been immortalised in the 2015 film A Royal Night Out and in Netflixs popular dramatised series about the Royal family, The Crown. Ms Bourne said no one knew it at the time, and that the crowds outside the Palace were too busy doing the conga. She said: Thats the old fashioned dance we were doing, complete strangers, holding on to one another. It was like we were all one great big family. VE Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London on May 8 1945 - Daily Herald Archive/Getty Images As part of their national programme of celebrations to mark VE Day, the RBL is launching a range of downloadable resources available to all schools across the UK to help teachers plan related activities in classrooms. At Fridays tea, three schoolchildren were invited to meet the veterans to ask them about their experience of the war and were able to observe Mr Morgans original telex, which he received two days before VE Day to tell him the Germans are surrendering, and which he has since refused to give to any museums. Mr Atkinson explained: You want to make sure that children are learning and talking about the Second World War its very important. It was great to have children here today to meet directly with people who were there 80 years ago, to hear their stories. Thats a core part of what the legion has a responsibility for, its making sure that the service and sacrifice is never forgotten. After speaking with the children, Ms Wilding remarked: I think its lovely to know that they know about it, because so often I find that the younger ones are not really very knowledgeable, because theyve never lived through an air raid or anything like it. One didnt realise how near, you know, with Hitler, we were, she added. We could have been in trouble really. A group of Second World War veterans have described dancing and singing in the streets during euphoric Victory in Europe Day celebrations nearly 80 years ago. The six veterans, all aged between 96 and 100, gathered for a tea party at The Ritz in central London to share their memories of the joyous partying on Tuesday May 8 1945, after six years of devastating conflict. The group, which included a codebreaker, an RAF mechanic and a D-Day infantryman, shared wartime stories in the lavish surroundings of the hotel and spoke to schoolchildren about their experiences. Ruth Bourne, 98 and Bernard Morgan, 100, hold hands as they join Second World War veterans at a tea party organised by the Royal British Legion at The Ritz, London (James Manning/PA) The Ritz is the scene of a famous VE Day story, as Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret slipped away from Buckingham Palace and danced the conga through the hotel. The future queen, then just 19, and her sister, 14, also joined thousands of revellers as they gathered in front of the royal residence. The veterans get-together came as the Royal British Legion, which organised the tea, announced its national programme of celebrations marking the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day later this year. The charity is in touch with more than 100 surviving Second World War veterans, but the numbers reduce each year. Joyce Wilding, 100, from Surrey, was in Churchills Secret Army, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) plotting to disrupt the Nazis behind enemy lines. She served at Thame Park in Oxfordshire, a stately home transformed into a secret training ground. Joyce Wilding, 100, served in Churchills Secret Army (James Manning/PA) Her role as a transmitter hut attendant involved tuning powerful radios to receive messages from agents in occupied Europe. It was all very secret, she said of her work. So often people dont really know about the war, and so many parts of it because it was secret at the time havent really been discussed, she added. After Thame Park, she became a driver transporting forged documents and supplies for the SOE. On VE Day, she had the day off from work and decided to head to London. It was joyous, we did a dance all down Piccadilly, then went to Buckingham Palace where we saw the King and Queen and Winston Churchill, she said. Veterans Ruth Bourne, 98, and Joyce Wilding, 100, (right) outside Buckingham Palace where they previously celebrated the end of the war in 1945 (James Manning/PA) There were people up the lampposts. I cant remember ever having to pay for anything, they gave us drinks. We went down to The Mall, it was absolutely jam-packed with people singing and dancing and cheering. It was a joyous thing. What a relief after rather a lot of gloom, years of bombing and air raids and people being killed. Ruth Bourne, 98, from High Barnet in north London, worked at Bletchley Park where codebreakers intercepted Nazi messages. In 2018 she was awarded the Legion dhonneur Frances highest military honour in recognition of her service. On VE Day, she was also in London watching the famous scenes on the Buckingham Palace balcony with her colleagues. 100-year-old Joyce Wilding, right, with fellow veteran Ruth Bourne who was a codebreaker at Bletchley Park (James Manning/PA) Eventually we found our way to the palace and everyone was sort of crowding around, she said. I think the royal family had already been out once, the crowd was kind of abuzz, and we started shouting We want the King. Eventually, they came out, the King, the Queen and the two princesses. We all went absolutely crazy, shouting and cheering. There wasnt an empty lamppost, the soldiers were all up the lampposts. It was a great, euphoric feeling. Eventually we found our way into the town, and people were doing the conga with complete strangers holding each other round the waist. There were people singing patriotic songs, wartime songs and rude songs theres always some rude songs. I dont think anyone anywhere went to bed that night, it was such a party spirit, everybody just feeling happy and glad it was all over. When the celebrations finally came to an end, Ms Bourne was re-mustered as a writer before being demobbed in November 1946. Doreen Mills, 96, who had the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings during the war, and Gilbert Clarke, 98, at the tea party (James Manning/PA) Doreen Mills, 96, was just 11 years old and living in White City, west London, with her five sisters and a brother when war broke out. She faced the upheaval of evacuation while her father was away serving in the Army. Arriving at a church hall in the Rhondda, South Wales, Ms Mills siblings, who were only eight and four at the time, were crying. As the elder sister, it was her job to comfort them. Speaking about her experience, she said: We were in a church hall waiting to be picked out. My mum said, and its always stuck in my mind, You mustnt leave your brother and sister, youve got to be together. All the hall emptied out with people taking one and two, and no-one took three, but the vicar stood up and said Ill take them. We had three years there, they were very nice. In the final years of the war, she worked in an ammunitions factory supporting the war effort. VE Day tea parties will be hosted by the charitys branches and members in communities across the UK (James Manning/PA) Speaking about partying with American soldiers in central London on VE Day, she said: We went up to Piccadilly, we had a great night out there with the Yankees, dancing all night up there. We knew we had to get home because mum and dad would get mad if we were out late. Me and my friend went home and that was all we were talking about. We had a lovely time. We got home alright, weve talked about it ever since. The Royal British Legion is set to host an anniversary tea party and service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, bringing together the largest gathering of Second World War veterans on VE Day, Thursday May 8. VE Day tea parties will also be hosted by the charitys branches and members in communities across the UK. Mark Atkinson, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: This is probably one of the last opportunities weve all got as a nation to thank these men and women for their service and to pay tribute to their courage. It feels an incredibly poignant time 80 years on just to stop and pause and thank people. Were in touch with more than 100 Second World War veterans, and well be supporting them to get involved if they can. There are so few of those Second World War veterans left, hence it feels such a special time to pull them together, to hear their stories, to reunite them and to pay respect for everything theyve done. Amber Ruffin speaks onstage in New York City on 26 March 2025. Photograph: Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix Comedy is off the menu at the annual White House correspondents dinner, a once convivial get-together for reporters to meet with federal governments officials that has become too fraught for light-heartedness amid the second Donald Trump presidency. The dinner, scheduled for 26 April, is organized by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), and it typically features a post-meal comedic interlude during which a comedian sets to work on the powerful. Beginning with Calvin Coolidge in 1924, every president has attended at least one WHCA dinner except for Trump. But this year, the WHCA, already at war with the White House over some news outlets restricted access to Air Force One and the Oval Office, selected Amber Ruffin, a Nebraska comedian known for mixing her humor with song-and-dance routines and for frequently criticizing the Trump administration. The White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich attacked the association for planning to spotlight Ruffin, opening a new front in a conflict between the president and the press that began when the administration said it not the press association would now organize the rotating pool of news media members covering the president. On Saturday, the WHCA announced it was dropping Ruffins comedic performance so the events focus is not on the politics of division but rather on honoring the work of the groups journalists, according to the association president, Eugene Daniels. The decision essentially left the WHCA friendless. Budowich slammed the scrapping of Ruffins performance, labeling it a cop out and calling the entertainer hate-filled. He said it was so sad that such a storied and consequential group has been so quickly driven into irrelevancy. But others saw the WHCAs decision as further evidence that the press, at large, has become too willing to bend to the administrations wishes, especially after a series of media company settlements in seemingly winnable defamation cases as well as ongoing efforts by the White House to defund government-backed news outlets, including Voice of America. Ruffin, an Emmy- and Tony-nominated comedian, began her career as a writer for NBCs Late Night with Seth Meyers, a US talkshow with a stronger political bent than most. She recently joked about a dispute between the White House and the Associated Press over Trumps executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America a conflict that got the AP booted from the presidential plane and the Oval Office. I was like What! Now you care about deadnaming? Ruffin said, to laughs, a reference to the hostility that many conservatives aim at people who are transgender. Trump has a conflicted history with the association dinner. In 2011, then-president Barack Obama turned his comedic spotlight on Trump, who was in the audience, over Trumps preoccupation with Obamas birth certificate. Obama called the would-be president The Donald and said he should get back to issues that matter, like did we fake the moon landing? Trump won his first presidency five years later. The dinner itself has long come under scrutiny, with some questioning if a lavish, jovial get-together between the press and the government, who are highly co-dependent but have opposing interests, should be happening in the first place. The Hill decided to opt out of the dinner after the comedian Michelle Wolf delivered a routine that the outlets chair, James Finkelstein, found offensive and vulgar. Theres simply no reason for us to participate in something that casts our profession in a poor light, he said. False kinship, elevated hostility, traffic in jobs between media and government, and other aspects of the relationship raise ethical questions for both. For instance, some have seen the recent scandal surrounding the Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldbergs addition to a group chat on Signal in which Trump cabinet members were discussing plans of a military strike as a journalistic coup. But others have questioned whether a journalist being inadvertently added to such a group as was the case in what is being called Signalgate could illustrate how close relationships between press and government members can get. Other matters which thrust the correspondents dinner under review include the Trump administrations restrictions on mainstream media access to defence department press cubicles as well as the presidents habit of asking where reporters work and ignoring those whose employers displease him. The Washington Post recently questioned if the conflicts were contributing to a loss of appetite for the top-ticket, meet-and-greet event. A White House press veteran told the outlet that there was a growing sentiment that it should be scrapped. Its been a bad idea for a long time. Its even more of a bad idea at this point, the New York Timess chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, told the outlet. The Times has long opted out of the dinner. An unnamed White House reporter also told the Post that the dinner had never has looked great, but now especially, are we really going to be mingling in our tuxes and our ball gowns with members of an administration that is curtailing press access. Ron Fournier, a former Washington bureau chief for the Associated Press, told the Post reporters would be better off simply calling sources and filing Freedom of Information Act requests. He said: Why be around powerful people if the only way theyre using their power is to lie to the public and to demean your profession and to undermine the amendment in the constitution that your profession is built around? Barry King/WireImage/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. One-half of Hollywood's most iconic couples is celebrating another trip around the sun! Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, who first met more than 30 years ago before working together on the 1991 film Bugsy, tied the knot just a few years later in March 1992, shortly after welcoming their first child together, Stephen Ira Beatty. Now, 33 years later, the two are the proud parents of four, after expanding their family again in 1994 with the addition of Benjamin Beatty and later in 1997 with the birth of Isabel Beatty. In April 2000, their family of six was complete with the arrival of their youngest child, Ella Beatty. In addition to celebrating more than three decades of marriage this year, the Beatty is also celebrating his 88th birthday on March 30, 2025. From early moments together on screen to walking arm-in-arm at the Academy Awards, take a look back at some of the sweetest throwback photos of the A-list duo. On Screen Love TRISTAR/Alamy Annette Bening and Warren Beatty in 'Bugsy.' Before the cameras even started rolling on 1991's Bugsy, Beatty knew he'd met his future wife. "I love her, and I'm going to marry her," the actor told director Barry Levinson after meeting Bening for lunch to talk about the role. Here, the two are seen in character on the set of the crime drama. Good to Glow Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Bening flashed a big smile as she walked hand-in-hand with Beatty at the film's December 1991 premiere in Beverly Hills. Less than a month later, the couple welcomed their first child, Stephen Ira Beatty. Perfect Pair Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Warren Beatty and Annette Benning. Years later Beatty opened up about how it felt to meet and settle down with Bening after years of living out his playboy persona. "It took about 10 minutes [to fall in love with her]," he told New York Post. "Maybe five. I was so elated to meet her, and yet at the same time, I began to mourn the passing of a way of life." Something to Celebrate Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Bening looked up sweetly at Beatty at the 1992 Golden Globe Awards where both actors were nominated for their roles in Bugsy. Though neither took home the trophy for their performances, the movie won the trophy for best motion picture - drama. Mom and Dad's Night Out Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Not long after, the two attended the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards and wore coordinating blazers. In March, the new parents quietly tied the knot with only their newborn son in attendance. Matchy, Matchy Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. And speaking of coordinating, the couple rocked dark shades as they attended the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award salute to Jack Nicholson in 1994. Looking Cool SGranitz/WireImage/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Just a few months after welcoming their second baby Benjamin Beatty, mom and dad stepped out for the premiere of Disclosure starring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas. Eyes For You Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. Dressed to the nines for a 1994 benefit, the American Beauty actress was glowing as she looked over at Beatty who was dapper in a tux. Hollywood's Big Night Peter Jordan/PA Images/PA Images via Getty Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. The two were one dazzling couple at the 1999 Academy Awards where Beatty was nominated for his screenplay for Bulworth. Razzle Dazzle Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. And while he did not walk home a winner, the two were all smiles as the party rolled on at Vanity Fair's annual bash. Read the original article on People Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock Long before I became a chef, I learned how to manage food costs from my mom. She knew how to stock her pantry with versatile, useful foods, especially when they were on sale. When the budget was tight, she always had some dried beans or canned goods to build a meal for the family. Because of her, I know that having canned fish in the cupboard is always a smart move. Thats why I stock up on ALDIs Northern Catch Pink Salmon at only $3.29 for a 14.75-ounce can. Its wild-caught Alaskan salmon, not farm-raised, and Alaskan waters are considered some of the cleanest. Salmon can be very expensive, so this is an affordable way to get it on the plate. ALDI Northern Catch Pink Salmon Price: $3.29 for a 14.75-ounce can Why I Love It: Canned salmon is a great way to bulk up simple meals like salads, pastas, and eggs. I love the affordable price of this high-quality wild-caught Alaskan salmon. Simply Recipes / Aldi Why I Love ALDIs Northern Catch Pink Salmon The first thing I think to make with a can of fish is a salad for sandwiches, but dont stop there. Adding salmon to scrambled eggs, frittatas, or quiche makes a hearty meal. Stirring it into mashed cream cheese creates a spread for bagels or a dip for vegetables. Tossing flaked salmon into pastas and cooked rice turns them into a full, protein-packed meal. And, of course, theres adding it to a potato salad or pasta salad. Youll likely find some bones in your salmon. Just pick out the vertebrae and larger bones, but dont worry too much about it; the little bones are soft and add calcium. Its easy to pluck out the bits of skin, too, but its fine if a little stays behindits all good food. My Favorite Way to Serve This Salmon I'm a big fan of salmon patties. The patties I like to make using this canned salmon are small and easy to eat like nuggets (with a dip) or stuff into a pita or hoagie. Go simple with honey mustard or Greek yogurt with garlic. You can make them larger, too. For the most basic salmon patties, I mix half a cup of dry breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 1 minced scallion, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a few gratings of lemon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir in the salmon, mixing but not so much that it is completely mashed. Preheat the oven to 400F and place a sheet pan in the oven to get hot. Meanwhile, scoop 1/4 cup portions and form into 3/4 inch thick patties. This makes about 10 patties. Take out the hot pan, drizzle with oil, and quickly place the patties on the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then use a spatula to turn the patties and bake for 5 minutes longer, until lightly browned. Serve warm with your favorite dip or sauce. To learn more about our approach to product recommendations, see HERE. Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES This photo provided by the Republican Party of New Mexico shows damage to the group's headquarters building from a fire, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Albuquerque, N.M. (Republican Party of New Mexico via AP) ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) Federal authorities are investigating a fire early Sunday that damaged the entryway to the headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Agents working with local authorities recovered unspecified incendiary materials at the scene, said Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesperson Cody Monday. He declined to say what the materials were or to share further details. The fire follows numerous acts of vandalism in recent weeks directed against Tesla, the electric-car company whose owner, Elon Musk, has led Republican President Donald Trumps effort to slash the federal workforce. Several of those cases involved Molotov cocktails that were used to start fires at dealerships. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has called it a wave of domestic terrorism. Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musks electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and overseas. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars have been targeted. Firefighters responded to the fire just before 6 a.m. and brought it under control within about five minutes, according to Lt. Jason Fejer with Albuquerque Fire Rescue. The building was unoccupied and no one was injured. But the blaze badly burned the entrance and caused extensive smoke damage throughout the office, where three people work full time, according to Fejer and Republican party representatives. A photo provided by GOP representatives showed the charred entrance of the building with wood and pieces of burned insulation scattered on the ground. A broken and burned door was set to one side. The GOP offices security system detected the fire, said New Mexico Republican Party Chair Amy Barela. She credited firefighters with quickly extinguishing the flames and preventing the fire from spreading. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller called arson a cowardly act. Politically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable, and I am grateful to our fire department for their swift response," the mayor, a Democrat, said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "This incident is being investigated at the federal level, and I urge anyone with information to report it immediately. Barela said GOP representatives also found spray paint on the side of the building about 50 feet (15 meters) from the entrance, saying ICE=KKK. Monday, the ATF spokesperson, declined to comment on the graffiti. Agents from the FBI also were on the scene investigating, according to Fejer. FBI representatives could not be reached immediately for comment. Picture the scene. Its 2003 in Tallinn, Estonia. Taavet Hinrikus, a 20-year-old computer whiz, has just accepted an offer to become the first employee of a little-known video-call startup, Skype. Little did he know then, but it was the start of a multi-decade evolution that would make him one of Estonias first billionaires, spawn dozens of startups, and generate billions of dollars in venture funding across Europe. The idea that you can start using this [video-chat technology] to have voice and video conversations was pretty crazy for a boy who was born in the Soviet Union. But it was also obvious to me that it was going to be an exciting journey, Hinrikus tells Fortune. Today, at age 43, Hinrikus can add cofounder of payment platform Wise and partner of founder-led venture capital fund Plural Platform to his resume, having steered multiple companies through countless funding rounds. Hinrikuss storyunique at the turn of the centurywould make him a pioneer in a fascinating business trend: In Europe, a surprisingly high number of employees of unicorns like Skype would go on to launch still more unicorns. Europe's founder factories It would be an understatement to say that Europes tech scene has undergone a revolution since Hinrikus started his first day at Skype. The idea that you can start using this [video-chat technology] to have voice and video conversations was pretty crazy for a boy who was born in the Soviet Union... Taavet Hinrikus Some 1,650 European tech startups have been founded across Europe by former employees of 215 unicorns since 2008, according to data provided by venture capital group Accel and Dealroom.co. The pair provided Fortune with data on European spin-outs of startups in the region, having separately analyzed Europe and Israel starup activity over the21st century. Certain countries have punched above their weight. Sweden, for example, is a standout performer, breeding the multibillion-dollar businesses Spotify and Klarna. Employees from that pair have founded a further 123 startups. King.com, the Swedish gaming group behind Candy Crush Saga, has seen 43 employees leave to create their own companies. Skype employees would go on to launch 31 startups in total, including Hinrikuss Wise and the ride-hailing group Bolt. To date, those startups have raised $3.5 billion in funding. 1,650 The number of European tech startups founded across Europe since 2008. Most founders, around 55%, start their businesses in the same European city where they were first employed. This has helped spawn network effects across Europe that have turned unlikely cities, like Tallinn, into thriving tech hubs. Repeat founders have also blossomed from the early-2000s scene. Spotify cofounder and CEO Daniel Ek, perhaps the most high-profile founder to emerge from Europe this century, recently announced a new funding round at a $1.7 billion valuation for his health-tech startup, Neko Health, making him a serial unicorn creator. The question is, why did it take Europe so long to kick-start its entrepreneurial streak? And what changed to allow the continents founder factories to flourish? Trailblazers When Netherlander Harry Nelisa partner at American fund Accelwho has operated out of Europe for the past 21 years, interviews a candidate for his company, he always asks the same question: Whats the riskiest thing that youve ever done in your life? LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 06: Harry Nelis, Partner, Accel, delivers remarks on "Is Europe's tech scene finally heating up?" on the second day of Web Summit in Altice Arena on November 06, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. Web Summit is an annual technology conference which brings together a variety of technology companies to discuss the future of industry. This years event runs from November 5- 8 and is expected to attract around 70,000 participants.. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Neliss own answer? Getting married (he says hes been happily married for 30 years now). But a close second might be Spotify. Nelis was part of the team that gave Spotify early financial backing, despite industry experts warning that a streaming music business would never work. The momentum was almost undeniable, Nelis recalls when asked why he backed it anyway. The product was so good and so easy to use, and the early consumer reaction so overwhelming, the company actually had a chance to make it. Think of any multibillion-dollar European tech company today, and its likely Accel was involved in its inception. After the group raised Series A funding for U.S. companies like Facebook, Neliss only real mandate in Europe was to find entrepreneurs with big ideas. That daunting brief is probably why he still asks job candidates about risk today. The biggest mistake in venture is not losing money on an investment. It is missing the outlier, Nelis tells Fortune from Accels London office. When he first came back to Europe after spending his early career in Silicon Valley, Nelis was struck by an obvious difference in attitude between Americans and Europeans, namely that it was unusual for the latter to pursue building a company instead of joining an established one. The biggest mistake in venture is not losing money on an investment. It is missing the outlier. Harry Nelis, partner at Accel Europe has long been accused of lacking the work ethic often associated with Americans. Tom Blomfield, cofounder of British unicorns GoCardless and Monzo, last year accused the U.K. of suffering from a know your place attitude that suppressed entrepreneurship. Matt Robinson, a fellow GoCardless cofounder and now a partner at Accel, disagrees with that assessment. However, like his colleague Nelis, Robinson did notice a difference in Europeans attitude toward entrepreneurship when he started GoCardless in 2011. Starting a company was not really an accepted thing to do. You know, when you sit over here and start a company, I think people assume youre unemployed or unemployable, he says. Some elements crucial to growing a startup, like access to seed funding, were nascent in the U.K. just 15 years ago, Robinson notes. Those who spoke to Fortune for this article, though, were aligned in their assessment that rather than an attitude overhaul, Europe just needed a few successful founders to show everyone else what was possible. Ilkka Paananen, CEO and co-founder of Finnish mobile gaming unicorn Supercell, was one of those entrepreneurs working without a roadmap to follow. "There were very few European tech entrepreneurs who I could call for advice, for the simple reason that we just did not have many tech startups at scale at that time," Paananen recalled. Nelis says Europes startup founders were role models who made success easier to envision for their successors. One of those would be Plurals Hinrikus, who watched Skype become one of Europes first unicorns. People know the drill better, Nelis says, noting that new startups come to Accel today with plans to solve big problems in a way they often didnt 20 years ago. Plurals Hinrikus says his crystallizing moment came when he realized Niklas Zennstrom, cofounder of Skype, didnt possess any magical powers that made him more likely to be a successful founder: He was an average person, just like me. If he can do it, then I can equally do it. Robinson says the major obstacles in building a startup became easier for him the second time around, namely, attracting the best talent and fundraising. Since Nelis returned to Europe in 2004, unicorns and decacorns have emerged from Europes VC pipeline, with a centacorn surely inevitable. Robinson spoke to one company that talked ambitiously about becoming the first-ever kilocorn, a $1 trillion private startup. I cannot imagine saying that or even thinking that back in 2011, Robinson says. Stick or twist? Operating a thriving entrepreneurial startup environment brings the inherent and evidenced risk that employees will one day leave to start their own, sometimes competing, ventures. Tara Ryan, Monzos VP of people experience, doesnt see it as a tradeoff. Monzo stands among Europes most prolific founder factories. The banking unicorn has spawned 23 startups since its creation. Oftentimes, when a new company is formed out of Monzo, its not just one person departing. Map shows number of startup created by unicorns' ex-employees in europe People start their own businesses, but often their founding team or their first handful of employees are also Monzonauts, she says. This has been something embraced, rather than suppressed. At Monzo, Ryan says, an internal company website celebrates former employees who went on to become founders. People start their own businesses, but often their founding team or their first handful of employees are also Monzonauts." Tara Ryan, Monzos VP I dont think it is healthy for employees or employers to try and retain people at all costs, she says. Accels Robinson goes one further. While at GoCardless, he would tell early interviewees his hope for them was that they would eventually leave and form their own startups. The European dream Its worth a wager that Hinrikus, dressed in a hoodie and branded tee, and speaking from Plurals London office, looks as invigorated as he did when he stumbled through Skypes doors on his first day as an employee. Skype was acquired by eBay in 2005 for $2.6 billion, a now-familiar case of an exciting European startup being eaten up by a much larger U.S. tech behemoth. Its subsequent parent, Microsoft, no longer needs Skype now that Microsofts Teams video-chat function has been widely adopted. Similarly, DeepMind, the pioneering artificial intelligence research laboratory founded in London, is today a Google subsidiary. Increasingly, though, European companies, driven by growing access to both capital and talent, are managing to stand on their own two feet. Spotify, Accels risky early bet in Europe, had a market value of nearly $125 billion at the beginning of March. Its Scandinavian leadership team has maintained its grasp on the companys operations as Spotify battles with Apple and Amazon. Other younger companies across Europe, like Monzo, now face the challenge of growing while maintaining what made them unique as startups. Alex Norstrom, Spotifys copresident and chief business officer, has advice for startups on that journey. Weve tried to maintain our entrepreneurial energy as weve scaled globally, he says. At Spotify, its always been about having big ambitions and delivering on them. Supercell's Paananen, meanwhile, thinks Europe's quirks make it easier for founders to stay true to their roots. "Europe has a very unique, diverse culture, and a unique way of life that we all love this is a great place to live and grow a family. This should help us both retain and attract the best talent," said Paananen. Hinrikus spoke of making the American Dream come true for his employees, only in Europe. I think the scar tissue we have from owning our companies and building them makes us better partners for the next generation, Hinrikus says. Theres probably 100 early employees in various positions, even in customer support, who earned a million dollars from stock options. Now were showing time and time again that its not an American Dream, he notes. We have the same thing in Europe. This article appears in the April/May 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline The European dream." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Instead of joining in Columbia Universitys annual Alumni Day celebrations for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the school by ripping up their diplomas in protest. The protest follows the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Palestinian activist and a green card holder. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Khalil at his university-owned apartment on March 8. Current students and alumni of Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs demonstrate against the school in New York on Saturday, with some ripping up their diplomas. The demonstration was organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine and began with a group of alumni and current student speakers, a few dozen people chanting and then a collective ripping of diplomas. Its not easy to do this, with none of us doing this lightly. Theres no joy in this, said Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate who spoke at the protest. Tower said as an immigrant who experienced displacement, she had to fight hard to get her masters in international affairs at Columbia. Im not a proud alumni at all, and instead I want to stand with the students, and I want to stand with Palestinians, and I want to stand with immigrants who are being rounded up and harassed, oppressed and deported as we speak, she said. Amali Tower tears up her degree from Columbia University in protest Saturday. Columbia University did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Saturdays protest. The protesters held up signs and chanted Free Palestine and Free Mahmoud Khalil throughout the afternoon. Khalil's lawyers say he is currently being detained in a facility in Louisiana. The Trump administration said it wants to deport Khalil because of his role in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus and accused him of being a threat to foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this is just the beginning for him and Trump, who intend to continue targeting protesters who hold student visas. Once youve lost your visa, youre no longer legal in the United States. And we have a right, like every country in the world has a right, to remove you from our country, Rubio said this week. 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. Khalils detention and the protests have occurred as Columbia is dealing with another leadership shake-up. On Friday, the school announced that its interim president, Dr. Katrina Armstrong, had stepped aside to return to the schools Irving Medical Center, a week after the school agreed to a deal with the Trump administration to negotiate the restoration of its federal funding. Armstrong is being replaced by Claire Shipman, who is the co-chair of the board of trustees, making her the third university president in less than a year. Shipman is a former White House correspondent for NBC News, CNN and ABC News. She testified before Congress last Spring during a hearing about the universitys efforts to combat antisemitism. Its another figurehead that the Board of Trustees is going to use to do their bidding. I dont think it matters, Hannah, a 2024 alumna, said at Saturdays protest. She did not give her last name out of fear for her safety. I think Minouche Shafik did an awful job. I think the interim President Armstrong did an awful job. I think Shipman is going to do an awful job because theyre not listening to their students. Theyre listening to the Board of Trustees, she added. Hannah also ripped up her diploma. Im here today because Im Jewish, and my Jewish beliefs tell me to show up for communities that are being oppressed, that are being targeted, she said. Columbia is not the only school whose students have been detained. Foreign-born students at Tufts University, Georgetown University and the University of Minnesota have been taken into federal custody. Some current students at the Columbia University protest Saturday said they have lost faith in their school. Students are terrified to set foot on campus. Im one of them, so just the fact that Im here is scary because the way that our colleagues have disappeared, Jasmine Sarryeh said. Sarryeh is studying for a masters of public affairs at SIPA and is friends with Khalil. Mahmoud is a very loved community member, and the fact that he was taken away from his eight months pregnant wife and from all of us here at SIPA is devastating, she said. Its hard to go to class, its hard to come here and not think of him. Sarryeh said she has also lost faith in the value of the education shes getting from Columbia. Columbia University used to be a bastion of freedom of speech and academic freedom, and its headed in a really dangerous direction, she said. And if they dont start standing up for Mahmoud and all the protesters that were basically enacting their constitutional freedom of speech and right to freedom of assembly, that will set them down a very dark path that I hope the university doesnt go down. Jon Kopaloff "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Doechii has quickly become a treasured fashion darling, and she reminded us why earlier this week at the GLAAD Media Awards. There, the rapper was presented with the Outstanding Music Artist Award, and she took the stage in an equally outstanding outfit pulled from Maison Margielas archive. The purposefully disheveled look, designed by John Galliano for the spring 2024 collection, proved some red carpet moments are better left unfinished. LISA O'CONNOR For the occasion, Doechii wore a laminated nude corset, allowing one of the chunky straps to hang delicately off her shoulder. A strip of white tape cinched her waist and added a peplum effect to the top, which she paired with a deconstructed black midi skirt featuring haphazard contrast stitching and raw hems. In true Margiela style, she also slipped into a pair of the brands Tabi bourgeoise spectator pumps, which flaunted a look just as distressed as her outfit. Steve Granitz The Anxiety rapper played into the campy look with her accessories, draping a measuring tape around her neck like a noughties-style skinny scarf. On her wrist, she wore a pincushion in the style of a corsage, looking ready to modify her outfit (or anyone elses, for that matter). To give the ensemble her own personal twist, she added her go-to pair of frameless rectangular glasses. A smattering of diamond rings, as well as a statement-making white manicure, completed her look. Jon Kopaloff When it comes to fashion, Doechii hasnt just defied expectationsshes redefined rules. With the help of stylist Sam Woolf, she took over Paris Fashion Week, exhibiting rebellious looks that included going barefoot, mixing patterns, and embracing niche style icons. After all, taking risks is what makes fashion fun, and the rapper seems to be having the time of her life. You Might Also Like Federal authorities on Sunday were investigating the fiery crash of a small plane into a suburban Minneapolis home that killed all aboard and engulfed the house in flames. The SOCATA TBM7 plane crashed in Brooklyn Park around 12:20 p.m. Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The aircraft departed Des Moines International Airport and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis, according to the agency. There were no survivors in the plane, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said Saturday. Conway said he did not know how many people were on the plane or their identities. All residents of the house were safe, he said. The plane was registered to U.S. Bank executive Terry Dolan, the company confirmed Sunday. "At this time, the medical examiner's office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was," company spokesperson Jeffrey Shelman told USA TODAY. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterdays tragic incident." Dolan was named chief administration officer of U.S. Bancorp in 2023, according to the company's website. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a social media post he was closely monitoring the situation and was "grateful to the first responders answering the call." Authorities were responding after an airplane crashed into a house and caused a large fire in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday. Footage from Mike Deyo shows several local residents watching as flames engulfed the house on Kyle Avenue North, near Nobel Parkway. Plane had come from Florida via Iowa According to FlightAware, the single-prop plane flew from Naples, Florida, and landed in Des Moines at around 10:30 a.m. The plane took off 45 minutes later. It crashed six minutes before its scheduled landing time. The National Transportation Safety Board said the "preliminary information we have is the plane impacted a residence and experienced a post-crash fire." Robin King, director of community relations and communications for Naples Municipal Airport, said the plane's owner is not a tenant of the airport. King said records show the plane arrived there March 22 and departed the day of the crash. Sarah Hoodjer, communications, marketing and air service development manager at the Des Moines International Airport, said the NTSB was leading the investigation. "We are aware of this incident and our thoughts are with those affected," she said. Residents saddened by crash "I was watching TV on the couch, and the whole house shook like Id never seen," neighbor Joan Johnson told WCCO-TV. "We ran and looked out the window and saw the billowing black smoke." Kelly Bier, who lives near the home that was hit, said she was praying for everyone involved in the crash. "Cant imagine this happening to anybody, Bier told KSTP.com. Contributing: Kyle Werner, Corey Schmidt, and Mark H. Bickel, Des Moines Register This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota plane crash: No survivors on plane that slammed into home I finally started living in my home: This Georgia couple fought for 2 years to get their sewer line fixed heres the 1 flaw the city missed and how to budget for unexpected home repairs When Alphonso and Tierney Whitfield first moved into their College Park, Georgia home in 2022, they were eager to start their new life together. But that hope quickly turned into a headache when they discovered plumbing issues, Atlanta News First (ANF) reported. Every time the couple flushed their toilets, wastewater appeared in their yard. Unsure of the cause, they hired a local plumbing company. Estes Plumbing discovered the sewer line needed to be replaced and applied for a permit from the city to complete the work. Don't miss The total cost was $8,000 a hefty sum for anyone, but especially for new homeowners. The worst part? Replacing the line didn't fix the couple's sewage issues. Thats because the issue could only be solved by fixing an issue on city property, something that only happened this month. It feels like I finally started living in my home, living in my yard, having people over, Alphonso told ANF Consumer Investigator Harry Samler. But why did the city take so long to intervene? Why didn't the plumbing line replacement work? Estes Plumbing technician Logan Cumby determined that the Whitfields' issue had nothing to do with the new line but instead with part of an old line located on city property. When a plumbing company replaces a residential sewage line, it typically does not do work on city property, Cumby told ANF. We determined the break is in the street, and we cant fix it because its not on the homeowners property. But city officials pushed back, saying the plumbing company must have connected the Whitfields' new line to a city pipe no longer in use. But Bill Knox, a manager at Estes Plumbing, insisted that wasn't true. If we mess something up, we stand by it, and well fix it, Knox told reporters. But in this case, weve done everything right. The Estes team returned to the Whitfields' property and ran a camera through their sewer line. The footage showed the new sewer line was properly connected and intact until it reached an older pipe located under the street and on city property. The footage showed an older clay pipe that seemed to have collapsed, likely causing the Whitfields' sewer issues. A neighbor a few homes away had also reported problems with their sewer, indicating the cause likely wasn't the new sewer line on the Whitfields' property. Following further investigation, a College Park City spokesperson confirmed the city would connect the Whitfields' line to the city tap for $1,600. A few days later, Department of Public Works officials showed up to replace the collapsed pipe and connect the city line to the Whitfields' home. After the lines were replaced, everything was finally flowing correctly for the first time in two years. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it How to budget for unexpected home repairs Unexpected home repairs, like the plumbing nightmare the Whitfields experienced, can strain homeowners financially. Here are several proactive steps to protect yourself: Consider a home warranty A warranty typically covers the repair or replacement of major home systems for a relatively affordable annual fee. However, carefully read the fine print to understand exactly what's included. Often, issues arising from normal wear and tear are excluded from coverage. Early intervention can reduce costs Addressing minor issues quickly can prevent them from escalating into major repairs. Regular home maintenance, like routine plumbing inspections, gutter cleaning or HVAC system checks, can help you catch problems early, reducing long-term costs. Create a sinking fund for home costs Setting up a dedicated savings account specifically for home-related expenses ensures you're prepared when unexpected costs arise. Experts generally recommend setting aside between 1% to 3% of your home's value annually. If your home is valued at $300,000, this translates to saving between $3,000 and $9,000 per year. Compare quotes from multiple service providers When faced with a major repair, request estimates from several contractors. Prices can vary dramatically between providers, and reviewing multiple quotes ensures you're getting a fair price and helps you better understand the scope of work required. Research legal aid options If your home repair involves another party, such as a neighbor, the city or a contractor, knowing where to find legal assistance can be critical. Local legal aid societies, homeowner advocacy groups or a real estate attorney can provide guidance and representation if needed. Finally, make sure you understand what your homeowner's policy covers. Depending on the nature of the repair, your home insurance may cover some or all of the expense. Being proactive in financial and home management strategies can save you significant time, stress and money in the long run. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. The Brooklyn wigmaker accused of fatally mowing down a mother and her two young daughters has been charged with manslaughter and criminal negligent homicide for the horrific Saturday crash. Miriam Yarimi, 32, who cops said was driving her Audi A4 on a suspended license, careered into a crowd of pedestrians, killing the mom and girls ages 8 and 4 as they left Shabbat services in Gravesend, according to police. The victims 4-year-old son is in critical condition in the hospital. Yarimi now faces three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminally negligent homicide and four counts of second-degree assault for smashing into the pedestrians on Ocean Parkway, police told The Post on Sunday. Miriam Yarimi, 32, the driver accused of fatally running down a mother and her two daughters in Brooklyn Saturday, is a wigmaker who lives a luxe lifestyle. Instagram/iitsanellie Yarimi is also a mother of one who dedicates much of her Instagram page with photos of the young girl, who appears around the same age as the victims of Saturdays fatal crash. Instagram/iitsanellie Yarimi won $2 million from the NYPD in a lawsuit alleging she was raped by a police officer when she was a minor. Peter Gerber The incident began when Yarimis Audi collided with a Toyota Camry Uber. The impace caused her luxury sedan to plow into nine pedestrians in the crosswalk in the heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Horrifying dashcam footage posted on X by @NYScanner shows the Audi smashing into mom Natasha Saada and her three children Diana, 7, Deborah, 5, and 4-year-old Philip as they crossed the road. HORROR FOOTAGE IN BROOKLYN: Vehicle plows into mother and three children on Saturday on Ocean Pwky and Quentin Rd. Pronounced dead were mother Natasha Saada (35), and daughters Diana Saada (7) & Deborah Saada (5). Their 4 year old son Phillip remains critical. pic.twitter.com/SCNaulSwFw NYScanner (@nyscanner) March 30, 2025 The overturned Audi barely misses other pedestrians, the clip shows. Really, really tragic tragedy, said Mayor Eric Adams during a church stop Sunday right before visiting the dead victims home. Number one, the person should not have been on the road, he said of Yarimi. [They have a] suspended license. Were going to ensure that this is investigated to the full extent. My heart goes out to the family, Adams added. Yarimi, a 32-year-old mom of one who goes by the name Ellie, is a wigmaker by profession, something noted by the vanity plate of the Audi in the crash, which reads WIGM8KER. Here is the latest on Miriam Yarimi and the Brooklyn crash that killed mom, 2 kids: Members of the Jewish Funeral Home arrived and picked up all three victims from Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn Paul Martinka Yarimi has a taste for luxury vehicles as she posted a video two weeks ago that shows her sitting in a yellow Porsche. Instagram/iitsanellie Her photo shows her proudly showing off the fatal car. When approached at the Brooklyn home of the victims, a family friend told The Post that the surviving little boy needs our prayers. Hes in the hospital. He needs our prayers. Yarimis estranged husband declined to comment to The Post when reached at his home Sunday. Yarimi previously settled a lawsuit against the NYPD for $2 million after she alleged she was sexually assaulted by an officer when she was 14. Maimonides Medical Center at 4808 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Borough park Brooklyn. Paul Martinka Her driving record has been allegedly dismal: The Audi racked up over 93 traffic violations on WIGM8KER including 20 speeding tickets, with more than $10,000 in fines, according to the online records site Hows My Driving. Those violations include a ticket for speeding through a school zone in Brooklyn on March 16, records showed. Since August 2023, her Audi has received 20 speed-camera tickets and five red-light tickets, as well as dozens of parking infractions. A funeral for Saada and her two young children is scheduled for later Sunday, with the bodies then to be transported to Israel from JFK airport, sources said. Additional reporting by Joe Marino and Hannah Fierick Demonstrators raise signs and Israeli flags during an anti-government protest calling for action to secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, on Saturday. - Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images Hamas has agreed to a new Egyptian proposal to release 5 hostages, including the American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire, a Hamas source tells CNN. Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said in a televised address on Saturday that the militant group had engaged positively with the draft deal sent by Egyptian mediators and accepted its terms. That deal would involve the release of five hostages, including American-Israeli Edan Alexander, in exchange for a renewed ceasefire, a Hamas source told CNN. Hamas expects a return to phase 1 ceasefire conditions, including the entry of humanitarian aid, as well as an agreement to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, the source said. The proposal is similar to one presented several weeks ago by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, although it is not clear whether it also includes the release of additional bodies of deceased hostages. Al-Hayya added that Hamas has fully abided by the terms of the first ceasefire deal and hopes Israel does not obstruct this proposal. Israel responded to the Egyptian offer with a counter-proposal, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Ministers office. Israels counter demands the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages in return for a 40-day ceasefire, a senior Israeli official told CNN on Sunday. A total of 24 living hostages are believed to be in Gaza and the bodies of 35 deceased hostages are thought to still be held in the enclave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a series of consultations yesterday, following a proposal received from the mediators. In recent hours, Israel transferred its counter proposal to the mediators, in full coordination with the United States, the prime ministers office said on Saturday. Israel also insisted that during the ceasefire, humanitarian aid will be directed to civilians, and the mediators will ensure that the hostages in captivity receive proper care, including food, according to the Israeli official. Israel earlier this month renewed attacks in Gaza and imposed a complete blockade of humanitarian aid entering the enclave, warning that its forces will maintain a permanent presence in parts of Gaza until the release of the remaining living hostages. According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 50,277 Palestinians have been killed and another 114,095 injured since Israels military offensive began in the enclave, following deadly terror attacks launched by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Reporting contributed by CNNs Eyad Kourdi. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Image Credit: Shutterstock. Known for its lush landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, Ireland has no shortage of incredible places to explore. While many of the more well-known areas have become hotspots for tourists, going off the beaten path has led me to uncover places I had never heard of but am so glad I had the chance to experience. Both of my grandparents were born in small towns outside of Galway, so my visits have allowed me to spend time hopping between relatives who still live all around Ireland. They have given me the true local experience during my trips and allowed me to see the country in a way most never will. Im not going to lie; I will be gatekeeping some of their secret spots, but here are some of the hidden gems that Ive been approved to share with you all and highly recommend you add to your own trips. Wormhole, Inis Mor, County Galway Image Credit: Shutterstock. Like many spots on this list, getting to them is the hardest part. This swimming hole is tucked into the Island of Inis Mor off the coast of Galway. There are a few different ferry routes to the island from either Galway or Doolin, ranging from about 40 minutes to an hour, depending on which one you take. During the off-season or heavy weather, ferries often stop running due to the rough seas, so make sure you check the schedule before you end up unable to board (or stuck on the Island). Once on land again, you can rent a bike and ride out to the hole, where you will then need to walk about 25 minutes further along the cliffs, following a series of red arrows. The official name of the wormhole is Poll na bPeist, but if youre lost, most locals will refer to it as "The Serpent's Lair" due to the folklore surrounding the spot. Just be aware that the currents here are incredibly strong, so you should not actually swim in the hole! Baltimore Beacon, County Cork Image Credit: Shutterstock. Often referred to as the "Beacon" or "Lot's Wife," it is a notable and historic landmark located near the entrance to the harbor of Baltimore, a village in West Cork, Ireland. This striking, white-painted stone structure stands as a sentinel on the cliffs of the Atlantic coast and is an iconic symbol of the area. There is virtually no parking at the start of the trail, so I recommend just parking in town and walking the 20 minutes out to the cliff. Aside from the landmark, it is a stunning view which makes the walk worthwhile. Connemara Beaches, County Galway Image Credit: Shutterstock. Located in the western part of County Galway, Ireland, Connemara is renowned for its stunningly rugged landscapes, which include some of the country's most beautiful beaches. When many people think of Ireland, their minds go to the vast Cliffs of Moher, but most dont realize that Ireland also has several beautiful sandy beaches. My favorite ones are Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay. Situated near Roundstone, these two beaches are back-to-back, forming a tombolo that extends into the Atlantic. Dogs Bay is particularly famous for its crescent shape and white sandy beach, made up of tiny fragments of seashells. Both beaches offer clear blue waters and are popular for swimming. Kinsale, County Cork Image Credit: Shutterstock. This historic port and fishing town in County Cork is renowned for its picturesque streetscapes, rich history, and culinary prowess. I always find myself gravitating towards colorful buildings, and Kinsale is amongst the most charming for this very reason. It has also become quite the foodie scene, often referred to as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. The town boasts many fine restaurants, cafes, and bistros, many of which utilize fresh local seafood. The annual Kinsale Gourmet Festival attracts food enthusiasts from all over, but its worth visiting at any time of year. My first trip here was in the dead of winter during an unprecedented cold front, and I still found myself in awe of the towns beauty and friendly atmosphere despite the freezing temperatures! The Hungry Tree, Dublin Image Credit: Shutterstock. Set inside Kings Inn, a law school in Dublin, The Hungry Tree is a peculiar sight. A tree is slowly consuming the 80-year-old bench, giving rise to whimsical tales of a tree that feeds on inanimate objects. Its a fun stop if you are touring around Dublin and want to get a piece of Irish folklore. Allihies, County Cork Image Credit: Shutterstock. If you couldnt tell, I absolutely love colorful buildings, and the village of Allihies may be one of my favorite spots in Europe for this reason. At the tip of the Beara Peninsula, the village is surrounded by colorful houses that are set against a dramatic landscape that is ever more picturesque. Once a copper mining hub, it now offers a peaceful retreat with beautiful beaches, walking trails, and a fascinating mining museum. Skellig Islands, County Kerry Image Credit: Shutterstock. It is not exactly a hidden gem, but a spot that made the list simply because of how difficult it is to access. Made possible only by boat and in the summer months, the Skellig Islands consist of two small, rocky islets, Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. They are situated off the southwest coast of Ireland, seen by the cliffs in County Kerry. The larger of the two islands, Skellig Michael, is famous for its well-preserved early Christian monastery. Dating back to the 6th century, this monastic site is perched atop the 230-meter-high rocky island and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery includes a collection of beehive-shaped huts, oratories, and crosses, all representing the austere life of early Christian monks. The site was made popular as a filming location for the planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker was found in exile in Star Wars. The challenging climb to the monastery, involving over 600 steps, offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic and a profound sense of solitude and tranquility. Its a truly magnificent feeling stepping onto these islands, and one worth the hassle of getting there. Access to the islands is extremely limited and restricted to licensed boats, so make sure you book far in advance to secure a spot on one of the tours. Feakle, County Clare Image Credit: Shutterstock. This small village in County Clare may not be widely known on the international stage, but it holds a special place in Irish culture, particularly in the realm of traditional Irish music. It attracts musicians and enthusiasts from all over the world and is particularly famous for its annual Feakle International Traditional Music Festival, which celebrates Irish music with concerts, workshops, and impromptu sessions in local pubs. The event usually happens in August if you are lucky enough to visit during that time (or even plan your trip around it!). Dunmore Cave, Kilkenny Image Credit: Shutterstock. Many people stop through Kilenny, but very few make it to Dunmore Cave. This spot has a bit of a dark history, being the site that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people in 928 AD. Early mentions of the cave in Irish poems refer to it as The Darkest Place In Ireland. If you are a history buff, this is a wild tale of greed. Aside from that, the cave in itself is an impressive sight and one worth visiting if you are passing through Kilkenny. The Confession Box, Dublin Image Credit: Shutterstock. This pub has gained some popularity in recent years, but remains one of my favorite spots in Dublin for its unique history. The pub's name is derived from its historical connection and proximity to the Pro-Cathedral next door. It is rumored that during The War of Independence, Irish revolutionary Michael Collins would visit the pub to be secretly furnished with the sacraments of The Catholic Church by sympathetic clergy members, turning the pub into an ad-hoc confessional. Dark Sky Reserve, County Kerry Image Credit: Shutterstock. Set out on the Iveragh Peninsula, the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve has been accredited by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which works to protect the night skies for present and future generations. It was awarded the Gold Tier status, the highest accolade by the IDA, recognizing the area's exceptionally dark skies, free from or minimally impacted by light pollution. It is also the only area with Gold Tier status in the northern hemisphere. The view from this area is truly breathtaking and worth booking a guided trip to see it for yourself. Newgrange, County Meath A photograph capturing the exterior of Newgrange, County Meath. The image showcases the neolithic passage tomb's distinct circular structure with a single entrance. The surrounding landscape is visible, reflecting the site's rural setting. The weather conditions appear neutral, without any notable atmospheric elements. This prehistoric monument predates both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, making it one of the world's oldest astronomical observatories and a site of immense archaeological and cultural significance. The heart of Newgrange is its passage tomb, a long, narrow passage made of large stones, leading into a central chamber. The precision with which these stones are placed, without the aid of modern technology, is astonishing. The chamber itself, designed to align with the rising sun during the Winter Solstice, is a testament to the advanced understanding of astronomy possessed by the monument's builders. You can actually enter a lottery to gain access during the solstice and witness the sunlight illuminate the chamber in a breathtaking display. We were lucky enough to visit the day before the solstice, and there was an undeniable mysticism in the air. Coumshingaun Lake, County Waterford Image Credit: Shutterstock. Nestled in the Comeragh Mountains, Coumshingaun Lake is a stunning glacial lake surrounded by steep cliffs. The hike to the lake is challenging but rewards you with incredible views and a sense of serenity. It's a perfect spot to get away from the crowds, especially if youre doing a longer trip to Ireland and have time to venture off the beaten path. Magic Road, Waterford, Bunmahon County Image Credit: Shutterstock. Ireland is a land rich in lore and legend, and one of my favorite myths is the many "magical" roads across the country. According to locals, there are several stretches of roadway, usually well off the beaten track and hidden up a succession of byways and boreens, where if you stop the car and let the handbrake off, the vehicle will mysteriously and eerily roll uphill. Some claim its fairies; others swear on magnetic fields. The more practical will explain that it is likely an optical illusion, where the layout of the road makes it look like the slope is going one way, but in fact, it's going the other. Regardless of what you believe, its a fun stop on your adventure across Ireland. There are a few roads, but the most famous is in Waterford, marked only by a rock labeled Magic Road. Thanks to Google Maps, you should be able to actually direct yourself to this place! Priests Leap, County Cork Image Credit: Shutterstock. This twisty mountain pass thats not for the faint-hearted and is regarded by many as Irelands most terrifying roads. Make sure you check the weather before you go, as it is a really bad spot to be in low visibility which can happen quickly with the rolling fog. The road is very narrow and climbs up over a mountain pass making it a pretty sketchy drive, but for the adventure seekers its an incredible spot with an equally insane history. Legend tells of a priest's miraculous escape from English soldiers using a horse, supposedly leaping across the vast chasm to safety. Dick Mack's, Dingle, County Kerry Image Credit: Shutterstock. Part pub, part leather shop, Dick Macks has been serving the locals of Dingle since 1899. Hidden in plain sight, its charm lies in its traditional approach and unique setup. This town was by far my favorite stop on my most recent trip to Ireland, and if youre lucky enough to catch a traditional session in this bar like we did you are in for a treat. Hundreds of thousands of Turks protested in Istanbul on Saturday against the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival, sustaining the largest demonstrations Turkey has seen in more than a decade. A letter from Imamoglu was read out at the rally to cheers from the crowd. "I have no fear, you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor," the letter said. "They can put me in jail and try me as much as they want, the nation has shown that it will crush all traps and plots." A drone view shows people gathering during a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas Hundreds of thousands of Turks nationwide have heeded opposition calls to protest since Imamoglu was detained last week and then jailed pending trial on graft charges. Protests have been mostly peaceful but nearly 2,000 people have been detained. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), other opposition parties, rights groups and some Western powers have all said the case against Imamoglu is a politicized effort to eliminate a potential electoral threat to Erdogan. The government denies any influence over the judiciary and says the courts are independent. People take part in a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 25, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer 'Justice will be served' Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators waving Turkish flags and banners flocked to the sea-front rally at Maltepe on the Asian side of Istanbul for Saturday's "Freedom for Imamoglu" rally, organised by the CHP. Police imposed tight security around a venue where opposition supporters were gathering. "If justice is silent, the people will speak," said one banner held aloft in the crowd. "I am not afraid, and I will continue to resist. I call on everyone not to be afraid .... They fired me (from my job) but one day, justice will be served," said Gunay Yildiz, a former employee of Istanbul's Esenyurt district municipality. Bunyamin Turan, a retired teacher, said: "When we look at the history of humanity, in all countries, all administrations, all regimes where there was such oppression, sooner or later, the people and those who resisted the oppression have won. The real owners of those countries won." A demonstrator gestures as police officers stand guard, during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 24, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, speaking at the rally, said millions of Turks were seeking Imamoglu's release and an election. He said the charges against the mayor were baseless and politically motivated, and the CHP called for a boycott of media outlets, brands and stores that it says are pro-Erdogan. Last Sunday, the CHP held a primary election to endorse Imamoglu as candidate for the next presidential election. That is scheduled to be held in 2028, but the CHP is calling for an early vote, arguing that the government has lost legitimacy. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said this week that nearly 1,900 people had been detained since the protests began, adding that courts had jailed 260 of them pending trial as of Thursday. Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for over two decades, has dismissed the protests as a "show", warned of legal consequences, and called on the CHP to stop "provoking" Turks. Since Imamoglu's detention, Turkish financial assets have plunged, prompting the central bank to use reserves to support the lira. The turmoil has sent shockwaves through the private sector. The government has said the impact will be limited and temporary. The central bank said the economy's core dynamics were unharmed but it would take further measures if needed. (Reporting by Ayhan Uyanik and Ben Makori. Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun. Editing by Daren Butler, Aidan Lewis and Mark Potter) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hundreds of thousands rally in Turkey over jailing of Erdogan rival Welcome to the It List Spring Guide, where we share our picks for the best in entertainment. Catch the weekly It List here for the latest releases that we can't wait to watch, stream, listen to, read and binge. Though reading more is a popular New Year's resolution, theres something about springtime that inspires people to pick up more hobbies. For me, that's always meant reading. I read a lot all year round, but cool spring weather (and upbeat spring attitudes) bring all sorts of new opportunities to curate the exact vibe that elevates the mood of whatever youre reading. I combed through the buzzy new releases of March, April and May to recommend your next read, along with my plans to get that reading done. Fiction Emily Henry. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) (ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images) Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories by Torrey Peters What to know: Torrey Peters dominated book discourse in 2021 with Detransition, Baby, and now shes finally back with a novel about a group of restless lumberjacks who plan an unusual dance. That and the three other stories included in this book take on the complexities of gender. Release date: March 11 Genre: Literary fiction Page count: 304 Where Ill be reading it: At a picnic with an extravagant bowl of fresh fruit. The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose What to know: When I need a twisty tale about powerful women to get me out of a reading slump, I turn to Jeneva Rose. This ones a follow-up to her smash hit The Perfect Marriage and follows the same protagonist a lawyer whos now navigating a breakup and an unsolved murder. Release date: April 15 Genre: Thriller Page count: 288 Where Ill be reading it: All around my house, listening via audiobook while spring cleaning. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry What to know: Two very different writers compete to pen the biography of a former tabloid princess and fall in love along the way in the latest book from the queen of earnest love stories, Emily Henry. Release date: April 22 Genre: Romance Page count: 432 Where Ill be reading it: On the beach in a sweater. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong What to know: Ocean Vuong is responsible for some of the most gorgeous strings of words ever put to page, so I have high hopes for his forthcoming novel, which follows a teenager who becomes the caretaker of an older woman. Release date: May 13 Genre: Literary fiction Page count: 416 Where Ill be reading it: At a cafe with an iced coffee. Never Flinch by Stephen King What to know: Stephen King has never failed to scare the daylights out of me in the past, so I expect his new novel will deliver too. This ones about a detective working to stop a serial killer before they murder 13 innocent people and one guilty person. Release date: May 27 Genre: Horror Page count: 448 Where Ill be reading it: Somewhere well-lit. Nonfiction Tina Knowles. (Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images) (ETIENNE LAURENT via Getty Images) The Art of the SNL Portrait by Mary Ellen Matthews What to know: You know those whimsical portraits that Saturday Night Live hosts and musical guests always get? Mary Ellen Matthews is the photographer responsible for them, and shes graciously turned some of the best into a book complete with delicious gossip and backstories. Release date: March 4 Genre: Photography Page count: 272 Where Ill be reading it: At my coffee table, where the gorgeous book now lives. Ill be flipping through it slowly and gleefully over the course of the next three months. Authority by Andrea Long Chu What to know: Pulitzer winner Andrea Long Chu writes some of the most perceptive criticism about books, TV and video games. This collection is a must-read for people who take their pop culture seriously. Release date: April 8 Genre: Essays Page count: 288 Where Ill be reading it: At my desk with a pen in hand, ready to underline at least half the book. Matriarch: A Memoir by Tina Knowles What to know: Tina Knowles is best known for bringing Beyonce and Solange into the world, but shes had a fascinating journey of her own. Release date: April 22 Genre: Memoir Page count: 432 Where Ill be reading it: On my couch with a Beyonce album on the record player. Uptown Girl by Christie Brinkley A man has been arrested in connection with the violent beating of a woman who was celebrating her bachelorette weekend in Dallas last week. Canada Rinaldi, 27, was visiting Texas with friends when a man she did not know attacked her in the early-morning hours on March 23, police said. The Dallas Police Department identified the suspect as Trevon Woodards. Police said Woodards was arrested on Friday by the Bedford Police Department, a jurisdiction in the suburbs outside of Dallas. Rinaldi told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth that she and her friends came down from Oklahoma to host her bachelorette weekend in the city. Her wedding is in a month, and Rinaldi now has a concussion, a broken nose, three broken teeth and eight stitches on her face. Kelly Peralta, an aunt of Rinaldis fiance, told NBC DFW that the group was leaving a club and walking across the street to an Uber when they were blindsided by a man. We started walking across the street to get into the Uber, and thats when he came from behind and he punched Canada, and she went straight down, and I turned to push him away, and thats when he got me, Peralta said. Peralta had a black eye following the assault. A GoFundMe for Rinaldi said the bride-to-be has more than $10,000 in medical expenses between the cost of the ambulance and the hospital stay. The crowdfunding campaign raised nearly $20,000 by Sunday. We are so incredibly grateful for every single donation, share, and kind message, her friend wrote on the page. Your generosity and support mean the world and have brought so much comfort during such a difficult time. Court records for Woodards in the case were not immediately available. Inmate records show he remained in custody as of Sunday afternoon and it is unclear if he has retained an attorney. Dallas County court records show Woodards was charged with felony assault in September 2021, but pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge. A police report filed in the 2021 case said that Woodards had interfered with the arrest of an individual with felony warrants, demanding to know what was going on. He was told by officers to back up three times before Woodards grabbed an officers shirt and head and began to eye gouge the officer, the report said. Officers shocked Woodards with a stun gun and arrested him, the police report said. He was sentenced to a year of community service and appears to have spent 10 days in jail for a violation on his probation in February, according to court records. Eric Adams Mayor Eric Adams attacked his election rivals Sunday for ripping his plan to build a pricey public-safety facility saying the defund-police, bail-reform candidates simply dont know what theyre talking about. Hizzoners Democratic primary-race opponents have used the blueprints for the new $225 million complex as a campaign-trail bludgeon against the incumbent mayor, saying the 16-agency training ground would be a waste of money that wont help the NYPD retain and expand its police force. The mayor brushed off the criticism Sunday, saying after a brief sermon at New Mount Pisgah Baptist Church East in Jamaica, Queens, that his foes fundamentally misunderstand both the need and the process. Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks during the Sunday service at New Mount Pisgah Baptist East Church in Queens. Kevin C Downs for The New York Post Weve heard several of the defund-police, bail-reform candidates who are talking about why we should not have the public-safety academy, Adams said. This once again, it just shows the lack of full understanding of how to ensure the citys number one issue: public safety. It shows their lack of understanding of the budget, he continued. These are capital dollars, they cannot be used for retention of law enforcement. But this administration took one of the goals of the law-enforcement academy and turned it into the use for several of our agencies park police, sheriffs, corrections, all of them coming together, dismantling the walls that we had in our law enforcement community previously to unify our law enforcement communities, he said of the project, which has been derided by lefty critics as Cop City. And so were not gonna listen to those defund-the-policers, he added, referring to many candidates previous support for defunding the cops in the wake of George Floyds 2020 murder. Adams has said grouping public-safety training facilities together will be more efficient and save taxpayers money. Critics say Adams pricey plan for a new public-safety training complex wont solve the NYPDs hiring or retention problems. Michael Nagle His opponents disagree. Mayoral candidate and state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) argued the money would be better spent on increasing cops base pay, among other things. Its another Eric Adams boondoggle of taxpayer dollars, she said. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is running for mayor also criticized the plan through a rep. This appears to be an unnecessary expenditure at this point when the issue is not training capacity but recruitment and retention, Cuomos campaign spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, told Politico. Mayoral hopeful and New York state Sen. Jessica Ramos called the plan a boondoggle of taxpayers dollars. Kevin C Downs for The New York Post Adams has said the money can only be used for capital improvements not paying cops. Kevin C Downs for The New York Post A law-enforcement source asserted that the training facility project is meant to distract from the NYPDs persistent staffing crisis. If you make a Cop City and pack it with all these minor-law-enforcement agencies, it gives the appearance that were not short-staffed of police officers, the source said. Meanwhile, the reality is the NYPD will continue to do the job of all the other agencies and now, with a new facility, train all of them too. The problem still remains we dont have enough police officers to do the ever-evolving and expanding duties of NYPD police officers. Adams struck back at Cuomo on Sunday, saying that if hes one of those who stated that the money should have been used for recruitment, it shows a lack of understanding of city budgeting. [These are] capital dollars, he said, adding that it can only be used for capital costs. These are challenging times of recruiting officers, everyone is aware of that, he continued. And you cant just say, Im gonna bring on 5,000 officers without knowing how youre gonna recruit them. He doesnt have the knowledge and ability to do so. We do, and were gonna accomplish that. Getty A woman at doctor's office (stock image) A woman is sharing her story about how doctors made her out to be crazy regarding her symptoms before she finally received a rectal cancer diagnosis. Heather Barry, a 36-year-old Boston mother of three, chronicled her health journey with Today, revealing that she started to experience strange symptoms just after giving birth to her third daughter in May 2023. She told the outlet that she constipated all the time and had "bum pressure," hemorrhoids and blood in her stool, but her primary care doctor allegedly just kept prescribing her stool softeners and told her to eat more fiber. But then the constipation got so bad that she all but stopped eating and lost close to 30 pounds by fall 2023. "I had bleeding that was happening 90% of the time whenever I would go to the bathroom, and very little [stool] to none would come out. It felt like there was something in there, blocking," she recalled. Related: After 180 Chemo Treatments for Colon Cancer, a Mom Faces Her End: 'Who Would Ever Want to Leave This Beautiful World?' Getty A patient and a nurse (stock image) Barry then looked up her symptoms online and found that they matched with colorectal cancer. "I had every single thing, but now its three doctors who have told me Im OK. I was like, Alright, I guess Im just crazy,' " she said. Eventually, a doctor ordered a colonoscopy for her in January 2024, but the doctors couldn't do the procedure because she had a 2-inch tumor completely obstructing her rectum. That's when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes at Massachusetts General. In an odd way, it was a relief because I knew I wasnt crazy, and I felt like I was being made out to be crazy, she emphasized to Today. She was given a colostomy bag so that she could continue to eat and use the bathroom and then underwent rounds of chemotherapy. Her treatment has resulted in her being unable to have more babies, but she told the outlet that her family is "complete" with her three daughters. Related: They Married in 2020. The Next Year He Was Diagnosed with Cancer 12 Months Later, Her Diagnosis Followed (Exclusive) 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. Barry has since responded to chemotherapy and her tumor marker levels are undetectable. In October 2024, she had her rectum and surrounding area removed, and then her colon was reconnected to give her a working digestive system. Dr. Ted Hong, who treated Barry at Massachusetts General Hospital, told Today that there's no "obvious" reason as to why doctors are seeing a dramatic increase of onset colorectal cancer in young women. Barry hopes people will think about her story when taking care of their health. "I dont want to let this happen to anybody else. If I can resonate with anyone, even if it is just one person a mom, a dad, a sister, a friend, whoever it be keep pushing, because if it doesnt feel right, continue and you will get the answers you need," she said. Read the original article on People California authorities arrested three people last week after a teenage boy with autism was found naked with his hands bound at a grocery store. The Ceres Police Department said it received the first call about the boy Wednesday afternoon in which a nude male was reported running along the road. Officers found the boy an autistic 15-year-old at Cost Less grocery store with his hands bound. The boy, who was not identified, had multiple visible injuries and indications that his ankles had also been bound, Ceres police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police said that while they were investigating, the boys mother came looking for him. The woman was identified as Leandra Renteria, 36, and officers learned she had a 12-year-old daughter with autism as well. Officers conducted a welfare check and found the 12-year-old safe in the home, however the home was in poor condition, police said. Ceres Lt. Jeff Godfrey told NBC News affiliate KCRA of Sacramento that there were feces and urine throughout the house. He described the home as having health hazards that nobody should be living in. Rebecca Renard, a Cost Less employee, told the news station that the boy showed up dragging a rope from his left ankle and had bruises all over his body. I could hear people gasp, like, you know, like a sound of shock, and I turned, and when I did, the young gentleman was coming across the front end with no clothes on, Renard said. Store employees covered him with a coat until police arrived, and Renard said they tried to tell the boy that everything is going to be OK. Renteria was arrested on suspicion of child abuse and neglect. Lenore Wilson and Gary Wilson were also arrested in the case, identified by KCRA as the boys grandmother and his grandmothers husband. The children were removed from the home and placed under the care of Child Protective Services, police said. Court records for the three suspects were not immediately available. A phone number for Renteria was not listed in public records. Calls to the Wilsons were not immediately returned on Sunday. The author (left) moved from Florida to Colombia with his wife (right). Courtesy of Kimanzi Constable My wife and I moved from Florida to Medellin, Colombia, where we could afford a life of luxury. I had a private chef, a cleaner, and a personal trainer; I also had great healthcare. Now that we are back in the US, I can't justify the costs anymore. I was born, raised, and spent most of my life in Milwaukee. I married and had three children with my first wife there. After vacationing in Maui, Hawaii, in my 30s, my wife and I decided to move there in 2014. We fell in love with the island and its slow pace of life. I stayed for two years but ended up getting divorced; I moved back home to the mainland. In 2018, I started dating a friend, Cindy, who I would marry. We dated long-distance at first because she lived in Florida. After all three of my children graduated from high school, I moved to Florida to be with her. My kids liked visiting their dad in a warm climate. Eventually, Cindy and I decided to sell everything and travel full-time, but we quickly got sick of traveling to a new country every month. That's when we decided to settle down once more in Colombia. I decided we should move to Medellin, Colombia Medellin is a popular destination for expats and digital nomads. I enjoyed my previous visits to Medellin. I knew my wife and I could have a good quality of life there. I knew Colombia has great healthcare and a lower cost of living than the US, so I decided to make it our home to recover from constant travel. I applied for and received a two-year student visa to study Spanish. Cindy was still traveling between Colombia and visiting family in the US, so she had a tourist visa. We got to Medellin in June 2022 and got to work on setting up our lives. I lived in the best part of Medellin, the Golden Mile in Poblado, and optimized my life. The Golden Mile is a great area because it's walkable to everything one needs. I secured a beautiful two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in a fancy building in Poblado. Two malls, with many restaurants, were within a 10-minute walking distance. American brands such as Starbucks are also nearby. My language school was also located there. I lived a life of luxury for less in Colombia I hired a cook, cleaner, and personal trainer to come to the apartment daily. These professionals freed up my time to focus on building my business and getting healthier. I had great healthcare in Colombia and used it frequently with no copays. While there, I had some issues related to a vasectomy and needed to go to the hospital. The stay, procedure, and doctor's visit didn't cost me anything out of pocket. I also used Rappi a cross between Uber Eats, Amazon, and an errand service almost daily. You can order food, get medicine from the pharmacy, have groceries delivered, have Rappi run errands for you, and even get cash delivered. It's an all-in-one app that made me never want to leave my apartment. In Colombia, I had all the comforts of a wealthy life without the high costs, and I didn't have to hustle to earn those comforts. My wife and I moved back to Florida in 2024 to be near our grandkids After two years in Colombia, my wife and I returned to the US for our families. We are back to paying a large amount for rent, so I can't afford any of the comforts I could before. I can't imagine how much it would cost to hire professionals. We're in the process of leaving the country for good because I can't justify living in the US anymore. I can't keep lying to myself about paying the always-increasing cost of living, and I'm afraid a medical emergency while in the US will bankrupt us. Life abroad offers us a better quality of life and saves us money. We can save, invest, and work toward our goal of financial freedom without sacrificing our quality of life. Read the original article on Business Insider BANGKOK (Reuters) -The toll from Myanmar's earthquake continued to rise on Sunday, as foreign rescue teams and aid rushed into the impoverished country, where hospitals were overwhelmed and some communities scrambled to mount rescue efforts with limited resources. The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, jolted the war-torn Southeast Asian nation on Friday, leaving around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured and over 300 missing as of Sunday, the military government said. The junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the number of fatalities could rise, state media reported, three days after he made a rare call for international assistance. India, China and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. But residents in the cities of Mandalay and Sagaing reported that international aid had not arrived as concerns grew about a severe shortage of food, electricity and water. "The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement. The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations" and said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the Trump administration, is deploying to Myanmar. The devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Critical infrastructure - including bridges, highways, airports and railways - across the country of 55 million lie damaged, slowing humanitarian efforts while the conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people and debilitated the health system rages on. The military council has rejected requests from international journalists to cover the devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity and hotels. The U.S. Geological Survey's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could eventually top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. 'NO AID, NO RESCUE WORKERS' Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including the second-biggest city, Mandalay, and the capital Naypyitaw, were struggling to cope with an influx of injured people, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said late on Saturday. Ashin Pawara, a monk living in Mandalay, said concrete buildings had become unsafe, forcing people to sleep on the streets and open ground. Hospital buildings collapsed in the earthquake, leaving patients lying on the ground without proper beds. "I havent seen anyone receiving international aid, but local self-help groups are donating food, water and snacks," he said. The Chinese embassy in Myanmar said a Chinese rescue team freed a woman who had been trapped for about 60 hours inside the Great Wall Hotel in Mandalay. The quake also shook parts of neighbouring Thailand, bringing down an under-construction skyscraper and killing 18 people across the capital, according to Thai authorities. At least 76 people remained trapped under the debris of the collapsed Bangkok building, where rescue operations continued for a third day, using drones and sniffer dogs to hunt for survivors. Myanmar's opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the previous administration, said anti-junta militias under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks from Sunday. The devastation in some areas of upper Myanmar, such as the town of Sagaing near the quake's epicentre, was extensive, said resident Han Zin. "What we are seeing here is widespread destruction - many buildings have collapsed into the ground," he said by phone, adding that much of the town had been without electricity since the disaster hit, and drinking water was running out. "We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight." Sections of a major bridge connecting Sagaing to nearby Mandalay collapsed, satellite imagery showed, with spans of the colonial-era structure submerged in the Irrawaddy River. "With bridges destroyed, even aid from Mandalay is struggling to get through," Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw, a political association linked to the NUG, said on Facebook, adding that food and medicine were unavailable. 'CAN YOU HEAR ME CALLING OUT?' In Mandalay, scores of people were feared trapped under collapsed buildings and most could not be reached or pulled out without heavy machinery, two humanitarian workers and two residents said. "My teams in Mandalay are using work gloves, ropes and basic kits to dig and retrieve people," said one of the humanitarian workers. Reuters is not naming them because of security concerns. "There are countless trapped and still missing. The death toll is impossible to count at the moment due to the number trapped and unidentified, if alive." A video filmed by a Mandalay resident on Saturday and shared with Reuters showed patients in beds, some attached to drips, on the grounds outside a 500-bed orthopaedic hospital in the city. Public and private healthcare facilities in Mandalay were damaged by the quake, according to the World Health Organization. In Bangkok, at the site of the collapsed 33-storey building, rescuers surrounded by shattered concrete piles and twisted metal continued their efforts to rescue dozens of workers trapped under the rubble. Teerasak Thongmo, a Thai police commander, said his team of policemen and rescue dogs were racing against time to locate survivors, struggling to move around metal debris and sharp edges on an unstable structure. "Our team is trying to find anyone that might still be alive. Within the first 72 hours, we have to try and save those still alive," he said. Near the rescue operations, relatives and friends of the missing and trapped construction workers waited for news. Some broke down. "Ploy, Ploy, Ploy, my daughter, I'm here for you now!" one woman wailed, as she was hugged by two others. "Ploy, can you hear me calling out for you?" (Reporting by Bangkok bureau, Shoon Naing and Wa Lone; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by William Mallard, Alexandra Hudson and Rod Nickel) American Faye Hall has been released by the Taliban. - Diplomatic Source in Kabul An American woman who had been detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban since February has been released and is in good health, according to a source with knowledge of the release. Faye Hall was released Thursday following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, which has been mediating on the US behalf, the source said. She was detained in the country on charges of using a drone without authorization. Hall was received at the Qatari Embassy in Kabul and has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks. Arrangements are currently underway for her return to the United States, the source added. An image of Hall sat alongside Qatari officials was shared on Saturday by Zalmay Khalilzad, the US former ambassador to Afghanistan. American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home. Thank you, #Qatar, for your ongoing and steadfast partnership, Khalilzad wrote on X. Her release comes after Trump envoy Adam Boehler and Khalilzad traveled to Kabul to secure American George Glezmanns release, which was also mediated by the Qataris. The US does not have a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, having closed its embassy there after the Taliban takeover in August 2022. Instead, Qatar represents the US in Afghanistan, acting as its protective power. President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a video on social media of Hall, who expressed her gratitude and said she was so glad he was in office. Thank you for bringing me home. Ive never been so proud to be an American citizen, Hall said in the video posted by Trump. Thank you, Faye So honored by your words! Trumps post read. American Faye Hall has been released by the Taliban. Left: Mr. Mirdef Alqashouti - charge d'affaires of Qatar Embassy in Afghanistan. Middle: Faye Hall. Right: Qatari diplomat - Diplomatic Source in Kabul On Wednesday, the US removed millions of dollars of bounties on three Taliban officials but kept their terrorist designations. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed there is no current reward offer for the Talibans Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani. However, they remain designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), and the Haqqani Network remains designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a SDGT. It is the policy of the United States to consistently review and refine Rewards for Justice reward offers, the spokesperson said. The Haqqani network was responsible for kidnappings and suicide bombings against the United States and its allies for decades, and its members now serve as part of the Taliban government in Afghanistan. In January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened a very big bounty on Taliban leaders if they are holding more American detainees than was known. Just hearing the Taliban is holding more American hostages than has been reported. If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on Bin Laden, Rubio posted on X. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Jennifer Hansler and Alejandra Jaramillo contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An American woman was freed by the Taliban after she, two British nationals and their Afghan translator were detained in Afghanistan earlier this year, according to a source with knowledge of the matter and a former U.S. envoy to Kabul. "American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home," Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been part of an American delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X. Hall was detained in February along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who are in their 70s, as they traveled to the British couple's home in central Bamiyan province. The Reynolds remain in Taliban custody, CBS News learned. Sources told CBS News that Hall was detained on charges of using a drone without authorization. American Faye Hall was released by the Taliban in Afghanistan. / Credit: Qatari Diplomatic Source Hall was released Thursday as part of a deal that Qatari negotiators helped broker, the source said. She was in "good health" after undergoing a series of medical checks. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban's ambassador in Qatar, told CBS News that Hall was released as a "goodwill gesture." "Better for bilateral relations, that such gestures are reciprocated," Shaheen said. "Actually, after (the) liberation of our country, we are in a new phase of reconstruction of Afghanistan. We want to have positive relations with (the) U.S. and other countries. This is an area which needs to be explored." Khalilzad posted a picture of Hall smiling with Qatar representatives ahead of her departure from Afghanistan with his announcement. CBS News has reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment. American Faye Hall, center, with Mirdef Alqashouti - charge d'affaires of the Qatari embassy in Kabul (left) and another Qatari representative. / Credit: Qatari Diplomatic Source The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have run school training programs in the country for 18 years. Hall is a friend of the Reynolds and had travelled to Afghanistan in February to visit them and help them with their education training business, a member of the Reynolds family told CBS News. The Reynolds are parents to two American citizens. Their daughter has expressed grave fears for her father's health and appealed to the Taliban authorities to free them. They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff. Khalilzad had been in the Afghan capital earlier this month on a rare visit by U.S. officials to meet Taliban authorities, accompanying U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following their visit, the Taliban government announced the release of U.S. citizen George Glezmann after a deal brokered by Qatar. Glezmann, an Atlanta native, had been in custody after being detained by Taliban authorities while on a tourist visit to Afghanistan in December 2022. The U.S. government had said Glezmaan had been wrongfully detained by the Taliban. Khalilzad called Glezmann's release "a goodwill gesture" to President Trump by the Taliban. Glezmann and Hall are two of several Americans to be released from Taliban custody this year. Two Americans detained in Afghanistan Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were released in January in exchange for a Taliban figure who had been imprisoned in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges. At least one other U.S. citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is still held in Afghanistan. The U.S. has said Habibi, who holds dual American and Afghan citizenship, has been "unjustly held" since 2022. In a public notice posted by the FBI in August 2024, the agency said it "believed" that Habibi was taken by Taliban military or security forces and "has not been heard from since his disappearance." The FBI said in its notice that Habibi was working as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecom company when he disappeared. The Taliban still say they do not have Habibi in custody. "No, we don't have him," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told CBS News in January. The government in Kabul is not recognised by any country, but several including Russia, China and Turkey have kept their embassies open in the Afghan capital. Since Mr. Trump's re-election, the Kabul government has expressed hopes for a "new chapter" with Washington. Musk says some will get more Social Security benefits after DOGE, but many worry about access Deadly earthquakes rock Myanmar, Thailand Hundreds of millions of bees mysteriously dying Members of the U.S. military walk between border walls along the U.S. and Mexico border near San Ysidro. When the humanitarian aid workers decided to dismantle their elaborate tented setup erected right up against the border wall they hadnt seen migrants for a month. A year earlier, when historic numbers of migrants were arriving at the border, the American Friends Service Committee, a national Quaker-founded human rights organization, came to their aid. Eventually the group received enough donations to erect three canopies, where it stored food, clothing and medical supplies. But migrant crossings have slowed to a near halt, bringing a striking change to the landscape along the southernmost stretch of California. Shelters that once received migrants have closed, makeshift camps where migrants waited for processing are barren, and nonprofits have begun shifting their services to established immigrants in the U.S. who are facing deportation, or migrants stuck in southern Mexico. Meanwhile, the Border Patrol, with the assistance of 750 U.S. military troops, has reinforced six miles of the border wall with concertina wire. American Friends Service Committee Program Coordinator Adriana Jasso, has been packing up clothing, food, water and other supplies that were once offered to migrants crossing into the U.S. at an area called Whiskey 8 in San Ysidro. On a recent day at the aid station erected by the Service Committee a few miles west of the San Ysidro border crossing, just one mostly empty canopy remained. Three aid workers wearing blue surgical gloves were packing up boxes labeled kids/hydration," "tea and hot coco"and small sweater. There was no need for them now. Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector are now making about 30 to 40 arrests per day, according to the agency. Thats down from more than 1,200 per day during the height of migrant arrivals to the region in April. Adriana Jasso, who coordinates the U.S.-Mexico program for the Service Committee, recalled that hectic time and the group's aid effort. This was the first time we took on this level of providing humanitarian aid, Jasso said. But these days, she said, its the closing of an experience for now. Because life can be unpredictable. In May 2023, the Biden administration ended a pandemic-era policy under which migrants were denied the right to seek asylum and were rapidly returned to Mexico. In the leadup to the policy change, migrants descended on the border by the thousands. Two parallel fences make up much of the border barrier near San Diego. Asylum seekers began scaling the fence closest to Mexico and handing themselves over to Border Patrol agents, who would tell them to wait there between both fences for processing. Days often passed before agents returned to the area, known as Whiskey 8. In the meantime, Jasso and her colleagues doled out hot instant soup, fresh fruit and backpacks through the slots in the fence. The last time Jasso saw any migrants there was Feb. 15 a 20-person group made up mostly of men from India and China. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) volunteer Emma Starkey packs up at an area called Whiskey 8 in San Ysidro. "It's been about a month since we've seen anyone," Starkey said about migrants. Then a storm came in, dislodging two of the canopies. Jasso and her team took that as a sign to tear the rest of it down. The stench of the contaminated Tijuana River wafted in the morning air as Jasso hauled out a plastic shelving unit from the canopy. Inside the canopy, one of the last remaining items was a stuffed Minnie Mouse, her bubblegum pink shoes shaded gray with dirt. A young girl had handed it to Jasso through the fence. Border Patrol refused to let her take it, Jasso said. I promised her I would take care of it and that somebody would love it as she did. Just as Jasso was packing up at Whiskey 8, Border Patrol held a news conference a few miles away. Parked against the border wall, east of the San Ysidro border crossing, a Border Patrol SUV and a green Humvee served as a backdrop to illustrate the partnership between the departments of Homeland Security and Defense. A pair of U.S. soldiers look towards Tijuana that rests behind the border wall with new concertina wire along the U.S. and Mexico border near San Ysidro. A gate in the barrier opened and Border Patrol, Marines and Army officials showed reporters how both fences were now sheathed in concertina wire. Loud music could be heard from Tijuana, where construction workers were building an elevated highway right up against the wall separating Mexico from the U.S. Troops created an obstacle design by welding metal rods to the top of the fence, pointing toward Mexico, and attaching more layers of wire over that. Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego sector, said the additional wire, installed since troops arrived on Jan. 23, has slowed illegal entries. Stalnaker said federal prosecutors in San Diego had also accepted more than 1,000 border-related criminal cases this fiscal year. And following Trumps tariff threats, Mexico vowed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border. Those troops now meet with U.S. agents a few times a week and conduct synchronous patrols on their respective sides of the border, Stalnaker said. Construction workers in Tijuana work high above the border wall that features new concertina wire along the U.S. and Mexico border near San Ysidro. What we see behind us here today is the result of a true whole-of-government effort, from the Marines laying down miles of concertina wire along the border infrastructure, to the soldiers manning our scope trucks and remote video surveillance cameras, he said. Only Border Patrol agents can arrest migrants entering the country illegally, but Stalnaker said that using military personnel to detect migrants has freed agents to spend more time in the field. Last April, San Diego became the top region along the border for migrant arrivals for the first time in decades. Stalnaker said theres been a 70% decrease in migrant arrests so far this fiscal year, compared to the same period last year. To say there has been a dramatic change would be an understatement, he said. But Stalker noted that Border Patrol expects an increase in attempts by migrants to enter California by boat as we continue to lock down the border here and secure it. Farther east, Jacumba Hot Springs was once the site of additional open-air camps , where hundreds of migrants slept on plastic tarps (or in tents, if they were lucky) and huddled around campfires fueled by brush to stay warm. Sam Schultz approaches Moon Camp, where migrants would rest and camp out after crossing the U.S./Mexico border near the unincorporated town of Jacumba Hot Springs. "It's hard to keep it up if you don't see anyone at all," Schultz said about his efforts to continue to bring food and water to the migrants in the area. A tank filled with water for migrants, tires to sit on and sandbags, that were used to weigh down tents, is all that remains at Moon Camp near the unincorporated town of Jacumba Hot Springs. Sam Schultz, a retired international relief worker who has lived near Jacumba for nine years, once made daily deliveries of water, hot meals and blankets to migrants there. When the camps popped up a few miles from his home, he felt compelled to help. The tents that once covered a camp site just off Old Highway 80 are gone. Schultz's son recently hauled them away because they're no longer needed. Schultz still visits three sites a few times a week to check if water left out for migrants needs replenishing. The water hasnt been touched, he said. Legal aid and humanitarian organizations that helped migrants have shifted their operations away from the border. Immigrant Defenders Law Center, headquartered in Los Angeles, served migrants who were bused there from the border by the Texas governor; the group also provided legal help to those waiting in Tijuana for appointments with Customs and Border Protection. After his inauguration, President Trump quickly canceled existing appointments and ended use of a phone application used by the Biden administration to schedule them. Lindsay Toczylowski,the law centers co-founder and CEO, said that since arrests by immigration agents have increased around Los Angeles, the organization has begun to focus on defending recently detained immigrants from deportation. Oscar Mendoza, right, peers out of his tent with his daughters Melina, 15, and Dolores, 12, foreground, at the Movimento Juventud 2000 shelter in Tijuana. Mendoza and his family fled Morelos, Mexico, for the border due to all the violence along with his family being threatened. Erika Pinheiro, executive director of Al Otro Lado, said many of those deported to Mexico are being sent farther south, so there arent as many people stuck in Tijuana. She said the organization has brought staff to Mexico City and to Tapachula, which borders Guatemala. Pinheiro said the San Ysidro-based organization recently scaled up a project supporting non-Spanish-speaking migrants in Mexico refugees who now cannot seek asylum in the U.S. but also cant safely return to their country of origin. The American Friends Service Committee has also shifted its work to focus on offering know your rights presentations at schools, churches and community centers. But back at Whiskey 8, Jasso said the organization will continue offering direct humanitarian aid to migrants moving forward. A border patrol agent rides an along the U.S./Mexico border wall near an area called Whiskey 8 where migrants used to receive water and food in San Ysidro. She recalled learning about three migrants who died earlier this month in the Otay Mountain wilderness after calling for help during a storm that brought near-freezing temperatures to the harsh terrain. With migrants now unable to seek legal ways of entering the U.S. through the asylum process, advocates anticipate that more will begin to risk their lives by attempting to enter illegally through more remote and dangerous terrain. Some desperate enough might even try to jump over all the newly installed concertina wire. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Christmas Cottage, a shop in the small town of Chimney Rock, N.C., is idled from the remnants of Hurricane Helene on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. @RepTimMooreNC | X (The Center Square) Small businesses access to federal aid in rebuilding from Hurricane Helene is supported through a North Carolina congressmans proposal in the House of Representatives. Helene Small Business Recovery Act, authored by Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., drew the immediate support when filed last week of Democratic Rep. Don Davis and Republican Reps. Virginia Foxx and David Rouzer, all of North Carolina. The 5th Congressional District of Foxx and 11th of Edwards were significantly hit by the storm six months earlier, and the 7th Congressional District of Rouzer and the 1st of Davis are in the southeastern and eastern regions, respectively, of the state and the most often hit places by hurricanes. The Helene Small Business Recovery Act clarifies that SBA loans and federal grants, like those that will be offered through the CDBG-DR program, are not duplicative, Edwards said in a release. Without this clarification, businesses that took an SBA loan to keep themselves afloat would be prohibited from accessing federal grant money when it becomes available. Loans and grants are inherently different, and this bill will allow small business owners access to both federal resources so that western North Carolina, and every small business that makes our mountains such a great place to live, has the resources needed to recover. CDBG-DR is the acronym for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery; SBA is an acronym for Small Business Administration. The Stafford Act doesnt allow federal agencies to duplicate benefits, and a loan is considered duplicative of a grant. SBA loans must be repaid; CDBG-DR grants are one-time payments to victims that do not have to be repaid. A sunset passed in 2021 on the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 that, temporarily, said a loan is not part of a grant, Edwards release said. The American Relief Act aiding in Helene recovery awarded $1.65 billion in disaster block grants to western North Carolina. The number of confirmed deaths from Myanmar's devastating earthquake approached 1,700 Sunday and was expected to keep rising as rescue teams and aid agencies struggled to provide relief amid widespread rubble and growing desperation. The military government put the quake's tentative death toll at 1,644; thousands of others have been injured and hundreds are missing. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the military government, warned that the number of fatalities could rise and has pleaded for international assistance. The magnitude 7.7 quake Friday, centered near the northern city of Mandalay, rocked an impoverished Southeast Asian nation already beleaguered by years of civil war. The opposition National Unity Government announced a two-week ceasefire starting Sunday to carry out emergency rescue operations. But the Karen National Union, another opposition army, accused the ruling junta of continuing to conduct air strikes in civilian areas. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it has mobilized hundreds of volunteers to aid search and rescue efforts, provide first aid and distribute emergency relief items such as blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene kits. "This is not just a disaster, it is a complex humanitarian crisis layered over existing vulnerabilities, said Alexander Matheou, Red Cross regional director for Asia Pacific. Developments: The main airport in Myanmars capital Naypyitaw, about 150 miles south of Mandalay, was closed after its air traffic control tower collapsed, killing at least six people, Myanmar Now reported. In Mandalay, scores of people were feared trapped under collapsed buildings while heavy machinery rescuers needed to search the rubble was in short supply. Crematoriums in Mandalay were overwhelmed, forcing some families to cremate loved ones in the streets, Myanmar Now reported. Devastation: More deaths reported after Myanmar earthquake 'What we are seeing here is widespread destruction' The epicenter of the quaked struck near Mandalay, with 1.5 million people the nation's second-largest city. The collapse of sections of a major bridge connecting Mandalay to Sagaing, home to another 300,000 people, slowed the delivery of aid. The Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw, a political association, wrote on social media that the situation was dire and there was concern that "people will forget the small city." "There are not enough charities in the town," the association wrote. "We are only rescuing as much as we can, so the situation is getting worse with time." Sagaing resident Han Zin told Reuters much of the town still had no electricity Sunday and that drinking water was running low. "What we are seeing here is widespread destruction. Many buildings have collapsed into the ground," he said. "We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight." US among nations promising to help India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Russia were among countries in the region that rushed to help Myanmar. The United States pledged $2 million in aid through humanitarian organizations and was sending an emergency response team from U.S. Aid for International Development. USAID is undergoing massive cutbacks under the Trump administration. The task is monumental. The civil war, prompted by a 2021 military coup that ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, had left the nation's critical infrastructure battered and more than 3 million people displaced. Myanmar continues to face internal displacement and food insecurity," Matheou said. "This earthquake exacerbates an already fragile situation." Heavy machinery operates at the site of a building that collapsed following a strong earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30, 2025. Thailand also rocked by quake The quake also shook parts of neighboring Thailand, killing at least 18 people across the capital of Bangkok where an unfinished 30-story building collapsed. Thai authorities said at least 76 people remained trapped under the debris, and rescue operations continued for a third day using drones and sniffer dogs to hunt for survivors. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Sunday that the building, being constructed by China, should have withstood the quake, the Bangkok Post reported. He said a committee formed to probe the collapse was expected to conclude it work in seven days. China has sent an expert to inspect the building, and four Chinese workers were questioned for seizing construction documents, he said. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Myanmar earthquake death toll rises as world rushes to provide aid CNN was invited to spend the day with Germanys Armed Forces as they trained with 4 other NATO nations at an undisclosed location in Central Germany. - Matthies Otto/CNN It was a televised ambush that many in Europe hope will stop a war. Donald Trumps dressing-down of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House was a lightning strike to the transatlantic alliance, dispelling lingering illusions in Europe about whether their American cousin will stand with them to counter Russian aggression. Reeling, perhaps even fearful, Europe may have finally come to its senses over its self-defense needs in the era of Trump. It is as if Roosevelt welcomed Churchill (to the White House) and started bullying him, European lawmaker Raphael Glucksmann told CNN. In a month when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Europe PATHETIC for free-loading on defense in a group chat with administration officials (which inadvertently included a journalist for The Atlantic), the continent has been shattering decades-old taboos on defense. Policies are on the table that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago. The biggest change came in Germany, Europes biggest economy. After the federal election, chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz won a vote in parliament to scrap Germanys constitutional debt brake a mechanism to limit government borrowing. In principle, the law change allows for unlimited spending on defense and security. Experts expect the move to unlock as much as 600 billion ($652 billion) in Germany over the next decade. Merz speaks at the Bundestag during its vote to remove the debt brake in Berlin, March 18, 2025. - Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images This is a game-changer in Europe, because Germany was the laggard especially among the big countries when it comes to defense, Piotr Buras, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, an international think tank, told CNN. In getting over its phobia of debt, Buras said that Germany has finally acted as though Europe really had passed a Zeitenwende or turning point as described by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February 2022, just three days after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Although the invasion jolted Germany, only the Trump shock made them take this really fundamental decision of suspending the debt brake, said Buras. This is the real, proper Zeitenwende. Taboos crumbling In neighboring France, President Emmanuel Macron who has long called for European strategic autonomy from the US has said he is considering extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to its allies, already ostensibly sheltered by American bombs. Macrons comments earlier this month came after Merz advocated for talks with France and the United Kingdom Europes two nuclear powers over extending their nuclear protection. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the idea, and even called for Poland to consider getting nuclear weapons itself. Meanwhile, Poland and Baltic states Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia all neighbors to Russia have pulled out of the 1997 Ottawa treaty on landmines, long considered a key milestone in the end to mass warfare. Lithuania has already announced the purchase of 85,000 landmines; Poland is eyeing producing 1 million domestically. Lithuania also withdrew from the international treaty against cluster munitions this month, becoming the first signatory ever to do so. Military conscription has also made a comeback on the continent. Denmark made women eligible for obligatory conscription from 2026 and lowered health requirements for some roles, as part of a bolstering of the countrys armed forces. Poland has also announced plans for every adult male to undergo military training. Denmark is among the European countries making changes to laws on conscription. - Sean Gallup/Getty Images Even famously neutral countries are reconsidering their positions. Amid discussions about how to keep the peace in Ukraine in the event of a settlement, the government in Ireland a military minnow focused on peacekeeping operations put forward legislation to allow troops to be deployed without UN approval, skirting a possible Russian (or American) veto. Its long been the uncomfortable and often unspoken truth in Europe that its protection from invasion was ultimately dependent on the American cavalry riding over the horizon. That support no longer looks so sure. The pivot goes beyond who will do the fighting to who will provide the arms. Some have begun to question future purchases of the astronomically expensive US-made F-35 jets that several European air forces had planned to acquire. Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo said his country was re-evaluating the expected purchases of the jets in preference for European alternatives over concerns of the US-controlled supply of spare parts. Its the first time such concerns were aired publicly at such a high level, especially in favor of jets that, on paper, dont offer the same capabilities. European unity? But, although Europe seems to have gotten the message, talk of a unified approach is premature. When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a plan to spend billions more on defense, called ReArm Europe, Spain and Italy balked. The plan has since been renamed Readiness 2030. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also ruled out sending Italian troops as part of a European contingent to keep the peace in Ukraine if a negotiated settlement another key issue on which the continent is split. The rebranding indicates a dividing line in Europe: The further away from Russia a country is, the less likely it is to put guns before butter. Von der Leyen's defense plan has faced pushback from certain EU member states. - John Thys/AFP/Getty Images Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this month that our threat is not Russia bringing its troops across the Pyrenees. He called on Brussels to take into account that the challenges we face in the southern neighborhood are a bit different to the ones that the eastern flank faces. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanias former foreign minister, told CNN he was upset by the Spanish statements, and that a recent trip to Kyiv where air raid sirens blast most nights made it all too easy to imagine similar scenes occurring in Vilnius in the future. The further west you go, the more difficult it is to imagine that sort of thing. All the problems, all the decisions, theyre relative, Landsbergis said. Although this geographical split could deepen divisions, Buras, of the ECFR, said total European unity would always be an illusion. What really matters is what the key countries do, he said, pointing to Germany, France, the UK and Poland. I want to be cautiously optimistic, but I think we are on the right track now. Asked whether March would be remembered as the month Europe woke up, Buras said: Yes, we have woken up but now we need to get dressed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Minnesota home was engulfed in flames after a small aircraft crashed into it on Saturday. Dramatic footage shared online showed the property, in the residential area of Brooklyn Park, near to Minneapolis, ablaze. Residents were advised by emergency responders to step back as black plumes of smoke rose into the sky. Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said in a press conference that there were no survivors on the plane, but that all residents inside the home were uninjured, according to CBS News. In a statement posted online, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a SOCATA TBM7 aircraft had crashed just before 12.30 p.m. local time. "We do not yet know how many people were on board," the FAA said. My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park and we are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call. https://t.co/D4mGfPIaD6 Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) March 29, 2025 Officials also told FOX 4 that no one inside the home was injured, and first responders are working to evacuate the area. The plane had departed from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis, the agency added. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will continue to investigate the crash. Minnesota Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz said his team was monitoring the situation. My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park and we are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call, Walz wrote on X. On Friday, a Minneapolis-bound Delta flight had a near miss with an Air Force jet while leaving Reagan International Airport in D.C. No injuries were reported among the 131 passengers aboard the commercial flight. A specialized U.S. Navy dive team and a group of Polish engineers have joined the recovery operation for the four U.S. soldiers who went missing in Lithuania during a training exercise, officials said Saturday. The new reinforcements will work to recover the armored vehicle M88A2 Hercules, which was found on Wednesday, March 26. The armored vehicle remains submerged under at least 15 feet of water, clay-like mud and silt, U.S. military officials said in a statement on Saturday. "We are going to use every resource available from all our countries to find our missing soldiers," Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, 1st Armored Division commanding general, said in the statement. Recovery efforts will focus on removing water and mud from the area, shore up the ground around the site to support heavy equipment, and prepare the site for dive operations, officials said. Members of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, a U.S. Navy dive team, arrive on site to assess diving operations in support of efforts to find four U.S. soldiers in a submerged M88 Hercules recovery vehicle at a training site near Pabrade, Lithuania, March 29, 2025. / Credit: Staff Sgt. Christopher Saunders | U.S. Military Removing the armored vehicle and recovering the missing soldiers will be a long and difficult operation, U.S. officials said. To help navigate the challenging terrain, the specialized divers from the U.S. Navy Commander, Task Force 68, who flew in from Rota, Spain, will focus on finding lift points on the M88A2 and bring to bear highly specialized equipment and training that will allow them to navigate the challenging environment around the Hercules. The troops went missing from a training area near Pabrade, near Lithuania's far eastern border with Belarus, a nation closely allied with Russia, the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius said in a statement posted on social media. The U.S. Army later said the hulking, 70-ton armored recovery vehicle that the missing U.S. soldiers had been operating "was found submerged approximately 15 feet under a body of water and mud in a boggy area" connected to a nearby lake. "We're going to start off by putting our Defender [submersible remotely operated vehicle] in the water to paint a clear picture of what we can expect down there, as well as our Artemis Handheld Sona," said Senior Chief Master Diver Carlos Hernandez in a statement. They divers were joined by 55 Polish engineers and recovery experts, they brought 13 vehicles, four engineer workshop/tool truck, one fueler with 10 tons of fuel, and three WZT-3 tracked recovery vehicles, officials said. "We will not rest until our Soldiers are found," said Taylor. Freed Israeli hostages call for end to war, to bring remaining Gaza hostages home What is the future of the Kennedy Center? Elton John, Brandi Carlile on their dream collaboration In a new wide-ranging interview President Trump quadrupled down on the US takeover of Greenland and defended his national security team in the wake of the Signal scandal. Trump, while talking to NBC, claimed that all options were on the table when it came to taking ownership of the island territory recently visited by Vice President JD Vance. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100%, Trump told the outlet. Good possibility that we could do it without military force, he said, adding as a caveat, I dont take anything off the table. President Trump quadrupled down on the US takeover of Greenland in a new interview. Getty Images You have ships sailed outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places. And were not going to allow things to happen that are going to be that are going to hurt the world or the United States, the commander in chief added. When asked what type of message the annexation of Greenland would send to Russia and the rest of the world, Trump was unfazed. I dont really think about that. I dont really care. Greenlands a very separate subject, very different. Its international peace. Its international security and strength, he said. Trump also discussed the national security leak that occurred on Signal earlier this week. I have no idea what Signal is. I dont care what Signal is, Trump said bluntly. Trump, while talking to NBC, claimed that all options were on the table when it came to taking ownership of the island territory. REUTERS U.S. Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance board Air Force Two after touring the U.S. militarys Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on March 28, 2025 via REUTERS All I can tell you is its just a witch hunt, and its the only thing the press wants to talk about, because you have nothing else to talk about. Because its been the greatest 100-day presidency in the history of our country, he added. I dont fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts, Trump said, calling the story fake news throughout the interview, the outlet reported. People protest in front of the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen, Saturday, March 29, 2025. AP The president reiterated that he has confidence in both National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. I think its just a witch hunt and the fake news, like you, talk about it all the time, but uts just a witch hunt, and it shouldnt be talked [about], he said. The president further rejected concerns over foreign auto-makers raising their prices. I couldnt care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty. Near Phoenix, Arizona, scientists measure the growth of wheat surrounded by elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. the study, called Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE), is to measure carbon dioxide's effect on plants. It is the largest experiment of this type ever undertaken. Photo by Jack Dykinga | USDA Agricultural Research Service. (The Center Square) U.S. taxpayers have shelled out tens of thousands of dollars in recent years to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for research on LGBT issues, the kind of funding now under scrutiny by the Trump administration. The research relies on conducting interviews in one case for $373 per Zoom call to explore a researcher's hypothesis of widespread discrimination. For instance, one taxpayer-funded research grant studied queer farmers quality of life in Pennsylvania, federal records show, one of several grants of its kind. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Projects a federally funded research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture paid $14,997 for the 2018 grant. While this grant is relatively small, there are others, and critics argue the spending is a distraction from helping farmers and lowering food prices, which soared during the Biden administration alongside this kind of research funding. The aforementioned 2018 queer farmers grant went to Pennsylvania State University for a project titled: Sexuality and Sustainable Agriculture: Examining Queer Farmers' Quality of Life in Pennsylvania. The grant proposal says the topic is woefully understudied. The deeply entrenched assumption of heteronormativity in farming has excluded queer farmers from full inclusion and benefits from agriculture, even within sustainable agriculture, the grants proposal abstract said. The graduate student who assisted with the project, Michaela Hoffelmeyer, presented the findings to the Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting in Richmond, Virginia. Her research highlighted some of the challenges faced by queer farmers, reporting that "findings suggest that transgender, non-binary, and women farmers faced additional hurdles" but create support networks to overcome those challenges. Hoffelmeyer has since gone on to join the faculty at the University of Wisconsin, where she has become a voice in the media and public policy on LGBT issues. Hoffelmeyer says on the university website that she applies "feminist, queer, and labor theories" in her research to "inform agricultural programming and policy on how to make shifts to support viability, well-being, and sustainability. The faculty advisor for Hoffelmeyers project, Penn State University Assistant Professor Kathleen Sexsmith, oversaw another taxpayer-funded project along the same lines. Latinx Gender Identities Sexsmith's 2021-2024 grant for $14,923 was awarded during the Biden administration and was titled: Farming as a Latinx: Analyzing how ethnic and gender identities shape Latino/a participation in sustainable agriculture in Pennsylvania. The grant proposal points to the shift from white farmer in the U.S. to Hispanic farmers because of immigration and takes a moment to consider Hispanic masculinity. How do rural Latin American masculinities become reproduced or reshaped in the U.S. as they establish themselves as sustainable farmers, and how does is it impact the ability of women and men to meet sustainable agriculture goals? the grants proposal abstract reads. The researcher conducted 40 interviews over Zoom, averaging about 45 minutes, putting the taxpayer cost at about $373 per Zoom call. "Initially, the project aimed to interview farmers directly, but due to the difficulties in accessing this hard-to-reach population, the focus shifted to institutional perspectives," the report said. The researcher said in the final report that Hispanic farmers suffer from systemic discrimination. Queer Farmers' Relationships Another $15,000 grant in the federal database is titled: Gender, Sexuality, and Social Sustainability: Exploring Queer Farmers' Relationships, Ethics, and Practices in the Midwest. That 2022 grant went to the University of Notre Dame in response to a grant proposal promising to develop a more comprehensive understanding of queer farmers' experiences. The proposal for that grant posited that we still have much to learn about the specific ways that narratives which posit heterosexuality and cisgender identities as normal continue to uphold hegemonic power dynamics within alternative agriculture. The research's final report said "findings show that queer farmers often struggle to find safe, supportive work or learning opportunities as a result of how other farmers, customers, and community members perceive their gender or sexuality, and even though many queer farmers having family connections to farming, they struggle to secure access to land because their familys agricultural or social values dont align with theirs." The faculty advisors for all three projects did not respond to a request for comment or declined to comment to The Center Square. President Donald Trump signed an executive order upon taking office banning federal funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects, initiating a purge within the federal government. Since then, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency have been combing through federal spending records, exposing controversial taxpayer-funded projects, many of which the Trump administration has since terminated. Musk and the Trump administration have faced legal challenges to these cuts, but the administrations cost-cutting momentum has been fueled by examples of all kinds of controversial federal spending, particularly on DEI and LGBT issues. The USDA said in a news release in February that it had begun a comprehensive review of contracts, personnel, and employee trainings and DEI programs. In many cases, programs funded by the Biden administration focused on DEI initiatives that are contrary to the values of millions of American taxpayers, USDA added. Michael Loccisano/Getty Kim Delaney Kim Delaney, who appeared as Detective Diane Russell on NYPD Blue, was arrested on a charge of felony assault following an alleged domestic disturbance. The actress, 63, was arrested on Saturday, March 29, at 10:15 a.m. local time, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's inmate information website. The arrest took place at her Los Angeles home, TMZ initially reported, citing law enforcement sources. Delaney's partner James Morgan was also arrested following what the outlet called a "heated argument that turned physical." After paramedics arrived at the scene to check on potential injuries, both Delaney and Morgan were taken into custody, per TMZ. When reached for comment, the LASD directed PEOPLE to its Marina Del Rey Sheriffs Station. Delaney was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, while Morgan was arrested for domestic violence, a spokesperson for the station confirmed. Morgan and Delaney were still in custody as of March 30, according to the station. TMZ initially reported her charge as felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury, while Morgan was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence. Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Kim Delaney in 2018 Related: Comedian Paul Rodriguez Arrested for Alleged Drug Possession in California A representative for Delaney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Sunday, March 30. Her next court date is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1. Per the LASD website, Morgan was arrested about half an hour earlier than Delaney by the LASD, with a bail amount set to $20,000. He is also scheduled in court on April 1. 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. Delaney starred as a detective in 137 episodes of NYPD Blue from 1995 until 2003, according to IMDB. During her time on the long-running ABC drama, which concluded after 12 seasons in 2005, Delaney won an Emmy in 1997 for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. She was also nominated in 1998 and 1999 for the same award. Her other acting credits include performances on The O.C, Army Wives, All My Children and Chicago Fire. Delaney is active on Instagram, where she shared recent snaps of herself and Morgan, who she wrote celebrated their second wedding anniversary in October. She previously celebrated Morgan's birthday in April, calling him "the one I get to spend all my days with." If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People A single dose of an experimental drug dramatically reduced levels of a deadly form of cholesterol, often thought to be untreatable, for up to one year. Lipoprotein(a) is a type of cholesterol that lurks in the body, undetected by routine tests and undeterred by existing drugs, diet or exercise. The findings, cardiologists say, are a critical step toward treating the millions of Americans genetically predisposed to abnormally high levels of lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Its remarkable, said Dr. Eric Brandt, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor, who wasnt involved with the new research. These drugs have the potential to nearly eliminate that lipoprotein. People with high levels of Lp(a) some 64 million adults in the U.S. are at extremely high risk of cholesterol buildup in their arteries. That buildup raises their odds of heart attack, stroke and early death from cardiovascular problems. Findings from an earlier trial of the Eli Lilly drug, called lepodisiran, showed the drug was safe. The latest study, a Phase 2 clinical trial funded by Lilly, included 320 people. One injection, researchers found, cut Lp(a) levels by 93.9% after six months. After a year, the effects waned, but only slightly, with levels measured at 88.5% lower than the baseline. People in the trial who got a second dose at six months had a 94.8% reduction at the one-year mark. This is a major source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, said Dr. Steven Nissen, chief academic officer of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic and lead researcher of the lepodisiran trial. We have never been able to treat lipoprotein(a) until now, he said. Lepodisiran works by targeting the mRNA, or messenger RNA, that tells the body to make Lp(a). Messenger RNA carries instructions to proteins in the body to produce certain substances, in this case, Lp(a). The drug works by essentially shooting the messenger. Nissens findings were presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. A triple threat Lipoprotein(a) is dangerous in three ways: It sticks to LDL (the bad cholesterol), making it more likely to clog arteries; its particularly good at causing inflammation; and it tends to lead to blood clots. Donald Kosec, of Stow, Ohio, rafting. Routine blood cholesterol tests could look for Lp(a) but do not largely because theres never been an effective treatment for it. A diagnosis of high Lp(a) was a shock to Donald Kosec, 61, of Stow, Ohio. Kosec said he never had any of the typical risk factors for heart disease: He exercised regularly, kept a healthy weight, and checkups with the doctor showed normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Eight years ago, when he was 53, Kosec went to his doctor after feeling a little short of breath. It was only then that he learned all of the major arteries pumping blood to and from his heart were blocked. Elevated Lp(a) was the culprit. Within three weeks, he was having quintuple bypass surgery. Going from not having the care in the world to all of a sudden facing your own death, your own mortality, Kosec said. It caught me off guard, big time. Donald Kosec in the hospital in 2017. He entered a clinical trial for a treatment similar to lepodisiran, from drugmaker Amgen. Early results showed that drug, called olpasiran, drove down Lp(a) by at least 95% within nine months. It turns out, however, that Kosec got the placebo in the trial not the real deal. He doesnt know whether his Lp(a) remains elevated. Without further treatment, it likely is. All he can do now is wait for one of these promising Lp(a) therapies to become available. Right now, Im watching my weight, exercising and doing all of that stuff, and so far so good, Kosec said. Ill be much happier when I can get on a drug that actually improves that. Junior high student gets brutally beaten at Harwood Junior High in Bedford, Texas, teacher 'attempts' to break up the fight but doesn't bother to put his coffee down. A Texas junior high school student was viciously beaten by another student as adults halfheartedly tried to stop the savagery that ended with a head-stomp, according to a viral video. The two youngsters involved are Harwood Junior High School students in Bedford, Texas., where the violent incident took place, the school confirmed in a letter, according to WFAA. Disturbing video of the one-sided incident showed the aggressor sitting on another boys chest while he rained down fist after fist on the head of the flailing victim. A viral video captured a junior high school student in Texas who was viciously beaten by another student. Collin Rugg At one point in the attack, the victim attempts to get up, but is tackled by the aggressor and brought back down to the concrete of the schools courtyard. As he is beaten senseless, the young boy looks to fellow students for help, but instead they make whooping noises, watch, and record on their phones as the boy suffers from punches to his face and back of the head, video showed. Teachers failed to halt the violence. Video shows two adult men, one who doesnt put down his thermos, slowly approach the skirmish and gently pull the attacker off without restraining him. Two adults stood haplessly by as the wild attacker threw punches and stomped on the head of a fellow junior high school student. Collin Rugg When the punches subsided, the attacker stands up, unimpeded by the adults, and stomps on the head of the victim, knocking him unconscious and rendering him immobile. After the stomp, no one goes up to help the victim for at least 20 seconds, instead, students continue to gawk and adults are nowhere to be seen. It was unclear how badly injured the student was or if he required medical attention. The principal of Harwood Junior High School confirmed the viral-fight video occurred at their school and that they were investigating the matter. However, I want to emphasize that fighting is a severely inappropriate behavior, and this type of incident is completely unacceptable, the principal said in a letter to parents, WFAA reported. The incident is being taken very seriously, including investigation of the complete sequence of events using video and interviews, surrounding context, actions of additional students and staff, and district processes related to student fights, the letter read. The Bedford Police Department investigated the incident and has referred it to the Tarrant County Juvenile Justice System, according to a statement posted on Facebook. A week after removing then restoring an article about Jackie Robinson from the Pentagon's website, the Trump administration has reportedly gone back to that well. A biography about Jackie Robinson has been identified as a candidate for removal from the Nimitz Library at the U.S. Naval Academy due to a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering the school to identify books with diversity, equity and inclusion themes and remove them from circulation, according to The New York Times. The Robinson biography is reportedly one of 900 books identified as conflicting with the order, with other examples including The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. and Einstein on Race and Racism. Jackie Robinson was court-martialed in the Army for refusing to move to the back of a bus. (AP Photo/Bill Chaplis, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The Naval Academy's statement, via NYT: The U.S. Naval Academy is fully committed to executing and implementing all directives outlined in executive orders issued by the president and is currently reviewing the Nimitz Library collection to ensure compliance, said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a Navy spokesman. The Navy is carrying out these actions with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives. Hegseth is reportedly scheduled to visit the Naval Academy on Tuesday. It's unclear if the flagged books will be removed before his arrival. The move to remove the Robinson biography comes less than two weeks after the Trump administration received a torrent of criticism for removing an article about the Dodgers legend's Army career from the Department of Defense's website, as well as articles on subjects such as the Navajo code talkers and the first Black recipient of the Medal of Honor. The article in question, which discussed how Robinson was once court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a bus, was later restored. When asked for comment by ESPN's Jeff Passan, Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot released a statement doubling down on the administration's campaign against diversity initiatives and implying some content might be removed by mistake. That statement was widely criticized, and another statement was quickly released with the following first paragraph: "Everyone at the Defense Department loves Jackie Robinson, as well as the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee airmen, the Marines at Iwo Jima and so many others we salute them for their strong and in many cases heroic service to our country, full stop. We do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, or sex. We do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission like ever other American who has worn the uniform." Robinson served in the Army from 1942 to 1944 as a second lieutenant in the 761st Tank Battalion. That unit went on to become the first Black tank unit to see combat in World War II. Robinson was unable to join them due to his court martial for protesting a racist policy. He was later acquitted and went on to break MLB's color barrier. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Robinson's team of 10 years, announced earlier this week they will visit President Trump at the White House to celebrate their 2024 World Series title in April, the same month they will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. WASHINGTON Moving at a rapid-fire clip, Donald Trump has been concentrating power in his hands, pushing the bounds of executive authority while effectively muzzling an array of voices that pose threats to his agenda. Trump is using the multiple levers that a president commands both to neuter institutions he has scorned and reward others that align with his worldview. One by one, he is bending ostensibly independent actors under the weight of his power. So far, Trump has targeted the legal community, universities, the arts, career government employees and the press and brought them to heel in some measure, willingly or not. Law firms with even indirect ties to past investigations of Trump now face punitive measures that could put them out of business. If Trump prevails by the end of his term, hell have influenced who votes in American elections and who does not, who gets to stay in America and who must leave, who pays off their student loans and who gets relief, who gets to question the president and who doesnt. Hes facing pushback, but working to sweep it away. A pliant Congress has largely forsaken its oversight role since Trump thundered back into office, leaving the courts as the main impediment to his ambitions. And Trump is challenging their authority with a resolve that has nudged the nation closer to a constitutional crisis than at any point in the last half century. Pessimistic about governments ability to hold Trump to account, one U.S. senator said a mass uprising may be the only means of derailing his plans. Ultimately, popular mobilization is the only way to tame Trump, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said in an interview. The nations fate may come down to the people on both the right and the left rising up in protest and demanding reform. Pressuring universities and law firms As he sets about to remake the country, Trump has employed a mix of blunt tools. Pushing into social and cultural realms that past presidents largely avoided, he used federal funds as leverage in pressuring Columbia University to make changes that could reshape what students learn about the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. (Columbias interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned last week.) In an operation that could chill free speech, the Trump administration has been picking up foreign students and sending them to detention centers over what appears to be their involvement in the pro-Palestinian protest movement last year. Most of the students have been in the U.S. legally, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that he has revoked more than 300 student visas to date and is not about to stop. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas, Rubio said at a news conference. One student targeted for deportation is Momodou Taal, a Cornell University graduate student and U.S. visa holder who took part in protests at the school supporting Palestinians in Gaza. In an interview, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said the university hasnt gotten direct notification that the students visa was revoked. Its very difficult to talk about this because we dont know the basis upon which many of these actions are occurring, he said. If someone is being targeted for expressing their political opinions, of course that would be concerning, Kotlikoff added. Its something that we would urge and provide counsel for people to take the appropriate steps. Trump cowed a prestigious law firm Paul Weiss into pledging millions of dollars in pro bono work on behalf of causes hes championed by threatening measures that could have cost the firm substantial business. In an executive order targeting the firm, Trump singled out one of its former partners, Mark Pomerantz, who had worked to develop a criminal case against Trump during a stint at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office several years ago. Im the biggest proponent of President Trump and I was stunned at how rapidly they collapsed, said Steve Bannon, a former senior White House official in Trumps first term. This just tells you weve got to do it to every university and you have to do it to every law firm. On Thursday night, Trump signed another executive order punishing a different law firm that has crossed him. He yanked government contracts with WilmerHale and imposed other sanctions, citing in part its hiring of Robert Mueller and two other attorneys who took part in a Justice Department investigation into allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 election on Trumps behalf. Mueller retired from the firm four years ago. WilmerHale rewarded Robert Mueller and two of his colleagues by welcoming them to the firm after they wielded the power of the federal government to lead a partisan investigation against the president and others, the action reads. The two other lawyers that Trump mentioned, James Quarles and Aaron Zebley, co-wrote a book about the case, Interference, that was published last year. Quarles is listed on the firms website as a retired partner; Zebley as a partner. Trump denied any wrongdoing, and he was not charged in the investigation. He repeatedly dismissed the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt. WilmerHale sued the Trump administration on Friday, saying the presidents actions against such firms is unprecedented and unconstitutional. Later in the day, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling temporarily blocking the Trump administrations move to cancel contracts with the firm and forbid federal agencies from hiring its employees. There is no doubt that this retaliatory action chills free speech and legal advocacy, or that it qualifies as a constitutional harm, the judge wrote. A total of six elite law firms have come within Trumps crosshairs. Another one Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom sidestepped an executive order and accompanying punitive action by reaching what Trump termed Friday essentially a settlement. The firm is to provide $100 million in free legal services as a condition of the agreement, Trump said. The firms executive partner, Jeremy London, said in a prepared statement: We engaged proactively with the president and his team in working together constructively to reach this agreement. The firm looks forward to continuing our productive relationship with President Trump and his administration. We firmly believe that this outcome is in the best interests of our clients, our people, and our firm. 'It's all gas, no brakes' On a different front, Trump issued an executive order earlier this month that may dissuade people from working at public service organizations that take part in activities of which he disapproves. The move would potentially deny student loan forgiveness to those working at groups supporting undocumented immigrants and transgender care for youth, or taking part in protest activities deemed a public nuisance. What were seeing is a consolidation of power in the presidency which is unprecedented, said Matthew Platkin, New Jerseys attorney general. Weve never seen a president assert this kind of control over the press, universities, free speech, law firms, people who disagree with him, the judiciary, the election system and the personnel who make up the federal government. Theyre following the authoritarian playbook, which is to do as many things as fast as you can to the point where its almost impossible to keep up, he added. Another institution facing newfound pressure is the free press. The Trump White House ended a long-standing practice of letting journalists choose who among their print and radio peers are admitted into a tight pool covering smaller presidential events. Instead, the White House is adding more right-leaning outlets and exerting more control over who gets in and who doesnt. Among those admitted into the Oval Office on Friday for a Q&A with Trump was One America News Network, whose reporter asked the president, What has made you and your team so effective in finding, locating, apprehending and deporting these violent, illegal migrants. I love this guy, Trump said not for the first time. Barred from the room was The Associated Press, the wire service that raised Trumps ire in refusing to amend its style guide to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, Trumps new name for the body of water. Even the arts are falling within Trumps ambit. He revamped the board of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and assumed the chairmanship, meaning he is now something of a tastemaker when it comes to music and theater. At a board meeting earlier this month, Trump said he doesnt like the sorts of people the center has previously honored for their lifetime artistic achievements. One of the names floated as a possible future honoree was Sylvester Stallone, who last year referred to Trump as the second George Washington. In the past, I mean, these are radical left lunatics that have been chosen. I didnt like it. I couldnt watch it. And the host was always terrible, he said, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by The Washington Post. In response to the Trumpian takeover, the show Hamilton canceled a planned appearance at the Kennedy Center, giving rise to a series of ironies. A musical about the architects of Americas delicate system of checks and balances is boycotting a president who is testing those same constitutional guardrails. Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers that energy in the executive is crucial to good government. Two centuries later, the question is whether Trump is spending too much energy too quickly, with too little forbearance. A pliant Congress has largely forsaken its oversight role since Trump thundered back into office, leaving the courts as the main impediment to his ambitions. Some of this happened last time, said Chris Edelson, an assistant professor of government at American University. Whats dangerous now is he [Trump] seems to be having more success with this. You have companies settling lawsuits with him. Columbia and Paul Weiss are going along with this. Thats dangerous stuff. I dont think it will appease him, he added. He will want more. Trump allies want much more. Now that his methods have met with some success, Trump should feel emboldened to go further, Bannon said. Go to the big state universities and tell them to either purge your faculties of these radicals or well cut you off from the money, Bannon said. These people have no pushback. They talk a big game, but once you cut back the money, they fold. Theyre addicted to government cash. So use the addiction against them. Its all gas, no brakes, Bannon added. Election changes Indeed, there is no sign that Trump is letting up. A sweeping executive order that he signed Tuesday would upend the nations election system a particular interest of a president who still insists he won the 2020 election that forced him from office. Some of Trumps supporters, Bannon included, want to find a way for him to run again in 2028, though the Constitution forbids a third term. The order demands that the Election Assistance Commission put in place a proof of citizenship requirement that would require people to show a U.S. passport or similar document to register to vote. Nearly half of all Americans dont have a passport, meaning Trumps order, if implemented, could disenfranchise millions of Americans. In the order, Trump said the actions were necessary to stop noncitizens from voting, though such cases are rare. Whats more, the order assumes power that presidents lack, legal experts said. Elections are decentralized, with the Constitution giving Congress and the states authority over how theyre run. Election law experts say the president lacks the legal authority to set new requirements for voter registration or to direct the Election Assistance Commission an independent, bipartisan body. Judicial pushback An argument that Trump allies make is that he is exercising power that is rightfully his. A slew of congressional legislation in the post-Watergate period curtailed presidential authority. Trump is reclaiming part of it under whats known as the unitary executive theory. The idea is that the president, as the duly elected head of the executive branch, has discretion to fire any of the millions of federal workers serving under him. And Trump has been doing just that. Thousands of workers have been pushed out of their jobs as Trump and his aide-de-camp, Elon Musk, work to shrink the size of government. Polling shows that Americans dont necessarily want to see a presidency with expanded power. An NBC News survey this month found that 43% of registered voters believe the executive branch already has too much power. By contrast, only 28% said the judicial branch has too much power; while 18% said Congress has excessive power. A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, told NBC News: With a mandate from the American people, President Trump is confidently and quickly stripping unelected bureaucrats of government overreach, minimizing the scope of the federal government, and returning power back to the states and money to taxpayers wallets. Trump is taking the additional step of reaching into independent government boards and deciding who should stay put and who should go. He ousted a member of the five-person National Labor Relations Board, Gwynne Wilcox, who had been nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021 and confirmed by the Senate for a term that wasnt due to end until 2028. The first Black woman to serve on the board, which mediates labor disputes, Wilcox sued and a federal judge ordered that she be reinstated. An American President is not a king not even an elected one and his power to remove federal officers and honest civil servants like plaintiff is not absolute, but may be constrained in appropriate circumstances, as are present here, wrote Senior Judge Beryl Howell in her decision. A federal appeals court on Friday handed Trump a victory, upholding Wilcoxs dismissal. In another era, Congress might have been the restraining force in cases where a president oversteps his authority. But Congress has been ceding power to presidents for years, and Republicans who control the House have shown no appetite for reining in a president whos hugely popular in his own party. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, was upfront about it. Limiting Trumps power over spending is untenable, he told reporters. I dont think youre likely to see a Republican House and Republican Senate try to limit a Republican president, Cole said. Were not going to limit what a Republican president can do. For his part, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has voiced no interest in investigating how it came to pass that senior Trump administration officials discussed military plans in a group text chat that included a journalist at The Atlantic. I dont think anyone should have lost their job over that, because an errant member found its way onto a dialog between leaders, Johnson told reporters. That leaves the judiciary as the main governmental bulwark against any presidential overreach. And judges have not shrunk from the role. The White House has bristled as myriad judges have temporarily blocked his efforts to dismantle agencies, freeze spending or deport migrants under a seldom-used 18th-century law that doesnt require a hearing. It is rogue, activist judges eroding our checks and balance system to purposely stop the president from implementing his agenda, a White House official said. In frustration, Trump has locked onto the view that certain recalcitrant judges should be impeached. Thats not how the system is supposed to work, legal experts say. The normal means of handling unwelcome judicial rulings is appeal, not impeachment a point that John Roberts, the Supreme Courts chief justice, felt compelled to point out. Congress could help Trump by trying to restrain his worst impulses, John Yoo, who was a senior Justice Department official in George W. Bushs administration and a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, told NBC News. We dont use impeachment because we disagree with decisions. Thats not consistent with the original understanding of the Constitution. Impeaching judges who defy Trump would be exceedingly hard to do, requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate. If his administration were to defy a court order something that Trump has pledged not to do that would eviscerate what remains of the checks and balances the founding fathers conceived. Theres not a single day that goes by, seemingly, without a court order reversing something blatantly illegal the White House has done, said Murphy, the Democratic senator from Connecticut. This is a constitutional crisis, and theres no parallel in history. President Donald Trump waves to supporters from his limousine as he arrives at Trump International Golf Club, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) President Donald Trump on Saturday made his clearest commitment to not fire anyone over an embarrassing accidental leak of his administrations plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen. I dont fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts, Trump said in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker. He also said that he had confidence in Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, and Pete Hegseth, his Pentagon chief. Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic magazine, to a group text using the Signal encrypted messaging service where top officials were discussing plans to attack the Houthis. During the chat, Hegseth included details on how the strike would unfold before it took place. Afterwards, The Atlantic published an article on the internal exchange, shocking the national security establishment. Trump is eager to avoid repeating some of the turnover that characterized his first term. Mike Flynn, his first national security adviser, was pushed out after only a few weeks during the early phase of the Russia investigation. Hes also shown resistance to bowing to outside pressure, especially if it comes from the news media. Asked if there were conversations about firing Waltz, Trump insisted, Ive never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and Ive never heard it. Police arrested two suspects in Arizona on Thursday in connection with train heists that yielded Nike shoes. Over the last year, thieves have targeted freight trains traveling through the Mojave Desert in the southwestern U.S. Many of the heists have taken aim at millions of dollars worth of Nike sneakers, the Los Angeles Times first reported in February. Authorities are investigating at least 10 similar robberies. The Hualapai Nation Police Department pulled over a maroon Chevy Tahoe at 2:40 a.m. on Thursday that was suspected to be involved in train robberies in the area, the agency said in a post on Facebook. It was not clear how police connected the vehicle to the robberies. Officers detained the driver, a man from Mexico, as eight people fled the car while it was stopped, police said. Officers found the stolen Nike shoes nearby. Police said in the same post they made another arrest during the investigation: a woman driving a white Toyota 4Runner that was stopped for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. When officers approached the car, they observed evidence of criminal activity that police said was also related to the train robberies. It was not clear what criminal activity was observed or how officials connected it to the robberies. Officers asked the driver to get out of her car, which she did at first, before getting back into the car and driving away from the scene, police said. During her attempt to flee, she hit a patrol officer, who did not sustain any injuries. Police chased the suspect for approximately 80 miles before they say the womans car lost control in a construction zone near the Arizona-California state line, hit a guard rail and ejected the driver. She had minor injuries and was taken to the Valley View Medical Center in Mohave Valley, Arizona, for treatment, police said in the statement. Both of the suspects were booked in the Mohave County Adult Detention Center for their alleged involvement in the train robberies case. Police also said both suspects were in the U.S. illegally. A United Airlines flight hit a kite while landing at Washingtons Reagan National Airport on Saturday afternoon months after a deadly collision at the same airport killed 67 people. The pilot aboard United Flight 654 from Houston to DCA can be heard over air traffic radio providing details about the kite which was spotted from the cockpit, WUSA 9 reported. Its the latest scary mid-air incident in one of the most crowded flight paths in the country. This time, the threat came from Gravelly Point Park, a popular spot just north of the airport on the Potomac River. You were telling me those details about the kite, whether it was over the park? How high was it?, an air traffic controller says in audio from LiveATC.net. The United pilot replies: It was over the park about 100 feet over the ground, it looked like it was right on the flight deck. Those guys were a little bit low A United Airlines flight hit a kite while attempting to land on Saturday. Getty Images Dylan Oakes, a WUSA9 producer and former flight attendant, was at Gravelly Point in Arlington with his partner at around 4 p.m. on Saturday and watched the United flight snag the kite. There was a kite that looked a little higher than it should be, we thought it might just be a perspective thing from where we were standing but, lo and behold, as the plane got a little bit closer, it came into contact with the kite, Oakes told the outlet. The incident follows a near-miss on Friday when a Delta Air Lines plane that was taking off from the airport came within a few hundred feet of US Air Force Northrop T38 Talon trainer jets that were arriving for a fly-over at Arlington National Cemetery. In January, an American Airlines flight from Wichita collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter that was flying too high, killing all aboard both aircraft. It was the deadliest US air disaster since 2001. The incident took place at Reagan National Airport in Virginia. The Washington Post via Getty Images There were no injuries from Saturdays close-call with the kite. The kite fell to the ground. The plane landed safely, thankfully everyones OK, but its just a little scary given the recent history at DCA our issues with close calls and what happened two months ago, Oakes said. The situation could have become dire if the kite had been sucked into the planes engine, Oakes added. It could be serious planes shouldnt be coming into contact with anything. This kite could have been ingested into an engine, the engine could have possibly failed, Oakes added. Youre in a critical phase of flight on the approach. The incident took place near where a Delta flight collided with a military jet in January, killing 67 people. AP Oakes said he also saw Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority officers later confiscate the kite from a family in Gravelly Point. It was returned soon after. Airports Authority police officers responded to reports of kite-flying at Gravelly Point today, an activity which is not allowed in that area due to the danger of to low-flying aircraft, a MWAA spokesperson told WUSA9. Officers warned some individuals about flying kites and briefly confiscated a kite. That kite was returned to its owner shortly later and no charges were filed. In a statement, United Airlines said there was no damage to the plane and no injuries were reported in the incident. We are aware of reports that a kite struck UA flight 654 from Houston to Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., the airline said. The aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection there was no damage to the aircraft. James Carbone/Newsday via AP Rex Heuermann, the man charged in the Gilgo Beach serial killings on Long Island, appears for a hearing on July 30, 2024 in Riverhead, New York. Rex Heuermann went from a seemingly average Long Island resident to the subject of countless headlines after he was accused of murdering seven women. The alleged murderer is at the center of Netflixs true crime docuseries, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, premiering March 31, which delves into one of Long Islands most infamous cases. From 2010 to 2011, the remains of nearly a dozen women, most of whom were sex workers, were found near Gilgo Beach on Long Island, N.Y. Investigators suspected a serial killer, but for over 10 years, no arrests were made. Then, a major break in the case led authorities to Heuermann, a New York City architect and father of two. Heuermann was ultimately arrested in July 2023 and eventually charged with the murders of seven women, including the Gilgo Beach Four, whose remains were found within the same half-mile stretch of beach in December 2010, and three additional victims linked to cold cases. Related: Gilgo Beach Murders: A Timeline of the Long Island Serial Killer Suspect's Crimes, Arrests and Charges For decades, Heuermann allegedly lived a double life, presenting himself as a devoted family man and a successful architect. However, the families of the Long Island Serial Killer's victims never stopped fighting for justice, and thanks to advancements in DNA technology, he was indicted for their murders. So where is Rex Heuermann now? Here's everything to know about what evidence led to him being accused of being the Long Island Serial Killer and what his life looks like today. Who is Rex Heuermann? Courtesy of Netflix Rex Heuermann. Heuermann was born and raised on Long Island where he attended Berner High School in Massapequa Park. His former classmates described him as everybodys punching bag and somebody who "got picked on a lot, per The New York Times. He went on to become an architect and founded the New York City firm RH Consultants and Associates in 1994. His clients included Target, American Airlines and Foot Locker. Heuermann was 59 years old at the time of his arrest and was living in Massapequa Park, just 20 minutes from Gilgo Beach, with his wife, Asa Ellerup, and their two children. Several of Heuermanns neighbors spoke to CBS after his arrest, expressing their shock and disbelief over the news. We've been here for about 30 years, and the guy's been quiet, never really bothers anybody," next-door neighbor Etienne DeVilliers told the outlet. This is a very, very quiet neighborhood. Everybody knows each other, all of our neighbors, we're all friendly. It's never been a problem at all. What has Rex Heuermann been charged with? James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images Rex Heuermann appears in Suffolk County Court on August 1, 2023 in Central Islip, New York. In July 2023, Heuermann was arrested and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. Six months later, in January 2024, he was also charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The women, known as the Gilgo Beach Four, were all escorts in their early to mid-20s who went missing between 2007 and 2010. Their bodies were found close to one another in December 2010, bound with belts or tape and wrapped in burlap. The discovery of the Gilgo Beach Four sparked a larger investigation, which unearthed six other sets of remains. Nearly a year after his arrest, Heuermann was also charged with the murder of Sandra Costilla, a 28-year-old whose remains were found by hunters in North Sea, Long Island, in 1993, and the murder of Jessica Taylor, a 20-year-old who vanished in 2003 while working as an escort in New York City. Some of Taylor's remains were discovered in Manorville that year, while the rest were found at Gilgo Beach in 2011. Then, in December 2024, Heuermann was charged with a seventh murder, that of Valerie Mack, a 24-year-old from New Jersey who had been working as an escort in the Philadelphia area at the time of her disappearance in 2000. Several of the other bodies found in the same area are believed to be connected to the Long Island Serial Killer, but no charges have been filed in those cases. Meanwhile, Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges. How was Rex Heuermann caught? J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images Police Investigators work in the backyard of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann's home on July 14, 2023 in Massapequa Park, New York. For over a decade, the police had no leads or suspects in their search for the Long Island Serial Killer. Then, in January 2022, a new task force was formed to take a fresh look at the case. Shortly after, Heuermann was identified as a prime suspect through cell phone records and a previous eyewitness account of a woman who claimed she saw a Chevy Avalanche registered to Heuermann driving away from where Costello was the day before she disappeared. The major break in the case came a year later when DNA from a pizza box that Heuermann discarded matched a male hair found on Watermans body. Heuermann was then arrested and taken into custody on July 13, 2023. He was using these burner phones and fictitious accounts to contact sex workers, District Attorney Tierney told PEOPLE following the arrest. We knew we had to take him down, and we thought it would be safer to do it [away from] his home, since he has 92 gun permits. Id say he was pretty surprised, so we did our job well. He continued, I think he lived this double life, and he used the anonymity of phones and computers to shield himself from the rest of society. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for the rest of us he wasnt successful. After his arrest, police recovered a written document that allegedly outlined Heuermanns methods for packaging bodies for transport, steps to evade apprehension and tips for removing trace DNA evidence, according to a bail application released in June 2024. The document also included one section with four columns labeled as "Problems," "Supplies," "DS" and "TRG." While "problems" referred to issues he might encounter while allegedly trying to get away with the murder including "hair & fiber," "DNA" and "finger prints in gloves" under "supplies," he allegedly wrote "saw / cutting tools," "lie / acid" and "burn can." When is Rex Heuermanns trial? James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool Rex Heuermann enters the courtroom for a hearing at Suffolk County Court on June 6, 2024 in Riverhead, New York. Heuermann's case is still in its preliminary stages, but a special hearing was scheduled for March 28 to determine whether DNA evidence would be admissible in court, according to CBS News. His legal team had also requested that DNA evidence be excluded from the case and that Heuermann be tried separately for the murders. At the hearing, a scientist testified that the technique used for the DNA evidence was generally accepted within the scientific community, per ABC7. Where is Rex Heuermann now? James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool Rex Heuermann, charged in the Gilgo Beach serial killings on Long Island, appears for a hearing on July 30, 2024 in Riverhead, New York. The former architect is currently being held at the Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County, N.Y., as he awaits trial. In an exclusive May 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon Jr. explained that Heuermann has become more acclimated with jail life." For the most part, it just seems like this is a new way of life for [Heuermann], he said. In the beginning he was a little bit more starry-eyed as to his surroundings. Life has transformed over the last several months. He receives visits, he makes phone calls and he doesn't congregate with the rest of the population because of the crimes he's accused of. The sheriff added that Heuermann spends his days reading books and articles on his discovery as well as watching TV. "He's been very compliant. There havent been any issues, he said. A week after his arrest, Heuermann's wife filed for divorce, which was finalized on March 28. However, she started to visit him weekly around four months into his incarceration, Toulon said. Her attorney, Bob Macedonio, told PEOPLE that Ellerup was still having a "very difficult time" believing the extent of Heuermann's alleged crimes. "A lot of that I think is therapeutic for her and to get whatever kind of grasp on the situation she possibly can," he said of her weekly visits. Like their mom, Heuermann's children are also struggling to reconcile their image of their father with his alleged crimes. They're two young adults that are caught in the cross hairs of this deeply unfortunate case that they have nothing to do with other than they are related to Mr. Heuermann Very, very dark time in their lives," their attorney, Vess Mitev, told Newsweek in June 2024. Read the original article on People SAP has strengthened its leadership team in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) with two appointments, in a plan to accelerate momentum in one of its fastest-growing cloud markets. Brian Senior joins as executive general manager for federal government A/NZ to boost public sector engagement. He joins SAP in Canberra with extensive experience of over 20 years in sovereign hyperscale cloud solutions across federal, defence, state and education sectors within A/NZ. Seniors deep understanding of the public sector landscape, combined with his direct experience in shaping and delivering cloud solutions previously at Google Cloud where he spent over three years. Prior to this he was at Amazon Web Services (AWS) for over eight years in positions including, business development manager, A/NZ federal government sales manager and public sector lead ACT/NSW and spent more than six years at Microsoft. My background and experience in sovereign cloud solutions have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of government agencies, he said. The prelate released a message on behalf of the Bishops' Conference while hundreds are still under the rubble. Despite the natural calamity, Myanmars air force conducted air strikes yesterday. Twinned with Myanmar for many years, the Archdiocese of Tokyo expressed its closeness. Showing its resilience, St Michael's Church in Mandalay will rise out of the rubble for a third time. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) This humanitarian crisis calls for an urgent cessation of hostilities, writes Card Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon and president of the Bishops' Conference, in an appeal released last night. Thus far, the provisional death toll from the earthquake exceeds 1,600 but many people remain under the rubble. Yesterday, while the whole world was thinking about how to help, the junta strongman General Min Aung Hlaing was visiting Mandalay, the city most affected by the earthquake, while his air force was carrying out raids in the Sagaing, a region near the epicentre of the quake. Conversely, the exiled National Unity Government announced that its forces would stop attacks for 15 days to assist the population, but only in the areas affected by the earthquake. In his appeal, Card Bo writes: We urgently call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire by all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of essential humanitarian aid by local and international supporters. Such a ceasefire is imperative to address the immediate need for food, medical supplies, shelter, and protection for those affected by both the earthquake and the prolonged conflict. The prelate goes on to say, The Catholic Church in Myanmar, with the prayer and wishes from Pope Francis, joins our country's men and women in solidarity as they face yet another crisis. He laments that, This tragic event has further exacerbated the profound multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis already gripping Myanmar, where, as per the UN estimate, nearly 20 million people, including 6.3 million children, are in dire need of assistance. The Catholic Church affirms its unwavering support for the affected people and sends out condolences to families that lost their dear ones. We especially pray for those who perished in the places of worship in pagodas and mosques. [. . .] The Catholic Church will mobilize support to assist with the life-saving needs of food, medicine, and shelter. The Church itself is dealing with the damage caused by the earthquake and the challenge of getting back on its feet once again and heal from its wounds. To this end, Card Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, archbishop of Tokyo and president of Caritas Internationalis, expressed special closeness to Myanmar. Tokyos Catholic community, together with the German Archdiocese of Cologne, have been twinned with the Church of Myanmar for decades. [W]e have been supporting the training of seminarians in the Mandalay Diocese for several years, including the construction of a seminary building for the philosophy course, Card Tarcisius Kikuchi writes. I myself visited the seminary in Pyin Oo Lin, Mandalay Diocese, together with a delegation of priests from the Tokyo Diocese in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed with Archbishop Marco of the Mandalay Diocese to build further cooperative relations. Since Thursday, We have received information from the Mandalay Diocese that the recent earthquake has caused great damage, including to churches, and that the church has begun relief efforts, Card Kikuchi says. I would ask that you please pray during Mass for all those affected by the earthquake, and especially for our sister church in Myanmar. The fate of St Michael Catholic Church is emblematic. Of all the churches in Mandalay, it is the most affected by the quake. Established in 1894 by Fr Jean Lafon, a French missionary, it has been destroyed twice before, and so it has to start again for a third time, overcoming trials and tribulations, digging out the rubble. A devastating fire torched it in 1928, leaving Fr Lafon with the arduous task of rebuilding not only the place of worship, but also the orphanage, the school, and the leper institute that the missionary had set up in Mandalay. Fr Lafon, however, did not give up. In an extraordinary show of determination, he revived sewing and carpentry training programmes, and raised funds through the sale of lottery tickets to restore the church and its charitable institutions. In more recent years, another earthquake seriously damaged the church. Now for this community of almost 300 Catholic families in the heart of Mandalay, the new challenge is to start over, as Fr Lafond did a century ago. (Santosh Digal and Joseph Masilamany contributed to this article) ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. 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. Organizers of the rally gave the government one week to meet these and nine other demands or face more such street protests. They pitched a tent and began a nonstop sit-in in the citys Liberty Square right after what was the biggest demonstration staged by Karabakh Armenians since their September-October 2023 exodus. It took place amid an unusually heavy police presence around the square. The government did not immediately react to the protesters demands. If the authorities take no action to keep this segment of the Armenians in Armenia and strengthen Armenia, the course of this struggle will definitely be unpredictable, warned one of the speakers. If they dont solve our socioeconomic problems and our women and children are left on the street, this struggle will become a political struggle, whether they like it or not. The protest leaders first and foremost want Armenias leadership to take all possible legal, political and diplomatic steps to ensure the collective return of the people of Artsakh to their homeland where they can live a safe, dignified, stable and self-determined life. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government does not raise this issue in its peace talks with Azerbaijan or on multilateral international platforms. Pashinian has repeatedly indicated that the Karabakh issue is closed for his administration. He has lambasted Karabakhs Yerevan-based leaders for continuing to present themselves as a government in exile and threatened to crack down on them. The rallys organizers, who did not include members of the exiled government, accused Pashinian and his political team of spreading hate speech against the Karabakh Armenians and demanded an end to the alleged practice. They said the authorities in Yerevan must also reinstate all refugees as Armenian citizens. In a major policy change, Pashinian and other government officials declared in October 2023 that the refugees are not Armenian citizens despite the fact that virtually all of them hold Armenian passports. Some legal experts disputed those claims. Another key demand of the Karabakh Armenian demonstrators is that the government must scrap its decision to stop paying housing allowances to many refugees and significantly reduce them for others. Since November 2023, the government has given each refugee, who does not own a home or live in a government shelter in Armenia, 50,000 drams ($125) per month for rent and utility fees. The aid program has benefited the vast majority of some 105,000 Karabakh Armenians who fled their homeland after it was recaptured by Azerbaijan in September 2023. A lack of affordable housing remains one of the main problems facing them. The government decided in November 2024 to start phasing out the housing scheme. Starting from next month, the financial aid will be provided only to children, university or college students, pensioners and disabled persons forced to flee Karabakh. The monthly allowance paid to them will be cut to 40,000 drams in April and to 30,000 drams in July. 30 March 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more In recent years, the scars left by colonialism have continued to shape political, cultural, and social landscapes around the world. On March 29, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) hosted an international conference on the theme of "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity," bringing together leaders of independence movements, political prisoners families, and decolonization experts from territories long under French and Dutch colonial rule. Held in Azerbaijans capital, this gathering was more than just an academic discussionit represented a poignant reflection on the consequences of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for justice, self-determination, and the preservation of cultural identity. The conference addressed the destructive legacies of colonialism, focusing on the systematic erasure of national and religious identities. This was a process by which colonizers imposed their languages, customs, and beliefs while suppressing those of the indigenous populations. In colonies like Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia, colonial powers enacted policies that included forced name changes, bans on native languages, and the deliberate destruction of cultural practices. The conference participantsmany of whom are descendants of colonized peoplesshared stories of how their identities had been altered or erased in the name of imperial control. Their histories have been largely neglected in the broader global discourse, and this conference aimed to bring those narratives to the forefront. Perhaps most striking were the personal testimonies of the families of political prisoners from New Caledonia and other territories. For many of these families, the arrest and imprisonment of their loved ones were not the result of criminal activity but were politically motivated acts of repression. The French government, they argued, sought to suppress their movements for self-determination and independence. This ongoing cycle of imprisonment is not isolated but part of a broader pattern in which colonial powers continue to use legal and extrajudicial methods to quash opposition to their rule. The very notion of sovereignty and freedom is still being fought for in these territories, with the French government continuing to silence those who challenge the status quo. One particularly poignant aspect of the conference was the emphasis on the treatment of political prisoners. These individuals, who are often viewed as martyrs in their struggle for national liberation, serve as symbols of resistance. However, their imprisonmentoften under inhumane conditionsraises crucial questions about human rights violations in the post-colonial era. As Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, pointed out, international pressure must be brought to bear on the French government to ensure the fair treatment and immediate release of these prisoners. The question is not merely one of individual freedom but of justice for entire populations who continue to face discrimination, oppression, and violence in their struggle for self-determination. The conference also highlighted the importance of reparations and the need to address the long-lasting effects of colonialism. These discussions were not just about historical grievances but about real, concrete actions to correct the injustices of the past. For too long, the voices of those impacted by colonialismwhether through economic exploitation, cultural erasure, or political oppressionhave been ignored or silenced. Reparations, both material and symbolic, are essential in acknowledging the harms done and beginning the process of healing. One significant takeaway from the conference was Azerbaijan's growing role in the global decolonization movement. Despite being a relatively young nation, Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a strong advocate for global self-determination and decolonization. Through events like this conference, the country is not only raising awareness of the ongoing struggles faced by colonized peoples but is also actively engaging in efforts to mediate between colonial powers and their former colonies, offering a platform for dialogue and negotiation. The Baku Initiative Groups commitment to supporting political prisoners and facilitating discussions around decolonization is a commendable step in the right direction. As the conference concluded, the message was clear: colonialism may have ended on paper, but its effects continue to reverberate through the lives of many around the world. The fight for recognition, reparations, and the preservation of national and religious identity is ongoing. The voices heard in Baku on March 29 were a powerful reminder that colonialisms legacy is not a thing of the pastit is a present and living reality for millions of people still fighting for their freedom. In this context, Azerbaijans leadership in advocating for decolonization should be seen as a vital step towards rectifying historical wrongs and ensuring that the fight for justice remains a global priority. 30 March 2025 22:15 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more An informational meeting (infoday) for the Children's Art Festival has been held in the city of Mingachevir, Azernews reports. At the event, the main goals and objectives of the festival, the guidelines for its organization, and the conditions for participation were presented to the attendees. A detailed video presentation on the festival's concept, application procedure, and the projects to be implemented during the festival was showcased during the infoday. The children attending the event were informed about the application process for registration in the festival. The meeting was also attended by the People's Artist ofAzerbaijan, Ella Yaqubova, and the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, Shikhi Yaqubov. Various artistic performances featuring children were also demonstrated as part of the event. Participants noted that the festival plays a significant role in supporting children's creativity and increasing their interest in the arts. 30 March 2025 11:10 (UTC+04:00) The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has congratulated the Turkic world and all Muslims on the blessed holiday of Ramadan, Azernews reports. In a statement, the organization stated: "We sincerely congratulate the Turkic world and all Muslims on the blessed holiday of Ramadan. May this sacred holiday bring peace, prosperity, and unity to our peoples. We wish you a happy and blessed holiday!" Founded in 2009, the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as an intergovernmental organization, OTS is committed to the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and other universally recognized principles and norms of international law, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of states, as well as the maintenance of international peace, security and development of good-neighbourly and friendly relations. Its four founding member states are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkiye. During the 7thSummit held in Baku in October 2019, Uzbekistan joined as a full member. Hungary received observer status at the Organization during its 6th Summit in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic in September 2018. In the 8th Summit held in November 2021, Turkmenistan and in November 2022, Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus joined as an Observer Members to the Organization. 30 March 2025 18:00 (UTC+04:00) A "World Heritage Cities Meeting" has been held at the San Lazaro Palace of the Mexican Parliament, Azernews reports. The event was co-organized by the Culture and Cinematography Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and the National Association of World Heritage Cities of Mexico. During the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Mexico Mammad Talibov spoke at a roundtable discussion on the topic of "Modernity and the Preservation of World Heritage Sites." He provided information about the importance that the Azerbaijani government places on the protection of historical monuments, as well as the historical architecture of Baku, Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve, and the efforts made in its preservation. The Ambassador also noted new architectural examples constructed in Baku, steps taken to improve the capital's tourism potential and environmental conditions, and international events hosted by Baku. The event was attended by Alma Lidia De La Vega Sanchez, the Chair of Mexico's Culture and Cinematography Commission; Enrique Francisco Galindo Ceballos, the Chair of the National Association of World Heritage Cities of Mexico; and Jorge Ortega Gonzalez, the General Director of the Association. Fernanda Lonardoni, who leads the UN-Habitat program for Mexico, Cuba, and Central America, along with mayors from various cities listed by UNESCO, such as Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and Campeche, also participated in the discussions. The meeting participants discussed the development of tourism potential in the context of preserving historical centers, using the examples of the fourteen cities that are home to monuments included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. 30 March 2025 17:40 (UTC+04:00) Copenhagen will host a climate meeting on May 7-8 this year, bringing together leaders and ministers from around the world to determine the direction of negotiations within the framework of COP30, which will be held in Brazil, Azernews reports. According to Denmark's Ministry of Energy, Utilities, and Climate, the ministerial meeting will gather around 40 leaders and ministers to discuss key issues related to the implementation of COP29 outcomes and to participate in critical discussions regarding major expectations for COP30 in Belem. This is a vital moment for increasing ambitions and enhancing climate actions, including national climate plans. Denmark's Minister of Energy, Utilities, and Climate Lars Aagaard Moller will co-chair the meeting alongside the Brazilian ambassador Andre Correa du Lago, who will be President of COP30, and Mukhtar Babayev, the outgoing President of COP29 from Azerbaijan. In a statement, Andre Correa du Lago from Brazil said, that Copenhagen Climate Action Ministers' Conference will be a highly timely forum to advance the climate agenda and reaffirm the importance of dialogue and collaboration in the fight against climate change. "This sense of partnership will play a critical role in achieving successful outcomes at COP30. As I mentioned in my first letter to the international community, we must explore various options to tackle many challenges we will face in the future," he added. Meanwhile, Mukhar Babayev, the President of COP29, stated, "The multilateral climate system has already brought concrete benefits, and we must continue the spirit of courage and solidarity that we demonstrated at COP29 in Baku. To continue this process, each country must now rise up, ensuring that we are fulfilling past commitments and making progress towards their implementation. We must send a clear signal of our strong commitment to continuing ambitious actions on climate change in Copenhagen." Denmark's Minister of Energy, Utilities, and Climate Lars Aagaard said, "Global climate action and unity are now more important than ever. Sadly, as some countries retreat, we must be assertive and move forward to secure a sustainable future. Therefore, I am proud that we are once again bringing key global players together in Copenhagen to develop the climate agenda." Denmark has been hosting the Copenhagen Climate Action Conference for four consecutive years now, together with the outgoing presidents of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP). Copenhagen Climate Action Ministers' Conference was first held in 2022 to strengthen global action against climate change and pave the way for ambitious outcomes at the UN's annual climate summits. This meeting of climate ministers is organized in collaboration with current and future COP presidents. 30 March 2025 13:35 (UTC+04:00) Eid al-Fitr prayers have been held in mosques in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Azernews reports. The Eid prayer was performed in the Heydar Mosque, Sarvanlar, Kazim Garabakir Pasha, and Jame mosques in Nakhchivan city. Hundreds of residents from the autonomous republic attended the prayer, where prayers were offered, and requests for mercy, peace, and blessings were made from Allah. It should be noted that this year Ramadan in Azerbaijan began on March 1. According to the relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ramadan Bayram is celebrated on March 30-31 in Azerbaijan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims around the world. During Ramadan, Muslims observe a fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking during daylight hours. The fast, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are fundamental acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice. 30 March 2025 10:50 (UTC+04:00) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The letter reads as follows: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. We are pleased to convey our most heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. We wish you the best of health and happiness. On this blessed holiday, we pray to Allah to grant Your Excellency and your brotherly people more progress and prosperity, and to make our Muslim Ummah strong and stable. We extend our greetings and deep respect to Your Excellency. Your brother, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia 30 March 2025 11:53 (UTC+04:00) Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The letter reads as follows: His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. I am pleased to convey my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of the blessed Ramadan holiday. I wish you robust health and happiness. I pray to Allah the Almighty that this blessed holiday brings goodness and blessings to all of you. He is indeed the Hearer and Accepter of prayers. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem. Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 30 March 2025 12:36 (UTC+04:00) The Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of Ramadan, has taken place in the liberated city of Shusha, Azernews reports. This year, residents who have moved to Shusha also participated in the prayers held at the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, which is a departure from previous years. The prayers were dedicated to the people and the state of Azerbaijan, as well as to honor the souls of the brave sons of the Motherland who sacrificed their lives in the fight for the country's territorial integrity. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims around the world. During Ramadan, Muslims observe a fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking during daylight hours. The fast, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are fundamental acts of worship and the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice. 30 March 2025 16:10 (UTC+04:00) On March 30, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a phone conversation, Azernews reports. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the holy Ramadan holiday, extending his best wishes. The President of Azerbaijan expressed gratitude for the congratulations, and in turn, congratulated Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan on the holiday, wishing brotherly Pakistan prosperity and abundance. The Pakistani Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the congratulations. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif fondly recalled his state visit to Azerbaijan this year, along with the discussions he had with President Ilham Aliyev, noting that the relevant state agencies continue to work towards the development of bilateral cooperation in line with the instructions given during the visit. During the phone conversation, the Azerbaijani President and the Pakistani Prime Minister discussed the development of cooperation between the two countries across the economic, trade, energy, investment and other domains. 30 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) In accordance with the plan approved by Azerbaijans Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, a series of events on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday were held in types of troops, Combined Arms Army, army corps, formations and special educational institutions of the Azerbaijan Army, Azernews reports citing the Defense Ministry. During the events, the memory of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Motherland was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan accompanied by a military orchestras was performed. Speakers at the events conveyed the Azerbaijan Defense Ministers congratulations on Ramadan holiday to the military personnel. The preservation of historical roots, national-cultural values, traditions of Azerbaijani people even in the most difficult periods was emphasized. It was also highlighted that the Ramadan holiday, which is a symbol of spiritual unity, solidarity, equality of the worlds Muslims, is solemnly celebrated throughout the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. The concert programs presented at the festive events aroused great interest among military personnel. A group of servicemen who distinguished themselves in military service was awarded. As part of the events, military personnel visited the graves of Martyrs, met with the families of Martyrs and the wounded, enquired about their concerns, as well as presented holiday gifts. 30 March 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's holiest sites, has officially announced that Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, will begin on Sunday, March 30, 2025. According to a statement from the Royal Court, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency on X, "The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2025, will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr." The United Arab Emirates and Qatar also confirmed that Eid will start on Sunday. However, countries like Syria, Jordan, Libya, Oman, and Shia-majority Iran have announced that the holiday will begin on Monday. Eid al-Fitrs timing depends on the sighting of the crescent moon, as per the Islamic lunar calendar. This years announcement, however, has raised concerns among some astronomers and Muslim moon-sighting organizations. Imad Ahmed, the founder of the UK-based New Crescent Society, explained that it will be scientifically impossible to see the crescent moon anywhere in the Middle East on Saturday, as it will be too small and thin. He clarified that Islamic months begin with the visible waxing crescent, not the new moon phase. Ahmed also noted that while a partial solar eclipse is expected in much of North Africa, it wont affect moon visibility, as the moon will still be in its invisible new phase. The Islamic lunar calendar allows months to last either 29 or 30 days, depending on moon sightings. Eid al-Fitr marks the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. 30 March 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) The death toll from the massive earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand has surpassed 1,600, with rescue teams working tirelessly on Sunday to search for survivors among the ruins of collapsed buildings. The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which hit northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, was followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The quake caused widespread devastation, destroying buildings, downing bridges, and damaging roads throughout Myanmar. Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city, was hit particularly hard, with more than 1.7 million people living there. "We need aid," said Thar Aye, 68, a resident of Mandalay. "We dont have enough of anything." The death toll in Myanmar stands at at least 1,644, with over 3,400 people injured and 139 still missing, according to the military junta. In Thailand, the death toll has reached at least 10. Two Japanese nationals in Mandalay were injured but are said to have sustained only minor injuries, according to the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar. With communications severely disrupted, the full extent of the damage is only now beginning to surface, and the death toll is expected to rise further. In Mandalay, rescuers managed to pull a woman alive from the debris of a collapsed apartment building. Red Cross officials indicated that more than 90 people might still be trapped in the building. After hours of work at the Sky Villa Condominium, which saw half of its 12 stories collapse, Phyu Lay Khaing, 30, was rescued and rushed to the hospital, where she was embraced by her husband. 30 March 2025 23:00 (UTC+04:00) The cumulative number of confirmed mpox cases in Uganda has reached 4,810, with 37 deaths reported since the outbreak was declared in the East African country eight months ago, according to the Ugandan Ministry of Health, Azernews reports citing Xinhua. A total of 13 new infections and six deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a national situation report issued here on Saturday. "No deaths have been reported among healthcare workers," the ministry said, noting a rising trend in cases, with the highest transmission among young adults in urban areas. "The incidence of mpox cases continues to rise, with a notable peak observed in March 2025. Individuals aged 25-29 are the most affected demographic (group)," the report said. "This suggests a need for targeted awareness and vaccination efforts among young adults, particularly in urban centers." On Friday, the World Health Organization warned that Uganda has the highest number of community-transmitted mpox cases globally. "The country is experiencing community transmission, and the weekly national case count has been increasing steadily over time," it said. Ugandan health authorities have intensified surveillance, case management, and public awareness efforts to contain the virus. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It spreads through close contact and presents symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is facing a lawsuit brought by various organizations for the agency's decision to cut legal aid for migrant children. The move comes as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up his efforts to address the issue of immigration within the United States. The organizations that filed the lawsuit against the HHS are the ones responsible for providing legal aid to migrant children. HHS Faces Lawsuit The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and notes that some of the groups that received federal grants were forced to stop taking on new clients. They were allegedly forced to "face the real threat of not being able to continue their ongoing representations" due to the HHS's latest efforts. Groups that collectively received more than $200 million in federal grants were told last week that the contract was partially terminated. This meant that the funding for legal representation and for the recruitment of attorneys to represent migrant children was ending, according tonABC News. There are currently about 26,000 migrant children who are recipients of legal representation through the funding. The groups filed the lawsuit against the HHS in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The groups are now asking a federal judge to issue an injunction on the matter and block the HHS from preventing funding for legal representation for unaccompanied children from pushing through. One of the organizations affected by the funding cut is the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, which lost about $900,000 following the HHS severing contracts with Acacia. The latter is a non-profit organization that provides assistance and coordinates legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children, Queen City News reported. Funding Cuts for Legal Aid for Migrant Children Ruth Santana, who is the head of the Center's Immigrant Justice Program, said that the immigrant children will still be required to show up in court and be by themselves. She also showed data that revealed immigration judges are 100 times less likely to grant relief to unaccompanied children when the latter do not have legal counsel. What makes matters worse is that defendants do not typically have access to public defenders for civil immigration cases. Santana noted that 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." One of the major funding cuts was to Acacia, which was informed last week by the government that the HHS was terminating nearly all the legal work it does. Ailin Buigues, the head of the center's unaccompanied children program, said the situation was "extremely concerning" because it leaves kids without any real support, as per the New York Daily News. Respected George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley is replacing Havard Law's retired Constitutional Law expert Alan Dershowitz as the old fashioned liberal voice of reason against today's radical "progressives". The latest controversy Turley has jumped into is the rash of leftwing Obama and Biden judges attempts to shut down or delay policies of the Trump administration. Turley recently told a network news interview: "I think that federal judges have overextended themselves. I think they have intruded into areas of Article II or Presidential authority." Turley compared what Trump is facing to trying to drive a car when each of the passengers has a hand on an exmergency brake that they can engage whenever they want. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/liberal-law-professor-jonathan-turley-judges-interfering-trumps/ Meanwhile Congress is gearing up to take on the power grabs of the radical Obama and Biden district judges. Legislation is in the works to shut down the ability of one federal district judge to issue a nationwide injunction or restraining order, and Speaker Johnson has reminded judges that Congress has the power of the purse to punish them for unConstitutional power grabs. https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/03/30/gop-fighting-back-on-activist-judges-n2187282 It is clear that the founding fathers intended the judiciary to be the weakest branch of government, not the most powerful, and that they intended the courts to have to rely on the executtive branch to enforce their judgments. Alexander Hamilton set all of that out in The Federalist number 78. Obama and Biden judges like Boasberg have lost the plot and need to be put in their place. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed78.asp https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/03/250-years-ago-alexander-hamilton-told-us-handle/ Who elected him? Features Think of the other, and give back what you take from others and the earth that feeds us. Its the most fundamental morality. The incident was reported shortly before 7pm Fire Service personnel attended the scene and extinguished the fire (stock image) Firefighters are currently in attendance at a house fire in south Belfast. The emergency services were called at 6.46pm to reports of a house on fire with residents inside the building in the Ebor Parade area. Fire Service personnel attended the scene and extinguished the fire (stock image) News Catch Up - Friday 28 March Three appliances attended the blaze along with thirteen firefighters. The operation remains ongoing but has been scaled back. Jim Allister warns unionism is in bad place as TUV leader blames blundering DUP TUV leader says rivals have surrendered over Irish Sea border by returning to Stormont Jim Allister (Picture: Arthur Allison) Mark Bain Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 20:50 While his own party is riding on the crest of a wave, TUV leader Jim Allister has warned: Unionism is in a bad place. Irelands deputy premier is to appeal for calm and measured EU co-operation ahead of a major tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump expected on Wednesday. Tanaiste Simon Harris is due to hold calls with Dutch trade minister Reinette Klever and Danish foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen on Monday morning. Mr Harris who is Irelands minister for foreign affairs, trade and defence will also host Croatian foreign minister Gordan Grlic-Radman in Dublin on Monday afternoon. Mr Harris is expected to emphasise the importance of the European Union working closely together in a calm, strategic and measured fashion while continuing to engage positively with the US. Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a meeting with US President Donald Trump (Niall Carson/PA) How Ireland and the EU respond to the coming days and weeks wont just impact the months and years ahead but our economic model and wellbeing for the next generation, the Tanaiste is to say. Several Irish ministers have expressed concern over how exposed Ireland is to potential double-digit tariffs on exports. Mr Trump and his commerce secretary Howard Lutnick have suggested US pharmaceutical firms located in Ireland will be targeted with tariffs. Irish premier Micheal Martin said tariffs on pharmaceutical exports would damage the economic prospects of US companies in Ireland, while Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said tariffs could mean 50,000 to 80,000 jobs will not be created or kept in Ireland in the next five years. Other EU countries are also exposed to Mr Trumps tariff threats. Germany and Slovakia are among those most impacted by a 25% tariff on cars taking effect in April. During Mr Harriss engagements on Monday, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also expected to be discussed. The defence minister will emphasise the importance of a peace deal as well as the need for Ukraine to be part of any peace negotiations. He will also say that Ireland is very much in favour of Ukraine joining the European Union and will stress to his colleagues the importance of working more closely together to support Ukraines accession plan. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is facing a court verdict on Monday that could derail her plans to run in the next presidential election scheduled for 2027. A judge is set to rule on whether Ms Le Pen and her National Rally party embezzled European Parliament funds. She and 24 other party officials are accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to instead pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation blocs regulations. Ms Le Pen and other co-defendants denied wrongdoing during the nine-week trial that took place late last year. The 56-year-olds greatest concern is she could be declared ineligible to seek public office, if found guilty. In the event of conviction, the court could impose a period where she is ineligible to run for office with immediate effect even if she files an appeal. The court would also decide whether to give Ms Le Pen a prison sentence, which would be suspended during any appeal. That could prompt another possible headache for the far-right leader as if she appeals, she will automatically be granted a new trial, but it will likely take place in 2026, just months before the presidential election. Ms Le Pen appears to be anticipating a guilty verdict, having told the panel of three judges: I feel we didnt succeed in convincing you. During the trial, prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence for Ms Le Pen and a five-year period of ineligibility. They want my political death, Ms Le Pen said. In a key decision on Friday, the Constitutional Council ruled that a period of ineligibility with immediate effect is in line with the French Constitution. Emmanuel Macron beat Marine Le Pen in the 2022 presidential election (Toby Melville/PA) It also stressed that it is up to the judges to assess the consequences of imposing such a ban right away and make sure the ruling is proportionate, and takes into consideration the preservation of voters freedom. The Constitutional Council rendered its ruling in a separate case that has no direct link with Ms Le Pens. For more than a decade, Ms Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. She led the National Rally from 2011 to 2021. She changed its name from the National Front, as part of her efforts to distance it from the period when her father ran it and it carried a heavy stigma of racism and antisemitism. Now a lawmaker in the National Assembly, the French parliaments powerful lower house, she has already positioned herself as a candidate to succeed President Emmanuel Macron, having twice finished runner-up to him. In 2022, Mr Macron won with 58.5% of the vote to Le Pens 41.5% significantly closer than when they first faced off in 2017 and the best score ever of the French far-right in a presidential bid. Ineligibility would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate, she pleaded during the trial. Behind that, there are 11 million people who voted for the movement I represent. So tomorrow, potentially, millions and millions of French people would see themselves deprived of their candidate in the election. Rescue workers clear the rubble of a house destroyed in a Russian strike on a residential area of Kharkiv (Andrii Marienko/AP/PA) Two people have died and 35 others were injured after Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre, apartment blocks and other buildings in Kharkiv late on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman were killed in the attack on Ukraines second-largest city. Ukraines General Staff denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital. Among the casualties were servicemen who were undergoing treatment, it said. Police officers look at a crater made by a drone after attacks in Kharkiv (Yevhen Titov/AP/PA) The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. He repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing comments he made on Thursday in Paris that Moscow is prolonging ceasefire talks just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Meanwhile, Russias ministry of defence said its air defence systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise pressure on Ukraine and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. NI musician never thought hed see 40, let alone be gigging at 80: There were three escapes: Running away, music, and alcohol Saxophonist and clarinettist Keith Donald talks to Ciara Dwyer about his new memoir, recovery from alcoholism and confronting the abuse in his childhood Musician Keith Donald. Photo: Mark Condren Ciara Dwyer Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 11:00 Portstewart saxophonist and clarinettist Keith Donald never thought he would live to 40 never mind that he would still be gigging at 80. Tony McDonnell speaks out amid fears of fresh violence in dissident republican split Dissident chief Tony McDonnell has denied any involvement in the ONH feud attempted murder of rival Sean OReilly. He also insists he has no connection to the Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) terror group, despite republicans saying he took over last year. 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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. STOCKBRIDGE Stockbridge leaders are closing in on their final budget proposal for voters at the upcoming annual town meeting. The town Finance Committee has also backed a plan that would see Stockbridge and West Stockbridge share emergency services. What does that mean for tax bills? For those that own average single-family homes (valued at $723,000), that means a 3.6 percent increase for the 2026 fiscal year starting July 1. The town's total operating budget is also projected to increase from $12,312,000 to $13,263,000, Town Administrator Michael Canales told a recent joint meeting of the Finance Committee and Select Board. Cash reserves are robust, with $2.5 million in free cash and $1.3 million in a stabilization account for specific purchases and projects. WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET? The capital budget lists a a dozen expenses totaling $1.8 million from free cash, including $288,000 for an ambulance, $60,000 for a pickleball and skating rink, and $25,000 for the country's 250th anniversary celebration on July 4, 2026, as proposed by Select Board member Patrick White. The Finance Committee adopted Canales financial policy plan that would maintain free cash reserves at 5 percent of the towns budget. An amount equaling 10 percent would be stashed away in the stabilization account. Spending from free cash only needs a simple majority of town meeting voters, while stabilization projects require a two-thirds supermajority. In these uncertain times, Canales stressed the importance of avoiding any risk of running out of free cash reserves. A lot of unknowns are coming forward, Canales cautioned. Theres a lot of uncertainty. In my 30 years [in town government] Ive always felt confident about the next three years, but right now there are more unknowns than Ive ever seen. So, its hard to project going forward. The Select Board is expected to take up the financial policy plan at a future meeting. The towns Other Post-Employment Benefits account, for medical and dental benefits reserved for retired employees, is nearly fully funded, with $4.5 million set aside. About 92 percent of the towns liability is on hand, one of the highest amounts in the state. NEW EMERGENCY SERVICES PROJECT The Finance Committee backed the plan first conceived two years ago for a professional Fire and Emergency Medical Services unit to serve Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. The ambitious shared services proposal was endorsed by the Select Board last December. It is expected to come before voters at the May 19 town meeting. The department would include eight full-time professionals, including an EMS director plus one full-time fire chief, with 24/7 year-round coverage by 2028. A paramedic would be on hand for every shift. The plan was outlined for the committee by Canales and Stockbridge Fire Chief Vincent Garofoli. This is a big endeavor for us to take on, Canales said. Im confident in the staff we have that we could get this done. Both towns are in a strong enough financial position to handle the start-up costs and annual operations, he said. Its a very complex but absolutely necessary endeavor for an aging population, said Finance Committee Chairman Jay Bikofsky. The proposed annual salary and benefits cost for the full department would be just under $1 million, with 60 percent covered by Stockbridge and 40 percent by West Stockbridge, using a formula that combines the population and the total valuation of the two towns. A new ambulance costing about $478,000 to be staffed by full-time firefighters/EMTs would be based at the current downtown Stockbridge fire station, also with that town paying 60 percent and West Stockbridge providing 40 percent. A new substation on West Stockbridge Road (Route 102) near the Route 183 intersection would house the existing Stockbridge ambulance and staff. The construction cost is projected at nearly $5.3 million, fully funded and owned by Stockbridge through a long-term loan. During the next two years, EMS coverage would continue through an existing shared-services agreement with Lee and Lenox. West Stockbridge has an agreement with Richmond for shared coverage. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey The EU's decision to delay counter-tariffs on US bourbon is important amid the threat of a 200 per cent tariff on European alcohol imports, according to an Irish MEP. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Fianna Fail MEP Barry Cowen discussed the "severe threat" to Ireland's whiskey industry. Advertisement "The US administration's proposed 200 per cent tariff on EU alcohol imports poses a severe threat to European business, particularly Ireland's whiskey industry. "And the proposed 50 per cent counter-tariff on US bourbon does not help our case for the US to never implement it. The EU has agreed to delay any counter-tariffs until mid-April. In the meantime, it'll consult with member states and MEPs on what form they should take in relation to the counter proposal. "I've written to the trade commissioner and our own commissioner Michael McGrath, calling on them and the Commission to remove bourbon from the EU countermeasures. "Maintaining a a zero for zero tariff status between the EU and US on alcohol is essential I think for industry stability, especially when you consider Irish whiskey exports." Advertisement Mr Cowen said it made more sense to look for an agreement before escalating the situation with counter-tariffs, which the EU have delayed until mid-April. The mantra of Trump doesn't have to be matched by the impact. "Exports to the US have seen significant growth with a value of 420 million annually. Whereas we contrast that to bourbon, imports to Ireland are worth just 8 million. That underscores the disproportionate impact of retaliatory tariffs. The EU exports three times more spirits to the US than it imports. "This means escalation is a direct threat to European producers. So we must make it clear that there's no strategic benefit in targeting bourbon whiskey, and any failure to act would harm Ireland's economy, its brands and jobs, and that's my prerogative and responsibility, which my colleagues and I are taking very seriously. "The comparison is plain to see, and the impact on us is far greater than it would be on them. We have a lot more to lose than they have. Advertisement "We've been highlighting this fact at EU level, as government representatives and others have been to the US administration, and we continue to do so. These tariffs can negatively impact us both. "There are options and opportunities and an openness, on the part of ourselves at least, to get into serious dialogue and reach an agreement whereby the mantra of Trump doesn't have to be matched by the impact.... not only here, but obviously to his own country, which is coming down the track too." Barry Cowen said he has been busy advocating for Ireland's interests at EU and US level As a member of the European Parliament International Trade Committee, Mr Cowen said he has been busy advocating for Ireland's interests at EU and US level. "The EU exports 150 billion more in goods to the US than it imports. Advertisement "However, the services this money supports are mutually beneficial. Irish companies support 120,000 jobs in the US. These jobs are particularly vulnerable to sudden shifts in American trade policy, and anti-escalation tariffs would disrupt established economic ties and negatively impact Irish businesses. "It means fostering diplomatic engagement where possible with Washington, ensuring all decision makers, whether it be in the Senate or in the Congress, that they understand the importance of stable trade policies that reinforce our role as a key economic partner for the US. "If you look at where we do trade, we do a third of our trade within the EU, a third of our trade with the UK, and the final third is international, rest of the world countries, including the US. "It's pivotal that we have transactional trade policies and trade agreements with those blocks in order to ensure that we have avenues open for our markets, to create jobs and build on the success we've had in relation to our trade. Advertisement "We've seen our beef exports increase by 6 per cent year on year to target countries, prices up and that accrues to the State in relation to revenue, but also offers opportunities to win trade win allegiances and alliances with countries that can only help them benefit us in the event of us being in a situation whereby we lose trade at US level." Trump tariffs There are fears about US companies based in Ireland being forced to uproot due to tariffs, which were only exacerbated when US president Donald Trump name-checked pharmaceutical companies in Ireland while speaking in the White House this week. Mr Cowen said he is confident Ireland will maintain its role as a key location for US businesses, particularly due to our highly-skilled workforce and the fact that Ireland provides a gateway to Europe. "I see it with my own constituents. I see the investment by the likes of Dexcom in Athenry where 1,000 jobs are being created, where 300 to 400 million is being invested by a US company. It's a base to trade their goods into the EU. "That's an indication of the strength of our base, of our location, of our language, of our workforce, and our capacity to penetrate at the European market. "The US recognise and appreciate that, and we have to build on that. "There's some solace and something to be taken from the process that has evolved only in the last week or so in relation to the whiskey tariffs whereby the EU has said it will pause tariffs until April. "It may well be in a position to revive its commitment in relation to the bourbon tariff. However, this would impact positives in relation to the trade that exists with the whiskey sector not only in Europe, but specifically from our case, a burgeoning trade that exists presently in from Ireland." Many of those American companies are based in Ireland because of its proximity to Europe, because of its springboard nature to meet that market. Mr Cowen added: "I've heard the pharmaceutical industry and its representatives respond to those threats by saying it has the ability to withstand them and to emerge from them. And as I said, many of those American companies are based in Ireland because of its proximity to Europe, because of its springboard nature to meet that market." However, he said it is important to strengthen "domestic competitiveness" and trading relationships with other countries amid the risk of a US-EU trade war. "We can't assume that negotiations and consultation will result in positive outcomes. Trade policy is essential, but we have to strengthen our own domestic competitiveness amid such external economic pressures. As a country, we have successfully attracted foreign direct investment and will continue to do so due to our skilled workforce, our status and our strong regulatory framework. World Trump threatens 200% tariff on European wine after... Read More "The challenge remains in infrastructure and energy security. That could impact our ability to sustain that economic success. So it's imperative that we stick to the programme for government commitments to improve our energy capacity, improve our security, and win European support for pan-European projects. "It can develop the potential we have off the west coast, not only to power ourselves and the regions that need it most, but obviously to make an impact into the European market, which unfortunately continues to have a dependency on Russian gas. And anytime when we move, as we move away from that, costs remain very high and we have the potential to impact on that for ourselves and for Europe. "The doomsayers never thought we would emerge from Brexit and find alternative markets in the way in which we did. That was down to the hard work and the competitive nature of Irish business and its ability to adapt and to win new business. "We can do that again, but government and business and the industries all have to work in tandem and I'm glad to see that the Government has a taskforce in place that has met already." A man in his 30s is due to appear before a sitting of Cork District Court on Monday in connection with an operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the city by an organised crime group from Lithuania. A second man remains in garda in connection with the probe by the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit. A woman in her forties was also arrested on Saturday afternoon in connection with the investigation. Advertisement She is being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at a garda station in Cork City. Eight people have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Meanwhile, two people appeared before Cork District Court last Friday in connection with the probe. Aleksandras Kuznecovas (38) and Jonas Pavilionis (46), both of no fixed abode, were denied bail. Det Garda Linda OKeeffe told Judge Mary Dorgan that Mr Kuznecovas, who is a Lithuanian national, sold 25 worth of diamorphine (heroin) to undercover gardai in Cork city on three separate occasions in January of this year. The sales of bags of drugs allegedly occurred at Western Road, the banks of the Lee Walkway and on Mardyke Bridge. The bags were sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis and were identified as heroin. Advertisement Det Garda OKeeffe described Mr Kuznecovas as being a vital cog in an organised crime gang in the city. She expressed the belief that he represents a danger to the community and the people living in it. Meanwhile, Dt Garda Ruairi McGovern said Mr Jonas Pavilionis was observed placing a bag with two bill-hooks behind an electrical box at Audley Place in Cork city on March 23rd last. Det Garda McGovern said that the accused, who has been in the jurisdiction for two months, was subsequently arrested in the car park of Douglas Village Shopping Centre on the southside of Cork city two days later. He said that suspected heroin with a street value of 3,920 was recovered from the car of the accused. Mr Pavilionis was charged with having heroin for sale and supply and with having a machete when he was arrested last Tuesday (March 25) in the shopping centre. He was also charged that he had two bill hooks on March 23rd in Audley place. Advertisement Det Garda McGovern said that Pavilonis was allegedly an integral part of a crime gang from Lithuania and was brought here purely for protection. Judge Dorgan declined to grant bail in the case and remanded the two men in custody to appear before the court on April 3rd next. The potential threat of US tariffs is not as stark as the 2008 financial crash, the Minister for Enterprise has said. Peter Burke said it was hard to predict what the US administration was planning, but said that tariffs on pharma products could be a double-edged sword. Advertisement Several Irish ministers have expressed deep concern over how exposed Ireland is to possible double-digit tariffs on Irish exports. US President Donald Trump and his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick have both suggested US pharmaceutical multinationals located in Ireland will be targeted in what is expected to be a major tariff announcement on Wednesday. Taoiseach Micheal Martin with US president Donald Trump, who has suggested that US pharmaceutical firms in Ireland will be targeted in new tariffs (Niall Carson/PA) Taoiseach Micheal Martin said expected US tariffs on pharmaceutical exports would damage the economic prospects of US companies in Ireland. Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, said that if tariffs are imposed, it could mean 50,000 to 80,000 jobs will not be created or kept in Ireland in the next four to five years. Advertisement He also warned that a global trade dispute could threaten jobs and impact living standards and economic growth. Speaking on RTE Radio on Sunday, Enterprise Minister Mr Burke was asked if the impact of US tariffs on the economy would be as bad as the 2008 financial crash. Austerity was imposed in the years after Irelands economy overheated in the late 00s, leading to slashed public spending, many job losses and emigration. I dont think its that stark, Mr Burke said. Advertisement He said that the Irish economy was in a position of strength, growing at a rate of 3%, with two sovereign wealth funds of more than 16 billion and 2.8 million people employed. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said US tariffs on pharmaceutical exports will damage the economic prospects of US companies in Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Theres a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding April 2nd. We dont know, as of this point in time, what the shape or form of the package will be. Asked whether welfare rises, promised in the programme for government, would not happen if there is an economic shock in response to tariffs, Mr Burke said: There isnt an economic shock and we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Mr Burke said he didnt expect pharmaceutical companies to move out of Ireland as a result of tariffs. Advertisement Theyre not telling me they will (relocate). So I want to put that firmly on the record. Secondly, about the market, if you look in terms of the pharma footprint that we have here, about 96 billion euros worth of exports. A lot of those exports are going to Europe and the rest of the world over 60 per cent of them. Of the 40 per cent to go over to the US, about 84 per cent of those drugs are incomplete. So that poses a very significant challenge for the US administration because what will happen is that if tariffs are imposed, critically, the medicines will become more expensive for the US citizen. Advertisement Ireland Delay on counter-tariffs a positive amid 'severe t... Read More And secondly and this is the important part when we talk about our services sector, you will reduce the value of those companies. So innovation payments going back into the US economy, of which we have a 150 billion deficit with the US, will be challenged, and it will be a double-edged sword for the US administration. But critically, those US-based pharma companies are using Ireland to be regulated to a key marketplace outside of the US as well. What I would be worried about is more the medium- to longer-term effect. My worry is if this uncertainty continues, there will be a concern that decisions that will be taken that will impact five, six, seven, eight years down the road will not be taken, and thats where we need to be very strong. The impact of Donald Trump's tariffs is the main story on the front pages of Ireland's Sunday newspapers. The Sunday Independent quotes the Taoiseach as calling the situation "uncharted territory" as the US president's trade war could fundamentally change Ireland's economic model. Advertisement The Business Post says an emergency meeting of top Cabinet ministers is planned as the tariff war is described as the defining issue of the decade. The Ireland edition of The Sunday Times reports that welfare rises and tax cuts will be under threat. The Irish Mail on Sunday reveals that 20 health service staff received golden handshakes worth more than 400,000 over the past five years. The Irish Sunday Mirror reports on Ireland's overcrowded prison system. Advertisement The Sunday World says wife killer Joe O'Reilly was attacked behind bars. The head of a dissdent republican group has told Sunday Life he wasn't involved in an attempted murder and escalating feud with a rival gang. Britain's Prince Harry features among a range of stories on the front of the UK newspapers. The Sunday Telegraph reports that Harry is accused of harassment and bullying at scale by the chairwoman of Sentebale, the charity he founded but resigned from as a patron on Tuesday. THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Harry is a bully, says charity chief #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/zQzaZB2LF2 Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 The same comments from Dr Sophie Chandauka are the focus of the Mail on Sunday, which says she described Harry and Meghans brand as toxic. Advertisement THE MAIL ON SUNDAY: Harry and Meghan too toxic blasts charity boss #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pDPdnUO0Uy Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 Political stories occupy the front of several papers, The Observer reporting British prime minister Keir Starmer has been urged to fight back against US president Donald Trumps proposed tariffs on UK exports. THE OBSERVER: Starmer urged to get tough with Trump as US tariff threat looms #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/AoD4biE2Cu Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 The Sunday Express concentrates on the push for assisted dying legislation, saying terminally ill people are crying out for choice. SUNDAY EXPRESS: Please think of those who are suffering #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qAXE4wepbX Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 MPs expenses return to the front of The Sun On Sunday, which says Labour MP Taiwo Owatemi has claimed 900 (1,000) to allow her dog to live with her in London. The Sunday Times reports on the arrest of six women after London police officers forced their way into a Quaker meeting house. THE SUNDAY TIMES: Met smash down door of Quaker meeting house to arrest activists #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ImstiC1T6x Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 The Sunday Mirror marks Mothers Day with the launch of a campaign to help find missing children. Advertisement SUNDAY MIRROR: Help us find our missing children #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/yws3uTSAi7 Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) March 29, 2025 A special report from inside Israels torture jails fills the front of The Independent. The Sunday People concentrates on plans for celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE-Day, saying it is time to party like its 1945. And The Daily Star Sunday reports on a generation that needs help from AI to change a lightbulb. The head of a charity founded by Britain's Prince Harry has accused him of trying to eject her through bullying and harassment. Harry announced on Tuesday that he and several trustees had quit Sentebale, the charity he set up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation. Advertisement Sophie Chandauka, who has been chairwoman of Sentebale since 2023, accused the British royal of being involved in a cover-up of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation and said the toxicity of his brand had impacted the charity. A source close to the former trustees and patrons of Sentebale dismissed Ms Chandaukas comments as a publicity stunt. Speaking on Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Ms Chandauka said: Really, what Prince Harry wanted to do was to eject me from the organisation and this went on for months. It went on for months through bullying, harassment. I have documentation. Advertisement There were board meetings where members of the executive team and external strategic advisors were sending me messages saying, Should I interrupt? Should I stop this? Oh my gosh, this is so bad. In fact, our strategic adviser for fundraising then sent me a message saying she wouldnt want to ever attend any more board meetings or bring her colleagues because of the treatment. When that failed, Prince Harry started to brief, and his team, sponsors that Ive been speaking to, against me and the charity because that is a sure way of getting me out if its seen as though Im not being successful in my fundraising efforts. Asked about reports trustees had lost confidence in her leadership and whether she was the problem, rather than Harry, Dr Chandauka said: It was me who was the problem, because I put a whistleblower complaint about the bullying, the harassment and the misogyny, and Prince Harry interfered in the investigation of that. Advertisement And the senior independent director, who should have taken care of it, was the very same person who then delivered the news to me that I was going to be removed by the board. So its a cover-up, and the prince is involved. Ms Chandauka also criticised the manner of Harrys resignation, saying his decision to publicly release the news before informing her amounted to harassment and bullying at scale. She said: The only reason Im here is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorised the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director. Advertisement And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organisations and their family? That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale. Harry announced he was stepping down as patron for Sentebale this week (Matt Dunham/PA) In a separate interview with the Financial Times, Ms Chandauka defended her record at the charity and claimed she had experienced disrespect, bullying and intimidation and misogyny and misogynoir in her role. She also claimed public sentiment around Harry since he moved to the US, as well as media coverage following the release of a 2022 Netflix documentary about his relationship with the Duchess of Sussex and his 2023 autobiography Spare, had impacted the charitys ability to reach new donors and hire senior staff. Advertisement Harry and Meghan attended a fundraising polo match for the charity last year (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA) In a joint statement announcing their resignation earlier this week, Harry and Prince Seeiso said they had stepped back until further notice, saying it was devastating that the relationship between Sentebales trustees and chairwoman of the board broke down beyond repair. According to The Times newspaper, the dispute arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa. Former trustees Timothy Boucher, Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, Kelello Lerotholi and Damian West said their decision to resign was devastating but was the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board. A source close to the trustees and patrons described Ms Chandaukas interviews as a publicity stunt, adding: They remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth. Sentebale chairwoman Sophie Chandauka claimed Prince Harry tried to remove her from the charity through bullying and harassment. Photo: PA The UK's Charity Commission said it was aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps, the commission added. World Britain's Prince Harry quits as patron of African... Read More Harrys two-month trip to the kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year aged 19 inspired him to establish the charity two years later in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The young prince 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. Prince Harry and Sentebale have been approached for comment. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit near Myanmars second-largest city on Sunday, the latest in a string of aftershocks following Fridays devastating temblor. People in the streets of Mandalay screamed as the aftershock which was recorded by the United States Geological Survey hit. Advertisement Emergency rescue teams have started trickling into the area of the country hardest hit by Fridays massive quake that killed more than 1,600 people. Their efforts have been hindered by buckled roads, downed bridges, poor communications and the challenges of operating in a country in the midst of a civil war. The 7.7-magnitude quake hit at midday on Friday with an epicentre near Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city, bringing down scores of buildings and damaging other infrastructure like the citys airport. Many of Mandalays 1.5 million people spent the night sleeping on the streets, either left homeless by the quake, which also shook neighbouring Thailand and killed at least 18 people there, or worried that the continuing aftershocks might cause structures left unstable to collapse. Advertisement A Buddhist monastery building that collapsed following the earthquake in Naypyitaw (Aung Shine Oo/AP/PA) So far, 1,644 people have been reported killed in Myanmar and 3,408 injured, but many areas have not yet been reached, and many rescue efforts so far have been undertaken by people working by hand to try and clear rubble, said Cara Bragg, the Yangon-based manager of Catholic Relief Services in Myanmar. Its mainly been local volunteers, local people who are just trying to find their loved ones, Ms Bragg said after being briefed by her colleague in Mandalay. The organisation was sending a team by road on Sunday to assess the most pressing needs so that it could target its own response. With the Mandalay airport damaged and the control tower toppled in the capital Yangons Naypitaw airport, all commercial flights into the cities have been shut down. Advertisement Still, two Indian C-17 military transport aircraft were able to land late on Saturday at Naypitaw with a field hospital unit and some 120 personnel who were then to travel north to Mandalay to establish a 60-bed emergency treatment centre, according to the countrys foreign ministry. Other Indian supplies were flown into Yangon, Myanmars biggest city, which has been the hub of other foreign relief efforts. Volunteers work at the site of a building that collapsed in Mandalay (Thein Zaw/AP/PA) On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay after making the arduous 400-mile journey by road from Yangon. An initial report on earthquake relief efforts issued on Saturday by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted the severe damage or destruction of many health facilities, and warned a severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers. Advertisement China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around 13.8 million US dollars (10.65 million) in emergency aid. Russias emergencies ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, and the countrys health ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team to Myanmar. Rescue efforts are complicated by the bloody civil war roiling much of the country, including in quake-affected areas. In 2021, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has since turned into significant armed resistance. Advertisement Rescuers work at an earthquake-affected area in Mandalay (Thein Zaw/AP/PA) Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar and many places are dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach. More than three million people have been displaced by the fighting and nearly 20 million are in need, according to the United Nations. The government military has been fighting long-established militias and newly-formed pro-democracy Peoples Defence Forces (PDF), and has heavily restricted much-needed aid efforts to the large population already displaced by war even before the earthquake. On Saturday, Myanmars opposition shadow National Unity Government, to which the PDF militias are loyal, announced a unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts. The military did not immediately comment on the announcement and it continued air strikes even after the earthquake. The Three Brotherhood Alliance, a group of three of Myanmars most powerful and well-armed militias that launched a combined offensive in October 2023 that broke a strategic stalemate with the military regime, did not mention a ceasefire in a statement Saturday, but said it was ready to help. Donald Trump has hit out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. The US president was speaking after Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre and apartment blocks in Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens. Advertisement In an interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Mr Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) Mr Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Mr Putin reaffirmed his claim that Volodymyr Zelensky, whose presidential term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraines constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it is under martial law. If a deal isnt made, and if I think it was Russias fault, Im going to put secondary sanctions on Russia, Mr Trump said, adding that there would be a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil. Advertisement Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States. Nonetheless, he reiterated that he and Mr Putin have a very good relationship. Ukraines General Staff had earlier denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital late on Saturday. Among the casualties were service members who were undergoing treatment, it said. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said those killed were a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman. Advertisement Volodymyr Zelensky (AP) Ukraines air force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 were intercepted and another 35 were lost, having probably been electronically jammed. Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. He repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing comments he made on Thursday that Russia is prolonging ceasefire talks just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Advertisement Russias Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems had shot down six Ukrainian drones, and that its troops had taken control of a village in Ukraines partly occupied Donetsk region. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise pressure on Kyiv and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. Two people have died and 35 others were injured after Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre, apartment blocks and other buildings in Kharkiv late on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman were killed in the attack on Ukraines second-largest city. Advertisement Ukraines General Staff denounced the deliberate, targeted shelling of the military hospital. Among the casualties were servicemen who were undergoing treatment, it said. Police officers look at a crater made by a drone after attacks in Kharkiv (Yevhen Titov/AP/PA) The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Advertisement Writing on X, he said 1,310 Russian guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack drones mostly Shaheds and nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones had been launched against Ukraine. He repeated his assertion that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing comments he made on Thursday in Paris that Moscow is prolonging ceasefire talks just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Meanwhile, Russias ministry of defence said its air defence systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximise pressure on Ukraine and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. Avanteos, part of Colonial First State, was the fastest trustee in dealing with claims, closing cases about 48 per cent of the time within 90 days, compared with the slowest Rest which resolved 8 per cent of claims within 90 days. Loading ASICs report, which made 34 recommendations, will heap further pressure on the industry that has been under the spotlight recently for myriad corporate governance failures. The regulator has already taken Cbus and AustralianSuper to the Federal Court for not acting efficiently, honestly and fairly when handling death benefit and disability insurance claims. In court documents, ASIC argued Cbus did not process 10,000 claims within a reasonable time; did not properly assess the scale of the delays; failed to take appropriate action to reduce the delays; and did not properly identify the risks that its claims-handling system posed to members. Separately, ASIC has claimed AustralianSuper took between four months and four years from the date the claim form was returned to resolve the case at least 6800 times between 2019 and 2024. While Cbus has previously blamed its third-party administrator Link Group for the delays, and AustralianSuper resolved to bring its claims handling internally last year, ASIC said 80 per cent of the delays it examined for its report were caused by issues within the control of the trustee. Grieving Australians should not have to suffer further stress because of the failure of superannuation trustees to approach claims in a timely, clear and respectful manner, ASIC Commissioner Simone Constant said. Trustees have not put in place meaningful performance objectives, tracking or reporting, and have failed to approach claims handling with consumers front of mind. Many of the complaints we read were distressing. We saw deep grief, vulnerability, frustration and genuine suffering. Longo on Monday flagged ASIC could launch legal action against more funds over issues related to payouts. The report noted, on average, there were 8.8 complaints per 1000 deaths to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. One fund it reviewed, but did not identify, had 30.1 complaints per 1000 deaths, while the fund with the least complaints 0.8 per 1000 was Colonial First State, this masthead has confirmed. Misha Schubert, chief executive of super fund industry body Super Members Council said it acknowledged ASICs report with deep empathy, and said there was still work to be done by super funds to improve death benefit processing. Super fund members and their families rightly expect and deserve the highest standards of service, care and compassion especially in the hardest of times, Schubert said. We are deeply committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of customer service thats what Australians with their retirement savings in super rightly expect. Similarly, Mary Delahunty, chief executive of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (AFSA) apologised to members, and said getting services right for First Nations members and their families was a priority for the organisation. ASICs probe found super fund members living in First Nations postcodes generally experienced greater delays than other members, with some of the trustees surprised to discover they had a relatively high proportion of members who were more likely to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. The regulator highlighted the case of an Indigenous woman who waited more than 500 days to receive her husbands $100,000 death benefit after the trustee ignored her concerns she was experiencing financial hardship and finding it difficult to understand the claims process. In another case, an Indigenous grandmother who lived in remote Australia waited 16 months for her claim to be resolved because of delays caused by the trustee. Loading In a statement, Brighter Super said the fund had made improvements its claims handling processes. We have proactively introduced new internal processes including workflow monitoring systems, expanded approval authorities for our claims team and reduced paperwork for smaller claims, whilst enhancing our online beneficiary nomination processes, member communications and trust deed, a spokeswoman said. Brendan Daly, Rests chief service officer said the fund acknowledged there had been times when the fund had not met its members expectations, but it also had worked on improving its processes. Thanks for joining us for live coverage of the news today. Well be back tomorrow morning. If youre just catching up, here are some of the stories that made news today: A father and son have life-threatening injuries and a gunman is on the run after an attack on the Gold Coast that police say began with a dispute over noise. A Melbourne couple have almost doubled their money on a Wilston Queenslander that sold for $3.55 million on Saturday, to buyers who inspected it just minutes before bidding began. A levee bank has been built to protect Thargomindah in outback Queensland from unprecedented floodwater after dozens were forced to flee to higher ground. Speaking of Thargomindah, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton travelled there today, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused him of hubris for saying he wanted to live in Kirribilli House instead of The Lodge. Catch up the days political news in our national federal election blog. More than half of Queenslands principals are seriously considering quitting the worst result in the country, according to a survey. And a private European aerospace company has hailed its first rocket launch as a success, even though the rocket crashed into the sea off Norway 30 seconds after lift-off. Defence, while elevated by recent Chinese live-fire exercises near Australia, will take a back seat to the cost of groceries and power in this federal election campaign. That is a tragedy because Australia is confronting threats to its security unlike any it has faced. Ever. Despite the best efforts of the superb people in our operating forces outside Canberra, our Defence department is like a footy team about to run onto the grand final with five unfit players, two who are missing boots, a coach who is yet to decide on game tactics, and a support staff who forgot energy drinks and the team physio. Because of underfunding and poor investment prioritisation, underperformance in recruitment and, most importantly, underthinking about lessons from modern war, the defence of our nation will soon tip into crisis. Australias forces do a gallant job but what of the Defence aristocrats who call the tune? Since the election of the Albanese government, the Chinese and Russians have grown more militarily powerful, aggressive and informed about modern warfare. China has formed a learning-and-adaptation bloc with Russia, Iran and North Korea to implement the lessons of modern war, strategy, industrial production, economic coercion and disinformation operations against democratic nations. To complicate matters further, our great and powerful friend is in the process of breaking the partnerships and the hearts of its closest friends and allies through tariffs, a determined effort to denigrate its pathetic European partners, demands for access to territory and minerals, and a closer alignment with brutal dictator Putin. The Trump administrations actions so far with Europe signal that there is trouble ahead, too, for the Pacific. Apples M4 chip, which debuted in the iPad Pro last year, has made its way to the entire portfolio of Macs, bringing improvements in processing and graphics as well as AI. Were taking a look here at the changes to the new MacBook Air models as well as the highest-end desktop computers. There wasnt much about the M3 MacBook Air from last year that needed improving, but here we are. This is essentially the same machine, but with a more powerful M4 chip and a more sensible amount of memory (16GB) as the baseline. Bottom line is that nobody should be leaping to replace a 2024 MacBook Air with this new one, but if youre looking to upgrade from an older machine, this is a slightly more attractive prospect. The port selection is still limited to just two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, and the display still has that silly notch around the webcam, but those are my only complaints about the MacBook Air. Its light, it looks great, the M4 tears through general work tasks and creative projects such as 4K video files, and will last several work days without needing a charge. It comes in a new sky blue colour, but it appears to have been created by the same silver-obsessed designer who developed the colours for the most recent iPads. This is a silver that you would only ever describe as blue when placed on top of a more yellow-tinted silver. The agency that facilitated Ryans adoption was the Seoul-based Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS), which is Australias partner agency for South Korean adoptions. It has facilitated 3600 adoptions from South Korea since the late 1970s. Loading The South Korean investigation, which issued preliminary findings last week, has triggered a painful reckoning for some Australian Korean adoptees who are confronting new questions about their identities and embarking on searches for birth families, while also pushing for a federal parliamentary inquiry to determine the scale of the scandal in Australia. When Ryan began a search for the roots of his identity in 2022, he discovered ESWS not only had the names and basic details of his birth parents, his file also contained two conflicting accounts of how he came to be surrendered for adoption. One piece of ESWS documentation, called an initial social history, recorded that he was born to a single mother who had separated from his father before his birth. She had tried to raise the baby on her own but found it too hard in needy circumstances, the document stated. On another file note, Ryan was listed as the child of an affair that occurred while his parents were married to other people and had their own families. His mothers husband did not want to keep the baby and so she put it up for adoption. I think the hard part in all of this is theres the possibility that one of these versions is true, or neither of them are true, but they both cant be true at the same time, Ryan says. Loading His journey has been a harrowing one, made more traumatic by the fact that his childhood in his adoptive family home in Ipswich, in south-east Queensland, was abusive at the hands of his mother. At times, I am angry, but mostly Im deeply depressed by it all, I feel let down, lied to and exploited by the systems and governments that promised to protect me, he says. ESWS is one of four adoption major agencies being investigated by the South Korean government-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In a set of preliminary findings last week, the commission confirmed human rights violations in 56 of the 367 complaints lodged by adoptees from 11 countries and recommended an official state apology be given. The inquiry broadly found that children were falsely documented as orphans when they had known parents, while in other cases authorities failed to secure proper consent from biological parents for adoptions, or adequately screen adoptive parents. Pippa McPherson, 38, pictured with her son Mackenna, 6, is part of a group of Australian-Korean adoptees pushing for a federal inquiry into the adoption of thousands of babies from South Korea. Credit: Joe Armao The South Korean government also failed to regulate fees, enabling agencies to solicit additional donations from adoptive families that were used to secure more children, effectively transforming a welfare process into a profit-driven industry. Ryans case is one of eight Australian cases still pending before the commission, and it is uncertain whether they will be finalised before the inquirys mandate expires in late May. ESWS did not respond to a written request for comment about the commissions findings and allegations of fraud and malpractice in its Australian adoption program. However, the findings provide some validation of the malpractice Ryan and other adoptees have uncovered in their own cases. They also align with revelations of falsified documents by ESWS first exposed by ABC Background Briefing program in 2024. It aired allegations by a former ESWS social worker in the 1970s and 1980s that the agency paid bribes to hospital workers for babies. Loading Pippa McPherson, 38, who was adopted by a Melbourne family in 1986 and raised in a loving home, only began doubting her adoption story after reading news coverage of the commissions investigation. The findings have forced her to question the $US200 ($318) donation more than half the average monthly wage in South Korea at the time that her parents were required to make to ESWS, on top of a $US1400 adoption fee, to secure her adoption. My parents were led to believe the donation would go to help kids in the orphanage. Its been very hard to digest that this money may have been used to pay off doctors and other officials, she says. There are three victims: the birth parents, the adoptees, and the adoptive parents. Victorian court documents show McPhersons adoption was registered in the state with details of her birth parents listed as unknown despite Victorian authorities having records of her social history, provided by ESWS, detailing her birth parents biographical details. Pippa McPherson as a child, with her adopted father. She grew up in a loving household in Melbourne. The South Korean inquiry has kicked off an information exchange among the Australian adoptee community in online networks and WhatsApp groups. Many of them have discovered that their ESWS social history profiles a one-page document that also records the reason for adoption are strikingly similar. This masthead has seen six separate social histories that all paint a portrait of a single mother who discovered she was pregnant after separating from the father, often using near-identical phrasing or keywords. Its just a template, says McPherson. And then you start to think: is that really me? Is that my story, or is it not? Samara Kim James, an Australian-Korean adoptee and academic who researches transnational adoption, says a federal inquiry is needed to investigate the extent of the issues in Australias broader inter-country adoption system. Loading The Truth and Reconciliation Commissions findings only scratch the surface of what has taken place here in Australia, James says. Right now, the burden is falling on adoptees to gather evidence, scrutinise policies, and piece together the truth while also having to justify our basic human rights. The Australian Department of Social Services said it was waiting for the commissions final report, which is due by May 26. A DSS spokesperson said ESWS was expected to cease its adoption services by mid-2025, and no further inter-country adoptions would be facilitated between ESWS and Australia. The message from Crawford and the Democrats is clear: Musk is trying to buy a seat on Wisconsins Supreme Court, and, as Crawford told the crowd, Brad Schimel has always made it clear that he will sell to the highest bidder. Why would Musk care so much? For one, Wisconsin has a law that stops car manufacturers, including Musks company Tesla, opening dealerships in the state; they must be run by third parties. Tesla is suing, and the case may end up in the Supreme Court. Judge Susan Crawford at a campaign stop in Milwaukee. She is backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Credit: AP There are also federal matters at play: Democrats say the congressional district boundaries in Wisconsin are heavily gerrymandered, and this could be revisited by the Supreme Court. But Ben Wikler, the chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin, says theres a bigger picture for Musk: he is so invested in the race that if he loses, his perceived power will collapse. Right now, Republicans all think that Elon Musk is their force field, Wikler, who recently ran for chair of the Democratic National Committee, says. They can do things that are hideously unpopular and Musk will buy the general election for them so they dont have to worry about voter backlash. But if Brad Schimel loses and Susan Crawford wins, itll become clear that the fury that hes provoking is more powerful than the money that he can pour in to help his friends. Brad Schimels campaign bus outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Credit: Michael Koziol At the Kenosha event, Crawford and Wikler barely mentioned Trump. And it was Musk, not the president, who featured heavily on the placards of protesters who gathered outside the brewery as Schimel and Walker rolled into town on their Save Wisconsin campaign bus. Inside surrounded by dart machines and a pool table and an American flag bearing the Pledge of Allegiance, taped to the wall Schimel recounted how Donald Trump called him to offer his endorsement. He said: Brad, what do you think about activist judges? Schimel told the crowd of about 50. I said: Mr President, the whole reason Im in this race is to end the reign of activist judges. Trump pledged Schimel his full support. Then he suddenly says, Here, talk to Elon, recalled Schimel, who found himself on the line with the worlds wealthiest man. Elon wasnt expecting that either. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel (in blue jacket) talks to the media after a rally at the American Serb Memorial Hall in Milwaukee. Credit: AP After the call, Trump posted the endorsement on his Truth Social website. Brad Schimel is running against Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford, who has repeatedly given child molesters, rapists, women beaters, and domestic abusers light sentences, he wrote. She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. The Badger State has voted for the winning president at each election since Barack Obama in 2008, though the past three have been close: just a margin of 20-30,000 votes. In the campaign, Trump and Kamala Harris visited constantly. The Republican National Convention was held at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee. People here are used to political campaigns, but theyre also tired. The television advertisements are constant. There are signs for Schimel or Crawford in front yards and shop windows. When this correspondent arrived in Milwaukee, a small plane was flying over downtown pulling a banner that said: Go home Elon. Vote Susan. Wisconsin voter Anna Miller, 30, says the environment has been tense since Donald Trumps election victory in November. Credit: Michael Koziol Anna Miller, a 30-year-old engineer, received handwritten postcards in the mail asking for her vote. Ive never gotten that before, she says outside a polling place near City Hall, where she voted for Susan Crawford. Miller says the environment has been tense since Trumps victory. [Theres] a tension that seeps into a lot of different conversations, whether its with family or even colleagues, in places that you wouldnt normally discuss politics, she says. Because its Wisconsin, you have to be very cautious about what you say because people could have been deep into both sides, and you dont know which side theyre on. Loading The stakes in this judicial election are high. Whoever wins on April 2 will give the Supreme Court a 4-3 majority, liberal or conservative, with the power to make important decisions on state law, including whether to reinstate a centuries-old abortion ban. Musk held a rally in the Wisconsin city of Green Bay on Sunday night, local time, where he handed over two $US1 million cheques to people who had signed his Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges. Initially, Musk promised to pay the money to people who had voted (for Schimel, presumably) but he changed course after concerns this would breach state law (That is a felony in Wisconsin, youre not allowed to buy votes, Wikler says). Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ... AFRIQUE :: IMF Appoints Tony Elumelu to Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth :: AFRICA Lagos, March 27, 2025 Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has been appointed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Elumelu, Africas leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa. A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelus embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africas private sector can and must play a leading role in the continents development, making long-term investments, that deliver social and economic value. The Advisory Council comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics, dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. Its mandate is to recommend policies that enhance resource allocation, stimulate innovation, and catalyse sustainable private sector-led economic growth. Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africas entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking. Other members of the Council include: Harberger Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, Professor Ufuk Akcigit; Saudi Ambassador to the United States, HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud; Chair, CEO, and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Mr. Marc Benioff; Executive Chair, Banco Santander, Ms. Ana Botin; Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran; Chief Executive, Vodafone Group, Ms. Margherita Della Valle; Founder, Chairman and CEO, Vista Equity Partners, Mr. Robert Smith and Argentine Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Mr. Federico Sturzenegger. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council on Wednesday 26 March 2025, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, noted: The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivitykey ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth. This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ... Seachtain na Gaeilge at Askea Boys NS CHILDREN in Askea Boys National School were encouraged to use the cupla focal as well as taking part in brilliant events during Seachtain na Gaeilge, a national festival that celebrates the Irish language and culture. Seachtain na Gaeilge at Askea Boys NS The events in Askea BNS were organised by teacher Pauline Fahy with the help and support of her colleagues. Ceili dancing Some of the school population are from abroad or have parents who werent originally from Ireland, but that didnt deter the youngsters from throwing themselves into using Gaeilge in their everyday conversation. Lots of fun in Askea BNS It was a great week and the children had such fun. We all learnt so much. There was a little of everything in it. We encouraged the children to talk as Gaeilge as much as they could, or even use Irish words that they knew in their conversation. We have pupils here from different countries and English wouldnt be their first language, but they really got involved, too, said Pauline. There was much more than language involved in the festivities as each classroom learnt a new song for their very own Glor Factor, like an X Factor competition, while also learning new dances. Students from St Marys Academy CBS came in to play a music seisiun, while the pupils learnt a new old Irish saying every day. Mr Corcorans class played Mr Morrisseys class in a game of peil, while Ms Doheny even gave the little ones a yoga class as Gaeilge! Stepping it out at Askea BNS The weeks activities reached a crescendo when the whole school turned emerald for La Glas or Green Day. Pauline and fellow teacher Rebecca Spencer painted the childrens faces and decorated the school, while Rebecca organised in inter-school quiz in the Eire Og clubhouse. All decked out in green at Askea Boys NS It was all so enjoyable. The teachers are so supportive of one another. It was a lot of work, but it was great. Ill do it all again next year, said Pauline. Pupils performing in Askea Boys NS Pupils having fun at Askea BNS during their Seachtain na Gaeilge activities By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA More than 6,000 modern body armour units are being acquired for Defence Forces soldiers, the Tanaiste has said. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Harris said a 16.5 million contract has been placed to invest in the protection of Defence Forces personnel. The first deliveries will be made at the end of this year and the overall consignment will be delivered by the second quarter of 2026. The new body armour system, designed in-house by a Defence Forces team, is expected to provide greater protection against ballistics and fragmentation. It has been designed so it can be modified to enhance both its level of protection and the essential equipment attached to the system. Tanaiste Simon Harris reviews troops (Niall Carson/PA) As well as the body armour, a set of new combat clothing system and combat helmets are also being sought through the tendering process. Mr Harris said: The safety of our Defence Forces personnel is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence and this supply of body armour will mean that our troops have access to state-of-the-art protection during their missions. The body armour that we are purchasing is both modern and fit-for-purpose and I look forward to its delivery later this year. This week I had the opportunity to visit Defence Forces personnel deployed to the Unifil mission in Lebanon. Simon Harris talks to troops during his visit to Camp Shamrock (Niall Carson/PA) While there, I saw first hand the challenging and volatile environment that our peacekeepers operate in further illustrating the need to ensure we properly invest in force protection. I want to thank our Defence Force personnel operating both at home and overseas for their continued service and dedication to the State. The Department of Defence has awarded a contract to Seyntex NV of Belgium for the supply of 6,105 body armour systems. Speaking at a cadet commissioning ceremony at the Curragh on Friday, Mr Harris said that investment in Irelands security and defensive capabilities needed to take place with a degree of urgency. He said that in particular more investment was needed in the men and women of the Defence Forces, as well as monitoring capabilities like radar and sonar. Were part of the European Union. There is a war on the continent in Europe, the type of threats that countries face has changed significantly hybrid and cyber and we need to make sure that were prepared to protect and defend ourselves. Monica Brown is a native of Lake Jackson, Texas. In 2005, she joined the Army at age 17. Two years later, she received the Silver Star, our nations third-highest medal for gallantry and valor. She was the second female Silver Star recipient since World War II. On 25 April 2007, Brown was a 19-year-old Army PFC and Combat Medic who deployed to Afghanistan with the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. PFC Brown was part of a four-vehicle convoy patrolling near the isolated town of Jani Kheil in the eastern province of Paktia.Just after dusk, an IED (improvised explosive device) pressure mine was detonated by one of her units Humvees. Brown ran through a barrage of enemy gunfire to reach five wounded soldiers. Once accessing their position, she used her body to shield the wounded against mortar rounds hitting 50-100 meters from their location. In her words [4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment Troop C] had been out on the mission for a couple of days. We had just turned into a wadi (an empty river bed) when our gunner yelled that the vehicle behind us had hit an IED. I only saw the smoke from the vehicle when suddenly we started taking small-arms fire from all around us. Our gunner started firing back, and my platoon sergeant yelled, Doc! Lets go. I did not really think about anything except for getting the guys to a safer location and getting them taken care of and getting them out of there. We stopped the convoy. I opened up my door and grabbed my aid bag. As she and SSG Jose Santos exited their Humvee, knowing all those who were wounded, Brown said, Running back to their vehicle, I was nervous [as] I did not know how badly the guys were injured. Before I got there, I could tell that two of them were injured very seriously. Sprinting toward the flaming vehicle, There was pretty heavy incoming fire at this point. As she reached the vehicle, she determined that, indeed, two Soldiers SPC Stanson Smith and SPC Larry Spray had suffered life-threatening injuries. SPC Jack Bodani, one of the injured soldiers, said of enemy fire at Brown: Rounds were literally missing her by inches. We needed to get away from there. Not only was she taking enemy fire, but the 60-mm mortar, 5.56-mm ammo, and 40-mm grenade rounds inside the flaming Humvee began burning off. It sounded like firecrackers at first, said Brown, but it got pretty heavy after that. Once she determined all five soldiers had gotten out: I assessed the patients to see how bad they were. We tried to move them to a safer location because we were still receiving incoming fire. Somewhere in the mix, we started taking mortar rounds. It became a huge commotion, but all I could let myself think about were my patients. So we dragged them for 100 or 200 meters, got them away from the Humvee a little bit. I was in a kind of a robot mode [and] did not think about much but getting the guys taken care of. I did not really have time to be scared. SPC Spray was badly burned, and Brown determined: I didnt have enough gauze in my aid bag to wrap up as many burns as he had, thats how bad it was. In retrospect, Brown said: It was just a blur of noise and movement. What just happened? Did I do everything right? It was a hard thing to think about. Then: I realized that everything I had done during the attack was just rote memory. Kudos to my chain of command for that. I know with training like I was given. Any medic would have done the same in my position. Bodani recalled, To say she handled herself well would be an understatement. It was amazing to see her keep completely calm and take care of our guys with all that going on around her. Of all the medics weve had with us throughout the year, she was the one I trusted the most. For her part in joining the Army to become a Medic, Brown said: I never expected them to carry my bags. I can carry my own weight. I expected to be treated like one of the guys. So, thats how I got treated. Browns Silver Star citation concludes: Specialist Browns heroic actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon herself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army. At that time, women were prohibited from serving in combat roles, including infantry, armor, and artillery. The Pentagon lifted its combat exclusion policy for women in 2012. However, in Afghanistan and Iraq, the lines of battle were never fixed and constantly on the move, so there was no clear combat front. In 2014, the U.S. Army Womens Foundation inducted Brown into their Hall of Fame. SGT Monica Brown: Your example of valor a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty and in disregard for the peril to your own life is eternal. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends." (John 15:13) Live your life worthy of his sacrifice. Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776 Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center (MOHHC) launched the Captain Larry L. Taylor Exhibit with a grand opening celebration on Saturday. The celebration drew hundreds of visitors eager to honor the legacy of the late Captain Taylor, a Chattanooga native and Vietnam War hero who received the Medal of Honor in 2023 for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Khe Sanh. The day began with a special preview for Heritage Center members at 8 a.m., followed by a moving "Bricks of Honor" dedication ceremony in the Aquarium Plaza at 11 a.m. The official unveiling ceremony took place at 1 p.m. inside the Heritage Center, with limited public tickets selling out in advance of the event. "The turnout and response to the Captain Larry L. Taylor Exhibit has been truly overwhelming," said David Currey, Executive Director of the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. "We witnessed visitors of all ages deeply moved by Captain Taylor's story of courage and sacrifice. This exhibit ensures that future generations will understand and be inspired by his extraordinary heroism." Designed by Encore Interpretive Design and 1220 Exhibits, the immersive exhibit features historical artifacts including Captain Taylors uniform, pilot helmet, military flight log, patches and medals, detailed displays chronicling Captain Taylor's life and service, and the centerpiece attractiona full-sized replica of his AH-1G Cobra helicopter accompanied by life-sized sculptures of the men involved in the Medal of Honor action, created by renowned artist Alex Tisch of Kodiak Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The exhibit commemorates Captain Taylor's actions on June 18, 1968, when as a First Lieutenant, he executed a daring rescue under heavy enemy fire to save a four-man Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team. With no evacuation helicopter available, Taylor landed his AH-1G Cobraan aircraft not designed for passenger transportallowing the stranded men to cling to the helicopter's skids as he flew them to safety. Dave Hill, the final surviving member of the LRRP team that Captain Taylor rescued that night, attended the celebration and reflected on the significance of the exhibit. "Captain Taylor didnt just save our liveshe changed the course of them. Without his selflessness and bravery, we wouldnt have made it home. This exhibit ensures his legacy will never be forgotten." Toni Taylor, widow of Captain Taylor, expressed her gratitude, stating, "Larry would have been humbled by this beautiful tribute. His greatest hope was always that his story would inspire others to act with courage and compassion when faced with difficult circumstances." The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center extends its gratitude to all those who made this exhibit possible, including the generous support of the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County Government, Captain Larry and Mrs. Toni Taylor, and Marie Chinery. The Captain Larry L. Taylor Exhibit is now open to the public during regular Heritage Center hours. For more information, please visit www.mohhc.org or call 423 877-2525. Retired Detective Do Nut Williams with Carl Levi Carl with friends Ray Adkins and Alden Perry Cpt. Mickey McCamish with Carl Carl Levi blows out candle Carl Levi in March, 2022 Carl Levi turns 91 Lend McNabb and Carl Levi Carl and Peggy Levi Carl Levi, Charles Coolidge, Desmond Doss, and Pat Brady Previous Next Carl Levi, a longtime city and county official who was best known as an advocate for veterans, has died at 94. Mr. Levi was praised for his community service at Wednesday's meeting of the County Commission during a presentation on another topic by General Bill Raines and county historian Linda Moss Mines. Mr. Levi marched in the first Chattanooga Armed Forces Day Parade in 1947 when he was 19. He was active in the nation's longest running military parade in all the following years. He joined the National Guard in the 1950s to earn some extra money while in school. He was promoted from the rank of corporal to Brigadier General. The National Guard Armory on Holtzclaw Avenue bears his name. Chattanooga Mayor Rudy Olgiati gave Mr. Levi a job in the city treasurers office where he remained for 45 years. He also served two terms as Hamilton County Trustee. For many years, he met with close friends on a regular basis at Wally's Restaurant on McCallie Avenue - mainly to talk politics. Arrangements for a visitation and memorial service will be announced in the coming months after loved ones have returned to the south. A complete obituary and arrangements will be announced by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. A rendering image of the mosque and Islamic school located in the EPIC City community in Collin and Hunt Counties, Texas. | Screenshot: YouTube/ EPIC CCP A mosque associated with a proposed Muslim community development in rural Texas is being investigated by state authorities for allegedly running a funeral home without a license. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday that the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC), which regulates funeral operations in the state, issued a cease-and-desist letter ordering the EPIC compound to halt all illegal funeral service operations. The East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), located about 20 miles north of Dallas, is the mosque behind the EPIC City and EPIC Ranches project, which aims to establish a self-sustaining neighborhood approximately 40 miles northeast of Dallas. This development will feature over 1,000 homes, a mosque, Islamic schools, clinics, stores, parks, and a nursing home on a 402-acre site spanning Collin and Hunt Counties. The letter from TFSC Executive Director Scott Bingaman accused the Islamic center of operating as a funeral home without an establishment license in violation of state law. Earlier this week, Abbott announced that a dozen state agencies are investigating potential illegal activities at EPIC. Governor Abbott stated, Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law. The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license. This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated. Texas will continue to defend our communities from any threats posed by EPIC City. Abbott also expressed his concerns about the development on X, stating, The proposed EPIC compound in Collin [County] has serious legal issues. A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas. He warned against the creation of Sharia cities or no-go zones, suggesting that the development could imply exclusionary practices. 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, Abbott added. Bottom line: The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas. In response, an account named Epic Ranches on X replied to Abbott, stating, Governor Abbott, our vision is to build a diverse, safe, and inclusive community one in which people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony. It should go without saying that our community, like any other in this great state, will follow all local, state, and federal laws. We would love for you to see the site and learn about our project over some Hutchins BBQ. With an estimated Muslim population of over 313,000, Texas has one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S., including nearly 150,000 Muslim residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The EPIC Center, located in the Dallas suburb of Plano, opened in July 2015 as a nonprofit formed exclusively for educational, religious, and social purposes, presenting itself as a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual, non-sectarian, diverse, and open community committed to full and equal participation and involvement of men and women who are community members of EPIC and subscribe to accept its rules, regulations, and procedures. Prominent among the Muslim community, Imam Omar Suleiman, who has millions of followers on social media and has studied at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia and at Yale University, has played a key role in promoting the EPIC project. Home News Muslim woman kills Christian couple by poisoning food after taking her daughter to church Woman confesses to accidentally killing her daughter who also ate food prepared for Christian neighbors during Ramadan NAIROBI, Kenya A Muslim woman in eastern Uganda killed a Christian couple and accidentally took her own daughters life in the process. Doreen Nairuba, a Christian woman, died on March 16 from eating poisoned food prepared by her Muslim neighbor, Hanifa Hamiyat, in Nabiganda town, Butaleja District, an area neighbor said. Nairuba was also six months pregnant. Hamiyats 18-year-old daughter, Marriam Kapisa, died the same day after unknowingly eating the food prepared by her mother for Nairuba and her husband, Jackson Wampula, who died from the poisoning the next day on March 17, residents 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 Nairuba had been sharing her Christian faith with the 18-year-old girl who had finished high school exams and was awaiting results to determine if she would be accepted into college. Hamiyat was angry that the couple had invited her daughter to a church service on March 17, an area source said. A Muslim neighbor who had seen the Christian couple leaving for church with Kapisa and returning with her that afternoon informed Hamiyat, who asked the man to find out from her daughter where she had been, the area source said. At about 5:30 p.m. local time, the neighbor intercepted Kapisa, and she told him she had attended the church service. He and Kapisa returned to her home and told her mother. The mother was very angry with the girl, but since it was Ramadan she did not want to cause a lot of alarm, hence she kept quiet, said the area source, who had made a brief visit to the family that day. During Ramadan it is common for area Muslims to share food with other families in the evening to break the daily fast, and at 7 p.m. Hamiyat prepared a poisoned meal and sent Kapisa to share it with the Christian couple, the source said. The daughter didnt know that her mother had put some poison in the food, he said. When the daughter reached Doreens home, the three participated in sharing of the food, and immediately [afterward], she left. At home, Kapisa complained of stomach pain and was soon vomiting and wailing, the source said. The mother asked what could be the problem, and why she was delayed in returning home after delivering the food? The girl answered that she shared in eating the food with Doreens family, and she was in deep pain. Upon hearing that, Hamiyat shouted in a loud voice, Allah Karim [Generous Allah], I have killed myself, said the source, who visited the family upon hearing their distress. Kapisa was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died, he said. After about an hour, Nairuba and her husband started suffering stomach pain and diarrhea and made an emergency call to another neighbor. When I arrived at the house the two were in bad state, and I took them to a nearby clinic where they were given first aid before they were referred to the main hospital, said the neighbor, whose name is also being withheld for security reasons. Nairuba died before reaching the hospital, and Wampula died the next day at the hospital, the neighbor said. In tests carried out on samples of remaining food, doctors found it contained a poisonous drug that caused the deaths of the couple and Kapisa, said the neighbor. Local leaders detained and questioned Hamiyat, and she confessed to having poisoned the food, the neighbor said. I never intended to kill my daughter, but my plan was to kill the neighbors because of taking my daughter to church during this holy month of Ramadan, she said, according to the source. Our imam had assured us that when you kill a kafir [infidel], Allah rewards one with a Jannah [paradise] called Firdausi, so I wanted to get that Jannah. Hamiyat was in police custody at the time of this writing, with a hearing scheduled for April 2. Evangelists seriously wounded In Iganga town, Iganga District, also in eastern Uganda, two Christians were in critical condition after hardline Muslims beat and stabbed them during an open-air evangelistic effort, one of the evangelists said. Ephraim Idube, 32, and Tefiiro Mwanani, 40, left Buseesa town to preach the Gospel to Muslims in Iganga on March 14. After setting up small portable speakers, they proclaimed the Gospel, saying Christ is the Son of God, that He alone will lead people to Heaven and that the Islamic prophet Muhammad was merely a prophet from nowhere, said Mwanani. Muslims came in a big number and started shouting while asking us why we were making noise and deeming their prophet to a lower position in their holy month of Ramadan, Mwanani told Morning Star News. Before they could reply, one of the Muslims grabbed their portable speaker, plucked out wiring and hit it with a hammer while others beat them, he said. One identified as Bruhan Isabirye went and picked up a panga [long Somali sword] in a nearby butcher shop and started cutting us, Mwanani said. Many people, including Christians, came to rescue us, picked the panga from his hand. Though it was a bit late, we had bled too much, but we thank God that immediate help came and we were rushed to the hospital. Having sustained deep wounds, they were in critical condition at Iganga Hospital, said a Morning Star News contact who visited them. The attacks were the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. This article was originally published at Morning Star News Home News Church anticipates over 1,500 will attend 15th annual helicopter Easter egg drop A church in Illinois is expecting to have more than 1,500 people attend its annual helicopter Easter egg drop. Faith Lutheran Church of Aurora, which has around 500 members, will host its 15th annual Easter egg drop event on the Saturday before Easter. Pastor Rob Douglas told The Christian Post that the origins of the helicopter egg drop event came, in part, in response to a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in Chicago in 2008. 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 We hosted the memorial service at our church and allowed them to place a memorial headstone on our property. The family and friends gather annually to hold a service of remembrance, Douglas said. All involved were grateful for the chance to have the service and place the memorial, and asked if there was anything [they] could do in return. I shared that I always wanted to host a helicopter Easter egg drop event at our church and the flight company, Air Angels, was kind enough to donate the helicopter for the first three years of the event. According to Douglas, while the first egg drop event, held in 2009, had around 200 attendees, the annual gathering now draws around 1,500 guests. In addition to the Easter egg drop, the event will also feature games, music, assorted prizes, bounce houses and food trucks. Douglas sees the event as our opportunity to throw a party for our community and build connections, with people getting the chance to come onto our campus and experience a warm welcome and hospitality from our 40 volunteers. We have information booths for our kids and student ministries. We extend invitations to join us for Easter services. We play Christian music, and our children's ministry team performs and leads our guests in top kids Christian songs, Douglas told CP. We then include all guests in subsequent emails for our kids ministry spring and summer events, including [Vacation Bible School]. This event is a part of our come and see strategy. In recent years, other churches have also hosted helicopter Easter egg drop events to spotlight the opportunity for community and spiritual growth they provide. In 2022, for example, the multi-site nondenominational 7 Hills Church in Kentucky hosted multiple egg drops after services on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, dropping 200,000 Easter eggs. Home News Satanic leader arrested at Kansas Capitol after striking protester A satanic leader has been arrested at the Kansas state Capitol after punching a Catholic protester during a heated religious demonstration in the rotunda. The altercation erupted when the protester attempted to grab a booklet from the satanic leader, who was calling out to Satan during the rally. The incident, captured on video Friday, capped a tense morning of demonstrations involving about 30 members of the Satanic Grotto and hundreds of counter-protesters, primarily Catholics, who gathered outside the Capitol. 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 Satanic leader Michael Stewart had entered the Statehouse despite earlier warnings from Capitol police that any disruptive actions could result in police intervention, The Kansas City Star reported. Tensions between the groups escalated as Stewart, followed closely by Catholic clergy and lawmakers reciting the Hail Mary, moved through the building. Stewart punched the Catholic protester, Marcus Jeremiah Jared Schroeder, who was attempting to snatch a booklet from his hands while he called out to Satan. A prior confrontation outside the Capitol further heightened the contentious atmosphere. Less than an hour before the rotunda altercation, Stewart was tackled by an unidentified man on the Capitol lawn while stomping on a communion wafer. Stewart was ultimately arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly. He was taken into custody by Capitol police and later released on a $1,000 bond, according to Shawnee County Jail records. Schroeder, who was also detained following the physical altercation, faced similar charges of disorderly conduct. He has a history of legal trouble, including a prior conviction for calling in a false bomb threat at a 2023 LGBT pride event in Wisconsin, according to the Star. Friday's demonstrations were in response to the satanic group's black mass ritual organized by Stewart and the Satanic Grotto in support of abortion. Members of the Satanic Grotto claimed the purpose of their black mass was to dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan. TFP Student Action, a project of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, had organized the protest against the satanist group in Topeka. A TFP petition against the black mass had quoted the satanist group as saying: Join us at the Topeka Capitol building in Kansas as we dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan. We will be performing rites to the Black Mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme [sic]. God will fall and Kansas will be embraced by the black flame of Lucifer. Stewart had told the Topeka Capital-Journal that the event was in response to lawmakers who pander to religious pro-life groups. This is a specific response to our legislatures continuing to pander to groups like the Kansas Catholic Conference and to Kansans for Life, where they keep trying to come back and attack abortion rights, much less other rights, he was quoted as saying. Earlier this month, the Kansas House passed a bipartisan resolution denouncing the ritual black mass, describing it as an explicit act of anti-Catholic bigotry and an affront to all Christians. Efforts to block the event, including a lawsuit seeking to recover holy items Stewart had purchased online, were unsuccessful. Home News This week in Christian history: Francis Asbury dies, Russian bishop consecrated, Sylvester II becomes pope Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week marks anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many. 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 following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the death of Francis Asbury, Sylvester II becoming pope, and Saint Nicholas of Japan becoming a bishop. Home Opinion Christian nationalism: Why a Church and state merger is anti-American Christian Nationalism is no longer just a leftist buzzword used to discredit conservatives. While progressives have long wielded the term dishonestly as a smear against anyone to the right of Bernie Sanders, its definition has shifted. Today, it is being co-opted to describe an actual authoritarian movement seeking to upend the constitutional order and merge Church and state into a new sacralist regime. This version of Christian Nationalism promoted by figures like Joel Webbon and Stephen Wolfe pushes for theocracy, monarchism, and neo-integralism, rather than the constitutional republic the Founders established. Unlike the religious influence that shaped early America, which protected liberty while upholding moral order, this movement seeks government-mandated religious conformity while throwing individual freedom to the wind. And in doing so, it betrays the very principles conservatives (and Christians, mind you) have historically defended. I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it Thomas Jefferson 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 America was never designed to be a theocracy. The Founders, while overwhelmingly Christian, rejected the European sacralist model, which entangled church and state to disastrous effect. Instead, they built a system that allowed faith to flourish freelynot by government compulsion, but by the conviction of individual conscience. The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right James Madison The Founders were not opposed to Christian influence in government. But they were adamant that Christianity should never be enforced by government power. Church seizures and religious purges Self-avowed Christian Nationalists Joel Webbon and Wesley Todd, hosts of the Right Response podcast, have officially if they hadnt already (which they have)crossed the Rubicon of insanity. In a recent episode, they propose that the U.S. government should have the legal authority to seize church properties that arent state-approved and redistribute them to those deemed faithful. Todd goes even further, advocating for a government task force armed soldiers included to comb through every church website in America, physically inspect tens of thousands of buildings, and log them for potential seizure. Thats not American! Correct. Its Christian Todd in a recent X post Why such a drastic measure? Because, according to Todd, evangelizing the old-fashioned way takes too long decades, in fact. Their solution? Seize the means of worship and redistribute resources without payment to those who conform to state-approved religious standards. Webbon, of course, is thrilled, calling this authoritarian pipe dream glorious and kind, claiming its better than jail or the guillotine. Theres just one problem (well, many): This proposal is not only wildly unconstitutional, but it also flies in the face of the most fundamental principle of American identity: religious liberty. Webbon and Todds proposal is a direct assault on the First Amendment that pesky thing standing in the way of abusive tyrants for nearly 250 years. The Establishment Clause ensures that the state cannot favor one church over another, while the Free Exercise Clause guarantees that individuals and churches can practice their faith without government interference. Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between Church & State Thomas Jefferson in Letter to the Danbury Baptists, 1802 Doing away with the First Amendment In order to enact such laws, these Christian Nationalists would have to do away with the First Amendment entirely. By advocating for the government to decide which churches are faithful and worthy of property rights, Webbon and Todd are promoting the very thing the Founders sought to prevent a state-controlled church. Their vision is indistinguishable from the European sacralist models that led to centuries of religious wars, persecution against faithful Protestants, and, ultimately, the necessity of constitutional protections for religious liberty. Furthermore, their proposal violates the Fifth Amendments Takings Clause, which states that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation. But lets be clear there is no legitimate public use in seizing a churchs property simply because it does not align with the states religious preferences. This is outright theft a violation of the Eighth Commandment dressed up in pseudo-theological justification. Even if one were to entertain the notion that the state could favor a particular church tradition, there remains a crucial question: Who gets to define what a faithful church is? C.S. Lewis had a prescient warning about this kind of thinking: Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters. What happens when the wrong people are in power Webbon and Todd assume they will be the ones in power under their sacralist regime. But what happens when a different administration one not so kind assumes control? What if a progressive regime like Biden and Harris, who jailed nonviolent pro-lifers for praying outside of Planned Parenthood clinics decides that a faithful church is one that affirms LGBT ideology, critical race theory, or feminism? If the government has the authority to seize and redistribute church property based on subjective whims, whats to stop the next administration from using the same power to destroy their so-called conservative churches? By granting the government the power to regulate church legitimacy without constitutional safeguards Webbon and Todd want to create a weapon that will inevitably be used against them. Their proposal is not a safeguard for Christianity; its a Trojan horse for tyranny. Christian nationalism is sacralism This isnt the first time Webbon has revealed his authoritarian tendencies. In a previous Right Response podcast, Webbon and fellow Trashworld Conference speaker David Reece laid out a bizarre vision of citizenship under their form of Christian nationalism. According to them, only those who swear an oath to the Reformed Religion would be granted full legal rights and citizenship. This means that the overwhelming majority of faithful Christians in America who are not Reformed would be considered second-class citizens. This is sacralism government-mandated religious conformity. It is the same ideology that fueled the worst excesses of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England, and the religious persecutions that drove the Pilgrims to America in the first place. Webbon and Todd are not advocating for a return to biblical Christianity. They are reviving the worst abuses of church-state entanglements that Protestant Americans historically fought to dismantle. Christianity doesnt need the states sword Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Webbon and Todds proposal is their admission that traditional evangelism is too slow. This betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of Christianity itself. The Great Commission (Matt. 28) was never about coercion, brute force, or political grandstanding. It was about persuasion. Christs Kingdom is advanced through the power of the Gospel within the hearts of individuals, not the confiscation of property or government edicts. Webbon and Todds approach is not just unconstitutional its anti-Christian and Pharisaical. It replaces faith with force and voluntary belief with state-mandated allegiance. If their version of Christian Nationalism means relying on government power to enforce theological purity, theyve already admitted their faith is weak. Christianity doesnt need the states sword to flourish. If anything, history shows that Christianity thrives most when it is free from government control. Home Opinion In Texas, abortion ban didn't end this pregnancy center's work When Tonia walked through our doors at Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, she was ready to order abortion pills and had found a website that promised their arrival in three days. During the appointment, she shared her struggles and how pregnancy was not an option right now. She later shared, I had already made my decision. I just wanted confirmation of how far along I was before I took the pills. What Tonia had not expected was the connection she felt when she saw her babys heartbeat at just eight weeks flickering on the ultrasound screen, or the compassionate, understanding staff with whom she shared her fears about parenting. I came in certain about ending my pregnancy, she reflected months later, cradling her newborn son. I left with the courage to continue it. 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 Stories like Tonias highlight how dramatically the landscape has shifted for pregnancy centers in Texas. As Executive Director of Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Ive witnessed firsthand how the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade and the subsequent abortion ban in Texas have transformed our work not end it. While we celebrated these legal victories that affirmed what weve always known about the value of human life, we quickly realized we were entering a new chapter with unique challenges. Chief among these is the proliferation of online chemical abortion providers that have emerged to circumvent states with abortion restrictions. These providers allow women to order abortion pills with minimal screening or follow-up care. After hearing stories from our clients about how easy it is to obtain abortion pills, we inquired ourselves to see if this was true and to learn better ways to counteract their prolific presence. What we were hearing was true. With just a few clicks of the mouse, no medical consultation, and a $40 charge to a credit card (with an inconspicuous line item labeled womens sanitary products on the statement), within two days they were delivered and in our hands. Due to this accessibility, women are making life-altering, life-threatening decisions without comprehensive medical oversight or any emotional support or compassion whatsoever. Many who support abortion claim they care for women. This does not demonstrate care for women; in fact, it shows complete disregard. The circumstances bringing women to our center remain largely unchanged: financial instability, relationship issues, educational concerns, lack of support systems, and sometimes domestic violence. Making abortion illegal doesnt automatically eliminate these underlying struggles but often illuminates them or makes them worse. When women find practical solutions to their most pressing concerns, they often find the courage to choose life. We help them understand that what they see as a problem can be a possibility. We help them slow down and respond, rather than react, to their situation. When we react, it is often without thought and counsel, but when we take the time to learn and evaluate, we respond and make healthier and better decisions. Last year, we assisted 11 women through the abortion pill reversal process after they had second thoughts. One of those women came to us in tears just hours after taking mifepristone. The first time we met Amara, she had a positive pregnancy test. Measuring eight weeks, she departed with her sonogram picture in hand, showing little emotion. We didnt know she was a struggling mother of four, and her life already felt out of control. Just 17 days after Amaras first appointment, we received her frantic call. She had taken the abortion pill and was regretting it. She came to us that day, fearful she would be met with judgment, and asked about the abortion pill reversal. Instead, she was met with grace, compassion, and a tangible solution. She asked, Is it not too late? Can this really be reversed? A calmness fell over Amara as we saw her baby alive and well on the ultrasound. She then began the abortion pill reversal process and as we waited, we comforted her and prayed for her. Thanks to modern technology and the ability to get immediate messages to those who love and support our ministry, only God knows how many prayers were offered on Amaras behalf that day. Through prompt intervention with progesterone, she was able to continue her pregnancy. She now has a beautiful son, and they are thriving. And our help did not stop with the medication but continued with counseling, classes, and material resources. Many clients have never experienced unconditional support. They expect judgment; they find acceptance. They expect pressure; they find presence. This creates space for thoughtful decision-making and often becomes the turning point in their journey. My greatest prayer is that abortion would not only be illegal but unthinkable. Our culture needs a heart change. It is a spiritual battle and requires a spiritual answer. Jesus, the true-life transformer, with His extravagant love and unlimited grace, is the foundation of all that we do and offer. Every day at Prestonwood Pregnancy Center and centers across America, we witness the courage of women who choose life despite difficult circumstances. We celebrate with them, cry with them, and commit to supporting them long-term. This is the foundation of our mission in this post-Roe landscape not just saving lives but transforming them through love, truth, and unwavering support. Home Opinion The Constitution doesn't begin with 'we the judges' The Constitution begins We the people, not we the judges. Lately, there has been a tussle between activist judges and President Trump. Some critics argue that some of these judges are acting as if they were the ones elected to the Oval office. FoxNews reports on the issue of whether a lower court can properly address the Trump administration's efforts to deport Venezuelan nationals via a 1798 wartime law. That 1798 law is the Alien Enemies Act, which allows the president certain powers to detain and deport those from enemy nations. The Trump administration has invoked the Act in its deportation of members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan terrorist group. 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 key judge in that lower court is James Boasberg, a Biden appointee, who is the Chief Judge for the District of Columbia. Scott Powell of the Discovery Institute writes: Judge Boasberg expressed skepticism about the Trump administrations policy of using a powerful and rarely invoked wartime statute, the Alien Enemies Act, to summarily deport immigrants from the country. The judge said, The policy ramifications of this are incredibly troublesome and problematic and concerning. My colleague John Rabe observes, Whether this is a proper use of the 1798 Act really is a question for the courts, but its not supposed to be that any individual judge out of hundreds all over the country can act as a veto of anything the president wants to do. And he adds, Courts do need to decide whether a law is being applied appropriately or not. Thats part of our checks and balances. What its not supposed to be is one rogue judge from one liberal court somewhere. Writing for The Federalist, Justin Evan Smith decries what is happening this way: Rogue Judges Are Turning Judicial Review Into Judicial Rule. The specifics of this case and ones like it will soon be hashed out in the courts. Meanwhile, this case points to the problem of judicial activism, where judges essentially legislate (not adjudicate) from the bench. The Declaration of Independence lists many abuses of the British crown against the God-given liberties of the colonists. One of them relates to judges. Says our nations birth certificate: [The king] has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. In 1819, Jefferson spoke out against judicial activism, saying: The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please. Before President Trump in his first term nominated and fought for three non-activist justices for the Supreme Court, we went through several decades in America where we were virtually ruled by the Court. Every year we had to wait until the end of June or thereabouts to know the latest that our robed masters would hand down to us, as they come down from Mount Olympus, if you will, with their rulings. The founders never intended it to be this way. In Federalist81, founding father Alexander Hamilton made it clear that the courts are to be the weakest of the three branches of government. Those who hold to the notion that the Constitution is a living document are able to read into it whatever they want it to say. Again, to quote Jefferson: The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary. Thankfully, Congress can do something about the lower courts. Speaker Michael Johnson said, We do have authority over the federal courts. We can eliminate an entire district court. Judicial activism has been blamed by many critics as helping to instigate the Civil War. The Dred Scott decision of 1857 by the Supreme Court basically held that a freed black man had no rights under the Constitution. Thats not what the Constitution said, but that was what they ruled in court. 700,000 men were killed in the Civil War, in part through this bad ruling. In 1861, when President Lincoln was sworn in, in one of the great ironies of history, it was Roger Taney who administered the oath. Yet Taney, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was the very man who wrote the Dred Scott decision, which held effectively that once a slave always a slave. When Lincoln delivered his First Inaugural Address, he eschewed the idea that we the people should be ruled by we the judges. Im sure he had the Dred Scott decision in mind, when he said this: If the policy of the Government upon vital questions affecting the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court the people will have ceased to be their own rulers. With these activist judges, like Judge Boasberg, trying to hamstring President Trumps attempt to keep America safe from murderous alien gangs, have we the people ceased to be our own rulers? Home News Canadian dad fined ahead of 'litmus test' free speech hearing in Australia 'In a free society, ideas should be challenged with ideas, not state censorship' Elon Musks personal crusade against the woke mind virus is a global one and the latest frontline is to be found in Australia, where his company X is joining in a case against the countrys e-Safety Commissioner. The case concerns a Canadian man, Chris Elston, also known as Billboard Chris, who in February 2024 wrote a post on X that was critical of the World Health Organization's decision to appoint Australian trans activist Teddy Cook as an expert on trans issues. Elstons post also included a link to a Mail Online article titled, Kinky secrets of a UN trans expert REVEALED. The article describes Cook as a female-to-male Australian who frequently posts online about everything from public nudity to bondage parties, trans orgies and even a photo of a man apparently having sex with a dog. 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 Cook took exception to Elston apparently questioning his credentials to work for the WHO, and submitted a complaint to Australias e-Safety Commissioner. The commissioner demanded that X remove the post, which they initially refused to do. However, following a formal order, X geo-blocked the post, making it unavailable to view in Australia. Elston, together with Musks X, the Australian Human Rights Law Alliance, and ADF International, are appealing the decision, saying it breaches Elstons right to free expression. The court in Melbourne will hear the case over five days starting on March 31. Speaking ahead of the case, Elston said, No child has ever been born in the wrong body. As a father, I have grave concerns about the impact of harmful gender ideology on our childrens well-being. This reality is being increasingly recognized around the world, with government after government ordering a review into the use of toxic puberty blockers. This is a serious issue with real world implications for families across the globe and we need to be able to discuss it." In an interesting twist, Elston was threatened with arrest last week, fined AU$806 ($507 US), and, according to ADF International, forcibly moved in Brisbane by police after conducting what it says were consensual conversations with members of the Australian public about trans issues. Ahead of the court date, Robert Clarke, director of Advocacy for ADF International, who is serving as part of Billboard Chriss legal team, said the case "represents a litmus test for free speech in a world seeing increasing push back against global censorship." Were used to hearing about governments silencing or punishing citizens for their wrong speech in parts of the world with strict blasphemy laws. But now, from Australia to Mexico, to across the EU, we see Western governments increasingly take authoritarian steps to shut down views they dont like, often by branding them as 'offensive,' 'hateful' or 'misinformation,'" he said. In a free society, ideas should be challenged with ideas, not state censorship. For years, Chris has been speaking an important truth to which many in Australia are now waking up: children cannot consent to puberty blockers." Supporters of Elston have rallied round him, with over 24,000 people signing a petition calling on Australias minister of communications to protect free speech in Australia. Musks opposition to woke issues appears to stem from events in his own life. He has said that trans ideology killed his son, apparently referring to his oldest child who in 2020 came out as trans. This article was originally published at Christian Today Home News Most American Christians don't believe in the Trinity: Survey An overwhelming majority of Christians reject the basic Christian teaching of the Trinity, prompting new concerns that Americans are living without the influence of the truths and life principles of God. The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released the latest installment of its American Worldview Inventory series which documents Americans views on the Trinity. The research is based on responses collected from 2,100 adults in January. Overall, just 40% of respondents believe that God exists and affects peoples lives. That figure rises to 53% among self-identified Christians, 60% among theologically-identified born-again Christians, and 100% among Integrated Disciples. The latter term refers to those who have a biblical worldview. While a majority of those surveyed (59%) believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, a significantly smaller share of adults (29%) believe in the Holy Spirit. 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 Slightly more than 1 in 10 respondents (11%) believe in the Trinity, that the God of the Bible is three distinct but inseparable and equal persons in one infinite Being. The persons in the Trinity are God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Belief in the Trinity, characterized by the Cultural Research Center as a fundamental tenet of Christianity, increases to 16% among self-identified Christians, 24% among theologically-identified born-again Christians and 62% among Integrated Disciples. These results are further evidence of the limited or lack of trust Americans have in the Bible, the limitations we place on the authority and influence of God, and our refusal to cooperate with God by living in harmony with His ways and purposes, said CRC Director of Research George Barna in response to the survey results. Even the statistics for the groups that are most in-tune with biblical teachings, such as belief in the nature and impact of the Trinity, are shockingly low for a nation in which most people claim to be Christian. Barna identified these findings about Americas ignorance or rejection of the Trinity as simply another in a long list of examples of people living without the truths and life principles of God shaping their life. He lamented, We know from our national worldview tracking studies that most Americans are uninformed about the many essential biblical teachings, ranging from the Ten Commandments and the Trinity, to matters related to repentance, salvation, the chief purpose of life, and divine measures of success. It could be argued that the primary theologians influencing the spiritual views of America these days are figures such as Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Jordan Peterson, Megyn Kelly, and Bill Maher all influential podcasters and not religious figures. Brand and Peterson have expressed interest in Christianity, with Brand recently getting baptized, while Carlson and Kelly are established Christians and Maher is an outspoken atheist. They mix practical and sometimes unbiblical theology and philosophical points of view into their commentary on life and world events, Barna said of the podcasters. Meanwhile, many Christian churches are focused on delivering multi-part series that are not effectively developing or bolstering an integrated, biblical worldview that congregants can rely upon to counteract popular, secular takes on reality. Barna suggested that no influential cultural figure or church is devoted to obsessively building a solid theological foundation for the masses, asking a series of rhetorical questions designed to make the point that American culture is missing the elements needed to ensure a biblically literate population: Who is committed to ensuring that people grasp the basic theological building blocks of a biblical worldview? Where is the concern or anguish over the near universal rejection of numerous central biblical teachings? Is the Church of God devoted to know Him and making Him know, or has it been seduced by the distractions and distortions of our culture? he inquired. Home News Prominent Indian pastor mysteriously found dead weeks after fearing for his safety; govt launches probe Pastor Praveen Pagadala, a renowned Christian evangelist and apologist, has been found dead under suspicious circumstances in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, weeks after expressing concerns for his safety. Authorities initially reported the cause as a road accident, but mounting evidence and public outcry have prompted the state government to launch an investigation into the possibility of foul play. The 46-year-old pastor was traveling from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry when he was discovered lifeless along a roadside in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, UCA News reported. 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 Reports indicate that he had recently shared concerns about threats to his life, particularly stemming from his outspoken defense of Christianity and criticism of other religions, according to Open Doors UK, which noted that he had attended a prayer meeting the day before his sudden death. The incident has sparked protests among the Christian community and calls for a fair and transparent investigation. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed police to conduct a detailed inquiry, and a special investigative team has been formed to examine the circumstances surrounding the pastors death. Further, an executive magistrate probe has been ordered. Hundreds of Christians, led by prominent Christian organizations, gathered outside the Government General Hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday to demand a thorough investigation. The demonstrations compelled hospital authorities to conduct a post-mortem examination, though autopsy results have yet to be disclosed. Anthoniraj Thumma, a Catholic priest and advisor to the Federation of Telugu Churches, pointed to several factors fueling suspicions of foul play. He noted that Pastor Pagadala had participated in televised debates. He also questioned why the pastor was traveling by motorbike at night when he owned a car, suggesting potential irregularities that warrant further investigation. Thumma urged authorities to analyze CCTV footage and interview witnesses from the area where the incident occurred. Pastor Karunanidhi Indupalli, secretary of the Federation of Telugu Churches, claimed that Pastor Pagadala had confided in his followers about receiving death threats. Pastor V. David Naveen, who participated in the protest rally, described the circumstances of the pastors death as a blow to communal harmony in the region. Evangelist K.A. Paul described Pastor Pagadala as a powerful voice for the Christian community. Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed shock over the incident and called for an impartial probe to determine the truth behind the pastors death. Pastor Pagadala was a well-known figure in southern India, recognized as a preacher, author and apologist. He was admired for his intellectual rigor and commitment to his faith. The pastor is survived by his wife and two young children. A Delhi-based group, United Christian Forum, documented over 800 incidents of threats or attacks against Christians across India last year. Christians represent about 2.3% of Indias population, while Hindus constitute around 80%. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Cleveland office of US Senator Bernie Moreno on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 to protest his lack of availability. If Moreno and his Republican colleagues won't hold in-person town halls, we will. We're looking for your ideas. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com The wave of emails weve received this year from people angered by their inability to talk with or get meaningful responses from Ohio Republicans in Congress is like nothing Ive seen in 45 years of journalism. Every day people send notes about their unsuccessful efforts to ask the leaders positions on Trump administration decisions or to lobby for them to take positions. They call the politicians cowards for refusing to hold town hall discussions with constituents. For a lark, I suggested a couple of weeks ago to my daily text message subscribers that maybe our newsroom should host a town hall if the politicians wont. I received 1,000 responses to that text over two days, overwhelmingly in favor. I was surprised, especially considering that just over 2,800 people subscribe to those texts, in which I detail stories we have in the works, questions we seek to answer or help our newsroom might need from text subscribers. (Subscribe free at joinsubtext.com/chrisquinn) With so many people liking the idea, we decided to pursue it. We entertained hosting it at our printing plant in Brooklyn, where our newsroom is. You cant miss the mammoth place as you drive on Interstate 480 at Tiedeman Road. It contains no end of printing and sorting equipment that never fails to fascinate visitors. And we have a warehouse where we could fit a few hundred people. Alas, the plant presents challenges. Wed have to bring in a team to direct parking and another to direct people from one end of the building to the other. Wed have to rent chairs and use a loudspeaker system, and even then, the noise might be too problematic. As much as people wanted to visit the plant, we decided we just couldnt pull it off. We looked elsewhere, however, and found a workable, easily accessible venue that we can afford. We expect to host a town hall meeting, in May. This is not the announcement of that meeting, We wont be ready to do that until we map out the program. First, we had to figure out the logistics. Now we focus on the agenda. We see this is a true town hall session, where the people who attend are the ones who do the talking. We considered asking some party officials to be there, but that would be unfair. They are not the ones ducking their constituents, so why should they have to answer for that? No, we think hearing from you is best. Our tentative plan is to feature five or six of the Trump Administrations big decisions that have affected our region and ask attendees for their thoughts or questions about them. What would they say to their Congressional delegation if they could? Well make sure those comments and questions get through. Wed bring up the topics in sequence, and one thought we have is to bring in subject experts to answer factual questions, without opinion on what is happening. Say, for instance, that Social Security was one of the topics. Having a Social Security expert to talk about the mechanics as they exist now and how they are changing could be helpful. Im not saying Social Security is one of the topics. I just used it as an example. Were not picking the topics, actually. We hope you are. Before we set the agenda, we hope you will let us know what youd like to discuss. Immigration? Tariffs? Doge? Those are all big topics. Would you like to zero in on specific issues related to each? Heres your chance to impact the discussion, even if you cant be there for it. Please send me an email with your thoughts. Some of you have written with ideas of keeping this civil. I think well be OK in that regard. Youll understand why when we formally announce it. Some of you have said a town hall without politicians does not excite you. I get it. But a lot of others say they would love the opportunity to participate. Wed stream it for those who want to watch from home. I hope to have news on this soon. In the meantime, I look forward to your response. Thanks for reading. Im at cquinn@cleveland.com Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a rally in advance of the New Hampshire presidential primary election in Rochester, New Hampshire, U.S., January 21, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters President Donald Trump told NBC News in an interview Saturday that he would not fire anyone involved in the Signal group chat where military attack plans were inadvertently divulged to a journalist, and later added he "couldn't care less" if automakers raised prices due to new tariffs. In the wide-ranging interview, Trump also discussed his commitment to annexing Greenland and reiterated that a military option was not off the table. Following a week of headlines about Signal, tariffs and Greenland, the president waved off concerns that his agenda is causing volatility on Wall Street or decreasing consumer confidence, pointing to polling that shows that the share of Americans who believe the country is on the right track is at record highs. "What I see is right track, wrong track. And the right track was the first time in like 40 years where it was right track," the president said, at one point putting Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland, on the phone as well. The two men were golfing in Florida on Saturday. More from Trump's interview with NBC News: No concern if automakers raise their prices The president said he "couldn't care less" if automakers raised prices after he announced he would impose 25% tariffs on all foreign-made automobiles. More from NBC News: Trump's election order tees up DOGE for familiar voter file fight Milk is getting caught in the middle of Trump's policy agenda The Trump administration's shifting stance on the Signal debacle Asked what his recent message was to motor industry CEOs, and whether he had warned them against raising prices, Trump said, "The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you're going to make a lot of money. If you don't, you're going to have to probably come to the United States, because if you make your car in the United States, there is no tariff." When pressed if he told CEOs not to raise prices, as reported in the The Wall Street Journal, Trump added, "No, I never said that. I couldn't care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars." Trump continued, "I couldn't care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty." Asked if he was concerned about car prices going up, Trump said, "No, I couldn't care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they're going to buy American cars." After the interview, an aide to the president followed up with NBC News to say that Trump was referring specifically to foreign car prices. NBC News reported earlier this week that foreign auto parts would also be taxed at 25% even if the vehicles they go into are assembled domestically. Companies that import vehicles under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will get special consideration until the government establishes a process for levying the 25% duties, according to the White House. Until that time, USMCA-compliant auto parts will remain tariff-free. The president also said the tariffs would be permanent. "Absolutely, they're permanent, sure. The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all we're doing is being fair, and frankly, I'm being very generous," Trump said. Trump's tariff announcement on Wednesday came just weeks before his planned April 2 "Liberation Day," when tariffs on a variety of consumer goods are set to take effect. They drew swift condemnation from international leaders like Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In remarks on Thursday, Carney told reporters the tariffs were "unjustified" and that "the old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over." Trump on Saturday maintained that he does not plan to further delay the imposition of the April 2 tariffs, and he would consider negotiating on that point "only if people are willing to give us something of great value. Because countries have things of great value, otherwise, there's no room for negotiation." Signal incident Trump said he has no plans to fire anyone following news that national security adviser Michael Waltz added a journalist to a Signal app group chat with senior members of the Trump administration who were discussing plans to strike Houthi militants in Yemen earlier this month. "I don't fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts," Trump said, calling the story "fake news" throughout the interview. "I do," the president said when asked whether he still has confidence in Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also in the Signal chat and sent a detailed timeline of the planned strikes before they happened. "I think it's just a witch hunt and the fake news, like you, talk about it all the time, but it's just a witch hunt, and it shouldn't be talked [about]," Trump added. "We had a tremendously successful strike. We struck very hard and very lethal. And nobody wants to talk about that. All they want to talk about is nonsense. It's fake news." Trump's comments come as he has faced calls including from his allies to fire Waltz after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg wrote on Monday that he had been added to a chat group on a private messaging app with senior administration officials. In the chat, the officials appeared to discuss their plans to strike Houthi rebels, which the Trump administration has since repeatedly claimed were not classified. "I have no idea what Signal is. I don't care what Signal is," Trump said on Saturday. "All I can tell you is it's just a witch hunt, and it's the only thing the press wants to talk about, because you have nothing else to talk about. Because it's been the greatest 100-day presidency in the history of our country." Everything is on the table to obtain Greenland DNA testing has become a valuable tool for hobbyists and novice genealogists. For some, learning they are the 10th cousin of Paul Revere or the 15th great nephew four times removed of the last King of Prussia is worth the perceived risk of sharing a DNA sample. But what happens when the company harvesting the DNA goes bankrupt? That was the question posed to millions of Americans last week when 23andMe, the company that popularized consumer genetic testing and had early backing from Google, filed for bankruptcy, leading to a wave of calls for Americans to delete their DNA from the company's database. While it's not 100 percent clear if the "delete your DNA" calls were warranted, privacy experts are alarmed, and Americans who had taken the genetic test took the advice to heart. According to data from online traffic analysis company Similarweb, on March 24, the day of the bankruptcy announcement, 23andMe received 1.5 million visits to its website, a 526% increase from one day prior. According to Similarweb, 376,000 visits were made to help pages specifically related to deleting data, and 30,000 were made to the customer care page for account closure. The next day, that figure rose to 1.7 million visits, and rraffic to the delete data help page about 480,000. Margaret Hu, professor of law and director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School, thinks Americans made the right move. "This development is a disaster for data privacy," said Hu. In her view, the 23andMe bankruptcy should serve as a warning as to why the federal government needs strong data protection laws. In some states, Hu noted, the government is taking an active role in counseling consumers. The California Attorney General's Office is urging Californians to delete their data and have 23andMe destroy saliva samples. But Hu says that is not enough, and such guidance should be provided to all U.S. citizens. The potential national security implications of 23andMe's data falling into the wrong hands are not new. In fact, the Pentagon had previously warned military personnel that these DNA kits could pose a risk to national security. Exposing DNA collected from consumers is not a new issue for 23andMe, either. In 2023, almost 7 million people who took the genetic test were already exposed in a major 23andMe data breach. The company signed an agreement that involved a $30 million settlement and a promise of three years' worth of security monitoring. But Hu says the bankruptcy does make the company, and its data, especially vulnerable now. Drug research and genetic testing data One of the things notable about the consumer mindset in the early years of the popularization of genetic testing was that a majority of users opted into sharing their DNA for research purposes, as much as 80% in the years when 23andMe was growing rapidly. Then, as the market for consumer sale of the popular DNA test kits reached saturation sooner than many expected, 23andMe focused more on research and development partnerships with drug companies as a way to diversify its revenue. Currently, when 23andMe sells genetic data to other research companies, most is used at an aggregate level, as part of millions of data points being analyzed as a whole. The company also strips out identifying data from the genetic data, and no registration information (like a name or email) is included. Data researchers do need, such as date of birth, is stored separately from genetic data, and shared with randomly assigned IDs. Hu is among the experts concerned these practices could change under 23andMe or any new buyer. "In a time of financial vulnerability, companies such as pharmaceutical companies might see an opportunity to exploit the research benefits of the genetic data," Hu said, adding that they might try to renegotiate prior contracts to extract more data from the company. "Will the next company that buys 23andMe do that?," Hu said of its privacy policies. In recent days, 23andMe has said it will try to find a buyer who shares its privacy values. 23andMe did not respond to a request for comment. Thai rescue workers arrive on scene at a construction building collapse in the Chatuchak area following an earthquake on March 28, 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The toll from Myanmar's earthquake continued to rise on Sunday, as foreign rescue teams and aid rushed into the impoverished country, where hospitals were overwhelmed and some communities scrambled to mount rescue efforts with limited resources. The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, jolted the war-torn Southeast Asian nation on Friday, leaving around 1,700 people dead, 3,400 injured and over 300 missing as of Sunday, the military government said. The junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, warned that the number of fatalities could rise, state media reported, three days after he made a rare call for international assistance. India, China and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbors that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. But residents in Mandalay and Sagaing reported that international aid had not arrived as concerns grew about a severe shortage of food, electricity and water. "The destruction has been extensive, and humanitarian needs are growing by the hour," the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a statement. The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations" and said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the Trump administration, is deploying to Myanmar. The devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, which was already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Critical infrastructure including bridges, highways, airports, and railways across the country of 55 million lie damaged, slowing humanitarian efforts, while the conflict that has battered the economy, displaced over 3.5 million people, and debilitated the health system rages on. The military council has rejected requests from international journalists to cover the devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity and hotels. The U.S. Geological Survey's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could eventually top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. MANILA, PHILIPPINES - MARCH 28: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (L), with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Romeo Brawner Jr., inspect honor guards during his visit at Camp Aguinaldo on March 28, 2025 in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in the Philippines, focusing on strengthening security cooperation and addressing concerns in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Japan on Sunday as indispensable for tackling Chinese aggression and said implementing of a plan to upgrade the U.S military command in the country would get under way. "We share a warrior ethos that defines our forces," Hegseth told Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani at a meeting in Tokyo. "Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression," including across the Taiwan Strait, he said. Calling Japan a "cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific," he said President Donald Trump's government would continue to work closely with its key Asian ally. In July, then-President Joe Biden's White House announced a major revamp of the U.S. military command in Japan to deepen coordination with Tokyo's forces, as the two countries labelled China their "greatest strategic challenge." That change will place a combined operational commander in Japan, who would be a counterpart to the head of a joint operation command established by the Japan's Self-Defense Forces last week. Daisy Hernandez, left, used credit card points to fund a 2024 trip to Iceland with her mom and grandmother. Daisy Hernandez has been a credit cards editor at The Points Guy since 2023, but has taken joy in gamifying credit card rewards for much longer. Like many of her colleagues, she spreads her spending across multiple cards to maximize rewards such as airline miles, hotel points and cash back. In January 2024, she opened a Chase Sapphire Reserve card and soon earned a 60,000-point bonus for spending at least $4,000 within the first three months. As she continued to rack up points, Hernandez began chatting with her mom about recreating a previous mother-daughter trip to Iceland. When her grandmother, then 79, got in on the conversation, Hernandez knew she wanted to put some points to use. "She had stars in her eyes. She was like, 'That's amazing. It sounds incredible,'" Hernandez says. "I thought, 'Let me see what I can do.'" By May, she'd accumulated more than 100,000 points, which she put toward a trip for all three of them. By The Points Guy's estimates, each Chase Ultimate Rewards point is worth roughly 2.05 cents, making her stash worth just over $2,000. Altogether, she was able to cover accommodations, a rental car and her own airfare. With those savings, she could afford to pay out-of-pocket for the other two flights. "For my grandma, it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip," Hernandez says. Here's how she did it. She chose a card strategically Hernandez wanted a premium travel card and narrowed things down to two main options. To choose between them she looked at rewards points and transfer partners, among other factors. The Chase card worked with her "favorite hotel chain," it turned out. So she realized, "this is kind of a no-brainer." Especially because the first card wooed consumers with airport lounge perks that wouldn't be available to her at her local airport. For cardholders willing to pay an annual fee, several travel cards offer excellent perks and generous introductory bonus offers. By shifting the bulk of her spending onto her new Chase card, Hernandez was able to eclipse the $4,000 three-month spending threshold to earn the card's 60,000-point bonus. She was wise with her rewards Hernandez's card offers a baseline one point for every dollar spent on the card and three points on travel and dining, plus increased values for purchases made through the Chase travel portal. Over the course of about five months, she was able to rack up just over 100,000 points. Importantly, Hernandez was responsible with her spending and aware of the risks of opening a new card. She and other experts would tell you not to open a card unless you can use it responsibly and to avoid going into debt to pursue rewards. Hernandez used some 23,000 points about $470 by TPG's estimates to rent a car for four days. She used around the same amount to book her flight, which came with a face value of roughly $450. She cashed in the remainder on three nights for three guests spread across two properties she booked through the Chase travel portal. Her 100,000 points didn't cover everything. She still paid roughly $900 for her mother and grandmother's flights, plus whatever she spent on dining and activities once she was there. "I still got killer value out of a trip for three people," Hernandez says. She didn't let perfect be the enemy of good Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, attends the inauguration of a new hub in France dedicated to the artificial intelligence sector, at the Google France headquarters in Paris, France, on Feb. 15, 2024. Gonzalo Fuentes | Reuters After Google scrapped its diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, hiring aspirations in February, CEO Sundar Pichai addressed the matter with his employees at a company all-hands meeting. "We believe in building a representative workforce," Pichai said, according to audio obtained by CNBC. "We're a global company, we have users around the world, and we think the best way to serve them well is by having a workforce that represents that diversity, and we'll continue to do that." "At the same time, as a company we will always have to comply with local laws," Pichai added. Among the most notable changes by Google thus far was with Melonie Parker, the company's chief diversity officer. As of February, her title has been changed to vice president of Googler engagement. Google's approach to DEI is emblematic of changes that companies across the U.S. are making to their DEI programs in the wake of President Donald Trump's election and initial actions in his return to the White House. Over the past decade, Silicon Valley and other industries used DEI programs to root out bias in hiring, promote fairness in the workplace and advance the careers of women and people of color demographics that have historically been overlooked. While DEI started as an umbrella acronym to even the playing field, it's become a loaded term. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against Harvard University's affirmative action admission policies a decision that had implications for how corporations hire. In one of his first acts of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January to end the government's DEI programs and put federal officials overseeing those initiatives on leave. The order directs "all departments and agencies to take strong action to end private sector DEI discrimination, including civil compliance investigations." The administration has targeted nearly 50 companies that it's deemed to be in violation of its anti-DEI rules, Bloomberg reported in February. Among the first of those targets is the Walt Disney Company . The Federal Communications Commission informed the company on Friday that it will begin an investigation into the DEI efforts at the media giant. Trump has shown he's willing to fault DEI policies for human tragedy. Following a midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter above Washington in January, Trump blasted the Biden administration's DEI policies for the crash without citing any evidence. Trump claimed DEI "could have been" to blame for the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since 2001. "When you have the president blaming DEI for a plane crash, I think it makes sense that companies don't want to be out there no matter how they define it internally," Emerson said. Despite DEI becoming such a divisive term, companies are not necessarily ending their efforts. They're rebranding them. Many companies are continuing DEI work but using different language or rolling it under less charged terminology, like "learning" or "hiring." Paradigms CEO Joelle Emerson is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. Source: Paradigm DEI by any other name Joelle Emerson has worked since 2014 as a consultant for several hundred clients on workplace performance as well as diversity and inclusion strategies, but last year, she changed the language used to describe her digital platform Paradigm. Whereas before Paradigm marketed itself as helping clients "harness the power of diversity and inclusion to create a culture where everyone can do their best work and thrive," the company's website now states that its solutions "create an inclusive, high-performance culture where everyone can do their best work and thrive." Paradigm began using DEI in 2020 after the term proliferated in the corporate response to protests across the country in the wake of George Floyd's death. "We started using that a lot on our websites so that companies searching for 'DEI' could find us," Emerson told CNBC. "Pre-election, as we were seeing a lot of the backlash, we reduced our use of the acronym because I didn't think it would be the best description of what we do." Devika Brij, who does similar work through her Brij The Gap consulting firm, detailed her efforts to distinguish her work in a newsletter sent out in February titled "Tailored Career and Leadership Development Isn't DEI." For companies like Brij's, the re-branding is critical to the future of their business some of Brij's clients have slashed their DEI budgets by as much as 90% since 2023, she said at the time. It's not just consulting firms that are rebranding DEI. JPMorgan in March announced that it will replace "equity" with "opportunity" in a rebrand of its DEI program. Walmart in November said it was shifting from DEI to saying "Walmart for everyone." Among Fortune 100 companies, there was a 22% decrease in the use of terms like "DEI" and "diversity" and a 59% increase in terms like "belonging" between 2023 and 2024, according to Paradigm. watch now Emerson said 2023 marked the turning point for DEI in Silicon Valley. That's when Google began getting rid of staffers who were in charge of recruiting people from underrepresented groups, CNBC reported. The company also let go of DEI leaders under Parker. Amazon also reorganized its DEI group in 2023 and brought global teams under one umbrella named "Inclusive Experiences & Technology." The company renamed the group to better represent the nature of the work, a company spokesperson told CNBC, adding that Amazon remains committed to building a diverse and inclusive company. As part of that overhaul, Amazon's Candi Castleberry changed her vice president title from "VP of Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion" to "VP of Inclusive Experiences & Technology." Tech's DEI rollback has accelerated in 2025. Google, which has cloud-computing contracts with federal agencies, announced in February that it would retire its aspirational hiring targets following Trump's executive orders. Google's commitments for 2025 had included increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups in leadership by 30% and more than doubling the number of Black workers at non-senior levels. "Our values are enduring, but we have to comply with legal directions depending on how they evolve," Pichai told staffers at the February all-hands meeting. He and Parker were answering a question from staffers about how the company's DEI programs would be impacted given Trump's recent executive orders. "As a federal contractor, we have been reviewing all our programs, all our initiatives," Parker said. "With regards to training, we're going to deprecate, or stop or sunset, a number of our training programs that are focused on DEI." A spokesperson for Google did not clarify which of the company's DEI programs have been cut. Pichai went on to assure workers that Google would continue to support its employee resource groups. Those are employee-led networks within the company that focus on specific demographic or affinity groups, such as "Women@Google" and "Black Googler Network." Those comments, however, came before the Equality Employment Opportunity Commission published guidance in March that listed ERGs as a potential violation of Trump's executive order if they are exclusionary. Google's ERGs are open to all employees and do not exclude any protected groups, the company spokesperson told CNBC. "Based on the current legal climate, we're reviewing our DEI programs and making changes where needed," the Google spokesperson said in a statement. Melonie Parker speaks on stage during The 37th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards at The Kennedy Center on Sept. 5, 2024 in Washington, DC. Paul Morigi | Getty Images The sensitivity of the term DEI came to the forefront earlier this month at Austin's annual South by Southwest conference. There, Google and Oracle had been slated to participate in a panel, originally titled "Successful Workplaces: Balancing Growth and Well-Being." "Attendees will leave with actionable insights to align business success with a thriving workplace culture," an early description of the panel noted. Oracle dropped out from the panel in February. That month, panel organizers informed participating companies that they were considering changing the focus of the conversation to the state of DEI in the workplace. "The fact that the Trump administration took such an aggressive approach to DEI just made obvious, in our view, how timely this discussion was," said panel organizer Luis Gramajo, founder of nonprofit Sunday Afternoon Foundation, which helped organize that particular SXSW panel. The Google panelist dropped out in March after the panel's name was officially changed to "Post-DEI Workplace: Tech Companies Managing Through Turmoil." "We went through I don't know how many prep calls, we changed the title of this eight plus times, we lost people who were afraid to be on this panel," said Chelsea Toler, one of the SXSW panelists and a co-founder at Logictry, an Austin startup. Google was not informed of the change until late February, the company spokesperson told CNBC, adding that the panel's new topic was outside of the employee's role and experience. "We had a couple different panelists back out because this conversation, which is so important, has become kind of nuclear at this point, which is wild," said Diana Ransom, Inc. Magazine executive editor and the panel's moderator, at the event. Gramajo said he doesn't begrudge any of the panelists or companies that pulled out of the panel. "They are, as we all are, navigating an incredibly complex and uncertain time, where the rules are not clear," he said. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy looks on during an Amazon Devices launch event in New York City, U.S., February 26, 2025. Brendan McDermid | Reuters Amazon has also pulled back on DEI. The company told staffers in December that it was halting some of its DEI programs as part of a broader review of those initiatives. It also eliminated references to inclusion and diversity in its annual report while altering a website to remove sections titled "Equity for Black people" and "LGBTQ+ rights." Amazon CEO Andy Jassy characterized the DEI eliminations as being part of Amazon's ongoing cost-cutting efforts. "If you look at us, kind of like a lot of other companies, particularly after George Floyd, and particularly because we're so decentralized, we had a lot of programs in this area," Jassy told staffers earlier this month, according to audio obtained by CNBC. "We had about 300 programs." Amazon began evaluating its DEI programs "a couple years ago," Jassy said. "We realized there were several of them where we weren't getting enough value out of them for us to be investing in that way and those programs, we streamlined those," Jassy said. "And in the programs where we were having a real impact, we doubled down." It's unclear which programs Amazon cut and which it has expanded. Continuing the work "The acronym of DEI is completely unhelpful," said Aubrey Blanche-Serrallano, vice president of equitable operations at Culture Amp, a human resources platform. "Diversity is incredibly valuable and important, but that specific acronym obscures a lot of what we're talking about." For all the backlash toward DEI in Washington, recent studies show that this type of work remains popular among workers and companies. Pew Research in 2023 found that 86% of workers say they have a neutral-to-favorable opinion about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Paradigm, meanwhile, published a study last year which found that 73% of companies included diversity, equity and inclusion in their company values, on par with 2023. "The feeling of the moment doesn't match a lot of the data I'm looking at," Blanche-Sarellano said. The experts that spoke with CNBC said they've yet to lose any clients as a result of the DEI backlash. To the contrary, they said they are optimistic that organizations will be forced to be more thoughtful about their plans and do away with "performative" aspects of DEI that did little to move the needle. Experts said one key example of performative actions were when companies signaled support for social media movements, like 2020's Blackout Tuesday, without any meaningful action to follow. Another example were companies that added chief diversity officers to their ranks without giving them formalized decision-making power or budgets. Among the changes happening now are companies shifting away from diversity reports, which tracked hiring based on different genders and ethnicities, and focusing instead on tracking the rates at which promotions and attrition happen, Emerson said. Companies are also changing how they have candidates apply for programs, Emerson said. With internships designed for specific ethnicities, for example, candidates might no longer simply check whether they are black or Hispanic but instead write an essay about their background, she said. Some experts are helping their clients calculate how much risk they may face by continuing DEI work under different names. "There's a lot of legal gray area right now," Blanche-Sarellano said. "At the end of the day, they want to focus on investing in their employees, not spend all their resources on a lawsuit." Y-Vonne Hutchinson, chief executive officer of ReadySet, speaks during the Bloomberg Breakaway CEO Summit in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Mark Kauzlarich | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump walks before departing for Florida from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 28, 2025. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership, adding that the comments were "not going in the right location." Agence France-Presse reported that Putin on Friday called for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine, which could effectively push out Zelenskyy. "If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault which it might not be but if I think it was Russia's fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump said in an early-morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday. "That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," Trump said. "There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil." Trump had criticized Zelenskyy, saying he was "sick" of his handling of the war and falsely calling him a dictator. President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Since then, the amount of Russian oil imported to the United States has plummeted, to only 10,000 barrels of Russian crude oil and petroleum products in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Trump similarly announced "secondary tariffs" on Venezuela, saying on Truth Social that the tariffs would be placed on countries that bought oil and gas from Venezuela. A few of the top importers of Russian oil products include China, Turkey, Brazil and India, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. If Trump uses the same definition of secondary tariffs he used with Venezuela, they could be among the countries seeing impacts of secondary tariffs. Trump had made ending the war in Ukraine a top foreign policy promise on the campaign trail, leading to meetings among U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials in the first few months of his second term. Last week, Russia and Ukraine agreed on a partial and limited ceasefire that would allow safe navigation in the Black Sea and halt attacks on each other's energy facilities. "There will be a 25% tariff on oil and other products sold in the United States, secondary tariffs," Trump said, saying the tariffs on Russia would come within a month without a ceasefire deal. Trump said Putin knows he is angry but said he has "a very good relationship with him" and "the anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing." The two men plan to speak again this week, Trump said. He made the comments after a separate phone interview with NBC News on Saturday evening, when he threatened "bombing" and "secondary tariffs" on Iran if it did not make a deal with the United States to ensure it did not develop a nuclear weapon. "If they don't make a deal," Trump said about Iran, "there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." U.S. and Iranian officials are "talking," Trump said. However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program in a statement Sunday, Iran's first response to a letter Trump sent to its supreme leader. SOUTH DAKOTA State law could delay carbon pipeline SIOUX FALLS The company behind an $8.9 billion carbon-capture pipeline proposed for five Midwestern states said on March 12 it wants to indefinitely delay its plans after South Dakota passed a law limiting its ability to acquire land for the project. But even as it filed a motion to suspend its pipeline permit application timeline with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, the Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions said it remains committed to the pipeline. Summit attorney Brett Koenecke said the action was needed because the legislation approved by South Dakota lawmakers and quickly signed into law by the governor changed the company's ability to survey the route, making its application timeline unrealistic. The proposed 2,500-mile pipeline would carry carbon emissions from ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota to be stored underground permanently in North Dakota. The project had approvals in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. But in South Dakota, a new law banned the use of eminent domain the government seizure of private property with compensation specifically for carbon-capture projects. Tad Hepner, vice president of strategy and innovation at the Renewable Fuels Association, said the move would put ethanol producers in the state at a competitive disadvantage to out-of-state plants connected to the pipeline. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he doesn't know how Summit will get its pipeline into North Dakota given South Dakota's eminent domain ban. Summit has already spent more than $1 billion on the project, Summit spokesperson Sabrina Zenor said. Despite the South Dakota suspension, "all options" are still on the table, the company said. UTAH Law requires app stores to verify ages SALT LAKE CITY Utah on March 5 became the first state to pass legislation requiring app stores to verify users' ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices. The bill has pitted Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, against app store giants Apple and Google over who should be responsible for verifying ages. Meta and other social media companies support putting the onus on app stores to verify ages amid criticism that they don't do enough to make their products safe for children or verify that no kids under 13 use them. The app stores say app developers are better equipped to handle age verification and other safety measures. Requiring app stores to confirm ages will make it so all users have to hand over sensitive identifying information, such as a driver's license, passport, credit card or Social Security number, even if they don't want to use an age-restricted app, Apple said. The company gives parents the option to set age-appropriate parameters for app downloads. The Google Play Store does the same. Kouri Marshall, a spokesperson for the Chamber of Progress, a tech policy group that lobbied Utah lawmakers to reject the bill, called the measure "a tremendous encroachment of individual privacy" that he said places a heavy burden on app stores to ensure online safety. Republican Sen. Todd Weiler, the bill's sponsor, argued that its easier to target two app stores than it is to target 10,000 (app) developers." IDAHO Bill makes firing squad chief execution method BOISE Death by firing squad could become Idaho's primary method of execution under a bill passed by the legislature and set to take take effect next year if it is signed by Gov. Brad Little. Firing-squad executions have been a back-up method in Idaho since 2023, available only if prison officials are unable to obtain lethal injection drugs. Sen. Doug Ricks, the bill's sponsor, said the legislation was spurred by Idaho's botched attempt to execute Thomas Eugene Creech last year, when execution team members were unable to find a suitable vein for an IV line. He suggested shooting someone was more effective and humane than other execution methods. He speculated that the state could use a machine or "electronic triggering methods" that would eliminate the need for human volunteers to pull the triggers. Four other states Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah also allow the use of firing squads in certain circumstances, but the method has rarely been used in recent history. Republican Sen. Daniel Foreman, a retired police officer and former Air Force veteran who served in combat, was the only Republican to debate against the bill. He said he has seen shooting deaths, and that they are "anything but humane." Democratic Sen. Melissa Wintrow agreed, calling firing squads "barbaric" and saying they would create bad optics for the state. NEW MEXICO 'Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive' set to film SANTA FE It's been almost 40 years since Emilio Estevez first drew his revolver as Billy the Kid in the iconic Western "Young Guns." The actor visited the New Mexico State Capitol on March 13 during Film and Media Day to announce that he'll be coming back to where it all started to film the next installment in the franchise. He will direct "Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive" and will star again as the famous outlaw. The cast also includes original members Lou Diamond Phillips and Christian Slater. Estevez said during a news conference that he's heard jokes about whether the title should be "Old Guns." The first "Young Guns" premiered in 1988. Its success resulted in a sequel that followed two years later. Both were filmed in New Mexico. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham highlighted "Young Guns" as one of the films that helped to establish the state as a premier filming destination, saying the next one will add to the legacy. Estevez, 62, said some work already is happening on the film, but officials didn't provide any details on when the cameras could start rolling. The plot also is under wraps, although Estevez and Phillips had hinted in interviews in recent years that it was very possible that the franchise would return to the big screen. Written by Estevez and John Fusco, "Young Guns 3" will be produced by Morgan Creek. Handing over my change, the shop assistant on the other side of the till smiled and said: 'Thank you for my childhood.' The moment caught me, but it's not the first time it's happened, which is remarkable given it is well over half a century since I was a Blue Peter presenter. I'm 87, and Britons who were children in the Sixties and early Seventies (when I was on the show) are themselves of bus-pass age making it all the more heart-warming they still have such fond memories of me and the rest. Sadly, I fear today's generation of Blue Peter presenters are unlikely to have the same experience in a few decades. A damning combination of streaming, changing tastes and social mores have meant Blue Peter has long since ceased to be regular viewing for the majority of UK youngsters. As The Mail on Sunday revealed last week, the final death knell has now been sounded by one of its long-serving directors, Martin Williams-Neale, who confirmed that it would no longer be a live show, but pre-recorded. While its main home will remain CBBC, plans have previously been announced for the children's channel to become an online-only enterprise. Yet, if rumours are to be believed, the show is not long for the world in any form. It is, as Williams-Neale says, 'the end of an era'. Having been broadcast since 1958, Blue Peter is the longest-running TV series on the planet. A great deal has changed since it first flickered on to our black and white sets not least the fashion (I do shudder at some things I wore back then). But Blue Peter was always a steady beacon of creativity, news and innocent fun for children now just as much as then. And at a time when panic over what our children are doing in their bedrooms brought to such a pitch by the terrifying Netflix series Adolescence the need for Blue Peter to anchor children in their sitting rooms, even just for half an hour twice a week, is surely greater than ever. Its demise is both a terrible shame and a sign of the cowardice and wrong-sightedness of BBC executives, who seem to have forgotten they have a duty not just to chase ratings (important though they may be) but to broadcast a variety of shows to suit every member of the viewing public, not just those who shriek the loudest. Valerie Singleton (pictured) was host of Blue Peter in the Sixties and early Seventies when the show was hugely popular Valerie co-hosted the show with John Noakes (pictured right) who remains Blue Peter's longest serving host Valerie 'fervently hopes' Blue Peter gets a television reprieve in the future Yes, Blue Peter may no longer pull in the millions of viewers it once did, but is half an hour of sensible children's programming really too much to ask for in a world of YouTube reels and mindless American cartoons shown back to back on our streaming channels? Evidently, maintaining the programme's pull has been a challenge. When I joined Blue Peter in 1962 there were only two channels the BBC and ITV so there was little else for anyone, least of all children, to watch. We had a captive audience executives could only dream of today. It meant that as far as I was aware, ratings were simply not an issue: they were for the men in suits upstairs to worry about, if indeed they ever did worry. We knew from the reception we'd get at a school fete how well it was watched and loved. Some unscripted moments have gone down in British television history, from Lulu the elephant relieving herself in front of millions to having a whole studio of hyperactive dogs go to sleep the moment we started filming leaving us floundering to explain their antics had they been awake. Not forgetting the campfire we set up with fake logs, that suddenly needed a real fireman to put out. And of course there were the campaigns, which were really rather ground-breaking because they didn't focus on money but instead asked viewers to send in anything from clothes to scrap metal. Image shows a Blue Peter badge from 1989 (file photo) Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene hosted the show for a three year period between 1980 and 1983 The programme began in October 1958 and in its heyday was screened three times a week on BBC1 One of my favourites was the 1972 Treasure Hunt, which asked the public for books that could be sold to buy four new RNLI boats. Those appeals made a real difference, and they were cleverly inclusive too at a time when that word wasn't such a hot-button term, as BBC suits may call it today. Nor can we underestimate the impact the show had on the children that watched. I've lost count of the people who've told me they had been inspired to pursue their careers be it designing hats, becoming a painter or an engineer because of something they had seen on the show. That is the lasting impact of Blue Peter. So yes, I can happily say I loved every moment of my nearly ten years at the helm, and I missed it terribly when I left in 1972. But I remain a member of the Blue Peter family. Today, I'm friends with many of the presenters who came after me, from Mark Curry and Tim Vincent (who was actually born as I left) to Janet Ellis, Diane Louise Jordan and Anthea Turner. And I kept watching it religiously too, that is until 2012 when the powers-that-be removed it from its long-standing slot just before the six o'clock news and placed it on their dedicated children's channel CBeebies. That relegation was the beginning of the end. While I lost touch with the show, I gather from friends it had become a bit preachy, with wokery an ever-creeping presence. The Blue Peter line-up in 1972: Peter Purves, Lesley Judd, Valerie Singleton and John Noakes with his dog Shep. The magazine show is staying on TV screens for now Insiders have told how the decision to scrap the live shows was kept a secret by bosses, with its presenters wondering where their new contracts had got to in recent months. Above, John Noakes climbs Nelson's column in London during a Blue Peter programme 1977 The Mail on Sunday first revealed fears that the BBC was planning to axe Blue Peter from TV screens in October 2023 after three presenters quit in three years although BBC bosses played down the issues, insisting there were no plans to drop the show On the few times I did catch it, I was immediately struck by how much all of the presenters bounced around while their energy was infectious, it made their delivery too breathless. We were all a little more subdued back in the day. But style changes, and that's to be expected. What has remained though despite what executives seem to think was the affection in which the show is held by children and parents. In 2018 when I attended its 60th birthday party in Salford, I was stunned to see hundreds of letters from young viewers hanging down all the walls like Christmas decorations. In an increasingly online world, it touched me that children were still taking the time to write in, putting pen to paper. It's why I fervently hope Blue Peter gets a television reprieve. Lots of children watch television on their phones and laptops and iPads these days, and I'm sure it makes perfect commercial sense for Blue Peter to become something they can summon on an app. Yet the BBC should remember it is not a commercial channel. It is uniquely funded by licence fee payers, who this month will be paying 5 more for the pleasure. We pay this because we want the BBC to be different, for the BBC to cater for all however esoteric our interests. They may not be hits or money spinners, but programmes such as Songs Of Praise and, yes, Blue Peter enrich the cultural tapestry of our isles. They inform, educate and entertain us founding edicts from a corporation that is in danger of forgetting them altogether. In its great days, Hollywood would have made Tim Bradshaw the hero of a fine, inspiring film, perhaps played by James Stewart. An admiring world would have watched him stand up to louts and petty criminals, and win a victory for law and decency. No doubt, in such a drama, his home town would garland him with praise and he would rapidly be put in charge of the local force, cleaning up crime and disorder and bringing back peace and safety. But things do not happen like that any more, in Hollywood or, more importantly, in Britain. In these dismal times, police officers like Mr Bradshaw are a rarity, and it is not hard to see why in the light of cases such as this. Instead of being an admired example, Tim Bradshaw has left the police in despair and is now driving a bus, where he is openly insulted by the drugged, cynical and violent youths he tried to discipline. Why has this happened? It is clear from his recent acquittal by a jury that the public regard him as a force for good. That Portsmouth jury took just 20 minutes to declare him innocent of the ridiculous charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. We have to wonder what went through the minds of the Crown Prosecution Service when they approved this charge against a popular and effective police officer. In these dismal times, police officers like Tim Bradshaw (pictured) are a rarity, and it is not hard to see why in the light of cases such as this Mr Bradshaw used his patrol car to knock two 'prolific' offenders off their e-bike A Portsmouth jury took just 20 minutes to declare him innocent of the ridiculous charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving He had used his marked police car to nudge an electric motorbike being ridden dangerously, at speeds up to 50mph, by two young men with long criminal records. Mr Bradshaw pointed out that just such a tactical contact manoeuvre had been authorised previously by his superiors, and he was permitted to use reasonable force. But this case goes far beyond the matter for which Mr Bradshaw was tried. Our report today, by Ian Gallagher and Nick Constable, describes the sort of police officer Mr Bradshaw used to be. Any law-abiding man or woman would long to have such a person on the beat in his area, if there was a beat for him to be on. Interested in his surroundings, observant, thoughtful and committed, sympathetic to misfortune without being soppy or weak, he is exactly the sort of officer Sir Robert Peel would have hoped to find in the police force he founded nearly 200 years ago. Many of The Mail on Sundays older readers will recall the era, not in fact all that long ago, when such people were the backbone of a police force which was visible, effective, feared by the bad and trusted by the good. Plenty of younger people know that they, too, would like such officers in their lives, as the jury verdict suggests. Yet it looks to us as if, while the people of Bognor Regis will miss their traditional constable, his superiors will be relieved he has gone. This is not the way they like to do things any more. If the new style of policing worked well, then we could see their point. But we all know it does not. We are told that crime is falling but this is only because the modern authorities no longer view many wicked acts as crimes. They have retreated, and then retreated more, and are close to defeat. It is not just a disgrace that Mr Bradshaw is no longer a police officer. It is a mistake. Sooner or later our police must undergo sweeping reform to make them serve us as we wish to be served. Sooner would be better. Renowned for its peri-peri chicken made as hot as customers can handle, Nando's, which arrived in the UK as a single takeaway in 1992, has grown into one of the country's most popular chains with more than 470 restaurants. But, while there's no doubt that the South Africa-born eatery is on to a winning formula, that hasn't stopped it from branching out into an entirely new sector, namely, skincare. Last month, Nando's launched its first ever face cream - 'a hydrating lotion' - to coincide with the return of its Creamy Salad Dressing. And, in addition to being inspired by the special sauce, the Extra Creamy Face Cream, available for a limited time only, also borrowed ingredients from it, specifically garlic and black pepper. Yet while these store cupboard staples are reported to have skin-boosting properties - garlic is high in sulphur, aiding collagen production, while black pepper has anti-inflammatory properties - could a face cream modelled on salad dressing really catch on? Eager to find out, FEMAIL tried out Nando's Extra Creamy Face Cream and share their verdicts. The Extra Creamy Face Cream by Nando's (left) was inspired by the return of its Creamy Salad Dressing (right) 'Does this have chicken in it?' UK Senior Video Editor Amie-Beth, a self-confessed Nando's devotee, went into the skincare test with a positive mindset. Examining the packaging, she noted the warning: 'External use only, do not eat.' Yet, when she made to smell the Extra Creamy Face Cream, Amie instinctively turned her head the other way - she must have caught a whiff of that collagen-boosting garlic. Still, she persevered, taking some of the cream from the pot and applying it to her neck. Unimpressed, Amie said: Im not going to lie Im a little bit upset that its on both my hands. Its really quite sticky on my skin.' But the stickiness wasn't the worst of it. As a vegan sampling a face cream made by a company best known for its poultry, Amie quickly grew concerned that it might contain chicken. 'Wait, does this have chicken in it?' she asked. 'Im a vegan. It better not.' UK Senior Video Editor Amie-Beth (pictured) found the face cream sticky on her skin Nando's Extra Creamy Face Cream does not contain chicken but, unfortunately, that didn't do much to redeem the new skincare product in Amie's eyes. Amie's verdict: 'I love Nandos Nandos is very close to my heart but, unfortunately on this occasion, Im going to have to give it a two.' 'Just because you can doesn't mean you should' Monty, Creative Video Production Manager, also threw himself into the skincare test. Curious about the Nando's Extra Creamy Face Cream, he hurriedly opened the box and removed the pot containing the product. But, as he revealed the message on the packaging, which read 'Ready to smell like a salad?', Monty had second thoughts. 'I don't think I am ready to smell like a salad,' he admitted. His doubt only increased when he brought the product to his nose to take in the notes of garlic and black pepper. 'Ooof, that is not a nice smell,' he added. While Monty made clear that he wasn't keen to put the cream on his face, he dutifully saw the test through - and with surprising results. Creative Video Production Manager Monty (pictured) was surprised to find the cream fairly moisturising It's actually its just the smell,' he said. 'It feels fine. It looks quite moisturising.' Yet, still not sold on the Extra Creamy Face Cream, Monty's verdict wasn't especially enthusiastic. He concluded: 'Just because you can, it doesnt mean you should. Ill give it a five actually, because I think its nice but its just wrong.' The garlic, thats what I couldnt pin point' UK Video Journalist Stella appeared hopeful about the Extra Creamy Face Cream when she first held it in her hands. 'Cute little bottle - so far, so good,' she enthused. Excited to open the pot, it was only when she went to smell it that she began to realise what she was in for. But while the smell, which elicited an 'Oh my god' from Stella, was bad enough, the texture of the cream proved even more problematic. Its quite oily on my fingers,' she explained. Yet, things seemed to improve when she came to apply the product to her skin, with Stella admitting that it felt 'like a normal cream'. It was only a little later, when the smell grew stronger, that Stella clocked the culprit. 'Its the garlic, thats what I couldnt pinpoint,' she exclaimed. 'Its vinegar, its black pepper, and its garlic.' UK Video Journalist Stella (pictured) couldn't get over the strong garlic smell of the Nando's Extra Creamy Face Cream Despite the role of garlic, which is high in sulphur, in collagen production, the odour proved too much for Stella. 'Great, because everyone wants to smell like garlic... And you want your face to smell like garlic... and your hands to smell like garlic,' she said. Indeed, the strong garlic smell and unappealing oily texture left Stella distinctly unimpressed. She added: 'If youre into really oily creams that smell like garlic, go for it. I think Im going to give it a one.' Mother's Day is typically a quiet affair for the Royal Family, usually marked with a social media post or two. But last year, the Princess of Wales caused quite a stir when an image Kensington Palace released of the family was quickly pulled from a number of photo agencies. They had found evidence of 'manipulation' in the image, and online sleuths quickly identified a total of 16 issues with the Mothering Sunday photograph - which pointed to Photoshop. A day later, as theories swirled, Kate admitted to editing the snap herself, saying she does 'occasionally experiment with editing' like 'many amateur photographers'. She said: 'I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.' Here, FEMAIL recaps exactly what happened last Mother's Day... Kensington Palace released the image of Kate Middleton with her three children last March Kate Middleton admitted to editing the snap herself, saying she does 'occasionally experiment with editing' like 'many amateur photographers' As they typically do to mark Mothering Sunday, Kensington Palace released an image of the Princess of Wales with her three children on March 10 2024. At first glance, the photograph was the very picture of a happy family. However, the Palace soon came under pressure to reveal the truth behind the image after the world's top picture and news agencies - including PA - 'killed' the image over claims it had been digitally manipulated. The photo of the mother-of-three beaming with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis was the first official picture released of the princess since she underwent 'planned abdominal surgery' in January. Rumours swirled and sleuths pointed out flaws in the image, which included strange blurs and missing sleeves, until Kate released a statement blaming her own 'experiment with editing'. A statement from the Princess of Wales said: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C' Royal sources stressed that this was 'an amateur, family photograph taken by the Prince of Wales'. They said the couple wanted to offer an 'informal' picture of the family together for Mother's Day and the princess made 'minor adjustments', as she has shared in her statement on social media. An aide added: 'The Wales family spent Mother's Day together and had a wonderful day.' The PA news agency said it had withdrawn the image of Kate from its picture service Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children. PA - Britain's most respected picture agency - joined AP, AFP, Reuters, Getty Images and EPA in withdrawing the photo shortly after it was published. The UK's national news agency said it had been 'seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace' since it was released over claims it was digitally altered. Later, the agency revealed it withdrew the image 'in the absence of that clarification'. Statements from the picture agencies who have 'killed' the image AP 'The Associated Press initially published the photo, which was issued by Kensington Palace. The AP later retracted the image because at closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP's photo standards. The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand.' AFP 'It has come to light that the Handout issued by Kensington Palace today of Kate and the kids had been altered, therefore it was withdrawn from AFP systems.' Reuters 'We are removing this image following a post publication review.' Getty Images 'Earlier today our picture desk identified a problematic image provided to Getty Images by Kensington Palace. We can confirm the image in question was removed from our site in accordance with our editorial policy.' PA A spokesperson for PA said: 'Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday. 'We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace. In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.' Advertisement A spokesperson for PA said: 'Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday. 'We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace. In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.' PA was the sixth news or picture agency to retract the photo. The image of Kate and her children, said by the palace to have been taken by Prince William, was posted on social media. Without an official response from the palace, confusion around the image had fuelled online conspiracy theories about Kate which have swirled on the internet since her abdominal surgery. The picture shows Kate sitting in a chair with her arms around Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are on either side of her, with Prince George standing behind, as all four smile at the camera. But there was speculation that edits had been made to the left sleeve of Princess Charlotte's cardigan, and other areas of the picture also raised concerns about possible manipulation. In the social media post, Kate thanked the public 'for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months'. Within hours of the photo being shared around the world, multiple picture agencies issued a 'kill notification' - an industry term used to retract a photo previously handed out to publications. Late on the day of publication, the Associated Press became the first agency to 'kill' the photo over an 'inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand'. While AP said there was no suggestion the photo was fake, it retracted it because it said on closer inspection, the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet the agency's photo standards. AP said its editorial standards state that images must be accurate and that it does not use altered or digitally manipulated images. The agency's news values and principles explain that minor photo editing, including cropping and toning and colour adjustments, are acceptable when necessary for clear and accurate reproduction and should maintain the authentic nature of the photograph. Changes in density, contrast, colour and saturation levels that substantially alter the original scene are not acceptable. Backgrounds should not be digitally blurred or eliminated by burning down or by aggressive toning. The removal of 'red eye' from photographs is not permissible. It appears Charlotte's hand was copied over from another picture as there is an empty space where her sleeve should be Charlotte's hair seems to end abruptly on her shoulder on her right despite her hair on the left going on for a few inches The corner of Charlotte's skirt was pointed out as another 'editing error' by social media sleuths When AP determined the photo appeared to have been manipulated, it issued what is known as a 'photo kill,' an industry term that retracted the image and instructed clients to remove the photo from their systems. 'At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image,' the AP said in its advisory. 'No replacement photo will be sent.' A second agency, Reuters, also withdrew the image 'following a post-publication review'. 'We are reviewing the matter,' a spokesperson said. Kate's zip appears to be misaligned on the photo as the top of it is further left and appears significantly lighter than the rest of the zip Reuters picture editors said part of the sleeve of Kate's daughter's cardigan did not line up properly, suggesting that the image had been altered. The agency could not immediately establish how, why or by whom the alteration had been made. AfP then followed suit by issuing a 'mandatory kill notice' before Getty Images became the fourth agency to retract the photograph. EPA this morning also issued the same 'mandatory kill'. A spokesman for AfP said: 'It has come to light that the Handout issued by Kensington Palace today of Kate and the kids had been altered, therefore it was withdrawn from AFP systems.' I've just returned from Los Angeles, where I spent a few days doing research for my next book. Walking around the city of an evening, I was struck by two things. The first was the shocking number of mentally ill people who were clearly experiencing psychosis, languishing on the streets, untreated and uncared for. While the UK is far from perfect and the NHS has many faults, the things I saw late at night in Los Angeles would never happen here. For example, walking down Hollywood Boulevard the street where stars of the silver screen and TV have their names embedded in the pavement I saw an elderly woman, slumped in a wheelchair, wearing an oxygen mask which was not attached to anything. Los Angeles is experiencing a health crisis, with people languishing on the streets, untreated and uncared for It was about 2am. There were police nearby so I approached them, explaining that I was a doctor and was worried about her. I expected them to call for an ambulance. Instead they asked if she had been harassing me. No, I explained, she didn't appear to be conscious and I was simply worried about her. Their response was chilling: if she was not causing a disturbance, then they would do nothing. I had only walked a few hundred yards further when I came across a man, entirely naked, looking up at the sky, screaming. He then crouched down and defecated on the pavement. 'What is this place?', I wondered. Time and time again I saw people in the throes of severe mental illness, talking to themselves, shouting, distressed and disturbed, yet there was no help at hand. I even saw one person who appeared to have 'posturing'. This is a severe symptom of psychosis where the person holds an uncomfortable pose for a prolonged period. It's quite rare to see this in the UK, as people generally receive treatment before it reaches this stage. In Los Angeles, it's common. I have worked for years in outreach projects with homeless people, often accompanied by the police, picking up those who were clearly mentally unwell and in desperate need of medical attention. I mentioned this to a doctor I met, asking why the same wasn't happening in Los Angeles. His response: 'Who would pay for these kinds of projects?' Dr Max has been involved in outreach projects which proactively help homeless people. In Los Angeles (pictured), a doctor he was interviewing said: 'Who'd pay for these kinds of projects?' Police help a man believed to have overdosed in Los Angeles The whole experience was chilling: an edifying lesson in how cruel and uncaring a privatised medical system can be. But the second thing that struck me is surely linked to the above: the stink of cannabis, which has been legal in California since 2016. People smoke it everywhere and, by the evening, you can't get away from the acrid stench. Los Angeles hardly seems a good advert for what happens when this drug is legalised. The link between cannabis use and psychosis is very well-established and it seemed clear to me that California's permissive attitude to marijuana is fuelling an explosion in serious mental illness. Portugal also saw a huge surge in cannabis-induced psychosis after it decriminalised the drug in 2001. A street in Los Angeles filled with tents due to the homelessness crisis in the city The more people who use this dreadful poison, the more lives will be ruined. Of course, not everyone who smokes cannabis will experience psychosis or mental health problems. But research shows that regular use of the drug doubles the risk of experiencing a psychotic episode or developing schizophrenia, which significantly increases the risk of anxiety and depression. Another doctor I was interviewing joked that legalising cannabis has been a boon for psychiatrists in Los Angeles, as so many people now need medical help thanks to the change in the law. Now, cannabis may have a role in treating some medical conditions, from MS to arthritis. It can be useful therapeutically, but the plant's active compounds need to be isolated and turned into medication prescribed by doctors and dispensed by regulated pharmacists. This is what happens with other medications derived from nature, including the potentially dangerous drug diamorphine (which is derived from poppies). Recreational use is altogether different. And it's not just about the devastating mental health problems it can lead to. A study last week found that young people who use the drug have a six times greater risk of experiencing a heart attack compared to those who never or rarely do. Worryingly, the increased risk was observed in patients under the age of 50 a group typically considered to be at low risk of heart problems. I fear that we are far too late to crack down on cannabis use the horse has bolted. There isn't the political interest in tackling it. I suspect we are heading towards legalising it in Britain, too. At least the drug could be monitored, though; regulations placed on its sale; and controls introduced around who is selling it. But I still believe we are setting ourselves up for a host of problems due to our increasingly liberal approach to cannabis. Too many people think of weed as harmless when, as my experience in Los Angeles shows, this couldn't be further from the truth. How must Harry feel now? Prince Harry at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Vancouver in February Prince Harry must be reeling from his decision to resign from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded, which he said was 'in support of' trustees who left after disagreements with the charity's chairman. Said chairman, Zimbabwean-born lawyer Dr Sophie Chandauka, has made accusations of abuse of power, misogyny, bullying and racism. She has reported the trustees to the Charity Commission and said: 'There are people in this world who mistreat people and then play the victim card and use the very Press they disdain to harm people who challenge their conduct.' Ouch. I wonder if, having had so much psychotherapy himself, Prince Harry will be able to consider how his own family must have felt when he levelled accusations of racism at them, now he is caught up in a similar storm. Almost three quarters of fertility patients are being offered unnecessary add-on treatments, fertility regulator, the HFEA, has said. It's easy to conclude that the motive is profits, rather than trying to help people have a baby. What to make of the news that placebo pills can improve women's premenstrual syndrome (PMS)? This is the finding of a Swiss study published last week that has left many people mistakenly thinking that this means PMS is 'all in the mind'. To further confuse matters, the study discovered that the placebo is actually more effective than conventional treatments, such as antidepressants and hormones. Actually, what I think this shows is how powerful the mind is. We know that the mind can have a dramatic impact on how we experience symptoms such as pain which doesn't mean that these symptoms aren't real. Fascinatingly, one group of the women being given the placebo were actually told they weren't being given any active medication, yet they reported the best outcomes. This finding is consistent with other studies that show that knowing about a placebo doesn't stop it working in fact, it can make it more powerful. No one really knows why this is, but my theory is that it's because, deep down, we have faith in our mind's ability to overcome symptoms probably more than we have in a pill. Dr Max prescribes: More exercise With the clocks having gone forward, now is the time to think about getting more exercise. It decreases the risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and boosts mood and cognitive function. It doesn't matter what it is the key is to increase your heart rate, breathe faster and feel warm. The NHS says one way to tell if you're doing moderate-intensity exercise is if you can talk, but not sing. Prince William's close aide Iain Rawlinson has been hired as a new trustee of Sentebale - just days after Prince Harry dramatically quit. The Duke of Sussex, 40, quit the charity he founded nearly 20 years ago last week in a shock move. Since then, chair Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer, has said there was 'cover up' going at the charity, blasting 'weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, and misogynoir [discrimination against black women]'. She has also accused Harry of 'harassment and bullying at scale' and called the Sussex brand pushed by the Duke and his wife Meghan Markle 'toxic'. A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described the bullying claim as 'completely baseless'. According to Companies House, Iain Rawlinson was appointed as a trustee of the charity on March 25 - the same day it was announced that Prince Harry was stepping down. He is also listed as a trustee on the Sentebale website, where he is described as an 'experienced Chair, Board Director, Charity Trustee and Strategy Advisor'. Rawlinson is also a known ally of the Prince of Wales, and served as chair of his Tusk Trust from 2002 to 2013, and chair of the development board until 2021. He is still an active volunteer at the wildlife conservation charity, according to his LinkedIn. The financier has been advising Chandauka following the rift, telling the Financial Times that certain trustees had attempted to 'destabilise and remove' Sophie from her position as chair. Prince William's close aide Iain Rawlinson has been hired as a new trustee of Sentebale - just days after Prince Harry dramatically quit. Rawlinson (right) is pictured with Kate and William in 2011 The appointment will likely be seen as a blow by Harry, who is said to have been left 'reeling' by the charity's stinging rebuke of him. He has been estranged from his older brother for several years, with tensions growing following his decision to step back as a senior royal with Meghan in 2020 - which was followed by their move to the US. Chandauka meanwhile has said she first felt tension between herself and Prince Harry in April 2024. She said at one point she was asked by his team to defend Meghan against negative publicity, but she refused. Prince Harry dramatically quit Sentebale last week 'in solidarity' with the charity's disgruntled trustees who resigned when relations with formidable Zimbabwean lawyer Dr Chandauka 'broke down beyond repair' after she refused their request to step down. But in an extraordinary interview today she raised the stakes in the increasingly ugly dispute engulfing the charity, saying the Sussexes' 'brand' had hindered the charity. 'The number one risk for this organisation was the toxicity of its lead patron's brand,' Dr Chandauka told the Financial Times. She argued that controversy surrounding Prince Harry since his move to the US had an impact on the charity's ability to diversify its donor pool and make senior hires. According to Companies House, Iain Rawlinson was appointed as a trustee of the charity on March 25 The Duke of Sussex, 40, last week quit the charity he founded nearly 20 years ago. Pictured with his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho Rawlinson is listed as a trustee on the Sentebale website, where he is described as an 'experienced Chair, Board Director, Charity Trustee and Strategy Advisor' 'When you start to interview people, they're asking questions about, well, these mixed messages around the patron,' she said. Elsewhere she accused Harry and fellow co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho of trying to 'force a failure' of the organisation only to then come to its rescue. In her first interview since the dispute erupted, Dr Chandauka issued an impassioned defence of her record. In another bombshell allegation, Dr Chandauka accused the Duke of Sussex 'harassment and bullying at scale'. In a separate interview on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips she said the Duke authorised the release of a statement revealing that he and other trustees had quit the charity, which she described as 'unleashing of the Sussex machine on me'. Mr Philips asked her: 'What you're essentially saying is that the Duke of Sussex is guilty of harassment and bullying and improper conduct in the governance of the charity?' In response, she said Harry's release of 'a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors' was an 'attack' and 'an example of harassment and bullying at scale'. She added: 'And so if the world didn't want to believe that there's such a thing as bullying, this unleashing of the Sussex machine on me and the 540 employees, at Sentebale, who received this and have had to defend it....' Dr Sophie Chandauka (pictured), the chair of Prince Harry's beleaguered charity Sentebale, said she had been asked to defend Meghan Markle against negative publicity In a separate interview on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillip, the Chairwoman said the Duke authorised the release of a statement revealing that he and other trustees had quit the charity, which she described as 'unleashing of the Sussex machine on me' Dr Chandauka (third from right) claimed the Sussexes' brand had become 'toxic' (pictured at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge held in Florida in April last year to raise funds for Sentebale) At this point Mr Phillips interjected, asking what she means by the Sussex machine. Dr Chandauka replied: 'The PR machine that supports Prince Harry's efforts, the only way we discovered of his decision was through the Sussex machine activating newspapers.' It followed a statement last week from Sentebale - which was formed in 2006 in memory of Harry's late mother Diana to help Aids orphans in southern Africa - suggesting 'people in the field' were more important than its trustees. Igniting a poisonous internecine dispute, the charity said in a highly charged statement last week: 'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.' There was a deafening silence from Harry about the claims. But a source who has known the prince since the charity's inception told the Mail: 'There's no way of sugar-coating the damage of this, regardless of who's in the right. He'll be reeling.' The charity also reiterated its commitment to supporting young people in the region without the support of its royal patron, who stepped back from his role in protest at the 'untenable' actions of Ms Chandauka. A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described Dr. Chandauka's claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was 'unleashed on her' as 'completely baseless'. Sentebale and its trustees are facing allegations of racism, sexism and bullying from Ms Chandauka. Sources say after the board of trustees formally requested Ms Chandauka's resignation she declined and then, when they tried to force the move through with a vote, she filed a legal challenge at the High Court to prevent their meeting. Dr Chandauka has accused Sentebale and its trustees of racist, sexist and bullying conduct But Dr Chandauka said the organisation's setup was 'no longer appropriate in a post-Black Lives Matter world - and that trustees resented any notion of change She claimed she had been asked to defend Meghan from negative press reports - but deemed the Sussex brand 'toxic' While there is no formal record of proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice, it is claimed that the court did not grant an injunction and, as the charity board meeting was ultimately cancelled, the judge decided that no further hearing or court appearance was necessary. It is not clear where this leaves Ms Chandauka's legal challenge. Prince Harry is not personally the subject of any legal action in this matter. Representatives for Prince Harry have strongly denied he had sought to engineer the collapse of the charity in order to rescue it. Ms Chandauka, who trained as a lawyer in London, told the FT that she has been on a mission to transform the charity. 'The way the organisation had been set up in 2006, was no longer appropriate in 2023 in a post-Black Lives Matter world,' she said. She added that her changes triggered friction between UK-based staff and those in Lesotho, where most of the charity's 500-plus workforce are based. The board, she said, felt 'a loss of power and control and influence... oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over'. Far from being a bully herself, she insisted that during her time as chair she experienced 'disrespect, bullying and intimidation' and 'misogyny and misogynoir (misogyny directed at Black women)', allegations that have been vehemently denied. There is no suggestion that Princes Harry or Seeiso were alleged to have behaved in this way. Kelello Lerotholi, one of the trustees who resigned this week, told Sky News he did not recognise the allegations: 'I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such.' Prince Harry pictured in conversation with Dr Chandauka during an event in Miami last April Prince Harry pictured on a visit to Lesotho with Ntoli Moletsane of Sentebale in October last year Among the trustees to resign was former Royal Equerry Mark Dyer (pictured with Harry). The trustees said there was 'no other path forward' And Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey, who served as a trustee for nearly two decades until November, has spoken of how Dr Chandauka 'almost dictatorial' style had led to clashes. The origins of the dispute have been highly contested by both sides. Dr Chandauka said she first felt tension between Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and herself in April 2024. Some sources insisted the dispute had nothing to do with personal animosity. 'There are real issues at hand that have been raised and not addressed,' said one. 'The trustees tried to negotiate this privately and requested she consider her position due to their lack of trust and confidence in her as a leader.' Lawyers for Prince Harry have said there had been a breakdown in relations between the chair and key individuals, including some staff, trustees and major funders. A Charity Commission spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.' The charity's five former trustees, who include Harry's long-time mentor Mark Dyer - a former army captain who accompanied him on his first gap-year trip to Lesotho - said in their resignation statement that 'we see no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board.' In an apparent further dig at Harry, Dr Chandauka added that 'for me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account'. She said: 'I am an African who has had the privilege of a world class education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something.' And she insisted that she would not step down from her role. One source close to the prince told the Mail that it was a 'hugely sensitive' situation and urged people to see 'the facts play out'. 'The Charity Commission will investigate. That process needs to happen,' they said. Sentebale and the Sussexes were previously approached for comment. Prince Harry has reportedly distanced himself from his close cousin and 'ally' Princess Eugenie after their relationship 'soured'. The Duke of Sussex, 40, who now lives in California with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and their two children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, has allegedly become increasingly isolated since he left Britain nearly five years ago. Insiders have claimed that Harry rarely leaves the couple's mansion in Montecito and has barely spoken to his family in years. However Harry and Meghan are known to have maintained a close relationship with the Princess of York since announcing they would be stepping back from their roles as senior working royals in January 2020. Eugenie even appeared briefly in the royal's record-breaking debut Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan, during a visit to the US in 2022. However, the longstanding friendship has 'soured' after she was photographed with Piers Morgan, a strong critic of Harry and Meghan, last April, according to claims made by the Sun. 'A dim view was taken of this, as Piers has clashed with Meghan and Harry in the past,' a source told The Sun. 'Eugenie has been supportive of Harry and Meghan for years and was right there at the beginning of their relationship but it has now soured.' Prince Harry has reportedly distanced himself from his close cousin and 'ally' Princess Eugenie. Pictured together at Trooping The Colour in 2015 FEMAIL has reached out to representatives for the Sussexes for comment. Over the years Piers Morgans unsparing criticism about the Sussexes, both in the media and via social media, has sparked controversy. The broadcaster even stepped down from his hosting role on Good Morning Britain after a slew of Ofcom complaints due to his comments about the couple's Oprah Winfrey interview. Piers revealed he didn't believe Meghan's claims in the Oprah interview - which included allegations of 'unconscious bias'. There were more than 50,000 complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, which later ruled the comments did not break the rules, however the host stepped down regardless. Meghan claimed the royal family had 'concerns' about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be before he was born. Piers said Meghan 'portraying the Royal Family as a bunch of racists' is 'the most incendiary charge I've seen in my career'. The duchess did not reveal which Royal Family member had the conversation with the Duke of Sussex about Archie's skin colour. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Piers said: 'I expect all this vile destructive self-serving nonsense from Meghan Markle - but for Harry to let her take down his family and the Monarchy like this is shameful. The Prince of Sussex, 40, who now lives in California with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and their two children Prince Archie , five, and Princess Lilibet, three, has allegedly become increasingly isolated since he left Britain nearly five years ago. Pictured 2018 In the early days of Meghan and Harry's relationship, Eugenie and her now-husband Jack went on double dates with the couple (Meghan at Halloween Party with Princess Eugenie, seen in their Netflix series) 'Harry wants America and the rest of the world to hate his own family, hate the Monarchy and hate his country. 'I suggest everyone waits for the victims of his wife's rampage to have their say on her outlandish claims before they do so. 'I wouldn't believe Meghan Markle if she gave me a weather report.' He then added: 'Let's be clear: Prince Harry and his wife just spent two hours trashing everything the Queen stands for and has worked so hard to maintain, whilst pretending to support her. 'And they did it while her 99 year-old husband Philip is seriously ill in hospital.' In 2023, Eugenie and her sister Beatrice were spotted at the The Princess Royal pub in Notting Hill with Piers and a host of celebrity friends. Leaving the pub Eugenie was pictured giving Piers a warm hug as they parted ways. Harry, who had even bought an investment property in Portugal near Eugenie and her husband Jack, had a close friendship with his cousin growing up. Harry, who had even bought an investment property in Portugal near Eugenie and her husband Jack, had a close friendship with his cousin growing up (Prince William, Prince Harry with their cousins, Princess Eugenie (second left) and Beatrice at Swiss resort of Klosters in 1995) Their mothers Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson also had a close friendship and often went away on joint family holidays together Diana, Princess of Wales ,and Sarah, Duchess of York, and Prince Harry, at The Battle of Britain Parade in 1990 Their mothers Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson also had a close friendship and often went away on joint family holidays together. Eugenie and Meghan were introduced by their mutual friend, fashion designer Misha Nonoo, before Meghan met Prince Harry, meaning Eugenie knew Meghan before Harry did. In the early days of Meghan and Harry's relationship, Eugenie and her now-husband Jack went on double dates with the couple. They also visited Toronto, Canada, to see the pair after the Prince had travelled to be with Meghan during her time filming legal drama Suits. The cousins and their partners dressed up in Halloween costumes for a final night out before their relationship was revealed on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Speaking to her friend Ellen in a surprise talk show interview in November 2021, Meghan explained how she and the Prince enjoyed a party with Eugenie and Jack days before the news of their relationship broke. Speaking about the event in 2016, she told Ellen: 'He came to see me in Toronto and our friends and his cousin Eugenie and now her husband Jack, they came as well, and the four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple. 'It was a post-apocalypse theme, so we had all this very bizarre costuming on, and we were able to just have one fun final night out.' Princess Eugenie and the Duke of Sussex, depart after the Coronation of Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, in 2023 Prince Harry (pictured) only heard his father was in hospital after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment when the news broke to the rest of the world, it has been claimed The couple, who are now based in Montecito, California, also recalled the night out in the first episode of their explosive Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan. They recalled how they went incognito with 'borrowed' costumes with Eugenie, Jack, and Meghan's close friend Markus Anderson. It is not known where the couple went out in Toronto, however they shared unseen snaps of the party in a home, as well as out in a local club. In one snap, Meghan and Harry can be seen crowding in for a photograph with Eugenie and Jack, as well as another friend, Markus. Harry was dressed in a gas mask, while Meghan also pulled her hat low over her face. Meanwhile the Duchess opted for a crop top for the occasion, which she paired with dark jean shorts. Both she and Eugenie ringed their eyes in dark eyeliner for the outing, while Harry pulled a skeleton mask across his face. The couple said they 'wanted to pull the pin on the fun grenade.' Meghan said: 'His cousin Eugenie, her boyfriend Jack and my friend Markus were there too. It was so great, just silly fun.' The breakdown in the cousins relationship comes after an insider claimed Harry was 'lonelier than ever' and now barely leaves his Montecito mansion. King Charles was forced to cancel a string of engagements on Thursday after he was admitted to hospital amid his ongoing cancer care It is believed the palace chose not to contact Harry about his father's hospital admission as not to alarm him 5,000 miles away. King Charles was forced to cancel a string of engagements on Thursday after he was admitted to hospital amid his ongoing cancer care. Charles, 76, had a 'scheduled' appointment but suffered 'temporary side-effects' that required a short period of medical observation, Buckingham Palace said. Sources insisted there was 'no drama' and described the 'brief' trip to hospital as being 'connected to [his] treatment programme'. However, it is likely to be a blow for Charles's all-but estranged son Harry, who was this week also involved in a row surrounding his African children's charity Sentable. The Duke of Sussex was left 'reeling' after he sensationally resigned from the organisation following a boardroom battle. Harry's role in the HIV and AIDS charity, which was set up to honour his mother Diana, was also one of his last remaining legacies as a working royal. A a source who has known the prince since the charity's inception told the Mail: 'There's no way of sugar-coating the damage of this, regardless of who's in the right. He'll be reeling.' Harry's relationship with his family has been strained ever since he stepped down from his royal duties five years ago and moved to California. He also gave up his military titles and any income from the Sovereign Grant in the process. Prince Harry last saw last saw King Charles for a fleeting half-hour visit last February when his father was first diagnosed with cancer. And it was reported that after the brief meeting, Charles flew by helicopter to Sandringham without Harry. After jetting back to see his father days after his cancer diagnosis, Harry said: 'I love my family. The fact I could jump on a plane and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that. 'Any illness, any sickness brings families together. I'll stop in and see my family as much as I can.' The prince has also grown apart from his brother William. Harry flew back to the UK for his uncle Robert Fellowes's funeral last year but the pair barely spoke. However despite the difficulties, Harry has insisted that he will not return to the UK unless he wins his High Court fight for 24-hour armed security. It is thought while he still remains in contact with some friends in Britain, others have distanced themselves from him after his attacks on the royal family. And it is not the first time some of Harry's pals have raised concerns about his 'lonely' life in California. Reports last year implied Harry was at a 'crossroads' and that 'exile in California' was not where he wanted to end up. A source quoted in The Times said: 'He used to love a night out in the pub and hanging out in the country with friends. 'Maybe he has grown into a different person, but do I think he'd really suit the Californian lifestyle? No. Now we've seen it all play out, what has that left him with? 'On the surface, an enviable lifestyle but for the Harry I know, I can't imagine that gilded exile in California is where he wanted to end up.' Mail Online have reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan's representatives for comment. A British tour guide who shows visitors around North Korea says everyone's 'wrong' about the country. Zoe Stephens, 31, from Liverpool, has visited North Korea 30 times since March 2016 - taking countless 'foreigners' from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia with her. She revealed there are set rules the group has to follow in order to avoid trouble but it's just a 'normal' place to live. Groups must travel in a two guides to one tourist ratio, and never take silly photos of art resembling dictator Kim Jong Un. The tour guide posts videos of normal life in Pyongyang, North Korea, on TikTok - and says people in the comments accuse her of spreading propaganda. But Zoe wants people to see the 'amazing' side of the country - from hikes with amazing views to the 'lovely humans' that live there. Zoe, an international tour and marketing manager, said she wants to show people the 'human side of North Korea.' She added: 'A lot of foreigners think people there are starving and trying to escape. Zoe Stephens, 31, from Liverpool, who shows groups of tourists around North Korea says everyone's 'wrong' about the country 'But in reality, people just go about their everyday life there. 'I love going for hikes in rural North Korea - and in Pyongyang, my favourite things to do are literally just grabbing coffee and getting my hair done.' Before North Korea closed its borders due to the covid pandemic in January 2020, Zoe used to visit the country once a month. But in March 2025, she went back for the first time in five years. Her tours usually begin in Beijing, China, and head towards Pyongyang, North Korea - and every time she takes her group out, she needs to undergo a one-hour briefing session on the rules. 'I want to ensure everyone's safety, and help them challenge cultural misconceptions,' she said. 'There are three general rules you follow as a traveller; when taking photos of any image of the leader, you have to remain respectful. 'You can't take any photos of the military or construction sites. Zoe has visited North Korea 30 times since March 2016 - taking countless 'foreigners' from the UK, Germany , the Netherlands and Australia with her She revealed there are set rules the group has to follow in order to avoid trouble but it's just a 'normal' place to live Zoe wants people to see the 'amazing' side of the country - from hikes with amazing views to the 'lovely humans' that live there 'Stick together as a group - solo travellers aren't allowed in the country - and there has to be two guides with you at all times.' Even on her tours, Zoe hopes to encourage people to challenge their 'misunderstandings' of culture in North Korea. She wants people to see how 'normal' the country can be, and believes it isn't an unsafe country to stay in, if you follow the rules. The tour guide says there are even beautiful, rural hiking spots she often enjoys. Zoe added: 'There are a lot of misunderstandings between North Koreans and foreigners. 'Like, in Pyongyang, North Koreans don't understand why foreigners don't want to get the bus. 'In their mind, it's something they've provided and built - so why wouldn't anyone want to use it? 'But really, it's just tourists wanting to walk around, get out there and get the vibe of the city.' Zoe, an international tour and marketing manager, said she wants to show people the 'human side of North Korea' She struggles to stay in contact with friends from North Korea due to restrictions on international calls and social media Zoe says the people are the best part of the country, and she loves meeting 'normal humans doing normal things' Despite social media trolls telling her she's spreading propaganda, Zoe says she's never felt unsafe in the city, and has made many friends through the years. She struggles to stay in contact with friends from North Korea due to restrictions on international calls and social media. But Zoe says the people are the best part of the country, and she loves meeting 'normal humans doing normal things'. 'I totally see how my content could be seen as propaganda,' she said. 'But, I think it's because people aren't comfortable with seeing a non-negative side of North Korea. I'm not trying to promote the country. 'I have to say, my favourite thing about visiting is the people - over the food and the sights.' North Korea is a highly centralised totalitarian state. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, it maintains one of the largest militarise and devotes significant resources to its illicit nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Earlier this month North Korea has put a sudden 'pause' on its Western tourist drive. Travel groups offering Britons adventures inside the country report that trips to Rason have been put on hold after the country tentatively reopened its doors to foreign visitors last month. Young Pioneer Tours, a group that 'specialises in taking you to places your mother would rather you stay away from', advised holidaymakers to refrain from booking flights 'until we have more information' on Wednesday. The decision to 'pause' visits to the country comes as a shock, with travel agencies reporting that their Korean partners 'have no more information themselves' at this stage. Unnamed operators told the BBC that trips to the experimental special economic zone of Rason had been 'more restricted' since reopening, with fewer opportunities to engage with the locals and internet access not available. A chilling consequence of one of the world's riskiest cosmetic procedures was today laid bare after eight women were reportedly hospitalised with a paralysis-triggering bacterial infection. The liquid BBL procedure which involves pumping the buttocks with filler to increase volume is notoriously unsafe, especially when performed by non-medics. This is because when dermal filler is injected into or near a blood vessel, it can block blood flow, causing the tissue to die. Yet, non-surgical BBLs, dubbed 'a curse' by experts, are not illegal in the UK. Last year, mother-of-five Alice Webb, from Gloucestershire, became the first known UK victim to have died following the curve-enhancing procedure. Now, reports have shown eight women who visited an unlicensed practitioner in Paris for a liquid BBL suffered the deadly condition botulism, after being injected with contaminated filler. The illness is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria which can be carried in unsanitary injections, and attacks the nervous system. If not treated urgently, it can lead to paralysis. The liquid BBL procedure is notoriously risky, especially when performed by non-medics. This is because when dermal filler the same material used to fill lips is injected into or near a blood vessel, it can block blood flow leading to tissue death Botulism, which can prove life-threatening, is caused by toxins produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum (pictured). It can lead to paralysis if not treated urgently Florida-based plastic surgeon Dr Johnathan Cook said the findings were 'unsettling' adding: 'These procedures are catastrophes. This is a curse. 'This is a period of regret for these patients that extends the rest of their lives.' Presenting the cases at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's annual meeting in Austin, Texas, Paris-based plastic surgeon and former president of the French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Dr Catherine Bergeret Galley, said: 'Botulism cases should not be happening full stop, let alone from filler injections. 'Please do not go to unqualified practitioners. Most of the time the products injected are poor, prohibited and incredibly dangerous for health.' Unlike a traditional BBL, which sees fat transferred from other areas of the body, a liquid BBL involves injecting fillers. But the bottle of filler used by the injector who was not a doctor Dr Catherine Bergeret Galley claimed, was contaminated with clostridium botulinum bacteria. 'One almost died one week later,' she said. Others were in life-threatening conditions up to six weeks later. She also told MailOnline: 'We are seeing more and more similar cases unfortunately because the demand for aesthetic treatments is exploding. 'We need to fight back against this activity because some of this money is also going to criminal activity. Last September, Alice Webb (pictured), 34, died just hours after having a non-surgical butt lift, understood to have been performed in the West Country 'Only doctors should be injecting. You need to know anatomy, you need to know where you inject and what to inject.' Clostridium botulinum bacteria is found in soil, dust and ocean floors, where it can remain on the surface of foods like fruits, vegetables, and seafood. These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings, which are usually harmless. However, warm and wet tight spaces lacking oxygen such as plastic jars and cans can lead the bacteria to release toxins that attack the central nervous system. Symptoms include weakness and difficulty in breathing as well as swallowing. This can lead to paralysis and even death if it's severe and not treated, with up to one in ten cases of botulism proving fatal. Patients who are paralysed need to relearn how to walk, talk, and perform everyday tasks again. British experts have long warned of 'non-surgical' aesthetic treatments carried out by practitioners with little experience and repeatedly called for tighter controls over the cosmetic industry. Last year Monique Sofroniou (pictured), 30, called for a ban on 'liquid BBLs' after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth' Monique was rushed to hospital where doctors attempted to remedy the situation (pictured: the mother-of-one after surgery in hospital to repair damage caused by the filler) In the UK, it's impossible to know how popular cosmetic fillers are as sales aren't regulated and anyone can legally perform them. But last September, Alice Webb, 34, died just hours after having a non-surgical butt lift, understood to have been performed in the West Country. Two people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and bailed, including the beautician alleged to have carried out the treatment. At the time, one of Britain's leading plastic surgeons told this website Ms Webb is believed to have had a 'large volume of filler' injected into her buttocks. Others who attended the annual meeting in Austin also revealed the number of botched liquid BBLs that NHS medics are being forced to treat has 'undoubtedly' risen in the last year alone. Dr Nora Nugent, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), told MailOnline: 'It's absolutely time we banned unqualified people from doing it. 'This is not treated as a medical procedure by UK regulation, but it is one with very real complications. 'It needs anatomical knowledge, knowledge of the potential complications, knowledge of what to do if those complications happen. 'Colleagues in the NHS are seeing patients coming in with skin loss or infections due to filler injections. 'Yet, we don't know exactly how widely this is going on because there's no central reporting system for us. 'And there's also a whole other bunch of patients who have not technically suffered a complication, but have just an awful result because it's been done badly. 'They haven't been treated well either.' Leading UK plastic surgeon and former BAAPS president Marc Pacifico added: 'In the face, you're putting very small quantities of filler. 'A teaspoon is a large amount, roughly five millilitres or five syringes. But in the buttock you need hundreds of mililitres to make a difference. 'If that gets infected or there are problems with it or causes deformities, it's almost impossible to correct. It's frightening.' Almost one in three GP surgeries are failing in parts of the country, MailOnline can today reveal. An exhaustive audit of all 6,000-plus practices across England shows 28 are rated 'inadequate' the worst possible score. Another 288 surgeries 'require improvement', according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulator. Exposing the postcode lottery patients face, MailOnline's analysis shows that 29.4 per cent of surgeries in Barking and Dagenham fall short of standards. Medway in Kent saw a similarly-high proportion of sub-par practices (24.2 per cent), with Greenwich in East London close behind (19.4 per cent). Your browser does not support iframes. Detailed results of MailOnline's probe can be viewed in our interactive maps. One shows how well GP surgeries are performing overall in your area. The other lists every home and their individual scores. Under CQC rules, practices are inspected on different timelines, dependent on their current rating. Homes are ranked on a Nando's-style colour scale as 'outstanding' (blue), 'good', (green) 'requires improvement' (amber) or 'inadequate' (red). 'Outstanding' sites are visited every two-and-a-half years, while the CQC assesses 'good' practices at least every two years. Those rated 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate' are inspected more frequently, sometimes every six months. The CQC rates practices according to their safety, how effective the care provided is, attitude, responsiveness and leadership from senior figures. In Barking and Dagenham, London, two of 34 facilities were deemed 'inadequate' meaning 'the service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it'. Eight were rated 'requires improvement'. Your browser does not support iframes. Only the Isles of Scilly boasts an outstanding score for all its GP surgeries although it only has one. One 'inadequate'-rated surgery, Blossom Health in Gosport, was wilfully prescribing pregabalin to women of childbearing age, without informing them of the drug's risk to pregnant women. Pregabalin is an anxiety and epilepsy drug that has been shown to potentially cause congenital malformations during pregnancy. Another, The Whitestone Surgery in Nuneaton, was, until recently, being run by a team of locums following the suspension of its lead GP by the General Medical Council. The GP's suspension last year came as the CQC believed people were at significant risk of harm were he to continue in the role. The practice is currently being run by the Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance in a caretaker capacity. The data from the CQC is correct as of March 3, 2025. As such, subsequent inspections and gradings any time after that will not be reflected and could be different. After years of rowing with the Government, GPs have agreed to new contract reforms which will 'bring back the family doctor'. Ministers hope it will banish the 8am scramble for appointments millions of frustrated patients have become accustomed to by allowing patients to book online throughout the day, instead of just when phonelines open. GPs will also benefit from burdensome red tape being axed under the deal worth shy of 900million, such as the need to report on staff wellbeing meetings. A growing population and dwindling workforce has fuelled the appointments crisis. Increasing numbers of doctors are reducing their working hours and retiring early. Some are leaving for the private sector or abroad because of the soaring pressures. But those within the industry have said the problems extend simply beyond patient oversupply and understaffing. Dr Vikram Murthy, a GP at the 'good'-rated Reach Healthcare Centre in Kent, told MailOnline that general practice in the UK was 'at the cliffedge'. Your browser does not support iframes. He said: 'The lack of resources is everywhere and nowhere is that shown better than in the 8am call rush that's like something out of Hunger Games. 'This current landscape is so much worse than in our parents' generation when one GP served around 1,500 patients now it could easily be 6,000 or more.' Dr Murthy added that while Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the British Medical Association's initiatives to take pressure off GP could be helpful in the short-term, a general recruitment crisis is at hand. He said: 'Junior doctors and medical students prefer hospitals now because you know what you're going to get. 'There really must be a push to get make it more attractive for them to come into GP and primary care.' Dennis Silver from Silver Voices, a campaign group for the elderly, told MailOnline the shocking ratings come as no surprise. He said: 'There's been a lot of nice talk but not much action to improve people's lives so far. 'Wes Streeting made a big song and dance about the new GPs contract signed last month and how it would free them from some bureaucracy so they could focus on patients and return to the "age of the family doctor". 'The problem is the government needs to sort out with the doctors what they mean by "a return to the family doctor" because that means continuity of care with people seeing their own doctor on a regular basis and that is so far from actual reality on the ground.' One 'inadequate'-rated surgery, Blossom Health in Gosport, was wilfully prescribing pregabalin to women of childbearing age, without informing them of the drug's risk to pregnant women. Pregabalin is an anxiety and epilepsy drug that has been shown to potentially cause congenital malformations during pregnancy Another, The Whitestone Surgery in Nuneaton, was, until recently, being run by a team of locums following the suspension of its lead GP by the General Medical Council Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'GPs and our teams are delivering millions more appointments every month than five years ago but with only a handful more fully qualified, full-time GPs. 'We have raised repeated concerns that this is not safe for patients, nor sustainable for practices. 'Still, almost 95 per cent of GP practices in England are currently rated good or outstanding, and GPs and their teams are working incredibly hard to deliver safe and timely care for their patients even as they face unrelenting pressures. 'However, where patient safety concerns have been raised, it is important that that practices are not vilified, but supported to improve, in the best interests of patients. 'Patient safety is paramount in general practice, and the College recognises that if implemented effectively and proportionately, inspections of GP practices can help to keep patients safe, and support practices that are struggling. 'But following independent reviews, the College has significant concerns about the CQCs current inspection processes. 'Our governing Council has called for a pause in routine inspections until improvements are made, and an end to "one word" ratings, in favour of alternatives that take into account the circumstances in which individual practices are working and provide greater support and transparency for patients and professionals.' Five years after the first lockdown, millions will be offered yet another Covid vaccine just months after the most recent round. Bookings for the spring booster opened last week, and about 7.5 million people in England aged 75 and over, living in care homes or with conditions that weaken the immune system are eligible. NHS figures show that, on average, more than 1,000 hospital beds a day were taken up by Covid patients over winter, with cases rising 15 per cent and deaths 20 per cent over the past week. The jab helps reduce the risk of being hospitalised from the virus, and experts claim last year's spring booster cut the number of people falling severely ill by more than 40 per cent in those most at risk. But vast numbers of those who are eligible are no longer choosing to have the vaccine. Only 9.8 million people in England out of the estimated 20 million invited turned up to have their autumn booster. Experts warn that getting the booster does not offer guaranteed protection against long Covid The uptake among under-65s with weakened immune systems was particularly low at just 22 per cent. So does the jab really matter any more? And are there any risks to having what will be, for some, a tenth Covid vaccine? Here the UK's top virus experts explain all you need to know. Q: I have had ten Covid jabs the last one just a few months ago. Why do I need another? A: Immunity either from having had the virus or from a previous vaccination wanes over time. But this doesn't mean you need to have a booster. Research shows that protection from severe infection that would result in hospitalisation lasts around six months after a shot, but that can be less for people with weak immune systems. 'If I had an autumn jab two or three months ago, I would not be rushing to get the latest vaccine,' says Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious disease at the University of East Anglia. 'However, if you received the vaccine early in the last cycle and have an underlying health condition, there could be a benefit.' Experts say it is concerning that so many in this group are no longer booking booster appointments. 'It is a real problem. There is a general complacency about Covid,' says Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University. 'People need to know that they can get the vaccine and that it is still needed.' 'If I had an autumn jab two or three months ago, I would not be rushing to get the latest vaccine,' says Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious disease at the University of East Anglia Q: I have heard that the jabs don't work, so why bother? A: The eligibility criteria for the booster is anyone aged 75 and over, residents in care homes and people with weak immune systems. 'These groups receive significant protection by having the vaccine,' says Professor Alex Richter, a vaccine expert at the University of Birmingham. 'It does not prevent you from getting the virus, but it does reduce the risk of serious infection and hospitalisation.' IT'S A FACT Over 175 million doses of the Covid vaccines have been given out across the UK since the start of the pandemic. Advertisement This is why the criteria is different now to during the pandemic. Prof Richter explains: 'We have moved away from trying to protect against transmission and achieve herd immunity, which is why it was offered to younger people at one point.' Q: Is there a new variant I should be worried about? A: Scientists have warned about the increased risk from a new Covid wave. Known as the LP family, the LP.8.1 and LP.8.1.1 variants saw their share of new Covid infections in England almost triple to 60 per cent in just two weeks, the UK Health Security Agency revealed. 'We know that this new variant is more infectious and it should be a wake-up call,' says Prof Young. 'The booster will offer protection, so it is important those who are most vulnerable get the jab.' Q: I am 66 and had my autumn booster so why am I not eligible this spring? A: The spring booster is given to over-75s and the autumn booster to over-65s, with the main reason being financial restraints. Some high street chemists and private clinics will be selling and administering the Pfizer Covid vaccine, however, with costs varying from 45 to 99. To qualify, you must be 12 or over and not have had a Covid jab within the past three months. Experts advise it is worth going private for some people. 'If you are 65 to 74 and, for whatever reason, had not had the autumn jab, I would consider getting it privately particularly if I had another health condition,' says Prof Hunter. Q: Will getting another booster protect me from long Covid? A: Not necessarily. A recent study by the University of Southampton suggested that one in ten people may have long Covid. Symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, problems with memory and concentration also known as 'brain fog' aches, dizziness and palpitations. But experts warn that getting the booster does not offer guaranteed protection against long Covid. 'We know the condition can be triggered even by a mild infection, which the vaccine does not eliminate,' says Prof Richter. For people already suffering from long Covid, she advises getting the jab privately as 'an infection can have a greater impact when you have the condition'. Q: Is it really safe to have this many vaccines? A: People should be reassured that there is no risk associated with taking multiple Covid vaccines, the experts claim. With some jabs, taking them in quick succession can lead to short-term side effects, but this is not the case for the Covid vaccine. 'There's nothing to be concerned about,' says Prof Hunter. 'Having another jab wouldn't worry me.' Q: I fit the criteria what do I need to do to get a vaccine? A: Those eligible for the jab will be contacted by the NHS, either by text, email or letter. However, you can visit the NHS website, use the NHS app or call 119 to book a jab now. There are thousands of walk-in appointments available every day, too, with a full list of locations offering the service uploaded to the NHS finder tool online. The vaccination programme closes on June 17. World-leading plastic surgeons are reporting a huge surge in patients demanding extreme and dangerous cosmetic operations after losing dramatic amounts of weight on slimming jabs such as Ozempic. The health benefits of the jabs are far-reaching not only do obese patients shed pounds but studies show the drugs help slash the risk of heart disease, cancer and can even boost fertility. But less talked-about are the body problems they are often left with. On social media, users of Ozempic and similar drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro complain they are left with sunken, hollow-looking faces; hanging melted candle skin on their arms, legs and stomachs; empty breasts and sagging buttocks. These body problems are not a side effect of the medication glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1s but a result of massive, rapid weight loss. While fat tissues shrink away, the skin which has become stretched over time doesnt simply snap back. And, in a bid to tackle the issue, cosmetic surgeons are rapidly refining their techniques in order to offer fixes. I got to hear all about it last week, when I attended the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery annual meeting last week in Austin the worlds largest industry event showcasing what the future holds for a world hungry for cosmetic surgery. Its not open to the public, but I was given unprecedented access and the doctors I spoke to were frank about the impact weight-loss jabs have had. Christine Burch before and after she lost six stone on Ozempic. She says the weight loss left her face skeletal and the skin around her buttocks looser GLP-1s are a new gateway drug for aesthetics weve had an Ozempification, Dr Johnny Franco, an Austin-based consultant plastic surgeon, tells me. We are seeing a whole new sub-group of patients with skin issues at a very young age. Some enterprising surgeons, I discovered, have even launched their own weight-loss jab clinics, prescribing the drugs to cosmetic surgery hopefuls. These medicines have changed everything for us, Kentucky-based cosmetic surgeon Dr Bradley Calobrace adds. When I see a patient who is overweight, potentially too heavy to have the procedures they want, I used to say, We need to get you at a better weight, Ill see you back if you do. And you never see them again. But now we have a programme, a solution. However, these operations which are rarely, if ever, offered on the NHS are not for the faint-hearted. From boob, bottom and even arm and inner thigh lifts to chin-contouring and tummy tucks these are major procedures with considerable risks. And this, experts say, is why its vital patients opt for experienced surgeons who really know what theyre doing to perform them. Here, we outline just a few of the newest techniques to tackle post-Ozempic faces and bodies... There's a no-knife fix for Ozempic face It is the most visible and loathed downside of rapid weight-loss on the jabs: the phenomenon dubbed Ozempic face. Patients slim down dramatically, but are left looking aged with sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks, jowls and hollow temples. Even those in their 30s and 40s are affected. In some cases, only a full face and neck lift will be able to set things right, surgeons say. But a host of non-invasive treatments, showcased last week, could help. One development generating excitement involves injections of donated human fat. While this sounds slightly grim, experts say the tissue is purified and processed to form a matrix once inside the face, it acts as a scaffold that encourages the body to build its own fat in the treated area. This works to gradually restore volume while avoiding the doughy pillow face look associated with older cosmetic fillers. It is undoubtedly a softer option than a face lift. But these fixes, using what is known as biostimulatory products, are not easily reversible, underscoring the importance of finding a vetted and experienced injector, the experts say. Dr Nora Nugent, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, warns that non-invasive biostimulatory treatments 'create scar tissue in the deeper layers of the skin' Dr Nora Nugent, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), adds: If you have a lot of biostimulatory or energy-based device treatments [using heat, sound waves or light to improve appearance], it does create scar tissue in the deeper layers of the skin, making facelifts trickier from a technical and a risk perspective. Perfect pick-me-up for droopy busts Another deflating disadvantage of the jabs is severe sagging or shrinkage of the breasts. Most surgeons I spoke to said they were seeing an uptick in newly slim patients asking for bust-enhancing surgery although they present challenges. With these patients who lose weight extremely quickly the breast skin can be very thin and loose, says Dr Josh Waltzman, an LA-based plastic surgeon. This means we have to treat them differently to regular patients. One option is an operation called a mastopexy a breast lift with GalaFLEX mesh. Referred to as an internal bra, this mesh is implanted during the op to provide additional support and reinforce the tissue, helping maintain shape. It can be done with or without a standard size-enhancing breast augmentation. We have to do this, otherwise the breasts may end up stretching again, adds Dr Waltzman. Other lift option after massive weight loss is a op known as a dermal suspension mastopexy with parenchymal reshaping. Instead of mesh, the patients own removed excess skin is repurposed to create an internal sling, which provides support. The underlying breast tissue is also reshaped, however this is a major operation with a 20-fold higher rate of complications than a standard breast augmentation. This procedure is ideal if there is a lot of drooping, says Dr David Turer, a plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Breast lifts are rarely standalone plastic surgery procedures among GLP-1 patients who have rapidly shed pounds, but often a good starting point, he adds: We will often do a breast lift first, but many of these patients will go on to have multiple procedures to correct other areas of the body. Tummy tucks are no walk in the park Skin changes arent just limited to the face, breasts and bottom theyre showing up on the arms, legs and stomachs too. While patients are often distressed at being left with bodies like a melted candle, these issues arent simply cosmetic. Folds of skin can hinder movement and are at risk of chafing leading to sores and infections which can be serious. Tackling excess skin on the abdomen is the number one post-GLP-1 procedure we do, Dr Waltzman says. The fat goes away, yet the skin doesnt always shrink back. UK-based plastic surgeon Patrick Mallucci says tummy tucks are 'the most dangerous operations we carry out' and so finding an experienced surgeon is vital (File image) The answer is an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck which involves surgically removing excess skin and fat from the abdominal area, while tightening the underlying abdominal muscle. Similar operations can trim away excess skin from the under-arms and inner thighs. And then there is the notorious body lift also known as a circumferential body lift, in which some or all of these procedures are combined in a single major operation costing up to 35,000. UK-based consultant plastic surgeon Patrick Mallucci warns: These are the most dangerous operations we carry out. Theres a high risk of venous thrombosis, when a blood clot forms in a vein, potentially blocking blood flow. This can be life-threatening if left untreated. Finding an experienced surgeon is vital, he adds: You shouldnt be scrimping and saving on a treatment like this. Definitely don't opt for the dreaded BBL Alongside Ozempic face and Ozempic breasts, theres also Ozempic butt a deflated, saggy backside. The answer? Not a Brazilian butt lift, say experts. The procedure, also known as a BBL, involves taking fat from the hips, abdomen and other areas via liposuction, before injecting it into the bottom. The result is a bigger, more pert behind theoretically at least. But women undergoing BBLs have a one in 4,000 chance of dying following the procedure making it the deadliest of all cosmetic surgeries. This is because fat injected into dense buttock muscle does not stay there. Instead, the liquid squeezes through the muscle fibres, stretching delicate blood vessels and causing them to rupture. The procedure could also leave Ozempic patients bottoms looking even worse, doctors told me. Cosmetic surgeon Dr Franco says: Filling isnt always the way to combat skin laxity issues. Like an overdone breast, if youve just created a butt that is too big, so it will sag again over time. Instead, GLP-1 weight-loss patients may benefit from a standard buttock lift which involves removing excess skin and repositioning muscle. Non-surgical treatments include radiofrequency microneedling a treatment that transmits heat through fine needles into the skin, helping to tighten it. A blast of heat that firms the skin Cosmetic device manufacturers were also hard at work last week, unveiling new machines that, they claimed, could offer quick fixes to GLP-1 patients and spare them from going under the knife. People on the jabs are by far our biggest target market, says one company rep. Among the innovations showing promise are Sofwave, a device that has been shown to improve skin laxity and lift and tone the face and neck. It emits ultrasound energy which creates heat, stimulating production of collagen and elastin proteins that help keep the skin firm and supple. Another popular machine, Renuvion, involves a unique type of energy which its manufacturers call J Plasma a heated helium gas to tighten loose skin. Mr Mallucci says they began using Renuvion around six months ago and weve seen a huge increase in demand, adding: A lot of patients on Ozempic come because theyve now got a nice figure but some skin laxity, which isnt necessarily bad enough to treat with surgery. Experts, however, cautioned that the margin for error is small and in the UK there is little regulation over who can use such machines. In the wrong hands the results could be disastrous, says Marc Pacifico, UK plastic surgeon and former BAAPS president. Heat-producing devices, including skin-tightening devices, could cause burns and a host of other complications. The morning-after pill is set to become available for free in pharmacies across England in a bid to end the 'unfair postcode lottery' for women, the government has said. Emergency contraception is currently already free from most GPs and sexual health clinics - but can cost up to 30 from pharmacies, depending on where you go. Health minister Stephen Kinnock said the proposal, due to come into force later this year, will level out access. He told the BBC: 'Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live.' Mr Kinnock described equal access to safe contraception as 'a cornerstone of a fair society'. He said plan would ensure 'women can access this essential healthcare when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay'. It is also hoped the change will also free up GP appointments. The development is set to be announced tomorrow as part of the government's broader plans for greater investment in community pharmacies. But as users took to X to express their thoughts on the move, many were frustrated England had taken 17 years to follow Scotland on this. Emergency contraception has been free from Scottish pharmacies since 2008. The morning-after pill is set to become available for free in pharmacies across England in a bid to end the 'unfair postcode lottery' for women, the government has said. Pictured: File photo Health minister Stephen Kinnock (pictured) told the BBC: 'Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live' The morning-after pill, or emergency contraceptive pill, can be taken to stop pregnancy after unprotected sex or the failure of other contraception. It needs to be taken within three to five days of having unprotected sex - but the sooner, the better. Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association, which represents around 6,000 independent pharmacies across the UK, said: 'We've long called for national commissioning of emergency contraception so this is good news for patients and pharmacies alike. 'For too long, access to free services has been a postcode lottery for patients, with local arrangements only existing in certain parts of the country and often being underfunded. 'Pharmacies are under enormous pressure amid the impact of record cuts to their budgets, so it is important any scheme fully reimburses them for this work.' But on X, users were frustrated England had taken so long to catch up with Scotland, which made emergency contraception free from pharmacies 17 years ago. In fact, this policy is already in place in all devolved nations of the UK apart from England. Wales followed Scotland in 2011, making emergency contraception free from most Welsh pharmacies for those aged 13 or older - whereas in Scotland, it is free without restriction. On X, users were frustrated (pictured) that England had taken so long to catch up with Scotland, which made emergency contraception free from pharmacies 17 years ago In Northern Ireland, emergency contraception is also free from community pharmacies for those aged 13 or older, under the Pharmacy First service - which was introduced in 2005, to redirect treatments from GPs to pharmacists as appropriate. One X user said: 'England finally catches up with Scotland where this has been free of charge (as it should be) for years.' Another chipped in to say: 'Nice to see England catching up with the best country in the world! Scotland.' Someone else added: 'Hello from Scotland. Pop into local pharmacy. Been an option in Scotland for ahem years. Why is England['s] NHS behind again?' One person said, exasperated: 'In England. Behind the times as per usual.' But another was just glad to see England finally catching up: 'England falling into line with Scotland. Better late than never.' The government's plans for English pharmacies come after calls from sexual health leaders to increase access to the morning-after pill - with some suggesting women should be able to buy it straight off the shelf like condoms. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) said last year it was 'high time' emergency contraception was made available for general sale in the likes of shops and petrol stations. Dr Janet Barter (pictured), president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said last year: 'Access to contraception is such a basic human right and it is high time we begin to remove the barriers people face accessing oral emergency contraception' The professional body's president Dr Janet Barter said at the time: 'Access to contraception is such a basic human right and it is high time we begin to remove the barriers people face accessing oral emergency contraception. 'We want to make oral emergency contraception free and easily accessible to everyone who needs it, at a time and place that suits them, be that in a supermarket or their local sexual health clinic. 'It is so important that people can take full control of their own contraceptive needs.' She added: 'We believe that the reclassification of oral emergency contraception from a pharmacy medicine to general sales list would be an enormous step forward, giving people autonomy and empowering them to make the right decision for themselves. 'The next important step in the process to improve access to oral emergency contraception would be to make it free for everyone.' When contacted for comment, the Department for Health and Social Care pointed to Mr Kinnock's comments: 'Equal access to safe and effective contraception is crucial to women's healthcare and a cornerstone of a fair society. 'Women across England face an unfair postcode lottery when seeking emergency contraception, with access varying dramatically depending on where they live. 'By making this available at community pharmacies, we will ensure all women can access this essential healthcare when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. 'We will announce a new package of investment and reform to start rebuilding community pharmacy sector through our Plan for Change.' NHS England was contacted for comment. 'Hi Mum'. It's a message every mother will likely have received from their child at some point, and hardly one to be ignored. In most instances it will be a completely innocent message from their child, but scammers continue to target unwitting parents with these so-called 'Hi Mum' scams, not to mention the equally common 'Hi Dad' opener. As many as 15 per cent of people have been targeted by such scams, with 13 per cent of those who get the messages ultimately falling victim to a fraudster, according to data from Visa. It is just one form of authorised push payment, or APP, scam, a type of fraud that is increasingly common. A majority, 54 per cent, of the adult population have been targeted by an APP scam before. Scammers contact parents posing as their child, using the ploy to gain their trust before trying to get them to send money to cover supposed payments. And now, the fraudsters are increasingly using AI to create fake phone calls or even videos from the victim's child. Mother's day message: Scammers are targeting parents with so-called 'Hi Mum' scams Mandy Lamb, managing director of Visa UK & Ireland, said: 'Fraudsters are increasingly using emotional manipulation, particularly around special occasions like Mother's Day, to exploit people. 'The "Hi Mum" scam targets individuals by impersonating family members in distress and requesting money in an urgent situation.' Natalie Kelly, chief risk officer at Visa Europe, added: 'These scams are especially cruel because they exploit a parent's instinct to help their child, using panic and urgency to manipulate victims. 'It all starts with a simple message or call, something along the lines of "Hi Mum, my phone broke and this is my new number," and before you know it, they are saying they can't access their bank account, and asking for money.' Claiming that their phone has broken gives scammers an explanation for why they are contacting through a different phone number, or that they are unable to access their bank account online to pay certain bills or rent. In some cases, the scammer will string the parent along for a while to build trust. Often this includes contacting a parent using their device and asking them to save the new number and delete the old, and legitimate, number. 'The scammers who use this approach are clever, building trust and rapport with the victim over the course of a few days to establish credibility,' Kelly said. Scammers are evolving 'Hi Mum' scams have been around for a while, but with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence among fraudsters it is becoming increasingly difficult tell the real thing apart from a scam. Scammers are now able to employ AI to create convincing voice recordings and video recordings, and even real-time deepfake technology to replicate a victim's child on calls. Kelly said: 'AI is making it easier for fraudsters to create ever more sophisticated and believable scams, and deepfakes are a powerful weapon in a fraudster's arsenal. 'AI-generated voices and hyper-realistic videos make it harder than ever to tell real from fake, turning once obvious scams into convincing deceptions. 'With AI and deepfake technology making scams more convincing through voice and video cloning, we urge people to remain vigilant about messages or contact from unknown sources.' As many as 47 per cent of people said they are not confident that their family members would be able to identify a deepfake scam, while 65 per cent think AI will make voice impersonations more difficult to detect. Lamb added: 'When you receive a message from an unfamiliar number or something feels off, verify it through another platform. If you suspect you've fallen victim to this type of scam, take action immediately by contacting your bank to report it.' How can you avoid the 'Hi Mum' scam? Spotting a scam in the first instance can be easier said than done, especially if it appears to be your child making contact. Even if it appears your child is contacting you from a new number, blaming it on their phone being broken or lost, it is best to call them on the phone number that you already have for them to check. Often, a scammers message won't be signed with your child's name because they don't know it. Combined with an unknown number, this should start ringing alarm bells. However, with masses of information available online and on social media, scammers may have ready access to material that will help them to convincingly impersonate your child. Another tell-tale sign is the urgency with which a scammer will contact you. Scammers try to rush their victims so that they don't stop to consider the situation. 'The best way to stay safe? Slow down and verify through a different channel of contact,' Kelly said. If an unknown contact asks you to send money to them, do not do what they ask. There are giveaways with AI, which, despite its progress, still has distinctive hallmarks that can be used to separate it form the real thing. Kelly said: 'Watch out for unusual expressions, unnatural eye movements, strange facial expressions, or robotic-sounding voices that don't match lip movements. If body language feels off or shadows and lighting appear unnatural, trust your instincts.' Donald Trump is wrong about many things but he was absolutely right when he said in 2018: 'If you don't have steel, you don't have a country.' Unfortunately, he made his remark in the context of his steel tariffs, which will damage America as well as the rest of the world. In essence, though, he is correct no nation can be self-reliant or secure if it does not have a steel industry. This is the context in which the threat by Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, to shut Britain's two remaining blast furnaces in Scunthorpe must be seen. It is an all-too-predictable crisis, one I warned about when Jingye took over, and one I feel personally. Having been brought up on Teesside, my connections with the industry run deep. My father, my grandfather, my uncles and my cousins were all steelmen. A proud industry: We need steel to build our new world for the green energy revolution and for new infrastructure I have no truck with romanticising heavy industry. These were hard and sometimes dangerous jobs. But there is huge pride every Teessider's boast is that 'We built the world' because our steel is everywhere from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Yangtze River to Canary Wharf. We need steel to build our new world too for the green energy revolution and for new infrastructure. And we need steel for our defence industry in a Trumpian world where the US may not be a reliable ally. When Chinese conglomerate Jingye agreed a deal to take over British Steel I was filled with misgivings. It seemed all too convenient that the deal being waved through by the then Conservative government saved jobs in a red wall constituency in the middle of an election campaign. Airy promises by Li Ganpo, the chairman, to 'create a splendid future' were taken at face value. Now Jingye is asking for 1billion from the Government in subsidies. It has rejected an offer of 500m and the blast furnaces could be turned off within weeks. It gives me no satisfaction to be proved right, but Jingye was never a suitable owner. If a solution is not found, 2,700 people will lose their jobs and the UK will be the only member of the G7 group of developed countries unable to make its own steel. Labour says it wants to support the industry. It has pledged up to 2.5billion through the national wealth fund and will produce a strategy later in the spring. But it will not be easy to reverse decades of poor ownership and neglect, not always of the benign variety. Steelmaking has suffered from unspoken but nonetheless real cultural contempt. The works are in places such as Scunthorpe or Redcar, a long way from London and the decision-making elite, in workaday communities. In an economy that has been dominated by services, finance and retail, steel has been sidelined. The industry is also a victim of green zealotry that has seen environmental levies slapped on to already high energy costs. It is remarkable we have any steel industry left at all. The fact we do is testament to the resilience of the 34,000 people working in it. Realisation seems to be dawning that we do need steel after all. We live in a world where globalisation is in retreat, we cannot rely on cheap imports, and we need to rearm. Does Labour really want the demise of steel in this country to happen on its watch? Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. S.M. writes: I was medically retired from Royal Mail in 2015, after 32 years of employment. In 2021, I was told that I had been overpaid Working Tax Credits between 2003 and 2005. When I was threatened with legal action, I agreed to a deduction of 4 from my pension. I did ask why it had taken the Department for Work & Pensions and HM Revenue & Customs 18 years to pursue any claim. I was told that the money was owed, and that was that. But now they want to collect 147 fortnightly from my state pension, and I am beside myself with worry. Tony Hetherington replies: Working Tax Credits (WTCs) were launched in 2003 and gained a reputation for being very complex. They were a benefit managed by HMRC and were intended to top up the income of the lowest paid. However, anyone who received a pay rise, a bonus, or who simply worked overtime ran the risk of being told months or years later that this extra cash meant they had to hand back some of their WTC money. As claimants had to be on a low income to qualify for WTCs in the first place, the chances of them having a lump sum tucked away to hand back were very slim. HMRC staff were always playing catch-up. The result was a growing list of debtors and, eventually, the introduction of the replacement Universal Credits. Catch-up: Since 2010, HMRC has been trying to recoup WTC money In 2021, HMRC handed lots of its records over to the Department for Work and Pensions, and these old files are said to show that WTC overpayments stood at more than 5 billion of which you owe 1,133, according to DWP officials. They began taking 4 from yours and your wife's state pension, but decided to speed things up by taking even more! This would cost you nearly 75 a week and leave you unable to pay your bills. There was no attempt made to discuss your circumstances and a DWP letter bluntly told you: 'We are writing about money that you need to pay back. We have arranged to take deductions from your benefit to pay this money back.' I approached officials at both DWP and HMRC, and they agreed that HMRC would answer me for both departments. HMRC told me that it informed you of the overpayments in 2010, but postponed collection because of your low income. Why anyone at HMRC or DWP suddenly decided that as a state pensioner, you were better off today than you were in 2010 is a complete mystery. I pressed HMRC to explain why it had been silent from 2010 to 2021. The explanation is that the tax man made a note in 2010 to review your debt after six months, but failed to do so, and nobody dusted off the records until 2021. And the normal rule that says debts can't be pursued after six years of silence does not apply to HMRC. HMRC shrugged off the idea that you could be deprived of a big chunk of your pension. But I made clear that I had a copy of the DWP letter you received, spelling out the savage cut. The outcome, though, is that you are now going to be losing just 4 a fortnight. The threat of living on 75 less a week has been lifted, which is great news. A spokesman told me: 'HMRC has carefully reviewed Mr M's case and found the overpayments on his record are correct. DWP is collecting what's owed in an affordable way.' But no spokesman could explain why you are better off now than in 2010, and can afford to surrender any of your pension at all. Car park fee fury Ms A.M. writes: I prepaid 39.99 for parking at Luton Airport. I arrived and entered the car park at the allowed time, and returned at the proper time, but I had to pay a further 70 to exit the car park. I have written to the car park operators Apcoa since then, but I have received no reply. Tony Hetherington replies: You booked space in the car park for set times and days, and supplied your registration details. Your departure time expired at 11.30pm, and you collected your car at 10.45pm, so you did not exceed your booking. But when you reached the exit barrier it refused to lift. Fighting for fairness: There was confusion when exiting a car park run by Apcoa Apcoa told me: 'Signage at the exit barriers advises customers to push the assistance button if they have pre-booked.' You told me you had done this repeatedly with no response, before giving up and paying the fee of 70. You then wrote three times to Apcoa's head office, even getting signed proof of delivery. Apcoa failed to reply. I invited them to comment, but they offered no reason for ignoring your letters. They said: 'We have now been in contact with the customer directly and refunded their duplicate payment. We have also refunded their original payment and postage costs as an acknowledgement of the inconvenience.' A fair outcome, but why is it so often the case that customers have to fight car park firms to get fairness? If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Investment fund Marlborough European Special Situations has had many names over the years, but its focus has always been on making money from overlooked smaller companies. It's a mission that long-standing manager David Walton has pursued with a mix of zeal and success. Over the past decade, whether labelled European Multi Cap or European Special Situations (ESS), the 247million fund has comfortably outperformed its peer group. Over this 10-year period, it has delivered overall returns of 229 per cent. By way of comparison, the average European (excluding the UK) fund has generated a return of 108 per cent. Yet the fund is in a bit of a trough, primarily because, like smaller companies in the UK, European tiddler stocks are unloved. In calendar years 2022, 2023 and 2024, the fund underperformed the average for its peer group. Walton is not unduly worried. 'The fund has not suffered catastrophic decline,' he says. 'Indeed, in 2023 and 2024, it made gains for investors in difficult market circumstances. What we are not prepared to do is look at what our neighbours and rivals are doing and replicate them. Our investment strategy works, and we will stick with it.' The 'strategy' is built around discovering investment gems among the 5,000 businesses whose market capitalisations place them in the bottom 20 per cent of the European listed company universe. 'What we look for,' says Walton, 'are companies that offer a mix of growth potential and resilience and which are supported by committed management teams.' Some 3,000 companies don't get a look in, primarily because they are loss-making. From the remaining 2,000, Walton and the two other managers (Steve Robertson and Tom Livesey) boil them down to a 'focus list' of between 160 and 180 companies. Currently, 73 form the fund's portfolio with easily tradable shares in all of them. Although lots of number crunching is done on those companies that form the focus list, the managers regularly meet all the businesses the fund is invested in as well as potential targets. Last year, between them, the managers conducted 372 company visits across nine countries. For example, last week, Walton spent a couple of days in Italy meeting the management of two companies the fund has invested in: B&C Speakers (manufacturer of loudspeaker transducers) and El.en (which produces lasers used in medicine and art). 'We need to be confident in the management of companies we invest in,' he adds. As well as holding a big number of stocks, the managers don't add to positions once they represent 2 per cent of the fund's assets. But they allow successful investments to run. The biggest holding is in Greek business Sarantis, which Walton describes as a 'mini Unilever'. 'We've held it since 2016,' says Walton. 'It has been quietly acquiring businesses, primarily in Eastern Europe, building a product portfolio comprising everyday items. Its share price has gone from 4.3 euros to today's 8.66.' The investment managers all work for Canaccord Genuity Asset Management. Annual charges are competitive, totalling 0.8 per cent. Marlborough ESS is one of 14 European funds (excluding the UK) which has been given an 'elite' label by scrutineer FundCalibre. It describes it as a 'true stock picker's fund with David [Walton] scouring the market for under-the-radar opportunities'. With regards to the future, Walton believes Germany's decision to spend more money on both defence and infrastructure will benefit many smaller European companies. A London-listed mining giant is heading for a showdown with Ukraine in an international court over plans to part-nationalise a mine in the war-torn country. Ferrexpo, a FTSE 250 firm, owns the Poltava mine and processing plant 200 miles south-west of Kyiv. It is the firm's major asset, making Ferrexpo the world's third largest exporter of iron pellets. But the mine and the company's investors have been caught up in President Volodymyr Zelensky's crackdown on oligarch Kostyantyn Zhevago, who is being investigated for embezzlement after a bank he owned went bust in 2015. Ferrexpo was founded by the Soviet Union in 1960. Zhevago took control in 2007 listing it on London's stock exchange. The billionaire still holds a 49.5 per cent stake worth 182million. The rest is owned by asset managers including BlackRock, Fidelity, JP Morgan, HSBC and Legal & General, which look after pensions of British savers. Kyiv, which wants to recoup money from Zhevago, tried to seize his stake via the London courts in 2023. After that failed it is now trying to take a stake in the mine directly. Rift: Kostyantyn Zhevago owns half the Poltava mine, but UK investors own much of the rest Ferrexpo says Ukraine is acting illegally and that the country is set to break the bilateral investment treaty it has with the UK. In a document seen by this paper it has notified Ukraine that if the part-nationalisation of the mine goes ahead, it will begin international arbitration proceedings. The document says: 'This month the State Bureau of Investigation ordered the transfer of 49.5 per cent of the corporate rights of Poltava to the National Recovery and Management Agency of Ukraine. 'Under the Ukraine-UK trade agreement investors have the right to enforce guarantees directly against Ukraine through international arbitration and before an independent tribunal.' One top ten shareholder, who asked not to be named, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Ukraine should not be acting like this. I did not expect this behaviour in Europe.' Lucio Genovese, chairman of Ferrexpo, said: 'I am shocked. Our investors must be respected. It is nonsensical that Ukraine is overriding principles enshrined in Ukrainian law, and in bilateral investment treaties entered into by Ukraine and the UK. 'This precedent will create problems in rebuilding Ukraine, particularly if they try to attract American and European firms. The government needs to wise up.' The investigation into Zhevago concerns the alleged embezzlement of 87million from Bank Finance & Credit, a Ukrainian bank owned by the tycoon that was declared insolvent in 2015. Last month Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on Zhevago and other Ukrainian oligarchs, accusing them of destroying national security and allying themselves with Russia. The Ukrainian government was contacted for comment. First the FBI knocked on her door. A month later, they froze her family's assets and held critical funds hostage that she needed to feed her children. Days after her daughter's first birthday, they raided her home rummaging through protected documents. Years later, Ohio resident Amy Nelson now says the FBI, Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos have all but ruined her life. And Donald Trump may be the only one to make things right. Following accusations of her husband's involvement in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme and fraud, Amy's family have been embroiled in a years-long legal battle against the company. Now, 45-year-old Amy is determined to hold Amazon and its founder, the worlds second richest man, accountable for the devastating turmoil theyve allegedly caused her family, placing her trust in President Trumps administration to seek justice. 'I never could have imagined any of what has happened to my family happening in America,' Amy told the DailyMail.com. 'A lot of people say I should just move on. I survived. But we didn't survive with our lives intact.' 'It isn't just about us, it's not just about my family,' she added. 'It's the fact that large companies and very powerful men like Jeff Bezos believe that they can use sacred American institutions to destroy families and businesses.' Amy Nelson, 45, an Ohio resident, is determined to hold Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, accountable after her husband was accused by the company of participating in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme and fraud Amy and her husband, Carl Nelson, have since been embroiled in a years-long legal battle against the company Amy told DailyMail.com: 'I never could have imagined any of what has happened to my family happening in America. 'It's the fact that large companies and very powerful men like Jeff Bezos believe that they can use sacred American institutions to destroy families and businesses' 'It's not OK, and somebody has to stand up to them.' In 2020, just weeks into the pandemic, two FBI agents knocked on the Nelsons' front door and informed the family that Carl was the target of a federal criminal investigation, presenting them with subpoenas for documents. 'It's like you're living your life, and then one day, a bomb goes off,' Amy said. 'For us, it was in the form of federal agents at our door. And our life has never been the same.' Carl, a former Amazon employee, was being accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme involving real estate deals for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in Northern Virginia. The accusations included claims that Carl and his colleague, Casey Kirschner, conspired with Colorado real estate developer Brian Watson to defraud the tech giant through overpriced land deals, pocketing kickbacks in the process. Both Kirschner and Watson had their guilty pleas vacated. The pair were initially accused of illegally profiting from more than $500 million in Amazon real estate projects, receiving more than $33 million in kickbacks that were funneled through a network of shell companies. One month after the FBI's unexpected visit, the Nelsons' assets were seized, including nearly every dollar they had. Just a month later, their home was raided. 'It's just stunning to me that this can happen. They just destroyed our lives piece by piece,' Amy told the DailyMail.com. In 2020, just weeks into the pandemic, two FBI agents knocked on the Nelsons' front door and informed the family that Carl was the target of a federal criminal investigation. In June, federal agents raided their family home, unexpectedly they say Carl, a former Amazon employee, was being accused of participating in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme involving real estate deals for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers in Northern Virginia One month after the FBI's first unexpected visit, the Nelsons' assets were seized, including nearly every dollar they had 'We lost our home. We had to sell our car, we had to liquidate retirement, we had to move a bunch of times to live with family along with four little kids,' she added. 'I lost jobs, my husband lost jobs... That's all it takes.' After years of litigation battles, including a civil lawsuit filed by the ecommerce conglomerate in every state, vacated pleas from alleged co-conspirators and millions of dollars spent in legal fees, Amy believes the new Trump administration may be key in exposing the what she says are lies perpetuated by Amazon. 'I fully believe that this administration will look into this,' she added. 'It will be a great test as to whether they'll stick to their words.' More than five years after the Nelsons' lives were turned upside-down, Amy has continued to fight her way out of an unrelenting tug-of-war battle with a country she has always loved. 'The most American thing you can do is fight for America to be what it is meant to be,' Amy told the DailyMail.com. 'I want my daughters to know - win or lose - that I tried everything I could to save their father and to tell the truth and not back down to bullies,' she continued. 'I don't think this was about justice. I think it was about doing Jeff Bezos a favor.' How It Unfolded Amy told the DailyMail.com: 'We lost our home. We had to sell our car, we had to liquidate retirement, we had to move a bunch of times to live with family along with four little kids. I lost jobs, my husband lost jobs.' After years of litigation battles, including a civil lawsuit filed by the ecommerce conglomerate in every state, vacated pleas from alleged co-conspirators and millions of dollars spent in legal fees, Amy believes the new Trump administration may be key in exposing the lies she says were perpetuated by Amazon Amy says the FBI agent that executed the search warrant took loads of attorney-client privilege information during the raid, documents that Amy said the DOJ knew existed inside the home In the early morning hours of April 20, 2020, two FBI agents knocked on the Nelsons' front door. Immediately, Amy knew something was terribly wrong - after all, agents typically don't show up out of the blue. 'At a very basic level, Jeff Bezos hired an army of former federal prosecutors to lobby their former colleagues who are still at the Department of Justice,' Amy explained to DailyMail.com. 'They accused my husband of a crime called private sector honest services fraud, which is depriving your private sector employer of your "honest services."' Just a month later, federal agents seized the family's assets, including the funds paid to her husband's lawyers, after they accessed the firm's bank accounts and confiscated the money. 'That is the wildest feeling in the world, when you live in a democracy, and on a random Tuesday, the FBI takes every dollar you have,' Amy said. 'They didn't freeze it, they took it.' Uninformed about the law, Carl initially didn't think it was a big deal. He believed, Amy said, that he could call up Amazon and work it out. As an attorney herself, Amy understood the gravity of the actions being taken against them and believed that federal agents were systematically stripping her family of everything, leaving them powerless to defend themselves against what was to come. 'I remember my husband's attorneys asked the federal prosecutors if we could have some of the money back to feed our children, and Samantha Bateman, the prosecutor, said that we could if my husband would plead guilty to Amazon's allegations,' Amy said. 'Allegations that the DOJ never ultimately charged him with.' On June 5, two days after their daughter's first birthday, federal agents raided the Nelson family home, unexpectedly they say. The raid came immediately after Carl had a meeting with the DOJ where he asserted that there was nothing he had to hide. Amy said the FBI agent that executed the search warrant took attorney-client privilege information during the raid, documents that Amy said the DOJ knew existed inside the home. '[An agent] took stacks of paper on law firm letterhead that said attorney-client privilege was the analysis of the government's allegations against my husband,' Amy said. 'He took them.' 'The whole thing just feels like a movie - taking attorney-client privilege information is wrong, it's misconduct,' she added. 'And the FBI agent who did it was eventually kicked off the investigation by the DOJ.' The agent also apprehended Carl's laptop, which Amy said was also full of the same information. Yet one of the craziest details of the raid, Amy explained, was that 'six months after they took the laptop, the DOJ claimed that it was encrypted.' When Carl was asked about the encryption, he was confused - he had only opened it for the agent at the home and given him the password. 'Somehow, the laptop was broken in the FBI's possession,' Amy said, implying that the FBI had allegedly caused damage to the laptop. According to Amy, her husband was never given the chance by the DOJ to explain, despite being accused of what he believed were standard business practices, as he had followed 'the very basic terms of his employment contract.' 'Part of any criminal action is showing that someone had an indent to defraud, someone had an intent to break the law,' she said. 'If my husband is adhering to his employment contract, how could he possibly think he was breaking the law?' 'It was more important that the government try to back my husband into a corner and plead guilty to a crime they werent even willing to charge him with or prove in court than it was for my four little girls to have shelter and food in a pandemic, she continued. Amy said she and her family felt like that the FBI had 'our hands tied behind our backs' because 'Amazon somehow convinced the Department of Justice to take a really stunning stance of seizing all of our bank accounts.' The federal criminal law is not supposed to work that way,' she added. Carl sued Amazon, and has already won part of the case. The rest, Amy explained, is paused. The corporate giant is appealing their loss to her husband in their lawsuit, and the rest of her husband's lawsuit is awaiting the conclusion of the appeal. In a civil lawsuit filed by Amazon in 2021, the company was urgently seeking 'immediate relief' from a 'significant fraud and kickback scheme.' Additionally, the lawsuit claimed the defendants posed 'an imminent risk of destruction of evidence, dissipation of assets, and interference with Amazon business relationships.' 'These defendants orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to obtain millions of dollars in kickbacks related to Amazon and real estate projects, and there is extensive evidence to prove it,' Brad Glasser, an Amazon spokesperson, said. 'Given that evidence and the egregious facts we've uncovered related to this misconduct, we must act to protect our interests and will move forward with our civil case.' Amy's theory of how her family was zeroed in on begins with Amazon's primary target, Brian Watson, who investigators initially said had been the one to pay her husband's kickbacks The REIT - called IPI, or Iron Point - provided the money used to construct buildings that Amazon leased out as data centers and attempted to buy Watson out of the deals, yet he refused Watson and IPI landed on an agreement - IPI could kick Watson out of the deal if he was ever found guilty or pled guilty to a felony, which he was accused of a short time later How did Amazon get involved? After Amazon contacted the DOJ and launched an investigation into her husband, Amy said, the corporate giant sent a letter to every developer that her husband had ever worked with, demanding to know if they were currently working with him as they could be potentially terminated I think Amazon just acted, I think they thought something bad had happened,' Amy said. 'I think part of the reason they did that is because theyre so big, and they dont think anybody can fight back against them. 'How is my husband supposed to continue his career when you have the largest player in the industry threatening every developer against working with him?' Revelations during the investigation The accusations led to multiple lawsuits from both sides. Among them was a civil suit Amazon filed against Carl. Amy, however, was able to obtain communications between the company's lawyers and the DOJ In the email, United States Attorney Jessica Aber, who was recently found dead in her home at 43, praised Patrick Stokes, Amazon's lawyer, for his 60-page presentation detailing the alleged crime, telling him not to worry as they had hand-selected 'two of our very best prosecutors for your clients' The accusations led to multiple lawsuits from both sides. Among them was a civil suit Amazon filed against Carl. Amy, however, was able to obtain communications between the company's lawyers and the DOJ. Amy discussed those emails - which she says were made available to her from the lawsuit - to the DailyMail.com, including one that was sent prior to the department investigating a single allegation Amazon set forth. In the email, United States Attorney Jessica Aber, who was recently found dead in her home at 43, praised Patrick Stokes, Amazon's lawyer, for his 60-page presentation detailing the alleged crime. Aber thanked Stokes, a former DOJ employee, calling his presentation 'a testament to both he and Amazon's hard work.' Additionally, Amy said, Aber told Stokes not to worry as they had hand-selected 'two of our very best prosecutors for your clients.' 'That was just heartbreakingly crushing to see those words on paper,' Amy recalled. 'We didn't stand a chance.' Amy later learned that the department had never asked to see her husband's employment contract, despite the allegations against him being based on a supposed violation of his terms. When her husband's lawyer raised the issue during a meeting with the DOJ, the only response they offered about his contract was, 'We don't think it allowed the activity happening here.' At one point, Amy recalled, two federal prosecutors called her husband and his attorneys in the middle of Amazon's civil case. Amy said Carl was allegedly warned that if he didn't stop defending himself in the case, 'he would get what he deserved' and that he was 'fighting a two front war that he couldn't win,' believing the threat referred to both Amazon and the DOJ. The DOJ is pretty ruthless in their tactics and in their mannerisms, and you fear if you fight them, that theyll do something to you, she said. According to Amy, the two prosecutors told her husband that they would find a way to charge him - whether it be with perjury or obstruction of justice - even if they couldn't charge him with anything else related to the alleged scheme. 'In what world are federal prosecutors threatening my husband from defending himself in a civil lawsuit like that?' Alleged co-conspirators off the hook What troubled Amy more than anything, however, came at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation four years later when federal prosecutors vacated pleas of co-conspirators Kyle Ramstetter and Christian Kirschner, citing in their motion that pursuing their cases 'isn't in the best interest of justice' Amazon claims that in March of 2023, Kirschner and Ramstetter plead guilty to conspiring with others, including Carl, to commit wire fraud through a bribery and kickback scheme which aimed to drive away real estate development deals for the company's data centers. Those guilty pleas were later vacated According to Amy, Carl's contract with Amazon stated that he was authorized to start a new company while he worked under their wing, allowing him to seek investment from anyone who was not an investor at the powerful company What troubled Amy more than anything, however, came at the conclusion of the DOJ investigation four years later. Despite Amazon's aggressive pursuit of both civil and criminal cases, the tide began to turn in 2024 when federal prosecutors vacated pleas of co-conspirators Kyle Ramstetter and Christian Kirschner, citing in their motion that pursuing their cases 'isn't in the best interest of justice,' according to Bloomberg Law. Amazon claims that in March of 2023, Kirschner and Ramstetter plead guilty to conspiring with others, including Carl, to commit wire fraud through a bribery and kickback scheme which aimed to drive away real estate development deals for the company's data centers. In Kirschner's eventually vacated guilty plea, Amazon said in legal docs, Kirschner admitted that his brother Casey, an employee of Amazon, asked that his supervisor Carl be cut into the alleged scheme. According to Amy, Carl's contract with Amazon stated that he was authorized to start a new company while he worked under their wing, allowing him to seek investment from anyone who was not an investor at the powerful company. In February 2018, Amy explained, her husband's colleague, Casey Kirschner, approached Carl and said: 'My brother thinks we should set up our own development company since we have the expertise. My brother, Christian, wants to invest with us and will provide the seed capital.' According to Amy, as Amazon itself doesn't sell real estate development, the act would not be a direct competition to the company nor a violation of Carl's employment contract, therefore, allows him to participate. Amy said that her husband had never taken the money, and instead 'admitted' to building a business and seeking investment, as his employment contract allowed. After spending millions to fight the accusations, a federal judge ruled that Carl had never violated his terms, leaving Amy perplexed as to why the men were pleading guilty to helping him do something that wasn't true. 'If there was ANY crime here, I can assure you that the DOJ would not have vacated four pleas and ended their investigation - especially after promising Amazon's lawyers their 'best prosecutors' and telling them not to worry,' she said. Despite the turn of events, Amazon still plans to continue its civil lawsuit against Carl. 'These defendants orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to obtain millions of dollars in kickbacks related to Amazon real estate projects and there is extensive evidence to prove it,' Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser told the DailyMail.com in January, defending the company's efforts to recoup damages and pursue justice. 'Given that evidence and the egregious facts we've uncovered related to this misconduct, we must act to protect our interests and will move forward with our civil case.' Alex Little, one of Carl's attorneys, accused Amazon of using the DOJ as 'a tool' to further its own interests. 'This effort has failed,' he said, pointing to the vacated guilty pleas as what he considers to be evidence of overreach. Judge Rossie Alston Jr., who presided over Amazon's civil case, dismissed most of the company's claims in 2024, citing 'fundamental' flaws in their arguments. Alston ruled that Amazon could not prove financial harm from the real estate deals, noting that the company's own contract authorized the disputed actions. Additionally, Alston ruled when granting a summary judgement that Amazon's employment contract authorized Carl to partake in what the company claimed was a crime. The FBI was unable to confirm or deny the existence of the investigation when the DailyMail.com asked for comment, as per longstanding Department of Justice policy. The next steps The Nelson family are currently seeking to obtain all the information they can, including a number of documents sealed by the DOJ during the course of the investigation As for the seized assets, the Nelsons' were able to recover 85 percent of the money, though the government still retains around $300,000 of what was taken. The family is determined to take any necessary steps to reclaim the rest The Nelson family are currently seeking to obtain all the information they can, including a number of documents sealed by the DOJ during the course of the investigation. Amy said the DOJ promised they would make the sealed documents available to the public on April 1, 2024, allowing her to finally see what Amazon disclosed to the DOJ in broader terms, or what they swore under oath. When the date came around, however, the DOJ filed a motion in court, claiming that the Nelsons' never had the right to access the documents, and sought to have them sealed permanently. If theres ever anything that would tell you something very bad happened, its the government fighting like hell to keep those documents sealed that they had promised would be available, Amy told the DailyMail.com. They are still fighting to get the documents unsealed. As for the seized assets, the Nelsons' were able to recover 85 percent of the money, though the government still retains around $300,000 of what was taken. The family is determined to take any necessary steps to reclaim the rest. 'If they've closed out the investigation and did not feel as though a crime was committed, why wouldn't they give us that money back?' she said. Help from the Trump administration Amy told DailyMail.com: 'I was a lifelong Democrat, but I am hopeful that the Trump administration will take a different position with its power with respect to the DOJ and the FBI. They believe that theres a mandate to shine a light on corruption at the FBI and the DOJ and so I fully believe that this administration will look into this Amy is also looking to seek assistance from Trump's administration to recover the $300,000 that remains in the government's possession The Nelsons' have been in touch with the new administrations of both President Donald Trump and the DOJ, and Amy believes there should be an investigation into the events that transpired over the last few years. 'I was a lifelong Democrat, but I am hopeful that the Trump administration will take a different position with its power with respect to the DOJ and the FBI,' Amy told the DailyMail.com. 'We now have someone running the FBI who was targeted by the FBI, and you have a president that was targeted by the DOJ,' she added. 'They believe that theres a mandate to shine a light on corruption at the FBI and the DOJ and so I fully believe that this administration will look into this. Instead of revenge, Amy explained, she wants accountability and justice. 'If not, we should stop pretending we live in a constitutional republic and admit that we live in an oligarchy,' she said. Amy is also looking to seek assistance from Trump's administration to recover the $300,000 that remains in the government's possession. 'We'll be reaching out to the new administration to right that wrong as well,' Amy said. 'They can never give us our house back. The house we sold in Seattle is worth over double of what we sold it for - that could have been my children's college fund.' Where the Nelson family is today Initially, the family-of-six went to stay with Amy's parents in their townhouse before moving into their own home where they are focused on 'giving our girls a childhood' following the end of the investigation Amy is still carrying anger toward Amazon for what she says is their continuing refusal of any communication with her family. The silence, she says, has left her questioning why they can't get sit down in a room together and resolve the matter as a part of her believes they may have been misled by their lawyers Carl currently works as a real estate developer while Amy has launched The Riveter, a for-profit company focused on supporting women in the workplace. Providing office and work space, The Riveter involves engaging in political advocacy, hosting events and publishing content Amy finds herself constantly wondering what she could have accomplished in the last five years if this never had happened and also expressed sadness for believing that she is 'not the mother I want to be' following the years-long battle Unable to sustain their financial obligations during the course of the investigation, the Nelsons' moved multiple times, ultimately settling in Columbus, Ohio. 'My husband and I are very resilient people with a lot of grit,' Amy told the DailyMail.com. 'We're both entrepreneurs and so we have hustled and continued to make money - but at the same time, we had to work endless hours proving his innocence. Now, we live a completely different life.' Initially, the family-of-six went to stay with Amy's parents in their townhouse before moving into their own home where they are focused on 'giving our girls a childhood.' 'I am proud of us,' Amy said. 'I think we're doing a good job of it, but it's frustrating, it's wrong, it's reshaped our lives.' Amy finds herself constantly wondering what she could have accomplished in the last five years if this never had happened. 'What could I have built in five years? How much innovation have they taken from us?' she said. Carl currently works as a real estate developer while Amy has launched The Riveter, a for-profit company focused on supporting women in the workplace. Providing office and work space, The Riveter involves engaging in political advocacy, hosting events and publishing content. Despite the recent successes, Amy is still carrying anger toward Amazon for what she says is a continuing refusal of any communication with her family. The silence, she says, has left her questioning why they can't get sit down in a room together and resolve the matter. Yet the ghost of Amazon continues to haunt their lives. 'It's also a terrifying statement about what we believe in America,' she added. People look at these institutions like they should have this extreme power, but they werent built to have that power, and they certainly werent built to become the agents of billionaires. Hunter Biden lunched with a Democrat mega-donor accused in lawsuits of pretending to a be a CIA agent, defrauding associates and even stealing his landlord's furniture. Gaurav Srivastava has donated over $1,230,000 to Democrat campaigns according to federal records, making him a friendly face to the former president's son. And Srivastava, 34, even says he's hung out with the Biden family on several occasions in recent months. But the former First Family have been fraternizing with a debt dodger, fraudster and scam artist, if you believe the shocking allegations in a slew of lawsuits against the Indian-born US green card holder, which he denies. Srivastava was accused by former business associate Neils Troost of posing as a CIA operative in a scam to swindle him out of an oil trading company, according to a May 2024 Los Angeles lawsuit. Former ABC president Steve McPherson also filed an LA court complaint in 2021 accusing Srivastava of dodging rent, refusing to vacate his $12million home and stealing wine and furniture. Others filed legal complaints against him for allegedly selling a sham cancer screening device, stiffing contractors and interior designers over some of their work on Srivastava's $25 million LA mansion, and dodging $80,000 medical bills as a guarantor. Srivastava has denied all the claims, saying Dutch oil trader Troost orchestrated a smear campaign to distract from his own EU sanctions for allegedly trading Russian oil. Troost denies the claim. Hunter Biden lunched with a Democrat mega-donor accused in lawsuits of pretending to a be a CIA agent, defrauding associates and even allegedly stealing his landlords furniture Gaurav Srivastava has donated over $1,230,000 to Democrat campaigns, according to federal records, which made him a friendly face to Hunter Despite the public controversy swirling around Srivastava for two years, Hunter, 55, set a lunch date with him on January 22 this year at the Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse in Solvang, California. Joe Biden's son, wearing a blue button-down and slacks, arrived in a Secret Service convoy from the 8,000-acre Santa Ynez wine country estate of med-tech billionaire and major Democrat donor Joe Kiani, with whom the former president and his family were staying that week. The felon former First Son is currently casting around for ways to make back the millions of dollars he owes to his attorneys and for hefty alimony and child support payments Srivastava arrived separately, dressed casually in a black t-shirt. The two dined on a hearty meal of burgers, fries and chicken wings, both tucking in with their hands, and engaged in intense conversation. Srivastava's spokesman told DailyMail.com it was 'a social meeting' and claimed that despite the allegations against the businessman, Srivastava also had 'other meetings with the Bidens in the past several months'. Hunter's representatives did not respond to a request for comment. And though Srivastava said he and Hunter did not talk shop, Hunter's recent legal filings suggest he is in dire need of drumming up more business. The felon former First Son is currently casting around for ways to make back the millions of dollars he owes to his attorneys, as well an alleged $2.9million alimony debt to ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and a $5,000-per-month child support bill for his lovechild with his former assistant Lunden Roberts. Srivastava poses with his wife Sharon. He was accused in a lawsuit by Dutch oil trader Niels Troost of trying to trick Troost into giving up his Swiss company Paramount Energy in exchange for protection against sanctions over trading Russian oil Srivastava also gave the Atlantic Council think tank a whopping $1million which gave him VIP status at a November 2022 conference in Bali, they later cut ties with him and returned another $500,000 donation He owes Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris, who paid off his multi-million-dollar tax debts, over $7million. And this month DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Hunter is claiming he is broke in a court filing, saying that since December he has only sold one piece of art for $36,000 and that book sales of his memoir have dropped to 1,100 copies in six months, a third of the previous rate. The hard-up Biden son and wealthy Srivastava have overlapping business backgrounds in international oil and gas industries. The Indian entrepreneur says he runs a 'large multi-national security corporation' and has interests in the 'petroleum and gas industry' as a 'strategic investor in the energy and commodities markets'. Hunter ended up in federal criminal court last year over his shady dealings with Chinese government-linked oil and gas firm CEFC. He pleaded guilty to dodging tax on millions of dollars from CEFC, whose executives have been jailed and accused of espionage for Beijing including by Hunter, who called one of them 'the f***ing spy chief of China' in an audio recording on his abandoned laptop. DailyMail.com has also previously exposed how Hunter arranged for Mexican oil billionaire Carlos Slim to meet then-Vice President Joe Biden at the White House and Vice President's residence, and how Hunter and his business partner took a flight to Mexico on Air Force Two, all while negotiating an oil deal with Slim. Hunter and Srivastava's charitable interests also align. Hunter was a board director of the nonprofit World Food Program USA, which supports the UN organization of the same name. The controversial mega-donors contribution to the Atlantic Council and his subsequent VIP status at their Bali conference led to him being serenaded by rock star John Legend Srivastava's organization, The Gaurav & Sharon Srivastava Family Foundation, reportedly backed a 2022 forum on food security in Indonesia, at which he expressed his support for the UN's World Food Program. But Srivastava has also been dogged by claims in a lawsuit that he posed as a CIA agent to dupe his business associate, Dutch oil trader Neils Troost. In May 2024 Troost's oil trading firm Paramount Energy & Commodities sued the US law firm he and Srivastava engaged for their ill-fated business dealings. 'Through a series of sophisticated manipulations, and misrepresentations, Mr. Srivastava concocted, perpetuated, and reinforced a complex false narrative about himself being a secret CIA agent for the United States Government,' the 'malpractice' complaint said. An aide for Senator Mark Warner, then-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Select Committee, told DailyMail.com he returned the $6,600 Srivastava had donated to him when he became concerned about his background Paramount's lawsuit alleges that Srivastava tried to trick Troost into giving up half his company, by telling him the CIA would use the firm to spy on the Kremlin while Troost would be allowed to continue trading Russian oil. Srivastava denies the claims, and the case is still pending. His spokesman told DailyMail.com that 'Srivastava is not and has never claimed to be affiliated with the CIA' and that previous stories reporting those claims contained 'materially false information'. At the same time, the Indian entrepreneur had also been ingratiating himself with Washington, DC elites through generous political donations. Despite the controversy surrounding Srivastava, Hunter set a lunch date with him on January 22 at the Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse in Solvang, California He was photographed shaking hands with then-President Joe Biden in a photo published by LA Weekly in January 2023. He gave a total $1,236,500 in 2022 and 2023 according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. That included half a million to the pro-Democrat Senate Majority PAC, $290,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), $50,000 to the Biden Victory Fund, $40,800 to ActBlue and $6,600 to Democrat Senator Mark Warner - then chairman of the Senate Intelligence Select Committee. Through his spokesman, Srivastava denied the donation to ActBlue, despite FEC records listing the payments under his name and company. His whopping $1million donation to the influential Atlantic Council think tank gave him VIP status at a November 2022 conference in Bali that his cash funded, where Srivastava was greeted on stage by rock star John Legend and serenaded. But the think tank said they cut ties with him and returned a further $500,000 donation when they could not verify his backstory and found his 'Family Foundation' was not a nonprofit as he had allegedly claimed. 'We made the decision to terminate our relationship with Srivastava upon learning new information because of our donor review process,' an Atlantic Council spokesperson told news site the Friday Times. 'For example, we learned that The Gaurav & Sharon Srivastava Family Foundation was not an established 501(c)(3) in April of 2023, despite Srivastava's representation to the Council that this was a registered foundation.' Hunter Biden arriving at federal court with his wife Melissa Cohen Biden on June 3, 2024. The Biden Victory Fund also reportedly froze Srivastava's $50,000 donation after finding out his controversial past Hunter owes his wealthy 'sugar brother', Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris, over $7million after he paid off his multi-million-dollar tax debts Srivastava's spokesman confirmed the 'Foundation' is a corporation, not a registered charity, but said that Srivastava never pretended otherwise. He also claimed to DailyMail.com that the Atlantic Council later 'revised its statement', saying the decision to cut ties 'had nothing whatsoever to do with any questions or concerns of the Atlantic Council regarding Mr. Srivastava or his acknowledged honor, integrity and good citizenship. The Atlantic Council hereby disassociates itself from, repudiates and condemns any published articles suggesting or asserting otherwise.' The Council did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. When the allegations against Srivastava emerged, the DCCC froze his $290,000 donation. A DCCC spokesman told DailyMail.com the money is still segregated. The Biden Victory Fund also reportedly froze Srivastava's $50,000 donation. Srivastava's spokesman said the money was eventually returned to the businessman at his request. Senator Warner's aide told DailyMail.com he returned the money from Srivastava, concerned about his background. Srivastava's spokesperson disputed the claim, saying Warner's office should 'double check their records'. Although his funds are reportedly 'dried up', Hunter was seen out to lunch with Srivastava in Solvang, California, in late January DailyMail.com exclusively revealed Hunter is claiming he is broke in a court filing, saying that since December he has only sold one piece of art for $36,000 and that book sales of his memoir have dropped to 1,100 copies in six months, a third of the previous rate While some of Srivastava's political donations are in limbo, several of his legal battles continue to rage in the LA courts. His interior designer Meredith Kleinman, who he allegedly stiffed $111,329 of her total $422,953 bill, has a trial set with Srivastava for June 15 2026. A lawsuit by Sandsbuilt Construction Inc., which claims Srivastava still owes them $376,742.07 for construction work on his mansion, is still pending. Srivastava's spokesman said he 'disputes the validity of charges reflected in additional invoices' from Kleinman and Sandsbuilt after he initially paid them, and claimed the lawsuits 'were filed opportunistically' after negative stories about Srivastava emerged. A February 2024 fraud lawsuit by Jodie Slaton claimed Srivastava and his firm Veecon Biotech pushed her to market a 'Salivary Diagnostics Technology' for 'cancer detection and screening'. The legal filing said she then discovered Srivastava lied about having the necessary licenses, and alleged that a UCLA doctor he claimed was behind the technology in fact had nothing to do with Srivastava. This month the judge encouraged the parties to schedule the informal discovery conference. Srivastava says the complaint was filed for 'illegitimate purposes' and that he was never served with legal papers. The lawsuit over an $82,088 Keck Hospital bill for his father that Srivastava allegedly failed to pay as guarantor, was later dismissed at the debt collector's request. Srivastava's spokesman said his father 'ultimately resolved the dispute'. Former ABC president McPherson had dueling lawsuits with Srivastava. McPherson claimed the businessman dodged rent on his $12million home, refused to leave at the end of his tenancy, and stole McPherson's wine and furniture. Srivastava's spokesman claimed McPherson failed to make repairs and keep the home in satisfactory condition. Their respective court cases have now been settled. A grandmother who has been left with shattered plastic shunts in her skull and living in debilitating pain says she feels 'abandoned' by the NHS. Sarah Amrbose's struggles began on September 13, 2007, when a surgery for a slipped disc in her spine went awry whilst in Spain, and her dura - the layers of connective tissue that protect the brain and spinal cord - was mistakenly sliced. After being sent home, her mattress became saturated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) - a liquid surrounding the brain - and she was urgently rushed back to the hospital while slipping in and out of consciousness. The now 59-year-old was quickly rushed into the operating room in a bid to repair the 5cm-long wound in her spine, but it was only made worse, resulting in an 8cm tear and a three-month stay in the Spanish hospital. After three rounds of meningitis, she was sent home, because the wound appeared to have healed - yet she was still leaking CSF fluid, leaving her with debilitating head pain and more health complications that would follow. Her life abroad was brought to an end by the ordeal as she could no longer care for herself independently, so in 2008 she moved back to the UK, where her David became her full-time carer as she is now physically unable to 'live without' his help. Since returning to British soil, Sarah sought advice from around 11 neurosurgeons between 2008 and 2013 alone, with all telling her she had no CSF leak despite an interventional neuroradiologist at Duke Hospital in the USA confirming otherwise. And despite a glue patch procedure momentarily stopping the fluid oozing into her body and alleviating some of her symptoms, a spine chord simulator (SCS) - used to treat chronic pain - which was inserted on a clinical trial basis in the UK, sparked another devastating leak. Over a decade later, Sarah continues to suffer with bowel and mobility issues that cause her to fall over and smash the plastic shunts attempting to stop the CSF fluid from pouring into her body, out of her nose, and into her throat. Now largely dependent on a walker, she is unable to venture outside the confines of her bedroom and bathroom. Still, she hopes treatment in the USA could improve her quality of life and allow her to be a grandmother and a mother once more. Sarah Ambrose (pictured) has been left in debilitating pain and feels 'abandoned by the NHS' For over a decade the grandmother has been suffering with cerebrospinal fluid leaks leaving her confined to her bedroom and bathroom as she struggles with severe mobility issues The grandmother active and riding a horse before her medical woes began in September 2007 CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO SARAH'S GOFUNDME Advertisement She told MailOnline: 'I don't have a quality of life. I have a very miserable awful life. I cry so much, I have so much weakness, and chest pains. I just can't carry on. 'It's been an awful 18 years, and the chance to go to America if enough money is raised to get there I just desperately need help, I can't carry on living life this way. I want to be able to be a mother and a grandma.' She added: 'I can't be better without help. Being a sociable person or a good person is impossible when I am living my life bed to sofa back to bed - with a fair few parties in the bathroom to straining to pass the tiniest amounts of urine' CSF is a clear colourless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord - and its function is to protect both from any possible injuries of infection, according to John Hopkins Medicine. When this fluid leaks into the body, whether is via a hole in the dura caused by a head injury, or by increased pressure in the head, it is very serious and requires immediate medical treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal CSF leak can cause neck or shoulder pain, ringing in the ears, changes in hearing, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, changes in vision as well as changes in behaviour or the ability to think clearly. A cranial CSF leak - which is when the fluid emanates from a hole in the skull - could cause clear, watery draining from one side of the nose or ear, hearing loss, a metallic taste in the mouth and meningitis. In a bid to stop Sarah's CSF leaks, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London placed plastic shunts in the grandmother's head, but due her mobility issues she would fall, which would cause them to shatter. Her only hope lies in going to the USA so she can undergo an operation to wrap her spine in a bid to stop more CSF leaks as well as repair the broken shunts in her head 'I don't have a quality of life. I have a very miserable awful life. I cry so much, I have so much weakness, and chest pains. I just can't carry on,' she told MailOnline A scan provided by the grandmother of her brain. She has had several plastic shunts shatter in her skull due to pressure and accidents They attempted to repair it twice again, but she fell again, shattering the plastic surgical tubes in her skull. And unfortunately, the shunts used to drain the excess CSF fluid only continued to break, leaving doctors with very few alternatives on how they could treat the issue. In a last-ditch attempt to try and reduce Sarah's pain they attempted to perform a glue patch procedure in a bid to seal the CSF leaks, but to no avail. All three attempts failed, so Sarah sought out help from the Imperial Trust who she claims said they could see further leaks, and attempted to repair her shattered shunts - but they blew once again. By this point the lower backbone area of Sarah's spine - the lumbar area - had become extremely 'swollen and baggy' to the bones where 'disintegrating' due to the pressure of the CSF fluid. 'My lumbar spine is and was pressing on all the nerves and causing so many issues. One of those bones had cracked and probably more have since,' she explained. The neurosurgery department hoped to carry out a surgical operation where the damaged parts of Sarah's spine would be removed. As a part of this huge surgery, they would also perform a dural reduction to dramatically lessen the volume and pressure of CSF in her lumbar region as well as multi wrap Sarah's spine to stop the leaks. She claims there were also plans to administer new artificial bone parts into her spine as well as remove and replace the shattered shunts in her skull. But she alleges she was 'abandoned' by the hospital as they couldn't fund the surgery three and a half years ago. Pictured: Staples in Sarah's head after a procedure attempting to replace the shunts draining the CSF liquid More staples in the grandmother's head following a surgery in a bid to stop the devastating CSF leaks 'I was hoping they would be prepared to do the surgery,' she added: 'I was completely and utterly dumped.' Explaining the difficulty she faces everyday, she added: '[CSF fluid] leaks the fluid down my nose, out of my eyes, down into my ears and down into my throat and chokes me whenever I am flat. 'The amount of time I have collapsed, crashed, fallen over and had a back eye on my face. I've now got split discs in my neck and my brain has sunken due to low pressure. She added: 'I'm quite a bit deaf and have lost a lot of my vision but no one would help me in England.' Although she has been able to seek some treatment in Spain thanks to a medical card she received during her time there, there was not much that could be done to help her neurosurgicaly there either, ultimately leading to her decision to head to the US. 'I need them to give me a chance to have a quality of life, because I don't have a quality of life,' she tearfully shared. 'The pain is 24 hours a day non-stop. I am in severe pain from the roots of my hair down to my toenails, every single part of my body - I cry so much. 'And because of the severe issues with my bowel and bladder, everything has to be completely liquid.' She added: 'The minute I put my electric bed up my face fills with fluid coming out of my head and down and it fills up my throat and chokes me. 'There have been many times where I can't breathe and as soon as I sit up - bang - the pressure plummets very quickly 'Every single day, I am in floods of tears and the only thing that perks me up and cheers me up is lying flat in the bed and watching sports.' She added: 'The only good part of me is that my heart, whilst it is bad with chest pains, it's full of love for everybody.' A UCLH spokesperson said: 'We understand the situation is distressing and we always discuss the safest options for managing conditions with our patients.' A Imperial College Healthcare Trust spokesperson said: 'Our clinicians consider a wide range of factors in relation to treatment options, including the patient's views and goals as well as the latest evidence and opinions on safety and outcomes. 'These are often very challenging issues to balance, especially with complex illnesses where the evidence base is often very limited.' MailOnline has approached the CSF Leak Association for comment. After decades of 'trying in vain' to heal his fractured relationship with his mother, a fed-up New Yorker finally decided to put himself first - and his mother last - ending their relationship forever. For years, Eamon Dolan, 61, tried valiantly to patch the wounds allegedly inflicted by his mother, whom he was 'systemically and societally' taught to love without limits. He sought counsel from his therapist, who he felt primarily advocated for 'reconciliation' rather than a more permanent end to his suffering - and the guilt that accompanied it. He tried for nearly four decades to mend the broken bond he shared with his mom, setting strict boundaries which she continued to defy. Now, using his expertise as a seasoned publisher, Dolan details his life-long journey of 'finding peace and freedom' from his mother, in his 'self-liberation' manifesto, The Power of Parting, set to hit the shelves on April 1. For years, Eamon Dolan, 61, tried valiantly to patch the wounds allegedly inflicted by his mother, whom he was 'systemically and societally' taught to love without limits Dolan details his life-long journey of 'finding peace and freedom' from his mother, in his 'self-liberation' manifesto, The Power of Parting, set to hit the shelves on April 1 The final straw It wasn't until 'about 12 years ago' that Dolan would finally free himself from his mother's ever-so-tight grip. It was a sunny spring day - his favorite season - and he remembers being uninhibitedly happy. 'I felt happy enough, in fact, to undergo a phone call with my mother,' he writes. However, after a few moments of exchanging conversation on 'safe topics' like her health and the weather, he remembers his mother pausing before uttering something 'cruel'. 'She paused and then said with relish something cruel and demeaning. It may have been directed at me, it may have been a dig at my sister, Gerry, or my aunt Helen - I can't recall. But I clearly recall the rest of our talk,' Dolan writes. In the next part of what would be their final interaction, Dolan reiterated the 'guidelines' and 'acceptable behaviors' he had previously tried to affirm for his mother. Yet, in her typical fashion she replied with sarcasm, suggesting she had to 'watch every word' she shared with her only living son (Dolan's brother, Tommy, tragically died in a car crash in 1999). To this, Dolan decided enough was enough and bid his mother farewell - in so many words. Their spring day phone call would be their last interaction with each other. 'That afternoon, I freed myself from 40-odd years of her tyranny,' he writes. 'Right away, I felt taller, as if a physical weight had slipped from my shoulders, and I could stand up straight at last.' The 'why' Dolan, who grew up alongside his two siblings, Gerry and Tommy, in an Irish neighborhood in the Bronx with a mother who he said 'ruled' by the culture's outdated customs. He claimed his mother would abuse her children 'several times a week'. 'Throughout my childhood, Teresa Dolan beat me regularly - three times a week on average,' Dolan says. The abuse continued, for reasons he'd never know or understand, into his early teenage years, until his mother declared him 'too old to hit'. However, even as he 'aged-out' of his mother's physical wrath, she had equipped herself with other means of 'discipline'. 'Like berating us in public or dialing the water heater to its lowest setting, "Vacation", in deep winter,' he writes. In his adulthood, Dolan often tried to bear the weight of his mother's fury for his sibling's sake, hoping she wouldn't solely unload it all onto his sister. Having internalized his mother's jaded opinion of her only living son, Dolan wished to protect his sister, whom he describes as 'a funny, huge-hearted, social worker', from the same. 'Even in my adulthood, she had a singular knack for undermining, which she deployed at every opportunity. And there were many opportunities, since I talked to her almost every day,' Dolan said. 'Those talks were the portion of the burden we siblings shared,' he writes, adding, 'if I didn't let her pour her vitriol regularly on me, she might drown Gerry in it.' Finally, after the torment only continued to mount, Dolan reached his breaking point. 'Her abuse continued into my adulthood until, in my forties, I decided to completely sever ties with her,' he says. 'It was the best decision I ever made.' Dolan pictured alongside his wife. He says he has no regrets that he stopped speaking with his mom No regrets Ever since Dolan hung up on his mother for the final time, he realized he'd finally done what he feels everyone should 'have license to do'. 'We should all hold our family to the same standards that we hold our friends,' he wrote. After his life-changing decision to part ways with his totalitarian matriarch, Dolan, a Vice President and Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster, has only felt lighter. 'I would never let a friend treat me for one week the way my mother treated me for 40 years. None of us should be imprisoned by the cosmic lottery that placed us in an abusive home,' he said. The experienced editor explained how parting from his mother's tyrannical rule, though the best decision for him, has been hard. Familial estrangement, in the eyes of society, can be 'bad or shameful', or even in some cases considered 'selfish or impulsive'. In his book, Dolan explains how he struggled to grapple with outside views on his situation and decision. He works through feelings of grief, guilt, shame and other hard emotions that accompany cutting ties. Inspired by his own liberating experience, Dolan sought tirelessly to find a book to help him work through these feelings, searching for years with no luck. He could only find works written from the point of view of the family member who was estranged from, rather than like him, who made the decision himself and needed guidance on how to best live on, process the loss and come away renewed. Finally, using his position as a career book-editor, Dolan pitched his idea to several authors he felt worthy of crafting this book he had yearned for. However, in a surprise turn of events, one of his esteemed colleagues suggested Dolan should be the one to write the book. With the vaguest idea on where to begin, Dolan brushed off the notion to his colleague, but put a little more thought to the not-so-radical idea later that night and began writing. Three years later, he had done it. He spent countless hours researching familial estrangement, interviewing other 'survivors' and rehashing his own troubled relationship with his mother to make his over three-year project complete. Dolan's The Power of Parting hopes to 'dismantle the false idol of family'. Unlike previous works on the subject, Dolan's book centers victims' familial abuse by presenting the decision to estrange as an empowering, even joyful, solution for anyone who needs to escape the cycles of trauma. Familial estrangement Eamon Dolan is a Vice President and Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster Familial estrangement affects at least 27 percent of the population, according to Dolan's research. Nearly 13 percent of children have experienced maltreatment by the age of 18, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. The same study also found that a jaw-dropping 81 percent of physical abuse was committed by family members. In addition, the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide's estimates that 30 to 40 percent of all sexual abuse is committed by family members. But, it is not just our culture that perpetuates such atrocities, Dolan claims. 'The law conspires against victims, too,' he wrote. Though sexual assault by family members is illegal, no reliable means of prevention or enforcement exist - and other forms of family abuse 'simply cannot be prosecuted'. According to Human Rights Watch, '90 percent of the world's children live in countries where corporal punishment and other physical violence is still legal.' Dolan mentions in his work that, as of his writing, a Time Magazine headline which read 'Hitting Your Kids is Legal in All 50 States' still rang true - the article was first published in 2014. 'Parenthood gives people a right to harm others that hasn't existed anywhere else in American society since the end of slavery,' Dolan wrote. If anything, he hopes his readers will 'realize that we survivors are heroes'. 'We were raised in some of the most inhumane circumstances imaginable, yet most of us have retained our humanity. That is an outright miracle, and we should be deeply proud of ourselves.' 'The witch is dead' Dolan's mother passed away after falling ill with Covid in 2020. In recounting his mother's passing, he remembers learning of her death before his sister. 'When I called to share it, her first words were "Ding dong the witch is dead!" And we laughed with angry joy,' he wrote in the forthcoming book. In the years following her death, and along his authorial venture, Dolan heard from a dozen of other survivors about their own experiences with abuse and estrangement. 'Until we confided in each other, we all thought we were alone, and most of us believed that our abuse was somehow our fault,' he wrote, adding, 'I wish that I had known that there were so many others like me... I would have felt less lonely, more confident.' For Dolan, some survivors' experiences hit close to home, inspiring his own creative way of expressing his long-fought path to freedom. 'One of the survivors I interviewed told me that she wanted to get a tattoo with the date she stepped away from her parents. I don't recall the exact date of my estrangement; otherwise I might do the very same thing,' Dolan said. 'In retrospect, I consider the date as significant as my own birthday. Maybe more so, because it's the date that I started to step out of my mother's dark shadow and into my own light.' Many parents are seeing the 'writing on the wall' and are hurriedly leaving Donald Trump's America, and DailyMail.com can reveal their reasons why. When Katie Berg, her husband Ted, and their children pulled up to the US-Canada border at 3:30am on March 3 to claim asylum, even the border agents seemed confused and informed them that Americans are rarely ever given refuge in the country. But the Berg family was desperate and proceeded northward to London, Ontario, anyway. 'It was time to leave,' Katie, who is an Army veteran and who doesn't describe herself as political, told the DailyMail.com. 'This is not a hissy fit. 'If you are not white, not male, you're going to be a target,' the mom said. 'It's literally going to be Nazi Germany.' Their biggest concerns were their kids, especially their transgender and gender-fluid children who are 13 and 12, respectively. The Illinois family began thinking about their move in January after Trump won and Katie pulled her children from school the day after Trump took office. The decision wasn't easy for a number of reasons - they had just bought their 'dream home' in the blue state; they didn't - and still don't - have US passports; and they had wanted to wait until they got their tax return before picking up their lives. Katie Berg, her husband Ted, and five of their children are currently in the middle of seeking asylum in Canada after fleeing Illinois on March 3. The parents worry for their transgender and gender-fluid children, who are 13 and 12 respectively Randall Cole, 55, (right) took his 15-year-old son, Sam (middle), who is autistic, and his partner Wyatt (left) to Ottawa in June 2024 on his work visa. 'As a gay family with kids, it began feeling unsafe,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Everyone has their own sense of what they can tolerate' Jay Dupuis, who declined to give his political affiliation, moved his family to the UK in July 2024 after he grew tired of his children's safety in school. 'It's not about me anymore, it's about my family,' the Louisiana native told DailyMail.com (pictured: Jay and wife Jodie) But as they saw the president step into his second term and watched how the 78-year-old leader and Vice President JD Vance treated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - despite not being fully prepared to leave the country - they decided it was time to go. 'Zelensky was the final straw,' Katie told the DailyMail.com. 'It was going to get really bad, really quickly. 'That's basically why we left, for our kids.' Their transgender son, Grayson, could no longer be known by he/him pronouns and he had no legal protection to remain a male as one of the president's executive orders declared the US will only recognize gender at birth. Her gender-fluid child would also face similar issues. 'They're kids, but they're also people too,' Katie told the DailyMail.com. 'We're just leaving to make a better life for our children... If my children can grow up safe, that's all that matters. 'My gut said I needed to leave.' So she and her Marine veteran husband packed up five of their children, abandoned their home, one of their cars, and the very country they both served and set off for the border. Randall worries his family will have to move again if Trump makes Canada the 51st State Early morning in the town of Banff, Banff National Park, the Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada. Americans have told DailyMail.com how they are fleeing to Canada to escape Trump's America 'It's heartbreaking,' she said. '[Trump's] just trying to protect the rich, not American citizens.' Now, they face the asylum process and neither have any idea if their request will be granted, despite being expedited for being Americans, nor do they have a backup plan. They've already undergone 'deep' background checks even to be allowed into the country, as well as, been fingerprinted and undergone medical exams. They are currently waiting to go before the Immigration and Refugee Board to present their case and prove to the Canadian government that they are not safe anywhere in the US. 'It's a lot,' Katie, who said they are looking into getting an immigration lawyer, told DailyMail.com. Even those seeking work visas don't have it much easier and one Kentucky family is worried Canada might not stay safe enough for them as Trump continues to suggest making his northern neighbor the 51st state. Psychotherapist Randall Cole, 55, took his 15-year-old son, Sam, who is autistic, and his partner Wyatt to Ottawa in June 2024, leaving behind their 18-year-old son Ben, who choose to stay behind in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite 'feeling pretty safe' in Louisville - which is one of the rare blue areas in the 'ruby red conservative ocean' that is the Southern state - they decided to move before the election. The Bergs lived in a blue state, while the Coles lived in one of the rare blue areas in the 'ruby red conservative ocean' of Kentucky (pictured: 2024 election map) 'We saw the writing on the wall,' Randall told the DailyMail.com, admitting that despite his hope, he didn't see Kamala Harris winning the election. 'As a gay family with kids, it began feeling unsafe,' he said in a phone interview. As a skilled worker and fluent in French, Randall was able to obtain a work visa in Ontario and took his family with him. 'I'm just tired of it,' Randall, who is a dual US-British citizen, said. 'I just want to live my life in peace with my family. 'Everyone has their own sense of what they can tolerate.' He admitted the process wasn't cheap, nor was it was it easy, but 'we absolutely don't regret it.' They decided Canada was their best option as Wyatt is American and the 'values of the country match us as individuals.' Randall and his son are dual citizens, and his two children spent most of their lives growing up in the United Kingdom. Katie said her family's final straw was the way President Trump and VP JD Vance treated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'Zelensky was the final straw,' Katie told DailyMail.com. 'It was going to get really bad, really quickly' They are currently waiting to go before the board to present their case, where they will have to prove to the Canadian government that they are not safe anywhere in the US When they returned to the US, Sam struggled in school and they were offered little help. His son also found active shooter drills traumatizing, and Randall was tired of having to practically jailbreak his children out of school for appointments. 'It's like breaking into Fort Knox to take your kid to a dental appointment,' he told the DailyMail.com. Randall, who grew up in Indiana, also believes Americans were 'really naive' when it came to electing Trump a second time. 'It was very clear on what he believes,' Randall told the DailyMail.com. The father-of-two also doesn't like the 'toxic masculinity' he sees playing out in the States, and even went as far as saying that the 'epitome of this is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,' the White House. 'Canada doesn't have that,' he said. '[And] I don't have to worry about my kid being shot.' Despite creating a safe haven in Canada, Randall and his family are beginning to worry the North American country won't stay safe for long. 'I have plan B, C and D in the works,' Randall admitted. 'It's even crazy that we have to think of [this]. Randall's son Ben, 18, (pictured) stayed in Kentucky by choice. As a skilled worker and fluent in French, Randall was able to obtain a work visa in Ontario, and the family is hoping after his three-year visa expires that they can get permanent residency - as long as Trump stays out 'This isn't Trump being a joke,' the father-of-two said. The Midwestern father said his family is considering a move back to the UK if need be, but he would be unable to practice psychotherapy there. They are also considering Ireland, but they're grasping onto hope Canada will be their home. After his three-year work visa expires, the family will try for permanent residency, he told the DailyMail.com, as long as Trump keeps his hands off Canada. One thing they're not considering is moving back to the US. 'Oh God, no!' Randall told the DailyMail.com when asked. 'I wouldn't move back.' He believes the US has been 'forever changed' by the recent political events and said Americans 'kind of sleep-walked into this.' As for Jay Dupuis - who declined to share his political affiliation - his children were his main priority when he and his British wife, Jodie, packed up their bags and moved to Northern England in July 2024. 'It's not about me anymore, it's about my family,' the Louisiana native, who performs as an Elvis impersonator, told the DailyMail.com. Canada has 'not seen a notable change in overall asylum volumes so far this year,' the IRCC told DailyMail.com, but said Americans have several routes to choose from if they would like to immigrate northward (pictured: US-Canada border) The turning point for him was the Nashville shooting at Covenant Christian School, where six students and three teachers were killed by Audrey Hale. His son, who did not attend the school, would have been in first grade at the time. 'This is kind of crazy that this happens so much,' he remembered his wife, who lived in the States for eight years, telling him. His own son's school near Myrtle Beach went into lockdown not long after and it 'freaked' the parents out, leaving Jay hurriedly pulling his child, now eight, out of class. 'Things like this don't get better with time,' he told the DailyMail.com. 'It was going to get worse... But I don't know what the government can do.' Jay didn't feel like the Joe Biden Administration was doing enough to solve the issue, and although he thinks Trump's camp is 'trying to do something,' he said he still would have left the country even if that decision was made today. 'Not enough has changed,' he said. 'It's not like that here in England. You can run from a knife, but you can't run from a gun, you know?' The father, who grew up near New Orleans, was tired of worrying about his son's safety and what the state of education would be like when his three-year-old daughter entered school. 'That's why I moved, I wanted a better life for my children,' he told the DailyMail.com. As for Jay Dupuis (pictured) - who declined to share his political affiliation - his children were his main priority when he moved Canada judges asylum claims individually judge each case based on protection needs, including based on 'race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in social groups, including LGBTQI+' He also wanted more parental control over his children's education and questioned certain practices, such as drag queens reading to children. 'It doesn't take much to change a kid's mind,' he said in a phone interview. '[It should be] up to parents how you're going to teach my son.' However, he said he would be fine with it if the majority of Americans approved of it and believes US citizens should get to vote on these issues. He also felt that the US education system was 'dumbing down' America and his son was depressed in school. Now, in the UK, his son is 'thriving' and has many friends and 'loves' attending classes. Jay's son also got more individualized help in England, especially when he transferred schools and needed to catch up. His wife is happier too as she is closer to family, and seeing his brood happy 'makes me happy.' Jay immigrated to the country under a spousal visa, which he said wasn't hard to get, while his children applied for British passports under their mother's citizenship. All they did was fill out a form before the hopped on a cruise from New York to England to make it 'adventurous for our children.' Overall, Jay said he has no plans on moving his family back to the US - despite growing up there - unless the country 'drastically' changes both in education and safety. A record number of US citizens applied for UK citizenship after Trump's win. More than 1,700 of the 6,100 Americans who applied in 2024 requested UK citizenship in the last three months of the year American Immigration in the Trump Era So far, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency has received a total of 10,575 asylum applications in January at the border, data shows. The majority of claims come through Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. It is unclear how many of those applications stem from Americans fleeing the US. Canada has 'not seen a notable change in overall asylum volumes so far this year,' the IRCC told the DailyMail.com. Asylum seekers have to prove a 'real fear of persecution or face serious harm, such as torture or cruel treatment, in their home country or where they usually live,' to be granted refuge in Canada, the IRCC said. Canada will individually judge each case based on protection needs, including based on 'race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in social groups, including LGBTQI+.' In 2024, the UK received 108,000 asylum applications, an 18 percent increase compared to the year before, according to government statistics. The number of people claiming asylum has nearly doubled since 2021 in the UK. It is unclear how many Americans this includes. However, a record number of US citizens applied for UK citizenship after Trump's win. More than 1,700 of the 6,100 Americans who applied in 2024 requested UK citizenship in the last three months of the year. One of Australia's most-hated men is hiding out in the suburbs, bald, bankrupt and now a right-wing conspiracy theorist who is holed up in his mum's fortress-like home. Mark Wilhelm, the man who infamously fed 42-year-old mother-of-three Dianne Brimble the toxic dose of the date rape drug Fantasy which killed her on the floor of his cruise ship cabin, is back in Adelaide after fleeing town almost 20 years ago. Wilhelm's behaviour in the passageways of P&O's Pacific Sky in the hours when Ms Brimble, 42, lay naked, degraded and dying on the carpet of Cabin D182 was nothing short of outrageous. He and cabin mate Leo Silvestri, whose plans to throw Ms Brimble's body overboard and complaints that the 'b****' had ruined the men's holiday created a furore, were the two men who had sex with Ms Brimble after her drink was spiked. A coroner would find that Ms Brimble could have survived had Wilhelm not stepped over her on the cabin floor and rampaged the ship's corridors naked, ruling 'he could not even tell the truth to save her life'. The chief person of interest among the so-called Brimble 8 - who treated the September 2002 cruise as a drug-fuelled sex tour - Wilhelm has avoided public scrutiny since manslaughter charges against him over Ms Brimble's death were controversially dropped. However, Daily Mail Australia found Wilhelm living an anonymous life on the northern outskirts of Adelaide. We tracked Wilhelm, now 52, to a house in the South Australian capital where he has moved back in with his mother, along with his girlfriend. Mark Wilhelm (right) is hiding out in the suburbs, bald, bankrupt and now a right-wing conspiracy theorist who is holed up in his mum's fortress-like home Wilhelm (above) infamously fed 42-year-old mother-of-three Dianne Brimble the toxic dose of the date rape drug Fantasy which killed her on the floor of his cruise ship cabin in 2002 Bald with a gut (left), his once chiselled facial features (right in 2009) now jowled and wrinkled, Wilhelm was dressed in shorts with a T-shirt as he did minor chores around his parents' home Mark Wilhelm drove from his mum's home to pick up a woman believed to be his girlfriend and drove to the local IGA where the woman, despite having a pronounced limp, did the shopping while he stayed in the car Now bald with a gut, his once chiselled facial features jowled and wrinkled, Wilhelm was dressed in shorts with a T-shirt or singlet as he did minor chores around his parents' home. Robyn and Rudiger Wilhelm bought the house, which is between a local reserve and a BMX track, 30 years ago. It is not clear if Rudi Wilhelm, a German-born Vietnam veteran now aged 80, is still at the house. It may be the final bolthole for Wilhelm, who has tried living in several different country towns, but had to leave when his infamy or bankruptcy caught up with him. Daily Mail Australia has also learned that despite him getting off scot-free, Australians have been hitting back at Wilhelm since Dianne Brimble's untimely death. Wherever he has gone, he has either been run out of town or become such a social outcast that he has had to leave. Wilhelm could be seen outside the house this week with mum Robyn, before driving to the local shops to pick up a middle-aged woman who is believed to be his girlfriend. The woman, who appeared to have difficulty walking, then drove with Wilhelm to the nearby IGA. Despite her bad leg, it was she who went inside to buy groceries, while Wilhelm remained in the car. He drove a red Toyota Corolla with a golden skull-and-crossbones sticker on the back and a another sticker on the vehicle curiously saying 'Private Property No Trespassing'. Another car at Wilhelm's property had the same message stuck on its rear end. The Brimble 8 pose before sailing. Top: Mark Wilhelm, MS (pixelated), Dragan Losic, Peter Pantic. Bottom: Ryan Kuchel, Letterio Silvestri, Luigi Vitale, Charlie Kambouris Manslaughter charges against Mark Wilhelm were dropped and no-one was held accountable or punished over her degradation and needless death Mark Wilhelm with his red Toyota which features a curious 'no trespassing' sign, a skull and crossbones and the red ensign of the sovereign citizen movement which doesn't recognise Australian law Wilhelm's vehicle also has a sticker on it of a red ensign flag, the symbol of the sovereign citizen fringe group, whose followers believe they are not subject to Australian law and reject the authority of police and the judicial system. 'SovCits' gained attention during the Covid pandemic for refusing to wear masks in public and repeating 'I do not consent' when stopped by traffic cops. If Mark Robin Wilhelm feels a grievance against police for dragging his name through the courts in the years since Ms Brimble's death, he should reflect on the fact that he has profited handsomely from the system. It was prosecutors back in 2010 who decided not to send him to a second trial over Dianne Brimble's death, and the NSW Supreme Court which endorsed him in a judgment cloaked in sympathy. At his last public appearance, Justice Roderick Howe found it was Wilhelm who had suffered 'enough public humiliation' from the 'hysteria' over Ms Brimble's death and said that Wilhelm's life had all but been 'destroyed'. In a statement many thought disrespectful to the Brimble family, Howie claimed Ms Brimble had willingly taken the lethal gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) which killed her and had committed a criminal offence by taking it. This is completely at odds with then-deputy state coroner Jacqueline Milledge's findings that Dianne Brimble 'was unknowingly drugged by unscrupulous individuals who were intent on denigrating her for their own sexual gratification'. The hysteria, or at least community outrage, would follow Wilhelm as he tried to escape scrutiny, moving from South Australia to the Victorian border town of Mildura, where he was outed by alarmed women who said they were scared to work alongside the 'arrogant prick'. Next he went to historic Bendigo, where he lived in a clapboard house, before moving to a tiny village called Marong on the town's outskirts. A naked Mark Wilhelm striding the corridors of Pacific Sky's D Deck after taking liquid Fantasy and Viagra on the night Dianne Brimble died from an overdose A pariah wherever he goes, Wilhelm is now back living with his elderly mother Dianne Brimble (left) died on the floor of Cabin D82 after being drugged with Fantasy and then coerced into sex with strangers, principally Mark Wilhelm (right) who was charged with her manslaughter and let off The story of what happened there is a small-town classic of social downfall. The townsfolk of Marong, population 300, did not learn all the terrible details of what Wilhelm did in the early hours of September 23, 2002, but they knew enough. They knew about Dianne Brimble's lonely, terrible death after she had boarded the Pacific Sky with her sister, both their daughters and eight other family members. They knew how the fun holiday escape the Queensland mum had long been saving for had gone wrong when she collided with a bunch of men whose plan for the 10-day cruise was diabolically different. Mark Wilhelm and seven men from Adelaide had packed drugs such as Fantasy, ecstasy, Viagra and Valium for a sordid voyage on which some of them hoped to lure women with drugs and have sex with them. At least half the men had criminal records and were connected with Adelaide's sleazy nightclub scene. Luigi Vitale was a major drug dealer. Petar Pantic had bikie gang links and would become a pornography importer. Dragan Losic would later be convicted of assaulting his wife. In a now-infamous photograph of the Brimble 8 standing on the wharf at Sydney's old Overseas Passenger Terminal before embarking on the cruise, Mark Wilhelm poses with his arms crossed and his legs apart, in possibly the last image of him as a blameless man. There in the background is Dianne Brimble, an unsuspecting blur just over the right shoulder of Wilhelm, the stranger she would be having sex with in about 12 hours after having her drink spiked with a drug she probably didn't know existed. Wherever he has gone, Mark Wilhelm has either been run out of town or become such a social outcast that he has had to leave and now may be at his last bolthole (above), his mum's place Dianne Brimble is pictured with her former husband Mark, who supported his ex-wife's reputation as a reserved woman who would never have engaged in sex acts with multiple men, saying she must have been drugged Cabin D182, where the body of Dianne Brimble was found lying between the bottom two bunks on the morning of September 23, 2002, dead from a toxic dose of Fantasy Wilhelm and his mother Robyn outside her home in Adelaide this week where the 52-year-old has moved to after becoming bankrupt and a social outcast. Dianne Brimble (right, circled) in the background over Wilhelm's shoulder 12 hours before he would feed her the fatal GHB He was the man who would give her Fantasy from his secret stash of the pink liquid smuggled aboard in a shampoo bottle, enough to kill her on the blue carpet of his cabin floor. According to one version of events at the inquest, Wilhelm told Dianne the 'liquid Fantasy' would make her 'ten times hornier' than usual and when she asked if it was dangerous, he said 'no'. A series of degrading photos that neither the citizens of Marong nor any others except police and coronial investigators would actually see would tell the story of Dianne's humiliating and unnecessary death. They included close-up shots of Ms Brimble's body partially draped with a sheet, and pictures of her with Wilhelm showing off to the camera, taken by three other Brimble 8 members, Ryan Kuchel, Dragan Losic and Petar Pantic. The men had gone to the cabin to film a drugged Ms Brimble after learning that Wilhelm 'was having sex with the fat chick'. Sometime over the next few hours, Ms Brimble lay between the two lower bunk beds and showed signs of struggling, before losing consciousness. Close-up photos would show Ms Brimble, unconscious or dead, naked on the cabin's carpet, and having defecated. Mark Wilhelm was also caught on camera, naked but for an orange life jacket, and aroused as he strode along Pacific Sky's Dolphin Deck after taking liquid Fantasy and Leo Silvestri's Viagra. Mark Wilhelm (above, this week in northern Adelaide) worked at a winery in Mildura until he was outed as the person of interest in the Dianne Brimble death. He went to Marong where he was ostracised Pacific Sky sailed on September 22, 2002, and just over 12 hours later would be radioing back to Sydney to say a passenger had died in suspicious circumstances on the floor of a cabin shared by four men Dianne Brimble likely died in Wilhelm's cabin 'between 5am and 6.30am', Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr Johan Duflou later concluded, but Wilhelm may have already been out of the cabin harassing other women passengers by then. Wilhelm's conduct was not in isolation of some of the other Brimble 8 men. Deputy State Coroner Jacqueline Milledge found that he and Losic, Pantic, Silvestri and real estate agent Ryan Kuchel offered drugs to women on board. Losic and Silvestri propositioned young women, asking if they 'could go down on them'. The same night Ms Brimble died, Wilhelm, Losic and Silvestri barged into two women's cabin uninvited and, when told to leave, Wilhelm punched the wall six inches above one woman's head. One girl, Jessica, heard Wilhelm and Pantic discussing cocaine and ecstasy at the ship's disco, and both men offered to fly her and her friends to America. Jessica was 15 years old. One woman recalled looking inside cabin D182 about 5.30am and seeing a naked Wilhelm, who was holding his penis and asked if she 'wanted a bit of this'. One woman named Tanya remembers waking up that morning after an hour's sleep and finding a naked and drugged Wilhelm next to her. Wilhelm kept on running in and out of the cabin and while he donned boxer shorts after someone complained, he kept on removing them. One Pacific Sky passenger, Tanya, remembers waking up that morning after an hour's sleep and finding a naked and drugged Wilhelm next to her. Wilhelm donned boxer shorts after someone complained about his naked rampage, but he kept on removing them Wilhelm invited women to go to his cabin to view and ridicule Ms Brimble's inert form. The women were told in crude terms that Ms Brimble had defecated as she lay, and some of them believed they were viewing an apparently lifeless body. At 8am, they told Wilhelm and his friends they would meet them for breakfast, just to get the rid of them. Wilhelm returned to his cabin and along with Silvestri washed and re-dressed Ms Brimble's body, which he would claim still had a 'slight pulse'. At 8.30am, he called for help, but doctors and nurses found no signs of life and at 9.03am Dianne Brimble was pronounced dead. The cruise ship was about 100 nautical miles east of Crescent Head and still five days from its first stop at Noumea. Dianne's sister Alma Wood had walked out of cabin D188 they were sharing with their daughters and to which Dianne had not returned that night. A worried Alma saw medical staff rushing to the cabin just across the hallway. A nurse approached Alma in the corridor and told her that Dianne was dead. Informed at 9.30am of the death, NSW Police gave P&O firm instructions to seal the cabin, given the highly suspicious circumstances of the crime scene. An upbeat Dianne Brimble waves goodbye as she boards the Pacific Sky at 3.15pm on September 23, 2002. A little over 12 hours later she would be dead and degraded, her naked body lying on one of the ship's cabin floors But the cabin was not sealed, as per the instructions radioed in by police. Instead its four occupants were allowed to gather their belongings and move to another cabin, forever removing the crime scene of evidence. When asked, Wilhelm denied any drugs were involved. A female Pacific Sky staffer took pity on him when Wilhelm broke down in the wake of Ms Brimble's death, whether from the effects of drugs and alcohol, or the realisation of the trouble he was in. He and other Brimble 8 men wanted to leave the cruise in Noumea and return to Australia. Dianne's death did not curb the Brimble 8's harassment of other female passengers on Pacific Sky. In the days that followed, as the ship sailed towards the port, women fearful of the men rejected their advances and invitations to socialise. As Geesche Jacobsen's book 'Abandoned: The Sad Death of Dianne Brimble' reported, one of the cruise night managers heard Leo Silvestri discussing Dianne's death. 'She could hardly restrain herself when she heard him say, "We f***ed the bitch, kicked her out of bed and then she died,"' Jacobsen wrote. One night when a group of women arrived in the dining room, the Brimble 8 stood up at their table and sang Who Let the Dogs Out, a hit song from two years earlier. In between singing words such as 'Get back, Scruffy. Get back you flea-infested mongrel', the men barked and mocked the women. Leo Silvestri, the other Brimble 8 man who had sex with Dianne, made appalling remarks afterwards, saying they should have thrown her body overboard and that he was angry because she had 'f***ed up his holiday At 7.30am on Thursday, September 26, when the Pacific Sky docked in Noumea, two detectives were waiting on the wharf, along with the Australian consul, and representatives from New Caledonian immigration, customs and police. They boarded the vessel. Two days later, back at the Sydney morgue in Glebe, Dr Duflou examined Ms Brimble's body and determined she was healthy with no history of heart disease. He concluded she had died from GHB poisoning. Her blood level reading of the drugs was 210 milligrams per litre, a toxic amount which caused Ms Brimble to vomit, empty her bladder and then defecate as her body went into distress and she died. Her naked form, which had been pushed onto Cabin D182's floor, bore four scratches by her left eye, grazes and bruising on her chest, abrasions on one knee, little finger and left foot, plus head and neck injuries. Wilhelm and Silvestri would be the main persons of interest at the inquest, which would not take place until 2006. They would mount legal challenges against the coroner, saying she did not even have jurisdiction over the death at sea, which Ms Milledge would reject. But before he could even appear at the inquest, Mark Wilhelm had bolted from his home town, with one media outlet reporting that he 'ran away, wanting to avoid the shame that arose from his squalid involvement in the drugs-and-sex death'. By then aged 33 and under investigation by the NSW Homicide Squad, Wilhelm relocated 400km from his parents' place to Mildura, capital of the Sunraysia vineyard region. Now aged 52, Wilhelm (above with his mother Robyn) has moved from town to town before being sued for bankruptcy and finally returning to his parents' house Wilhelm had got a job as a maintenance supervisor at Foster's Wine Estates' Karadoc Winery, producers of Wolf Blass and Yellowglen wines at Red Cliffs in northwestern Victoria. The other seven men had testified, but Wilhelm could not be found and his father Rudi said he had not seen him for seven years. Ms Milledge ordered him to appear, and it emerged that Wilhelm had turned up at Karadoc where he was the boss of one of the winery's eight bottling lines. Wilhelm had not told his employer about his involvement in the Brimble case, and he was getting paid almost double the average wage for the winery's 450 employees. His boss and co-workers only learned of his involvement when the inquest opened, and women complained they felt 'intimidated, uneasy, maybe a little scared'. 'Word got out,' a one woman on Karadoc's bottling line said. 'It wasn't very nice. What were we expected to think? That he was a nice bloke. Well, we didn't.' A female co-worker said, 'He's a prick - you know, arrogant', and three women made an official complaint, demanding to be transferred to a different bottling line. They were moved. 'We felt intimidated, uneasy, maybe a little scared,' one said. 'What happened to Dianne Brimble was frightening. We didn't want him around us.' Australian Workers' Union delegates were pressured to do something, but did not call for his dismissal because, despite Wilhelm having incurred a 2005 fine for producing cannabis, he was not a 'criminal'. Wilhelm and a woman believed to be his girlfriend in the northern suburbs of Adelaide this week where the 52-year-old has been living after dropping out of sight for 15 years Wilhelm laughs to himself as he goes about a few chores at his mum's place in Adelaide where the 52-year-old moved back to after trying out a few country towns On July 2, 2006, what had been an open secret among winery workers became public knowledge when the Mildura Independent Star newspaper published a story which caused a sensation. On page one, the newspaper said: 'Lindemans Karadoc Winery have confirmed that Mark Wilhelm, a "person of interest" associated with the death of 2002 cruise boat passenger Dianne Brimble, is one of their current co-workers.' The next day, Mildura police admitted they hadn't known. 'It was the first we knew about him being here,' a senior sergeant said. The inquest would find that Wilhelm and at least five others of the Brimble 8 could not be believed in their accounts to the inquest and to police. The inquest heard that Leo Silvestri had spoken of Ms Brimble in disparaging terms to police while still in Noumea, saying she 'smelt, she was black and she was ugly' and said that he was angry because she had 'f***ed up his holiday'. Several passengers relayed how Silvestri had told them that the group had considered throwing Brimble overboard. Police telephone taps on the eight men in the months after Ms Brimble's death showed they were feeling sorry for themselves, believing they were the victims, but also contemplating how to make millions and buy luxury cars by selling their story. In her findings at the inquest, Ms Milledge described Wilhelm's accounts as 'farcical' and said 'he never admitted to supplying any drug to Ms Brimble'. At Marong, after people found out Wilhelm was the prime person involved in Dianne Brimble's death, he was persona non grata in the town and he built a high fence and rarely came outside Wilhelm was given a smooth ride through the justice system with the DPP letting him off and a justice saying he had suffered enough and suggesting that Brimble had willingly taken the fatal drug dose Over a five-month period up until January 30, 2019, a process server on behalf of Lion's solicitors made several attempts to serve documents on Wilhelm at the Marong house (above), but 'was unable to gain access to the premises due to locked gates' She concluded that Ms Brimble died from gamma hydroxybutyrate due to 'the administration of that drug by a known person'. In 2008, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions announced that Mark Wilhelm, Letterio Silvestri and Ryan Kuchel would be charged, the first two with concealing a serious indictable offence, and Wilhelm with manslaughter and and supplying a prohibited drug. Silvestri and Kuchel would plead guilty. At a 2009 trial, a jury could not reach a verdict on Wilhelm. Then came the bombshell as he went to trial again in 2010: the DPP dropped the manslaughter charge against him and he pleaded guilty to drug supply, but received no penalty. Justice Roderick Howie said Wilhelm had lost his house and his marriage, had received death threats, and was 'a person of good behaviour and of good reputation, apart from the reputation that has been destroyed by allegations'. He said Wilhelm 'has suffered grievously' for 'what would have been seen by him as an insignificant incident that occurred on this cruise boat'. No one was held accountable for Dianne Brimble's death. It is not clear when Wilhelm left Mildura, but he later moved to a house by the railway line in central Bendigo, renting for $385 a week. Mark Wilhelm and his mother Robyn outside the four-bedroom family home in northern Adelaide where the former Dianne Brimble person of interest has moved back to A trial judge claimed Mark Wilhelm had 'suffered enough' over years of public ignominy Sharing the adjoining cabin to Wilhelm's were mates, from left, bikie figure and drug dealer Luigi Vitale, drug and pornography offender Petar Pantic, wife beater Dragan Losic and martial arts man Charlie Kambouris In June 2011, he bought the house in Marong with a Westpac Bank mortgage and a caveat that his father had interest in the property. The move would not go well. Marong has a post office, a pub, a primary school and its own footy team, the Marong Panthers, and is close-knit enough that everyone knows everyone else's business. Marong already had a convicted paedophile in its midst, a man who was ostracised in town after molesting his grandchildren. Wilhelm's role in Dianne Brimble's death would not be a secret for long, and after moving into the house with his girlfriend, they were rarely seen on the street, never at the pub and only at the post office near closing time. As one former Marong resident tells me: 'It's a community in which you can't hide. 'You'd go past his house and the curtains were never open. He built a six-foot fence in front of it. 'He never integrated. The pub is very central. Everyone goes there. He never would. He got Google Maps to blur his property online.' The house 'fell into disrepair' over the ensuing years, and was eventually bought by a developer and demolished. Meanwhile, Wilhelm would go broke. According to Federal Circuit Court of Australia documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Wilhelm was bankrupted in 2019 after Lion Finance filed a creditor's petition to recover $39,170 he had been ordered to pay by the Victorian Magistrates' Court more than three years earlier. Over a five-month period up until January 30, 2019, a process server on behalf of Lion's solicitors made several attempts to serve documents on Wilhelm at the Marong house, but 'was unable to gain access to the premises due to locked gates'. The server called at the address, which had no mail box, four times and left calling cards in sealed addressed envelopes affixed to the front gate. Each time he attended, the previous calling card had been removed and there were lights on in the home and a car in the driveway, but no one responded to his car horn. Last weekend in Adelaide, Wilhelm continued to live in a heavily shuttered house, emerging once to visit an IGA without leaving his car, and collecting work tools to help a tradie fix cracks in the home's exterior. His last court appearance was in Bendigo Magistrates Court in 2019 when he received a bond for a traffic matter. Up to 6million in crypto has been frozen by the courts since new powers came into effect last year, MailOnline can reveal. Criminals have been increasingly using digital currencies such as Bitcoin to launder money, dodge taxes and fund terrorism. Ministers last April launched a crackdown on the 'emerging threat', with police, law enforcement and the HMRC allowed to freeze suspicious cryptocurrency wallets. Under the rules designed to deprive criminals of ill-gotten gains, suspicious crypto wallets can be frozen for up to three years. Frozen stashes can then be seized, if a court is satisfied the funds were gained or being used illicitly. MailOnline's analysis of court documents published over the last six months found the biggest freezing order was for 1.5m worth of crypto. It was kept in a single wallet hosted by US-based exchange website Coinbase, with the actual owner remaining a mystery. The order, made on March 18 at Newcastle Upon Tyne Magistrates' Court, was requested by HMRC, meaning it could be related to tax evasion. Even more could have been frozen between April-September 2024 but data held by Courtsdesk an online database tracking court proceedings in England and Wales only goes back half a year for legal reasons. Your browser does not support iframes. Crypto legal expert Nick Barnard, partner at Corker Binning, said the figure was not huge 'in the grand scheme', compared to the billions in daily crypto transactions worldwide or the amounts seized by authorities from traditional bank accounts. Mr Barnard said the new regime came from a 'standing start' last April, so needs time to 'get up to speed'. But lawyer Siobhain Egan told MailOnline the Government were directing more resources into freezing crypto to 'aggressively' combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Ms Egan, who defends people whose assets have been frozen, added: 'We are fully expecting for a tsunami of crypto freezing orders down the track.' Investigators apply to freeze the crypto wallets of alleged criminals without their knowledge, so they don't get the opportunity to move Bitcoin or other digital funds. Ms Egan, director of Lewis Nedas Law, said: 'If [police] have a major investigation into organised criminals laundering money through crypto, they will go in and seize the assets before they finalise the investigation. 'The recipient of that order will have to respond to questions from the authorities which can in certain circumstances help them build a case against them, in an overarching investigation.' She said the new powers are plugging 'gaps in the investigative process'. Ms Egan added: 'Organised crime groups and terrorists using crypto has always been a big fear of the authorities, and they are correct. 'The alleged villains are using it and the authorities took a little while to catch up in a very fast-moving area. 'HMRC very keen on it for tackling tax evasion and are getting their act together pretty well. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has also been very aggressive.' She added that a lot of people who have crypto seized or frozen in the UK are often foreign nationals. Crypto was used in an estimated 39.8billion ($51.3bn) worth of illicit transactions worldwide last year. This is up from 35.7bn ($46.1bn) in 2023, and is the highest on record when excluding the billions stolen by FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was jailed in the US for defrauding customers and investors. The true figures will be much larger because they exclude crimes not 'native' to crypto, such as drug trafficking. Your browser does not support iframes. According to the Chainalysis report, criminals have changed the coins they are using from primarily Bitcoin in 2020, to so-called 'stablecoins', pegged to a commodity with a stable value, such as gold or a real currency. The most common is USDT, which is fixed to the US dollar. Mr Barnard said: ''The vast majority of police police and finance investigators, don't understand crypto so there's not as much resource dedicated to understanding and investigating. 'There's less resource dedicated to crypto than money laundering through cash and traditional banking fraud through normal currencies.' He said some proceeds of serious crime, such as drugs, weapons 'will be laundered through crypto, but the vast majority is through longstanding "traditional" methods, of which there are very many'. He said it is usually only practical to freeze crypto assets held on exchanges or centralised wallet providers such as Coinbase, Kraken or Binance, and in the case of the UK crypto-wallet freezing regime, only where that organisation has some connection to the UK to enable the powers to be used. This is because the exchange service controls the wallet, similar to a bank. However, it is possible to store your wallet on a personal machine protected by a private key, which it cannot be accessed without. Jian Wen (pictured) was found with Bitcoin wallets worth more than 2billion (now worth 4.5bn). She was convicted of a crime linked to money laundering last May Chinese takeaway worker Jian Wen had Bitcoin now worth 4.5bn seized last year, in the biggest crypto bust in history. The 42-year-old drove a E-Class Mercedes-Benz, indulged in 30,000 Harrods shopping sprees and enrolled her son at prestigious 6,000-a-term Heathside Preparatory School near her 5 million home. It was only when she embarked on building a global property empire, attempting to buy a 23m Hampstead mansion, a 10million Tuscan villa and apartments in Dubai that alarm bells started to ring about the single mother who barely had 5,000 to her name when she arrived in the UK to work in a Chinese takeaway. Last May, the Chinese immigrant who helped launder Bitcoin from a 5bn investment fraud was jailed for more than six years. Judge Sally-Ann Hales, KC, said Wen played a key role in a sophisticated criminal enterprise who was 'generously rewarded' for her work laundering the proceeds of a wealth management swindle in China , where 128,000 investors were duped. The Home Office and Coinbase have been contacted for comment. It was a mission cloaked in secrecy, a high-speed dash across the Pacific carrying the most devastating weapon the world had ever seen. The USS Indianapolis had just delivered components of the atomic bomb that would soon flatten Hiroshima, racing from San Francisco to the tiny island of Tinian in a record-breaking ten days. But just days later, just after midnight on July 30, 1945, as they sailed toward the Philippines, the celebrated warship was ripped apart in the dead of night, leaving nearly 900 men stranded in open ocean, clinging to wreckage in one of the worst naval disasters in US history. In just 12 minutes, the Indianapolis had disappeared - swallowed by the sea. But for those who survived the sinking, the real nightmare was about to begin. They were not alone. As dawn broke over the vast, empty Pacific, the men, scattered across miles of open water, began to notice shadows beneath them. Many had not had time to find their lifejackets and very few life rafts could be found in the chaos which followed the Japanese onslaught. The Indianapolis had been sailing alone - without an escort - on its way to meet the USS Idaho in the Leyte Gulf, where the Allies were preparing for an invasion of Japan. Out of the darkness, a Japanese submarine fired two torpedoes. The first tore off the ships starboard bow, igniting a towering inferno as aviation fuel exploded. Moments later, a second torpedo hit midship, striking the fuel tanks and ammunition stores, triggering a catastrophic chain reaction. Ill never forget the fires, the horrified faces and the cacophony of screams. I can still hear the explosions and the screeching metal being twisted and torn by the tons of water the ship was taking on,' recalled Edgar Harrell, a US, Marine corporal who described his experiences in his 2014 book, Out Of The Depths. At first, sharks - drawn by the sound of explosions, the scent of blood, and the frantic splashing - focused on the floating dead. But it wasn't long before they turned their attention to the living. Tiger sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks killed the surviving crew in the biggest attack on humans ever recorded. (Pictured: USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, 2016) The sharks which attacked the USS Indianapolis crew were oceanic whitetips, and possibly tiger sharks (reenactment) Of the 1,200 men aboard USS Indianapolis a quarter went down with her. Many of the rest were eaten by sharks Survivors described the horrific scene - a feeding frenzy unlike anything ever recorded. It is believed the predators were made up of oceanic whitetip sharks and possibly tiger sharks. 'Every now and then, like lightning, a shark would come straight up and take a sailor and take him straight down,' Loel Dean Cox, one of the few men to live through the ordeal, told BBC News in 2013. At first, the sailors tried to push the dead away, hoping to distract the predators. But the sharks weren't fooled. They could sense movement through their lateral lines - a series of receptors along their bodies that detect even the smallest vibrations. The men realised too late that they were being hunted. There soon were hundreds of fins around us, recalled Harold Eck, an 18-year-old seaman at the time. The first attack I saw was on a sailor who had drifted away from the group. I heard yelling and screaming and saw him thrashing... then I just saw red, foamy water. Another survivor said: They were upon us every three or four hours. Bugler First Class Donald Mack would never forget those screams and the realisation: There was one less man to be rescued. The survivors quickly learned that isolation meant death. Those who drifted alone were picked off first, their screams echoing across the waves before they were dragged under, never to be seen again. Those who stuck together fared only slightly better. They huddled in groups of hundreds, desperately kicking and splashing to ward off the sharks. But it was hopeless. 'The sharks were around, hundreds of them,' said one survivor. 'Everything would be quiet, and then someone would scream - and they'd be gone.' Some sailors were so paralysed by fear that they refused to eat, terrified that even the smell of food would attract more sharks. One group made the fatal mistake of opening a can of Spam but within minutes, the scent had drawn a fresh swarm of the predators. They immediately threw their rations away, knowing that survival depended on staying invisible. But the sharks could wait. As the Pacific sun beat down, thirst and exhaustion took their toll. Many men began to hallucinate, convinced they saw fresh water just below the surface. Some drank the seawater, sealing their fate. The USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in 1945, leaving some 1,200 men stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean surrounded by bloodthirsty sharks (Pictured: Channel 4 reenactment) Many members of the crew who were not devoured by sharks were left delirious with hunger and thirst and several died from salt poisoning after drinking seawater Those who drifted alone were picked off first, their screams echoing across the waves before they were dragged under, never to be seen again (Channel 4 re-enactment) At first, the sailors tried to push the dead away, hoping to distract the predators. But the sharks weren't fooled (Pictured: USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, 2016) With our minds becoming unhinged, our tongues swollen and our throats squeezing shut, its easy to understand why some of the survivors began drinking the saltwater, wrote Harrell. The boys who fell into this trap soon had violent fits, whooping and hollering and twisting around in the water with flailing arms. Suddenly, as if an explosion had taken place, they would fall into a coma and go limp. Sometimes this would happen in the middle of a ring of sharks. At one point, a brief spell of rain saw them opening their mouths heavenwards, eagerly swallowing what precious drops of fresh water they could catch. Within hours, they became delirious. They attacked their own comrades, dragging them down in their madness. 'The real young ones - you take away their hope, you take away their water and food - they would drink salt water, and then would go fast,' recalled Lewis Haynes, the ship's chief medical officer. Some survivors described seeing men willingly swimming away, believing they had reached land. Others watched in horror as those who had lost their minds drifted off into the water- only to be immediately devoured. On numerous occasions, I recall seeing a large fin coming straight at me, wrote Edgar Harrell. In horror, I would take what I thought would be my last breath and bend my knees up to my chest. Sometimes I could feel a fin brush my body. Other times I would merely feel the wake of the massive beast streaking through the water just underneath me. These gut-wrenching encounters caused me to feel as though I was constantly tied up in a knot and my abdominal muscles became completely exhausted, leaving my legs to dangle helplessly in the path of the mighty marauders. For four days and nights, the sharks continued their relentless attack. Hundreds of men perished - not from their injuries, not from dehydration, but from the jaws of the ocean's most ruthless predators. Survivors of USS Indianapolis en route to hospital after being rescued in August 1945 The crew (pictured) had just delivered the atomic bombs, which would be dropped on Japan, to the island of Tinian Captain Charles B McVay III was blamed for the disaster. Haunted by guilt, the captain took his own life in 1968, reportedly clutching a toy sailor gifted to him by his father in his hand The sinking of the USS Indianapolis triggered the worst shark attack in history in the final weeks of World War II after two Japanese torpedo's sank the American heavy cruiser Navy officials later estimated that at least 150 men were killed by sharks, though many survivors believed the number was far higher. Adding to the tragedy, no one had realised the crew were missing. Despite intelligence intercepting a Japanese message describing the sinking, US officials dismissed it as a trick. No rescue mission was launched. The men of the Indianapolis were left to die alone. It wasn't until around 11am on August 2 - four days after the attack - that a passing Navy plane spotted the survivors by sheer chance. The pilot immediately radioed for help. Lieutenant Adrian Marks, defying orders, landed his seaplane in shark-infested waters and began pulling the weakest men aboard. In the early hours of August 3, the rescue ships had eventually started to arrive. By then, it was too late. Of the 1,196 men aboard the USS Indianapolis, only 316 survived. The rest had perished - devoured by sharks, lost to exhaustion, or driven to madness by thirst and despair. It remains the deadliest shark attack in human history. Even after their rescue, the survivors faced another battle. The US Navy court-martialed Captain Charles B. McVay III, blaming him for the disaster. Despite testimony from the Japanese submarine commander himself, who admitted that nothing could have prevented the attack, McVay was convicted. Haunted by guilt, the captain took his own life in 1968, reportedly clutching a toy sailor gifted to him by his father in his hand. His name was only cleared in 2001, but by then, it was far too late. The wreckage of the USS Indianapolis lay undiscovered for over 70 years, until a research team led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen found it in 2017. Today, it rests on the ocean floor - a war grave for hundreds of men, many of whom were never given the chance to fight back. In 2016, a movie, titled USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage, was released based on the tragic events of the sinking of USS Indianapolis. However, it received terrible reviews in the States and was deemed shoddily made and badly scripted, and a great disservice to the gripping testimony of the survivors. The shark attacks of the USS Indianapolis remain a chilling reminder of the true horrors of the deep. A story not just of survival, but of a tragedy that should never have happened. There was something of Jay Gatsby about Joseph Patrick Kennedy, patriarch of the clan, father of Jack and Bobby, and grandfather of the new American health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. Because, just as F Scott Fitzgerald's literary phantasm had feet of clay, the money, glamor and influence of the Kennedys is rooted in something more secretive and sordid than most care to admit. As readers of Fitzgerald's 1925 masterpiece eventually discover, Gatsby's mesmerizing wealth comes not from the American virtues of hard work and optimism but from the sale of fraudulent bonds and Prohibition-era bootlegging. And so it was with Joe Kennedy who, born in 1888, would have been a near contemporary of his fictional counterpart and who, like Gatsby, was in league with the mob - a relationship I explore in my new book, Borgata: Clash of Titans: A history of the American mafia. As a young man, Joe made a fortune trading stocks and commodities, perfecting what we would refer to today as 'pump and dump' schemes in which stocks are artificially inflated then sold off at their height. Kennedy notably managed to sell before the great crash of 1929 and exhibited, according to one biographer, 'an almost uncanny knack for being in the right stock - short or long - at precisely the right time'. Many suspected insider-trading. During Prohibition, which ran from 1920 to 1933, Joe acquired liquor from overseas distilleries and called on the mafia's help to distribute it across the United States. Frank Costello, boss of New York's Luciano crime family (later known as the Genovese) confirmed that he had been a partner with Joe in the liquor business both before and after Prohibition. The Kennedy family spend Thanksgiving at Hyannisport, Massachusetts, 1948. From left: John F. Kennedy, Jean Ann Smith, Rose Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy Sr., Patricia Lawford, Robert F. Kennedy, Eunice Mary Shriver, Edward Kennedy (squatting). As a young man, Joe (pictured here with son, John F Kennedy) made a fortune trading stocks and commodities, perfecting what we would refer to today as 'pump and dump' schemes in which stocks are artificially inflated then sold off at their height. During Prohibition, which ran from 1920 to 1933, Joe acquired liquor from overseas distilleries and called on the mafia's help to distribute it across the United States. (Pictured John F Kennedy kissing his father Joe Kennedy's head in 1963). Author Gore Vidal, who was related to the Kennedys through marriage, wrote in his memoirs that, '[Joe] belonged in jail, along with his close friend Frank Costello. In fact, once a week the boss of the mob and the president's [JFK] father had dinner together in the Central Park South Kennedy apartment Of course, Joe made no secret of his underworld connections, unavoidable for a man who had cornered the Scotch whiskey market.' Crime boss Meyer Lansky and New York gangster Owney 'The Killer' Madden also claimed to have worked with Kennedy. Joe Bonanno, the mobster sometimes known as Joe Bananas, once told his son that, 'Kennedy was no different from the rest of us, except his whiskey went mainly to society people.' The Bonannos, father and son, reserved a special contempt for Kennedy after hearing how one of his boats, heavy with a cargo of bootleg whiskey and illegal aliens, was spotted by the Coast Guard and, in an effort to pick up speed, dumped the aliens overboard. The alcohol was more valuable. Author Seymour Hersh, who wrote a book about the darker side of the Kennedy family, concluded that, 'in scores of interviews for this book over four years, former high-level government officials of the 1950s and 1960s, including Justice Department prosecutors, CIA operatives, and FBI agents, insisted that they knew that Joe Kennedy had been a prominent bootlegger during Prohibition.' Hersh interviewed Abraham Marovitz, a Chicago attorney who represented top mobsters and would one day be appointed to the federal bench by President John F Kennedy (Joe Kennedy's second son his eldest, Joseph Jr, was killed in the war). Marovitz said of the old man, 'Kennedy was bootlegging... he had mob connections. Kennedy couldn't have operated the way he did without mob approval. They'd have knocked him off too.' Keen to profit from the end of Prohibition, Joe travelled to London and secured contracts making him the exclusive American distributor of Gordon's gin and two premium Scotch whiskies through his new company, Somerset Importers Ltd. Even today, Kennedy's apologists deny his involvement with the mafia, but they struggle to explain why, in 1946, Joe sold this business to a Jewish mobster, Abner 'Longie' Zwillman, an associate of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Before Kennedy started pushing his children into politics, he had his own ambitions of becoming president and wisely aligned himself with the brilliant but sly Franklin Roosevelt. Kennedy's support for President Roosevelt was repaid in 1934 when he was offered the chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the body which is supposed to protect investors from financial misconduct. Giving Kennedy the SEC job was like appointing Lucky Luciano head of the anti-mafia squad. By March 1938, with his star in the ascendant, Kennedy was appointed ambassador to the Court of St James's in London. The post was one of, if not the most, prestigious ambassadorships in the world and was widely recognized as a stepping-stone to the American presidency. The Brits, who graciously welcomed Kennedy to London, were quickly appalled. Keen to profit from the end of Prohibition, Joe travelled to London and secured contracts making him the exclusive American distributor of Gordon's gin and two premium Scotch whiskies through his new company, Somerset Importers Ltd. (Pictured: JFK and Joe board an Air France plane at Croydon Airport). Before Kennedy started pushing his children into politics, he had his own ambitions of becoming president and wisely aligned himself with the brilliant but sly Franklin Roosevelt (pictured). Joseph Kennedy - nominated ambassador to London - is pictured taking the oath in the presence of Franklin Roosevelt In 1937. By March 1938, with his star in the ascendant, Joe Kennedy was appointed ambassador to the Court of St James's in London. (Pictured: Joe and daughter Rosemary in London). Sir Robert Vansittart, undersecretary at the British Foreign Office, called Kennedy 'a very foul specimen of double-crosser.' It was an opinion shared by the Chicago mob's brilliant consigliere, Murray 'The Camel' Humphreys, who had illegal business dealings with Kennedy and called him a 'four-flusher and a double-crosser.' Kennedy was also a war profiteer, using his clout as ambassador to secure precious cargo space on transatlantic voyages. 'Using his name and the prestige of the embassy... I was able to get shipping space for up to, I think, around 200,000 cases of whiskey at a time when shipping space was very scarce,' said an employee of Kennedy. As ambassador, Kennedy also used insider information about world events to trade stocks on Wall Street. However, any hopes Kennedy had of becoming president were dashed in November 1940. At a time when Great Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, Kennedy was pushing for 'an economic collaboration' with Germany and the Axis powers and made it clear he did 'not believe in the continuing of democracy' in the United States an odd viewpoint for a presidential hopeful in the world's leading democracy. Kennedy exposed his thoughts during a long, imprudent, interview at Boston's Ritz Carlton hotel, in which he told reporters that 'Democracy is all done,' meaning he did not want America to enter the war under any circumstances. Kennedy also insinuated that Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a drunk, that the King was a stutterer, and the Queen looked like a shlumpy housewife. However true these observations may have been, Kennedy was forced to resign. But the determined one-time bootlegger, maritime smuggler and stock swindler was by no means done. Kennedy simply transferred his ambitions to the younger generation along, as it turned out, with his own troubled connections to organized crime. For JFK, disappointing the mob would eventually prove politically disastrous and personally fatal. As I have set out elsewhere in my book, his father's 'friends' in the mafia were not merely connected as has long been speculated to the bloody events in Dallas of November 1963. They were prime movers. Borgata, Clash of Titans, the second part of Louis Ferrante's History of The American Mafia is published by Pegasus in the US, price $29.95 and Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK, price 25. Hours before his death, Suchir Balaji appeared relaxed as he strolled to the door to collect his last meal. The big tech whistleblower emerged from the elevators of his apartment building in San Francisco hungry and with a spring in his step. He turned toward the front door and disappeared around a corner, returning 15 seconds later clutching a brown paper bag. Inside was a box of take-out rice, meat, and vegetables - the scraps of which were found sitting on his desk when his body was found days later. Balaji dressed casually in jeans, sneakers, and a zip-up sweater, strolled back to the elevator, pumping tunes through the wireless earbuds planted firmly in his ears. To passersby he has the appearance of any tired, young professional ready to relax on the couch with his dinner. Yet this newly uncovered surveillance footage obtained by DailyMail.com from 7.30pm on November 22 is believed to be the last time he was seen alive. Just hours later he died from a single gunshot wound to the head. His body was found four days later on November 26. The last image of Suchir Balaji alive as he pressed the elevator call button in the lobby on the day he died, his other hand clutching a bag containing his last meal. His parents say the camera in the elevator itself had been disabled Ramarao posted another CCTV image of Balaji arriving home from his birthday holiday, six hours earlier at 1.33pm, carrying his luggage over his shoulder The medical examiner concluded his death was a suicide. Police agree. But the young man's parents are convinced he was the victim of foul play. They believe he was punished for daring to speak out against the dangers of the world-changing technology he'd been working on. A month earlier, Balaji had revealed OpenAI's dubious methods of training ChatGPT and warned of its dangers to the internet. His mother, Poornima Ramarao, claims the final footage of her son proves he did not kill himself. '[The medical examiner] saw this video and still concluded he was depressed and called it suicide,' she said. Balaji spoke to his father, Balaji Ramamurthy, from 7.12pm until a few minutes before he arrived home. He told him him he was getting dinner and they discussed his recent holiday, and tentative plans to meet in January. There were no signs of what was to come. Earlier CCTV footage showed Balaji arriving home from his birthday holiday with friends to Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, at 1.33pm. His luggage, a large canvas bag, hung from a strap slung over his left shoulder and he was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, and black shoes. Like the final video just six hours later, he was walking towards the elevators in the lobby of his apartment building. 'Does he look stressed?' Ramarao asked, rhetorically. His last meal, a half-eaten ready-meal with brown rice still in the plastic tray, sits on his cluttered desk with a fork and a restaurant receipt Balaji, 26, was found in his apartment in San Francisco on November 26 with a gunshot to the head and his death ruled a suicide Balaji's exact time of death remains unknown, but police and the medical examiner said he likely died on the night of November 22. His body was not found until four days later when a welfare check was requested by his worried parents. Ramarao added that security cameras in the elevator, building garage, and neighbors were not working. 'His murder conspiracy was executed over long term planning and watching Suchir,' she claimed. Despite the family's pleas, the San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the police suicide ruling with the release of Balaji's autopsy report last month. The report included some shocking new findings including that Balaji was drunk and had multiple drugs including GHP in his system when he shot himself. The report also noted the only way into Balaji's fourth-floor apartment number #404 was via his front door. 'The apartment windows are stories above the shared courtyard and street and are equipped with devices that restrict the window opening to approximately four inches,' it read. 'There was no evidence of forced entry to the unit or disturbance within the unit.' Security camera footage and key fob records also showed that no one else entered the apartment during the time he could have died. Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show blood was pooled next to the bathroom door where his head lay, but also splattered around the bathroom far from the body Balaji's parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy (pictured with him) insist he was murdered and have spent more than $100,000 trying to prove it San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott wrote a joint letter with the ME's office to Balaji's parents, accompanying the report, further explaining the ruling. 'These facts, taken together, support that Mr Balaji was alone at the time of the incident,' it read. 'The SFPD found no evidence or information to establish that Mr Balaji died of means other than a suicide by self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.' Scott wrote that his investigation, along with that of the ME's office, found 'there is insufficient evidence to find Mr Balaji's death was the result of homicide'. 'We realize that this information is difficult to receive, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Balaji family,' he added. 'We hope that this response may help bring some amount of closure to his grieving parents, friends and family.' Police now consider the case closed and will only reopen the criminal investigation if there is a basis for a chargeable offense and the statute of limitations has not expired. The autopsy report appeared to confirm one of Balaji's parents' claims: That the gunshot wound would not have instantly killed their son. Instead, the bullet entered through his forehead at a downward angle and missed his brain entirely, before lodging in the back of his neck. The autopsy report noted the bullet passed through his facial bones, skull sinuses, cervical vertebra C1, and cervicomedullary junction of the spinal cord. Balaji had just returned from a holiday to Los Angeles with some friends, who were former colleagues or worked in tech, for his birthday a day earlier His apartment sits frozen in time - never cleaned, and touched as little as possible since police left it on November 26 Balaji's parents argued he would have been alive for some time after he was shot and bled to death on his floor. However, the autopsy found a medulla/high cervical spinal cord injury and a fracture of the C1 vertebra, both of which cause death if not immediately treated. A toxicology report found Balaji had a blood alcohol level of 0.178 and amphetamine, norephedrine/norpseudoephedrine, and GHP were present in his blood. The report concluded Balaji was an otherwise healthy young man and was wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, a black belt, black underwear and black socks. Balaji's parents claimed there was a blunt force injury to their son's head, indicating a struggle before he was murdered, but no such injury was recorded in the autopsy. The autopsy report also examined the gun found next to Balaji's body, a Glock pistol that he bought on January 4, 2024, with one spent casing in the chamber. The report noted that police found gunshot residue on both of Balaji's hands, and his DNA on the gun. The bullet was confirmed to have been fired by that gun. Medical examiners did not find soot and unburned gunpowder particles on the skin around the wound, which 'may be obscured by changes of postmortem decomposition'. Recent searches for brain anatomy including 'Total Gray Matter Volume' and 'White Matter' were found on Balaji's desktop computer. Balaji lived in this high-end building on Buchanan Street in San Francisco's Mint Hill neighborhood Blood both inside the bathroom, and pooled on the floor outside the door where his head was found The report noted that the deadbolt was engaged on Balaji's door and entry was made by the building manager. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 1.20pm. 'Our counsel and we disagree with their decision. There are tons of inconsistencies in their decision,' Ramarao said of the autopsy's conclusion. 'Underlying assumptions are not supporting the facts in reports. We continue our investigation.' Ramarao referenced two tufts of synthetic hair found next to Balaji's body, one of the unexplained factors she has long claimed point to foul play. 'We have sent the hair found in apartment for testing. We are fighting for justice and [will] not back up,' she said. She insisted police wrote 'inaccurate information in autopsy and police report' when they concluded no one else could have entered his apartment. 'They have never retrieved CCTV footage from [the] leasing office,' she said. Ramarao also pointed to a report revealing that none of Balaji's neighbors were contacted by police or the medical examiner's office during their investigation. Their lawyer, Kevin Rooney, who is suing the city of San Francisco for the full police incident report, added that the family would continue its own probe. The bachelor pad is relatively orderly through the entrance and lounge area, but rapidly changes as you get closer to where he died The kitchen table, strewn with clutter, some of which spilled onto the floor along with pieces of chocolate Rooney said they would take up the SFPD offer to request bodycam footage and 'any other information' they sought, as the investigation was closed. 'We intend to do so forthwith, because, while we appreciate receiving some of the information Suchir's parents have asked for since his death, we believe the investigation is far from complete,' he said. 'We disagree both with the conclusions the city has reached and with some of the underlying assertions and assumptions upon which those are based.' Balaji's parents hired Joseph Cohen, former chief forensic pathologist of Riverside County, California, to conduct a second autopsy in December, but are yet to reveal the report. A lawsuit filed by Balaji's parents, demanding the city release the police incident report and other case files to them, listed some of the results. 'Significantly, Dr Cohen also noted a contusion to the back of Suchir's head,' the lawsuit detailed. But it did not reveal the second report's findings on whether Balaji took his own life, or if it determined another manner of death. Photos obtained by the Daily Mail show blood was pooled next to the bathroom door where his head lay, but also splattered around the bathroom far from the body. Lying on the bloodstains were one of Balaji's wireless earbuds and two mysterious tufts of what appeared to be synthetic hair, like from a wig. Inside the bathroom were drops of blood across the tiles, on the cabinet next to the sink, and on the cabinet handle, on the other side of the room Also on the floor was a knocked over trash bin and a plastic floss pick The stock layout of Balaji's apartment with the bathroom where he was found on the left His home, in a high-end building on Buchanan Street, was also ransacked, 'like someone was searching for something'. 'After seeing there is so much blood everywhere, I don't know how they think it's a suicide, it doesn't look close,' his father, Ramamurthy, told the Daily Mail. His apartment sits frozen in time - never cleaned, and touched as little as possible since police left it on November 26. The family are also yet to hold a proper funeral or bury his body, instead raising $85,000 to pay lawyers, investigators, and forensic experts to prove he was murdered. One of these experts was Professor Dinesh Rao, who wrote a preliminary report on the scene obtained by Daily Mail. The report includes dozens of photos showing the condition of Balaji's one-bedroom apartment, along with earlier images taken by his family. Rao wrote that the disturbed scenes were 'more likely seen in homicidal death scene and rarely observed in alleged suicidal cases'. Splattered blood extended up the door and the doorframe about 18 inches, dripping down to the floor, and a splash extended just past the threshold on the bathroom tiles Blood drops inside the bathroom looking inside from the door A splash of lighter blood next to a red shopping bag that was stuck to the biggest blood pool Blood on the other side of the doorframe to the vast majority of the blood splatter, as seen from inside the bathroom Balaji's parents theorize their son was attacked from behind while he was listening to music and cleaning his teeth, and his head smashed into the wall or cabinet. After fighting back, he was pulled up onto his knees or sitting down, and shot in the head. As the wound wasn't fatal, he survived for some minutes and got out of the bathroom before dying from blood loss. 'A 10-minute struggle, probably,' his father claimed. His parents believe the apartment was ransacked because the killer was looking for a storage device that had damning evidence on it. Balaji never expected to become a lightning rod for those wary of the emerging power of artificial intelligence - or his boss, OpenAI founder Sam Altman. He joined the company in November 2020, having previously spent four months interning there two years while studying at UC Berkley. But from as early as 2022 he began to question the work he was doing, training GPT-4 - the engine behind ChatGPT - with reams of data from the internet. Balaji had justified his work by treating it like a research project, but after it was launched in late 2022 and sold commercially, he began to rethink this. Balaji worked for OpenAI founder Sam Altman until last August, when he quit and and wrote his findings in a detailed essay on his personal website, then spoke to the New York Times Ramarao berated him for speaking out by himself instead of joining forces with other whistleblowers, and for posing for photos so everyone knew what he looked like Balaji (center) with friends. His parents said he had a very active social life He came to the conclusion that OpenAI was grossly violating copyright laws to such an extent that it was not only illegal, but unsustainable for the internet itself. Eventually he quit last August and wrote his findings in a detailed essay on his personal website, then spoke to the New York Times. Balaji's NYT interview was published on October 23, shocking his parents and even his friends - none of whom he told in advance. Balaji told his mother not to worry he wasn't giving away confidential secrets, just expressing his opinion on the work, and he had enough money from his OpenAI stock. 'He said he wasn't looking for another job, he said he was planning to found a startup,' his mother said. Then a week before his death, the NYT named him as a 'custodian witness' in its copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. His mother believes that implied he had more damaging information up his sleeve, and was targeted for it. It also appeared Balaji wasn't finished going public. Days after his death, his phone rang and his parents picked it up. On the other end was an Associated Press reporter who didn't know Balaji was dead, and was calling to schedule an interview he agreed to do. 'Maybe he had some new information to share with AP and somebody doesn't want that liability, so they targeted him,' Ramamurthy said. Balaji's parents have three main reasons they believe he couldn't have killed himself - the crime scene, the timing of his death after going public, and that he had too much to life for A second autopsy was done in early December at the cost of thousands of dollars, and Ramarao insisted it called the suicide explanation into question 'This doesn't seem like a suicide,' Elon Musk, arch-nemesis of Sam Altman, wrote when reposting one of Ramarao's tweets, and also shared other articles and posts about the case Balaji's parents have three main reasons they believe he couldn't have killed himself: the crime scene, the timing of his death after going public, and that he had too much to live for. 'There's no depression, he didn't have a suicide note or anything, he was financially stable, he has a good friends circle, going around having a good time,' his father said. Conspiracy theories about Balaji's death started almost immediately after it became public in news reports on December 13. Social media provocateurs and true crime buffs quickly began sharing and debating the story, declaring that the AI industry had him killed. The online avalanche became so intense that it reached the attention of Altman's arch-nemesis Elon Musk. 'This doesn't seem like a suicide,' he wrote when reposting one of Ramarao's tweets, and also shared other articles and posts about the case with comments like 'hmm' and 'concerning'. Musk has had a longstanding feud with OpenAI and Altman since they refused his offer to buy them out in 2018. Do YOU have a story or tip? Villagers in seaside ports around the country have been encouraged to fight back against rich out-of-towners buying second homes, MailOnline can reveal. The scourge of second home ownership has seen once-thriving seaside villages turned into ghost towns that had 'lost their soul and identity' as outsiders only stay in their second homes for a few weeks each year, locals said. From April 1, more than 150 councils across the country will increase the tax on second homes to 100 per cent - meaning bills could rise as much as 10,000 for the year. This week, MailOnline visited villages around the country where councils are urging locals to report their wealthy neighbours if they suspect them of being second home owners. From the 'second home capital' of Mousehole, Cornwall, to the north Wales beach resort of Rhosneigr, locals are preparing to dob in any neighbours avoiding council tax increases that could cost them thousands. Yet while most locals born and bred in the seaside villages welcomed the government-approved council tax increase for second homes, many said the measures were not going far enough. Neil Brockman, 61, was born in Mousehole and lived there for 45 years. Now he has to live outside of Mousehole because it's just too expensive. He told MailOnline: 'I'm fiercely proud of the fact I'm a Mousehole man. Second homers will kill the village. We are losing our identity. The Cornish village of Mousehole (pictured) is thought to be the second home capital of the UK In summer the harbour (pictured from above) is full of ships. Yet at the moment, there are just two boats in the sea Neil Brockman, 61, (pictured) was born in Mousehole and lived there for 45 years. Now he has to live outside of Mousehole because it's just too expensive. 'I think the tax will help. It will put people off. I would triple it myself. 'We need local housing for local people. A lot of people moved away. You had to move away for a job. 'I would move back here if I could but I would have to win the lottery.' These days, Neil lives in Penzance. Yet despite no longer living in the village, Neil and his family will always be tied in tragedy to the village. On December 19, 1981, just days before Christmas, Neil's father was one of eight crew from the Penlee lifeboat the Solomon Browne who lost their lives while battling to save a stranded ship in hurricane-force winds. Neil was 17 at the time and had wanted to go with his father, but the RNLI coxswain at the time refused to take two men from the same family. The attempted rescue was an audacious act of seamanship in extreme conditions that nearly succeeded in saving those in peril. It is remembered as one of the greatest tragedies in the 201-year history of the RNLI and is woven into the history of the village. The majority of properties in the tiny village are second homes that lie empty all year except for a few weeks in summer Affordable shops have disappeared from the village in recent years. In the deli on the harbour, it costs 10 to eat a pasty indoors This delicatessen overlooking the harbour sells pasties for a whopping 10 each Pictured: The site of the Lobster Pot restaurant with its terrace overlooking the harbour that is now a home Pictured: A gift shop in place of where Mousehole's old post office used to be Cornwall Council is raising council tax on second homes to 100 per cent from April 1, 2025 Built on a hill by the sea, Mousehole's cottages have a lovely view of the ocean and the once-bustling fishing harbour below Neil, who spent 35 years with the RNLI even after the disaster and now takes tourists on boat trips, added: 'I'm proud of what they did.' And while nothing will compare to the pain Mousehole villagers feel for the 16 lives lost that day, including eight from the stricken Union Star ship, Neil feels passionately that more needs to be done to protect the place he grew up from out-of-towners. His friend, former RNLI press officer and ex-policewoman Elaine Bawden, 66, said: 'The village has changed dramatically since we grew up. We had every shop you could think of. We didn't have to leave the village that much.' Mousehole used to be a bubbly fishing village with almost everything locals needed in shops dotted around its picturesque Cornish streets. Elaine told MailOnline that over the last few years, the village's post office and shops had been replaced by gift stores and expensive delicatessens aimed at flogging traditional Cornish products to tourists. Pictured: Neil Brockman as a teenager while he was in the RNLI. He protected the waters off Mousehole for 35 years Neil pictured with his father Nigel Brockman (left) just two days before the tragedy in 1981 The 47ft Solomon Browne lifeboat (pictured) rescued more than 90 people in its 21 years on the water Shockingly, in the deli looking out over the harbour, eating a pasty while looking out at the view would set you back a whopping 10. Now locals have to drive to neighbouring villages to buy household staples. The heritage walk guide added: 'The post office is gone. The newsagents is gone. 'Second homers are the ones who should be paying extra. It's peanuts to them. 'If you have money to buy a house in Mousehole, you have money to pay extra council tax. 'The village is a bit empty now. Youngsters no longer live here. 'We can't survive without tourists but there needs to be a balance. 'If there were places for people to rent, then people could come with their children. 'But people who buy those houses won't mind that [the second home council tax]. They have the money.' The historic village is a maze of picturesque streets dotted with gorgeous cottages overlooking the sea When MailOnline visited the village, locals said second homes had turned it into a ghost town Although the streets are said to bustle in summer, this week the roads were largely deserted Stay-at-home dad Milo Perrin, 54, lives on a row of ten terraced houses in Mousehole. However, he only has two neighbours. The rest are empty, except in summer when second home owners come down in their droves for a week or two of sea air. He said: 'Mousehole is empty of people whose families come from here. Very few of the community were born and bred in Mousehole. 'Most of the community are incomers, but at least they live here. 'The village is left empty. People only come to their homes once or twice a year. In a way I would prefer Airbnbs. It's the choice between the Devil and a hard place. 'With a BnB at least they are here spending money. 'People are trying to put their second homes up for sale but we can't afford it anyway. Elaine Bawden, 66, (pictured) lived in the famous Mousehole Cat house, whose interior was used to inspire illustrations in the famous children's book of the same name Stay-at-home dad Milo Perrin, 54, (pictured) lives on a row of ten terraced houses in Mousehole. However, the majority of those homes are empty The stunning beauty of the town means it has become one of the most popular places to buy a second home in Britain Fisherman Matthew Underwood, 46, (pictured) told MailOnline the Cornish housing market was 'unsustainable'. Matthew said: 'They have been turning our home into a holiday village. We are all dying off. They are killing us' Pictured: Robert George and Matthew Underwood on their fishing boat the Steph of Ladram, a beam trawler that mainly catches plaice, sole and other similar groundfish Cliffjumper Lee (pictured) said: 'In Mousehole there's loads of second homes. It's empty. It's s***' A solitary boat floats in Mousehole's harbour in the March sunshine. Despite the lovely weather, few of the homes were occupied 'It's not something us locals can buy off a second home owner. 'It might lead to even richer people buying the house. 'What I would like to see is that they keep their second home but put it up for a long term rent.' He added: 'Imagine this place even 30 years ago. The soul of it is gone and it will never come back. 'We need to go much further. Lockdown was lovely. Nobody here, beautiful weather, we just had the place to ourselves. 'Our biggest concern wasn't catching Covid, we were just keeping an eye out for second homers coming down. 'We were kind of like detectives. We caught one or two. 'But we are powerless. It's the power of money.' Now locals may become 'detectives' once more, again rooting out second home owners. Explaining how locals could report their rich neighbours, a Cornwall Council spokesman said: 'The best thing to do is to use the Contact Us Form. They won't need an account number but will need to tell us who they are and the address of the property they believe is a second home. They can log it under the ''I want to enquire about something else'' option as they won't need to provide a date of change. 'The council will be doing further checks on properties over the coming months to pick these properties out. They may be registered as a holiday let, however the Valuation Office Agency carries out the checks on these and the owners will need to provide evidence to them or will lose their status.' Mousehole's streets were empty of people when MailOnline visited the area Wendy Shepherd, 66, often comes from Sidmouth, Devon, to Mousehole with her husband Gordon, 68, to relax The village of Mousehole is known as one of the prettiest along the Cornish coast Wendy Shepherd, 66, often comes from Sidmouth, Devon, to Mousehole with her husband Gordon, 68, to relax. Yet she too was disgusted by the loss of the post office and other essential shops. She said: 'I think it's terrible. It used to be a post office. Now it's just a gift shop. 'These shops are for tourists. The food is not for locals.' Her husband added: 'If you can afford a second home, you should be paying the tax. 'The youngsters can't afford the properties. Our son is living with us because he can't buy a house.' Their friend used to own a share in the famed Mousehole restaurant the Lobster Pot. That too has disappeared from the town, with a fancy home in its place. A few metres along, down at the edge of the harbour, coasteering cliff jumper Lee was putting the final layers of varnish on a Mousehole boat ahead of them being put back in the water this weekend when MailOnline spoke to him. The 40-year-old said: 'In Mousehole there's loads of second homes. It's empty. It's s***.' The village boasts pretty streets of traditional Cornish cottages but even this has not kept second home owners in the area beyond a few weeks in summer The village of Mousehole, in Cornwall, is thought to be the oldest port in England Many locals are hoping the new council tax will reinvigorate their lovely village The streets were clean and had obviously been looked after but there were few people to walk them Pictured: The quiet streets of Mousehole overlooking the sea in mid-March this year However, he too was suspicious about whether the council tax rise would actually affect outsiders buying up homes and leaving them empty during the majority of the year. 'In a world of money, [the council tax rise] might be good on paper,' he said. 'No one wants to see an empty place.' Another local, 94, who married a woman from Mousehole and has lived there for decades, said: 'The village has changed. We have all these different people coming here. 'Millionaires come here, buy a house, knock it down and money can be no object. 'There's only 30 or 40 local people living here. When they pass away, who's going to be here?' The next village along from Mousehole is Newlyn, the largest fishing port in England. There, 46-year-old fisherman Matthew Underwood told MailOnline the Cornish housing market was 'unsustainable'. He said: 'Stop giving us London prices. You should only buy if you work here. 'There should be a cap put on the value of the properties. 'They have been turning our home into a holiday village. We are all dying off. They are killing us.' His friend and fellow fisherman Robert George added: 'Young Cornish people just can't get their foot on the ladder.' Sadly, the effects of second homes are not unique to Cornwall. The Welsh seaside resort of Rhosneigr has become a ghost town because of the number of second homes there Cora Clearly, 55, 9pictured) said: 'Local Welsh people have been priced out but this has been the case for a long time now' Just like Mousehole, the streets were empty when MailOnline visited this week More than 200 miles north, the Anglesey beach resort of Rhosneigr is facing similar issues. In winter, hundreds of homes lie empty, turning the stunning village into a 'ghost town'. A staggering 70 per cent of houses there are thought to be second homes that lie empty for most of the year. The local Gwynedd Council is one of many in Wales that have hiked council tax in a clampdown on second homes ownership which have forced out Welsh natives. From April 1, certain second homes will be taxed a whopping 150 per cent. It has also laid out a way locals can report their rich second home owner neighbours. A Gwynedd Council spokeswoman said: 'Any concerns or complaints regarding breach of planning regulations including the use of houses as second homes and holiday accommodation can be reported via the Cyngor Gwynedd website.' Even so, the council tax rise has been met with scepticism among local residents and workers. Shop worker Emma Roberts, 52, said: 'This place is a ghost town in the winter and is really quiet outside holiday times. 'It's very sad as the community has been affected especially for local Welsh people. 'I can't afford to live here and I live in another village nearby. Second home owners have forced the prices up. 'Locals have been priced out but it's been going on for a long time. 'The council tax rise would be good if it meant for houses for Welsh people but it's not going to happen. 'We can't afford to buy here anyway. I'm not sure the council tax rise for second home owners is going to work. 'My council tax has risen too - I'm not really worried I can't afford it. Wages are lower in rural areas like here.' Pregnant mother-of-two Leanne Murphy, 36, cleans holiday homes in the village. She said: 'I'd love for there to be more homes for local Welsh people but I don't think it's going to happen. 'It is a bit of a ghost town in the off season but we rely on tourists here so I don't want to see them forced out. 'I grew up here but now live in a nearby village which is fine. 'I know there are some Welsh people who don't like the English and think houses should be for the Welsh. 'But they are a minority. I know some homeowners are selling up but I think they will just be bought by other wealthy people.' Mother-of-two Sian Jones, 43, said: 'So many second homes in one place shouldn't be allowed. 'This place doesn't feel Welsh anymore. There should be more affordable homes for Welsh people. 'But this place has been taken over by rich people from London and we can't compete with how much they can pay for a house. 'I welcome higher taxes for second homes but I don't think it will change anything.' Cora Clearly, 55, has owned Scarlett's fish and chips shop for 11 years and lives in the village. The mother-of-two, who is from Ireland, said: 'Some second home owners are selling up as they are worried about the cost of council tax. 'We rely on builders and workmen for our trade out of season as that is when people have work done on their houses. 'But less are being employed as some people can't afford to do work on their houses which is worrying. 'The council tax rise won't do what it is supposed to do. 'Local Welsh people have been priced out but this has been the case for a long time now. 'Welsh people won't be able to buy houses here now that boat has sailed now. 'It is just too expensive for local people here now a lot live in villages nearby. 'The school is busy with children a lot of them travel in from nearby villages. All my employees are local.' Rhosneigr is famed as a watersports hotspot and is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. It is famous for its kitesurfing and windsurfing but the beach was almost completely empty this week A large number of homes are owned by out=of-towners and lie empty for most of the year Locals hope more council tax on second homes will act as a deterrent to other outsiders Shop worker Emma Roberts , 52, (pictured) said: 'This place is a ghost town in the winter and is really quiet outside holiday times' Conor Fagan, 24, (pictured) the owner of Funsports surf shop, said: 'It's a great place to live and work but I am worried the council tax could be a death knell for the place' Many of the homes look out over the beautiful seaside and the rolling hills of Wales Holidaymakers also enjoy the resort's bars and restaurants while many retired English people have also bought homes to live full-time in Wales. Prince William and Kate were visitors when they lived on the island before they were engaged. Although most locals in Wales were in favour of driving second home owners away, one claimed it could be a 'death knell' if ridding the village of second homes inadvertently drives away tourists. Conor Fagan, 24, the owner of Funsports surf shop, said: 'It's a great place to live and work but I am worried the council tax could be a death knell for the place. 'It's a bad thing as no locals can afford to buy here but it's been like that for a long time. 'Rhosneigr was a bit of a dive at one time and then the tourist money came. You can't turn the clock back. 'The council tax policy is just to appease Welsh nationalists who want houses for local people. But it won't happen here.' Whether or not the council tax coming in from April 1 will slow down or reverse the flood of second homers turning seaside villages into ghost town remains to be seen. But what is for sure is that while there are Britons fighting for their local identity, villages like Mousehole and Rhosneigr still have a chance of returning to their glory days. Worshippers at a Yorkshire mosque are living in fear as its members are picked off one by one by a notorious gold thief while they are at prayer. Cops are hunting a masked raider after he was caught on CCTV entering a property in York, in one of ten shocking heists. In one home more than 100,000 in gold jewellery was snatched - while in another a widower's late wife's death certificate was among the cruel thief's loot. The community has been stunned by the burglaries and they fear the crook could be targeting them because of the Islamic tradition to provide a gold dowry for a new bride. Cops say people of Asian origin been the main victims of the spate of high value gold thefts, which have sparked a police appeal on BBC Crimewatch. They are currently investigating ten burglaries of gold jewellery from properties on the east side of York between Saturday January 21 and Sunday March 16. Cops are hunting a masked raider after he was caught on CCTV entering a property in York, in one of ten shocking heists The community has been stunned by the burglaries and they fear the crook could be targeting them because of the Islamic tradition to provide a gold dowry for a new bride. Pictured: York Mosque In one home more than 100,000 in gold jewellery was snatched - while in another a widower's late wife's death certificate was among the cruel thief's loot. Pictured: Gold stolen from properties in York In Fulford, a community in the south of the city, one victim had over 100,000 worth of gold stolen. In a separate incident another man had a suitcase stolen containing 6,000 cash and 6,000 worth of jewellery, alongside further sentimental items including his deceased wife's death certificate. It is understood one of the reasons for the victims having so much gold in the house is because of the Muslim dowry system - the mehr - which is given as a free gift by the husband to the wife at the time of contracting the marriage. A member of the congregation added: 'They might be quite poor. They might live in a council house. 'But they have to sell their land and turn it into gold because they have to give the dowry to the woman for the marriage.' York Mosque and Islamic Centre declined to issue a statement, but an official confirmed that their members were among the victims. Cops say people of Asian origin been the main victims of the spate of high value gold thefts. ictured: Gold stolen from properties in York York Mosque and Islamic Centre declined to issue a statement, but an official confirmed that their members were among the victims The victim of the 100,000 burglary is understood not to be a member of the mosque. Cops said the jewellery had been accumulated over generations by the victim's daughter and was due to be worn at her up-coming wedding. Police have released a CCTV image of the masked suspect captured at one of the burglaries on Kirkham Avenue in Heworth, a predominantly working class neighbourhood. It shows them masked in a balaclava and wearing a puffer jacket as they enter via a glass door. Residents living on the street were stunned by the news. Although many have received warning leaflets from police since the theft they had no idea it had happened on their doorsteps. They said while they had experienced minor crime in the street, such as shed break-ins, they had never known anything of this scale. Factory worker Adrian Bryfcznski, 36, said: 'I have never heard anything like this happening on the street before. I have lived here six years and nothing like this has happened. Factory worker Adrian Bryfcznski, 36, said they had never known anything of this scale before 'So it has been a shock to everyone.' Rosanne Gallagher, who grew up on the street and has lived there since 1964, said residents were stunned. She said: 'Who has got 100,000 worth of gold round here? It is the first I have heard of this and things get around this area quick. 'I have not heard of any other burglaries around here. It will be worrying for people. It is not a very nice thing. We are near a snicker this end and you hear people coming down. 'But I have not heard of burglaries down this end. A young lad tried to get in my neighbour's shed ages ago but nothing like this.' Detective Chief Inspector Shaun Page of North Yorkshire Police further warned that the spree of thefts could be driven by the surging price of gold. He said: 'This spate of gold burglaries is concerning, and a full investigation is underway. I believe that there is information within the local community that will help us, and I'm hopeful that the appeal on BBC's Crimewatch will generate positive lines of enquiry. 'In the meantime, our neighbourhood policing team is working closely with our local communities to issue crime prevention advice. 'I would urge anyone who has gold within their property to be aware that the price of gold has recently surged, please think about simple steps that you can take to deter thieves away from your property.' Pirate's Booty creator Robert Ehrlich walked into Sea Cliff's Village Hall and declared himself mayor of the town - before a single vote was even cast - in a move he openly admitted was inspired by President Donald Trump. The normally quiet village was upended by a bizarre political drama when the business owner announced his mayoral takeover on March 10, complete with the firing of all village staff and saying he had dissolved the government. Ehrlich, who owns a cafe in Sea Cliff and the Holiday Cocktail Lounge in New York City, claims he took a page from Trump's unconventional political tactics, saying he's met him 'a few times' and admires how he challenges established norms. Look at what Trump is doing... breaking down walls without legal authority. I don't agree with him, but it's inspired me to gain some control in my own life,' Ehrlich told the DailyMail.com. 'What I did last week was not only brave, it's made me a folk hero,' he added. 'The White House invited me. They were inspired by my "inspiredness".' But he said he's also received death threats since - one of which called him a 'narcissistic c***' and threatened to fry his testicles in olive oil and red wine before shoving them down his throat. Meanwhile, Ehrlich claimed he'd formed a new municipality, 'The Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff Residents,' citing an obscure law called the New York State Citizen's Empowerment Act. He brandished an envelope, claiming it held 1,800 supporting signatures, but refused to provide proof, citing what he called fear of reprisal. Pirate's Booty creator Robert Ehrlich walked into Village Hall and declared himself mayor of his New York town - before a single vote was even cast - in a move he openly admitted was inspired by President Donald Trump Pictured: The quaint town of Sea Cliff, which boasts 5,000 residents He's received death threats since - one of which called him a 'narcissistic c***' and threatened to fry his testicles in olive oil and red wine before shoving them down his throat 'So, I'm now the mayor of the second entity, according to the Resident Empowerment Act by New York State, that I am the mayor of the residents and the visitors, and they're the mayor of the paperwork and the compliance,' Ehrlich explained. 'So, it worked out for me. Life's rules are made up,' he added. 'It's all so convoluted and confusing. All I'm trying to do is live a peaceful, creative life, but they don't like creativity.' Despite his audacious claim and unconventional campaign, incumbent Mayor Elena Villafane won last Tuesday's election decisively. But Ehrlich remains defiant, wildly insisting - without shown basis - the election results were somehow compromised. 'The election was rigged, obviously. But this town is divided. The people I don't see hate me,' he said. Villafane did not immediately respond to the DailyMail.com's request for comment, but told The New York Times that she 'will not tolerate any further attempts to undermine the governance of this village'. Ehrlich believes his actions have shaken up Sea Cliff, making him both a pariah and a local legend. 'People that were avoiding me are now coming to me, telling me they're proud of what I did. The normally quiet village of Sea Cliff, New York, was upended by a bizarre political drama when the business owner and creator of the iconic snack food announced his mayoral takeover on March 10, complete with the firing of all village staff Ehrlich, who owns a cafe in Sea Cliff and the Holiday Cocktail Lounge in New York City , claims he was inspired by Trump's unconventional political tactics, saying he's met him 'a few times' and admires how he challenges established norms 'This story is going to get bigger and bigger. One person can move a mountain.' Many others aren't as supportive. When he went to vote, he said he 'felt like Charles Manson walking out after the murders they were screaming at me. 'The mayor won by a vote that I don't believe was real. Her statement was that they plan on not having any more "insurrectionista" in this town. 'A public official should be saying, "We'd like to talk to Mr. Ehrlich and address his concerns," not calling people insurrectionists,' the former mayoral candidate unironically said after trying to dissolve the government. At the core of his so-called revolution, he explained, is a long-standing dispute with local authorities. After all, he unsuccessfully sued town officials in 2003 after claiming he was discriminated against because he was Jewish. He was later ordered to pay $900,000 in legal fees. 'I own a coffee shop in Sea Cliff, and they haven't given me a permit in 25 years. I've tried every angle - backwards, forwards, on my knees - nothing. I live in fear every day that they're going to come in and shut me down,' Ehrlich explained. He brandished an envelope, claiming it held 1,800 supporting signatures, but refused to provide proof, citing fear of reprisal Ehrlich circulated his own unofficial ballots listing his name alongside Villafane's and even included a referendum asking voters whether they supported incorporating Sea Cliff into his newly declared village But Ehrlich said he's standing strong in defiance and no longer 'fearful' of them anymore. 'The beauty of it is this coffee shop, even though they've never given me a permit, I'm defying them right now. They can come. 'They're gonna have me arrested any moment, and they're very frustrated because they know that I'm not fearful of them anymore.' His ultimate goal, he claims, is to help his local community in which he was born and raised. 'My real goal is to help the business district here. Sixth Avenue is struggling, businesses are closing. 'I'd give them outdoor seating permits, but the town doesn't like that because people talking represents revolution.' In the meantime, he continues to insist he's still mayor - at least what he considers to be ceremonially. 'Now, I get to be mayor without all the heavy responsibilities and complaints.' Despite his audacious claim and unconventional campaign, incumbent Mayor Elena Villafane won Tuesday's election decisively Ehrlich sold the brand to B&G Foods for $195 million in 2013 Ehrlich owns Holiday Cocktail Bar in New York City (pictured) Ultimately, he views his loss as a unique kind of victory. 'I considered a huge victory, as you know, like in sports, when a team loses that sometimes they win the hearts of the fans. 'They win, you know, in other ways. And then there's another season. 'And I'm very, very upset and disappointed by the governor and the state of New York. 'Nobody gives a s**t.' It was meant to be the bachelorette weekend of a lifetime for 27-year-old Canada Rinaldi - a dazzling, unforgettable celebration just one month before she walked down the aisle to marry the love of her life, the father of her two children. For an entire year, she had meticulously planned every detail of her Dallas getaway -luxurious boat rides, indulgent brunches, a pole dancing class, and a wild night out with her closest friends. But in a shocking, random act of violence outside a club, Canada was brutally attacked - her dream weekend reduced to blood and chaos, leaving her with eight stitches on her forehead, a broken nose, two black eyes, three broken teeth, and a concussion. 'My entire right side of my face looks completely different. I don't even know how to describe it - it's just a different shape than it used to be. It's hard to tell if it's just swelling or if there's more damage underneath,' said Canada. 'She was covered in blood - there was a puddle on the street, and we couldn't even tell where the blood was coming from because it was everywhere,' Canada's 23-year-old sister Brieanna Rinaldi, told DailyMail.com, who was the only one in the group who witnessed the actual attack. 'At first, it seemed like he was reaching for her cowboy hat - but he swung his arm back and struck her. She collapsed on the concrete, face down,' said Brieanna. On Sunday, March 23, the bridesmaids had just left the club, Cash Cow, around 2am and were waiting for their Uber when, just as their ride approached, a man that has now been identified 27-year-old Trevor Woodards, suddenly came up behind Canada and punched her in the face, leaving her unconscious in the street. Having just been released on parole, he was arrested on Friday for the assault. Records show Woodards has a lengthy criminal history, including charges of assaulting a police officer, misdemeanor assault, and burglary. Canada Rinaldi, 27, was randomly attacked during her bachelorette party in Texas on Sunday, March 23. She's pictured enjoying her weekend before the random attack Canada's celebration was shattered when she was randomly attacked outside a club, leaving her with serious injuries, including eight stitches, a broken nose, two black eyes, and a concussion The incident was captured on Uber dashcam footage, revealing the attacker lurking before striking Canada said that she and her friends had no prior contact with Woodards. 'Since it was just a group of us, we didn't really pay any attention to anyone else. If we danced, we all danced together. I don't think anyone came up to us. Nobody bought us drinks. We didn't have any interaction with anyone else,' she explained. They only noticed him after reviewing their Uber's dash cam footage, where he was seen 'sitting on the curb watching us, and then, I guess as we come closer to the Uber, is when he gets up and comes behind us'. The footage also showed the terrifying moment when one of her bridesmaids, Kelly Peralta, tried to intervene, only to be punched as well and left with a black eye. 'She's very deserving to have the perfect day, and now she doesn't even want to plan her wedding because of everything that's happening,' Peralta told DailyMail.com. Peralta offered a chilling perspective on the attack, suggesting it wasn't as random as it initially appeared. 'There were girls standing directly in front of him while he was sitting on the curb in the video,' she explained. 'I think he targeted Canada, because she was in all white and the rest of us were in pink, so she was obviously the star of the show.' Tina Rinaldi, 29, Canada's older sister, painted a gut-wrenching picture of the aftermath, her voice raw with emotion and protective fury. Trevor Woodards (pictured), 27, was arrested in connection to Rinaldi's assault just days after being released on parole The attack, seemingly targeted at Canada due to her white attire, left her unconscious in the street 'I lifted her head, and all I could see was red. Her entire face was covered. I didn't know if she'd been stabbed or what - it was just so much blood,' said Tina Rinaldi, Canada's older sister 'She's the sweetest person in the world - not just in how she looks, but in who she is. And now, she has to deal with this. I just hope she stays strong and doesn't let it destroy her special day,' said Tina 'I ran after him, but then turned back around after a few seconds because there was no way I was going to catch that guy' she recounted, her voice shaking. What she returned to was a nightmare. 'I ran back to my sister, screaming. I dropped to my knees, yelling for someone to call 911. People looked me straight in the eyes - and did nothing.' The indifference of bystanders, the shock of seeing her sister's face drenched in blood, the frantic search for her phone - every second was pure chaos. 'I lifted her head, and all I could see was red. Her entire face was covered. I didn't know if she'd been stabbed or what - it was just so much blood,' recalled Tina. Tina said she's devastated for her little sister. 'My sister is my best friend. I'm supposed to protect her. And even though I know there was nothing I could've done - because this was just some psycho who decided to try to ruin her life - I still feel like I should have been the one it happened to or the one who stopped it,' Tina said, describing the rage she feels as suffocating. 'She's the sweetest person in the world - not just in how she looks, but in who she is. And now, she has to deal with this. I just hope she stays strong and doesn't let it destroy her special day.' For an entire year, Canada had meticulously planned every detail of her Dallas getaway - luxurious boat rides, indulgent brunches, a pole dancing class, and a wild night out. They are pictured together on the boat trip Canada said she wants the man who shattered her sister's bachelorette weekend to face the harshest punishment possible Tina wants the man who shattered her sister's bachelorette weekend to face the harshest punishment possible. 'If it hadn't been my sister, it would've been someone else. He was lurking, waiting, preying on women, just looking for the perfect opportunity,' she said. 'And if he isn't stopped, he'll do it again - if he hasn't already.' Despite the trauma, Canada said she is determined to go through with her wedding. 'We've been planning for a long time. We've put a lot of money into our venue. We have everything ready to go, and we've been anticipating it for a long time,' she explained. 'So as long as I'm healthy, we still love each other regardless of what I look like. So we don't see any reason to hold off.' That said, she can't help but worry about how she'll look on her big day. 'I've already talked to my photographer about editing out the scars, especially the one on my forehead where I have stitches and most of the damage. I'm also concerned my nose might not be straight. If it's not, I probably won't have it fixed until after the wedding.' The emotional toll was clear. 'It's one of those things that you don't ever think that will happen to you. Even when I see something about it on the news. I keep asking myself, 'Why? Why did this happen? Why did it happen to me?'' Pictured: The moment Canada was proposed to by her now fiance, whom she shares two sons with Her children, a four-year-old with autism and a two-year-old, were a source of both comfort and concern. 'They just know to be a little bit more careful,' Canada said, her voice softening. As for the attacker, Canada said he hopes he gets taken off the streets. 'He has to pay for what he did.' A GoFundMe has been made to raise money for Canada's unexpected medical bills, totaling around $10,000. A Kentucky man who was caught driving around several neighborhoods in Ohio throwing propaganda flyers on the ground made a chilling admission in court. William Bader admitted in court to leading a faction of the Ku Klux Klan and calls himself an 'imperial wizard' in the Trinity White Knights. However wasn't convicted in court because of the messages on his flyers. Since nearly all forms of speech are protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, a judge actually convicted him on two littering charges and directing others in his group to also litter similar flyers, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Police body camera footage showed the pieces of paper Bader threw out his car window in February said: 'Leave now. Self deport. Avoid Detention. Americans On Guard. Help us Protect our Homeland.' When municipal court Judge Bernie Bouchard confronted Bader in court and asked him how others might feel about his beliefs, the 47-year-old KKK devotee was unmoved and chillingly doubled down on his beliefs. 'I grew up like this and nobody's going to change me,' said Bader, who then pointed to the judge, the prosecutor and the officers who gave him the littering tickets. 'Not you, not you, not you.' Bader was ordered to assume court costs and pay $100 per ticket, which will likely add up to about $700. Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies pulled Bader over early in the morning on February 23 after they got a call that a man was littering the flyers in Lincoln Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati. William Bader, a self-professed 'imperial wizard' in the Trinity White Knights, a faction of the Ku Klux Klan, is seen on police body camera footage During the stop, Bader admitted to officers that he was the one throwing the flyers out into towns all throughout Ohio, not just in Cincinnati Bader also admitted to ripping down a flag (pictured in the police officer's hands) that said 'Peace and Love.' The flag had been hung weeks earlier in Lincoln Heights during a white supremacist rally Members of the Lincoln Heights neighborhood watch tailed Bader in his car until officer Jacob Hornback showed up and stopped him outside a home in Lockland at around 3am. Hornback's body cam footage showed Bader admitting to throwing out some 4,000 flyers. Initially though, Bader argued he shouldn't be ticketed because officers didn't personally see him doing it. Bader changed his tune once the officer explained that witnesses from Lockland saw him throwing out the flyers. He said he distributed them in 16 towns along I-75 on the way to Cincinnati, which is nearly three hours away from Toledo, where he said he started his journey the night before. 'It wasn't just me,' he was heard telling officers in the video. 'There's quite a few of us out tonight.' Bader also admitted to ripping down a flag put up by community members that had the words: 'Peace and Love.' That flag had been displayed over the I-75 overpass where weeks earlier, a group of white supremacists showed up for a public demonstration. A separate video from the neighborhood watch member showed an officer holding up that flag during the traffic stop of Bader. '[The officer] is trying to get me to go to jail... he took the flag that was hanging on the bridge that I took down,' Bader said to Hornback. Bader is pictured in a KKK 'imperial officer' uniform at a protest outside the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia in July 2015 Bader and roughly two dozen others were demanding that the government building reverse its decision to take down the Confederate flag At trial last week, Bader attempted to walk back all of his recorded statements detailing his precise role in the littering operation. He called the court corrupt and claimed his fingerprints weren't on the flyers. He added that he never threw them himself, but rather directed his fellow KKK members to do so. Bader also testified that he was raised as member of the KKK since he was a young child. In July 2015, Bader was photographed in a KKK 'imperial officer' uniform at a protest outside the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia. Bader and roughly two dozen others were demanding that the government building reverse its decision to take down the Confederate flag. To show support for their cause, they were seen waving around Confederate flags on the steps of the building. Counter-protestors were there as well and there were a number of arguments and skirmishes between the two sides, Al Jazeera reported at the time. Taking down the Confederate flag was a monumental shift for South Carolina, since it was the first state to secede from the union. Other southern states followed suit, leading to the Civil War, a four-year conflict that claimed the lives of nearly 600,000 Americans. They were not, so the polemic went, the work of 'puny' man, but instead those 'giants of Mars'. Yes, the Pyramids of Giza - those monuments to god-like splendour that have stood for more than 4,000 years - were built by aliens. That was the 'claim' made by American astronomer Garrett P. Serviss in his 1898 book Edison's Conquest of Mars. Perceptive readers will have noted that Serviss's work - an unauthorised re-write of HG Wells' 1897 alien invasion novel The War of the Worlds - was fictional. But it did popularise a theory that, even in more recent years, has continued to find traction. In 2020, billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk drew the scorn of experts when he took to Twitter - the social network that he bought in 2022 for $44billion - to write: 'Aliens built the pyramids obv'. Now, the discovery this month that an 'underground city' lies in a 'hidden world' beneath Egypt's most famous pyramids has again focused attention on the structures that have obsessed experts and amateurs alike for millennia. Just what could the vast network, which descends more than a mile into the sands, have been used for? The mysterious and commanding pyramids on the Giza plateau near Cairo The notion that alien life forms might have built the pyramids was popularised in the late 19th century Musk's comment five years ago prompted Egypt's international co-operation minister to say that seeing the tombs of the pyramid builders would be the proof that aliens did not construct them. Rania al-Mashat said: 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration. 'I invite you & Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. Mr. Musk, we are waiting for you.' Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass also waded into the bizarre row, saying in a video that Mr Musk's argument was a 'complete hallucination'. The largest of the three pyramids at Giza - the Great Pyramid - was built more than 4,500 years ago in around 2560BC for King Khufu, who was the second pharaoh of Ancient Egypt's fourth dynasty. Until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in the 14th century, it was the tallest building in the world. The pyramid, which was topped with a gold or electrum capping stone, was built as a sacred tomb for Khufu, who believed himself to be divine. The other two pyramids, built for pharaohs Menkaure and Khafre, were constructed decades later. Your browser does not support iframes. The notion that the structures were built by or with the help of aliens gained further traction with Swiss author Erich von Daniken's influential 1968 book Chariots of the Gods. He argued that Giza's Great Pyramid could not have been built without the help of advanced alien technology. The author wrote: 'If we meekly accept the neat package of knowledge that the Egyptologists serve up to us, ancient Egypt appears suddenly and without transition with a fantastic ready-made civilization. 'Great cities and enormous temples, colossal status with tremendous expressive power, splendid streets flanked by magnificent sculptures, perfect drainage systems, luxurious tombs carved out of the rock, pyramids of overwhelming size - these and many other wonderful things shot out of the ground, so to speak. 'Genuine miracles in a country that is suddenly capable of such achievements without recognizable prehistory!' He added: 'An artificial mountain, some 490 feet high and weighing 6,500,000 tons, stands there as evidence of an incredible achievement, and this monument is supposed to be nothing more than the burial place of an extravagant king! 'Anyone who can believe that explanation is welcome to it...' The late Belgian author Philip Coppens was similarly forthright in his 2011 book The Ancient Alien Question. The discovery this month that an 'underground city' lies in a 'hidden world' beneath Egypt's most famous pyramids has intrigued experts and amateurs alike. Above: A scan of the structures In his 1898 novel Edison's Conquest of Mars, American astronomer Garrett P. Serviss wrote that aliens had constructed the pyramids He said in one passage: 'If aliens built the Great Pyramid, then it needs to be argued that they were also responsible for at least some of the other pyramids in ancient Egypt.' But experts have rubbished any notion that beings from other planets might have been involved in the construction of the pyramids. Speaking on the BBC's History Extra podcast, British Egyptologist Professor Joyce Tyldesley said: 'It's almost almost sort of a bit like a form of racism, isn't it, that these people couldn't do it, so someone else must have done it.' 'But I think there's a bit more to it than that. Because prior to the idea of aliens helping build the pyramids, we had the idea that maybe people from Atlantis might have helped build the pyramids, and prior to that, we had the idea that God inspired builders to use the pyramid inch, a divinely inspired measurement to build the pyramids. 'So I think it's that there's always been a long succession of theories about how the pyramids might have been built, and as one is sort of superseded by the other. 'So it doesn't just come out of nowhere. I think it's a sort of changing and evolving belief as how the pyramids might have been built, and that's just the latest one that we have. 'As we become more interested in space and aliens, then they've sort of been attached to this theory as well.' However, mystery over the pyramids' construction remains. The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders which survives mostly intact The Great Pyramid was supposedly completed in 24 years. But it was built from 2.3million limestone blocks, with each one weighing between 2.5tons 70 tons. British writer Graham Hancock noted: 'Assuming the masons worked ten hours a day, 365 days a year, they would have needed to place one block every two minutes.' Writing more than 1,000 years ago, historian Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masudi invoked the notion of 'acoustic levitation' - the use of sound waves to make the blocks weightless. Al-Masudi said that an inscription written on papyrus was slipped beneath each block. When a note sounded, the stone would lift off the ground and then float into space. The latest discovery that cavernous spaces exist beneath the pyramids was made by researchers from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and the Italian University of Pisa. 'When we magnify the images we will reveal that beneath it lies what can only be described as a true underground city... an entire hidden world of many structures,' said Corrado Malanga, one of the archaeological researchers. Egypt's pyramids have long fascinated scholars and are still turning up astonishing revelations It remains a mystery how much older than the pyramids the structures are. It is also unknown was their purpose is, but they are connected by geometric passages. Even more spectacular are eight vertical columns that descend 2,1245feet into a pair of huge chambers. The depth is is almost five times the height of the Khafre Pyramid. The cylinders are aligned in two rows of four that run north to south. Given that the edges of the Great Pyramids face exactly north, south, east and west, the arrangements of the cylinders is certain to be significant. And around each pillar is a staircase-like walkway. The discovery of the underground structures piles further intrigue on a subject that is endlessly fascinating. Scholars all over the world - and amateurs who follow every development avidly - will be waiting to see what findings emerge next. Britain 'cannot trust' America with top secret information after 'moronic amateurs' in Donald Trump's administration leaked war plans on a messaging app, a former SAS hero and a British spymaster have warned. Military hardman Chris Ryan feared the lives of British and American spies could be at risk following the extraordinary security blunder by senior US officials - and warned similar failures would likely happen again during Trump's second term in office. 'Under Trump, the Americans have lost their way, and you can't trust them,' warned the ex-22 SAS Staff Sergeant, who famously escaped capture in Iraq on an ill-fated mission with Bravo Two Zero during the first Gulf War. 'When you have got people who have been read in and have access to top secret information, but they're allowed to put all this into a group with people who have no place being there, that's a big concern. It's moronic.' While Colonel Philip Ingram, a former officer in British military intelligence, today warned the White House was now being run by a gaggle of 'amateurs' who had permanently damaged America's standing as the 'leaders of the free world'. 'This is embarrassing at the highest possible level. It will take the US a long, long time to recover from this,' he told MailOnline. 'A bunch of amateurs are now the leaders of the free world, at a political level.' It came as bungling members of the President's top team continue to be ridiculed for inadvertently adding an American journalist into a group on messaging app Signal, where sensitive details of US airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen were shared. US Vice President JD Vance and other senior members, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz, were part of the chat chain - which was exposed by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic magazine. SAS legend Chris Ryan has lashed out over the messages which he feared had put lives at risk The bombshell new messages Goldberg shared in his follow-up article include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) detailing the weapons systems and timings of the strikes before they were carried out earlier this month Pictured is the aftermath in Sana'a, Yemen, after US strikes on March 19 against Houthi rebels The White House initially went on the offensive against Goldberg after he revealed on Monday how he had been added to the group, with Trump branding him a 'total sleazebag' for uncovering the incredible security gaffe. As the political maelstrom continues to rage around the extraordinary gaffe, Waltz today admitted: 'I take full responsibility. I built the group. My job is to make sure everything is coordinated,' before conceding 'it's embarrassing'. Special forces veteran Ryan, who has since become a best-selling author, said during his 10-year stint in the famed 'He Who Dares Wins' regiment that America's operational security had been renowned. 'It was 100 per cent,' he said. However, the ex-elite operator now feared this had been eroded by 'muppets running around' Washington sharing sensitive military secrets in mobile phone groups. 'The outcome of this could be catastrophic and will cost someone their life. And in the next four years we will see a lot more of this happening,' he added. Security rules by Britain mean sensitive information that could compromise military operations is banned from being shared on unsecured, personal phones or computers. A former head of the British Army has already claimed the lives of Royal Air Force pilots had been put at risk as a result of the breach. A British Voyager plane was reportedly used to refuel American jets defending the aircraft carrier that launched the strikes on March 15, killing more than 50 people. One bombshell message shows Hegseth detailing a timeline and weapons systems to be used in an attack on 31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched and two hours before the window to take out a Houthi 'terrorist target' on March 15 Hegseth ensured they were 'clean on OPSEC' or operational security and said more on the timeline would follow In another series of leaked messages, Hegseth shared his 'loathing' of European 'free-loaders' Flames are seen rising in the sky in Yemen on March 19 after more US airstrikes Speaking to The Telegraph, former head of the Army General Lord Richard 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.' The blunder in the States could now have serious consequences for what sort of intelligence information is shared by British spooks with their US counterparts, defence sources have said. However, Col Ingram - who claims to have previously been involved in top secret intelligence briefings - said information would continue to flow across the Atlantic. But he warned British intelligence chiefs would likely insist that American spies in the CIA hold off on sharing full details with American politicians, for fears it could be leaked. 'I have been in intelligence briefings with the US that start with top secret and go through handling caveats and compartments that I was aware of and some that I was not aware of. Some will have "NOFORN" at the end of it, which means "no foreigners". Colonel Philip Ingram, a former officer in British military intelligence, said he was concerned A British Voyager plane was reportedly used to refuel American jets defending the aircraft carrier that launched the strikes in Yemen on March 15, killing more than 50 people. his image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025 Former head of Army Lord Dannatt says the accidental sharing of messages when a White House group chat on Yemen was leaked endangered RAF pilots 'A lot of what goes on with the intelligence community is you have the rules and then the personal relationships and I have no doubt these personnel relationships and this information will be continued to be shared,' Col Ingram said. He added: 'I cannot imagine any circumstance where we or the US could withdraw from it.' As Trump and his allies continue to scramble to respond to the fiasco, Nato leaders have expressed further concern about America's traditional standing as an ally. Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, said the Signal leak meant allied nations must increasingly 'look out for ourselves' as trust frays with a once-close ally. Carney warned the intelligence blunder was a 'serious, serious issue and all lessons must be taken'. He added it would be critical to see 'how people react to those mistakes and how they tighten them up'. The comments come as the White House suffered yet another humiliating blow, after reporters on a German newspaper were allegedly able to uncover private data and passwords belonging to top US officials online. Der Spiegel claims to have exposed the contact details - including mobile phone numbers, email addresses and passwords - of Trump's most important security advisers by trawling the internet and looking at hacked customer data previously leaked online. Among those reportedly affected included National Security Adviser Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Defense Hegseth. Vice President JD Vance was also in the 'Houthi PC small group' chat on Signal Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) points to text messages by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during an annual worldwide threats assessment hearing in Washington DC on March 26 Most of these numbers and email addresses are apparently still in use, with some of them linked to profiles on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, the paper claimed. There are also WhatsApp profiles for the respective phone numbers and even Signal accounts in some cases - casting fresh doubt on whether enemies of the West like Russia, North Korea or Iran could also have uncovered them. Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Trump's Ukraine and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, when he was added to the Signal group, CBS reports. Witkoff arrived in the Russian capital shortly after midday local time on March 13, according to data from the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. About 12 hours later, he was added to the 'Houthi PC small group' chat on Signal, along with other top Trump administration officials - including a CIA intelligence officer. Witkoff did not message in the group while he was in Russia, US journalist Mr Goldberg said. And speaking on Wednesday during a briefing at the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Witkoff did not have his personal device or his government-issued phone with him in Moscow. People inspect the damage around a building after US airstrikes in Sana'a, Yemen, on March 24 He was given access to a 'classified protected server by the United States government, and he was very careful about his communications when he was in Russia', she added. Col Ingram feared the potential risk of intelligence sources being compromised by the US was now at an all-time high. Speaking of the blunder on Signal, he added: 'This is a breach at the highest level. Its unprecedented. It's down to arrogance and ignorance. We have a bunch of relatively inexperienced people rocketing to senior levels as political appointees. 'It's a concern.' Neil Melvin, a security expert at defense think tank the Royal United Services Institute, called it 'pretty shocking.' 'It's some of the most high-ranking U.S. officials seeming to display a complete disregard for the normal security protocols,' he said. However, Downing Street has insisted relations are not strained. 'We have a very close relationship with the US on matters of security, defense and intelligence,' said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman, Dave Pares. 'They are our closest ally when it comes to these matters, have been for many years and will be for many years to come.' Rachel Gilmour may look like a fresh-faced teenager just starting her career, but she's been shattering expectations as one of the world's youngest airline captains. Though it's hard to officially confirm, she's certainly matched the record set by Kate McWilliams in 2019, becoming the world's youngest female commercial airline captain at just 26 years old. Rachel told the Telegraph: 'People love to label stories, but I'm definitely one of the youngest female captains around.' Her youthful looks often spark confusion with passengers on her flights for Loganair, a Scottish airline. Many mistake her for cabin crew, which she remarks is 'just gender stereotyping,' adding 'in winter especially, when I wear my jumper, theres nothing saying that I am Captain. I think its because I dont have my stripes on.' Despite occasional misunderstandings from passengers, Rachel says the crew members are nothing but supportive: 'Ive been supported by the team and my colleagues and nothing [derogatory] has ever been said to me.' While female pilots are becoming less of a rarity, the numbers are still low. Women make up just 6 percent of pilots worldwide. Yet, Rachel remains determined to be a role model for young girls aspiring to join the industry, especially with the rise in female pilot licences. Rachel Gilmour may look like a fresh-faced teenager just starting her career, but she's been shattering expectations as one of the world's youngest airline captains Between 2019 and 2023, the UK saw a 26 percent increase in female pilot licences, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. A huge barrier to becoming a pilot is the cost. Training can set students back 100,000, making aviation seem out of reach for many. However, Rachel took a different route, earning her private pilot's licence before pursuing her commercial qualifications while gaining on-the-job experience. 'You've got to be determined,' she says. 'The exams are tough.' Her hard work paid off, and at just 26, she became a captain - just five years over the minimum legal age for commercial pilots. In the cockpit, Rachel explains, there are two seats: the captain's on the left and the first officer's on the right. However, Rachel took a different route, earning her private pilot's licence before pursuing her commercial qualifications while gaining on-the-job experience While both work together, it's the captain who bears the final responsibility: 'There are tough decisions to make. It's a big jump in responsibility.' Despite the challenges, Rachel's favourite flight is still the stunning route from Glasgow to Stornoway over the Outer Hebrides. 'There's nothing like a clear, sunny day flying over the sea. Even though the routes are the same, the weather and conditions always make each flight unique.' She even took her parents on the scenic Stornoway route, showing them her world. 'It was a special moment. As much as I tell them what I do, they only truly understand when they experience it.' Rachel's journey to the cockpit began when she was still in school. At the time, she wasn't interested in the traditional university route. 'I knew I wanted something dynamic,' she recalls. 'I love travel, and I knew aviation was the right fit for me.' Two young elders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) were shocked to hear that a major FBI bust went down in the Virginia suburb where they were preaching. The two teenagers from the Salt Lake City area were out on a mission trip in Woodbridge, Virginia, to minister to those who would listen about Mormonism. Elder Ford and Elder Collings have lived in northern Virginia for months and they have been tasked with converting locals and spreading information on their religion. Originally, they approached DailyMail.com to speak about the LDS church, but soon the conversation revolved around the news of the day: the FBI arresting a high-profile cartel leader just minutes away. While out ministering, the young men were not allowed access to the internet, they revealed, adding they hadn't heard the shocking news. According to the FBI, a top MS-13 cartel leader, Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, who was originally from El Salvador, had infiltrated the neighborhood, which is just a 30 minute drive from the White House. Santos was the one of the cartel's top three U.S.-based operatives. The mormons, who had spent their day walking around local streets unaware of the gang activity in the area, were floored by the news. 'It's super crazy that he was here in Woodbridge,' Elder Collings told DailyMail.com. 'I didn't think this is that much of a crazy place.' Both LDS members were shocked to hear that a top MS-13 cartel leader was arrested in the neighborhood they have been assigned to spread Mormonism FBI Director Kash Patel, right, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, left, listen during a news conference about an MS-13 gang leader who was arrested in an operation by the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force, at the Manassas FBI Field Office, Thursday, March 27, 2025 Collings shared that the neighborhood appears 'low key,' and the fact that a top suspected drug trafficker lived there is 'a shocker to hear.' 'I think that's super cool that they were able to get him and be able to put him in jail,' he told DailyMail.com. 'It's super good that we're able to be safe here now, now that he's no longer out on the streets just doing bad things to people.' His evangelical partner, Elder Ford, who was also stunned, agreed. 'That's good to have him behind bars where he belongs,' Ford told DailyMail.com, admitting, 'I worry about safety a lot of times.' 'Every morning we wake up and we pray for safety, so just knowing that this world is a little bit safer because of the police force and things like that, things that they've done to help protect us and makes us feel safe, makes us feel happy.' The early morning raid in Dale City, Virginia, which neighbors Woodbridge, was attended by FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Santos was arrested on gun charges following the raid, in which authorities discovered four firearms and a golden silencer. Ford shared he was happy the Trump administration was sending a message by attending the raids. A picture of the early morning operation posted by Bondi on Thursday with the caption: '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' Inmates remain in a cell at the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) mega-prison, where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are being held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador on January 27, 2025 Images of the firearms the FBI and DOJ recovered from Santos' residence 'They're probably trying to send a message a little bit, sending the higher ups, making sure they know that this isn't OK.' 'Especially as being a member of a church, you know, to try to make sure that everything is safe for children and the next generation to come, they're just making sure that crime can stay under control.' Other residents in the neighborhood also expressed their dismay over the cartel bust. Another local, Willard, told the Daily Mail: 'I'm totally surprised to hear that. You know, Woodbridge is somewhat of an inconspicuous area.' 'I am definitely surprised to hear that,' he added. 'I was aware that there was gang activity, but nothing to that scale.' George, who works in the area, said: 'They should, like I just said, go back, get deported back to their country. We don't need criminals like this.' 'I'm happy that Trump's doing something about it,' he added. Though one man told DailyMail.com the signs of gang infiltration were clear before Santos was arrested on Thursday. 'I know they got MS-13's here, but did not know the leader was here,' he shared. 'That's ridiculous.' Lester, a Woodbridge, Virginia, resident, said the signs of local cartel infiltration were evident as the cartel had clearly marked its territory. 'They be going around painting people cars and and stuff, putting they MS-13 on cars and people houses,' he revealed, adding he was glad federal authorities stepped in. Nineteen years after Jennifer Kesse disappeared, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new tip line, hoping to generate fresh leads in the long-unsolved case. Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse, remains hopeful that even the smallest piece of information could be the key to finding his daughter. 'We have been fielding leads for 19 years, to be quite honest with you. And we still get them on a weekly basis. It's absolutely incredible,' Kesse told Fox 35 Orlando. The FDLE's initiative aims to direct information straight to law enforcement rather than the family. 'It took nineteen years, but I think it's a smart deal to give people the opportunity to speak up in any way, shape, manner or form right to the authorities.' he added. Jennifer vanished on January 24, 2006, after returning from a trip with her boyfriend. She was last seen at her Orlando condo. When she failed to show up for work the next day, her family grew alarmed. Inside her condo, everything appeared normal - her pajamas were on the floor, a damp towel lay by the shower, and her hair tools were out. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new tip line, hoping to generate fresh leads in the long-unsolved case of Jennifer Kesse Jennifer's father, Drew Kesse, remains hopeful that even the smallest piece of information could be the key to finding his daughter But her car, phone, purse, and keys were gone. Two days later, her car was found abandoned a mile away at another condo complex. Surveillance footage captured an unidentified individual parking it and walking away, but their face was obscured by fencing. Despite efforts to enhance the footage with the involvement of NASA, the person - believed to be a man around 5'3' to 5'5' with large feet and workman's clothes - has never been identified. Over the past 19 years, 14,000 tips have been submitted, rewards have been offered, and numerous people have been questioned, yet no solid evidence has emerged. 'It's just unfathomable that we don't even have any direction,' Drew previously told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. He remains convinced that someone knows what happened. Jennifer Kesse's father Drew Kesse (pictured together) hopes that, after 19 years, the family will finally get the truth about what happened to her Jennifer's dad fears she was abducted and immediately trafficked out of the US by someone she didn't know 'More than one person knows what happened,' he said, urging them to come forward. The Kesse family has long criticized the initial police response. 'The first police officer looked round her apartment and said 'oh she probably had a fight with her boyfriend, she'll be back' and walked out. And that's when we lost Jennifer.' At the time, Florida law didn't require immediate searches for missing adults, prompting the passage of the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act in 2008. Frustrated with the investigation, the family sued to access case records in 2018. They uncovered overlooked evidence, including signs of a possible struggle on Jennifer's car that were never tested for DNA. 'So we lost a lead there too,' he said. 'There was a lot of things that were not done as it wasn't taken seriously. The family has spent over $700,000 searching for answers. In 2022, FDLE took over the case, reigniting hope. Investigators have spoken to over 60 people in the past year, followed dozens of leads, and submitted evidence for new DNA testing. Surveillance footage captured a person of interest leaving Jennifer's car at another condo complex on the day she disappeared Grainy footage shows a figure who cops want to speak to Jennifer's dad is hopeful a new team of investigators and a chilling piece of surveillance footage will finally hold the key to bringing his daughter home 'They have put full energy into trying to find out what happened to Jennifer,' he said. 'It seems as though now, after 19 years, it's Jennifer's time.' Theories about her disappearance have pointed to construction workers at her condo complex, some of whom made Jennifer uncomfortable. A set of keys had also been stolen around the time she vanished. Her father believes she was abducted and likely trafficked. 'I think it was a job for someone - probably to pay off a debt of some sort - and they came, did the job and then left. I don't think she is in the country and I don't think she was in the country very quickly,' he said. 'I don't think it was about Jennifer but they wanted a beautiful white woman with blue eyes and blond hair.' After years of searching, he has come to terms with the belief that Jennifer is no longer alive, though her mother still holds hope. 'I believe Jennifer will have fought at some point - we taught her to fight - and I think she took her chances...I think she's no longer with us.' Time is running out, he fears. 'The sad thing is people might be dead by this time. We've had detectives who have worked on the case who have passed away,' Drew Kesse said. The Kesse family has spent 19 years and around $700,000 desperately searching for the missing 24-year-old When Jennifer's car was found back in 2006, investigators noticed signs of what appeared to be a struggle on the hood of the vehicle (pictured) The Mosaic at Millenia condo complex in Orlando where Jennifer lived. Inside her condo, everything appeared to be as it should be on the morning of her disappearance 'People we wanted to talk to who have passed away. That person [who took Jennifer] might no longer be here, they might have passed or might be in another country. Obviously the longer things go on, the less chances you have.' Jennifer was declared legally dead in 2016, and her family recently parted with her car, having exhausted all possible forensic testing. For Kesse, the hardest part has been realizing that 'life goes on' while his daughter remains missing. 'We're strong people. We don't have a choice, well we do have a choice. We can go around the corner and cry but we choose to be proactive and to try to find our daughter to this day. Kesse is determined that he'll never stop looking for Jennifer. 'We're never going to give up trying and doing everything we can. My biggest hope is that we can bring Jennifer home before Joyce and I pass. I was 48 when this started and I'm 68 now. I don't want to leave this for her brother,' Kesse said. 'I don't want to go to my grave not knowing where my daughter is. 'I don't expect her to be alive. I don't expect her to come back home to daddy. I do expect her to be found and identified.' Information on Kesse can be sent to the email: OROCColdCaseTips@fdle.state.fl.us The two women who were drugged, raped and killed by a Hollywood wannabe were actually responsible for their own tragic demise, the convicted killer's new lawyer claims. A Los Angeles jury last month found David Pearce guilty of murder in the gruesome deaths - and sexual abuse - of friends Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, an interior designer, and model Christy Giles, 24. Prosecutors argued he plied the two women with a lethal cocktail of drugs and booze at his Beverly Hills home before they fell unconscious and later died. Autopsies showed Giles died of a mixture of cocaine, fentanyl, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and ketamine, while Cabrales-Arzola died of multiple organ failure with cocaine, ecstasy and other undetermined drugs found in her system. Pearce was also found guilty of a slew of brutal sex abuses on seven Jane Does - women he preyed on between 2007 and 2021 before his murder spree. But now attorney Ronda Dixon claims the lifestyles of the two women were to blame for the their November 2021 deaths - and that there was no evidence to back up prosecution claims they were also raped by Pearce. It's my opinion that when you use drugs as heavily as those two young ladies did, it's not a question of if you will overdose - it's only a question of when you will overdose yourself, asserts Dixon. Because you will take too much trying to chase the dragon. Attorney Ronda Dixon insists her client did not murder Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola and Christy Giles David Pearce, 43, pictured in court in July 2022 The lifeless bodies of Giles (left) and Cabrales-Arzola were found outside of two separate Los Angeles hospitals after a night of partying with Pearce and his friends in Los Angeles 'You will take too much trying to get that same feeling that you're not going to get. Your tolerance gets higher and higher. And eventually you overdose yourself. She adds of Pearce, 43, I'm not saying he's the best person in the world, but I don't think that he killed these two young ladies. They overdosed and that was unfortunate. However, Dixon insists Cabrales-Arzola and Giles were used to doing a lot of drugs before they ever met her client, adding it is sad his previous defense attorneys did not investigate into the two young ladies and their rave lifestyle. The womens deaths, says Dixon, were more likely an accidental overdose, rather than murder. Furthermore, she says, Of course the families are upset - but there's no evidence that either of the girls were raped. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that the LAPD presented rape allegations against Pearce at least three times between 2007 and 2020, but the District Attorneys office ultimately chose not to prosecute. Cabrales-Arzolas sister exclusively told DailyMail.com the criminal justice system failed, and that her beloved sibling and Giles would be alive today if action had been taken earlier against Pearce. Pearce is seen with Cabrales-Arzola on the evening she and Giles died 'They paid the highest possible price for a failure that never should have happened, said Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola, 28. 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. '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 said of Pearces conviction, 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. when you use drugs as heavily as those two young ladies did, it's not a question of if you will overdose - it's only a question of when you will overdose yourself Attorney Ronda Dixon 'Were finally happy that that came true and the jury saw that as well and now Pearce will be in jail forever.' Meanwhile, Dixon says her client is currently being held in squalor at the notorious Mens Central Jail in downtown LA while he awaits sentencing. He is escorted in waist chains by three guards when she visits him. Pearce is basically in solitary confinement which isnt fair, adds Dixon, who likens the facility to a dungeon. Sentencing for Pearce had been scheduled for March 13 but was delayed after he fired his trial attorney, Jeff Voll, and appointed Dixon. He is facing a possible 128 years to life in state prison. During the trial, it was sensationally revealed that Pearce told a friend dead girls cant talk which prosecutors said indicated he wanted the two women to expire so they couldnt report him to police after meeting them at a warehouse party a few hours earlier. Brandt Osborn (pictured in 2022), was arrested while shooting a scene for NCIS. He pled not guilty and the jury could not agree on a verdict Cabrales-Arzola - described as a 'big dreamer' - pictured in 2019 while holding a colorful bouquet presented to her during her college graduation Disgraced wannabe Hollywood producer David Pearce was found guilty of the murder of friends Giles and Cabrales-Arzola. They became unconscious at his Beverly Hills home after he gave them a fatal cocktail of drugs and alcohol - and later died The jury failed to reach a verdict on whether Pearce's actor roommate Brandt Osborn, 45, who pled not guilty, should be convicted on two counts of being an accessory after the fact. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 7 to hear if prosecutors will seek a retrial. Prosecutors argued Pearce and Osborn, who were tried jointly, let crucial hours tick by before taking the women to hospital after they passed out. As doctors tried in vain to resuscitate the women, the two men ate a chicken meal at El Pollo Loco. Dixon says her request for a retrial will likely focus on three main areas. She will claim ineffective assistance of counsel and says there was a breakdown in communications and cooperation between Pearce and Voll who she called a bit rude and dismissive. Pearce, she says, wanted to emphasize certain things as part of his defense but Voll didn't want to. She also says there was a conflict of interest because Pearce and Osborn jointly met with attorney Michael Artan, who ended up defending Osborn, prior to trial. The pair met at the same time and discussed their case, says Dixon, which would create an automatic conflict of interest. Some of the things he (Artan) learned in the joint conference between the two could have been used against Pearce. Dixon also intends to counter claims made by prosecutors - that Pearce and Osborn fled after callously dumping the lifeless bodies of the two women outside two LA area hospitals. According to Pearce's new attorney Dixon, 'when you use drugs as heavily as those two young ladies did, it's not a question of if you will overdose - it's only a question of when' Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles where Pearce is currently behind bars while awaiting sentencing on June 30 'One of the worst parts of this case is the district attorney's characterization that there was somebody out there targeting models, overdosing them and dropping them off in front of hospitals like a piece of trash, she contends. I reviewed the video and that's not what happened. Pearce stayed with them for a long time waiting and knocking on the door. She says Pearce wasnt wearing a mask at the time he and Osborn drove the women to hospital and wasnt allowed inside due to Covid restrictions. Staff gave him a mask and he put the mask on and he was emphatically asking for someone to come and help. He was there for quite a while. He and Brandt helped to put the body on the gurney or in the wheelchair and they handed over her purse and phone. They didn't run away. They didn't shy away from questions that were asked either. They were asking Is there anything we can do? The hospital employee said no, so they left. Zealous prosecutors, say adds, used trumped up charges against Pearce and relied on previous sex-abuse claims by other women to bolster their case - claims that were originally rejected by the District Attorney. She says prosecutors were looking to file sensational charges against Pearce. 'It's gotta be something that's heinous, that'll blind people to really look for the truth because at the end of the day, two beautiful young women died. The thinking was that somebody seems to be responsible for it - and, unfortunately, he (Pearce) was there.' Dixon denies Pearce murdered the two women. Instead, she claims, they took too much drugs and they fell asleep. 'And when they woke up later on, it had metabolized through their body too much to do anything about it. Referencing how Pearce and Osborn eventually drove the women to hospital, she said, It sets a bad precedent to hold people accountable when they actually try to help.' David Pearce (right) is pictured with disgraced porn star Ron Jeremy in 2009 Pearce (right) is pictured with his mother Ilene Pearce, 78 A friend of Pearce who was partying with the group hours before the women died, testified he told him dead girls cant talk. But Dixon claims the testimony should not have been allowed because it was highly prejudicial and merely hearsay. She says she told Pearce at the beginning of his legal troubles that his defense would cost at least a hundred thousand but he told her the amount was too much. 'David didn't want to get taken advantage of but he chose his attorneys,' Dixon recalls. 'They just charged him money and didn't really do anything. 'When you have heinous charges like this, it makes people leery of being associated with you. 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. In this extract from Douglas Murrays new book, the renowned author describes how Hamas cynically ignores the laws of war, using civilians as human shields and even stashing its weapons in childrens bedrooms. As they accuse Israel of 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza and scream for Intifada holy war pro-Palestine protesters have been heard to suggest that the young people whom Hamas terrorists so viciously slaughtered at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 deserved it because 'the place where Zionists decided to rave was next to a concentration camp' i.e. Gaza. Accusing the Jews of setting up a concentration camp has been a constant claim against the Jewish state ever since it withdrew from the Strip in 2005. But it is an absurdity. When Israel handed over Gaza, its population was around 1.3 million. By 2023 it was more than 2 million. That would make it the first concentration camp in history in which the population actually grew. There was no population boom in Auschwitz in the 1940s. So why the claim? It was for the same reason that Israel is so glibly accused of being 'Nazi-like' in its actions to wound and hurt the Jewish state as deeply as possible by smearing it with the most powerful terms in Jewish history. The 'concentration camp' claim was supposedly based on the fact that Israel imposed carefully controlled border checks on Gaza and that supplies were sometimes unfairly kept out. But these were necessary precautions because, from the very start of Hamas taking full control of Gaza, it was stockpiling weapons to attack Israel, bringing them in under the guise of food and provisions. Any and all trade was a means to transport weapons or anything else that would further Hamas's war aims. When, for example, the Israeli authorities tried to crack down on building supplies entering the Strip, knowing that much of this material was being used by Hamas to build its tunnel network, they were condemned by the international community and accused of denying the people of Gaza their rights. But the truth is that while Hamas's paymasters and mouthpieces in the region and across the West were proclaiming that Gaza was a concentration camp, it was a place that much of the rest of the region would envy. Even in 2010, while Western media talked about Gaza as constituting one great humanitarian catastrophe, it boasted fancy restaurants, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and shopping malls. The Lonely Planet guidebook noted that at the Roots Club in Gaza you could 'dine on steak au poivre and chicken cordon bleu'. Reconstruction was under way thanks to input from Qatar. In 2020, a Hamas leader acknowledged publicly that people who came to Gaza could not believe that this was Gaza, because it was so beautiful, with promenades and restaurants and so forth. A man carries on his shoulders a young child holding an assault rifle and wearing military fatigues during a rally held in the Huthi-controlled capital Sanaa on October 18, 2024 in protest against Israel's attacks on Lebanon and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip Hamas very much ran things their own way, for instance on one occasion burning to the ground a UN-run summer camp for Palestinian children, and threatening the UN staff with murder because it was deemed 'un-Islamic'. But still the living standards in Gaza were high for the region. There were no Olympic pools in Yemen; no peaceful promenades in Sudan. Yet the Hamas authorities insisted simultaneously that this place was under 'siege' and that Gaza was beautiful. Nothing had to be the way it now is in Gaza. Things could have panned out differently after Israel unilaterally handed over the Strip in 2005, one of the most difficult and divisive decisions in modern Israeli history. Benjamin Netanyahu resigned as finance minister in Ariel Sharon's government over it. The territory (which had previously belonged to Egypt) had been captured by Israel during the war of 1967. Thereafter, policing it was a continual headache that cost lives, to the point where the Israeli government, despite concerns about what an independent Gaza might become, chose to leave. But the Egyptian government would not play ball, making it clear it had no interest in taking back Gaza and wanted no role in governing its million or so Arabs. So the territory with its infrastructure that included greenhouses for agricultural work was handed over to the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah political party. The following year, 2006, under pressure from the US, elections were held in Gaza, in which the Iranian-backed forces of Hamas beat Fatah convincingly, then solidified its grip on power by murdering Fatah officials in Gaza. Scores of Palestinians were executed in the streets, thrown off tall buildings, shot in the back, and in some cases had their bodies dragged through the streets tied to the backs of motorbikes driven by exultant Hamas militants. From that day on, there has not been another election in Gaza. Money, though, poured into the territory. For almost two decades taxpayers in Europe and North America contributed billions through direct aid and through international aid programmes. Without exception, it ended up in the hands of Hamas. Anything that came in, from the lowliest food truck to the largest suitcase of cash, went straight to them. Former Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar (centre) holds the child of an Al-Qassam Brigades fighter who was killed in fighting with Israel in May 2021. Sinwar himself was killed by the IDF in October 2024 For years the Israelis warned the outside world that UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, through which much of the money passed, was part of Hamas's network but they were ignored. It seemed that governments in the West didn't care where the money went in Gaza, just so long as they kept sending it. Even when the Israelis pointed out that UNRWA was teaching young Gazans not to aspire to a better life but instead to see killing the 'Zionists' as life's ultimate goal, the Western taxpayers kept paying them money. And it kept coming even when the Israelis pointed out that food and every other provision was being diverted by Hamas for their own means. When the world was told that the Israelis were somehow starving the booming population of Gaza, the Israelis knew the real reason that those in charge in Gaza were not only pursuing an agenda of their own but also had their hands in the till. By the start of the 2023 war, the international community had made every Hamas leader into a billionaire. Ismail Haniyeh, Moussa Abu Marzouk and Khaled Mashal were estimated to have a combined worth of some 8.5 billion. Haniyeh alone, the leader of the Hamas politburo, was worth more than 3 billion. While claiming that their people were living in a poverty-stricken concentration camp, these leaders lived in luxury hotels and penthouses in Qatar. Every dollar they stole was money that could have been used to actually improve the lives of Palestinians. They might even have actually created the Singapore on the Mediterranean that so many people hoped for when Gaza was handed to the Palestinians in 2005, instead of living the high life in Doha, buying weapons and building tunnels for terrorists. Inside Gaza, where I was taken by the IDF, the Israeli Defence Force, I visited those tunnels that Hamas had constructed during their 18 years in power. When people think of a tunnel network, many imagine small scurry-holes. In fact, besides being longer than the entire London Underground, the network was also much more elaborate. In the 140 square miles of Gaza, Hamas built more than 350 miles of tunnels, with around 6,000 entrances. Many of these were hidden in civilian houses, mosques, hospitals and other non-military buildings. Writer Douglas Murray says spending time with Israeli troops has convinced him that Hamas is a 'death cult' Along with storing weapons in such places, this is a breach of the Geneva Conventions, which are meant to preclude an army hiding military infrastructure in civilian buildings. Doing such a thing obviously puts civilians at risk. But this was one of Hamas's tools of war. Where most countries would seek to protect its civilians, Hamas had a stated aim of using them as human shields. They knew that no country would be able to tolerate the build-up of rockets and other military infrastructure to be used against it, but they also knew that whenever Israel targeted a 'civilian' facility in which Hamas had put its infrastructure, it would be Israel that the world would condemn. Hamas had virtually a free rein to embed its military and terror infrastructure in every part of the Strip. And this was the situation the IDF faced when it advanced into Gaza after the October 7 atrocity to try to rescue hostages and root out Hamas. While much of the world was blaming Israel, I spoke to an IDF officer whose job was to go from building to building in Gaza looking for weapons and tunnel entrances. An American by birth, Major 'Y' went to Israel immediately after October 7 to use his expertise. What he saw shocked even him. Stories had already emerged in the international press about Hamas explosives being found smuggled inside children's toys, but these were just the start. By two months into the war his estimate was that every two to three civilian homes in Gaza contained AK-47s, grenades and rocket launchers or tunnel entrances. From very early, he and his team had worked out where to search whenever they entered a civilian house. They no longer bothered with the main rooms, the kitchens or the parents' bedroom. They now went straight to the children's bedrooms. That was where tunnel entrances and weapons were generally located, including under cots. Major 'Y' had recently found a rocket-propelled grenade under a crib. While back in Israel families built safe rooms to protect their children from rockets, these Gazan families actually used their families to protect their rockets. I heard similar stories from many other soldiers, plus details of the books they found inside homes, indicating how radicalised the population had become. Palestinians flooded the streets of Gaza by the tens of thousands on December 15, 2007, to show support for Hamas Copies of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf in Arabic were common in civilian homes, as well as tracts like 'How to kill Jews'. It was the same in every United Nations school they went into. The major told me: 'Every school and kindergarten we go into we find guns in the basement. 'In each one we found more than ten AK-47s, machine guns, and grenades.' And every mosque and place of worship. While Hamas was claiming their members were devout Muslims, they had no problem at all putting tunnel entrances and hiding large stores of weaponry inside Gaza's mosques again against every rule of war. Whether schools, hospitals or mosques, Hamas's cynical strategy turned out to work. If they could hide their armoury in civilian buildings, then whenever the IDF even searched such a building the terrorists could rely on the world turning on Israel for such a flagrant breach of etiquette. I asked Major 'Y' why Israeli troops treated even people coming towards them with white flags with suspicion. He told me how recently a group of old men and women had emerged from a building waving a white flag. Suddenly a terrorist came out from among them and started shooting at the soldiers. They knew that because of the civilians, the Israelis could not and would not shoot back. Situations like this happen every day, according to the major and numerous other soldiers I spoke to on the battlefield. Among the many laws of war that Hamas cynically ignores is that members of its terror army dress as civilians. They operate in civilian areas, out of civilian buildings, and dress in civilian clothing. They do so in the knowledge that this makes it easier for their gunmen to operate and the certainty that if civilians are caught up in it, that will be a public relations advantage to Hamas. The major told me of a recent incident when his unit spotted an old woman in a wheelchair alone on a street corner, 'looking like my grandmother'. As they approached her they were suddenly fired on by a Hamas terrorist lying flat on the ground underneath her wheelchair. For Hamas, using an elderly, disabled woman as a human shield is normal operating procedure. A boy points a toy gun as he balances on the head of his father as Hamas supporters shout slogans against Israeli military action in Gaza, during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Nablus Israel on July 31 2014 How do you fight an enemy that wants you to wound and kill people on its own side The question of how any army is meant to fight in such a situation is a terrible conundrum. What the IDF were up against, this disregard for the lives of others, was shown by Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas enforcer who was imprisoned by the Israelis in 1989 for the murder of four Palestinians he had believed were informers. In prison, his life was saved when a tumour was removed from his brain, ironically by a Jewish surgeon. Sinwar was grateful enough to thank the doctor but he didn't change his views. He was released in a prison exchange in 2011 1,027 Palestinian prisoners for just one Israeli and returned to Gaza to plot against Israel. He told the citizens of Gaza in 2018: 'We'll take down the border with Israel and tear out their hearts from their bodies.' And on October 7, 2023, after years of planning and dreaming, he masterminded the attack which did just that. He called it the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' operation after the mosque in Jerusalem, which showed what his ultimate intention was. When Israel hit back he made his way to relative safety in the south of the Strip through the tunnel network, most likely surrounded by what he would regard as the 'best' of the Israeli hostages, including the children and babies that he knew would be the ultimate 'human shield' for him against Israel. Handwritten messages from him to his team which were intercepted by the Wall Street Journal revealed, as the Journal wrote, 'a cold disregard for human life'. He described the deaths of civilians in Gaza as 'necessary sacrifices'. Family members visit the memorial site for those killed during the Nova music festival in the October 07 Hamas attacks Yet, against such fanaticism, the Israelis continued to hamstring themselves. The war in Gaza was made more difficult not just by Hamas's tactics, but by the tactics the Israelis used in response. The Israeli way of war was to drop leaflets, take over radio and television channels and send millions of text messages to warn residents when a building was going to be hit. One special forces soldier whose job involved hostage rescue said that on a number of occasions he came across places where Israeli hostages had recently been held. He knew they had been there because he found the T-shirts of people from the kibbutzes and saw cages in which they had been kept as well as handcuffs. He told me: 'We always felt one step behind. Because we kept telling the Gazans beforehand when we were coming.' They were also losing the battle for hearts and minds around the world as claims multiplied that the Israelis were committing genocide in Gaza that old 'concentration camp' slur again. The condemnation grew, in part because the only casualty figures that were used came from the Gazan Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas government. If the highest Hamas casualty figures that were lapped up by the international press were true, then by the end of the first year of the war, the casualty rate inside Gaza was some 42,000 people. Hamas simultaneously claimed that such numbers consisted entirely of civilian casualties while at the same time posting about the 'martyrs' of their movement who had been killed in battle. If the Hamas figures were true and the Israeli figures for Hamas operatives killed in Gaza are accurate, then at the very most this would mean a civilian-to-terrorist death toll of one-to-one. That is a terrible figure, to be sure, but it would also be the lowest civilian death toll per enemy combatant in military history. Both the British and American armed forces operate on a rough estimate of one enemy combatant killed for every three to four civilian deaths. What helped the anti-Israeli lobby too were the so-called journalists covering the war as the propaganda wing of Hamas. Qatar, which helps fund and house Hamas, also funds and houses the media outlet Al Jazeera. Its journalists in Gaza turned out not just to be sympathetic to Hamas but actually part of the group. Gaza-based Palestinian journalist Abdallah Aljamal, who was allegedly 'imprisoning Israeli hostages in his own home' while filing articles about the humanitarian suffering inside Gaza One, Muhammad Washah, was presented as a stellar part of the press corps. The IDF says he was in charge of research and development for aerial weapons for Hamas. He would, it is alleged, present himself by day as a journalist but in the evenings go back to his job as a senior Hamas commander firing rockets at Israel. When two Al Jazeera 'journalists' were killed in an air strike, this was immediately presented as an intolerable attack on the free press. Al Jazeera complained that the Israelis had no right to hit the vehicle they were travelling in. But it did not mention that these 'journalists' were in a vehicle with a Hamas drone operator targeting Israeli soldiers. The most egregious examples of the world being duped in this way was when the IDF rescued four hostages. Among them was a young woman who had been at the Nova music festival when the terrorists struck on October 7. Footage of her being driven off on the back of a Hamas motorcycle, screaming in terror, became one of the formative images of that terrible day. The IDF rescue team discovered that one of the people who had been holding the four of them was one Abdallah Aljamal, who had filed many articles about the humanitarian suffering inside Gaza, including to Al Jazeera. Yet he had failed to tell his readers that he was imprisoning Israeli hostages in his own home, where they were being tortured daily. Yet details like this were lost all the time. The world seemed ready to believe every claim that presented Israel in the worst possible light. And if anyone disagreed as did Major John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at West Point's Modern War Institute, when he argued that the IDF had implemented more precautions to prevent civilian deaths than any military in history, far beyond what international law requires they were dismissed as mouthpieces of the Israelis. It had been the same for years. Point out that Israel is a liberal democracy a rarity in the Middle East with all the benefits and complexities that that entails and you will be told that you are excusing 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing' and diverting attention from the plight of the Palestinians. Notice that Israel is a pluralistic, multiracial and multicultural society and you will be accused of being an apologist for 'apartheid'. It is a game set up for one side to lose. Jeremy Bamber's 40-year bid to prove he is innocent of the White House Farm murders has received a significant boost after bombshell claims by a police whistleblower that officers tampered with the crime scene to place Bamber in the frame for the killings. The retired Essex Police CID officer has broken ranks after reading Bamber's submissions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which is deciding whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. Bamber is serving a whole-life tariff for the murders of his adoptive parents Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, his adoptive sister Sheila Caffell, 28, and her six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas. They were all shot at the Essex farmhouse on August 7, 1985. The 64-year-old has always insisted that Sheila, a paranoid schizophrenic, carried out the murders before shooting herself. He received a boost last year after an article in the New Yorker magazine highlighted more than a dozen apparent discrepancies in the prosecution's case. The submissions, which are under review by the CCRC, include evidence from one of the world's leading ballistics experts who says the jury may have been misled because Essex Police 'changed the evidence' by moving Nevill Bamber's body before the crime scene photos were taken. In his detailed written statement, the whistleblower corroborates the claim that Essex Police 'changed the evidence', claiming that officers 'disturbed' the murder scene at White House Farm hours after the shootings, with items 'removed' and 'replaced' before the photos were taken. At Bamber's trial in 1986 the prosecution showed the photos to the jury, without any mention that police had disturbed the kitchen or the bedrooms where the bodies were found. The photos helped secure a 10-2 majority verdict. Jeremy Bamber's (pictured in 1986) 40-year bid to prove he is innocent of the White House Farm murders has received a significant boost Sheila Caffell, Bamber's adoptive sister, was murdered along with Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, and her six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas The murders occurred at White House Farm in Essex on August 7, 1985, but a whistleblower has now claimed Essex Police took video footage of the murder scene which was later destroyed The whistleblower claims Essex Police took video footage of the murder scene, which was withheld from the jury and Bamber's defence team and later destroyed. Astonishingly, the whistleblower who worked for the Essex force for 20 years and left with an exemplary record says he was shown the footage by a 'very senior officer' on the condition that it never became public. The whistleblower's evidence is backed by two alleged Essex Police documents, which appear to confirm that footage of the crime scene did exist. One document, apparently written in February 1991 and titled 'Bamber Enquiry Exhibits (Location of)', lists ten pieces of evidence from the case that went missing after the trial. Jeremy Bamber pictured in 2011, more than 25 years after he was arrested and began serving a whole life term for the murders Bamber was convicted of murdering his adoptive parents Nevill and June Bamber, both 61 Jeremy Bamber, who has always said he is innocent, in a police van during his trial in 1986 Jeremy Bamber is pictured in 2002 while appealing against his convictions in the 1980s The list includes four reference numbers for 'video cassettes of scene'. Essex Police denies any video footage existed. The former CID officer who has decided to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals told The Mail on Sunday: 'You can restage a crime scene to make anybody look like the guilty party. In the White House Farm case, the crime scene constitutes the vast majority of the case against Jeremy Bamber. 'If the crime scene has no integrity, then neither does the investigation, and it follows that neither does the case against Mr Bamber. 'He has basically been convicted on a fabricated crime scene and a series of lies.' Essex Police said it stood by its investigation. Sky News is coming under fire from Trump supporters after the news network published a column linking the devastation caused by Myanmar's catastrophic earthquake and humanitarian crisis to President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At the heart of the uproar is a 1,200-word dispatch filed by International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn, whose commentary argued how the US government's dismantling of USAID under Trump had compounded the disaster's fallout. 'The Myanmar quake is the first major disaster to suffer the brunt of Donald Trump's USAID cuts,' Waghorn wrote, pointing to the administration's controversial closure of America's international aid agency as a contributing factor to the scale of the suffering. Critics denounced the analysis as an overtly politicized leap in the wake of the tragedy, with many accusing the network of exploiting a moment of grief to score ideological points. At least 1,000 people are confirmed dead and many more are still buried beneath rubble after the powerful earthquake struck near Mandalay on Friday, collapsing infrastructure across northern Myanmar and sending tremors as far as Bangkok. The Southeast Asian nation, already gripped by civil war and governed by a repressive military junta has found itself dependent on international goodwill for relief and recovery. But before rescue efforts could even ramp up, Sky News published its 'analysis' piece. 'This will be the first natural disaster to happen after President Donald Trump shut down America's international aid agency with potentially devastating consequences,' Sky's Waghorn wrote. Sky News is coming under fire from Trump supporters after the news network published a column linking the devastation caused by Myanmar's catastrophic earthquake and humanitarian crisis to President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) At least 1,000 people are confirmed dead and many more are still buried beneath rubble after the powerful earthquake struck near Mandalay on Friday President Donald Trump waves as he arrives in West Palm Beach, Florida on Friday 'Yesterday, Trump promised Myanmar aid for the earthquake. In reality, his administration has fired most of the people most experienced at organizing that help and shut down the means to provide it.' He cited the scale of the damage, the chaotic state of Myanmar's politics, and the decimation of the US government's foreign aid apparatus under DOGE, the newly created agency charged with eliminating government waste. Though not mentioned by name in his piece, the DOGE-led effort to dissolve USAID has been met with legal resistance. Just last week, a federal judge issued a scathing injunction: 'The Court finds that Defendants' actions taken to shut down USAID on an accelerated basis likely violated the Constitution in multiple ways.' Waghorn made the logical point that fewer American resources mean a weaker global disaster response with Myanmar tragically being the first to suffer under the new world order. But for thousands online, the column served to rustle up outrage. 'I detest Trump and there are loads of things to criticise the cretinous orange felon for but I fail to see how this is his or America's responsibility,' one user wrote. Others were less diplomatic: 'Rubbish. America was the first to offer help,' stated another. For many users online the column served to rustle up outrage 'US taxpayers are expected to automatically foot the bills for disasters worldwide? Do you think this piece will influence assistance beyond Rubio's commitment to aid?,' tweeted one. 'That's insane and gaslighting,' declared a fourth. 'How is an earthquake Trump's fault? Good grief. America doesn't have to finance the entire world. When did that start?,' wrote another exasperated user. 'Wake up, Sky News. This is embarrassing.' Stoking the anger was the perceived opportunism in Waghorn's column. The earthquake had only occurred mere hours before Sky's analysis appeared online. 'Pick your act up, Sky,' another reader wrote. 'A tragedy is not a thesis.' Myanmar's junta is now facing its own reckoning. General Min Aung Hlaing, the authoritarian leader who seized power in a bloody 2021 coup, was forced to issue rare pleas for international help breaking years of diplomatic isolation as the military's grip on power continued to slip. Infrastructure has collapsed across northern Myanmar following the 7.7 magnitude quake Volunteers work at the site of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar Rubble lies near a building destroyed during a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar China is sending aid to the earthquake zone. Pictured, a worker carries boxes of instant noodles to be sent to Myanmar for earthquake relief in Ruili, southwest China's Yunnan Province Yunnan Province sent relief supplies to Myanmar on Saturday, after a massive earthquake jolted the Southeast Asian country on Friday In this archive photo, a US Marine stands next to USAID supplies for Myanmar following a cyclone in 2008 that left an Estimated 100,000 People Dead In his column, Waghorn noted the irony writing, 'The disaster is so bad that Hlaing has broken his government's self-imposed isolation to appeal for help from the outside world.' Indeed, Myanmar's state media confirmed on Saturday that the junta had made formal overtures to China, Russia, and India for urgent assistance. But its own people remain deeply distrustful of the regime, and many international NGOs have been barred from operating freely inside the country. Ironically, even before USAID's closure, much of America's humanitarian footprint in Myanmar had already been obstructed by military gatekeeping. Despite the political uproar, Waghorn's piece forces the US to address what role the country should play when responding to global disasters. USAID, once the crown jewel of American soft power, had long been both praised and criticized for its omnipresence. But its abrupt shutdown under DOGE as left a void. Some commenting online felt Trump was right to look after America's interests first. 'Why should the USA fund every crisis that happens?' one user tweeted. 'Why aren't they putting away for a disaster fund in those risk-exposed countries? Stop relying on the begging bowl!' Dawn Singleton, 25, one of six dead in Bondi stabbing The father of a young woman stabbed to death in the Westfield Bondi attack has pleaded for a coronial inquest into the tragedy to be axed. Dawn Singleton, 25, was one of six shoppers killed in Bondi Junction Westfield last April when knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, went on a stabbing rampage. Her father, millionaire advertising executive John Singleton, said a month-long hearing into the tragic event would would only torture the victims' loved ones. Mr Singleton said families couldn't stand to relive the events of April 13 at the inquest next month. 'If it was going to bring some justice I would understand but it can't, it's just so unfair,' he told the Sunday Telegraph. 'No good can come of making the details of this public all over again, the CCTV footage images. 'We all know what happened and who did it and he's gone, there's nothing to gain.' He urged the NSW Attorney-General to shelve the inquest before it begins. Dawn Singleton, 25, was one of six shoppers killed in Bondi Junction Westfield last April when knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, went on a crazed, stabbing rampage last year Advertising executive John Singleton said rehashing the events of last April would only cause grief for victims' families and loved ones 'Coronial inquests are for all the unsolved murders, focus on them, not this one; it helps no one (but) feeds a room full of lawyers,' Mr Singleton said. Mr Singleton said nothing remained to be solved; police acted incredibly on the day, and there was more than one hero, he said. His daughter 'Dawnie' was killed in the tragedy alongside Ashlee Good, 38, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, and Faraz Tahir, 30. The bride-to be had bought her wedding dress and sent 'save the date' invitations to loved ones and friends days prior to the attack. She had been in Chanel buying make-up for her nuptials when her life was cut short. Her childhood sweetheart and fiance, police officer Ashley Wildey, was on-call when Cauchi began his attack rushing to the scene only to be informed of Ms Singleton's death. The shattered officer still visits Dawnie's grave every day. Ms Singleton is one of Mr Singleton's three daughters from his marriage to Julie Martin. 'Coronial inquests are for all the unsolved murders, focus on them, not this one,' Mr Singleton said He has eight children in total. Sally Singleton-Hawach, also a daughter of John Singleton, paid a heartfelt tribute to her sister a month after the massacre. In an emotional social media post, Ms Singleton-Hawach shared a photo collage of her little sister growing up. She said that 'Dawnie' 'embodied love' and 'always spoke with words of such kindness... with a smile that warmed all our hearts'. 'And that laugh, I play on repeat in my videos,' Ms Singleton-Hawach wrote. 'You were so loved. I love you little Sis. Till we meet again'. Cauchi had moved to Sydney from Queensland shortly before the attack, had a history of mental health issues, and had previously come to the attention of police in both NSW and his home state. He indiscriminately stabbed 16 people in total with a hunting knife. The inquest is due to examine the events and whether they could have been avoided. Sixteen people were stabbed in total at the attack last April, with the horror remaining present in the minds of victims' loved ones The case reached a courtroom for the first time in November, when an initial directions hearing received an overview of the many issues at play ahead of the inquest which is due to be held in April and May 2025. The hearing was told of Cauchi's history of mental health issues. The court heard Cauchi was receiving treatment for schizophrenia, but from about late 2019 his medication began to be reduced. From early 2020 until the time of the attack, he received no treatment at all despite there being evidence of his deteriorating mental health. NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan expressed her condolences to the family and loved ones of those who were killed. 'The events of the 13th of April remain raw and painful for all those that have been impacted,' she said. Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said such mass casualty events were rare in Australia and could expose deficiencies or flaws in the systems intended to deal with them. A sunny spring morning, and retired police constable Tim Bradshaw is strolling along the promenade in Bognor Regis. Though no longer in uniform, his is still a recognisable face. He's popular too. Locals stop and wish him well. Even an ex-con, prolifically tattooed, nods approvingly as he passes. Near the bandstand, an elderly man turns to his friend sitting on a bench. 'That's the copper who knocked those little scumbags off their electric bicycle,' he says, gesturing with his stick. 'Good on him,' replies his suited pal. Many in this south coast resort believe Mr Bradshaw, 55, deserves a medal. But while his actions on the night of November 3, 2022, afforded him minor celebrity status, and were applauded not just here but across the country, Sussex Police took a different view. No matter that Mason McGarry and Dominic Mizzi, the 'feral' pair whose e-bike Mr Bradshaw nudged with his patrol car, had terrorised his town. No matter that after they were taken down the crime rate dipped. What seemed to matter to Sussex Police was teaching their award-winning, uncommonly dedicated officer a lesson. They did so without seeming much interested in his explanation for what happened. If they had asked he would have said he used 'tactical contact' to prevent McGarry and Mizzi, who hit speeds of more than 50mph during the chase, endangering their own lives and those of the public. The decision to prosecute him, says Mr Bradshaw, was made within minutes. Yet the case would hang over him, slowly corroding his passion for policing, for more than two years. Eventually he was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and faced a possible jail sentence. Yet after a five-day trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, a jury made its feelings on the case abundantly clear by taking just 20 minutes to acquit him much, one imagines, to the chagrin of Sussex Police. Tim Bradshaw is seen with his commendation at Arundel Castle in 2014. The former police constable was acquitted after being charged with causing injury by dangerous driving This is the moment the police officer used his patrol car to knock two 'prolific' offenders off their e-bike, leaving one with a fractured leg Pictured: Mason McGarry outside Portsmouth Crown Court. Bradshaw deliberately used his patrol car to 'nudge' into the rear of an e-bike 'Thank you very much indeed,' said the judge. 'You will realise that was an important case, not only for this defendant but throughout the country.' Indeed it was. As everyone knows, the invasion of our urban areas by electric bikes and scooters is a scourge of our times. Perhaps, as many hope, Mr Bradshaw's victory might encourage other officers to be equally robust when confronting them. When the verdict was delivered the former constable felt a wash of release flow through him. His wife and son were in tears. So too was his union representative. Friends and colleagues all told him the same thing that good sense had prevailed. Sadly it came too late to salvage his career. Mr Bradshaw is a tough, resilient man but the stress of the case forced him to take early retirement last year. 'I no longer exist in the eyes of Sussex Police,' he says. 'I was PC 16804. That's all I was to them, just a number.' What a way to treat a hero, came the collective refrain from the people of Bognor. And the town needs its heroes, now more than ever. Particularly when the likes of McGarry, who has more than 40 convictions, and Mizzi, who has 26, continue to behave with impunity. Every town has them, of course, swaggering young men who view the justice system with abject disdain. And while Bognor Regis is known for being the sunniest place in Britain, few know its darker side better than Mr Bradshaw. A sturdy 6ft 3in, he greets everyone with a smile and a cheery word. In many ways he typifies the old-fashioned beat policeman, or at least an approximation of one. For as Mr Bradshaw laments, they don't exist these days. He wishes he could have been one. Pictured: Dominic Mizzi outside Portsmouth Crown Court Instead, during his 22 years fighting crime in Bognor, where he grew up, he made a point of stopping his Ford Focus patrol car as frequently as possible to talk to shopkeepers, nightclub bouncers, business owners, criminals, everyone and anyone. Nurturing relationships and developing intelligence, he says, is a 'lost art' but always got him results. 'Most officers couldn't care less about this side of the job,' he says. 'They turn up for work, put their uniform on, switch their radio on, sit in briefing, wait to be told what to do and where to go, come back to the police station, have a cup of tea and wait for the next job.' Mr Bradshaw was what he calls a 'proactive' officer who pursued leads without being ordered to do so. In his black notebook 'my bible' he assiduously jotted down all sorts of details that might prove useful. Names, number plates, dates of birth. Instead of loafing in the police canteen between jobs, he conducted research, anything that might assist his work. And he developed a 'copper's nose' a willingness to act on instinct that, he said, his superiors discouraged. Mr Bradshaw paints a bleak portrait of modern policing. To many officers, he says, his story will be familiar. He speaks of naive enthusiasm at the start of his career, a determination to do good, to lock up villains, then the crushing realisation that policing is far from straightforward that you must battle not just the criminals but those above you. Fear of outside criticism, he says, often from single-interest groups, infects decision-making at the top. 'There is the great obsession with how we are perceived,' he says. It also percolates to the front line. 'Officers are always looking over their shoulders, terrified of doing or saying the wrong thing,' says Mr Bradshaw. 'It makes them reluctant to think on their feet and be hands-on. 'Nowadays the police don't necessarily recruit those best suited to the job. The hope is that they grow into the job. But many of them don't want to get out of the patrol car, they go from job to job with blinkers on.' When the e-bike menace hit Bognor a few years ago, Mr Bradshaw was there to confront it, not in a comfy office or control room, but on the front line. Pictured: PC Tim Bradshaw outside Portsmouth Magistrates Court Pictured: Portsmouth Crown Court PC Tim Bradshaw, pictured outside court, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving in November 2022 - he pleaded not guilty The bikes quickly became the preferred transport of the town's most prolific young criminals those who thought nothing of scaring old ladies witless by mounting the pavement and snatching their handbags. County lines gangs made use of the bikes to move and distribute drugs. And night after night, balaclava-clad yobs goaded police into chasing them. 'It was a game to them,' says Mr Bradshaw. Often they would sidle silently alongside a patrol car, kick its doors and taunt officers with rude hand gestures. 'It was impossible to catch them because they knew all the alleyways we couldn't go down, all the nooks and crannies,' he says. The bikes can now be ridden on roads without needing a licence or a number plate. Often they are modified by their owners and are able to hit speeds of up to 60mph, even though the official limit is 15.5mph. Depressingly, the likelihood is that even if caught, they would face little in the way of sanction. Mr Bradshaw says 'a notion has crept into policing that we shouldn't punish juveniles. 'But if you are criminally responsible for what you do then you should face the consequences. If you repeatedly offend and never get punished, what message does that send out?' Punishment for young offenders all too often now means a referral to the youth offending team. In other words sitting him down and having a chat. That's the punishment. A chat.' McGarry was 16 at the time of the e-bike incident though Mr Bradshaw says his offending started around the age of ten. From shoplifting he graduated to criminal damage, chiefly throwing objects at people from the roof of a shopping centre. 'He wasn't punished,' says Mr Bradshaw. 'Worse, social services rewarded his bad behaviour by giving him a new pair of trainers because he didn't like the ones he had, and giving him a new PlayStation and taking him to McDonald's. It was all so pathetically weak. Pictured: Phone thieves on e-bikes as they are pursued by officers Mr McGarry and Mr Mizzi - who have a slew of criminal convictions between them - were left sprawled across the floor after being knocked off the electric bike 'As he got older his criminality escalated. He beat up Eastern Europeans, who for some reason he disliked. He is a calculating, manipulative individual who doesn't give a damn about anyone else. His attitude to the law can be summed up as, 'Arrest me then. So what'. Mizzi also had numerous convictions, including assaulting emergency workers. 'A few weeks before the tactical contact he'd broken his hip, pelvis and leg in an e-bike crash. A pedestrian was involved. And the previous month one of his friends had died in a motorbike accident. This was the background to why I acted as I did.' And it is worth noting too that Sussex Police had previously authorised tactical contact on three occasions On the night of the incident, McGarry and his pillion Mizzi, 22, 'appeared suddenly' undertaking Mr Bradshaw's patrol car at speed on a narrow road and 'making the usual hand gestures'. He says: 'An opportunity presented itself and I tapped them from behind. It was suggested that I acted out of anger absolute rubbish. 'McGarry sprinted off but I explained to Mizzi as he lay groaning at the roadside that I did it to stop them endangering their own lives and those of the public. Genuine reasons. 'He admitted that he was in pain not from what had just happened but from his injuries from his previous crash. A very small glimmer of remorse crossed his face but it didn't last.' Beyond their immediate families, few, of course, would sympathise with McGarry and Mizzi. Certainly not the family of Sakine Cihan, 56, who was knocked down and killed in London by a rider travelling at 30mph. Or Jim Blackwood's family. He was the 91-year-old Army veteran from Rochester, Kent, killed when an e-bike rider struck him as he put his bins out. Or the parents of Carter Ralph, ten, who was left with 'his nose hanging off' after being sent flying by an e-bike that being ridden on the pavement in Loughborough, Leicestershire, last October. A jury heard the officer and his colleague in a patrol car had been subjected to 'unpleasant hand gestures' by Mason McGarry (pictured) and his passenger in the build-up to the incident The officer's colleague in the patrol car, PC Micheala-Jade Jackson, had earlier told jurors that the two men had been wearing ski masks when the patrol car pulled up alongside them Mr Bradshaw, who now drives a bus for a living, speaks of a depressing postscript to his story. Last week he spotted McGarry up to his old tricks, this time chasing a terrified 16-year-old boy down a street. He says: 'The lad jumped on to my bus as I was parked in the station, and I got up and stood on the steps to stop McGarry getting on. 'He looked at me all cocky and arrogant, telling everyone on board that I'd knocked him down but that he had taken my job. 'He threatened my family. Then he took a big spliff out of his mouth and blew smoke in my face. I said, 'Go away Mason and take your cannabis with you'. Then he lunged at me. He was joined by his mate in a balaclava who was threatening to stab another bus driver. Of course no action was taken against them.' As he tells this story, sitting in a restaurant in the town centre, someone else recognises him. This time thankfully it's a friendly face and the two exchange pleasantries. Before he leaves, Mr Bradshaw says: 'I fear nothing will change until there's a shift in direction from the very top. That means ensuring there are enough experienced officers to help younger colleagues find their way. It means ending the ideology of box-ticking. And it means empowering the police to be robust and hands-on. 'This is the only way we are going to tackle the huge problem that illegal e-bikes are causing all over our country. If we don't grasp this reality then the unscrupulous criminals causing chaos will keep running rings around us.' Sussex Police said officers were 'aware of the impact illegal and anti-social riding of e-bikes and e-scooters has and have carried out proactive operations dedicated to tackling the issue.' It added: 'Our officers are faced with difficult situations on a daily basis, and we do not underestimate the strength and bravery they show in making split-second decisions. 'We police by consent so it is right that our actions are scrutinised, particularly where there is an incident that has resulted in injury.' Even if you're not in the market for a new car, President Donald Trump's 25 percent tariffs on auto imports could make owning one more expensive. The new taxes, which are set to begin April 3 and expand in the following weeks, are estimated to raise the average cost of an imported vehicle car by thousands of dollars, the Associated Press reported. Imported cars, SUVs and trucks already in the country - or arriving before next week - will not be subject to the Trump administration's tariffs, however, tariffs will start to have a costly affect on new-car buyers within months. Vehicle prices could rise 11 to 12 percent to offset tariff duties, on average, the Wall Street Journal reported, as automakers and parts manufacturers can only absorb some of the added costs, likely to passing a portion of the increases onto the consumer. 'The impact will be really huge and very disruptive,' Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, said. Vries and others critics say American car shoppers will also be worse off, as tariffs will likely only push auto industry prices higher. Repairs for vehicles that currently use foreign-made parts are also expected to get pricier under the newly installed foreign tax plan. 'If you are bringing your car to get repaired, chances are, it's going to have a part that comes from another country,' Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto-buying resource Edmunds, said. Imported cars, SUVs and trucks already in the country - or arriving before next week - will not be subject to the Trump administration's newly installed tariffs, however, the taxes will start to have a costly affect on new-car buyers within months Vehicle prices could rise 11 to 12 percent to offset tariff duties, on average, the Wall Street Journal reported, as automakers and parts manufacturers can only absorb some of the added costs, likely to passing a portion of the increases onto the consumer. Pictured: US President Donald Trump speaks in the White House on March 28, 2025 'That price that you pay is likely going to be directly affected by the increase (from these tariffs).' Dealerships and car repair shops will likely have little choice but to raise prices, leading drivers across the country to pay more for everyday maintenance. Trump's Wednesday proclamation on auto tariffs points specifically to engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components which covers a lot of repairs as is, Caldwell noted. While automakers may develop new pricing strategies for new vehicles impacted by tariffs, Caldwell expects they will to be less likely to absorb the costs of individual parts, leaving consumers with the bill more imminently. Much of the car repair market has heavily relied on imports, particularly from America's biggest trading partners. According to February numbers from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, a trade group that represents home, auto and business insurers, about 6 in every 10 auto replacement parts used in US auto shop repairs are imported from Mexico, Canada and China. 'You can't walk into a dealership today and not see a United Nations of parts,' Skyler Chadwick, director of Product Consulting at Cox Automotive, told the Associated Press. But, sourcing and supply varies between each servicer, Chadwick added, making it all the more complex to nail down when exactly prices will rise after these tariffs take effect. Car repair prices have already been on the rise for years, with analysts pointing both to growing labor costs and more expensive components needed for vehicles with advanced technology. While automakers may develop new pricing strategies for new vehicles impacted by tariffs, experts say they will to be less likely to absorb the costs of individual parts, leaving consumers with the bill more imminently Edward Salamy, executive director of the Automotive Body Parts Association, believes car companies have been trying to 'gain a monopoly' to limit remedies to their own parts or processes, reducing options for consumers. Tariffs, he said, will just exacerbate the issue: 'Many of these distributors will have no choice but to raise their list price.' As for insuring your vehicle, because accidents involving new parts will see increased costs for repairs, insurance premiums will also likely rise due to Trump's tariffs. Department vice president of personal lines at the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Bob Passmore, expects consumers to see an impact on their insurance bill in 12 to 18 months at a minimum. Passmore says 'increased prices have to hit claims costs, then be implemented after new rates are filed and approved,' which will take time, sending the price hike further into the future. Still, the trade association has estimated that personal auto insurance claims costs alone could rise a total of between $7 billion and $24 billion annually. It wasn't immediately clear how large providers of auto insurance were preparing for the impacts of these tariffs, however. But even if it takes long to trickle down, these tariff-related hikes would again arrive as consumers have already faced rising insurance costs. The Insurance Information Institute estimated average US auto premiums increased 14 percent in 2023 and 12 percent in 2024. Mark Friedlander, the institute's senior director of media relations, said that the research trade nonprofit projected a 7 percent average premium increase for auto insurance across the US in 2025 at the start of the year - but that didn't account for potential tariff impacts, which he believes will drive them even higher. Increased costs spanning from tariffs cause a 'chain reaction for insurance,' Caldwell added. 'This is a total ownership cost increase, rather than just a purchase increase.' BBC star Emma Barnett lodged a complaint against her Today co-presenter Nick Robinson soon after joining Radio 4's flagship news programme, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Last week it was reported that the two journalists had not appeared together on the show for 90 days, sparking rumours of 'clashing egos' making life difficult for producers. Now it seems the tensions began soon after 40-year-old Ms Barnett joined the show from Woman's Hour in April last year. She is understood to have lodged a complaint with Deborah Turness, the chief executive of the BBC's news and current affairs division, after finding her veteran co-host 'overbearing'. Insiders said the matter was resolved with no action taken and there had been no suggestion Mr Robinson had done anything wrong. They blamed the 'inevitable stresses and strains caused by the pairing of two strong characters' and said the pair had experienced the sort of misunderstanding common between colleagues but that in this case it been blown out of proportion. One source said: 'Emma made a complaint about Nick,' adding that tensions have persisted so much that they 'can't be on together as she finds him overbearing'. However other sources at the BBC played down the claims and denied there had been any 'formal' complaint to Ms Turness. BBC star Emma Barnett (pictured) lodged a complaint against her Today co-presenter Nick Robinson soon after joining Radio 4's flagship news programme Nick Robinson in the studio, BBC Radio 4 's Today Programme. Picture date: Thursday July 24, 2008 Ms Barnett and 61-year-old Mr Robinson who is paid up to 349,000 by the BBC have co-presented Today just 13 times, well short of any other pairings Before their last appearance together in December they had shared the studio just three times in more than 150 days. The BBC insisted that 'schedules have been out of the ordinary lately' after presenter Mishal Husain left last year. Listeners lamented Ms Husain's departure after 11 years while pointing out that Ms Barnett has a far more 'abrasive' interviewing style than Ms Husain's calm approach to presenting. It has also been claimed there were tensions between Ms Barnett and Ms Husain, 52, who reportedly hadn't been 'terribly happy' with the direction of the show in the run up to her departure. Some thought it telling that Ms Barnett was absent from the studio for her colleague's final broadcast in December, attended by presenters old and new. But others insisted she joined the farewell gathering in the Today office immediately afterwards. The weekly audience for Today now stands at 5.73 million, according to industry figures. Barnett is said to have lodged a complaint with Deborah Turness (pictured), the chief executive of the BBC's news and current affairs division, after finding her co-host 'overbearing' While it has declined since the 7.5 million it reached in 2016, its performance is relatively stable. More people are also listening to it later via apps. Tensions between the existing presenters are believed to be one of the reasons the BBC chose the relative unknown Anna Foster to replace Ms Husain. The Beirut-based Middle East correspondent was picked despite reports that Europe Editor Katya Adler was a frontrunner. Ms Foster had already impressed radio bosses by presenting the drivetime programme on Radio 5 Live for nearly a decade. Sources have also expressed hopes that her relaxed style will have a 'pacifying' effect on her fellow presenters, who also include Amol Rajan and Justin Webb. News chief Ms Turness joined the BBC in 2022 and is paid 413,000 a year. She was formerly chief executive at ITN. Anthony Albanese has revealed he has been forced to communicate through US officials about the tariffs imposed on Australia as he awaits a call from Donald Trump. The Prime Minister was pressed on his relationship with the US president during a tense appearance on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday morning. Mr Albanese had attempted to call Trump at the start of March regarding the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on steel and aluminium exported from Australia to the US. Trump did not answer the call, with Insiders host David Speers questioning when Mr Albanese could expect to hear back from the president. 'Any indication of if he is going to call you back?' he asked. Mr Albanese admitted his government was instead engaging with US officials and attempted to explain why Trump didn't pick up his call. 'The reason why that didn't occur was because the president made a decision to not talk to anyone and to impose this regime on every country,' he said. Mr Albanese also refused to answer whether or not the US was reliable when he was first asked the question. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to state Australia could 'rely' on the United States 'Your Canadian counterpart Mark Carney says the United States is "no longer a reliable partner". Do you agree?' Speers asked. 'We regard the United States as a friend and partner,' Mr Albanese responded. The Prime Minister finally gave a proper answer when he was probed a second time. 'We regard the United States as a friend and a partner and we have been able to rely on them for a long period of time,' he said. 'Can you rely on Donald Trump?' Speers asked again. 'I believe we can,' the Prime Minister said. 'I've had two constructive discussions with Donald Trump and I will continue to engage constructively.' On Thursday, Mr Albanese said he would still welcome the US president to Australia despite the bitter tariff clash. Mr Albanese said he believes Australians can rely on Donald Trump He also said he is 'absolutely' planning to make Washington DC one of his first international trips if re-elected in May. 'I have discussed with the president going to the US and I expect that certainly will be very early on in the term,' he told ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'I have also invited the president to Australia.' However, it remains unclear whether Trump will make a reciprocal visit to Australia, which would be his first trip Down Under as president. 'He did not come in his first term as president but American presidents will always be welcome here as other international visitors,' Mr Albanese said. 'We are likely to host the Quad meeting next year and that will see the Quad leaders the US, Japan and India visit Australia.' With threats of US tariffs being threatened across Australian industries, Mr Albanese's approach to the US president remained a sticking point throughout his post-Budget media rounds this week. The Labor government raised defence spending to 2.2 per cent of GDP in the Budget - well short of the three per cent of GDP that the Trump administration has demanded of Australia. In the last week, Trump has threatened tariffs on Australian wine as well as faced pressure from 'Big Pharma' over Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. New US tariffs on Australian agricultural exports are set to come into effect on April 1, alongside new import taxes on Australian pharmaceutical exports unless an exemption is secured. The Trump administration is expected to announce its next round of sector-specific tariffs next week, however, the president has hinted that he 'may give a lot of countries breaks'. The Labour minister sister of Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed that her number one priority if she was ever prime minister would be to abolish private schools. Ellie Reeves, whose older sibling has controversially levied 20 per cent VAT on school fees, made her comments in a podcast. The 44-year-old, who is chairman of the Labour Party, was asked: If you were prime minister for the day without any repercussions, what would you do? Laughing and giggling, she answered without hesitation: Abolish private schools because I think they divide communities. I think that education should provide a level playing field for everyone, irrespective of family background or wealth or anything like that. Her comments came on the Meet the MPs podcast in 2019, when she was interviewed about life as MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich. She has since become one of the most senior members of Labour as party chairman and Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office. Her older sister Rachel, 46, has enjoyed her own meteoric rise to head the Treasury. Labour bigwigs have consistently denied accusations that their VAT levy on fees is ideologically driven, insisting instead that their sums show it will raise funds for the state sector. Chancellor Rachel Reeves (left) has controversially levied 20 per cent VAT on private school fees Her sister Ellie Reeves (right), who is chair of the Labour Party, told a podcast in 2019 that she was in favour of scraping private schools altogether because they 'divide communities' The historic Fulneck School (pictured) in the Chancellor's constituency of Pudsey, west Yorkshire, has been running for three centuries but will now close after becoming 'financially unviable' But the Chancellor, who faces an unprecedented legal challenge to her VAT policy from affected parents in the High Court next week, previously told New Statesman magazine in a joint 2023 interview with Ellie that private school parents are snobs. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has also refused to visit a single independent school in her official capacity, dismissing the 550,000 children educated in them as the 7 per cent. The Reeves sisters are old girls of what is now one of the best state schools in the UK, and currently ranked in the Top 100 for student progress. Harris Girls Academy Bromley, originally Cator Park School for Girls, is a leading London academy. Its reputation means it is one of the hardest schools to win a place at in the borough, where the number of children gaining their first-place choice this year has already fallen to under seven in ten. The school, which was deemed satisfactory by inspectors when the pair attended in the 1990s, flourished when it became an academy. Ironically, Labours planned reforms mean academies are at risk of coming back under state control, leading to accusations Labour is abandoning the academy programme and dumbing down schools. Meanwhile, the Chancellors own flagship education policy faces a challenge on human rights and equality grounds at next weeks High Court three-day judicial review. Since the policy was levied around 20 schools including one in the Chancellors own constituency, Fulneck School in Pudsey, Yorkshire have shut or face closure because of the new tax. Thousands of children have also left the independent sector seeking state school places. Last night shadow schools minister Neil OBrien told The Mail on Sunday it was awful to see footage of children in tears because they are forced to move school when their parents, who are not wealthy, are being hit hard by Labours tax and then to see the chairman of the Labour Party giggling and laughing about it. He added: There are 100,000 children with special needs in private schools without any official recognition of their conditions and they are being particularly hard hit by this spiteful and highly political tax. Its pretty bleak. Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter called her father's plans to colonize Mars a 'marketing scheme' during an appearance on a liberal's live stream. Vivian Wilson, 20, appeared on the live stream of Hasan Piker and spoke at length about Musk's behavior during her childhood. She also gave her opinion on her father's objective of colonizing Mars, to which she said: 'Its not happening, people.' She added: 'Its a marketing scheme that everyone somehow fell for despite being debunked by a f****** Google search.' Musk has frequently spoke of his ambitious plans to colonize the red planet by 2050, saying he envisions a city of one million people on the surface. He announced this month that spaceships would be leaving for Mars at the end of this year carrying a humanoid robot named Optimus onboard. If that mission went well, Musk said that humans could start landing on the planet as soon as 2029. Wilson has gained a following online in the last year for frequently bashing her estranged father over his politics. Vivian Wilson, 20, appeared on the live stream of left-winger Hasan Piker and spoke at length about her upbringing and Musk Musk has frequently spoke of his ambitious plans to colonize the red planet by 2050 She kept that up while speaking with Piker, calling her father a 'insecure buffoon' and labelled him a narcissist. When asked about what he is like on any given work day, Wilson said: 'Most of the time I saw him working he was just yelling at employees in the car while we watched, horrified, like viscerally screaming.' Wilson also claimed that her father was never liberal, saying he was 'never on the left' and that he has been 'right-wing since at least 2016'. She also shot down suggestions that her transition had caused him to pivot to the right. 'I cannot take credit for him becoming a f****** loon. I am not the reason hes a f****** fascist', she said. Musk had sparked the anger of Wilson last year after he said in an interview that he was tricked into signing her away to go on puberty blockers. Referring to Wilson with male pronouns and by her birth name, Musk claimed that his 'son' had been 'killed by the woke mind virus'. Musk called what happened to him and his family 'evil', saying: 'I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys. The planet Mars is shown in a 2016 photo captured by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope 'This was before I had any understanding of what was going on, and we had COVID going on, so there was a lot of confusion. I was told Xavier might commit suicide.' When asked about gender dysphoria, he added: 'It's incredibly evil and I agree with you that the people that are promoting this should go to prison. Wilson shared a blistering response to her Threads in which she shot down a host of allegations made by her father. She added her father has made up these claims because he wasn't around her as a child. Wilson claims that Musk would relentlessly harass her for her 'femininity and queerness'. She recently appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue, giving an in-depth interview about herself. In it, she revealed that she has her heart set on becoming a reality tv star, telling the magazine she loves nothing more than watching reality tv and dreams of starring in a show. She said: 'It is my absolute dream to be on a reality show, which I know is absolutely pathetic. 'As an overdramatic little queer, reality shows are something I adore beyond belief', she said with a laugh. Wilson also revealed that she has been financially independent from her billionaire father since coming out as trans in 2020 and now lives abroad, studying languages. Previously known as Xavier, she was granted a name and gender change in 2022 and is one of six children Musk fathered with his first wife Justine Wilson. The body of a former Army sergeant has been found after she fell into a Washington State river with her dog almost a week ago. The body of Zuleika Witron, 28, was found in the river after being spotted by a civilian flying a drone on Friday morning, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department said in a press release. On Sunday, Witron had slipped into the river and was recovered about two miles downriver, according to Deputy Carly Cappetto. She and her girlfriend had been hiking with two dogs before she and one of the dogs fell off the Fairfax Bridge in Washington's Mount Rainier National Park, police said. Witron plunged into the Carbon River and her girlfriend 'witnessed her being swept away in the heavy currently and attempted to grab her before being swept away in the rapids.' Her dog, which had fallen in with her, was rescued about a quarter mile downstream and returned to Witron's girlfriend, police said. 'Central Pierce Fire, Ortin Swift Water, and Pierce County Sheriff Swift Water repsonded with a rope team and a boat to recover [Witron],' the police press release stated. 'Several family members remained on scene while the recovery efforts progressed.' Witron's younger sister Kiara told Fox 13: 'I told her I love her, and I miss her, and I'm so sorry this happened to her, but I promise to make her proud, and I dedicate my life to her.' The body of Zuleika Witron, 28, was found in the river after being spotted by a civilian flying a drone on Friday morning 'Zulie's dog, Mace, was close to the edge of the canyon, and my sister attempted to reach to grab her, and they both slipped and feel from extreme heights into the Carbon River,' the GoFundMe said 'My heart is like, in a million pieces, but I'm trying my best to stay strong because I know my sister and I know she loves me very much and the last thing she'd want me to be is devastated,' Witron's younger sister Kiara said Witron plunged into the Carbon River and her girlfriend 'witnessed her being swept away in the heavy currently and attempted to grab her before being swept away in the rapids' 'My heart is like, in a million pieces, but I'm trying my best to stay strong because I know my sister and I know she loves me very much and the last thing she'd want me to be is devastated,' she continued. Kiara said her sister served as an Army medic, and wanted to help as many people as possible, including animals. 'As we've seen, like my sister would give up her life for her dog, and she would have done this under any circumstance. So, as hurt as I am, I'm not upset with her for this decision.' While Kiara grieves the loss of her older sister, she said the search effort has been heartwarming. 'I just couldn't be any more thankful for everyone's support,' she said. A GoFundMe was created and further explained the tragic sequence of events. 'Zulie's dog, Mace, was close to the edge of the canyon, and my sister attempted to reach to grab her, and they both slipped and feel from extreme heights into the Carbon River,' it said. 'We want to thank all the first responders and volunteers that put many hours into this search since Sunday,' the sheriff's department said in a press release. 'Zuleikas recovery can hopefully bring closure and peace to the family and all involved in this tragic incident.' The parents of an 11-year-old California girl are outraged after a school employee allegedly punished the middle school student by forcing her to duct tape her mouth shut. Noemi Hurtado, 11, was eating lunch at Blair Middle School in Pasadena in the company of her friends when a female security guard allegedly punished the pre-teen for 'being too loud,' forcing her to put duct tape over her mouth. 'I got a phone call that no parent wants to receive,' Ricardo Hurtado, Noemi's father, told KTLA5. 'She was playing with her friends and being a little too loud. She was asked to stop once and she didn't, I guess, and continued to play.' Ricardo said once Noemi was duct taped, the security guard reportedly walked her through the campus and even to a nearby high school just to 'humiliate' her. The school employee then reportedly escorted the young girl to her next class where her father claims she 'had the nerve to state that to the teacher that she shouldn't take off the tape because Noemi has a hard time being quiet.' The infuriated father added that the school's head of security witnessed the entire ordeal and eventually intervened, removing Noemi from class. While escorting her back to the principal's office, the top-ranking security professional allegedly told the girl she wasn't in any trouble, Ricardo said. Noemi Hurtado (center), 11, was eating lunch at Blair Middle School in Pasadena in the company of her friends when a female security guard allegedly punished the pre-teen for 'being too loud,' forcing her to put duct tape over her mouth The Blair Middle School employee reportedly escorted the young girl to her next class where her father claims she 'had the nerve to state that to the teacher that she shouldn't take off the tape because Noemi has a hard time being quiet.' Pictured: Blair Middle School in Pasadena, CA 'I was in shock,' Ricardo said. 'I was just trying to make sure that [my daughter] was okay and wasn't fully damaged herself. An 11-year-old girl shouldn't be going through this.' The Pasadena Unified School District has since released a statement on the incident, claiming the school employee involved had been fired. 'The safety and well-being of our students are our top priority. We are aware of allegations involving a former substitute security officer,' the district statement reads. 'As a result, this individual is no longer employed by the district. We take concerns like this very seriously and are cooperating fully with the Pasadena Police Department. We are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students.' Noemi's family claims they have filed a police report and that they want the security guard to face legal consequences. The school scandal comes just weeks after a chaotic scene unfolded at a Milwaukee high school as furious parents confronted officials over a security guard accused of filming girls in the locker room. Noemi's family claims they have filed a police report and that they want the security guard to face legal consequences. 'I was in shock,' Noemi's father, Ricardo Hurtado (pictured) said. 'I was just trying to make sure that [my daughter] was okay and wasn't fully damaged herself. An 11-year-old girl shouldn't be going through this' The security guard, a former police officer named Fernando Bustos, was allegedly caught with roughly 400 videos of girls changing clothes at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Furthermore, the camera's memory card allegedly has footage of Bustos installing the device inside a locker and then closing the door, according to investigators. A few weeks earlier, the scorned security guard was fired for what the school described as 'performance reasons' in early February. It was after, when the school was cataloguing items he left behind, that they found his secret camera containing the videos, according to the criminal complaint obtained by DailyMail.com. On February 19, Milwaukee police were dispatched to the high school over an invasion of privacy complaint, however, it wasn't until early March, after charges were filed, that parents were informed about the issue by Cristo Rey Jesuit officials. Hectic footage from school meeting has since emerged, showing desperate parents hollering for answers. In one portion of the viral video, someone in the crowd can be seen preventing others from leaving the gymnasium. Bustos (pictured) was allegedly caught with roughly 400 videos of girls changing clothes With officials apparently attempting to leave the assembly, angry parents confronted them 'I felt hurt,' one parent, Brandon Hobbs, told WISN.com. 'I felt violated. My daughter felt hurt. She felt violated. 'As a father, that hurt me. Knowing that my daughter could possibly be on one of those tapes,' Hobbs said. 'I'm extremely mad,' he continued. 'You send your kids to school thinking that they're going to be looked after. You know what I'm saying? Taken care of.' Bustos pleaded guilty to one felony count of invasion of privacy in a Wisconsin court on March 13. The sister of a headteacher who died by suicide after a school inspection has said the former Ofsted chief inspector receiving a seat in the House of Lords would be 'an insult to her memory'. Ruth Perry, who had been principal at Caversham Primary School in Reading since 2010, took her own life in January 2023 after being told the school was being downgraded from Outstanding to Inadequate. A subsequent inquest found that the inspection had played a significant role in her death, while an independent review into the schools watchdog said they had been 'defensive and complacent' when dealing with the tragic incident. But now, Amanda Spielman, who served as Ofsted's chief inspector between 2017 and 2023, is said to have been nominated for a peerage by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. Professor Julia Waters, Mrs Perry's sister, said Ms Spielman's 'legacy is indelibly associated with my sister's terrible, preventable death and with defending the inhumane system that led to her death'. Prof Waters added: 'Through her response to Ruth's death and the subsequent inquest and inquiries while head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman showed herself to be lacking in many of the qualities that you would hope would be needed in Parliament. 'She showed poor leadership and judgement, a lack of empathy and understanding of the issues, and a tendency to deflect any criticism onto others. 'A record like that should not be rewarded with a place in the House of Lords. Spielman's nomination for a peerage is a disgrace and an insult to my sister's memory.' Ruth Perry (above) took her own life in January 2023 after being told her school was being downgraded from Outstanding to Inadequate. Amanda Spielman (above) who served as Ofsted's chief inspector between 2017 and 2023, is reported to have been nominated for a peerage Professor Julia Waters (above) said Ms Spielman's 'legacy is indelibly associated with my sister's terrible, preventable death and with defending the inhumane system that led to her death' Following the tragic news, Mrs Perry's devastated family say the 53-year-old was left a 'shadow of her former self' as a result of the inspection, and that she had described it as the 'worst day of my life'. It is claimed inspectors had decided after the first day of the two-day inspection to downgrade it, as well as making unfounded claims about the sexualisation of children at the school. The inspection was the primary's first in 13 years, after rules exempting Outstanding schools from being looked at in-depth by Ofsted were scrapped. The report, which was published in March 2023, found the school to be Good in every category, apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be Inadequate. The report criticised the school for poor record keeping, with gaps in employment checks potentially putting children at risk. This dropped the entire school to an Inadequate rating, the lowest possible. Ms Perry took her own life on January 8 2023, just over two months before the report was released, sparking an outpouring of grief from family, friends, colleagues and the school's community. The inspection was the primary's first in 13 years, after rules exempting Outstanding schools from being looked at in-depth by Ofsted were scrapped Ms Spielman's nomination for a peerage is said to have come from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (above) Meanwhile, Ms Spielman's nomination for a peerage comes after she criticised Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The former Ofsted chief said the Bill was likely to make education in England worse, and accused Ms Phillipson of being 'influenced' by the schools unions. Ms Spielman was dismissed by a Government source, who claimed she should 'spend less time criticising the reforms this Government is bringing, and more time reflecting on her failure at Ofsted'. A Conservative party spokesman would not comment on reports of Ms Spielman's nomination for a peerage. They said: 'It would be unfair to comment on whether specific individuals have or have not been nominated or vetted for any honour or dignity. 'We do not comment on speculation or purported leaks.' A senior Labour MP has sparked fury by charging taxpayers 900 in a year for 'pet rent' for her cockapoo Bella, it has emerged. Taxpayers have picked up the bill for party whip Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West, to allow her dog to stay at her second home in the capital. The expenses claim, which she submitted in August 2024, has been paid and is not a breach of parliamentary rules. But campaigners are angry after learning the MP - who is helping the government get 5 billion of benefit cuts through Parliament - used public money to pay a pet surcharge imposed by her landlord. Disability campaigner Hannah Campbell, a war hero who lost her left leg in Iraq in 2007, told The Sun on Sunday: 'This is a disgrace one set of rules for them and one set for everyone else. They are not leading by example. 'When disability money is being cut, to hear that an MP has received 900 for a dog really is shocking.' Labour Party sources said it was common for landlords to charge an extra levy for renters to keep a dog. A spokesman said: 'MPs are required to work in two locations, and this is a requirement for living in this house. It is the same for many other MPs and has been approved by the parliamentary expenses watchdog.' Taxpayers have picked up the bill for party whip Taiwo Owatemi, Labour MP for Coventry North West, to allow her dog to stay at her second home in the capital Labour Party sources said it was common for landlords to charge an extra levy for renters to keep a dog Taiwo Owatemi Labour MP posted a picture of her beloved pet on a Valentine's Day card on social media While the MP has not broken the rules, the row echoes the 2009 MPs' expenses scandal, when politicians faced savage criticism for claiming for items including duck houses. Ms Owatemi, a 32-year-old qualified pharmacist, was first elected in 2019. She is married with a young daughter and frequently posts on social media on behalf of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and other pet charities. Last year on X she posted that 'as the proud owner of a gorgeous cockapoo called Bella, I am always happy to hear about the amazing work they do in regards to rehoming and pet welfare'. She also posted about national pet day with a photograph of her and Bella together, writing: 'Today we celebrate the joy our pets bring to our lives.' Companies House shows her London address was registered in Plumstead, southeast London - which is where she grew up. She paid 2,340 a month in rent, according to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). Data from Rightmove shows the average house price on her street is around 315,000. The pet rent claim is the latest in a long list in an expenses scandal that has embarrassed MPs. It is not known how many other MPs have claimed 'pet rent' for their animals to stay with them in London. Labour Party sources said it was common for landlords to charge an extra levy for renters to keep a dog. PM Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria attended a Taylor Swift gig at Wembley Stadium last June Ms Reeves accepted free tickets to watch pop star Sabrina Carpenter - who opened for Taylor Swift in the US leg of the Eras Tour - in a corporate box The revelation comes just a week after Rachel Reeves came under fire for accepting 600 seats in a corporate box at a Sabrina Carpenter concert. It brought to mind a similar scandal last year when it emerged the Prime Minister and his Cabinet were enjoying lavish freebies including clothing and concert tickets. Ms Reeves was last year forced to vow not to accept any clothing as Chancellor after it was revealed she had taken 7,500 for outfits while in opposition. Sir Keir Starmer, who received 32,000 for clothes from Labour donor Lord Alli, had to pay back thousands of pounds in gifts, including tickets to see Taylor Swift. Ms Reeves defended taking the VIP tickets at the O2 in London on security grounds, claiming she could not sit with other fans because she requires close protection as a senior minister. 'I do now have security which means it's not as easy as it would've been in the past to just sit in a concert, although that would probably be a lot easier for everyone concerned,' Ms Reeves told the BBC. Asked if she paid for the tickets, she replied: 'Obviously I'll declare the value of them, but they weren't tickets that you were able to buy.' But she faced a backlash including from within her own party at a time when she is also being accused of ushering in a new era of austerity in order to balance the books. King Charles has been forced to cancel holidays to an African spa and a Romanian hiking hotspot as he continues to undergo cancer treatment. The royal, who is 76, had planned for a busy schedule of engagements but he had to reconsider following a hospital visit. The palace announced the King had cancer in February 2024 and he was taken to hospital on Thursday because he was suffering side effects of his treatment. As a result, he had to cancel engagements in both London and Birmingham. It has now emerged that he us resting at his countryside home Highgrove but also pulled out of trips abroad earlier in the month. He was due to join Camilla at a luxury spa resort in Africa for a short holiday. The King also postponed an annual trip to Romania for hiking in the countryside this Spring, The Sun reported. 'It would have involved just too much walking and he can't face it right now,' a source told the newspaper. Charles waves to members of the public after visiting an exhibition on Wednesday King Charles leaving Clarence House, where he is understood to be resting King Charles III arriving for his visit to Somerset House on Wednesday King Charles greets children as he exits the fortified evangelical church in the village of Viscri, central Transylvania, Romania, in 2023 Charles seen in the village of Viscri, central Transylvania, Romania on June 6, 2023 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.' Buckingham Palace said previously: '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. Charles seen meeting with heritage workers in Viscri during a private visit to Romania in 2023 King Charles III greets a guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday '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. 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'. Charles and Camilla at a reception at Clarence House, where the Queen unveiled a medal which has been designed to recognise people who are championing literature No further details of the side effects have been given, but sources stress such issues are not uncommon with many medical treatments. A spokesman said of the cancelled engagements in the UK: '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.' 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. 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. Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch's 'controlling' approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team. Insiders said the party leader, pictured below, did not want her ministers doing too much press. 'We feel we have to walk on eggshells,' one MP told The Mail on Sunday, describing Mrs Badenoch's office as 'controlling'. For her front bench, certain topics have been off limits in particular, criticism for President Trump and his top team. 'Kemi thinks she's friends with (Vice-President) Vance and can influence the Maga crowd,' one MP said. 'It is delusional.' Even backbench Tory MPs have refused to comment on stories for fear of being reprimanded amid being told not to do too much press. Another MP said: 'I feel more worried about getting told off by my party than offending the US. Russia is getting a free pass. I don't know why we're not calling that out.' Only senior MPs such as former foreign secretary James Cleverly, who writes in today's The Mail on Sunday, feel they can criticise the Trump administration. Last week MPs who privately rallied against Mr Trump's chief negotiator Steve Witkoff's comments on Ukraine giving up territory said they did not go public because they knew the leader's office would not approve. Mr Witkoff was accused of 'regurgitating Kremlin propaganda' in an interview on the matter. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel declined to comment. Sources close to Ms Patel said they kept quiet because it is 'not diplomatically helpful'. A spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: 'Kemi has said foreign policy must act in Britain's national interest. If our domestic industries are going to avoid punishing tariffs then we must act responsibly in our approach to the US.' Tory MPs are complaining about Kemi Badenoch's (pictured) 'controlling' approach and her effective ban on criticising the Trump team MPs who privately rallied against Mr Trump's chief negotiator Steve Witkoff's (pictured) comments on Ukraine giving up territory said they did not go public because they knew the leader's office would not approve Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel (pictured) declined to comment. Sources close to Ms Patel said they kept quiet because it is 'not diplomatically helpful' If we're at odds with America, China will be licking its lips Analysis by James Cleverly When I went to China in 2023 as Foreign Secretary, I had a list of contentious issues to discuss, from Taiwan to Beijing's cyber activity and sanctions against British MPs. Foreign Minister Wang Yi calmly defended his government and then moved on to a charm offensive, talking about areas of potential UK-China co-operation. His point was the UK should come out from the 'US's shadow' and not be dictated to by Washington to drive a wedge between the UK and US, and to break what China sees as American hegemony. James Cleverly served as Foreign Secretary for the Conservative Government from 2022 until 2023 President Donald Trump has caused much controversy since he returned to the White House earlier this year But two years on and the reality is President Trump risks delivering China's aims by disrupting America's relationship with its long-term friends. The post-war networks built by Trump's predecessors are being quickly eroded. Take the hollowing out of America's main aid agency USAid, set up by JFK at the height of the Cold War to push back against Soviet influence. It is now Beijing rather than Moscow buying influence. And, of course, there is a troubling question mark over the Trump administration's support for Nato. Defence pacts rely on predictability, and our partners in the Pacific will not be encouraged by America's behaviour to its European allies. The Marshall Plan pumped billions into post-war Europe to build Western capitalist economies, rather than Communist states linked through coercion. If America makes trade more expensive, China will be ready to pick up any displaced demand. I have no doubt President Xi is delighted with America's public spats. It is, after all, his geopolitical ambition to ostracise the US but it shouldn't also be Trump's. This is the shocking moment a family-of-four dined and dashed from a Chinese restaurant in West London, sparking outrage among locals. The incident took place on March 23 at popular eatery Pangs Chinese in Uxbridge, where the family enjoyed a meal before leaving without paying their bill. Footage shows two women and two young children leaving the restaurant, as a member of staff tries to stop them from leaving. A separate clip shows the two mothers and their kids getting into a white car in the restaurant's parking area. A waiter is seen approaching the car, but the women manage to speed off as he tries to speak with them. The waiter frantically chases after the vehicle, but quickly gives up. Taking to Facebook to report the incident, Pangs Chinese shared CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the family. 'Dine and dash...this is crazy', the restaurant wrote in the caption. A family shockingly drove off without paying the bill at an Uxbridge, West London Chinese restaurant this week CCTV footage captured the moment two women and their children fled the restaurant while a member of staff tried to stop them Two women and their children dined and dashed from Pangs Chinese Restaurant in Uxbridge, West London 'The scums tried to run me over with their car...Can't believe they had two kids with them.' The restaurant confirmed that the incident had been reported to the police, who are 'looking out for the pair'. 'We were extremely disappointed to find that the family left without paying. We strive to provide excellent service and are saddened by this incident', the restaurant added. The Metropolitan Police said: 'We are aware of an incident at a restaurant in Uxbridge where a family left without paying their bill. 'Enquiries are ongoing, and we urge anyone who may have seen something or has information to come forward.' The restaurant have said that police are aware of the incident and are looking for the two women Meanwhile, locals have been quick to condemn the women for leaving the restaurant without settling the cost Uxbridge locals have expressed their anger over the 'shameful' incident at the much beloved Chinese restaurant. One Facebook user wrote: 'Absolute scumbags. No morals. I hope they get caught. Freeloaders, who have no idea how difficult it is to earn a living!'. Another said: 'Thats shocking, thankfully everyone is ok and I hope they catch them and bring them to justice'. The country mansion where Jane Austen attended balls and which she mentioned in her letters is to be demolished by its new owners, despite objections from neighbours and conservationists. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has approved plans to demolish Ashe Park House, Hampshire, and replace it with a 'traditional country house' in the Queen Anne style. Owners Shuk Ting Sharon Leung and Gillian Sin Hang Ho bought the 232-acre estate in October 2022 for 17 million and applied to tear it down because it was 'tired and unmanaged'. But 20 locals objected to the proposal because of its historic connections. The author of Pride And Prejudice was born in the village of Steventon, a mile away, in 1775, visiting the seven-bedroom house on a number of occasions. Neighbour Caroline Sykes, 67, said: 'It is such a waste. It is not a listed house, which does not work in its favour, but it has got historical interest.' And the charity Save Britain's Heritage (SAVE) complained that 'the building is an important heritage asset for Hampshire and its demolition would cause unjustified harm'. However, council planners approved the demolition. There are plans to demolish Ashe Park in Hampshire near Basingstoke seen in an aerial view Jennifer Ehle is seen in the 1995 version of Jane Austen's in Pride And Prejudice Neighbour Caroline Sykes is seen outside her home in Basingstoke The 'perfect' country estate has been described as 'idyllic' but the owners find it 'tired' and 'unmanaged' The agenda stated: 'Much of the house we see today was reconstructed in the early to mid-20th century and again in the 21st century . . . The current Ashe Park is very likely not the house visited by Austen.' SAVE said: 'This is a beautiful house with a characterful history. 'There are fascinating associations with Jane Austen and also a captain at the Charge of the Light Brigade who rebuilt the house when he returned to Hampshire after the Crimean War . . . These shocking demolition plans would destroy a charming building and erase that history.' Dozens of Metropolitan Police officers battered down a door to arrest six women at a Quaker meeting group while they were discussing climate change and Gaza. More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at around 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27, according to Youth Demand. It is believed to be the first time in the history that the police have forced their way into the pacifist group's place of worship. Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain, said the move by the Met was an 'aggressive violation' of their rights. He said: 'No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory. 'This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. 'Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.' Those arrested were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said. More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House (above) at around 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27 Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain, said the move by the Met was an 'aggressive violation' of their rights (Stock Image) It is believed to be the first time in the history that the police have forced their way into the pacifist group's place of worship However, Youth Demand said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' due to take place next month. The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on the same night and into Friday, March 28, as part of the operation. In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. 'Many have taken nonviolent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage and prison reform.' Youth Demand, which describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide', began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year. However, Youth Demand said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' due to take place next month (Pictured: The activist group cover the Picasso painting 'Motherhood' with a photo of a Gazan mother and child) Youth Demand describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide', began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year (Pictured: one of the group's activists speaking about the Met breaking down the door and arresting other members) Its demands of the Government include stopping all trade with Israel and raising money from 'the super rich and fossil fuel elite' to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning. Previous demonstrations by Youth Demand included three people hanging a banner and laying rows of children's shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer's home in April last year, following which three people in their 20s were handed suspended prison sentences. More of the group's members were arrested last July after they announced plans to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament. The Met Police said: 'Youth Demand have stated an intention to 'shut down' London over the month of April using tactics including 'swarming' and road blocks. 'While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality. 'On Thursday, 29 March officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting at an address in Westminster where those in attendance were plotting their April action. 'Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Five of those arrested on Thursday have been released on bail and one will face no further action. 'A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter. 'All five of those arrested on Friday have been released on bail.' An urgent search is underway for two brothers who vanished from South Australia just over two weeks ago after they were spotted interstate. Oscar, 5, and Felix, 4, were first reported missing from Adelaide on March 13. They were then spotted at Bunnings Gungahlin in Canberra about 4.30pm ten days later. The boys have not been seen since then. It is believed they are travelling man with a man in a white 2022 Toyota HiLux Workmate ute. The vehicle bears South Australian number plates, S393CTW. It is believed the brothers may have travelled to New South Wales. SA Police have been working alongside the Australian Federal Police and interstate police in the search. Oscar, 5, and Felix, 4, were first reported missing from Adelaide on March 13. Both boys were described as having a slim build, with short, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Oscar has been described as 110cm tall, of slim build, with short, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Felix is about 100cm tall, of slim build, and also has short, blonde hair and blue eyes. Police have now sought the public's assistance in locating the boys. They asked anyone who spots Oscar and Felix or has information on their whereabouts to contact the police assistance line immediately on 131 444. A sex offender seeking asylum in the UK was flown 5,000 miles by private jet for medical treatment in the Middle East at British taxpayers' expense. The clandestine operation to save the Sri Lankan came after he made an apparent suicide attempt on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean which Britain is in the process of controversially surrendering to Mauritius. The 34-year-old Tamil, who is being held on the secret military base of Diego Garcia, was flown to a country in the Middle East, where he received emergency surgery, before being returned on the jet at a total cost to the taxpayer of nearly 100,000. British diplomats are trying to find a third country prepared to take the man permanently to avoid the public outcry which would greet his settlement in the UK. The sex offender was part of a large group of Sri Lankans who fled their country on a fishing vessel back in 2021, with the UK accepting 61 of them. The man, who says he is unable to return to his homeland after allegedly being tortured by the country's military, was not included in the deal because of the six-month sentence he received for assault and sex attacks carried out while he was in Diego Garcia. The individual, who has not been identified, tried to take his own life after losing a High Court appeal against Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to refuse him asylum. As the Chagos Islands are not under the jurisdiction of the European Convention on Human Rights or the Refugee Convention, the asylum seeker was unable to use them to aid his appeal against Ms Cooper's decision to deny his entry into the UK, leading the High Court to rule that it was lawful for the Foreign Office to seek an alternative country willing to permit the sex offender entry. The sex offender was flown to a country in the Middle East, where he received emergency surgery, before being returned on the jet (stock picture) The clandestine operation to save the Sri Lankan came after he made an apparent suicide attempt on the Chagos Islands (pictured) in the Indian Ocean The asylum seeker was part of a large group of Sri Lankans who fled their country on a fishing vessel back in 2021, with the UK accepting 61 of them (stock photo) The Foreign Office is in discussion with five states over the possibility of them taking in the man. Mr Justice Chamberlain accepted that the Tamil man had never had any legal right to enter the UK and that the risks to public safety and confidence in the immigration system were 'real'. Issuing his judgment, he declared: 'Admitting the claimant in these high-profile circumstances would tend to undermine the UK's international commitment to tackling violence against women and girls. 'The task of evaluating the weight and importance of avoiding these risks falls, in the first instance, to ministers, not judges. 'Given the nature of the risks in question, the court should allow a wide margin to the democratically accountable ministers who, together with their officials, performed it.' Ministers have negotiated with the Mauritian authorities to stop the Chagos Islands becoming a back-door route into the UK. A diplomatic source said: 'The public deserve to know about this ridiculous use of their money being spent giving world-class private medical treatment to sex offenders in Diego Garcia and flying them around by private jet. 'Opening the question of British sovereignty over the Chagos Islands has made it more difficult to deal with cases such as these.' A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'This Government inherited a deeply troubling situation that remained unresolved under the last administration for years after the migrants' arrival on Diego Garcia. 'There are no commercial flights to the base, meaning medical evacuation requires medevac transport. We do not comment on specific cases.' Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick lambasted Britain's 'two-tier justice system' after it emerged a pro-Palestinian protester dodged jail despite spitting on two police officers. Jamila Zadran, 32, was caught on film spitting at the constables during a clash between Israeli and Palestinian protesters on January 18 in central London. She claimed she did not mean to spit at the officers and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. But her sentence drew comparisons with a far-Right protester jailed for more than two years for spitting on and goading an officer at a demonstration. Mr Jenrick labelled the judge's decision to spare Zadran 'ridiculous'. He told The Mail on Sunday: 'It is ridiculous that the judge did not think the protester deliberately spat at the police officer. 'The footage is clear cut. This will only add to the perception that we have a two-tier justice system where fashionable causes are treated more leniently.' When Daniel McGuire, 45, spat on an officer in Plymouth last year during an extremist rally, he was locked up for 26 months. McGuire was charged with violent disorder after the protest, organised in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick lambasted Britain's 'two-tier justice system' after it emerged a pro-Palestinian protester dodged jail despite spitting on two police officers Jamila Zadran, 32, was caught on film spitting at the constables during a clash between Israeli and Palestinian protesters on January 18 in central London In contrast, Zadran was charged with only two counts of assault by beating an emergency worker, which she admitted at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week. Violent disorder is a more serious matter which can, unlike assault by beating, be dealt with in a Crown Court, where lengthy custodial sentences are more likely. McGuire was jailed at Plymouth Crown Court by Judge Robert Linford who condemned his behaviour as 'acts of deliberate violence' and said: 'The word goes out from this court we do not want you here behaving in this way.' But when Zadran turned up for her sentencing District Judge Neeta Minhas accepted her account, and handed her 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay prosecution costs of 499. Judge Minhas said: 'Whilst I understand you were not aiming at them, the consequences were that they were in the line of fire and were impacted. 'They are police officers trying to do a frontline public service role and they do not deserve that behaviour directed towards them.' The officers, who only been identified only as PC Blake and PC Rose, both gave witness statements. PC Blake said: 'Spitting is so disgusting. Zadran showed no remorse and never apologised.' David Burns, prosecuting, said: 'Ms Zadran shouted abuse towards the opposite Israeli group. She has then been told to calm down.' She had then moved towards one of the Israeli group, and spat at two officers in the face, he said. Her lawyer Jude Lanchin described her offence as a 'reckless act rather than an intentional one' while conceding that it is 'not acceptable in any way to spit towards anybody'. Vladimir Putin is resettling thousands of Russians in the occupied Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in a move that has been likened to 'ethnic cleansing'. Russian troops captured two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine on Saturday, March 29, as it continues to advance into Ukrainian territory amid stumbling efforts for a ceasefire by U.S. President Donald Trump. The defence ministry said Moscow's forces captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. And in an attempt to ensure their capture of the territory lasts, hundreds of thousands of Russians have been resettled in the regions. It has led some to label the move as 'ethnic cleansing'. One female resident of Berdiansk, a port city in Zaporizhzhia, where plain-clothed soldiers often venture, told The Times how the area has begun being occupied by the new settlers. The 52-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'Since most of the residents have left and there is no one to work in state enterprises, the city has begun to be populated by Russians.' Those who have moved to the area have allegedly been offered larger salaries with the promise of being able to fill the homes which were abandoned by fleeing Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin (above) is resettling thousands of Russians in the occupied Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in a move that has been likened to 'ethnic cleansing' The defence ministry said Moscow 's forces captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia (above) region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region Russia is continuing to advance into Ukrainian territory amid stumbling efforts for a ceasefire by U.S. President Donald Trump (above) Another anonymous female resident said: 'The military administration sometimes visits houses and apartments under the pretext they are looking for a criminal, then check who has left and who has stayed to make a census of which housing is empty. 'Many residents who left have been left without their homes and businesses.' More than one third of residents have left Zaporizhzhia since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The governor of the city told The Telegraph that only 'slightly' less people had since resettled in the region. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 170 drones into the country overnight, striking targets in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 170 drones into the country overnight He said four people were killed in Dnipro, where a strike hit a hotel complex, and 21 others were injured, including a pregnant woman. President Zelensky said: 'Russia is making a mockery of peacekeeping efforts around the world. It is dragging out the war and sowing terror because it still feels no real pressure.' Regional Governor Oleg Sinegubov said the strikes on Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region killed one person and wounded 14 others. For several weeks, Donald Trump has been attempting to broker a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and strikes targeting energy infrastructure in both nations. While both countries agreed to the truces in principle, their implementation remains unclear and Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of seeking to derail them. Tony Blair's think-tank is preparing to tell the Government that the rise of AI is 'inevitable' and the UK will be left behind unless creators submit to Big Tech. A leaked research paper from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), which is bankrolled by US tech billionaire Larry Ellison, claims artists must 'adapt to technological pressure' like they did when photography was invented. It even argues that content-gobbling AI systems are only 'inspired' by the copyrighted works they consume pointing out that artists do not usually pay their inspirations. Keir Starmer's government wants to exempt Big Tech from copyright law, allowing it to use any online material to improve their AI products. Creators would have to opt out of having their work exploited. According to the leaked TBI report, giving AI firms unrestricted access to online books, music, films and artworks will 'enable art to evolve'. 'The notion that art will somehow die because a new tool makes some tasks easier flies in the face of thousands of years of history and the art world's response to past disruption,' it claims. 'Far from heralding the end of art, artificial intelligence will mark the beginning of totally new ways of being artistic. 'Art has repeatedly adapted to technological pressure and will again. 'Photography's advent in the 19th century...triggered a profound crisis in modern art, yet sparked a series of transformative movements.' A leaked research paper from the Tony Blair (pictured right) Institute for Global Change, which is bankrolled by US tech billionaire Larry Ellison (pictured left), claims artists must 'adapt to technological pressure' like they did when photography was invented Keir Starmer's government wants to exempt Big Tech from copyright law, allowing it to use any online material to improve their AI products Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, 80, founder of AI giant Oracle, has given TBI donations totalling nearly 300 million ($375 million) since 2018 and has maintained a personal relationship with Sir Tony Blair, who has an influential voice among liberal politicians. In Time Magazine Sir Tony, 71, wrote last year: 'Larry has the mind of an engineer, the curiosity of a thousand cats and the humility to keep learning the chief characteristic of the true change maker.' He also acknowledged that Oracle is 'the custodian of a staggering portion of the globe's data'. Ellison, the world's fourth-richest man, has repeatedly argued AI should be given free reign over the internet. Last month, in a discussion with Sir Tony at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, he said all US data, including DNA, should be put into a giant Oracle database and studied by AI. Last year, he proposed a dystopian mass surveillance system to allow AI-driven Oracle computers to watch people around the clock. According to the leaked TBI report, giving AI firms unrestricted access to online books, music, films and artworks will 'enable art to evolve' While the TBI report, Reimagining Copyright In The Age Of AI, does not go quite as far, it generally echoes Ellison's philosophy. Last night, the TBI denied advocating for giving Big Tech free reign over copyrighted material. It said it will offer advice on how creators can 'generate new funding and creative collaboration opportunities' in the world of AI. A spokesman said it will support the government's AI proposal, adding the paper will provide a plan for how a text-and-data mining exception, proposed by the Intellectual Property Office, could work and will suggest ways of supporting the creative industries. A glamorous wigmaker allegedly mowed down a mother and her two daughters in a horrific crash in New York City. Miriam Yarimi, 32, was behind the wheel of an Audi while on a suspended license on Saturday when she collided with a car and then into the family, according to cops. Yarimi goes by the name Ellie and is a wigmaker. She has shared pictures of herself on social media next to a blue Audi with the registration 'WIGM8KER'. The family of four had been crossing over Ocean Parkway in Midwood, Brooklyn, when officers say Yarimi crashed into a Uber driver. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the impact forced the taxi to be pushed aside while the Audi continued and collided with the family. Yarimi had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle by firefighters and was reportedly in a stable condition following the smash. Tisch said at a press conference that she had a suspended license, it is unclear if Yarimi was speeding or had ran a red light. She has not been charged with a crime. Medics rushed the family of four to hospital where the mother, 35, and two daughters, aged 6 and 8, died. The third child, a 4-year-old boy, is in a critical condition. Miriam Yarimi, 32, was behind the wheel of an Audi while on a suspended license on Saturday when she collided with a car and then into the family Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the impact forced the taxi to be pushed aside while the Audi continued and collided with the family According to online records, Yarimi's Audi had accrued over 93 traffic violations, which included 20 speeding tickets and over $10,000 in fines. The violations include include tickets for speeding through a school zone, failing to stop at a red light, and parking over a fire hydrant. She also won $2 million from the NYPD in a lawsuit she filed against the force over allegations that she was raped by a cop as a minor. In a post to her Instagram last year she said: 'After years of fighting, I have won my lawsuit against the NYPD for the abuse I endured as a child. 'This victory is not just for me - it's for every survivor who has felt silenced or forgotten. 'The trauma I experienced shaped so much of who I am today, but it has also given me the strength to keep going, to keep speaking out and to keep fighting for justice.' Speaking at the crash site, Mayor Eric Adams said: 'To see a mother and her two children lost to a vehicle crash, this is extremely concerning and painful not only to the City of New York in general but specifically to a close-knit community.' According to online records, Yarimi's Audi had accrued over 93 traffic violations, which included 20 speeding tickets and over $10,000 in fines Tragically, two child pedestrians and one adult pedestrian were transported to Maimonides Hospital, where they were pronounced dead One man who lives nearby told The Daily News that the noise of the crash sounded like an 'earthquake'. He said: 'I quickly ran, called 911, reported it in there. There was emergency Hatzalah there on the scene within two minutes of that phone call, they came in there. 'They performed CPR on the lady. There was another kid right next to thatand they did CPR on them. 'There was a little boy did the CPR, and hopefully they got a pulse on him. Just really ugly scene.' As Luigi Mangione faces life in prison for allegedly murdering a health insurance CEO, a radical new California ballot proposal bearing his name could upend the entire US healthcare system. Just months after Mangione allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk, Golden State activists and lawmakers are quietly pushing a ballot initiative. It proposes sweeping restrictions on health insurance companies, dangerously legitimizing violence as a form of political protest. The proposed law, officially submitted to the California Attorney General's Office, is named the Luigi Mangione Access To Health Care Act. It would make it a felony for insurance companies to 'delay, deny or modify any medical procedure or medication' recommended by a physician if the outcome could result in death, disfigurement, disability, or even 'loss or reduction of any bodily function.' The draft measure, now under official review, would reshape how health insurers operate in California. Under the proposed law: Only licensed physicians would be permitted to determine the validity of a treatment denial or delay. It would be a felony for insurers to employ non-physicians to review physician recommendations. If insurers deny care, they must prove - by clear and convincing evidence - that the denial would not cause harm or death. Consumers would gain the right to sue insurers, recouping treble damages - three times actual damages - as well as attorneys fees. Just months after Luigi Mangione allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Richard Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk, California lawmakers are quietly pushing a ballot initiative Mangione was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage Mangione is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel In short, the radical measure would effectively eliminate the ability of insurers to control costs or question medical recommendations unless they can do so under extraordinarily high legal thresholds. It was December 9 when Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania after a nationwide manhunt. Two weeks later, he was charged in Manhattan with murder as an act of terrorism, after allegedly stalking and fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Richard Thompson outside an investor conference on December 7. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to 11 federal and state charges - including terrorism, murder, and weapons violations - has become an unsettling folk hero to a small but vocal segment of Americans furious over denied claims, medical bankruptcies, and skyrocketing healthcare costs. In the weeks following the shooting, social media pages cropped up lionizing Mangione as a 'saint' with fan art, hashtags, and crowdfunding campaigns urging people to support his legal defense. Some corners of the internet began referring to him as 'the saint of healthcare justice.' Mangione's alleged attack triggered deep unease through boardrooms across America. Executives reported a sharp rise in personal threats, and some companies began heightening security at shareholder events and medical offices. The Act proposes sweeping restrictions on health insurance companies making it a felony for insurance companies to 'delay, deny or modify any medical procedure or medication' recommended by a physician A proposed California ballot initiative, named after alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, has been submitted to the California Attorney Generals Office If the initiative is enacted, any decision by an insurer to delay, deny or modify can only be made by a physician on behalf of any insurer Mangionehas become an unsettling folk hero to a small but vocal segment of Americans furious over denied claims, medical bankruptcies, and skyrocketing healthcare costs Luigi Mangione supporters hold signs outside the Supreme Court on last month in New York In the wake of Mangione's arrest, public opinion polls revealed that a majority of Americans believe health insurers share some blame for the frustrations and tragedies that patients experience when care is denied. For now, the Mangione Act is in its early stages. The California Attorney General's Office is reviewing the language and will craft a final title and summary before any signature gathering can begin. A public comment period is open through April 25, giving Californians a chance to weigh in. If the measure clears the title and summary hurdle, its backers will need to gather hundreds of thousands of valid signatures to qualify for the November 2025 ballot. A Democratic politician has warned Donald Trump's quest for strong national security 'might not stop at Greenland,' suggesting he could be plotting to 'take over' Poland or India next. Massachusetts Rep Seth Moulton, 46, questioned whether the president's fascination with acquiring territories could extend to other nations, calling the hypothetical move 'absurd' and 'a dumb way to conduct foreign policy.' 'If Trump is so concerned about Russia and China, then does he want to take over Poland, because they border Russia?' Moulton brazenly proposed during a CNN interview on Saturday. 'Does he want to take over India, because they border China? Does he want to take over Mongolia, kind of in between the two?' the congressman added. 'I mean, this is just absurd,' he said of the rhetorical proposition. 'That's not how the United States operates. It's a dumb way to conduct foreign policy.' Moulton's speculation comes after the 47th President told reporters that it's 'not a question' that the US 'has to have' Greenland for national security purposes. 'We need Greenland very importantly for international security. We have to have Greenland,' Trump said during a Friday press briefing. 'It's not a question of 'do you think we can do without it?' We can't.' Trump went on to discuss 'national security threats,' citing Chinese and Russian ships in arctic waterways as a 'threat to peace' that Demark isn't prepared to handle. Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton (left), 46, questioned whether President Donald Trump's fascination with aquiring territories could extend to other nations, calling the hypothetical move 'absurd' and 'a dumb way to conduct foreign policy,' during a CNN interview on Saturday 'If Trump is so concerned about Russia and China, then does he want to take over Poland, because they border Russia?' Moulton proposed 'We're not talking about peace for the United States. We're talking about world peace,' Trump said. CNN's Jessica Dean played the clip of Trump's concerned remarks before asking the Massachusetts lawmaker whether there is a genuine threat looming. 'What are these concerns with Russia and China's interest in the Arctic?' the CNN host questioned. 'Are those real? Or is it just that you believe that he is going about this in the wrong way?' Moulton then claimed that climate change is really to blame for what's making the Arctic a 'pressing' national security issue. 'The irony is that [the threats] are actually real because of climate change, which is reducing the ice in the Arctic, making it much easier for ships to travel,' he said, adding that 'Russia is establishing a lot of bases up there.' The congressman went on to suggest that Trump's hypothetical approach to securing US borders won't 'actually strengthen our national security,' but instead puts it 'at risk.' Trump's approach 'doesn't strengthen our national security, it actually puts our national security at risk because our greatest strength is our allies,' Moulton said. 'And when our allies can't trust us, they won't fight for us. They won't stand up to our adversaries. And all of that makes America much less safe.' Moulton then proposed that the Trump administration would be better off 'enlisting our allies help,' like 'America has done for decades.' 'The way America has addressed serious national security concerns for decades is to enlist our allies' help,' he said, adding that the US 'doesn't have the forces to put everywhere around the globe.' Moulton's speculation comes after the 47th President (pictured) told reporters that it's 'not a question' that the US 'has to have' Greenland for national security purposes during a press briefing on Friday Vice President JD Vance was the latest Trump envoy to travel to the icy island in an attempt to test the waters for a possible US annexation. In a defiant speech during a fleeting visit to a US base on Greenland, Vance warned of threatening Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic in recent years. He said Trump was right to talk of taking over the territory, which has been under Danish control for three centuries. But he played down the prospect of US troops being sent to take the island by force. 'The President has said clearly he doesn't think military force is going to be necessary, but he absolutely believes Greenland is an important part of the security, not just of the United States, but of the world and, of course, the people of Greenland, too,' he said. The Vice President made the controversial trip to Greenland with his wife Usha but had to abandon plans for an excursion to a traditional dog-sled race following local protests. He dined with US soldiers at the Pituffik military base in the Arctic north of the island, held by America since 1951. He reportedly told them: 'Denmark hasn't done a good job at keeping Greenland safe... We can't bury our heads in the sand or in this case in the snow and pretend the Chinese are not interested in this landmass.' Vance added: 'What we think is going to happen is the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we're going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.' Before flying back to the US after just a few hours on the island, he failed to explain how Greenland would afford independence which is the long-term aim of its new coalition government without its hefty Danish subsidy. A British couple who have been living and paying taxes in Australia for years claim they are facing deportation because of an 'outdated' law. Robert O'Leary and Jessica Mathers both hail from the United Kingdom but found each other while working in Sydney back in 2017 and fell in love. Since then, they've built their lives together in Australia, throwing themselves into their careers, paying taxes and engaging in the city's eastern suburbs community. Ms Mathers received a shock diagnosis in 2020 when doctors informed her she had relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The chronic condition sees the immune system attack the central nervous system, disrupting the brain's ability to communicate with the body. Symptoms include numbness, vision issues, balance and coordination issues, and muscle weakness. Ms Mathers' variant relapsing-remitting MS can at times be more forgiving than progressive instances of the disease, but means the Brit suffers flare-ups of symptoms followed by periods of partial recovery from the condition. She said the condition has been 'well-managed' so far. Robert O'Leary and Jessica Mathers met and fell in love in Sydney, but now face deportation However, when she and Mr O'Leary applied for permanent residency, migration officials cited her MS in their rejection. The potential future cost of Ms Mathers' condition to the Australian economy formed the basis of the refusal. The couple said the ruling has caused them undue stress and left them with no way to plan their future together. They understand the government's stance, but believe the nuance of Ms Mathers' condition deserves to be considered. 'We both respect that healthcare costs need to be considered, but we strongly believe that our situation - Jessicas stable condition and our contributions to the community should be taken into account,' Mr O'Leary said. 'We have worked hard and paid taxes since we arrived in Australia. We are committed to continuing our careers here, but the current immigration law doesnt account for the value we bring to the country.' Ms Mathers has been receiving her regular MS treatment under Australia and the United Kingdom's Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement. When the couple applied to become Australian residents the government refused on account of the cost of Ms Mathers' MS diagnosis It allows British residents to access some of Medicare's subsidised healthcare services while visiting Australia. The couple believe Ms Mathers' condition is stable so far it has not shown signs of progression in medical scans. She has been able to continue working with the condition and has remained an active participant in the community, raising awareness for MS conducting fundraisers for MS Australia. She also DJs on weekends. Ms Mathers was even nominated 'Bondi Creative Woman of the Year'. Her partner operates a construction business. 'Robs carpentry-based skill set and expertise in the construction industry are in demand, yet our future here hangs in the balance due to Jessicas health condition,' the couple said. But, their visa statuses have meant they cannot progress their lives any further and have been 'living in limbo for years'. Australian laws hinder the ex-pats' dealings with banks and further employment prospects as they await a decision on their appeal, which is before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 'We are not asking for special treatment, but for fairness. We love Australia,' Ms Mathers said online In a brutal blow, lawyers have informed the couple they have very little chance of winning their appeal unless Immigration Minister Tony Burke personally intervenes in their case. The couple have since created a petition online calling for a review of immigration policies that affect people with well-managed health conditions. The petition was launched online on Saturday and has attracted more than 1300 signatures. 'We are not asking for special treatment, but for fairness. We love Australia, and we have worked hard to contribute to this country in meaningful ways. All we want is the chance to continue doing so,' the couple wrote. 'We are asking for the following: A review of the immigration policy that denies skilled migrants with well-managed health conditions the chance to stay in Australia. 'The Ministers intervention in our case, so we can continue to live, work, and contribute to Australia. 'A fair, compassionate, and case-by-case assessment of immigration applications based on the contributions migrants have made to Australian society. 'Our case is urgent, and we are running out of time. We need your support now to help us stay in the country we met in and call home. 'Please stand with us and help us make Australia a place where fairness, equality, and contribution are valued above all else.' Daily Mail Australia contacted the Department of Home Affairs for comment. A woman in Virginia was terrified to come home and find a stranger lying on her couch and heard him 'crying.' The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office reported to Joette Breeden's home in Warrenton, around 50 miles from Washington DC, around 9.50pm on Thursday. She walked into her home to find a stranger lying on her couch, with several wounds and blood all over her home, Fox 5 reported. Breeden told the outlet: 'I never saw him. I just heard a man crying.' 'When I entered the house, I could hear what sounded to me like a man crying and at first I thought I had left the TV on but then I looked and the TV was off and the lights were still off,' she said. '...but I could see someone on the sofa, so I just turned around and ran back out of the house.' The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office reported to Joette Breeden's home in Warrenton, around 50 miles from Washington DC, around 9.50pm on Thursday The homeowner walked into her home to find a stranger lying on her couch, with several wounds and blood all over her home. Breeden said: 'I never saw him. I just heard a man crying.' The man was given medical treatment when emergency services arrived before he was taken to the Winchester Medical Center, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. His identity has not been released, but he was later reported to have passed away She told the outlet she had noticed her car port door was open when she arrived home. As she entered and realized there was a stranger in her home, she turned out and ran back to her car. Jeffrey Long, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said that the man had 'obvious trauma to his body and neck.' The man was given medical treatment when emergency services arrived before he was taken to the Winchester Medical Center, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. His identity has not been released, but he was later reported to have passed away. Currently, it is unclear why the man was inside Breeden's home. The sheriff's office told The Independant that they would be investigating if the man had been the victim of a crime. Breeden's bizarre story comes as a babysitter similarly encountered a terrifying situation after checking under a child's bed for monsters and came face to face with a stranger. 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' 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.' 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. Dem political guru James Carville says has declared Donald Trump's presidency to have already collapsed - barely 80 days into the Republican leader's historic return to the White House. Carville, 80, steered Bill Clinton to the White House in 1992 with a campaign best remembered for his pithy motto: 'It's the economy, stupid.' This time, Carville made the bombshell claim during an appearance on CNN telling host Michael Smerconish that he was surprised by just how quickly the Trump administration had in his view, fallen apart. 'I had no idea. I thought I'd have to wait longer for the imminent collapse. It happened even faster than I could imagine,' Carville said, with his trademark bayou drawl. Carville has spent decades dissecting the highs and lows of American politics and seen plenty of erratic behavior from politicians. But the 'Ragin Cajun's' latest comments were rooted in his February New York Times op-ed, in which he advised Democrats to essentially play dead in to bide their time and allow the Trump administration to implode under the weight of its own dysfunction. 'Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is retreat on the immediate battlefield - and advance in another direction,' he wrote. 'It won't take long. Public support for this administration will fall through the floorboard. It's already happening.' Veteran US political strategist James Carville says has declared Donald Trump's presidency to have already collapsed - barely 80 days into the leader's historic return to the White House Trump's public support appears to be at or above where it stood during his first term Carville made the claim during an appearance on CNN telling host Michael Smerconish that he was surprised by just how quickly the Trump administration had fallen apart That op-ed raised eyebrows for its tone and its total reliance on Trump's self-destruction as a political strategy. But now Carville insists that the collapse he forecasted has already arrived - even sooner than expected. 'This is a glorious opportunity for the Democratic Party to redefine itself,' he declared. 'It's the gravest crisis we've had in the United States in the last 80 years.' Carville painted the Trump administration as a constitutional disaster zone, suggesting that America had veered off the rails of legality and leadership. 'We're looking at nincompoops and blockheads and buffoons running the country,' he said. Carville, who currently serves as senior advisor for the liberal Super PAC American Bridge 21st Century, has never been shy about his distaste for Trump. Yet despite his insistence the administration is unraveling, the data tells a very different story with no evidence to support his sweeping claim that public support has 'fallen through the floorboard.' Trump's public support appears to be at or above where it stood during his first term. Political consultant James Carville is no longer inside the Democratic war room, but his influence remains outsized A Gallup poll of US adults covering the first three months of 2025 found Trump's approval rating at 45% - three points higher than during the same period in 2017. And in a Fox News national poll conducted from March 14 to 17, Trump's approval rating stood at 49%, with particularly strong numbers among independents and working-class voters. Trump's individual policy ideas are proving popular, too. Nearly six in 10 Americans approve of Trump's plan to deport illegal immigrants, 54 percent support his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a majority are on board with Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the federal bureaucracy and it's out-of-control spending, according to a CBS News poll last month. Carville, a staunch Democrat has been married to Republican strategist Mary Matalin, 71, for 32 years Veteran strategist James Carville steered Bill Clinton to the White House with a campaign best remembered for his pithy motto: 'It's the economy, stupid' It would not be the first time Carville has been spectacularly wrong. In an op-ed published just weeks before the 2024 presidential election, Carville declared whom he thought would be the winning candidate. In a column headlined 'Three Reasons I'm Certain Kamala Harris Will Win,' Carville became a laughingstock among political pundits. 'America, it will all be OK. Ms. Harris will be elected the next President of the United States. Of this, I am certain,' he wrote. He cited three reasons for his certainty: Trump had lost before, Harris's fundraising advantage and his own 'emotional' feelings. Of course, Vice President Kamala Harris lost in a landslide as Trump returned to power, winning key swing states and outperforming expectations among Latino, black, and union voters. Carville's latest pronouncements have failed to spark any movement within the Democratic Party, many of whose top strategists are now wary of such overconfidence following last year's defeat. Columbia University alumni ripped their diplomas to shreds in protest of a fellow student who was detained by ICE after leading students in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Instead of joining in on the Ivy-League university's annual 'Alumni Day' festivities for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the prestigious school by ripping up their diplomas. The self-own protest comes after the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Palestinian activist and a green card holder. Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned apartment on March 8. Organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine, the bold demonstration began with a group of alumni, along with a active student speakers, chanting before the group simultanelously tore up their diplomas. 'It's not easy to do this,' Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate, told NBCNews, claiming none of the former students acted 'lightly' and 'took no joy' in the act. The scorned alumni noted that she had to 'fight hard' to earn her master's degree from the high-ranking university as an immigrant who has experienced displacement. 'I'm not a proud alumni at all, and instead I want to stand with the students, and I want to stand with Palestinians, and I want to stand with immigrants who are being rounded up and harassed, oppressed and deported as we speak,' she said. Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs alumni ripped their diplomas to shreds in protest of a fellow student who was detained by ICE after leading students in pro-Palestinian demonstrations Instead of joining in on the Ivy-League university's annual 'Alumni Day' festivities for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the prestigious school by ripping up their diplomas. Pictured: Student protesters gather inside their encampment on the Columbia University campus on April 29, 2024 The self-own protest comes after the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, 30, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs, a Palestinian activist and a green card holder Tower, along with other protestors, donned signs and chanted 'Free Mahmoud Khalil' and 'Free Palestine,' throughout the Saturday event. Khalil's lawyers say he is currently being detained in a facility in Louisiana. The Trump administration said it wants to deport Khalil because of his role in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus, while also accusing the 30-year-old graduate student of being a threat to foreign policy. President Donald Trump has warned that the apprehension of Khalil represents the 'first arrest of many' as his administration continues to crack down on campus opposition to the war in Gaza. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the 30 year old's expulsion from the country. Khalil was detained on the night of March 8 as he and his wife were returning to their apartment in upper Manhattan by officials from the US Department of Homeland Security. The agents reportedly told the couple that Khalil was being detained because his student visa had been revoked. When his wife provided documents proving he was a green card holder, the agents said that was also being revoked and took him away in handcuffs, according to a lawsuit Khalil's attorneys filed challenging his detention. 'It's not easy to do this,' Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate, told NBCNews, claiming none of the former students acted 'lightly' and 'took no joy' in the act. Pictured: A torn-apart Columbia University diploma Organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine , the bold demonstration began with a group of alumni, along with a active student speakers, chanting before a group ripping of diplomas. Pictured: Muslim protesters pray outside the main campus of Columbia University during a demonstration to denounce the immigration arrest of Mahmoud Khalil on March 14 The DHS has accused Khalil of leading 'activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.' The White House claimed Khalil organized protests where pro-Hamas propaganda was distributed. 'This administration is not going to tolerate individuals having the privilege of studying in our country and then siding with pro-terrorist organizations that have killed Americans,' Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, said. Khalil's lawyers claim there is no evidence that their client provided support of any kind to a terrorist organization. 'They're trying to make an example of him to chill others from making similar speech,' the legal official told the Associated Press. 'Not agreeing with your government's foreign policy decision to support Israel is not a reason for you to be in deportation proceedings.' Khalil's (center in red) lawyers say he is currently being detained in a facility in Louisiana President Donald Trump has warned that the apprehension of Khalil represents the 'first arrest of many' as his administration continues to crack down on campus opposition to the war in Gaza. Pictured: Lawyers for the US Justice Department and detained Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil appeared in federal court to argue over the jurisdiction of his petition for release on March 29, 2025 Khalil was one of the most visible activists in the protests last spring at Columbia, which also happened on other college campuses around the world. He served as a student negotiator - a role that had him speaking frequently with university officials and the press. He was among the pro-Palestinian activists investigated by a new disciplinary body at Columbia University focused on harassment and discrimination complaints. Khalil completed his masters degree in public administration at Columbias School of International and Public Affairs in December. A lawyer and real estate agent who already owned a $7million dollar home has been ordered to vacate a separate property she had been trying to claim via squatter's rights. Mary Willis filed a lawsuit against Yael Abraham, who had secretly been squatting at two Rozelle homes in inner-city Sydney that Ms Willis had inherited from her father decades earlier. Ms Abraham claimed to have been living in the properties since 2011, which would have given her claim to ownership under NSW adverse possession laws. Also known as 'squatter's rights', the law states anyone who occupies an abandoned house for at least 12 years without force or secrecy can inherit the property. The lawsuit was initially filed to the NSW Supreme Court in 2023 and Ms Abraham eventually dropped her challenges of ownership to one of the homes last year. She pressed on with her fight to keep the second house however, which was settled by Acting Justice Michael Elkaim, who recently ruled in Ms Willis's favour. Justice Elkaim took issue with Ms Abraham's timeline of events and was skeptical about her claims that she had lived in the home since 2011. He also ruled that Ms Abraham failed to make her presence in the property 'visible' and that until recently, her occupation had been more of a secret. Yael Abraham (pictured) has had her claim of adverse possession on a inner-city Sydney home tossed out by a NSW Supreme Court judge Ms Abraham, who works as a lawyer and real estate agent in Queensland, initially heard about the abandoned properties via a tip-off from her brother, which she visited in late 2009, the court heard. She promptly began storing furniture and other items at one of the Rozelle homes after she and her family moved to the area in 2011. Justice Elkaim did not agree with Ms Abraham's claim that she had properly occupied the house as she only visited it once a month at most to begin cleaning it. Lockable doors were installed by Ms Abraham but a broken window at the front of the house remained unrepaired for years. Despite cleaning the home and installing new doors, Justice Elkaim ruled that Ms Abraham using the property 'as a storeroom does not substantiate adverse possession', reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Any claim of adverse possession meets strict requirements, which dictate that the property had been used exclusively 'as a residence' during the 12-year period. The house did not even have a functioning toilet until Ms Abraham's eldest child moved into the property full-time in 2016. The offspring had only been living in the home part-time in the four years prior. Ms Abraham told the court she had been occupying two Rozelle homes (suburb pictured) since 2011. She dropped her claim of squatter's rights over one of the properties. This revelation alone quashed Ms Abraham's claim of squatter's rights, the judge ruled. As she or her family had only been provably occupying the property since 2016, that meant the 12-year limitation period had not yet expired, he said. The judge also took issue with the fact that Ms Abraham had seemingly occupied the property in secrecy, which was adverse to the law which stated she had to have openly and visibly lived at the property. '[Ms Abraham], deliberately, took no action to display her occupation to the outside world until much later [than 2011],' Justice Elkaim said. 'The front windows were never mended, and the roof was only repaired in the last five years. 'In other words, to the passerby, the appearance of occupation was not apparent.' Acting Justice Michael Elkaim ruled that Yael Abraham (pictured) had not met the standards for her adverse possession claim Ms Abraham's lawyer told the court that she had tried to contact and let this lady know that she was living in the property and that Ms Willis gave us the keys; in am email sent to an agent in 2023. Justice Elkaim ruled in Ms Willis' favor as the evidence indicated Ms Abraham's occupancy was a 'possession continued by stealth'. Ms Abraham is the principal of Assetnet Properties, which 'purchases, sells, renovates and builds property throughout Queensland and NSW', according to the company's website. She is described on her own website as 'a lawyer and activist for children's and animal rights'. Ms Abraham also featured on ABC's Australian Story in 2009 for her work as a foster carer. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Yael Abraham for comment. Prince Harry lost a venue hired for Sentebale because he wanted to bring his Netflix camera crew with him, the chair of his charity has claimed. Dr Sophie Chandauka accused the Duke of 'harassment and bullying at scale' after calling the Sussex brand 'toxic' - damaging claims which Harry's representatives have strongly denied. In a bombshell interview with Sky News' Trevor Phillips, which aired this morning, Dr Chandauka said an opportunity for Sentebale to do a charity Polo Challenge in Miami was ruined when Harry insisted on bringing his Netflix camera crew along. 'About a month before the event was about to take place, Prince Harry called the team and said, 'I'm doing a Netflix show, and I would love to bring a camera crew so that I can include some footage in this show,'' she said. 'And so the team called me and told me, 'Oh, Prince Harry's made this request, so we're doing the things'. 'I said, you can't be doing the things without seeking consent from the property owners, the sponsors, all the guests. Nobody signed up to being on a Netflix show.' She added: 'We come up with draft agreements and of course, the venue owner says this is now a commercial undertaking. So here are my terms. We couldn't afford it. So now we lost the venue.' It comes as: Dr Sophie Chandauka (pictured) has accused the Duke of 'harassment and bullying at scale' after calling the Sussex brand 'toxic' Dr Chandauka (left), the chair of Prince Harry's beleaguered charity Sentebale, said she had been asked to defend Meghan Markle against negative publicity Dr Chandauka, Meghan and Prince Harry at a polo sporting event The charity then managed to bag another venue through Harry's connections, with the Duke in attendance as well as an unexpected visit from Meghan. 'We're excited about it. We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time, but we didn't,' Dr Chandauka said. 'And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage. 'The international press captured this, and there was a lot of talk about the Duchess and the choreography on stage and whether she should have been there and her treatment of me. 'Prince Harry asked me to issue some sort of a statement in support of the Duchess, and I said I wouldn't. 'Not because I didn't care about the Duchess, but because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes.' In footage from the event in April 2024, Meghan appeared to ask Dr Chandauka not to pose next to Harry as he celebrated the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida. The Duchess could initially be seen ordering people around a stage after handing Harry a trophy following the tournament at the USPA National Polo Center. Dr Chandauka, who was stood on the Duke's right, was asked twice by Meghan to move to her left side away from Harry, as he kept his arm around his wife. Others therefore had to shuffle around them to find a place, with Dr Chandauka awkwardly having to duck under the trophy to get into the position Meghan was asking her to stand in. Dr Chandauka then said something inaudible to her. A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described Dr Chandauka's claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was 'unleashed on her' as 'completely baseless'. In a bombshell interview with Sky News ' Trevor Phillips, which aired this morning, Dr Chandauka said an opportunity for Sentebale to do a charity Polo Challenge in Miami was ruined when Harry insisted on bringing his Netflix camera crew along Dr Chandauka (third from right) claimed the Sussexes' brand had become 'toxic' (pictured at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge held in Florida in April last year to raise funds for Sentebale) Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho quit as patrons of the charity they had founded in solidarity with trustees who said they could not carry on under Dr Chandauka In an astonishing message to Harry the chairwoman also said: 'The team is resolved that Sentebale will live on, with or without you.' In another interview, Dr Chandauka claimed she first felt tension between Harry and herself a year ago. She said at one point she was asked by his team to defend Meghan against negative publicity, but she refused. Prince Harry dramatically quit Sentebale last week 'in solidarity' with the charity's disgruntled trustees who resigned when relations with formidable Zimbabwean lawyer Dr Chandauka 'broke down beyond repair' after she refused their request to step down. The downfall of Sentebale: A timeline 2006: Prince Harry founds Sentebale in honour of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The charity was founded to help people in southern Africa living with HIV and Aids. January 2020: Harry and Meghan announce on Instagram their decision to 'step back' as senior members of the British royal family, and split their time between the United Kingdom and North America. In damning claims today, Sentebale chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka said the charity lose key sponsors when Harry left Britain. 'There was quite a significant correlation between the time the organisation started to see a departure of major organisations and Prince Harry's departure from the UK itself,' she said. April 2024: Meghan's 'awkward' encounter with Dr Chandauka onstage at a charity polo event after the Duchess turned up at short notice and asked the charity chairman to move away from Harry. Early 2025: This year, a dispute arose between Dr Chandauka and the board of trustees. The dispute resulted in the board asking her to resign as chair. Wednesday: Harry's resignation from Sentebale came this week amid allegations of bullying, harassment, sexism and racism made by Dr Chandauka - claims that are strongly denied. Advertisement But in an extraordinary interview today she raised the stakes in the increasingly ugly dispute engulfing the charity, saying the Sussexes' 'brand' had hindered the charity. 'The number one risk for this organisation was the toxicity of its lead patron's brand,' Dr Chandauka told the Financial Times. She argued that controversy surrounding Prince Harry since his move to the US had an impact on the charity's ability to diversify its donor pool and make senior hires. 'When you start to interview people, they're asking questions about, well, these mixed messages around the patron,' she said. Elsewhere she accused Harry and fellow co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho of trying to 'force a failure' of the organisation only to then come to its rescue. In her first interview since the dispute erupted, Dr Chandauka issued an impassioned defence of her record. In another bombshell allegation, Dr Chandauka accused the Duke of Sussex 'harassment and bullying at scale'. In a separate interview on Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips she said the Duke authorised the release of a statement revealing that he and other trustees had quit the charity, which she described as 'unleashing of the Sussex machine on me'. Mr Philips asked her: 'What you're essentially saying is that the Duke of Sussex is guilty of harassment and bullying and improper conduct in the governance of the charity?' In response, she said Harry's release of 'a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors' was an 'attack' and 'an example of harassment and bullying at scale'. She added: 'And so if the world didn't want to believe that there's such a thing as bullying, this unleashing of the Sussex machine on me and the 540 employees, at Sentebale, who received this and have had to defend it....' At this point Mr Phillips interjected, asking what she means by the Sussex machine. Dr Chandauka replied: 'The PR machine that supports Prince Harry's efforts, the only way we discovered of his decision was through the Sussex machine activating newspapers.' Nacho Figueras, Dr Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale, Prince Harry and Richard Miller, CEO of Sentebale attend the Royal Salute Polo Challenge benefitting Sentebale at Grand Champions Polo Club on April 12, 2024 It followed a statement last week from Sentebale - which was formed in 2006 in memory of Harry's late mother Diana to help Aids orphans in southern Africa - suggesting 'people in the field' were more important than its trustees. Igniting a poisonous internecine dispute, the charity said in a highly charged statement last week: 'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.' There was a deafening silence from Harry about the claims. But a source who has known the prince since the charity's inception told the Mail: 'There's no way of sugar-coating the damage of this, regardless of who's in the right. He'll be reeling.' The charity also reiterated its commitment to supporting young people in the region without the support of its royal patron, who stepped back from his role in protest at the 'untenable' actions of Ms Chandauka. A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described Dr. Chandauka's claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was 'unleashed on her' as 'completely baseless'. Sentebale and its trustees are facing allegations of racism, sexism and bullying from Ms Chandauka. Dr Chandauka has accused Sentebale and its trustees of racist, sexist and bullying conduct But Dr Chandauka said the organisation's setup was 'no longer appropriate in a post-Black Lives Matter world - and that trustees resented any notion of change She claimed she had been asked to defend Meghan from negative press reports - but deemed the Sussex brand 'toxic' Sources say after the board of trustees formally requested Ms Chandauka's resignation she declined and then, when they tried to force the move through with a vote, she filed a legal challenge at the High Court to prevent their meeting. While there is no formal record of proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice, it is claimed that the court did not grant an injunction and, as the charity board meeting was ultimately cancelled, the judge decided that no further hearing or court appearance was necessary. It is not clear where this leaves Ms Chandauka's legal challenge. Prince Harry is not personally the subject of any legal action in this matter. Representatives for Prince Harry have strongly denied he had sought to engineer the collapse of the charity in order to rescue it. Ms Chandauka, who trained as a lawyer in London, told the FT that she has been on a mission to transform the charity. 'The way the organisation had been set up in 2006, was no longer appropriate in 2023 in a post-Black Lives Matter world,' she said. She added that her changes triggered friction between UK-based staff and those in Lesotho, where most of the charity's 500-plus workforce are based. The board, she said, felt 'a loss of power and control and influence... oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over'. Far from being a bully herself, she insisted that during her time as chair she experienced 'disrespect, bullying and intimidation' and 'misogyny and misogynoir (misogyny directed at Black women)', allegations that have been vehemently denied. There is no suggestion that Princes Harry or Seeiso were alleged to have behaved in this way. Kelello Lerotholi, one of the trustees who resigned this week, told Sky News he did not recognise the allegations: 'I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such.' Prince Harry pictured in conversation with Dr Chandauka during an event in Miami last April Prince Harry pictured on a visit to Lesotho with Ntoli Moletsane of Sentebale in October last year Among the trustees to resign was former Royal Equerry Mark Dyer (pictured with Harry). The trustees said there was 'no other path forward' And Baroness Lynda Chalker of Wallasey, who served as a trustee for nearly two decades until November, has spoken of how Dr Chandauka 'almost dictatorial' style had led to clashes. The origins of the dispute have been highly contested by both sides. Dr Chandauka said she first felt tension between Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and herself in April 2024. Some sources insisted the dispute had nothing to do with personal animosity. 'There are real issues at hand that have been raised and not addressed,' said one. 'The trustees tried to negotiate this privately and requested she consider her position due to their lack of trust and confidence in her as a leader.' Lawyers for Prince Harry have said there had been a breakdown in relations between the chair and key individuals, including some staff, trustees and major funders. A Charity Commission spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.' The charity's five former trustees, who include Harry's long-time mentor Mark Dyer - a former army captain who accompanied him on his first gap-year trip to Lesotho - said in their resignation statement that 'we see no other path forward as the result of our loss in trust and confidence in the chair of the board.' In an apparent further dig at Harry, Dr Chandauka added that 'for me, this is not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account'. She said: 'I am an African who has had the privilege of a world class education and career. I will not be intimidated. I must stand for something.' And she insisted that she would not step down from her role. One source close to the prince told the Mail that it was a 'hugely sensitive' situation and urged people to see 'the facts play out'. 'The Charity Commission will investigate. That process needs to happen,' they said. Sentebale and the Sussexes have been approached for comment. Terminally ill patients should be able to receive voluntary assisted dying advice remotely regardless of whether Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton rules the roost post election, a peak body says. The Australian Medical Association is calling for the next federal government to change the criminal code to allow doctors across the country to provide voluntary assisted dying services via telehealth. Under the code, it is illegal to use a carriage service to promote suicide and the Federal Court ruled in 2023 that the ban also extended to voluntary assisted dying services. As such, doctors who advise patients about voluntary assisted dying via telehealth, email or phone consultations can face criminal charges. AMA president Danielle McMullen said the ban could have a major impact on rural and regional Australians who might have to travel to cities for medical services. 'It also disadvantages patients who are physically unable to travel for face-to-face consultations, even at relatively short distances, due to their medical condition,' she said. 'The next government must act to ensure eligible patients have equal access to the end-of-life planning of their choice. The Australian Medical Association has called for an overhaul of the voluntary assisted dying laws (stock image) 'This is not a new issue and problems with the current legislation are well-known to the federal government.' In 2024, independent MP Kate Chaney introduced a private member's bill to federal parliament to rewrite the criminal code but it went nowhere. The code barring people from advocating or promoting suicide was put in place in 2005, as an attempt to crack down on cyberbullying. Every Australian state has since introduced laws allowing voluntary assisted dying. Victoria was the first Australian state to legalise euthanasia in 2019, with Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and South Australia following suit. The Northern Territory will be the only jurisdiction in Australia without a scheme when it becomes legally available in the ACT in late 2025. AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen has called on the next federal government to ensure eligible patients have equal access to the end-of-life planning of their choice The peak body said its latest policy position followed extensive consultation with its members, state and territory offices, councils and committees, as well as Palliative Care Australia. Dr McMullen said it maintained a strong focus on palliative care and the right to conscientious objection. 'It is imperative that governments appropriately fund and resource palliative care throughout Australia,' she said. 'No patient should ever explore VAD because they are unable to access timely, quality palliative care.' If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust. Iran has threatened to target British forces if Donald Trump attacks the Middle Eastern nation in the absence of a new nuclear deal. Trump sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal. The US President warned: 'There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.' In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said on Friday: 'If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump.' 'Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe,' Qalibaf said in a live speech at the annual Al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, that marks the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. A senior Iranian military official has now said that Tehran would strike the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands should Trump attack Iran. 'There will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region or within the range of Iranian missiles,' he told the Telegraph on Saturday. The military official added: 'When the time comes, it won't matter whether you're an American, British, or Turkish soldier you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans.' This comes after Iranian state media reported this week that Tehran would strike the base on Diego Garcia with ballistic missiles and suicide drones if Donald Trump follows through on his warning of military action. Iran has threatened to target British forces if Donald Trump attacks the Middle Eastern nation in the absence of a new nuclear deal (pictured: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) Trump (pictured) sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal. The US President warned: 'There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal' Iran has threatened to strike American bases and 'blow up' the entire Middle East if Donald Trump follows through on his warning of military action in the absence of a new nuclear deal. The image shows an Iranian rocket launched during a drill earlier last year It warned that Iran had weapons capable of reaching the base - like the Khorramshahr ballistic missile and the Shahed 136B drone -. The base on Diego Garcia island moved into Tehran's focus due to a strategic bomber force there that can hit underground facilities in the Middle Eastern country. The US has seemingly issued another warning to Iran and its rebel proxies by deploying at least three B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia island. Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC showed three B-2s parked at Camp Thunder Cove on Diego Garcia on Wednesday. America is believed to be bringing additional firepower to the military base, as radio transmissions and flight-tracking data suggested the US Air Force is moving several aircraft to Diego Garcia. At least four more jets are reportedly on their way, The Telegraph reports, citing unconfirmed Open Source Intelligence. Seven C17 aircraft - which are typically used for rapid deployment of troops, cargo and supplies - have also landed at the base in recent days, according to Sky News. The B-2 Spirit, or B-2 bomber, is a highly advanced, stealth bomber capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. The plane, designed by the US Air Force, is known for its ability to penetrate enemy defences. The B-2's design incorporates advanced stealth technology to make it difficult to detect by radar, allowing it to penetrate heavily defended airspace. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf (pictured last year) warned on Friday: 'If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump. Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe' Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC showed three B-2s (circled) parked at Camp Thunder Cove on Diego Garcia on Wednesday. America is believed to be bringing additional firepower to the military base Diego Garcia island is a strategic hub, as it puts both Yemen and Iran in range of British and American planes and 'plays a crucial role in maintaining regional and international security', according to the government spokesperson Iranian state media said: 'The B-2 Spirit, a bomber with long range, payload, and advanced stealth features, is often cited as an ideal platform for delivering heavy bombs to Iranian underground facilities.' Khamenei has called Trump's message deceptive and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday talks were impossible unless Washington changed its 'maximum pressure' policy. Araqchi on Friday was reported by state media as saying that while Trump's letter contained threats, it also left the door open to diplomacy. He did not elaborate. The UK has condemned the threats 'in the strongest terms' in a statement, with a government spokesperson saying that Britain was working with regional partners to de-escalate the situation. Diego Garcia island is a strategic hub, as it puts both Yemen and Iran in range of British and American planes and 'plays a crucial role in maintaining regional and international security', according to the government spokesperson. It also provides a closer location for the long-range bombers to launch that's still far outside of the range of the rebels - and avoids using allies' Mideast bases. There are believed to be around 4,000 British and US forces stationed on Diego Garcia Anthony Albanese is also more popular than Peter Dutton A new poll has put Labor ahead of the Opposition just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an election to be held for May 3. Voters appear to have turned their backs on Peter Dutton and the Coalition in favour of the Albanese government in the latest Newspoll for The Australian. Labor (51 per cent) now has a two point lead over the Coalition on a two-party-preferred basis after 1,249 voters were surveyed late last week. They identified energy prices, income tax cuts and fuel tax relief as their main areas of concern just under five weeks before Aussies head to the polls. Two other national polls released on Sunday also showed surging support for Labor and Mr Albanese after falling behind Dutton earlier in the week. Despite the turn-around, voters were heavily critical of the government's Federal Budget, handed down on Tuesday. Treasurer Jim Chalmers' budget was received as one of the worst for the economy in a decade, the survey found. If Labor can retain its current level of support until May, 3, the party could win enough seats to form a majority government for a second consecutive term. Voters appear to have turned their backs on Peter Dutton (pictured on Saturday) and the Coalition, according to the latest polls Labor led the Coalition 51-49 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis However, it's just as likely the election will result in either a hung parliament or minority government. Labor's primary vote has risen to 33 per cent after recovering from a low of 31 per cent in recent polls. It's Labor's best result so far in 2025 and is now in an identical position to how the party entered the 2022 federal election. Meanwhile, the Coalition's primary vote has fallen to 37 per cent, its lowest support this year. The Coalition reached a peak of 40 per cent support in November but has now fallen to just 1.7 per cent above its crushing election loss in 2022. The blows keep on coming for Mr Dutton with the news that Mr Albanese's personal approval rating is also growing stronger after it bottomed out in January. Forty-three per cent of voters approve of the job Mr Albanese is doing, his highest level of support in six months . However, another 52 per cent are unhappy with the prime minister's performance, which resulted in a net approval rating of minus nine. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated a good day in the polls on Sunday by joining Italian born Filomena for morning tea at her Canberra home The reception for Labor's budget has been tepid at best with only 16 per cent of voters believing that it will benefit them personally, according to the poll. Mr Dutton's approval rating is minus 18, level with former Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten's popularity prior to the part's 2019 federal election defeat. When asked who would be the better prime minister, 49 per cent of voters said Mr Albanese, who's well ahead of Mr Dutton (38 per cent). Thirteen per cent remain undecided on who they will vote for on May 3. Only 22 per cent rated the Budget as good while 38 per cent believe the Coalition would have delivered a better one. However, another 47 per cent believed the Coalition's budget would have been worse. Primary support for the minor parties largely remained unchanged with the Greens steady at 12 per cent. Pauline Hanson's One Nation fell by a point to six per cent while other minor parties and independents gained two points, rising to 12 per cent. The slight fall in support for Ms Hanson's party was likely due to the re-emergence of Clive Palmer and his rebranded Trumpet of Patriots party. In a new Political Resolver Monitor poll for the Sydney Morning Herald also released on Sunday, Mr Albanese has surged ahead of Mr Dutton as the country's preferred leader after falling behind the opposition leader earlier this year. Mr Dutton's overall approval ratings mirror those of Bill Shorten prior to the federal election in May 2019 Support for Labor and Coalition is deadlocked at 50 per cent on the two-party-preferred vote. Labor has increased its primary vote by four points to 29 per cent over the past month. However the Coalition remains ahead, despite its core support slipping by two points to 37 per cent. It comes after latest YouGov modelling showed Labor is set to win 75 seats on May 3 election, 15 more than the Coalition. Turkish barber shops around the UK are being raided due to concerns that premises are being used by crime gangs for money laundering, tax fraud and illegal migrant work. The National Crime Agency (NCA), Britain's FBI, has launched an investigation and has overseen dozens of raids in the past month, seizing tens of thousands of pounds in the process. Officers at the NCA have joined forces with local police officers, immigration enforcement officers and HM Revenue and Customs inspectors to carry out the raids in towns and cities across Britain. It is suspected that many of the barber shops are being used as a front to launder drug money or to provide work for illegal migrants. In some salons, tax inspectors were reportedly watching the number of chairs in use at a salon to work out if the profits declared by the business corresponded to the number of customers. One official told The Sunday Times that some streets have multiple barbers all declaring large takings despite being empty most days. More than 750 barber shops opened in the UK last year, according to retail analytics company Green Street. Since 2018 the number has increased by more than 15 per cent to more than 18,000. A street with three separate barbers in Foleshill, Coventry. There is no suggestion these shops are involved in wrongdoing Hewa Rahimpur, 30, and his gang of fellow Iranian Kurds were detained on suspicion of bringing 10,000 migrants into Dover from the French coast in small boats Many of the shops operating as Turkish barbers are being run by Albanians or Kurds with links to people smuggling or drugs. Traditional Turkish-style barbers are known for stylish haircuts usually complete with a hot towel and cut-throat razor. Now many are being investigated by the NCA, using a combination of raids alongside friendly visits to premises to try and gain more information. A spokesperson for the NCA said: 'Intelligence linking the use of barber shops, as well as other cash-intensive businesses, to money laundering and other criminality has risen in recent years. 'To respond to this threat, the NCA has co-ordinated multi-agency law enforcement action targeting barber shops where suspicious activity has been identified, and where there are possible connections to organised crime. 'This has involved a large number of police forces across England and Wales, as well as other partners, including HMRC and the Home Office's immigration enforcement department.' In the UK barbers do not have to register as a business with Companies House, as they can chose to operate as a sole-trader. They can then let individual chairs to hairdressers. The recent explosion in Turkish barber shops along British high streets has fuelled widespread suspicions of organised criminal activity as numbers have increased by 50 per cent in the last six years to around 19,000. Ilford resident Hewa Rahimpur being detained in east London. He was later extradited to Belgium, where he went on trial It was the arrest of the lynchpin of a huge Channel people-smuggling ring in 2022 that first brought the activities of some of the more dubious barber shops to the attention of the NCA. Hewa Rahimpur, 30, and his gang of fellow Iranian Kurds were detained on suspicion of bringing 10,000 migrants into Dover from the French coast on small boats. Rahimpur, who had arrived in the UK illegally and was granted asylum after claiming to have suffered 'political oppression' in his home country, was driving a top-of-the-range Mercedes when he was caught by police. His gang had netted 13 million in cash from the crossings and it needed to be laundered somehow, so Rahimpur, a former barber, entered the hairstyling business a few years ago in Camden, North London. He was extradited from the UK to stand trial in Belgium last year and is now serving an 11-year sentence for people-trafficking. However, the suspicions surrounding Turkish barbers has led many in the profession tosee their reputation become tarnished. In a second high-profile trial, 33-year-old Gul Wali Jabarkhel from Afghanistan was accused of using his barber shop in Colindale, North London, as a base for a smuggling racket in which he tried to recruit lorry drivers to bring migrants to the UK hidden in their cargo. After realising police were watching him, in 2020 Jabarkhel fled to Kabul, Afghanistan. It was only when he tried to return to the UK a year later by hiring one of the same lorry drivers he had used to smuggle in migrants, that two of his associates were caught handing over 7,500 for the deal at the London Gateway Services on the M1 and arrested for money-laundering offences. Albanian Gul Wali Jabarkhel, 33, was accused of using his barber shop in Colindale, North London, as a base for a smuggling racket Tarek Namouz, proprietor of Boss Crew Barbers, was sentenced to 12 years last year for sending 11,000 to Syria to 'purchase weapons and explosives' to use against President Assad's government forces Both of them claimed the money was to buy barbering equipment, but the authorities had been monitoring their mobile phones and text messages and knew this was false. Jabarkhel was convicted alongside three others after a trial two years ago at Kingston Crown Court for his role in what the NCA described as a 'ruthless operation when human beings were little more than goods to profit from'. Money-laundering salons have also been linked to terrorism. West London snipper Tarek Namouz, proprietor of Boss Crew Barbers, was sentenced to 12 years last year for sending 11,000 to Syria to 'purchase weapons and explosives' to use against President Assad's government forces. The barber, who lived above his salon in Hammersmith, boasted to a prison visitor while on remand awaiting trial that he had actually managed to get out 25,000 to the Islamic State supporters he was financing. Last year Reeza Jafari told MailOnline that he has had enough of those who harbour suspicions about the massive rise in Turkish barbers. The 31-year-old runs Pasha in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was born and raised in Tehran, Iran but his family come from Uzbekistan originally and he has now been living in the UK for 16 years. He said: 'People assume that if you own a Turkish barbers than you must have something to hide, that you have these links to organised crime. 'But in most cases, it's not true. We just want to make money and have a livelihood like anyone else. Reza Jafari, owns a Turkish barber shop in Kent and has become fed up with allegations of crime Reza Jafari, 31, who runs Pasha in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has had enough of those who harbour suspicions about the massive rise in Turkish barbers 'But the small number of bad ones are harming the good ones. Those that exist just to launder cash for criminals reflect badly on us all because we get viewed the same way.' Speaking in 2023, Former Metropolitan Police officer Ali Hassan Ali said: 'Right across High Streets we have seen a boom in barbers opening up since the pandemic. A lot of these shops have thousands of pounds of equipment but no customers. 'While in some cases the shops will be involved in legitimate business, from my own experience, there is strong reason to believe a large number, particularly those owned by Albanians, Turks and Kurds, have links to organised crime. 'This can be people-smuggling and in some cases drugs.' A man who allegedly chased six police officers down a suburban street wielding a metal pole before he was shot is an immigration detainee out on multiple counts of bail. Police were called to a home in Doveton in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday morning following reports of a disturbance. A man was spoken to and arrested in the front yard before he allegedly grabbed a 182 long A-frame metal pole and broke free from police. Masi Ayiik, 33, allegedly chased them down the street and charged at officers, who deployed OC spray before a shot was fired by police. He suffered a single gunshot to his upper body and was rushed to hospital under police guard. Ayiik was later released and charged with four counts of resisting police members and one count each of assaulting police, common law assault and reckless conduct endanger serious injury. He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday night. It's understood Ayiik was one of hundreds of immigration detainees released into the community last year following a controversial High Court ruling found indefinite detention to be unlawful, even if previously criminally convicted. Police were forced to shoot Masi Ayiik (pictured centre) after he allegedly charged at them brandishing a metal pole Inquiries into the shooting on a suburban street in Melbourne's south-east continue Ayiik was out on at least five counts of bail and attempted applied for bail again on Sunday, Nine News reported. Police also allege he was already wanted on previous outstanding assault warrants. The court heard that Ayiik posed a potential danger to the public, could obstruct the course of justice or not show up to court on Monday if he was granted bail, the Herald Sun reported. Ayiik had been facing deportation for allegedly serious offences before he was granted a visa that required him to wear an ankle bracelet. The court also heard that he allegedly breached his visa conditions in December and again in January. Bail was refused and Ayiik will reappear in court again on Monday. Almost 300 immigration detainees have released since the landmark High Court ruling in November 2023. The ruling prompted the Labor government late last year to impose electronic monitoring and curfews on dangerous non-citizens released from detention after a spate of alleged crimes involving freed detainees. Masi Ayiik (centre) is an immigration detainee who was out on at least five counts of bail. He was refused bail to reappear in court on Monday Shadow home affairs minister Senator James Patterson has blasted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government in the wake of the latest incident. 'A dangerous criminal released by Labor from immigration detention now out on five counts of bail is exactly the kind of person who the Albanese Government should have kept off the streets using the preventative detention powers passed by the Parliament 16 months ago,' Senator Patterson told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday night. 'Instead, this government has sat on its hands, spending $22million of taxpayer money without lodging a single application to lock up the dangerous criminals who are doing real harm in our communities on Labor's watch. 'The Minister for Home Affairs should immediately use these powers to avoid a repeat of this tragic situation - or worse.' Liberal Senator James Patterson (pictured) says the immigration detainee should have been kept off the streets by the Albanese Government An investigation into the incident with oversight by Professional Standards Command continues. Victoria Police Acting Commander Southern Metropolitan Region Wayne Viney has defended the decision by officers to shoot the man. 'While being arrested, he (allegedly) broke free from police members, chased police members down the street with this large metal pole,' he said. 'One of the members, fearing for the life and safety of the other police members that male was shot. 'To go to the extreme lengths of shooting someone, yes, they would have feared for their own safety.' Astonishing footage shows the moment a victim who was trapped under rubble for 40 hours after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar was rescued alive. The man was pulled out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital Naypyidaw by rescue teams from Singapore and Myanmar on Sunday, the country's army-run TV reported. It took around 24 hours for rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Forces (SCDF) and Myanmar Fire Services Department to extract the man from the rubble, one rescuer told MRTV. At least 1,700 people have been killed and 3,400 injured by Friday's 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, its military chief told the BBC today. 'All military and civilian hospitals, as well as healthcare workers, must work together in a coordinated and efficient manner to ensure effective medical response,' said the junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, according to state-run media. The US Geological Survey's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could top 10,000 and losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. Aftershocks have been rattling the country, with a 5.1-magnitude earthquake recorded near Myanmar's second-largest city on Sunday. People in the streets of Mandalay screamed as the aftershock - which was recorded by the US Geological Survey - hit. Meanwhile, Myanmar's neighbours sent warships and aircraft laden with relief materials and rescue personnel on Sunday, as international aid gained steam after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake ravaged much of the poor nation. Astonishing footage shows the moment a victim who was trapped under rubble for 40 hours after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar was rescued alive The man was pulled out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital Naypyidaw by rescue teams from Singapore and Myanmar on Sunday, the country's army-run TV reported It took around 24 hours for rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Forces (SCDF) and Myanmar Fire Services Department to extract the man from the rubble, one rescuer told MRTV. He is pictured above after he was pulled out Women react after hearing of the death of a relative at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok on March 30, 2025 A Buddhist monk walks near a collapsed pagoda after an earthquake in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 The quake jolted parts of neighbouring Thailand, bringing down an under-construction skyscraper and killing 17 people across the capital, according to Thai authorities. At least 78 people remained trapped under the debris of the collapsed building. The deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in years damaged critical infrastructure, including an airport, highways and bridges, slowing humanitarian operations, according to the United Nations. In some of the country's hardest hit areas, residents told Reuters that government assistance was scarce so far, leaving people to fend for themselves. The entire town of Sagaing near the quake's epicentre was devastated, said resident Han Zin. 'What we are seeing here is widespread destruction - many buildings have collapsed into the ground,' he said by phone, adding that much of the town had been without electricity since the disaster hit and drinking water was running out. 'We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight.' Across the Irrawaddy river in Mandalay, a rescue worker said most operations in the country's second-largest city were being conducted by small, self-organised resident groups that lack the required equipment. 'We have been approaching collapsed buildings, but some structures remain unstable while we work,' he said, asking not to be named because of security concerns. A rescue worker attempts to extract a mother and her child from a collapsed building in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar A damaged building is seen in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Rescue workers carry out a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, 30 March 2025 Commuters drive past a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 202 Scores of people were feared trapped under collapsed buildings across Mandalay but most could not be reached or pulled out without heavy machinery, another humanitarian worker and two residents said. 'People are still stuck in the buildings, they can't take people out,' said a resident who asked not to be named. Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including Mandalay and Sagaing, were struggling to cope with the influx of injured people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The quake hit a nation already in chaos with a civil war that has escalated since the 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and sparked a nationwide armed uprising. The fighting has battered the largely agrarian economy of Myanmar, formerly called Burma, displaced over 3.5 million people and left essential services, such as healthcare, in tatters. The opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the previous administration, said anti-junta militias under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks from Sunday. 'The NUG, together with resistance forces, allied organisations and civil society groups, will carry out rescue operations,' it said in a statement. With the Mandalay airport damaged and the control tower toppled in the capital Naypitaw's airport, all commercial flights into the cities have been shut down. Rescuers work with a K9 dog at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand Rescuers carry the body of a victim, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar K-9 units search for missing persons at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok A Buddhist monastery building that has collapsed is seen following an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on March 30 A vehicle is trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay India, China and Thailand are among the neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. Indian military aircraft made multiple sorties into Myanmar on Saturday, including ferrying supplies and search-and-rescue crews to Naypyitaw, the purpose-made capital, parts of which have been wrecked by the earthquake. The Indian army will help set up a field hospital in Mandalay, and two navy ships carrying supplies are heading to Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon, said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Multiple teams of Chinese rescue personnel have arrived, China's embassy in Myanmar said on social media. On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay, after making the arduous journey by road from Yangon. The 400-mile journey has been taking 14 hours or longer, with clogged roads and traffic diverted from the main highway to skirt damage from the earthquake. At the same time, the window of opportunity to find anyone alive is rapidly closing. Most rescues occur within the first 24 hours after a disaster, and then survival chances drop as each day passes. An initial report on earthquake relief efforts issued Saturday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted the severe damage or destruction of many health facilities. Local residents rest near a damaged building in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Rescue workers carry a stretcher after recovering the body of a victim during a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers conduct a search and rescue at a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Debris of damaged building is seen near Maharmyatmuni pagoda in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay It also warned that a 'severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers.' China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around $13.8 million in emergency aid. A 78-member team from Singapore, accompanied by rescue dogs, was operating in Mandalay on Sunday, Myanmar state-media said. Russia's Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, and the country's Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team to Myanmar. The price of US-made goods could soar in the UK within days as ministers prepare to retaliate if Donald Trump includes Britain in his global tariff frenzy. The US president has vowed to lash out against friend and foe alike on April 2 with a general 20 per cent levy on goods imported into the United States. Trump has already announced this week tariffs would be introduced on all cars imported to the US, a measure expected to hit British luxury car makers like Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. No10, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, have been lobbying to get the UK exempted from the wave of protectionist measures. But without any sign of success ministers say they could bring in their own tariffs on US imports this week. This could affect popular goods like Jack Daniel's whiskey, Levi's jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles. A UK source also told the BBC that it was looking at a 'nuclear option' of targeting US financial services. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today reiterated the Prime Minister's message that 'no option is off the table', when it comes to responding to the tariffs. The US president has vowed to lash out against friend and foe alike on April 2 with a general 20 per cent levy on goods imported into the United States. But without any sign of success ministers say they could bring in their own tariffs on US imports this week. This could affect popular goods like Jack Daniel's whiskey, Levi's jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today reiterated the Prime Minister's message that 'no option is off the table', when it comes to responding to the tariffs. Discussions with the US over exemptions from the levy are 'intense', she told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme. Ms Cooper added: 'We obviously can't keep a running commentary on different discussions that are taking place, but we have to always make sure that we're acting in the national interest.' Asked how damaging she thought the tariffs could be, the Home Secretary said: 'In the end, if you increase barriers to trade right across the world, that's not good for the world economy, let alone any individual country as part of that. 'So that's why our approach to this has been to try and seek new trade agreements across the world, including improving our trading relationship with the EU as well as with the US.' The new trade taxes come into force just after Rachel Reeves made a series of spending cuts at the spring statement in order to restore a narrow buffer for her public spending plans. The Office for Budget Responsibility, a watchdog on Government spending, has warned the tariffs could wipe out the prospect of economic growth. The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank has meanwhile claimed Ms Reeves 9.9 billion fiscal headroom, which is considered very small by historic standards, could be eroded by global events outside her control. A grieving mum who had her planned paternity leave cancelled after the death of her first child is now calling for change. Chris Breen's wife, who did not wish to be named, had her parental leave cut short when their newborn daughter Priya died unexpectedly in July 2024. Born four months premature, baby Priya was doing well in the neonatal intensive care unit but died six weeks later due to an unrelated condition. Mr Breen, who works as a high school teacher in Sydney, is employed by the NSW government and had access to three months paid leave after his daughter's death. His wife however was ordered to return to work as soon as possible after informing her employer. The couple reported the 'inhumane' request to the Fair Work Ombudsman, which sided with the employment services company she worked at. NSW law does not provide employees with paid leave if a baby is stillborn or dies within 24 months after birth. The couple are now lobbying the NSW government to change the laws in the hope that no other grieving parent goes through a similar harrowing ordeal. Chris Breen and his wife are lobbying the NSW government to change its laws around paid parental leave when a newborn baby dies Mr Breen's wife had her maternity leave cancelled following the unexpected death of their six-week-old daughter Priya (pictured) Mr Breen said that his wife was 'devastated' that she was forced back to work without the chance to mourn the loss of their baby girl. 'It was so unfair,' he told Nine News. 'When she was back at work, crying, I was at home. 'It made a big difference to me just having the space to deal with those emotions.' His wife was provided with four weeks paid leave and other government entitlements, which she says didn't make much of a difference. 'It made me think that my baby didn't matter, like her life didn't matter,' she said. 'I don't want any other woman who experiences any child loss to go through this.' The couple have launched a Change.org petition urging the state to change overhaul its parental leave laws, which has already attracted more than 10,000 signatures. The NSW Ombudsman told the couple that employers were not required to provide paid leave for parents whose newborns die within 24 months of birth or are stillborn Currently, parents who lose a newborn child are entitled to 12 months of unpaid parental leave. The couple are lobbying for guaranteed paid leave for parents mourning the loss of a newborn. 'The act of giving birth is the reason women are entitled to maternity leave. The tragic loss of the babys life does not alter that fact,' the petition states. 'Where has compassion and understanding of womens health gone? Women need time for many things, grief, bodily changes, alteration of ones own expectations. Give the woman a fair go.' 'No parent should ever have to go through this again.' Since going public with their ordeal, the Breens have been inundated with messages from other grieving parents recalling their experiences. While some were granted their full paid maternity leave, others were forced back to work. 'It is just horrific and inhumane,' the grieving mum said. 'I want the government to change the Fair Work laws and not let employers in the private sector be given the onus of whether they want to give leave, and if so how much. Mr Breen added: 'The law is silent on whether they can cancel paid leave - it differs company to company.' Federal employment and workplace relations minister Murray Watt vowed to raise the issue with the National Workplace Consultative Council After becoming aware of the couple's story, federal employment and workplace relations minister Murray Watt has requested the issue be raised at the next National Workplace Consultative Council meeting 'with a view to closing any gap.' Federal Labor introduced a bill aimed addressing the issue while in opposition in 2021. The law would have provided paid parental leave for stillbirths. Despite discussions and a testimonial from one woman who said they were forced back to work 11 days after their baby died, the bill didn't proceed after a second reading in the Senate and lapsed at the end of parliament. Donald Trump was left furious after National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News that he was going to 'figure out' how the Yemen group chat blunder happened - despite him adding the journalist to the conversation. Waltz said that he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal group chat about military strikes, but still peddled that there would be a probe into how it came about, much to the anger of the president, according to Axios. Waltz has faced intense scrutiny for accidentally adding Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat in which they were discussing sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. Waltz, who served as an administration official for former President George W. Bush, then went on to tell Fox News' Laura Ingraham that despite taking 'full responsibility' for the leak, his team was going to 'figure out how this happened.' The president, who publicly lauded Waltz following the leak, calling him a 'good man' who will continue to do a 'good job,' was not nearly as generous behind closed doors, and even considered firing him, insiders told Axios. He even asked his aides and allies: 'Should I fire him?' as the fallout continued, The New York Times reported. This news comes after it was revealed that Vice President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and advisor Sergio Gor told Trump to sack Waltz over the incident. Others close to the commander in chief said he decided to hang on to Waltz because he wanted to avoid a repeat of his high staff turnover rate that took place during his first term, according to the New York Times. President Donald Trump was left furious after National Security Advisor Mike Waltz admitted that he was to blame for adding Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat about military strikes The president, who publicly lauded Waltz following the leak, calling him a 'good man' who will continue to do a 'good job,' was not nearly as generous behind closed doors, and even considered firing him Although his job is safe for now, one White House source told Axios: 'Mike is gonna make it. Now it's up to Mike to make things better.' This is not the first time Waltz has faced criticism by those in Trump's inner circle, as Tucker Carlson, Steven Bannon and others close to the president have long been skeptical of his neoconservative views. Following the saga, Bannon said in a text that Waltz kept his job because 'we hate the globalist media even more than we hate neocons,' Axios said. He's been viewed as being too aggressive by some of Trump's advisers, who think he's too eager to call for military action against Iran despite the president making it clear that he would prefer to make a deal. Although Trump was mad at Waltz for the crucial slip up, he appeared to be more upset that a member of his team had some kind of connection to Goldberg - a journalist the president is not fond of. After the leak, he called the Atlantic's editor-in-chief a 'total sleazebag' while defending Waltz. Goldberg revealed in a story Monday that a 'Michael Waltz' had added him to a group chat on the encrypted app Signal, where top White House officials discussed plans for attacking the Iranian-backed Houthis earlier this month. On Tuesday, the White House went on defense against the journalist during an event in the Cabinet Room - despite Goldberg omitting certain details from his story for national security reasons. 'But that's an app that a lot of people use,' Trump said of Signal. 'And somebody got on. And I happen to know, the guy's a total sleazebag. The Atlantic, The Atlantic is a failed magazine. Does very, very poorly, nobody gives a damn about it. This gives it a little bit of a shot.' Others close to the commander in chief said he decided to hang on to Waltz (pictured right) because he wanted to avoid a repeat of his high staff turnover rate that took place during his first term White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (pictured) was one of the advisors who suggested Trump fire Waltz over the saga He continued by claiming that The Atlantic 'made up more stories' and later said that Goldberg was 'basically bad for the country.' 'And it's just a failing magazine and the public understands that,' Trump said. Despite being safe for now, Waltz is not out of the woods just yet, as one source suggested he could be 'gone in a couple of weeks' if they find the right time once the news cycle passes, Politico reported. While Trump was angry at Waltz for the slip-up, he refused to fire him, because he didn't want to give the press 'a scalp,' an anonymous told Politico. Waltz traveled with Vance and the Second Lady to Greenland on Friday, as Trump continues to push the idea of taking over the territory. Despite the report suggesting he pushed to get rid of Waltz, he too was defiant on Friday. Vance said: 'If you think you're going to force the president of the United States to fire anybody you've got another thing coming! I'm the vice president saying it here on Friday: We are standing behind our entire national security team.' Waltz's spokesperson added that 'the chattering of unnamed sources should be treated with the skepticism of gossip from people lacking the integrity to attach their names.' Waltz traveled with Vance and the Second Lady to Greenland on Friday, as Trump continues to push the idea of taking over the territory. The VP is also said to have called for Waltz to be sacked following the leak 'Mike Waltz serves at the pleasure of President Trump and the president has voiced his support for Mike,' Spokesperson Brian Hughes added. 'The entire National Security leadership team has led a successful and effective counter terrorism mission and that is what media and Democrats are trying to obscure. Waltz told Ingraham last week he 'built the group' but claimed the 'mistake' may have actually been an act of subterfuge by the journalist. 'I take full responsibility,' Waltz said during his tortured explanation of the debacle on Tuesday night. 'I don't text him,' Waltz said about The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. 'He wasn't on my phone, and we're going to figure out how this happened.' The national security advisor was pressed on how the journalist was included in the conversation about military strikes in the Middle East. 'We have the best technical minds looking at how this happened,' he claimed. Waltz then floated the idea that the journalist did something to wiggle his way into the text chain. 'We're going to figure out how this happened,' he reiterated, adding his team is working to determine if the journalist 'did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical mean is what we are trying to figure out.' The conflicting answers did little to shed light on a scandal surrounding the messages among government leaders about planning an attack on Houthi fighters in Yemen, that included details on weapons and strike coordinates. Sergio Gor, another key Trump advisor, also suggested that Trump fire Waltz Although Trump was mad at Waltz for the crucial slip up, he appeared to be more upset that a member of his team had some kind of connection to Goldberg - a journalist the president is not fond of 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 spoken to Elon Musk, the president's self-proclaimed tech support, about investigating the matter. Waltz also skewered Goldberg, ridiculing his past reporting and making myriad accusations against him. Trump's advisor made it seem like it was Goldberg's fault for being added to the group chat with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and more. Waltz told the Fox News host that Goldberg the 'scum' of journalists and said he has a 'horrible reputation.' Waltz struggled to send a clear message about who was exactly to blame for the ordeal, vacillating between saying he was responsible and it was Goldberg's fault. 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. Accounts promoting toxic 'incel' ideology are changing the language they use to push their content on TikTok, a study shows. Online advocates of misogynistic incel (involuntarily celibate) culture are rebranding as 'Sub5s' to get past the platform's ban on hateful material. It is believed that such accounts are also using self-improvement language in order to appear more palatable in the eyes of content moderators. A core tenet of incel ideology is the belief that society is built on a hierarchy based on looks, money and status. A swarm of false statistics have occupied the online manosphere in support of this claim, chief among them the '80/20 rule' which claims that 80 per cent of women are attracted to 20 per cent of men. This pseudo-scientific theory was mentioned in the hit Netflix miniseries Adolescence, which explores the effects of this discourse on young men and women. Men who deem themselves unattractive and unsuccessful in the pursuit of women take solace in these perceived facts, believing an ideal form of masculinity exists and that women are to blame. 'Mainstream platforms like TikTok have stricter moderation policies but are not immune to incel influence,' writes the study's lead author Anda Solea of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth. Advocates of misogynistic incel culture are upgrading their use of language to get past the TikTok's ban on hateful material (File image) The hit Netflix miniseries Adolescence is the first of its kind to explore the effects of incerl culture on young men and women (Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence) 'To avoid detection, the research reveals that, on TikTok, incel ideology takes a much subtler form, using emotional appeals and pseudo-science to share extremist views. 'Covert language and terminology are used on TikTokin contrast to incel content observed on secluded incel spaces.' Another idea promoted by accounts on TikTok is the PSL scale, under which it is claimed that men can be ranked from one to eight according to attractiveness.. The PSL acronym comes from the first letters of three incel sites: PUAhate, Sluthate and Lookism.net. The scale rates men from being 'PSL gods' (very attractive men) to 'Chads' (averagely attractive men) and finally 'Sub5s' (unattractive men). The Guardian reported that when searching for the term 'incel' on TikTok, a content warning appears about the phrase's association with hateful behaviour. But upon searching for 'Sub5' content, users face no such popups or warnings. 'We argue that, facilitated by its rebranding through the frameworks of looksmaxxing [the process of making oneself more attractive] and the PSL scale, misogynist incel ideology is being mainstreamed', write Solea and co-author Dr Lisa Sugiura. Self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate (pictured in March, 2025) is often regarded as the figurehead of the incel movement The '80/20 rule' which falsely claims that 80 per cent of women are attracted to 20 per cent of men, is popular in the manosphere and was repeated in Adolescence (A still from the series) 'These mechanisms reframe overtly toxic, misogynistic and extremist rhetoric into socially palatable discourses of self-improvement and biological and racial essentialism, enabling its diffusion into broader digital spaces.' The study analysed videos on five TikTok identified as promoting incel theories. 'What they try to do is to attract wider audiences and also to be permitted on the platform and accepted by others through rebranding,' Solea said. 'So you'll see Sub5s, you'll see the PSL scale, and then also they are being less directly offensive and violent towards women.' MailOnline has contacted TikTok for comment. Three new measles cases have been recorded in Western Australia, amid grave fears the outbreak will worsen. There are now eight cases of the highly contagious disease across the state, days after more than a dozen exposure sites were identified across the state's south-west, including Bunbury Regional Hospital. Two new cases were recorded at the hospital while the other has been confined to Perth's Hakea Prison. More than 40 exposures sites have been listed across Perth and the state's south-west in the past three weeks, including shopping centres, playgrounds, medical centres and cafes. Four cases were linked to Bunbury Regional Hospital while the other four were linked to Hakea Prison and Bunbury Regional Prison. Health officials expect cases to rise. 'The bad news is that measles is really infectious, in fact it may be the most infectious disease known to humans,' WA Health acting director of communicable diseases Paul Effler said. At least 39 confirmed cases of measles have been recorded nationwide in 2025, including 14 in Victoria and 13 in NSW. The number of measles cases across Western Australia has grown to eight Health officials expect the measles outbreak to rise with dozens of exposure sites listed (stock image) The latest outbreak comes after three cases were detected in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie region in NSW. Authorities are now working with Bunbury Hospital staff to prevent further infection. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can spread via airborne droplets to people nearby. It can be fatal if left untreated but is preventable through vaccination. Initial symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough followed by a red, blotchy rash several days later which starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Anyone who visited the listed exposure sites is urged to be vigilant for symptoms for seven to 18 days post-exposure. It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to appear. Aussies aged 30-60 are also urged to ensure their vaccinations history is up to date and that they've had two rounds of the measles vaccine. Initial measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough followed by a red, blotchy rash (stock image) 'It is important that anyone under 60, who has not received two doses of the measles vaccine - and has visited an exposure location should monitor for symptoms particularly fever and respiratory illness,' Dr Effler said. 'Our immunisation rates are really high at about 90 per cent but because measles is so infectious, you need to have about 95 per cent of people fully vaccinated. 'Making sure you are protected is especially important for people planning overseas travel as there are measles outbreaks occurring in several countries throughout the world. 'Babies under 12-months-old are also at risk if they are exposed to someone who is infectious with measles as they are too young to be fully immunised.' Australia recorded 57 measles cases in 2024, up from 26 the year prior. A Tufts graduate detained by ICE has been thrown a potential lifeline after a federal judge stepped in to temporarily bar her deportation. PhD student and Fulbright scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was snared by masked immigration agents close to her Massachusetts home on Tuesday, as shown in dramatic surveillance footage. The US Department of Homeland Security has accused Ozturk, without providing evidence, of 'engaging in activities in support of Hamas', a Palestinian group recognized by the US government as a 'foreign terrorist organization.' Officials revoked Ozturk's visa and moved her to Louisiana - despite an order requiring agents not to move her out of Massachusetts without 48 hours' notice. US District Judge Denise Casper in Boston dramatically intervened in the case on Friday by temporarily barring the Turkish national's deportation to provide time to resolve whether her court retained jurisdiction over the case. She ordered the Trump administration to respond to Ozturk's complaint by Tuesday. Mahsa Khanbabai, a lawyer for Ozturk, called the decision 'a first step in getting Rumeysa released and back home to Boston so she can continue her studies.' The DHS had no immediate comment. Tufts graduate Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, has been thrown a potential lifeline after a federal judge stepped in to temporarily bar her deportation by ICE immigration officials Footage of her being taken in shows a group of six plainclothes ICE agents swarming Ozturk as she was walking to a meal with friends on Tuesday US District Judge Denise Casper (pictured) dramatically intervened in the case on Friday by temporarily barring Ozturk's deportation to provide time to resolve jurisdiction issues Oncu Keceli, a spokesperson for Turkey's foreign ministry, said efforts to secure her release continued, adding consular and legal support was being provided by Turkish diplomatic missions in the U.S. 'Our Houston Consul General visited our citizen in the center where she is being held in Louisiana on March 28. Our citizen's requests and demands have been forwarded to local authorities and her lawyer,' Keceli said in a post on X. Ozturk's arrest came a year after she co-authored an opinion piece in Tufts' student newspaper criticizing the university's response to calls by students to divest from companies with ties to Israel and to 'acknowledge the Palestinian genocide.' 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.' On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Ozturk's visa had been revoked while citing this op-ed as he issued a warning to other students looking to carry out similar activism. Ozturk was targeted by ICE over an op-ed piece she co-authored for student outlet The Tufts Daily, where she criticized the university's response to Israel's bombing of Gaza Rubio said he had no qualms over detaining and attempting to deport student activists even if they have not broken the law, arguing that they lied on their visa applications by going on to support Hamas. '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. When asked how many student visas had been revoked, he said: 'It might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa.' Ozturk's arrest footage sparked backlash this week as footage showed her being surrounded by six undercover ICE agents, who handcuffed her and took her into a vehicle as she walked to a meal with friends. She was then taken to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana as the government fights to deport her, the same facility where fellow student activists Mahmoud Khalil and Badar Khan Suri were also transferred. Protests erupted on Tufts' campus in response to Ozturk's detainment A lawyer for Ozturk has sued to secure her release, and on Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union joined her legal defense team, filing a revised lawsuit, opens new tab saying her detention violates her rights to free speech and due process. President Donald Trump has pledged to deport foreign pro-Palestinian protesters and has accused them of supporting Hamas, being antisemitic and posing foreign policy hurdles. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration conflates their criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for Hamas. A man killed in a suspected road rage attack was a 'kind and inspirational' primary school teacher who asked pupils to help him propose to his wife, it emerged today. Paul Bowles, 50, died after police were called to reports of two motorists fighting close to a roundabout, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday evening. Witnesses saw the driver of a van mow down Mr Bowles before fleeing the scene. Paramedics gave him CPR at the roadside but he could not be saved. Mr Bowles, a former actor and drama teacher, worked as a learning support assistant at St Anne's Church of England Lydgate Primary School, in Saddleworth, near Oldham, where children affectionately nicknamed him 'Mr Baubles' at Christmas time. Scores of parents wrote tributes online, saying their children had been left 'heartbroken' and 'devastated' by the death of 'the best, funniest, patient and kind teacher,' who they all 'adored.' 'We really hope he knew what a difference he made to our children,' one mother, Carly Mundy, said. Many parents also offered their condolences to Mr Bowles' wife, Angela, 44, a former television actress who appeared in soaps such as Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, and who also worked as a teacher. In April 2005, the couple made headlines when Mr Bowles surprised his future wife by asking her young students to help him propose. Paul Bowles, 50, (pictured) died after police were called to reports of two motorists fighting close to a roundabout in Oldham, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday evening Then Angela Smith, she was holding her regular class at the Academy School of Performing Arts in Chadderton, near Oldham, when the children, all aged under seven, began performing a special dance routine that involved them holding up letters which spelled out: 'Will you marry me?' Mr Bowles, who worked at the same school at the time, then got down on one knee and popped the question. He told his local newspaper that he had been planning the proposal 'for a while' and took out a loan to pay for Mrs Bowles' engagement ring. He joked: 'It could have gone wrong as the children are all aged five to seven, but they did me proud. I couldn't be happier.' Mrs Bowles added: 'I said, 'Yes' and everyone was crying.' According to the report, in the Manchester Evening News, the couple met in 1999 when Mr Bowles, known as 'Bowlesy,' was starring in a production of Bouncers at the Grange Arts Centre, in Oldham and Mrs Bowles was invited backstage. It is understood the 200 pupils at St Anne's were told about his death on Friday. Hannah Adams, whose daughter attended the school, wrote on Facebook: 'Mr Bowles was one of a kind, loved so much by all the children at school. He was the fun teacher who made them all smile, always kind, patient and always there for the children. He was called Mr Baubles at Christmas time. We are absolutely heartbroken by the loss of such a lovely man. Rest in Peace Mr Bowles, school won't be the same without you.' Many parents thanked him online for the 'lasting impression' he made on their children and for the 'massive impact' he had on so many 'young minds and lives.' Officers were called to reports of a fight between two motorists close to the Elk Mill roundabout on Broadway in Chadderton, Greater Manchester Laura Parker said: 'Such a massive loss to our school community. Mr Bowles certainly was a kind and generous man who spread laughter throughout the school. As my daughter says, he is 'irreplaceable'. He will be missed beyond measure but the memories and the impact of his life on the children will be remembered forever.' Lisa Gallaher (crt) added: 'Such a lovely man whose heart, kindness and humour impacted so many young minds. I remember him fondly as his voice cracked with emotion as he talked about each year six leaver at the leavers' service.' And Jakki Robby said he was an 'inspirational human (being) who touched so many lives.' Danielle Hambly, who described Mr Bowles as her foster brother, said: 'He was a very kind man and did not deserve this. He really was a good one.' While friend Chris Hughes wrote on Facebook: 'Paul was the easiest going person and always sound for advice. Loved his acting and music. Loved his wife and kids. RIP Bowlesy.' In a statement, Greater Manchester police said they were supporting Mr Bowles' family, who described him as 'a kind, loving, family man and true gentleman who always put others before himself.' They added: 'He was intelligent and quick-witted, had a brilliant mind and generous heart. Paul will be missed greatly by all his family and friends.' The argument occurred on Broadway, close to the Elk Mill roundabout, in Chadderton, around 6.40pm. A spokesman for Greater Manchester police said the van driver later handed himself in and was arrested. 'It is believed that the drivers of two vehicles had an altercation close to the roundabout, before one of the drivers got back into his vehicle and struck the other man with it,' he said. 'Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene.' Andrew Robson, 32, of Chadderton, was subsequently charged with Mr Bowles' murder and appeared before magistrates in Manchester yesterday. If ever there was a time for Prince Harry to head home, it's now. In yet another bombshell, insiders say that Harry only learned that his father was hospitalized, due to side effects from his cancer treatment, on the news last week. That's how completely and utterly dire this fracture is. Sources have also revealed that Harry is 'lonelier than ever' in Montecito. Of course he is. Harry seems to have few friends, and no core support system of his own. His wife is off promoting her Netflix series and making yet another podcast while hawking royal-adjacent merch on her website replete with affiliate links that give her a cut of every sale. If ever there was a time for Prince Harry to head home, it's now. Sources have also revealed that Harry is 'lonelier than ever' in Montecito. Of course he is. Harry seems to have few friends , and no core support system of his own. Surely this is not the life he imagined post-Megxit. The fall from grandeur is extreme she's busy decanting pretzels and flogging her wedding make-up while he once hosted heads of state and was Britain's greatest soft-power export since Princess Diana. Grim, indeed. This all comes to a head as Harry was reportedly left 'reeling' after being forced to step down from his Sentebale charity amid mysterious controversy. Compounding this loss, the chair of Sentebale, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, told the Financial Times that Harry's brand is 'toxic' and actively harmed the charity's reputation. Her public message to Harry: 'The team is resolved that Sentebale will live on, with or without you.' It's been a merciless week for the prodigal Duke, with one source telling The Sun that while initially Harry 'was a spare to William, now he's increasingly looking like a spare to Meghan and it's not a good look.' Meghan Markle, as we all regrettably know, is in it to win it. But she's trying to build a media empire, while Harry is doing what, exactly? Sure, he has Invictus, but that's not enough to keep a 40-year-old unemployed man occupied. All that free time isn't healthy. Unstructured days surely only allow him to perseverate on what's gone wrong and the mess he's made of what was once an easy, gilded, pampered life a life that required not much effort in return for global admiration. Now he's left to twist in the soft winds of Montecito as his wife grinds out her products and podcasts. 'He misses his family terribly,' another source said, 'but no one is speaking to him anymore.' Imagine: Harry hears, on the news, that his cancer-stricken elderly father has been hospitalized, and he can't call or text his brother, sister-in-law or stepmother to find out what's going on. This should be setting off alarm bells for Harry. His father won't be around forever. Now is the time to fly back home, tail firmly between his legs, and beg for forgiveness. Really, he should just prostrate himself before his father say he'll do whatever it takes. Leave Meghan in Monetico for weeks or months at a time. She has plenty to keep her busy. He should also insist on taking their children to visit the grandfather they barely know. If Harry doesn't grow a spine now, he never will and without William softening, he'll surely be totally cut off when his brother becomes king. Doing the hard work of rebuilding a bond with his father and making it clear he expects nothing in return, not money or another patronage or more titles for his children is perhaps the only way William might entertain a rapprochement, however surface-level. There's nothing much left for Harry in California. This was all clearly Meghan's dream, not his. Stripped of his purpose in life, and with many of his friends and family lost to him for now, anyway he has been left reliant on Meghan for what seems like everything. 'He just wants to go for a beer with the guys,' that source told The Sun. 'But his only friends are just the husbands of Meghan's friends.' And how could they possibly relate? These men aren't part of Harry's cohort, the aristocrats who went to Eton and breathe the same rarified air. One wonders if he's even thought this through. Harry seems so immature, so reactive, that perhaps he genuinely believed he could say and memorialize in print all his worst feelings about his father, brother and sister-in-law, and all would be well in the end. That they would apologize to him. It seems not to have registered what a brutal year William has had, his father and wife both diagnosed with cancer, his only sibling completely estranged, the fate of becoming king now looming large. 'The lowest I've ever seen him,' was how William's former top aide Jason Knauf recently described him after the dual cancer diagnoses. 'It was awful, absolutely awful.' Harry should now put himself in William's shoes and understand that he's not the only member of the royal family who suffers. King Charles, by all accounts, would welcome his son back into the fold, despite William's resistance. But will Harry meet the moment? The heartbroken families of several girls who were allegedly abused by a pedophile piano teacher are suing a Texas private school for a 'cover-up'. Trent Muse, a former teacher at Trinity Valley High School in Fort Worth, is accused of sexually abusing 16 students ranging in age from six to 11 years old. A lawsuit launched by the families on March 25 blasts Muse as a 'serial pedophile who was left unmonitored, unsupervised, and alone behind a closed door with vulnerable children' in the 2022-2023 academic year. Trinity Valley, which charges just under $30,000 per year, is accused of 'intentional concealment and ongoing cover-up of this widespread sexual abuse' which 'caused injury to at least 16 children and likely more'. Parents say Muse 'masturbated in front of the students, touched their legs, chest, and genital areas, forced them to touch his penis, put his penis on them, and exposed his penis repeatedly to countless elementary-aged girls' during 'piano lessons'. 'Muse even created sadistic 'games' for students in which he would reward students with 'prizes' after he coerced them into touching him and vice versa,' the lawsuit reads. 'In at least one instance, a child fought Muse, drawing blood, but that did not stop him. He continued to subject his young victims to abuse undeterred.' The lawsuit claims that Trinity school staff 'knew something was awry' because one employee 'witnessed a child crying while Muse physically forced her into piano lessons'. Trent Muse, a former teacher at Trinity Valley High School in Fort Worth, is accused of sexually abusing 16 students ranging in age from six to 11 years old Trinity Valley High School (pictured) in Fort Worth charges close to $30,000 per academic year 'School personnel also witnessed Muse being inappropriately affectionate while returning a student back to her homeroom,' the legal document continues. 'Teachers were concerned about Muse's inappropriate conduct, but Muse's abuse was permitted to continue due to Defendants' negligent and utterly inadequate protocols for preventing, detecting, and addressing such behavior and protecting the young children under their care.' The suit describes Muse as 'a male in his mid-twenties with no prior teaching experience' who was giving 'piano lessons' in a 'small and secluded' classroom on campus which had no working cameras. Trinity, which is based in Trinity Heights on the southwest outskirts of Fort Worth, even allowed Muse to give piano lessons after hours and during school holidays when no-one was around, according to the lawsuit. When one family complained about Muse to Trinity, the school 'did not take adequate steps to address this misconduct or even communicate to parents of piano students what had happened', the parents said. 'Instead, Trinity Valley concealed the misconduct from piano students' families and lied to them about it repeatedly,' the lawsuit claims. Trinity did eventually dismiss Muse in April 2023, but said he had left for 'personal reasons', per the suit. 'The school even went so far as to encourage families to continue lessons with Muse off campus and affirmatively misrepresented to parents in writing that there was 'no cause for concern' with regard to Muse's departure,' the lawsuit said. 'The school completely hid the fact that it had reported Muse's conduct to CPS (Child Protective Services). The lawsuit takes aim at school board employees including President Brant Martin (pictured) Trinity Valley High School (pictured) in Fort Worth charges close to $30,000 per academic year 'As if that were not enough, the school and the Board doubled down on their concealment by conspiring to silence anyone who tried to discover the full extent of Muse's misconductinstructing teachers that they would be fired for discussing the Muse 'situation' with parents.' Court documents show Muse was arrested in June 2024, and he has been charged with at least five counts of indecency with a child. The lawsuit takes aim at several school board employees, including President Brant Martin, Vice President Kit Ulrich, Secretary Maxwell Lea, and Treasurer Mindy Hegi. They also name former President Jenny Rosell and 'committee members who are or were involved in helping the school address some of the allegations', Geeth Chettiar, and Palmer Lummis. Trinity Valley School has released a statement in response to the lawsuit. 'Since the arrest of former piano teacher Trent Muse last year, Trinity Valley School has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting our students and families and seeking answers as best we can,' the school said. 'After the school received a report of an incident involving Mr. Muse in April 2023, he was promptly terminated from his position and a report was made to Child Protective Services. 'Upon learning of his June 2024 arrest, we immediately initiated a third-party investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding Mr. Muse's termination and the school's actions related to his departure. 'Out of respect for the privacy of those involved and due to ongoing legal proceedings, we are limited in what we can share publicly. 'However, we will continue to navigate this process with the compassion, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness our community deserves.' The families are demanding compensation for emotional distress damages, medical expenses, tuition expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and the costs of launching the lawsuit. A Florida influencer was arrested after she allegedly filmed and posted videos of her having sex with a chihuahua. Logan Guminski, 27, of Ocala, was booked into Marion County Jail on March 21 after Major Crimes Detective Jordyn Batts with the Marion County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip on January 28 that she posted a video on Instagram 'depicting sexual activity with a dog.' During the investigation, Batts discovered that Guminski, who frequently posts explicit pictures and videos, uploaded 'several posts' of her participating in the sickening act with the 'abused animal,' police said. While being interviewed by police, Guminski told authorities that she was a 'content creator who generates sexually explicit photos and videos to sell on the internet,' the department said. In addition to her alleged involvement with the chihuahua, Guminski also admitted 'she had been involved in sexual activity with another dog' and videos of those incidents 'were still stored on her cell phone.' The self-proclaimed 'dog mom' further confessed that another social media user requested she create and share the clips with the dogs for $500. It is unclear who that person is. Guminski was charged with sexual activity involving an animal and filming sexual activity involving an animal - both felonies. She was released on a $10,000 bond on March 22. Guminski is due to appear in court for her arraignment hearing on April 22, documents obtained by DailyMail.com show. Logan Guminski, 27, of Ocala, Florida was arrested on March 21 for allegedly having sex with a chihuahua. (Pictured: Guminski with one of her chihuahuas) Major Crimes Detective Jordyn Batts with the Marion County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip on January 28 that Guminski (pictured) posted a video on Instagram 'depicting sexual activity with a dog' The department shared a video of Guminski looking glum as she arrived at the sheriff's office. She remained quiet as she walked out of the patrol car with her hands handcuffed in front of her. '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.' On March 13, she posted a compilation video of her and her dogs and captioned it: 'What can I say they are quite literally my whole [world emoji].' She appeared to own multiple chihuahuas. It is unclear where the dogs are now. Just days later on March 19 she shared a video of a new dog she got named Juniper. 'Introducing the newest member of the family. Guys say hi to Juniper, aka Junebug,' she wrote. She appeared to own multiple chihuahuas. It is unclear where the dogs are now She further confessed that another social media user requested that she create and share these clips with the dogs for $500. It is unclear who that person is Her page does not currently show any clips of her engaging in sexual activity with her dogs. In another image, she posed in a mirror with a tan chihuahua, while other posts showed her with a black and white chihuahua. Another recent clip showed the tan dog sleeping in her arms while she petted the animal and smiled at the camera. Her records do not indicate that she has retained an attorney. DailyMail.com contacted Marion County Sheriff's Office. Just weeks ago, a woman from Oklahoma was arrested for allegedly having sex with her Great Dane. When questioned by Edmonton authorities, Christina Stokes initially denied making videos depicting her and the animal having sexual intercourse and insisted she was not 'f******' her dog. However, when asked directly if she had ever engaged in sexual activity with the animal, she reportedly paused before responding, 'I can't say an interest hadn't been there,' according to KOMO NEWS. She then hesitated again and asked what would happen next before being taken into custody. The investigation began after law enforcement received a tip on September 24, 2024, regarding videos circulating on pornographic websites that showed a woman wearing a dark half-face mask adorned with feathers and tassels engaging in sexual acts with a dog. The department shared a video of Guminski looking glum as she arrived at the sheriff's office. She remained quiet as she walked out of the patrol car with her hands handcuffed in front of her Another recent clip showed that same dog sleeping in her arms while she pet the animal and smiled at the camera Investigators reviewed a 15-minute video that showed a woman, later identified by cops as Stokes, performing various sexual acts with what appeared to be a brown Great Dane wearing a blue collar. According to the affidavit, the woman in the video was partially clothed in pants that exposed her private area. The footage also showed her allowing the dog to lick her tongue and the inside of her mouth, along with other explicit acts. Meanwhile, Denise Frazier, from Mississippi, was arrested and charged with unnatural intercourse after videos captured her having sex with a dog. The 21-year-old was sentenced to four years in jail on January 24. A judge also ordered her to serve five years of probation and pay $2,615.51 in fines. Three separate dogs appeared in multiple videos, according to WJTV. They were rescued and received veterinary care. Quakers were so incensed by a 'ridiculously heavy-handed' police raid that they didn't even offer officers a cup of tea, a member of the group said. Dozens of Metropolitan Police officers battered down a door to arrest six women at the Quaker meeting while they were discussing climate change and Gaza. More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at around 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27, according to Youth Demand. It is believed to be the first time in history that the police have forced their way into the pacifist group's place of worship. One quaker was said to be so angry by the police's tactics that they decided not to offer any officers a cup of tea. 'They broke open the front door without warning or ringing the bell first,' said Paul Parker, recording clerk for the religious organisation. 'This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest.' 'No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory,' he added. Mal Woolford, an elder at the Westminster meeting house where the arrests happened, told Sky News the police's actions were 'ridiculously heavy-handed' and claimed officers 'flooded the building'. Those arrested were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said, amid fears of a sit-down protest in the capital. A Met spokesman said: 'Youth Demand has stated an intention to 'shut down' London over the [coming] month. While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality. Were YOU there? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House (above) at around 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27 However, Youth Demand said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' due to take place next month (Pictured: The activist group cover the Picasso painting 'Motherhood' with a photo of a Gazan mother and child) Youth Demand describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide', began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year (Pictured: one of the group's activists speaking about the Met breaking down the door and arresting other members) However, Youth Demand said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' due to take place next month. The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on the same night and into Friday, March 28, as part of the operation. In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. 'Many have taken nonviolent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage and prison reform.' Youth Demand, which describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide', began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year. Its demands of the Government include stopping all trade with Israel and raising money from 'the super rich and fossil fuel elite' to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning. Previous demonstrations by Youth Demand included three people hanging a banner and laying rows of children's shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer's home in April last year, following which three people in their 20s were handed suspended prison sentences. More of the group's members were arrested last July after they announced plans to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament. A man in his 20s was killed in a 'hit-and-run' as the driver fled the scene leaving behind a flaming car. It is believed the victim was walking on a cycle path in Harlow, Essex at around 5.30pm yesterday, when a vehicle came off the road and hit him. The car, which was a silver Mitsubishi then sped away from the scene on Morples Road. It was later found abandoned and on fire at a nearby underpass. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene last night where the man from London was sadly pronounced dead. A murder investigation has been launched but no arrests have been made yet. Essex Police said: 'With the help of firefighters, the fire was extinguished and this vehicle has been forensically seized. 'We are investigating the possibility that this incident is linked to the theft of a black Ford Fiesta in nearby Pennymead, Harlow, reported to us earlier that day at around 4pm.' A man in his 20s was killed in a 'hit-and-run' as the driver fled the scene leaving behind a flaming car It is believed the victim was walking on a cycle path in Harlow, Essex at around 5.30pm yesterday, when a vehicle came off the road and hit him The car, which was a silver Mitsubishi then sped away from the scene on Morples Road Detective Inspector Alison Hooper added: 'At the centre of this incident is a person who has lost their life in terrible circumstances. 'We are supporting a grieving family. 'I have a dedicated team working hard to establish the sequence of events which led to this fatal collision and this investigation is making progress. 'We're particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the vehicles in question in the Harlow area in the hours leading up to this collision. 'I appreciate this is a very serious incident which will cause concern in Harlow, but I'd ask that the public refrain from any unhelpful speculation which could cause further upset. 'We will continue to update on the progress of our investigation. 'For now I would urge anyone with information which could assist us to please come forward.' The chairwoman of Prince Harry's African charity has claimed that the charity suffered a financial decline after he left the UK, with donors and corporate sponsors abandoning the organisation. Sophie Chandauka, who took on her role as chair of Sentebale in July 2023, appeared on Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips to reveal the charity lost major donors following the Duke of Sussex's departure from the UK. She pointed to a 'significant correlation' between the charity's financial downturn and Harry's move to the US amid the fallout from his rift with the royal family. Harry and Meghan married in 2018 and stepped down as senior royals in January 2020 over frustration that Buckingham Palace prevented them developing their 'SussexRoyal' brand. Ms Chandauka today said: 'It was pretty obvious to me that we had lost quite a number of corporate sponsors. We'd lost some families, and we'd lost individuals who were donating to the organisation. 'And there was quite a significant correlation between the time the organisation started to see a departure of sort of major organisations, and Prince Harry's departure from the UK itself.' She continued by adding that there was no discussion within the charity about these losses: 'When you look at the board minutes, though, there is no discussion about what's happening with respect to some of our most significant funders. 'And when you discuss with the senior executive team and ask why there isn't a conversation about this. 'The answer is, it's really difficult to have this conversation because the instruction was, it's an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room.' Sentebale, which supports HIV and AIDS sufferers in Lesotho and Botswana, has been in the spotlight in recent days after allegations of 'harassment and bullying at scale' towards the charity's chairwoman. In a bombshell new interview, Sentebale chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka has made several damaging claims against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, calling their brand 'toxic' Meghan and Harry pictured at the 'disruptive' charity polo game in Florida last April These claims came to light after the Duke and several others resigned from the organisation earlier this week. Though Prince Harry has not directly commented on the allegations, sources close to the prince have dismissed the claims as 'completely baseless'. A source close to the charity's trustees said they 'fully expected this publicity stunt' and emphasised their collective decision was made for the charity's benefit. They added they 'remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth.' Chandauka, a Zimbabwean lawyer, went on to suggest that Harry had made efforts to undermine her leadership by increasing his control within the organisation, adding more trustees to the board. She also claimed that there was tension between the UK-based staff and those working in Lesotho, where the majority of the charity's 500-plus workforce is based. 'The board felt 'a loss of power and control and influence 'Oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over,' she said. In a separate interview with The Financial Times, Chandauka alleged that when Harry was unable to remove her through a vote due to a legal challenge, he aimed to sabotage the charity he founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The rift between Harry and the charity's board became public after the prince 'unleashed the Sussex machine' against her, according to Chandauka. Meanwhile, Conservative peer Lynda Chalker, who served as a trustee for nearly two decades before resigning in November, described Chandauka as having an 'almost dictatorial' style. Sentebale and Harry's representatives have been approached for comment. Last week, Prince Harry announced that he and several trustees had quit Sentebale, the charity he set up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, amid a boardroom battle within the organisation. Nacho Figueras, Dr Sophie Chandauka, Chair of Sentebale, Prince Harry and Richard Miller, CEO of Sentebale attend the Royal Salute Polo Challenge benefitting Sentebale at Grand Champions Polo Club on April 12, 2024 Dr Chandauka (left), the chair of Prince Harry's beleaguered charity Sentebale, said she had been asked to defend Meghan Markle against negative publicity Dr Chandauka, who has been chairwoman of Sentebale since 2023, accused the duke of being 'involved' in a 'cover-up' of an investigation about bullying, harassment and misogyny at the organisation and said the 'toxicity' of his 'brand' had impacted the charity. A source close to the former trustees of the Sentebale charity described Dr Chandauka's claims that she was bullied and harassed, briefed against by Prince Harry, or that the Sussex machine was 'unleashed on her' as 'completely baseless'. Dr Chandauka also claimed that before the event, an opportunity for Sentebale to do a charity Polo Challenge in Miami was ruined when Harry insisted on bringing his Netflix camera crew along. 'About a month before the event was about to take place, Prince Harry called the team and said, 'I'm doing a Netflix show, and I would love to bring a camera crew so that I can include some footage in this show,'' she said. 'And so the team called me and told me, 'Oh, Prince Harry's made this request, so we're doing the things'. 'I said, you can't be doing the things without seeking consent from the property owners, the sponsors, all the guests. Nobody signed up to being on a Netflix show.' She added: 'We come up with draft agreements and of course, the venue owner says this is now a commercial undertaking. 'So here are my terms. We couldn't afford it. So now we lost the venue.' A female tourist was reportedly raped and murdered by three men at a resort in the Philippines after attending a wedding there. Michaela Mickova, 23, a Slovak carer living in Berlin, Germany, had travelled to the paradise island of Boracay to attend a friend's wedding on March 8. 'She wrote to me how happy she was,' another friend said. But two days later, Michaela suddenly disappeared. She was last seen around 1pm wearing a red top and green hat, according to a missing person's poster police handed out, offering a reward of 670 for information to locate Michaela. Michaela was found dead on March 12, with her body lying half-naked in an abandoned chapel on the Philippines island. 'She was the victim of a horrific crime,' her friend said. The coroner said she was raped and beaten to death, according to local media. Three men are now in custody after the first one, aged 28, was arrested by chance during a drug raid and told on his two accomplices while in prison, the Philippine Star reports. The man said the trio met Michaela as she was taking photos on the night she died. The men then reportedly beat her unconscious with a piece of wood, dragged her into the abandoned chapel and raped her there before getting a drink together. Michaela Mickova (pictured), 23, a Slovak carer living in Berlin, Germany, had travelled to the paradise island of Boracay to attend a friend's wedding on March 8 Michaela's body was found in an abandoned chapel on the paradise island 'She wrote to me how happy she was,' another friend said. But two days later, Michaela suddenly disappeared. Michaela was found dead on March 12, with her body lying half-naked in an abandoned chapel on the Philippines island Michaela's friend has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to bring Michaela's body back to her family in Slovakia and cover the funeral costs. Donations on the page have already surpassed 3,700. The friend also paid tribute, writing: 'Michaela has lived and worked in Berlin, Germany and, as a caregiver in CareArbeit, has given many people in Berlin a lot of charity, support, joy and her smile. She is very much missed everywhere.' She added: 'I wish for nothing more than that my beloved friend is alive, but she's been taken from us forever. 'I want to support her family at least with this appeal for donations. 'I hope that the investigation will be completed soon so that Michaela can be buried in her hometown, we can say goodbye and she can rest in peace, and justice will be done.' Meanwhile, authorities on Boracay are worried that the horrifying killing could scare off visitors. 'This is a devastating blow to our tourism industry. We need to reassure tourists that Boracay is a safe place,' a police official told local media. She was last seen around 1pm wearing a red top and green knitted hat (pictured), according to a missing person's poster police handed out, offering a reward of 670 for information to locate Michaela CCTV footage from a shop is said to show Michaela shortly before her disappearance 'We will do everything in our power together with our local officials in Boracay and Malay and national agencies concerned to prevent such incidents from happening again.' The local Department of Tourism said in a statement: 'The DoT expresses its profound concern regarding the recent incident involving a Slovak tourist on Boracay Island. 'Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic event.' Donald Trump went on a tirade against Russian President Vladimir Putin during an early morning phone call on Sunday. The president repeatedly said he is 'pissed off' at Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's credibility and legitimacy after he insisted this week the war torn country needs new leadership. Trump's seemingly-full-throated defense of Ukraine and its leader comes after he previously was critical of Zelensky and claimed he was 'sick' of handling the war and aiding Kyiv. Speaking with NBC host Kristen Welker, Trump is now warning Russia it could face a new round of harsh economic sanctions for the flub in peace negotiations. He said this would include a tariff of between 25 and 50 percent on oil from Russia, as well as a warning to other countries that if they do buy oil from Russia, 'you can't do business in the United States.' Trump on Wednesday will unveil new rounds of tariffs that he says are part of a so-called 'Liberation Day' with an aim for the U.S. to stop relying on other countries and bring back business to the home land. Meanwhile, the U.S. is leading peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing Eastern European war and while it appeared to be heading in the direction for a deal, that might have fallen apart this week. 'If we're in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskyy's credibility, because that's not going in the right location, you understand?' Trump told the Meet the Press host. 'What he wanted and I mean, he thought, you know, started talking about new leadership,' he added. 'But new leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?' Donald Trump says he is 'pissed off' at Vladimir Putin for questioning Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy and demanded new leadership for Ukraine Putin, 72, demanded during a visit to the Russian city of Murmansk on Friday that Zelensky, 47, resign in order to accelerate a peace deal between the two nations. He said Russia has the 'strategic initiative' across the front lines of the war and claimed his country's troops had moved from the stage of 'grinding [Ukraine] down' and vowed to now 'finish them off ' in a fresh threat. While speaking at the visit to launch a nuclear-powered submarine, Putin said the United Nations should take control in Kyiv in order to install 'competent' leadership who would be willing to sign a peace deal. The Russian leader claimed Zelensky lacks the legitimacy to sign any agreement at this stage due to the Ukrainian leader remaining in power for longer than he was elected for. Ukrainian law does not allow for elections while the country is under martial law. Putin said during a visit to Murmansk, Russia on Friday that Ukraine needs new leadership but the country does not allow for elections while its under martial law Trump says that Putin is aware he is 'angry' but said their relationship remains 'good.' The president told NBC News that he will speak with the Russian leader again this week. The breakdown in peace negotiations comes as it appeared they were leading towards a deal earlier this month. 'I was pissed off about it,' Trump told Welker of Putin's latest comments. The president vowed: 'If a deal isn't made, and if I think it was Russia's fault, I'm going to put secondary sanctions on Russia.' 'Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States,' he said of the potential economic punishment for Moscow. Zelesnky sat down with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in a tense Oval Office meeting last month. An exchange caught on-camera by the press in the room issuing questions for the world leaders showed Trump and Vance demanding that Zelensky thank the U.S. for the billions in military aid and the leadership in peace talks with Russia. Zelensky, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance met in the Oval Office on February 28 Trump has repeatedly touted his ability to lead difficult negotiations with adversaries and has said his good relationship with Putin is an asset to the U.S. In the midst of negotiations, meanwhile, Moscow has maintained its assault on Ukraine by continuing to drop bombs on the wartorn eastern European nation. Russian troops captured two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine on Saturday, March 29 as the forces continue to push their way into Ukrainian territory despite Trump's ceasefire efforts. Putin is now resettling hundreds of thousands of his citizens in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in a move being likened to 'ethnic cleansing' as he seeks to ensure retaining of the captured land. Russia's defense ministry revealed that Moscow captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Those Russians who moved to the area allegedly were offered larger salaries with the promise of being able to fill the homes abandoned by fleeing Ukrainians. A killer of six children has been 'attacked in prison' leaving him left 'battered and bruised' in a brutal jail beating. Mick Philpott, who was convicted of manslaughter over the deaths of his six children after a horror fire in Derby in 2012, was ambushed by another prisoner from behind with a metal container. The 68-year-old was reportedly left with bruises and lumps on his head after the inmate battered him at HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire. A source told the Sun said: 'Philpott was in a bad way after the attack battered and bruised and with two large and noticeable lumps on the back of his head. 'The other lad pounced on him and whacked him quite a few times from behind. They continue: 'Philpott was feeling very sorry for himself after the attack but no one had much sympathy. That is reserved for the children he killed.' They added that he was treated at the prison rather than being taken to hospital. In May 2012 Philpott set fire to his house with six of his children still inside. After campaigning for years, it was an extreme plot that he invented to get a larger house from the council. Five of his children - Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five - died at the scene while 13-year-old Duwayne died in hospital two days later. All died of smoke inhalation. Mick Philpott, who was convicted of the deaths of his six children after a horror fire in Derby in 2012, was ambushed by another prisoner from behind with a metal container The six Philpott children, pictured clockwise from top left, John, nine, Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, Jayden, five, Jesse, six, and Jack, seven, all died from the effects of smoke inhalation after fire swept through their home Philpott set the fire with wife Mairead, who also denies starting the blaze despite being convicted and jailed for the crime, in the hope of getting a bigger home. Philpott even appeared on the Jeremy Kyle show where he defended getting both his wife and mistress, Lisa Willis, pregnant at the same time. In another brush with public notoriety, Philpott participated in a TV documentary about benefit claimants, where he was seen to become volatile while questioned by former MP Ann Widdecombe in 2008. His lifestyle continued until his relationship with Willis broke down and she moved out of the family home with their five children. This triggered him to devise a plan to win back custody while also securing a larger property for his sizeable brood. Together with his wife and Paul Mosley, a family friend who it was revealed in court was having a sexual relationship with Mairead, Philpott plotted to set fire to their home and frame Willis for arson on May 11, 2012. His intention was to rescue the sleeping children still living with him through an upstairs window, but the plan went disastrously wrong after too much petrol was used and the fire burned out of control. Philpott set the fire with wife Mairead (left), who also denies starting the blaze despite being convicted and jailed for the crime, in the hope of getting a bigger home Hundreds of tributes were left outside the house in the wake of the horrific blaze Mick Philpott's accomplice Paul Mosley was released from prison in November 2023 The blaze tragically claimed the lives of Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six and Jayden, five. Philpott, who had previously been jailed for stabbing his schoolgirl lover 27 times, wove a web of lies trying to get away with the crime and even plotted to 'get rich quick' off generous donations from the local community meant to pay for the funerals of his children. In the days that followed the fire, Philpott began his elaborate ruse to appear blameless and even appeared at a press conference appealing for information. He and Mairead shed tears for the cameras as they spoke about their children. During a fortnight of surveillance at the hotel where they were put up by police in May after the fire, the couple were heard whispering about the case, with Philpott recorded telling his wife to 'stick to your story'. They were charged by police on May 30 in connection with the deaths and Mosley was arrested in the months afterwards, having told a friend the plan had been for him to rescue the children. Police initially charged the trio with murder, but downgraded this to manslaughter because the defendants had not intended to kill the six youngsters, despite their sickeningly reckless actions. The family home where the horrific blaze claimed six lives was demolished in September 2013 A clip from a documentary in 2022 on Philpott looks at the moment Ann Widdecombe, who at the time was the MP for Maidstone and The Weald, met him in 2007 for her ITV programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture Mairead was sentenced to 17 years in jail and served just half of that before her release in November 2020. When she was photographed in March 2021, the then 39-year-old was sporting a darker hair colour and a tattoo to her son Jayden, who she called 'miracle baby' during her trial because he was born six weeks premature. At the time, friends said she was 'very much hoping for a fresh start' and was set to have a new identity. A clip from a documentary in 2022 on Philpott looks at the moment Ann Widdecombe, who at the time was the MP for Maidstone and The Weald, met him in 2007 for her ITV programme Ann Widdecombe Versus The Benefit Culture. The former social security minister was in a local pub with Philpott as she pressed him on why he would not work rather than using his children as 'meal tickets'. At one point during their interactions in the pub, Widdecombe, who was 59 at the time and smaller in stature to an aggressive Philpott, she calls him a coward. Philpott stands up suddenly to get in Widdecombe's face, saying, 'Let's see who's a coward b****, let's f****** move it,' pointing his finger before he storms off camera. The two young girls who were killed in broad daylight when a glamorous wigmaker smashed into them with her car at a pedestrian crossing have been pictured. Natasha Saada, 34, and her daughters Diana, eight, and Deborah, five, were mown down in Brooklyn, New York just after 1pm on Saturday, police said. Motorist Miriam Yarimi, 32, was allegedly behind the wheel of an Audi which slammed into an Uber before colliding with the family and flipping upside down amid horrific scenes on Ocean Parkway in Midwood. The NYPD told DailyMail.com on Sunday that Yarimi, of Midwood, has now been hit with a slew of charges including three counts of manslaughter in the second degree. Yarimi, who was allegedly driving with a suspended license, is additionally accused of three counts of criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and speeding, the department said. The Saada family's four-year-old son was also critically injured in the crash, and Yarimi has been charged with four counts of assault in the second degree. The two adorable children involved have now been pictured by several Jewish news sites including Yeshiva World News and VinNews.com. They were reportedly on their way back from a Shabbat service with their mother at a local synagogue when their lives were cruelly taken away. The two young girls who were killed in broad daylight after a glamorous wigmaker smashed into them with her car at a pedestrian crossing have been pictured. Natasha Saada, 34, and her daughters Diana, eight, and Deborah, five, were mown down in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon Motorist Miriam Yarimi, 32, was allegedly behind the wheel of an Audi which slammed into a Toyota Camry Uber before colliding with the family and flipping onto its roof amid horrific scenes on Ocean Parkway in Midwood just after 1pm on Saturday afternoon Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the impact forced the taxi to be pushed aside while the Audi continued and collided with the family before flipping upside down Yarimi had to be removed from the vehicle by firefighters and was reportedly in a stable condition following the smash. Photographs from the aftermath of the tragedy published by the New York Post show a man wearing a kippah breaking down in tears amid the debris, as another man comforts him. Images also show Yarimi's Audi completely upturned in the middle of the road. According to online records, the Audi had accrued over 93 traffic violations, which included 20 speeding tickets and over $10,000 in fines. The violations include tickets for speeding through a school zone, failing to stop at a red light, and parking over a fire hydrant. Speaking at the crash site, Mayor Eric Adams said: 'To see a mother and her two children lost to a vehicle crash, this is extremely concerning and painful not only to the City of New York in general but specifically to a close-knit community.' Yarimi (pictured) who was allegedly driving with a suspended license, is additionally accused of three counts of criminally negligent homicide, reckless driving, and speeding The NYPD told DailyMail.com on Sunday that Yarimi, of Midwood, has now been hit with a slew of charges including three counts of manslaughter in the second degree One man who lives nearby told The Daily News that the noise of the crash sounded like an 'earthquake'. He said: 'I quickly ran, called 911, reported it in there. There was emergency Hatzalah there on the scene within two minutes of that phone call, they came in there. 'They performed CPR on the lady. There was another kid right next to thatand they did CPR on them. 'There was a little boy did the CPR, and hopefully they got a pulse on him. Just really ugly scene.' The NYPD said Yarimi's charges also include failure to yield right at a red light, and driving over the speed limit. The Uber driver involved was also taken to the Kings County Hospital in a stable condition for treatment, along with their three passengers - two children and an adult. A sick steakhouse manager in Georgia was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and raping a teenage female employee. Daniel Barrios Catalan, 46, the co-owner and manager of Latin Flavors in Winder, was arrested on March 7 for allegedly providing the 18-year-old staffer with alcohol after her shift and escorting her to a private area of the restaurant on March 1, police said. 'At one point the victim became heavily impaired to the point of losing consciousness,' the Winder Police Department said. In the early hours of the morning, Catalan drove the unidentified victim to his home, police added. Police started to investigate Catalan after a mandated reporter from a local hospital informed the department that the teen came there for treatment, according to authorities. Latin Flavors took to Facebook to address the alleged incident on March 27 claiming Catalan 'does not belong to Latin Flavors.' 'Our staff and restaurant have nothing to do with Mr. Barrios actions. We condemn all violence and hope that justice is done,' the restaurant said. 'Mr. Daniel B. does not belong to Latin Flavors,' the eatery added. Daniel Barrios Catalan, 46, the co-owner and manager of Latin Flavors in Winder, was arrested on March 7 for allegedly kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old female employee He allegedly provided the staffer with alcohol following her shift and then escorted her to a private area on March 1. Catalan then drove her home to his home early the next morning Catalan faces one count of kidnapping and one count of rape and was booked into Barrow County Jail. 'This investigation is active and ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the Barrow County District Attorneys Office for prosecution. No further information will be released at this time,' authorities said. It is unclear how long Catalan worked at the restaurant. DailyMail.com contacted Latin Flavors and the Winder Police Department for comment. In February 2024, a McDonald's franchisee had to pay more than $4 million to the family of a 14-year-old girl who was assaulted by her manager. Walter A. Garner, a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty in 2021 after he harassed and assaulted a teenage girl in a McDonald's restaurant bathroom in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The unidentified victim was 14 when she started her job at the Bethel Park restaurant in October 2020. Four months later, Garner became her manager. He started sexually harassing the girl almost immediately, using sexual innuendos, touching her, and telling her that he wanted her 'to be his happy meal,' according to the lawsuit obtained by Triblive. Latin Flavors took to Facebook on March 27 and told followers 'Mr. Daniel B. does not belong to Latin Flavors' In mid-February 2021, Garner followed the girl into the bathroom during a break, took off her uniform and raped her, the lawsuit alleges. Garner was already a lifetime registered sex offender at the time, after he was convicted and served in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in 2003. 'How is it that a convicted, registered sex offender is permitted to be hired to manage 14- to 17-year-old girls at a McDonald's?' Alan Perer, the victim's lawyer, said during a news conference announcing the settlement. The lawyer said at his offices in downtown Pittsburgh: 'The facts of our case are horrific. There is no amount of compensation to account for lost innocence and trauma. 'For a company to allow a known sex offender to have access to and control over young teens turns America's best first job into a nightmare for those teens.' Experts have starkly warned that the final death toll of the devastating Myanmar earthquake could skyrocket as rescuers frantically search for victims. Officials have so far recorded at least 1,700 deaths and 3,400 injuries caused by Friday's 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmar's strongest in a century, its military chief told the BBC today. 'All military and civilian hospitals, as well as healthcare workers, must work together in a coordinated and efficient manner to ensure effective medical response,' said the junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, according to state-run media. But the US Geological Survey's predictive modelling estimated Myanmar's death toll could top 10,000 and economic losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. Aftershocks have been rattling the country, with a 5.1-magnitude earthquake recorded near Myanmar's second-largest city on Sunday. People in the streets of Mandalay screamed as the aftershock - which was recorded by the US Geological Survey - hit. Meanwhile, Myanmar's neighbours sent warships and aircraft laden with relief materials and rescue personnel on Sunday, as international aid gained steam after a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake ravaged much of the poor nation. The quake jolted parts of neighbouring Thailand, bringing down an under-construction skyscraper and killing 17 people across the capital, according to Thai authorities. At least 78 people remained trapped under the debris of the collapsed building. The deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in years damaged critical infrastructure, including an airport, highways and bridges, slowing humanitarian operations, according to the United Nations. Relatives wait for the recovery of their loved ones as search and rescue operations continue in the wreckage of a collapsed high-ride building, following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck neighbouring country Myanmar, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30, 2025 Astonishing footage shows the moment a victim who was trapped under rubble for 40 hours after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar was rescued alive Women react after hearing of the death of a relative at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok on March 30, 2025 Rescuers reach the top of the mountain of wreckage to search for possible survivors, following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck neighbouring country Myanmar, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30, 2025 In some of the country's hardest hit areas, residents told Reuters that government assistance was scarce so far, leaving people to fend for themselves. Astonishing footage shows the moment a victim who was trapped under rubble for 40 hours after the devastating earthquake in Myanmar was rescued alive. The man was pulled out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital Naypyidaw by rescue teams from Singapore and Myanmar on Sunday, the country's army-run TV reported. It took around 24 hours for rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Forces (SCDF) and Myanmar Fire Services Department to extract the man from the rubble, one rescuer told MRTV. The entire town of Sagaing near the quake's epicentre was devastated, said resident Han Zin. 'What we are seeing here is widespread destruction - many buildings have collapsed into the ground,' he said by phone, adding that much of the town had been without electricity since the disaster hit and drinking water was running out. 'We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight.' Across the Irrawaddy river in Mandalay, a rescue worker said most operations in the country's second-largest city were being conducted by small, self-organised resident groups that lack the required equipment. 'We have been approaching collapsed buildings, but some structures remain unstable while we work,' he said, asking not to be named because of security concerns. The man was pulled out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital Naypyidaw by rescue teams from Singapore and Myanmar on Sunday, the country's army-run TV reported It took around 24 hours for rescuers from the Singapore Civil Defence Forces (SCDF) and Myanmar Fire Services Department to extract the man from the rubble, one rescuer told MRTV. He is pictured above after he was pulled out A Buddhist monk walks near a collapsed pagoda after an earthquake in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 A rescue worker attempts to extract a mother and her child from a collapsed building in Naypyidaw on March 28, 2025, after an earthquake in central Myanmar A damaged building is seen in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Rescue workers carry out a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, 30 March 2025 Commuters drive past a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 202 Scores of people were feared trapped under collapsed buildings across Mandalay but most could not be reached or pulled out without heavy machinery, another humanitarian worker and two residents said. 'People are still stuck in the buildings, they can't take people out,' said a resident who asked not to be named. Hospitals in parts of central and northwestern Myanmar, including Mandalay and Sagaing, were struggling to cope with the influx of injured people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The quake hit a nation already in chaos with a civil war that has escalated since the 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and sparked a nationwide armed uprising. The fighting has battered the largely agrarian economy of Myanmar, formerly called Burma, displaced over 3.5 million people and left essential services, such as healthcare, in tatters. The opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the previous administration, said anti-junta militias under its command would pause all offensive military actions for two weeks from Sunday. 'The NUG, together with resistance forces, allied organisations and civil society groups, will carry out rescue operations,' it said in a statement. With the Mandalay airport damaged and the control tower toppled in the capital Naypitaw's airport, all commercial flights into the cities have been shut down. Rescuers work with a K9 dog at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand Rescuers carry the body of a victim, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar K-9 units search for missing persons at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok A Buddhist monastery building that has collapsed is seen following an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on March 30 A vehicle is trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay India, China and Thailand are among the neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. Indian military aircraft made multiple sorties into Myanmar on Saturday, including ferrying supplies and search-and-rescue crews to Naypyitaw, the purpose-made capital, parts of which have been wrecked by the earthquake. The Indian army will help set up a field hospital in Mandalay, and two navy ships carrying supplies are heading to Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon, said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Multiple teams of Chinese rescue personnel have arrived, China's embassy in Myanmar said on social media. On Sunday, a convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying critical shelter and medical supplies was expected to reach Mandalay, after making the arduous journey by road from Yangon. The 400-mile journey has been taking 14 hours or longer, with clogged roads and traffic diverted from the main highway to skirt damage from the earthquake. At the same time, the window of opportunity to find anyone alive is rapidly closing. Most rescues occur within the first 24 hours after a disaster, and then survival chances drop as each day passes. An initial report on earthquake relief efforts issued Saturday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted the severe damage or destruction of many health facilities. Local residents rest near a damaged building in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Rescue workers carry a stretcher after recovering the body of a victim during a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers conduct a search and rescue at a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Debris of damaged building is seen near Maharmyatmuni pagoda in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Mandalay It also warned that a 'severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers.' China said it has sent more than 135 rescue personnel and experts along with supplies like medical kits and generators, and pledged around $13.8 million in emergency aid. A 78-member team from Singapore, accompanied by rescue dogs, was operating in Mandalay on Sunday, Myanmar state-media said. Russia's Emergencies Ministry said it had flown in 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, and the country's Health Ministry said Moscow had sent a medical team to Myanmar. One of Democrats' biggest rising stars is just as baffled as others on why younger male voters are abandoning the party. The 2026 midterm elections are gearing up and Democrats are desperate to gain back a majority in the House or Senate to stop Republicans railroading through every nomination and policy proposed by President Donald Trump. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, however, struggled to give insight into why Democrats think they lost ground with specific demographics over the last few elections. But he said it probably had a lot to do with their messaging coming off as lecturing. Asked whether the Democratic brand is 'toxic,' Moore deflected and said 'this is not a new thing' because there are policies that have not worked for people throughout time. 'We have got to make sure that it's not about a talking point. It's not about what's the right slogan. It's about delivering results,' Moore explained during an interview on Sunday with CNN's State of the Union. 'I think about the foundation for our race in the first place,' he went on. 'It was young people. And a lot of it was young men, because I think we were speaking to them and not speaking at them.' But then, the 46-year-old governor got into a confusing line of reasoning where he made mention to the male suicide rate and how that might relate to a drop off in support for Democrats. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pushed back on assessments from colleagues that the Democratic Party is 'toxic' 'I think we were bringing them in, because if you look at the data that we have about young men in our society, there is a fall off,' Moore went on. 'The level of suicide rate for young men has exploded,' he said. 'When you're looking at the fact that the employment rate and the job participation numbers have not grown for young men in this country since 1964.' Democrats over the last several weeks have been floundering and struggling to explain the direction of the party. It especially took a turn this month when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined a group of other Democrats who voted for the continuing resolution that would pass the Republicans' six-month budget to avoid a government shutdown. More progressive members of the party were unhappy with Schumer's vote and it even prompted calls for the New York Democrat to step down from his leadership role. And a CNN poll on which figures represent the future for Democrats, no one emerged a clear winner, further exhibiting the unsteadiness within the party. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did come out on top with 10 percent support while 9 percent said former vice president Kamala Harris, who lost against Trump in 2024. Schumer and several others sat at an insignificant 2 percent when Democratic voters were asked which member of the party best represented their 'core values.' More than half of male voters under the age of 30 supported President Trump in the November election a shift from 2020 when Joe Biden won a similar share up against Trump. But Moore struggled to explain exactly what the problem is that Democrats need to address to win back some control in Washington and pointed to improper messaging About 6 in 10 young white men voted for Trump, but the Republican leader also pulled a significant number of votes from Hispanic and young black men, who previously were more supportive of Democrats, according to AP VoteCast. CNN host Dana Bash noted to Moore how he was able to improve support among young male voters at the state level in the last election and asked if that was a promising sign for the party at the national level. 'I think everybody needs to address the fact that if you look at the data and what happened, and the reason that we've really gotten here, is if you just look at the data that 30, 40 years ago, there was a real fall off with young women and there was a big push, a policy push towards making sure that we're directing more support towards our young women,' Moore explained. 'Now what's happened is a pendulum has swung,' Moore added, making it clear that the party needs to focus more of their messaging on winning more male voters back. A German rocket which was described as the largest the country has made since the Nazi-era V-2 has exploded just 40 seconds after launching from a Norwegian space port. The unmanned Spectrum rocket was seen wildly veering off course within seconds of its launch from Andya Spaceport in Norway today. Footage taken by Isar Aerospace, the German company in charge of the rocket, showed it wobbling in mid-air, before its engines failed and it fell into the nearby sea, exploding in a massive fireball on impact. Despite this, Isar Aerospace claimed the failed launch was a success as it gave its engineers extensive data to learn from. 'Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success,' Daniel Metzler, the chief executive, said in a statement. He added: 'We had a clean lift-off, 30 seconds of flight, and even got to validate our flight termination system.' The Spectrum rocket is 28m (92ft) long, and is powered by 10 custom engines. The two-stage spacecraft is designed specially to put small and medium satellites into orbit. The unmanned Spectrum rocket was seen wildly veering off course within seconds of its launch from Andya Spaceport in Norway today Footage taken by Isar Aerospace, the German company in charge of the rocket, showed it wobbling in mid-air, before its engines failed and it fell into the nearby sea The rocket exploded on impact Despite the explosion, Isar Aerospace claimed the failed launch was a success as it gave its engineers extensive data to learn from The global space race has been accelerating for years. Earlier this year, Britain finally revealed it was joining in, announcing a space port in the Shetland Islands. The first 'vertical' rocket launch from UK soil will finally go ahead this year from SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst, the northernmost of the Shetland Islands. The 100ft RFA One launch vehicle, developed by German company Rocket Factory Augsburg, will perform a NASA-style vertical blast off from the site. It will transport small and micro-satellites of up to 1,300 kg into Earth orbit for paying customers marking the first ever British satellite launch. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has been licensed for spaceflight by the UK's regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), meaning the flight can officially go ahead. 'Granting the first vertical launch licence from UK soil builds towards a historic milestone for the nation,' said Rob Bishton, CAA CEO. SaxaVord Spaceport is one of three spaceports in the UK that aim to start satellite launches. A Dominican judge officially dismissed the case against the American man who was the last person to see University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki before she disappeared. Josh Riibe, 22, returned to the United States on March 22 after finding himself at the center of the chaotic case and had his passport confiscated, forcing him to stay in the Dominican Republic under strict supervision. He was the last person to have been seen with Konanki before she went missing from the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana in the early hours of March 6. Riibe's attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus demanding authorities charge him with a crime or let him go home, which a judge granted on March 18. The petition was made the same day Konanki's parents called on the Dominican National Police to declare her legally dead. Judge Edwin Rijo of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of La Altagracia solidified the decision on Friday by releasing the full legal reasoning, officially concluding the case, and clearing Riibe's name, reported WJLA. Riibe was named a person of interest by Dominican authorities who launched an all-out search for the 20-year-old Konanki after she disappeared from a beach at the Riu Republica Hotel during the early morning of March 6. The five-star resort's surveillance camera system showed Riibe walking with Konanki, his friend Carter Joseph and three of Konanki's girl friends towards the beach at 4:15 am. Josh Riibe, 22, returned to the United States on March 22 after finding himself at the center of the chaotic case He was the last person to have been seen with Konanki before she went missing from the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana in the early hours of March 6 Two of Konanki's friends were seen returning to their rooms at 4:55 am, followed by Joseph and another of the young women at 5:05 am. The same camera picked up a shirtless and barefooted Riibe making his way back to his room at 8:54 am without Konanki in sight. Riibe had his cell phone and passport confiscated by authorities, who barred him from leaving the country and kept him holed up inside the resort under strict surveillance. The former high school wrestler, who has a girlfriend in the United States, gave conflicting and confusing statements of what transpired on the beach. He told police that he and Konanki went for a swim and were knocked out by a large wave. He claimed he used his lifeguard training to drag her back towards the shore, but that the last time he saw her she was waist deep in water. He managed to get out and passed out on a sun bed, he said. Konanki was never seen again. Riibe was taken in for another round of questions March 12 and told a prosecutor that he and Konanki drank on the beach and then kissed in the ocean when they got swept by waves. He declined to reply to multiple questions, with the prosecutor probing him over how they could be sure what he was being honest. He was also questioned if he knew if Sudiksha was able to swim, if she made any gestures or cries in the sea, if he called the cops or told the hotel, if he had told his friends about what happened and was also asked how he felt about the situation. Riibe was captured on surveillance video with Konanki and a group of her friends walking to the beach in Punta Cana around 4am on March 6 Riibe claimed they had kissed in the ocean before they almost got swept away and had to save her from drowning. Riibe (pictured the next day) said he passed out and woke up on the beach Each time he replied: 'My lawyers advise me not to answer that question and I follow their advice', before going silent. Konanki's grieving parents said they now believe it's likely their daughter died by drowning and that Riibe was not involved in her death. 'Both sides of the authorities have shown us how high the ocean waves were at the time of the incident, and both sides of the authorities have clarified the person of interest was not a suspect from the beginning,' her father Subbarayudu Konanki told The New York Post. 'It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact our daughter has drowned,' he said. 'This is incredibly difficult for us to process.' They also asked that Riibe be allowed to leave the island country and return back to home. Riibe claims he has spoken with Konanki's devastated mother, revealing in court that she hugged and thanked him for dragging her daughter from the ocean prior to her baffling disappearance. Most doting grandparents will proudly tell how adorable their newborn grandchildren are. But Lorraine Kelly has revealed hers is more than that - saying her granddaughter being the best medicine as her mother recovers from ill health. Ms Kelly has been helping to care from her mother Anne, 84, who suffers from kidney condition nephrotic syndrome. The presenter has cut her hours to spend more time with her, and the Glasgow-born star revealed spending time with her granddaughter makes everything better. She told The Sun: Billie has been the most wonderful thing for my mum, honestly, when she stays with us and she holds Billie, she looks ten years younger. Obviously my mum takes all her medicines for her kidney condition, but Billie is the best possible medicine ever. God, if you could bottle that. Ms Kelly became a grandmother last August when her daughter Rosie Smith, 30, welcomed Billie. The 65-year-old broadcaster said: Dont get me wrong, I think Ive got one of the best jobs in the world. Rosie Kelly Smith with mum Lorraine and Granny Anne with baby Billie to celebrate Mother's Day Daytime television presenter Lorraine Kelly with her mother Anne But at the end of the day, the most important thing in life is friends and family and spending time with them. Sometimes it takes a wee baby coming into the world to make you realise that. When I come into the room, the best thing in the world is Billie smiling and laughing at me. And Im just so lucky that Rosie and I are close and we have actually become even closer since Billie was born. The television presenter has cut the amount of time she appears on screen - and said that while it was a tough decision she had to put her family first. Ms Kelly said: Seeing my mum, Rosie and Billie together was just lovely. And the best tonic in the world is cuddling that baby. My mum lives just outside of Glasgow in East Kilbride. So I get up there as often as I can. Obviously now with having Friday off, its made a massive difference. It means I can go up on Thursday and have the weekend. Or I can just go up and check on her on Friday and come back down. Her mother, who celebrates her 85th birthday in September, is improving so much she managed to fly back from London to Scotland on her last visit. Ms Kelly said: It was a big deal. We drove up and collected her and brought her down. Then she said: No, I really want to fly back this time and try to do it on my own. And you know what? She did. At the airport they were amazing. A wee wheelchair picked her up at the checkout when we checked her bag in. And then somebody stayed with her until she boarded. Shes talking about flying out to visit her sister in Germany now. A botched surgery victim has received an apology from the NHS after her heckling of former First Minister Humza Yousaf was recorded on a confidential health board report. Theresa Mallett is one of more than 200 patients who say they suffered serious harm at the hands of rogue surgeon Professor Sam Eljamel. The 63-year-old grandmother was left with life-changing injuries and side effects after undergoing surgery for sciatica carried out by the Libyan medic while working for NHS Tayside. In June 2023 Ms Mallett attended an SNP independence convention in Dundee where she heckled Mr Yousaf about the governments lack of action over the scandal. At the time she and other patients were calling for a public inquiry into the scandal. However Ms Mallett has since discovered that NHS Tayside logged a record of the confrontation in an internal document which was later leaked in a data breach. Ms Mallett, 63, from Glenrothes, Fife, said: Im disgusted honestly. It is a complete violation and has absolutely nothing to do with my health, my involvement with Eljamel or what happened to me. It feels like an invasion of my privacy and like theyre spying on me, and anyone else who is campaigning for answers about this whole scandal. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf with protester Theresa Mallett, who interrupted his speech at the SNP independence convention at Caird Hall in Dundee in 2023 The first of 209 complaints were raised almost seven years ago by former patients of rogue surgeon Professor Sam Eljamel The information about MS Mallett was recorded on an NHS Tayside spreadsheet. It stated: Confronted first minister at an SNP conference held in Dundee on 24/6/23. The spreadsheet also contained details of other patients who had contacted the health board about Eljamel between December 2022 and 27 February 2024. A NHS Tayside spokeman said yesterday: Ms Mallett has been in contact with the Patient Liaison Response team regarding her personal information which was shared in error in the recent data breach. NHS Tayside apologises again for the release of the information contained in a spreadsheet. If Ms Mallett would like to discuss her individual case in more detail, the team would be happy to do so and encourage her to get in touch. Earlier this month Eljamel victims were issued with a separate apology from Police Scotland over delays with their long running into the rogue surgeon The first of 209 complaints were raised almost seven years ago by former patients. They are demanding Eljamel is extradited back to Scotland from Libya to stand trial. He is currently living and working as a neurosurgeon in his homeland. Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone, head of Police Scotlands Major Crime Unit, delivered a personal apology for shortcomings during the first five years of the investigation. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain also told former patients there was enough evidence for a successful prosecution. Professor Eljamel was employed as a neurosurgeon at NHS Tayside from 1995 until his suspension in 2013. Ms Mallett, then an SNP member, had interrupted the First Ministers keynote speech at Caird Hall in Dundee to demand a full public inquiry. Mr Yousaf was forced to leave the stage to speak to Ms Mallett and agreed to meet her later at her home. But the following month Ms Mallett said she still felt let down by the First Minister and revealed she had since resigned her party membership. In 2022 a damning report had highlighted failures in how NHS Tayside oversaw Eljamel when he was the boards head of neurosurgery. Lifelong SNP member Ms Mallett was initially booed for her heckling by delegates. At the time she said: The day after the operation, Eljamel told me it was a complete success. Two years later, the pain clinic told me that I was never getting better - it is permanent. I thought I was going back to work. I thought I was going to get on with my life. And, of course, it got worse. The idea behind devolution was that nothing ailed Scotland that couldn't be solved by creating a whole new layer of politicians and bureaucrats. An expensive layer at that. The problem, as the past quarter-century has amply illustrated, is that, once handed an empire, politicians and bureaucrats will dedicate themselves to expanding their imperial reach. Lord Acton said that 'power tends to corrupt' but it also tends to make you greedy for more. There are few parliamentarians who muse on the great questions of the day and conclude that the answer is leaving more power in the hands of people. After all, that would be bad for business. The Land Reform Bill is another example of this mindset. It is a piece of legislation that exists not because there is urgent need for it but because the Scottish parliament isn't satisfied unless it's meddling in every aspect of life in this country. Naturally, it's a Bill which empowers the state at the expense of enterprise and the individual. Land has been a fixation of the middle-class activist left since long before the opening of the Scottish parliament but, even though most voters are splendidly uninterested in the issue, it has become a perennial priority at Holyrood. For people with scant understanding of or affinity for the countryside, the Central Belt squad that runs Scotland is hellbent on sticking its neb into rural affairs. It never ceases to amaze me how many proponents of land reform live in cities and suburbs and display no interest in rural Scotland beyond dictating how it ought to be run. Their idea of visiting the countryside is taking the scenic route home from Waitrose. The new Bill is exactly what you might expect from this contingent. It passes ministers sweeping powers to dictate to landowners what they may do with their property, how they are to maintain it, and even the circumstances under which they can sell it. It is the brainchild of rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon and prompted raised eyebrows both at Holyrood and among landowners. Scotland's rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon is behind controversial land reforms Section 1(4), for instance, allows ministers to 'impose obligations on the owner of land for the purpose of promoting community engagement'. Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), which represents landowners, warns that the Bill shows an inadequate commitment to consultation. Instead of a conversation between ministers and landowners, which could produce compromise or at least fully explain decisions, people and companies face being slapped with burdensome regulations drawn up without their concerns taken into consideration. Now, you might be thinking: well, of course landowner lobbyists would say that. However, SLE is not alone in its anxieties. Even Holyrood's delegated powers and law reform committee has written to Gougeon to suggest making consultation a statutory requirement. The committee, which is headed by SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, described the power to modify obligations on landowners as 'wide' and containing 'little detail' as to 'why the power is necessary or how it will be exercised'. I can answer that. The power is necessary because this government, like so much of the political class in Scotland, is roiling with resentment towards landowners, who are viewed as cartoonish villains hoarding the nation's natural environment for themselves and their own profit. It is a prejudice every bit as ill-considered and outdated as the caricature of entrepreneurs as cigar-chomping, top-hatted exploiters of the workers. 'Land reform' is what you call class warfare when it takes place north of Milngavie. Naturally, Gougeon's Bill takes this opportunity to grow the quangocracy and establishes a Land and Communities Commissioner to enforce the legislation on landowners, with the power to hand out 5,000 fines for non-compliance. Merely failing to provide information to the commissioner could see your wallet hit for 1,000. Perhaps you're breathing a sigh of relief that you're not a landowner and so none of this will affect you. Who do you think will be footing the bill for the commissioner and their staff? State control: tightened. Taxpayers' money: wasted. Ideology: put before practicality. All that's missing is an adverse judgment in the Court of Session and this would be the archetypal Holyrood Bill. At the spite-dripping heart of this legislation is the belief that government should interfere in the ownership and sale of land. Ministers say they want to make community buy-out easier, but there has been legislation to do that on the statute books since 2003. What this Bill will do is give the state the power to wage a vendetta against law-abiding people for the crime of having purchased or inherited land. How much land? Whatever ministers consider too much. That is not rhetoric on my part. The government has hinted that it might revisit the hectarage thresholds - the parameters which decide which estates the law would apply to - if the current provisions turn out not to work as ministers had hoped. The implication is that this would be done via secondary legislation. As SLE says: 'Making law but reserving the right to change it at any time is unsettling for businesses and unhelpful when businesses want to plan for the long term.' But this is not just about the size of an estate, it's also about how it is used. The Bill would grant additional powers to intervene in this area too, which raises questions about just how these powers might be used. For example, could a future SNP-Green government draw on this legislation to ban shooting parties? And while community ownership can be a viable approach to managing land, it is not cheap and not without controversy. When the residents of Gigha, in Argyll and Bute, bought the island two decades ago, it cost 4 million and saw the trust struggle with debt before selling properties to balance the books. While the island is reportedly thriving today, there remains bad blood over how things were handled. Making community buy-outs easier comes with its own difficulties. I'm not arguing for a totally free market. The state has a role to play in regulating ownership and if Russian oligarchs want to buy up land, there's more than enough in their own country. However, where a landowner is a citizen and their property is lawfully held, the government should err on the side of caution before rushing in with more broad-brush, busybody legislation. No one knows how to maintain land better than its owner, who will typically have dedicated their life to their little corner of the world. There is more expertise in investment and experience than in academic advocacy or the mandarin-knows-best impulse that powers the civil service. Ministers should heed the objections raised by landowners and their own fellow MSPs and pause the Land Reform Bill for further consideration. The Scottish Government behaves as though going back and thinking again about legislation is a sign of weakness or fright, but it's what a mature, sensible government does when it wants to see the very best version of its legislation become law. Petulant prejudice is a poor basis on which to make law. Instead of seething against landowners, ministers should find a way to work with them. Instead of bolstering their own powers for the sake of it, they should do what is in the best interests of the land. A student at the University of Minnesota and another at University of Alabama were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this past week as President Donald Trump continues his campus crackdown across the nation. Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student from Iran studying mechanical engineering in Alabama, was taken into custody around 5am Tuesday by ICE. An unidentified graduate student attending the University of Minnesota was also detained by ICE on Thursday at an off-campus residence, the school said in an email to staff and students. The student has not been named and it is unclear where they are from. The school said the student attends the Twin Cities campus under the Carlson School of Management. In an update from the university on Friday, the school said it 'had no prior knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities before it occurred.' A spokesperson with the school told DailyMail.com: 'We don't have any updates at this time beyond what we've already been able to share about the situation.' The two arrests come after Tufts graduate Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was sensationally carted off and thrown into ICE detention this week. Alireza Doroudi entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa that was issued by the U.S. Embassy in Oman in January 2023, but after six months in the states it was revoked, The Crimson White reported. Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student from Iran studying mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, was taken into custody around 5am Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) An unidentified graduate student attending the University of Minnesota (pictured) was also detained by ICE on Thursday at an off-campus residence Despite contacting International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at the University of Alabama, who 'replied with confidence' that his case 'was not unusual or problematic and that he could remain in the U.S. legally as long as he maintained his student status,' Doroudi was detained last week. The Department of Homeland Security said that because his student visa was revoked, Doroudi 'posed significant national security concerns.' According to the ICE website, Doroudi is currently being held at the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana. David Rozas, Doroudi's attorney, told ABC News his client had 'not been informed of any allegations concerning significant national security issues.' Rozas said the student has 'not been arrested for any crime, nor has he participated in any anti-government protests.' No federal charges have been filed against him, according to federal court records. 'He is legally present in the U.S., pursuing his American dream by working towards his doctorate in mechanical engineering. 'He is also in the early stages of applying for an EB-1/Adjustment of Status as a researcher with extraordinary ability,' Rozas said. In a statement following Doroudi's arrest, the school said they will 'continue to follow all immigration laws and cooperate with federal authorities.' Doroudi entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa that was issued by the U.S. Embassy in Oman in January 2023, but after six months in the states it was revoked. Because of this the Department of Homeland Security said he 'posed significant national security concerns' According to the ICE website, Doroudi is currently being held at the Jena/LaSalle Detention Facility in Louisiana 'The University of Alabama recently learned that a doctoral student has been detained off campus by federal immigration authorities,' the school wrote. 'Federal privacy laws limit what can be shared about an individual student. 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.' The University of Minnesota's Graduate Labor Union organized a protest Saturday outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown Minneapolis for the unnamed student who was detained. Organizers said they stood in solidarity with international students facing uncertain futures as the new Trump administration pursues an immigration clampdown that has targeted people with ties to American colleges and universities. 'An increasing number of international students are being detained without due process across the country,' leaders of the University of Minnesota Graduate Labor Union-United Electrical Local 1105 said in a statement. 'These constitutional violations are part of a larger plan to continue stripping our rights away from us, starting with immigrants. It will not stop there.' A rally and press conference is scheduled for Monday at noon outside Morrill Hall. 'An attack on us is an attack on all of us. We remain committed to protecting our international graduate workers, our civil liberties, and the tenets of academic freedom,' the organization said. Local government officials have also taken to social media, calling on ICE and Homeland Security to release details of the student. The University of Minnesota's Graduate Labor Union organized a protest Saturday outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in downtown Minneapolis for the unnamed student who was detained Tufts graduate Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was snared by masked immigration agents close to her Massachusetts home on Tuesday 'My office and I are doing all we can to get information about this concerning case,' Senator Amy Klobuchar said on X Saturday. 'Were in contact with the University and understand they had no prior warning or information that led to this detainment. The University is an internationally renowned institution for Minnesotans and students from around the world. These students are a major part of the fabric of life in the school and our community.' Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also said he's been trying to get in touch with the department to obtain more information. 'I just spoke with Homeland Security to get more information and I will share when I learn more, Walz wrote. 'The University of Minnesota is an international destination for education and research. We have any number of students studying here with visas, and we need answers.' DailyMail.com contacted ICE for comment. News of the latest ICE detainees comes right after a Tufts graduate student was nabbed by agents in Massachusetts. PhD student and Fulbright scholar Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, was snared by masked immigration agents close to her home on Tuesday, as shown in dramatic surveillance footage. The US Department of Homeland Security has accused Ozturk, without providing evidence, of 'engaging in activities in support of Hamas', a Palestinian group recognized by the US government as a 'foreign terrorist organization.' Officials revoked Ozturk's visa and moved her to Louisiana - despite an order requiring agents not to move her out of Massachusetts without 48 hours' notice. US District Judge Denise Casper in Boston dramatically intervened in the case on Friday by temporarily barring the Turkish national's deportation to provide time to resolve whether her court retained jurisdiction over the case. She ordered the Trump administration to respond to Ozturk's complaint by Tuesday. Mahsa Khanbabai, a lawyer for Ozturk, called the decision 'a first step in getting Rumeysa released and back home to Boston so she can continue her studies.' President Donald Trump has seriously floated the possibility of him running for a third term, despite the US Constitution stipulating that presidents are limited to two four-year terms. 'I'm not joking,' Trump said in a Sunday morning phone call with NBC News, a notable shift in rhetoric after he spent months quite literally joking about the prospect of mounting an unprecedented third campaign for the White House. When he was asked how he would do so, Trump said, 'There are methods which you could do it.' When asked to elaborate, he declined to answer. However, he did say one possibility would be if Vice President JD Vance won the presidency and then handed him back the commander-in-chief role. Trump further explained that many of his allies 'want me to do it,' though didn't elaborate on who among his inner circle might be endorsing this plan. 'But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration,' he said. 'Im focused on the current,' he added. 'It is far too early to think about it.' Ever since the 22nd Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951, presidents have only been able to run twice. And prior to that, presidents were limited to terms of four years. President Donald Trump has stated in the clearest terms to date that he intends to run for a third term. He did not offer much in the way of specifics of how he would accomplish this Almost a year ago, Trump said he wasn't in favor of amending the Constitution to allow himself to run for a third term The only known legal way for Trump to overcome the 22nd Amendment is for him to start a campaign arguably much more difficult than winning the presidency in the first place. That, of course, would be amending the Constitution, a process made incredibly arduous on purpose by the founding fathers. Amending the Constitution to allow a third presidential term would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, which the Republicans do not have. If Trump does not approach Congress for the constitutional amendment, he would need to get support from two-thirds of the states to call a constitutional convention. Whether he goes through Congress or the states, he would then need his amendment to be ratified by three-quarters of all states. Trump's comments Sunday represent a monumental change from what he was saying almost a year ago. In April 2024, he told Time Magazine that he wouldn't be in favor of changing the 22nd Amendment. 'I wouldn't be in favor of it at all. I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track,' he said. The only way Trump mentioned that he could become president for a third time is if JD Vance runs, wins the presidency and then hands him back the job Liberals have already capitalized on Trump's willingness to run again, suggesting he is showing authoritarian tendencies Liberals have already capitalized on Trump's heel turn, suggesting he is showing authoritarian tendencies. 'I have said since Trump starting laying the groundwork for the Big Lie in the first part of 2020 that he would not leave office willingly. I have been correct so far. And I'm telling you again he will not leave office willingly,' wrote Aaron Rupar, a left-wing independent journalist. 'I think were at the point where take him seriously but not literally is null and void?' said Jessica Tarlov, a Democratic strategist who co-hosts The Five on Fox News. George Washington, the first president of the United States, started the convention of only serving two four-year terms. Instead of continuing to lead the nation, something many of his contemporaries wanted, he retired to his home at Mount Vernon. In 1797, Washington's abdication was seen as a major distinguishing feature of the American political system at a time when most of Europe was still under the rule of monarchs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first and last president to run for more than twice. He died roughly three months into his fourth term. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has implored US president Donald Trump to 'force Russia into peace', after the Republican admitted he was 'p***ed off' with Russian despot Vladimir Putin. Trump repeatedly fumed about Putin for questioning Zelensky's credibility and legitimacy after he insisted this week the war torn country needs new leadership. The US president's seemingly full-throated defense of Ukraine and its leader comes after he previously was critical of Zelensky and claimed he was 'sick' of handling the war and aiding Kyiv. Speaking with NBC host Kristen Welker, Trump warned Russia it could face a new round of harsh economic sanctions for the flub in peace negotiations. He said this would include a tariff of between 25 and 50 percent on oil from Russia, as well as a warning to other countries that if they do buy oil from Putin's country, 'you can't do business in the United States.' In the wake of the public tirade, Zelensky took to X to say his nation needs to 'engage more with America, find ways to force Russia into peace, and work on security guarantees, which must become our next step after the ceasefire.' He said in his post: 'Right now, Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further. Putin is playing the same game he has since 2014. 'This is dangerous for everyone and there should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe, and all our global partners who seek peace.' U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One before landing in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 28, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks while visiting a military base of nuclear fleet, March 26, 2025, in Murmansk, Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he speaks to journalists during his press conference in Kyiv on March 28, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire at the site of a drone strike in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 26 March 2025 And tonight Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Mr Trump and discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal. Downing Street said: Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this evening. The President opened by wishing His Majesty the King best wishes and good health. They discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week. Discussing Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated the President on the productive discussions at the meeting of the Coalition of Willing in Paris this week. The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin. They agreed to stay in touch in the coming days. Trump on Wednesday will unveil new rounds of tariffs that he says are part of a so-called 'Liberation Day' with an aim for the U.S. to stop relying on other countries and bring back business to the home land. Meanwhile, the U.S. is leading peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing Eastern European war and while it appeared to be heading in the direction for a deal, that might have fallen apart this week. 'If we're in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, p***ed off, when Putin said yesterday that you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskyy's credibility, because that's not going in the right location, you understand?' Trump told the Meet the Press host. 'What he wanted and I mean, he thought, you know, started talking about new leadership,' he added. 'But new leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?' Putin, 72, demanded during a visit to the Russian city of Murmansk on Friday that Zelensky, 47, resign in order to accelerate a peace deal between the two nations. He said Russia has the 'strategic initiative' across the front lines of the war. Putin also claimed his country's troops had moved from the stage of 'grinding [Ukraine] down' and vowed to now 'finish them off ' in a fresh threat. Donald Trump says he is 'p***ed off' at Vladimir Putin for questioning Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy and demanded new leadership for Ukraine Putin said during a visit to Murmansk, Russia on Friday that Ukraine needs new leadership but the country does not allow for elections while its under martial law While speaking at the visit to launch a nuclear-powered submarine, Putin said the United Nations should take control in Kyiv in order to install 'competent' leadership who would be willing to sign a peace deal. The Russian leader claimed Zelensky lacks the legitimacy to sign any agreement at this stage due to the Ukrainian leader remaining in power for longer than he was elected for. Ukrainian law does not allow for elections while the country is under martial law. Trump says that Putin is aware he is 'angry' but said their relationship remains 'good.' The president told NBC News that he will speak with the Russian leader again this week. The breakdown in peace negotiations comes as it appeared they were leading towards a deal earlier this month. 'I was p***ed off about it,' Trump told Welker of Putin's latest comments. The president vowed: 'If a deal isn't made, and if I think it was Russia's fault, I'm going to put secondary sanctions on Russia.' 'Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States,' he said of the potential economic punishment for Moscow. Zelesnky sat down with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in a tense Oval Office meeting last month. An exchange caught on-camera by the press in the room issuing questions for the world leaders showed Trump and Vance demanding that Zelensky thank the U.S. for the billions in military aid and the leadership in peace talks with Russia. Trump has repeatedly touted his ability to lead difficult negotiations with adversaries and has said his good relationship with Putin is an asset to the U.S. Zelensky, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance met in the Oval Office on February 28 In the midst of negotiations, meanwhile, Moscow has maintained its assault on Ukraine by continuing to drop bombs on the wartorn eastern European nation. Russian troops captured two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine on Saturday, March 29 as the forces continue to push their way into Ukrainian territory despite Trump's ceasefire efforts. Putin is now resettling hundreds of thousands of his citizens in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in a move being likened to 'ethnic cleansing' as he seeks to ensure retaining of the captured land. Russia's defense ministry revealed that Moscow captured the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. Those Russians who moved to the area allegedly were offered larger salaries with the promise of being able to fill the homes abandoned by fleeing Ukrainians. Police allege a father wrestled a knife from his wife as she tried to stab their children to death in the family home on Monday morning. The father and three kids were sleeping in their bedrooms at the home in Jamieson Avenue, in Sydney's Baulkham Hills, when their mother allegedly launched her attack. The father was woken by the children's screams as his wife allegedly stabbed them, before police say he was able to take the knife from her. NSW Police called to the scene found a 10-year-old boy, 13-year-old girl, 16-year-old girl and the 47-year-old mother all suffering serious knife injuries. It is believed the eldest daughter is a paraplegic who requires a wheelchair. The mother was stabbed three times in the stomach, the young boy was stabbed twice in the chest, and both girls were stabbed three times in the arm and stomach. They were rushed to hospital where they are now in a stable condition. In stark contrast to the horrific scene authorities were confronted with, a framed picture with the heartwarming caption, 'This is my happy place', was pictured in the home's entrance. Police and ambulance workers take one of the stabbed family members to hospital Police have established a crime scene at the Baulkham Hills home A photo in the house where the three children were stabbed Police seized a household knife and arrested the mother in a suspected attempted triple murder and suicide attempt. Hills Police Area Command Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore said police allege the mother was acting erratically in the days leading up to the attack and it is believed she was suffering a psychotic episode. 'It's a family home and that family is not known to police. No domestic violence incidents have ever been reported to police; it's completely unexpected,' Det Supt Moore said. 'It's certainly not something I want to wake up to on a Monday morning. It's a tragic morning. Those children should make a full physical recovery.' The mother was taken to hospital under police guard as a crime scene was established. Det Supt Moore said the woman's injuries were allegedly self-inflicted and although she was in a stable condition, she has not been interviewed by police. One neighbour, who asked not to be identified, described the children as 'friendly and lovely'. She said the eldest child was in a wheelchair, which police confirmed. Police are investigating multiple stabbings Neighbours said the family 'was quiet buy very friendly' Another neighbour was in shock and couldn't believe the stabbing had happened in the family home. 'They are nice neighbours and quiet but very friendly. There's no way we'd ever have expected something like this to happen,' the neighbour said. 'We didn't hear a sound and slept through the whole thing until we heard the police sirens. The Hills Shire Council Mayor Michelle Byrne said the incident was 'devastating' for the local community. 'As a mum and a mayor, my heart breaks for those children,' she said. Police have offered 10,000 for anyone with information about a teenage boy who went missing 17 years ago. Alexander Sloley, from Islington, north London, was 16 when he disappeared in August 2008 and his family and friends have had no contact with him since then. The accountancy student at City and Islington College had little money, no wallet and no bag with extra clothes to indicate he was planning to run away, police previously said. He was described as a light-skinned black male, 5ft 5ins and of medium build with striking blue eyes. Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Alex was reported missing to police on August 8 2008. Since then there have been extensive enquiries made by police but sadly Alex has not yet been found. 'We are now offering a reward of up to 10,000 for anyone who has information relating to Alex's whereabouts. 'This remains an active missing person investigation, subject to regular review by senior officers, with the aim of locating Alex and bringing some comfort to his family. 'We have recently met with Alex's mother to outline how we intend to progress our investigation to find him. Alexander Sloley (pictured at disappearance), from Islington, north London, was 16 when he went missing in August 2008 Alexander Sloley billboard at Westfield, London. Missing persons posters and billboards recently had a revamp, with experts turning to science and technology to make them more memorable In 2019, police released an e-fit of what Alex may have looked like aged 27 as part of a reopening of the investigation 'I would ask anyone with information who could help to please get in contact immediately, no matter how insignificant you think this could be.' In 2019, police released an e-fit of what Alex may have looked like aged 27 as part of a reopening of the investigation. At the time, his mother, Nerissa Tivy, said it was emotional to see the e-fit of her son as an adult. She said: 'It's a great picture of Alex and of how he might possibly look like now. Then you try to put a body to it and how he might be dressed and looking. 'He was quite a slick dresser, my son, he wasn't scruffy. 'There's no closure to this and, with all the appeals and knowing your child would not just run away, you start thinking something terrible has happened to him. 'I would love to see him walk through the door.' People quizzed previously in connection with Alex's disappearance were re-interviewed in 2019. A poster advertising a gathering to remember Alexander 15 years on from is disappearance in 2008 Alexander's mother Nerissa Tivy previously said 'I would love to see him walk through the door' At the time detectives said there was no proof Alex had been harmed and there was no evidence that it was linked to any other cases. Detective Constable Tom Boon said in 2019: 'The hope is he is safe and well and somehow has managed to stay off the radar in terms of using bank accounts, passports, that sort of thing. 'As time goes on it becomes more and more concerning, although there's no proof of harm.' Police have asked anyone with information about Alexander's disappearance to get in touch with them on 07860 369603 or through Crimestoppers. A major storm system has begun sweeping across central United States unleashing a dangerous mix of severe thunderstorms, tornados, and ice storms - leaving hundreds of thousands without power and millions more in the path of destruction. More than 75 million Americans are currently in the threat zone as the massive weather system barrels eastward, which could trigger tornado watches, flash flood warnings, and ice storm alerts across multiple states. 'Numerous severe thunderstorms are expected today and tonight across a broad portion of the Southeast and lower/mid Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes,' NOAA's Storm Prediction Center announced Sunday. 'Multiple swaths of widespread damaging winds appear likely. Large to very large hail and several tornadoes will also occur with supercells. A few of these tornadoes could be strong,' the statement continued. A dozen tornadoes could hit cities like Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; Evansville and Bloomington, Indiana, as early as Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. Monday's severe weather is expected to affect the bustling Interstate 81, 85 and 95 corridors from New Orleans to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City, as reported Accuweather. By Saturday evening, a tornado watch was already in effect for much of Oklahoma until 1 am Sunday, ABC News reported, as forecasters warned of 'very large hail and damaging wind gusts' across the southern Plains. A major storm system has begun sweeping across central United States unleashing a dangerous mix of severe thunderstorms, tornados, and ice storms - leaving hundreds of thousands without power and millions more in the path of destruction A dozen tornadoes could hit cities like Little Rock, Arkansas ; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky ; Evansville and Bloomington, Indiana , as early as Sunday afternoon and Sunday night This could potentially impact major neighborhoods including Oklahoma City and Dallas through the night. Southern Louisiana near Baton Rouge was also under a flash flood warning, with some areas already drenched by up to 4.5 inches of rain. Forecasters are predicting another 1 to 2 inches possible by Sunday morning. The destruction has already begun in parts of the Midwest, where more than 200,000 customers are without power - 67,631 in northern Wisconsin and a staggering 148,141 in northern Michigan - after a significant ice storm caused widespread tree damage and made travel difficult, as reported by TMJ4. Local officials report some counties in northern Michigan are experiencing power outages affecting over 90 percent of residents as trees crashed onto power lines. Sunday could bring even more dangerous conditions as the storm shifts eastward, with multiple rounds of severe storms expected to sweep from east Texas to the southern Great Lakes throughout the day and into the night. That is where the greatest risk for dangerous severe thunderstorms is expected. Meteorologists have also warned of an especially high-risk zone for strong tornadoes stretching from eastern Arkansas through western Tennessee and Kentucky into southern Indiana. This could impact communities in Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and Evansville. On top of that, thunderstorms with heavy rain are moving into the Carolinas and Asheville - places that have been impacted by wildfires over the last week due to dry conditions. A dozen tornadoes could hit cities like Little Rock, Arkansas ; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky ; Evansville and Bloomington, Indiana , as early as Sunday afternoon and Sunday night Monday's severe weather is expected to affect the bustling Interstate 81, 85 and 95 corridors from New Orleans to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, DC , Philadelphia and New York City Debris lies around a damaged house the morning after a tornado touched down in Florissant, Missouri, on March 15, 2025 Friends and neighbors salvage items from the storm damaged home of Neva Willitte after an overnight fatal tornado hit the area in the Alpine community near Plantersville, Alabama on March 16, 2025 Friends and family members search for belongings in the damage after a tornado passed through the area, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Plantersville By Monday, the destructive system will reach the East Coast and I-95 corridor and potentially threaten areas from Upstate New York to Tallahassee and New Orleans with damaging winds and possible tornadoes in southern regions Seven states from New York to North Carolina remained under Elevated Fire Danger on Saturday. The severe weather threat will persist through the night in many areas. Meanwhile, the northern edge of the storm is bringing a chill blast, with snow and ice forecast from the Dakotas to New England. Ice storm warnings have been issued for Wisconsin and Michigan, where up to a half inch of ice is expected to cover streets, trees, and power infrastructure. And by Monday, the destructive system will reach the East Coast and I-95 corridor and potentially threaten areas from Upstate New York to Tallahassee and New Orleans with damaging winds and possible tornadoes in southern regions. A top banker was killed in a plane crash in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday afternoon. Terry Dolan, 63, the Vice Chair and Chief Administration Officer of US Bancorp, was the pilot in the craft that crashed into a home yesterday, the company said on Sunday. The single-engine aircraft plummeted from the sky in a quiet residential neighborhood of Brooklyn Park around 12:30pm. The entire home erupted into flames, leaving billows of black smoke rising in the air, causing first responders to evacuate the area. There were no survivors on the plane, the fire chief said at a press conference. Luckily, no one was inside the home at the time of the crash. The plane was a Socata TBM 700, a single-engine business aircraft. It departed from Des Moines International Airport and was headed for Anoka County-Blaine Airport north of Minneapolis. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said preliminary information indicated only one person was on board, but it does not release the identities of those involved in crashes. The factors that may have contributed to the crash include the weather, the pilots experience level and the condition of the plane, they said. According to the bank's website, Dolan was vice chair and chief administration officer (CAO) of U.S. Bancorp - a role he assumed in 2023. He had been with the company since 1998. Terry Dolan, the Vice Chair and Chief Administration Officer of US Bancorp, was the pilot in the craft that crashed into a home yesterday, the company said Terry and Susan Dolan are seen far right, together with their daughters Jane Elizabeth Weiland and Hannah Lucille Schilling and their husbands The plane was a SOCATA TBM7, a single-engine business aircraft. It departed from Des Moines International Airport and was headed for Minneapolis 'His role includes oversight of corporate strategy, marketing, analytics, corporate social responsibility, digital capabilities and growth, public affairs and communications, and transformation,' his biography said. It continued: 'Dolan previously served as vice chair, chief financial officer, as well as vice chair of Wealth Management and Investment Services, executive vice president and controller. 'He has been a leader in the bank's focus on driving growth and digital transformation, and reinforcing its strong financial position, with returns on assets and equity among the highest in the industry. 'He has also been a leader in its community development work and investments in affordable housing, economic development and renewable energy tax credit financing.' He was also active in several charitable organizations, serving on the Killebrew Thompson Memorial board of directors as well as serving with Catholic Charities, the Minnesota Opera, Artspace, The Minneapolis Foundation and the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. Dolan was also known for his charity and community work - including helping the homeless, investing in arts and culture, and elevating higher education. Dolan held a bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas. A plane burst into a ball of flames after crashing into a Minnesota home on Saturday, prompting an evacuation The house appeared to burn down to the studs within a matter of minutes The immediate aftermath of a plane crash in Brooklyn Park on Saturday U.S. Bank released the following statement on Sunday about the plane crash: 'We are aware that the plane that crashed in Brooklyn Park on Saturday afternoon was registered to Terry Dolan, our vice chair and chief administration officer. At this time, the medical examiner's office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday's tragic incident. 'We are grateful that there were not any injuries to residents of the home that was impacted by the crash, and we thank all the first responders who have provided service.' Several planes have been involved in fiery collisions since the first of the year. The most deadly this year was when an American Airlines flight and a Blackhawk collided nearly Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, killing 67, including many young ice skaters. Near the same airport, a US Air Force jet nearly collided with a Delta airplane this week. The flight, with 137 people on board, had just departed for Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, when it suddenly received an emergency notification of a nearby aircraft. Alarms went off inside the cockpit of the passenger flight just minutes after taking off, due to how close the T-38 jet came to the plane. The close call happened just south of the airport and close to the spot where an American Airlines jet collided with an army helicopter in January. According to tracking data from FlightRadar 24, the Air Force jet flew past the Delta plane in excess of 350 miles per hour. The FAA said the military jet was in the area alongside three others for a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery. Five people were rushed to the hospital earlier this month after a plane crash-landed in a retirement home parking lot in Pennsylvania. The plane took off as scheduled, but quickly requested to land back on the tarmac because its door had opened. Horrifying air traffic control audio revealed the pilot telling ground agents that they needed to turn around - but at one point he said that he couldn't hear the radio because of all the wind noise, caused by the unlocked hatch. The air traffic controller can be heard saying: 'Pull up... the aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area.' Terror group Hamas has been accused of torturing a Palestinian protester to death and leaving him on his family's doorstep as a warning against any further public actions against them. Uday al-Rabbay was reportedly kidnapped by the terror group amid the swell of anti-Hamas actions taken by the people of the Gaza Strip, who have in the last week been seen begging the organisation to give up control. Uday's battered body was later returned to his family's home, days after he was taken. Mazen Shat, a senior police officer affiliated with Fatah from Ramallah and a vocal critic of Hamas, told The Telegraph Uday had been tortured for four hours, and was left with open wounds and bruising. 'Uday was martyred by the criminals of Hamas. And what's his crime? He told the truth, because he refused to be silent on injustice, because he did not kneel to Hamas. 'Hamas is oppressing people in a brutal way. Like a puppy on a rope around his neck, they dragged him to the door of his house and told his family that this is the punishment for those who complain about Hamas.' Last week, thousands of Palestinians marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza in the second day of anti-war protests, with many chanting against Hamas in a rare display of public anger against the militant group. The protests, which centered mainly on Gaza's north, appeared to be aimed generally against the war, with protesters calling for an end to 17 months of deadly fighting with Israel that has made life in Gaza insufferable. Uday al-Rabbay was reportedly kidnapped by the terror group amid the swell of anti-Hamas actions taken by the people of the Gaza Strip A Palestinian youth takes pictures with his telephone during an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025 Palestinians chant slogans during an anti-Hamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025 But the public calls against Hamas, which has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory months into the war with Israel, were rare. In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated, with many chanting 'the people want the fall of Hamas.' In the hard-hit Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City, dozens of men chanted 'Out, out out! Hamas get out!' 'Our children have been killed. Our houses have been destroyed,' said Abed Radwan, who said he joined the protest in Beit Lahiya 'against the war, against Hamas, and the (Palestinian political) factions, against Israel and against the world's silence.' Ammar Hassan, who took part in a protest Tuesday, said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas. 'It's the only party we can affect,' he said by phone. 'Protests won't stop the (Israeli) occupation, but it can affect Hamas.' The militant group has violently cracked down on previous protests. This time no outright intervention was apparent, perhaps because Hamas is keeping a lower profile since Israel resumed its war against it. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim, in a post on Facebook, wrote that people had the right to protest but that their focus should be on the 'criminal aggressor,' Israel. Family elders from Beit Lahiya expressed support for the protests against Israel's renewed offensive and its tightened blockade on all supplies into Gaza. Palestinians gather to protest against the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, in Gaza City, 26 March 2025 In the town of Beit Lahiya, where a similar protest took place Tuesday, about 3,000 people demonstrated, with many chanting 'the people want the fall of Hamas.' Thousands of Palestinians marched between the wreckage of a heavily destroyed town in northern Gaza on Wednesday in the second day of anti-war protests Their statement said the community fully supports armed resistance against Israel. 'The protest was not about politics. It was about people's lives,' said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the nearby town of Beit Hanoun, who joined a demonstration Tuesday. 'We want to stop the killing and displacement, no matter the price. We can't stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions,' he said. A similar protest occurred in the heavily destroyed area of Jabaliya on Tuesday, according to witnesses. One protester in Jabaliya, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said they joined the demonstration because 'everyone failed us.' They said they chanted against Israel, Hamas, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Arab mediators. They said there were no Hamas security forces at the protest but scuffles broke out between supporters and opponents of the group. Later, they said they regretted participating because of Israeli media coverage, which emphasized the opposition to Hamas. The protests erupted a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of people. Earlier this month, Israel halted deliveries of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the 59 hostages it still holds - 24 of them believed to be alive. Israel is also demanding that the group give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The war was triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. A submarine carrying 6.5 tons of cocaine has been captured in one of the biggest drug busts of its kind. The vessel had been heading towards Europe from Brazil when it was intercepted by Portuguese police in an operation involving the British Crime Agency earlier this week. The smugglers were busted during their attempted crossing of the Atlantic, with police finding 530million of cocaine onboard. Five alleged members of a criminal organisation were travelling aboard the vessel - three Brazilian men, one Colombian and a Spaniard. All five crew members were arrested and transferred to the Portuguese island of Sao Miguel. The arrests mark the first time a drug-smuggling semi-submersible has been intercepted in the open sea, Spanish authorities claimed. The vessel is thought to be one of the largest ever built with the purpose of transporting drugs between continents. 'The traffickers planned to collect the drugs near the coast using high-speed vessels and smuggle them ashore,' a statement by Spain's Guardia Civil read. The semi-submersible submarine was tracked down by police in the Atlantic Ocean in one of the biggest drug busts of its kind Police found 6.5 tons of cocaine worth an estimated 530million aboard the vessel earlier this week Five alleged members of the criminal organisation were found aboard - three Brazilian men, one Colombian and a Spaniard 'The transatlantic movement of semi-submersibles is increasingly frequent, with several cases in recent years. 'These types of vessels are difficult to detect and often carry a large amount of cocaine the crew can easily sink them if caught, making it more difficult to recover the drugs as evidence of the crime.' Luis Neves, a Portuguese chief, said the operation had 'dealt a hard blow to a very powerful organisation.' Criminal drug trafficking operations are increasingly using semi-submersibles - which are submarines that only partly submerge beneath the water surface - to transport narcotics overseas. Police first intercepted a narco-submarine in 2019 when a vessel carrying 3.3 tons of cocaine was discovered off the coast of Spain. After being built in a Brazilian jungle, the vessel had headed across the Atlantic from Colombia, South America. Since then, both Spanish and British police have stopped a number of 'narco-subs' from transporting drugs intercontinentally. In September 2024, Royal Navy commandos stormed their first semi-submersible drug smuggling submarine during a patrol in the Caribbean. The semi-submersible in which the smugglers were travelling is thought to be one of the largest ever built to transport cocaine between continents, a Portuguese newspaper reported Portuguese police were able to intercept the vessel with the help of the British Crime Agency after being tipped off by Spanish authorities Criminal drug smuggling organisations are increasingly transporting drugs across continents using narco-submarines A semi-submersible is a submarine that only partly submerges beneath the surface of the water A boarding team made up of Royal Marines from 47 Commando, specialist sailors and US Coast Guard personnel, clambered aboard a submarine off the coast of the Dominican Republic which they found to be carrying 160million of cocaine. And in a significant smuggling bust in December of last year, three narco-submarines trafficking $12billion worth of drugs from South America to Australia were intercepted by the Colombian navy. 1,400 tons of drugs were seized during an operation involving the security agencies of the United States, Brazil, Spain, the Netherlands and a number of other operations. More than 400 people were also arrested during the crackdown. A gunman is on the run as two men fight for life in hospital following a shooting in Surfers Paradise on Monday morning. The victims, a 44-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, were rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital where they remain in a critical condition. The 44-year-old man was found with cuts across his body including his leg, back and neck while the 21-year-old was discovered with a gunshot wound to his stomach and groin. The younger victim was also slashed across his back. Investigators hunting the gunman say he was known to the victims and well-known to police. The 38-year-old suspect allegedly fled the scene in a white Mazda hatchback before police arrived to give the two wounded men first aid. Officers also located a firearm at the property and a major crime scene was declared. Gold Coast police superintendent Peter Miles said the gunman remained on the loose and urged him to surrender. A gunman is on the run as two men fight for life in hospital following a shooting at Surfers Paradise on Monday morning 'We have a fair idea of who we're looking for,' he told ABC Gold Coast on Monday morning. 'The appeal is for that gentleman to give himself up. This isn't going away, this is attempted murder. 'A person's running around the Gold Coast armed with firearms it's not going to fly. 'We just need you to come in and give yourself up and we'll deal with you from there on in.' Supt Miles said the incident happened after two men intervened in a dispute in a neighbouring unit, which had then 'spilled out into a common area'. Investigations remain ongoing. Any witnesses or anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam vision is urged to contact police. Sir Keir Starmer will today pledge to lead a 'global crackdown' on illegal immigration. At a world-first summit with more than 40 countries in London, the Prime Minister will urge the likes of Vietnam, Iraq and France to unite behind a new approach to 'smash' smuggling gangs with greater intelligence-sharing amid record levels of illegal migration. The PM wants to establish a new task force engaging international law enforcement teams to track gang activity and the supply of small boat equipment. Writing in today's Daily Mail, the Prime Minister says international co-operation is the 'foundation' of securing Britain's borders. Some 30 million of funding will be directed to tackle supply chains, illicit finances and trafficking routes across Europe, the Balkans, Asia and Africa. An extra 3 million will boost the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) capacity to prosecute smugglers and expand its international footprint. The Prime Minister says the plan draws on his knowledge of what works from his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, when 'numerous terrorist plots' were foiled working across countries and that 'it is obvious we should treat organised immigration crime in the same way'. But the Tories have cast doubt on the plan and said the Government 'has lost control' of Britain's borders after record Channel crossings in the first part of this year. Some 6,642 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year in 119 boats, including more than 4,000 this month alone. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) will today pledge to lead a 'global crackdown' on illegal immigration Some 6,642 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year in 119 boats, including more than 4,000 this month alone Illegal immigrants crossing the Channel are up 30 per cent since last year's election, according to Shadow home secretary Chris Philip Yesterday Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appeared to blame the weather for the record numbers, saying the country's border security was 'dependent' on the conditions. She told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'The really unacceptable situation that we're in is because of the way the criminal gangs have taken hold, our border security ends up being dependent on the weather. And we cannot continue like this.' Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told the Mail last night: 'Keir Starmer's claims to smash the gangs lie in tatters. Illegal migrants crossing the Channel are up 30 per cent since the election and so far 2025 has been the worst year ever. 'This has happened as Starmer cancelled the Rwanda deterrent before it even started. He has lost control of our borders and the only defence he has is to cross his fingers and hope for bad weather.' Police have been criticised for their heavy-handed approach to minor incidents while dangerous crimes remain unresolved. It comes after officers handed out a warning letter to a woman for alleged mushroom picking and a mother and father were arrested for criticising their daughter's school over WhatsApp. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp lambasted the actions by police and demanded that they turn their attention to 'ruthlessly' investigating hardened criminals. His comments also come after more than 20 officers from the Metropolitan Police burst into a Quaker meeting house last week and arrested six women over fears they were planning a protest. Maxie Allen, 50, a Times Radio producer, and his partner Rosalind Levine, 46, were arrested on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications after a dispute with their daughter's school. Six officers arrived at their home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and the couple were arrested in front of their three-year-old daughter in January. After a five-week investigation, no charge was brought against them. In another case, Louise Gather, 38, from Leicestershire, was handed a letter from police telling her to stop picking mushrooms at a site of special scientific interest in a park following a complaint by the charity which looks after it. Ms Gather said she became aware there was a problem in November when an officer arrived at her home. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (above) lambasted the police's heavy-handed approach to minor incidents and demanded that they turn their attention to 'ruthlessly' investigating hardened criminals The comments come after more than 20 officers from the Metropolitan Police burst into a Quaker meeting house (pictured above) last week and arrested six women over fears they were planning a protest at Westminster House She said she was not picking the rare magpie inkcaps at Bradgate Park but carrying out research. Ms Gather was told to adhere to a community resolution report an informal agreement between a complainant and an alleged offender to avoid getting a criminal record. In a social media post, she said: 'The whole thing feels a bit silly. I don't think much common sense has been used. 'It was a bit excessive to send a policeman to my house, especially as I didn't pick anything from the park.' Mr Philp criticised the police for their overbearing attitude and a 'total waste of police time'. He said: 'These cases show the police are getting their priorities completely wrong. Police should not be wasting time and resources harassing innocent members of the public over online comments that clearly do not come close to the criminal threshold.' Six officers (above) arrived at the house of Maxie Allen and his partner Rosalind Levine last week where they were arrested on suspicion of harassment and malicious communications after a dispute with their daughter's school He added: 'I want to see the police instead spending their time ruthlessly investigating every single real crime and catching actual criminals. 'This is what the police exist to do. They must stop policing hurt feelings.' In the same area, a group of thieves and a gang that attacked children are still on the loose after it was revealed police had failed to track them down. The incidents are said to have seen a pair of teenage boys and a girl in December 2024 stolen from, while three men left a resident injured after breaking into his property last November. Detectives claim to be investigating the crimes, but have yet failed to identify any of the suspects. Conservative MP Sir David Davis also agreed that the police ought to be prioritising serious crime. He said: 'Robbery, burglary and violent crime are what people want the police to be focusing on. 'One of the great aspects of Britain's history is that we had a police force which traditionally did not interfere with matters of free speech. Conservative MP Sir David Davis (above) said the police should be prioritising serious crime 'But since the end of the pandemic this has changed and we now have political correctness hysteria.' As regards the investigation into alleged mushroom picking, a spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: 'Inquiries were carried out into the report and an officer visited the woman's home address, where a community resolution was issued in relation to the offence. 'Bradgate Park is a site of special scientific interest, which is covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Nature Conservation Act 2004.' In relation to the couple arrested over harassment, a spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: 'The arrests were necessary to fully investigate the allegations as is routine in these types of matters. 'Following further investigations, officers deemed that no further action should be taken due to insufficient evidence.' Long-standing Qantas director Todd Sampson has announced his departure from the airline's board two years after a report advocated for his ousting. The former ad-man best known for his appearances on ABC show Gruen will step down on July 31. Mr Sampson first joined the board in 2015. When he fronted shareholders in 2023, some 36 per cent of votes disapproved of his re-election to the board. At the time, critics raised their doubts the company director and TV personality would survive his next three year term. The 55-year-old stands on the Remuneration and Audit Committees. Qantas Group chairman John Mullen said the group 'appreciated' Mr Sampson's contributions, but was inspirited by a 'refreshed' board. '(Mr Sampson's) guidance and insights have been deeply appreciated by the Board and executive team during one of the most challenging periods in airline history,' he said. Todd Sampson has advised the Qantas chair he will step away from the group's board in July 'On behalf of the Board, Id like to express our gratitude to Todd for his contributions over the past ten years. 'With a significantly refreshed board and executive team in place, Qantas is in a strong position to deliver for its customers, people and shareholders, and regain its place as one of Australias most trusted brands.' Qantas has appointed former Hewlett Packard CEO Dion Weisler as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Mr Mullen said bringing in someone with Mr Weislers international and technology experience will add to the diverse backgrounds of the other directors. 'One of the key actions we committed to following a review of key governance matters last year was continuing to expand the Boards skillset to add to the depth and breadth of experience required,' he said. 'Dion will bring immense value to Qantas as we accelerate our investment in digital improvements across our business while navigating the risks and opportunities posed by AI, cyber threats and increasing global connectivity.' Shareholders will vote on Mr Weislers position on the board at the Qantas Group 2025 Annual General Meeting on November 7. The changes mean five of the seven non-executive members of the group's board have joined within the past two years. Qantas chair John Mullen said the company was in a 'strong position' to deliver for customers and shareholders with a 'significantly refreshed board' Mr Sampson's troubles began following Qantas' scandalous operations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Controversy after controversy plagued the airline, including the 'ghost flight' saga, delayed flights, lost baggage, and the unlawful sacking of almost 1,700 workers. A shareholder advisory firm suggested the airline suffered a 'collapse in the airline's reputation and standing' under the former Gruen star's watch in a report released in October 2023. The advisory group said Mr Sampson was one of the longest-serving board members at the time, along with Jacqueline Hey and Maxine Brenner, who departed just four months later in February 2024. The report claimed Mr Sampson had 'heightened responsibility' for damage to Qantas' reputation because of his background in advertising, marketing and brand management. 'The recommendation against Sampson's re-election has been made in the interests of board accountability for the collapse in Qantas' reputation and public standing especially over the last 12 to 18 months,' the report said. Queen Camilla, 77, beamed as she met with the short-listed authors at the Women's Prize for Non-fiction and Fiction event in London on Wednesday. She was snapped basking in London's 23-degree weather while conversing with those who were invited to the occasion, as they posed for pictures together in a picturesque garden. Camilla looked regal as she stepped out in the eye-catching Grace dress made with Liberty Green Peacock Manor Silk from Bombshell London. The frock has a green peacock pattern with long-sleeves and a collared neckline, along with a belted waist to show off her slim frame. Founder and author Kate Mosse, who invited Her Majesty to attend the anniversary event, said her presence had been kept secret: 'Nobody knew, which is why people were so surprised. If you're going to lay on the Queen, if it's not Beyonce, it's got to be the actual Queen.' Nashville, known for its legendary music scene, is trading guitars for grills as a wave of new restaurants has transformed the Music City into a booming culinary hotspot. Approximately 90 new bars and restaurants opened their doors in the country music capital in 2024, according to data from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, and plenty more are slated to open in 2025. From Alba's Empanadas Latin-American style cuisine, to 888 Vinyl's Japanese-inspired menu, to Blackwood's comfort-food favorites, Nashville's culinary scene only continues to flourish. 'Nashville has an amazingly diverse restaurant scene, from local Southern favorites to sushi. Creative cuisine and comfort food can all be had in Music City,' Vice Mayor and President of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville, Angie Henderson told DailyMail.com. 'Good food is a draw for visitors to Nashville, and we locals have never had so many options,' Henderson added. The influx of new eateries has been a consistent driver of tourism in the area and has invited several new residents to the ever-evolving Music City. The Nashville metro area saw a population increase of more than 136,000 residents from 2020 to 2024, according to The Tennessean. In 2024 alone, 24,246 people moved to the country-music capital, as per the US Census Bureau. 'Folks from major cities may be interested in sampling our local and regional traditions, while folks visiting from smaller towns in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama will be excited to find restaurants popular in New York, Chicago and other 'big cities,'' the Vice Mayor added. Nashville, known for its legendary music scene, is trading guitars for grills as a wave of new restaurants has transformed the Music City into a booming culinary hotspot Approximately 90 new bars and restaurants opened their doors in the country music capital in 2024, according to data from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Pictured: Hustle bustle moment on the iconic Broadway Street which offers many bars and night life activities 'Nashville has an amazingly diverse restaurant scene, from local Southern favorites to sushi. Creative cuisine and comfort food can all be had in Music City,' Vice Mayor and President of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville, Angie Henderson (pictured) told the DailyMail.com As new restaurant announcements keep rolling in, it seems as though larger out-of-town restaurant groups comprise a measurable part of the influx, forcing local restaurants and bars to stake claims in the growing market. Arcade Nashville, Nashville's first shopping mall, is one spot seeing growth from local players following two years of renovation. Once fully populated, the venue will feature more than 30 restaurants, bars and retail stores. The refreshed Arcade's roster will include a new bar from the owners of Tiger Bar and Pearl Diver, and a Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge-created music venue called Nashville Showstop. Cafe Roze co-owner Julia Jaksic, with her business partner Owen Gibler, also plans to open a new bar, tentatively called Roza, in a 1,400-square-foot space in the Arcade later this year. Jaksic, executive chef of Employees Only Singapore and formerly of the Soho-based Jack's Wife Freda, said she's always gravitated toward buildings with character. 'I love history and unique spaces - spaces that have stories,' she told The Tennessean. Roza is slated to open later this year, however Jaksic told the outlet that the timeline isn't firm, but she hopes even more local businesses will set up shop in the Arcade and other downtown spaces. As new restaurant announcements keep rolling in, it seems to be larger out-of-town restaurant groups that make up a measurable part of the influx, forcing local restaurants and bars to stake claims in a growing market. Pictured: Crowds of people walking along Broadway Street Many new eateries are expected to open in Nashville in 2025, some of the most anticipated include: M.L. Rose, Crieve Hall Bagel, Experience Zuzu, Little Rey (pictured), Urban Cowboy Bar and many more M.L. Rose (pictured), which first opened its doors in 2008 in Tennessee's Melrose neighborhood, is set to open its Inglewood location sometime in early summer 'At the end of the day, we're just excited to be a part of it and I hope it offers something new down there,' she said. Many new eateries are expected to open in Nashville in 2025, some of the most anticipated include: M.L. Rose, Crieve Hall Bagel, Experience Zuzu, Little Rey, Urban Cowboy Bar and many more. M.L. Rose, which first opened its doors in 2008 in Tennessee's Melrose neighborhood, is set to open its Inglewood location sometime in early summer, The Tennessean reported. Set to bring its expansive craft beer menu, burgers, wings and other pub fare to East Nashville, M.L. Rose will open at 3701 C Gallatin Pike. For those looking for more of a morning-meal, Crieve Hall Bagel, a popular sourdough bagel spot just south of Nashville, plans to open another location, in the same Arena complex as M.L. Rose. Crieve Hall's menu is sprawling with plenty of interesting flavors, including Nashville Hot and onion Swiss bagels, but it's hard to beat its best-seller - an everything bagel with lox, red onion, tomato and chive cream cheese. Slated for a May opening, Experience Zuzu, is a high-end, Asian-influenced restaurant and bar, which plans to move into a nearly 8,000-square-foot space on First Avenue South in downtown Nashville. To execute the 'experience', the group is working with iCrave - the design firm that created the futuristic interior of the infamous Sphere venue in Las Vegas. Slated for a May opening, Experience Zuzu (pictured), is a high-end, Asian-influenced restaurant and bar, which plans to move into a nearly 8,000-square-foot space on First Avenue South in downtown Nashville For those looking for more of a morning-meal, Crieve Hall Bagel (pictured), a popular sourdough bagel spot just south of Nashville, plans to open another location, in the same Arena complex as M.L. Rose As new restaurants continue to move into the Music City, beloved neighborhood spots are becoming scarce, according to Nashville food content creator Annalee Rivers (pictured) The highly-anticipated opening of Little Rey, a fast-casual, Northern Mexican-inspired restaurant, will mark the fifth location of Little Rey for chef-owner Ford Fry. Little Rey serves whole or half coal-roasted chicken, breakfast tacos on weekends, tacos al carbon, mini hotcakes, margaritas, beer and agua frescas and more. The restaurant is slated to open at 2019 West End Ave this spring. A new location of this East Nashville bar, Urban Cowboy Bar, which is attached to an upscale boutique hotel, will open in an expansive space in the refurbished Arcade - alongside M.L. Rose and Crieve Hall - later this year. However, as new restaurants continue to move into the flourishing city, beloved neighborhood spots are becoming scarce, according to Nashville food content creator Annalee Rivers. 'Independent, singular location restaurants are becoming increasingly rare in Nashville, and their presence has become even more meaningful to locals,' Rivers told The Tennessean. 'On one hand, it's exciting to see neighborhood spots grow to reach more Nashvillians and thriving franchises from other parts of the country offer cuisines that are new to the city,' she added. 'I just hope unique stories, personalized service and ties to the community remain a cornerstone of Nashville's dining scene and don't get lost with this trend.' A stunning $6.75million five-bedroom beachfront home on Florida's Amelia Island has just hit the market and it comes with an astonishingly low $29 monthly power bill. The contemporary residence, powered entirely by solar panels, features a pool and spa, three expansive decks, an elevator, and minimal utility costs - the base fee to stay connected to the grid in Fernandina Beach. The home is represented by the listing agent Daniel Hulett by ONE Sotheby's International Reality. 'You don't see much modern and contemporary design here,' Hulett told Mansion Global. 'It really stands out.' Custom-built in 2021 for its previous owner, the home is being sold fully furnished, Hulett added. Situated on South Fletcher Avenue - 'our main beach drag,' as Hulett described it - the three-level home enjoys a prime location along the Atlantic Ocean. He also noted that its closer to town than most luxury homes. Designed by renowned local architect John Dodd and built by Castleton Homes, 'our premier builder', the residence showcases exceptional craftsmanship, Hulett noted. A stunning $6.75million five-bedroom beachfront home on Florida's Amelia Island has just hit the market Listing agent Daniel Hulett also noted that its closer to town than most luxury homes The sleek, modern kitchen is equipped with high-end integrated appliances, an island with seating, a built-in coffee bar, a full-size wine refrigerator, a hidden walk-in pantry, and under-cabinet lighting, Hulett said The home's sleek, modern design features floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, tile floors, smart-home technology, and soaring 12-foot ceilings. The ground level includes a two-car garage, a gym, a home theater, one bedroom, and an elevator providing access to all three floors, Hulett added. The main level features an en-suite bedroom and an open-concept living area with a gas fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass sliders that lead to a covered lounge, the back deck and the pool area. The sleek, modern kitchen is equipped with high-end integrated appliances, an island with seating, a built-in coffee bar, a full-size wine refrigerator, a hidden walk-in pantry, and under-cabinet lighting, Hulett said. On the top level, a recreation area includes a bar and pool table, alongside a bedroom currently used as an office. This contemporary residence, powered entirely by solar panels, features a pool and spa, three expansive decks, an elevator, and minimal utility costs - the base fee to stay connected to the grid in Fernandina Beach 'You don't see much modern and contemporary design here,' said Hulett Custom-built in 2021 for its previous owner, the home is being sold fully furnished Situated on South Fletcher Avenue -'our main beach drag,' as Hulett described it - the three-level home enjoys a prime location along the Atlantic Ocean Designed by renowned local architect John Dodd and built by Castleton Homes, 'our premier builder,' the residence showcases exceptional craftsmanship, Hulett noted The home's sleek, modern design features floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, tile floors, smart-home technology, and soaring 12-foot ceilings The ocean-facing primary suite boasts a walk-in closet and a private deck with sweeping water views, he added. Spanning 5,300 square feet, this stunning home features five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half-baths on a 0.36-acre lot. Luxury amenities include a heated pool and spa, direct beach access, an elevator, Lutron lighting, three spacious decks, a two-car garage, a theater room, a home gym, and a recreation area complete with a pool table and bar. The ground level includes a two-car garage, a gym, a home theater, one bedroom, and an elevator providing access to all three floors The main level features an en-suite bedroom and an open-concept living area with a gas fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass sliders that lead to a covered lounge, the back deck, and the pool area On the top level, a recreation area includes a bar and pool table, alongside a bedroom currently used as an office The ocean-facing primary suite boasts a walk-in closet and a private deck with sweeping water views Spanning 5,300 square feet, this stunning home features five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two half-baths on a 0.36-acre lot 'Historic downtown Fernandina Beach is extremely charming, a five-minute drive from the home,' Hulett said. Even closer, the home is within walking distance of beachfront restaurants. This is a mostly quiet beach because public parking is not available, he said. It's 30 minutes to Jacksonville and its airport. March 30, 2025: Russian media specialists seek to minimize the damage done to their militarys reputation. At the same time military leaders are pondering what to do next. In 2022 Russia used its new, reorganized, modernized and highly regarded army to invade Ukraine. Russia lost and discovered that its reforms, reorganization and modernization were colossal and very expensive failures. Russia seeks to learn from the failures of its 2021 armed forces as it creates an improved 2030 military. Russian ground, air and naval forces all proved to be flawed in Ukraine. The army lost over a million men to casualties, desertion and military age men fleeing the country. For a nation of 142 million, the losses in Ukraine had a significant impact on the economy. The war-related sanctions did noticeable damage to the economy. The combat losses contributed to a labor shortage. The cost of the war depleted the national cash reserve and the government budget for several years. Because of this rebuilding the military will have to be done with a low budget. That means returning to a million man version of the simpler but massive Soviet Unions Red Army. This force had two million troops and more divisions than the United States and Europe combined. After 1991 most of that turned to dust. For most of the 20th century the Soviet Union had the largest number of tanks in service. By the end of the 1990s the Russian tank force was much diminished while the U.S. force was holding steady and the Chinese force was growing. It was no surprise when, in late 2020, Russia revealed that the army had further reduced its tank force to 2,685 vehicles. About 45 percent of these tanks were manufactured or refurbished after 2000. The U.S. and China each had larger and more modern tank fleets. So did India, but many of its tanks were older models and all Indian tanks are Russian models. In fact, India had more of the T-90 tanks, the most modern Russian model, than the Russian army did. Russia also had about 10,000 older tanks listed as in reserve but few are operational and most are ready to be scrapped. This is one of the few times the government has admitted that the once mighty Red Army is indeed no more. In 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved, their Cold War military had about 53,000 tanks. At the time the much-feared Red Army had over 200 active duty and reserve divisions. That force quickly shrank to a force a fifth that size, and much less ready for combat. In terms of actual troops, the Russian army is smaller, and much less capable, than the United States Army. While some troops and pilots have gained valuable combat experience in Ukraine, Chechnya and Syria, the only reliable troops the Russians had before the 2022 Ukraine war were about a hundred thousand men, organized into special army, navy, air force and interior ministry units composed of commandos, paratroopers, marines and those that guarded the capital. Russia still relies on conscription, and these conscripts serve for only one year. Because of this most army combat units, prior to the 2022 Ukraine war, lost nearly 40 percent of their troops each year and replaced them with new conscripts. Combat units then left most of the training to turn conscripts into soldiers, and not much of that before the conscripts left when their year was up. Conscripts were not supposed to be sent into combat unless Russia was invaded, due to dangerous protests during Russias attacks on Chechnya, but were included in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This produced more civilian attacks on conscription and the government mostly stopped sending them into combat, assigning them to either non-combat duties in units in the Ukraine, or using them only outside the Ukraine. It didnt help that most everyone whose families could afford bribes to conscription officials paid them to ignore their children. This has gotten worse since the Ukraine war started. The yearly intake of conscripts had drifted down to only 260,000 before then, and it is not known how much it has dropped since then. Back in 1991, the Soviet Union armed forces had five million troops. By 2020 there were about a million. Three decades of starvation budgets, little training and less procurement left the Russian armed forces demoralized and, well, defeated. Part of the reason for this debacle was the army generals resisting efforts to shrink the Cold War force in an efficient manner. After the 1990s army leadership was forced by dire necessity to carry out needed changes. The overdue reforms of the Russia Army that began in 2008 soon reduced the number of army units from over 1,800 to fewer than 200. Many of the disbanded units were part of the reserve or organizations that had become irrelevant but continued to exist anyway. The army strength was soon about 350,000, including Special Operations Forces, or Spetsnaz. The combat forces comprised 55 combat brigades; 33 mechanized infantry, four tank and 22 Spetsnaz/commando, airborne or air assault. These brigades were about half the size of American combat brigades and over a third of the personnel were conscripts who served for one year. The skill levels of troops in these Russian brigades was much lower than for comparable troops in American or British brigades, and elite brigades in French, German and some other Western forces. There are also 28 combat support brigades, eight armed with multi-barrel rocket launchers like the U.S. MLRS, nine with short range ballistic missiles, ten with anti-aircraft missile systems and one engineer brigade. The reforms basically dismantled the Soviet era reserve system that had maintained over a hundred divisions and hundreds more support units that had equipment but less than ten percent of their troops in peacetime. In wartime these units were quickly manned by reservists, who were conscripts who had recently completed their two years of active service. In the half century since World War II the reserve system fell apart and discarding it was a smart move because it was not worth the cost of maintaining. There was a lot of resistance within the military to ditching the old reserve system, so getting rid of it was a major accomplishment. By 2020 Russia still maintained dozens of mobilization centers manned by a few troops and civilians. This skeleton crew looked after the older tanks and other weapons. These centers also contained uniforms and other equipment to equip reservists. The reservists were local men who had been in the army during the previous ten years. Not all were physically fit for duty but those who were, or were fit enough, were equipped and assigned to reserve combat brigades or as replacements for active duty units. This was all that was left of the old Soviet era reserve system that, after about sixty years, evaporated in the early 1990s. The pre-1991 reserve system worked well enough to rapidly create several hundred divisions the invading Germans werent expecting in 1941. Those reserve divisions were a key factor in Russia surviving that initial invasion. After World War II the reserve system slowly degraded so that by the 1980s it existed more on paper than in reality. Russian leaders were intensely proud of having the largest tank fleet in the world for over fifty years. While the Red Army largely disintegrated in the early 1990s, the army sought to keep as many of those 53,000 tanks as they could. That did not work out and it wasnt until the 2008 reforms that there was any official recognition of that. The 53,000 tanks available in 1991 were less impressive when you consider what they were and how they were maintained. About 40 percent of these 1991 tanks were relics from the 1950s, or earlier. At the start of the 2008 reforms there were only about 12,000 tanks, and less than ten percent of them were modern. Back in 1991, about half of the tanks were of questionable serviceability and usefulness. This still left the Russians with 25,000 modern tanks ready to roll west. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, 80 percent of the troops were sent home, and during the 1990s, only a few hundred new tanks were purchased. Most of those 53,000 tanks ended up as scrap. The 2008 tank force had about 500 T-90s and T80s. These are roughly equal to early model U.S. M-1s. Most remaining tanks were late model T-72s, some of them upgraded with excellent electronics (fire control systems and thermal sights). Of the 12,000 tanks the Russian army said it still had in 2008, only a few thousand were ready to move and go into combat. In effect, Russia has lost use of some 90 percent of its tanks since 1991. Back then, nearly all those 53,000 tanks were assigned to a combat division. OK, most of those were reserve divisions, but if most of the reservists showed up in wartime, they would know how to get their tanks operational. That reserve system collapsed along with the Soviet Union and by 2006 the Russians could get about 5,000 tanks operational on short notice. That was a big drop from the 1980s. During the first year of the 2022 Ukraine War, it lost most of its tank force and has been slowly rebuilding ever since. Worse, a lot of the tanks listed as modern and ready for service were not. So during an early 2010 incident the army insisted that the 200 T-72 and T-80 tanks found in the woods next to a railroad station in the Urals were part of a normal movement of military equipment, and the vehicles were under guard. But people living in the village of Elanskaya outside the city of Yekaterinburg noticed that the vehicles were unguarded, and unlocked, but without ammo or ignition keys. Local kids began crawling in and out of the tanks. Videos of all this began showing up on local news programs as well as the Internet. The government controlled national media tried to ignore it at first. Eventually the troops showed up, and then the tanks began disappearing, as trains with flat cars came by at night to pick them up. This situation raised, once more, the issue of the military wasting resources by trying to retain obsolete equipment. That may have made sense at one time, when military technology didn't change as rapidly as it has for the last few decades. Keeping over 12,000 tanks in service, when less than 6,000 were needed, was seen as a waste of resources. In 2007 the army explained that it had sent most of those 53,000 Cold War tanks to the smelters. But as the 2007 episode demonstrated, the military was still spending a lot of money on tanks it doesn't need or can even care for. The army would not comment on why those late model tanks were temporarily dumped in the woods next to the Trans-Siberian railroad. But one can surmise that Russia was building up its tank strength out east, or just looking for some place to hide the fact that it could not care for all its relatively modern tanks. Even during the Cold War Russia did not have the resources to maintain those 53,000 tanks. This could be seen by the way the Red Army was organized. Although all the Cold War divisions used the same organization, they still came in three different grades of readiness. This system persisted for some years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and still persists today, at least on paper. The highest grade of Cold War divisions were in the group of forces that, until the mid-1990s, was stationed in various Eastern European nations. These comprised 15 tank and 15 mechanized infantry divisions. These divisions were kept at full strength and were the first to receive new equipment, aside from units in western Russia and Ukraine that tried out new weapons and equipment prior to large-scale distribution. When these divisions returned to Russia after 1991, they lost some of their capability. They no longer got the pick of each years conscripts, and the morale of the troops during the early 1990s was quite low because living conditions in Russia were, and still are, quite a bit lower than enjoyed in Eastern Europe. Some of the divisions brought home from Europe were disbanded and some officially put on a lower level of readiness. Despite this, the remaining divisions remained among the best that Russia had available. The next grade were the category 1 and 2 divisions within Russia and the former Soviet Union. These comprised 43 divisions, 11 tank and 32 mechanized infantry. In the early 1990s many of them were due for disbanding or downgrading. They are next in line for new equipment. Generally, they had about ten percent fewer troops and similar reductions in tanks and artillery pieces as well as generally lower equipment levels. Peacetime manning was only 50 to 75 percent, although half a dozen were at full strength. Local reserves, men released from service in the past three years, could nominally bring these units up to strength in a few days and be combat ready in less than a month. Overall combat value of these category 1 and 2 units varied, but would likely be 10-20 percent lower than the remaining elite divisions formerly stationed in Europe. A case could be made that their value was even lower, as the Russians tended to reward the best officers with assignments in better full strength divisions. Those who didn't make the cut were not expected to do these second-string divisions a lot of good. Moreover, there was a substantial disadvantage when a division was mobilized and you find half its men are strangers to each other, and the military. One advantage of the end of the Cold War and subsequent disarmament was the disposal of a lot of older equipment, replacing it with a lot of the newest material. At this point, few of the category 1 and 2 divisions had older equipment than the former first class divisions. Last, there were the category 3 divisions. There were 20 tank and 72 infantry or mechanized infantry divisions. Their equipment levels were similar to category 2 divisions, but they not only had the oldest equipment, but the worst maintained. A lot of the older equipment was replaced with more recent versions in the wake of the arms reduction treaties signed as the Soviet Union was breaking up. Moreover, the category 3 divisions were the first to be disbanded because of the arms reduction treaty and dispersion of many divisions among the successor states of the Soviet Union. Most of these divisions just disappeared. Much of their equipment was not even under the control of the divisions, but kept in centralized storage areas. It is from this stored equipment that many post-1991 arms smugglers stole the many weapons that mysteriously showed up in Africa, Asia and South America for about two decades after the Soviet Union collapsed. Manning levels on these category 3 divisions ranged from 10 to 30 percent. Although sufficient weapons and combat equipment were present or assigned to all Category 1 and 2 divisions, transport vehicles for higher formations and Category 3 divisions on mobilization was to be taken from the civilian economy. Considerable specialist equipment was either obsolete or not present in the 1990s. The reserve troops to be called up to fill out Category 1 and 2 units were those who had been out of the service no more than five years. Most of the equipment was unfamiliar to them. These units required three or four months to become combat ready. The effectiveness of these units was about half that of the group of forces units, if that. In 2020 the Russian army has the equivalent of about 18 combat divisions and, on paper, about as many reserve divisions of uncertain utility. The same reality applies to the tank force and now the government admits it. This is the force that was destroyed when they invaded Ukraine in 2022. A 'sarcophagus' hidden more than 600 feet below the surface in Egypt is the latest discovery from the team that uncovered a 'vast city' beneath the Giza pyramids. Italian researchers told DailyMail.com that they identified an unknown chamber under the Tomb of Osiris, which is believed to be a symbolic burial site dedicated to the Egyptian god of the afterlife. Last week, the team announced the discovery of wells and chambers more than 2,000 feet below the Khafre Pyramid. If confirmed, these findings could rewrite human history. Many independent experts have called the claims 'outlandish,' noting that using radar pulses to create images deep below the structure lacks scientific basis. An image produced by the technology revealed the known levels within the Tomb of Osiris, descending 114 feet below the surface, along with a vertical shaft followed by three distinct steps. It also detected a previously unknown structure, which 'appears to reach an empty chamber' 656 feet below the surface. 'There is also a sarcophagus (?), which remains surrounded by running water,' said the team. However, Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who specializes in archaeology and was not involved in the study, said the technology cannot penetrate to such depths. 'Maybe 30 or 40 feet, depending on the wavelength they're using. But they're not even telling us that. All of this is very speculative,' he added A 'sarcophagus' hiding more than 600 feet below the Tomb of Osiris is the latest discovery from the team who uncovered a 'vast city' below the Giza pyramids Pictured is a graphic showing the inside of the tomb. The team's latest image captured these known structures, which they said proves the effectiveness of their technology The work by Corrado Malanga of Italy's University of Pisa, Filippo Biondi of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, and Egyptologist Armando Mei has not yet been published in a scientific journal for independent expert review. Researchers told DailyMail.com that they released the new image 'in response to concerns raised regarding the effectiveness' of the technology used to identify an 'entire world of structures' more than 4,000 feet beneath Khafre. Niccole Ciccole, the project's spokesperson, said: 'This presents the tomographic analysis of the Tomb of Osirisan interior structure that is extensively documenteddemonstrating how satellite radar tomography has successfully replicated its features. 'The analysis extends to a depth of approximately 656 feet in this specific case.' To conduct the new analysis, the team used the same process as in their previous work uncovering shafts and chambers beneath the Khafre Pyramid, employing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). They sent high-frequency waves into the ground beneath the Tomb of Osiris. When the waves struck underground structures, they bounced back, and by analyzing how their frequencies changed, scientists could determine the type of materials present. However, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former Minister of Antiquities, told The National: 'The claim of using radar inside the pyramid is false, and the techniques employed are neither scientifically approved nor validated.' The team last week announced the discovery of wells and chambers more than 2,000 feet below the Khafre Pyramid. If true, the findings would rewrite human history Your browser does not support iframes. The team stated that while they 'have the utmost respect for Egyptologists,' their 'findings are based on objective measurements obtained through advanced radar signal processing.' After collecting the data, researchers applied a specialized algorithm to convert the information into vertical images of the ground beneath the Tomb of Osiris. Niccole Ciccole, a forensic expert with 25 years of experience, explained that the images captured dark areas within the shaft on the third level, suggesting the presence of additional structures below. 'Deeper still, a black area, possibly a small (or actually, large) room, is visible,' she added. 'This area descends an estimated 328 to 656 feet, based on preliminary pixel calculations. This previously undocumented feature is detectable using SAR, which accurately replicated it.' After gathering the data, researchers used a special algorithm that turned the information into vertical images of the ground beneath the pyramid, capturing the first look at the hidden structures. Pictured are the eight wells under the pyramid The first discovery took the world by storm last year when the team announced they had found eight wells and two enormous enclosures more than 2,000 feet beneath the Khafre Pyramidalong with unknown structures another 2,000 feet below those. 'I am skeptical of the deeper claims. If their 'algorithms' can do what they say (I can't comment on those), then perhaps this will hold up,' Professor Conyers said. 'A 'well' or 'tunnel' is what I would expect under a pyramid.' The eight descending wells measure between 33 and 39 feet in diameter and extend at least 2,130 feet below the surface. The results also revealed staircase-like structures wrapping around each of the wells, which Ciccole said appeared 'to serve as access points to this underground system.' The wells fed into two massive rectangular enclosures, each measuring approximately 260 feet per side. During a news briefing last week, the team also announced the discovery of a water system beneath the platform, with underground pathways leading even deeper into the earth. They believe this could be evidence of a possible hidden city more than 4,000 feet below the pyramid. The Giza pyramids, believed to have been built around 4,500 years ago, remain a marvel of engineering due to their immense scale and precisionan achievement that continues to puzzle scientists today. Researchers believe there are other structures reaching more than 4,000 feet below the surface. The scans captured structures extend along the northern side with a tuning fork shape However, the Italian researchers claimed that the hidden structures, spanning 4,000 feet, are approximately 38,000 years old which predates the oldest known man-made structure of its kind by tens of thousands of years. The team has based these claims on ancient Egyptian text that they interpreted as historical records of a pre-existing civilization that was destroyed during a cataclysmic event. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert at the University of Denver who focuses on archaeology and was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com: 'That is a really outlandish idea.' He added that at that time in human history people 'were mostly living in caves' 38,000 years ago. 'People did not start living in what we now call cities until about 9,000 years ago,' he said. 'There were a few large villages before that but those only go back a few thousand years from that time.' From H. G. Wells's The Time Machine to Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, the possibility of travelling through time has fascinated people for centuries. But, although it sounds like pure science fiction, physicists now believe that time travel really is possible. In fact, scientists say that people have already done it. But, before you start to plan your trip to ancient Rome, the experts caution that real time travel is nothing like what you see in the movies. It might seem obvious, but here on Earth, we all move through time at a speed of one second per second. However, thanks to Einstein's theory of general relativity, it is possible to travel through time faster than this rate. The faster someone can move, the faster they can travel forward through time - skipping through centuries of time in just minutes as they approach light speed. Although this effect is subtle at lower speeds, it means that astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) are all 'time travellers', leaping forward into the future. Just like in the science-fiction blockbuster Interstellar (pictured), scientists say that travelling through time is possible thanks to Einstein's theory of relativity According to NASA, time travelling involves moving through time faster than one second per second. In Interstellar (pictured) this is done by getting close to a black hole but, in reality, the same can be achieved just by getting on a plane What is time travel? In movies like The Terminator, time travel usually involves stepping into a machine and being sent to an entirely different time and place in the past or future. However, real time travel isn't about leaping from one point in the timeline to another. According to NASA, 'time travel' is travelling faster than one second per second. And while this sounds impossible, the space agency claims that this is actually possible. In fact, everyone is moving forward in time at different speeds depending on where we are and how fast we are moving. That means time travellers are all around us every day, and you might be one too. How can you travel forward in time? In The Terminator (pictured), time travellers move backwards into a new place in the past. But scientists say real time travellers can only move forwards According to legendary physicist Albert Einstein, the faster you move the slower time moves for you In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his theory of general relativity to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin and proved that time travel is possible. As bizarre as this situation sounds, Einstein's theories show that this type of time travel is not only possible but extremely common. Dr Alasdair Richmond, a philosopher and time travel expert from the University of Edinburgh, told MailOnline: 'Einstein teaches us that how fast time passes in your surroundings varies with your velocity.' Essentially, this means the faster you travel, the slower you experience time. So, if you're on a plane or train, you will be experiencing time slower than anyone standing still and experiments have shown this is true. In 1971, two scientists named Joseph Hafele and Richard Keating set out to prove Einstein's theory by producing time dilation here on Earth. The scientists took two ultra-precise atomic clocks and loaded them onto commercial aeroplanes capable of flying all the way around the world in one go. One clock was sent east and the other west and they were then compared to a third clock which had been left stationary on the ground. When you travel on a plane, time moves slightly slower for you than for anyone stationary on the ground. That means you will have travelled forward in time when you land (file photo) The clock moving eastward with the earth's rotation would be moving faster than the one on the ground and so experience less time passing. Why is time travel possible? Einstein's big breakthrough was realising that spacetime is 'relative'. The speed of light puts an absolute speed limit on the universe. This means that light always has to be moving the same speed, no matter where you measure it from or how fast you're moving when you do. Time and space have to be flexible, so that nothing ever breaks the universe's speed limit. So, the closer you get to the speed of light the slower time moves for you. Advertisement Meanwhile, the clock flying westward, against the earth's rotation, would be moving slower than the clock on the ground and so would have actually experienced more time passing. And, just as general relativity predicted, when the clocks landed Hafele and Keating found the eastward clock had lost 59 nanoseconds while the westward clock had gained 237 nanoseconds. Are there any time travellers? According to this theory, anyone who spends a lot of time moving at high speed is a time traveller. Astronauts aboard the ISS travel around the Earth at speeds close to 17,500 mph (28,100 kmph), fast enough to experience slight time travel. For example, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly has now spent 520 days on the station and, as a result, has aged a little bit slower than his identical twin, Mark Kelly, who stayed back on Earth. Speaking at a panel discussion at the ISS Research & Development 2016 conference Mark said: 'So, where I used to be just 6 minutes older, now I am 6 minutes and 5 milliseconds older.' Astronauts on the ISS move so fast that they actually travel forward in time very slightly. After 520 days in space, astronaut Scott Kelly (left) is an extra five milliseconds older than his identical twin Mark Kelly (right) compared to before he left While these effects are subtle, they are common enough to actually cause technical issues for precision systems like GPS satellites. Since satellites orbit at about 8,700 mph (14,000 kmph) they are constantly slipping forward in time and their onboard clocks need to account for this difference. If GPS satellites didn't adjust for time travel, they wouldn't be able to work out their own position in space and would be useless for precise navigation. Can you travel backwards? While travelling forward in time is a natural consequence of physics, travelling to the past is a different story. 'Backward time travel is much, much trickier,' says Dr Richmond. However, while it is probably impossible in practice, Dr Richmond points out that backwards time travel is 'theoretically just possible'. This is because moving backwards requires bending time and space. Travelling backwards in time is harder but theoretically possible. Scientists say you would need to use a large mass like a black hole (illustrated) to warp spacetime into a wormhole you could travel through Unfortunately, a black hole time machine can't travel back to before it was created. So, visiting the past like Marty McFly in Back To The Future (pictured) isn't physically possible Professor Peter Watson, a theoretical physicist from Carleton University, told MailOnline: 'You can bend space-time with mass: in fact, that is what gravity is in Einstein's formulation. 'In principle, we could make a space-time so bent that it has a hole in it.' The resulting structure would be known as a wormhole, or a tunnel through spacetime. Unfortunately, keeping a wormhole stable for long enough to pass through requires 'negative mass', which is only a theoretical possibility. Besides, even if we could use a wormhole or other device to create a 'closed time-like loop' you could never use it to travel any further back than the day it was created. Dr Richmond points out: 'If build the worlds first closed timelike curve generator tomorrow afternoon, I couldnt use it to travel to any time before tomorrow afternoon. So, while backwards time travel might be theoretically possible, travelling back to meet your parents like Marty McFly in Back to the Future is still off the cards. Some might say the best adventures often unfold when things don't go to plan - but knowing a few tips and tricks along the way can make your trip much more safe and fun. The majority of holidaymakers have probably once found themselves in an unfortunate position during their travels which could have been solved or prevented with a simple hack or savvy know-how. From combating language barriers, to avoiding tourist traps, to limiting unnecessary purchases, many have devised clever methods to either bypass potential problems or enhance their experience while visiting an unknown destination. So, when a Reddit user took to r/TravelHacks to post, 'Whats an unexpected travel tip that actually works?' there was no shortage of responses. Over 700 seasoned travellers recently shared their tried-and-tested hacks for a more seamless and cost-effective holiday - which will YOU remember to bring onboard for your next trip? Some might say the best adventures often unfold when things don't go to plan - but knowing a few tips and tricks along the way can make your trip much more safe and fun Airport and flights One traveller suggested taking a photo of the parking space and level of the garage whilst dropping off a vehicle at the airport to 'avoid panic' upon return. Inside the airport, at the baggage carousel, another advised: 'Stand a few feet back from the bag return. More people fit in the circle. Step forward only when you see your bag getting close.' A third recommended wearing a hoodie whilst travelling on the plane as the pockets are 'big enough to hold whatever you'll want in-flight' and the hood 'can be pulled down to block light if you want to nap.' Another wrote: 'Swab the inside of your nose with Vaseline before flying. Feels good in the dry cabin and helps prevent you from getting respiratory illnesses.' A fellow jetsetter advised using a Duty Free carrier bag to carry spare items that can't be squeezed into luggage on the plane as airline staff 'assume you bought them in Duty Free.' Accommodation One user revealed they save their cosmetic samples packets and fragrances picked up throughout the year for their holiday, as they 'make nights in the hotel feel like a spa.' Another urged fellow travellers to pack a pillowcase to slip over hotel pillows for a 'little reminder of home.' A third advised: 'Do a Google image search of your preferred accommodation in case its listed on another website at a cheaper price. 'Lots of Airbnb properties are owned by small companies and you could save some cash booking direct on their website and youll avoid the Airbnb service fee at the very least.' One person urged fellow travellers to pack a pillowcase to slip over hotel pillows for a 'little reminder of home' Gadgets and appliances One globetrotter revealed they recently upgraded to an international travel adaptor, which has room for one plug and four USBs and can charge multiple devices simultaneously. Another recommended packing an Amazon Fire TV stick to plug into the television in a hotel room. A third suggested changing the photo on a phone's lockscreen to an image of information that will assist for that trip, for example, a photo of an English word translated into that of the local language. Another holidaymaker wrote: 'I try to download all the day's photos into the cloud each evening. That way, one can lose or have your camera stolen, but hardware can generally be replaced. Photos, not so much.' Food, drink and medicine One person advised packing a set of travel silverware, so that easy, healthy and affordable snacks can be consumed in the hotel room. Another suggested buying food at a local supermarket to avoid mounting costs rather than dining at restaurants for every meal. A third wrote: 'Pack a lightweight plastic plate that's a shallow bowl. Means you can buy fruit, bread, takeaways (eg in countries where these usually come in a plastic bag), breakfast foods, etc.' Another traveller urged holidaymakers to pack diarrhoea medicine, as 'you will be in no shape to look for it when you need it.' Activities and getting around One person advised talking to locals, as they are 'normally pretty open to share places to visit, traditional food places (not tourist traps) and they will give you the real "travel hacks" in that destination.' They added: 'If you dont speak the language it would help to learn a couple of words, for improving the communication or even to try being funny or appear more friendly. 'Young people are more open and you have better chances of them speaking English (based on my experience).' Another traveller revealed they 'always' carry a small notebook and pen to jot down reservation numbers, addresses, phone numbers and key phrases, as well as drawing maps and writing the instructions for how to use public transit. A third urged: 'Download offline maps of the area before you arrive. GPS doesn't require mobile data to work. Also bring a paper map.' Another globetrotter advised packing small gifts to hand out to locals to brighten up their day. They added: 'Candy for kids, hats that are from my area on Maui. I gave this Hawaii hat to the Puerto Rican Airbnb host years ago, he posts pics on Facebook occasionally wearing it. He teared up when I gave it to him.' Another traveller revealed they 'always' carry a small notebook and pen to jot down reservation numbers, addresses, phone numbers and key phrases Clothing One person stressed the importance of packing a reusable shopping bag, which comes in handy for laundry or groceries. Additionally, they recommended packing small dry toothpaste tablets as they help to remove stains and spills on clothing whilst on the go. Another wrote: 'I keep all my old underwear and socks I plan to throw away and bring those on vacation and throw them out at the end of each day. I fill the void left in my bag with souvenirs.' A third said: 'I bring like one or two hangers with me. Hotels never have enough and sometimes you can't even take them out of the wardrobe. 'And since they're flat and thin and light, you won't even notice them in your suitcase.' One person revealed: 'I bring like one or two hangers with me. Hotels never have enough and sometimes you can't even take them out of the wardrobe' Luggage One seasoned traveller advised to pack as light as possible and 'less than you think you'll need, as you won't wear as many clothes as you think you will.' Another wrote: 'Bring ziplock bags with you. I do a roll up of 4 large freezer bags and 4 medium bags. 'They take up a tiny amount of space and can come in handy when you need them most.' For toiletries you only need a very small amount of, such as hair oil, one user suggested putting them in either side of a contact lens case, as they 'never leak, and they'll save a lot of space.' Another recommended packing a sturdy cardboard or tin box, especially in a soft shell luggage, as 'fragile items are much better protected in a box.' They added: I've switched my toiletry bag to a tin box, keeps my makeup protected.' Find out which iconic chocolate bar he'd bring back to shelves if he could In 1990, after more than a century as the one UK's most iconic chocolatiers, Cadbury 'stepped into the unknown' and opened its first-ever attraction - Cadbury World. As the Bournville site prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, MailOnline Travel is taking a trip down memory lane to look back at some of the attraction's most unforgettable moments. And who better to do so than with Gerrard Baldwin, Cadbury World's general manager, who has worked at the attraction since it opened its doors. In a chat with MailOnline Travel, Gerrard shares some of his most memorable moments including which celebrity arrival caused the most excitement and the iconic Cadbury product he'd most like to see return... Having worked for Cadbury for nearly 49 years, Gerrard caught up with MailOnline just before heading off on a well-earned retirement. He says: 'I joined Cadbury as a 16-year-old from school and moved on to the management training scheme very early on in my career.' His move to Cadbury World was initially just a secondment to help open the attraction but he jokes: '35 years later I'm still here. The secondment obviously extended a lot!' Thinking back to that opening day in 1990, Gerrard says: 'It was a lot of hard work because Cadbury was a chocolate manufacturer, not a leisure operator. We'd stepped into the unknown really.' In 1990, after more than a century as the one UK's most iconic chocolatiers, Cadbury 'stepped into the unknown' and opened its first-ever attraction - Cadbury World Gerrard Baldwin, Cadbury World's general manager, (pictured above) has worked at the attraction since it opened its doors As the Bourneville site prepares to celebrate its 35th anniversary, MailOnline Travel is taking a trip down memory lane Within the attraction's first 10 days of opening, more than 20,000 guests visited. Since then, more than 18 million guests have crossed its doors. Gerrard was also there to supervise the opening of Cadabra, the attraction's first ride in 1997 which he describes as the park's initial 'step into immersive amusement'. Cadabra has now been replaced by Cadbury's Chocolate Quest, an interactive adventure ride where guests work to collect ingredients to make their own Dairy Milk bar. Another highlight for Gerrard has been working with the attraction's incredible master Chocolatiers who are charged with designing Cadbury World's marvellous chocolate creations, including an 80kg dinosaur. He says: 'Some of the standout ones that come to mind are the Apollo 11 mission and a replica of Shakespeare's Globe theatre, which had incredible detail behind it. The team are so, so talented.' And of course, Cadbury World has attracted plenty of celebrity visitors over the years with Gwenyth Paltrow and Adele among the star-studded guests who've passed through its doors. 'We had John Major open the attraction in 1991. That was our first famous person. Princess Anne was the first royal visit I ever dealt with and she was an absolute delight,' says Gerrard. But which celebrity visitor caused the biggest stir? The attraction's shop is a highlight for many of its guests Within the attraction's first 10 days of opening, more than 20,000 guests visited. Since then, more than 18 million guests have crossed its doors Celebrities have travelled to the attraction over the years, with Adele and Gwyneth Paltrow among the visitors 'Peter Andre came with his children,' reveals Gerrard. 'I think he'd been here 10 minutes and someone spotted him in the foyer and social media burst into life. 'By the time he came out the attraction, you could not move in the shop. It was impossible. People had even arrived from offsite to see him.' Working at Cadbury World for 35 years means that Gerrard, who suitably has a 'very sweet tooth', has tried pretty much all of the company's products. While he's a fan of many, it's the Cadbury Caramel that 'stands out'. And which discontinued Cadbury product would Gerrard most like to see back on the shelves? He says: 'One that sticks in my mind is Spira, which had a hollow centre and people used it to suck up hot chocolate. 'And the chocolate would then melt in to the hot chocolates so it was extra chocolately. 'I've always been quite surprised that we've never brought that back. It was a fabulous product but tastes do change and you have to move on.' Cadbury World was officially opened by Prime Minister John Major in 1990 Cadbury World is home to master chocolatiers and guests get to taste the company's products After over three decades at Cadbury World, Gerrard says it's his 'fantastic colleagues' that he'll miss the most when he retires. But it probably won't be long until they see him again. He says: 'I got given a lifetime voucher last night, so I suspect I will be back. 'The grandchildren are growing up, but there's still always a request to come to Cadbury World.' From the 'secret spot' to take an amazing snap of Tower Bridge, to the ideal place to see the sunrise in the Peak District and the 'quintessential English village you just have to visit' in the Cotswolds, the big new travel trend for 2025 is TikTok tourism. And while the huge popularity of the video platform may be inspiring thousands of visitors to head to such 'undiscovered' delights, the resulting influx has seen many sleepy places overwhelmed. So here we've highlighted some TikTok holiday hotspots and offer alternatives for those who want to avoid the crowds. LONDON The Churchill Arms in Kensington is now a TikTok fantasy backdrop for selfies in front of its exterior decked with seasonal florals Queen's Wood Cafe, Highgate After a TikTok post about 'London's most magical cafe', this cafe in Highgate Wood saw an unexpected surge in visitors to its charming wooden building. Huge queues resulted, with one resident commenting: 'This is my local cafe where I walk the dog and now I can't use it because it is always full. It never used to be like this.' Most popular post: 'Cosy mornings', 236,800 likes (by Josy Lopez). The alternative: Head over to the nearby Vanilla Cafe bakery (vanillacafe.co.uk). Hampstead Ponds Also in north London, these bathing ponds have long been a hidden gem. But TikTok videos showcasing the serene oasis have led to overcrowding, increased waiting times and unwanted filming. Most popular post: 'The most magical, secluded place', 64,700 likes (Zoe). The alternative: Luckily there are hundreds of other wild swimming spots and lidos (allthelidos.co.uk). In London, try Brockwell Lido (brockwelllido.com) or Hampton Pool (hamptonpool.co.uk). The Churchill Arms, Kensington One of London's prettiest and oldest pubs, this is a history buff's dream it's a shrine to the achievements of Winston Churchill and now a TikTok fantasy backdrop for selfies in front of its exterior decked with seasonal florals. Most popular post: 'The lights are on at the Churchill Arms', 178,800 likes (London Edition). The alternative: The Windsor Castle, one street away, has country pub charm (thewindsorcastlekensington.co.uk). The Pear Tree, Battersea On a sunny day, this cafe in the park is catnip for locals, with a festival summer atmosphere thanks to its sunset live sets. But TikTok has helped to put it on the map and long queues can wind out of the door. Most popular post: 'I feel like this summer is going to be a good one', 54,700 likes (Evie). The alternative: Head over to the Thames to Heidi cafe in Chelsea, near the National Army Museum (heidibakery.co.uk). Or for something stronger and great sunsets, try The Blue Anchor near Hammersmith Bridge (thechaptercollection.co.uk). CAMBRIDGE Fitzbillies cafes This chain has three sites which have become a must-visit for fans of their self-proclaimed 'famously sticky Chelsea buns'. TikTok has fuelled visitors, with posts praising the 'sweet' buns and ranking the cafe as number one for city eating recommendations. However, regulars especially students trying to concentrate on their work are less than pleased by the hordes of tourists. Most popular post: 'Fitzbillies brunch order the hot cakes', 79,300 likes (Lotteboo). The alternative: Head over to a choice of independent cafes on Mill Road. COTSWOLDS Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds is a beautiful alternative to Castle Combe Castle Combe Often named England's prettiest village, this picturesque spot in Wiltshire has become flooded with TikTok tourists many interested in its settings that have become the backdrop to films including War Horse. Most popular post: 'Welcome to England's prettiest village', 52,300 likes (Thegingerwanderlust). The alternative: Try equally beautiful Cotswolds villages such as Lacock or enjoy the peaceful walk between Bourton-on-the-Water and Lower and Upper Slaughter. PEAK DISTRICT Kinder Scout viewed from Derwent Edge in the Peak District, over Ladybower Reservoir Mam Tor Near Castleton, within the Peak District National Park, this 1,700ft (517m) hill enjoys superb sunrise views. When TikTokers began posting about it, the inevitable crowds turned up and ended up blocking narrow lanes with cars. Local MP Jon Pearce has described the 'craze' as 'increasingly untenable', adding: 'Residents are rightly alarmed.' Most popular post: 'Mam Tor Sunrise', 34,300 likes (Sam Culley). The alternative: Hike up Kinder Scout in the Peak District. JURASSIC COAST Ringstead Bay in Dorset offers the chance of peaceful walks Durdle Door, Dorset This natural limestone arch next to lovely sandy beaches has attracted swarms of visits after featuring on TikTok. But one local commented: 'If you like nature, space, tranquillity, do not visit.' Most popular post: 'Walking to Durdle Door', 25,800 likes (Scarlet Martin). The alternative: Enjoy a much quieter walk along nearby Ringstead Bay. SCOTLAND The Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye has seen a soaring interest after being discovered by TikTokers Chez Jules, Edinburgh Tucked away on Hanover Street, this French bistro with its checked tablecloths offers affordable steak frites. Tourist TikTokers have fallen for its cute look. Large groups descend and now you'll have to book well ahead. Most popular post: 'Chez Jules aka the best restaurant in Edinburgh', 14,600 likes (Belle.living). The alternative: Head to Stockbridge Eating House which has a similar atmosphere (stockbridgeeatinghouse.co.uk). Uplands Roast Coffee, Edinburgh With queues that often snake across neighbouring cycle paths, this refreshment van next to the university library is renowned for its hot chocolates and baristas spinning vinyl records. But since going viral on TikTok the queues have been crazy. Most popular post: 'The best hot chocolate in Edinburgh', 84,600 likes (Sofina). The alternative: Nearby on Buccleuch Street are two other sensational cafes Press Coffee (at number 30) and Cult Coffee (cultcoffeeroasters.com). The high tidal pools and cliffs at Rubha Garbhaig, near Staffin on the Isle of Skye, are a tranquil idyll Fairy Pools and Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye Their names' magical connotations may initially have contributed to interest but these delightful spots have taken off after being discovered by TikTokers. So much so authorities have roped off some paths to protect the landscape. Most popular post: 'Fairy Pools Isle of Skye', 19,800 likes (Kayla Rushing). The alternative: There are plenty of pools and waterfalls on Skye. Advertisement Married At First Sight bride Beth Kelly dramatically ended her relationship with groom Teejay Halkias just days before the couple were due to face one another at Final Vows. During Sunday night's emotional episode, the hair salon manager, 28, from the Gold Coast made the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the experiment after weeks of feeling rejected by her TV husband. Beth blindsided viewers and Teejay alike by calling it quits as the pair packed up their belongings at the eleventh hour, following an emotional fallout at the final dinner party. Breaking down in tears, Beth confessed: 'That conversation [at the Dinner Party] has made me feel so s**t. 'It's obvious that he doesn't want me and he doesn't want this relationship, and I can't go to Final Vows and stand in front of someone that I've had feelings for, confess that I wanted a future with them, for them to tell me that again.' Visibly upset, she added: 'I don't see a future with you. I'm not gonna put my energy into it. I'm not wasting my time anymore. Oh God, I'm so sick of crying.' Married At First Sight bride Beth Kelly dramatically ended her relationship with groom Teejay Halkias on Sunday night During Sunday's emotional episode, the hair salon manager, 28, from the Gold Coast made the heartbreaking decision to walk away from the experiment after weeks of feeling rejected by her TV husband The brunette beauty, who wore minimal makeup and a simple white tank top as she sobbed during the emotional scene, reflected on how far they had fallen from the promising start of their relationship. 'I genuinely thought that we would walk out of this experiment together,' she said. 'I thought we were perfectly matched, and now from going from that to where we are it's so sad that it didn't work out.' Beth's shock decision came just days after she sat down with Daily Mail Australia to reveal the real reason behind her choice to quit the experiment early. Beth admitted she reached breaking point after Teejay, a business development manager from Melbourne, repeatedly made it clear he wasn't invested in their relationship. 'My reason for leaving was purely because Teejay wrote 'leave.' He was obviously completely checked out,' Beth said last week. 'I don't think you can tell a person you don't wanna be with them any more than that.' The fiery brunette admitted she initially tried to salvage their relationship but eventually realised she was 'chasing someone who didn't want to be here and didn't want me.' Beth's exit followed a tense final dinner party where she and Teejay put on a united front, walking in together despite their fractured bond. Beth blindsided viewers and Teejay alike by calling it quits as the pair packed up their belongings at the eleventh hour, following an emotional fallout at the final dinner party Breaking down in tears, Beth confessed: 'That conversation [at the Dinner Party] has made me feel so s**t' However, Beth now admits that decision was purely for optics. 'I feel like this might be the end for you guys,' she told producers before filming, later revealing she had insisted they arrive together so neither of them had to face the group alone. 'I actually said to him, we started this experiment together, I want to end it together.' 'It made me feel worse' The breaking point in their relationship came after the controversial partner-swap date week, when both Beth and Teejay were sent on dates with other people in a bid to test their connections. Beth confessed that participating in the challenge only amplified her heartache. 'To be honest, going made me feel worse,' she admitted. 'I definitely wasn't attracted to [my date] I felt like I played off that I had a better time than I did because truthfully, I was just thinking about TJ the entire time.' The Melbourne-based bride said she hoped the experiment would encourage Teejay to appreciate what they had but instead, she was left crushed. The breaking point in their relationship came after the controversial partner-swap date week, when both Beth and Teejay were sent on dates with other people in a bid to test their connections The Melbourne-based bride said she hoped the experiment would encourage Teejay to appreciate what they had but instead, she was left crushed 'I thought maybe he'd feel the same way about me as I did with my date that he'd realise we had great banter, great chemistry. But he said it did nothing for him. That was sad.' Adding fuel to the fire, Beth revealed she was blindsided when fans noticed Teejay had struck up a flirty connection with intruder bride Tara Lee. Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that Teejay had followed Tara on Instagram and liked a series of her racy photos despite previously chastising Beth for agreeing to the date week twist. 'He actually had a bit of a go at me behind closed doors about going on the date,' she revealed. 'He said it was confusing, that I was going to look stupid, and it made me really upset.' 'Then I found out that he had a great time on his date. He told me something different and he's then followed her and liked her pictures. So to me, it's just a bit hypocritical.' While Beth confessed she felt deeply hurt and humiliated by how her marriage crumbled, she maintained she had no regrets about signing up for the reality experiment. 'I walked away with such beautiful people in my life,' she said. 'I don't regret doing the show. I just wish I didn't come out of it single.' As for her relationship with Teejay today, Beth revealed there's currently no communication between the pair. Critics have slammed Saturday Night Live for launching an attack on Pete Hegseth and insinuating that he drinks on the job, as they made fun of the Trump Administration's top secret war plans texting blunder. After returning from a two-week hiatus, SNL opened the show with a group chat skit teasing Donald Trump's national security team for adding an editor from the Atlantic to a military group chat. The White House faced fierce backlash last week when the Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was added to a Signal app group with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials. SNL's cold open featured a group of teenage girls played by Mikey Madison, Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman whose group chat was infiltrated by Hegseth, played by Andrew Dismukes. 'FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Tomahawks airborne 15 minutes ago,' Dismukes said. 'Who's ready to glass some Houthi rebels? Flag emoji, flag emoji, flag emoji, fire emoji, eggplant.' 'Israel better bend over and spread it,' Dismukes continued. 'Baller. Water squirt emoji. God bless the troops. Eggplant.' Vance, played by Bowen Yang, then entered the chat, and they started to joke that Hegseth was drinking on the job. 'Well, I'm going to be bad and make myself a jack and coke to celebrate, just the one though,' Dismukes said. Mikey Madison guest starred on SNL this week, spoofing the Yemen group chat blunder During the Weekend Update segment, Colin Jost mocked the group chat blunder and also made personal attacks on Hegseth 'Nice, you promised to stop drinking when you got the job, but it's like they say in AA, just the one is okay,' Bowen said. Pete Hegseth on Fox News During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth pledged that he wouldn't drink at all in his position as the Pentagon's chief after past allegations he was drunk on the job numerous times on Fox News. Later in the show during the Weekend Update segment, Colin Jost mocked the group chat blunder and also made personal attacks on Hegseth. 'This week, we learned our entire National Security team has the texting skills of my aunt Janet,' Jost said. 'Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, seen here indicting how many days since his last drink, sent detailed attack plans for an air strike in Yemen to a text chain,' he said with a picture of Hegseth holding up a zero with his fist. Jost mocked Hegseth's response to reporters about the leaked messages, comparing him to Tom Hank's famous character Forrest Gump saying, 'expect for Hegseth, life is more like a box of wine.' Furious viewers came to Hegseth's defense, slamming SNL for launching personal attacks over the sensitive issue. 'You really need to go after the clowns at SNL for their "hit job" open on Pete Hegseth. Even by their standards, it was pure slander. Basically called him a silly drunk who willfully shared secrets. Not a fact to be found anywhere,' one person said. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth pledged that he wouldn't drink at all in his position as the Pentagon's chief after past allegations he was drunk on the job SNL opened the show with skit of a group of teenage girls having their group chat infiltrated by Pete Hegseth 'Sadly fools watch SNL which predictably slandered Hegseth. Must be some way to derail these cocky bastards who have such total disregard for the truth. Pete clearly target. Called him a drunk who gave away secrets. Slander much?' Another said, 'SNL mocks Pete Hegseth, But real patriots know he's a warrior cleaning up global messes. God bless our troops and strong leaders.' Others claimed the personal attacks were not funny and slammed the show for losing it's sense of humor. 'The SNL Signalgate skit is really stupid,' one person said. SNL must be pretty desperate,' said another. 'Typical and redundant of SNL, their so-called humor is as nonsensical as almost everything DEI related,' a third person said. 'Any chance someone could actually make this show funny again, seriously,' added a fourth. Pretty Woman captured viewers' hearts when it hit screens 35 years ago. And still, nearly four decades later, the 1990 romcom is without doubt the most loved movie to this day. Julia Roberts, 57, who was 22 at the time when she played sex worker Vivien Ward, and the then 40-year-old Richard Gere, 71, who starred as billionaire businessman Edward Lewis, originally raised eyebrows with their very large age gap. Vivian, who was hired by Edward, ended up falling in love after he initially hired her to accompany him to some social events. The pair loved filming the movie that much they went onto star in another romcom together in the 1999 movie, Runaway Bride. However, Julia and Richard weren't always the front runners to take the lead roles as multiple Hollywood A-listers also auditioned for the part. But what are the other little-known facts of Pretty Woman? Here, MailOnline reveals 10 secrets of the iconic romcom that will blow your mind. Pretty Woman captured viewers' hearts when it hit screens 35 years ago, thanks too Julia Roberts, who played Vivien Ward, and Richard Gere, who starred as Edward Lewis But what are the other little-known facts of Pretty Woman? Here, MailOnline reveals 10 secrets of the iconic romcom that will blow your mind 1. Pretty Woman was originally called $3000 The 90s movie was originally intended to be called $3000 - the same amount of money Edward and Vivian agreed on to spend a night with him. Speaking about the movie on The Graham Norton show in 2023, Julia said: 'It was going to be a much darker film called $3,000. 'Vivian was a drug addict and the movie ended with him leaving her in a side street, throwing the money at her, and driving away.' The 90s movie was originally intended to be called $3000 - the same amount of money Edward and Vivian agreed on to spend a night with him 2. Julia was nearly replaced During casting, Julia wasn't always the front runner to play Vivien. Drew Barrymore, 50, and Winona Ryder, 53, auditioned for the role of Vivian but were rejected because they were too young at the time. Thankful for being several years older, Julia got the part and went onto star in the world's most loved movie. Drew Barrymore, 50, and Winona Ryder, 53, auditioned for the role of Vivian but were rejected because they were too young at the time 3. Richard wasn't always the chosen one Like Julia, Richard wasn't always the chosen man to play the rich businessman. Sean Connery, who died in 2020, Al Pacino, 84, and Burt Reynolds were equally considered for the role of Edward. Al reportedly turned down the role of Edward because he felt he 'wasn't the right actor for it' after a screen test with Julia. Before his death in 2018, Burt was asked why he too turned down the role in the movie - admitting 'because I'm an idiot'. Like Julia, Richard wasn't always the chosen man to play the rich businessman. Sean Connery, Al Pacino, 84, and Burt Reynolds were equally considered for the role of Edward 4. Demi Moore turned down the role of Vivian's best friend Award-winning actress Demi Moore, 62, reportedly turned down the role of Vivian's best friend Kit, according to Heat magazine. Demi and a host of other stars including Laura Dern, Marisa Tomei, Anabelle Sciorra, Lorraine Bracco and Mary Steenburgen all either came in or considered to be casted in the movie. Award-winning actress Demi Moore, 62, reportedly turned down the role of Vivian's best friend Kit, according to Heat magazine 5. Julia and Richard had an 18-year age gap The actors' 18-year gap raised some eyebrows when the film was first released. Richard, 71, was 40 years old at the time he played Edward, while Julia, now 57, was 22. Julia had one condition for playing the sex worker in the movie - not stripping off for naked scenes. When she first met director Garry Marshall about playing Vivian in pre-production, she was 21 at the time. During their meeting, she insisted: 'I won't be naked'. The actors' 18-year gap raised eyebrows when the film was first released. Richard, 71, was 40 years old at the time he played Edward, while Julia, now 57, was 22 (pictured together in 2015) Julia had one condition for playing the sex worker in the movie - not stripping off for naked scenes 6. Richard actually plays the piano While he is renowned for his acting skills, Richard is also very talented with various instruments. Not only did he actually play the piano in the hotel bar scene, its a piece he composed himself. As well as his acting and piano talents, he can also play the guitar and trumpet. Not only did Richard actually play the piano in the hotel bar scene, its a piece he composed himself 7. The snail scene is also in the Princess Diaries films In the iconic dinner scene where Vivien flings a snail across the room in the fancy restaurant and the waiter catches it - it was actually director Garry who threw it. The waiter says: 'It happens all the time.' Garry, who died in 2016, put the same scene into the Princess Diaries films - which he directed. In both of the films, a waiter is given the same line and role of catching the snail. In the iconic dinner scene where Vivien flings a snail across the room in the fancy restaurant and the waiter catches it - it was actually director Garry who threw it Garry, who died in 2016, put the same scene into the Princess Diaries films - which he directed (Anne Hathaway pictured in Princess Diaries) In both of the films, a waiter is given the same line and role of catching the snail, saying 'It happens all the time.' 8. Edward improvised the jewellery box scene In the heart-warming scene which sees Edward give Vivien the dazzling necklace, he jokingly snaps the jewellery box on her hand when she goes to touch it. But it turns out the scene wasn't actually scripted - it was just Richard's last minute improvisation. The funny scene, which has been loved and copied by many, was a pure reaction from Julia. In the scene which sees Edward give Vivien the dazzling necklace, he jokingly snaps the jewellery box on her hand - it turns out the scene was just Richard's last minute improvisation 9. The necklace cost $250,000 The exact dazzling necklace, which Richard almost shut Julia's hand inside, cost a whopping $250,000 (193,658). While filming the scene, a security guard had to keep all eyes on the necklace on set at all times. The guard was said to be constantly standing behind the director to made sure the necklace - from an unknown jewellery store - didn't go missing. The exact dazzling necklace, which Richard almost shut Julia's hand inside, cost a whopping $250,000 (193,658) The movie was never meant to be a romcom, it was intended to be a dark tale of class and sex work in Los Angeles 10. It was never meant to be a romcom The movie was never meant to be a romcom, it was intended to be a dark tale of class and sex work in Los Angeles. After the production company folded and the film disappeared, Disney picked up the movie and made it more romantic and humorous. After going over the previous script idea, Julia admitted she 'had no business being in a movie like that' in a 2019 chat. She added, 'There was one producer that stayed with the script and then it went to Disney. And I went, "went to Disney? Are they gonna animate it? How does this become a Disney movie?"' Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez has detailed the struggles of juggling his family life with his glittering career, claiming that it's 'not easy.' The Spanish dancing pro, 34, who joined the BBC show back in 2016, often has a hectic schedule due to work commitments. Opening up about how he manages to balance everything whilst maintaining a level of happiness, Gorka - who shares daughter Mia and son Thaigo with Gemma Atkinson - says it's about 'making the right choices.' 'When I was in my 20s, it was just about me, me, me,' he told the Mirror. He continued: 'It's easier because you kind of don't have anything to worry about more than yourself. 'When you have a partner and children, sometimes work is great. I always say, there's a difference between living for work and work for living.' Strictly Come Dancing's Gorka Marquez has detailed the struggles of juggling his family life with his glittering career, claiming that it's 'not easy' The Spanish dancing pro, 34, shares daughter Mia and son Thaigo with Gemma Atkinson Gorka has worked with some big names over the years - partnering with the likes of Katie Piper, Maisie Smith and Helen Skelton. But he's made it clear that there's a boundary between working hard and making time for his wife and children. Gorka admits that his family are priority and that 'the only thing we cannot get back is time,' and he aims to 'make the right choice.' He shared that sometimes he's worried he'll 'miss out on so many things that will never come back,' and it's important to 'work out if its worth it being that far away or for a long period of time.' His revelation comes after Strictly fans were left very unimpressed after Gorka and co-star Karen Hauer cancelled their performance in Cheltenham just hours before getting on stage. Venezuelan dancer Karen and fellow Strictly star Gorka are touring the world with their dazzling Speakeasy tour, and earlier this month took to their Instagram sharing the news on a written story. Gorka admitted to be 'gutted' to disappoint fans with the last-minute announcement, explaining 'technical difficulties' would make it unsafe for them to perform. 'We are so upset to have the curtain pulled down on tonight's show. Gorka, who joined the BBC show back in 2016, often has a hectic schedule due to work commitments Gorka and fellow dancer Karen Hauer (right) are touring the world with their dazzling Speakeasy tour (pictured earlier this month) 'We have been in the venue all afternoon with technical difficulties which have posed real safety concerns and have tried everything we can to be able to go on stage tonight.' They continued: 'Of course the safety of our company comes first and this decision is beyond our control. We hope to see you very soon. The venue will be in touch with ticket holders. 'We are so upset to have the curtain pulled down on tonight's show. 'We have been in the venue all afternoon with technical difficulties which have posed real safety concerns and have tried everything we can to be able to go on stage tonight.' 'Of course the safety of our company comes first and this decision is beyond our control. We hope to see you very soon. The venue will be in touch with ticket holders. 'We are as disappointed as you are. K & G,' they finished. The cancelled performance comes after Gorka's fiancee Gemma Atkinson insisted she has no regrets about her own wild past ahead of settling down with the Strictly favourite. The actress, 40, first rose to fame as sexy siren Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks, and in recent years has become an advocate for fitness with her gruelling exercise regime. Last month, Gemma confessed that during her 20s she was more preoccupied with her sexual conquests than staying in shape, telling Women's Health Magazine she was no stranger to the 'walk of shame'. The star has also been engaged twice before, but hopes to make it down the aisle with Gorka, after they started dating on Strictly in 2017. March 30, 2025: In February the first Iranian aircraft carrier, the 40,000 ton Shahid Bahman Bagheri, entered service. Top speed is 32 kilometers an hour and max endurance range is 39,000 kilometers. The carrier can stay at sea for 80 days. The ship is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/IRGC NAVY. The only aircraft carried are two helicopters and 100 or more drones. The carrier has a curved ski jump deck to aid in launching larger drones weighing several hundred kg or more. The flight deck is 180 meters long and the carrier overall length is 240 meters. The carrier is the result of spending two years to convert a cargo ship. This included installation of air and surface search radars as well as Signals Intelligence or SIGINT as well as electronic countermeasures. The carrier can also operate unmanned surface ships. In 2023 commercial satellite photos revealed construction of the carrier. Iran is always building new small craft, some of them armed with anti-ship missiles but most of them much smaller and armed mostly with an aggressive attitude. The new ship under construction in the Bandar Abbas shipyard on the Straits of Hormuz was an aircraft carrier. This new ship was based on a the Perarin, a converted container ship built in 2000. As a container ship could carry 3,280 TEU 20 foot containers. Such conversions are nothing new and were carried out in a big way during World War II when the United States and Britain built about 135 CVE escort carriers, often by converting existing cargo ships or tankers. CVEs were typically around 150 meters long, not much more than half the length of the CV fleet carriers of the same era, but were less than a third of the weight. A typical CVE displaced about 8,000 tons, compared to almost 30,000 tons for a full-size fleet carrier. The aircraft hangar typically ran only a third of the way under the CVE flight deck and housed a combination of 2430 fighters and bombers organized into one single composite squadron. By comparison, a late model Essex-class CV fleet carrier could carry 103 propeller driven aircraft. All carriers built since World War II were built as carriers, not converted cargo ships or tankers. The post-war carriers were designed to handle fewer but larger jet-propelled warplanes that operated at higher speeds even when landing. Converting a container ship to a carrier is difficult because the superstructure containing crew quarters, workspaces and offices stretches across the ship and is over a hundred meters from the rear of the ship. Using a container ship as a carrier means building an odd shaped flight deck. Satellite photos showed an angled flight deck that partially overhangs the hull. The area behind the superstructure is being used as a helicopter landing pad with anti-aircraft guns mounted at the rear of the ship. The new carrier will carry and operate several types of drones, including the Shahed 129A. Iran has about three dozen of these and while they look like an American Predator, they are smaller, less than half a ton, and the tech was obtained from reverse engineering an Israeli Hermes 450 that crashed largely intact in a place the Iranians could recover it. The 129A entered service in 2013 and is not used as a cruise missile, like the smaller less than a quarter ton Shahed 136 used in Ukraine as a cruise missile. The 129a can carry four Sadid guided bombs. Each of these weighs 34 kg and has a max range of six kilometers. Accuracy is at several meters, not as precise as missiles like Hellfire which can hit within a meter of the target. Sadid was proved effective when used in Syria. Operating relatively large drones like the 129A from a carrier deck may lead to a few accidents and possible loss of some 129As. This is less of a problem with the smaller drones used as cruise missiles on one-way missions. Most of the drones carried by the new carrier will be these smaller models. They are built in large quantities and Iran assisted the Russians in building a factory in Russia to produce several types of Iranian drones. The larger drones are often built in smaller quantities, often no more than 30 or 40. The exceptions are particularly successful models, like the more than 200 Mohajer-6s built since 2018. Irans drone carrier can carry over a hundred drones if most of them are the smaller models used as cruise missiles. The larger drones are essential for reconnaissance and surveillance. Training operations will be monitored because they have to be held at sea under realistic windy with rough waters to be effective. Some Western navies operate large drones off carrier decks. Turkey has built an amphibious assault ship with a carrier deck designed for operating large, jet powered, drones. The only problem with the Iranian carriers is that they are easy to spot and track by nations like Israel with their own surveillance satellites and warplanes carrying long-range air-to-surface missiles that can be used against ships. Israel also has submarines operating in the region. Iran appears to be converting a second ship, a tanker into a carrier and apparently has ambitious plans for these new ships. Iran lives in a dangerous neighborhood, made so largely by the mischief Iran creates, and the neighbors, especially the wealthy Arab oil states are heavily armed and well trained to handle whatever Iran aims at them. Iran has not built many large warships, mainly because of the expense and lack of suitable shipyards. The last large warship built in 2020 was the Shahid Roudaki. This was not exactly a warship but a Roll on-Roll Off/RO-RO freighter built in 1992. RO-RO means the ship has ramps that make it easy for vehicles to get on or off the spacious deck and spaces below the deck. The 150 meter long, 22 meter wide, Galaxy F/Shahid Roudaki can carry up to 536 cargo containers in the hold and on deck. This ship is elderly by commercial shipping standards and Iran could have bought it cheap, given it a new paint job and filled a deck with various types of rockets, air-defense systems and drones, plus one 1970s vintage Bell 412 helicopter. The Iranian RO/RO warship actually belongs to the IRGC Navy, which does not have any large combat ships. There are over a thousand armed speedboats plus five amphibious ships, three LSTs and two smaller LCTs, and three cargo ships. The 12,000-ton Shahid Roudaki has not seen any action and was apparently built to test new concepts, including the conversion of larger ships into aircraft carriers. The actual Iranian Navy maintains a force of conventional warships, but not as many as it would like. Currently, the only major surface warships are three 1,500-ton frigates built in Britain during the 1970s. Between 2010 and 2021 Iran built four 1,500-ton frigates. There are three 1960s vintage under a thousand ton corvettes, two from America and one from the Netherlands. There are about fifty smaller patrol craft, ten of them armed with Chinese anti-ship missiles. There are another few dozen mine warfare, amphibious, and support ships. The three most powerful ships in the fleet are three Russian Kilo class subs. There are about fifty mini-subs, most of them built in Iran. There are some serious quality problems with Iranian built warships, and not just because of budget problems and sanctions. Iran's naval shipbuilding facility at the Bushehr shipyard has lots of labor problems. That includes strikes and lockouts as well as complaints of poor designs and sloppy management. Iran has, for the last two decades, announced many new, locally made, weapons that turned out to be more spin than substance. Iran does have commercial shipbuilding firms which produce merchant ships that are larger than destroyers. It was believed that Iran could build something that looks like a destroyer. The Jamaran class ships have Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles, but a lot of the other necessary military electronics are harder to get and install in a seagoing ship. Iran has coped by using commercial equipment. This does not make for a formidable warship but does enable high seas operations. Iran is trying to expand its slowly growing naval power on its Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean coasts. Since 2011, Iran has had one or more of its few surface warships working with the international anti-piracy patrol off Somalia. Theyre opposed to piracy unless they do it. This was the first time since the 1970s that the Iranian Navy has conducted sustained operations outside its coastal waters. Despite their own Islamic radical government, the Iranian sailors have got along with the other members of the patrol, including the United States, which is officially the Great Satan back home. Encouraged by this, Iran announced that it would send more of its warships off to distant areas, mainly to show the world that Iran was a naval power capable of such reach. These voyages often ran into problems and the Iranians learned to send a resupply ship along containing a large stock of spare parts and skilled ship techs to install them as needed. The collapse of world oil prices in 2014, more than the numerous economic sanctions, crippled expansion plans for the Iranian Navy. Most of the sanctions were lifted in a 2015 treaty but that has not helped the navy much because a lot of the additional cash went to prop up the Assad government in Syria and finance the pro-Iranian Shia militias in Iraq and Yemen. Then the U.S. revived the sanctions in 2017 and that further depleted Iranian finances, leading to more cuts in defense spending. What it comes down to is that the navy is not nearly as high a priority as the ground and air forces. Iran has never been a significant naval power and that does not appear to be changing any time soon. Advertisement She's no stranger to controversy and now teenage OnlyFans millionaire Paris Ow-Yang has landed herself in hot water yet again after being filmed riding in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt. The 19-year-old influencer, who is currently serving a two-year Community Corrections Order over a string of offences, was caught on video appearing to flout basic road rules during a joyride in Sydney this week. In footage posted to social media on Tuesday, Paris was seen perched in the passenger seat of a luxury two-seater convertible, smiling alongside two other young women as the car cruised down the street. While the driver was clearly buckled up, no seatbelt was visible across Paris' body. Adding fuel to the fire, the short video was cheekily captioned: 'illegal Tuesday.' When approached for comment Ow-Yang declined to comment on the risky behaviour. OnlyFans millionaire Paris Ow-Yang has landed herself in hot water yet again after being filmed riding in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt. Pictured The 19-year-old influencer, who is currently serving a two-year Community Corrections Order over a string of offences, was caught on video appearing to flout basic road rules during a joyride in Sydney this week. It's the latest in a string of public incidents and legal dramas involving the Bondi-based social media sensation, who shot to fame after launching a racy OnlyFans account the day after her 18th birthday. Ow-Yang, a former private school student who attended the prestigious $33,000-a-year Frensham School, has faced mounting scrutiny in recent months over her brushes with the law, including a high-range drink-driving crash, a domestic violence rampage, and an AVO taken out by her own family. Back in October 2023, Paris was charged with high-range drink driving after slamming her $50,000 black Mercedes into another vehicle in the affluent suburb of Point Piper, blowing more than four times the legal alcohol limit for a P-plater. She was slapped with a nine-month driving ban, forced to install an alcohol interlock device in her car for two years, and handed a two-year Community Corrections Order. But that wasn't the end of her troubles. In December last year, the OnlyFans starlet made headlines yet again after she was charged with assault and stalking following a terrifying domestic violence incident involving her own mother, Amanda Ow-Yang, at the family's Double Bay apartment. Court documents revealed the teenage millionaire arrived at her mother's home drunk, hurling abuse, calling her a 'sl**' and threatening to kill herself before trashing the property and embedding two kitchen knives into the floor. Ow-Yang pleaded guilty to assault, stalking, and property damage, with a magistrate ordering her to abstain from alcohol for 15 months and comply with mental health treatment. It's the latest in a string of public incidents and legal dramas involving the Bondi-based social media sensation, who shot to fame after launching a racy OnlyFans account the day after her 18th birthday In December last year, the OnlyFans starlet made headlines yet again after she was charged with assault and stalking following a terrifying domestic violence incident involving her own mother, Amanda Ow-Yang, at the family's Double Bay apartment A two-year apprehended violence order was also imposed to protect her family. While her personal life has been marred by legal woes and emotional turmoil, Ow-Yang's career as an adult content creator has continued to soar. The teenager, whose father is renowned neurosurgeon Dr Michael Ow-Yang, has amassed more than 1.6 million followers across Instagram and TikTok and claims to have made millions of dollars through her subscription-based OnlyFans account. She previously bragged about ranking in the top 0.02 per cent of creators globally, using her earnings to snap up an impressive portfolio of properties across Sydney's exclusive eastern suburbs. 'For me, it's been an incredible journey which has allowed me financial freedom and control over my career,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'I've been able to create an empire for myself, on my own terms.' Ow-Yang's legal team have long argued that her erratic behaviour stems from childhood trauma and ongoing mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and an eating disorder conditions she's battled since her parents' messy split when she was just 13. Her solicitor, Michael Bowe, has previously told courts the teen's highly publicised meltdown last year was the result of binge drinking, heartbreak following the breakdown of a relationship with Sydney nightclub identity Julian Tobias, and ongoing online abuse. The court heard she was left 'spiralling out of control' and unable to cope with her newfound fame. During her last court appearance in November, the model appeared demure and composed, dressed in grey trousers, a crisp white blouse, black blazer and designer J'Adior heels, wiping away tears as the magistrate warned her against further offending. Despite her ongoing community corrections order and court-mandated abstinence from alcohol, Ow-Yang's latest seatbelt stunt is likely to raise fresh concerns about her disregard for the law. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ow-Yang for further comment. When BBC veteran Jo Coburn announced she was stepping down as Politics Live presenter after 14 years, it left ambitious colleagues coveting the plum role. But The Mail on Sunday understands that it is Vicki Young who is set to be announced as the new presenter of the BBC's flagship political programme. Ms Young, 54, is the deputy political editor at the BBC and is a regular stand-in for Coburn. An insider said: 'It's all been sewn up for Vicki to take over Politics Live. She's very talented and the bosses really like her but it has left some of her more ambitious colleagues spitting feathers.' The Cambridge-educated presenter is a BBC lifer having begun her career at BBC Wales before becoming a correspondent at BBC Breakfast and later chief political correspondent. She was favourite to take over Laura Kuenssberg as the corporation's political editor in 2022, but ruled herself out of the race as her late husband Rae Stewart was being treated for cancer, before his death at age 56 in 2023. Young's elevation is likely to make her one of the BBC's highest earners, among the likes of political editor Chris Mason, who is on 260,000 a year, Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire on 295,000 and Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson on up to 349,000. Politics Live, formerly Daily Politics, which airs on weekday lunchtimes, was hosted by Andrew Neil from 2003 to 2020, and is seen as one of the BBC's political crown jewels. The Mail on Sunday understands that Vicki Young is set to be announced as the new presenter of the BBC's Politics Live Politics Live presenter Jo Coburn announced this month she was leaving the BBC after 28 years Ms Coburn, 57, announced this month that she was leaving the BBC after 28 years. The journalist, who joined as a Westminster correspondent, said: 'What a privilege to have been in the hot seat of the Daily Politics and then Politics Live covering the tumultuous events of the last decade or so.' She will leave the BBC at the end of May. The corporation was approached for comment. Advertisement Married At First Sight's Jacqui Burfoot is set to deliver one of the most savage Final Vows speeches in the show's history and Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal every brutal word before it airs on screens. In the leaked speech, the 29-year-old lawyer doesn't hold back as she calls out Ryan Donnelly's 'controlling' behaviour, lack of empathy, and refusal to take accountability during their turbulent on-screen marriage. Jacqui, who wed Ryan, a 37-year-old actor from Sydney, begins her vows by admitting she entered the experiment a 'hopeless romantic' but walked away shattered and emotionally drained. 'I can honestly say, I gave this experience, and you, everything I could, leaving no stone unturned,' she began. The speech quickly turned icy as Jacqui reflected on their chaotic wedding day and rollercoaster relationship, describing it as 'not a love story, but a story about love.' She then delivered a series of bombshell claims about the darker side of their relationship that viewers never got to see. Married At First Sight's Jacqui Burfoot (pictured) has delivered one of the most savage Final Vows speeches in the show's history In the leaked speech, the 29-year-old lawyer doesn't hold back as she calls out Ryan Donnelly's 'controlling' behaviour, lack of empathy, and refusal to take accountability during their turbulent on-screen marriage 'I have tried my hardest in this relationship, but please don't mistake my meekness for weakness, my tolerance for approval, my forgiveness for satisfaction,' she added. In one of the speech's most savage lines, Jacqui tells Ryan: 'In a world of red flags, you're the red carpet.' The lawyer also accuses her groom of silencing her, allowing his friends to speak badly about her, and crossing her boundaries leaving her feeling mentally exhausted and isolated. 'I don't want to be told who I can and can't be friends with,' she declares at one point. 'I don't want to be scolded like a child. I want to be able to speak without being shut down.' Jacqui's fiery words painted a picture of a marriage filled with arguments and emotional manipulation behind the scenes, slamming Ryan for his 'lack of self-reflection' and failure to support her at crucial moments including the dramatic Final Dinner Party. 'Instead of standing up for me, you flipped the script, dragged up a letter from two weeks ago and tried to make me the villain,' she reveals. The scathing speech also referenced an off-camera incident in Campbelltown where Ryan allegedly 'yelled and scolded adults', which Jacqui said was the final straw. Jacqui began her vows by admitting she entered the experiment a 'hopeless romantic' but walked away shattered and emotionally drained. Pictured: Ryan Donnelly 'I have tried my hardest in this relationship, but please don't mistake my meekness for weakness, my tolerance for approval, my forgiveness for satisfaction,' she said In one final gut punch, Jacqui told Ryan: 'While I love it when your big biceps pick me up, hug me, dip me and throw me in the pool, they will never be the reason I get pregnant.' She closes her vows by telling Ryan she 'doesn't need a man, she needs a husband' and that she chooses peace over drama. A production source told Daily Mail Australia: 'Producers were shocked when Jacqui delivered her vows no one was expecting her to go that hard. 'It was one of the most brutally honest speeches we've ever heard on the show.' Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine Daniel Craig looked dapper as he stepped out for the premiere of his new film Queer in Italy on Saturday night. The Bond actor, 57, cut a very stylish figure in an eye-catching Giorgio Armani grey suit and retro sunglasses for the red carpet event in Milan. He stars as American writer William Lee in the highly-anticipated A24 movie, which is set in 1950s Mexico City. The film follows actor Daniel, who falls for a handsome, younger man - played by Drew Starkey - and the two become romantically involved. Director Luca Guadagnino - who is the mastermind behind Challengers and Call Me By Your Name - is also the genius behind romantic drama Queer. Daniel seemed in high spirits as he effortlessly posed with his hands in his pockets in the fashionable ensemble. Daniel Craig, 57, looked dapper as he stepped out for the premiere of his new film Queer in Italy on Saturday night The Bond actor cut a very stylish figure in an eye-catching, baggy grey suit and retro glasses for the red carpet event in Milan He paired the three-piece suit with black Chelsea boots and a pair of 90s-style glasses to complete the look. The award-winning actor was also joined by Luca at the premiere, and was seen embracing in a hug with the critically-acclaimed director. Queer was released in the UK on December 13 last year. It comes after Daniel has been rumoured to join the cast of the Chronicles Of Narnia film franchise. Although development for the fourth instalment is still early in the process, it appears the actor is being eyed-up for the role. With production set to start later this year, Netflix and director Greta Gerwig are trying to lure the famed 007 actor, although he has yet to sign-on. At this point it's not known exactly what character the Chester, Cheshire, England native has been offered to play, according to Deadline. The studio and Gerwig appear to be aiming high in regards to star power considering it had been previously reported that pop star Charli XCX was in talks for the role of the white witch. He stars as American writer William Lee in the highly-anticipated A24 movie, which is set in 1950s Mexico City He paired the three-piece suit with black Chelsea boots and a pair of 90s-style glasses to complete the look It comes after Daniel has been rumoured to join the cast of the Chronicles Of Narnia film franchise Director Luca Guadagnino (right) - who is the mastermind behind Challengers and Call Me By Your Name - is also the genius behind romantic drama Queer The plan to develop new Narnia film projects and a series based on Lewis beloved fantasy novels The Chronicles Of Narnia began back in 2018. Within two years, Netflix brought Gerwig, the Barbie co-writer and director, on board to adapt and helm the first movie. Details about the where the storytelling will focus in the upcoming Narnia film are scarce, but it has already been reported that the film will get an exclusive two-week Imax global run for Thanksgiving 2026, ahead of it dropping on Netflix. The series revolves around the adventures of children in the world of Narnia , guided by Aslan, a wise and powerful lion that can speak and is the true king of Narnia. Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn has reportedly turned down an offer of up to 1 million to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. The Overboard star, 79, was said to be in advanced talks to sign up for the ITV1 reality show, which begins on April 7, according to The Sun. However, Goldie, who revealed at the 2025 Oscars that she was struggling with her vision due to cataracts, reportedly decided the timing wasn't right for her and declined the offer. A source told the publication: 'Goldie would have been a massive coup for Celebrity Big Brother. 'She is a Hollywood legend so would have had plenty of tales to spill on the rich and famous. 'Bosses were hoping to replicate the success of Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh who were a hit on last years series thanks to their lack of filter and celebrity gossip.' Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn has reportedly turned down an offer of up to 1 million to appear on Celebrity Big Brother (pictured this month) The Overboard star, 79, was said to be in advanced talks to sign up for the ITV1 reality show, which begins on April 7, according to The Sun (pictured with her daughter Kate Hudson) The source added that Goldie was 'flattered by the offer' however, she decided now wasn't the right time for her. Other stars reportedly joining Celebrity Big Brother include Coronation Street actor Jack P. Shepherd and British Olympic legend Daley Thompson. The show will begin on April 7. MailOnline has contacted Goldie's representative for comment. Earlier this month, the actress left viewers of the 2025 Academy Awards stunned after giving a heartbreaking health update on stage. The 79-year-old Oscar winner, who was presenting with Andrew Garfield, stopped partway through her scripted presentation because she was unable to read the text on the teleprompter. 'I was so lucky [to] make movies... and making people laugh,' Goldie said. 'And maybe some didn't, but that's OK.' 'In the meantime,' she continued, before suddenly pausing and turning to Garfield. 'OK. Sweetheart, can you read that. I can't read that,' she said, going off script. However, Goldie, who revealed at the 2025 Oscars that she was struggling with her vision due to cataracts, reportedly decided the timing wasn't right for her and declined the offer (pictured last year) 'I'm completely blind. I mean, I am!' she continued, before revealing the cause of her vision issues: 'Cataracts.' While Goldie had previously spoken about having cataracts, this was the first time she discussed it in front of such a large audience. The Oscars typically attract about 20 million viewers. Garfield played it cool, responding, 'OK, I've got you.' However, after the overwhelming response to her comments, Goldie was reportedly concerned that her 'joke' overshadowed her appearance as a presenter. 'Goldie is embarrassed that the focus of her Oscar night was her vision issues, it is not something she wanted everyone talking about,' a source said. 'She was just trying to be funny.' Cataracts develop when the usually clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making it seem as if one is viewing the world through a fog. The condition can impact activities that require clear vision, such as reading or driving - especially at night. Cataracts often develop gradually and may not be noticed for some time. However, the good news is that cataract surgery is typically safe and effective, according to the Mayo Clinic. Before Goldie's admission, Andrew was responsible for one of the most touching moments of the night. Earlier this month, the actress left viewers of the 2025 Academy Awards stunned after giving a heartbreaking health update on stage alongside Andrew Garfield She paused her prepared speech after being unable to read the teleprompter. 'I'm completely blind. I mean, I am!' she said, before revealing the cause of her vision issues: 'Cataracts' The two-time Oscar nominee, 41, was joined by Goldie as they presented the award for Best Animated Feature Film. But Andrew took her by surprise when he brought her to tears as he revealed her surprise impact on his late mother. The Social Network star, who lost his mother Lynn Garfield to cancer in 2019, thanked Goldie for giving his mother 'the most joy, the most comfort' through her long career peppered with classic film and television performances. Goldie was visibly moved by the seemingly impromptu speech and started to cry before she partially covered her face with the winner's envelope and tried to wipe her eyes. Andrew, who looked stylish in a brown tux with a lustrous satin shirt, turned toward Goldie at the microphone and held her hand between his as he shared his sweet praise. 'Can I tell you something?' Andrew asked mysteriously as soon as he and Goldie were ready to start their presentation. 'There's someone, there's a person who gave my mother during her life the most joy, the most comfort, and tonight, I feel very lucky, because I get to thank that person from the bottom of my heart,' he said before revealing that the person was standing right next to him. 'You've given us movies full of joy. You've lifted our spirits and you've made us feel it all was right with the world, over and over again,' he said while holding Goldie's hand. Before Goldie's admission, Andrew was responsible for one of the most touching moments of the night, making Goldie Hawn tear up at the mention of his late mother The Social Network star thanked Goldie for giving his mother 'the most joy, the most comfort' through her long career peppered with classic film and television performances Andrew lost his mother Lynn Garfield (R) to cancer in 2019; they're pictured with his father Richard Garfield at a Tony Awards after party in 2018 in NYC Goldie, whose face crumpled up as she tried to hold back her tears, responded: 'Thank you so much, that really touches me.' 'I was so lucky [to] make movies... and making people laugh,' she continued in what seemed to be the start of her preplanned speech. 'And maybe some didn't, but that's OK.' Andrew, whose latest film We Live In Time was released in October in the US and on New Year's Day in the UK, spoke about his mother last year during the film's publicity campaign. In the film, Florence Pugh plays his love interest who battles Ovarian cancer, and the storyline prompted comparisons to Andrew's mother Lynn's own battle with cancer before her death. While speaking with the Hollywood Reporter last year, Andrew said that filming We Live In Time had helped him to heal from the loss of his beloved mother. 'Every species of every living thing on this earth has lost a mother. Young dinosaurs were losing their mothers,' he said, adding that his experience wasn't 'special.' 'Were lucky if its that way around, rather than the other. And of course, countless parents lose their children in one way or another too, I cant even imagine what that must feel like,' he continued. 'So in terms of my own personal experience, yeah, it felt like a very simple act of healing for myself, and hopefully healing for an audience.' They became the unlikely besties who stole hearts on this year's explosive season of Married At First Sight Australia. And on Saturday night, Jamie Marinos and Awhina Rutene turned heads for all the right - and wrong - reasons as they reunited in Sydney for a star-studded Showpo soiree ahead of the MAFS reunion airing on screens. The reality TV brides looked closer than ever as they posed up a storm at the exclusive influencer bash, hosted by fashion powerhouse and Showpo CEO Jane Lu, before heading off to watch Dua Lipa's sold-out concert from VIP seats. Jamie, 28, almost suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction on the night, with the Melbourne marketing manager leaving little to the imagination in an extremely revealing yellow mini dress. The blonde bombshell dared to bare in the plunging chiffon frock, which featured a dangerously low cowl neckline and sheer skirt detailing. The flimsy halter-neck design struggled to contain her ample assets, with Jamie caught clutching the front of her dress several times throughout the evening to avoid a full-blown nip slip. MAFS brides Jamie Marinos and Awhina Rutene turned heads for all the right - and wrong - reasons as they reunited in Sydney for a star-studded soiree. Both pictured Jamie (right) almost suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction on the night, with the Melbourne marketing manager leaving little to the imagination in a revealing yellow mini dress She finished her risque look with clear Perspex heels and wore her platinum locks in a chic messy bun, letting her bronzed makeup and glossy lips take centre stage. Joining her on the black carpet was her on-screen bestie Awhina, 31, who looked radiant in a bubblegum pink mini dress that hugged her enviable curves and showcased her toned pins. The brunette beauty kept things simple, accessorising with nude heels and soft glam makeup while letting her long locks cascade past her shoulders. The pair appeared in high spirits as they posed arm-in-arm, giggling and flashing big smiles for the cameras, clearly thrilled to be reunited after weeks apart. Earlier in the day, Jamie and Awhina were spotted touching down at Sydney Airport, where they embraced excitedly in the arrivals terminal after jetting in from their respective hometowns. The dynamic duo, who struck up an unbreakable bond during filming, kept it casual for their flight. Awhina wore a cropped grey sweatshirt and matching grey shorts paired with Nike Dunks, while Jamie looked effortlessly cool in black leggings, a plunging top and cropped denim jacket. A source told Daily Mail Australia the brides have remained 'thick as thieves' since filming wrapped, even amid the chaos and catfights that unfolded at the MAFS reunion taping. Joining her on the black carpet was her on-screen bestie Awhina, 31, who looked radiant in a bubblegum pink mini dress that hugged her enviable curves and showcased her toned pins. (Pictured with Showpo CEO Jane Lu) MAFS brides Lauren Dunn and Sara Mesa also attended the event Tahnee Cook and Love Island Australia star Tina Provis happily struck a pose Showpo CEO Jane Lu looked to be having the time of her life Earlier in the day, Jamie and Awhina were spotted touching down at Sydney Airport, where they embraced excitedly in the arrivals terminal after jetting in from their respective hometowns 'Jamie and Awhina became inseparable after filming. They're genuinely best friends and had been counting down to this night for weeks,' an insider spilled. 'Awhina actually scolded the whole group for not sticking up for me. She's such a genuine friend,' Jamie gushed about Awhina to Daily Mail Australia last month Awhina was notably one of the only girls who stood by Jamie during her time on the show, and was one of the only brides there for her during her tough time at the couple's retreat. 'Awhina actually scolded the whole group for not sticking up for me. She's such a genuine friend,' Jamie gushed about Awhina to Daily Mail Australia last month. 'I was so distraught I couldn't even leave my room, and Jacqui (Burfoot), Adrian (Araouzou), and Awhina all visited me [after the retreat blowup].' Grief-stricken Aubrey Plaza kept a low profile during a somber outing in Los Angeles this week, while mourning her husband Jeff Baena. Concealing her eyes behind a large pair of sunglasses, the 40-year-old actress bundled up against the lingering chill in a hoodie. The sighting came days after it was revealed that she had secretly split from Baena just four months before his shock suicide at 47. An LA County Medical Examiner's autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that the filmmaker and actress had separated back in September of last year, and she had been living in New York at the time his body was discovered on January 3. The report detailed how the Life After Beth director had been 'experiencing marital difficulties' in his final months, and how he had been in therapy. An investigator noted in the documents that Plaza, whose name was redacted in the final report, said she had spoken with Baena the night before his death. Grief-stricken Aubrey Plaza kept a low profile during a somber outing in Los Angeles this week, while mourning her husband Jeff Baena The report also tragically revealed that Plaza had been concerned for her estranged husband's wellbeing. 'In October 2024, Baena made concerning remarks to [Plaza] which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband. Baena had been attending therapy since that event,' the documents stated. The medical examiner's report also determined that Baena did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death. It stated that Plaza 'knew her husband to be alive' as of January 3 because he had sent her a text message that morning. The report indicated that a dog walker discovered Baena's body after hearing loud music emanating from his house, which she said was 'unusual.' After she called the writer and director and didn't get an answer, she entered the home and discovered his body. In a statement obtained by DailyMail.com, a representative for the Plaza said: 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.' Baena, who graduated with a film degree from New York University, got a strong start and on-the-ground education with major filmmakers when he worked as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis and as an assistant editor for David O. Russell. His big break came when he co-wrote Russell's cult classic existential comedy I Heart Huckabees (2004). Concealing her eyes behind a large pair of sunglasses, the 40-year-old actress bundled up against the lingering chill in a hoodie Plaza had been separated since September from her husband Jeff Baena, an LA County Medical Examiner's autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed; seen in 2017 in Culver City, Calif. A decade later, he graduated to directing with his debut, the 2014 romantic horrorcomedy Life After Beth, which Plaza starred in. They reunited for 2016's Joshy and 2017's The Little Hours, which Plaza also produced. Baena also regularly collaborated with the actress Alison Brie, who appeared in The Little Hours and starred in and co-wrote his final two films, the psychological drama Horse Girl (2020) and the dark comedy thriller Spin Me Round (2022). Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011, and in 20187 she told Page Six that the fact that they were mutually 'obsessed' with movies helped the two bond and led to their subsequent creative and romantic partnerships. The couple began dating in 2011, and secretly married in 2020. Baena was found dead in their marital home on January 3, while Plaza had been living in NYC since separating last year; seen in 2016 in LA The actress made her first public appearance since Baena's death last month at the SNL 50 special. She paid tribute to Baena by wearing a tie-dye shirt, as they wore matching tie-dye pajamas at their low-key wedding after he got into tie dying during the pandemic She confirmed in 2021 that they had quietly tied the knot a year earlier while promoting Spin Me Round, which she had a supporting role in, when she referred to Baena on Instagram as her 'darling husband.' Plaza has been making tentative steps to get back into the world after Baena's devastating death. The actress made her first public appearance since Baena's death last month when she introduced musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard on Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special. She made a subtle but moving tribute to her late husband by wearing a tie-dye shirt, a reference to one of his passions and their nuptials. Madeleine West has opened up about her seventh pregnancy at the age of 47. The former Neighbours actress revealed in an interview with Stellar magazine, that falling pregnant certainly wasn't something she was expecting but a welcome surprise nonetheless. 'I feel like this little person has come along at the best possible time when I'm so very ready,' she told the publication. Madeleine went on to say that she now has 'more time, wisdom and experience' when it comes to parenting. Reflecting on what is often coined as a 'geriatric pregnancy', the soon to be mum-of-seven expressed her frustration with the world's lack of conversations around later pregnancy. Madeleine said it's not something 'that society discusses at large' despite 'the very real fact that the rate of women having babies in their 40s is increasing.' Madeleine West (pictured) has opened up about her seventh pregnancy at the age of 47 This is just one of the many reasons the Aussie star doesn't feel alone in the experience. While preparing to welcome baby number seven into the world, Madeleine is leaning on all of the women in her life. 'They've already planned a roster, they're all going to cook meals for me and babysit the other kids and we've got activities planned,' she said of her loving support system. On the cover of the weekly magazine, Madeleine was glowing as she bared her pregnant belly in a see-through tunic on the beach. She sat on her heels in the ocean shallows, making direct eye contact with the camera wearing an expression that manages to be both proud and soft. Madeleine looked radiant in the natural sunlight, with her ocean-soaked tunic flaunting her large baby bump. She wore full glam make up for the maternity shoot, with her long brunette locks swept off her face in a coiffed style, and left to hang down her back. She dressed in a high-neck dress that was wet from the ocean shoot and clung to her slim pins and her bump. The former Neighbours actress revealed in an interview with Stellar, falling pregnant certainly wasn't something she was expecting but a welcome surprise nonetheless She accessorised her look with only a simple pair of gold earrings. 'The most beautiful shoot I've had the joy of being part of,' she gushed on Instagram in a post on Friday. Earlier this week, Madeleine shared an honest update on the final stages of her pregnancy. 'Can't eat, can't sleep, can't breathe,' she wrote alongside a hallway mirror selfie taken in a pair of form-fitting lycra bike shorts. She also wore a lilac coloured maternity top that showed off her precious cargo. The actress finished her sporty look with a pair of sky blue Sketchers sneakers. While looking the picture of motherhood, Madeleine revealed some of the tribulations that come with the third trimester in the caption. 'Everything I wear looks ridiculous AND nothing fits,' she said. Earlier this week, Madeleine shared an honest update on the final stages of her pregnancy Back in January, Madeleine announced she was pregnant with her seventh child - a decade on from her most recent birth. She revealed the surprising news in an Instagram post. In the photo, she her growing baby bump in a tight-fitting tank top that was lifted to reveal her bare tummy. 'WHOOPS!' she captioned her post. 'Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG! 'It's not too much Christmas pudding either. I couldn't be happier.' Kim Kardashian flaunted her jaw-dropping curves in a skimpy silver bikini as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday. The SKIMS founder, 44, looked incredible in the busty two-piece which she teamed with a matching maxi skirt. Kim showed off her toned figure in the triangle top and matching bottoms to her 357million followers as she snapped a bathroom mirror selfie. The reality star styled her long dark tresses loose in waves as she headed outside to soak up the sun. She simply penned: 'Spring Break'. The time off comes as Kim inches closer to becoming an attorney in the state of California, after she began studying law in 2019. Kim Kardashian flaunted her jaw-dropping curves in a skimpy silver bikini as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday Kim showed off her toned figure in the triangle top and matching bottoms to her 357million followers as she snapped a bathroom mirror selfie TMZ reported on Friday that the reality TV diva has taken a 'pivotal test that's required to practice law.' The mother of four took the MPRE - Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination - on Wednesday, the site claimed. The location was at a testing center in Alhambra, California, and Kim had to go in alone like any other regular person. It is a key test on legal ethics and professional conduct. The site also shared that the test is necessary if she wants to take the bar. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians veteran passed the 'baby bar' exam in 2021 and reportedly plans to take the bar in 2026. In 2018 Kim started her dream of wanting to become a lawyer like her father, the late Robert Kardashian who worked on OJ Simpson's case. She started her law apprenticeship in the state of California in mid 2019. Kim is smart to study the law, not just because she owns so many businesses like SKIMS and SKKN, but she also has some issues with her ex-husband Kanye West. The SKIMS founder, 44, looked incredible in the busty two-piece which she teamed with a matching maxi skirt Kardashian is reportedly considering changing her custody agreement with West after he released a song featuring their eldest daughter, North, without her approval. According to TMZ, Kardashian is seriously debating taking West who now goes by Ye to court to request a judge strip him of joint legal custody. The former couple, who married in 2014, settled their divorce in 2022, agreeing to joint physical and legal custody of their four children: North, 11, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and five-year-old Psalm. Physical custody is reportedly not an issue, as Kanye rarely sees his children, and Kim still wants them to have a good relationship with their father. However, decision-making regarding the children has become a point of contention, TMZ's report said. The former couple's divorce agreement states they must attend a private hearing with a judge if conflicts arise regarding their children. Kim requested an emergency hearing with their lawyers, a mediator, and a judge after learning Kanye planned to release a song featuring North and rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Although Kanye skipped the meeting, he reportedly agreed not to release the track, titled Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine. However, the rapper released the song on X the following day, declaring men 'make the final decision'. He also shared a text exchange with Kim, in which she opposed their daughter's involvement with Combs, who is currently facing legal issues. It comes as Kim is getting closer to becoming an attorney in the state of California; seen on March 2 in Beverly Hills TMZ reported on Friday that Kim has taken a 'pivotal test that's required to practice law.' Her law studies may be coming in handy in time for a showdown with Kanye West; seen in 2019 Kim apparently texted Kanye: 'I asked you at the time if I can trademark her name. You said yes. When she's 18, it goes to her. So stop. 'I sent paperwork over so she wouldn't be in the Diddy song to protect her.' Kanye responded by asking Kim to 'amend' the legal papers or risk 'going to war.' He added: 'And neither of us will recover from the public fallout. You're going to have to kill me.' Kanye later posted a lengthy rant on X, accusing the 'Kardashian mob' of restricting his parental rights and likening their custody arrangement to 'visitation' in 'jail'. An insider told Page Six: 'Kim's priority is the well-being and safety of her children and to protect them from being around Kanye's controversial behavior.' Kelsey Stratford has revealed that she earning far more money now than she ever did when she starred on TOWIE after becoming an OnlyFans star. The reality star spent two years as a carer before launching a page on the X-rated subscription site, which sees many of its members uploading sexy snaps and videos. Kelsey, 24, said told the Sun that she worried about what people would think if she joined the website but she was persuaded by a management company. The TV personality, who worked as a carer for her disabled sister before signing up, left the UK behind and moved to Dubai where she shoots content. Revealing that the decision paid off financially almost immediately, she said: 'On the first night I made much more than what I would earn in the whole month from my job, So I was like, yeah, this is crazy.' She thinks a lot of people who follow her are fans of the show, saying: 'I would say a lot of them are Towie fans. Because a lot of them message and they're like, "Is this actually you, Kelsey? Am I talking to Kelsey from Towie?" And stuff like that. Kelsey Stratford has revealed that she earning far more money now than she ever did when she starred on TOWIE after becoming an OnlyFans star The reality star spent two years as a carer before launching a page on the X-rated subscription site, which sees many of its members uploading sexy snaps and videos Kelsey previously admitted she had her world tipped upside down after she was axed from the show via a Zoom call in 2021. Overnight she went from a TV actress to her sister's carer and she revealed to the Sun that though she loved being a carer to her sibling, she couldn't help but wonder why everything changed. Now, Kelsey, who used to earn up to 300-a-day to film is cashing in more money than ever as she has joined OnlyFans as a creator. She said: 'Obviously, I loved looking after my little sister, but I just thought "Why has this happened?". Kelsey speculated that her departure was likely triggered by the lac of drama that she was bringing to the show. A representative for TOWIE said: 'Cast are contracted per series on TOWIE. The wellbeing of all current and past cast is of the upmost importance to us. 'All current and departing TOWIE cast are offered access to our robust welfare and psychological support if required.' Kelsey was axed from TOWIE in 2021 alongside nine other cast members after joining the show in 2019. Overnight she went from a TV actress to her sister's carer and she revealed to the Sun that she loved being a carer, she couldn't help but wonder why everything change Now, Kelsey, who used to earn up to 300-a-day to film is reportedly cashing in more money than ever as she has joined OnlyFans as a creator At the time, TOWIE bosses were accused of acting 'irresponsibly' after cruelly axing the 10 young cast members 'without warning'. The devastated group, including Kelsey, were sacked ahead of the start of the 29th series in hastily arranged meetings in August, which many wrongly believed were storyline consultations. MailOnline revealed the brutal cull left the cast 'distraught' after they were sold a dream by TV bosses and are now facing financial hardship in incredibly tough economic times. A talent management source told MailOnline: 'It has been a challenging two years for most people financially, this was their career and TOWIE effectively sacked a bunch of youngsters from their jobs and for what reason? 'There was no problem with anyone on the show, they could have given them another six months or the chance to look for other opportunities, but to just fire them all overnight was irresponsible. 'The cast believed they were meeting producers for a catch-up ahead of filming resuming in August, so everyone was ready and excited with their updates but without warning they were booted off the show.' Kelsey's confession comes after she hit out at Popworld in Southend after her disabled sister, Kennedy, 12, was refused entry to a disco because she can't sit or stand up. Kennedy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 at just a few weeks old and is paralysed from the neck down, and is unable to speak or swallow properly. She slammed the venue for turning away Kennedy after being let into the Little Ravers event. The reality star said her sister, who was thoroughly enjoying the disco, has been 'hurt' by the whole experience and could overhear staff telling her carers she had to leave. Kelsey's confession comes after she hit out at Popworld in Southend after her disabled sister, Kennedy, 12, was refused entry to a disco because she can't sit or stand up Kelsey has slammed the venue for turning away Kennedy at their Little Ravers event. The reality star said her sister has been 'hurt' by the whole experience A spokesperson for Popworld told MailOnline: 'We're very sorry for the distress this situation has caused Kennedy and her family' [Popworld in Southend pictured] 'My sister battles every single day with a cruel illness that has taken her ability to move but not her beautiful mind,' the former reality star told The Sun. 'She was so excited to finally feel included at a kids rave, only to be unfairly thrown out because she couldn't sit up, she faces unimaginable struggles every day, yet this was a moment she truly looked forward to, something that could have brought her joy. 'Now, she feels even more left out and hurt in a life that has already given her so much pain. How is that fair?' Kelsey's stepfather Paul also hit out at Popworld on social media. He wrote: 'So yesterday my beautiful princess Kennedy had a ticket to Little Ravers xmas party @ Popworld Southend. 'Kennedy had been looking forward to this for a year as she loves both a rave and party. 'They let Kennedy in and all was OK, only for them to come up to us stating unless Kennedy can sit up she will have to leave, had to take a breath before realising they were throwing out a little girl, who was already dancing and singing, out because she couldn't sit or stand! 'To make it worse, the Deputy Manager, said she can't do anything about it, Kennedy can't be in there due to the risk. 'Remember Kennedy is hearing all this, cognitively she is not disabled, as they demand she leaves like she is a threat to the public and other children! Disgusting behaviour from the individuals involved!!' MailOnline contacted TOWIE's representatives for a comment. Elizabeth Sobinoff has provided her fans with a pregnancy update. The former Married At First Sight bride, 34, took to Instagram on Sunday to show off her huge baby bump while also lamenting on the often harsh reality of pregnancy. 'I got dressed up to get Easter chocolate for the family and a frappe,' she captioned the post, before adding: 'I walked for 10 min and started cramping. 'I wanted to feel remotely good,' she said in the caption, along with a snap of her wearing a pink floral frock and a full face of makeup. The reality star went on to say that she knew it would be 'all worth it' in the end. 'Hormones you are MEAN,' she wrote, adding: 'That sliding door of excitement and joy but emotional energy sucking the life out of me.' Elizabeth Sobinoff (pictured) provided her fans with a pregnancy update and showed off her huge baby bump on Sunday The former Married At First Sight bride, 34, took to Instagram to show off her huge baby bump while also lamenting on the often harsh reality of pregnancy She posted a number of snaps in the photo dump, include a few selfies and some snaps with her daughter, whom she welcomed with husband Alex Vega in November 2023. It comes after Lizzie revealed a recent debilitating health condition during her second pregnancy. After first believing the problem was conjunctivitis, Lizzie said she was alarmed to learn from doctors her eyelid was infected by cold sores. In her accompanying caption of the Instagram post, she said the condition could lead to serious issues. 'The beginning of last week started off with knowing I was rundown but I was powering through,' she said in the post. 'Then as the week progressed, my eye swelled shut and I thought ''conjunctivitis" which I dont think Ive ever had before. '[A] doctor's appointment and a swab later, I have cold sores in my eyelid and what looks to be a secondary infection, the swab didnt indicate conjunctivitis. 'Antibiotics and antivirals and rest is what I need. 'I got dressed up to get Easter chocolate for the family and a frappe,' she captioned the post, before adding: 'I walked for 10 min and started cramping' It comes after Lizzie revealed a recent debilitating health condition during her second pregnancy 'Cold sores in the actual eye can be very serious and lead to very serious complications. According to the NHS website, symptoms of a cold sore in the eye include pain, a swollen eyelid and blisters around the eye. A viral infection, a cold sore in the eye is known as 'eye herpes' or 'ocular herpes' (herpes simplex virus-1, HSV-1). If untreated it can lead to vision loss, scarring and corneal ulcers. Lizzie announced her pregnancy in January. The former MAFS bride, who appeared in seasons six and seven of the hit Australian series, is expecting a baby boy in April. Jack Tweed has insisted that his late wife Jade Goody would be unhappy about the war between her ex Jeff Brazier and mother Jackiey over her youngest son Freddy. Jack and Jade married in February 2009, just a month before she tragically passed away from cervical cancer aged 27, leaving behind her sons Bobby, 21, and Freddy, 20. After her death, the two boys - then aged five and four - went to live with their father Jeff, 45, with her mum Jackiey, 68, helping him raise them. However, Jeff and Jackiey have clashed multiple times over the years and now the TV star is taking action in an attempt to legally block contact between Freddy and his grandmother, 'to keep him safe'. Reflecting on the feud, Jack - who has stayed close with the two boys - has insisted that Jade wouldn't have wanted the animosity towards her mother, but added that the late star had been determined that Jackiey wouldn't raise her sons either. In a new interview with the Sun, he admitted that he didn't think that Jackiey was in the 'right place' to be raising the boys, but insisted that Jade wouldn't want her completely cut out. Jack Tweed has insisted that his late wife Jade Goody would be unhappy about the war between her ex Jeff Brazier and mother Jackiey over her son Freddy (seen with Jade in 2006) After her death, the two boys - then aged five and four - went to live with their father Jeff, 45, with her mum Jackiey, 68, helping him raise them (pictured with Jeff) However, Jeff and Jackiey have clashed multiple times over the years and now the TV star is taking action in an attempt to legally block contact between Freddy and his grandmother, 'to keep him safe' (Jackiey seen in 2019) He said: 'Maybe at the minute, Jackiey isn't in the right place to see the boys and bring them up because she doesn't make the right decisions sometimes and she might let the boys get away with things that most parents wouldn't. But he added he was sympathetic to Jeff, as he felt the TV presenter has 'not really got too much choice' but to prioritise Freddy's mental health, rather than Jackiey's desire to see them. While Jack confessed that he that he knew Jade would not 'be over the moon' about the war between Jeff and Jackiey, as he said she had been determined not to let her sons have the same upbringing that she had. Jackiey is a former drug addict, who lost the use of her left arm in a motorbike accident, openly admitted smoking crack cocaine while Jade was a child, and in 2010 a video emerged of her taking cocaine. Jack said: 'Its hard because I'd never ever sit here and slag Jackiey off because I wouldn't ever do that to Jade. Jade wouldn't like that. Obviously, she's not going to be over the moon about what's going on, but at the same time she knew she struggled with her childhood with Jackiey, so she knew she wouldn't want the same for her boys. 'Her whole life the main thing was she didn't want her boys having the same upbringing as what she did, which obviously they haven't, they've had a nicer upbringing with Jeff, but she wouldn't want Jackiey doing things that she wouldnt have with the boys.' While he's stayed in touch with both the boys over the years, Jack explained that Freddy previously struggled to see him because it stirred up memories of Jade. However, he said they have been speaking a lot more lately and making plans to meet up, after Freddy recently revealed he has been diagnosed with bipolar in a candid video about his 'serious' mental health. Reflecting on the feud, Jack - who has stayed close with the two boys - has insisted that Jade wouldn't have wanted the animosity towards her mother, but added that the late star had been determined that Jackiey wouldn't raise her sons either (seen with Bobby and Freddie in 2009) While Jack confessed that he that he knew Jade would not 'be over the moon' about the war between Jeff and Jackiey, as he said she had been determined not to let her sons have the same upbringing that she had (seen with sons in 2006) Jack said: 'With Freddy, I havent seen him for a while because I think it was tough for him. Where I'm mostly connected to his mum, I think it was a bit tough for him to see me because it would bring back a lot of memories. It was hard for him, but I think he's ready and in the right place for me to see him'. Until very recently, Freddy regularly stayed with Jackiey in her two-bedroom council flat - where Jade grew up - and from where hes posted a video on TikTok of him appearing to smoke cannabis. After a recent three weeks stay there, he returned to his fathers home in Essex two weeks ago and it is understood that this was the last straw for Jeff, who is now taking legal advice as to how to keep them apart, permanently. It's been reported that he has sought the advice on the grounds of keeping Freddy 'safe from a relationship that has been incredibly detrimental to his well being for a long time now. But Jackiey has insisted to the Mail this week that her flat is a place of sanctuary for Freddy, and the two get on well, saying: My house is safe for Freddy, and it always has been since he was little. The boy is an adult now, and Jeff treats him like hes ten. It made sense seven years ago when Freddy was still 13 when Jeff first tried to stop him from seeing me, but now hes 20 years old. What possible basis does he have? And do you know what? Hes a clever boy Freddy. Hes not stupid. After Jeff hired a leading barrister for the upcoming hearing, Jackiey hit out at the proceedings, telling MailOnline on Monday: 'I know what this is all about. It [the situation with Jeff] doesn't matter. It doesn't matter.' However, he said they have been speaking a lot more lately and making plans to meet up, after Freddy recently revealed he has been diagnosed with bipolar in a candid video about his 'serious' mental health (pictured in November) It's been reported that Jeff has sought the advice on the grounds of keeping Freddy 'safe from a relationship that has been incredibly detrimental to his well being for a long time now. She asked: 'Do I want to see Freddy? Of course I do. I see Freddy all of the time. I will see him.' In 2021, Bobby confirmed in an Instagram video that he was back in contact with his nan after losing touch. He said: 'I didn't see her for ages - for way too long - but I went to see her twice recently. 'And honestly if there's one woman you shouldn't underestimate it's my nan. Honestly, she's like a wizard! It's nuts.' Friends of the family said Jackiey and Jeff, who has looked after the boys since Jade's death, fell out some years back and have not been able to repair their relationship. In 2023 Jackiey was banned from attending the Strictly final, where Bobby was pipped to the post by Ellie Leach, amid her ongoing feud with Jeff. One friend told the Mail: 'Jeff and Jackiey haven't got on for a long time and it has been hard. It has meant that Jackiey hasn't been able to be in the audience to watch Bobby, things are just too bad between her and his father... 'He and his brother Freddy are her only grandchildren and she adores them, there is nothing she would love more than to be there to watch him live.' Friends of the family said Jackiey and Jeff, who has looked after the boys since Jade's death, fell out some years back and have not been able to repair their relationship In 2023 Jackiey was banned from attending the Strictly final, where Bobby was pipped to the post by Ellie Leach , amid her ongoing feud with Jeff (Jackiey pictured in 2019) Jack also said at the time that Jade would want her mum to be at the studio to watch Bobby dance on one of the biggest television events of the year. Jade's ex-husband added that Jackiey had 'an absolute right' to watch her grandson after she was banned amid her feud with Jeff - who she said had been a 'c**k for nine years' in an interview with Mail Online earlier this month. In September that year, she secretly got tickets to the National Television Awards to watch Bobby get a Rising Star gong for playing Freddie Slater in EastEnders and it was there that she was recorded branding Jeff a 'c***'. Jackiey addressed the row with Jeff when speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'When I came out for the NTA Awards, I'm loud and it's the drink and someone went 'oh I bet you're really proud' and 'how do you get on with Jeff Brazier' and I said "he's a c**k". 'Next minute I'm on the internet and all over the papers. As I came out of the O2, someone overheard me say it, so they sold the story.' When asked if she said it and why, Jackiey fumed: 'Of course I said it. I haven't got a problem with (calling him that). 'He's been a c**k for f****** nine years. Bobby doesn't need that stress on his head. He's my grandson.' Mark Wright's sister Natalya shared adorable snaps with her baby niece Palma as the family celebrated Mother's Day with a swanky beachside lunch. As the Wright family headed to the Roslin Beach Hotel for lunch, Natalya, 24, took to Instagram to share snaps with baby Palma, gushing that her family were already 'obsessed' with the newborn. Mark and his wife Michelle welcomed their first child together, daughter Palma Elizabeth on March 6. Natalya's snaps showed her holding little Palma, who was wearing her personalised cardigan, while another showed her sweetly clutching the baby's hand. She captioned the post: 'Auntie got her first lil girlie. Palma Elizabeth Wright... 'We are all so obsessed with you already little darling, the perfect princess. Sooo proud of you both @michkeegan @wrighty_.' Mark Wright's sister Natalya shared adorable snaps with her baby niece Palma as the family celebrated Mother's Day with a swanky beachside lunch The Wright family headed to the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex for lunch, with Mark's sister Jess also sharing snaps from the outing on Instagram Jess Wright then took to social media to share snaps from the family lunch, including an image of mother Carol and dad Mark Snr holding little Palma. The former TOWIE star also shared cute snaps of her son Presley playing on the beach as the family enjoyed the lunch. It also comes after Michelle shared a glimpse into her sunny day out in London with Mark and their baby girl with her Instagram followers on Friday, as she enjoyed sashimi and salmon nigiri. The excited actress quipped: 'Waited a long time for you'. Hours earlier the former Coronation Street star revealed that she had been 'rotating between her pyjamas and joggers'. Michelle and Mark have so far only shared a glimpse at their baby girl as they uploaded black and white pictures. Over the weekend, the actress shared a close-up shot of her baby girl's tiny foot on her Instagram Stories. Mark has described fatherhood as the 'biggest achievement' of his life since welcoming baby Palma into the world with Michelle on March 6. Natalya's snaps showed her holding little Palma, while she gushed that she was already 'obsessed' with the newborn One of her images showed Natalya clutching her baby niece's hand, after Mark and his wife Michelle Keegan welcomed their first child on March 6 She also shared a sweet and black and white snap as she met baby Palma for the first time Jess also shared glamorous snaps from the family's celebratory lunch, joined by mother Carol, and her father Mark Snr One of Jess' snaps showed her posing at the eatery with her adorable son Presley, two As they enjoyed the balmy weather, Jess also shared a cute image of little Presley playing on the beach as the sun set Mark and his wife Michelle Keegan welcomed their first child together, daughter Palma Elizabeth on March 6 Chatting with his best friend and fellow dad Olly Murs on his Heart Breakfast show, Mark recalled the moment he first held his newborn daughter in his arms. Mark fought back emotions as he said: 'Mate, it's actually hard to put into words. 'It's the biggest achievement of my life its all I think about but obviously hats go off to my wife she is an absolute super human, a superhero for bringing this baby into the world.' Sharing his appreciation for Michelle, he added: 'It makes you realise what our mums did for us and makes me have so much more respect than I already had and what women had to go through. 'It's the best feeling in the world. I wake up every morning just so excited to see her face.' Recalling the first moment he held Palma, he continued: 'That moment when I held her in my arms, it gets me emotional now thinking about it. 'I suppose everything else goes out the window and its made me realise what life is all about and my little baby Palma I love you so much and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. 'It's a very special feeling. I cant really put it into words. We've waited a little bit of time, we've chased our dreams and our careers and now we're here. We've got a baby.' Mark and Michelle announced the news of their daughter's birth earlier this month with a sweet snap shared to Instagram. In a sweet black-and-white photo, the proud new parents held Palma's tiny hand, with the newborn dressed in a crochet set. It's believed the couple chose the name Palma because of their strong links to Mallorca, their go-to holiday destination and the setting for their pregnancy reveal photo shoot. Michelle married Mark in May 2015 and the couple live together in an Essex mansion they built from scratch. Advertisement Rupert Murdoch's 'wild child' granddaughter Charlotte Freud has found love with Hollywood actor Isaak Presley, 22, following the shock collapse of her marriage. And the 25-year-old hard launched their new relationship in a western-themed photo shoot over the weekend. The London-born daughter of PR guru Matthew Freud and media exec Elisabeth Murdoch locked lips with the Netflix star as they dressed in coordinating cowboy-style ensembles. Charlotte jumped into her new beau's arms and straddled him for the steamy pictures, while he romantically dipped and kissed her in another image. '(Yee) Haw-d launch,' she wrote in the caption, as he responded, 'You got me feelin luckier than a cowboy with two aces in his boot.' Charlotte showed off her sensational figure in a pair of denim booty shorts teamed with fishnet stockings, a fringed belt and matching fringed cowboy boots. Rupert Murdoch's 'wild child' granddaughter Charlotte Freud has found love with a Hollywood actor Isaak Presley, 22, following the shock collapse of her marriage And the 25-year-old hard launched the new relationship in a Western-themed photo shoot over the weekend Meanwhile, Issac was every inch the heartthrob in jeans, a Western shirt, a buckled belt and a cowboy hat. Charlotte is living with her new beau - who goes by the nickname 'Cowboy' owing to his love of horse riding - in Los Angeles, where she is focusing on writing musicals. Friends say Isaak, who starred in the screen hits Fuller House with John Stamos and Stuck in the Middle alongside rising star Jenna Ortega, is a good match for Charlotte. They are both sober having struggled with alcohol and narcotics addiction in the past - with Charlotte's former hedonistic lifestyle earning her the unsavoury 'wild child' label. Charlotte appeared to confirm the relationship after tagging him in her bed in her latest Instagram post last month. The couple also exchanged a set of flirty messages in the comments as Isaak asked: 'Is this a date?' MailOnline have contacted Charlotte for comment. The London-born daughter of PR guru Matthew Freud and media exec Elisabeth Murdoch locked lips with the Netflix star as they dressed in coordinating cowboy-style ensembles Charlotte jumped into her new beau's arms and straddled him for the steamy pictures, while he romantically dipped and kissed her in another image Charlotte is living with her new beau - who goes by the nickname 'Cowboy' owing to his love of horse riding - in Los Angeles , where she is focusing on writing musicals Friends say Isaak, who starred in the screen hits Fuller House with John Stamos and Stuck in the Middle alongside rising star Jenna Ortega , is a good match for Charlotte Charlotte previously married British rapper Luke Storey - 15 years her senior - in 2022. They wed at St Mary's Church in Westwell, Oxfordshire in 2022, with her grandad Rupert flying in amid his divorce from his fourth wife, Texan supermodel Jerry Hall. Guests included film star Woody Harrelson and TV presenter Claudia Winkleman. However the pair split just 14 months later - though she claims it was over almost immediately after saying 'I do'. 'We had been married for 12 hours when our whole world fell apart,' she explained. 'He relapsed on the way to our honeymoon. It wasn't a great sign.' Charlotte, now 25, met Luke a self-confessed recovering drug and alcohol addict when she was just 18 and he was 33. He encouraged Charlotte to join Narcotics Anonymous, helping to end her addiction to ketamine. She once admitted that she used ketamine so frequently during high school that peers nicknamed her 'K-angel' after the drug. Charlotte appeared to confirm the relationship after tagging him in her bed in her latest Instagram post last month The couple also exchanged a set of flirty messages in the comments as Isaak asked: 'Is this a date?' Charlotte previously married British rapper Luke Storey - 15 years her senior - in 2022, however the pair split 14 months later Isaak (middle left) pictured in Stuck In The Middle back in 2016 She said she struggled to cope with the high-profile scandals involving her family and 'overcompensated' for her glamorous upbringing by rebelling at school. Charlotte said she soon realised that recovery would play a big part in her marriage. She said: 'It felt like there were three people in the relationship me and him and our recovery. 'If our recovery was strong then we were strong, and if it wasn't we were falling apart. We had a great relationship when we were sober, but neither of us could stay sober. 'The wedding was so public and everyone thought our relationship was amazing.' Her new boyfriend Isaak has also has his own battles with addiction, after he told fans in January this year that he's three years sober 'off of, like, pills. But Im six months sober off of drinking and excess, other things like weed and shrooms.' He penned: '2 years ago today, I decided to change my life for the better. I encourage anyone struggling to reach out to someone and make that change for yourself, I promise you wont regret it.' In 2023 he was arrested for an incident - which he says was unrelated to his addiction battle - that made him realise he wanted to make some lifestyle changes. 'I just realised, like, I was still a prisoner under a coping mechanism that wasnt healthy.' Advertisement US actor Patrick Schwarzenegger jetted into Sydney on Sunday ahead of the Australian launch of HBO's streaming service MAX. The White Lotus star, 31, looked downcast as he was greeted by some dreary rainy weather. He opted for comfort for his long-haul flight, slipping into an all-brown co-ord tracksuit with a matching cap pulled down over his head. The son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver added a pop of colour with a bright orange watch. The Grown Ups actor was joined by his co-stars Leslie Bibb and Natasha Rothwell. Leslie, 51, was all smiles as she battled the Sydney wind, wearing a comfortable black shirt and matching trousers. She kept warm under a grey coat and finished her look with shiny black combat boots. US actor Patrick Schwarzenegger jetted into Sydney on Sunday ahead of the Australian launch of HBO 's streaming service MAX The White Lotus star, 31, looked downcast as he was greeted by some dreary rainy weather He opted for comfort for his long-haul flight, slipping into an all-brown co-ord tracksuit with a matching cap pulled down over his head Natasha, 44, was dressed in comfortable activewear teamed with a cap and Adidas trainers. The White Lotus cast members were also joined by actor Bella Ramsey. The Last Of Us star, 21, rocked a baggy long-sleeved shirt under a blue Crush top, and accessorised with her iconic black spectacles. The sighting comes after Patrick broke his silence on the infamous incest scene in White Lotus. He plays the arrogant trust fun kid Saxon Ratliff in season three of the HBO drama. But things got weird when the star's porn-addicted character was recently seen in a sexual situation with his brother Lochlan, played by Sam Nivola, on screen. In episode five, the brothers shared a drunken kiss while attending a Fool Moon Party on a Thai island with Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). Writer and director Mike White upped the ante in episode six as it was slowly revealed that Lochlan performed a sex act on his brother during their drunken night out. The Grown Ups actor was joined by his co-stars Leslie Bibb, 51, and Natasha Rothwell, 44 Leslie was all smiles as she battled the Sydney wind She protected herself from the chilly wind with a grey coat Natasha, 44, was dressed in comfortable activewear teamed with a cap and Adidas trainers The White Lotus cast members were also joined by actor Bella Ramsey, 21 The Last Of Us star, 21, rocked a baggy long-sleeved shirt under a blue Crush top, and accessorised with her iconic black spectacles Saxon was horrified when local resident Chloe told him what happened while Lochlan later remembered the events while separated from his brother. 'When you join The White Lotus, you know Mike is going to push boundaries,' Patrick explained of the incestual twist to writer Tim Teeman of C Magazine. 'That's why he's a genius. As an actor, playing the most uncomfortable scenes is the most fun because they are the biggest challenge. 'I'm not saying that scene was the most fun, but it's fun to push yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable positions because then you learn.' However, Sam, 21, didn't find the scene as fun as Patrick did, as he admitted to Variety he felt 'weird' kissing his co-star. 'It was very weird kissing Patrick because he's a really good friend of mine. And, you know, I'm straight, he's straight. It's already weird,' he said. 'Patrick was already like a brother to me. It felt sort of f***ed up.' The story-line has divided fans online; some have found it 'disturbing' while others can't wait to find out what happens next. Taking to X, fans wrote, 'The brothers from The White Lotus are disturbing me,' and, 'This is some of the most disturbing television I've watched, maybe ever.' Others speculated the two might not be biologically related, writing: 'Most likely they are not actually brothers. 'At the end they will find out their parents cheated so they are siblings with different moms [sic] and dads.' Whataburger has recruited former McDonald's executive Todd Ewen to help fast-track its continuing growth. The US fast-food chain confirmed Ewen would be taking on the role as senior vice president and chief development officer on March 24. 'I look forward to helping the leadership team reach the important growth goals they've spelled out,' Ewen said. Whataburger is understood to have poached the US-born Ewen, who has 20 years of experience, to help continue its successful nationwide expansion. 'We plan to bring Honey Butter Biscuits and great hospitality to more than 24 million new customers this year,' said Whataburger Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Alexander Ivannikov. 'Todd's deep understanding of real estate in the quick service restaurant industry will be integral in helping Whataburger execute our growth strategy, bringing delicious food and a great experience to new markets and new fans.' With this new role, Ewen will be going from working with the world's biggest burger chain to the top 100 largest in the US. The Golden arches has 14,000 locations in the US alone, compared to just over 1,000 Whataburger restaurants. Whataburger appointed former McDonald's executive Todd Ewen as senior vice president and chief development officer Ewen will be using his new role to lead Whataburger's growth strategy following its massive US expansion The Texas-based chain is working on its five-year growth plan, which president and CEO Debbie Stroud confirmed they review 'every year.' Stroud explained the review helps them decide where they can have the best impact. Part of its strategy is to continue expanding, and plans to open restaurants in North Carolina this year. 'For North Carolina specifically, this year it's the Charlotte and surrounding areas, next year it will be Raleigh and surrounding areas,' Stroud told QSR. The Texas-based chain has already expanded to six additional states, including Florida and Georgia. It is also preparing to open another location in San Antonio, Texas, through a partnership with Love's Travel Shops. Whataburger has not revealed its 2025 sales outlook, but it made over $4 billion in revenue last year. Stroud noted the company is planning to expand to other states in the future, but that fans will have to 'stay tuned.' As of 2024, Whataburger is operating over 1,000 restaurants, and plans to open more locations this year Ewen began his career as a commercial real estate officer with US Bank Corporation in 2000. He was named a McDonald's regional real estate manager in 2009, and became its development director in 2013. The executive left the fast-food chain in 2016, and founded L3 Commercial Development in Raleigh, North Carolina a year later. During those years, he led more than $300 million in lease and purchase transactions and networked with other brokers, developers, and investors. Ewen thanked the 'incredible people' he's worked with, adding that he knew Whataburger was 'something special' in a post on LinkedIn. The former McDonald's employee, who's based in North Carolina, confirmed he would be moving to San Antonio. Ewen served as McDonald's development director from 2013 to 2016 Besides the expansion, Whataburger is celebrating its 75th birthday with various offers. One of its menu additions was the Monterey Melt, which the chain claimed was a highly requested item on Instagram and Reddit. Whataburger also began offering Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee and the Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake. Other features the chain launched to celebrate its birthday include a new 'digital home' and announced a collaboration with popular apparel brand Wrangler. The company plans to offer a variety of other deals and contests leading up to its birthday on August 8. Customer service can make or break a dining experience. It can ruin a perfectly delicious meal or brighten up the most basic of take outs. Now, a new survey has revealed the surprising chains that have the best customer service, and those that are plagued by rude employees, slow service and ordering fiascos. Though extremely popular among Americans, the chain given the unenviable title of the worst for customer service was Dunkin.' The chain, known for its celebrity-partner drinks and sugary treats, received the highest percentage of negative reviews - at 1 in 10 or 10.5 percent. One recent review of a Dunkin' location in New York City complained about staff attitude and being over charged. 'Terrible customer service,' the customer fumed in a google review. 'I asked for extra milk in my hot chocolate and the cashier gave me an attitude and charged me extra for two milks and the drink didn't even have the milk.' The rankings, compiled by Coupon Pi, were created by analyzing 76,267 Google reviews of 12,750 restaurants across the country. Taco Bell, which has recently launched a new menu, came in as the second-worst for customer service, with 10.4 percent of its customer service reviews being negative. Taco Bell customer reviews complain of app glitches, complacent staff and poor drive thru experiences. 'I placed an order through the app and went through the drive thru,' a recent customer wrote of their experience at a Los Angeles Taco Bell. 'While waiting for my food, the cashier told me to move my car to the front of the store because of the timer. 'I moved my car, and when my food was done, they were gesturing me to get out of my car and go to the walk up window. 'The audacity to tell me to get out of my car when I went through the drive thru,' they added. Taco Bell was followed by Wendy's, with 9.9 percent negative reviews, Starbucks with 8.4 percent and McDonald's at 7.3 percent. However, some chains came out in a more positive light. Dunkin' was found to have the worst ratio of negative reviews for customer experience By contrast, Dave's Hot Chicken came joint first with Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Dave's Hot Chicken and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers took the joint crown as the best chains for customer service. Dave's, which specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken, has over 100 locations worldwide and counts Drake, Usher and Samuel L. Jackson among its celebrity fans. Freddy's, which also specializes in Vienna Beef hot dogs and chicken sandwiches, has over 550 restaurants across 36 states. Overall, 83 percent of reviews for both were positive on customer service compared to just 3.5 percent of reviews reporting a lackluster experience. Freddy's, founded in 2002, aims to serve guests 'with genuine hospitality in a fun, inclusive environment,' according to its website. Customers of both chains left online reviews lavishing praise on the 'warm and smiley' staff as well as the tasty food and well-maintained locations. Playa Bowls came in third with 81 percent positive reviews followed by Pita Pit, 80 percent and Arby's 77.6 percent. It comes after a beloved southern grocery chain was named the best in America for the fourth time - partly due to its customer service. Texas-based H-E-B took the top spot in the annual ranking of the 72 largest grocery stores in the US by customer data science company dunnhumby. H-E-B, which was founded 120 years ago in Kerrville, Texas, is beloved by locals for its fresh ingredients, distinctive in-house products, value and neighborly feel. The exchange of ideas between veteran foresters and the IFS probationers highlighted key challenges and the path forward for sustainable forest management Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun organised a days workshop on March 20 a 21, 2025 for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers recruited in 1974 and 1975. All officers along with their co a trainees under the Colombo plan from Nepal and Malaysia were invited. There were 32 participants including two from Nepal and one from Malaysia who took part in deliberation. Senior Foresters who retired 11 to 15 years ago, were aged between 71 and 75 years brought varying experiences from government sectors, corporations and private sectors to the table. The role of the forestry sector in combating climate change was flagged by many participants. Malaysian participant Ong Chye lye, who is engaged in forest assessment and forest auditing in several countries was forthright in his expression that conventional forestry management in the present day is changing with climate change and improvement of technology. Todayas trend is urban forestry. Foresters worldwide have been blamed for deforestation even when natural disasters like landslides, flooding, sea surges etc are more frequent and destructive. Ong has practical experience in creating urban forests overnight by transplanting saplings and young trees at several locations in Malaysia. Participants flagged the countryas commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land out of a total of 90 million hectares available in the country. This has been in response to the Paris Climate Accord setting a target to afforest 26 million hectares by 2030 so that we add 2.5 to three giga tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in addition to existing carbon (approximately seven giga tons CO2 equivalent) stored in Indiaas forest. Participants expressed concern about the progress made in fulfilling the commitment by 2030. India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 suggests that we have added only 0.6 giga tons by 2021 post a Paris Accord from all sources like forest growth, agro a forestry and degraded land restoration together. ISFR 2023 is silent about it and we cannot know whether carbon storage in our forests has gone up or otherwise. The group recommended breaking this figure of 26 million hectares into states and districts and letting the concerned Forest departments set targets for restoration by 2030. CAMPA funds can be diverted for the purpose. Sudhir Ahluwalia has the distinction of serving two States (Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh) and also the private sectors emphasised that the forestry sector is quite insignificant in providing storage for carbon, as compared to the enormity of the problem. The solution lies in the transition to cleaner energy from renewable sources like the Sun and wind. Despite several climate deals, the greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries and China continue to show a rising trajectory, which means that the speed and scale of transition are yet to pick up. Some participants claimed that the enactment of the Forest Rights Act, of 2006 was the result of statesa inaction in not recognising forest villages and strengthening the basic needs support like health, sanitation, education, water and road network, despite the centreas repeated advisories. Other participants expressed concern regarding statesa not implementing the cut a off date (December 13, 2005) in true letter and spirit, and accepting claims supported by bogus evidence leading to fresh and endless deforestation. Participants observed that claims up to lakhs of hectares are being recognised in many central Indian states before each election. It results in compromising the ecological security of the region. The only scientific evidence of satellite imagery verification, which has been rendered ineffective by the Union Tribal Ministry, is recommended to be revived for admitting claims under the law. Sundarraju, emphasised his experiences of clonal planting to boost productivity in plantations undertaken by him as MD of Tamil Nadu Development Corporation, till he retired in 2011. The data presented by him though updated till 2023. Participants hailed the research in the forestry sector which in turn has helped in quick biomass production leading to faster industrial growth. The corporations and private sectors have led from the front in inventing the clones. Later Ahluwalia in his presentation before young trainees advocated that the research in the forestry sector should be privatised, which would take the inventions to greater heights, which benefits industrial growth and helps in faster absorption of carbon. For sustainable management of trees and forest cover resources, a system of forest certification, a market a driven tool is developed, so that environmentally conscious consumers can rely on wood products from such certified sources. A participant, Arun Bansal, who, post-retirement from the government sector has been working with the national governing body of Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) a the worldas largest forest certification system, explained how it is useful for citizens to procure wood from sustainably managed forests, that leaves a minimum carbon footprint. Devendra Pandey, a participant, who has the distinction of serving Forest Survey of India as Director for seven years in two tenures, addressed young trainees by explaining how modern technologies like remote sensing, GIS and computers are supporting the forestry sector in the country in measuring and monitoring the forest resources accurately that helps in effective planning and management of forests. As biotechnology helps in enhancing productivity, the technologies developed by the Forest Survey of India should be employed in the sector for better management and penetration. Suraj Shreshta, a participant from Nepal narrated his fight through PIL in Nepalas Supreme Court to save 8045 hectares of forests proposed for Nijagagh International Airport, in the corridor connecting Protected Areas in the Terai Arc region of India and Nepal. The court hailed the effort of Shreshta, declared EIA null and void and saved 2.4 million trees from the axe. CK Sreedharan, a participant who has the distinction of serving the private sector for more than a decade after superannuation from the government, chose to address young trainees on developing professional excellence. He advised to develop general, emotional, spiritual, moral, physical and social intelligences. He also emphasised the need for acquiring knowledge and skills in using artificial intelligence. All these will benefit in developing a passion for forestry, a clear goal and objectives, competence, self-confidence without ego, continuous learning and emotional control and trainees would be in a better position to take the country forward towards aViksit Bharata by 2047. (The writer is a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Force, Karnataka. Views expressed are personal) The 44 personnel from nine friendly foreign countries (FFCs) undergoing training as part of the Indian Navyas Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar mission felt that they were receiving top-tier training from a strong security partner in the Indian Ocean region. Participants from the Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania have been undergoing training for the past four days at various naval professional schools in Kochi, including sessions at sea. The IOS Sagar initiative reinforces ongoing cooperation with Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations. As part of this mission, the offshore patrol vessel, INS Sunayna, has been renamed IOS Sagar and deployed with a combined crew of Indian personnel and officers from these friendly nations. aWe are receiving the best training,a Kenyan Navy Major O Olang told PTI. He added that Kochi feels like home, as it closely resembles the Kenyan port city of Mombasa in many ways. aItas a great experience working on Indian Navy ships, which are much larger than our own,a he added, citing that he has not experienced any sea sickness during the training. Olang underwent training with the Indian Navy in Mumbai earlier. A six-member team of Kenya comprising two officers and four sailors is part of the mission. Mauritius Coast Guard Inspector SKC Rambhojun said this kind of exercise would enhance the strong maritime partnership between both countries. aThis is the fifth time I am in India for training,a he added. According to him, the Mauritius National Coastguard, which is under the Mauritius Police Force (MPF), carries out the countryas maritime responsibilities. An eight-member team of Mauritius National Coastguard under two inspectors is participating in the mission. As India expands its naval collaborations with African nations, Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) and Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar could serve as catalysts for a deeper and enduring security partnership, according to Indian Navy officials. The participants of IOS Sagar have been deployed in whole-ship activities, watchkeeping and other events related to their respective branches or trades. A professional training to familiarise the participants with the procedures of naval operations within the framework of the Indian Navyas IOS Sagar mission is taking place under the Indian Navy Workup Team (INWT), for Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), in Kochi. According to Navy officers, this is the first time officers from diverse countries are attending an exercise under one ship. They are experienced personnel with service ranging from three to seven years in their respective forces, they said. The Indian Navy by way of initiatives such as IOS Sagar and exercise AIKEYME aims to further strengthen its long-standing commitment towards greater engagement with regional navies. aWhile such exercises are in line with the vision outlined by our Prime Minister Narendra Modias announcement of Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR) during his recent visit to Mauritius, they also consolidate our position as the preferred security partner in the region,a Commodore Abraham Samuel said. India and Africa give immense importance to maritime security and have reiterated their commitment to increase cooperation in tackling maritime security threats such as piracy, illegal activities including trafficking, and unregulated and unreported fishing through the sharing of information and surveillance. A large-scale multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African countries, titled aAfrica India Key Maritime Engagementa also known as aAIKEYMEa, which means aUnitya in Sanskrit, will be held in mid-April. It is an initiative to enhance interoperability with the navies or maritime agencies. The inaugural edition of the exercise is being co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peopleas Defence Force (TPDF). It will take place off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and is scheduled to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Spanning six days, the exercise will see participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts. The exercise consists of two phases-Harbour and Sea, according to Navy officials. The Harbour Phase will feature tabletop and command post exercises on piracy and information sharing, as well as training in seamanship and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations. The Sea Phase will include seamanship drills, search and rescue operations, VBSS exercises, small arms firing, and helicopter operations, further strengthening maritime cooperation in the region. IOS Sagar will leave for Karwar and then sail to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the aAIKEYMEa exercise in April, Navy officers said. As many as 12 terrorists have been killed while some civilians lost their, lives in drone attacks by Pakistani security forces on a militant hideout in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country. The acounter-terrorism operationa on Saturday morning targeted hideouts of terrorists in the remote hilltop area of Katlang in the Mardan district, the provincial government said in a press note. It confirmed the civilian casualties and suggested that women and children might be among the victims. Later, official reports said 12 terrorists were killed during the operation. The press note, issued on Saturday, said the operation was based on acredible intelligencea about armed militants using the location as a hideout and transit point. It said aseveral high-value targets linked to ongoing militant activities in the regiona were killed in the operation. aUnfortunately, subsequent reports have confirmed the presence of non-combatants, including women and children, at the periphery of the target zone, resulting in tragic civilian casualties,a the press note stated. Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Ali Amin Gandapur said the death of civilians during the operation was highly condemnable and tragic. Terming it an aimmensely painful and regrettable developmenta, the press note said every effort is made to avoid acollateral damagea. aHowever, the complex terrain, the deliberate tactics of militants to embed within civilian populations, and the fog of war can sometimes lead to unintended consequences,a it added. The government said it was providing medical assistance to the injured and facilitating relief and compensation for the victimsa families. Measures were being taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding civilian presence in the area, the press note added. aSecurity forces are committed to upholding the highest standards of operational conduct and remain focused on eliminating threats while preserving civilian safety,a it said. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, the information adviser of Khyber Pakhtunkhwaas Chief Minister, also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives, calling it a atragic and unfortunate incidenta resulting from the targeting of terrorists. aThe Pakistan government extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the affected families during this difficult time,a he said, adding the protection of civilians remains the highest priority in such operations. Another press note issued by the provincial government late on Saturday night said a thorough inquiry will be conducted into the death of civilians. The provincial government will present its clear stance on the incident after the inquiry report is released, it said. Bangladesh interim governmentas Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it is aimportanta for his country to see China as a good friend and he expects ties between Dhaka and Beijing to enter a new phase as he wrapped up his four-day China visit on Saturday. aOur relationship has been very strong over the years. Our business is very strong and we benefit from our collaboration with Chinaa, Yunus said. aHong Lei, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also the Chief Protocol Officer of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, sees off Yunus on Saturday at the Beijing Capital International Airport at the conclusion of his historic four-day official visit to China,a a post on X by Yunusa official handle said. Yunus was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by Peking University here on Friday. The Chief Adviser met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and sought stepped up investments from China to revive Bangladeshas flagging economy, hit by political and economic crisis. aItas very important that we see China as our good friend,a Yunus said, projecting Beijing as a balancing factor against New Delhi. He expects bilateral relations to enter a new stage, Yunus told Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency in an interview. After his China visit, Yunus is scheduled to visit Thailand to take part in the BIMSTEC summit. He has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but India is yet to confirm it. In his talks with Xi, Yunus urged China to play a greater role in establishing peace, prosperity and stability for both nations. A joint statement issued after the Xi-Yunus talks said Bangladesh welcomed Chinese companies to participate in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project (TRCMRP). Considering New Delhias sensitivities, the previous Sheikh Hasina government wanted India to do the Teesta river basin project. Yunus highlighted last yearas July-August studentsa mass protests in Bangladesh leading to the ouster of Hasina government in his talks with Xi, adding that the studentsa movement paved a way to build a New Bangladesh. Weeks before her ouster last year, Hasina too had made a high-profile visit to Beijing during which she held talks with Xi. Since the Yunus government took over, China has been hosting a number of Bangladesh delegations including Bangladeshas Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain and hardline Islamic parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Despite the flurry of visits, analysts say Beijing is careful in making any major commitments as it watched the unfolding chaotic situation in Dhaka and the pressure mounting on 84-year-old Yunus to hold elections. Highlighting Beijingas perspective, an opinion piece in Chinaas state-run Global Times said, afor Bangladeshas interim government, it is urgent to boost the economy and address employment issues, especially youth employmenta. aIn Bangladesh, unemployment among young people is a big challenge. The country has abundant human resources; however, nearly 40 per cent of young people are unemployeda, it said. aChief Adviser Muhammad Yunus himself knows that reinvigorating the economy requires harnessing global resources. With Americaas strategic contraction, Bangladesh is uncertain about the extent of assistance the West can provide. aChina remains a viable option for enhancing cooperation in various fields, such as industry transfer and agriculture technology improvementa, it said. After Yunus talks with Xi, the two countries signed nine agreements enhancing economic and technical cooperation between the governments and cooperation in the areas of development, translation and publication of classical literary work and cooperation on cultural heritage. Italyas far-right-led government on Friday approved a decree that expands the use of Albanian fast-track asylum processing centres to include arepatriationa hubs, in line with a recent EuropeanUnion proposal. Under the new decree, the two centres in Albania - originally aimed at processing non-vulnerable migrants rescued in international waters - will now also house migrants who arrived in Italy, had their asylum request rejected and received a deportation order. The Albanian centres have remained substantially inactive since their opening in October, due to legal hurdles and amid wide opposition from human rights associations, who believe they violate international laws and put migrantsa rights at risk. The project - which has cost nearly 800 million euros over a five-year investment - has been a disappointment for the conservative government led by Premier Giorgia Meloni. After longer than expected construction work, the first three groups of migrants transferred there in October, November and January were sent back to Italy only a few hours later, after Italian magistrates refused to validate their detention in the non-EU country. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Friday in a news conference that the new decree didnat change the bulk of the agreement with Albania, but added new functions for the centres. aThe decree changes the law that ratifies the protocol with Albania, but doesnat change its content, making it possible to transfer to the already existing (repatriation) centre of Gjader also migrants coming from Italy,a Piantedosi explained. aThat would allow us to immediately reactivate that centre so that it wonat lose its functions,a he added. The Italian move, which offers PM Giorgia Meloni a new opportunity to relaunch the costly Albanian centres, follows a European Commission proposal unveiled in March to open new areturn hubsa to be set up in third countries for rejected asylum-seekers. Only 20 per cent of people with a deportation order are effectively removed from EU territory, according to the European Commission, which presented the aEuropean System for Returnsa as a potential solution. The proposal aims to set a standard for all 27 members of the bloc and allow national authorities from one country to enforce the deportation order issued by another. Such rules were missing from the EUas migration and asylum pact approved last year. The Italian government is also waiting for a ruling by the European Court of Justice, expected this summer, which could enable the Albanian centres to operate as originally intended. by Charles Siegel We are barely two months into the second Trump administration, and already certain themes are beginning to feel stale. One of them is that its impossible to keep up with everything. The jaw-dropping outrages just keep coming, day after day. The idea that its all a deliberate effort to bludgeon us political opponents, nonprofits, lawyers who represent political opponents or nonprofits, judges, us into a feeling of helplessness and thus submission. Everything everywhere all at once. Even the feeling of being bludgeoned is beginning to curdle. There are indeed outrages every day. But the main thing now happening every day is the wrecking of the federal government. Another few thousand federal workers are fired, or another federal agency is shuttered, all in the name of ending waste, fraud, and abuse. Its virtually impossible now for any administration spokesperson to say anything without intoning these four magic words. When the government, or DOGE, or some combination of the two began firing tens of thousands of probationary workers in February, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that President Trump is rooting out the vast waste, fraud and abuse across the Executive Branch. He will deliver on the American peoples mandate to effectively steward taxpayer dollars, which includes removing probationary employees who are not missioncritical. On February 11th, with Elon Musk and his son looking on in the Oval Office, Trump said that we have already found billions and billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse. Even the Voice of America has gotten the treatment: the new director of the United States Agency for Global Media (which oversees VOA), Kari Lake, apparently appointed to oversee the near-total destruction of her own agency, stated last weekend that waste, fraud and abuse run rampant in this agency and American taxpayers shouldnt have to fund it. As mantras go, its undeniably an effective one. Who doesnt want to eliminate wasteful spending? Or spending driven by fraudulent conduct? Or spending resulting from abuse, whatever that means exactly? And who doesnt believe, or really just know in their bones, that government is inefficient, bureaucratic, sclerotic? There is indeed a vast amount of fraud on the federal government. Every single day, the government pays hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fraudulent invoices. It does so in almost every area of the economy. It pays for weapons parts that havent been tested properly. It pays funds to small business owners who fudge the requirements for receiving such loans. It pays money to companies that won contracts under the Buy American Act to supply products, but falsely certified them as made in America when they were made overseas. It pays grants to educational institutions that violate the terms of their contracts by using incentive-based compensation for student recruiters. Most of all, though, it pays fraudulent healthcare bills. For the last 20 years, a large part of my legal work has involved the representation of whistleblowers. There are many kinds of whistleblowers, and many legal contexts in which they need representation to mount a defense or to file claims of their own. My practice has entailed the representation of whistleblowers who wish to file claims under the federal False Claims Act, and/or its various state analogues. At its most basic level, a suit by a whistleblower or a relator, to use the legal term of art alleges that the federal government is being defrauded in some way. That is, it is paying out money that it shouldnt pay out, due to some type of fraudulent misconduct or misrepresentation. (A suit may often involve payments by state governments as well, but for simplicity, Ill focus on federal claims.) The False Claims Act, a statute originally enacted during the Civil War, is designed to enable the government to recover monies it paid out due to fraud. A claim for payment presented to the government, that is fraudulent in some way, is a false claim. To bring a False Claims Act suit, the relator must have independent, firsthand knowledge of the fraud. The substantial majority of my clients report fraud in the healthcare industry. They come from every sector: I have represented doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmaceutical and medical device sales representatives, corporate managers, billing personnel, state and federal auditors, and others. For example, one of my first clients was a pharmaceutical sales representative in Los Angeles. His job was to induce doctors to prescribe his companys products as opposed to those of competitors. The company gave the doctors many inducements: six-figure honoraria, free trips to plush resorts, etc. One thing my client was frequently instructed to do was to invite doctors to give talks about current developments to sales reps. These talks took place in the companys suite at the Staples Center before Lakers games. In practice, the talks almost never happened; the doctors simply mingled with the sales reps. Then, hopefully, the doctors would start prescribing the new drug in great numbers. This tended to happen, and federal healthcare programs such as Medicaid, Medicare or Tricare (which covers uniformed servicemembers, retirees and their families) paid for many of those prescriptions, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. By statute, however, such programs cannot pay for procedures or prescriptions driven by kickbacks. A claim for payment for such prescriptions is thus false within the meaning of the False Claims Act. The honoraria, the free resort trips and the Lakers tickets were all kickbacks, and the resulting prescriptions, when presented to, say, Medicare for reimbursement, were false claims. We taxpayers should not be paying for prescriptions driven by bribes. No one knows better than me, then, that fraud on the federal fisc is widespread and costly. This case is just one of hundreds of examples that might be given. Estimates vary widely, but tens, perhaps hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare costs every year are fraudulent, in both the legal and everyday senses. But this is fraud on the government, not in it or by it. It is fraud practiced on the government by companies and citizens. It is not fraud being committed by government employees. Until two months ago, the machinery of the federal government worked diligently to combat this fraud. I have worked with U.S. Attorneys offices from Boston to Los Angeles, and have known them without fail to be diligent, dedicated and efficient. The assistant U.S. attorneys, and their paralegals and investigators, work doggedly to prosecute FCA cases. The same is true for in-house attorneys, paralegals and investigators at the agencies involved (for example, for Tricare this would be the Defense Health Agency Office of the Inspector General). They work under constraints that dont burden the large law firms that represent their corporate adversaries: theyre understaffed and underpaid and they work with ancient IT systems. Yet their efforts, together with the work of whistleblowers and the bar that represents them, recover billions of dollars a year in improper healthcare payments. So I know, more than most, that waste, fraud and abuse is a pervasive problem one that the government works hard, with significant results, to address. That is why the endless invocation of waste, fraud and abuse to justify the decimation of the federal workforce is so Orwellian (to use another theme that has been stale for some time now). How will firing fraud inspectors decrease the amount of fraud? How will firing tens of thousands of Social Security Agency employees decrease the amount of disability claim fraud? How will firing 50,000 IRS employees decrease the amount of tax revenue lost to tax fraud? They wont. Curbing fraud, or recovering fraudulently-induced payments isnt the point. Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse cant be the point, because exactly the opposite will happen. Take the Department of Education, for example. President Trump announced on March 20 that he was eliminating it. He cant do that, of course only Congress can yet he still ordered its new secretary, the wrestling executive Linda McMahon, to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of her own department. But he had already abruptly fired over 1300 employees. Roughly 160 of them worked for the School Eligibility and Oversight Service Group, which is responsible for administering a program of eligibility, certification, financial analysis, and oversight of schools participating in Federal Student Aid programs. (As of March 20, Department of Education websites were still up.) In a LinkedIn post, an experienced review specialist in this office described his work as overseeing the compliance and performance of various student funding programs and institutions by evaluating signs of fraud, gross mismanagement, or widespread noncompliance with federal regulations that could jeopardize student aid funds. When fraud is detected, he documents evidence to support the allegations and prepares recommendations for appropriate administrative actions, such as limitation, suspension, termination, or fines. In other words, this dedicated federal employee the kind of person who Garrett Graff, in his review of the recent book by Michael Lewis, John Lanchester and others, Who is Government?, describes as people painfully aware that theyre stewarding government resources, doing so artfully under tight constraints, all of whom could be doing something for more money elsewhere works to detect and remedy fraud related to federal student aid funds. He now says that with the number of employees in his office slashed by 80%, thousands of institutions and foreign schools have been given the green light to waste, abuse, and create fraud with federal financial aid funds with zero oversight. Another obvious example, with vastly more money at stake, is the ransacking of the IRS. So far, 11,000 employees have been fired, but the administration (or Musk, or DOGE again, it is never exactly clear) has announced plans to fire up to half of the Services current workforce of 100,000 employees. Tax cheats no doubt approve. One of the fired IRS employees had started there six months ago. According to the Wall Street Journal, he had been hired to streamline spending on IT. Now that spending wont be streamlined, which of course means it will revert to being wasteful. And when the IRS eventually has half the staff it currently has, how will it fulfill its basic duties of collecting taxes, auditing returns, and pursuing tax evaders? It wont, of course. It cant. Already the effects are being felt. The New York Times interviewed a recently fired employee who had joined a team that had started an audit of a company earning roughly $3 billion a year. The IRS had never examined the firm before, because it never had enough employees qualified for such a complex audit; by hiring this person and thousands of other experienced tax professionals like her last year, the IRS was trying to fill those gaps and rebuild its ability to enforce tax laws after years of decay. The effort was expected to help the United States recoup billions in additional tax revenue. But many of the 11,000 people laid off so far worked in her division too, and now what she characterized as a slam dunk case may not be finished. On March 22nd, the Washington Post reported that the IRSs head of compliance had resigned the previous day. The Post also reported that the agency now predicts a decrease of more than ten percent in tax receipts by the April 15 deadline. This decrease is directly tied to changing taxpayer behavior and the rapid demolition of parts of the IRS. Agency officials have noticed an upstick in online chatter from individuals declaring their intention to not pay taxes this year or to aggressively claim credits and deductions for which they are ineligible wagering that auditors will not examine their accounts. The lost tax revenue will likely exceed $500 billion. If Congress does not reduce spending by the same amount, the government would need to borrow more money to meet its needs, thus increasing the national debt. All of this, of course, is to say nothing of the economic consequences of these mass layoffs the hundreds of thousands of persons suddenly without a job and a paycheck, and the knock-on economic effects to follow. And the noneconomic consequences as well: the millions of visits to national parks that will be canceled or curtailed due to deep staffing cuts at the National Park Service; the inevitable increase in suicides among veterans, now around 20 a day, as cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs mean fewer staff to help them get treatment for mental health conditions; chaos in the nations organ transplant system, as cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services eliminate a new program recently implemented to address problems in the system. Fewer food inspections, fewer airplane inspections, dirtier water. A smaller, meaner, more dangerous, hollowed-out society. In any event, there certainly wont be less waste; the government will waste more money. There wont be less fraud, because fewer people will be fighting to address it. And there wont be any less abuse. If you want to abuse your right to Social Security benefits by claiming a higher level of disability than you really have, there will be far fewer personnel around to catch you. Waste, fraud and abuse is a lie, if a very effective one. Orwell would have recognized it at once. After all, he wrote in Politics and the English Language, it is always euphemism and vagueness that must be deployed in the defense of the indefensible. Derry City and Strabane District councillors have agreed to write to the Executive voicing their concerns about a possible 19,000 increase in MLA pay. The move followed a motion on the issue proposed at Wednesdays full Council meeting by Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) and seconded by Cllr Raymond Barr (Independent). Introducing his motion, Cllr Harkin said everyone should be very concerned about the proposal to increase MLA pay by 38%, which amounted to a figure of between 19,000 and 20,000. The vast majority of people have not seen pay rises anywhere near this over the last decade. Even when there have been strikes, and successful strikes, over the last couple of years, people havent seen this type of pay rise, said Cllr Harkin. He added: It is also the case that MLAs, in my opinion, are already very well paid in relation to the vast majority of people who are watching this discussion. That is why, when you look at any poll that has been done, the results have shown that the overwhelming majority of people right across our society do not support a 38% or 20,000 pay increase for MLAs. When you go to the Working Class, it increases to above 80%. So, if this becomes a reality, it will only have the support of a tiny number of people across all our communities. That is why I think we should not support this and we should send a message of concern to the Stormont Executive. If Stormont was actually delivering, if Stormont was functioning in a way that was delivering better health services, fixing the housing problem, doing something about mental health, dealing with out infrastructure problems which are getting worse by the day, and a whole host of other issues, it would have a good argument for saying, We actually deserve a pay raise because we have followed through on our election promises and done something about all the things you care about. But, the reality is the housing crisis is getting worse, the infrastructure problem is getting worse, the water pollution is getting worse every day and you dont reward people who are failing to deliver, said Cllr Harkin. Sinn Fein Council leader Cllr Christopher Jackson, retorted the motion contained a number of inaccuracies. He said: It is my understanding MLA pay has absolutely nothing to do with the Stormont Executive. It is my understanding there is no such proposal. But the motion is in front of us and to be fair to Cllr Harkin he has been very consistent around people voting for pay rise themselves and he joined with ourselves in rejecting pay rises for our own Council because it isnt appropriate for people to be taking decisions on their own wages. It was disappointing members of this Council decided to do that and MLAs shouldnt be in the same position. MLAs should have nothing to do with taking a decision on their own wages. Whilst we would question the accuracy of the motion, the people that are best placed to answer is the Executive so we will support the writing of a letter raising the concerns and await the response, said Cllr Jackson. Cllr John Boyle (SDLP) said if accurate, a 20,000 pay rise for MLAs was not sustainable. The SDLP certainly would not attempt to stand over a pay rise of that magnitude. Magnitude I think is the appropriate word because it is a hell of a hike. If the figures were in fact true and I dont know if they are or not, it would be a concern, said Alderman Derek Hussey (UUP). He added: I hear this morning or yesterday that MPs will be receiving a pay rise up to 93,000. I think thats the figure that has been mooted, so we should be writing to Westminster as well and complaining about their pay rise. DUP alderman Keith Kerrigan said his party would be voting against Cllr Harkins motion because MLA pay is set independently. It is not set by the MLAs and its not voted on by the MLAs. Cllr Harkns motion read: Council will write to the Stormont Executive expressing our concern at a possible 38%, 19,000, pay hike for Stormont MLAs who are already paid a basis salary of more than 51,000. Stormont MLAs are already paid 20,000 more than the average industrial wage and way above the average wage in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. Council notes a recent LucidTalk poll published in the Belfast Telegraph that found that an overall 77% majority of respondents disagreed with an increase, with outright opposition to the MLA pay hike increasing to 83% from working class poll respondents. A visibly moved Cllr Pat Murphy (Sinn Fein) has proposed that Derry City and Strabane District Council writes to Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to demand the Irish Government fully enacts the Occupied Territories Bill. The Occupied Territories Bill is a proposed law that would ban and criminalise "trade with and economic support for illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law, most notably Israeli settlements in Israeli-occupied territories. Violators would face fines of up to 250,000 and up to five years in prison. Speaking at Marchs full Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Cllr Murphy said more than 800 people had died in the past week as Israel resumed its murderous genocide on the citizens of Gaza. This is outrageous and a stain on humanity and decency, he added. The enablers and perpetrators of this genocide will not be judged kindly by history. It is crucial this work [on the Occupied Territories Bill] begins to take shape. Cllr Murphy also asked his colleagues in the chamber who would normally abstain from such votes to take into account the blood of a Palestinian child runs as red as a child from anywhere else. The grief of Palestinian parents is the same as the grief of any other person on the planet, So I think this is something that should unify us today and I would hope that everyone supports the proposal, said Cllr Murphy. Supporting Cllr Murphys proposal, Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said it was very disappointing to see Micheal Martin grovelling at the feet of the tyrant Trump in the White House recently. He added: A few days after that what was called a ceasefire in Gaza ended and Israel has killed up to 800 people this week and that was sickening. I also wanted to draw attention to the DUPs visit [to the White House]. DUP representatives have said Donald Trumps agenda is common sense and I just want to ask, what part of his agenda is common sense, his misogyny, his attacks on workers and trade unions, and his support for the slaughter in Gaza, for which the United States is now providing 80% of the weapons that are slaughtering people? said Cllr Harkin. Also supporting the motion, Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP) endorsed Cllr Murphys call for other members of the Council who do normally abstain to vote in favour. I just appeal to their human nature and think that if this was your child or this was your grandchild who was being brutally murdered and dying in front of your eyes, would you not want someone to be doing something about it, said Cllr McDaid. Cllr Murphys proposal was passed in spite of members of the Unionist bloc abstaining and voting against. Rail campaigners have welcomed plans to significantly expand university provision in Derry, but are warning that the citys infrastructure is currently unfit for that purpose - and instead risks being a barrier to student growth. The 2020 New Decade New Approach agreement, which enabled restoration of power-sharing at Stormont, included a commitment that The Executive will bring forward proposals for.the development and expansion of the UU campus at Magee College to realise the 10,000 student campus target. This commitment was reiterated in the Programme for Government that was released by the NI Executive last month. The Department for the Economy has responsibility for Higher Education, and in March 2024 its then-Minister Conor Murphy established a Magee Taskforce to map out the expansion to 10,000 students. That Taskforce released its report in December 2024 covering not just academic considerations, but also related issues like transport and accommodation. Into The West is the campaign for rail across counties Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The organisation has written to the current Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, to welcome Magee expansion - whilst also expressing concern that the citys current infrastructure is unfit to meet the needs of a greatly-expanded student cohort. In particular they have raised issue with the current timetable on the Derry-Belfast railway line, which results in Derry receiving 2,400 fewer trains a year than every station East of the Bann gets on the same line. They are therefore calling for the Minister to help secure the funding required to end this discrimination, to support the citys ability to cater for 5,000 additional students. READ NEXT: Derry rail campaigners hit out at Infrastructure Minister Chair of Into The West, Steve Bradley, explained Into the West welcomes the plan to significantly expand student numbers in Derry. The lack of a proper university in the city has been a significant source of discontent for 60 years, and we commend all who have campaigned and worked to resolve this over the years. We are concerned, however, that a similar long-standing under-investment in the citys infrastructure and particularly its public transport has left Derry ill-prepared to meet the travel demands that extra students will bring. "We have therefore raised this with the Economy Minister and in particular to highlight the blatant East-West disparity that exists in rail services on the Derry-Belfast line. Buses dont have the capacity required to move significant numbers of people, and it is in no-ones interests for Derrys streets to become clogged with hundreds of additional student vehicles. "So rail should have a central role to play in moving the extra 5,000 students in and out of Derry throughout the academic year. Yet Derry and the two other stations West of the Bann each currently receive 2,400 fewer trains a year (and over one million fewer seats) than every station East of the Bann does on the same line. "It is ridiculous that small towns and villages in the East are significantly better served on the same rail line than NIs second-largest city is. This situation is at its worst on Sundays, when Derry has only six rail services in each direction one every two hours whereas every station in the East has an hourly service, amounting to 13 trains in each direction. "There is a culture in NI of many students returning home on weekends. But the fact there are only six trains to Derry on a Sunday with those services already busy as it is will prevent rail from adequately meeting the needs of another 5,000 students. Furthermore Derry is already suffering a shortage of student accommodation, made worse by the council now stopping new student houses in the city. "There is currently only one train that reaches Derry before 9.00am on weekday mornings whereas Coleraine and even Portrush have twice as many. This means that the ability of rail to facilitate students who choose to live outside of Derry and commute in for their studies will also be heavily curtailed. "In short a mode of transport which should be a genuine enabler for the expansion of student numbers in Derry instead risks acting as a barrier or even a hand-brake on that growth. It is therefore essential that action is taken NOW to prevent that happening. Into The West are calling for the Economy Minister to acknowledge the limitation that Derrys current public transport provision will place upon its ability to facilitate 5,000 additional students, and for her to secure the funding needed to address this East-West discrimination. Steve Bradley concluded Derry has one of the busiest and fastest-growing railway stations in NI, catering for almost a million passengers a year. Introducing another 5,000 students to the city, with many traveling home on weekends or commuting in for classes, is guaranteed to see that demand increase significantly. "Yet the current timetable discrimination against the West will prevent that happening for many. There is no reason why stations West of the Bann should have a significantly poorer quality and frequency of service than every station in the East has on the same line. Its the type of blatant geographical discrimination which was supposed to have stopped in NI decades ago yet still persists in rail. "And now it risks acting as a significant barrier to the governments target of expanding student numbers to 10,000 in Derry. Were therefore calling on the Economy Minister to work with her Executive colleagues to urgently find the relatively small sum of funding required to deliver equality of service on the Derry-Belfast rail line. "This would be a quick, low cost and relatively easy way to unlock significant new rail capacity for Derry. Adding an extra one million seats to and from the city annually, ending blatant regional inequality, and ensuring that rail can become a genuine enabler to the significant growth of student numbers in NIs second city. Industrial action planned by healthcare workers as part of a row over recruitment has been suspended. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), Forsa, Connect, Unite, and the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association have suspended a work-to-rule action due to begin on Monday. The action was being taken over the HSEs pay and numbers strategy, which the INMO said imposed a fixed employment ceiling across all health services and suppressed vacant posts since December 31 2023. Workers said restrictions on recruitment were a breach of safe staffing agreements between healthcare unions and the HSE. The work-to-rule and other non-cooperation action by union members in the HSE and Section 38 voluntary hospitals was suspended after 22 hours of engagement at the Workplace Relations Commission. Proposals from those meetings are to be put to union members. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: While progress has been made with the HSE in these proposals on ensuring that vacant posts will be filled and streamlining the approval process to undo the delaying bureaucracy around the process of filling vacant posts. Nurses and midwives will now be balloted on the proposals. They will want to be assured by their employer that the delivery of safe staffing is an immediate priority. Head of Forsas health and welfare Division, Ashley Connolly, said its divisional executive met on Sunday and made the decision to stand down their industrial action to consider the proposals. For the last 18 months, we have been driven by a concern both on the effect on service delivery of the pay and numbers strategy and our members concerns about staffing services properly. Brian McAvinue from the Connect Trade Union said: While progress has been made, there is still a body of work to be done on the commitments made on delivering direct employment. The HSE said services will operate normally on Monday after agreement on a range of matters including processes for reviewing staff vacancies and for accelerating recruitment to vacant posts. HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said: We are very pleased that the threat of disruption tomorrow has been lifted and our commitment to all of our workforce and all representative bodies is reflected in the agreement. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: I want to thank everyone for their work over the weekend in reaching an agreement which will ensure that all health services will operate as normal on Monday morning, and patients can be assured that scheduled appointments will go ahead as planned. This agreement ensures patient safety and continued delivery of all essential services. We have seen unprecedented investment and growth in the number of staff working in our health service over the last five years, and I am committed to further grow and modernise the workforce to meet the needs of our growing and aging population. I am delighted that our plans to recruit over 6,500 additional staff in 2025 will continue, while this agreement will ensure that the HSE continue to operate within their allocated pay budget. On Saturday 22 March, An Taisces Clean Coasts Programme teamed up with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Carlingford Oyster Company to host an oyster farm tour in north Louth. The event, which took place at Carlingford Lough, welcomed members from Carlingford Tidy Towns and Omeath Tidy Towns to learn about sustainable oyster farming and the vital role it plays in the local environment. The award-winning Carlingford Oyster Company provided an informative and engaging tour, walking the group through the step-by-step process of oyster management and production. An oyster taste-test and lunch were also kindly provided for attendees. Carlingford Lough, is classified by the European Union as Class A the highest possible water quality grade, and was the perfect setting for this informative event. BIM also generously supplied a skip for coastline clean-ups over the weekend, which was filled with litter collected by end. The family-run business has been operating for 50 years, and produces around 2.5 million oysters per year. Approximately 60% of the companys sales are exported to the UK, with 20% sold domestically in Ireland. It takes over three years for Carlingford oysters to reach maturity, and the company maintains a close relationship with BIM. Read next: Funding for community climate engagement projects in Louth The company is one of four businesses engaged in oyster farming in the Carlingford Lough area, alongside several mussel farms, making it a key player in Irelands aquaculture industry. Clean Coasts Officer for Co Louth, Aidan Gray, expressed his gratitude after the event, stating: The farm tour visit was incredibly valuable to see up-close the operations of a working oyster farm. The owners were so kind to guide through the process and their hospitality for sampling some in their warm tasting area inside. "Their story is an inspiring one. They also are involved with keeping the coastline clean, and trying to prevent waste being produced by the farming practice. The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments. The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organisations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities. The 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. The Tanaiste Simon Harris TD today (26 March) met the Lebanese Minister for Defence, Mr Michel Menassah, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Yousseff Rajji, during his visit to Lebanon where he highlighted the case of Dundalk soldier Private Sean Rooney. He is also visiting members of the 125th Infantry Battalion, who are serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In the course of both meetings, the Tanaiste conveyed the Governments deep disappointment and dissatisfaction at the slow progress of the legal proceedings in the matter relating to the death of the Irish peacekeeper, Private Sean Rooney. He continued: The continued delay in court proceedings, continues to cause deep concern to myself, to the Irish Government, the family of Private Rooney and the Irish people. Read Next: See the 18 Louth Tidy Town projects getting a share of over 100k My Government has consistently expressed determination that all of the facts and circumstances of the incident are fully established and that there is accountability for the death of Private Rooney. Ireland will continue to monitor developments very closely. The Tanaiste concluded by acknowledging that there are proceedings now before the Lebanese judicial system and expressed the hope that with a newly established Government and court structures in Lebanon, progress will be made in bringing those responsible for the death of Private Rooney to justice. An old stone-built farmhouse in West Cork features in the next episode of Home Of The Year on RTE1 on Tuesday at 8.30pm. Joan Woods and Richard Bradburn live there surrounded by animals and the sea - their children have just left for college. Joan Woods and Richard Bradburn's West Cork farmhouse on Home Of The Year Previously living in London with two small children, the family decided they needed a better quality of life and moved to West Cork. They bought this house in 2006. Home Of The Year judges Hugh, Amanda and Siobhan Estimated to originally date from the mid-19th century, the building was dilapidated, damp, and cold, with any period details long since removed. Over two years they rebuilt it using only traditional materials and methods, with natural or recycled materials, breathing new life into their home with a classic period style, natural fabrics and materials creating a warm family friendly home. The family describe the style they went for as being period, natural, rustic and organic as they wanted to be sympathetic to the farmhouse building and heritage of the property and its surroundings. Richard, an editor and writer, has his study, and Joan, an artist and perfumier, has her studio to work on and make her perfumes. How will it fare against a complete redesign home in Kildare, and an 1850s house in Dublin? Cork County Council has signed the contract on a 2m roads scheme it says will significantly improve safety and connectivity in West Cork. The local authority has appointed contractor McGinty & OShea for the construction of the R595 Oldcourt Road Realignment project in Skibbereen, a scheme which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The council said the 2 million scheme aims to significantly improve safety and connectivity for road users, residents and local businesses 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 scheme, 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, Skibbereen-based Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll said the R595 was an important route for communities and for tourism, commercial activity and access to Skibbereen town for the island communities of Sherkin and Oileann Chleire. This 2m 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, he said. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell said the Oldcourt realignment scheme was one project in an expanding programme of schemes that are being strategically delivered by the council. These projects supported by the Department of Transport focus on regional roads throughout the county, she said. Construction onsite is set to begin in May, with the project expected to be completed in October of this year. Transport for Ireland (TFI) has announced that a new bus service from Castletownbere to Dursey will launch from tomorrow. The service between Kilcrohane and Allihies will be split into two routes, encompassing the new route 263 and the current route 232. The new service will operate four daily returns from Castletownbere to Allihies, from Monday to Sunday, with two return services per day extending to Dursey. The route will also provide peak-time and evening services, along with continued connectivity to the Dursey Island cable car and to Dzongchen Beara, Cahermore, and Allihies. TFI Local Link Cork manager, David OBrien, said: TFI Local Link Cork recognises that localised transport solutions are an essential component in combating rural isolation. This new, enhanced service will provide people living along the route with access to services and onward connections on a daily basis. The enhanced service will mean a significant improvement in the quality of life for people living in these areas. People can now access a wide range of public and social services, training courses, colleges, [and] hospital appointments, supported with onward bus connections. The service, kicking off from March 31, is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, a national public transport initiative funded by the National Transport Authority. Gardai in Cork are currently investigating a number of cases of online fraud as reported cases have increased by almost 80% nationwide in 2025. This is according to data published by AIB, which shows that in January and February of this year, there was an overall increase of 79% observed in the amount of reported phone call or vishing fraud, compared to the same two months of last year. AIB have said that these fraud attempts are targeting both personal and business customers, with callers claiming to represent reputable companies and financial institutions in order to gain access to personal data. Common tricks used on these calls include offering a refund for a recent purchase, claiming to stop a payment that is fraudulent on your account or claiming to fix an issue with your broadband. During these calls, fraudsters will ask people to download software to their device or to visit a secure website, which in turn, allows them to take control of the device, and by providing codes, allows them to access personal accounts and to take money. A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said that gardai in Cork are aware of and currently investigating local incidents of fraud. An Garda Siochana, through the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), have been contacted by numerous banks and financial institutions who are experiencing very high levels of smishing (text message) fraud, the spokesperson said. Gardai advise the public not to give out their personal or banking information when receiving unsolicited phone calls, emails and texts, and not to click on any links. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud should contact their local gardai or any garda station. Head of financial crime with AIB, Mary McHale said: Fraudsters will use any means to steal your money. They will pose as legitimate companies or bank staff to trick you into downloading software and providing personal and financial information. They may even mimic a companys genuine phone number, she added. We urge people not to let their guard down and remain vigilant - take a moment and ask yourself, could this be a scam? Our fraud helpline is open 24/7 to support our customers when they need us. For more information or to report a fraud case, visit: https://aib.ie/security-centre or call the fraud helpline on 1800 24 22 27. Recruitment consultant Rachel Kiely and escalation engineer Ryan ORiordan would not have their six-year-strong relationship if it werent for the wonders of digital algorithms. Rachel, aged 28, who hails from Ballincollig, told The Echo that she first came across 27-year-old Ryan, from Kinsale, in 2019, in what was a chance encounter through the suggested friends tab on Facebook. How we met was he came up on my suggested friends one day on Facebook, I saw his picture and I went on to his profile, said Rachel. I saw that he was tall, he had dark hair, had tattoos and piercings, and he had an alternative style which would have been something I always looked for so when I saw he was in Cork, I was like how dont I know this guy? I saw that he worked in Arthur Maynes at the time and my friend Evelyn actually worked there as well, so I texted her to get the suss of him. We met then on Tinder properly I was religiously swiping through trying to find him and when I finally did come across his profile, we matched straight away. We were talking on Tinder for about a month before we got to meet up we would have met up sooner but I remember I was going away on holidays with the girls, so we didnt have the time. Rachel Kiely and Ryan O'Riordan pictured attending a friends wedding at the Radisson Hotel in Cork in 2024. We moved away from Tinder and started texting on Instagram for, like, two weeks, and then we met up when we were back at home. Detailing their first in-person encounter, Rachel said that even six years later, she and Ryan still have differing recollections of this time at the beginning of their relationship. Its funny, our stories of remembering meeting each other for the first time are very different, said Rachel. The way that I remember it is that I got on to him and said I was going to be in Crane [Lane] on such a night with the girls, and that I would come up and say hi while he was working behind the bar, and thats how we made contact. But he remembers that, on another night, I was in Crane [Lane] again, drinking wine and having a cheese board with the girls, and he dropped our food to the table. He says that I didnt know it was him, and apparently I kept brushing him off. He says he was like What the hell Rachel, its Ryan, weve been talking and I didnt even acknowledge him I dont remember that, so whether or not that happened, I cant say! We went on a first date then whenever he had time off next, we literally just hung out at his house, we watched movies and stuff, and my friend who worked with him called over as well, so the three of us hung out. Rachel Kiely and Ryan O'Riordan pictured camping in Cobh on the night they became boyfriend and girlfriend in 2019. For our first proper date, we went to Fota we took the train down and we had a really nice day walking around that was it then from there really. We were dating for about two months then before he asked me out. After that, I brought him to a festival in Berlin with my friends, which was a big test at the start of our relationship, just to see how wed get on but obviously it went really well. Since 2019, Rachel and Ryan, who could be described as kindred spirits, have moved in together, taken on the responsibility of co-parenting a pet, and spend their days doing what they love most together; going out for dinner and drinks, attending gigs and concerts, and going on as many holidays as they can. Weve been living together now for at least three years. My roommate was moving out at the time, so Ryan took his place, and since then weve gotten a cat together her name is Luna and its just the three of us, said Rachel. Ryan is so funny hes so beyond caring and just really compassionate and empathetic towards me. He always has me in his thoughts, and thankfully, hes a really good cook too Im really bad, so he definitely helps me out a lot of the time. Its so easygoing with him, hes my boyfriend but also one of the best friends Ive ever had. Ive never felt more comfortable with someone ever in my life. For the future, both of our priorities would be to go travelling. We havent set any plans in motion or anything yet, but we would like to see Asia. That would be top of the list on where we would want to see ourselves in the next year at least. On April 4, 1945, a small crowd of guests and dignitaries gathered in Fitzgerald Park to witness the official opening of Cork Public Museum by Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, PJ Little. The reporter from the Cork Examiner proclaimed that the moment should be regarded as a landmark in the history of the municipality and its surroundings by all who believe in the preservation of a memory of the past coupled with a realisation of the present. This was not the first public museum in the citys history, or indeed in Fitzgerald Park, but the first iteration, the Fitzgerald Park Municipal Museum (FPMM), had closed over two decades previously, leaving Irelands second city without a cultural institution to collect, preserve and exhibit Corks material heritage. This changed in March, 1942, when a historical exhibition, organised by Coiste na Gaedhilge, was held in the Cork Examiner offices at 97, Patrick Street. It contained hundreds of documents and objects, especially from the 1916-1921 period, that endeavoured to present an overview of Irish political history from 1798. According to its organisers, the undertaking was designed to reveal to the younger generation the long-reaching roots which fed the tree that blossomed in glory during Easter Week, 1916. The exhibition proved a huge success, revealing an appetite and interest among Cork people for the tangible remains of their nation, county and city. This public enthusiasm prompted well-known philanthropist and politician, Jane Jeannie Dowdall, to spearhead efforts to establish a permanent museum in the city. To this end, a large public meeting at the Imperial Hotel on April 18 led to the formation of a Museum Committee, comprised of prominent members of the citys political, social and educational classes. The citys previous public museum had closed with little more than a whimper after only 14 years in 1924, when the newly appointed City Manager, Philip Monahan, recommissioned the building as his headquarters. A catalogue programme for the newly-opened Cork Public Museum in 1945 The FPMM had not enjoyed the required financial or administrative support from the Corporation and relied on a small museum advisory committee to keep it running. No doubt influenced by these past experiences, the new Committee sought to put in place a more sustainable management and funding framework to ensure the longevity of their project. The Committee negotiated with the Corporation for the use of the old museum building in Fitzgerald Park, while securing an agreement between the Corporation, County Council and UCC by early 1944 to manage and finance the museum. More importantly, it was also decided that UCC should manage and run the museum with support from an advisory group, made up of members of the original organising Committee. When UCC took up their museum management duties in early 1944, its governing body, chaired by recently appointed President, Professor ORahilly, set about getting the museum ready. Though not convinced by the merit of the project, ORahilly reluctantly oversaw its preparations. Filling the role of Curator was his first decision. From the records several people applied for the position, including well-known artist Seamus Murphy, but only two candidates were interviewed, soon- to-be-appointed Professor of Archaeology, Michael J OKelly, and Professor of Zoology, Louis Percy Watt Renouf. Neither the Museums Governing Board nor its advisory committee were overly impressed with either option, but President ORahilly eventually selected OKelly. He faced many challenges in his first year. Chief among these was the fact the building itself was in terrible condition and despite remedial works by the Corporation a year earlier, further substantial refurbishments were needed, such as the installation of proper heating and lighting systems. Also, a sizeable area of the building was unavailable to OKelly as it was occupied by the Air Raid Precaution ARP, whose members patrolled the streets of Cork ensuring that citizens maintained a blackout to protect against possible air raids. The Emergency also hampered the acquisition of display cases as the scarcity and cost of getting suitable building material meant museum management had to resort to a combination of beg, borrow and steal. Most of the cases and collections were loaned by UCC, but private donations and loans were also received. Despite these numerous obstacles, Cork Public Museum opened to the public on April 4, 1945. The herculean efforts by the Organising Committee in bringing the relevant stakeholders together cannot be underestimated. The first exhibitions were an impressive assortment of displays and objects telling the story of Cork via a variety of subjects such as history, archaeology, geology, geography and zoology. The assembled exhibitions and carefully designed gallery spaces were testament to the work by OKelly and his staff. It proved a commendable start for Cork Public Museum, helping lay the foundations for subsequent decades. The arrangement between the Corporation and UCC ended in 1963, when museum management reverted to the Corporation and OKelly stepped down as Curator. His successor, Seamus O Coigligh (1966-1981), a polymath and multi-linguist, shifted attention from prehistoric and early medieval Ireland to Irish political history. His tenure coincided with important commemorative dates in Irish history, such as the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and the centenary of the 1867 Fenian Rising. O Coigligh helped enlarge the museums Irish revolutionary collections. When O Coigligh retired in 1981, his successor, Aodh O Tuama (1981-1992), had begun working as a museum assistant under OKelly and had served as O Coiglighs assistant for a decade before his retirement. O Tuama focused on exhibitions and collections that reflected local and national cultural heritage. He was succeeded by the museums first female Curator, Stella Cherry (1992-2016), who helped overhaul the collection management system and introduced the museums first digital database. Her big legacy was the opening of the new extension in 2005, setting the museum on a path towards professionalism and modernity. I have been Curator since 2016, and worked at the museum since 2002. I have sought to build on the work of my predecessors, while prioritising improvements across all aspects of museum operations. We were awarded full accreditation in the Heritage Councils Museum Standards Programme for Ireland in 2022 and played a leading role in Cork Citys Decade of Centenaries events from 2013-2023. The year 2025 promises to be an exciting one for Cork Public Museum as we plan new exhibitions, upgrade our storage and building facilities, and improve educational services. The recent appointment of a first ever Education Officer highlights the continued commitment of management to the future growth and development of the museum to better serve the people of Cork and beyond for another 80 years. (Photo: REUTERS / Chris Keane)Signs in support of atheism are seen during the "Rock Beyond Belief" festival at Fort Bragg army base in North Carolina March 31, 2012. The atheist-themed festival drew hundreds of people to Fort Bragg on Saturday for what was believed to be the first-ever event held on a U.S. military base for service members who do not have religious beliefs. Organizers said they hoped the "Rock Beyond Belief" event at Fort Bragg would spur equal treatment toward nonbelievers in the armed forces and help lift the stigma for approximately 295,000 active duty personnel who consider themselves atheist, agnostic or without a religious preference. In many of the world's countries, 20 percent or more of all adults have left the religious group in which they were raised, a recent Pew Research survey has found. According to the Pew survey, Christianity and Buddhism have experienced especially large losses from this "religious switching," while rising numbers of adults have no religious affiliation. Pew surveyed nearly 80,000 people in 36 countries. The report refers to religious switching, a change between the religious group in which a person says they were raised (during their childhood) and their religious identity now (in adulthood). Pew uses the term religious switching instead of "conversion" because the changes can take place in many directions including from having been raised in a religion to being unaffiliated. The researcher counted changes between large religious categories (such as from Buddhist to Christian, or from Hindu to unaffiliated) but not switching within a world religion (such as from one Christian denomination to another). Refer to the Terminology section for details. In some countries, changing religions is rare. In India, Israel, Nigeria, and Thailand, 95 percent or more of adults say they still belong to the religious group in which they were raised. But across East Asia, Western Europe, North America, and South America, switching is fairly common. For example, in South Korea, 50 percent of adults are obese, in the Netherlands 36 percent, 28 percent in the United States and 21 percent in Brazil no longer identify with their childhood religion. Most of the movement has been into what Pew calls religiously unaffiliated, consisting of people who answer a question about their religion by saying they are atheists, agnostics, or "nothing in particular." That means most of the switching is disaffiliation or people leaving the religion of their childhood and no longer identifying with any religion. Many of these people were raised as Christians. RAISED AS CHRISTIANS For example, 29 percent of adults in Sweden say they were raised Christian, but now describe themselves religiously as atheists, agnostics, or "nothing in particular." Pew found that Buddhism also is losing adherents through disaffiliation in some countries. For example, 23 percent of adults surveyed in Japan and 13 percent in South Korea say they were raised as Buddhists but don't identify with any religion today. However, not all switching is away from religion and some people move toward a belief. Of the 36 countries surveyed, South Korea has the highest share of people who say they were raised with no affiliation but have a religion today (9 percent). Most of them (6 percent of all South Korean adults) say they had no religious upbringing and are now Christian. Moreover, in Singapore, 13 percent of adults, in South Africa 12 percent, and in South Korea 11 percent have switched between two religions. Pew notes that while the figures reflect religious trends in the 36 countries included in the survey, they do not necessarily represent the entire world's population. Christianity the world's largest and most geographically widespread religion, by Pew Research Center's estimates is either the current majority faith or historically has been a predominant religion in 25 of the countries surveyed. Islam, the world's second-biggest religion, is a historically predominant religion in six of the 36 countries surveyed: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Turkeye. In Nigeria, the divide between Christianity and Islam is close. Buddhism has been predominant in five other countries surveyed: Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Thailand. Pew counts South Korea as having two predominant religions, Buddhism and Christianity. Hinduism and Judaism are each the predominant religion in just one country surveyed, India and Israel. It's impossible to know what the tiny wombat was thinking after she was finally rescued from the damp underpass she had called home. Gracie, the baby wombat was rescued 10 months after she was orphaned on the Great Lake Highway. Source: Wombat Rescue Tasmania One of the most beautiful photographs youll see this year shows a baby wombat surprised to be inside a car and staring out the window at the highway. Before she was rescued this week, frightened young Gracie had been sheltering in a damp underpass on one of Tasmanias most notorious roadkill corridors. But her ordeal has a happy ending, and it's probably the heartwarming tale most Aussies need to read, two weeks after a US influencer sensationally snatched a baby wombat from its mother. Ten months before little Gracie was rescued this week, she was orphaned after a vehicle strike. Trying to survive on her own, she was becoming desperately thin, but rescuers who searched every day had been unable to catch her. "We were so excited when we caught her because of the amount of times we'd been searching for this little one," Joy from Wombat Rescue Tasmania told Yahoo News. Gracie had called this tiny underpass home for 10 months. Source: Wombat Rescue Tasmania What Gracie was thinking as she travelled inside a car remains a mystery, but she must have known her life was about to change for the better. Ordinarily, Gracie would have been placed inside a cage, but when she was spotted again beside the road, Joy didn't have anything in her car to contain her and had to improvise. ADVERTISEMENT Rescuers are perplexed about how on earth she managed to survive on her own. Many had begun to think she must have perished, but their dedication to finding and helping her paid off. Shes got a lot of battle scars, so shes had to fight. Were treating one of her eyes because its got a very big mark beside it. And shes got a big piece taken out of her back, Joy said. Related: Story reveals hidden message in award-winning wombat photo How is Gracie the wombat now? Gracie was found beside the Great Lake Highway near Miena, in central Tasmania, where local rescuers have been trying in vain to get signs erected warning motorists about wildlife crossing the road. Despite the speed being officially limited to 80 km/ph, its not unusual for drivers to exceed the limit. Last month, a group of Victorian motorcyclists were busted by the police riding at over 160 km/ph close to where Gracies mum was killed. ADVERTISEMENT Its estimated Gracie is around 15 months old, and at that age, the states wombat subspecies normally weigh around 12 kilograms. She weighs no more than seven. We put food down in her cage, and then backed away and watched. She was so hungry, and just ate, and ate, and ate, Joy said. She was quite large, and we doubted she would take milk but she drank it. Now that shes receiving expert care, Gracie the wombats health is improving. Source: Wombat Rescue Tasmania To make Gracie feel at home, her carers furnished her pen to replicate the small patch of territory shed defended in the wild. This includes a length of pipe similar to the underpass that shed once called home. And because she's feeling more comfortable, her wounds are healing, and she'll likely start putting on weight. ADVERTISEMENT The plan is to keep Gracie in care until shes bigger and then release her back close to where she was found. There will be other related wombats there. Even though she was on her own and the others were attacking her, when she gets big enough to defend herself, shell be fine in that area, Joy said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. Power bank safety concerns have seen the devices banned from use on many world airlines - so when will Aussie carriers follow suit? After a horror incident in South Korea, airlines are cracking down on one popular travel gadget. Source: Getty/AAP A new safety crackdown is shaking up air travel, with major worldwide carriers slapping bans on power banks in the wake of the fireball incident involving a South Korean airline in January. The dramatic shift comes after a portable power bank was blamed for an inferno that engulfed an Air Busan plane in South Korea before takeoff on January 28. Now, airlines across Asia are implementing new laws to prevent another disaster. Cathay Pacific has this week become the latest airline to enforce strict bans, prohibiting passengers from using power banks to charge devices or charging the banks through in-seat USB ports. The power banks are also banned from being stored in overhead bins. The bans are already in place on Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, China Airlines, EVA Air and Air Busan the carrier that had an aircraft burst into flames on the runway. ADVERTISEMENT Travellers frequently rely on lithium-ion power banks to keep their phones, laptops, and tablets powered during flights. But that convenience could soon be history. A growing collection of airlines are cracking down on power banks. Source: Getty Will Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin follow suit? While Asian carriers implement the new bans, Australian airlines Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar are holding their groundfor now. According to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), there are currently no changes to existing regulations, though safety remains a top concern. CASAs policies regarding travelling with lithium batteries, including power banks, align with the guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a CASA spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia. The current guidelines require that all portable electronic devices be subject to specific safety measures to prevent hazards to the aircraft systems from electromagnetic radiation. ADVERTISEMENT While CASA bans packing spare batteries or power banks in checked luggage, there will be no change to the rules concerning the onboard use on Aussie carriers. Any changes to airline-specific policies regarding power banks are decisions made by individual airlines, CASA confirmed to Yahoo Australia. We encourage all passengers travelling with batteries and power packs to check our website to find out what they can and cant pack. Aussie airlines have set out their rules for power banks. Source: Getty What are the rules on Aussie airlines? While Qantas allows passengers to bring power banks onboard, their usage is not recommended. Qantas policy currently states, "While we dont recommend passengers use or charge power banks on board, they are not prohibited from doing so except during take-off and landing, in line with aviation regulations". On Qantas, no more than two spare lithium batteries exceeding 100Wh and up to 160Wh are permitted. ADVERTISEMENT Jetstar offers the same recommendations as Qantas, with its Dangerous Goods website page stating: "The onboard use of power banks/powerpacks is not recommended". Jetstar policy also states, "There are currently no changes to our lithium battery policy however, we regularly review our policies to ensure they remain up to date and compliant with all relevant regulations". It's a similar line from Virgin Australia, with their current rules stating from CASA and other regulatory bodies have not changed, the carrier has no plans to revise its policy related to batteries and power banks . Power banks to blame for catastrophic incident Januarys catastrophic Air Busan incident at Gimhae International Airport is believed to have started when a power bank caught fire in an overhead bin, forcing the evacuation of 176 passengers and ultimately destroying the aircraft. Investigators later confirmed scorch marks on the charred remains of a power bank. ADVERTISEMENT Safety experts warn that with the increasing number of lithium-ion batteries on planes, more fires are inevitable unless tighter restrictions are enforced. In fact, US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports indicate that overheating lithium batteries on board caused three fires every two weeks in 2024. Lithium-ion batteries have long been flagged as potential fire hazards in aircraft cabins. The batteries can overheat due to manufacturing defects, physical damage or exposure to extreme temperatures. The new crackdown has raised some concerns for business travellers and long-haul passengers who depend on portable chargers for work devices, but safety-conscious travellers have a different take. I would rather have devices run out of charge during a short flight than set the plane on fire, wrote one user on Reddit, while another stated, Suck it up. Read a book or a magazine. Sleep. Meditate. Talk to your travelling companion. Stop acting like a spoiled toddler. How to keep phones charged during long-haul travel The local travel industry is now watching to see if and when Aussie airlines will follow the Asian carriers. Passengers may soon need to plan alternative charging strategies before boarding long-haul flights, such as: Charge your devices fully before your flight. Use in-seat power outlets if available. Turn on battery-saving mode to make your charge last longer. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Saturday, March 29, 2025 In 2016, Congress set up the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission to organize the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. The Commission, a nonpartisan body, was tasked with engaging Americans all over the country to prepare for the largest and most inclusive anniversary observance in our nations history. The multi-year effort, culminating in the anniversary date on July 4, 2026, is supposed to be an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nations past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. The Commission, working in concert with America250, aims to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. In addition, America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America. All those are exceptionally lofty and well-articulated aspirations. But unfortunately, the Commission and America250 have been strangely quiet. It sounds from their mission statement that there should at least have been some occasional activities during the past eight years in preparation for the big day next year. As far as I know, not much, if anything, has happened. On January 29 this year, President Trump issued an Order establishing Task Force 250, a White House task force that will coordinate the planning of the anniversary. The group, chaired by the President himself, will direct communications between executive departments and agencies and the United States Semiquincentennial Commission to plan, organize, and execute an extraordinary celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. In the two months that the task force has been in existence, little has been said publicly about its activities, and whether it has collaborated with the Semiquincentennial Commission in any fashion. From what I have read about the Bicentennial, the official celebrations began on April 1, 1975, a full fifteen months before the anniversary date. That commemoration start date also fell at a time when America was still traumatized by the Vietnam war, Watergate, and the culture wars of the 1960s. President Gerald Ford addressed the nation on December 31, 1975, the eve of the Bicentennial Year. He used his speech to call for a national rebirth and restoration of the traditional American values of dignity, equality, and liberty. We are two days away from April 1 and there is still no word that I can find anywhere in the mainstream press about the Semiquincentennial. Given our current state of affairs, with Blue and Red America living in the same house but not on speaking terms, are we even capable of celebrating this birthday the way it should be? Or perhaps did we forget about it because we are too distracted by the fighting? I wasnt a citizen of this great nation during the Bicentennial so I have been eagerly awaiting the Semiquincentennial. Those planning the commemoration should get on it. Our present-day civil war had just started when the Semiquincentennial Commission was created in 2016. The feuding has greatly intensified since then. This country desperately needs someone, or something, to unify it. The Semiquincentennial presents a magnificent opportunity for that renaissance. We must seize it. Some focus on this momentous milestone will help brighten the national mood immensely. The head of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces admitted in a speech to fighters on Sunday that the group had withdrawn from the capital Khartoum which rival army forces have retaken. The comment from RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo came three days after the group said there would be "no retreat and no surrender" and that its forces had "repositioned", despite the army's declaration on Thursday that "the last pockets" of the RSF had been eliminated from Khartoum after nearly two years of war. "I confirm to you that we have indeed left Khartoum, but... we will return with even stronger determination," Daglo said in the speech posted on social media. The war has created what the United Nations describes as the world's worst hunger and displacement crises. More than 12 million people have been uprooted, tens of thousands killed, and a UN-backed assessment declared famine in parts of the country. "All those who think that there are negotiations or agreements in process with this diabolical movement are mistaken," Daglo said, in reference to the army. "We have neither agreement nor discussion with them -- only the language of arms." Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday also vowed not to back down, after a decisive blitz in which the army reclaimed the presidential palace, the war-damaged airport and other key sites in the city centre where buildings are burned and bullet-scarred. "We will neither forgive, nor compromise, nor negotiate," Burhan said, adding that victory would only be complete when "the last rebel has been eradicated from the last corner of Sudan". Despite the military's reclaiming of Khartoum, Africa's third-largest country remains essentially divided in two by the war. The army holds sway in the east and north while the RSF controls most of the vast Darfur region in the west, where it is rooted, and parts of the south. Pope Francis, recovering from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, on Sunday issued written prayers and urged new negotiations as soon as possible in Sudan. - Appeal for new talks - Early in the war the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted mediation but multiple ceasefires collapsed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said Washington hoped to do more diplomatically to end the war. Rubio said he was "engaged" on Sudan and had discussed the war with international players including Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Rubio's predecessor Antony Blinken tried extensively to broker an end to the war but ultimately voiced disappointment at the failure to do so. The United States has imposed sanctions on both sides. It accused the army of attacks on civilians and said the RSF had "committed genocide" in Darfur. Following a year and a half of defeats to the RSF, the army late last year began pushing through central Sudan to Khartoum. Analysts have blamed the RSF's losses on strategic blunders, internal rifts and dwindling supplies. On Thursday night, however, witnesses in the Blue Nile state capital Damazin reported that both its airport and the nearby Roseires Dam came under drone attack by the paramilitaries and their allies for the first time in the war. The army later said it had shot down the RSF drones. Almost 500 kilometres (310 miles) to the northwest in El-Obeid city, a medical source on Sunday told AFP that an RSF strike killed a child and wounded eight other people. It is the latest such attack reported by medical sources since the military in February said it had broken an RSF siege of the North Kordofan state capital. In a January report, a United Nations panel of experts tasked with monitoring an arms embargo on Darfur found "credible" accusations that the United Arab Emirates was funnelling "military support" to the RSF through neighbouring Chad. Abu Dhabi has denied the allegations. nda/sk/it/dv HELENA On a tailwind of Republican support, the Montana Legislature has advanced a bill that would facilitate the sale of isolated sections of state trust land. House Bill 676 is a sweeping 22-page bill sponsored by House Speaker Brandon Ler, R-Savage, that addresses multiple aspects of water rights and the administration of state trust lands. Although several components of the bill drew scrutiny during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, perhaps the most controversial aspect of HB 676 involves the potential for the noncompetitive sale of an estimated 1.5 million acres of isolated sections of state land. HB 676 would also close the Montana Water Court, a nearly 50-year-old court created to quantify and prioritize hundreds of thousands of water rights that predate Montanas 1972 Constitution. If HB 676 passes, an existing law specifying that the court cannot alter tribal water compacts would be struck as well. Critics argue it could invite federal intervention in decisions nearing resolution after decades of negotiation and scrutiny. One such agreement is the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Compact, which is currently before the Montana Water Court. In their comments to lawmakers, HB 676 proponents referenced a controversial decision the Montana Supreme Court issued last year. They described HB 676 as a private property rights protection measure that will prevent the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation from stealing private water rights by dictating that in order to claim ownership of a water right, the water right must be used and diverted on state lands. At issue is the Schutter v. Montana Land Board ruling the Montana Supreme Court issued in late April 2024 siding with the Land Board. The Land Board, which oversees state trust lands and is comprised of the top elected officials serving in state government, had asserted ownership over a portion of a private water right Gallatin County potato farmers developed on their private land to irrigate both their property and a neighboring property they leased from the state. In an opinion siding with the Montana Water Courts interpretation of the matter, Montanas highest court argued that the state must exercise some ownership over the water right to act in accordance with its directive to secure the largest measure of legitimate advantage for state trust land beneficiaries e.g., Montanas public schools. State trust lands are sections of land the federal government turned over to the Montana government when it became a state. The Schutter decision was vigorously opposed by the Senior Ag Water Rights Alliance, which described the DNRCs stance as government bureaucracy gone insane. Speaking as a member of the Senior Ag Water Rights Alliance on March 21, Jocelyn Cahill described HB 676 as a proposal to put clarity and stability into Montana law. Many ranchers are afraid to use their water on their state leases, fearing that DNRC will come after their right, Cahill said. This uncertainty discourages investment in the infrastructure needed to divert and deliver water. When ranchers stop improving their lease lands, the state leases and the school trusts that rely on them lose out on significant benefits. Cahill is steeped in water issues in other ways. She recently represented irrigation interests in a water policy stakeholder group that developed legislative proposals over the interim and her politically powerful family recently lost a legal dispute regarding the use of exempt wells to facilitate a Broadwater County development. Other HB 676 proponents included the Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association and the Rocky Fork Decreed Users of Carbon County. HB 676 opponents argued that the bill is a raw deal for public land access, for Montanans in the midst of the water rights adjudication process, and for public K-12 schools reliant on state trust lands for a healthy and sustainable revenue source. The Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, the Montana Water Resources Association, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, the Senior Water Rights Coalition, the Montana Wildlife Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Property and Environment Research Center, the Public Land Water Access Association and the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers spoke in opposition to the measure, along with other groups and individuals. Matt Leow with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers acknowledged the access challenges posed by isolated sections of state land but argued that the solution is not to create a fire sale of a state treasure but rather to figure out ways to open up public access to our public lands. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation lobbyist Charlie Booher echoed that assessment, arguing that facilitating the non-competitive sale of state land is the wrong way to address state land that public recreationists cant access. Over the last six years, Montana [Fish, Wildlife & Parks] and DNRC have worked through the [Public Access Land Agreement] program, as well as through the Block Management program, to open up access to over 1 million acres of state land that is currently isolated, he told committee members. We are supportive of that work and wouldnt want to see it diminished by this bill. Brian Thompson with the Senior Water Rights Coalition described the dissolution of the water court as problematic. The water court has a job to do, and ending somewhat arbitrarily in 2031 leaves a lot of people in a lurch, Thompson said during a hearing on the measure. This is a system and a process that we set in place many decades ago. A lot of peoples water rights are dependent upon this system Theyre counting on the system to continue and to work to protect their rights into the future. Opponents also argued that losing more than 1 million acres of state land will jeopardize between $5-7 million of revenue annually, much of which supports public schools. They also pushed back on the notion that the state is stealing water rights. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, a former University of Montana law professor with extensive experience in water law, spoke most forcefully on the latter point. The state has never and does not assert an ownership of the water used on [private] land. It only asserts the interest on the state trust land, which its obligated to do under its fiduciary duty, said Juras, who was testifying on behalf of Gov. Greg Gianforte in his capacity as chair of the Montana Land Board. It is absolutely not correct that the state Land Board, acting through the Trust Land division of DNRC, is taking anybodys private trust rights. The Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet taken executive action on HB 676. House Bill 379 Just after the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 676, the House of Representatives voted to advance House Bill 379, a twice-tabled and later revived measure that sought to combine two existing tools to facilitate the sale of state trust lands to developers. Lawmakers lifeline to HB 379 was short-lived, though. After passing an initial vote on March 21, the measure failed, 42-54, after 10 Republicans flipped their third-reading vote on Monday. Rep. Larry Brewster, R-Billings, said he was approached by the Forestry and Trust Lands Division of the DNRC to sponsor HB 379. During a Feb. 6 House State Administration Committee hearing on the bill, Brewster described it as a straightforward measure nothing slim shady that would alleviate Montanas housing affordability challenges. The sale of state lands that are prime for such residential development those that communities have grown around, that have access to utilities and are no longer used for grazing, for example would provide greater financial benefit to state trust beneficiaries like K-12 public schools if the state could enter into a commercial joint venture agreement with developers, Brewster told his colleagues. Deidra Kloberdanz, who manages the Real Estate Bureau of the DNRCs Forestry and Trust Lands Division, said HB 379 combines two existing programs under the DNRCs umbrella the commercial leasing program and the land banking program to create a pathway for larger housing developments. The leasing program provides revenue to trust beneficiaries through commercial rent payments. The land banking program, which has been operational for 22 years, allows the DNRC to sell up to 250,000 acres of trust land in order to reinvest in other lands that will provide more financial benefit to trust beneficiaries. Kloberdanz said the measure would allow a developer to initiate the subdivision and platting process as a property lessee and establish a framework for the later sale of individual home sites through the land banking program. She added that Land Board oversight is baked into the proposal. The idea is the state and the developer would be able to share in both the risk and the reward of the project, Kloberdanz said. Gale Heide with Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin Valley was HB 379s other proponent during the committee hearing on the bill. He argued that HB 379 would make the development of state lands for affordable housing developments that groups like his have explored more financially feasible. Though Im not encouraging the state to become real estate investors, you have proven the ability to use careful foresight in preserving your commitment to future generations and a growing education system, Heide said. Maybe some day there wont be enough of Montana to go around, but for now, I think we can work together to create opportunities for working Montanans willing to bear the load with us. The measure drew no opponents during its hearing. Democratic members of the House spoke in opposition to the bill during floor debate last week, arguing that they have concerns about uncertainty and ambiguity in the bill, particularly around a transition away from a public auction process to an online sales platform. Mark Nays first client had lost the van she was living in and was struggling with substance use and medical conditions that had led to multiple emergency room visits. Nay helped her apply for Medicaid and food assistance and obtain copies of her birth certificate and other identification documents needed to apply for housing assistance. He also advocated for her in the housing process and in the health care system, helping her find a provider and get to appointments. After a year of steady engagement, Nay said, the client has a place to live, is insured, is connected to the health care system, and has the resources needed to really start to be successful and stable in her life. Nay is one of two community health workers in a program that St. Peters Health of Helena started in 2022, focusing on people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who had five or more ER visits in a year. Nay and his colleague, Colette Murley, link their clients to services to meet basic needs, whether its health care, food, housing, or insurance. The goal is to provide stability and, ultimately, to improve health outcomes. Similar work is done in hospitals, community health centers, and other settings across Montana by people with titles such as case manager, outreach worker, navigator, and care manager. State Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Great Falls Republican, is sponsoring a bill in Montanas legislative session to put a common title community health worker to the type of work they do and define in law what the role entails. The bill also would provide for licensure and allow, but not require, Medicaid to cover the service. Health care is just a very difficult system to navigate, especially when youre trying to sign up for service and youre trying to get access to coverage for service, Buttrey said. So thats where I see the biggest benefit. Buttreys House Bill 850 is one of several bills still alive this session that are related to Montanas health care workforce, which is stretched thin throughout the state, the fourth-largest by land area. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, more than one-fourth of the states residents live in an area with a shortage of primary care health professionals. Other pending workforce bills include three interstate compact bills to recognize licenses issued in other states for physician assistants, psychologists, and respiratory therapists. Then there are bills to prohibit noncompete clauses for physicians and some categories of mid-level practitioners. Other measures would allow more unsupervised activities by certain aides and assistants, let nurses provide low-cost home visits to low-income patients, allow licensure of doulas, and let physician assistants and physical therapists be considered treating physicians for workers compensation purposes. State Rep. Jodee Etchart, a Billings Republican and a physician assistant, is sponsoring two of the interstate compact licensure bills and one of the bills to limit noncompete clauses. Etchart termed the compact bills a no-brainer because they allow people to get licensed, get a job, and start working in Montana right away. In 2023, Etchart sponsored successful bills to allow physician assistants to practice without physician supervision and to expand the scope of practice for direct-entry midwives. Those bills, she said, helped pave the way for the progress this years workforce bills have made this session. It opened a lot of peoples eyes about how we can increase access to health care all over Montana, she said. The 2023 bill allowing independent practice by physician assistants drew opposition from physicians, with the Montana Medical Association saying it extended their scope of practice without requiring additional training. This session, the MMA has supported the bills to remove noncompete provisions but opposed bills on expanding the scope of practice for chiropractors and optometrists. MMA CEO Jean Branscum said the group generally believes scope-of-practice changes dont fix workforce problems if the expanded practice isnt supported by evidence or training. Buttrey said this sessions bills to extend unsupervised practice and enact licensure compacts are an acknowledgment of the difficulty that small, rural communities have in attracting doctors. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners have been filling those gaps, he said. Community health workers fill a different type of gap. They dont provide direct medical care, instead helping people find the health care and support services they need to become and remain healthy. Many states have already adopted definitions for community health workers and started providing Medicaid reimbursement for their services. The requests to add to the list of Medicaid-covered services come at a time when Congress is considering significant budget cuts that could affect the amount of funding the federal government contributes to the Medicaid program. Although the legislature this session continued Montanas Medicaid expansion program for low-income adults without disabilities, some legislators expressed concern about potential federal changes that could lower the amount of federal funds available for the program. State Sen. Carl Glimm, a Kila Republican, was one of those legislators. He said he has similar concerns about increasing the types of services covered by Medicaid. The more stuff we add, he said, the more responsibility the state has if the federal government shifts more of the programs costs to the states. Buttreys bill would define a community health worker as a frontline public health worker who helps people obtain medical and social services, advocates for their health, and educates individuals, providers, and the community about health care needs. Workers could be licensed after completing training and supervision requirements. Most medical providers dont have time to delve into all the outside factors influencing a patients health, said Cindy Stergar, CEO of the Montana Primary Care Association, which is supporting Buttreys bill. Community health workers can assist with that, she said, adding that research shows people with complex needs become healthier faster when their basic nonmedical needs, such as food and housing, are met. At the end of the day, the patient is better, Stergar said. Thats first and foremost. The Area Health Education Center at Montana State University has been offering community health worker training since 2018, and the University of Montanas Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development began a training program in 2023. Together, the programs have trained nearly 500 people in how to identify the medical and social factors influencing a persons health and in strategies for connecting the person with the right community resources. Ideally, what community health workers are doing is getting out of the clinic walls, meeting people where they are, and addressing the priorities of the client to get to the root cause of their health conditions and health needs, said Mackenzie Petersen, project director for the training program at the University of Montana. Supporters of the community health worker role say the workers are uniquely positioned to observe, understand, and address the barriers preventing a person from getting and staying healthy. The barriers might be a lack of transportation or insurance or, for a homeless person, the inability to refrigerate a prescribed medication. A community health worker can arrange rides to appointments, help with insurance applications, or make sure a health care provider prescribes a medication that doesnt need refrigeration. Murley, with the St. Peters Health program, recalled that one of her clients was making frequent trips to the ER with suicidal ideation. Murley learned that he faced bullying in his apartment building and helped him relocate. The ER visits dropped off. As Nay put it: Its really about helping the people that we work with create a path to their health. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was very angry and pissed off by comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and calling for United Nations governance of Ukraine until new elections could be held. Putin said after those elections Russia would then negotiate a potential end to the war in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. That irked Trump, who has been critical of Zelenskyy and Ukraine and voicing trust in Putin in Russia as he tries to broker an end to the Eastern European war. If I feel, if were in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that you know, when Putin started getting into Zelenskyys credibility, because thats not going in the right location, you understand?, Trump told NBC News. Trump said he could impose tariffs and fresh war sanctions on Russia if he blames Moscow for keeping the war going. But Trump said he has a very good relationship with Putin and the anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing, according to NBC. The Kremlin and White House bosses could speak this week. Moscow has welcomed Trump's more friendly tones toward Russia and Putin. Trump has voiced trust and comity with Putin since returning office in January. He has been more critical publicly of Zelenskyy and U.S. allies in NATO. Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in the war after Trump turned off military and intelligence after Zelenskyy told them not to trust Putin. Russia has agreed to a smaller 30-day halt in attacks on energy infrastructure and wants financial sanctions lifted in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in the Black Sea. Zelenskyy is pressing Trump to be tougher with Putin and to give Ukraine some security guarantees to discourage a future Russian invasion. Right now, Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further. Putin is playing the same game he has since 2014, Zelenskyy said, referring to Russias 2014 invasion of Crimea. This is dangerous for everyone and there should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe, and all our global partners who seek peace. The second day of the Times Now Summit 2025 brought together political leaders, diplomats, and policymakers to discuss pressing issues ranging from international relations to infrastructure and governance. With candid conversations and sharp exchanges, the event shed light on Indias evolving political landscape, economic ambitions, and the broader global challenges shaping the countrys future.Reuven Azar, Israels Ambassador to India, offered a deep dive into the ongoing crisis in Gaza, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape his country is navigating. While acknowledging the high civilian toll of the conflict, he maintained that Hamas is steadily losing its grip on legitimacy within Gaza, with protests against the group emerging from within. Azar also pointed to the strengthening Indo-Israeli partnership, particularly in defence and technology, crediting Prime Minister Modis Make in India initiative for facilitating billion-dollar joint ventures in sectors such as drones and autonomous vehicles. The Language Politics The issue of linguistic identity took centre stage with Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP and Deputy General Secretary of the DMK, reaffirming Tamil Nadus longstanding resistance to the imposition of Hindi. While expressing respect for Hindi as a language, she argued against its forced adoption in non-Hindi-speaking states. In a pointed remark, she suggested that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should learn Tamil to gain a deeper appreciation of the states culture. Karnatakas Infrastructure Challenges Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, addressed the states infrastructural challenges, particularly Bengalurus notorious traffic congestion. With the citys vehicle count surpassing its population, he acknowledged the need for drastic measures, including underground tunnels and double-decker roads. He also criticised the central governments lack of attention to Karnataka, contrasting it with the support received during the Manmohan Singh era. Despite these hurdles, he painted an optimistic picture of Bengalurus status as a global talent hub and healthcare destination. Platform for Unfiltered Dialogue Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri projected an ambitious vision for Indias economy, which he claimed is on track to hit the $10 trillion mark. He touted the success of the ethanol blending programme and laid out expansion plans for oil production in the Andaman Sea. His remarks underscored the governments focus on self-reliance in the energy sector, a key pillar in India's push for economic dominance. The Times Now Summit 2025 continues to provide a stage for unfiltered political discussion, with Day 2 offering a mix of policy vision, identifying regional issues and their challenges. Forums like these offer a glimpse into the ideological battles and policy roadmaps that will shape the countrys growth in the years ahead. dd reaction Inspiring People, Olympians Honoured at Times Nows Amazing Indian Awards China will initiate follow-up procedures of its World Trade Organisation (WTO) case against the United States for imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods after the latter agreed to consultations under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, according to the Chinese ministry of commerce. The United States agreed to consultations on March 14, and China will advance subsequent procedures in accordance with WTO rules, ministry spokesperson He Yadong told a routine press briefing. China will follow up its WTO case against the US for imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods after the latter agreed on March 14 to consultations under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. It reiterated its firm opposition to US 'unilateral imposition' of additional tariffs and its stance against the 'politicisation, weaponisation and instrumentalisation' of economic and trade issues. The spokesperson reiterated China's firm opposition to US unilateral imposition of additional tariffs and its stance against the politicisation, weaponisation and instrumentalisation; of economic and trade issues. China is willing to engage in candid dialogue with the United States based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, the spokesperson was cited as saying by a state-controlled media outlet. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Some might say that travelling to London in January is a bold choice freezing temperatures, unpredictable rain and shorter days. But for Aditya Seal, it was the perfect time. With no overwhelming tourist crowds, the citys charm was wrapped in winters crisp embrace. Armed with layers (and a stubborn sense of adventure), Aditya, his wife Anushka Ranjan and his mother, Manju Seal, braved the cold to experience London in a more intimate and cosy way. This trip wasnt just about sightseeing; it was about creating memories and introducing his mother to the citys history, food and culture. They indulged in impromptu shopping at Camden Market and navigated the local pub scene. From iconic landmarks to spontaneous moments, every day brought something new. And despite the occasional rain throwing their plans into disarray, London never failed to impress the Seal family. Why London? London was my mother's choice. I had visited London a few times before and I felt it would offer a variety of experiences. Beyond sightseeing, we had always read and heard about Londons iconic landmarks, so we made sure to visit them. We did the most typical tourist activities because it was my mothers first time there. I wanted to show her all the must-see spots, the ones you simply have to visit when experiencing London for the first time. Our time was limited to just eight days, so our schedule was pretty packed. Each day, we were out from morning till night, trying to see as much as possible. I wanted to give her the best experience. We visited all the must-see places, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye and of course, the famous shopping streets. We arrived on January 21 and returned on the 30th. On our first day, we used the hop-on, hop-off bus service. My sister was also with us. It was her first trip to London as well. We wanted to show them as many places as possible. We visited Big Ben and Tower Bridge, taking a boat ride to Tower Bridge. We also went to Buckingham Palace and drove around various parts of London. Other memorable experiences included taking my mother to a pub. I wanted to introduce her to the pub culture. We also booked tickets for The Lion King musical, which I felt was an essential experience. I'd seen it before and thought it was absolutely fabulous. On other days, we walked from Trafalgar Square all the way to Oxford Street, passing through Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, and along Regent and Bond Streets. We also visited the Natural History Museum and the British Museum. While we were there, it rained twice, which threw off our plans a bit. But we were prepared for the cold weather. Once youre properly layered up, the only part of you that feels the cold is your face. Southhall calling One place that really stood out to me, as I had never been there before, was Southall. The moment I arrived, I was absolutely amazed. The atmosphere, the energy, the people it felt like stepping into a different world within London. The most striking part? The train station. The signs were written in Punjabi, which was such a surreal moment. Southall felt unlike the rest of London. Walking through the streets, it almost felt like I had been transported to a part of India. The food, the shops, the language everything had such a strong South Asian influence. It was vibrant, lively and had a completely different feel compared to central London. What made it even more special was experiencing it with my mother. Seeing her reaction, watching her take it all in, was something I wont forget. It was as if we had found a little piece of home in a foreign country. Camden Market has a fantastic food market, offering a variety of cuisines including Indian, Thai and Japanese. Another thing we had quite a bit of was fish and chips, its the most quintessentially British dish. But what Ive noticed in London is how incredibly diverse the food scene is. If you're looking for branded products, Oxford Street and Regent Street are the places to go. There are also many places that sell branded items at discounted prices. For those seeking even more shopping opportunities, Bicester Village is a popular destination, though its a bit outside London. Its especially frequented by tourists looking for designer bargains. For a more unique shopping experience, Camden Market is highly recommended. While you wont find branded stores there, it has a very distinct, almost hippie vibe. The area is full of graffiti, and youll come across all sorts of one-of-a kind items. We also had the chance to try authentic Chinese food, and we dined at an Italian restaurant called CIRO's, which I would recommend to anyone. As Indians, we also gravitate towards chai. Luckily for us, my mom loves her chai and always keeps her premixes with her. So, we didnt end up having chai tea while we were there, despite a local persistently trying to sell it to us.You can find all kinds of cuisine there. Indian food, in particular, is very popular. My mother loves her Indian cuisine, so we made sure to take her to a couple of Indian restaurants. One place we visited was Dishoom, which had about a 40-minute wait. Their most famous dish was Chicken Tikka Masala. Id highly recommend both Fat Pandit and Dishoom. Fat Pandit serves Indian Chinese and although its a unique blend, they offer some great options. We also took my mother to try Vietnamese ramen and sushi, although I dont think shes too fond of them.Anushka once picked up a DIY phone cover there, where they give you coloured glue and charms to customise it as you wish. We even picked one up for my nieces this time. I picked up a jacket with a Van Gogh print on it. Anushka did spot a bag at one of the stalls that she really loved. She didnt end up buying it, so I decided to get it for her. I just wanted to do something nice for her without her knowing. Nightlife ahoy! A lot of people tend to have Guinness but it wasnt quite to our taste. I ordered a Porn Star Martini, which is a bit sweeter. My mom enjoyed it too. In the evenings, Anushka and I ended up going out a few times with some friends, as mom grew tired by the end of the day. We hit the local pubs and bars. The vibe was just so lively. It had such a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.n Priyanka Chopra is currently busy with her upcoming film, SSMB 29, directed by SS Rajamouli. Recently, the actor was spotted arriving in Jaipur, where she was seen heading to her hotel. On Sunday, Priyanka stepped off the plane at Jaipur airport, exuding style in a blue co-ord set paired with a white tank top. Completing her look with sunglasses, she waved at the paparazzi and flashed a smile as she made her way into her car without stopping for a formal photo session. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Later, Priyanka took to Instagram Stories to share glimpses of the stunning views from her hotel. She posted a picture of the cityscape with the simple caption, "gorgeous." She also shared a video showing a painting in her hotel room and described the view from her bed as "gorgeous." Despite sharing these insights, the purpose of her visit to Jaipur remains unclear, leaving fans to speculate.This trip comes on the heels of Priyanka's recent time spent in Odisha, where she was shooting for SSMB 29 alongside director SS Rajamouli and actor Mahesh Babu. During their time in the region, the film's cast interacted with locals, expressing their gratitude for the warm hospitality. These behind-the-scenes moments excited fans, as the film continues to generate buzz across the country.SSMB 29 is an eagerly awaited Telugu-language action-adventure film, with Priyanka Chopra, Mahesh Babu, and Prithviraj Sukumaran in leading roles. Written by V Vijayendra Prasad, the film began production in January, following a private pooja ceremony. To maintain secrecy around Mahesh Babus look, no pictures from the ceremony were shared. This film marks Rajamouli and Mahesh Babus first collaboration and signals Priyankas long-awaited return to Indian cinema.Beyond SSMB 29, Priyanka Chopra has other exciting projects lined up. She will be starring in the American film Heads of State, where she will share the screen with John Cena and Idris Elba. Additionally, the actor will appear in the second season of the Russo Brothers' series Citadel, further expanding her diverse acting portfolio. The rare occurrence resulted in an extraordinary catch for charter fisherman Nick Moulas but it also comes with some serious concerns. Temperatures around the Kiama FAD were over 27 degrees on Wednesday, with a strong current pulling the buoy sideways. Source: Nick Moulas/Shell Cove Fishing Charters Heading out on a fishing charter on Wednesday off the coast of Kiama, NSW, Nick Moulas noticed something unusual on his fish finder. The sonar instrument helps to detect fish, but it was the temperature reading that got his attention. It was showing 27.1 degrees roughly 2.5 to 3 degrees above average. While it may not sound like a huge increase, the warm temperature is rarely seen in waters that far south and can result in drastic changes for fishermen. It is very hot, Nick told Yahoo News. A lot of people havent seen it like that, that close to shore. We commonly get 25, maybe 26 out a little bit further. So if you get it in that close, its not normal." ADVERTISEMENT As the owner of Shell Cove Fishing Charters, he was taking clients out for a day of fishing and stopped briefly at the Kiama Fish Aggregating Device (FAD). The buoy is anchored 12km offshore with the purpose of attracting fish, making it a popular spot for boaters. Out a little bit further (past the FAD) we had 27.6, I think thats about the hottest Ive seen since Ive been fishing out here, he said. Weatherzone meteorologist Quincy Tut agreed its not a common occurrence. Its definitely unusual, its definitely not something that you normally see, he said. Meteorologist Quincy Tut said this 'tongue' of warm water off the Illawarra coast was measuring 2.5 to 3 degrees above average. Source: Bureau of Meteorology What does this mean for fishermen? Warmer sea temperatures bring tropical species of fish further south to places that dont usually see them. The same day that Nick spotted the 27.1 degree reading, one of his clients on the charter landed an incredible catch that left everyone onboard excited. ADVERTISEMENT We caught a wahoo in 20m of water, which is unheard of down here, which was pretty cool, he said. We caught that pretty much right on the tip of Bass Point so its the first one Ive ever heard of and everyone Ive spoken to says its the first one theyve ever heard of, he said, adding the warm waters were 100 per cent the reason behind the rare catch. The warmer waters can also extend Nicks fishing season. He normally targets marlin until about the end of April when it starts getting cooler. The longer the warm water stays if it stays around 23, 24 degrees we should have marlin right up til June which would be great, he said. If they can stay for another six weeks or so itd be great for business. Nick's clients were thrilled with the unexpected catch of the day a wahoo caught off Bass Point. Source: Nick Moulas/Shell Cove Fishing Charters Meteorologist explains why temperatures are so high The Kiama FAD is one of 38 FADs placed along the NSW coastline and sits in the East Australian Current (EAC). ADVERTISEMENT Tut said the higher temps could be due to a combination of things, including the EAC, climate drivers like La Nina, and climate change. The EAC drags warm water down south with its current, while Australia as a whole has recently registered five months of record-breaking ocean temperatures. Rising sea surface temperatures are one of biggest indicators of climate change. Waters were, globally, the warmest on record in 2024, thats something thats been quite significant, Tut said. The stronger easterly currents along the equator are pushing that warm water towards Australia, thats contributing as well. If you picture Australia in the middle of two basins, the Indian Ocean to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, the way that the waters are moving, its maintaining that warm pool of water surrounding Australia. Thats the simplest way I can put it, he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. If the revised version is submitted by Monday, then it is expected to be approved for screening in the next couple of days. As per reports, the producers have agreed to the same. Today, veteran actor Mohanlal issued a statement and apologised for the controversy. He also confirmed that the team is willing to make the changes in the film. News agency ANI cited the production team of the film and said that the CBFC has asked to edit the riot sequences and scenes showing violence against women. Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran's film L2: Empuraan will go through as many as 17 changes amid controversy. The film, which has already been released in theatres, is facing a lot of backlashes from RSS and BJP leaders over the alleged depiction of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Amid this, the Central Board of Film Certification has ordered 17 changes in the Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial. Mohanlal's statement Meanwhile, the statement issued by superstar Mohanlal reads, "As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my movies harbors hatred towards any political movement, idea or religion. Therefore, myself and the Empuraan team sincerely regret the mental pain caused to my loved ones, and with the realization that the responsibility lies with all of us who worked behind the film. We have decided together to compulsorily remove such topics from the cinema." L2: Empuraan's Box Office Report European Patent Office received nearly 200 000 patent applications last year, with Japanese companies and inventors filing 10.6% of the total Electrical machinery/energy, transport and computers are leading technology fields for Japanese inventions Tokyo 1 st in global city ranking Sony Group is among the EPO's Top 10 applicant companies Four Japanese companies among the EPO's Top 25 applicants worldwide. MUNICH and TOKYO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest Patent Index 2024, published today by the European Patent Office (EPO), Japan ranked third worldwide, following the United States and Germany. In 2024, Japanese companies and inventors filed a total of 21,062 patent applications, accounting for 10.6% of all filings at the EPO. While this represents a 2.4% decrease compared to 2023, Japan remains a powerhouse in technological advancements. Overall, the EPO received 199,264 patent applications worldwide last year, maintaining a steady level of patenting activity comparable to 2023 (199,452 applications), following three years of significant growth. "Despite political and economic uncertainties, companies and inventors from around the world filed a high number of patents last year, underlining their technological prowess and their continued investment in R&D," said EPO President Antonio Campinos. "The EPO's patent data is a clear roadmap for industry, policy, and investment priorities - tracking global innovation trends and offering insights into European patent application activity across industries and regions." Japanese companies excel across key technological sectors Japanese companies remain leaders in multiple high-growth industries. Japan's leading field for European patent applications, electrical machinery, apparatus, energy, saw a total of 2,077 Japanese patent applications, an 8.4% increase compared to 2023. In the area of battery technologies (an important sub-field of electrical machinery), Japanese companies filed 20% more patent applications at the EPO in 2024 compared to 2023. Japan's second most important field, transport - which covers automotive, aircraft/aerospace and rail technologies, also experienced growth from Japan, with 1,357 applications, marking a 3.7% rise. The number 3 field was computer technology, with Japanese companies filing 20% more patent applications in several AI-related sub-fields.. Sony Group among the Top 10 in patent applications in Europe Four Japanese companies ranked among the top 25 patent filers at the EPO. Sony Group led the way with 1,307 applications, securing the 9th position worldwide, up from 10th in 2023. It was followed by Panasonic with 990 filings, Canon with 760 applications, while Hitachi contributed 653. Sony was no. 7 applicant overall at the EPO in computer technology. 13th in measurement and 14th in digital communication. Toyota also made significant strides, ranking no. 4 for vehicle technology (an important sub-field of transport) and second in electric propulsion (electric vehicle) technology, with a notable 12.7% increase in patent applications compared to the previous year. Japan also showed continued strength in innovation in battery technologies; in the battery-related sub-field of electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, Japan placed three companies in the global top 10: Panasonic (4th place, 279 patents), Prime Planet Energy (8th place, 85 patents), and Toyota Motor(10th place). Tokyo 1st in city ranking: Japan's innovation hub and leading patent contributor The Tokyo metropolitan area plays a pivotal role in driving Japan's global technological presence, and it is Japan's leading prefecture with a total of 11,592 patent applications at the EPO.. Tokyo is also the second largest region worldwide for European patent filings at the EPO, behind the US state of California and ahead of Guangdong (CN), Ile-de-France (FR) and Bavaria (DE). Tokyo also leads the worldwide city ranking at the EPO. Its dominance in patent filings spans a diverse range of industries, including electronics, AI, clean energy, and mobility solutions. Following Tokyo, Osaka ranks second among prefectures, with 2,979 patent applications, while Aichi takes third place with 1,447 applications, marking an impressive 21.9% growth. Unitary Patent gains in popularity in its second year The Unitary Patent system, launched in 2023, continues to gain momentum, offering innovators from around the world simpler and more accessible patent protection across 18 EU Member States with a single request to the EPO. Unitary protection was requested for 25.6% of all European patents granted by the EPO in 2024 totalling over 28,000 requests. Patentees from EPO member states had the highest uptake rate, with 36.5% of their European patents transformed into Unitary Patents, followed by those from Republic of Korea (18.9%), China (17.9%), the US (16.0%), and Japan (7.9%, up from 4.9% in 2023). Further information View the Patent Index 2024 in full Explore and customise statistics in our Statistics & Trends Centre and in our Statistics & Trends Centre Access Unitary Patent statistics via our dedicated dashboard statistics via our dedicated dashboard Download datasets (MS Excel) in the Download data section of our statistics page (MS Excel) in the section of our statistics page Check patent trends on the go with the EPO Data Hub mobile app with the EPO Data Hub mobile app Read studies on innovation trends at the Observatory on Patents and Technology on innovation trends at the Observatory on Patents and Technology EPO's support for SMEs, universities, non-profit organisations and other smaller applicants Follow us on social media: X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Official hashtag: EPOPatentIndex About the EPO With 6 300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 45 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patent-index-2024-japan-ranks-3rd-in-european-patent-applications-302414573.html Fatima added, They are not even going to count the day when you havent signed on a particular day. This is how they save their money. read more Bollywood actress Fatima Sana Shaikh made some surprising revelations about the industry in an interview with Bollywood Bubble. She was quoted saying, The side actors and junior actors dont get that much respect. Its like going through a daily attendance. In television, when you start shooting, your first payment happens after 3-4 months_. Aur aapko har din haazri deni padti hai_. The people working in the production are not even going to remind the seniors you are here. Advertisement Fatima added, They are not even going to count the day when you havent signed on a particular day. This is how they save their money. You only get paid 1000 or 1500 per day but at my age of 15 at that time, it was a lot. 2025 is already seeming to be a promising year for actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, as she prepares to dazzle audiences with a lineup of films that is set to showcase her versatility yet again. Fans can look forward to seeing her in three feature films, including the much talked about Dharma production with the charming R. Madhavan on Netflix. The team recently were seen filming in Kolkata for the project. But, in a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, the actress exposed the South Indian industrys casting couch. He asked me, You will be ready to do everything, right? I told him that I will be working hard and will do what is required for the role, she said. However, the agent, the Ludo actor said, kept repeating it. I played dumb because I wanted to see how low he can get, revealed the actress. She then shared that bade chote se producers (small producers) in Hyderabad would talk about it (casting couch) very openly: You know, here you have to meet people, she said, quoting a Hyderabad producer. While talking about wanting to become an actress, Fatima said, My parents took me for auditions and I became a child actor. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I did a lot of work and then felt this was not my thing. As a child, I was working for too many hours. I was missing school and not happy being on sets. Advertisement On March 30, 1981, then-US President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured in an assassination attempt outside a hotel in Washington, DC. Back in the 19th century, on this day, the US signed a Treaty of Cession with Russia to purchase Alaska, then known as Russian America read more President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union group when John W Hinckley Jr opened fire from his .22-caliber revolver. Illustration: Santan On March 30, 1981, then-US President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured in an assassination attempt outside a hotel in Washington, DC. The act was not motivated by politics. The shooter, identified as 25-year-old John Hinckley Jr, was inspired only by his wish to win over Hollywood star Jodie Foster. Back in the 19th century, the United States signed a Treaty of Cession with Russia to purchase Alaska, then known as Russian America. Advertisement This day also marked the opening of Starbucks, the biggest chain of coffee shops in America, in Seattle, more than 50 years ago. Heres a detailed look at these significant historical events in Firstpost Explainers History Today series. Ronald Reagan assassination attempt On January 20, 1981, Republican Ronald Reagan became the 40th President of the United States. He was shot and severely injured on March 30, 1981, as he was making his way back to his motorcade following a speech at the Hilton Hotel in Washington. The president and his agents did not wear bulletproof vests since the distance between the hotel and his limousine was so small. John Hinckley Jr. fired six rounds from his Rohm RG-14.22 LR blue steel revolver as Reagan and his entourage passed a gathered crowd. The Devastator rounds that were put into the gun were made to detonate upon contact. Those close by of Reagan were struck by the first five bullets: District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty was shot in the neck and shoulder, White House press secretary James Brady was shot in the head, and Secret Service member Tim McCarthy was shot in the stomach. Reagan, 70, was wounded when the sixth bullet struck its mark, clipping a rib and lodging in his lung. President Ronald Reagan winces and raises his left arm as he was shot by an assailant as he left a Washington hotel, Monday, March 30, 1981. AP Brady suffered a lifelong brain injury that left him paralysed on one side and with slurred speech after just the bullet that struck him detonated. He died in 2014 as a result of his injuries. Advertisement The president was hurried to the hospital at George Washington University. Reagan reportedly tried to keep the atmosphere pleasant even though he had lost at least 40 per cent of his blood. He reportedly told his doctors, I sure hope all of you out there are all Republicans, to which they responded, Today, Mister President, we are all Republican. Hinckley would be found not guilty because of insanity and held at a psychiatric hospital until his supervised release in 2016. The Treaty of Cession signed between US and Russia The Treaty of Cession of Russian America was signed by the United States and Russia on this day in 1867. According to the terms of the deal, Russia would get $7.2 million in gold from the US in exchange for its territory, or around two cents per acre. On October 18, 1867, the deal was finalised after the US Senate approved the pact. The Treaty of Cession of Russian America was signed by the United States and Russia on this day in 1867. Image Courtesy: Britannica/Alaska State Library, Alaska Purchase Centennial Commission Photograph Collection In the late 18th century, Alaska was managed by the Russian American Company, a government-chartered company, and had explorers and fur traders as its settlers. At the time, it was known as Russian America. Advertisement Due to economic challenges, Russia was finding it more and more difficult to provide for its colonies in Alaska. The huge geographical distance between Alaska and the Russian mainland made defence and governance even more difficult. It was in 1859 when the Russian officials began negotiations with the US about selling Alaska. The negotiations were primarily conducted by Russian minister to the US, Eduard de Stoeckl, and US Secretary of State William H Seward. The US government took over the administration of Alaska, and it became a Department of the US government in 1884. The territory eventually became a state on January 2, 1959, making it the 49th state of the country. Starbucks debut in Seattle Starbucks, one of the most well-known coffee chains in the world, opened its first store around 54 years ago. With just one employee, the business launched its first store, a 1,000-square-foot commercial space, at Seattles famous Pike Place Market on March 30, 1971, offering freshly brewed hot coffee and premium roasted coffee beans. Starbucks opened its first store around 54 years ago. Image Courtesy: Starbucks Archive The companys founders were Gordon Bowker, Zev Siegl, and Gerald Baldwin three coffee lovers in their twenties who met at the University of San Francisco. Advertisement They called their firm Starbucks after the first mate in the book Moby Dick in homage to Seattles maritime heritage and the coffee industry. They thought of naming the company Pequod, after the ship from Moby Dick, but didnt think it sounded appealing. Siegl was the only employee at their first store as his partners continued to work during the day. Due to its extraordinary success in creating Americas premium coffee market since 1971, Starbucks has grown into a powerful emblem of Western consumer culture. Two days after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, it is struggling to pick up the pieces. The death toll has crossed 1,600 and is likely to go up. In our weekly wrap, we talk about the disaster and other top news that grabbed our attention read more A view shows debris next to a damaged building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar, in Mandalay. More than 1,600 people have been killed and thousands more injured in the temblor that was also felt in neighbouring nations. Reuters Have you found yourself in a chat group you had no idea about? Thats exactly what happened to The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The only difference was that the other names in the Signal group were those of Americas most powerful people Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, among others. At first, Goldberg, who was accidentally added, doubted the authenticity of the group. Then he found himself on a chain called the Houthi PC small group, where top-secret plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen were discussed. Its a big security breach, one that Trump and his White House officials have been downplaying. Advertisement For the President, who dismissed the Signal leak as the only glitch in two months, it has been business as usual imposing more tariffs and threatening Greenland. Ahead of the April 2 deadline, he announced 25 per cent levies on cars important to the US. On Friday (March 28), JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance visited Greenland a trip scaled down after protests from the island even as Trump reiterated, We have to have that land. He seems to have found a supporter in Vladimir Putin. From the US, we turn our attention to Turkey. It has been gripped by massive protests after the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayor and rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. There is an intensified crackdown on protesters and media coverage, with nearly 1,900 detained. Two natural disasters rocked Asia. South Korea was grappling with its largest on record wildfires, which killed 27 and destroyed ancient temples. Myanmar witnessed a massive 7.7 earthquake, which caused widespread death and damage. Tremors were felt in neighbouring Thailand, China and India. In our weekly roundup, we deep-dive into the big headlines from around the world. 1. Lets start with Signal-gate. Shocking as it might sound, The Atlantics Jeffery Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal chat group with White House officials. They discussed Europe and, most importantly, a secret plan to attack the Houthis. But how did a journalist get an invite to this group? What is Signal, and was the information discussed classified? Our explainers answer these questions. Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was part of the Signal chat group to which the journalist was added. Democrats have been calling for his resignation over the leak. AP 2. After controversy, follows conspiracy. The Signal group scandal is no different. As the Trump administration is trying to do some damage control, far-right influencer Laura Loomer has a new theory: She suggests a possible China link to the leaked chats involving Alex Wong, US deputy national security adviser, and his wife, Candice Chiu. Heres what it is about. 3. Donald Trumps tariff war continues. On Thursday (March 27), he announced a new import tax of 25 per cent on cars and car parts. The tariffs have put automakers in a conundrum, as shares of big car giants in Japan, Germany, and the UK slipped. Which car companies will be worst hit by Americas latest taxes? And will Elon Musks Tesla benefit? New German cars are stored at a logistics centre in Duisburg, Germany. The car industry has slammed Trumps plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on car imports to the US. AP 4. Its been more than 10 days now. Turkey has been gripped by protests, the largest in the country. The demonstrations began last week after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has been jailed pending trial on corruption charges. The Erdogan government is cracking down on dissent, arresting protesters and imposing media curbs. A BBC journalist was also deported. Why is anti-government anger surging? Advertisement Riot police fired tear gas pellets to disperse protesters in Istanbul on 24 March. AP 5. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, with tremors felt across Thailand. Both countries witnessed large-scale devastation; videos of collapsing buildings and bridges went viral in hours. More than 1,600 people have been killed in Myanmar, and thousands more injured. Why is the region prone to quakes? And why was the temblor so deadly? Vehicles make their way near a road damaged by an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. The 7.7 temblor caused widespread devastation across the country. AP 6. The US administration is going after pro-Palestine students. It started with Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist at Columbia University, and the list of arrests is growing. The detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student from Tufts University, has put the spotlight on a shadowy website, Canary Mission. It has a blacklist of pro-Palestinian students on US campuses. What is this collective? Is it helping the US administration? We explain. Homeland Security police officers stand guard as protesters take part in a rally organised by Jewish activists against the detention by ICE agents of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in New York City on March 20. Reuters 7. Our weekly list of recommendations would be incomplete without a mention of Netflixs Adolescence. The limited series has everyones attention, including the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Its the story of 13-year-old boy Jamie Miller, played by Owen Cooper, who kills his classmate, Katie. Is it a true story? Its not, but it is inspired by a series of crimes committed by teenage boys in the UK. Advertisement Amid the rave reviews, Adolescence is receiving backlash for race swapping with far-right influencers peddling misinformation that the main character was written as a white boy instead of Black. While there is no truth to this, we look at the real-life crimes in the UK, where teen boys have stabbed girls to death. Netflixs hit drama Adolescence is about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his classmate. It is not a true story, but was inspired by news of crimes by teenagers in the UK. Image courtesy: Netflix Thats all from us this week. If you like the way we explain the news, you can find more such stories here. The HC instead suggested the petitioner to undergo the concerned medical test or produce any other evidence to prove that the allegations of impotency have no base read more A state high court in India has ruled that a woman cant be forced to undergo a virginity test, arguing it would violate her fundamental rights enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. The Chhattisgarh High Court noted that granting such a permission would be against the principles of natural justice The ruling by Justice Arvind Kumar Verma came in response to a criminal petition filed by a man who demanded his wifes virginity test, alleging she was in an illicit relationship with another man, challenging a family courts order dated October 15, 2024, which rejected the interim application. Advertisement The wife, on the other hand, had claimed that her husband was impotent and refused to cohabit. The HC instead suggested the petitioner to undergo the concerned medical test or produce any other evidence to prove that the allegations of impotency have no base. He cannot possibly be permitted to subject the wife to undergo her virginity test and fill up the lacuna in his evidence. It must be noted that the order was passed in January but has only recently been made public. The high court noted that the contention of the petitioner demanding a virginity test of his wife is unconstitutional as it violates Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes the right tothe dignity of women. Article 21 of the Constitution of India not only guarantees the right to life and personal liberty but also the right to live with dignity, which is crucial for women. No woman can be forced to conduct her virginity test. It is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21. It has to be borne in mind that Article 21 is the heart of fundamental rights, the high court stated. Justice Verma further said that the virginity test is a violation of the basic right of women to be treated with decency and proper dignity. Advertisement The right to personal liberty enshrined under Article 21 is non-derogable and cannot be tinkered with in any manner. The petitioner cannot possibly be permitted to subject the wife to undergo her virginity test and fill up the lacuna in his evidence in this regard. Be that as it may, but in any case, granting the permission for virginity test of the respondent would be against her fundamental rights, the cardinal principles of natural justice and secret modesty of a female, the high court noted. Non-derogable human rights refer to rights that are absolute and may not be subject to any derogation, even in times of war or emergency. The bench further observed that the allegations made by both parties against each other are the subject matter of evidence and a conclusion can be drawn only after evidence. The High Court is of the considered opinion that the order impugned is neither illegal nor perverse and there is no judicial error committed by the trial court, it said. Advertisement The couple got married on April 30, 2023, as per Hindu rites. They lived together at the husbands family residence in Korba district. The wife allegedly told her family members that her husband is impotent and she refused to establish a marital relationship or cohabit with her husband, the petitioners counsel said. She filed an interim application on July 2, 2024, under section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) before the family court in Raigarh district seeking maintenance of Rs 20,000 from her husband. In response to the maintenance claim interim application, the petitioner sought a virginity test of his wife alleging that she was in an illicit relationship with her brother-in-law. He claimed the marriage was never consummated. On October 15, 2024, the family court in Raigarh rejected the husbands request following which he filed a criminal petition in the High Court. The case is currently at evidence stage in the family court. Advertisement (With inputs from PTI) For Chinas success on the global front, it needs a neutral India, not a neutralised India, which anyway is not going to happen read more For China to hope for an early dragon-elephant dance, it has to well begin with ending the border issue with India through negotiations. Representational image In a recent interview with an American podcaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had this to say of Indias China relations: Our cooperation is not only (mutually) beneficial but also essential for global peace and prosperity. In the same breath, he added that normalcy has returned to the India-China border after his recent talks with President Xi Jinping. As if expecting such a positive comment from the Indian side, that too at the highest level as the prime minister, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson declared that a dragon-elephant dance cooperation is the only correct choice for the two neighbours. In the 2000-plus-year history of interactions, the two countries have maintained friendly exchanges, and both the countries learnt from each other, contributing to civilisational achievements and human progress, the spokesperson said, taking the discourse as far away as possible from Galwan and Doklam. Advertisement If this were only signals, a substantive announcement came after subsequent bilateral talks in Beijing. Indications of reviving talks at the level of Special Representatives (SR) of the respective leaders before the year-end emerged, and that is saying a lot. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is the SR from the Indian side, as has always been since the institution of the NSA was founded under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Significantly, the idea of SR-level talks was aimed at focusing on the vexatious border dispute. Rather, it was possibly aimed at ensuring that bilateral relations did not get bogged down on the altar of border talks. It aimed at facilitating the separation of the (unending) border talks from other aspects of bilateral relations, where mutual consultations and consensus could be aimed in such other areas as trade and geopolitics in multilateral forums on trade, tariffs and climate. Not going to be easy In fact, this was how the two countries were approaching bilateral relations since the advent of the SR mechanism, with fair success. Doklam (2017) created doubts in Indian minds, and Galwan (2020) sealed it. In between, the informal summits (?) at Wuhan (2018) first and Mahabalipuram (2019) were believed to have sorted out the pinpricks, but they had not, as Galwan showed. One can blame it on China and Xi for the downswing, but the result was that Galwan especially put the clock back by decades after the two nations had carefully rebuilt their relations, brick by brick, since the Chinese aggression of 1962. It is not going to be easy for India and Indians to accept anything that is on offer from Beijing; they have seen it all, and there is nothing that they have not seen or are unable to see or even visualise. Advertisement This will remain so even if and when bilateral cooperation in trade, tariffs and other aspects of the economy, social exchanges and political cooperation at the international level revives. Even here there are limitations, as an ever-doubting Pakistan would end up checking and re-checking how dependable China still is as a strategic ally. If nothing else on the border front, Islamabad can be expected to create situations in which Chinas vote at the UN will be watched, whether or not it is the clincher. Beijing too cannot be seen ditching Islamabad, if it had to come to that, until it was a hundred-plus per cent sure that bilateral ties with India had reached a stage in which the dragon and elephant can actually dance without fearing the future. It is better or worse still for India, as bilateral ties with China hinge not only on the border dispute but also on the issue pertaining to Kashmir. Advertisement Not a coincidence It was thus not a coincidence that External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, pointing fingers not only at Europe but also an India-friendly US, said that they were refusing to acknowledge Pakistans illegal occupation of Kashmir but were referring to it only as a dispute. The message was directed even more at Beijing, which may have to make its decision well before the SR-level talks, when revived, begin going beyond the exchange of pleasantries and reviewing the area covered thus far. The reasons are not far to seek. At least up to a point, China had sought to make it trilateral by involving Pakistan, too, and it was unacceptable to India. Beijings theory was that it was in possession of a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, namely, Aksai Chin and the Shaksgam Valley, and any solution to the Kashmir issue would have to involve all three. It doesnt make sense for India to accept this, as New Delhi maintains that Pakistan is illegally occupying a part of the former kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir. Furthermore, India views Pakistans cession of the Shaksgam Valley to China and Chinas capture of Aksai Chin as illegitimate claims. Advertisement If China wants a dragon-elephant dance early, it cannot be over trade, commerce and climate issues, bilateral or multilateral. They can at best create the right mood and climate, but finding a negotiated settlement to the border dispute is the real thing. If proof is needed, bilateral ties had vastly improved in these areas when Doklam, to a lesser extent, and Galwan both a part of the border dispute put paid to all that had been achieved through the past years and decades after 1962. Of course, China giving up false claims over Arunachal Pradesh could be the mainstay. Then, there are sector-wise issues and concerns, where New Delhi would be guided more by the nations defence forces and security agencies. Given that the India-China border is nearly 3,500 km, or 3,488 km to be precise, and there are rival claims in every sector and for every kilometre, a cartographical solution guided by security agencies cannot come up with a package acceptable to both sides in the short or medium term. Advertisement Already, 22 years have passed by without much progress on the ground after the creation of the SR mechanism in 2003. What is needed is a political decision and consequent direction at the highest levels for the SRs to come up with a package solution, guided by mutual trust and not mutual suspicion, as is the case now. Yes, the Wuhan and Mahabalipuram summits were expected to provide that leadership direction, if at all, but Galwan, a Chinese creation, blew it all. Twin ambitions Even without it, China may have complicated things for an early solution. Chinas global ambitions are one thing, but to create conditions inimical to India in the immediate neighbourhood of the latter in every which way is neither the way to achieve it nor is it the road to a dragon-elephant dance. New Delhi, independent of political changes, has not protested overmuch when China began big-time investments in Indias neighbourhood, say, starting with Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Advertisement In doing so, India was well aware of the economic limitations of host countries in the region and also their societal aspirations in terms of national development and individual growth. New Delhi was even more alive to the inherent limitations of supporting every neighbouring nation in their development projects exclusively and to the exclusion of third nations, whether or not they were friendly or adversarial to India. But today, Chinas intention and intrusiveness in Indias neighbourhood go beyond Pakistan, which Beijing could claim to be a traditional ally. But the way China has exploited Pakistan and has almost always turned away whenever Islamabad was in need of big money as now and is exploring strategic advantages against India, both on land and in the neighbourhood seas, there are more skeletons in Beijings cupboard than it may want to show or throw. But today, Chinas twin ambitions in the geo-strategic sphere seem aimed at containing India to South Asia or less and spreading its wings all across the world to match the US, the worlds only superpower, fighter for fighter, carrier for carrier. Rather, Beijing seems inclined to contain India first before it could complete the second ambition, of competing with the US globally. Neutral, and not neutralised In this, China is following the failed Soviet model, of containment of neighbours, if not jackbooting them. In political and strategic terms, too, there is no comparison between Chinas animosity towards India and its ambition to contain Taiwan. Apart from the South China/East China Sea issues and, of course, Taiwan as a whole nation, the border dispute with India is the only legacy issue for China, President Xi in particular. Before President Donald Trump began talking about annexing Canada, Mexico and Greenland, a little farther away, the American success story on the global front was owed to the nation making friends of neighbours before spreading out more than during the two Great Wars of the previous century. Maybe Trump may have made enemies of his neighbours without firing a shot or even loading a gun. Still, for China to hope to succeed in its ambitions, the nation has to make friends with India, not an enemy out of it. For Chinas success on the global front, it needs a neutral India, not a neutralised India, which anyway is not going to happen. There may have been some apprehension in Beijing that New Delhi had ignored its olive branch in the first decade of this century, or even earlier, when their leaders were talking about Chinas hardware and Indias software conquering the world obviously not stopping with the IT industry. That was after India had linked the Pokhran-II nuclear tests to future apprehensions about China and not necessarily Pakistan, which too tested a fortnight later, both in May 1998. In a way, China was on notice even then, to prove that its intentions were genuine and its ways were test-worthy and trust-worthy at the same time. Truth be acknowledged, five years down the line, the two had acknowledged that the border dispute, over which they fought in 1962, was still nagging them and created the SR mechanism in 2003. In context, thus, for China to hope for an early dragon-elephant dance, it has to well begin with ending the border issue with India through negotiations. But it will also have to pull down its limited strategic infrastructure that has been coming up, from time to time, in Indias neighbourhood and roll back its future plans, barring those that are truly development-centric and do not lead to a debt trap. In short, Xi should be bold to acknowledge and accept that South Asia as a landmass and the western Indian Ocean are still Indias traditional sphere of influence and act accordingly. It has to begin with putting its friends and hidden allies in the region on notice that they cannot afford to antagonise India, in the hope that China would stand by them or in the belief that China was helping them only with an ulterior strategic motive centred on India. It is then, and only then, the dragon-elephant show can really begin! The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst & Political Commentator. Email: sathiyam54@nsathiyamoorthy.com. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Mahrang Balochs stature as the symbol of Baloch rights is indomitable. The more the Pakistani state tries to check her, imposing arrest and detention, it will invite further trouble for itself read more The arrest of Mahrang Baloch illustrates the frustrations of a weak Pakistani state. She symbolises the Baloch movement for freedom, homeland, human rights, and womens aspirations. Her arrest has opened Pandoras box of reaction, resistance, and rejection of the hegemony of Pakistan. She has been arrested along with several others for the incitement of violence. Concocted charges were thrown at her to embroil her in a legal conundrum. The Pakistani state assumes that keeping her in abeyance will minimise the intensity of the Baloch insurgency. Conversely, this has forced Quetta into protest and the shutter-down strikes across Balochistan. Turbat, Mastung, Kalat, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Dhadar, and Panjgur have declared shutter-down strikes. The whole of Balochistan has been disturbed by this arrest. Advertisement The arrest has added fresh fuel to the ongoing Baloch resistance against the Pakistani state. An internet shutdown has been enforced to prevent the mobilisation of the masses. But Balochistan has been awakened to action and resistance. She is a grassroots leader who inspires people from all walks of life, irrespective of gender, age, class, or profession. Her arrest has conflagrated the Baloch issue. The protesters have blocked the Turbat-Karachi and Quetta-Karachi highways, inflicting connectivity paralysis. This indicates the failure of the Pakistani state to keep its patchwork nation intact. Moreover, Mahrang Baloch has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Prize. She is no longer a local personality. Her persona as a human rights activist has been recognised internationally. To muzzle her with arrest will not work in Pakistans favour. Her arrest will invite international reaction. Baloch activists across the world may project her arrest as an unacceptable and gross violation of the human rights of Baloch women and people as a whole. Her stature as the symbol of Baloch rights is indomitable. The more the Pakistani state tries to check her, imposing arrest and detention, it will invite further trouble for itself. The Baloch movement is no longer unidimensional. It has assumed multidimensionality. It does not lean on one front entirely. It has multiple fronts. It is no longer confined to tribal leaders (Sardars), resentment, or disillusionment with the Pakistani state. It has reached the grassroots and become the Pan-Baloch phenomenon. Pakistans conventional tactics of isolation and elimination will not work any longer. The Baloch uprising has gone beyond the Pakistani militarys control. The Pak military has lost its ferocity. It has become toothless. It believes in the power of propaganda colluding with its cohorts. Knowing the stature of Mahrang Baloch, it is counterproductive to arrest and heap imagined charges. Advertisement Pakistan cannot exist without Balochistan. The latters geostrategic and natural resources make it the jewel in the crown of Pakistan. But Pakistan stamps its authority. Hegemony characterises its state policy. It prefers force to dialogue. It is a military state with a rubber-stamp civilian government. Religion is used conveniently to empower the state. These strange juxtapositions do not enable a nation to understand the meaning of dialogue to settle domestic issues. Forced annexation and oppressive rule have been the indices of its statecraft. Pakistan is an artificial state. It has no organic foundations to bind people and land together. It depended on Islamic ideology for its existence. But it could not unite the state anymore. Balochistan is the beginning of Pakistans balkanisation. Once the dent is done, others will soon follow the trail. Its conflict model has boomeranged. Implosion knocks on the door. If there is any saving power that may come to Pakistans rescue, it is Beijing. China has significantly invested in the region. Its ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) faces grave danger because of the Baloch insurgency. Gwadar features prominently in Chinas geostrategic calculus. Beijing has a military base in Djibouti. Karachi and Gwadar will give China the geostrategic advantage to connect with the Arabian Sea, overcoming its dependence on the Malacca Strait. Its Malacca dilemma or choke point will not cause connectivity stress if the CPEC materialises. Advertisement Chinas deep-seated desire to contain India will be fulfilled by exercising hegemony over the marine space in the Arabian Sea. Exercising influence over the Arabian and Red Seas will help Beijing emerge as an impactful force in volatile West Asia. Its aspiration to become the number one global power through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Silk Road diplomacy will be emboldened. Therefore, China has a stake and interest in the region. It will try everything in its capacity to keep Pakistan in workable order. If Balochistan breaks away from Pakistan, China will bear the brunt of the collateral. Balochistan Liberation Armys (BLA) antagonism against China is not ambiguous. BLA makes no mistake in decoding the Chinese intentions. The chronic political instability increases Beijings headache. The Pakistani military does not have the economic strength and grit to launch massive offensives against Balochistan. The terrain is quite unfriendly for the Pakistan military. The winning percentage is thin. This will slump the morale of the army. Advertisement It is alleged that Beijing might use a private force to guard its interests and infrastructures in Balochistan. BLA may not appreciate such undertakings. It will expose the weakness of Pakistans military. Islamabads hubris rests on its military. Its weakness will ensure the dramatic implosion of Pakistan. The anxiety of security threats will affect China considerably. How China will react to this is something to be seen. The Chinese dilemma is bound to increase as long as the Baloch insurgency continues. Balkanisation will hurt Beijing seriously. The economic loss will dent Chinas ambitious expansionism. Given these developments, India carefully observes the developments in Balochistan and maintains strategic silence. But wherever the need arises, it speaks with the finest objectivity. Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has recently condemned Pakistan on the floor of the Lok Sabha for human rights violations, erosion of democracy and persecution of minorities. These statements will spread a ripple effect in the region. Advertisement Jajati K Pattnaik is an Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chandan K Panda is an Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Itanagar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Teslas trial by fire is less a referendum on its survival than a test of Americas own conscience read more Reports of vandalism targeting Tesla cars, ranging from smashed windows to full-on arson, have surfaced in both cities and suburbs of the US. Representational image: REUTERS Elon Musk and Tesla are going through an agnipariksha. Literally. In many parts of the United States, Teslas, the super-sleek electric cars that are Elon Musks brainchild and trademark, are under attack. Many have even been set on fire. Why? No one quite knows. But it seems as if the attacks are in retaliation principally to Musks role in cutting wasteful expenditure as the head of DOGE. They are meant to destroy Musks business and thus a direct pushback by those who hate him and his unwelcome interference in American politics. Will Musk haters and baiters succeed? That remains to be seen. But if know anything about Musk, it is likely that he will bounce back, hitting his adversaries hard. In fact, if anything, these targeted strikes have already given Tesla an opportunity to install more advanced surveillance and protective technology. Advertisement Indeed, Musk, the maverick visionary behind Tesla, SpaceX, and a host of other groundbreaking ventures, is no stranger to controversy. His life and businesses have often been a crucible of innovation and adversity, where resilience is tested under the fiercest conditions. But today, Tesla, the electric vehicle empire that stands as Musks brainchild and a symbol of his relentless ambition, is literally ablaze. Across various parts of the United States, Teslas, the svelte futuristic machines that redefined automotive engineering, are being targeted, vandalized, and even set on fire. While the motives remain murky, a compelling thread emerges, tying these acts of destruction to Musks polarising role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a position that has thrust him into the heart of American political and economic debates. Are these retaliatory attacks planned, rather than random, with the specific aim of crippling Musks business empire? Prima facie, their motive does seem obvious: take down Elon Musk. Why do I say this? Because the phenomenon of Teslas being torched is not an isolated incident but a disturbing nation-wide trend. Reports of vandalism, ranging from smashed windows to full-on arson, have surfaced in cities and suburbs alike. These are not stray acts of mischief; they carry the hallmarks of deliberate sabotage. The shiny curves and glowing Tesla logos, once symbols of progress and luxury, have become targets for Molotov cocktails and spray paint. No definitive declaration has emerged from the perpetrators. Even law enforcement has yet to pinpoint a single organized group. Yet, the timing and context suggest a deeper motive, one intertwined with Musks recent foray into the political sphere. Advertisement DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, a tongue-in-cheek acronym that reflects Musks penchant for blending humour with audacity, has certainly disrupted the manner in which government works. Its access and outing of data on excessive and irresponsible spending, billions and billions of taxpayer dollars, from a narrow radius of a few miles around Capitol Hill in D.C., has sent shockwaves through the entire establishment. Appointed to this advisory role under the Trump administration in early 2025, Musk has taken on the Herculean task of slashing what he deems wasteful government spending. With his characteristic bluntness, he has proposed cuts to bloated bureaucracies, subsidies for outdated industries, and programmes he argues stifle innovation. Predictably, this has made him a lightning rod for criticism. Unions, environmental groups (ironically, given Teslas green credentials), and political operatives reliant on the status quo have decried his influence as an overreachan unelected billionaire meddling in the machinery of democracy. To his detractors, Musks role in DOGE is an affront to their interests that upends entrenched power structures. Advertisement Could this be the spark behind the Tesla fires? The theory holds weight when one considers the symbolic potency of the attacks. Tesla is more than a car companyits Musks legacy, a tangible manifestation of his vision and defiance. By targeting Teslas, his adversaries strike at his economic jugular, aiming to destabilize his empire and, by extension, his credibility. The logic is simple: if Tesla falters under public fear or financial strain, Musks stature as a titan of industry weakens, diminishing his political clout. Its a calculated move, blending vengeance with strategy, a message written in flames that says, Stay out of our sandbox. No doubt Musks enemies are legion, ranging from disgruntled former employees to radical activists. Add to this the political enemies accrued through DOGE, from lobbyists to local officials, to top politicians whose pet projects face the chopping block. The anonymity of the attacks only fuels speculation, turning Teslas plight into a Rorschach test for Americas fractured psyche. Advertisement Will they succeed? History suggests otherwise. Musk is a man forged in adversitywhether its the near-collapse of Tesla in 2008, the scepticism over SpaceXs reusable rockets, or the ridicule of his Hyperloop dreams. Each time, he has emerged not just intact but stronger, wielding failure as a whetstone for breakthrough innovation and runaway success. The Tesla attacks, far from being his undoing, may prove to be his next launchpad. Already, the company has responded with characteristic agility. New models rolling off the line boast enhanced surveillance systemscameras with AI-driven threat detectionand reinforced materials designed to deter vandalism. Tesla service centers are offering retrofit packages, turning every owner into a sentinel. The fires, meant to intimidate, have instead handed Tesla a narrative of resilience and a chance to flex its technological muscle. In the end, Teslas trial by fire is less a referendum on its survival than a test of Americas own conscience. The haters may scorch a few cars, but theyre unlikely to incinerate Musksor his boss, Trumpsresolve. The flames may rage, but Musk is betting on rising from the ashes. And if we know anything about him, hell do it with sweet vengeanceand perhaps a tweet or two to rub it in. Advertisement The writer is an author and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Ukraines air force reported that Russia fired 111 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Sunday. It said 65 of them were intercepted and another 35 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. read more Police officers look at a crater made by a drone near apartment houses following Russia's night attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, late Saturday, March 29, 2025. Image- AP Russian drone strikes targeted a military hospital, a shopping center and residential buildings in Ukraines second-largest city Kharkiv, killing two people and injuring dozens, while US President Donald Trump voiced anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraines leadership remarks. The attack in Kharkiv, which severely damaged a military hospital came as Ukraine sought stronger backing from Western allies to pressure Russia into halting its full-scale invasion. Ukraines air force reported that Russia launched 111 drones and a ballistic missile overnight, striking the Kharkiv, Sumy, Odesa, and Donetsk regions. Air defenses managed to intercept 65 drones and jam 35 others. While Russias Defense Ministry claimed its forces had struck 140 locations across Ukraine, including military airfields and ammunition depots, but did not mention the hospital attack. Advertisement Amid ongoing hostilities, both sides have accused each other of violating a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire, while Russia continues its widespread drone assaults. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces had attacked most regions of Ukraine over the past week. He reported that 1,310 guided aerial bombs, more than 1,000 attack dronesmainly Shahedsand nine missiles, including ballistic ones, had been launched. Zelenskyy also accused Russia of prolonging ceasefire talks to gain time and seize more territory, echoing remarks he made earlier in Paris. Zelenskyy said that in the past week, most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. In a post on X, he detailed that Russia had launched 1,310 guided aerial bombs, over 1,000 attack dronesprimarily Shahedsand nine missiles of various types, including ballistic ones. Zelenskyy also reiterated that Russia is dragging out the war, echoing his comments from Thursday in Paris, where he accused Moscow of prolonging ceasefire talks to buy time and try to grab more land. Russias Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said its air defense systems shot down six Ukrainian drones. It also claimed Sunday that its troops had taken control of a village in Ukraines partly occupied Donetsk region. The Russian claim could not be independently verified, and Ukraine did not comment. According to Ukrainian government and military analysts, Russian forces are preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in the coming weeks to maximize pressure on Kyiv and strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in ceasefire talks. Advertisement In an early Sunday morning phone interview with NBC News, Trump was referencing comments Putin made Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Trump said he was angry, pissed off" when Putin started getting into Zelenskyys credibility. Putin reaffirmed his claim that Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraines constitution, it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while its under martial law. If a deal isnt made, and if I think it was Russias fault, Im going to put secondary sanctions on Russia, Trump told Kristen Welker. Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product, any product, not just oil, into the United States. Nonetheless, Trump reiterated that he and Putin have a very good relationship. With inputs from agencies